Research

By Livi2Jack

Winner 2006 Stargate Fan Award Best Drama for Other Ship

Summary: Research is not limited to our own efforts. Jack is the subject. Soul stealing, flesh eating shape-shifting witches stewing up dead bodies to make corpse powder. Good stuff. Team has an adventure on the Indian Reservations and Jack has a romance.

Characters: Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Sam Carter, Teal'c, George Hammond, Janet Frasier.

Season Five: AFTER 506 Between Two Fires and BEFORE 515 Summit.

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Team, Angst, Humour

Rating: Teen+ for sexual innuendo and subject matter, some violence, religious issues.

Pairings: Jack/Other

Related Episodes: 515 Summit and 516 Last Stand

Status: Complete

Warnings: Subject deals with the belief system of Native Americans and is intended respectfully. If you are overly sensitive, I apologize, but nothing written is intended to be hurtful. Just want that said. I did my research and was inspired by the Tony Hillerman novels.

Author's Note: I have included many hyperlinks with this story at the bottom and throughout. does not allow complete hyperlinks. So I have abbreviated what will pass. I encourage the reader to view them especially if you have never seen this territory. The links to Shiprock are dramatic and I encourage you to do your own Net search on 'Shiprock'. And the map of the Crownpoint, New Mexico area is available at mapquestdotcom to zoom in/out/and around the region by using your cursor to click and re-center the map. I have been to all of these places, many times. I love this special land very much. Someday I hope you will too.

Prologue:

'If anyone had told me what would happen if I took that woman to Las Vegas, I would have shot myself first,' thought Jack. It seemed like an innocuous invitation at the time. Sitting behind bars in the hoosegow in North Las Vegas had lost its charm hours ago. How the hell am I going to explain this? Jack looked at the dubious character in the bunk next to him, snoring loudly and stinking profusely.

A ruckus in the hallway brought the guards running. Alarms went off with ear-splitting shrieks alternating with staccato bursts of baritone buzzing. The guards with truncheons took their positions outside the bars. They were all staring at him. Oh crap, what now? Jack flashed back to Iraq and his four months of torture in an Iraqi prison. He was still lost in that moment when the S.W.A.T. team marched in double quick wearing full regalia.

"Ah, for me guys, you shouldn't have," snarked Jack. He stood up waiting for the inevitable. When I get a hold of her, I'm going to strangle her, Jack promised himself. Did this ever get out of hand.

Part One: Good Neighbors

Jack roared into his driveway and cut the engine. Having a huge honkin' new Ford 350 Pickup Truck satisfied his need for power, and well, power. The thing ate gas like a pig. And with the recent rise in gasoline prices, that was saying something. But it was Christmas and he deserved it. The dealer took his old one in for an even trade, and well another two-year lease term adding in the difference to the monthly payments. For the time he spent in the thing, he should enjoy it. Commuting to the Mountain wasn't so far. But traipsing up to Minnesota from Colorado was a fair piece. And in a snowstorm, the rig had 4WD. Excuses are just that, excuses. He wanted the new one.

And then he noticed her, the new neighbor across the street. He couldn't remember when the Eldridge family left. The man was a professor. That Jack knew. But he couldn't remember seeing a 'For Sale' sign on the place. She looked bewildered out there in the snow. All bundled up, it was hard to tell if she was a looker but she seemed concerned about something. She kept looking up and squinting at the roof.

Might as well be neighborly. You never know, thought Jack.

Ambling over to the gate at her front walk, Jack hollered, "excuse me, ma'am? You need some help?" She turned and looked at him quizzically. "I'm your neighbor from over there," Jack pointed at his house with his new huge truck in the driveway. "Jack, Jack O'Neill, ma'am." He stuck out his hand towards her. She stared at it and then seemed to remember what to do. She offered her own very lightly. "And you would be?"

"Ellie." She looked him over. He looked her over. Both seemed satisfied. She was in her late thirties or early forties Jack guessed. A few brown wisps of hair poked from under her fur-trimmed hood. She seemed to consider for a moment and then decided to ask him.

"Do you know how to make the house heat up? I tried but I don't see any sign of it." Ellie looked at him expectantly.

Well, that was an unusual way of putting it but it was female. Not all of them are mechanical wizards like Carter, Jack reminded himself. Well, well, she needs a man to the rescue. Can do.

