Author's notes: strong language
During the flight to Colorado, while the kids slept soundly, Mark and his wife had listened to an unbelievable story about Stargates, interstellar transports, a war with a race of beings called the Goa'uld, and Dad, along with Sam and many others, right in the middle of it all. Mark and Melissa were both stunned and amazed. While his wife had been eager to believe Sam and her story, Mark had clung to the idea that it was more probable that Dad had been experimented on by the Air Force rather than him gallivanting about the universe in a spaceship fighting ghouls or whatever they were called!
It was all science fiction as far as Mark was concerned. And he just couldn't believe that his sister or her colleagues had the gall to tell him such a story, as if the Air Force couldn't stoup any lower! It was ridiculous! Traveling to other planets and fighting aliens! Come on, it all sounded like a bad episode of Star Trek or Buck Rogers! Or worse, that lame Wormhole Extreme that Mark caught Joseph watching after school one day and of which Mark put a stop to right away.
Mark's reasoning had been that if the Air Force had really been fighting aliens and making enemies, why hadn't Earth come under attack? Sam was quick to point that the Earth had come under attack at least three times. But Mark was a smart man just like his sister. He knew that if there were that many aliens out there they would have made themselves known to the people of Earth one way or another and that the Air Force or any part of the Government couldn't cover all of them up. Eventually one story had to leak out to the public.
And Mark still would have been reluctant to believe Sam if he had not seen the Stargate itself in action as it activated and a team came through. Even when Teal'c revealed himself to be an alien or 'Jaffa' as he had put it, Mark was finally convinced. Then the gravity of the whole thing had sunk in and Mark wasn't sure if he should be furious, scared to death, or proud of his father and Sam. Or all three!
Only, standing there, in the briefing room and looking down into the Gate Room, Mark allowed his anger to get the better of him. He was already angry at the Air Force and finding out about the Stargate program only made him angrier. Add this to the fact that he was physically tired from being up for so long with no sleep, so his fuse was shorter than it normally would be. He was emotionally exhausted because he was scared for himself, for his family and for his father. And he was tired of being scared. But what really pissed him off was that no one had explained to him about what happened to his father!
"How the hell can you people sleep at night knowing that you're putting this planet in jeopardy and not telling any of us about it?" he snapped.
He was so glad that Melissa was sleeping with the kids in their assigned quarters at the SGC because then she wouldn't have to him like this. He never liked to flash his temper in front of her and she had already seen it enough this evening.
"Mark, the war is over," Daniel insisted.
"So you say! And you probably expect me to be glad my father was a part of it! How can I believe any of you after what happened to my father?"
"Yes, you should be proud of your dad!" General O'Neill shot back. "He saved my team and I on several occasions. And he was instrumental in protecting this planet and the galaxy."
"What about when my Dad was dying? You mean to tell me that the only reason why I couldn't be with him was because I didn't have security clearance?" Mark shouted, slamming his fist on the table. "That's a pretty fucking lame excuse!"
"That was my fault so don't go blaming your sister!" the General countered.
"Are you responsible for my Dad's condition now…Jack?"
"No one here is responsible for your father's current condition," Teal'c stated calmly. "Your father did in fact die. It is our belief that he ascended after his death then returned to the physical world."
"Ascended? What the fuck does that mean?"
"Ascension is when an individual no longer needs their physical body to live," Daniel explained. "They become energy and live on a higher plane of existence."
"What…like angels or something?" Mark asked, sarcastically. "Did my Dad have wings and play the harp too?"
"It's nothing like that!" Sam snapped at him and gave him a glare that reminded Mark so much of his mother's fury.
Mark sighed, taking his seat next to his sister. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Sam...again. He had to keep reminding himself that she's just upset about what's going on with Dad. Sometimes his stubbornness got the better of him. In this case, it blinded him from seeing the real truth. Sam and his father had risked their lives so that the Earth and the galaxy could be safe.
"I'm sorry, Sam," he said, taking hold of her hand. "I'm just so tired…and I'm worried about Dad. He's out there all alone."
"Mark, we've been through this before," Jack continued. "One of our own had died, ascended, and returned…twice in fact."
"Technically, I only ascended once but I did die twice," Daniel smiled. "Well actually, at least three times if you count the incident with Cronos."
Mark blinked in surprise.
"I thought it was more than three times," Jack added with a smirk, making everyone in the room smile at what must be a running joke between them all, except Mark. "Mark, the point is we know what to expect."
"So…my father's memory loss…"
"A part of the return process," Daniel replied. "In time he will regain his memories."
"What about the fact that he's about twenty-five years old?" Mark asked. "Is that part of the return process too?"
This time it was all of them blinking in surprise. Even Teal'c, who showed no facial expressions since Mark had met him, raised an eyebrow.
"Sir?" Sam asked O'Neill.
"I didn't think to ask the President how old Jacob was. I just assumed he returned like Daniel did," Jack replied then looked to Daniel.
"I suppose it's possible," Daniel explained. "As energy we can take any form we chose. Maybe it's the same when we return. We are given a choice."
"But, why would my father chose to return as a young man?" Mark asked, as a man in blue flight suit walked in.
"General, Sir, we received an urgent message from General Hammond. He requires Mr. Carter's presence in San Diego to help with his investigation of General Carter, Sir."
"I'm not going back there! Are you nuts?"
"Mark, please," Sam insisted, grabbing hold of his arm.
"Anything else, Walter?" O'Neill asked.
"Only that he'll rendezvous with Mr. Carter in San Diego, Sir."
"Very well, thank you Walter," Jack said and dismissed Walter.
"Jack, I'm not going back! It's not safe! I don't care if Uncle George wants me there or not!" Mark reiterated.
