Title: Ad Infinitum – Chapter 5/10
Chapter Summary: Jacob realizes something he didn't know about his parents.
Chapter Rating: PG-13
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Chapter 5/10
Jacob's POV
The military cargo plane could definitely use some alien technology because it started shaking the moment we left Lowry AF Base and it hadn't stopped yet. My eyes were tightly closed, waiting for sleep that wouldn't come. Alex's head was lying on my shoulder as she slept like the rest of the cargo area occupants, her unruly mane brushing against my cheek in a comforting way as my head was lying against the metal insulation of the plane.
"We could've waited, you know... delayed the mission or waited until next month." I heard my mother whispering a few feet away but I didn't dare open my eyes. Apparently I wasn't the only one awake.
"Nah," my father said dismissively. "I thought the doctor said this week was the week. We shouldn't waste the opportunity and we shouldn't delay this mission, it sounds pretty important, Daniel can hardly sit still." He said with some humor.
"What if we can't finish this mission in time for, you know..."
"Then we sneak away and, you know, complete our mission."
I heard my mother's gasp and stifled laughter and I realized what they were talking about, fighting back an inward groan. I tried to shield the rest of the conversation but I wasn't too successful.
"Unless you're having second thoughts about our... mission plans, Carter."
"We're both aware of the consequences. We've discussed them all."
"Yes we have. And we agreed it was what we both wanted, even if it leads to a court martial, didn't we?"
My father's words brought some fear. Court martial? We never really discussed how they seemingly broke fraternization rules, but I always thought things had simply worked out for them. They never told me that because of me, because of our family, they faced the threat of a court martial. The sudden realization that I had traveled back in time some eighteen years and witnessed a conversation between my parents deciding whether or not I was worth the threat of a trial and possible imprisonment made me respect these two more than I did already.
"Yeah... it is what I want." My mother reassured my father. "You miss being in the field, don't you?"
I heard his soft laugh. "Yeah. I miss being out with you guys but I also miss just being on the field. I don't regret the possibilities that leaving the SGC opened for me or for us, but I definitely miss it. Plus you know how much I hate paperwork..."
"And Washington D.C.," she teased, then added,"... sir. I remember you weren't too fond of D.C. when we first traveled there together."
"Ah, Carter, you get used to it. Washington I adore, it's my wife's old stomping grounds, you see... it's those pesky politicians I can't stand. There are Appropriations Committee sessions, debriefings with the President, Pentagon lectures, it's all soooo boring. I swear I spend days waiting for your mission reports..."
"Now I know you're lying. You didn't read my mission reports when I was your second in command and it was your job to read and sign off on them - I really doubt you'd read them now."
"Ok I confess I pay more attention to Mitchell's reports," he admitted. "Daniel's and yours are great to put me to sleep. It's all artifact this, propulsion reactor that."
My mother laughed softly. "I'm sorry, sir."
"No need to apologize, in my old age, I can always use a sleep aid." He whispered.
Their conversation was interrupted by Cam's loud snore and the two apparently decided to end the discussion. Not long after that, lulled by the shaking of the plane and Alex's steady breathing, I slipped into unconsciousness.
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Alex's POV
My face was still adorned by my father's glasses, which offered me no protection from the blazing desert sun as I walked around the open market area outside the military fort that had been built upon the ruins of the Alexandria Lighthouse. I couldn't care less about the scorching heat though; I was in Alexandria, trying to locate one of the most important archaeological finds on this planet. For the first time since I mounted Jacob's new bike, I was truly happy that we were sent back almost 20 years.
Dad was talking to people who'd been working on the Kom al Dikka trying to find more information, so we could figure out where we would start looking. My mother was apparently window-shopping the many silks, fabrics, tapestry and grains displayed in the area while Jacob and his mom sat around and from the looks of it, talked techno-babble - I speak many languages but techno-babble is definitely not one of them.
Cam and Uncle Jack stood to the side, talking and from the looks of it, trying to look non-military. Uncle Jack wore just a short-sleeve button up shirt and some jeans and Cam looked as gorgeous as ever in green cargo pants that resembled BDUs and a t-shirt. My crush on him was purely platonic, of course; the man was almost forty years older than me and he was one of my parent's best friends. My appreciation of his young looks were interrupted though as my father walked towards me and the rest of the group followed.
