A/N: Chapter 12 is Beta'd by Angw and Trickster's Queen of War, both of whom are miracle workers.

Cameron let their blades stay locked for only a second. Then he gave ground and whirled the near weightless blade around, forcing the Prior to block. Cameron spun his weight to slide out of Teyla's way as she attacked, her twin blades locking the Prior's sword in a merciless cycle of parrying.

Cameron didn't stop there, he only rested for a half second before attacking again. The Prior blocked his strike with a single quick flash of a parry. The Prior slowly and surely moved towards the center of the plaza, his blade weaving the defensive pattern needed to keep Cameron and Teyla away.

The Prior was forcing them to attack side by side, taking advantage of Cameron's relative inexperience, rather than from opposite sides. The Prior knocked Cameron's sword aside and kicked him in the face. Cameron rolled back from the impact, swearing as he did.

Precious second trickled by as Cameron struggled to get to his feet. He was still disoriented from the impact, but he couldn't let it stop him. He was halfway to the Prior when Teyla went flying. The Prior must've regained the use of his powers because she shot past Cameron at full speed. He whipped around and concentrated firmly on stopping her impact with the wall.

He wasn't prepared for the resistance he was facing. He and Prior were locked in a battle of wills, and Cameron was losing. She hit the wall, but he didn't hear the sound of bones snapping. He succeeded in slowing her down, enough to prevent her from getting hurt too badly. It was doubtful she was still conscious..

That meant he was alone. He could see Jack, Sam, Teal'c, and Daniel standing just outside the plaza. Jonas and Vala were already running for Teyla. They would have to take care of her, he had to deal with the Prior. He took a deep breath, drawing his sword close to him.

Both of his hands were wrapped firmly around the handle. He slowly focused himself on the battle, solely on the Prior. That way, nothing else mattered. Beyond the plaza he was aware of nothing. As he did this, his mind seemed to expand with senses and perceptions. The plaza was a living entity, and he was in control.

He still didn't know exactly what it was that he'd been given, but it was something nonetheless. He took his first step towards the Prior, and continued walking until he was close enough to smell him. He could smell the fear as the Prior seemed to realize just what Cameron was.

"The Prophecy will be fulfilled." Cameron said, preparing to defend himself.

"Only the Prophecy of the true gods, the Ori, shall ever be fulfilled." The Prior replied, placing his sword in a ready position, diagonal across his chest.

Cameron took that as an invitation. He faked his first lunge and came up short. The Prior lunged in response, his sword passing through the air. Cameron reversed his grip on his sword and spun on his feet, swinging as he went. The Prior blocked. Cameron used the momentum of the block to fuel his spin and come all the way around.

He raised the sword in a sweeping cut upward. The Prior blocked it, barely. Cameron didn't even feel tired. The Prior took a return attack. Cameron shunted it aside and brought his booted foot up and into the Prior's stomach.

The Prior gasped and staggered. Cameron knew he had only one chance. He closed the remaining distance between the two of them and knocked the Prior to the ground with a horizontal cut to the Prior's knees.

There, at the bitter end, the Prior looked up and for the first time, he showed his fear. "The true gods would not abandon me. I am the chosen of the Ori."
"Wrong!" Cameron replied. He kicked the Prior's sword out of his hands. "Yield."

"Then to the end of me it shall be." The Prior suddenly caught fire and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Cameron immediately jumped back, extinguishing the small flames stuck to his jacket sleeve. He retracted the sword's blade and clipped it to his belt. He never thought this was how he'd spend his life at the SGC, but since joining, he knew stranger things had happened.

"Well fought Colonel Mitchell." Teal'c said, coming to stand in front of Cameron. "I am impressed."

"Thanks Teal'c, I'll take that as a compliment." Cameron couldn't help but smile as Vala and Jonas helped Teyla over. "You gonna be okay?"

Teyla winced in pain, but nodded. "I will be fine in time. My pride will not."

"Well, you've just gotta go back to Atlantis and beat up Sheppard." Jack said, bringing a note of humor to the situation.

