Note: There is talk of Max's potentially having a contingency plan in the first scene of this chapter. While another section has its own minor trigger warning.
"He hasn't moved from the spot on the floor where he dropped after Janet, Carter, and Daniel left the room. But he's still clearly terrified- the guard said he hasn't stopped shaking the whole time." Said O'Neill to the group sitting around the conference table as he walked in from his quick check of the security room cameras monitoring Max. It was SG-1, Janet, and General Hammond, the six of them trying to decide the next steps for Max, now that he'd consented to the exam.
"General-" started Daniel, but was cut off before he could say more.
"Hold on one second Dr. Jackson," interrupted Hammond, "Let's start with the information from Dr. Faisers exams. I know you all feel a soft spot for the boy, but we need to assess his danger level to the SGC before proceeding, especially with this new development of his powers."
Daniel looked like he wanted to say something else, but was kicked in the shin by O'Neill, who was sitting across from him. "Let Janet go first Daniel."
The doctor glared at his friend, but kept quiet as he rubbed his shin under the table.
Janet opened the file in front of her on the table, "Well General, I'd like to start by saying what the NID did to this boy is completely appalling. Frankly, I'm surprised Sam and Daniel were able to convince him to agree to an exam. That being said, his physiology looks completely human, except for his blood and cells, which are definitely alien, and no match to any samples we have from our explorations. After reviewing the newest blood sample from the lab's, and comparing it from the blood samples the NID agents took before experimenting on Max, I can safely say the drugs are completely out of his system. In fact, looking at the differences between the two tests, I'm actually surprised the drugs didn't kill him."
There were some sharp intakes of breath and a raised eyebrow from Teal'c, but everyone let her finish speaking.
"General, some of these markers in his system were literally off the charts. Now that I have a better idea of what his blood looks like normally, I can safely say if any of us had been given that drug cocktail, we would've been within the hour- probably even Teal'c. Then there's the issue of his chest injuries. They were completely healed. No scars- nothing. It looks like it never happened. I have no explanation for that either, as it wasn't a naturally occurring phenomenon I could see happening in the cells from his cheek swab and blood samples- both sets of them."
Hammond nodded in understanding, "is that all doctor?"
Janet hesitated before saying, "No sir. When I touched his throat to check his glands, I got a flash of a memory from him. It was from his time in the White Room with the NID, the first time they drugged him. The needles they were using *were* over the top in their size, probably for the fear factor they induced in Max. Pierce, the agent in charge, kept choking and hitting him because he was unresponsive from the drugs." Janet shook her head before continuing softly, "he was so terrified of the doctors."
A heavy silence fell across the room, "I don't think he meant to do that Janet," said Daniel finally.
Everyone at the table turned to look at the archeologist, "He was extremely terrified and definitely stressed throughout the exam. When Janet pulled back from his throat, he looked like he realized connected with you and shared a memory, but hadn't meant for it to happen. Although, that might also explain why he was more trusting of us today than he was yesterday. With the drugs wearing off he was probably able to pull flashes from around the room. Do you remember how he was touching everything last night before he finally fell asleep on the bed? I thought it was just looking for restraints, but what if he was trying to figure out if we were trustworthy?"
"You think he accidentally showed Doctor Fraier a memory of his time in Area 51?" Asked Hammon for clarification.
"Yes sir," said Daniel, "that was probably one of the powers the NID was trying to repress with the drugs."
"Yeah," said Jack, "let's talk about these powers of his. Showing/seeing memories, an unusual advanced healing, and apparently he can draw his own blood. Carter, do you have any explanations for that?"
"No sir," said Carter, completely bewildered, but excited to figure out the challenge Max presented, "I have no idea what he did to draw the blood sample and I watched him do it, then reviewed the security footage of the whole thing while we waited for Janet to finish in the lab. If we assume he has a similar physiology to humans, because of his bone and organ structure, based on current human evolution levels, what he did is literally impossible."
"His brain activity is much, much higher than ours," said Janet suddenly. "I thought it was from the drugs the NID used, but now I'm not so sure."