"Uncle George?" Jack asked, making Sam just shake her head. "Mark, you won't be going back alone. Daniel and Teal'c will be with you the whole time. And you'll be in good hands with…Uncle George."
"But…" Mark started to protest, ignoring the smirk on Jack's face when he said 'Uncle' George!
"Mark, some very bad people are after your father for some of those memories he has trapped inside his head. It would best for your father if we found him first, understood?" Jack asked.
"Plus, Jacob knows who you are," Daniel added. "He doesn't remember us…remember?"
Mark was weary. He was tired as hell and wasn't thinking straight. Little or no sleep tends to do that to him. But Jack and Daniel's words made sense and the look on Sam's face told him to trust her. Plus, Mark did want to help his father as much as possible.
"Will Sam be coming too?" he asked.
"No, I need her here for another equally important matter," Jack insisted.
"Daniel and Teal'c can contact me whenever you need me," Sam smiled.
Mark nodded then asked, "Can I see my family before we leave?"
"Sure, Carter go ahead and take him…dismissed."
Everyone got up and went their separate ways. Mark followed Sam as she led him down the stairs and into the tunnels.
"What's this important matter?" Mark asked her.
Sam seemed reluctant to reply. And being the older brother, Mark couldn't help but tease her.
"It doesn't have anything with you and Jack does it?"
"No," she quickly replied, making that smirk of his that much bigger.
"It's ok Sam you can tell me, I am your brother. He seems like a nice guy. Was he why you dropped Pete?"
"We'll talk about that later," she answered as they entered an elevator. "But there is something important going on here at the base."
Mark waited until she pushed a button.
"Sam, if it has anything to do with Dad, I need to know. I know it does, because if it didn't you would be going with me to San Diego. I know how close you and Dad got over the past few years."
"It does have to do with Dad…and us."
"Us?"
"Mark…Dad wasn't the only one to return. Someone else extremely important to Dad came back. But I don't know if I should tell you about her or let him explain it to you when he gets his memories back."
The elevator doors opened and Mark followed Sam out.
"Who is she? Dad's got an extraterrestrial girlfriend or something?" Mark joked.
"Not exactly…she's…she's our little sister is the best way I can describe her right now," Sam answered honestly.
Mark stopped in his tracks. Little sister? Ok, now Mark was really curious about what his father had been doing out in space! Good God! At his age, Dad's been Captain Kirking his way across the universe!
"Mark, please don't ask me to explain anymore right now," Sam insisted. "Let's just find Dad first."
"Ok, can I see her?" he asked as they continued walking down the tunnel.
"When you get back from San Diego. You don't have time right now. But I will tell you that you're going to love her, like I do."
Selmak woke up to find she was in a small room. No doubt one of the prison cells without the bars. She had a bed, a small table and chair. Unfortunately, the chair and table were adult size. On a high note, she did notice that there was a bowl of blue Jell-O on the table.
Her stomach grumbled and her mouth salivated at the very thought of food.
"Might as well eat," she sighed, slowly climbing down off the bed.
There was no clock so she had no idea what time it was. For all Selmak knew, she had slept the day away. And she knew she had to eat. She didn't know how long the interrogation was going to last. And Selmak doubted that General Jack would ask Malek to confirm that she was really Selmak. Jack's distrust and dislike of the Tok'ra was apparent every time the subject was brought up and that didn't bode well for her not to mention so did the fact that she lost more of her memories. However, Selmak was resolved to do whatever necessary to convince them that she was in fact the one and only Selmak.
Her only disappointment was that Sam wasn't there to share the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Selmak wished Sam was there to at least thank her for making sure Selmak had on her favorite purple pajama top and bottoms! She even had her favorite socks on, the ones with the little fuzzy purple ball on the heel.
Selmak smiled. The past several days had been amongst the happiest of Selmak's life. She had never felt such love. Of course, she was never a child that needed nurturing before. She missed the affection, especially now that she was alone.
Solitude…it was something Selmak had never known until in this child's form. But having her mind separate from others gave her a deeper understanding into the Tau'ri's way of thinking. It explained why Jacob was so much of a pain in the ass! He was very independent and resourceful, as were most Tau'ri that Selmak encountered. They had to be with no one to look out for them.
No wonder they never made good hosts. A Tok'ra host needed to be subservient in a way so as to give most of the control over to the symbiote. Jacob was not this kind of person, which is why their blending had been difficult. But his sense of duty and honor bound him to Selmak and he made it work. Though he did growl at her a lot but she assumed it was because he was a man. However, she respected him for his commitment and was honor bound to do her best to teach him and protect him as a Tok'ra.
It was her way…to be like…a mother to her hosts, to all of them. Some depended on her a little more than others. Some were more stubborn and set in their ways more than others, of course none were as stubborn as Jacob was. Some had no sense of humor what so ever while others made her laugh, including Jacob, during those boring Council Meetings. Regardless, Selmak cared for each of them, nurtured them during their initial fear of blending, and protected them as much as she could when being tortured. Always letting them know that they were never alone.
And now…she was the one who needed to be nurtured. She was the one who needed to be protected. And now…she was the one who was alone. Selmak sighed. She didn't like feeling alone. And she hated the idea that Jacob was out there…somewhere…alone.
A beep sounded, interrupting her thoughts. The beep usually indicated that the door was being unlocked.
Selmak got down from the chair and stood ready to face her punishment. She had faced Anubis, Ba'al, and Sokar and survived. She even survived dying! She would survive this…she had to. She would do anything for Jacob.
The door opened and the one person she didn't expect but was so glad to see walked in.
"Sam!"
"Hi, Selmak," Sam smiled. "I see you enjoyed your lunch."
"Yes, thank you. I very much like the grape jelly more than the strawberry jelly."
"Just like my mom."
