AN: Florence is coming, so I'm updating because it's entirely possible that I won't have power for a while. Thank you for all the support, and I hope you all continue to enjoy this "lengthy tale." That said, if you think something can be better, that's valuable information to me.
Family Reunions
Sha're stretched out her back rolling her shoulders in relief as she straightened up from beside the cooking pot. Now that the stew simmered gently on the fire she only needed to check on the shield generators and change. Excitement coiled deep in her core burning with extreme intensity at the thought of seeing her husband in the flesh. She only hoped that he came soon, as always, her mother gave very little information.
Daniel materialized on the planet with a big smile on his face much to Jack's dismay and disgust. "Oh, for cryin' out loud, Daniel!" he groaned. "There's a huge honkin' sandstorm headed our way and you look like you just got off a flight to Miami."
"Oooh! I've read about that place!" Vala squealed. "Do you think we could go there some time?"
"We'll see," Daniel answered, imagining Sha're walking on the beach. "We're close," he murmured, surveying their location. "She'd want to set up house behind the large sand drifts to the west. They offer the most protection from the storms."
"Remind me to smack Skaara if he shows up again. He should have just beamed us to the house," Jack groaned.
"Jack, I'm pretty sure he wasn't supposed to modify the jumpers for us," Daniel sighed in his 'I know you know that, but I'm telling you anyway,' tone. "The house isn't more than one hundred yards, I'm sure of it, and the storm won't hit for another hour."
"Lead the way, Danny Boy," Jack ordered. "Tarzan here shouldn't be out in this hot sun," he grinned, waving to Ronan. "I doubt he has any sunscreen on him."
"Ignore him, Ronon, please!" Daniel sighed, rolling his eyes. "Have you ever been in the desert before?" he asked, worry leaking into his voice.
"Not really," the huge man shrugged.
Daniel frowned and pulled out his bandana to tie on his head. "Walk with me then, Ronan. The desert distorts perception, things that look as close as a few feet are actually miles away."
"Okay," Ronon shrugged.
The group fell into customary positions as Daniel and Ronan led them over the dunes. As usual McKay just couldn't stand silence. "Hey, Sam did you pick up the energy readings or get a chance to scan this place?"
"Not really, McKay, we're kind of dealing with something more important than finding cool technology to play with!" Sam sighed.
"I'm just saying I think that we're on a planet with a technologically advanced society," he whined. "Why Mrs. Jackson would want to live out in the middle of nowhere is beyond me," he muttered.
"McKay, not now!" John warned. "First we find Elizabeth and Sha're, then we'll think about technology."
"I guess I'm just glad to be home," McKay shrugged. "The IOA has to agree to send Atlantis back here now. Elizabeth will make it happen. She's the only one who can."
"Shut it, Rodney, or I will shoot you!" John yelled. "First, we bring her home!"
"So, are they always like this?" Daniel asked his companion.
"Yes, but I'm usually threatening to kill Rodney too. Do you actually like the desert?" Ronon asked.
"I spent all my happiest years in the desert," Daniel answered, his voice soft and serene. "Now, the desert is giving me back the one person that makes me whole. So, yes. I love the desert."
"Okay," Ronon shrugged.
Daniel tried to figure out if the bigger man expected him to answer or not when he caught sight of the large tent. "Jack! We're here, she's here!" he yelled, and took off running.
"Dammit, Daniel!" Jack roared.
"Ronon!" John hollered.
"On it!" he answered, racing after the archeologist.
"I did not think Doctor Jackson was capable of such impulsive behavior," Teyla gasped.
Cam doubled over with laughter. "Teyla, this is our Sunshine on a rational day."
'I didn't think a scientist could run so fast,' Ronon thought, as he stumbled across the hot sands. Just as he caught up with the older man he felt himself slam into burning wall. "Arragh!" he yelled.
"It's a force field," Daniel moaned.
"You think?" Ronon snarled.
"Calm down, Chewie," John soothed, approaching them. "So, I think the appropriate words would be, 'hey honey, let's go home,' Doc."
Daniel grit his teeth and fought the urge to snap at the hot-headed Colonel, like he would Jack. "Sha're!" he called out, mentally cursing as he felt himself tremble.
A gust of wind nearly knocked them all over and Shifu appeared. "I am sorry. It took many arguments for the elders to let me come."
"Hey, kid, are you sure your mom's home?" Ronon barked.
"She knows we're here," Shifu smiled.
"Of course, she does," Jack chirped. "Or am I the only one who can smell dinner?" he grinned.
She heard his voice just as she stripped her morning robes off. Swallowing a scream of frustration, she rushed to put on her favorite green robes and braided her wild hair. Her hands shook as she draped her outer robe over her head. "Do not give way to fear!" she ordered herself. "He will never abandon you, even if he no longer wants you as his wife," she whispered. Slipping on her sandals she took a deep breath and calmly walked to greet her family. Raising the panel of the entrance, she felt her heart stop seeing Dan'iyel and her son. "SHIFU!" she screamed, deactivating the generators and running to her child.
