A/N: I do not these characters or the shows they come from. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
"You want me to WHAT!" Col. O'Neill winced and held the phone away from his ear for a moment.
He blew out a breath, and started talking. "General, it's the only way to get the civilian into the base for testing. I need you to okay his parents coming with him, signing nondisclosure agreements, and, uh, maybe telling them a little bit about things."
"Exactly what things are we talking about here, Colonel? You want to tell them about the Stargate?" General Hammond's voice contained surprise.
"Uh, maybe we don't have to go that far. But the kid already saw the ship and was hurt by the creature, and we kinda gave him the impression that these kinds of things aren't news to us. I respectfully suggest that we show we're aware of some alien visitors and have a handle on it. Otherwise we could start a panic in the middle of this nation's heartland. Plus, the kid is special. A secret for a secret always works." O'Neill stopped, although the line was secure, it was always better to err on the side of caution.
He could hear Gen. Hammond's sigh across the line. "Very well, Colonel, use your best judgment. We're going to require them to sign nondisclosure agreements as well. Tell them to pack for a week-Dr. Frasier should know by then if the young man is infected with anything. Is the cargo secure?"
"I left Teal'c guarding it, he'll shoot--er, make sure the cargo stays secure and unmoving for the trip back. " O'Neill answered, referring to the comatose creature. "The other part of the cargo is also secured." He said, referring to the ship.
"Very good, I'll see you soon. Expect to be debriefed as soon as you return. And Colonel?" Gen. Hammond added.
"Yes, sir?"
"Try and stay out of any more trouble."
"Yes, sir. Sure. You got it." O'Neill muttered, hearing Gen. Hammond sign off. Yep, things would be interesting.
He headed to where the Kents were standing. "Okay, I squared it with the General. We'd like you to come with us for a week starting tonight. Consider it a paid vacation, courtesy of Uncle Sam. Everybody signs forms; you get to enjoy a VIP suite, and a week from now you hopefully resume your lives. Do you have someone you can call to take care of the farm for a week?" O'Neill stopped, hoping this was easy. It never was, but you could always hope.
"Well," Jonathan began, and then realized something. "What do you mean, 'hopefully'?"
O'Neill winced, "Hopefully, as in Clark here checks out healthy. For him, I mean." He trailed off, not knowing what to say about Sam's suspicions of the boy.
The Kents exchanged a look. "If Clark checks out normal for him we'll all be free to go and the military won't bother us again, right?" Jonathan asked.
"That's the idea, and what that form signing stuff is about. So, about an hour?" O'Neill finished.
Martha and Jonathan looked at each other, and Lex spoke up. "Mr. Kent, I can call some reliable people and have them here in the morning to tend the farm for a week. Just give me the names of the extra farm hands you and your neighbors use from time to time and I'll take care of it."
Clark suddenly grinned, relieved. He knew his parents would be worrying about the farm work. He looked at his Mom and Dad, and saw them exchanging a glance and some sort of silent communication.
Martha turned to Lex and smiled. "Thank you Lex, that's very generous. But we'll be happy to pay the farm hands' wages from what the military gives us. If you can make sure they're here in the morning though that would be nice."
Lex smiled and said, "Of course Mrs. Kent. But I meant that I would leave money and instructions with some of my people, and if you insist you can pay me back later. I intend to come with you and make sure no one takes advantage of Clark."
The Kents looked at each other, and then Martha said, with a wide genuine smile, "That would be wonderful. I'll go in and start packing; Jonathan will give you names and numbers. Clark, you should leave a message for your friends that you'll be away for a week. Don't tell them any specifics though, okay?" Martha directed the last comment at her son.
"What about school, Mom?" Clark asked. "Should I have Chloe and Pete cover for me?"
Col. O'Neill sighed. Just when things seemed to be going well..."How about you call the school in the morning and say that Clark's Uncle needed the family to come for an emergency. That would also explain your own absence. I'll let General Hammond talk to your principal. Would that do it?" He asked Clark's parents.
Clark shrugged, "Sounds good to me."
