SG1 in Atlantis
Disclaimer: they don't belong to me, though I really wish they did. Neither does the whole concept of Atlantis or a city control mentally, I'm just playing with it.
AN: ok, this is a future fic, only three years but still in the future. As any of you who have read any of my fics know, I'm a shipper. So, here I'm making a couple of assumption that should really come as no surprise to anyone that has read my other fic: Sam and Jack are together and so are Tayla and John. Ok, that's it for author's note.
AN2: Thank you for all the reviews and like I promised here the next chapter. I know how hard cliff hangers are,but that one just wrote itself:) Ok, Ilovesg1: I know that it was a lot of info and maybe I should broke it into two chapters but I kinda like bigger chapters. Let me know if it was confusing and you would rather have shorter, less informative chapters. As for your 2ndquestions well, the answer it's in this chapter - so I won't spoil it right now. As for the first, well, I guess it's possible though I hadn't really thought about it. What do you think? Natters: here's the other chapter, I don't want to torture you too much. Ok, one last thing, there is a small spoiler for something that will happen on my other story: Te Amare. Let's see if you spot it. Enjoy!
Chapter 7: I can't believe it!
Almost everyone in the room was staring open-mouthed at Charlie, with the exception of Vala who instead of an open mouth had wide open eyes. They all looked as if they've just seen a ghost, which wasn't surprising since Charlie was technically dead. Even Daniel, who had already figured out what Melia was talking about, couldn't help but be surprised at seeing his best friend's dead son. After staring at Charlie for a few seconds, the room turned to stare at Jack, almost as one.
Jack couldn't really believe his eyes; his son, who had died more than ten years before was standing before him. "Charlie is that really you?" He asked in a shaky voice, when he finally managed to say something.
"Yes, Dad. It's really me." Charlie answered with a sweet smile that Sam recognized instantly. It was the same smile that Jack always gave he told her he loved her.
"I . . . I can't believe it." Jack said as he stepped towards Charlie. He lifted a trembling hand towards Charlie's face and when it made contact with his cheek, Jack took a deep breath and pulled his son into a hard hug. "Oh, God, I can't believe it really is you. I missed you so much."
"And I you, dad." Charlie said as he hugged his dad just as hard as he was being hugged.
The two hugged for a long time, whispering how much they loved and missed each other.
Melia smiled as she took in the father-son reunion. Most of the Atlantis crew and Cameron were uncomfortable witnessing what was clearly a very private moment for Jack – it was especially uncomfortable for Cameron and John who were watching the hard as nails General O'Neill crying. And even though they felt they should leave and give Jack his privacy, they all stayed in their places immobilized by the touching scene in front of them.
The original members of SG1 did not feel at all uncomfortable watching the reunion between Jack and Charlie. They were family after all, and had been witnesses to some the most tragic, devastating moments in each other lives; it was only appropriate that they were witness to such a happy moment in Jack's life. Teal'c watched the moment with a small smile; he too was a father and though he couldn't really know the extent of O'Neill's pain at having lost this son, he could imagine it too easily. Daniel too had a small warm smile as he watched. He of everyone present had been the only one that had seen what losing Charlie had done to Jack and he was only glad that his friend had this chance to put some of his ghosts to rest. Sam, on the other hand, watched the reunion with tears pouring down her face and a sweet smile on her lips. She couldn't help it, she just felt so happy for Jack. She knew, maybe even more than Daniel, what losing Charlie had done to Jack and what seeing him again, especially now, would mean to him.
After a long time of hugging his son, Jack finally let go enough to be able to see his face. He knew he was crying and under any other circumstances the fact that he was doing it in front of at least two persons under his command would bother the shit out of him. But right now, he just couldn't give a damn.
Jack cupped Charlie's cheek as his eyes studied every inch of his face and compared it to the image he carry in his mind – it was the same. "You look just like you did back then. Haven't you aged at all?"
Charlie shrugged and said, "We don't really age, dad. I guess I could have appeared as if I've aged but I thought this would be better."
