Family Ties
Anunnaki Part 5
By Michele
Rating: NC-17 (Jack/Sam/Daniel)
Summary: Much to the surprise of his partners, Jack actually has a family as they discover when his young niece drops by for a visit, Jack has become bolder with Daniel, and the Mountain is outted to the world when Enlil comes gunning for Jack.
Note: I made a mistake with the gates, I know it, so please ignore it. I don't want to change the story at this late date. According to canon, Enlil's gate should not be able to work separately from Earth's gate while it is on the planet. I boo-boo'd.
Daniel frowned in irritation as he rummaged through his books, damning the elves for stealing his latest. Ok, it arrived in the mail at the base, was excitedly unwrapped, dragged from his hands when he was late for a meeting, stuffed into his backpack, tossed into his car, driven….to Jack and Sam's. The light dawned. He grabbed his keys and headed out.
The three of them spent the weekend making love and talking, just being together. Jack got past some of his issues when Daniel woke up that first morning to the sound of the shower and to find Jack laying on his side, staring at him. Daniel gave a sleepy smile and took Jack's hand, placing it on his chest.
"You're allowed to touch," he said softly. Jack didn't say anything as he made hesitant, curious moves, trailing his fingers across Daniel's chest, touching his neck and stubbly face. Daniel could smell Sam on Jack's fingers. Jack wasn't looking to arouse, so Daniel lay in a half doze as Jack explored. He readily responded when a mouth touched his and they spent time doing nothing more than softly kissing. Sam came out after a while, smiled at them and left for her morning run, not bothering to interrupt and invite them along.
Daniel found it amusing when Jack ventured below his belly button and pet the pelt of brown hair. Jack touched further, lightly feeling up Daniel's relaxed genitals. Daniel could feel that he was a sticky mess but Jack didn't seem to care as he poked and prodded.
"Get me some lotion or something," Daniel quietly requested. Jack disappeared for a moment and was back with a tube. He lay back beside Daniel as Daniel coated his hand and stroked himself, shutting his eyes and relaxing back onto the floor. Jack watched as Daniel got himself hard, showing Jack how he liked to be stroked and touched. Daniel came quietly, a soft, gentle morning release. Jack touched the white puddle on Daniel's tanned belly and hesitantly brought the finger to his mouth. Daniel watched him.
"Tastes like you," Jack said, a little husky. Daniel chuckled and brought Jack down for a hug. They eventually got up, took their showers, and spent a quiet morning together as they waited for Sam to return. Daniel found Jack's quiet to be interesting; he seemed to go out of his way to keep in physical contact with Daniel, touching his hair, hands, arms, taking kisses when he felt like it. Daniel took it as a good sign. Sam cornered him and made her own exploration of Daniel, forgiving him for dragging out things she was reluctant to say.
Later in the week, Daniel drove to their cabin home to find his book, only 15 minutes out of town, and pulled into the empty lot. Sam was at the base, her face buried in a microscope, and Jack was out of town, so Daniel didn't expect anyone sitting on the dock.
"Hello?" he called out. "Can I help you?"
The teenage girl jumped to her feet. "I didn't take anything!" she insisted.
Daniel smiled gently. "I didn't say you did."
The girl looked around, scared. "I….I thought….I must have the wrong house," she whispered. "I was looking for Jack O'Neill's house. You're not him."
"No, I'm not," Daniel shook his head. "I'm Daniel; I'm a friend of Jack's. This is his house, but he isn't home. How long have you been sitting out here?"
"A while," the girl shrugged and sniffed. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"Not for a few days, I'm afraid," Daniel said, taking a few steps toward her. "What's your name?"
"Katie," she said, crestfallen. "I'm his niece."
Daniel's eyebrows went up. "I wasn't aware he had siblings. Do your parents know where you are, Katie?"
She spooked. "I should go," she said, taking a step.
"If you'd like," Daniel said. "But I can make you a sandwich or something before you go. You hungry?" She not only looked hungry, but also in need of a shower and a long nap, in Daniel's opinion. She had the earmarks of a runaway.
Katie gave a reluctant nod. Daniel waved her over and he unlocked the door, letting them in.
"How come you have a key?" she asked, looking curiously around. She walked to the mantle and picked up a picture of Charlie.
"I work with him," Daniel said, going into the kitchen. "He has a key to my place, too. It's a security thing. I came over to get a book I left here the other day."
"Oh," she nodded. "Who's this?" she picked up another picture. Daniel thought it odd….
"His wife, Sam."
"Oh. I didn't know he remarried."
"Not too long ago." Daniel looked in the fridge and pulled out a package of lunch meat.
"Where is she?" the picture was replaced and she looked at the frames metals.
"At the base," Daniel said. "She's a colonel in the Air Force; she works there."
"Are you a colonel or something, too?"
"No," Daniel smiled at her deep sense of curiosity as he put a sandwich together. "I'm a linguist. I help them with translations of lots of different kinds of things."
He tossed a handful of carrot sticks onto the plate, filled a glass of milk, and carried it out to the coffee table. Katie sat and gratefully bit into the sandwich.
"Thank you," she remembered around a mouthful of turkey.
"You're welcome. Katie, you know I need to call Jack."
She nodded, her eyes cast down. Daniel noted that she had dark brown eyes and the hair that couldn't make up its mind what color it wanted to be.
"He's going to make me go home, isn't he?" she asked, pensively nibbling on a carrot.
"I don't know. How old are you?"
"Sixteen," she reluctantly whispered.
"Well, he is a general, honey, he has rules he needs to obey and uphold, just like the police do," Daniel said gently. "You do have rights, though, even if you are underage. You want to tell me why you ran away? Was someone hurting you?"
