"Barbara, are you sure you want this many documents to translate? The team should be gone only for a few days," questioned Daniel as he packed his bag. Barbara was standing at the entrance to the office. Even with all the sleep she was getting the bags under her eyes were getting darker. The hair was frizzing and the clothes that previously sat a bit big on her frame looked even more gigantic than before. Daniel was loathe to give Barbara any more translations but he could not stand before her pouting face. The archeologist looked up to see the girl nod at his question.
"I start thinking when I don't do the translations and the thoughts don't really take me anywhere good. I also brought a printout of your mission. Seth. I know you will be safe, but please take care," Barbara put the document near Daniel.
"I got tentative agreement from the General to take you and Teal'c out for educational trip. So, when we come back it will be either one of our local museums or maybe there will be a good baseball game," Daniel swiftly changed the subject trying to distract the girl. Barbara looked at Daniel with her eyes growing in size. "You did say you were not from US. And it is part of our culture."
Barbara rushed to the man, catching the man in a strong hug which continued until a familiar voice from the lab called," I also want a hug."
It was O'Neill together with the rest of SG-1, they had came to collect Daniel for the plane they were taking to Seattle. The pair exchanged glances.
"Don't mind if I do," murmured Barbara, forcing a chuckle from Daniel as she walked to the rest of the team members giving each a strong hug.
Barbara didn't intend to overhear whatever was happening in the office. It had sort of happened. She had a scheduled meeting with the General, where she was to present the information, she had retyped from her phone for use of SGC. When she came to knock on the door to announce her arrival the voices inside the office had increased and she was able to hear General Hammond and someone else.
"You will remove yourself from my office, effective immediately!" boomed General Hammond's voice through the door.
"General, we had had this conversation many times! My mandate is research and development. You will let us at least see the girl!"
"I said, out!"
Barbara was lucky she didn't stand under the door as it slammed into the wall and out strutted Colonel Maybourne who did not even glance at her direction and continued on his path towards the elevator.
As the man left her field of vision the girl couldn't help herself but pat down the pockets that had held her USB and her phone, to confirm that they were on her. She let out a heavy sigh and was ready to enter the office as General Hammond himself walked out of his office.
"That was too lucky for him," the man murmured and then he noticed Barbara. "Barbara, good day. How much of it have you heard?"
She showed 'a little', bringing close her index and thumb on her right hand before taking the translation device and quickly typing.
"Just the last minute. He didn't notice me. That's Maybourne, right?"
"Yes, that's Colonel Maybourne. We are lucky he didn't notice you here under the door. That man is no good."
"You think he specifically chose the time when Colonel O'Neill won't be at the base? I remember the show showcasing the constant confrontation between the two colonels. Although he does help at some point. I have it here retyped," came the mechanical reply from the girl's hands.
"Excellent. Thank you, Barbara. Let's continue it in the office."
"Why is it always kids?" came the annoyed voice of Colonel O'Neill as his team were returning to SGC. They had taken out the Seth cult with the some help from one of the members, Tom Levinson, a son to Jason Levinson who had also managed to provide some information on the cult. The end result of the operation was not the optimal, as Carter had killed the Goa'uld in self defense. Nevertheless, captain didn't feel great about it.
"What do you mean, Jack?" asked Daniel sitting opposite the leader of the team.
O'Neill shifted in his position. "Ska'ara, Nafrayu, Cassandra, Charlie, now Tom and the rest of the 'disciples'. Our own Barbara," the man quickly rattled a small list of names. "The kids always somehow find themselves tangled in the schemes of the grown-ups, be that Goa'uld or just plain adults.
"I don't think it's strictly a problem of kids. It is a problem that it is most noticeable in kids. Everybody suffers. Some hide it better, some worse. But no one suffers the same as the other Joe," answered Daniel after a few moments of silence. The rest of the flight was quiet.
"No, I don't think the zoo is a good idea," disagreed Jack.
"But Jack! It is important! Teal'c might see some animals that he has never seen!" whined Daniel. "And after that we can go to one of the museums? How about the Western Museum of Mining and Industry?"
"Who would even like to go to such a museum? Mining and industry! Ugh!" cried in disgust O'Neill.
"No, no, sir. Let him speak. The zoo might be a great idea but maybe instead of the industry museum we go to the Motorcycle Museum? It has a huge collection of original and vintage and antique motorcycles, dating from 1913! The Indians, the Harley-Davidsons, Mustangs, Hondas and many others…"
"If we are to showcase the American Culture, we have to go a Baseball game!"
"Do we even have any good games scheduled in Springs?"
"We can always go to another city."
"what about a good football game?"
The table was covered in papers. But contrary to the usual content these papers had maps, schedules and other ideas for possible locations to visit in Colorado Springs. The reasons why there was such a mess in the first place were hiding in one of the corners, far away from the arguing military personnel. Some worry could be seen in Teal'c face as the eyebrows were creating a small fold on his forehead. Barbara was looking at the mess from behind the Jaffa.
"We are not getting out of this unscathed?"
A small pained grunt was her answer