Sam held Daniel's hand as they walked to the bridge, neither caring about ship personnel who passed them in the corridor or about standard procedure while on duty. He said, glad of the physical contact, "When we get home, all we need to do is open the Ark in front of one Prior, and the staffs should do the rest of the work. They're each telepathically connected to their owner, and the staffs themselves are all linked in some sort of a network."
She frowned as she considered this. "But we haven't detected..." She paused in realisation and looked at him in amazement. "It is possible if they're connected by some sort of a subspace link. How do you know?"
He nodded with a frown of his own as he mentally worked his way through his argument. "Morgan told me." He changed the subject, shifting the focus away from his ordeal. "Due to the distance between galaxies, the subspace link could be limited to within each galaxy, thus necessitating the use of the Ark within the Milky Way."
She nodded, looking flushed with excitement, and then said as she sobered somewhat, "That would mean having a run-in with a Prior."
He shrugged. "Word will have got out about how we killed a Prior."
She looked at him, worried. "You don't think..."
He shook his head. "Remember, they aren't as powerful as they would like everyone to think. If they do come to Earth, I imagine that they'd try a new tactic – i.e. attempting a peaceful conversion. They must know by now that they're not a threat to us."
"But Daniel... an Anti-Prior device won't stop a war ship..."
"Earth is one of the most populous planets in the galaxy. It is also one of the major players within the galaxy too. Destroying Earth would only be a last resort. Converting us, however, would be a decisive victory, especially if we have a way to destroy them. If Earth falls, the galaxy does, because there will be no-one to stop the crusade." He looked grim and sighed.
She looked at him in concern. "So you're saying that..."
"... that it won't be so hard to find a Prior when we go home."
"Yeah. Like that's reassuring." She exhaled, her thoughts going to her co-command who was currently in the Infirmary. "God, I hope Cam's going to be okay."
He gazed at her as they stopped walking, the entrance to the bridge in sight. "He will be." He stroked her cheek gently. "You're doing a great job." She made a face. "And it's going to look good on your record. They're going to have to give you your own command again."
She leaned into his touch, looking wistful. "Which would mean being somewhere else. I don't want to not work with you guys. You're family." She chuckled briefly when he smiled and glanced downwards. "Okay, so you're going to be more like family than the others soon, hopefully, but you know what I mean."
Still smiling, he gave her a quick kiss and said, glancing towards the bridge, "Duty awaits, Colonel-Doctor."
She groaned softly, allowing her weariness to show for a moment. "When we get home, I am sleeping for a week... no, a month."
He retorted good-naturedly, "Yeah. I'll join you. In fact, let's not get married, and just sleep through the rest of our forties."
She laughed and then looked self-conscious. "I'd rather sleep through all these changes in my body than live them." She barely stifled a yawn and then glanced at her watch. "Come on, Daniel. We should be nearing the Oort-Opik Cloud now. No better view than Earth during the final approach."
He smiled slightly as they made their way to the bridge, this time not holding hands. "True. Hard to imagine that there are over six billion of us sharing it."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sam, in the command chair of the Odyssey, couldn't help but smile as she saw a very familiar blue, green and white sphere looming in the ship's view screen. She couldn't help but also feel sad that Cam wasn't there to make some seemingly effortless remark about the very welcome sight of their home planet. Flanking Sam were Daniel and Teal'c, with Tomin stood next to the Jaffa. The Colonel called to Marks,
"Marks, open a channel to the SGC."
"Aye, Ma'am." After a moment, he, pressing his earpiece, glanced back at her. "Go ahead, Colonel."
She nodded and said, "Stargate Command, this is Lieutenant-Colonel Samantha Carter of the USS Odyssey."
A few seconds later, an image of Jack in blue combat fatigues stood behind a seated Walter in the control room of the SGC, appeared on the view screen in place of the looming image of Earth. Jack, his hands in his pockets, asked, "Hey Carter, how's it going? Mission go well? Where's Mitchell?" He smirked a little. "You've brought Daniel back in one piece, I see."
Daniel and Teal'c exchanged a look over the Colonel's head as said Colonel replied, glancing down briefly to hide a smile, "Hi, General. We've brought the Ark home. Colonel Mitchell is currently in the Sick Bay after a run-in with some Replicators."
