Parents Chapter 5

Jack stormed down the ramp into the Gate room, looking ready to kill something. Sam followed with a similar expression on her face, and Teal'c brought up the rear.

"Welcome back, SG-1," the General said, standing at the bottom of the ramp. "How did it go?"

"Not well," Jack muttered, looking ticked. "We heard a lot of stories about the…elves…of 554, but we didn't learn all that much. Just how they're always ready to give blessings if they're needed, things like that."

"What did they tell you about Dr. Jackson's situation?"

"It's a blessing," Sam said, sounding hot and bothered. "They told us that it will only be removed if Daniel asked, and not before. We asked how they made it happen. They said that Those Who Live Above gave them the power to do it."

General Hammond looked at her, surprised. "What?"

"It is complicated, General Hammond," Teal'c told him.

"All right, standard arrival procedure, and then we meet in the debriefing room to talk this whole thing out."

"We're gonna need about five years to talk it out, then," Jack grumbled, still very unhappy. "Then I think I'm gonna go elf-hunting."

A short visit to the infirmary and locker room and SG-1 was ready to debrief. They gathered around the table while General Hammond updated them on Daniel and his parents.

"They seem to be normal people, and Dr. Jackson is completely at ease with them. I don't know how good or bad that is, but Doctors Frasier and Mackenzie are concerned about that," he said, taking his seat at the head of the table. "So, what can you tell me?"

"Well, the first thing they told us was that we didn't need to know everything right away," Jack began. "Very annoying. Then, they invited us to ask questions."

"And what did you ask?" Hammond wanted to know.

"We asked how they did it and why, and that was when they gave us that crap about Those Who Live Above," Jack continued.

"That's right," Sam affirmed, sounding tired. "From what we could make out, they are a group of people…beings…living on 554, and it's their sacred trust from Those Who Live Above to watch over and help the people of 554 and anyone who might be in need that they encounter."

"Which did not answer our first query: How did they bestow the blessings upon people?" Teal'c explained. "Once we realized that, we asked again. They said that it was Those Who Live Above who gave them the ability to bestow blessings."

"We asked what process they used," Sam added. "You know, just how they made these miracles happen. They were very vague about that."

"They were more than vague," Jack said, still sounding ticked. "They just wouldn't tell us anything beyond 'Those Who Live Above help us to know what to do.' That was all they would say about that. Zip. Nada. They kept coming back to Those Who Live Above. If we wanted to know how they resurrected two people who have been dead for years and years, then they would come back to them. Finally, we asked where they were and what they were like, and all of that."

"They described gods," Teal'c explained as Jack fell silent. "They said that they were powerful beings who lived in the stars above the planet and watched over all of them and all of creation. These beings helped them bestow blessings by giving them the power to do so and by pointing out which person's need was greatest. Also, it was from these beings that they received the trust to protect and help all of those on 554."

"Which means we've learned absolutely zilch, sir," Jack finished up, leaning his head on his hands. "Bupkis. Nothing. A waste of time."

Sam was looking thoughtful. "I don't know, sir. I keep getting the feeling that they said something that was important but we missed it, somehow."

That caught the General's attention. "Such as?"

Carter shrugged. "I can't remember. Something about people coming back from the dead…"

Jack sat back up. "The stories. The stories about people coming back from the dead. We told them that such a thing didn't happen in real life, but they told us that we had stories about that happening. They said that I knew a few and that Daniel knew many more. How would they know what he knew about that?"

"Could they have been mind readers? Empathic beings? It wouldn't be the first time we encountered a race with those abilities," Sam said, sounding excited.

"It would not," Teal'c agreed.

"So, do we confront the two masquerading as Daniel's parents with what we know, or do we wait?" Jack asked.

"Perhaps…we should test their abilities," General Hammond said, looking and sounding thoughtful. "We still don't know just what they are. Are they two of the…elves…in disguise or were they created by the elves? We can't tell what they can do, either. I think we should begin testing them."

"Test them how, sir?" Jack wondered aloud.

"Well, it's apparent that they're drawn to Dr. Jackson. They seem to believe that they are his parents and that he is their son. Let's see how well they take being separated from him."

"What are you thinking, sir?" Sam asked, sounding as if she had an idea of where he was going with this.

"Let's have Dr. Jackson spend the night off-base," he said, sounding more sure of himself. "At his apartment in town. We'll see what they do, and in the morning we'll see how they are. Then, perhaps we could send him off-world for a few days on a small mission. SG-9 are busy with some ruins off-world, and one of them mentioned to me that Dr. Jackson would love the ruins and the script they're covered with. We'll see how well they take to Dr. Jackson being away for a few days, instead of just a night."

