Rewound
by Adalia Zandra
For summary, important warning, and other details, please see part one.
Author's Note: My laptop is currently KIA. I'll be sending it to the (theoretically) more knowledgeable computer people at the University Help Desk soon in the hopes that they'll revive the poor thing. In the meantime, I'm updating from whatever computer I can grab time at . . . so things will probably continue to progress slowly with this story. Have no fear, though, for it will progress.
This part will seem largely familiar if you've read other SG/M stories . . . it's the standard SG-1 and Mac getting used to each other stuff. But there are some nice juicy backstory bits in there for 'ya, too. I've played with the early SG-1 timeline a little bit to make it all work, kind of stretching things out a bit in between Charlie's death and the events of the movie, I hope you'll forgive me. On to the fic!
Miraculously, nobody they passed in the corridors on their way to the commissary for lunch seemed to even notice that there was something a little wrong with the way SG-1 looked. Relative newcomers to the base didn't know any better, and anyone who'd been there much longer than that was too used to odd goings on to even bat an eye.
That's not to say that there weren't things to notice. Teal'c's appearance was completely normal as he brought up the rear of their group, but the other three members of the team were definitely acting somewhat out of character. Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter walked on either side of a man who looked and acted very much, but not exactly, like Colonel O'Neill. At first glance, one might simply assume that it was O'Neill returned to base after an extended leave, over which he had allowed his hair to grow uncharacteristically long.
But Jackson and Cater were both practically bouncing with excitement and curiosity, and seemed to be vying over his attention like a pair of children whose father had just come home. They hardly seemed like a professional pair of brilliant scientists. "O'Neill" looked back and forth between them as they took turns firing questions at him, trying his best to answer their queries but finding it difficult to keep up.
"When we were rigging the dialing protocols for the 'gate we used your name as a verb to describe all the creative fudging we had to do. Honestly, we would talk about MacGyvering things to make them work! I always wondered why, and it never occurred to me that I might actually meet you someday and find out. What did you really do to get that reputation? I've heard some stories, but I'm not sure I believe all of them," Sam's words came tumbling out, nearly tripping over each other.
"You guys used my name as a verb? I knew some of the Phoenix folks have done that for years, but I didn't know it had spread . . ." Mac replied, blushing a bit, and was then cut off as Daniel jumped in.
"And I swear I've read about several astonishing archaeological discoveries that you've been a part of in the last decade or so. Ambrose's treasures, the Eye of Osiris, to name a few. I'd love to talk to you about the Eye of Osiris, it might actually be important to our work here . . ." and then Daniel was cut off as something else occurred to Sam.
"Ryman! Dr. Ryman. I met him when I was an undergrad, he did a lecture series at the Academy in my third year. He told us stories about you as a student, but I never connected that with the stories I heard later. Oh, what was it he used to say? Something like, 'There's nothing so pathetic' . . ."
". . . as a physicist stupefied by the obvious. Yeah, that's Professor Ryman. I didn't know he lectured at the Academy," Mac replied. "And the Eye of Osiris really wasn't anything special, Daniel, unless you have a thing for really big precious stones."
The group reached the door to the commissary and Teal'c stopped the rapid-fire conversation by suggesting that they step inside and obtain lunch. Mac's stomach chose that moment to growl in protest against his recent lack of proper attention to diet. Mac grinned sheepishly and followed his escort inside.
They made short work of the lunch line, filling their trays with the foods that appealed to them. Ever curious, SG-1 watched with barely concealed interest to see what Mac's choices would be. He picked up a pre-wrapped deli sandwich where O'Neill would have chosen a burger. But as he took a moment to decide between Jell-o and pie, finally grabbing a slice of fresh apple pie, O'Neill's team couldn't help but smile.
They staked out SG-1's usual table and spent a few moments digging in. Mac really was ravenous. He made it through one half of his sandwich and had started on the other by the time Daniel and Sam could no longer hold back their curiosity.
They started in on him again, moving past their hero worship to begin wondering what MacGyver could tell them about the enigma that was Jack O'Neill. Before they could get any information out of him, the commissary doors banged open and everyone in the room was distracted by the entrance of one irate looking Air Force Colonel.
Those not in the know, namely everyone except SG-1, found themselves staring at two O'Neills. People were wondering which one was actually the colonel, and if perhaps they should call security.
"Hey! You'd better not be telling my kids any stories about me, Mac!" called the one who had just made his entrance.
The other regarded him with a blank, innocent stare. Then he blinked, and called back, "If you want to save your reputation you'd better get your rear end over here, Jack, and save me from the Inquisition!"
"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Keep your shorts on," the newcomer replied with a grin, heading for the food. As he grabbed a predictable burger and pie, SG-1 and the other "O'Neill" returned to their own food. Gradually, everyone else in the room decided that this must be a normal oddity, as opposed to a world-threatening oddity, and eventually they all turned back to their own meals and conversations.
Those at the SG-1 table made room for Jack as he approached. He pulled a chair over and sat between Daniel and Sam, putting himself across the table from his brother. He graciously accepted the blue Jell-o that Daniel had obediently saved for him and put it aside for later.