She put her sandwich down and curled up on the couch, her face buried in her knees. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Honey, it's ok to tell me," he said. "I need to be able to tell your uncle so that he is able to make the best decision he can. He's fair; I know he'll help if he can."
She sniffed and mumbled into her knees. Daniel squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, touched her hair, and took his cell phone out as he walked outside.
"Hey, it's me," Daniel said when it was answered. "You got a minute? Do you have a niece named Katie?"
"What? Yes, what's going on?" Jack asked, on the alert.
"Well, she was sitting on your dock when I came over to find a book I left here. Jack, she had an abortion and her parents kicked her out."
"Oh, fer the luv-a…..," Jack groaned. "Ok, I'll call and find out what's happening. Can you stay with her until Sam gets home?"
"Yeah, sure," Daniel agreed. "Jack, I didn't know you had siblings."
"Just one," he said. Daniel knew the tone; it was usually reserved for a visit from a System Lord. "Older brother. It's a long story. Katie is actually my great-niece. Her mother, Megan, is my brother's daughter. How old is she now, 14?"
Daniel translated the Jack-speak. "No, 16, she says."
"Let me talk to her."
Daniel went back into the house. Katie was picking at her sandwich, her eyes red and swollen.
"Here, honey, it's Jack," he said, holding the phone out.
She took it with shaky hands. "Uncle Jack?"
Daniel went into the kitchen and made a sandwich for himself. He really needed sugar but neither Jack nor Sam usually indulged in the house; treats were left for the base. He contemplated a beer but decided not with a minor in the house, a minor he was apparently babysitting until Sam got home.
"Daniel?" He looked up from the refrigerator. Katie held out his phone. "He said he'll call back."
"Ok, thanks," he took the phone and pocketed it. "Feeling a little better?"
She nodded and put her plate in the sink.
"Better wash it," he said. "Dishes in the sink bring in bugs out here." She nodded and turned the water on.
"So, tell me, do you have brothers and sisters?" Daniel asked.
"Matthew is 14 and David is 10." She dried the plate and Daniel showed her where it went.
"Wish I had siblings," he said. "My parents died with I was 8. I have foster siblings but no one I'm close to. I would have loved a brother to play with."
"Brothers are pests," she said, wrinkling her nose. Daniel laughed.
"Yes, boys can be pests," he agreed. "But get used to it because boys never grow up no matter how old we get."
He got a reluctant smile from her, revealing the O'Neill dimples which Jack didn't often show except in private.
"What does a linguist do?" she asked.
"A linguist studies languages," he said. "How languages evolve and change and where they come from. For example, English comes from Persia, that's near India. Ancient Persian went into Europe, where it went through lots of changes until it became what we speak today. Most of the European languages came from Persia, they just went through different changes depending on which tribe was speaking it. German, Italian, French, Greek, like that."
"That's why some words are the same in different languages?" she guessed.
Daniel nodded, pleased. "Exactly! That was very quick of you," he complimented her.
"I like planes and stuff but my parents say that isn't proper girls things," she said, waiting for him to agree. "Mom makes me take things like home ec but I'd rather take auto-shop. I hate home ec."
"Then you and Sam will get along great," Daniel told her. "Sam's a pilot and she's terrible at cooking. Don't tell her I told you that. Jack pretends to cook but when they want a real dinner, they call me."
"You can cook?"
Daniel steered her into the livingroom.
"Sure," he said. "I've lived all over the world; when I taste something I like, I learn how to cook it so I can make it again when I get home. It gets expensive traveling all over the world just for a great lunch."
She thought about it. "I guess that's a good reason to learn to cook," she admitted. She yawned and flushed in embarrassment.
"It's ok," Daniel said. "How about I show you the guest room and you can lay down for a while? I'll find you something to wear, you can take a nice long shower, and sleep as long as you'd like."
She agreed and followed him to the guest room as he took his cell phone out.
"Hi, did Jack call you?"
"Yeah, I'll be home in a couple hours," Sam said. "How is she?"
"Tired," Daniel said. "Can I get her something of yours to wear? Shorts and t-shirt or something?"
Sam agreed and walked him through her dresser. Daniel took out sleep wear, found an unopened package of underwear, and shorts and shirts all of which he gave to Katie. He handed her the cell phone for an informal introduction. Katie made a few shy responses and handed it back to Daniel. She took the clothes, thanked him, and went to make herself more comfortable.
"Is she ok?" Sam asked him. Daniel walked out to the dock.
"I think she will be," he said with a sigh. "She's a lost kid, Sam. I don't understand how her parents could do that. I would never have thought someone from Jack's family would do that. Did you know he had a brother?"
"No," she admitted. "Apparently they've been on non-speaking terms for years. I guess his brother, Michael, is seriously Catholic and Jack isn't. I liked his parents. Jack said he'd explain it when he got home. He's coming home early, by the way, he'll be in first thing in the morning."
"I figured," Daniel commented. "Can I make you dinner?"
"Sure," she said. Daniel could hear the smile in her voice. "How about that eggplant thing?"
Daniel had to think about it. "Which one?" he asked. "Italian, Greek, or Lebanese?"
"That dip stuff."
"Babaghanoush?"
"That's it," she said. "With veggies."
"I think you've been around Jack too long, you're starting to talk like him. That's all you want? That's a snack, not dinner."
"Ok, you pick the rest," she said agreeably.
He chuckled. "I'll find something. Pick up a couple of eggplants on the way home, please, and a tub of plain yogurt."
He could hear the shower running when he went back in. He opened the freezer and poked around. He pulled out lamb chops and set them on the counter to thaw before heading into the study to do a little work on Jack's computer, accessing his own base work. He stared at the report until he remembered the reason he needed that book.
