Author's Note: I don't own Stargate. Sorry about all the update notifications recently. I went through my story correcting a lot of typos I found. Silly me forgot that you all would be getting a notification every time I fixed something. I understand how annoying that must have been and I apologize. I promise that, besides uploading new chapters, I am going to give it a rest with the updates for a while. So sorry about that. I love you all.

Chapter Forty-Two

"I have a bad feeling about being back here." I said peeking through the window to the village outside. The sun was setting bathing the road outside in red and purple light. It would have been pretty if not for how terrified I felt.

The Prior had sent us back. So far no one had come knocking. Or breaking down the door to set me up on a pyre again. That was one good thing going for us.

Skaara had just finished checking upstairs for any uninvited guests and sat down on the bottom step. "They must want to use us to weed out the 'corrupt.'" Skaara grimaced when he said that word.

"And why would they need us to do that?" I wondered aloud, they clearly had a lot of power.

"The universe is a big place, must be hard to keep track of it all. And if they get their followers to weed unbelievers out then that only confirms their faith in the Ori."

"I for one don't like being used as bait. This is bad." I worried. A passing group of women started when they saw me looking out. Not every day someone you murder comes back to life. I shuddered and walked further into the house, "What all can ascended beings do?" I asked sitting at the dining table. There was something about the Ori that I was trying to work out.

Skaara ran a hand over his face and joined me, "Well we've seen them create storms, lightening, fire," he glanced at me apologetically when I winced, "They've blown up Goa'uld motherships."

"You mean Daniel did that?" He nodded and I continued, "So they are pretty powerful on their own. Which begs the question; Why would they care if humans worshiped them or not?"

"Unless they were getting something out of it."

I snapped my fingers, "Exactly what I was thinking. We know a lot of Ancient tech is run by mental intent. If thousands, perhaps millions of minds were all directing their thoughts, i.e. worshiping in one direction and the Ori can do all that you said; Then it would not be too far-fetched to think they were getting a kind of power from their followers."

Skaara was picking up on my train of thought, "They clearly don't hold human life in much regard. And any humans not following would be of no use to them. Worse even. They could convince others to 'stray from the path.'"

"Precisely. And now they know about a whole other galaxy of humans and not a single one is worshiping them."

The chair creaked as he leaned back, thinking hard, "If the Ancients were shielding us all this time then they know the Ori are a serious threat. But if they've already sent a Prior then they obviously won't shield us from their human followers, only the Ori themselves."

"Thank god for that. I don't think we fight an ascended being."

"You couldn't," He said flatly, "you would be dead."

"But the Ancients must know that if the Ori convert our galaxy or…" I bit my tongue as I almost said Pegasus Galaxy. We had to assume the Ori were listening and the last thing we needed was for them to learn about yet another galaxy full of humans. "If the Ori convert our galaxy, they will gain a tremendous amount of power and then they would be a threat to the Ancients themselves."

"They won't break their non-interference policy. They wouldn't do it for Abydos." Skaara slammed a fist on the table top, "The Ancients would not even step in when Anubis tried to activate all the Stargates and use their technology to vaporize all life in the galaxy."

"Well I'm of the opinion that if you have the power to do something, and you refuse it is wrong."

A humorless laugh escaped him, "You must get that from Dan-yell. He could not stand it either."

"What about the Priors?"

"They're advanced but still human. It is their free will to go preach if they want."

"It's cheating." I muttered, "I'm really worried. This could turn into a crusade. We have to warn Earth."

"And we have to get out of these people." Skaara swung around in his chair to look up at the mirror on the other side of the house. Harris and Sallis starred back.

Bang!

We both jumped in fright. There was another loud bang and we ran to the door.

Skaara checked out the window and shrugged, "I can't see." He mouthed and help a finger to his lips to keep quiet. He reached for the door handle.

A heavy metal candle stick was sitting on a table nearby. I blew out the flame and raised it over my head, ready to attack if necessary.

