MY WAY
There was a time I would have given anything to see them again but not now I wouldn't want them to see what I've become what I had to do just to survive, would they even know my face now? Years have past I don't know how many, to many to count with this old mind at first I try to escape and each time they would let me get close enough to see freedom and then drag me back and they laughed at me because they knew all along what I was doing. Now escape is a dream that will never come to pass just like the rescue. I just work and sleep and pray that they will let me die or go quietly in to insanity but they wont I couldn't let my self either so I work and I pray for rescue, for escape to anywhere.
A sharp pain wakes him form his thoughts the large jaffa guard lays anther boot in to his side "get back to work" I just nod I know not to talk back. I pick up the small pickaxe and start swinging it at a big rock. The guard walks back to the fount of the cave kicking prisoner as he goes.
BOOM
BOOM
The ground shakes dirt fall in my eyes some of the prisoners cower against the dirt walls I just sit and wait and pray.
"The guards are gone" the voice came form the young man just a head of me he's new, he pull on the chain that is joined to my leg.
"Come on let get out of here" I look in to his eyes and I see me or what I used to believe was me
"Come on" he urges me
"Where not getting out of here" I say
"There gone" he points to the end of the cave
"They will be back, they all ways come back" he pulls on the chain again as if he didn't here or just doesn't care.
"I'm not dieing here" he say as he pulls on the chain more forcefully than before
"Ok, ok" I give up I stand and start to walk with him.
BOOM
BOOM
He trips I grab him and we keep going in to the lift and to our death or freedom. We get to the top to see fire strike the ground. BOOM. We run there are gliders over head as we run in to the light I cover my eyes and keep running. We both keep running. A shuttle lands up a head.
My mind screams Gould where not escaping were just going somewhere else the same but I keep running. A man at the shuttle door calls to us "come on where here to help" he Gould but I don't care. So I keep running and so dose the young partner whom I never ask his name but together we are one.
"Were there" my partner cries the man on the shuttle yells "take off" he turns and offers us water which the kid take eagerly I just look at him
"Who are you?" the kid asks
"I am Sharck of the Tok'ra" oh god the Tok'ra
"Tok'ra" the kid looks up from the water
"Tok'ra what are you doing here?"
Sharck turn back to me "What do you know of the tok'ra"
"Selmac I know Selmac" I spit out at him he look at me in surprise
"How do you know Selmac?"
"I'm O'Neill" I grab for the water form the kid and drink it down as Sharck levers the cargo bay.
Tok'ra Base
I've escape I'm free
"O'Neill wake up" I open my eyes and I see a yellow eyes anther dream I back up to the wall.
HE backs up to the wall and covered his face with his hands. I put my hand on Sharck shoulder moving him aside
"Jack it's me Jacob" I step forward.
"Jacob" he begins to lower his shaking hands to look at me. His eyes straggled to find mine when they find mine I see sorrow fear.
"Jack it good to see you again" I offer him my hand. He just sears at it and doesn't take it. His eyes dart away and he drag him self up right I see his clothes are mere rags he is covered in dirt and cuts. He hadn't shaved in a long time
"Let's get you cleaned up" again his eyes meet mine
In a weak voice "No mine" he raps his arm around his midsection and falls to the ground.
"Don't waste your time" came a voice form a young man. "He an example that why I'm was chained to him"
"Example of what?" I ask
"Of someone who lived to long down their, someone who wont resist them, someone who has lost hope"
"And you are?"
"I'm Mat" He extends his hand to me I shake it
"So if he won't resist how did you get out?" I ask
"He wanted to die I think he figured it was better."
"I don't think so Jack not that kind of man"
"Maybe not before but he is now. I have to get home to help fight them and I would like to get clean up"
"Sharck take Mat and get him clean up and bring back some food and clothes for Jack when your done" he nodded and took the boy hand and left.
"Jack its ok you're going to be ok you're free and I'll take you home" as he look up I saw hope but when he met my eyes it was gone he nodded and look back down.
"I know 4 years is along time" I walk out in to the blue tunnel and lent against the wall and waited for Sharck.
