He is alive… and not ascended or descended!
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"Holy smokes!"
With the familiar feeling of 'a nail in the head' thing, Jack O'Neill was jolted back into the world of the living.
"Alastor! He is awake!"
A tall, thin man made his way towards him. "O'Neill of the Tau'ri!" He exclaimed. "You are alive!
Jack shivered. "Where am I?"
"You are in a cryogenic sleep chamber. You've have just now been awaken."
Jack looked around. "Nice place."
He smiled.
"Where's my team?" He demanded. "And SG-2?"
"The others that came with you? They made it safely through the… 'Stargate'."
"How long have I been out?" Jack asked curiously. "And what happened?"
Alastor hesitated, "I am afraid that you have been asleep... for ten of your months."
Å
"Wow!"
Sam had to smile at the look on Dori's face as she entered the lab. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"Oh yeah!"
Sam noticed a bag in her hand. "What's that?"
She blushed. "Nothing."
"Can I see?"
Not loath, she handed the bag over. "Just stuff from people at school."
Carter pulled out nearly two dozen valentines, along with a wilting rose, several boxes of chocolate, and a small stuff monkey.
"From Conrad to Dori. From Love Monkey to Dori-" She stopped reading. "Love monkey?"
Dori blushed. "Sean."
Carter gave her a surprised glance. "Oooooh… Dori's has a boyfriend."
She turned redder. "I don't! Okay… maybe I do, but it isn't Sean!"
"Who then?"
Dorothy hesitated before whispering: "Rick."
Carter rooted through the valentines until she found a card addressed: "To: Dori, From: Rick."
"The rose and one of the chocolates are from him too." She added.
Carter grinned widely. "Daniel! Teal'c! Come here!"
Dori groaned theatrically.
Å
Jack started. "What?"
Alastor came closer. "You came through the Stargate, we were not aware..." He stopped for a moment then continued. "Our automated defenses fired before we could identify whether you were friend or foe. Once we realized you were not Goa'uld, we had the weapons desist firing. Your team returned home," He assured Jack. "However, your injuries were very severe-indeed, we were near death and we were unable to help you so we placed you in a cryogenic sleep... however, it took much longer then planned. But if we had awoken you sooner... you would have died."
"What about the team? Didn't they send someone to try and help me?"
"It would have been impossible... we have buried the ring."
Jack ignored his headache and stepped out of the chamber. "You what?"
"We are ashamed that this has happened. We were afraid of your people returning and more being hurt- perhaps killed. We thought it best to-"
"Let all my friends and family think I'm dead?" Jack roared. "What kind of people are you?"
Alastor looked away. "They also think you are dead."
"What?"
"They do… a man attempted to make sure you were dead before leaving. He was, obviously, inaccurate." At the look of rage on Jack's face he added: "We will, of course, return you to your planet once you are well enough to travel."
"No, we will not." Another voice said. A tall, important looking man strode in. "Alastor." He greeted.
"Who are you?" Jack demanded.
"I am Aaron, leader of the Darien's, and I am afraid we can not return you to your 'Earth' as you call it."
"Why is that?" asked Jack. "My friends-"
"Will undoubtedly be furious at being deceived so. They will declare war on us. Our people are simple... we live peaceful lives. We could- and would- win a war... but only at great expense to life and property."
"WHAT?"
Aaron ignored him. "You will be allowed to roam Lingren as you chose, a house of your choosing will be granted to you, every honor paid, a fija will be given to you, allowing you to support yourself in any style you chose until your death. Any single woman you wish will be given to you for this... unfortunate event."
Jack stared at him. "First on all, I don't want a woman or a house, second my friends will not launch an attack on this planet- they'll be glad to see me alive which is due to you guys... they might even hold a shindig!"
"We can not take the risk," Aaron said crisply. "As Commander of the Darien's, I am sorry but we will not let you leave."
He spun on his heel and walked off.
"Hey you, wait!" Jack called. The man paused but didn't turn around.
"My friends won't hurt you... I give you my word, nothing will happen."
"I am sorry," Aaron said softly. "But that will not be good enough."
And the door closed softly. Jack stared after him for a moment then kicked the wall.
"Dammit!"
Å
"Dorothy, change the channel."
The girl sighed and complied. She knew Sam hated 'The Simpson's' but sometimes, when Sam was asleep, she would creep into the living room and watch one. It was like old times with Jack.