"The best place to start looking seems to be the fort over there," he motioned to the square building behind him. "It's a military fort but they allow archaeologists to work there. We won't be able to move a lot of stuff around, but..." he trailed off, suggesting that this was the best he could do at the moment.
"This should at least give me the opportunity to check the place out. I can scan for transport rings frequency or naquadah presence in the building once we're inside." My godmother offered.
"I spoke to an old acquaintance who is part of Kom al Dikka, the current archaeological project and he's agreed to let us tag along tomorrow when he goes in."
"What do we do 'til then?" Uncle Jack asked.
"Sightseeing?" Cam offered with a sheepish smile.
"Oooh, yes, please, can we?" My mother asked excitedly.
Dad ignored her as he looked at his watch. "It's 3:25 pm local time. There's a nice hotel a few blocks away; I stayed there several years ago when I was working here. We should check it out and get ourselves rooms. This could take a few days."
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Jacob's POV
Dinner was delicious. The whole group had finally agreed on a restaurant by the ocean and the food was to die for.
As usual, I sat by Alex so we could have a private conversation if we wanted to. The rest of the group was sharing stories, Uncle Cam seeming so excited to have 3/4 of the original SG-1 around.
"So, we go into this tent and Sam is wearing the most awesome blue dress ever and she is so pissed off she looks like she's going to punch something." Uncle Daniel continued to tell his story.
"Oh, come on, why is it every time we're sharing stories, that's the one you guys always remember?" My mother complained.
"Because we got to see Jack trying to buy you back for 500 weights of gold after you were sold to Turghan. Apparently, that was enough to buy any fifteen women of his tribe, you should feel quite flattered," Uncle Daniel answered and teased.
"Yes, it's always flattering to be traded for gold and firearms." Mom laughed and rolled her eyes. "And don't make me share stories about you and Hathor."
Vala gasped from her seat. "Hathor, Daniel? And I thought you had better taste than that!" She teased.
"I was under the influence!" He said in his defense. "And that was like 10 years ago."
"So was the blue dress story," Mom argued.
"Hathor was so despicable, taking all the fame for the whole sex thing. She was seriously cutting into Quetesh's action and therefore mine too... just because we didn't have a little special mist that made men quiver." Vala whined from her seat, making all occupants turn towards her. "What? Just because I was possessed doesn't mean I wasn't still competitive."
Everyone decided to ignore the former host as Uncle Danny turned towards my father with an evil glare. "So, this one time we met these people who were gorgeous, right? I mean, everyone was just beautiful and Jack gets offered this local cake..."
Dad interrupted him. "Hey, I like cake... and don't bring up what happened after the cake or I'll bring up how you befriended the Destroyer of Worlds, Danny-boy."
After a quick staring match with my father and a glance at Vala, the good archaeologist backed down.
"Man, this is great," Uncle Cam finally spoke up. "I just wish T was here... sharing stories about the good old times. I swear those mission reports don't do these stories justice."
"That's 'cause a lot of stuff couldn't make it onto those reports, Mitchell," my dad said with a smile. "Like the time Carter drank that stuff on P3X-595..."
"Sir, stop right there or..." my mother threatened.
"Or what, Colonel?" My father retorted with a smirk.
"Two words: Simpsons Collection." She answered.
"Some things never change," Alex whispered to me. The rest of the group continued to share anecdotes but I tuned them out as I thought some more about the possibilities of the ruins lying underneath the thriving metropolis we found ourselves in.
"What do you think we're going to find here?" I whispered to Alex.
She shrugged. "Other than an Ancient knowledge base?"
I nodded. "I wonder if there's anything there that could send us back home." I explained.
"Never heard of any such devices being found in Alexandria," she replied.
I sighed. Of course, it didn't mean we wouldn't find anything, it just meant that SG-1 didn't, I realized more optimistically. It was a small chance but it was a chance. I knew I'd have to talk to the one person who knew the truth about Alex and me.
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