A/N: Next update has arrived. LOL. Sorry it was delivered so late but school and the season caught up with me as I just finished a really big exam this Friday, and then I was caught up with helping my sister move into her new place. Expect no further updates until after Christmas.

Now I'm a bit uncertain about this chapter but it was the best I could do at the moment. It's a bit rough around the edges, well rather a lot, but I figured it was better to post now and edit later than leave you waiting for another week. Or two. LOL.

I'm really excited that so many of you out there are enjoying the story so far, and telling me so. Thank you guys! And a special thank you to JoeB for your suggestion :)

Chapter 10:

Buffy had expected someone a lot different.

While General George Hammond certainly looked powerful, he didn't look at all like other men in power did. He didn't look like Snyder, nor act like him. And he didn't act as if he was pissed off.

She knew he had to be angry. She would be if someone invaded her territory, and then forced her to disclose all secrets to that person. Yet he didn't show it. Instead the General acted calm and professional. He swiftly introduced himself to them before leading them into the facilities.

And his eyes showed kindness. Compassion. That sign alone told her that perhaps the project wasn't all that bad. Because if the leader still acted like a human being, then he probably believed in his work. In his people. And that had to mean something.

Then again, first impressions could be deceiving. Maggie Walsh had clearly believed in her work, but she'd created a monster soldier as a result of it. It was something that still scared her. Especially when she was up late at night, unable to sleep, and her mind filled with memories. Because she knew she had power now. Even more than when she was the only slayer. She had prayed then, and still did, that she'd never abuse it like the insane professor had. Like others still did.

Though, as he led them through the facilities to a secure room to talk, General Hammond briefly outlined how the security worked at the mountain and the several guards that constantly stood watch. And as he did so, something eased inside of the slayer. He spoke quietly and to the point, answering the few questions Giles asked about building and its design. He didn't refuse to talk. Nor did he ask questions.

He followed his orders.

And that impressed Buffy. Especially since he hadn't even asked their names, or who they worked for. He'd only asked for the passwords they'd been given to gain access to the mountain. Nothing more.

Perhaps the project wasn't like the Initiative. Perhaps her sister worked with the good guys. It was something that bothered Buffy. That her older sister might be working with bad people. She hadn't viewed Sam as that kind of person. The kind that'd sell her soul. Or at least part of it. Of course she could've been fooled. Perhaps she was kept in the dark about things, but Sam was smart. Always had been. She wasn't easily fooled. Or at least, hadn't been back when they were kids.

But Walsh had fooled Riley and Graham. And she'd fooled the slayer herself. And then she'd tried to have her killed.

It was a thought that made Buffy snap out of her reverie and return to monitoring everything around her as they walked along the grey corridors. They couldn't make any mistakes. Not while they potentially were on enemy territory.

Her uneasiness only increased as they reached the lower levels of the mountain. She felt on edge. As if something wasn't right.

***

Aliens were real.

She should be surprised, Buffy thought, from where she was standing in the room looking it at the Stargate below. Especially since Giles was clearly in shock and stuttering about what an amazing discovery it was. Not to mention Riley and Graham looked a bit shell shocked too. She couldn't blame them.

Only somehow she couldn't find it in her to be truly surprised. After all, demons existed so why not little green men? Only apparently they weren't really green, and they didn't live on Mars. No they were grey, and even way shorter than her.

Well, at least one kind was.

Buffy allowed herself a moment to ponder that. And almost smiled. Almost. But she knew better, and so she stayed quiet. Composed. She let the others ask the questions. Listened as they discussed with the General and watched his face as he patiently answered. She figured he must be a little bit of a saint, what with being asked so many questions and never once snapping at them.

The soft calling from the Stargate filled her senses. The moment she set her eyes on it she'd known it was the reason for her restlessness. Whatever it was made of, it clearly wasn't ordinary. Whether it was due to some kind of magic, or the fact that it wasn't made of material from earth, she didn't know. All she knew was that it made the slayer part of her worried.

As she made her way back to the table where the others sat, she didn't let any of her thoughts show on her face. Instead she gave the General a tiny nod as she sat back down without interrupting the current conversation.

Over three hours passed. Yet, Buffy didn't feel tired. Or bored. They hadn't taken a break since they entered the room. Coffee and sandwiches had been rolled in on a cart by a young soldier, but nothing other than that. And amazingly she still felt alert. Almost giddy.

She felt relieved.