Jack suddenly looked sceptical. "Excuse me? Replicators?"
"Yes, Sir. It was an IOA back-up plan because they weren't expecting us to find the Ark."
Jack glared to one side and the sheepish figure of Woolsey slowly came into view. "Colonel Carter, I assure you that..."
Sam snapped. "That's not good enough. You put the lives of my people in danger. Because of the IOA, Colonel Mitchell is injured; the Odyssey has sustained considerable damage in the Ori galaxy, and Mr Merek is dead."
Jack's eyebrows went up and Woolsey stammered. "W-w-what?"
Sam ignored him and asked Jack, "Sir, where's General Landry?"
Jack replied, physically imposing on a now scared Woolsey until the IOA representative moved out of view, "Oh, Hank's entertaining a guest. One of Marceau's buddies dropped in to act all merciful on us."
Sam looked up at Daniel in surprise, the Archaeologist having predicted such an action, and she then said to the General, "Sir, request that Doctor Lam be beamed aboard to stabilise Mitchell for the trip back to the SGC."
"Granted, Carter." Sam pressed a button on her chair and the image of Earth, much bigger now, returned. Sam got up as Marks called,
"Incoming matter stream, Ma'am."
A few seconds later Carolyn appeared, carrying a medical box and looking at her surroundings curiously. After greeting the doctor, Sam said to Marks, glancing back at the others, "Marks, beam down Doctor Jackson, Teal'c, Mr Tomin, and the Ark."
Glancing at Daniel, Sam then gestured for Carolyn to follow her off the bridge, the doctor asking, "How bad is Cam?"
The Colonel replied as they walked quickly down a corridor, "Doctor Newman's said that he's going to be fine, but the equipment is limited on board as you know. He's pretty messed up."
"What happened?"
"We had a Replicator outbreak and Mr Merek became a Replicator-human hybrid. I'm really surprised that Cam lasted as long as he did in a hopelessly mismatched fight." She paused. "I'm just glad that he's still with us." She chuckled briefly. "Vala's barely left his side since he's been in the Sick Bay."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
With Cam and Vala in the Infirmary of the SGC, and Sam briefing Jack on what had happened, Daniel joined Landry and Teal'c in the Prior's holding room, the Archaeologist wheeling in the Ark on a trolley. Daniel felt a stronger connection now with the Prior after his ordeal on Ortus Mallum, and after talking with the Doci aboard the Odyssey. He didn't hate him. He thought that perhaps maybe he should, considering what he had been through, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He remembered something that Oma Desala had once told him. 'The universe is vast, and we are so small. In the end, there is only one thing we can truly control... whether we are good, or evil.' After everything that had happened, all that he and his friends had been through at the hands of various false gods and galactic scourges, that had been mostly true. The Replicators had been an exception of course, what with them not really having a choice in their actions.
The Prior eventually accepted his staff from Teal'c, and asked as he looked at the Ark, "What is the meaning of this?"
Daniel replied, secretly hoping that the Ark would work, "See for yourself."
He opened the box and a huge beam of white light shot out. The Prior stood still, paralysed by trepidation and wonder as his staff began to glow with the same light. Landry looked at Teal'c and Daniel, who watched the Prior, and the General wondered whether the Ark would truly affect the entire galaxy as had been claimed by Daniel previously. He hid a little smile too, knowing that defeating false gods was getting to be old hat for SG-1 now.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Vala sat on the bed in the VIP quarters that had been allocated to Tomin, watching her now ex-husband put on the armour and uniform of an Ori soldier. She noticed the grave expression on his face in the mirror, and she felt even worse about what she had allowed him to do. However, she also felt that this was how things were meant to be. Tomin, previously a lame outcast in his community, would now lead those same people who ostracised him on account of a physical disability that he had once had. And she... well, this time, hopefully, she would marry someone that she intended to marry, rather than marrying someone she had to in order to cover up the fact that she had fallen pregnant out of wedlock.
She tried her best to look reassuring, if only for his sake, for she knew that he didn't want to go home to Ver Isca without her. "You're going to make a great leader."