Sam came in around 3 and found him still hunched over the computer.
"Hi," she greeted him. "Where is she?"
"Oh, hey, Sam. She's still asleep, I think." Daniel flexed his back, sighing with relief as several vertebrae popped.
Sam looked at the clock. "She'll never get to sleep tonight," she reprimanded him and gave him a quick kiss before heading off to find her new niece.
Daniel went into the kitchen and found the chops thawed. The babaghanoush was quickly made, veggies chopped, and he munched as the lamb was prepped. The phone rang and Daniel picked it up.
"Mosquito Coast," he answered.
"Very funny," Jack said.
"Jack, you're missing out on a lamb dinner," Daniel warned him.
"Make me a plate," Jack said. "How's Katie?"
"Sam went to wake her up."
"Ok. I talked with Megan. She freaked out when the health office reported that Katie had the abortion. Fucking Republicans…. "
"You're a Republican, Jack."
"Doesn't mean I vote for some of their idiotic ideas. Anyway, Megan and Andrew got into a major fight with her and Megan lost her temper and ordered Katie to Confession and an all-girls school for next year. I don't know; if I were Katie, I'd be so humiliated and depressed I'd keep walking. Sara had a couple of miscarriages before she caught with Charlie; after each miscarriage, she went through a few months of hormonal hell before getting back on track."
Daniel nodded in agreement. "And Katie has no one to help her through this," he guessed.
"Right. I got Megan to agree to let us keep Katie for a month. Let things cool off. School's out for the summer, so she won't be missing anything there. I hope Sam doesn't mind, I didn't ask first."
Daniel smiled. "Jack, you can pretend to be a tough guy all you want but you're really a teddy bear, you do know that, don't you?"
Jack chuckled. "Don't tell anyone. Put Sam on the phone."
"Sam!" Daniel yelled. "Pick up a phone, it's Jack!" He waited until he heard her voice before hanging up his line.
Katie was still a little shy during dinner so Daniel and Sam talked science shop, earning them "nerds!" looks from the teen. Sam called out for the next day, telling Daniel she was taking Katie shopping for proper clothes in the morning; willow slender Katie was swimming in Sam's clothes.
Daniel and Sam cleaned up after dinner and Daniel excused himself to go home. He gave Sam a hug and held his hand out to Katie.
"It was nice to meet you, Katie," he said. "I'm around a lot, so I'm sure I'll see you again."
She nodded and shook his hand.
"Daniel!" Sam called after him. He turned to look. She held out his book. He took it with a shake of his head and drove off.
"Arguably one of the most brilliant minds on the planet, and he'd forget his head if it wasn't attached," Sam commented.
In the morning, the girls showered and dressed and were out the door by 10am. Jack drove up soon after and let himself in. A note was hanging from the mantle.
"Us girls went shopping with your credit card. Be back some time today. Love you."
He smiled and shook his head, and went to unpack. At least they were hitting it off, which was what he was hoping for. Katie needed a positive female influence in her life at the moment, and Sam was capable of providing that. He found the plate Daniel left him and ate it cold for lunch.
The ladies were back a few hours later as Jack was reviewing reports. Katie saw him at the door and dropped her bags, running at him. He caught her with an "ooof!" as she jumped at him, wrapping her legs around his middle.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered into his neck. Jack squeezed her and went into the house, carrying her, as Sam smiled at them and got the rest of the bags,
"What for, sweetheart?" he murmured. "As far as I'm concerned, you haven't done anything wrong. Except maybe get so big. When did you get so big? And heavy." He gave her a pat on the butt and she slid off. "And please tell me you didn't max out my card."
Katie giggled and wiped her eyes, nodding. "We did," she confessed.
Jack groaned. "Ya know, a general's pay isn't what it used to be," he whined.
"Oh, waaa," Sam informed him, putting the bags on the couch. She pecked at his mouth. "It isn't completely maxed, you have enough left to take us to dinner tonight."
"That was generous of you," Jack commented, eyeing the bags.
"Yes, it was," she agreed. "We decided that you're taking out for steaks." She handed Katie her bags and sent her off.
"Steak?" Jack perked up. "Ok, we can do that. Has the owner forgiven us yet?"
"Yes, he has," Sam chuckled. "Especially after I re-organized his entire schedule from staff to grocery wholesalers and found him an extra couple thousand on his income tax." Jack put his arms around her and held her. He bent and kissed her properly, taking his time.
"I lied," she said against his mouth. "We used my card."
Jack chuckled and held her close. "You could have used mine," he said. "Is everything ok, so far?"
Sam nodded. "She's a little scared and not sure how she should be feeling. She's going through some major guilt trips. I gave her my opinion on the concept of bodily ownership and told her she needs to make her own decision."
"Good," Jack nodded. "She needed to hear it. Are you ok with her staying here for a little while? I know I should have asked you first."
"No, I'm fine, Jack," she insisted. "She needs a safe place to come back to herself."
"You sound like Daniel."
Sam smiled. "That's funny, he said I was sounding like you."
"Brat," Jack informed her, giving her butt a squeeze. "Katie!" he called. "Would you come out for a minute?"
She came into the room, looking a little apprehensive.
"It's ok, honey, come on," Jack said, waving her to the couch. He sat down across from her with Sam standing behind him. "Ok, here's what's happening: you will stay here for the month. It will give your mom and dad time to chill out and think about things. Sam and I need to work, so you will be trusted with staying by yourself during the day. There are a few teenagers up the street, you can make friends. The pond is swimable but I'd rather you weren't in it without an adult nearby. While you are here, you will need to clean up after yourself, do a few chores, just like we do. No going out after 9, not without one of us, and I will expect a hug every day. I can't live without hugs. Clear?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Good," he declared. "We do a lot of talking around here and no subject is forbidden. You can say what you want. I'm sure Sam won't mind talking girl stuff with you, some of her conversations are enough to send a grown man running for the hills." He got an ear pulled for it. Jack swatted at her.
