Chapter 12

Discovered

Jacob Carter stood grimly at attention next to the less rigid but equally solemn countenance of Jonathan O'Neill. Between them their wives looked on teary-eyed, pleading with a nation for their children.

"If you have seen any sign of these children," Jacob Carter finished, "Please call this number. There will be a substantial reward."

Sam, Jack, Teal'c, and Mark all watched the television in a dazed sort of horror. Antiquated picture aside, the projected photographs of Sam, Mark, and Jack were enough to make their lives miserable. They had become too well known about the hospital to hope that no one made the connection, particularly when the police came on to bring forth the eyewitness account of a large, black man as their abductor.

"We have to leave," Jack insisted, "That's all. We have to leave and…change our looks."

"Again?" Mark demanded, running his fingers through his darkened hair. Sam looked equally indignant, playing the part of a boy.

"Fine," Jack said, "I'll change my appearance. And Danny's."

"Daniel Jackson's photograph has not been displayed," Teal'c pointed out.

"Not yet," Jack agreed, "But think about it. We're kidnapping him. If the nice doctors and nurses remember us, then see the photo and decide, black hair on you two or not, we must be them, then they'll be looking for all of us."

"I can't believe Mom and Dad were on television," Mark said, a hint of envy in his voice and a good deal of trepidation, "We're gonna be in so much trouble when they find us."

"They won't find us," Sam assured him stubbornly, but at the same time her eyes turned longingly towards the screen where her parents had been displayed.

"Right," Jack agreed. He preferred not to think about seeing his parents. The back in time situation was weird enough without having to relive moments of his life. "Well, I'm going to go see if the doctors are done…doctoring Daniel." He turned and walked out of the waiting room.

"Hey," Mark said, poking his sister sharply in the shoulder, "What'd you mean, 'they won't find us'? We have to go home sometime. I mean, we aren't running away forever and ever."

"Not forever and ever," Sam agreed, twisting away from him, "I told you already, we have to get Teal'c, Jack, and Daniel to the spaceship in Colorado and they can leave the planet and then y…we go home."

"You were about to say 'you', weren't you?" Mark demanded suspiciously, "You aren't flying off with some alien without me." When his sister didn't answer, Mark reached out to pull a response from her.

"No!" Sam answered sharply, her voice squeaking slightly. This was less of an attempt to convince Mark and more from brother's attempts to pull her hair. She had forgotten for the moment that her hair was much shorter, and much harder to grab than it had been at the beginning of the trip. Unfortunately, Mark had a lot of practice in tackling his younger sibling, and he managed to grab hold of her ear. Sam shrieked in ear splitting fury, promising retaliation.

"Jacob Hammond," Teal'c interrupted, "You will stop hurting your brother." Both children jumped, having half forgotten they weren't alone.

"I'm not hurting he...im," Mark insisted, after taking a second to work out who Teal'c was talking to. Sam slid out of his grip, sticking her tongue out from an angle where Teal'c couldn't see.

"Come on, let's go see Daniel," Sam said, smiling sweetly at her brother's glare as she skipped lightly towards the hall.

"You will behave in this place of healing," Teal'c admonished, whether to Sam, Mark, or both it was unclear. Then Teal'c took the lead, attempting to step between the two siblings. Unfortunately, this only lasted until they had to pass others in the hall, and then Sam and Mark slipped behind their larger guardian. Then Mark made another pass at Sam's hair.

This time, Sam curled away, latching onto his wrist and sent him over her back and to the floor, crashing into the back of Teal'c legs. She looked as surprised as anyone; the move had been more by reflex than intention.

"George Hammond!" Teal'c rumbled and Sam cringed while Mark sat up, more startled than hurt.

"Yes?" someone answered, turning around in response to Teal'c's reprimand. All three turned to see a surprisingly familiar but completely unexpected face.

"General Hammond?" Sam asked, her voice hesitant. The man stared at them in confusion, until the sight of Teal'c's imposing form caught him and dawning comprehension lit up his eyes.

"Don't tell me," Mark said, from his position on the floor, "He's an alien too." The youthful apparition of their general looked down at Mark, then at Sam, still standing over him with a slightly guilty stance, and then once more at Teal'c.

"Hey, guys," Jack said, walking right into the middle of it, "The rooms open but Daniel's kinda out…of…it…do I have something on my face or what?"

"You're the missing children!" Hammond exclaimed, looking slightly startled. Luckily, no one else was in the hallway to hear his cry. Jack finally turned around, saw young George Hammond, and turned away again.

"Ok," he said, "This is either very good, or very bad."

"Indeed," Teal'c said, raising an eyebrow. The effect was slightly spoiled, however, by the giggling coming from about his knees.

"All right…George," Jack said, "I think we better fill you in. I'm sure you have a few questions."

"A few," George agreed, his brow furrowing as he tried to work out what was going on. Together, the small group continued down the hall.