"Sure, lemme have a look inside." She seemed to blanch. Hesitatingly, she nodded and headed back towards the front door. They walked inside.

It's the Eldridge's furniture all right. Jack had been there last summer for a BBQ. "So are you house sitting or what?" Ellie threw him a glance that said she did not understand. "Are you a friend of the folks who live here?"

"I live here Colonel O'Neill." She walked into the middle of the room and stopped, unfastening her coat and throwing back her hood.

Well, she is nice enough looking. No beauty but nice.

Ellie's hair was short and tousled from the hood. She had a generous mouth. Green eyes gazed back at him, a little wary. He smiled a short smile at her.

"So, where's the heater, ma'am?"

"There?" Ellie pointed to the fireplace. The fake logs stood ready for something. Jack looked for the gas key to start it. She seemed intensely curious. He knelt down to open the flue.

"Did they leave you the key?" Jack looked up at her from the floor. He jimmied the lever to open the flue.

"Key?"

"Right. I have one at my house. But first, show me the heater."

"Heater?" Ellie was confounded. "Isn't that what makes heat?"

"Yes. I suppose. But I mean the central heater." Jack was wondering, what is her problem? "You aren't from around here are you ma'am?"

"No."

"Right. No heaters where you come from?" She cocked her head unsure what to say. "From a warm climate then?" Ellie nodded. "Ah, I see. That would explain it. Ok, I'm guessing it's in the basement where most of them are. Mind if I go down there?"

"Basement?" Ellie was baffled. Jack gave her a funny glance.

Man, she is the helpless type.

"No basements either, eh?" He stomped back to the kitchen and located the door to the basement. "Basement." He pointed to the stairwell and located the light switch. Then he clomped down. Ellie followed. She was really amazed judging by her expression. In the middle was the old boiler. "Jeez, you'd think they would have upgraded once in the last fifty years. Fortunately, I know how these things work, ma'am. They're kinda old." Jack looked around for some tools, found some on a shelf, and got the thing going. "It could take a little while. You should have someone come out and service it." Jack put the tools back. Ellie obviously had no idea what he meant. "C'mon, let's go upstairs."

Back in the kitchen Jack looked for a phone book. One was under a cabinet and he flipped to the appliance repair people. "Just pick one of these to come out and give this a look see. You can never be too sure about these things. Just a thought."

Ellie looked at the yellow pages directory as if she had never seen one. She gave him a small smile back and thanked him.

Wow, she IS the helpless type. Someone must have always done this for her. He was losing patience.

"I'm sorry, Colonel O'Neill. I just moved in and haven't had time to learn how to work the house yet. You've been very kind. Please tell your wife that I thank her very much for letting you help me." Ellie paused considering what else she should say. Nothing came to mind.

"Um, right, I'm not married, if that's what you were asking." Jack raised his eyebrows expectantly. Ellie seemed confused. "I'll just go, ma'am. If you need anything, holler." Jack beat a retreat.

"Colonel O'Neill?" Jack stopped and turned around while buttoning up his coat. "If you are not too busy, could I get that 'key' you spoke of?" She pointed at the fireplace.

"Ya sure you betcha, I'll be right back." He zipped up his parka and then decided she might be, well, grateful. "If you like, I could make us some coffee over at my place while yours warms up?"

"Coffee?" Ellie was perplexed.

This is one strange broad, thought Jack.

"Yeah, c'mon, I'll show you. So no coffee where you come from?" Ellie shook her head no. "Ok, well, I make the best. And then I can loan you that gas key for the night. You can go to the store tomorrow for your own." Ellie finished closing her own coat and followed him out.

As she carefully stepped down the stairs to the walkway, Jack noticed she didn't seem to know about cold weather. She kept touching the snow, which covered nearly everything, the railing, the bushes, the gate, and then she tasted it. He realized she had never seen it.

Wow, no wonder she was so baffled.

"So, Ellie, where are you from?" Jack tried to be friendly as they crossed the street and up his driveway. She looked at him shyly.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Colonel O'Neill. Well, maybe YOU would." She laughed lightly. It was his turn to look baffled.

Games, I am not in the mood for games.