Skaara opened the door and a hooded figure rushed inside. I rushed out from behind the door ready to knock this person out.

"Wait," Skaara threw his hands up. He grabbed the figure and shoved him further inside, kicking the door closed and tearing off the hood, "Fannis!"

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped at the man. No doubt we were being watched. He might as well have stepped up on the pyre himself.

"Fannis you just exposed yourself," Skaara scolded him.

"If I can help you speak the reality of our existence to your people, maybe one day in turn, you will spread that word back here." Fannis was a flurry of movement. The was hope in his voice. I'd give him that.

"You said you had other artifacts and evidence." I tried to focus the excited man, "Do you have anything that looked like a grey dome with a crystal on top."

His eyes lit up, "Come. I will show you."

"No." I protested, "You're risking yourself."

Fannis stopped at the door, suddenly somber and serious, "Harrid, Sallis, and I, all those who believe as we do, have known for some time that we may give our lives for our cause. We can only hope one day the truth comes to bear as a result. If I can help you both and your home resist the Ori, than that was a life well spent. Now come." He commanded and we followed him out into the night.

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It was near midnight, or well. What would pass for midnight on this planet. The three of us had our hoods pulled close and slid through the back alleys. Luckily no one appeared to be following us.

I felt the urgency of our mission increase with every step. We had to get back. At the very least we had to warn home about what was coming.

Fannis led us into a small shed like structure tucked under a bridge. He waved us over and we helped him drag a wooden crate out from under straw and hubris. None of us spoke for fear of discovery.

He and Skaara managed to crack open the nails secur8ing the lid, which fell to the dirt. A soft thunk echoed around the shed.

For the first time since waking up in this town I felt relief. Inside was a device identical to the one back on Earth. Harid and Sallis' stones were heavy in my dress's pocket. I handed one to Skaara and wordlessly we set them in two slots. I hoped this worked.

I closed my eyes.

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My eyes snapped open to a startled Dr. Lam. Her stethoscope was cold on my chest. My hand was wrapped around her wrist tight.

This didn't feel right. Half of me felt like it was a lightyears away.

"The Ori" I gasped. An oxygen tube was in my nose which was uncomfortable.

Dr. Lam blinked in shock, "You know about the Prior?"

Skaara's voice boomed and Dr. Lam's head whipped around to the other gurney, "He's here?!" He tried to get off the bed. Gods I missed hearing the sound of his real voice. But now wasn't the time.

Dr. Lam was pulling away to check on Skaara when I yanked her arm back. Her eyes wide.

Daniel was suddenly at my side. A blurry figure stood over his shoulder. I think it was Teal'c, if the gold emblem on his fuzzy forehead was anything to go by.

"Daniel!" I reached for my brother. He took my other hand, or I think he did. I couldn't feel my extremities. "You have to stop him." I was feeling lightheaded, my mouth felt numb, "The Ori aren't what they seem." My eyes were drooping. I wasn't tired. I was being taken back. "He'll kill everyone on the base. You hav…"

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I was flung back several feet. My back cracked against stone. The Prior's staff glowed bright blue. Skaara raised the lid of the box to use as a weapon, which promptly shattered. The Prior pulled back his staff, only to throw the tip in Skaara's direction. He was flung through the air. I cried out when he hit the wall next to me.

Fannis backed away from the apathetic Prior. He fell to his knees. I though he had collapsed in fear, but no. He began choking, clutching at this throat. Red blotches blossomed all over his face. He fell back struggling for breath.

No! I fought against the invisible bonds tying me to the wall to no avail.

"Fannis," Skaara shouted to the dying man.

Fannis' hand fell to the ground limp. He was gone. Our only friend here.

The Prior stood over the dead man, "And the people shall deliver the wicked unto your divine judgment, where their sins shall be weighed in balance with all that is just and true."

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The towns people only too eager to drag us away. They wrestled us roughly onto the stone pyre and shackled our wrists so we were facing away from each other.