"And Jacob," Selmak quickly added with a smile.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Jacob loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He was the one that got your mother to like them. Allison detested them when they first married but when Jacob kept harassing her to try them your mother broke down. It was one of the rare times that Jacob actually got his way with her."
"I didn't know that about my parents," Sam admitted.
"There was so much your father wanted to tell you about your mother. But he never knew how to tell you. He never…he never wanted to hurt you more than you already had been hurt when you lost your mother."
"He never stopped blaming himself."
"No, Sam, he never did," Selmak said sadly, thinking of how she couldn't forgive herself for this mess she caused.
"Were you always as stubborn as him or did you get that from blending with my father?" Sam asked with a smile.
"Sam, I can't change who I am. So you know, not one of my hosts ever influenced me in any way shape or form. But then I never had a host who was even remotely as stubborn as your father. He was equally as stubborn as I, which made for a rather complicated blending. Although your father was a pain in the ass, I wouldn't trade our blending for anything in the universe."
"Then quit blaming yourself for his death. I don't blame you. He never blamed you. Without you…my father would have died years ago and I never would have had him in my life. You may have saved his life…but you really saved our family. I will always be grateful for that."
"But General O'Neill doesn't see things as you do Sam."
"No, he doesn't but he trusts me. He has a duty to question you. His superiors demand it. But I will be there the entire time. You won't be alone. In your other life, you were Selmak the wisest of all the Tok'ra. In this life…you may still be Selmak but don't forget, you're still my half sister."
"I still haven't figured out how that happened!" Selmak admitted. "I think someone had a really twisted sense of humor or else Jacob really smoothed talked them into giving him the upper hand!"
"Daniel had a theory that because you were never human, the 'Others', as he called some of the Ancients, had to use my father's DNA to create you as a human child."
"I never thought of that," Selmak frowned. "I mean…if I was still a symbiote, I couldn't keep an eye on him, could I? Especially since we're separated."
Sam knelt down in front of Selmak and took hold of her small hand.
"I thought you should know. Daniel, Teal'c, and my brother are heading to San Diego to meet up with General Hammond. They're going to try and find my father or at least figure out where he might be heading. We're going to find him."
Selmak closed her eyes and tried to stop her tears of relief. But as usual, in this human form, she couldn't stop them. She couldn't control anything! Bless Sam for allowing Selmak to keep her dignity. She quickly wiped her tears away and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
"Ok, I'm ready," Selmak said, standing up as tall as her small frame could stand.
Sam squeezed her hand firmly and smiled making Selmak feel at ease. Her only real worry now, other than Jacob, was that she would forget everything she experienced here at the SGC, especially Sam's kindness and love. That love was something Selmak wasn't expecting. It was an almost unconditional love that Sam continued to give while helping Selmak get dressed into some jeans and a T-shirt.
"Sam…thank you," Selmak spoke softly as Sam was finishing up Selmak's braid.
"For what?"
"For being a wonderful person and the best big sister a kid could want. I thought you should know that…in case I forget."
"Hey, we'll find Dad before you forget everything. I promise."
Selmak nodded then allowed Sam to lead her out the door. She immediately noticed the two guards following her and Sam. The intense expressions on their faces never changed each time Selmak glanced back at them, not even when she stuck her tongue out at them.
"It's alright, they're for your protection," Sam insisted. "No one on the base, other than a few selected personnel, knows who you are."
They may have been for her protection but Selmak still felt…vulnerable. The guards dutifully followed them all the way to General O'Neill's office where they remained outside the closed door. To Selmak's surprise, it was only Jack sitting at his desk. No microphones and no video cameras. At least from Jacob's memories, Selmak didn't see any kind of device used during an interrogation and she looked! And Sam kept her word by sitting in the chair beside her.
"How are you feeling?" Jack asked her with that dopey grin on his face or was it a smirk. Selmak was so thrown off guard she couldn't tell. This was not what she was expecting.
"I'm fine," she slowly responded.
"Did you like the blue Jell-O? I found it to be my favorite," he smiled.
"It was adequate. I prefer the Cherry flavor."
"I'll remember that for next time. Was that Jacob's favorite flavor?" he asked, with a definite smirk on his face.
"Sir!" Sam snapped.
"Sorry," Jack replied, quickly composing himself. "I only have a few questions to ask. Colonel Carter is convinced you are who you say you are and that's good enough for me. However, I do need a few questions answered for my superiors."
"Then let us begin," Selmak started. "But first, please do not distrust the Tok'ra any more than you already do. Malek only told you what I instructed him to tell you. I was only with them for a short time and he was the only Tok'ra who knew who I was. I saw no point in telling the others."
"I wasn't planning on involving them unless it was absolutely necessary," Jack practically spat out like he took a bite of some bad fish.
"Jack, why do you dislike the Tok'ra so much?" Selmak asked. "It troubles me to see that you've even come to despise me. Tok'ra like Delek I can understand, he's a little shit. But I thought you at least liked Jacob and me. Let me rephrase that, I thought you liked Jacob at least!"
"Oh maybe it has something to do with that SNAKE Kanan who took control of my body without my permission!"
"No Jack, your dislike of the Tok'ra began before that incident. I was there on Revanah too. You were less than enthusiastic about being there! And don't call them snakes! When you insult them you insult Jacob and me! I cannot allow you to insult Jacob! We're not like the Goa'uld! Why can't you ever see that? We may be arrogant but we're not omnipotent you stubborn son of a BITCH!"
Selmak hopped off the chair and headed for the door. Jack insulting Jacob like that actually made her fill ill! She had to get out of there! The room felt suffocating and hot! Only Sam managed to grab hold of her arm before she made it more than two feet.
"Selmak, what's wrong?" Sam asked.
"I have to find Jacob!" Selmak wept uncontrollably. "He needs me!"