Inside it was warm and she sighed in relief. "Call me Jack, Ellie." A few minutes later, Jack handed her a coffee cup with steaming black liquid. Ellie sniffed it first. Then she tried it and made a face. "Here, I know what you need, some cream and sugar." He doctored the cup and handed it back. She tried it again and smiled. Then she downed it. He got the feeling she was hungry. Jack looked in his fridge for something and found the usual nothing but beer.

"Suppose I send out for pizza?" There came the baffled look again. "Pizza, you do have pizza where you come from wherever that is?" He let the question trail off.

"No. I don't think so. Will it help heat my house?"

"Um, no, you eat it. Say, where are you from? No pizza, no cold weather? Feel like sharing?"

"I guess I'm from a place where it is always warm and we have no pizza and no basements." She laughed lightly and turned to look out the window. It was snowing again. "How long does it do this."

"What, snow? Oh I guess about eight months of the year. We have another four months to go. Ever play in the snow?" She shook her head no. "C'mon, lets make a snowman." He smiled at her. She regarded him seriously. "It's fun." Jack dialed the phone and ordered the pizza. "We have half an hour. Let's go outside."

Jack went into his child at heart mode for this charming but awkward woman. He showed her how to start rolling a big ball of snow and how to build a snowman. They had the third ball up by the time the pizza arrived. Jack stuck two rocks in for eyes and several for a mouth. He had her laughing all the way inside. Perhaps this situation had promise. He kept looking at her. She was taking in all the furnishings and decorations with a practiced eye.

"You have a lovely home, Colonel O'Neill," Ellie smiled. "And you have been extremely kind to me today. I want to thank you. I never expected such hospitality."

"Oh, I have my moments. And please, call me Jack." Jack tipped up his beer to cover the appraising look he gave her. Something was very off about her. He sensed something he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Oh well, it had been a long day of writing reports. And it was nearly time for bed. "So what do you do, Ellie?"

"Do?"

"Yeah, for a living. What's your occupation?"

"I am an anthropologist."

"Oy."

"Something wrong?" She became alarmed. She looked like she wanted to flee.

"No, of course not. I have a good friend who is an anthropologist. I thought of him when I said 'Oy.' But no, nothing is wrong. What do you study?"

"Pre-industrialized societies. It's an interesting transition phase in human development. Sometimes, the societies make the transition and sometimes they don't. I am trying to discover what makes it work, what factors must be present." She looked down to cover her emotions. Obviously she was passionate about her work.

"Ah, you sound like my friend, only he studies ancient societies. He's passionate like you are." Jack took another pull on the beer. Well that answered why she was so clueless. Scientists usually are about real life. "Do you teach?"

"Teach?"

"Yeah, are you a professor at a university or something?"

"I'm a researcher. But, I'm on a kind of sabbatical."

Jack looked puzzled. "What kind of sabbatical?"

"Oh, the usual. I am just doing research and using the time to get a change of scene. You know."

"Not really, but I'll take your word for it. I don't mean to rush you but I have to get up very early for work." Jack got up for the gas key and handed it over to her. "Your house should be warm by now. I'll come and check." Ellie nodded and rose to go. And then it hit him.

How did she know I am a Colonel? I didn't mention it. I'm sure. Well, maybe the Eldridge family told her. Then he realized she hadn't told him much. Women, they liked games. So be it. She's worth investigating more. He checked her out as she put on her coat to go. Yep, she was worth it.

The house was warm all right. It was too warm, in his opinion. But she seemed to be happy. Jack showed her how to adjust the valves on the radiators and beat a retreat. At the door, Ellie put a hand on his arm. He stopped and looked down at her. She reached up on tippy toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Jack asked softly.

"Thank you." She pulled at his sleeve a little. He bent down. She looked at him with bedroom eyes. He thought about it for a moment, and let her give him another, and another. She stepped back smiling. He grinned and nodded. Then he made his exit. The outside seemed warmer somehow.

A long week done, Jack eased into his driveway. It had snowed while he was gone off world. The tires crunched on the iced snow covering the curb. The snowplows had piled up some of the drifts. Four-wheel drive was good for something, thought Jack. Why is it, the plows never stopped at the driveways and then continued? Jack slammed the door and activated the alarm. Then he noticed her outside again. She was struggling to shovel her sidewalk. Clearly, it was a task never attempted before now. He shook his head and strode across the street.

"Hey." Jack called his greeting. Ellie looked up. It was clear she was near tears. "Hey, let me." He took the shovel and examined it. It had seen better days. But what the heck, the walkway was short.