He didn't turn around. Instead he watched her reflection in the mirror. "When I was being tortured by the Prior, the teachings of Origin gave me the strength that I needed." He gazed at her sadly. He knew that whether she did believe in Origin or not, she would never leave with him, no matter how much it hurt either of them. Still, he tried to make her see his point of view when it came to the matter of religion as he sat down next to her on the bed. "There are still so many things about it that mean a great deal to me."
She nodded, understanding the point that he was making. "I don't doubt that there's morality and wisdom in it. That's what made it such a powerful lure for so many people. I think, in principle, the idea of bettering ourselves, and seeking Ascension in one way or another..." She turned to look at him finally. "... is what it's all really about."
He looked more hopeful, surprised nonetheless that she understood what he had been trying to explain to her. "The book just needs some revision."
They smiled at each other knowingly, and she said, "Well, that's entirely up to you... and your people, though I might humbly recommend that the part about burning people alive for not following along should be the first bit to go. Perhaps throw in some colour pictures..." She looked away from him once again, looking straight ahead as she thought of Cam.
He gazed at her, a serious expression on his face as he considered just how lucky this Colonel Mitchell was in having Vala's heart. He said with a sigh, not wanting to let her go yet hoping that she would visit him at least, "You know, I have not asked this because I fear I know the answer... but now that I'm leaving..."
She looked at him, knowing that he was trying to find a compromise so that he could see her again, even if she wasn't his wife any more. "I don't know exactly where my place is... but I hope it's here."
"Do you not wish to wed..."
"I do. I do. It's just after everything we've seen... it makes me wonder about things, about where we've come from and where we're going." She sighed. "You're a good man, Tomin. You'll find someone more deserving of the love that you gave me." Her chest began to hurt on seeing tears in his eyes and she felt even worse about what she had done. "I'm sorry."
He attempted to look philosophical about it all. "I know I'll never make up for the things I've done, but I promise you, I'll spend the rest of my life trying."
"I know." She smiled as she put her legs across his lap, putting her arms around him as she contemplated what her life with Cam would entail. "So will I." She then rested her head against his shoulder, and whispered, tears in her eyes, "I'm sorry, Tomin."
He hesitantly smoothed her hair as he looked progressively sadder. "Should Colonel Mitchell ever mistreat you, tell me at once and I will return to greatly harm him."
She smiled as he gazed down at her. "He won't... and if he does, I'll kill him first, but thank you."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
After the Prior and Tomin had been taken back to their respective homes, Daniel wandered the corridors, deep in thought as he considered everything that had happened, and what could happen now. He had already had a heated debate with Landry about the Ark going to Area 51 for further study. Past experience had shown that Area 51's technology wasn't safe from malicious exploitation by parties with a grudge against SG-1. Despite that, he knew though that it was unlikely that they could unlock the device after he had tampered with it. After the IOA had notified them of the decision to send the Ark to Area 51, Landry had left the room that housed the Ark, knowing what Daniel was going to do. As commanding officer of the base, his presence would have sanctioned Daniel's actions which was something that was unacceptable for a man who was meant to be a role model of responsibility to his subordinates and other employees.
With no guards outside of the room, and with only Teal'c for company, Daniel had reset the Ark's programming so that the keyword reset itself at random intervals. It had taken longer than expected due to his comparative lack of technological expertise, but he hadn't wanted to enlist Sam's help unless it jeopardised her future career prospects.
The decision, however, still annoyed him. Why did the IOA still have a say after what they had done to jeopardise the mission which had put all of their lives at risk?
He took a deep breath to clear his mind of a million and one thoughts on the matter. He just wanted to go home with Sam and not have to worry about anything. Of course, once the aftermath of the mission had died down, there would be the wedding preparations to deal with once again, but he didn't want to think about that right now.
He was about to go to her lab when he walked the other way, towards the Infirmary. He hadn't visited Cam since they had come back to Earth, something which made him feel guilty. The rest of SG-1 had gone to see the Colonel, but he had been too busy with the Ark and with arguing with Landry.
A hand on his shoulder brought him out of his reverie and he looked up to see Jack at his side. "Jack."