Suddenly the room felt like it was spinning. The sensation caused Selmak to lose her lunch all over the carpet. Luckily Sam was there for comfort and support until Selmak was done. Sam even wiped Selmak's face with some tissue.
"I'm sorry," Selmak said weakly, as Sam felt Selmak's forehead. "I don't feel so good."
"Jack, she has a fever!" Sam quickly said.
"Get her to the infirmary, I'll call Brightman," Jack ordered.
Tired. Selmak felt so tired. She was always irritable when she was exhausted. But she didn't feel bad about what she said to Jack. Jacob had always kept her from speaking her mind around Jack. With her memories quickly fading, Selmak figured she had better let it out now because she would most likely forget to do it later.
However, she did feel bad about putting on such a display in front of Sam. Selmak wasn't exactly acting like the oldest and wisest in that moment. Plus, the puking part was very embarrassing! And Selmak could see how worried Sam was has she was being carried to the infirmary.
"I hope you can forgive me, Sam," Selmak spoke softly. "I had to speak my mind."
"Don't worry. Jack has a tendency to make people do that," Sam smiled.
"Honestly, Jacob and I never could understand what you saw in him," Selmak said, making Sam laugh.
"He has his faults but he is a good man."
"Yes, he is and that's all Jacob ever wanted for you. It was the least his little girl deserved," Selmak smiled as they entered the infirmary. "Oh, hello Dr. Brightman! Before I forget and before you stick me with another damn needle you can shove those fucking syringes right up your ASS! Those things fucking hurt!"
Selmak noticed a few of the nurses and patients were a little shocked by what she just said. Thankfully Sam was there…again!
"She's not feeling so well," Sam quickly said.
"General O'Neill informed me you were on your way," Brightman smiled, ushering them out the door. "Come with me, I have a private room for her."
"Where are they?" Selmak asked as they headed down the hallway.
"Who?" Sam asked even as Selmak was looking behind Sam.
"Oh, there are! The guard dogs! Jack must really hate me!" Selmak swallowed hard. Damn…she couldn't stop crying anymore!
"Selmak, they're for your protection," Sam replied, after they entered the private room.
"Lay her down on the bed," Brightman ordered.
"I'm sure that's what Jack wanted you to believe, Sam! Truth is he hates me and my kind," Selmak countered through tears.
"He doesn't hate you. I don't think you're thinking straight right now," Sam insisted.
"How can I think straight? My head hurts and my stomach's doing flip-flops! I wish Jacob were here. He always knew how to make me feel better," she wept, curling into a tiny ball.
Sam said something but Selmak didn't hear her. The end was coming soon and Selmak wanted to be alone. It was what she deserved for hurting Jacob and his family. Maybe it would be best if she lost all her memories before they found Jacob. Then she couldn't hurt him. Or at the very least, she would never know why she hurt him.
Selmak felt the needle sink into her arm. Only she was too tired to protest. Darkness started to surround her followed by sweet silent oblivion.
One of the many things that George Hammond had become accustomed to over his military career was the fact that plans can quickly change. New orders would come and one had to drop everything they were doing to carry them out. That was the military's way of life.
For George, his original trip to Colorado Springs to pay a visit with Samantha Carter and to see the surprise addition to the Carter family, little Hannah Carter, had changed. After a brief meeting with President Hayes at the Oval office, George was ordered to fly out to San Diego, California.
George had been shocked to learn that Hannah Carter didn't exist and that the little girl was actually Selmak, Jacob's symbiote, back from ascension. Then George had been equally surprised when he had watched the video of his good friend, Jacob Carter, who was back from ascension as well and back as a young man!
First of all, no one knew that the pair had even ascended! But after Jacob's grave was exhumed the Air Force found no body in the casket. Two possibilities were that his body was stolen for scientific purposes because of the symbiote he carried or he did in fact ascend. All the experts agreed that no type of medical experiments could have produced a young version of Jacob Carter only two months after his death. The only possible explanation was that he had ascended.
However, George was very concerned for his friend. More concerned than the Joint Chiefs because he knew Jacob so well. When the Air Force and the NID tried to grab him they put Jacob on the defensive. He was on the run with enough guns and ammunition to start a small war. Even without his memories, Jacob showed that he was a capable soldier knowing to take as many weapons as possible, which he did when he cleared out the SF's van and the NID's car.
Bottom line, Jacob was scared. And George knew when Jacob was scared he was capable of anything. But George also knew Jacob wouldn't do anything unless provoked. Therefore, it was imperative that George find his friend as quickly as possible before someone got hurt.
With his new orders, George flew to San Diego to find any clues about what Jacob might be up to. At George's request, Mark Carter was flown to San Diego as well. He was accompanied by Dr. Jackson and Teal'c. Two men Jack O'Neill trusted above all others who were there to protect Mark. And after what happened at his house, George couldn't blame the young man for being a little weary.
As it was, Mark was already rather reluctant to cooperate with many of the Air Force personnel. George hoped that his relationship with the Carter family would help calm the young man. And it did seem to. When he first met up with Mark at the Airfield, he was angry and upset. But that was mainly due to exhaustion.
George could see Mark was extremely tired. He wasn't military. Therefore he wasn't prepared for such long hours or the stress the situation put on him, not to mention flying back and forth across a few states. It wasn't until during the drive and after George's repeated assurances that he was here to protect Jacob that Mark finally started to relax.
"Mark, I've known you since you were in diapers. You should know that you can trust me," George reiterated as they entered Mark's home. "I'm here as your father's friend. I want to find Jake so that we can protect him."
"George, I want to find my father as much as everyone else! I just don't like feeling so vulnerable!"
"I can assure you that you are in very capable hands. Dr. Jackson is excellent at judging peoples' feelings during questioning. And I would trust Teal'c with my own life. He has proved himself time and again."
"But he's not even human…I still have a hard time believing that!"
