The end of this story - for now - although I may continue this story at a later time. I hope you enjoyed! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing.
Now that everything was settled Jack decided to take a few days and simply relax. All of them had been busy trying to get the new treaty worked out and to deal with all those aliens and were exhausted. The kids at least had had a good time with all the toys and wonders Thor had arranged for them. Still, Jack wanted to spend some good holiday time with his family and friends. This past episode had confirmed to him that he wanted to stay retired.
The first evening after the alien delegation had voted to keep their treaties with the Tauri, Jack invited everyone to a small party. He'd been tempted to exclude Falin and Ber'sil – and even Gullveig but ended up inviting them. No point in adding insult to injury!
Fortunately everyone was on their best behavior, although he noticed that the three aliens he'd wanted to not invite stuck together and didn't have much to do with the others.
"What is it with Gullveig", Jack asked Thor, who was standing beside him eating an hors d'ouvre. "He really doesn't seem to like the Tauri – or maybe it's just me in particular?"
"Gullveig belongs to a small faction of our people who feel that we should not be spending time trying to help other planets but should concentrate on our own troubles. He feels that our time would be better spent on researching possible ways to reverse the cloning process."
"I see – well how come they put him in charge of the talks? Surely the High Council must have known that he'd vote against a treaty."
"My understanding is that he did not vote against it?" Thor looked at him in surprise.
"No – not after I gave my ultimatum. Before that – I would have bet on the fact that he was going to say no."
"I am sorry O'Neill. Sometimes I do not understand the workings of our government. It may have been a way to pacify those like Gullveig."
"Yeah – or your High Council isn't quite as positive about us as they say they are. He could have really messed things up – and we like you guys and want to keep our treaty with you."
"Thank you O'Neill. You are most kind."
"No", Jack grinned. "I'd just hate to not have you visit anymore – and Alex would be very unhappy."
"As would I General O'Neill. I would miss spending time with you and Samantha and young Alex. I have enjoyed learning about Thomas the Tank Engine."
Jack continued to grin as he made his way over to his wife, who was talking to Freya/Anise. He could tell by her body language that she was forcing herself to be nice but that what she really wanted was to take a staff weapon and crack it over the Tokra woman's head. He could never quite figure out why Sam disliked her so much!
"Hey", he said, coming up behind her and putting his arm around her. "What's up?"
"Oh nothing", she smiled in return. "I've just been talking to Anise about the children."
Uh oh – Jack could tell that Sam was ready to explode. The sparkle in her eyes had nothing to do with how much she was enjoying the evening but spoke of a temper barely held in.
"Oh yeah? What about the kids?" He put on his best 'interested father' face and kept Sam close. If she decided to try anything he would have a better chance of stopping her with his arms wrapped around her. As good a soldier as she was, he knew he could still beat her if he had to.
"Anise was just telling me that the she and Gullveig were talking about wanting to 'test' the children. It seems like they may carry some kind of genetic code that might be important."
Now Jack could feel his temper begin to grow. "What kind of genetic code and important to whom?" he asked quietly. From Sam's sudden arm squeeze, he knew that she could tell that he was now the unhappy one.
"Your children most likely have naquada in their blood as well as the genes of the Ancients. The combination could potentially benefit many in the galaxy, not the least of whom are the Asgaard. It would be very easy for us to determine - with your permission of course." She said this last as if suddenly realizing that she was speaking to the 'specimens' parents.
"Over my dead body", he finally grated out. "You will stay away from my children and you are not permitted to gather any of their DNA. Is that understood?" He glared at the Tokra and wasn't the least bit uncomfortable or regretful at her apologetic expression.
"I apologize General O'Neill, Colonel Carter" Freya answered for her other half. We certainly would wish no harm on your children. Anise is simply interested from a scientific perspective and we will, of course, not go near them without your permission."
"Which you will never get!" he replied. "My children are not experiments for you or anyone."
She nodded her head briefly, smiled and excused herself.
"I think you scared them Jack", his loving wife grinned. "Maybe now Freya won't fawn all over you every time you're around."
"She doesn't fawn", he frowned.
"Yes she does", Sam answered calmly. "She's had a thing for you ever since the armbands."