"Daniel. How goes it?"
Daniel shrugged. "The IOA are taking the Ark to Area 51."
"Yeah. That bites." Jack looked at Daniel, curious as to why the Archaeologist hadn't kicked up even more of a fuss than he already had. "You seem relatively okay about it."
Daniel looked at Jack with a blank expression. "I don't know what you're talking about, Jack."
Jack narrowed his eyes briefly and then nodded, assured that Daniel had done something that he perhaps shouldn't have. The General chuckled softly. He missed SG-1. "Where are you off to?"
"Going to see Mitchell... then going to find my fiancée, and then I'm going home."
"Oh... about that. That future wifey of yours told me to tell you that she had to rush home."
Daniel frowned, not having been told any of this by Sam at all. "She didn't tell me anything."
"Which is why she told me, genius. Something about making some cookies or something."
Daniel appeared alarmed. "Uh... and you didn't think to stop her? The last time she baked, we had to redecorate."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "That's spousal loyalty for ya. Wait 'til she hears that. Your ass is hers..." Jack paused and made a face. "It's hers anyway... you know what I mean."
"Sam knows. She was there." Daniel paused. "She asked me to help when she was baking next."
Jack patted Daniel's shoulder. "Hey, have a little faith in the girl. She brought you all home. There's talk of a promotion in the air... and medals for the lot of you, of course, for once again pulling Earth's ass out of the firing line. That must be an interesting collection that you have, Dannyboy."
Daniel smiled slightly as he thought of a decade's worth of civilian honours that he had stored in his office on base because storing them at home had been deemed a security risk if someone else had discovered the medals and questioned the nature of his job. They entered the Infirmary, nodding in greeting at Carolyn as she walked past them.
They approached Cam's bed, noting that Vala wasn't there. Daniel frowned a little and Jack remarked, seeing the expression on the Archaeologist's face, "Stop that. You'll get even more lines." He paused. "She's probably gone to the bathroom, for crying out loud. The girl's only human... technically."
Daniel rolled his eyes and sat down at Cam's bedside, watching the Colonel sleep. He looked up at Jack who put a folder on Cam's chest. Cam awoke with a start, muttering, "I'm awake, I'm awa..." He frowned on seeing Daniel and then the folder on his stomach. He looked at Daniel again, this time smirking. "Vala, you done something with your hair?"
Daniel smiled slightly. "Hey Mitchell. How are you feeling?"
"Like crap." Daniel raised his eyebrows, his eyes darting towards the other of the bed to silently signal to Cam the presence of a superior officer. Cam got the message after a moment and attempted to sit up when he turned to see Jack, the General's arms folded across his chest. "General O'Neill, Sir."
Jack shook his head a little in disbelief, wondering if a disregard for one's own wellbeing was solely an SG-1 trait or whether it was a contagion that had been contracted from the original members of the team. "Mitchell, relax. You're all banged up... and anyway, I hate doing that whole 'at ease' thing."
"Sorry, Sir." Cam looked down at the folder which had now slid further down his stomach and he picked it up. "What's this?"
"Some light reading about the mission... Carter's done the performance evaluations and reports due to you being, you know... but no reason why you shouldn't be in the loop."
"Thanks, Sir."
Daniel asked, glancing around their immediate surroundings, "Where's Vala?"
Cam settled back down in his bed as he fingered the edge of the folder. "After Tomin went home, she got a bit upset about things. I told her to go and have a sleep in my quarters. Took quite a fight."
Daniel couldn't help but smile a little as Jack remarked, "Well, you'd be putting her in quarantine if she didn't put up a fight." He patted Cam's shoulder, the Colonel grimacing in pain. "Oops, uh, yeah... is it everything that hurts?"
Cam, his eyes closed, murmured as he tried not to cry. "Yes, Sir."
Jack clenched his fists awkwardly. "Ah. Okay. I better go before I get it into my head to do that again. You take care, okay? I want you back on SG-1 as soon as possible."
Cam replied with a smile, "Sure, Sir... thanks." He lifted the folder. "And for this too."
"Any time."