The Administrator circled the stone monument, "Glorious are the Ori, who lead us to salvation, who didst fight the evil that would doom us to mortal sin. Did they defeat the old spirits and cast them out. And now, with the strength of our will, they do call upon us to prevail against the corruption of all unbelievers."

The crowd was bigger this time, if that was possible. Where a few people had look torn the last time, now everyone was eager.

The Prior stood at the point of the Ori symbol. Not lifting a single finger. He didn't have to. The villagers readied the barrel with oil.

"Guide us on the path, so that we may triumph over the enemy of our salvation, and be with you in the end of ends on the Plains of Enlightenment." The Administrator took his place beside the Prior.

"Hallowed are the Ori." The Prior lifted his staff and the barrel of oil ignited and tipped forward. Imbued with the power of the Ori must have made the fire stronger. It raced down the rivets faster than before.

"Skaara." My voice just barely made it over the roar of the fire.

One small mercy allowed our shackles to be loose enough and he gripped my hand.

I coughed and turned my face to the side, the fire was pouring into the circle where we knelt, "I'm sorry it's led to this."

My hands hurt from how hard we were holding onto each other.

Skaara gasped, "Even knowing. I would do it all again. It was worth it just to know you."

"I love you." Tears spilled down my face.

"As I love you."

The flames had reached my skirts. I knew what came next, "Skaara." I cried desperately wishing I could spare him this.

"Look away," He said, his tone resolute.

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"Charging to 200." A woman shouted and I heard the distinctive wine of electricity charging.

My eyes snapped opened and I scrambled up the gurney away from the deadly defib paddles.

Dr. Lam yelled in fright and almost dropped the fully charged paddles. Thank the gods she didn't.

"Oh my God. Ms. Clark." She hastily slapped the paddles into their sockets and kicked the defib cart away.

She attempted to shine a light in my eyes but I swivel my head around the room.

"Skaara!" I needed him.

"Ms. Clark I need you to sit still." She chastised, then Dr. Lam grabbed my shoulders when I jumped off the gurney, "What do you think you're doing?"

I found the object of my search on a gurney opposite mine being helped to a sitting position by Dr. Lee. Our gazes met, then then we were crushing each other in an embrace. One I never thought we'd ever have the chance to have.

"Those poor people." I shook in his arms. Harrid and Sallis. We had never met and yet I feel like we knew them as old friends.

"There was nothing we could have done."

A very pissed off Dr. Lam stood nearby. When it was obvious we weren't parting for a good long while she sighed in exasperation, "Someone page Dr. Jackson and Teal'c and let them know their plan worked, they're awake."

"What happened to the device?" I asked. I feared being yanked back to the Ori galaxy.

"Dr. Jackson and Teal'c destroyed it." Dr. Lam answered.

I sagged in relief. It was over. For now.

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The briefing room was exceedingly quiet the entire length of our story. Landry paced around the table in a way the reminded me of Jack. He clearly didn't like being still. I was seated firmly between my brother and my fiancé. My arms tucked my knees in close. I wanted to be as small as possible. When I got to the part where I was burned the first time Daniel had to run out of the room for a second, I think he was sick. It was too similar to how my parents, his foster parents had passed. When he returned he planted himself at the back of my chair, hands on my shoulders protectively, as if to reafirm that I was still there. Thus far he had refused to budge.

Cam and Vala sat across from the three of us. The chipper Cam I'd been introduced to was no where in sight. Even Vala was uncharacteristically quiet and dare I say respectful. She didn't let one quip loose. Teal'c leaned against the glass window over seeing the Stargate. The muscles in his jaw clenching and unclenching.

I looked over my shoulder at the scorch mark etched into the carpet. When the Prior had been confronted by Cam it did not go well. The Prior had burned himself.

"So you think we should expect more of these Priors to show up?" Landry stopped at the head of the table and sat in his general's chair.

I nodded, feeling sick myself, "Absolutely. To the Ori the only purpose humans have is to worship them. And now they know the Ancient hid an entire galaxy from them."