Cameron laughed. "Yep, he told me all about it. Right before she beat me up."

"Cameron," Sam chided, "beaten up by a girl. Not impressive."

"Against this one, it's an honor."

They all laughed.

XXX

The debriefing back at the SGC was a mercifully easy one. They hadn't had to go to Jerusalem at all. The Prior there had vanished. General Landry had explained that witnesses claimed the Prior had vanished in a ball of fire, never to be heard from again.

"They claim he was struck down by the heavens." General Landry finished. "On a whole, we've still got some explaining to do."

"Sir?" Cameron asked. He was seated on the far end of the table, relaxing in the big chair. Teyla, Sam, and Jack were on one side of the table. Jonas, Vala, Daniel, and Teal'c were on the other. They all looked a little worse for wear, but considering Earth was safe again, they were happy.

"The President is currently talking with the international committee about making this program public knowledge. After that battle in Paris, a cover story won't be easy."

"No really." Jack said, taking his turn at sarcasm. "We only flooded the streets, destroyed several buildings, and killed some crazy lunatic in a sword fight. No kidding Hank."
"Ha, ha." Landry replied, showing no hint of finding it funny, but Cameron could see a small glint in his eye. General Landry didn't laugh out loud to often, but he did appreciate good humor.

"So, we're going public?" Sam asked.

"That's what we'll know in the morning." Landry looked at his watch. "Speaking of which, you all should go to bed. Your plane leaves at 06h00 tomorrow."

"Our plane?" Vala asked. "What for?"
"Well one of two things. Either the President is going to congratulate you all personally in the White House, or you're all going to Switzerland to address the United Nations. Good night." Without another word General Landry stood and walked back into his office.

"That settles that." Daniel said.

"Indeed." Teal'c replied.

XXX

Sam didn't want to part ways. Jack didn't seem too eager as he stopped at the same moment she did. He started whistling and looked up at the ceiling, seemingly preoccupied with the notion of how the fluorescent lights mounted on the ceiling worked.

"Well, I guess I should say good night." Sam stuttered.

"Yeah, you should." Jack said, not moving, but responding as if he didn't care.

Sam knew that to be far from the truth. Yet she forced a smile to her face and said. "Good night Sir."

"Good night Carter." Jack replied, turning to walk down the hall.

Sam turned to head her own way to, but stopped before she'd gone two steps. She turned around, watching as Jack slowly walked down the hall. It was as if he was silently telling her to call out to him. She did. "Sir!"

It always amazed her how quickly he whirled around when she said that. They'd been through a lot, enough to be able to read each other's body language. The last several days had been long, but she'd learned something she couldn't live without.

"Yeah Carter?" Jack said, so quietly it startled her at first.

"You can't act as if nothing happened." Sam said, pointing out how he hadn't made any mention of the kiss they'd shared on the rooftop early that day.

"I'm not." Jack protested, a slight smile creeping to his lips.

It was then that Sam realized just how much he was teasing her. She hit him playfully in the stomach, smiling wide for the first time. "Your house or on base?"

"Just for safety, I'm going with my house." Jack replied, glancing around to make sure no one was coming. He then pulled Sam in for a brief kiss.

Sam was in ecstasy. She wanted desperately to continue it, but knew she'd have to wait until they got back to Jack's house. If it took close to the end of the world to get over that hurdle, then she'd gladly do it all again.

Neither of them saw Teal'c and Daniel hiding behind the corner. Daniel frantically gestured with his hands. "Why do they choose this day of all days? Who do we owe?"

Teal'c solemnly nodded. "I believe Colonel Mitchell wins."

"Why him of all people!" Daniel was in a really sour mood now.

"Perhaps we should ask Colonel Mitchell."

"Right." Teal'c and Daniel headed for Cameron's room.

XXX

Cameron lightly walked down the quiet halls of the base. He'd just gotten himself a decent meal at the mess hall. All in all, he was happy. Earth was safe, he had a wicked cool sword, and nobody he knew had died.