"Do you think they may become uncooperative or possessive, General Hammond?" Teal'c said, as if to make sure he understood.

"I'm thinking that that may be the case," he assured all of them. "Perhaps if they become upset, they'll make a mistake and reveal just who or what they are."

"And if we confront them with that mistake…" Sam said, smiling.

"They'll have to own up." Jack grinned, elated. "Great! Ooh, I can't wait!"

"Let's just pray that this will work like I'm hoping," Hammond said, rising from his chair. "Dismissed, everyone. I'll call Dr. Jackson to my office."

Space

Daniel accepted General Hammond's orders to spend the night off-base, but he said that he didn't think his parents would do anything weird just because they were separated for a night.

"Dr. Jackson, I'm very concerned about this situation," General Hammond said, ready to explain. "When they first arrived, you couldn't refer to them as your parents without pausing first to consider the words you were about to say. Now it seems as if you've accepted that they are who they say they are. That isn't normal, and it isn't healthy." He held up a hand to forestall what Daniel was about to say. "I know that DNA tests say that they're your parents, but there are many ways that they could have made those tests say what they wanted them to say. Don't ask me how, I'm not sure yet, but we've seen other alien races able to influence technology. Also, may I remind you that you saw them die when you were a child? You are sure of what happened, aren't you?"

"Yes," Daniel admitted. "I'm sure. They were dead."

"Then why are you so eager to believe that they are who they say they are?"

"I believe I can answer that," Dr. Frasier said as she appeared in the doorway. "Sorry, sir, I couldn't help overhearing what you were saying, but I think I've found an answer to that."

"Let's hear it," General Hammond said, waving her toward a chair.

Janet sank into it, grateful to be off her feet for a few minutes. "I've found some traces of a benzodiazepine drug in your blood work from this morning, Daniel. It's similar to those we have here on Earth, but apparently its effects are minor."

"Someone's been giving me drugs?" Daniel said, surprised. "How?"

"I'm still not sure," she admitted, looking first at the General and then at Daniel. "It could be airborne delivery, foodborne, or contact delivery. I'm not ruling anything out at the moment, but the possibilities are endless. No one else who has been to 554 has shown any sign of the same drug, nor has anyone else on base."

"Effects?" General Hammond asked, concerned.

"From what I can see, it's a drug that encourages not sleepiness, but cloudy-headedness. A feeling of…oh…the world around you not being quite as sharp as it should be. Like you're moving more slowly than you usually do. Isn't that what you said this morning, Daniel?"

"Yeah," Daniel agreed, looking the slightest bit concerned. "But why…would they do that?"

"To keep you from thinking too hard about their reappearance after their deaths years ago," Janet said, sounding very, very certain. "That's the only reason I can think of. Also, they might be trying to keep you from being worried about it."

"Any chance of side effects? Dependency?"

"It's very mild," she said, opening a folder and scanning a read-out sheet. "There shouldn't be any side effects other than being a little sleepy or a little less clear-minded as long as he doesn't receive a strong dose on a regular basis."

General Hammond nodded. "All right, then. Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything we should continue to watch for?"

"Growing sleepiness at first, but then we should watch for signs of withdrawal later. Shakiness, dizziness, and insomnia. Symptoms like that. Daniel, if you feel the slightest bit off, come and see me, all right?"

"All right," Daniel said, sounding worried and just a little bit contrite. "You know, I thought when I came in here that this whole situation wasn't that big a deal, but maybe it is. I mean, if they're…drugging me to keep me from thinking…" He stopped and appeared to be thinking. "I'll spend tonight off the base, sir, just like you asked. And…I'll keep my eyes open for anything that could be important, like side effects or…anything."

"It's not your fault, Daniel," Janet said, placing a supporting hand on his shoulder. "You haven't been able to think clearly at all for a while now. First of all, you had your parents coming back from the dead, and then you had this drug in your system. It's all right."

"And what if my not worrying about this had put the base in danger?" Daniel countered.

"You would still be free from blame for the same reasons," General Hammond assured him. "Be glad that you've woken up now to the situation, and not after something truly terrible had happened."

Daniel nodded, still looking unhappy.

"It's best you go tell them that you'll be spending tonight off the base, Dr. Jackson," the General said kindly. "We'll see you at oh-nine hundred tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, sir," Daniel said. "And thanks to you, too, Janet."