"Yeah – well!" This time he grinned, although he also looked a bit shamefaced. "She may have come on a bit – but you were the only one I had eyes for you know."
"I know Jack", she squeezed his arm. They were both silent, thinking back to the episode that, for the first time, brought their feelings for each other to the fore. "Anyway, I don't think we need to worry about Freya/Anise. I doubt she'll step foot near the kids."
"Speaking of whom?" Jack glanced around. "Where are the munchkins? They were here a while ago."
Sam looked around. "Daniel took them. He was going to take them to the playroom to get some toys so they wouldn't get bored." She suddenly frowned, looking a little worried. "They should have been back by now. I wonder what's keeping him?"
Jack picked up on his wife's worry, although he told himself that they were safe here on Othalla. Even though they'd come in contact with a couple of aliens who were less than friendly, there had been no hint of any danger, and the Asgaard, for the most part, adored the children, and considered them citizens. "I'll go see", he told her. "Just keep playing hostess. I'm sure they ended up playing there – or maybe Kate needed a change."
It was as he walked through the door that he noticed that Ber'sil and Falin were both gone. Gullveig was speaking with Thor – and the conversation didn't look particularly friendly. He'd never seen an Asgaard get really angry and was kind of curious if they ever did. Right now he was too concerned about Daniel and his kids to give it too much thought.
"Is everything all right O'Neill", Teal'c touched his arm as he walked past.
"Uh – I'm just going to see where Daniel's got to. He took the kids to get some toys and isn't back yet."
"Would you like me to accompany you?" his friend asked. He had been speaking with Njord, who had received an invitation and with a few others who had been invited to the party.
"Yeah, thanks Teal'c." The two men quickly left the room and walked down the short hallway to the playroom. Jack grew nervous at the complete silence coming from the playroom. If the kids were there he was certain he would have heard their young voices. As it was, there was nothing.
"This does not feel right O'Neill", Teal'c whispered softly. "I believe we should retrieve our weapons."
Crap! Jack paused for a moment and then shook his head. The last thing they needed was any kind of fire-fight around the children. "Let's just go carefully", he responded, equally as quietly.
"Daniel!" Jack rushed over to the body of his friend. He quickly knelt and checked for a pulse. When he felt the strong heartbeat he breathed a sigh of relief and, with Teal'c's help, turned him over.
"Daniel!" he gently patted the other man's cheek and waited until he opened his eyes. At first they were glazed and confused – within seconds they grew wide and his face registered his horror.
"Kate? Alex?" He sat up quickly and looked around the room, swaying precariously but obviously determined. "Oh God – where are they?"
"I don't know Daniel. What happened?" Jack tried to keep his voice steady but his heart was beating so fast he could barely speak."
"I don't know. I was watching the kids – Alex ran to grab a toy and I put Kate down for a minute with the stuffed animals. I heard a noise and went to turn around and that's the last thing I remember."
"Okay", Jack reached down and pulled Daniel to his feet. "We need to let the others know and start a search. The Asgaard should be able to find them with their monitoring technology. Come on." He turned and practically ran back to their quarters.
As he entered the room, closely followed by Teal'c and Daniel, it grew instantly quiet. "What's wrong?" Sam looked at him, fear on her face.
"Someone knocked Daniel out and took the kids. Thor -"
"I am on it immediately General." Thor began issuing orders to the Asgaard in the room. Cam and Vala gathered around the other members of SG1 and Jack put his arm around Sam, who looked sick. He had to hold on for his kids – but right now he wanted to start shooting aliens.
"Falin and Ber'sil are missing", Sam said. "Did anyone see them leave?"
No one said anything although Freya looked worried. "Ber'sil? But why would he be involved in this? He would have no reason to take the children."
"Maybe he was interested in their genetics?" Jack snapped at her.
"That is doubtful", she said. "He is not a scientist and cares little for the problems of the Asgaard."
"And I don't see why the Tollan would be interested either", Daniel said. "I doubt that this has anything to do with genetics Jack."
"But then why?" Sam wanted to know. "Why take the kids? And where are they?" She looked at Thor who was looking at a monitor against one of the walls of the room.
"They are approaching the stargate", Thor finally said, turning to them. "It appears that it is indeed Ber'sil – or at least a Tokra and a humanoid with the two children."
