Found - part 15

I've located my muse! The story is alive again! Sorry, just a little excited about actually enjoying my writing again! And not being completely stressed out for the first time in about ten days. Yayness. ENJOY!

Their home seemed so bare. The O'Neill's belongings had been packed into carry-bags and transported up to the Gemini, in preparation for their departure. Gone were the pictures Tally and Luke had drawn as children, and the blankets Karelle had knitted them when they were babies. Gone were the notebooks with tiny scrawling handwriting which Sam had used up and kept for reference, and the hunting knife Jack had forged himself, and used for years and years until he had to accept his age, and turn his attention to less physically demanding activities. Gone was the necklace Jack had made for Sam on her fortieth birthday, and the little slab of dried clay with imprints of Tally and Luke's five and four year old hands, with their names scratched in childish handwriting underneath.

They stood now, just Sam, Jack and Karelle outside the door of their old home.

"I will miss you greatly." Karelle said, as she embraced Sam fiercely. Sam's eyes were squeezed shut against tears.

"Don't worry. We'll come back to visit." She promised. Karelle released her and moved on to Jack, who wrapped his arms around her.

"Take care." Jack told her.

"And you, Jack."

Karelle pulled back from Jack and took his and Sam's hands in her own. "If Kollen had lived to see this day …" she ducked her head briefly, but then looked up at them with a smile. "You have done so much for this village. Amdra is in your debt, and you will be sorely missed."

Sam squeezed Karelle's hand. "Amdra has been our home for a long time, and we'll miss it."

"But you know why we have to leave." Jack finished.

Karelle smiled sadly. "I know." She gave their hands a last squeeze and then let them go.

Sam glanced at her husband. "We'd better go see how the kids are doing."

Jack's expression darkened. "Yeah. Hopefully Daniel can work his magic on them and smooth things over."

"Thank you Karelle, for everything." Sam said, hugging her one more time.

"Good luck, my friends." Karelle said, and watched as they left the little house empty and quiet.

"HALEY! NOW would be a good time!" Jack yelled into his radio, as he, Sam, Tally, Daniel and Jase ran headlong through the woods, the more hot-headed of Jase's family in pursuit.

There was a flash of light, and the five of them collapsed on the bridge of the X-307. Teal'c and Haley stood over them, looking down at the almost comical group.

"I take it that it didn't go so well." Haley said cautiously. Tally and Jase shared a defeated look and sighed.

"That would be a no." Jack answered, scowling. "You know, for a village that has come so far in the last eighteen years . . . "

"They sure are pig-headed." Tally finished for him. She looked sadly at Jase.

"I'm sorry." She whispered to him. He gave her a sad smile and stroked her hair.

"Who needs 'em?" He gave a strained grin. "I'm going for a walk." He said suddenly, and strode quickly out of the room. Tally looked like she wanted to go after him, then decided against it, flopping down on the floor beside her mother. Sam put her arm round her daughter's shoulders and gave her a comforting squeeze.

"He'll be okay."

Tally nodded numbly. "Yeah."

"So . . . what now?" Daniel asked cautiously. Jack caught Sam's gaze and silently conferred with her.

"There's a briefing room on this ship, right?" He asked Daniel, who nodded in confirmation. "We'll all meet there in one hour. We need to decide what to do next, and there's still a lot you guys need to know about our situation." He answered, still holding Sam's gaze.

Daniel nodded, the glance Sam sent his way confirming his suspicion that Jack was talking about Luke, and the details Sam said she'd explain once they had control of the ship.

Without a word, Teal'c turned and left the room. Jack watched him go with a frown. "He's probably gone to talk to Jase. It's a good idea, he's the best person to help him at this stage."

Tally felt tears well up in her eyes, and she lay her head on Sam's shoulder. Sam and Jack shared another despairing look. They hated seeing their daughter hurting. Daniel and Haley went to check on their prisoner, leaving the oddball family alone.

Jase stared out of the Earth ship's window. There was a spectacular view of his home planet, as the star he'd grown up beneath was behind them, shining its light on the beautiful world. It seemed strangely unreal that he would probably never take a step on the surface again.

He sensed more than heard Teal'c approach from behind. He too had been trained as a warrior, and could tell it was Teal'c by the old man's heavy grace.

"I know why you're here." He told the jaffa wearily. Teal'c said nothing, but calmly took a position at the boy's side.

"Tally told me about you. Or she told me what her parents had told her about you, anyway. About how you were branded as a traitor on your planet and had to live with the Tau'ri, away from your home. You've come to give me a pep talk."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Do you require one?"

Jase raised his chin defiantly. "No."

"Very well." Teal'c stared out at the stars in silence.

"Tally does that." He said suddenly. Teal'c cocked his head.

"Tally does what?"

"The silent thing. She can tell when I have something on my mind, and she just stays with me in silence until I can talk about it. She said it baffles her parents how much she is like you."

Teal'c smiled sedately. "You love her very much." He said simply.

Jase smiled softly, a look which made his face truly handsome. "Yes I do."

"You will make wonderful parents. I am certain of it. And you will survive, together."

Jase sighed, and stared out at Amdra with conviction. "Yes, we will."

Teal'c smiled and clasped Jase's shoulder supportively. Jase smiled back at him gratefully, and Teal'c bowed his head, and left.

What did you think? Come on, tell me, I'm dying to know! I'm having tremendous fun writing the next chapter. Lot's of decisions and revelations and stuff. Please review me!

Beka :-P