Ellie stepped back brushing away her hair and trying not to show her tears. Jack made short work of the walkway while Ellie did the steps up to the house with a broom.

"Got any salt?" Ellie just stared back at him, disappeared, and returned with a saltshaker. "Right. Um, tell you what, let's go to the store and get some rock salt. Get your purse." He waited while she got her things. This sure beats mowing down marauding Jaffa for heroics. A little salt, some shoveling, I'll be in Dutch with the lady.

Jack helped his neighbor cross the icy street and into his monster pickup truck. Ellie didn't seem to know what to do with her seat belt so he fixed it for her. She gave him a smile. Jack backed out and drove off to the local hardware store. His companion was silent looking all around her. At least she didn't talk his ear off. He got enough yammering at work. Finding a quiet woman was rare. She was happily looking at all the signs and cars. Jack began to relax.

"So, is the house warm enough?" Jack decided to make some small talk.

"Yes, thank you Colonel O'Neill."

"Jack, call me Jack." He grinned. She smiled back and nodded. Then she went back to looking all around. "Must be quite a change from what you are used to?"

"Oh yes, it's very different." She craned her neck back to see the Christmas lights decorating a house. "Why are some houses holding lights and some not?"

"Um, some like it and some don't and some just are too busy." Jack checked the rear view mirror. Someone was tailing him. He frowned. "Anyone you know?" Jack nodded at the reflection in the mirror.

"Who?" Ellie followed his head movement. She turned around to look. "It's another vehicle not a who."

"No, the people driving it. Recognize the car?" Jack was getting concerned.

"No. Should I?" Ellie was very confused. "Are we supposed to greet them? Just tell me how." She began to wave back at the trailing car.

"Will you stop that?" Jack said extra softly. He didn't want to alarm her but she was really clueless tonight. Jack activated his cell phone's headset. "O'Neill. Someone is tailing me, any ideas?" He listened. "I'm headed for the Home Depot near my house." He listened again. "Ok. I'll drive around a little more. Meet me there in fifteen minutes."

"Did they accept?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Who?"

"The people who are following us, did they accept your invitation the join us at the store?" Jack gave her an incredulous stare. No one could be that dumb. Well, maybe not, he had met his share of dumb women. But she was a scientist.

"Um, no, not exactly. I called a friend of mine to join us." Jack checked the rear view mirror. The previous car had turned off. Now Jack was tracking its partner. So, this was a professional job. They were using at least the A-B method. He wondered if there was a third car for an A-B-C operation. First one car would tail; then turn. A block later a second car would follow a little behind; then turn. And then a third car would proceed until the first car could cut in again.

"Jack, you are worried about something?"

"A little, tell me, Ellie, do you know of anyone who would want to follow you?"

"Sure."

"Sure? You mean those people are for you?"

"No. I just meant there are people who want to follow me. Don't people want to follow you, Jack?"

Ok, this conversation is getting surreal.

Jack changed lanes and turned right at the major intersection and then swung around in a U-turn to head back in the previous direction. The other car continued on. But a few blocks away, the first car took up its position behind and in the lane to the left two cars back. This was not a good sign. Jack checked the time. Ellie continued to look out the windows as if she had never seen anything like it.

"Did you miss the store back there, Jack?" Ellie did a double take at all the lights on a house. "It's snowing again. Look at that house, Jack. It's so pretty." Ellie pointed to a corner house that was lit with Santa, his reindeer, Candy Canes, little candles with lights and strings of colored lights simulating icecicles dangled from the eaves.

"No, I just remembered I needed to turn." Jack kept a level tone. He switched on the wipers. "So, Ellie, where you come from, they don't have Christmas light decorations?"

"What is Christmas?" It was Jack's turn to do a double take. Ellie smiled at him with delight as they passed another house all lit up for the holidays. She was grinning broadly and radiated happiness at each decorated house. "Jack, should I decorate my house? Am I doing something wrong not decorating it, I mean?"

"It's up to you. No one says you must." Jack turned another corner and pulled into the back entrance to the hardware store. "I haven't had much time this year myself." Jack made sure to park under a light pole close to the entrance. "Ok, watch yourself. I want you to get out and walk quickly into the store and ask for the manager. Stay inside until I come to you. Got it?" He looked to see if she understood. Not really, he realized. "Look, just go inside. I'll handle this."