"Yeah," said Jack, "his brain scans from the MRI and CT were lit up like a Christmas tree."
"What if it is a combination of the alien DNA markers and the brain activity?" Said Teal'c suddenly.
"You think he has Jedi mind powers?" Said Jack, thinking it over.
"I do not understand that reference O'Neill," said Teal'c back.
"Wait- WHAT?! How have you NOT seen Star Wars yet?!" Jack exclaimed with fake indignation, "Daniel! I thought we'd shown him Star Wars!"
Daniel kicked Jack under the table, "this really isn't the time Jack. And we started with Star Trek- remember? Carter won the rock-paper-scissors battle for which to do first."
"It's been over two years!" said Jack, still clearly baffled by this newest development.
"Colonel," said Hammond, only mildly exasperated, "let's get back on track here please."
"Right. Next movie night we are binging Star Wars. Episodes 4-6 only." Jack grumbled, but dropped the subject.
"Actually," said Carter, suddenly using her 'I think we have a really cool scientific discovery on our hands,' voice, "That's a legitimate possibility. We don't know the full capabilities of the human mind. Maybe because of the combination of alien and human elements, his species has unlocked potential powers our species could develop when we are more evolved."
"In a few thousand years perhaps," added Janet, working through the theory as well. "Or it could be that his brain and other organs are also alien, but just look like ours. However, there really isn't a way to tell without opening him up and examining his brain, or other organs- which I will not be doing."
"This is all well and good," said Hammond, bringing up the most important point of their meeting, "but is he a threat to the SGC?"
Everyone at the table paused to consider their answers. Teal'c was the first to speak, "I do not believe so, General Hammond. Max Evans is clearly terrified, but was willing to extend his trust to us. He has powers, which he probably could use against us- but for whatever reason has chosen not to. He has shown no violent tendencies at all with anyone who he's been in contact with so far."
Jack nodded, "It could be that whatever power he has is limited to him, or touching him as well."
"General," said Daniel, "we did promise him we'd let him off the infirmary floor if he agreed to an exam from Janet. For whatever reason, he seems to trust us and I don't believe it would be a good idea to break that trust."
"I'm not suggesting we lock him up like the NID did Doctor Jackson," said Hammond, slightly angry that was what Jackson was implying.
"No sir, I know that," said Daniel placatingly, "but when he agreed to the exam he said 'trust goes both ways.' I think it was his way of saying he wouldn't hurt us if we didn't hurt him. He didn't have to use his power to draw his own blood, but he was so terrified of Janet coming near him with a needle, he chose to trust us enough to give us a glimpse of what he could do. He knew there was a chance we would react like the NID did- lock him up, run more tests, or even give him more drugs, but he did it anyway. And there was the connection with Janet. Assuming he can use his power offensively, he could've attempted to defend himself, but he didn't- he just covered his head with his hands."
"Was it a test?" Asked Hammond, thinking over the exam and what he knew of Max Evans.
"Probably not in the way you're thinking, General," added Carter. "He was probably just trying to see if we would turn into the NID if he did show us he had powers. I wouldn't rule out the potential for him to use his powers offensively, but he's done nothing of the sort in the time he's been here. If anything, all his moves were towards himself only. Self preservation."
"He must have a contingency plan," said Jack suddenly thinking over the situation from a special ops perspective, "he wouldn't have allowed us to see his powers if he didn't have a plan B in place. Especially if he thought we could react poorly or attempted to drug him again."
"His contingency plan probably involves the bathroom," said Teal'c, also thinking over the situation.
"Yeah," said Jack thinking of the mirror in the bathroom, "he is still sitting in front of the door, and that's the only place where there is anything he could use to hurt himself or us."
Hammond nodded, thinking everything over, "Yes, I believe you are all correct. So, what do you believe we should do next?"
"Move him to quarters close to Teal'c's room, get him some new clothes, and show him around the base," said Jack. "If he does have powers, it would be best if he wanted to use them to help us, not hurt us. He put the ball back in our court and it's our turn to show him we mean no harm."
"Also," said Carter, "there is the issue of the NID mole, who stole the artifacts that brought us to Area 51 in the first place. They might try to grab Max to bring him back to the NID."