George put his hand on Mark's shoulder.
"There is no one more loyal to me than Teal'c…except perhaps your father."
Mark shook his head smiling.
"What do you need me for?" Mark asked.
"I need to know exactly what your father took from the house," George responded. "That should give me an idea of what frame of mind he's in. And possibly where he might be going."
Mark nodded his head and took a few steps towards the kitchen before he stopped.
"George…what will happen to my father if…if they get to him first?"
"I need you to…"
"George, I need to know! He's my father," Mark said intently.
"The truth is we don't know. We only know that they want the information he possess and they will do whatever it takes to get it," George replied honestly.
Mark nodded then went about doing what was asked of him without asking anymore questions. Normally, George wouldn't have told the younger Carter anything. However, under these bizarre circumstances, George couldn't and wouldn't hold anything from Mark regarding his father.
It was pouring rain. This was southern California! The sunshine state! It wasn't supposed to be raining! At least that's what Teal'c had heard once. Yet, it was indeed raining as he looked out the windshield.
At General O'Neill's request, he and Dr. Jackson brought Mark Carter back to San Diego. Their orders were to guard him as if he were their own brother. And Teal'c gave his word that he would protect Colonel Carter's brother by any means necessary.
"We have been followed," Teal'c said, glancing in the mirror.
"What?" Dr. Jackson questioned.
"A black sedan followed us from the Airfield."
"Where?"
"They are parked two houses behind us," Teal'c answered as Dr. Jackson checked his mirror. "Should we not inform General Hammond?"
"I'll go," Dr. Jackson replied. "I think you make Mark nervous."
"It was not my intention to."
"Well, you are the first alien he's ever knowingly met," Jackson smirked before exiting the vehicle.
Teal'c simply nodded and kept an eye on the black vehicle parked two houses down. There were two men in the vehicle but neither moved when Dr. Jackson made it to the house.
"He took the two gallons of water, a couple of loafs of bread, the new peanut butter jar that hadn't been opened and the jelly," Mark said, as Dr. Jackson hurried into the living room.
George couldn't help but chuckle.
"What?" Mark questioned.
"Nothing…your father, despite the fact that he doesn't remember anything, took the peanut butter and jelly," George explained. "He loved those damn sandwiches!"
"I thought Mom always liked them. I remember her eating them with me when I was little. She did the same with Sam."
"True, your mother liked them, son," George smiled. "But only after your father got her hooked on the sandwiches when she was pregnant with you. Before that she hated the damn things!"
"I've been such an idiot," Mark frowned as his shoulders sagged. "There's so much about my own father that I don't know. Will he get his memories back?"
"Yes, he will," Dr, Jackson replied confidently.
"Anything else missing?" George asked.
"He took some clothes…pants and t-shirts mostly, my winter jacket, my good hiking boots, and a sleeping bag. He also took the toothpaste and a toothbrush. He didn't take the shaving cream or razor though."
"Why did you say that?" Jackson asked.
"Dad's beard was still new but I could tell he hadn't shaved in days and I teased him about it…a little. Oh…and he took my car! I mean I did say anything about not taking it but I didn't think he would take my car!"
"How much money did you give him?" George asked.
"Honestly I don't really know but it was well over a thousand dollars."
"Well…it's safe to say he's going somewhere. The only question is where," George said.
"He's looking for answers," Mark simply said, remembering back to how angry his father was when he couldn't remember things.
"And Jacob's not the kind of man who would wait for answers," George smiled.
"General, I thought you should know, we're being followed," Dr. Jackson quickly inserted.
"Yes, I know," George sighed heavily. "They've been trailing us since we left the Airfield."
Dr. Jackson blinked in surprise as did Mark.
"My instincts haven't dulled just because I sit behind a desk," George smirked.
"I never said they did," Jackson replied, smiling.
"Are they that desperate to find my father?" Mark asked angrily, storming over to the window.
George grabbed Mark's arm before he pulled back the curtain.
"Don't do that, son. We'll take care of them," George sincerely said.
Mark dropped his arm and nodded.
"When we head back to the SUV don't look in their direction," George ordered both Mark and Daniel.
As instructed, Mark didn't look. Not that he knew where to look anyway. Plus, the rain gave them incentive to hurry into the SUV. Once everyone was buckled in, Teal'c pulled out onto the street and drove slowly. His eyes kept glancing at the mirrors making Mark nervous. Last night was still fresh in his memory and he didn't want to see a repeat performance.
"Mark, try to relax," Jackson suggested, from the passenger seat beside him.
Only Mark couldn't relax. The people following them were making him nervous. The fact that they had no idea where his father was or where he was going made Mark nervous. He missed Melissa and didn't like being away from his family for too long. Plus, his wife always knew how to calm his nerves. Something she did before he left the SGC and was flown to San Diego.
After a few minutes, when George made a phone call about their 'shadow', Mark finally relaxed a little. He listened as George talked on the cell phone. When George was done he then ordered Teal'c where to go. It wasn't any of the locations where they actually intended to go. But Mark assumed their new destination had something to with getting rid of their shadow.
The opportunity gave Mark a chance to ask Dr. Jackson a question that had been troubling Mark.
"Is it…painful?" Mark asked quietly.
"Is what painful?"
"Ascending and coming back?"
"No, you don't feel a thing…except maybe a little embarrassed when you come back without any clothes on or any memories of who you are," Jackson smiled.
"You're wrong," Mark said solemnly. "Not knowing who you are to a man like my father does hurt."
"It's frustrating not knowing…I know."
Mark nodded in agreement.
"He was so angry with himself for putting his family in danger," Mark explained. "I…I never liked him being in the Air Force…it took him away from his family far too often. Last night, was the first time I was glad he was in the Air Force. If he hadn't been trained…who knows what might be happening to him right now."