"Now, I don't want you getting involved in my problems with your parents and your grandfather; it's a lot of crap but it's our crap, not yours. There may be some of that going down in the near future. Just stay out of it, keep your ears closed. Adults can say some pretty stupid things to each other, but we all love you. Can you understand that?"
Katie nodded again. "I asked mom why I couldn't call you or anything, and she said you were a bad influence."
Jack gave a nod. "I know about that," he said. "The problem comes down to religion, honey; I don't consider myself Catholic," he admitted. "I don't think I ever was, and to your parents and my brother, that's a pretty major thing. They took it personally, which they didn't need to. It was my choice, it had nothing to do with them. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle; I've missed spending time with you, watching you grow up. I've missed five of your birthdays and that hurts me as much as it does you. I miss your brothers, too, the rug-rats. Maybe we can make up for lost time while you're here. Can we try?"
She nodded and jumped over to him, settling onto his lap for a hard hug. He rocked her back, looking at her, remembering the baby crawling around the kitchen and banging on pots and pans.
"Just tell me one thing, little Miss Katherine Anne," he asked. "Does the word condom hold any meaning for you?"
She smacked his arm and buried her burning face in his chest.
After putting her clothes away, Katie went outside for a walk, promising to stay close. Jack threw himself on the couch, laying back with an arm over his face.
"What are her parents really saying?" Sam asked.
"They warned me about my heathen ways, once more, and said to send their daughter home with her faith intact."
"Heathen?" Sam questioned with a raised brow. "I thought that was Daniel's department." She sat next to Jack, shoving his hip over. She gave Jack's stomach a rub, playing with the line of hair at his belly. "I'm sorry you're on such bad terms with your family."
Jack sighed and removed his arm to look at her. "Megan wasn't always like this," he said. "She was a sweet kid, she really was, and I know she means well by Katie but I think she's going about things the wrong way. She's going to chase Katie away, if she doesn't loosen the strings a little. I can't believe Meggie's behaving like this; I changed her diapers, for heaven's sake, I helped with 2am feedings, I helped her learn to walk, even made up silly talking potty-chair stories so she wouldn't be afraid of it. This isn't a child I helped to raise."
Sam took his hand. "People change, Jack. Why didn't you ever mention a brother?"
"Because we don't speak," Jack said. "Michael went seriously Catholic on me when he was about thirty. His wife died, a car accident, when he was 26. Meg was born a month premature, and Michael made this vow to God that if his daughter lived, he'd dedicate himself yadda yadda the same old story. Well, he followed through. My parents pretty much raised Megan because Michael became a priest. You can see where heads would butt. I was 19 when Megan was born, so I helped as much as I could. It wasn't fair of him to saddle mom and dad with a baby at their age, they were just getting rid of me. I paid for a nanny when I joined up. That was my first major fight with Michael; he couldn't give even monetary attention to his own daughter's welfare. Claimed clergy poverty. I told him what he could do with his poverty. Well, the final blow was dealt when my divorce was finalized."
"Which was about five years ago," Sam remembered, listening in wide-eyed disbelief as he talked.
"Yep."
Sam fought to find the words. "Honey, that's so….anachronistic."
"That's one word for it," he muttered. "And the kids are caught in the middle because Megan refuses to let me see them. She didn't get this way until she married Andrew and now I can't tell how much is him and how much she's accepted for herself. I can send cards and presents for birthdays and holidays, that's it."
Sam shook her head, knowing how much children meant to him, and to be denied his own niece and nephews…..
"Honey, do you want another child?" she asked. Jack opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"No, I'm not," she smiled. "I'm on Janet's little insert invention, remember? It's good for another year unless I have it removed."
"I know," he smiled and stroked her legs. "And I wouldn't mind another child, I loved being a father, but I don't see how we could manage with our lifestyles. It would be hardest on you. You'd have to give up gate travel, and unless I'm speaking as your General, I won't do that to you. So having a child will be your decision. Your body, your choice, honey, all the way."
Sam sighed and laid her head on his chest. "Sometimes I feel like I should want that," she said. "I'm married, I love kids, I know you love kids, and we're both healthy. At the same time, I'm feeling selfish; I don't want to give up gate travel, I'm not ready yet and by the time I may be ready, I'll be too old."
Jack smiled and stroked her hair. "Then we'll adopt," he promised. "Baby, don't dwell on this," he said. "I love you, I'm happy with you, I will support whatever decision you make."
She considered from his chest, sliding a finger into his shirt. "We can't make out here, can we?" she asked with a pout.
Jack laughed. "Sorry. Having a child in the house sorta puts a damper on things. Until she's asleep, anyway. You can go find Daniel, if you'd like."
She flushed slightly. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"
"Oh, believe me, I'd love to invite him over tonight, but I don't think Katie would understand. And I'm not ready for that particular hell-fire and brimstone from her parents. Honey, really, if you'd like some time with him, call and ask him."
"I'll wait for tonight," she said. "You've been gone a few days and I want you. Although, it would be nice if all three of us could be together."
"Stop," Jack said. "The thought of it is turning me on, and I'd rather not shock my niece into the awareness that I'm still young enough to have those kinds of feelings."
"Why don't we invite him to dinner tonight?" Sam suggested. "Get Katie used to the idea that he's part of the family."
Jack nodded. "Good idea," he said. "Give him a call."