Hammon nodded again, "very well. SG-1, you are here-by officially on stand by for off-world missions until the issues of the mole and Max Evans are resolved. One of you must be with Evans, for his safety and ours, from now on when he's not in his new quarters. You have permission to show him around base, but just be careful of the information you share." Hammond looked at Daniel with the last statement.
"General-" Jack tried to protest.
"Dismissed," said Hammond, ignoring his second in command and standing to go back to his office. He paused at the door, "actually, I think I'd like to speak to Mr. Evans myself to deliver the news and get a feel for the boy."
"Teal'c and I will go with you General," said Jack.
"Actually," said Daniel interrupting, "I'm not sure the three of you are a good combination, Jack. It would be better if the General took Carter or I. If you, Teal'c and the General go, Max will perceive it as a threat and assume you are going to lock him up. If he does have a contingency plan, the three of you would cause him to enact it. If he follows his current pattern it will probably be something defensive and probably not against the three of you, but it'd be better to not take that chance or spook him. We also don't want him to hurt himself because we returned his trust with a show of force."
"I agree General," said Janet, who had stood up at the dismissal, "He won't hurt you- not intentionally, but he might do something drastic without realizing it if he feels like we broke his trust."
"Alright," said Hammond, "Colonel, you and Captain Carter make sure his room is ready," the 'check for bugs' was implied but understood, "Daniel and Teal'c will accompany me to Mr. Evans room, then the two of you can escort him to his new quarters."
"I'll grab some BDU's and meet you there Sir," said Carter as she saluted the General and moved for the door.
"I'll help you Sam," said Janet, following her friend out of the room after her own salute.
"Room prep it is," said Jack, nodding at the General and also leaving the room.
"I will lead us then, General," said Teal'c to the General and Daniel. He turned and walked out, confident the pair would follow him to Max's room.
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Minor Trigger Warning for the next few paragraphs
Max was curled up in a small shaking ball of nerves at the edge of the bathroom's entrance. He was staring at the room's main door, with millions of possible scenarios running through his head about what would happen when the team came back. He was trying to stay positive, but the longer he waited the darker the scenarios became.
He'd almost convinced himself to follow through with his plan when there was a knock at the door, "Max, it's Daniel. I'm going to come in okay?"
Daniel came in first, followed by Teal'c and the man Max had seen in his flashes. The soldiers guarding the door attempted to come in as well, but the General stopped them before they could clear the threshold, "That's alright airmen. Stay outside and continue as you were before."
"Sir-," one tried to protest but was cut off.
"That's an order airman," said Hammon with force.
"Yes sir." They stepped back and closed the door behind them. Max didn't hear the lock re-engaged, which set him more on edge than he already was. He made himself a smaller target but didn't take his eyes off the trio who hadn't moved too far into the room, choosing to stay back to give him more space.
"Good news Max!" said Daniel, drawing Max's eyes towards him, "your results came back and Janet is pleased with what she found. The drugs are completely out of your system, and we are setting up a room for you near Teal'c's so you don't have to stay in here any longer. Thank you for trusting us enough to do the exam."
Max nodded but didn't speak. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of the room Daniel was talking about- he didn't know enough about the base to gauge what they meant.
"I am pleased we will be neighbors Max Evans," added Teal'c.
"Max," said Daniel as he moved over to allow the bald General to come forward and introduced the pair, "this is General Hammond. General, this is Max Evans."
"Good afternoon Mr. Evans," said General Hammond, "I'm in charge of this base, and want to formally welcome you to the SGC."
"He...hello." Max managed to get out, still not uncurling from his spot on the floor.
"Before we move you to your new room, I'd like to talk to you for a moment," said Hammond, getting straight to the point of his visit. "Base security is very important to me, Mr. Evans. I'd like to reassure you that you will be safe here from the NID. If we let you out of this room will we also be safe from you and your powers?" Daniel looked like he wanted to interrupt, but Teal'c shook his head no at the doctor.
"I… I don't…" Max swallowed and quietly got out, "I don't hurt people."