"Let's go", Jack turned towards the door, quickly followed by Sam and the rest of SG1. He called back –"Thor, can you make sure they don't get through the gate?"
"I will try O'Neill", Thor answered.
As they ran down the long hallways Jack suddenly felt calm – that feeling he often had before a battle. Although deep in the recesses of his mind he knew this was more important than any battle he'd ever fought, he refused to think about it. He refused to contemplate what would happen if they didn't get there in time. They had to – they had to win this one. There was no alternative.
"Jack?" his wife cried, anguish in her voice.
"We'll get them", he said with confidence. He didn't doubt – he couldn't doubt.
"But -"
"But nothing Sam – we'll get them back. Don't worry."
Although he couldn't see her he could feel her suddenly grow calm. Yes – they were what they'd once been – the perfect team, the perfect fighting force. With SG1 at their backs they couldn't lose.
At that moment Jack heard the children screaming. At first he was terrified – and then he recognized that the scream was not one of pain or fear – but of anger.
"Yus a bad man!" Alex was shouting. "My Da's gonna be angwy wif you! He's gonna gib yus a time out! NO!"
The baby was also wailing, at the top of her lungs. "You go Katie!" he said to himself. "I hope you burst their bloody eardrums!"
He rounded the corner, followed instantly by Sam. Standing by the gate was Falin, struggling to hold on to a furious toddler who was kicking his legs and squirming around so fast the Tollan couldn't grab him. Ber'sil was holding on to Kate with one arm. He had a hand device on the opposite hand – which appeared to be glowing slightly. Kate continued to throw herself around and to scream a bloodcurdling scream – right in his ear.
"SHUT UP!" he yelled in his strange, alien voice– which did nothing but make her scream even louder.
"NO! Yus a bad man too" Alex shouted at him. "Don yu huwt my sisser! Mommy gonna make yu cwy!" Alex managed to make it over to Ber'sil and kick him in the shin.
"Alex!" Jack said calmly but firmly. "Come over here to Mommy."
"Daddy!, Mommy!" The little boy saw his parents and burst into tears. He ran and threw himself at his mother, who lifted him up and hugged him tightly, all the while keeping her eyes on her daughter, who was still in the Tokra's arms.
"Give her to me Ber'sil", Jack said, his voice quiet but deadly.
"No", he answered arrogantly. "She's coming with us O'Neill", he said, holding the hand device up by her head. "Be happy you got your son back – we wanted to take both of them but one will do. OW!" Kate had leaned forward and bit his ear – and then screamed into it.
"I don't' think she likes you", Jack answered, trying to speak without giving away how frightened he was. "You can't get away with this you know. It would be better for everyone to simply give her to me."
"Hees a bad man Daddy!" Alex said, hiccupping through his tears.
"Yes he is Alex, but don't worry – he won't hurt Kat. Ber'sil?"
The Tokra laughed and walked over to Falin. "Here, take her", he told his accomplice. "Kill her if they try to stop us. I'm going to dial the gate and we'll go."
Jack noticed that his teammates had carefully and quietly took up positions all around the gate. He knew that the two kidnappers couldn't have helped but see them, but they appeared to be ignoring everyone. It made him even more nervous – they seemed too sure of themselves, considering the situation. Mind you – they did have Kate and would be pretty sure no one would do anything to hurt the little girl.
"Why are you doing this?" Jack asked, trying to stall for time. The gate had begun to turn, although it seemed slower than usual. He could only pray that Thor was doing something to try and stop it. "We've always been friends with the Tokra." Okay, maybe 'friends' was pushing it, although they certainly hadn't been enemies. "What could you possibly want with an infant – and one that obviously doesn't like you very much."
"Why?" Ber'sil laughed – his voice sending shivers up Jack's spine. He hated that voice. It reminded him of too many –
"You're not Tokra, are you?" O'Neill exclaimed. He heard the gasp from his wife. "You're a Goa'uld?"
"Very good General", Ber'sil answered. "No I am not Tokra – those weak creatures who think that it is fine to share power with their hosts. I am Bes, a god – a being more powerful than any other in the universe. I am to be worshipped, adored – not to share my soul with a human – an insignificant creature not worthy of life."
"Bes?" Jack said, watching the gate continue to turn – slowly.