Sam nodded and stood up. She bent down and kissed him, opening his mouth and caressing his tongue with hers. She took her mouth away and went to find the phone.
"Brat," she heard him mutter from the couch. Sam grinned.
Daniel got to the house to find Jack pacing on the dock, the cell phone to his ear. He waved at Daniel.
"Dammit, Michael!" he heard Jack yell as he got out of his car. "Get your head out of your ass! I don't care what doctrine says, she's a child and she needed guidance, particularly guidance from the female she trusts most in her life, and she got back-slapped instead! No, I don't mean literally. She's your daughter, you do something or I will! Don't try me, Michael."
He slammed the phone shut and shoved it into his pocket.
"Hi?" Daniel tried.
"Hi," Jack responded with a huff. "Daniel, sometimes having a brother isn't necessarily a good thing, especially when said brother is a Catholic priest."
"Ouch," Daniel winced. "And he has a child?"
Jack explained the circumstances. "I'm considering giving Baal his address. I'd LOVE to witness THAT exorcism."
Daniel chuckled in appreciation.
"I'm starving," Daniel announced, obviously wasting away as he patted his stomach. "Where are our dates?"
"Dressing," Jack said, as though it were obvious.
"We're here, we're here," Sam said hurriedly, rushing out the door. She locked it behind Katie. Sam took Jack's hand, and Daniel held out his arm to Katie who wasn't quite sure what to do. Daniel took her hand and slid it through his arm, resting her hand on his bicep. He gave her hand a pat, winked, and led her to his car.
A loud roar filled the air and they ducked, looking up. Two familiar motherships chased through the sky, firing at each other.
"Tell me I'm not seeing this," Jack groaned. His cell phone rang and then Sam's. They both swore and walked back toward the house as they answered the phones.
"Daniel?" Katie gazed at the sky, her jaw to the ground. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it," he said with a sigh. "Your uncle knows what to do."
As Daniel got the teen safely settled in the Mountain, Jack and Sam took a helicopter out to where the ships had both made emergency landings after taking out vital engine areas in their battle. Sam stayed on the 'copter and headed out to Nevada. Jack took charge of the situation as more and more troops converged on Northern Colorado where the downed ships took up several miles. It took all the powers of military persuasion to keep the media away from knocking on the ships' front door and asking for an interview. Jack was sure that the American media had to be the stupidest vultures with cameras that he had ever seen. He ordered his teams to zat anyone who came within 5 miles of the ships. After the 50th complaint from a zatee, people began to heed the warning. A flurry of red came flying toward Jack out of the setting sun and landed on his shoulder startling not only him but also the surrounding military, quite a few of whom were not SGC.
"Zu?" he turned his neck to see the deadly beak so close to his eyes. "What the hell are you guys doing? Do you know what kind of havoc this is…?"
An image was presented to him and Jack stopped his snarling. "Did you get that?" he asked Reynolds. He nodded, now understanding what Daniel was talking about when he told him about the bird.
"I'd say we have allies to rescue," Jack stated. Another figure came bounding toward them. People in the way jumped, startled, as the strange looking cat danced around feet on its way through. Zu hopped to the arm Reynolds held out as Jack held still for the coming jump. He held her shivering form to his chest as he had seen Daniel do numerous times.
"D'nl," she got out. Those around who heard her took a wide-eyed step back.
"Daniel isn't here, T'Keet," Jack said. "Zu, can she understand images from you?"
"Annnnnaaaa," Zu croaked.
"Let her know we're going to help but Daniel isn't here."
In a moment, the cub stopped shivering as she looked at Zu. Another image was presented to Jack.
"Yes, we know," Jack said to the bird as the surrounding people looked at Jack talking to a bird and an alien cat. "We'll do what we can to help but she needs to stay out of the way. Major!" Jack called out, waving Davis over having just spotted him in the crowd. T'Keet jumped to him when he was close enough. Startled to see her, Davis caught her.
"M'Net, Ninurta, and several others are being held on board the Goa'uld," Jack told him. "T'Keet is upset, she wants Daniel and he isn't here. I can't have her here during this. I want you to take her to the Mountain and hand her over to him; he's already babysitting my niece, one more won't kill him. While you are there, try and get hold of Thor and find out what happened. And start preparing a list of allies to call in. We are owed a lot of favors. Push a few buttons."
"Yes, sir," Davis said and wrapped his jacket around the cub.
"Davis!" Jack called after him. "Do we have 302's coming at us?"
"Yes, sir! Colonel Carter is scrambling them now! Russia is also sending a squad. A few petty arguments from upstairs about it but it's happening!"
Jack waved him on. He certainly wasn't happy about it but he had to admit that they could use all the help they could get.
"I knew we needed drill time," Jack muttered. Reynolds nodded.
"Yes, but how do you drill with ships that aren't supposed to exist?"
Jack once more had to yell over the comm for all troops to CEASE FIRE! The bullets weren't going anywhere except ricochet off the defense systems. And besides, they were firing at both ships. Jack pulled in several other generals and colonels and gave them quick instructions. The generals resented it, having more seniority than Jack, but a quick phone conversation from Maynard and the president convinced them to shut up and pay attention.
"Your bullets will not penetrate those shields," Jack said to the five-year olds. "Ours will once they get here. You are wasting ammo. The smaller ship is NOT the enemy, they are allies. The big ship with the pyramid thing in the middle is a very bad guy. Get that concept through to your men. If you would be so kind. And do NOT shoot just because they may not look like us. As I said, some of these people are ALLIES! This bird and that cub are ALLIES. One of the squads coming to help are Russian. Do NOT fire! They have permission to be in our airspace! I'm not happy about it, either. No firing without MY orders! Comprende?! Cheyenne is running this show because WE know what to DO!"