Hammond nodded, "that's good to know son." He paused before adding, "Doctor Fraiser mentioned in the debrief about your exam results that she got a flash of your time at Area 51, did you mean to do that?"
Max shook harder in fear and frantically shook his head no for a moment, "didn't...didn't mean to connect with her like that- it was an accident, I'm s...sorry."
"It's okay Max, that's what we thought as well," said Daniel soothingly, trying to calm the teen down, "Can your power go the other way? Can you also get flashes of memories from people or things?"
Max gave a small nod but didn't say anything else.
"How about the blood sample," asked Daniel, "do you know how you were able to draw the blood from your veins without the needle?"
Max turned his head away, looked down at the floor and refused to answer. His shaking got worse.
"Max," said Daniel, but Max just softly repeated, "I don't.. I don't hurt people."
Daniel moved away from the door, to the protests of General Hammond, "Doctor Jackson-"
"It's fine General," said Daniel as he slowly knelt in front of Max so they were at the same eye level, "I know Max won't hurt me."
Max drew his hands in close around his stomach to hide them behind his legs, which were still drawn up. His eyes kept darting between Daniel and the pair by the door. Daniel was the bigger threat, since he was right in front of Max, so eventually Max's eyes settled on the archeologist. His movement confirmed to the others that his power worked through touch.
"Max," said Daniel, "Can you control the flashes you get from touching things? If I thought of a specific memory when we were touching, could you see it?"
"I don't… I don't know," whispered Max, terrified of what Daniel was asking- to use his powers in front of all these people who could hurt him. With the doctor earlier he at least had the element of surprise. These three were all bigger than Fraiser and Carter, it would be a huge risk.
"Can we try? I'll think of something specific and you can tell me what you saw, is that okay?" Daniel kept his voice gentle as Max's eyes went from him to the pair at the door.
"I know you won't hurt me," said Daniel, reaching out a hand, but not touching Max, "I trust you, okay?"
Max shrunk away from Daniel's hand, thinking this was a trick, but Hammond just gave a small smile, "it's okay son. Go ahead and give it a try," and Teal'c nodded in encouragement.
"See?" said Daniel moving his hand a little closer, "it's okay. I promise."
With a final glance at the trio, Max slowly and carefully brought his hand up closer to Daniel's. Similar to what he did when Daniel handed him the water bottle the day before, Max brushed their fingers- only he held the connection longer this time.
Daniel immediately recognized the motion from the day before, and finally understood why Max was so willing to trust them. The teen had pulled things from him when their fingers brushed on the water bottle. He couldn't say anything though because he was suddenly flooded with images from Max and his recent memories from Area 51. ~/Max was being dragged into an ice filled bath and pushed under; he was getting electrocuted while Pierce watched and smiled; Pierce bringing in the surgical tools when Max wouldn't answer his questions- because Max didn't *know* the answers. The feeling of drugs coursing through his blood, while the surgents started cutting into his chest./~ All the fear Max felt for the past week.
Daniel broke the connection with a gasp as he fell back, breathing hard. He put one hand to his chest, he needed to feel that it wasn't shrouded in cuts. He brought the other hand up to stop Teal'c or the General from moving towards them or the airmen guarding the door. Max brought his hand back close to his body, shaking harder in fear when Daniel pulled away.
"I'm okay," said Daniel, not taking his eyes off Max, "what'd you see Max?"
Max glanced at Teal'c, before bringing his eyes back to Daniel, "Co...Colonel O'Neill was indignant that Teal'c hasn't seen Star Wars yet." He paused before adding, "...what did you see Doctor Jackson?"
"You're stay in Area 51." said Daniel, understanding what had happened, while General Hammond and Teal'c both gasped in surprise, "trust goes both ways huh?"
Max nodded slightly, but didn't uncurl, "ye...yeah."
"Yeah," said Daniel back.
"Well," said Hammond, interrupting the moment with a glance at his watch, "I need to get back to my office. Doctor Jackson, if everything is alright here, I'm authorizing you and Teal'c to escort Mr. Evans to his new room."