Jack thought about what it would be like to see what his son would be like as a young man and decided that it would make it harder to let him go. "You're right; it is better." He then chuckle a bit and wiped his cheeks and then Charlie's cheeks. With a wry smile, he put his arm around Charlie's shoulders and turned to face the room. He took a few steps towards were Sam was standing and said, "This is Sam, my wife. Sam, this is Charlie."
Sam smile and wiping her cheeks stepped forward and extended looked at her hand and said, "I think I'd rather have a hug." And he stepped towards her with his arms opened.
Sam laughed and pulled him into a hug. Charlie looked so much like Jack that she was surprised by his openness with his emotions. And when he whispered in her ear, "I'm so glad you married my dad; you make him really happy." She couldn't help it she starting crying again. She pulled back after a few seconds and wiping her cheeks again said, "I'm so happy to finally meet you."
Jack looked at Sam and with his eyes asked her if she was ok and she just nodded. With a brief nod of his own, he turned to Charlie and motioning towards Daniel and Teal'c, he started to introduce them only to be interrupted by Charlie saying, "I know who they all are, dad."
"You do?" Jack asked incredulous.
"Of course," Charlie answered matter of fact. "You don't think Melia is the only that checks up on you, do you?"
"W. . .What?" Jack asked and for some reason that totally surprised him. Sam found it amusing that of all the revelation they've just had, for some reason this was the one that seems to have thrown him for a loop. "You mean that all this time that were," and he started to wave his hand around in the air, "all glowy. . ."
"Ascended, dad. I was ascended." Charlie corrected him with the same tone of voice that Daniel always used when he's the one correcting. Sam caught it and had to stifle a laugh. No wonder Jack had always gotten along with Daniel and had allowed the younger man to get away with stuff no one else would have – he'd seen in Daniel an echo of his son.
"Ok. All this time you were ascended and you were checking on me?" At Charlie's nod, Jack continued, "And you never once came and talk. You didn't thing I would have liked to see you, to know that you were all right?"
Charlie turned and looked at Melia for a second and seeing her nod he turned back to Jack and said, "Dad, I couldn't."
Jack cut in and said, "You were ascended," stressing the word almost like it was a curse, "don't tell me you couldn't. You could pretty much do anything you wanted."
"Dad, you know it doesn't word like that. But even if it did, I couldn't come see you. Not only because it was against the rules but because it wouldn't have done you any good. In fact it would have probably done more bad than good."
At that, Jack exploded. "Rules! Since when do you follow rules! And what the hell do you mean seeing you would have been bad? How can seeing you and knowing you're ok be anything but good?"
"Because, Dad, you needed to let me go." Seeing that Jack was about to interrupt, he put his hand up and continued talking. "Dad, there were things you had to do and for that you had to move forward. You couldn't remain stuck in the past and that is what seeing me would have done – you would have continued to wallow in how bad you felt and in how much you missed. You needed to move on from that. Besides which, if I had come to you back then you would have thought you'd lost your mind and probably checked yourself in to a mental hospital." Charlie added with a grin. "And what good would that have done anyone?"
Jack shook his head but had to agree, at least to himself, that Charlie was right. He wouldn't have been able to move on if he'd seen him back then and he probably would have been convinced he was crazy. But he wasn't going to agree with anything, so he changed the subject.
"Things I had to do?" He asked and Charlie, knowing what he was doing, just shook his head. "Are we back to me having to be the one to go through the Stargate?" He asked looking at Melia.
"Yes, Jack. That is one of the reasons why Charlie ascended." Melia answered.
"One of the reasons?" Jack asked, wanting to know what other reason there could possibly exist for the death of his son.
"Yes, one of them. And don't bother asking what the others are." Melia added when she saw on his face his intent on doing just that. "Those are his and have nothing to do with this."
