((Italics Foreign Language. And once again thank you all for the reviews – Delay due to winter and the Holidays.))

((Non-Beta'ed back in the saddle again solo, BUT I am trying to keep the story in the past tense))

Revised - 1/4/05 (caught a flub)

Denver, Colorado
Benedict Park – 6:00 am

Crunch…crunch…crunch… is the only sound that breaks the silence of the crisp morning as she kept a steady cadence slowly rounding another bend at the quiet park. It had been some years since she had needed to exercise in excess of what was needed to pass her yearly Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment, but then she had spent the last years working and sometimes outright living on Military bases which where considered Holy Ground.

It was still hard for her some mornings but gradually it was getting easier, being apart of the SGC had been a big part of her daily life for so long that now she felt a little lost every morning when she realized she wouldn't be walking through the main check point and taking the elevator down twenty-seven stories to her infirmary. But she knew it wasn't that she knew why she was reluctant to just outright leave Colorado… Cassandra. Every time she became a mother, even though because of her Immortality she was unable to have children of her own, she found it difficult to leave her children when the time came. But then it was easier knowing that Cassie would be well taken care of and that she would live out her life in relative safety with Colonel O'Neill… Jack, she wasn't under his command anymore or even apart of the military but still it was difficult to separate the man from the title.

She had thought long and hard when she adopted Cassie on who she wanted as Cassie's guardian in the event that she had to leave… or lost a challenge. And the one person that came to mind without hesitation was Jack. She had to be honest when she looked at her friends and decide who would be the better parent. Samantha? No, she was more of a big sister to Cassie then a mother figure. Daniel? Again no, again more of a friend to Cassie and there where the personal demons she still saw in him regarding unresolved feelings of loss that stemmed from the death of his parents at such an early age, coupled with the loss of his wife Sha're. Teal'c was not a valid choice; she seriously doubted the military would have agreed to his being Guardian given that he himself was not from Earth. General Hammond would have been a good choice but Cassie barely knew him, and she wanted the transition to be seamless to minimize the negative effects on Cassie. So that left Jack and she honestly had to admit that he was the best choice.

Whenever the Team was on downtime, he was there at her house checking up on Cassie. Cassie had even agreed, much to Kallisto's surprise, to go fishing one time with the Colonel; though she had admitted in secret that it was extremely boring given the lake had no fish but still she had enjoy the time with her Uncle Jack.

Rounding the final bend of the jogging path, Kallisto veered to the right and merged onto the sidewalk and started the seven block journey back towards her hotel. As her warm breath left a visible smoke trail in her wake, some would wonder why she would run in a city as cold as Denver at this time of the year. The cold was only a minor inconvenience and it had been sometime since she had taken a morning to just enjoy a crisp winter morning.

Near the corner of East 20th and Broadway she glanced left then right and seeing that the early morning streets where all hers quickly dashed across and onto the cross street and continued south. As the front of the Hotel came into view she slowed her pace to start her cool down. When the door man caught sight of the petite Immortal, he nodded and held the door open she smiled slightly toward him and continued into the lobby.

Across the street a dark sedan pulled silently to a halt on the corner parallel to the hotels entrance, its lone occupant watched as Kallisto vanished inside.

…

Denver, Colorado
Downtown – 6:45am

With a yawn John rubbed at his eyes. Slowly he reached over to the passenger's seat for the brushed steel thermos of coffee to refill his small cup. After refilling his cup, he secured the cap with a firm twist and set the cylinder back on the seat.

After several sips, John set the cup on the sedans black dashboard. Reaching behind the front seat John picked up his soft leather briefcase, pulling out the laptop he rests it on his lap and as the small machine boots up he reached for the cup and took another sip. After speaking his password, the Watcher Archive Security Program granted him access to his reports. Ever since the fiasco of Christine Salzer threatening to go public with the Watcher Database after her husband's death, then followed by the Immortal Kalas killing her to make use of the Database to locate the Immortal know as Methos all field agent laptops where issued this advanced security program that required voice ID.

It was a one shot deal the techs in the IT section claimed, if someone tried to access the system without speaking the correct password, or tried to bypass the program and download the hard disk, the hard disk was deleted outright with zero chance of recovery.

