Author Notes: Thanks so much for all your wonderful support!

Chapter 10

Jonas and Kera sat in silence, alone in the 'common room' the SGC had provided for the six. It was late at night, or rather, very early in the morning, and they knew the others to be asleep. Often the pair would frequent the area together, happy to relish both the silence and company the other would always provide. Usually, they would read, or rather, Jonas would read, and Kera would alternate practicing her literacy with looking at glossy pictures from the numerous encyclopaedias. Both were as interested as the other to make their way through books on Earth's culture, one learning for the first time, the other slowly remembering what they had once known. Kera was additionally determined to learn a new way of communication.

It was a tradition neither had any inclination to break. Out of everyone, they had been the two to most strongly oppose the idea of separation, and yet equally, the two who put up the least resistance. They had known it was the inevitable outcome of their stay, but had dreaded what the act would put into motion.

For Kera's part, she hadn't wanted to lose Jonas. She knew she would always have Renn, as the doctors had informed them early on that their relationship extended into blood, but Jonas was the only one who truly understood her. Perhaps it came from them both being of the same 'type', or simply just Jonas' nature, but she wasn't certain if she could cope if she lost him as a brother. While Beren was still the closest to her in age, Jonas was not as old, nor as overbearing as Renn. They were equals, and each understood the other perfectly.

She knew that Jonas felt the same. While Daniel was not necessarily as overbearing as Renn, Jonas not only had to deal with him, but the rest of the SGC as well. She could only imagine how overwhelming that was, especially for a man who had come to appreciate the value of silence as much as she did. The pressure of being who you are expected to be...

It had been four weeks since they had all separated into different rooms, and the pair were relieved to discover that nothing had changed between them. This may, of course, have been part due to their refusal to follow the rules. Unbeknownst to their family, or the rest of the SGC, and especially their guards, Jonas and Kera had utilised their skills in stealth to the best of their abilities. They would habitually spend as much time as possible together in the common room during the evening, before succeeding in sneaking back to whichever of their quarters happened to be the most convenient depending on the movement of the SFs and the positions of the cameras. No one suspected that the pair would refuse to be separated, and so no one bothered to look closely. After all, they were the quiet ones, the unassuming members of the group. Not cultured for strength or speed; as far as the group dynamics had always been ordered, they had been the ones to fall back behind the others.

What everyone seemed to forget was that, as was inherent in their silence and stealth, they noticed things. Thought before they acted, with a clarity and sharpness of mind that was never truly realised by anyone but each other. They were uncertain if even Neith knew quite what their potential had been, and because of Jonas' almost immediate dislike of her, neither had felt the need to raise the issue during their stay there. Now, it was just a part of them, and from this, sprung not only an extreme reluctance to let go of each other, but also the ability to prevent that from happening.

It was not that they wanted to remain the people that Neith tried to make them, but more that they did not want to lose the side effects of her actions. Even during their first couple of weeks in the SGC, both had noticed slight shifts in the group dynamics, and the way the other four behaved. They were drifting apart; what had once come naturally, now requiring thought to put it to action.

But Kera had not wanted to lose the brother who would not only protect her as Renn would, but understand when that protection was unnecessary, and accept it in turn. As for Jonas, he did not want to lose the sister who made him feel as if he belonged, who saw him as her equal. For as memories surfaced more and more rapidly for the both of them, revelations were rapidly forced upon them. Kera had never been free to breathe, the helpless one of the village, who would always need to be hidden, defended. Jonas, meanwhile, had always stood to the side, separated from others on Kelowna by his mind, and again at the SGC by the manner of his arrival. While he was beginning to realise that the SGC had accepted him towards the end, it did not hold the same pull for him as it did for Daniel.

Jonas turned a page, glancing up for a second to find Kera staring at him with her unwavering gaze. He quirked an eyebrow in question, before he closed his book and placed it to one side as he frowned, "What's wrong?" His voice was soft, barely audible, but she heard it anyway.

He watched as Kera's shoulders rose and fell with the whisper of a breath; a soundless sigh. She rose gracefully, and he soon found himself shifting to one side as she curled up beside him. He knew immediately that this was one of those times when Kera desperately needed words, but could not find them, so he remained still and silent, resting his cheek on her head as they both allowed their minds to drift. Her muscles were tense, and he wished he knew why. Finally, when he caught himself with his eyes closed for the third time, he nudged her gently. She nodded in turn, and they rose, knowing it wouldn't go down well if the others discovered they had slept in the manner they had been sitting.


Janet was concerned. They were very nearly reaching the three month mark, and when compared to the beginning, the difference in all six was startling. It was not to say they were 'cured', but there were no memories, or at least very few, that they lacked. All of the SGC had been overjoyed to have Daniel properly back, and even the surliest marines might admit that it was nice to have Jonas. Vala, too, was making a surprisingly welcome, if rather unusual impact on life, and the overhanging threat from the IOA about 'security risks' had finally been dispelled. It had all seemed to have worked out okay, the charmed luck of SG-1 showing itself again.