It wasn't that he didn't feel bad for the French soldiers who were paralyzed or dead, but he'd never known any of them personally. He turned the corner to his quarters and was shocked to find Daniel, Vala, and Teal'c waiting for him.

He imitated Teal'c classic raised eyebrow gesture. "So what are you all doing here?"

"Believe it or not I have nothing to do with these two." Vala protested.

"Okay." Cameron replied. "Then what are those you two doing here?" He pointed to Daniel and Teal'c and then to the floor.

"How'd you know?" Daniel protested.

"Know what?" Cameron replied, maintaining his innocence.

"That General O'Neill and Colonel Carter would enter into a romantic relationship on this day." Teal'c clarified.

"That was just a wild guess. I heard about the poll from Doctor Lee!" Cameron wasn't kidding. He'd been laughing so hard he'd just picked a date several months from then and placed a small bid in the pot.

"We don't believe you." Daniel snapped. "I've had nine years to do this, and you come in and win."

"Beginner's luck." Cameron protested. Vala was snickering in the corner, trying to hide it.

Daniel fixed Cameron with and icy glare, but finally walked away. Cameron caught Teal'c grinning from ear to ear. Teal'c bid Cameron and Vala a good night then walked after Daniel.

"So what's on your mind?" Cameron asked Vala. He slid his card into the lock and opened the door.

Surprisingly, Vala seemed nervous. "I just wanted to say thanks."

"Don't mention it." Cameron replied. "I've done the same for anyone." He paused for a second, glancing up at the door frame. "Wait a second, what'd I ever do for you?"

Vala seemed taken aback. "For what you said on the train. It really does mean a lot to me."
Cameron grinned. "See, being nice isn't so hard is it."
Vala was back in her element. "Whatever do you mean, all this being nice is stressing me out."

"Good." Cameron replied sarcastically. "You miss Tamar?"

Vala looked away. "You know, the worst part is that I don't."

Cameron was shocked. "You don't."

"No, that's what frightens me. Is this who I've become?" Vala was strangely serious.

"Why don't you?"

"Maybe it's because..." She paused, stifling a tear. "...because I know there's nothing I can do for him."

Cameron wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder. "One day, we will."

XXX

There were only three people in the mess hall this late at night, Daniel, Jonas, and Teal'c. Jonas was laughing hysterically while Daniel continued to fume about the betting pool.

"So Doctor Lee is still doing that?" Jonas laughed.

"Yep." Daniel replied curtly.

"Guess my bet expired almost a year ago."

"You bet on it?"
"Of course, General Hammond even had a bet." Jonas couldn't help but lean back laughing at the shocked look on Daniel's face. "You're saying you didn't know?"

"We were both unaware." Teal'c finished, saving Daniel the embarrassment of answering.

"Well, I only know because General Hammond caught Doctor Lee and I in the act." Jonas smiled at the memory. "Consider our surprise when he places a bet and two dollars himself."

Even Daniel had to laugh at that memory. "I assume this all took place when I was ascended?"
"Right." Jonas replied, laughing again.

"Yep, you're still as up as I remember."

"Well, I don't know about you two. But I'm going to bed." Jonas stood up and walked out of the mess hall, heading straight for his quarters.

Daniel sat there for a moment as Teal'c left, pondering why he lost the bet. In the end, he decided it wasn't worth losing sleep over. He shrugged and went to bed.

XXX

All Cameron could hear was an incessant banging on his door. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why. He'd crashed in his uniform last night, feeling extremely tired and was now awakened by someone pounding on his door.

"Ahhh, what the hell's going on?" He yelled as he rolled out of bed, hitting the floor with a thump.

"Come on Mitchell, even I'm up." Jack's sarcastic voice responded through the closed door. "We've gotta catch a plane in an hour."

Cameron shook his head and opened the door. "So where we going?"

"The United Nations." Jack replied. "And you need to find your dress uniform."

"Right." Cameron replied, shutting the door. Oh well, time to go tell the world what was going on. This was going to get interesting.