He quickly opened his email folder and reviewed his messages. As he scrolled through the list he noticed a reply from the Watchers Research Section with regards to Kallisto.

Setting his cup down John clicked open the message and read slowly. The news left him confused. The cause of death was listed as 'Accidental' but their research had turned up no military police reports or any documentation to support the claim. In fact the details where on some military databases that when they tried to access sent up red flags all throughout the IT Department as 'off-limits'.

"What where you involved in Kali?" he asked with as he rubbed his chin.

Minimizing the email program he opened up his copy of Kallisto's Chronicle and sat there sipping his coffee as he updated it for the past week and uploaded his surveillance photos from the past few days. A soft ding drew his attention from the report. Clicking on his open email program he slowly scrolls through the message, it was a reply from Jennifer Welch, the researcher assigned to Kallisto.

The body of the message was brief stating that Ms. Diana Wolff was in the process of building her personal and financial history. Activity from two colleges on the east coast, New York University and Georgetown, showed that Kallisto was in the process of securing up-to-date college transcripts; this activity was coupled with several wire transfers from a Bank in Geneva to a private brokerage in New York as well in the name of Ms. Wolff.

He closed the email and returned to typing up his report, as he sipped his coffee he was prepared for another long day of surveillance.

…

Denver
Palace Hotel -- Room #317 7:00am

She walked out of the bathroom, a towel tucked around her slight frame, the soft drone of the morning news from the suites television in the background was interrupted by the sounds of Chopin coming from her cell phone. She moved to the small table where the small black phone rested and picked it up, with a push of her thumb she brought the phone to her ear

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end of the phone spoke to her in the guttural tones of German.

"Guten Morgen Fräulein Wolff, this is Joachim Sachs at Banque Nationale Suisse" said the voice on the other end of the phone. The caller was the account manager from the bank where she kept her initial funds stored, after she had settled into a new local she would access the other accounts she held.

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand she replied "Guten Morgen Herr Sachs, I hope that nothing is wrong?" Walking across the room she let the towel drop from around her breasts to pool at her feet, opening the suitcase she pulled out her clothing and with the phone tucked against her shoulder slowly began to dress.

"Nein Fräulein Wolff, I was just calling to inform you that the accounts are ready. Where would you like your credit card, checkbook and passbook couriered to?" he asked, she could hear him typing on a computer as he talked.

As she sat on the edge of the bed thinking, she knew that the longer she remained in Denver the greater the risk it would be at being seen by someone who knew Janet Frasier she replied "Have them sent to my brokerage firm in New York." She proceeded to give him the address and other details.

"Ja Fräulein, understood. I will have them shipped before the close of business today. They should arrive in New York by next Monday, at the latest. Is there anything else you need?" He asked, the sounds of a bustling office could be heard in the background.

"Nein Herr Sachs that will be all, I do thank you for your prompt service." She said as she stood from her perch on the side of the bed and walked to the window glancing out over the already heavy mid morning traffic on Denver's city streets. Her fingers slowly traced against the cold double paned glass, she would miss Colorado but not for its scenic beauty she would miss this place for those she had to leave behind.

"It is a pleasure Fräulein, thank you for banking with Banque Nationale Suisse. Auf Wiedersehen."

"Auf wiedersehen und haben guten tag Herr Sachs." she replied before her thumb pressed the end button. Kallisto stared out across the city and sighed, turning away from the window she walked towards the bed and continued to dress.

Moments later as she finished the last button on her blouse she moved to the closet to gather her leather trench coat, sword and dagger, she had travel plans to arrange. She needed to disappear for some time, twenty or thirty year's maybe. She knew that Rebekah's door was always open at St. Anne's Abby.

Rebekah… I would be good to her again. It had been so long since there paths crossed that her old teacher must have assumed she had finally lost a challenge. Yes, Paris at Christmas time was a treat for all of the senses and Kallisto felt the need drown out the past.

…

Colorado Springs
O'Neill Residence – 9:34am

They sat around the kitchen table silently poking at there food with no real gusto. Cassie was only absently pushing the eggs around her plate, nibbling on a piece of toast and sipping her glass of orange juice. Jack and Daniel kept there eyes on there plates for most of the meal, only glancing toward Cassie from time to time.