Teal'c and Daniel nodded, so Hammond turned to the door and opened it, "Again, welcome to the SGC Mr. Evans," he said as he stepped out. The door stayed open and Max heard him speaking to the guards, "gentleman, you are dismissed. Go take a break before returning to your other duties."
"Sir, yes sir!" The pair said in unison with a salute before moving away and down the hall.
"Are you ready Max?" Asked Daniel, as he held his hand out to help Max up.
Max swallowed before he nodded and used the wall to stand on his own. He didn't trust he could hold Daniel's hand without causing another connection between them- he was still too stressed. Daniel didn't seem to mind and started towards the door, "come on! After we get you settled, General Hammond gave us permission to show you around the base. And I bet you want a shower, right?"
"Ye..yes please," he said, as he followed Daniel and felt Teal'c move up next to him, close by but not touching. Max hugged one arm to his chest, while he held the other at the elbow as he walked. He was terrified he was making a mistake, but was trying to trust the pair walking him down the hall towards an elevator. Daniel chatted about the base- nothing he hadn't already said to Max yesterday when he brought his food. Max appreciated the effort, it kept his focus off the guards stationed throughout the corridors. It helped that said guards were also willing to ignore the trio as they walked.
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"Here we are!" Said Daniel, as he opened the door to Max's new room on a different floor of the base. The archeologist walked in, but left the door open for Max to enter on his own. Teal'c waited for Max to enter, which took a long moment. The teen stood in the door to assess the room for a moment before he also entered it. Teal'c followed right behind him.
Max took in the bed, desk and chair, small cabinet and another door- probably to the bathroom, all from the entrance. He saw Colonel O'Neill sitting at the desk with his feet propped up on it, while Captain Carter stood from the bed to greet them. "Hi Max!"
"H..hi," said Max, as he finally moved into the room and stood away from the pair. He ended up leaning against the cabinet. He got a flash of Doctor Fraiser and Carter putting away his new clothes (BDU's) and chatting about men. His eyes darted around the room, suddenly wary the doctor would jump out at him, "Where… Doctor Fraiser?" was all he could get out.
Carter raised an eyebrow, while she and Jack looked to Daniel for an explanation. Daniel didn't disappoint by saying lightly, "Max confirmed that he gets glimpses of memories when he touches people or objects."
"Daniel," said Jack in a warning tone as he stood up from his lounging position. He knew his teammate well enough to know the archeologist was holding back information. Max caught the tone and flinched back into the wall, as far from Jack as he could get, thinking he was in trouble for what just happened.
"Jack," said Daniel, completely ignoring his teammate's tone.
"O'Neill," said Teal'c, who moved in front of Max slightly, "you are scaring our new friend."
Jack stared at Daniel another few seconds, with a look that clearly said they would be talking about this when they were alone, before he relaxed and turned back towards Max, "Sorry kid. Daniel has a habit of doing things he shouldn't."
Max wasn't sure how to respond, but before he could Carter spoke up gesturing at the cabinet, "wow! What did you just see?"
The teen looked between the four, not sure if he would get in trouble. Daniel just smiled encouragingly and Jack had his poker face back up. Teal'c nodded when he caught Max's eye so he turned his attention to Captain Carter.
"Just...just you and the d... doctor putting clothes in the drawers and chatting." Max said before darting his eyes back towards O'Neill.
"Can you do that with people also?" Asked Carter, as her scientific brain worked in overtime at the possibilities.
It was Daniel who answered, "Yes he can. The connection can go both ways."
Jack's eyes flashed in slight anger at the archeologist, "Daniel!" He realized what his teammate had done.
"Jack, trust goes both ways, alright? You need to calm down. I'm fine, and Max didn't hurt me." Daniel was also moving in front of Max and Teal'c, crossing his arms at his friend's paranoia.
Jack's eyes darted between Daniel, who he could see was fine and right in front of him, and Max- who was doing his best to become one with the wall. The teen was looking at Jack with absolute terror and shaking like a leaf.
"General Hammond and I were there as well O'Neill," added Teal'c, "The General even allowed Daniel to follow through with his actions so Max Evans could see we mean him no harm."