Martha and Jonathan agreed, and Jonathan took Lex aside to give him names and numbers. Lex then spent a few minutes on the phone, also calling the mansion and getting a bag made ready for him to pick up. O'Neill grudgingly allowed that they would stop by his home on their way back. Clark and Martha went inside to pack, and Clark was about to pick up the phone when it rang.
Surprised, he answered, and heard Chloe's excited voice. "So, did you miss me? You missed a really great movie Clark. I know you and Pete thought it was just a chick flick and I wouldn't have gone to see it if I didn't have the free ticket but it turned out to be not so bad. It was all about this woman who goes to Italy and buys a villa and finds romance and—"
Clark stopped the torrent of words. "I'm glad you liked it, Chloe, and actually I was just about to call you."
"Really? Cause I'd be happy to actually see it again, with you. It was that good. And the actress—"
Clark cut in, "In fact, I can't go with you, at least not this week. I'm going to be away for a week with my mom and dad. Family vacation." He added lamely, realizing that he hadn't thought through what to tell his friends.
"Isn't that rather sudden? What about school?" Chloe asked. "And the farm? When exactly are you leaving? And your family doesn't take vacations just like that. What's going on, Clark? And if you were going on vacation, why didn't you tell me?"
Clark swallowed. He decided to go with Col. O'Neill's story for now. He'd then have a week to come up with something convincing.
"Well, it's my Uncle. He's called the family for an emergency visit. I can't really give you any details, but I'll tell you all about it when I get back. I have to get ready to go. Oh, and can you and Pete take notes for me? I'll try to call you while I'm away. And we're calling extra farm hands to tend the farm." He could hear silence on the line for a minute, as Chloe digested what he'd said.
"Okay," she said slowly. "You had better call me with details. And what uncle? I didn't know you had one."
Clark's eyes widened in alarm. "Um, a long-lost Great-Uncle something or other, I'll call you soon Chloe, thanks, bye!" Clark hung up, knowing he would be in for it when he called her back. Oh well, he'd think about it during the ride.
They were ready to go within the hour, and the two vans made their way to the mansion. The Kents and Lex rode with O'Neill, Daniel, Sam and Dr. Frasier in the second van, O'Neill not wanting the civilians anywhere near the creature, just in case. Lex was able to collect his bag and leave instructions with his staff without incident, and the vans headed to the small airport that held the planes that would take them to the SGC. O'Neill's walkie-talkie crackled to life.
"Col. O'Neill? There's something blocking the road ahead. I think it's some sort of cow, but it doesn't look like a cow should, I think. What should we do?" The sergeant asked him.
The vans had slowed to a crawl, a very large animal blocking their path. O'Neill looked at the Kents, asking, "Do cows normally block roads at this time of night?" It was now dark out.
"I'll take a look," Clark said, looking ready to go outside, although he was already squinting and seeing through the two vans to the obstruction.
The vans dissolved from his sight, and a large bovine shape filled his vision. A cow-like shape that when he looked at its skeleton, had the telltale green like what he'd seen with Tina Greer. He swallowed. It was a bull, and it was meteor rock enhanced. And it was moving.
"Uh Colonel, I think we'd better back up, sir." The sergeant put action to words, and began backing the first van away from the angry bull. The angry bull that was now charging it.
"Sergeant, keep that van away from the animal. I don't want the cargo jostled."
He ordered the second van's driver to back up as well, but it wasn't fast enough. With a roar, the meteor-rock-mutated animal hurled itself at the first van, impacting it with a loud crunch. The van shook, and Teal'c was thrown to the side, losing his weapon. The creature awakened. With a bellow, it ripped free of its restraints and barreled out the back door of the van. It ignored the enraged bovine and ran into the fields, something drawing it. The bull backed up for another charge, and with an apologetic glance at his parents, Clark sped from the van to do what he could.
To be continued.
Um, I'm sorry, plot device time. I know it was a cliché, but I couldn't help it. Hope you forgive me:) Thanks so much for all your comments, you are really inspiring me to write. I'll try not to leave this cliffhanger for too long. Have a great day! Or night, whatever.