"The god of pregnant women and infants Jack." Daniel said quietly. "That may have something to do with why he's taken Kate."
Bes laughed again, seeming to find the humans amusing. "They thought I was the protector of the young – which is why my servants would hand their children over to me without complaint. It was a blessing on a family to give one of their children to their god. So you see O'Neill – you and Samantha are blessed."
"What did you do with them?" Sam asked, ice in her voice.
"Do? Well, let me see? Some I made into Jaffa – others I used as hosts. The ones who were – less than pleasing? Well, I used them to create the perfect host – one who would make me the king of gods."
"Why do you want my children?" Jack asked again. "What are you going to do with Katie?"
"You see O'Neill, by taking your children – or I guess just your daughter now – I am able to accomplish two goals. One – I can have revenge on the person who, more than any other, was responsible for destroying my kind, for removing my brothers from their rightful place in the universe. Secondly – well, I heard Anise talking about the genetic make-up of your children. It seems as if they are the children of two who have been hosts – and one who has Ancient blood. I have tried to create the perfect host – but instead, one has come to me."
"You plan to take her as a host? Isn't she a bit young?" Sam spoke from behind Jack. He turned and saw that she no longer held Alex but that Vala was holding him by the entrance.
"Yes, but she will grow. I will make sure she will be cared for until it is time. I am sure she will grow into a beautiful woman and will be perfect for me. You should both be happy", he smiled. "She will live a very long life."
"I would rather she died now than went with you to become a host." Jack spoke softly, but with a look in his eye that spoke the truth. "You will not leave here Bes – not with my daughter."
"How will you stop me Tauri?" Bes taunted. "Falin – what is taking so long?"
"I don't know My Lord. The gate does not seem to want to dial properly."
"My Lord? You're not Tollan, are you Falin?"
"Yes I am", the man answered. "But I was raised by My Lord Bes from when I was a child. I was taken from my parents when their ship crashed on a planet controlled by him. I quickly came to see that he is a true god. While I was a young man he arranged to have me returned to Tollana, where I waited until it was time to rejoin him and to serve him."
All of those present could hear the fanaticism in his voice and knew there was no getting through to him. At that precise moment the gate stopped turning and the lights dimmed, although they didn't go out completely.
"What has happened?" Bes shouted. "Get us out of here Falin, or you will die!"
Falin looked frightened – clearly unsure what to do. He continued to try and hold on to a sobbing Kate, who kept calling for her parents and who was trying to reach out to them. Bes held the hand device pointed at Falin and the baby.
Jack didn't know what to do. A blast from a hand device would probably kill the little girl. On the other hand he was serious when he said he would rather she die than become a host.
He noticed at that moment that Cam had moved slowly in behind the Goa'uld. In all the commotion and talking Jack didn't think Bes had noticed. He carefully kept his eyes away, not wanting to give the Colonel's position away. He continued to watch carefully as Falin tried to figure out what was wrong by looking at the Asgaard controls
"I can't get it to work My Lord", Falin finally sobbed. "They have done something to it."
"NO!" Bes screamed, lifting his hand device. Instantly a number of things happened at once. Jack dove forward trying to tackle the Goa'uld. In reality, the distance was too far – but he didn't care. He had to make it.
At the same time Cam shot his zat at the Goa'uld while Teal'c ran up behind Falin and literally plucked Kate from his arms. Sam then ran up and hit Falin directly in the mouth with her fist. She used all her strength – backed up by the anger of a mother whose babies have been hurt. Falin was out cold before he hit the deck.
"Oh crap!" Sam heard Cam's worried voice and swung around, terrified.
"What?" she asked, wondering what had happened to her husband.
"I – uh – zatted the General?"
She looked down at her husband, who had managed to grab the Goa'uld and knock him over, at the same moment Cam zatted him. She grimaced, knowing how much that had to have hurt. At the same moment however, she turned and reached out to take a sobbing Katie from Teal'c, who grabbed onto her in desperation.
"It's okay baby", she cried into her daughter's shoulder. "Mommy's here – you're okay." She continued to hold and rock the little girl, all the while watching to make sure her husband was going to be alright.
"Damn!" he groaned, rolling over. "What the hell did you do that for Mitchell?"