"You mustn't think that way. Jacob is a very resourceful guy. You said it yourself, he's looking for answers. That means posing his questions to the right people."
"How can he ask the right people when he doesn't know who they are?" Mark countered.
"You're going to have to trust your father. He's a very intelligent man and has excellent instincts," Daniel replied.
"Teal'c, pull over here," George ordered. "We'll wait here for a few minutes."
"General, I think we should talk to this nurse first," Dr. Jackson suddenly said.
"Why?" George asked before Mark could. He was curious too.
"According to the reports, several nurses and doctors said Anne Jamison took Jacob to her home," Jackson replied.
"She said that she was just keeping an eye on him until the FBI came up with something," George said.
"Yes, but he was at her home for three days," Dr. Jackson countered.
"Three days…Dad would have said something," Mark added, making them all look at him. "Do you mean to tell me that during those three days he didn't say anything to her?"
"Very well. Once we're clear we'll go," George said.
There was a roadblock up ahead or an accident because traffic slowed to a crawl. At least, Jake wanted to believe that it was an accident. Only as the more time passed with little progress on the highway, Jake started getting nervous.
He found himself praying to God that it was an accident, quickly adding on to his prayer that no one got seriously injured. He didn't mean any ill will towards anyone. Memories or no memories being scared was not something his was used to! Thank God for that military training because it really helped him to control his fear, especially now, as a Highway Patrolman was walking from vehicle to vehicle.
Each car closer, Jake could feel his heart racing faster and faster. While on the inside he was a nervous wreck, his outside demeanor didn't change. It felt…relaxed. It was an odd sensation. He was relaxed, terrified and yet more than ready to fight in a moment's notice. Jake assumed that's what was required of a soldier and what enabled him to manhandle those SFs and the NID agents.
Feeling confident in his abilities, Jake rolled down the window as the Patrolman neared his vehicle. With Texas plates on his car, Jake put on the person of a man from Texas even though he hadn't reached Texas yet. By Jake's calculations he was only midway through New Mexico.
"What seems to be the problem officer?" he asked, with a slight accent, not wanting to over do it.
"Chemical spill. We've closed down the highway and the traffic's being redirected," the officer replied coming to a stop at Jake's window. "On your way home to family?"
"Yes, Sir. Gonna stop in Odessa and see my Mom before I head onto Houston to the wife and kids."
The officer had kept his glasses on but Jake could tell he was a little leery of Jake's appearance. No doubt the cuts and bruises on his face were more prominent now. And Jake was sure his long stubble wasn't helping his case.
"You hungry, officer? I got some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," Jake smiled, hoping to deflect any of the officer's bad feelings about him. "I even got some cold milk."
"I'm so hungry, I think I could eat road kill!"
Jake quickly pulled out a pre-made sandwich and one of the small cartons of milk from the ice chest beside him. Traffic wasn't moving, so the officer began eating his sandwich.
"I haven't had one of these since I was a kid! Thanks!" he said as he took a huge bite. "Mind if I ask what happened to your face?"
"My brother and I got into an argument. His girlfriend's pregnant back in Houston and he's off gallivanting out in Las Vegas! Mom sent me after him to remind him of his responsibilities back home!"
"So I take it…"
"Yeah, he looks worse than I do. He's my brother and I love him but sometimes he needs a good kick in the ass! And when Mom tells me to do something I do it!"
"I understand. Just remember…"
"Don't worry officer," Jake smiled. "I never raise a hand to my wife or my babies. Mom raised me right. Besides, she would smack me upside the head if she caught me doing anything harmful to my wife or my children."
The cars ahead started to move, so Jake put the car in Drive.
"Thanks for the sandwich and the milk," the officer smiled as he stepped back and directed the traffic to move along.
"You're welcome!"
Jake almost wished for that cigarette! He was so grateful the traffic started moving because he couldn't think of any more lies to tell the officer! It wasn't until an hour later that Jake made it onto an alternate highway and was back on route to his destination.
The rain was depressing. Only the rain had never bothered Annie like this before. She had to call in sick. She's never called in sick to work, even when she was sick with a cold! But it wasn't the rain that was bothering her.
Yesterday, Annie was terrified when two men wearing black suits had questioned her about John. First of all they pulled her aside into a room without even showing her their credentials! They didn't even say what agency of the Government that they were from. Then they grilled her about anything John might have spoken to her, if he was still on contact with her and where he might be going. She replied honestly, saying he was a quiet and reserved man who didn't say much and was gone when the FBI turned up something. She simply didn't volunteer any information about his dreams to them or the fact that he came to see her one last time before leaving.
Then she had felt like smacking the men when they asked if she was intimately involved with John. Something like that was none of their business, no matter how much they threatened her, and she had made it clear to them that she was done being interrogated and had stormed away from them. But she left fearing that they would follow her. And the feeling hadn't left her the rest of that day or today.
So, when the doorbell of her apartment rang, Annie literally jumped from her chair. Her heart raced with fear but she knew she couldn't avoid who was at the door. Gathering up her courage, she slowly got to her feet.
The doorbell rang again.
This time Annie chided herself and headed for the door. The men that interrogated her yesterday didn't seem like the type who would ring the doorbell; they would simply smash the door down.
Opening the door, Annie was instantly at ease. Although, she was a little troubled when two of the three men looked like they had just seen a ghost. The third man with glasses noticed the other men's reactions but didn't say anything about it.
"Ms. Jamison?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I'm Daniel Jackson. This is Mark Carter and Lt. General Hammond, from the Air Force," he said, introducing his companions.
"The Air Force…Lt. General?" she asked, noticeably tensing up.
"You can call me George if it makes you more comfortable, Ma'am," Hammond smiled, instantly making Annie feel at ease.