That was until two days ago.

It was as if someone had flipped a switch. Although, perhaps that was not as accurate as it could be. It was possible that the change was already presenting itself in Kera earlier, but due to her natural silence, it went by unnoticed.

The problem was Jonas. While, admittedly, it seemed as if he would never return to quite the same level of openness as he had been before he and Daniel had been taken, until two days ago, he was still, well, him. And then suddenly, they seemed to be back to the beginning again. He spoke little, if at all, in his sessions, and even seemed closed off from the others – all except Kera, of course, who followed him like a second shadow, as he did to her. It was as if the pair of them were making a life or death decision, and needed all the introspection at their disposal to make sure they did not make the wrong choice.

It was for this reason that she, along with General Hammond and SG-1, had called a meeting with the other four, in the hope that they might have some answers.

Renn shrugged, "Kera, she is always worrying beyond what she needs to concern herself with. And Jonas is probably worrying about her. It is nothing."

"No." Sam shook her head, "It's more than that. Something has really changed. Jonas is not like this."

Vala nodded, "I agree. Those two were always a law unto themselves-"

Beren snorted, "And we weren't? Or Daniel and Renn?"

Vala ignored him, "My point is that if something has worried Kera, then it will inevitably transfer into Jonas. You remember how she was when he was having those nightmares. Out of all of us, those two are the ones who have changed the least in their relationship." She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "I don't know about you guys, but sometimes these days I have trouble understanding what Kera is trying to get at. I mean, I do know, but that extra level of understanding, it's just..."

"Gone." Daniel supplied. Beren nodded in agreement.

Janet smiled softly, "It's to be expected, and it's natural. The relationship dynamics Neith created for you could not have lasted as your memories surfaced, we explained this to you."

Jack snorted, "Doesn't seem to have stopped Jonas."

"Jack..." Daniel started.

" I know, I know." The Colonel sighed, "It's just so damned frustrating!"

"Then maybe you could bring the matter up with us, instead of calling a meeting behind our backs." A soft voice from the doorway made everyone in the room jump and turn. No one had noticed the approach of Jonas and Kera, not even the other four who should have.

"Jonas..." Sam bit her lip, a look of guilt ghosting across her features.

He shrugged, and gave her a wan smile, "It's fine. We've made our decision." Slight regret laced his tone, but it was only confusion that everyone felt, SG-1 slightly comforted by the fact that the other four seemed to have no idea what he was talking about either. He turned to the pair sitting further down the table; Renn and Beren, "When you return home, I will be going with you and Kera."

Silence reigned over the room, and the pair relished it, knowing it to be the last they would hear in a long while. Sure enough, Vala recovered first, rising to her feet, anger blazing coldly in her eyes. But it was not directed to the pair in the doorway, but the pair they had addressed, "What the hell is he talking about?"

Beren flinched marginally, while, to his credit, Renn remained impassive. He ignored Vala, his calm eyes fixed on Jonas, "Your place is here. This is your home."

"Damn right it is!" Jack snapped, "Jonas? You wanna explain?"

Jonas shrugged lightly, "Kera's been worried for the past few days or so. I couldn't work out why, until I overheard Renn and Beren explaining things to her one night." A strange smirk flitted across his face, "You seem to have forgotten how hard it is to hide things from me and Kera. They've already decided. Renn and Kera will return with Beren to his world, and from there, they will search for their home. They leave within the week. And I will be going with you, Renn, it is not your decision to make."

Hammond looked enraged, but he reined his anger in well, "This is news to me. When were you planning on informing us?"

Renn's stoic countenance did not waiver, and so it was Beren who responded. "We were to tell the others in a day or so. And then we would tell you. Bar Daniel, none of us are people of this world, and while we thank you for your kindness, we truly cannot remain. I need to find my father; Renn and Kera want to find their home." Daniel did not miss the stormy glare Kera directed at Beren as he included her in his statement, "We understood that Vala wanted to remain here with Daniel, and presumed Jonas would be the same."

Jack opened his mouth, but was easily distracted by the rage and hurt Vala was radiating, "We are your family, and you go behind our backs like this?"

Beren had the decency to look away from his sister in type, but Renn calmly met her eyes, "We were a family created by the lies of a false god. I had a family, I still do, and so does Beren. We intend to return to our loved ones. You have no right to suggest we follow Daniel – would he follow us to our homes if we asked? Would you?"

"We would still be with her if not for these people! You owe them your memories, your freedom!"

Renn rose to meet her, "For which I will be forever grateful! But I will not allow myself, or my sister, to be tied to this continuing existence! We belong with our people, as does Beren, and Daniel! Perhaps you would do well to remember your loyalties Vala. I see you make no effort to find any of Drek's kin, or your own, content to indulge in your own desires without thought to those who may think you dead." His voice was cold and sure in its words. Vala just stared at him as he turned his gaze to Jonas, "If you truly feel more ties to us than these, your adopted people, then we would have you come with us. I think you are making a mistake, but you are correct. I can no more stop you from coming with us than Vala can make us all stay here. Come, Kera. General." He nodded to the base's commanding officer as he dismissed himself from the conversation, stalking out of the room. A slight nod from Jonas caused Kera to obey her brother.

