Jack
'What a day I'm having, and it's a Monday. I know it'll get worst. I just have to brace myself,' I thought as I was getting ready to embark. 'One good thing out of this, I get to go off world again, finally!'
Whoosh! There it was. That big beautiful shimmering pool just waiting for me to go though. I put my sunglasses on with a flourish and said, "let's move out kids."
"Jack! It's good to see you," Garan greeted us as we came out of the gate. He reached out to shake my hand as we drew near.
"Garan, it's good to see you too. Wow! You've gained a few inches there," I said as we were looking eye to eye. "How's life treating you?" I asked as we moved out from the gate to head towards the village.
"It is good. I married Naytha and have a couple of kids."
"That's great." I stopped and turned to the rest of the group, "Garan, you remember Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c," as I pointed to each one in turn. Then I motioned over to Jacob, "this is Jacob Carter, Sam's father. Jacob this is Garan. He has been the one managing the trade between our worlds."
"I'm glad to meet you," said Jacob while giving Garan a handshake. You could tell he was a little impatient.
I decided to give him a break and get to the point, "Garan, were is the man you found?"
"This way," as he pointed towards the village, "mom is taking care of him."
"By the way, how is she doing?"
"Great. Missed you for awhile," Garan said and watching me for any reactions. I just nod my head and kept my mouth shut.
Sam
I was following right behind them and heard the exchange. 'I know I should not be jealous about this, but I can't stop feeling the knots in my stomach. Pete and I are engaged...Pete and I are engaged,' I chanted to myself. Hoping that it would help to dispel the knot of jealousy cramping my stomach.
Daniel moved up to the other side of Garan and asked, "So, you have a family?" Garan looked over at Daniel and smiled, "Yes, a girl and a boy. They do keep me busy. I know now what my mother went through when I was younger." Both laughed and continued to talk on the way to the village.
Jacob
I decided to approach Jack about the situation. I had noticed that Jack was not cracking jokes or being his sarcastic self. I came up even with Jack, tried to get a closer look at his facial expressions. He had gotten very good at hiding behind that poker face.
Jack
I noticed Jacob's approach and knew he wanted to say something. I waited but decided to make it a little easier for him and spoke first. "Go ahead Jacob. I won't bite."
That broke the ice and he gave a small chuckle. "Jack, what are you thinking? I'm having difficulty knowing what to expect from you when you see Kanan. He would never talk to us about that episode in his life." When I did not answer, Jacob continued, "Are you going to be alright facing him? I know you were upset with him for the experiences you had after he fled."
I was not sure how to explain what I was feeling right now. I was fine, actually. I had eventually remembered a few more things from that time. Not much, but it helped me to understand Kanan better. One of the memories was right before trying to escape from that planet where Baal had his hidden base, the first time. I remembered Kanan told Shallan to get down to wait while he dialed off world. We, (Kanan & I), were at the DHD when we got hit by a staff weapon. I remembered yelling at Kanan to go. Well, not out loud, but in my head. I tried to explain to him that if Baal caught him the To'kra would suffer. It worked. He left me and I passed out.
I stopped to look at Jacob and took a deep breath, "Look, I don't want to discuss this right now. But know that I'm O.K. with it," with that said, I started to walk again.
We just entered the village, when eight or ten kids came running up to us. Two of the kids ran right to Garan and gave him a hug around the knees. "Daddy! Daddy!" they both shouted. Garan laughed and turned to us and said, "These little hellions are Jack & Sam."
That brought Sam back with a start, "What?"
Daniel came over to Sam and slapped her on the back, "Congratulations! Now we all have a kid named after them. Well, except Teal'c."
Teal'c just raised his eyebrow at Daniel, gave him a half smile and said, "Indeed."
Garan tries to pry his kid's hands from his legs and tells all of the children, "Go and bug Paynan for awhile. I think he had something planned for you this evening." The kids laughed and ran off to find out what it was.
"You have very beautiful children. How old are they?" Sam asked. I am sure she was secretly hoping that Sam was the oldest.
"They are twins. They will be 5 next week." He looked at me for a moment to let an unspoken word or two pass before saying, "Let's go, mom is waiting."
Teal'c
As everyone started walking to Laira's house, I stopped and looked around. I was having a feeling of being watched. I spied a little girl standing by a large tree near the pathway. She was about 5 or so, light brown hair, brown eyes, and very cute. She was looking at me and when she noticed I was looking at her as well she broke out into the biggest smile I have ever seen. I smiled in return and bowed my head. She giggled, and then proceeded to run in the direction of the other children.
Laira
I was standing at the table in the center of the main room when Garan stepped in with everyone in tow. 'There he is,' I thought, 'He is even more handsome with that silvery gray hair, and yes, there is that twinkle in his eyes. More so, now.' I walked over and gave Jack a hug and said, "I'm happy to see you. I just wish it was under better circumstances."
Jack
I returned the hug, "your looking good."
'She hadn't changed a bit,' I thought. 'She is just as beautiful as if it was yesterday.'
'Jack,' I told myself, 'come back to the present.'
"So...where's your patient?"
"He is very badly hurt," said Laira. "He may not last for much longer."
"I understand," then I turned to Sam, "Carter, I want you and Teal'c to work with Garan and get the villagers EVAC to the Alpha site."
"Yes, sir," she said without question. Just like it should be, but the questions were there in her eyes.
"Jack!" said Garan and Daniel at the same time.
"Look. Someone was chasing Kanan. More than likely they will track him here. We need to get these people out of here before they get hurt or worse...killed."
