THE HERE AND NOW
CHAPTER 43
"EMOTIONS"
Samantha Carter looked at the picture and frowned, why had she opened this topic? Why did she even care anymore, she had made a decision already, she had set herself up to lose him once and for all and yet Hailey is worlds had made her realize that she was making another massive mistake, she was being a coward once again, running away from him, from them, why did he frighten her so? Why did he make her hesitate an why had she ran away from him? Why was she afraid to face the fact that she loved him and that despite his bravado and calm demeanor he was as torn up about this as she was, hell perhaps even more? She had to realize that she had hurt him, she had hurt him unlike any one had done so before, closing her eyes she took a deep breath and looked at Hailey.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
"Listen and listen to me well, I don't like seeing Jack hurt, I hate the fact that your mere presence has him like this, he had to forget about you in order to move on and just when he was about to completely forget you and move on you show up again. You can't do this to him any more Sam"
"H-Hailey….it…"
"You love him Sam I get that, but what you don't seem to get is the fact that you had your chance, you blew it and…you never fought for him"
Sam closed her eyes and looked away from the younger woman. How could she argue with that kind of logic? Hailey was right and what scared her the most was the realization that perhaps it was too late, that maybe Sam and Jack had died a long time ago.
"I love him…I always have loved him"
"It's not enough and until you realize that, stay away from him or things will get worse for both of you"
"I can't give him up Hailey"
Hailey frowned and shock her head, standing up she walked out of the lab but not before, she looked back one last time at Sam.
"You already have"
Sam closed her eyes and refuses to let the tears fall, she was right. She had given up on herself and on Jack a long time ago. That is why she had been able to feel feelings for others beside Jack; and there had been others, Orlin, Narim only to name some of the people that she had been involved with. Nothing had developed but she had been attracted to them and had felt close to them, what did that say about her? Looking at the picture Hailey had given her she wondered and thought about her feelings. Jack had always been a straight forward kind of guy, he had told her and hinted on how he felt but had always held back, was it because of her. Was it because she had chosen to keep it in the room and did it even mattered anymore?
"Jack….what do I do now"
***IN COMING WORM HOLE***
The alarms came to life and Sam frowned, Jack and Teal'c had only left a couple of minutes ago, this couldn't be them, rushing towards the gate room she was soon followed by the others. Walter looked at them and frowned. Hammond shock his head, despite the years apart SG-1 would continue to be the Same people he knew all those years ago, they still cared for one another, glancing back at Walter he saw him placing his hand on the Iris control and saw nothing happening, something was very wrong here.
"Iris doesn't work?"
Walter shock his head, there was no response all the systems were frozen.
"No sir and I have no I.D.C"
There so many things that could go wrong when this sort of thing happened, but what he saw walking through the Gate was not what he was expecting to see, out of so many things he had expected would happened this was not one of them.
"Its Teal'c?!"
Hailey shouted aloud and the rest looked on in surprised, Teal'c was standing in the gate room a look of pure confusion on his face, something had gone wrong, something always went wrong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OTHALLA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking at the man known as Jack O'Neill the massive Furling was not impressed. the way the others talked about this human. They told tales of his heroism and bravery, how he fought overwhelming odds and managed to come up on top, this man was a legend and yet all he saw was a weak human, old weak and pathetic. This human could not possible be the one they talked about. Jack could immediately tell that he was being judge by the massive were wolf looking thing and smirked, it was good to be underestimated, that way he could come up with something impressive.
"You are the great O'Neill?"
The Furling frowned and chucked the human raised and eye brow at him and nodded, the alien had to admit that for a human he showed little to no reaction to his appearance or tone of voice.
"Name is Jack O'Neill"
"So you have kept the universe safe?"
Jack shock his head, the others tended to name him a lot during their discussion with other beings, he never liked that, sure he was friends with most of the alien races but he couldn't have achieved what he had with out so many sacrifices from a lot of good people.
"We, as in every member of the SGA"
The wolf like creature smiled, not a bad response for a human.
"If others were involved why do I speak to you alone?"
"Not my idea, if it were up to me I would have my team by my side and every single member that has risked his life to defend our world and the universe from the dangers that are out there"
"Bit arrogant"
Jack frowned and Lia looked nervously at Thor, this was the first meeting between a human and a Furling, this would decide if they Furlings made further contact with human or if they simply cut off all tied with them and refused to join the new alliance.
"Not arrogant just stating a fact, my people have fought and died keeping your enemies from gaining too much power over the universe"
"Our enemies you say? Why fight our battles for us if the cost was so high?"
"The same reason you fought them in the first place, you couldn't stand the sight of it"
The Furling smiled at the human, he was right, they had made themselves enemies because they couldn't stand by and watch the suffering of others, they had a choice to make and in the end, they had decided to fight those who would bring suffering to others. Just like these humans had decided to fight.
"Liar, you did it to save your world from harm"
"We did, but that changed and what started as a self defense war evolved into the alliance you see before you"
"Oh so you believe you can bring peace to the universe?"
"No, but we can make a difference and when the time comes when another evil power rises we will be there to challenge it, with or without your help"
Jack is tone held no hesitation, he was firm and direct, despite knowing that the alliance needed them and that without them they could possibly be lost he wouldn't let the Furling undermined the alliance they had worked so hard to establish. Garou Nodded in understanding, this human was special all right he wasn't intimidated by him or by his words, instead he rose to the challenge and made his point, he fought because there was need to fight not because he wanted to fight. Looking closely at the human he could see that the last thing he wanted to do was continue to fight, and yet here he was negotiating and advocating for the alliance.