Jack.
After nearly a year, Dori was reconciling herself to the fact Jack was never coming back.
But despite what Sam said- or thought- He wasn't dead.
She rolled over and looked at herfuture parent. Carter was curled up on the couch, staring out the window. She had acted depressed all day.
"Are you okay Sam?"
Sam started and looked at Dori. "What?"
"Are you okay? You've kind of out of it all day."
Carter gestured to the end of the couch. "Come here."
Dori obediently plopped on the edge of the couch. "What did I do?"
"Nothing!" Carter assured her hastily. "I just uh..."
"You... what?"
The Colonel sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "They need me to go on a mission."
Dori tensed. A few weeks after Jack had 'gone', Carter had been approached by General Landry and asked to resume off world travel. Carter had refused but mentioned it in passing to the teenager. To say Dori had flipped was putting it mildly.
"Sam, no-"
"Hear me out. It's a simple meet-n-greet. They want to meet the 'famous' members of SG-1... that's all."
"Jack's mission was suppose to be a simple one too," Dori said in a small voice. "But... it wasn't."
Carter touched her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere kiddo."
"Sam, please, don't go," Dorothy begged. "I need you! What if something happens?"
"It won-" Carter stopped. Jack had promised the same thing to the girl- laughingly. "I can't... I can't promise everything will go okay. But, I will promise this: I love you Dori, and I will do everything in my power to stay alive."
Dori let out a snort. "Gee, thanks."
"I don't have a choice Dori."
"What about me?" She knew she sounded whiny but she didn't care right then.
"You'll stay on base with Janet and Cassie."
"What about school?"
"I'll only be gone Saturday."
Dori, almost imperceptivity, brightened, "One day mission?"
"Yes."
"You promise?"
"If everything goes as planned, yes."
Dori nodded. "Okay."
Sam ruffled her hair playfully. "That's my girl."
She leaned against her soon-to-be mother and sighed. "Just... be safe."
"I will Dorothy... I will."
Å
"Alastor, c'mon... don't you people owe me?"
The tall thin man smoothed his charcoal gray hair and sighed. "I am sorry O'Neill. Aaron has spoken."
Jack looked around the 'small cottage' he had been given. The thing was the size of his house. "Come on Al... please... I have a kid back home. Her name's Dori... you've got a boy... you know how it feels... you know how I feel."
The man looked truly sorry. "O'Neill, you know the one thing I can not do is to return you home."
"C'mon!"
"Please, anything else! A woman? New robes?"
Jack scowled. "I have a woman on my planet!"
Alastor winced. "O'Neill-"
"No Al, the only thing I want is to go home. Can you comprehend that?"
"Believe me," He began. "If it was up to me, I would. But Aaron has been our leader for many years- longer then you have been alive. He has seen us through peace; through war... we have been too trusting- and have scars to prove it. Aaron's reluctance to trust is most understandable."
"My people WON'T! You guys are clearly more advanced then us- said so yourself! Why would we try to fight a war we couldn't win? Huh?"
Alastor frowned. "There is logic behind your words. I will speak with Aaron." He hesitated. "But I am not sure of the good it will do."
He opened the door. "Until next week."
"Yeah, whatever." Jack muttered. Once the door was closed, he turned and kicked the thing he assumed was a sofa.
The door opened a fraction and something flew into the room. Jack blinked. It was a backpack. The door closed quietly and footsteps hurried away. Jack hesitated then walked over and picked it up.
He reached for the zipper and opened it. Inside were the standard equipment- minus anything Alastor had thought was 'dangerous'- His MRE's, everything... including the small framed photo of Dori and Carter.
Jack traced Sam's features, underneath the glass. Next to her, Dori's eyes sparkled, a big grin on her face.
"Thanks Al," He said quietly. "Thanks."
Å
"Chevron three encoded!"
Dori gave her what she hoped was a casual smile, "Have fun Sam."
"Yeah, sure, you betcha."
It was the seventeenth and Carter was leaving for the planet.
"Chevron four encoded!"
Daniel patted her on the head. "Behave."
"Chevron five encoded!"
Dori ducked away from Daniel and frowned. "'Course I will!"
"Chevron six encoded!"
"Take care of yourself young Dorothy."
"Yeah," Dori promised. "I will."
"Chevron seven… locked!"