I knew we needed to do something quick because as soon as we entered the house the hairs started doing that tickling thing on the back of my neck. That and the gut feeling that left no doubt as to the identity of the man in the other room. He would not have crashed the ship unless it had been damaged by a firefight, more than likely by a Goa'uld. I looked at Laira and told her to get what she needed and to help convince the villagers to go with Carter and Teal'c.
Laira
"But Jack, what about my patient?"
"It's alright. This is Jacob," as he pointed him out near us. "He is a friend of your patient. We will take care of him. O.K.?"
He held my face in his hands and looked deep into my eyes. It was like he was trying to convey all of his emotions and thoughts in that one look.
"Alright, I'll go. But Jack, I need to talk with you when all of this is over."
"As soon as it's over. Promise," then he gave me that smile.
I took one last deep breath to get the smell of him before I left. "Be careful."
"Careful is my middle name." Jack quipped.
"Yea, right," snorted Daniel. "I thought it was 'hey guys, I'm over here'."
"What ever," Jack smirked.
"Colonel?" Jack called after Sam, just before she exited the house.
"Yes sir?" she answered.
"Once everyone is through the gate, I want you and Teal'c to work your way to the downed ship. Garan told me it is two clicks due south. Watch for signs of trouble."
"Yes sir," she turned and continued her way out the door and I followed.
Jacob
I was watching all of this and did not miss the Jack and Laira's exchange, also Sam's reaction.
'Hmmm, you would think she's jealous. Sam had told me earlier, while we were still on Earth, about her engagement to Pete Shanahan, at the time I had some doubts about her feelings for Pete, now, after witnessing this, I have no doubts. I believe she still has very strong feelings for Jack. I'll have to talk to her later when this is all over.'
Daniel and I waited for Jack to speak. We did not have to wait long. Jack walked closer to us, "Do me a favor guys? Stay out here and let me talk to Kanan first."
"Jack?"
"Daniel. It's o.k. I'll be fine."
Jack headed towards the door and placed his hand on the knob. Took a deep breath and walked in.
I place my hand on Daniel's shoulder and said," Let him have his time."
Jack
I closed the door behind me and looked at the man lying on the bed. Kanan's breathing was raspy. You could see trauma over his left eyebrow, the same location of the brow that I have. 'What is it about the left eyebrow that attracts injuries. Is there a sign saying, hit here?' I reached for the chair near the bed and pulled it closer. As I was sitting down, Kanan opened his eyes. The eyes gave a faint glow. "Jack, you made it," he said with the obvious Tok'ra voice, a little breathy, but the same.
"Yes," as I leaned closer to hear better," You don't look so good."
"Is it that obvious?" croaked Kanan. He gave a small chuckle before going into a coughing fit.
"Hey, take it easy. Here have some water," I offered, holding his head up to take a sip from the cup that had been on the table next to the bed.
"Thank you," replied Kanan after settling back down. He started to fumble in his pocket for something. Then he pulled it out and he tried to lift it up to me. "Please take it. This is your destiny."
"What! Are you cracked! What is this, 'this is your destiny' crap?"
"I know, had to put that in for good measure to see your reaction," said Kanan with a grin.
"So what is it?" I held it closer to get a better look at it. There was a big blue crystal in the center of a disk made of what looks like pewter, symbols on the outer edge. Looked like something Daniel would enjoy deciphering.
"It is a Key to stopping the Goa'ulds. There is a device in my ship that it will fit." Kanan had to stop to try and catch his breath.
"Do you know how to work it?"
"Yes...but...it...has...to...be...you," Kanan said while his breathing becomes more labored.
Elsewhere in the Galaxy
"My Lord! We found the location of the Tok'ra ship," said Baal's first prime.
"Excellent", as Baal's eyes glowed, "take me there."
Jacob
"Jacob, should we try going in there now?" asked Daniel. He looked at his watch. "It has been 45 minutes."
"Yes, I think we should at least check to see if they are alright."
Daniel moved to the door to knock when Jack opened it. "Jack, we were starting to get worried."
Jack moved into the room. He was putting something into one of his vest pockets. "Just starting to?" he said with a lop-sided smirk.
"Well..." stammered Daniel, for the first time I heard him a loss for words.
"That's alright Daniel. You don't have to finish," laughed Jack.
"How is he?" I asked. I got up from the table to move around to get closer to Jack.
"I'm sorry Jacob."
I acknowledged with my head that I understood and then I tilted down and back up to allow Selmac to speak. "Were you able to get the information General O'Neill?"
"Yep. We need to get to his ship. There is an artifact we need to retrieve." Jack said all of this while walking quickly to the door.
"Jack? You said artifact. You usually call them rocks."
"Yea. Thought you get a kick out of that. Hurry up. I don't know how much time we have. We need to get to the ship."
As the three of us headed to the location of Kanan's ship, I studied Jack. I tried to move in closer. "Jack?" I asked. I was sensing something.
Jack stopped and turned around and looks at me. "Yes, Jacob?"
"Kanan is still alive, isn't he?"
"You got me there. I knew I could not slide that one passed you."
Daniel looked startled, "Kanan blended with you?"
"Yes, and before you go any further with your 20 questions Dr. Jackson, I agreed to it." I could tell that was not enough for Daniel, so did Jack. "Look, he was dying and was unable to give all of the information we needed. So, I was the one who suggested it."
"All righty then. Let's go," said Daniel as he took an abrupt turn and headed off to the ship.
Jack and I looked at each other with quizzical looks and Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"...and we're off," Jack said and started to followed the linguist.
TBC
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