Jack drew in a deep breath, held it, then released it, along with all the tension in his body. "Right. Well I have things to take care of, missions to reassign, etc. Glad you are doing okay Kid, and I'm sorry I scared you."
The Colonel made his way out of the room. His team knew he was going to review the security footage from before, but didn't say that out loud, afraid to further terrorize the alien teen with them. Daniel also knew a lecture was coming his way when Jack was done.
"Don't mind him," said Carter trying to soothe Max's nerves, "he's really a big teddy bear when you get to know him."
"I heard those lies Carter!" Came from Jack down the hall, which caused the Captain and Daniel to let out amused snorts and Teal'c to raise an eyebrow with a small smile. The Captain winked at Max, who was starting to uncurl, now that the most immediate threat was out of the room.
"Right," said Daniel with a cough to cover up a laugh, "there are fresh toiletries, still wrapped, in the bathroom for you Max, along with some towels. You already know about the clothes in the dresser, and there should be some boots on the other side of it. If you want a bureau we could probably have one brought in. The clock is above the door here."
Max nodded, but didn't speak. His eyes did move around the room to the places Daniel mentioned in his explanation.
"We will let you get settled and look around the room some. We'll come back in an hour or so to get you for dinner and a tour of the base, does that sound good?" Daniel continued when he realized Max wasn't going to speak, "The door locks from the inside, so you can lock it on your own after we leave. There is also a security camera here, for safety reasons-" Daniel motioned towards the camera by the bed that faced the main door, "but I'll talk more about that when we come back for the tour okay? For now, can you wait here for one of us to take you around the base? It's an extra precaution for you and us."
Max nodded again, his eyes on Daniel, but still didn't say anything.
"Right," said Carter, "see you in a bit, Sweetie." She turned and walked towards the door, stopping in the entryway, "you know Max, it was really brave of you to let Janet examine you. Thank you for trusting us enough to let her do it."
"Wel… welcome." Said Max quietly back, watching the trio leave.
"My room shares this wall, Max Evans," Teal'c said gesturing to the wall Max was leaning on, "If you need anything at any time, please knock on the wall and if I am in my room I will come over right away."
"Tha...thank you Teal'c." Max said, meeting the other alien's eyes as he pulled the door closed behind the trio. Max was finally alone again. He leaned against the wall trying to catch his breath and process the past hour's events. When he felt calmer, he glanced around the room again, before he moved towards the door. He looked at the security camera out of the corner of his eye then moved his body so he was blocking it's view. He engaged the lock the normal way then used his power to add another layer of protection. When his task was done, he stepped back and dropped his hand.
For the first time in a week, Max felt marginally safer. He could defend himself, and this military group- this SGC didn't seem inclined to force him to use his powers or experiment on him. /Yet./ He thought, /I still need to be careful. General Hammond was oddly agreeable to Doctor Jackson's suggestion earlier./
Max decided to check the room with his power before getting a shower. They knew about his ability to get flashes, so he didn't hide that he was doing just that as he wandered around and touched the furniture and walls. He got a flash of O'Neill looking around the room for something before Carter and Janet arrived with clothes. /Bugs. He's looking for bugs….is it the NID?/
When Max touched the pillow, there was a flash of someone else- not O'Neill, in the room putting something in the bed. He didn't recognize the face of the man, but was wary of using the bed now. Finished his inspection of the main room, Max pulled out fresh clothes from the cabinet- a black t-shirt, a green military jacket, green pants, and fresh packs of unopened underwear and socks. He moved into the bathroom, closed then locked the door the normal way then again with his power. He did a sweep of the bathroom with his power, to see if he got another flash, but nothing odd came up like the bed- just O'Neill and Carter.
Max double checked the door, grabbed the shower supplies, and turned on the water as hot as he could stand it. He stripped then stepped into the scalding water. As steam filled the room, Max let himself cry as he stood under the strong spray. /Isabel… Michael… Where are you? Please be safe.../
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Almost an hour later, on the dot, there was a knock at Max's door. "Max Evans," said the voice, "it is Teal'c. Are you ready to join us for a tour and dinner?"