The event horizon shot out then retreated. Sam gave Dorothy a quick hug then darted through the gate. Daniel gave her a small smile and followed her through with Teal'c.
The gate shut down and she sighed.
It was going to be a long day.
Å
Jack sighed. He knew it was sometime in February… maybe it was Dori's birthday.
Thinking of his daughter made his heart ache… thinking of his second-in-command was even worth.
"Sam…" He whispered unconsciously. "I'm here… I'm still alive."
He fell asleep, still clutching the picture frame.
Å
"It's 7:30."
"Yes, Dorothy."
"Sam said they would be back around 7:00."
Walter gave her an encouraging smile. "They tend to lose track of time… and her check-in isn't for nearly two hours."
Dori plopped in the seat next to the technician. "Oh."
He looked over at the girl. She was so much like General O'Neill. "Coffee?"
She smiled. "Sure."
He poured her a cup and then himself some. "So… how's school?" He asked, searching for a subject.
"Okay."
"You like it?"
She shrugged. "I miss coming here… I miss the freedom of being homeschooled. But yeah, I like it."
"Good."
The next few minutes were silent.
"Do you think-"
The gate began turning. A second later, the 'whoosh' hit the iris and retreated.
"OFF WORLD ACTIVATION!" Walter yelled.
General Landry came from his office. "Who is it?"
The technician smiled at Dori. "SG-1, sir."
"Open the iris."
It spun open and one, two, three figures stepped through.
"Sam!" She cried, not nearly 16 but 14 again. She hurried down the stairs and flung her arms around the Colonel. "Are you okay?"
Carter laughingly detangled herself. "I'm fine. Here, I brought you something."
She dropped something into the teen's hand. Dori held it up. "Oh Sam… it's gorgeous!"
It was extremely thin silver chain- barely thicker then a hair but strong. Several colored stones were attached to the chain.
"Aliens made this?"
Carter nodded.
"It's awesome Sam."
Daniel tugged on the long brown braid. "We thought you might."
"Indeed."
She hugged each of the men in turn. "Thanks guys."
Sam nodded. "Anytime Dori… anytime."
Å Lingren… Å
The next few days dragged by for Jack. Aaron still refused to send him home. The Commander had done everything else in his power to make Jack content- even offering him a spot on the Council of Darien. Jack 'politely' turned down their invitation and sulked in his house for several days.
It was the local children that persuaded him to come out. The grouchy man held no fear for them- they knew he enjoyed their company. Chattering rapidly in a peculiar mixture of English and Dari (the ancient language) they showed him the prosperous towns and fields, the shops, their favorite places to play.
He soon came to dread the nights. In daylight, he could help the townsmen or amuse the children. At night, he would lie awake for hours, thinking of home, Dori, and Sam.
He even missed Daniel's long and tedious briefings… Not that he would ever tell the archeologist that.
Å
"Happy Birthday to you…"
Dori's eyes sparkled. No matter how old she turned, she still had a childlike love of parties. She quickly made her wish and blew out all 16 candles with one breath.
Dakota and Rick applauded loudly while Daniel and Teal'c continued to look at Rick suspiciously. They weren't sure about this 'boy' and decided to keep an eye on him. Rick had been the perfect gentleman- not even holding Dori's hand. But there was no denying the attraction between them.
They had to admit. He was by no means bad looking. Dori declared that with his light brown hair, dark brown eyes and athletic figure he was hot; something that Daniel continued to groan over.
Dakota had shoulder length auburn hair and dancing green eyes. The petted daughter of two wealthy parents, she was merry and carefree, a good influence on Dori, Sam thought. The teen was becoming too quiet.
"So, what did you wish for?" Dakota inquired.
"She can't tell or it won't happen," Rick objected.
Dori smiled. "I wished for a miracle."
Å
Over a month later…
Sam was worried. Dori had been quiet the last week, even refusing an invitation to go to the country fair with Rick.
She parked outside the school. "Okay Dor… what is it?"
To her credit, the girl didn't even play innocent. "Jack's been gone a year tomorrow… and I was thinking… maybe we could visit his grave?"
Carter was silent for a moment. "I thought you wanted to with Daniel to the dinosaur place."
"We can go next week."
Sam looked at her. "Okay… it's a date. You and me, tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yeah... we'll go. I'll call Daniel and explain it to him. Don't worry about it."
She gave Sam a smile. "Thanks... I'll see you later."