Every file they'd been showed, every report they'd read told the same thing. That the Stargate Command was by far very different from Maggie Walsh and the Initiative. They were out there trying to do good.

And that meant that Sam was safe. At least as safe as she could be, what with going on field missions and doing the research she did according to the General.

They hadn't told him of her connection to Sam. Of course they hadn't. He didn't even know their names. But the moment he started talking about the prized team SG1 some of their questions had indirectly been answered. Like what Sam did at the mountain. And who the people with her had been the few times they'd met.

It comforted Buffy. To know that her sister had friends who cared about her, that took care of her. She had found her own family. Just like the slayer had. And that meant that Sam would survive without her as her sister. Without her.

That eased some of the guilt Buffy felt over the argument she'd had with Sam. And it convinced her even further that it would be for the best if she distanced herself from her older sister. It would make sure that Sam continued the life she lead, the bright future she had.

Their blood bound was a weakness neither of them could afford. And as much as Buffy had tried to hide it, making various paperwork disappear, she knew the more time she spent near Sam, the riskier it got. The truth would be bound to come out.

Enemies would catch wind of it. And they'd use it against them. Against both of them.

***

The sudden blaring in the speakers and the words "incoming wormhole" came without warning, surprising not only Buffy but General Hammond as well. He rose from the table immediately, asked them to wait in the room and then left.

Buffy didn't protest. Nor did Giles. Instead she got up and walked over to the window, her eyes on the Stargate. She watched the frantic motions of unknown soldiers, then saw the blue wormhole establish.

"Oh my Lord." Giles murmured as he watched it. Amazement evident on his face.

"You better remember to breathe Giles. Can't have you fainting. Again." Buffy quipped as she smiled at her watcher.

"Do shut up my dear." He replied mildly. "Do you have any idea how amazing this is? It's the discovery of a lifetime!"

But she barely paid attention to his words. She couldn't. Because as she watched a group of people emerge from the wormhole she recognized one of them. And she could barely believe her eyes.

While he certainly looked older, it was still him. Jacob.

"Oh God."She whispered.

"Buffy?"

But before she could reply the General came back into the room.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but as you can see we've just received some guests."

"Who are they?" Giles asked as he looked back at the Stargate again, briefly meeting Buffy's eyes.

"They're representatives from one of our alliances; a race called the Tok'ra." The General explained as he walked over the group.

"And who exactly are the Tok'ra?" Buffy asked carefully as she watched Jacob and his followers standing by the gate.

She watched as Jacob talked with some of the guards. And watched as he turned and looked up towards the window. She knew the moment he saw her. His entire demeanor changed, his body stiffened and his face hardened as they looked at each other.

She felt numb.

Because whoever it was down there, it wasn't Jacob. Couldn't be. Jacob was human. But the people below weren't. They felt too different. And the knowledge made her struggle to keep control over her emotions.

"They're an alliance we've made since we first started our exploring." The General replied, clearly surprised over hearing her ask questions. "They're very similar to the Goa'uld."

"They're parasites?"

"Of a sorts. However the difference from the Goa'uld is that they don't take hosts against the host's wishes. And both the host and the Tok'ra benefit from the joining.

"How?" The question came from Riley.

"In return for being allowed to share the hosts' bodies, they give the host a longer life span as well as healing them if they're injured. In some cases when injuries occur, they even safe the host's life."

"Who's in charge? Of the body? The host or the… Tok'ra?" Buffy questioned after a moment.

"Both you could say. The only difference is that there are two beings in one body instead of one."

The words didn't comfort her. She didn't know what she felt. Or what to do. Her own father had a parasite in him. Another being. And he'd allowed it into him willingly. A hand on her shoulder pulled her back from her thoughts, and when she turned Giles met her gaze, a worried expression on his face.

Suddenly she felt the desperate need to get out of there. To get away. She had to think. But the Stargate made it impossible for her to do so.

The thought made her make her decision without hesitation.

"I believe we're done here." She said.

"I'm sorry?" The question was clear in Hammond's eyes.

"General Hammond, thank you for allowing us to come here. And for cooperating." Buffy said calmly. "But we'll be leaving now. We won't be bothering you again."

She glared at Giles when he started to protest, relieved when he caught the hint and became quiet. And then she turned and walked out of the room without waiting for the General's reply. She set a brisk pace, eager to get out of the facility before she ran into Sam, or Jacob. She knew Jacob had recognized her. But she hoped to be long gone before his questions made it to General Hammond. Or her sister.

TBC…