Max was sitting on the end of the bed, fully dressed (boots and all), with his hands under his legs. He was facing the door waiting for the SG team to come collect him. It looked a little weird and uncomfortable to the security team monitoring the room, but they chalked it up to an alien quirk and left it at that. In reality, Max was trying to discreetly use his powers to figure out what the other soldier did to his bed, but he wasn't having much luck. At Teal'c's knock, Max stood to unlock the door (he'd fixed what he'd done with his powers earlier), and opened it for his new babysitter.
"Us?" asked Max softly when he realized it was only Teal'c outside his room.
The other alien nodded, "we will need to stop by Daniel Jackson's office to collect him. He became immersed in his work rather suddenly about a half hour ago. I will let him tell you the details. Are you ready to go?"
Max let out a breath then stepped into the hall. When he pulled the door closed, he kept his hand on it to engage the lock from the inside with his power. Teal'c didn't say anything about the move, just raised an eyebrow. Max realized it was a judgment free eyebrow, so he didn't explain his reasoning.
"Come," said Teal'c, "let us go collect Daniel Jackson." He started moving down the hall towards the elevators. Max kept in step with the other, and when he realized Teal'c was typically silent, relaxed. He wasn't quite up to keeping up a conversation right now, he was still scared to be out in the open corridors like this. All his attention was focused on watching his surroundings.
The elevator dinged on another floor- that looked exactly the same as the last one, but now Max could hear Daniel's voice talking through some translation from an open office door down the hall. Max had no idea what language, but he was okay with that.
"Daniel Jackson," said Teal'c, when they got to the door, "it is time for us to take young Max Evans to the mess for dinner then the tour as you promised him."
Daniel looked up from the white board he was writing on to see the pair of them standing in his doorway. Max was looking around the room with curiosity, but kept his body in the frame. He didn't move into the room or want to accidentally touch something. "Oh, is it that time already?" Asked the archeologist.
He capped the marker and nodded as Teal'c said, "indeed."
"As you can see, Max Evans," said Teal'c as the trio moved into the elevator, "Daniel Jackson can get very immersed in his work, and will forget to eat unless one of us pulls him away."
"I'm not THAT bad- Carter's way worse!" Was Daniel's exasperated response heard down the hall as the door to the elevator closed behind the trio.
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"The mess is open pretty much 24/7," Daniel was saying as they made their way into the large room, "we have teams scheduled to come in at all hours, and it's just easier to keep it open long term. Typically in the slower hours there are things like nutrition bars, cereal boxes, fruit, etc. While at high volume times, there's more of a selection and more hot food options." The archeologist handed Max a tray and started putting things on his own- not really paying attention to what he grabbed as he was still talking.
"Sometimes," said Jack, coming up next to Daniel in line- trading out some items for others on the archeologist's tray, "we even pay attention to what we eat and don't just eat all the sugary junk… or drink all the base's coffee."
"You can't prove that was me," was all Daniel said in response to Jack's coffee teasing.
"Pretty sure I can actually." Jack shot back. The Colonel turned his attention to his young charge, "feeling a bit more settled now Max?"
Max was still a little afraid of the Colonel, but he nodded anyway- not sure how else to respond. He grabbed a bottle of water and followed Jack and Daniel to a table next to the wall. Daniel and Teal'c took the chairs facing the wall, leaving Max the chance to put his back to the wall- which he appreciated, but it left him next to the Colonel. He swallowed down his fear and moved to sit before he dug into his dinner. Daniel ended up talking to the group, though he was also telling Max new information about the SGC, or explaining what they were talking about as the conversation flowed around the teen. Max didn't mind, just took it all in quietly, not quite sure of his place in this group yet.
"So," said Jack, when everyone was done eating and Max was sipping the last of his water, "did you get any flashes from your sweep of your room Max?"
The teen looked between the team- who were not surprised that the Colonel had watched him on the security tape like that. Max shrugged suddenly self conscious again, "you and Captain Carter mostly. There was someone else that I didn't know, who did something to the bed, but I couldn't figure out what or how."