"Mother!" the boy cried out as he collapsed into her arms.
Daniel had to remind himself to breath as he dropped to his knees, gathering his family in his arms. Both Sha're and Shifu cried as they felt each other's touch for the first time. Sha're pulled Shifu closer while pressing her own body as close to Daniel as she could. She couldn't speak, her lungs and heart burned from the force of her emotions, knowing her time with her son would end.
Sam felt tears fill her eyes as she watched the reunion. "Did you realize how empty he truly was without her, Jack?" she whispered.
"Denial isn't only a river in Egypt," he answered.
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.
"How could I have been so blind?" Vala whispered.
"Princess, Sunshine plays his cards close to the vest. The only reason I knew about Sha're was because I read every mission report. He didn't tell you about it until Adria attacked Dakara, and he has never spoken about her to me. I guarantee he never intended to," Cam reassured the nervous woman, throwing his arm around her shoulders.
"It is a beautiful reunion," Teyla sighed, a sad smile appearing on her face.
"We should be able to gate to New Athos to get Kaanan and Torren John before we go back to the Milky Way," Ronon whispered, in a deep purr.
"We'll talk that over when we leave," John muttered. Not wanting to break up the reunion, but anxious because he saw no sign of Elizabeth.
"HELLO! GIANTIC SANDSTORM COMING!" Rodney, whined. "Can we at least get behind the shield?"
Daniel felt a jolt of rage race through him at the insensitive remark, but Sha're and Shifu gently pulled back from each other allowing the young woman to stand. She kissed her son yet once more, and then approached O'Neill, bowing to him as she'd once done when he first appeared in her village on Abydos. "O'Neill, I have missed you," she greeted. Her soft voice cracking over her joyful tears.
"Hey there, Sweetheart," Jack answered, grabbing her in a hug. He gazed at Daniel over her shoulder trying to make sure he didn't mind his wife's actions. He saw nothing but calm happiness in his dear friend's face, so he rolled with it. Pulling back he gently scolded her. "You know this kind of fake out wasn't very nice."
"It was not my choice," she assured. "I swear on my son's life."
Jack's heart twisted in anger at the pain caused by all the glow-club rules but kept it inside for the present. "Well, you're not getting away again."
"I have no wish to get away!" she laughed. "Perhaps you can introduce me to those I have not met."
"First thing's first, young lady," Jack retorted, shaking a finger at her. "Where is Elizabeth?"
"She teaches the children in the village," Sha're answered, looking directly at Sheppard. "Atticus, one of the village leaders is bringing her back before the storm starts. She'll be here any moment."
"You trust this guy Sha're?" Jack asked, motioning for Sheppard or anyone else to keep quiet.
"Yes," she replied without reservation. "He is a good man. A little older than my father before Abydos was destroyed, and he has been very fair letting Eliz'a and I live as we please."
"Okay, that'll do for now," Jack sighed. "If she's not back here in thirty minutes, we'll go get her."
"Eliz'a? Who's that?" Rodney snapped, pronouncing the pet name El-I-za.
Sha're said nothing, raising her eyebrow at Jack. "Oh, for cryin' out loud!" he muttered. "I see you've got to be the Chieftain's Daughter right now, and that's why you're making me introduce you instead of sucking Danny's tongue down your throat."
"Jack!" Daniel yelped.
"Okay, if your wife wants etiquette, we'll do etiquette," Jack groaned, rolling his eyes. He turned, shoving Cam and Vala in front of him. "Sha're, this is Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, he's the new team leader of SG-1, and Daniel's boss," he added, just to see if it would break his Spacemonkey out of diplomatic mode and frowning when it didn't work. "This is Vala Mal Doran, and I swear to god I really don't know what she does."
Sha're sighed, accepting that she would never understand O'Neill no matter how much she respected and loved him. Quickly bowing to Cameron, she smiled. "I am honored to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell," she greeted.
"Just call me Cam, Mrs. Jackson," Cam gushed, excitedly shaking her hand.
"Oh, Cameron darling, stop before you rip the poor woman's arm off, and then Daniel and Teal'c will shoot you. We'll have come all this way just to make a big mess," Vala groaned, forcing the young man to release Sha're.
"I apologize, ma'am," Cam stammered, trying not to fidget with his nerves. "I meant no offense."
"Cam," Sha're said gently, lifting his chin so he would meet her eyes. "You are Dan'iyel's family now, you cannot offend me."
"Thank you, m—"
"Sha're!" she corrected.
"Yes, ma'am," Cam answered.