"I'm sorry General" Cam answered, clearly worried at having zatted a General. "I didn't mean to uh -"
Jack sat up and waved him off. "No – it's alright. I'm glad you got him." He quickly looked to make sure Kate was okay and then checked out the Goa'uld. Teal'c was standing over him, holding a zat on him.
"Shall I shoot him again O'Neill?" he asked calmly.
It would solve all of their problems, but Jack simply shook his head. "If he moves, go ahead and shoot. Otherwise just watch him." He pushed himself to his feet and went over to Sam. "She okay?"
"Yeah", his wife said tearfully. "She's fine I think – just scared."
"I know how she feels", he grimaced. "I – anyway, we're okay now. Why don't you take her to our room with Alex? I'll be there shortly."
She nodded, knowing she had to get the children settled. They were both frightened and right now it was better for them to be away from the Goa'uld and his servant. Vala was standing outside the gate room, holding a sleeping Alex.
"He fell asleep in my arms", she explained. "I think he exhausted himself. He's quite a brave little man", Vala said. "He reminds me of his father – and his mother."
Sam smiled at her – the first time she'd smiled in a long time. She bent over and kissed Alex on the head. Poor little boy – he shouldn't have had to go through this. She smiled again when she looked at him. He looked so much like his father right now – and she thought back to him kicking Falin. Yes, he definitely took after Jack.
By the time they arrived at her room Kate was sleeping as well, although she continued to make little sobbing noises in her sleep. Sam closed her eyes briefly, praying that this wouldn't traumatize her kids permanently.
She got Vala to put Alex down in her bed and then put Kate down as well. She needed to be close to the children right now and she knew they needed her. She just hoped Jack would be back soon.
"Is everything okay O'Neill?" Thor came into the room, followed by a whole contingent of Asgaard, including Gullveig and some of the High Council.
"We're fine, although it was close", Jack answered. "You'll have to figure out what to do with ol' Bes here. He's a Goa'uld, in case you missed that. Falin here is his 'faithful servant'. They were going to take Kate and use her as a host."
"I am sorry O'Neill, that you and your family had to deal with this. The Asgaard people feel ashamed that this happened while you were here." High Councilor Petraian told him.
"It's not your fault", he answered, rubbing his hands through his hair. "We were all taken in I'm afraid."
"We will make sure that we remove the Goa'uld and free the host", Petraian told him. "You should know that it was Gullveig who was able to stop the gate from functioning. They were using some kind of technology that overrode our protocols."
Jack turned to the Asgaard, somewhat suspiciously. "How were you able to do that?" he asked.
"I overheard Ber – er Bes talking to Falin. He mentioned something he'd left in his quarters. I found this", he held out a controller similar to the one he'd been holding. "I was able to use it. I too am sorry O'Neill. I know you are wondering if I was involved in this – and I can assure you that I knew nothing about it. My concern was because I feel the Asgaard have concerned themselves for too long with others' problems and haven't paid enough attention to our own. It was nothing against you, I promise, and I too am sorry for what you had to go through."
Jack nodded, although he still didn't like the Asgaard particularly. Still – "Thank you then", he said quietly. "I don't know what we would have done if -" He stopped, not even wanting to contemplate what would have happened if they'd managed to get the gate opened.
"O'Neill – do the children have the necklaces we gave them?" Thor suddenly asked.
"Yes?" he answered, wondering what that had to do with anything.
"Then may I suggest you put them on both Alexander and Katherine – also you and Samantha. They will help all of you deal with this episode. They help to remove the fear and the bad memories."
Jack smiled slightly – "Thanks buddy, we'll do that. Look, if I'm not needed here I'd like to check on my family."
"Don't worry about anything Jack. We'll look after everything here. Give Sam and the kids a kiss for us."
"Thanks Daniel." With a smile and a nod he left the room and returned to their quarters. When he walked in it was to see the three people he loved most in the world all curled up together in the big bed. He couldn't help but watch them as they slept. None of them looked relaxed and every once in a while Kate would let out a small cry in her sleep.
Upon hearing that Jack turned and walked over to Sam's suitcase. She'd put the necklaces away, worried that they'd get in the way while the children were playing. He picked them up and instantly had a strange feeling wash over him. It wasn't bad – in fact, it was quite – pleasant. He smiled slightly and approached the bed.