They didn't appreciate the tone but they sent out the orders.
"Zu, can you carry something into your ship?" he asked the bird now housed on Reynolds's arm. He was stroking the undersides of the wings and the bird was loving it from the glazed look in the beady eyes.
"Annnnaaaa," he croaked with a nod. Jack took a radio and rigged a cord to it. Zu took the cord in his beak.
"Have them talk to me on this," Jack said, showing Zu how to press the button and talk. Zu squawked and took off, flying over heads that quickly ducked. A few slower on the up-take got their heads knocked by the dangling radio. Hearing a chuckle, Jack was sure Zu did it on purpose.
"Get that craft out of the no-fly space!" Reynolds yelled into a radio. Jack quickly turned. Just as he identified the helicopter from one of the newsgroups, a beam came out of the mothership and destroyed it. Everyone ducked from flying debris.
"Goddammit to hell!" Jack yelled, kicking at a rock. "Is everyone deaf?! That's it!" He yelled for a major news network to have one cameraman and one reporter brought to him. It took twenty minutes for them to arrive through the military crowd. The two arrived with the reporter calling out questions to everyone he could and then shoving a microphone into Jack's face. Jack slapped it away.
"Now here this!" he yelled into the camera. "There is a no-fly zone established for a reason not just because I think you people are fucking vultures! That pilot not only disobeyed an order, he obviously needed to be taken out of the gene-pool because he had no common sense! We know the beings in those ships. The people in the larger ship will make slaves of every single person they keep alive on this planet if we don't find a way to get rid of them. Stay the fuck AWAY! Get them out of my sight because I swear if that System Lord starts asking for volunteers, I'm sending in the PRESS for his dessert! Fucking stupid morons!"
The two were taken away and driven back to the five-mile stop. Jack's radio squawked.
"WHAT?!" He stopped and gave his eyes a rub. "Yes, major, what is it?"
"Teal'c and company are on their way to you, Sir," Davis reported, keeping his usual calm. "Thor was surprised to find out where Enlil went when I told him. Apparently Enlil lost Thor at some point during their chase. Enlil went back to the Sua planet, grabbed a select handful, and their battle resumed. Sir, there is a strong possibility that Enlil came to Earth to grab you. As the leader of the Tau'ri who butted into his affairs."
Jack stood looking at the rising moon for a moment.
"Major, I am giving serious consideration to retirement once again," he said.
"Yes, sir." Davis clicked off.
"General, you have a gift. I'm envious," Reynolds said good-naturedly.
"What gift is that, colonel?"
"For pissing off System Lords."
"You're a riot, Reynolds."
The radio clicked once again. "General O'Neill?"
Jack touched his radio. "Here. Inanna?"
"Yes. Thank you for this device."
"You're welcome. What's the situation on your ship?"
"A great many wounded, a few dead, but we are doing what we can. I am more concerned with getting our people off Enlil's ship; our readings indicate that his engines are critical."
Jack looked at Reynolds. "Care to specify?" he asked her.
"His ship will blow up in approximately three hours if it isn't shut down."
"How much of a boom is that?" Jack turned and snapped his fingers at a couple of SF and sent them running for the other generals.
"With his ship taking ours in a chain reaction, a quarter of this continent will be destroyed."
Jack grimaced. There was no way they could evacuate that many people in three hours.
"Do they have a gate?" Reynolds asked. Jack relayed the question.
"No, we don't," Inanna said. "But Enlil does."
"Are we sure he's still on the ship?" Jack asked. Oxford and Green came up to them with the SF and Reynolds quietly filled them in. The generals whitened but waited for Jack.
"No," she admitted. "But with the engines in their current state, I do not believe he would still be in there. The sun has set, another day is starting. Jaffa have bad night-vision. If we leave the ship, Enlil's Jaffa will begin a ground campaign. Will your people be ready for it?"
"It isn't so much the Jaffa that we can't handle, it's the ship's shields," he said. "We have our own gliders on the way. Should be here any minute. Wait for their cover. How many children are on board?"
"Eleven of our own plus five cubs. Zu said one cub is with you?"
"Yeah, T'Keet made it out. I don't know how she knew I was here, that's one hell of a nose on her. I sent her to Daniel, she's safe at our base," Jack assured her. "As soon as our gliders are here, I want you to send out the children and any wounded who are ambulatory. Send them to me. We will do our best to cover them."
"Will do."
"Reynolds, get SG teams over here," Jack ordered. "I want them ready to receive children, cubs, and wounded. Have a 'copter standing by, I want them taken directly to the Mountain."
"Yes, sir!" Reynolds got on the radio and began issuing the orders.
"Children?" Green questioned. "They have actual children on board that ship?"
"They believe in family first, general," Jack said. "And that means taking children with them wherever they go including into battle. I think we can all agree that they don't belong on the field, though. Our main problem is that mothership; the only troops I want to see out here are SGC teams and first-line squads, all the rest need to get as far to the East Coast, Canada, or Mexico as quickly as possible within the next two hours because there is a high probability of the West Coast and Mountain Region falling into the Pacific. Get our kids out of here, gentlemen."
The generals started calling out for the troops to fall back and not to fire, there were children coming out, when the roar of 302's came in overhead. Teal'c materialized at Jack's side a moment later. The surrounding military wasn't sure what they were more startled by, alien warriors appearing at their side or fighter planes they had never seen or heard of before. Coming from the direction of Nevada and a certain military base that wasn't supposed to exist.
"T! There are children and wounded about to come off Heaven's Bow," Jack said, clasping him on the shoulder. "The mothership's engine is building to critical mass, we need to be out of here. Two hours."