The knock at the front door broke the cocoon of silence that had descended upon the house. Daniel reacted before Jack and stood up, disappearing from the kitchen leaving Jack and Cassie alone. Before Jack could open his mouth the sound of footsteps and talking could be heard from the hallway leading towards the kitchen.

Looking up he was surprised to see his second in command walk through the door with a rather concerned look clouding her features. "Morning Major." He said trying his best to look innocent, he smiled slightly to her.

Raising an eyebrow she walked the length of the kitchen towards the main home phone hanging on the wall, she picked up the receiver and brought it to her ear. With a sigh she hung the phone up and stood back; as she kneeled down the soft click of the phone cord being plugged back into the jack could be heard in the early morning silence.

As she stood glaring at the Jack, Teal'c walked into the kitchen "O'Neill, Dr. Warner has sent us to ensure your arrival for the appointment you are now 34 minutes late for, his face was a most unnatural shade of red as he requested GeneralHammond send SF's to retrieve you." said the stoic Jaffa, his eyebrow raised as he observed the silent communication between his fellow teammates.

Looking at the wall phone then towards Sam then Teal'c in turn, Daniel glanced back toward Jack as he quickly reached into his pocket for his cell phone. Looking down to the small black device in his hand, he turned it over in his hand and found the battery pack missing.

Quickly looking up his mouth opened and before he could speak "Top drawer next to the sink." Jack said with a dismissive wave of his fork.

"So I take it that you've come to whisk me away?" Jack said as he took a sip from his coffee, the mug hiding his grin as he watched Daniel move across the room to retrieve the pilfered battery.

Before Sam could reply Cassie spoke for the first time in some hours, the tenor of her voice slightly unsteady from crying most of last night. "What's wrong… are you ok… are you hurt?" She asked her eyes bright with barely contained tears.

Her right hand went to feel his forehead for any sign of fever while her left sought to hold his hand that rested on the countertop. It's now that she notices the pallor of his skin, and the slight fever she feels on his forehead evokes a tear to escape down her pale cheek.

"It's nothing kiddo." He said and tried to reassure her, but the tears wouldn't stop; the realization that he had been injured as well and could have died along with her mom was too much.

He turned in his chair and gently drew her into his arms; her head was tucked under his chin as she sobbed. Hugging her close he rubbed at her back trying to comfort her. He heard the softly retreating footsteps of his team, leaving him to comfort her.

Sometime later her sobs dissolved into soft sporadic hiccups. Her voice was soft as she spoke, "I can't lose you too Uncle Jack, I know you can't promise me you won't die but… you could have gotten sick if you didn't go to that appointment." she said clinging to him.

Stroking her back slowly he said softly, "I didn't want you to worry, you need to rest and not worry about me." He continued to rub at her back with slow soothing strokes.

Sniffing she pulled back slightly and looked up into Jacks brown eyes "Promise me you'll go see Doc Warner today, and do everything he says?" she asked.

"I promise Cass, you have my word."

She pulled back slightly and stood up, moving to help Jack get out of his chair. Normally he would have balked at the attention but he knew deep down that it was her way of starting to cope, so he allowed her to lead him out of the kitchen and toward his team waiting in the front room.

…

10:04 am

As they pulled out of his driveway, Carter behind the wheel of his truck and Teal'c in the passenger cab, Jack looked into the rearview mirror and saw Cassie standing on his porch watching them drive off, her arms where wrapped protectively around her frame; Daniel stood silently by the front door watching, a concerned look upon his face.

((More to come))

((Guten Morgen – Good Morning))

((Auf wiedersehen und haben guten tag – Goodbye and have a good day/afternoon (time difference between Zurich and Denver is 9 hrs 7am MST is 4pm CET so he would greet her good morning and she would say 'have a good day/afternoon.') German provided by Babel fish so if it's wrong, blame AltaVista :P))

Review Reply

airam4u - The Military is seldom kind, Earth is at a constant state of war against the Goa'uld so yes Sam would return to the mountain in order to over see an experiment that could be vital to the safety of Earth. Remember 'Meridian' after all.

Texan – Here is the URL for the site I mentioned It is a very detailed Immortal site, including challenges and who took whose head