"How? We know one came through the Stargate, but if their galaxy is so far away…"

"They are ascended beings." Skaara cut in, "As Dan-yell was. We saw first-hand what he could do with that power on Abydos." Landry looked ready to stop Skaara as not everyone was privy to that classified info. But Skaara was so beyond caring at this point, "These beings are not like the Ancients they have and will interfere."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably behind me. I had a feeling he wasn't ready for me know about his ascension and return to our plane of existence. It must have been so hard for him. It must still be hard. I squeezed one of his hands on my shoulders. I looked up at him and gave him a small smile.

He tried to smile back but I came out more like a grimace. Then to Landry, "Still, for the Priors, I think we can assume it's a one-way trip."

"Don't think they have a problem with self-sacrifice." Cam indicated the burned carpet with his head.

Landry was troubled, he had hoped we would meet the ancients. Now we had a new enemy, "You think the Ancients here in our galaxy will continue to stop the Ori from using their power to attack us directly?"

Daniel cleared his throat, "I hope so. However, I think they will only stop the ascended beings from attacking. That clearly doesn't stand for their followers. Even for enhanced humans like the Priors. With them we are on our own."

I agreed, "The Ori controls whole galaxy. There could be hundred of thousands, maybe millions that they could marshal to fight in their name. We can travel back and forth between Pegasus and the Milky Way. It stands to reason they could eventually find a way to get here."

Cam leaned forward, "So how do we fight these guys? And I mean the message as much as the men. A lot of folks out there are going to buy what these guys are selling."

Teal'c raised his eyebrow, "Hopefully, now many have been educated to the ways of false gods."

"This is different Teal'c." Skaara himself stood and began pacing, "The Goa'uld were just parasites with better technology. The Ori's power is real." He paused and looked to me sadly. Yes. He had seen their power first-hand, "A lot of peoples will see it as proof of gods."

"Proof of powerful beings is not proof of God." Landry countered.

"I'm not saying it is," Skaara responded, his tone starting to become heated, "When O'Neill and Dan-yell first came to Abydos I thought a lighter was magic. What happens when people like mine see a Prior bring someone back from the dead?"

Cam stood to join Skaara, "Look, just because we know there is some beings on a higher plane of existence than ourselves does not mean there's not an order of being higher than them. At least I reckon that's what my Grandma'd say."

"And the universe is supposedly infinite." Vala added. Daniel looked at her like she had grown three heads. I bit my lip to keep from chuckling. There was a supremely intelligent woman under all at bluster after all.

"Which" Landry spoke up, "in my book makes it's impossible to know everything. I mean, somewhere in there, you gotta fill in the blanks with a little faith." He winked at Cam, "I had a grandma too."

This time I let my smile come through.

Landry stood and Cam rose out of his seat as well.

After Landry waved him to stand at ease Cam piped up, "So, business as usual, sir?"

The look Landry fixed each and every one of us with spoke to his confidence in this team, "Let 'em bring it. We'll use our strengths against their weaknesses. That's a pretty good strategy for any kind of business you're in." Then to Skaara and I, "I'm glad you two are okay."

"Thank you sir." Skaara bowed his head.

"Thank you." I echoed.

Landry grinned fondly at the gathered people and strode out.

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I was putting the finishing touches on my corner of the office. Dani, Skaara, and I would be working here together. The SGC had informed the three of us that would all warranted our own private offices. But. I kind of like the idea of all of us together. Life hadn't been that way for a long time. And Luckily Skaara and Dani agreed with me.

Cam had asked me about rejoining SG-1. After this last nightmare of a mission I was content to stay on base and study whatever the teams brought back through the gate. And this was where I'd do it.

All the books I wanted nearby lined a bookshelf atop my new desk, which I was currently standing atop. Most of what I would be working with was already here. Benefit of working in close quarters with two other history nerds. All that was left was this, I blinked hard to catch the lone tear in my eye as I raised the object out if its packing box. In short order the framed picture of Cassie from her first year on Earth was almost perfectly fitted to the wall. Just a little to the left. I frowned and tilted my head. Nope to the right. A nock at the door broke me out of my inner debate over interior decorating.

