Chapter 2: 'Who are you?'

"Sir!"

Sam jogged down the corridors of a sub-level of the SGC, drawing up alongside her commander. In her hands was a multi-page report, enclosed in the official SG designed folders on the base, and she let it fall down to knee-level as she addressed the Colonel.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted, brimming with what Jack recognised as her professional excitement.

"Morning," he countered flatly.

"Is everything OK, Colonel?" she said, concern clouding her elation momentarily.

"Fine," he dismissed. Humour forcing itself through as a reflexive barrier, he gave half a smile at her behaviour. "What are you so pleased about this time Major?"

"The backwards-engineered Hakonan staff weapons, sir," she flipped through the report, but Jack's fatigued eyes refused to focus on the text properly. "Teal'c and SGs 3 and 5 just finished the field testing. Practically no problems; the results just need to be reviewed by the Pentagon. I can't see them rejecting them, though. It's looking like a sure bet, sir."

Jack merely hummed in response, rubbing his eyes as he did so. Sam paused in hesitation.

"You don't sound so pleased, sir," she stated. "I thought you'd be the first to get excited about a 'big honkin space gun'."

"Big?" Jack echoed, measuring out his estimation of the staff weapon's actual size in the air in front of him.

"Alright, a moderately-sized space gun," Sam conceded. "And one we can make ourselves since it doesn't require naquadah."

"Don't get me wrong. I love a cool gun as much as the next guy. Definitely more interesting than that thing you've got up the top of the mountain."

"The auxiliary kurstallis generator?" Sam offered.

"Yep."

"Just as important, sir," she said. "Creating a secondary system to generate clean, efficient power from a solar source has cut the SGC's use of conventional power by 27. It could globally revolutionise power generation."

"Like I said, much more interesting than that thing you've got up the top of the mountain…" Jack rubbed his eyes again.

It didn't go unnoticed. As they reached the elevator, Sam waited until they were both inside before proceeding.

"Is there something bothering you, Colonel?"

"I'm fine, Carter," Jack growled.

"Sir, it's not like Teal'c and I haven't noticed," she pressed gently. "You've been… different for a while now. Angrier. Lately, you've had Daniel to worry about – we all have, and Jonas still feels guilty – but even before that…"

Sam let him take in her words, but when he made no indication he wanted to explain, she continued.

"It was only a couple of months after Einar left when we found out about Stoneheim… I know that affected you. And now you look like you haven't had a decent nights sleep in weeks."

"Look," he snapped as the doors slid open on his floor, "stop worrying about me, Major. There's nothing wrong. I'll see you at the briefing."

The planet P77-989 was a nice, temperate world, and Jack made an effort to seem agreeable and pleasant. The locals, a very rustic society in a small scattering of villages near to the Stargate, looked like farmers and so had little to offer in the way of technology. He spotted Jonas talking to several of the natives, his curious disposition desperately trying to make up for Daniel's loss from the team. Jack inwardly groaned when he realised Jonas was leading them towards him.

"Greetings," the senior, grey-bearded villager among them hailed, pre-empting Jonas' efforts for introductions. "I am Torran, elder of this village. We welcome you and your fellow travellers to Farlor."

In an unusual gesture, Torran placed both palms on his forehead and bowed his head briefly. Jack indifferently assumed that this was the local version of shaking hands. He waved his hand awkwardly about in response.

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, forcing a smile. "Nice place you have here, Torran."

"Indeed it is." Torran beamed, before patting Jonas on the shoulder heartily. "We have met your curious friend here, but we have not yet been told your name, friend. Who are you?"

Jack said nothing for a moment. The hesitation was long enough for the rest of the team to look over at him suspiciously, and Torran frowned with concern. Finally, he swallowed and opened his mouth.

"O'Neill," he managed. "Colonel Jack O'Neill."

He remained distant and distracted throughout the rest of the mission, almost completely ignoring the discussions about offering the villagers medical supplies and the possibilities of food rations in case of poor harvests. As the four members of SG-1 made the short trek back to the gate, Jack mulled over that first meeting with Torran. Sam had been right – a lot had happened that had weighed on him heavily, most recently Daniel's ascension and the lack of sleep from that damn recurring dream – but he had long felt that it wasn't the crux of the problem.

In that moment, when Torran had asked him the innocent question 'who are you?', Jack had finally realised what had really been bothering him all this time. He had hesitated because his mind had pulled up not one firm answer, but two hazy and uncertain ones that overlapped. Stunned by the dilemma, his brain had presented neither to him and he just hadn't known what to say in reply.

He had resorted to force of habit, saying what he said to everyone he met. Yet, with a sinking sensation of panic, he began to understand that even he didn't know who he was anymore.

Thanks to Lorettakay and feb04 for the reviews of the first chapter. I'm still figuring out the main direction of the plot further into the story, but I wanted to get this next part written. I hope you enjoyed it. Let's hope this fic goes as well as the first story, if not better!