Jack nodded at Daniel who stood up. "Sam's going to drop by later... and I'm just gonna check on Vala."
"Thanks, buddy. You okay? How are those stitches of yours?"
Daniel shrugged as Jack looked surprised. "I'm fine. Carolyn's taking them out in a fortnight."
"Good."
"Get some rest, Mitchell."
They watched as Cam closed his eyes, the folder on his chest and Jack glared at Daniel. He pointed at him accusingly. "Stitches? Is there anything else that you 'forgot' to mention to me? Did you die at any point?" As they left the Infirmary, Daniel shrugged.
"I'm fine, Jack. Just some cuts and bruises."
"He said stitches."
"Well... he is injured."
"Uh-uh, not buying it."
Daniel retorted, feigning innocence, "Not buying that he's injured? Weren't you in the Infirmary just now?"
Jack glared at him darkly. "Cut the crap, Daniel. I don't know how or why Carter agreed to marry you, because I'm having some serious homicidal urges right now."
"Yeah. You should get that checked out."
Jack grabbed the suddenly shocked Archaeologist by the scruff of the neck, dragging him into a thankfully empty room nearby. Jack shut the door behind them and said, waving around him vaguely, "Get those clothes off now."
Daniel made a face. "Jack, I'm flattered... but I'm engaged."
Jack, frustrated, grumbled as he advanced on the Archaeologist, starting to take his clothes off, "Don't push it. You're not gonna tell me how injured you are." Jack paused, looking concerned as he pulled Daniel's shirt off, seeing the colourful bruising and cuts on his arms, especially on his left arm. He grabbed Daniel's t-shirt, pulling it over his head as he rescued his glasses, and he was dismayed to see more cuts and bruises. "Oh for cryin' out loud, Daniel." He walked behind him to see more on the younger man's back and he shook his head in disapproval. "Ori did all this?"
Daniel folded his arms across his chest defensively. "If by 'Ori', you mean Ori soldiers and a Doci with a bone to pick, then... yeah."
Jack let out a long breath. "Shit..." He glanced down at Daniel's trousers. "I'd say to take your pants off, but I get the picture."
Suddenly the door opened and they both stared at an SF who stared right back at them in shock, quickly hiding a pack of playing cards behind his back on spotting the General. He suddenly apologised as he averted his gaze. "Sorry... Sirs." He quickly closed the door with a smirk and Jack grumbled.
"Great."
Daniel snatched his t-shirt from the older man. "Yeah, we just added more fuel to those rumours. 'Great' is not enough."
"As T would say... 'indeed'."
"Touché."
Jack looked awkward as Daniel tucked his t-shirt back into his trousers. "Sorry about that."
Daniel shrugged. "No, I should be apologising." He put his glasses back on and took his shirt from Jack. "I should have told you."
"How's the leg?"
"It's okay. I can walk without a limp. Doctor Newman gave me a lot of painkillers on the ship, so I was probably acting like a lunatic."
Jack smirked at a memory of Daniel in the past being high on painkillers. "Cheap date, indeed."
Daniel smiled slightly. "Says the man who ran through the entire base, flashing everyone while singing 'Oh Susannah'..."
"Hey!" Jack's voice lowered. "I was in a lot of pain."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sam, dressed in civilian clothes, smiled at each soldier, Linguist, Archaeologist or scientist who looked at her oddly, and she wondered whether some of them had spent so long in uniform that they had forgotten what 'normal' clothes looked like... or maybe the sight of her in such clothes was proving a little much for them. She glanced down at the brown paper bag that she was carrying and smiled again. She just had to visit Cam and then go and find her fiancé so she could go home with him.
She was on her way to Daniel's office to check on him and apologise for going home without saying anything to him. However, as she went past the locker room, the door opened and out came Daniel in jeans and a dark top, shrugging on a brown jacket. He looked at her with a surprised smile and she grinned, hugging him.
"Hey!"
He hummed a little and kissed her as he held her. "Hey yourself. You're wearing my favourite sweater."
She laughed softly. "Liar."
He smiled sheepishly. "Well, they're all my favourites... but I like this one. It's a nice shade of blue."
She suddenly looked down, seeing that his hand was edging towards the bag that she held. "Nice try, buster."