I turned towards the entrance and my jaw dropped, "Jack." I wanted to run to him, then I remembered I was standing atop my desk. So I jumped down and then ran to him and about tackled him in a hug, "What are you doing here?" I squealed.

Jack grunted and patted my back good-naturedly, "Woah. Careful I'm not as young as I used to be. And well, I was in the neighborhood."

"I though you were headed back to DC?" I said a little muffled against his shirt.

"When you're a General like me you can to stuff, like order a plane to turn right back around when there's a family emergency."

I could hear in his voice how much he enjoyed that.

"Thanks Jack." When I was done hugging him there was an awkward pause. In fact Jack didn't seem to want to let me go, "What Jack?"

Jack stuffed his hands in his pockets, which looked really strange for a full uniformed general to be doing. "Listen, I just had a briefing with Landry…about…your stuff."

"Oh," Was all I could say.

"Yeouch," Jack winced clearly not wanting to go there and neither did I, "It sounds like it could be a problem."

"We've had worse." I shrugged. Now Jack had me stuffing my hands in my back pockets. He was a bad influence.

Jack narrowed his eyes at me, "No we haven't."

"Yeah you're right we haven't. I am totally lying my ass off."

"You learned from the best."

I nodded, "Yeah you."

He clutched his hand to his chest in mock hurt, "That stings. I was going to say you learned it from Dani-boy."

"And he didn't start to do that until he met you." I pointed out.

"Right," He hissed and cocked his head in his way he always did, "Anyway. We've had horrible odds before."

"And we beat them."

"We've saved the world." Jack pointed out.

"Yeah how many times it that you for?" I grinned hopping up on a desk.

Jack leaned next to me, "I lost count at seven. Ask Teal'c. He keeps a more accurate count."

"Will do." I noted, "There's been a lot of tight situations."

Jack threw up his pointer finger, "Which we always got out of."

I laughed but couldn't get past the sinking feeling in my gut. Reaching out I laid a hand on his still outstretched arm, "Jack."

The halfhearted grin of his face fell at my somber tone.

"This feels different." I confessed, "This feels worse."

"Yeah." Jack pushed himself away from the desk. "I'm hungry."

I raised my eyebrows, "You know what so am I."

"Lets go." Jack led the way.

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Teal'c was already in the commissary with a full spread of pies. In fact besides the cooks and Teal'c it was totally empty. He raised his eyebrow as we sat. The Jaffa was working away at a full pumpkin pie. I took a fork and swiped a mouthful.

Teal'c paused. He was trying to be intimidating. And it would have worked if not for the very obvious smirk pulling at his lips.

Jack went in for the pumpkin pie.

Teal'c was like a viper and grabbed his wrist before his fork ever made contact, shaking his head. He then reached over and picked up a plate with a slice of pie and forcefully deposited it in the General's hands.

Skaara and Cam walked down fifteen minutes later. Cam sat on Teal'c's right and the warrior gave him a slice of pie.

Skaara came right up to me, tilted my head back and laid a kiss on me. Jack cleared his throat pointedly. To which Skaara blushed and sat down, hooking his arm though mine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jack smirking. Skaara was given an apple pie.

The doors to the commissary flew open, "Oh there you guys are," Daniel was a flurry of movement and all but skid to a stop at the head of our table. He braced his hands on the tabletop, "I was hoping to…"

The screech of metal across concrete shut him up. Teal'c pulled out the chair on his left and growled slightly at my brother until he sat down as well. Then he bestowed a pie to Daniel.

I made for another helping of Teal's full pumpkin pie. Which he allowed.

"How come she can share with you but none of us can?" Jack whined.

Teal'c growled again.

Jack held up his hands in defeat.

I leaned my head against Skaara's and sighed happily. It was good to be home.