In fact, Annie never would have guessed that George was a General wearing civilian clothes. He didn't seem like the military type with that big smile and his good manners. And she thought of him as a 'good old boy' with that Texas accent of his.
"How can I help you gentleman?" she asked.
"We're here about the John Doe you had in your home for a few days," Daniel replied earnestly.
Annie tensed up again.
"I told those men in black that I don't know anything! John wouldn't even tell me his real name!"
"Ms. Jamison, we are not affiliated with those men in anyway," George replied earnestly. "In fact, we're here to protect John from such people. But first, we must find him. Any information you have could be vital."
She felt relief from the news that John was still safe. While at the same time she was still afraid for him. If people like those men in black were after him…Annie stopped herself…she didn't want to think what might happen to John. The men before her were nothing like those other men but she was still reluctant to answer anymore questions. She didn't want to put John in any more danger.
"Please, Ms. Jamison," Mark Carter pleaded. "We need your help. We know my little brother was here for a few days. We know he had to have said something to you. Please…I need to find him. If there's anything…anything at all you can tell us I would be grateful."
On any other occasion, Annie probably would have believed Mark's sincerity. But not today!
"You expect me to believe you're John's brother? You don't look anything like him!" she countered rather harshly at Mark, making George laugh softly to himself.
"No, he doesn't because we have different mothers," Mark explained, quickly pulling out his wallet. "My sister and I look like our mother and my little brother ended up looking like our father. See…this is my father just before he died."
Annie's hand trembled slightly when she took the picture. John definitely looked like his father. A lot like his father!
"Those are my kids, Joey and Lizzy," Mark explained. "Dad loved to take them to Disneyland. This was the last trip the whole family was together. That's my sister and my wife."
"What about John?" she asked, noticing that he wasn't in the photo.
"He wasn't able to come with us on such short notice. In fact, he didn't come into the family's life until a few months ago. His mother had died and left him a letter in her will about who his father was. He turned up on Dad's doorstep one day and the next he was introduced to the rest of the family. The kids took to him right away. And he's so much like Dad it was funny! Which is why I'm so worried about him." Mark paused, taking hold of her hand. "If you care for my brother…please tell me everything."
The tears rolled slowly down her cheeks and she had to look away.
"Annie, we know he lost his memories," Daniel said softly. "What we need to know is if he started to remember anything in his dreams? Was he having visions?"
"Come in," she said, allowing the three men to enter. She quickly led them to the living room where they sat down on her couch while she sat in her favorite chair. "He was having such horrible nightmares from that first night in the hospital until the last night we were together. The Doctors had to sedate him a couple of times because he refused to go to sleep."
Annie paused and smiled at one memory.
"That man was so stubborn! Even after he was sedated, he fought to stay awake."
"Sounds familiar," Mark smiled.
"All he could see was pain in death in his nightmares…it took him three days before he talked to me about them. He said the nightmares and the bad visions didn't even seem like they were his memories…like someone had put them in his head."
"Did he say what he saw in his nightmares or visions?" Daniel gently asked.
"People with glowing eyes talking with strange voices, spaceships, a pool of water that stood on his side…crystal tunnels. Oh and alien weapons that cause great pain."
"Did he say anything else?" Mark asked.
"When he had to leave…he wouldn't tell me where he was going," she answered as she wiped her tears away. "He wouldn't even tell me his name. He was so afraid I would get hurt by the people who were after him."
"He was named after his Dad…Jacob…Jacob Carter. But he likes to be called Jake," Mark smiled warmly.
"When you find him…will you…"
"I think I could safely say that I know Jake pretty well…he'll come to you when it's safe," Mark insisted.
Annie smiled then quickly composed herself.
"Thank you, for everything," Mark said. "If you think of anything else or if Jake calls you, please tell him I need to speak with him and to get a hold of my right away. Here's a number where I can be reached, he may not have it."
"I will," she promised.
For the first time since John…Jake had left, Annie felt safe. She even had a strong feeling that she would be getting to know those kids in that photograph Mark had showed her. At least, Annie was really hoping that she would get to know Jake's family very well.
"Did I miss something?" Daniel asked as they headed to the SUV from the apartment complex. "General…you and Mark…"
"We know why Dad took to her," Mark smiled. "She resembles my mother! Shit! She could pass as my mother's younger sister!"
"In Jake's confusion he must have felt a connection with her…" Daniel started.
"It was more than that!" Mark scoffed. "He really liked her! Did you see her face when she saw the picture! She really likes him too!"
"Plus, her personality is similar to Allison Carter's," Hammond smiled. "Quick thinking and didn't hesitate to point out the obvious!"
Daniel noticed that the rain had stopped so he slowed down as the two men before him were reminiscing about Allison the rest of the way to the SUV. It was nice to see Mark smiling more and feeling at ease. Quite the opposite of what the man was going through earlier today. It made Daniel wonder if Mark knew just how much like his father he was. The man was much more resilient than he realized.
"You know, I found it odd…Jake only seemed to remember his experiences after he ble…joined the Tok'ra," Daniel said, stopping himself from revealing that Jake had blended with Selmak because Mark didn't know that about his father yet.
"That's not true," Mark said. "He did remember about the day Mom died. He blamed himself for her death, saying I had every right to be angry with him. I told him his memories were all messed up!"
"It was a damn drunk driver who ran a red light," Hammond said sadly. "But I couldn't convince him differently at the scene of the accident nor could I change his mind years later."
"At the scene of the accident?" Mark asked and Daniel saw the anguished look on Hammond's face when he realized he shouldn't have said something that Jacob obviously had never told his children. "George…tell me!"
"Mark, there are some things a child shouldn't know about their parent's death," Daniel replied for Hammond. "When I was a child witnessed both my parents die. What I would give to have not experienced that."