No one knew what to say, until Daniel reached up to take Vala's arm and try to persuade her to sit back down, only to have her jerk from his grasp and storm from the room. Beren sighed, "We honestly did not wish it to be this way." He shrugged, "Renn is just...Renn. And Vala is Vala. It cannot be helped. I am sorry." The youth rose, nodding to the remainder of the room's occupants, before following out the same way as Vala.

There was a long pause, before Teal'c, who had remained silent for near the entirety of the meeting, raised his eyes to regard the two men the team had thought to have lost, "Do you believe this to be wise?"

Daniel snorted, "I didn't even know it was coming."

"You and me both." Jack muttered.

"No, I don't." Jonas slipped into a seat beside Daniel, and everyone just looked at him in disbelief.

"Then why are you leaving?" Teal'c asked.

"Jonas, if you don't want to go, then don't!" Sam leant forwards on the desk, not wanting to believe they would lose him again, "If you think you don't have a place here or something, then you're wrong, we-"

"I know I am welcome here." Jonas smiled tiredly.

"Then what the hell are we having this conversation for?" Jack threw up his hands in askance.

"In answer to your question, Teal'c, the wise thing to do would be to all remain as a group. The wise thing to do would be to remain here. Vala has finally found a home, and it is the only place that I, or Daniel, have ever felt comfortable. But equally, I cannot leave Kera, and if it comes to a choice, she will win."

"Kera doesn't strike me as the type to demand much." Janet commented.

Jonas laughed bitterly, "No. If it were up to her, we would both be staying here. All six of us would."

Daniel frowned in confusion, "But Renn..."

"Renn has forgotten. So has Beren, in a different way. You and Vala, you've known something like this was coming. Well, so did Kera and I. Renn has forgotton his sister's strengths, and now can only think of their brother, the one Neith's masked men killed. Their parents are long dead, and all that is left for them is their village, and the woman Renn is betrothed to. He has something to look for in his home, I don't think Kera does anymore."

"Renn's engaged?" Jack asked incredulously.

Daniel nodded, "Yes, he told us just under a month ago. He was overjoyed to remember."

"Can't imagine that emotion going with him much." Jack snorted.

"And Beren?" Sam prompted.

Daniel sighed, "Beren has changed the most out of all of us. No doubt he remembers his father and his home in a rather...idealistic way. Jonas is worried that if Beren returns, the full weight of what he has become will be made clear to him."

"So what happens now?" Sam asked, "General?"

Hammond sighed tiredly, "Renn was right when he said we have no right to keep them here. Not even for security reasons. They know none of our codes, no particular compromising details."

"Colonel, General, I have to go with them." Jonas implored. "I know we should all remain here, but if that is not possible...I need to go with Kera. It's hard to explain."

Jack scrubbed his face with his hands, "Yeah, Jonas, we know. Doesn't mean we have to like it, but, yeah."

"Thank you." Jonas' voice was soft with gratitude and regret as he rose and left the briefing room.

"Dr Jackson?" Hammond prompted.

Daniel laughed humourlessly, "I haven't been called that in a long time."

"Force of habit, son." The General smiled slightly.

"What are you going to do?" Sam asked.

He sighed, "I promised Vala that she would not lose me, even if we lost the others. I don't think I can leave, even to go after them." He shrugged, "This is my home, and I know Vala likes it here too. She's constantly asking when we'll get to see the surface. Hell, when you will let her join an SG team. I know Renn and Beren are making a mistake, but I trust Jonas and Kera to know what they're doing." He fell silent, unable to do anything more but shrug again.

The ever-present quiet was broken once more by the announcement of the incoming wormhole of a returning team, forcing the remainder of the room's occupants to rise and depart, for the first time in a long, long while, Daniel joining them.

And yet as he absorbed the looks of his friends, those he had lost and regained countless times, ranging from grateful to relieved to overjoyed, deep down he had to worry if Jonas really did know what he was doing.

To Be Continued...

Author Notes: I have to be honest with you - I did not mean for this split to happen, it just sort of, did... Then again, this story was going to be 10 chapters long, so I failed on that one as well. It had been my intention to have finished this by now, but for one reason or another, I've been unable. As such, I'm afraid I have to grovel rather a lot to you all, as there will now be no more updates until August at least. I'm going abroad on archaeological excavation, and the chances of having any internet access at all, let alone free time to use it, is very slim. My aim is to be back in the swing of this story by the end of August, so prod me if I have yet to deliver by then.

Anyway, I'm really eager to hear any opinions on what you think about these chapter developments! Thanks guys!