"So what dirty lies has this joker been telling you?" he asked then, motioning across the table with his burger before biting into it.
"Their virgin ears are unsullied, I promise you. Are you gonna eat those?" Mac asked, pointing to the fries that came with Jack's burger.
"Help yourself," Jack replied, turning the plate so that Mac could reach the fries. "Still have a weakness for deep fried potato, huh?"
"You bet," he answered as he grabbed a few. "These are pretty good, too."
"I'm glad our commissary meets your exacting standards," Jack grinned, and Mac grinned back around another mouthful of fries.
Watching this exchange, the other three members of SG-1 were again struck with the similarities between the brothers. But they'd had enough of the Jack and Mac Show, and they were still very curious about this previously hidden aspect to their colonel's life.
"So, Jack," Daniel started.
"Daniel?" Jack answered, raising an eyebrow at the scientist.
"Jack," Daniel replied, slightly exasperated.
"Daniel," Jack kept it going, this time nodding slightly to the other man as the others at the table tried to keep from laughing.
"Jack!" Daniel cracked first.
"Fine, fine. What do you want to know?"
"Mostly why you have a brother that you never told us about," Daniel replied mildly.
"We've been over this, it wasn't a good idea to make our relationship public . . ." Jack sighed.
"I'm not talking about public, Jack. I'm talking about us. SG-1," Daniel waved his hand to indicate Sam and Teal'c.
Jack just shrugged, taking another bit of his burger to cover for his lack of a response. Finally, he swallowed and said, "So I'm paranoid. You knew that already."
Daniel shook his head and rolled his eyes. There was no getting a straight answer out of Jack. Unless, of course, his paranoia was the straight answer. Daniel wasn't quite ready to accept that, but he knew when it was time to let it drop for a while.
"Sure, Jack," he said amicably.
The group spent a few minutes working on their lunches. Daniel looked like he was about to try asking something a few times, but he never actually spoke.
Finished with her small lunch and seeing that Daniel had in fact given up, Carter then took the opportunity to try a question of her own. "So do you guys have any other family?"
"I have a son. But that's about it," Mac replied.
Everyone perked up at the mention of a son, momentarily forgetting what was left of their meals.
"How is the young whippersnapper, anyway?" Jack asked as the others reigned in their surprise and went back to finishing up their lunches.
"He's doing fine. He's off getting pictures of various rivers for his portfolio. Something about balancing the green and the blue," Mac shrugged.
"Sam's a photojournalist," Jack clarified for the others.
Carter blinked.
"Oh, that's his nickname," Mac explained. "It's his initials. Sean A. Malloy."
"Not MacGyver?" Daniel wondered.
"Nope, it's his mom's name. I didn't meet the kid until he was nineteen," Mac said, shaking his head with a combination of wonder and regret.
"Do you not have other relatives, O'Neill and MacGyver? I have learned that many human families are quite large indeed," Teal'c intoned, noticing Mac's expression and changing the subject.
"You've been watching too much TV," Jack said. "Not all families are alike. When we were split up we each got adopted by a different family. The MacGyver family took in this bum and I got shuffled around a bit before I met Richard and Margaret O'Neill."
"But over the years, everyone in both families has passed away. It's just the two of us and Sam, now," Mac finished.
Everyone had finished eating and the conversation had drifted to a halt, leaving the group with an uncomfortable silence and nothing with which to politely distract themselves.
Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c had all noticed the bitterness in O'Neill's voice and the sadness in MacGyver's. Wanting to fill the silence and move on, Daniel started collecting the trash on the table. First Sam moved to help him, and then Teal'c. The three of them gathered up everything and headed to throw away the trash and bus the trays, leaving the twins alone at the table for a moment.
"You okay?" one asked the other.
"Yeah, sure," came the reply. They shared a look, then stood together and headed across the room to meet the others at the door. They each walked with a casual slouch, hands tucked away into jacket pockets.
"So, what's next?" MacGyver asked as they all stepped out into the corridor. "I know there's a bunch of stuff I'm supposed to go over before I get to go off-world."
O'Neill nodded. "Next stop is the actually the locker room. We gotta get you into some real clothes."
"What's wrong with the clothes I've got now?" Mac complained as his brother dragged him towards the nearest elevator. "Just because they aren't drab olive green . . . I'll never understand the military."
Sam and Daniel chuckled as the twins disappeared around the corner into the next hallway, and even Teal'c had a small smile for the brothers' antics.
"Well, I've got to go work on putting together my equipment for P3X-652. I'll see you guys later," Carter said, heading the other way.
"Bye, Sam," Daniel replied. "C'mon Teal'c, let's go make sure those two don't get into too much trouble on their own."
"That would indeed seem wise, DanielJackson," Teal'c agreed with a raised eyebrow, and they started off towards the locker room.
They caught up with the twins just as they reached the locker room. Before the brothers could continue their argument about clothing, the base PA clicked on and O'Neill was paged to the infirmary.
Looking sheepish, Jack admitted that he'd skipped his checkup that morning. "Why don't you guys give Mac a set of my BDUs for now, while I go appease the Doc? Just make sure he keeps his visitor's tag obvious."
