Origin

Briar Elwood

A/N: SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Finally. Jeez.) Anywho. But that means I'm going on my vacation soon and will not be able to update for another forever. I am eternally sorry and I promise I'll make it up to all of you. Eventually. ;p

Chapter XV

Leaving

"Daniel."

Daniel glanced over his shoulder to see Vala staring at him stoically, their son asleep in her arms. He turned, knowing exactly why she was looking at him the way she was. The team was leaving.

"Have you decided to stay?" he asked hopefully, however knowing what her answer would be.

"No," she said, her jaw set as stone. Daniel sighed painfully.

"Vala…"

"No!" she suddenly yelled. "Daniel, I'm not about to believe they're not the Ori, no matter what you say! I love you," she said angrily, "but not enough to raise our son like this." She gestured around them. "We belong on Earth, in 2011, not…here. I don't care if you feel obligated, if it's your duty to stay here, I refuse to raise my son here. I'm raising him at home, in 2011. At home," she repeated softly. She shifted the child in her arms slightly for a better hold, eyes never leaving Daniel's. Tears welling up in her eyes, she reached up to her and yanked off the beautiful emerald necklace he had given her. "And I don't care if you come or not," she bit, chucking the necklace at his feet. With that, she clutched her son with both arms, turned heel, and left in a haste.

Daniel could feel his heart shattering and falling to his toes, leaving a cold, dark, and empty ache in his chest. His knees collapsed beneath him and he fell, hard, to the ground. Almost as if he were in a pool of molasses, he reached out and grabbed the necklace, noting that the emerald now had an ugly crack running down the middle. He clutched it in his fist, vision turning a slight haze of red.

After a few deep breaths, Daniel let the emerald fall and stood back up, wiping his damp cheeks with the back of his hand.

"Sacrifices must be made," he stated to himself, voice stiff. "Heartbreak is necessary."

But his heart wasn't broken. It had died.

The Jumper Bay…

"Where's Jackson?" Cameron asked as Vala hurried to the Puddle Jumper. Vala met his eyes briefly before scurrying past.

"He's not coming," she mumbled.

"Are you serious?" Jack demanded, standing up. Vala glanced at him, eyes blazing with fiery tears.

"No," she drawled poisonously. "He's decided we're right about them being the Ori and is right behind me."

Jack looked surprised at her bitter sarcasm but turned to Sheppard, waiting in the pilot's seat. "Let's go."

Meanwhile…

Oci Demaan, an insightful and curious young Altera, and one of Orionus's first followers, had heard that his leader's friends were leaving. Oci was afraid Orionus would leave as well, seeing as he had a newborn son among them, and hurriedly searched the city to find him. By pure luck, the young man turned a corner to see his beloved leader on his knees, looking down at something clutched in his fist, the shine of tears on his cheeks. Wary to intrude on Orionus's grief, Oci stayed where he was a Orionus shakily stood up and muttered what would become his motto:

"Sacrifices must be made. Heartbreak is necessary."

"Sir!" Oci exclaimed, astounded by the sincerity in the man's voice. "We should make a book filled with your wisdom!"

Orionus raised his head to see Oci. "I'll put you in charge of that. How's that sound?"

Oci beamed with pride. "I would be honored." But suddenly he frowned. "You aren't leaving, are you, sir?"

Orionus gazed into Oci's silver-y grey eyes. "No," he replied softly. "I am not."

Oci sighed with relief. "Oh, good, sir. I was afraid you would."

Orionus smiled grimly, clapping a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Do not worry, Oci Demaan. I would never abandon you."

Later…

"Sir!" Elerand exclaimed as a man even older than him walked through the Stargate. Quickly, he rushed down the staircase to greet the head of the council.

"Elerand," the ancient man greeted. "Tell me. What has happened since I left?"

Elerand winced, knowing the man before him probably already knew the answer to that question. "Myrddyn, sir…Orionus returned. From the future. He…he has split the Altera. He believes we should tell the people about ascension…and did so himself when I wouldn't. I'm sorry, sir. I tried to stop him…but even Oma couldn't convince him otherwise."

Myrddyn nodded. "I know, Elerand. I do not place blame on you."

"His friends just left back to their own time, but he refused to," Elerand continued. "He is still here. I can find him so you can speak with him if you wish."

Myrddyn shook his head. "Orionus is busy right now. I will speak with him when the time is right."

Back At The SGC, In 2011…

"You weren't gone long," Landry commented as the group came through the 'gate. He frowned at them. "You're missing one. And you gained another."

Sam glanced back to Vala, staring rigidly at the bundle in her arms. "We're aware, sir."

Landry's frown deepened. "Briefing room, all of you. Thirty minutes."

Over A Half Hour Later…

"How did you jump times?" Landry asked, confused, after the group finished their story.

"Something went screwy when we went through the 'gate," Rodney replied. Sam pursed her lips at him.

"I'm guessing there was a solar flare that messed things up," she told the general.

"Like when you jumped to 1969?" Landry clarified. Sam nodded.

"Exactly."

Landry sighed heavily, closing his eyes. "Well. On a lighter note…." He looked back up at the friends. "There's someone here you might wanna see…come to think of it, the reason she's here might have to do with this whole Daniel issue."

The friends stared at the general, confused.

"Hey, guys."

They all turned to see a young woman with black, wavy hair and sharp blue eyes standing at the top of the stairs. She smiled at them, walking closer.

"Q?" Sam asked, disbelievingly.

A/N: And again, I LOVE cliffhangers. I LOVE this chapter too. Don't you? It's a wonderful chapter… (giggle)

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