Vala rolled her eyes. "Don't hope that he'll ever use your name, Sha're. Most Tau'ri are completely incapable of thinking beyond their own cultural norms. Frankly, I'm shocked Daniel manages as well as he does," she added, with a sly grin.
"Vaaa-laaaa," Daniel spoke, drawing out the syllables of her name in a warning.
Vala huffed and glared at him. "I only promised that I wouldn't cause trouble. I never said I wouldn't have fun at your expense."
The sound of Shifu and Sha're bursting out into laughter caused various expressions of surprise to paint themselves over all the observers. Sha're immediately embraced the brazen woman. "I know who are, and what you do for SG-1," she whispered. Pulling away she spoke in her normal tone. "I am very glad to meet you, Vala. I hope to be your friend."
Vala found herself locked in Sha're's gaze. A flash of jealousy burst in her mind seeing that the picture Daniel kept utterly failed at capturing his wife's stunning beauty. Sha're's eyes were the exact color of Daniel's beloved coffee, and as he'd warned, they seemed to pierce through all her barriers and read the very depths of her soul. Instinct told her to fight the other woman's probing, but her mind objected. 'Accept that the dynamics have changed. Make Sha're trust you, and you might be able to stay in your place.' One thing she knew with absolute certainty, Daniel would never marry anyone he didn't consider his intellectual equal.
Vala Mal Doran wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating her. "Glad to meet you too!" she answered, giving her best smile. "You have a beautiful son," she added, pointedly ignoring the next stab of jealousy assaulting her heart.
"Shifu's beauty is all his own, but I thank you, Vala," Sha're answered. The pain of lost opportunities bleeding into her voice.
Images of Adria flashed through Vala's mind from her birth to the time Morgan La Fey attacked her. Although she'd admitted to Shifu that Adria had never truly been her child, the pain she'd heard in Sha're's voice echoed in her heart. "We might have more in common than I originally thought," Vala admitted, still smiling, but with a more serious tone than she usually used.
"I know we do," Sha're assured.
"Well, now you need to meet the Atlantis team," Jack smirked. "Colonel John Sheppard, meet Sha're. I'm sure you want to thank her," he insisted a hint of warning in his tone.
John felt the hairs on his neck stand up at the older man's mild reproach. He knew that he had it coming because of his less than enthusiastic reaction to the events of the day, but he still resented it. "It's an honor to meet you, Sha're," he greeted. He truly meant it. Out of all he'd read and heard about her, he found it impossible not to respect the woman in front of him.
"No, Colonel," Sha're bowed. "In this case, the honor is entirely my own. I know that much of what has happened must cause you and your family great pain—" she broke off for a moment, to blink back the tears threatening to build in her eyes. "Please believe me that if I had been able to bring Eliz'a to you, I would have."
John shifted his weight back and forth between his legs. He'd rather face ten Wraith Hive Ships than a woman's tears. "The Elizabeth Weir I know hated anyone shortening her name. Why do you call her Eliz'a?" he asked, pronouncing it correctly.
An embarrassed blush infused her cheeks. "Dan'iyel taught me your tongue long ago, but my accent is still very strong. The way I say Eee-liza-BET-ha made her very homesick for those who say it properly. I wished to help her with her sadness, not cause more."
"Fair enough," John nodded, injecting some warmth in his voice. "Why did you choose this planet when the ascended Ancients tossed you out for helping her?"
"I didn't choose this planet, Colonel. In a way, Eliz'a chose it," Sha're answered.
John felt his eyebrows raise in astonishment, but before he could press the issue Daniel spoke. "I don't understand, Sha're," he spoke softly, coming closer to her, but not pushing into her personal space. "I've read all the reports from Atlantis, I can't remember Elizabeth going to any desert world."
"She didn't!" John interjected.
"Unless this is one of the advanced civilizations she and the other Replicators found traveling through subspace," Rodney blurted out.
John rolled his eyes at his premier scientist's bad manners. "We're just trying to catch up with everything."
"I do understand, Colonel Sheppard," Sha're replied, gently. "Yes, this is one of the planets they came to. I'm not sure if she recorded the information in Atlantis' computer systems. The people here are slightly less advanced than the Goa'uld, but they have the advantages of being beyond the traditional feeding grounds of the Wraith and regular sandstorms like the one coming. Eliz'a thinks that the Wraith scanners aren't strong enough to detect the humans here. I admit, for all I've learned over the years I still know little of the Wraith beyond what she's told me."
"You and these people are blessed," Teyla interjected, with a hint of amazement.
John softly cleared his throat. "Well, believe me we're glad you've both been safe from the Wraith, but how did you get here?"
"You met my brother Skaara in orbit, he helped me at the outpost while I prepared Eliz'a's human form by monitoring her consciousness while held in the database. I believe he discovered the planet then, and when I was banished he saw to it that we came here so we would be as safe as possible in the circumstances," Sha're answered.