Jack looked like he was going to argue but Charlie forestalled him. "Dad, let it go, please. It was my time, my destiny. Just as this is your destiny. There was nothing that you could have done to prevent it - nothing that wouldn't have changed the course of human history. I know and accept it; now you have to. You weren't responsible; you have no reason to feel guilty." He added when he saw the look on Jack's face. "I was a curious nine years old that went looking for something I wasn't supposed to. You did nothing wrong; it was my choice to disobeyed you and break it into the locked box. Please, dad, let the guilt go and enjoyed your life. You've more than earned it." He said sincerely.
Jack stared into his son's eyes for a long moment and then gruffly said, "I'll try."
Charlie grinned and said, "That's all I ask. And now I gotta go."
"So soon? But you barely got here." The protest came from Sam, who knew how much Jack would want to spend more time with Charlie.
"I know but I have to go now." And after another look in Melia's direction, he added, "I promise that now that you know, I can come and visit more."
"You promise?"
"I promise, dad." Charlie answered and hugged his father again. Then he stepped back and with a mischievous grin that reminded Daniel of Jack just before he said something outrageous, Charlie said, "I think that next I'll come for the birth of my little sister. And, Sam," he turned to look at Sam, who had a 'deer in the headlights' look. "I think 'Grace' fits her perfectly. I'll see you soon." And with that he was gone, leaving a thunderous silence behind. Jack turned to look at Sam just as Daniel said, "Sister?" And seeing the looks in Jack and Sam's faces he asked in a soft and slightly menacing voice, "Guys, is there something you forgot to tell us?"
Jack and Sam both turned to look at Daniel who had his arms crossed and a 'don't mess with me' look on his face. Then they turned to look at Teal'c, and though the only change in his expression was a slight narrowing of his eyes, he managed to look more dangerous than usual. They then turned to look at each other and the others in the room could almost hear the 'oh-oh'.
Jack swallowed hard and said, "Now, guys. We just found out ourselves not that long ago. And we were going to tell you, promise. We just wanted to a bit of time to take it in and frankly, we wanted things to be a bit more calm so that we could really celebrate." Seeing that their expressions hadn't changed he added, "Honest," and then almost beneath his breath, "Charlie is so gonna get it."
The guys then turned their gazes on Sam and she gulped before saying, "Guys, really, we just found out and were going to tell you as soon as possible."
Teal'c and Daniel looked at each other and silently decided that it would be Teal'c who asked, "how long ago did you found out exactly, Col. O'Neill."
"A couple of days ago on board the Dedalius. So you see, not the best place to tell you really." Sam answered.
"Did Jan run the tests?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, I though it was the flu but she just wanted to be sure so she commandeered the ship's infirmary." Sam said grinning as she remembered it but then she sobered and with another glance at Jack, she asked, "So, are we ok?"
Daniel and Teal' just looked at them for a long while making Jack and Sam sweat much to the amusement of the others in the room. Tayla and Elizabeth had to bit their lips to keep from laughing out loud while John, Carson and Rodney's shook from their silent laughter. The sight of the two veterans of the Goa'uld war, these two extremely capable soldiers shaking in their boots because of the glares of their two best friends was extremely funny.
Only Vala and Cameron had no trouble with their mirth – and that was because they weren't trying to keep it contained. They've been around the other four long enough to know that Jack and Sam's reaction was completely normal and to not have any compunction about laughing in front of them.
A few seconds later, Daniel and Teal'c shared another look and this time it was Daniel that spoke. "So, just two days, uh-uh?"
"Yes, just two days." Jack answered.
"Ok, then," and then slowly he smiled and said, "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you guys." And he started forward and hugged Sam and then Jack. "How far along are you?" He asked as Teal'c also came forward with a smile and congratulated them.
"About six weeks, maybe a bit longer." Sam answered with a grin as she hugged Vala, who had come over with Cameron to add their congratulations.
For the next few minutes the room was full of laughs, congratulations and hugs as they all added their best wishes.
AN3: Short and sweet, I didn't make it longer becuase there is a lot of information that's coming up and I didn't want to lump it all together. Also, I didn't want you guys to wait for too long. I hope you liked it and please review!