"No problem, Daniel. See you tomorrow."

Space

Daniel felt as if he could kick himself from the Earth to Abydos for being so blind and stupid! This situation had happened after visiting an alien planet, and such a situation required you to keep your guard up! What had happened? He'd been acting completely oblivious to any danger and putting the entire planet at risk!

Stupidity, Daniel, he thought as he headed towards his office. That's what gets people into trouble. That's what gets people killed.

"Danny!" his mother said as he reached his office and set a few folders down on his desk. "You've been gone for a while."

"Oh, I had a meeting," he said, shrugging it off. "Nothing big. You guys weren't too bored?"

"Not at all," his father assured him. "Your mother's been rearranging your shelves, and I've been watching her."

"My shelves?" Daniel said, glancing at them quickly. "How am I supposed to find anything?"

"Well, it will be easy now. All of your books are alphabetized," Claire said, putting an arm around his shoulders.

Daniel looked around bleakly. "Like I said. How am I supposed to find anything?"

Melburn laughed as Daniel moved away from Claire and began packing a leather tote. They watched him for a few minutes before she asked him what he was doing.

"Oh, there are a few things I have to take care of off-base, and it will take me until later tonight. I planned on crashing at my apartment tonight and then coming back in the morning. The General's already told me that he'll be happy to have the two of you stay here since my apartment doesn't really have space for guests."

They both stared at him. "Are…are you sure?" Claire asked.

"Yes, Mom, I'm sure," Daniel assured her. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. We'll have breakfast together in the morning, I promise."

"If you say so," Melburn said. "Just be careful, okay, Danny?"

"What, don't talk to strangers? I won't, Dad."

Daniel thought that he would have a lot more trouble getting away than that. After walking them both to their quarters and wishing them a good night, Daniel left the base and headed home. Once there, he pulled the project he wanted to work on out of his tote and began putting together a small supper for himself. He worked, ate, worked some more, and watched a little television before hitting the sack.

The next morning he woke around seven. He stretched, feeling much better than he had for the last few days. He wondered if it was because he was away from his 'parents,' but then decided that he didn't care. He was feeling too good to worry this morning. He hopped into the shower and sluiced himself off, and while he was getting dressed he realized that something…wasn't quite right. Why was he smelling coffee? He knew for certain that he hadn't made any yet that morning.

He went out into the kitchen, wondering where the smell was coming from. When he spotted who was in his kitchen, he was certain that he was going to lose his mind.

"Morning, scout," Melburn said, stirring some scrambled eggs around in a pan. "How'd you sleep?"

"Just fine," Daniel said, staring. "How did you two get here? I thought you were staying on the base."

"Well, we decided to come and surprise you," Claire said, pouring some coffee into a mug and handing it to him. "We're making you a proper big breakfast, Danny."

Daniel stared at all of the food on the table in front of him. There were huge slices of ham, croissants, waffles, the scrambled eggs Melburn was making, sliced fruit, coffee, and orange juice. Amazing.

The phone rang, making Daniel jump. Quickly, he put down his coffee and grabbed for the phone, feeling relief course through him when he heard the General's voice.

"Doctor Jackson, this is General Hammond. We cannot locate your…parents anywhere on base."

"I know, sir," he said, looking at his parents. His mother was getting jelly and butter out of the fridge while his father was scooping the cooked eggs into a bowl for the table. "They're here."

"They are? What are they doing there? Did they say how they got there?"

"Yes, they're fixing me breakfast, and I don't think so. I asked, though."

"They're fixing you breakfast?"

"Yes, sir. A proper big one. Jack isn't here yet."

General Hammond took the cue. "You want me to have Colonel O'Neill stop by? All right, I'll call him after I hang up with you. Anything going on we should be concerned about?"

"Not that I can see," Daniel reassured him. "Well, other than a growling stomach."

The General laughed. "Okay, Dr. Jackson. I'll see you when you get here. Make sure you bring them both back."

"Okay. Thanks, sir."

When asked, Daniel told the both of them that it had been General Hammond, asking if they were there with him. Lieutenant Michaels had been astounded when he realized they were gone that morning. Both of them found that very amusing, but they said that they hoped that Lieutenant Michaels wasn't in trouble. Daniel assured them both that no, just very amazed that they'd disappeared, and he wanted to know if they were related to Houdini. Jack arrived not long after that, saying that since it was his turn to pick Daniel up for work, he at least deserved some coffee. Neither man could wait to get back to the base and start trying to figure out how those two had left the base and gotten all the way into town and had found Daniel's apartment.