He stood for a few more seconds, watching his small family, and then began to place the necklaces over their heads. He started with Kate and almost instantly her sobs quieted down and her face relaxed. The next one was Alex – and he reacted exactly the same. He ended with Sam and was pleased when the lines on her brow evened out and her mouth relaxed. Finally he put his over his head and felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over him.
He carefully climbed into bed and put his arms out, reaching over his children to Sam. Alex and Kate were nestled in between their parents. He smiled gently, took a deep breath, and fell sound asleep.
Daniel and Teal'c stopped by later to check on them and, when there was no answer to their knock, peeked their heads in, only to see the O'Neill family safely asleep in each others' arms.
"I think they're gonna be okay Teal'c", Daniel said, a small grin on his face.
"Indeed Daniel Jackson – I believe you are correct." He softly closed the door and looked at his friend. "Lunch?"
"Sounds good Teal'c."
Epilogue
The next morning the children woke up as happy as larks. They didn't seem to remember anything about the episode and were content to play with their toys. Jack and Sam, although they could remember what had happened, found that they weren't feeling particularly bad either.
"I don't know why I feel so good", Sam mentioned at breakfast, looking puzzled. "I expected the kids to be upset and thought that I'd feel the same but – I feel great."
"It's the necklaces", Jack said, taking a bite of cereal. "Thor told me to put them on and they'd help. They did."
It was only then that Sam realized she was indeed wearing the Asgaard necklace and that the children had them on as well. "Wow – I wish I knew what these things did. I hope they're safe."
"I'm sure Thor wouldn't have given us anything that wasn't. Anyway – I put them on and instantly everyone looked better. I'm glad – I was – worried."
"Worried? I was scared out of my mind. God – I hope the Asgaard chop that Goa'uld into a thousand pieces and flush him down the toilet."
"Yeah – sounds good to me. I'll have to ask what they're going to do with them. I know they plan to separate the host and snake but I don't know what they'll do with Falin – maybe return him to the Tollan."
"As long as I don't have to see either of them again I'll be happy! Although I guess it's not really the host's fault. Still – I think I'd just like to go home and forget this whole thing."
"Me too." Jack moved over and sat beside her. "It hasn't been much of a vacation, has it?"
"Well – it's been rather exciting", she laughed. "More like our old missions than a family vacation I'd say. Still, most of it was good, but I'm looking forward to being back on earth without any aliens around."
"Except Teal'c and Vala?"
"Oh yeah – well, I don't really think of them as aliens anymore. They're family."
"It's quite some family, isn't it?" he laughed. "Did you see Alex kick those guys and call them 'bad men'. If I hadn't been so frightened I would have laughed when he threatened Bes with a time out!"
She laughed at that as well. "Well, it's clear he's just like his father", she said.
"Like me? Hey, I never threatened anyone with a time out – except the kids of course!" he told her indignantly.
"No, but if memory serves me you threatened to send Homer Simpson or the Mighty Ducks after them or, my personal favorite, you were going to 'slime them'."
"Hey – it was Mr. Burns, not Homer – and would you want to be slimed? I thought not. Still, the idea of a bunch of Goa'uld sitting in a 'time out' chair does kind of sound good. Maybe we should try it sometime?"
"Well personally I hope never to come into contact with a Goa'uld ever again. I've had enough of them. Right now I'd much rather deal with simple earth pests!"
"Mosquitoes?" he asked hopefully.
She laughed. "You want to go to the cabin don't you?"
"Well, I feel like we need a real vacation – and what better place to do it than there? I can promise no aliens – except our own two. What do you say?"
She regarded her husband for a minute and then laughed. "Okay – the cabin it is. Just promise that if the President calls you'll hang up?"
He reached out and pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her he bend down and kissed her. After a few moments he lifted his head. "President? President who?"
"Daddy! Kat has a diwty dipow!"
He laughed and rested his forehead against his wife's. "The President I can ignore – but a dirty diaper?" he sighed and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Duty calls and you know me –"
"Yes", she whispered as he walked to get their daughter. "When duty calls you always answer. You're a good man Jack O'Neill", she said softly. Then, with a grin she followed him into the room to see her children.
The End