"I see," John sighed. "You do know that we would have done anything in our power to protect you both, right?"
"Colonel Sheppard, out of all the people you have and will meet in your journeys through the Chappa'ai I assure you that I am one of the very few that know exactly what you Tau'ri are capable of when it comes to protecting those you love, or fighting for what you believe," a huge smile bloomed on her full lips. "After all, it is the Tau'ri who are the slayers of false gods, the Replicators, and from what my sister tells me, you were more than causing a great deal of trouble for the Wraith before Atlantis returned to your home-world."
"What is a Chappa'ai, and who are the Tau'ri?" Ronon asked.
"Chappa'ai is the word most humans who lived on planets once under Goa'uld control call the stargate. Tau'ri is the word humans from other planets in the Milky Way galaxy call people from earth, Ronan," Daniel answered. "Since Sha're is originally from a planet called Abydos once controlled by a Goa'uld she uses Chappa'ai, and she calls all of us from earth Tau'ri."
"Here in Pegasus we just call you all earthers, and most of us call the stargate, 'the circle of the ancestors', 'or the portal'" Ronon grinned.
"Well, sorry long-locks but we Milky Way humans are just more creative than you Pegasus folks," Vala winked.
"You just haven't been around this galaxy long enough," Ronon retorted, with a slight laugh.
John shifted, hoping to release the tension building in his back and relieve some of his impatience. "Is there anything else you think we need to know?" he asked, staring directly into Sha're's dark eyes and ignoring the banter around them.
She took in a deep breath knowing her next words would only cause more pain. "I think she might refuse to believe that you're real, Colonel Sheppard." She forced herself not to react to the horror flooding in the green eyes before her and continued. "In fact, it is possible that she might refuse to see you, any of your family, and O'Neill."
"Me? Why me?" Jack asked, stepping closer to her and half blocking the younger man.
"Because when she was first infected by the nanites the Replicator who did it got inside her head and used her memories of you to try and convince her Atlantis didn't exist!" John exclaimed with a feral growl. "I only wish I could have killed Niam myself."
"Sorry I deprived you of the pleasure, John," Rodney smirked.
"Sorry to interrupt a good revenge fantasy," Jack snapped, growing hot, tired, and more than a little cranky. "But I must ask again. Why me?"
John turned to his superior officer. "The only person she's ever trusted out of the politicians and military wolves on earth is you, sir. Not even the President himself would be her first call if she needed help. They knew that and used it."
Behind his dark sunglasses O'Neill felt his eyes sting as they gazed at the dark lines of the troubled younger man. Obviously, something beyond Elizabeth's unexpected return ate at Sheppard, but he couldn't figure out what it might be. "Well, I know she trusted you more than anyone else in any galaxy, so the odds are better that if she ignores the rest of us you'll reach her."
John's green eyes shifted into a dark unidentifiable color radiating a grotesque combination of loathing and grief. "Five years ago, I might have agreed with that, sir. Now, I'm probably the last person that will reach her if she believes this isn't real." Turning back to Sha're he pushed his terror down. "Is there anything else?" he asked her.
"I am truly sorry I cannot assure you that her mind will accept you, Colonel Sheppard. Physically, you will find her in better health then when you first met her. Regular meals and not working until complete exhaustion have helped. Beyond this, I can only say I have given her the same love I would have given any sister," she answered.
"I do thank you for that," John sighed. "Is there anything else?"
"I would like to meet the rest of Eliz'a's family in the proper way," she smiled.
A grin quirked on John's lips. "I can see why you and Elizabeth get along." He motioned Teyla and Ronon forward. "Sha're, meet Teyla Emmagan of the Athosans, Ronan Dex of Sateda, and Doctor Rodney McKay of the Tau'ri."
Sha're greeted Teyla according to Athosian tradition and Ronan according to Satedan custom for a married woman and a single man; leaving them both surprised. "Did Elizabeth speak of our ways?" Teyla asked.
"I have a burning hunger for knowledge," she smiled, casting a heated glance at her husband. "Not even the Goa'uld, ascension, or returning to human form, could extinguish this."
"I don't remember speaking to Doctor Weir much about my culture," Ronon admitted.
"That does not mean she didn't learn all that she could," Sha're retorted with a slight smirk. "Come into our dwelling, I promise Eliz'a will arrive now. Atticus comes."
"We'd like to meet him if that's okay?" John asked, but making it clear he didn't care if she consented or not.
"He will not approach the boundaries of our shield," Sha're insisted. "It is part of the agreement we have with the people here. Our land from here to the edges of the dunes to the south are forbidden to all but children and those who are lost. Eliz'a will walk the last hundred yards and lower the shields herself. I cannot guarantee that she won't run out into the desert if she sees you before I can assure her she is not asleep," her voice turning stern. "Please, enter our dwelling. She will come on her own."
