Chapter 5 – Interlude
His mind carried Nareem away from the white sick-bay, and from his current situation, to dream of another time and another place.
Back on the Tau-ri's beloved world, he stood in the little command room overlooking the larger room that held their Stargate. It was dimly lit and quiet, and empty except for him and Sam.
She smiled at him, a little sadly. After all, he would be leaving soon. She was so pretty, just like an angel in the old stories. He touched her short blonde hair, and kissed her gently. Nareem savored one of his favorite memories.
They were only interrupted when someone came up the metal stairs and coughed awkwardly to get their attention. Nareem pulled back, embarrassed.
Nareem looked behind him, to see who it was. But something was wrong. He didn't remember that Daniel Jackson looked like that, his face was different.
The archeologist's voice morphed as he spoke, "You do not need to know my name, or that of my master." He lowered his chin in a glare at Nareem and for a second light flashed from his blue eyes.
In horror, Nareem turned and ran, dragging Sam with him by the hand. They were running through the corridors of the SGC. The lights were all on now, but they didn't meet anyone.
He paused for a moment to catch his breath. Sam wasn't even winded.
He thought he heard a sound. Soon a low rumbling came closer and louder and built into the roar of a Death Glider. It roared over them, and as it passed, two parallel lines of lasers ploughed into the ground and the walls of the corridor. Everything was noise, bright light, red lasers, and the burning heat, and dirt and shrapnel flying all around them.
They were caught in the middle of it. Certain they were going to die, the two clung to eachother. Sam opened her eyes and shouted to Nareem over the roar, "Look!"
He looked up, and saw that the fire and the smoke and the shrapnel were all swirling around them, dancing together in a fast irregular mess. The dance was trying to show them the harsh violent pain of death, in an instant, but it seemed to go on forever.
Finally, through the brightness and the haze that surrounded them, Sam saw something. It wasn't far away, and seemed to shine a light silver-blue. The calm light rippled and spread, reaching out to them in a splash. Still huddled together, they were sucked in.
Time and distance warped around Nareem. He could see stars flash by and blur around him, but he couldn't turn and look at Sam.
On a peaceful planet, they stepped out of a Stargate. In an instant Nareem recognized it as his home, the beautiful world the Tolan had colonized. Everything was still and all around them were the soft grays and greens.
They stood on the steps that led to the Stargate. Nareem turned and looked at Sam. She was wearing her dress blues, with insignia pinned near her shoulders, and dress pants. She looked cute in her Air Force hat, with her blonde hair tucked behind her ears.
Nareem smiled at her, "I hope this isn't good-bye."
"It won't be." She said, then leaned over and gently kissed him on the cheek. "Don't let it be."
She turned and left. Standing there alone, Nreem looked to the sky. He saw ships, so many ships, flying over the city. They were distant, be he could still make out the shapes of each one. They were very familiar. Their shapes reminded him of buildings, landmarks he had known as a child. Just watching them pass, in their forms he could remember. This was the Great Tolan Fleet, as it had been so so many years ago.
As the anesthetic slowly wore off, Nareem awoke in the sick-bay. It was quiet and dark; night-shift on the ship.
He closed his eyes again, remembered his dream, thinking.
What he was doing here, what he was going to do, was like what SG-1 did every day. He had to succeed, it was the only way. Maybe, when this was all over, he'd see them again. He would tell Sam, Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c all about what had happened. Mainly Sam, though.
Once she saw that he could be brave, just like she was every day, maybe then she would understand and he could win her respect, and her love, not just compassion or friendship.