O'Neill sat up straighter, as did Teal'c, "what do you mean 'did something to the bed?'" The Colonel asked, trying to gauge what the teen meant. Had he missed something in his own sweep of the room?
Max shrugged again, "I'm not… sure? I can't explain it. He was just poking around the bed. It was a quick flash and I didn't see much other than that."
"Do you believe it was the mole, O'Neill?" Asked Teal'c to bring attention away from the teen who was shrinking down under Jack's stare.
The Colonel looked between Daniel and Teal'c, "It could've been. We don't have an identity yet, they were good at covering their tracks when they grabbed the artifacts before. Teal'c, can you and Daniel take a stroll through the archeology rooms to make sure everything is accounted for? Keep it on the down low- I don't want our mole to know we're on to him. I'll escort Max here back to his rooms and double check my sweep from earlier. It never hurts to be too careful."
"Should we alert the General?" Asked Daniel, as he moved nonchalantly to stand and throw away his trash. His teammates followed the move so Max did as well.
"Not yet," said Jack just as casually back, "I'm not sure yet who we can trust and there might be ears everywhere. But stop by Carter's office and make sure she comes down for dinner. She's almost as bad as you Daniel about not eating when it's a normal time."
"Carter's way worse about eating than me!" Said Daniel even more exasperated than before as his elevator closed and the pair were off to the archeology floor.
"He's actually worse than Carter," said Jack to Max when the elevator door was closed and Daniel couldn't hear them anymore. Max realized Jack was keeping up the act for this apparent mole.
As the pair got onto their own elevator Jack said, "So Max, how do you feel about fishing? I know this excellent spot in the forest, nice and quiet- no one around for miles and the best lake for fishing."
Jack was still talking about the merits of fishing as the elevator opened onto Max and Teal'c's floor a moment later. Max had never been fishing before and had no idea it was so complex. When they got to his door, he stopped O'Neill from trying to open it for him with a soft, "I'll get it."
Jack heard the lock disengage from the inside a moment later and realized Max had used his power on the door. He silently approved the action, "Neat trick. Know any others?"
Max shrugged, and allowed Jack into the room before him, "one or two."
"You must be a real hit at parties," Jack said, sweeping the room with his eyes as he entered cautiously. Max didn't respond, but stayed close behind him, then moved to stand by the bed while Jack peaked into the bathroom.
"Alright," said Jack, "what did you see?" He motioned for Max to show him where the man was.
Max moved to the head of the bed and gestured with his hands where he was talking about, "he was here for the few moments that I saw."
The teen looked up, sensing motion from behind Jack and saw the man in the doorway holding a gun pointed at them, "Colonel!"
Jack saw the widening of Max's eyes and realized what was happening at almost the exact same time as the teen. He threw himself forward, to pull Max down and heard a gun going off a moment later. He then felt a sting from a bullet wound and the flow of blood running both out his chest and into his lung. He knew the medical team wouldn't get to him in time, but tried to move anyway to help Max, who had screamed a "No!" at the man and threw his hand out. Jack then saw a glow and heard a thump in the hall moments later.
"Guess… that…. answers… that… question," said O'Neill when he saw Max's face swimming in front of his own a moment later.
"Colonel O'Neill," said Max urgently, "hey, I need you to stay with me okay?" He placed a hand on O'Neill's chest right over the wound- but he wasn't applying enough pressure to stop the bleeding, and did nothing for the entrance wound on his back- that much Jack did know, "no falling asleep. You can do it, please- just stay with me okay?"
"Need….Fraiser," was all Jack could get out before he started to feel an odd sensation coming from his chest where Max was still applying the wrong amount of pressure to his wound. The Colonel fought to stay conscious.
"Someone will get her, I'm sure," said Max, who started shaking from the effort of healing O'Neill, "just keep your eyes on me in the meantime."
A few moments later three things happened at once: Max finished healing Jack and fell back into the bed, dizzy and slightly exhausted; the alarms started to blare; and a canister of sleeping gas was dropped into the room. That was all O'Neill could gather before darkness overtook him. He thought he heard a faint, "Colonel help!," but he was too disoriented to know for sure.
-End Chapter 3-