Teal'c called out to his men and they hurried down onto the field as children appeared from the ship and began to run in their direction. Cubs bounded ahead of them and a few of the older children assisted the wounded. The appearance of Jaffa frightened the children but the cubs called out to them and they continued to run toward the troops. The mothership opened and Jaffa poured out, firing staff weapons at the rebels. SGC troops caught the children and wounded and they were rushed through to the waiting helicopter. Gliders avoided the ship's cannons and rained down fire on the Jaffa since the ship's shields were still intact. The ground troops had the advantage of night-goggles, helping them to see in the dark where the Jaffa could not.
"Shara!" Reynolds called out, seeing a familiar face in the wounded. The warrior was headed their way. He clasped arms with Reynolds and Jack.
"My Queen sent me out with the wounded," he said in thick accented English. "She begs of you to try and save the prisoners. Our Ninurta is among them."
"I know," Jack said, touching Shara's shoulder. "I've been trying to think of a way in, but I'm not coming up with anything."
"I have the coordinates to Enlil's chaapa'i," Shara said. He held out a piece of paper with scrawls on it.
"Yes!" Jack crowed, patting Shara on the face. He called for a laptop and an open signal to the base.
"General, may I be armed with your weapons and fight for my brothers?" Shara asked. He hadn't brought a weapon with him, since he came out under the pretense of being wounded.
"For this, you can have MY zat," Jack said, taking it from the back of his belt and handing it to the warrior. "Two blasts only," he whispered. "Not three." Shara set his face and ran back into the fray as Jack was connected to the base. "Sergeant! Get me Davis!"
Within a moment, Davis was sitting in front of the computer. Jack held up the coordinates.
"Major, this is the address for Enlil's gate," Jack announced. "I want that back-up team sent in. The engines need to be taken out NOW before it blows this entire side of the country into the ocean, and get those prisoners out of there. Two hours, major, and the ships take us all out when Enlil's engines reach critical. There are children, cubs, and wounded coming your way via 'copter." Jack covered his ears as gliders blasted away at Jaffa.
"Yes, sir! Coordinates noted, and medical is on alert for incoming. Sir, Nate is here and wanting in on the action."
"No," Jack shook his head. "Put him and my niece through the gate, major; if these ships blow, the Mountain will go down. Start evac to the Alpha Site. I want only the bare minimum personnel left on base. If the wounded can make it, send them through, too."
"Yes, sir, starting evac now." Jack could here the alarm in the background.
"And, major, tell Daniel not to argue, get his ass through the gate with the others. If he doesn't like it, remind him that he's in temporary guardianship of my niece."
Davis held back a smile. "I'll let him know, sir. General? Good luck, sir." He saluted and Jack returned it.
"Colonel, I want the mothership distracted," Jack told Reynolds. The colonel smiled and gave a nod.
"We can do that, sir," he assured Jack. He opened his radio and called to the gliders as he hurried to the field.
The surrounding was clearing out of people, lines of vehicle lights could be seen for miles as well as planes and helicopters landing and taking off. Another squad of 302's came in from the upper atmosphere and joined the battle as more and more Jaffa poured out of the mothership like angry ants from a disturbed nest. Troops without staffs or zats were instructed to fire dead center at the Jaffa belly, not the head or heart. Faint squeals could be heard from wounded symbiotes, which pleased Jack no end. Once the children were completely cleared, Anunnaki warriors came out of their ship, blasting their staves and zats, and shooting arrows into Jaffa bellies. Jack winced and hoped that the humans were getting a good lesson in the art of primitive warfare. The warriors were yelling taunts and battle cries as they stormed the field. Human troops were startled to see large felines on two legs fighting among them.
"Do we like the ones with tails?" Oxford asked.
"We like them very much," Jack said.
"What's that they're yelling?" General Green asked, watching through night-vision goggles.
"Ninurta," Jack said, watching the field.
"What does it mean?"
"Who, not what. Ninurta is their CO; he's been taken prisoner on the mothership. They want him back."
"Who was the woman you were talking to?"
Jack drew his gun and aimed at a Jaffa who had snuck up on them. He absently took note of the tattoo design for future reference. Some sort of horned, cone-shaped hat. One bullet went into the belly and the Jaffa went down.
"Their Queen," Jack said. "Ninurta is her consort, so she's a little perturbed by his absence. The father of that cub I was holding is also a prisoner."
The mothership tried launching death gliders but the 302's took each one out as it left its docking bay. The ship was already short on gliders, having lost many over the Sua homeworld. From the easy way they went down, Jack was beginning to guess that because of spending a couple thousand years in status, they didn't have the upgrades that the current System Lords had, giving the humans an advantage.
"What on earth is that symbol on the wings?" someone nearby asked, watching the gliders. Jack looked up.
"Tau'ri," he said, knocking his gun against his shoulder. The same pyramid shape on the SGC flight jackets had been painted on the 302's. Of both nations, Jack was surprised to see. Jack had given Chekhov his nastiest, and still the man was trying to play nice instead of political games with their governments.
"Wouldn't an American flag have been more appropriate?" someone questioned disapprovingly.
"Why?" Jack snapped. "We're defending our planet, not our country. There are 4 Russians up there fighting side-by-side with us, and they have Tau'ri on their ships, too. What's inappropriate is getting petty over territorial rights at a time like this. You want to start trumpeting Old Glory, you get your ass down there and do it instead of standing up here and whining."
The major who had been complaining got ordered into battle by his colonel.
"How many freakin' times do we have to save this planet before snot-nosed children show a little respect?" Jack muttered to himself as he watched the battle. "Reynolds! That shield is flickering! See if you can get some people through!" The radio clicked an acknowledgment.