He received nods and mumbles of agreement, so Jack headed off to do battle with Dr. Frasier.
Teal'c headed for O'Neill's locker to find appropriate clothing for Mac. Left standing with MacGyver, Daniel decided that this was the perfect opportunity to try to get more info. Like a dog with a bone, Daniel was still nibbling away at the puzzle that was his friend Jack. He was hoping to get some clues from Jack's brother.
But Mac beat him to it. "Why did Jack have a checkup this morning? Don't you guys do pre-mission medicals the morning of a mission, not the morning before?"
"We do, it wasn't pre-mission. Jack picked up some sort of off-world pathogen on our last trip out and I suspect Dr. Frasier just wants to make sure he's over the symptoms. He was only cleared for active duty again yesterday," Daniel explained.
"An off-world pathogen, huh? Jack can find trouble anywhere he goes," Mac smiled.
"He sure can," Daniel agreed. "I suppose you know a lot of juicy little details about your brother."
Mac shrugged. "Actually, I probably know about as much about him as you do. Jack is secretive at best, and we haven't always gotten along too well."
"You haven't?" Daniel asked, surprised. From what he could tell, the brothers acted like old friends.
"No," Mac mused, looking pensive. He didn't explain, and Daniel sensed that he should let it be. They waited in companionable silence, Daniel watching as Teal'c found and sorted piece after piece of Jack's spare clothing in his search for the items that MacGyver needed.
MacGyver's gaze also pointed towards Teal'c's search, but he wasn't really paying attention. Daniel's question and his often strained relationship with his brother occupied his thoughts. It had only been a few short years since he had thought he'd lost his brother forever.
The tragedy that struck Jack's small family when his young son accidentally shot himself with Jack's service weapon had driven a wedge between the brothers. Jack had been depressed and angry, and had pushed away anyone who had tried to help. Eventually even his wife had given up and left him. Mac had gone to Jack one last time, to try to talk to him.
It had not gone well. Jack was belligerent and insulting, intentionally pushing Mac away. And Mac, being human, finally snapped. They had argued, and Mac had said a few choice words about gun control. Jack had punched him, and Mac had left. They didn't see each other again for two years.
Worst of all, Mac caught his brother's mood at that last visit. Angry at himself, at Jack, and at the world in general, Mac had retreated from his own friends. Few of them even knew about Jack, and it seemed like too much effort to explain everything. He spent a truly miserable week sulking alone before Pete, his oldest friend, came to find out once and for all what was wrong.
Pete succeeded in pulling him out of his depression, but nothing could change what had happened, and what Mac had done. The next two years were filled with a painful silence between the brothers. Mac discretely kept tabs on Jack, and finally got up the courage to contact him when he heard that Jack had been reactivated and then retired for the second time.
He'd been surprised to find Jack oddly at peace. They'd even apologized to each other, and spent some quality time with a pair of hockey sticks and a puck. They saw each other relatively often over the next year, until Jack's second reactivation.
After that Jack had been busy again and they'd slipped back into the familiar pattern from their first few years of knowing each other as adults. They would check up on each other roughly once a month, but pretty much stayed off of each other's radar. It was another year and a half before Mac found out what it was Jack had been up to since his reactivation.
"I believe I have found the required items of clothing, MacGyver," Teal'c interrupted Mac's musings.
"And I've found an extra set of SG-1 patches," added Daniel, who had gone to look for the little Velcro patches in his own locker while MacGyver had been lost in thought.
"I get to wear SG-1 patches? Sweet," Mac replied, rooting himself firmly back in the present.
"Yeah, you're attached to SG-1 for the duration of your stint as civilian observer," Daniel explained. "Which means you are officially, if temporarily, a member of the team."
"Sweet," Mac repeated, taking the set of clothing Teal'c offered him.
"I would be honored to go over the standard field kit with you, MacGyver," Teal'c said.
"I'd like that Teal'c," Mac answered.
"Well, I guess I should go get ready for this trip, myself. I need to look over my preliminary findings from our first visit to the planet and get ready to look at those ruins," Daniel said.
"I'd love to talk to you about the archeological and anthropological aspects of your missions, Daniel," Mac said, a gleam of interest in his eyes.
"Sure, why don't you come find me when you and Teal'c are done? I'll probably be in my office," Daniel smiled.
"Will do," Mac nodded.
"See you later, guys," Daniel called, heading out.
"So, Teal'c," Mac said when Daniel was gone. "What are these Zat weapons I've been hearing so much about?"
"Zat'nik'itels are small handheld energy weapons. Their use is simple: one shot stuns, the second kills, and the third disintegrates," Teal'c explained.
"First shot only stuns?" Mac asked, intrigued. He'd always wanted to play with a phasor. Beyond the physics of it, which itself was fascinating, it was a non-lethal way to incapacitate an enemy. And besides . . . it sounded really cool.
"Indeed," Teal'c assured him. "You must qualify with this weapon before tomorrow's mission. Would you like to do so now?"
"Would I ever!"