"Handle what, Jack?" Ellie could see he was concerned about something. "Can I help you? What's wrong?" She swiveled around to look about. She turned back to him with a question on her face. "Are we in trouble, Jack? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, just do what I tell you. Go inside the store. Now move." Jack swung out of the cab and went around opening her door. He kept an alert gaze on the place where he last saw the car following him. It wasn't there anymore. With his arm, he ushered her quickly into the store.

Jack voice activated his cell phone. Daniel answered. "Where are you? Ok. Tell Hammond we have professional company. I don't know who." He switched off and turned to Ellie. "Do you have a friend who can come and get you?"

"No. Just you Jack."

"Of course you don't." He kept looking around. He walked her towards the garden supplies. On the way he spotted fifty pound sacks of road salt on a pallet near the front of the store. "Got an idea. Excuse me, over there," Jack corralled a store worker. I need that put in my truck. Jack put Ellie in line to pay and got some help to take it outside. Finally, Daniel and Sam showed up with security from the Mountain.

"Did you see anyone in the parking lot?" Jack asked his team.

"No sir, what's this all about?" Sam detailed the SF's outside the store and around Jack's truck. "New truck, sir?" Jack nodded still checking the area. "Nice. So now what?"

"We go home. Follow us. I want security outside my house tonight just to be sure. Did Hammond find out if they were N.I.D?" Sam answered no. Jack adjusted his ski cap. The temperatures were dropping. "Where is she?"

"Who, sir?"

"My neighbor, I was helping her get some rock salt for her walkway." He checked around and saw her standing inside the store. "That's her. Just a moment." Jack walked back to get her.

Sam checked her out and was not impressed. Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose studying Sam's reaction.

Ah here we go again, Daniel thought.

Sam decided to ignore the woman. As an Air Force Major, Sam was in charge. Carter walked over to the SF's to order the detail to follow them back to Jack's place and set up for the night. Over her shoulder she took another look at the 'neighbor' woman.

Typical Col. O'Neill, she fumed and turned her back. But she saw Jack introduce Ellie to Daniel and then put her in the truck. Everyone set off for Jack's house in different cars.

Once home, Jack took Ellie back to her house and had two SFs dump the salt sack on her porch promising to come back in the morning to help with it. She thanked him and went inside. Jack loped back to his house as Sam and Daniel waited impatiently at his front door.

"See anything on the way back," Jack asked as he opened the door?

"Don't you ever lock your front door, Jack," Daniel remonstrated.

"Um, no." Jack went for the kitchen to start some hot coffee. "Aw crap."

"What? What's wrong?" Daniel made a beeline for the kitchen to see Jack looking at the mess in his kitchen. "Mice," Daniel snarked at him?

"No. Someone's been here." Jack dropped to the floor and pulled out his pistol from his ankle holster. Daniel did the same from his underarm holster and Sam got hers out of her purse. Using hand signals they worked to clear the house. "All clear," Jack called from the basement.

"Um, Jack your bedroom is a disaster." Daniel moved to let Jack pass down the hall.

"Jeez! They were after something." Jack stood in the mess of clothing and bedding.

"Anything missing, sir?" Carter was dialing the base. "Carter. Get me General Hammond, now airman. I don't care if he is, just put him on. You want to spend the rest of your tour scrubbing toilets in Greenland?" She waited a moment. "Sir, Colonel O'Neill's house has been ransacked. Yes sir, we have the SF's here. Someone was following him earlier in the car. Professional. Right." She hung up. "The General says N.I.D. disclaims responsibility. And no other government agency admits it."

"What could they want? Anything missing?" Daniel didn't even want to touch anything in the bathroom.

"Not that I can tell. No." Jack sat down in the living room and eyed the whole mess. "It doesn't make any sense. They walk in, trash the place, and take nothing. Not the work of criminals."

"Teenagers?" Sam offered. "Sometimes teenagers see an opportunity for mischief and go for it. Cassie was telling me about what some kids at her high school did and got caught." She looked around. "No signs of a party. And the door was open."

"Shouldn't we call the police and report this?" Daniel was reaching for his cell phone.

"No, get a Code Three team in here. I want to make sure this isn't a cover for bugging the joint." Heads were bobbing. It would be a long night.