"I'm not a child! George, tell me! I have a right to know!"
Daniel remained quiet. He knew General Hammond well. The man didn't like delivering bad news to anyone. And Daniel could tell that whatever happened the day Allison Carter was killed hurt the General deeply. But no matter how painful or unpleasant the job was, the General always did his duty.
"Our meeting ran late," Hammond spoke softly. "By the time we left, Jake knew that Allison would have already taken a cab. He knew he was going to get an earful from her but he offered to take me home anyway because my car was in the shop. We arrived on the scene before the emergency services arrived. Being the kind of men we were, we had to help any way we could."
"I was helping that damn drunken fool out of his car when I heard Jake! He wasn't even saying anything that I could understand…but I saw the way he was frantically trying to pull the door off the cab. At first, I thought he was simply trying to get the victim out of the car as quickly as possible because there was a lot of gasoline on the ground. But when I reached him…as he pulled a woman's body out of the back seat of the cab…I'll never forget the look on his face."
Daniel watched as Mark turned his face away to hide his tears.
"I had no idea," Mark whispered. "All those years I was so angry with him…they were for nothing…I hated Dad for no reason."
"Mark, there's no sense in living in the past," Daniel insisted gently, as the raindrops started to fall. "We have to figure out how to get to your father before anyone else does."
Mark nodded, quickly wiping his eyes and they all got into the SUV.
"There nothing more I can do here," Hammond replied. "Jacob is going somewhere to seek out his answers."
"The question is where? If he doesn't remember anything, where is he going?" Daniel asked.
"It's you!" Mark quickly inserted. "It's you, George! I suddenly remembered, just before we were attacked he was about to ask me about you!"
"Why would it be General Hammond? Why not the SGC?" Daniel asked.
"Because there's no one Dad trusts more than George," Mark said firmly. "A couple of months after Mom died, I overheard my father tell George that if anything ever happened to him he wanted George to look after Sam and me. He made George promise!"
"It would be prudent to have General Hammond at the SGC, then," Teal'c commented, joining their conversation.
"But Dad has no idea where you're at George. He never asked for your address and the rolodex was untouched," Mark said. "He was very adamant about me not contacting Sam, so I don't think he's remembered anything about Colorado Springs and the SGC yet."
"We could have a team sent with you back to Washington," Daniel suggested.
"No, that would scare Jacob away. We want him to come to me," Hammond said.
"Then let him," Mark said. "Dad seems to have all his military instincts. Hopefully, he'll see the trap before he walks into it. Maybe George can even warn him…somehow."
"We still don't know where Jacob is going. The Air Force did move you around, General," Daniel said. "It could take some time for Jacob to remember any of your addresses."
"Which is why I'm going to return to D.C. If he's looking for me, it would be easier to find me there than at the SGC. I'll even take a few days off and stay at home. And if anything should go wrong, I do have a contact that may be able to help if the NID manage to grab Jacob before we do. Hopefully it won't come to that."
He entered the private infirmary room to find Selmak was alone and resting comfortably in her bed. Brightman must be with other patients and Carter was in one of the VIP rooms eating dinner with her brother and his family. Jack had been invited to join the Carter family but he refused. He still had some unfinished business to attend to and he wanted to get it over and done with.
"I was wondering when you were going to drop by and visit me, Jack," Selmak spoke, then she slowly sat up to face him. Arrogant as ever, even though he could see she was tired. "I'm not sorry for they way I spoke to your earlier."
"I don't blame you," he smiled, sitting in a chair beside her bed. "I tend to bring that out in people. Did it to my COs for years!"
"Let's just get this over with. I'm exhausted and I'm not feeling well. I know you don't like me and I just want this unpleasantness to be done."
Jack sighed then moved the chair a little closer even though he could feel that Selmak was tense around him. Boy was she stubborn! He was going to have to figure out a way to show her that he did care about her.
"You're right," he agreed. "There was some…dislike towards the Tok'ra. I know I did tend to transfer my hostilities from the Goa'uld to the Tok'ra. But I never hated you or Jacob."
"Jack, you don't have to lie to me," Selmak replied. "I have not forgotten your tone of voice when you questioned Jacob's loyalties when you and he discussed Ba'al's strategies against the replicators. You tend to allow your feelings for your friends to influence your judgement! Jacob wasn't wrong in trying to save the greater good, meaning Earth and the galaxy! You were extremely lucky that everything worked out the way it did. Things could have easily turned out differently."
"You're right. I apologize."
"It is not me you need to apologize to. It is Jacob."
"Selmak, we can sit here all day butting heads but that's not going to get us anywhere and we don't have the time! Yes, I don't like the Tok'ra. That's not going to change. Yes, I do allow my feelings to influence me. That's not going to change either. But I have changed in the way I feel towards you. You have made Sam very happy. I can't over look that. The feelings you have towards Jacob and his family are genuine…I can't over look that either."
"My…you've had an epiphany!" she scoffed.
"Do you have to be so damn arrogant?" he snapped.
"I cannot stop being the person I am just because I'm in the body of a child," Selmak smirked.
Jack chuckled to himself, sensing Selmak's mood had changed for the better.
"None of this matters anymore, Jack," she said sadly. "Soon I will not remember anything you've done to Jacob or myself. However, I am confident that Jacob eventually will. And I guarantee that Jacob will not tolerate any jokes about me being female. I saw that smirk Jack! I know you all too well. He will either choke the life out of you or string you from your balls the moment you open your mouth and say anything me!"
Jack swallowed hard and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Damn…didn't anyone let him have any fun around here? He was a General now! Jack has been wondering lately if he should have remained a Colonel. He had more fun being a Colonel!
"Shall we begin?" Selmak asked with an oh so innocent smile on her face.
All Jack could do was laugh at himself, knowing he had been bested by a four year old!