When Sharck had return he help me clean his face, hands, feed him and change him he put up a fight over that but not much once we had his clothes off we bathed him and dress him and all wails he said nothing. "Selmac look at this" Sharck voices drew me from my thoughts he handed me a piece of Jack rags it was sleeve and on it was Sg1 patch "That why he tried to stop us" I whispered. I turn and hand it to him he look at it and then at me "It was mine" he rolled over and went to sleep.
The SGC
Hammond's Office
Knock
Knock
"Enter" call the Gen. from the other side of the door. As I enter he looks up from his desk
"Dr I just received and transmission from the Tok'ra they found Colonel O'Neill there bring him back tomorrow so you will need to be ready"
"Did they have any information on his heath or what he might need"
"No just that they found him alive and he is coming home tomorrow"
"We should have Dr McKenzie standing by too"
"Dr is there something else before we tell the others?"
"This could have a big effect on the others sir"
"They would be very pleased about it Dr"
"I'm sure they will be sir it just it distorted them when he disappeared and now he coming back and they can barely stand to be in the same room as one anther." I pursed expecting him to talk but he said nothing so I continue "Colonel O'Neill is going to be in a bad way as it is, four years and then to come back and find his team his friends like this because of his disappears it may be to much for him if it not already sir" I finish
"I know Dr but what can we do it up to them and it been up to them to work it out for along time and his return might just do it"
"I don't know it been along time I just don't think him coming home will fix this. He been in Gould hands for a long time and he may not be the Jack O'Neill that we used to know"
"I know Dr but we can only hope." his eyes meet mine for the first time since I had enter his office and all I see is the same fears in his eyes as I did four years ago. I nod, smile and he stand and join me as he lead me to the briefing room to tell Jack former team.
The Briefing room
The three of them stood in the briefing room waiting for Gen. Hammond to tell her why her next mission had been scrubbed and she had been asked to stay behind. It had been along time since the three had waited in this room together it had been a little over 3 years but she did not want to think about it now. The Gen. Office door open and the gen. step in follow by Dr Janet Frasier.
"Please sit" we all took a seat the gen. sat and began to brief his colleges and his friends
"I just received and transmission from the Tok'ra"
"Is there something wrong" Daniel interrupted before the Gen. could finish
"No, its good news… they found Colonel O'Neill"
"What" Daniel
"Alive?" I ask as I silently pray.
Teal'c just raised his eyebrows and look at the gen.
"Yes he is alive now I don't have all the details all I know is it was a gould mining camp and they found or he found them I not sure…" The gen. keep talking but I wasn't listing. He's alive my god he's alive and I didn't find him 4 years, 4years of hell. The mention of my farther name bring me back "Jacob will be bring him home sometime tomorrow so I will see you all tomorrow and we will talk then dismissed" he returned to his office
Daniel Walk to Janet then he left Teal'c was already gone. I was left with Janet
"Are you ok Sam?"
"I'm fine… he's alive and coming home" I could do this not here and not now so I stood up and begin to walk to the door then she spoke again. "Sam I sure he doesn't blame you" I turn to face her "four years Janet I should have found him"
"Don't you mean 'we' should have and in a way we did your dad found him Sam and he is coming home" "I know Janet" I whisper and I lever her.
The Cafeteria
"HI Daniel, Teal'c it good news about col. O'Neill. it gives us all hope you know"
"Yeah we know" Daniel said halve heartily to the young Lt.
"So does this mean Sg1 going to be a team again"
His statement was met with silent so he cleared his trout and continued
"You know the real Sg1"
"I don't think…" Daniel tailed off and look off to the door at the far side of the room were Col. Carter had enter and she was making her way to wards the table were they were seated.
"Well I'm ganna go sirs" said the Lt. and hurry off.
Daniel turn to Teal'c "What do you think she wants?"