"What's going on?" General Green asked, seeing the flickering.
"Someone got to the controls," Jack said. "The shield power is trying to come down." Which meant the team Jack had ordered into the ship through the gate was doing their job. Jack looked at his watch; they had 60 real minutes, but only 12 from the two hour window he gave them.
"Jack, their power is fluctuating," came in over his radio. He clicked it open.
"I see that," Jack said. "I have men on board; hopefully someone can pull the main power crystals before it's too late."
"Most of my people are on the field," she said. "I must get Enki and Ereshkigal to you. I will have Zu lead them."
"No, it's too far," Jack said. "They'd never get through the battle. Wait for the shield to come down and send them on board the ship. Most of the guards are outside. Have them go straight to the gate. The chaapa'i. My people on board will know where to send them for safety."
"I will do that," she acknowledged.
Jack called out to Reynolds and issued him new instructions to wait for the two from the other ship.
A second after the shields came down, two figures were seen leaving the ship, following a patch of red. A third figure came out of the ship and joined the battle.
"General, we're on board!" Jack heard from his radio.
"What's it look like, colonel?"
"Almost empty, sir. I'd say most of the guards are on the field. No sign of the Chief or his First Prime. SG-5 says the engine looks like it's been rigged to explode on purpose. The panel has been welded shut; we don't have the equipment to get through a naquadah shield The prisoners have been released, there were no guards on them. There are injuries but nothing that isn't repairable."
"Gate out now, colonel, and hold the gate open until I tell you to close it!" Jack ordered. "Colonel Carter, get your squad out of this airspace and take the R…our friends with you. Tell Colonel Chekhov he's playing host for a while. Give him my thanks and I owe him one." There was no click of acknowledgment. Jack waited, hearing the silent argument. "Honey, just do it. Daniel's at the Alpha Site, find him."
He received his clicks. The 302's flew low over the command area and rolled before heading west. Jack clenched his ticking jaw as he watched the ground battle, refusing to look at the retreating gliders.
"Inanna, get your people onto the mothership and to the gate," he called out. "It's being held open, the way is clear. Teal'c, take care of the ground forces, get your men to the gate and then as many of ours as you can. I will bring up the rest."
"What's this gate, General?" Oxford demanded as they saw people below begin to make their way to the mothership. Jaffa took note of it and attempted to guard the exposed entrances. There dwindling numbers were taken out one by one from oncoming troops. A few seemed to switch sides once they realized that their god had abandoned them. The Sua slaves immediately gave themselves over to the Sua of Heaven's Bow.
"Huh? Can't hear ya, general," Jack said, cupping an ear.
Oxford stared at him. "Ok, then, exactly how many alien species are here at the moment?"
Jack thought about it. "Three, as far as I'm aware," he said. "No, four, if you count the symbiotes in the Jaffa."
Two ships appeared overhead and the battle paused.
"Make that five." Jack breathed a sigh of relief.
"O'Neill, please clear the field," he heard on his radio.
Jack clicked it open. "Nice of you to join the party, Thor, Colonel Markham! Ok, you heard the …uh….man, clear the field! If you are NOT on the ship, move away as quickly as you can. If you are ON the ship, get through the gate NOW! You can phone home later. Colonel Reynolds, secure that ship and get yourself through the gate; Thor brought the Prometheus and is up to something! Move, people!"
Jack looked at Oxford and Green. "If I suddenly disappear in a beam of light, don't worry about it, I'll be back shortly."
The dark field was suddenly alive with people running away from the ships. Enlil's Jaffa didn't understand the reason for the exodus but they knew an enemy ship when they saw one and tried firing staves at it.
Jack waited five minutes and then tried calling the ship. "Reynolds, anyone still on board?" There was silence. He looked at the field. Most of the fighters had made it to the command radius. Jack opened the radio. "Count-down, folks! You have ten seconds. If anyone is still on board that ship, speak now or forever hold your peace. Thor, ten seconds and you do whatever it is you're up to. Starting….Ten-Mississippi, nine-M….."
He began a verbal count-down into the radio. The Asgard ship covered the Goa'uld ship with a beam. He seemed to have a problem with the ship and pulled more power. The ship was slowly raised from the ground and Thor drew his own ship higher into the atmosphere, taking the others with him.
"Colonel Markham, what's he doing?" Jack asked the CO of the Prometheus.
"Borrowing our power, sir," came the response. "He said something about primitive weapons and taking lessons from humans."
"That ship is a primitive weapon?" Green questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Jack shrugged. "You'd have to know Thor. Take it as a compliment. Colonel, while you're out there sight-seeing, just an FYI: this ship belonged to a Goa'uld named Enlil. He's gone walkabout."
"Yes, sir, we'll keep our eyes open."
The generals looked at him, tearing their eyes away from the scene above.
"Think Enterprise," Jack suggested.
"I think when we get home I'm going to hyperventilate for a while," Oxford mused. Green agreed with him.
Jack's portable bat-phone rang.
"O'Neill," he answered. "Yes, sir, isn't she a beauty? Don't know, sir, our Asgard allies are up to something. Yes, sir, will do." Jack clicked his radio open. "Thor, the President says drop by for lunch some time. He'd like to thank you."
All three ships rose higher and higher until they were only thin lights in the night-time sky. The generals were looking at him again.
"Don't look at me," Jack protested. "Thor usually doesn't consult me before he takes action. He's a big boy, sort of, he makes his own decisions."
There was a flash of night in the sky and they covered their eyes. Jack waited, hoping…..
"O'Neill, what time is lunch?"
Jack almost fell to his knees as the troops cheered. "Noon," Jack said. "Just, please don't bring those little green ball things; they taste really nasty."