Though a Candle Burns...
Chapter Ten
The drive to the SGC passed in silence. Jack glanced over at Sam, trying to work out what was going on with her. She hadn't spoken since he told her he had to return to the SGC. It wasn't that she was angry with him; it was more of a resigned silence. An acceptance of her fate.
It was stifling him. But he didn't know what to say to her. How to reassure her. He wasn't even sure that his reassurances would be valid, once they reached the SGC.
Sam stopped the car just outside the first checkpoint.
"What is it?" Jack asked.
"They know you're dead." She said simply.
Jack raised his eyebrows. "I could lie down on the back seat." He suggested.
"Or we could call ahead." Sam said.
Jack shook his head. "And say what?"
Sam tapped the steering wheel for a moment.
"I have an idea." Jack said. "Drive in."
"What about you?" Sam asked.
"I'm staying where I am."
Jonas ran through the corridor, bumping into several airmen on his way and hurriedly apologising before running on.
"Colonel O'Neill just stepped onto the elevator with Major Carter!" He exclaimed as he burst through the door to Teal'c's quarters.
The Jaffa just looked up from where he was seated on the floor and raised an eyebrow. "Who told you this?"
"One of the nurses, one of the SFs told her." Jonas said, still trying to catch his breath.
"Rumours are often not accurate JonasQuinn."
"Oh come on, Teal'c. Who would make this up?" Jonas said.
Teal'c looked as though he were about to speak but was interrupted by the base PA system. "Teal'c and Jonas Quinn report to General Hammond's office immediately."
Teal'c stood.
"I guess we're about to find out." Jonas said.
"Indeed." Teal'c said.
When they reached General Hammond's office, Jonas was disappointed to see only Major Carter and the General himself inside. He'd already made up his mind that the rumours had to be correct, who would make something like that up?
General Hammond nodded solemnly, "Have a seat."
Teal'c and Jonas sat down on either side of Major Carter, Teal'c studying her intently.
"What's going on, General?" Jonas asked.
"I'm sure you have heard the rumour that Major Carter entered the mountain with someone impersonating Colonel O'Neill," Hammond began.
Teal'c and Jonas nodded; Sam looked down at her hands.
"Well-" Hammond continued, only to be interrupted by a voice at the door.
"Damn good impersonation if you ask me, and I should know."
Jonas sprung out of his chair. "Colonel O'Neill!"
"Not so fast, son." Hammond ordered gently. "Doctor?" He said, looking at the diminutive form of Janet Fraiser. Behind her loomed someone that looked very much like Colonel O'Neill, he was flanked by two burly SFs but seemed unconcerned by their presence.
Dr Fraiser opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Teal'c standing up. He moved over to the door of Hammond 's office. Fraiser moved aside as Teal'c obviously wasn't going to stop moving.
The Jaffa stopped about a foot away from Colonel O'Neill and searched the man's face with intense eyes.
Hammond looked at Jonas, who shrugged.
After about a minute, Teal'c grabbed the Colonel's forearm. "O'Neill." He said, his voice warm with affection.
"T," Jack said.
"Dr Fraiser?"
"He is Colonel O'Neill, sir." The doctor said. "All my tests confirm it."
"Colonel O'Neill is dead, doctor." Hammond said sternly.
"I can't explain it, sir." Fraiser said.
"I can." Jack said.
"You'd better." Hammond replied. He waved for everyone to take a seat. Janet sat next to Sam, Jonas retook his seat and Jack took the last available chair. Teal'c merely looked at him for a moment before bringing a chair in from the briefing room.
Hammond looked up at the SFs still standing just outside his office. "You're dismissed." Once they had left Hammond turned his gaze on Jack. "What the hell is going on here?"
Jack thought for a moment, evidently unsure where to begin. "Do you remember when Daniel… ascended?" He asked, addressing the room, but looking at Hammond, who nodded. Jack swallowed. "Well when Baal was through torturing me for the day, Daniel showed up in my cell. He wanted me to ascend, said it was the only way I would get out of there."
"Could DanielJackson not just use his powers as an ascended being to aid you, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
Jack shook his head. "Apparently not. He said he'd get in trouble, or somethin'." Jack shook his head. "Anyway, Daniel jumped the gun. He ascended me when it wasn't necessary. Apparently you guys were on track to get me outta there."
"So Dr Jackson ascended you?" Jonas asked. Jack nodded. "Are you still ascended now?"
"No. Oma Desala – remember her?" Everyone nodded. "Yeah, well, she showed up and bawled Daniel out for ascending me."
"So Oma Desala sent you back?" Hammond asked, sounding like he was buying into this for the first time since Jack had set foot on the base.
Jack looked embarrassed. "Uh... no. Not really. I didn't want to come back at first." He stopped, but Hammond sent him a stern look that was nonetheless inquisitive. Jack sighed deeply and told them everything, including what he had seen.
"I don't get it, Colonel," Jonas said, "why didn't you come back to the base? Why Major Carter's house?"
"When Oma took Daniel and me there, Carter knew I was there. It was weird. I thought maybe 'cause she knew I was there, it'd be easier to descend." Jack said.
Hammond nodded. "That makes sense."
"What now, sir?" Jack asked.
"I'm not sure. After your experiences in Antarctica and with Baal I think at least some downtime is in order. For all of SG-1." Hammond said. "Two weeks is all I can spare you for. Dismissed."
Jack and Sam both looked up at the General in shock.
Teal'c and Jonas filed out of the room, closely followed by Dr Fraiser, Sam and Jack.
Sam stopped Jack just before he left the briefing room.
"What now?" She asked so softly that only he could hear her.
He cocked his head to one side, thinking.
"Ja – sir?" Sam asked, stopping herself calling him Jack just in time.
"Excuse me." Jack said, moving past her and back towards the General's office. "General Hammond, sir? We need to talk."