She shut the door and gracefully ran up the schools step and through the doors before a bell rang.
Carter sighed and drove off.
Å
"Want Teal'c and I to go with you?"
Sam gave her friend a small smile. "Thanks Daniel… but, I think that Dori wants us to do this… alone."
He nodded understandingly. "Okay… just remember- if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."
She nodded and mutely hugged him. He placed his arms around her and they rocked back and forth silently.
Å
"Dori?"
The teen started and looked up to see her teachers face inches from hers. "Sorry, Miss Parker," She whispered. "My mind was wandering."
Her teacher nodded. "Just try to keep your mind on Ancient Egypt for now, okay?"
She nodded. Rick, three seats over, mouthed 'Are you okay'? She nodded again and looked down at her textbook. School had never seemed so long.
Finally the bell rang. Dori stuffed her books in her backpack then slung it over her shoulders. Hurrying past the small groups of chattering people, she searched for her guardian's car. It wasn't there yet.
She sighed and slumped against one of the many trees covering the school's front yard.
"Hey, Dor… what's the matter?"
She shrugged. "Nothin'."
"Don't give me that cra-" He stopped. "That… stuff. What is it?"
Dori hesitated before saying: "Tomorrow, my dad's been gone a year."
Rick looked at her for a second before slipping an arm over her shoulder. "What happened to him?"
The teen hesitated before muttering: "He… died. We think. He and my… mom… were sent to a hostile area. One of the people with them confirmed that he was dead then they had to run for their lives… they couldn't bring the body with them."
"Miss Sam isn't your real mother?"
She shook her head. "I was Jack's ex-wife's daughter. She died and he received custody. He died, my dad's fiancée received custody of me."
He was quiet for a moment. "Is she adopting you?"
A smile spread across her face. "Yeah… soon I'll be Dorothy Anne Morgan O'Neill Carter."
He gave a small smile. "Hey, I'm Rick Andrew Dean Wilson… it's almost as long as yours."
Dori nodded. "Yeah… I guess it is."
There was a 'honk' and Sam's car pulled up.
"See you Dori?" He asked.
"Monday!" She called over her shoulder before slamming the passenger door closed.
"Good day?" Sam asked, noticing the smile on her face.
She shrugged. "It was okay… the ending was nice."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "You better not have kissed that boy."
"SAM!"
Carter laughed and pulled away from the curve.
Å
"Ease up Dori… speed limits only 35!"
Dori obediently slowed down. The gates to the cemetery were approaching. She carefully navigated through them and stopped.
"I can't remember where he's buried."'
Sam unbuckled and hurried to the driver's seat. "Here, I'll drive."
Dori nodded and slid over. Carter slowly drove through the rows and rows of graves. Finally she stopped. Silently, they opened their doors and walked across the lawn to his grave.
Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neill
Dori sank onto the grass next to it. Sam slowly took a seat next to her.
"You… you think that he… he's really dead?"
Carter was quiet for a long time. "I don't know Dori… I honestly don't know. Everything tells me he is but…"
"Your heart tells you otherwise." Dori supplied.
"Yeah."
"Could we… one last time… not today but tomorrow…"
"Come back here?"
The teen shook her head. "Dial 92R-763 one last time."
The Colonel slowly nodded. "I don't see why not?"
Dori wrapped her arms around her soon to be mother. "I love you Sam."
"I love you too Dori."
Å
"It's being moved?"
Alastor closed his eyes and nodded. "Today, to a new location about 40 nano's away."
Jack had talked with the locals enough to know that that was about 10 miles. "Why are they moving it?"
"When the gate is activated, the ground shakes. It was caused some problems to our systems. They will be removing it from the ground today, continue to move it until it is Chon. They will bury it in its new place the following day."
"Why are you telling me this Al?"
"The boy you saved in river today?"
Jack nodded. "Kid named Bala or something."
"Balknor," 'Al' corrected. "He is my son."
Jack stared. "That was your kid?"
"Yes. Your chance for leaving is tomorrow, during Chon. We will be at the temples all day. You can make your escape."
Jack closed his eyes for a brief second. "Home…"
"Yes O'Neill. Home."
I hope you liked this chapter! Hope it answers some of your questions!
Well, next chapter, Jack tries to return home... does he make it?
Thanks to WarmTea for thinking up the cryogenic sleep!
Please review!