"Parapets she is coming to discus the return of O'Neill"
"Yeah, she probably coming to gloat about it" Daniel replied in a sarcastic tone. Col. Carter continued to draw closer to them only stopping for a cup of coffee. She strode at the head of the table and declared "We need to talk"
"Yeah well I don't have to listen" Daniel voice thick with venom as he rose to his feet and begin to leave as he went past Sam he hit her with his shoulder and she grab his arm and spoke "Daniel he ganna be home soon and he doesn't know any of this and we need to be able to stand in the same room and talk" her voice getting louder as she spoke.
"Yeah well I'm not the one with the problem, you are and if you think just because he that everything is going to go back to the way it was then your wrong…"she cut him off "Yes, it can we can be a team again"
"Your delusional Sam you have no idea do you, You think he just going to walk back in here and everything ganna be fine well your wrong it been four years and you can't change that so wake up Sam its over we are not a team anymore and we never will be so leaver me alone." He broke free of Sam grip and walk out of the cafeteria with out looking back. She turned to Teal'c "Is that how you feel too" she asked
"I believe O'Neill will not be as he was, he has been gone along time, his return dose mean things will change" he rose and followed Daniel path out. Sam walks forward and sat down alone, always alone and finishes her cup of coffee lost in thoughts of the future for the first time in a long time.
Tok'ra Base
"Hey Jack "greeted Jacob as he walk in to Jack small room. "You will be galled to know that you are going home tomorrow"
"Can't go home" Jack whispered.
"Yes you can everyone is very Happy you have been rescued"
Jack sequel the sg1 patch that he held in his hand and look up at Jacob "I can't go home, not like this" and he meet Jacob eyes and in them Jacob could see Jack old resolve in them.
"Jack you have to all the arrangements have been made and their all waiting to see you. I know it been along time but the sooner you get home the quicker your recovery will be. Trust me."
Jack just shook his head and look away in a jester of surrender. Jacob begin to walk toward him as he bent down next to him Jack head shot up and he back up to the wall like a fritted rat.
"Jack I not going to hurt you, it ok" Jack just covered his face. Jacob rose and left.
Gate Room Next Day 1300hr
As soon as the chevron begin to spin they all begin to arrive first Col. Carter then Teal'c, Daniel and then Janet and her small medical team and then I join them once I had confirmed it was the Tok'ra. Now we wait for Jacks return thought the same device that took him away so many years ago.
A man step from the gate he was tall about six feet had dark brown hair and was dress in standard Tok'ra clothes.
"I'm am Sharck, Salmac set me a head to worn you that Col. O'Neill is very jumpy and you should keep the number of people here to as little as postal and do not establishes physical contact with him but if he dose he suggest that you return the jester."
The gen. nodded as the rest of the former member of SG1 strode silently then the Gen step forward.
"Guards team your dismissed" the guards team look up and strode and left the weapons and exited the gate room. A few minutes later Jack and Jacob appeared thought the gate. Jacob look as he away did but Jacks face was drawn long with age and he was dress in Tok'ra clothes his hood was up and it cover his head as he walk down the ramp he look quickly around the room and at the people in it but he never made eye contact with any of the he acted as if did not know them.
"Welcome back colonel" said the gen. then he step forward Jack looked up a confused look on his face then he stranded his stats and raised his right hand and saluted.
"Well Colonel let get you to the infirmary and check you out" Janet said as she step forward.
Jack lowered his hand turned to look at her. Then at all of them But as his eyes meet Teal'c eyes and then his tattoo
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Flashback
They came out of nowhere and block his path to freedom. They were laughing their leader Amas step forward staff in hand
"There is no escape human you are ours"
"I belong to no one leased of all your fat ass"
He brought the staff up and fired it. He screamed and Amos called the other over and they betting beating him with the ends of the weapons
"You belong to us"
The last thing he saw was Amos gold tattoo
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His eyes harden and fire flashed in them then he charged at Teal'c.
"KILL YOU"
Before anyone could move he had Teal'c on the floor chocking him
"I BELONG TO NO ONE. I'M FREE…KILL YOU… DIE"
The other rush to help.
They pulled the him of Teal'c as Janet gave him a sedative.
As his Eyes closed he saw her.
She was here.
His love had come for him.He reached for her.
He pasted out his arm fell short.
TBC in Putting Demons to Rest