He pouted. "I'm the one marrying you... I think I should get some consolation."
She playfully swatted him across the chest, and he asked, his eyebrows rising briefly, "Do we still have a house to go home to?"
"Daniel!"
"Can I at least look?"
She rolled her eyes as she handed him the bag. "Fine."
He opened the bag and smiled as he sniffed, closing his eyes. "These smell good."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Nice try though, wasn't it?" He smiled as he closed the top of the bag. "Seriously though, they do smell good." He looked at her hopefully.
She smiled, looking even more pleased with herself. "You can have some at home."
"If we have a home to go back to..."
"Yeah. Not looking likely now."
"You gonna see him now?"
She nodded and he slipped an arm around her waist as they walked. "Might as well do it soon... Carolyn's trying to let the guy rest."
She leaned into his embrace, an arm around his waist. "Where's Vala?"
"Vala's having a sleep in Mitchell's quarters. She's going back to the Infirmary to spend the night."
"Right." Sam looked concerned. "She's been through a lot. Has Tomin gone?"
"Yeah... and the Apollo took the Prior back home as well." He frowned. "The IOA are taking the Ark to Area 51 for further testing."
She looked dismayed. "That's just... wrong."
"Yeah." They stopped right before they reached the Infirmary and he whispered in her ear, the couple looking to anyone else as though they were enjoying a private moment, "I fiddled with the programming. They won't be able to use it."
She looked surprised. "But..." She whispered in reply, "... you could have called me."
"No. I wouldn't jeopardise things for you like that. Anyway, it's done now."
She said, glancing at the doorway to the Infirmary, "Speaking of the IOA... they want to meet Cam when he's up and about. Something about an apology."
"About time."
"Yeah." She glanced at the doorway again. "I won't be lo..." She grinned on seeing Teal'c approach them and she said, waving, "Teal'c! Hi!"
Teal'c smiled as he joined them. "ColonelCarter, DanielJackson. Are you not returning to your domicile yet?"
Daniel glanced at Sam who replied, "Just going to see Cam. How are you doing?" She looked concerned. "Daniel told me that you were shot, and that you'd been thrown against a wall."
"I am not injured. I do not know how I healed from my previous injuries. I will admit that I was in pain on being thrown against a wall by the Doci on Ortus Mallum, but the pain has mostly gone."
Daniel asked, surprised, "You're still in pain? You didn't say anything."
"It is of no consequence. I have had far worse pain during my lifetime."
Sam hid a smile on seeing pride in Teal'c's eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I am fine." He nodded to both of them. "I will see you another time. Farewell."
Daniel nodded. "Have a good night, Teal'c."
"May you as well."
They watched Teal'c go and Sam looked at Daniel in concern. "Typical, huh?"
"He's fine. It takes a lot for him to be not okay."
"Still a worry."
"I know." He kissed her softly and then handed her the bag that he still held. "I'll be right here."
She smiled at him and then entered the Infirmary as Jack appeared again. He glanced at Daniel. "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine. You not going home yet?"
Jack made a face. "Anyone would think that you didn't want me around." He smirked. "You tell Carter what happened earlier?"
"No."
"You gonna?"
"Maybe."
"Yeah... I'll know when she comes to blow my place up."
Daniel smiled slightly. "What about Sara?"
Jack shrugged. "I'm coming down here to see if you guys have finished that top secret mission of yours so we can all get married... after Mitchell's healed of course." He paused. "Nah, we rented a little house not far from you and Carter. I'm going home when you guys stop being so interesting."
"That will be never then..."
"Yeah, like I could find you interesting."
"Puh-lease... you're my stalker. Even when you're in D.C., I get at least five emails from you every day." Daniel smirked. "I liked the one parodying the major types of chain letters. The one that's been in circulation since 1897 gave me and Sam a good laugh a few weeks back."
"Yeah, thought you'd like that. My favourite was the orphan kid from Baklaliviatatlaglooshen with no arms, legs or a wang."
"I'm just surprised you bothered to pronounce the name."
"Yeah. It was a fun two hours at work. Scared the hell out of my PA. Nothing new there."