"Why do you continue to do this? You speak well but you feel differently why?"
"Because I have fought enough battles and seen enough death to be tired of it"
"So you have"
He could feel it, deep within the man is a soul laid in pain and suffering the man was as much of a warrior as any of his race. He was a human whom was under tremendous pressure and pains and yet he stood to every challenge, and to every conflict with determination and courage unlike anything, he had ever felt before. This human, now he could see why he was chosen as the representative, it was not his ancient gene it was not his ability to work ancient technology, or his ancient knowledge it was his unwavering will to face any challenge that would arise. This human he was the embodiment of someone who would not break when face with whatever obstacle arose. Lia looked at Garou and could feel his approval on his face, not many could read a Furling but she could and she now knew that O'Neill's test would finally be underway.
"You are worthy to take the trials O'Neill"
"Thank you, now why don't we get something to eat?"
Lia closed her eyes and shock her head, it was just like Jack to turn such an important and momentous occasion into nothing more than a meeting before lunchtime. Garou laughed aloud and shock his head, this human was one of a kind all right.
"We shall feast before your trials human, so Thor you have any raw meat around?"
"No."
Jack smiled at the ill look that flashes over Lia and Thor is faces, it seem that Garou was just like the werewolf legends told, big hairy and a meat eater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SGA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things were going from bad to worse, they couldn't contact any of their allies and for some reason the stargate refused to work, something was blocking it, all systems were fine, all diagnostics were normal but still the damn thing refused to engage. Trying to contact Thor had been there best options and yet so far no luck on that either, something big had happened. Teal'c looked on at the working technicians with a frown on his face, he had vowed to remain by O'Neill's side and yet he had failed, something or someone had send him back and kept O'Neill. Sam looked at the computer in front of her and shock her head, nothing was working everything she did, everything she tried was a complete and utter failure, looking at Hailey she could see that the young woman was in the same predicament as she was.
"What do we have people?"
"Nothing sir, there is nothing wrong with outside of things, whatever is causing this it's not us"
Hailey looked at Sam and nodded, she agreed with her assessment, there side was fine.
"Whatever it is or whoever it is doing this, they are doing it from some were else sir"
"No idea on what, who or how to stop it?"
Hammond saw the look on both women and frowned, this was not good. The greatest minds on earth and they still couldn't figure out what was wrong with the stargate, looking at Teal'c he could see the concern look on his face.
"I must apologize to you all…I…"
General Hammond could see how much this was affecting Teal'c. The man was beside himself with worried and self-guilt, and as much as the others offered comforting words to the man nothing seem to make ease the Jaffa is guilt and worry. O'Neill was the one who had convince him to rebel against his god and throughout the years the man had become a brother to the Jaffa.
"There is nothing you could have done son, don't blame yourself"
Hammond could see that he somehow understood that, but refused to accept that he had failed his best friend. The General turned to the men and women working on the gate and on the computer, all around the SGA there was movement, no one seem to accept that Jack O'Neill had been lost. No one was willing to give up until they brought him home. The General smiled and smirked, how was it possible for one man to change so many lives without him knowing it? Because Hammond knew that Jack was blissfully unaware of what kind of impact he had on all those who surrounded him.
"Sir everything is fine on our end, why don't we contact our allies off world?"
Hailey had given up on trying to fix whatever the problem was on their system, she was sure that nothing would be accomplished if they continue to work on them. Nothing was wrong with them and she was sure that it was an outside source that was the problem, which meant that they needed to contact one of their allies.
"The long range communication systems are down also"
Hailey frowned and turned to her computer, after a quick scan she was sharing Sam is thoughts; whatever it was that was affecting the gate was affecting there long range communication devices, yet everything seem to be indicate that they were working fine.
"I took the liberty of testing out the long range systems, they are functioning but…"
"Hailey?"
Hammond saw the look on the younger woman and closed his eyes; this just kept getting better and better.
"Sorry sir but she is right, everything indicates that we are fully operational but nothing is working"
"Wait! What about Jack is little transmitter on his office, the one he uses to contact Lisa"
Daniel smiled when both women is faces lit up at the idea, all present in the room saw how Sam and Hailey ran away from the control room and straight to the General is office, followed soon by Daniel, Teal'c, and even General Hammond. Looking at one another they exchange quick glances and smirked, Jack would be found, no matter what these people were not going to give up on him. Reaching the General is office Hailey looked at the small device and frowned, it was just a small round disc with a lens in the middle, there was nothing more.
"I'll be damn I was wondering what that thing was"
Sam smiled at the General, it was good to have him back. Hailey on the other hand was busy trying figure out how it worked.
"Any luck Hailey?"
She shook her head and Daniel's face fell, there went there last shoot at contacting outside help.
"Is it an ancient device?"
Teal'c looked at Hailey and the girl nodded, Sam walked towards it and smiled of course it was an ancient device, the woman who had given it to Jack was an ancient hologram after all.
"Your thinking that only Jack could activate it?"
Sam asked and the Jaffa nodded, there would be no need for buttons or other forms of activation if all Jack needed to do was touch it to activate it.
"Well that is just great who else has the ancient gene?"
Hammond is hopeful look vanished when he noticed that everyone in the room had gone silent.
"Unfortunately all of those with the ancient Gene were shipped off to Atlantis"
"Then we are an in luck"
Janet is voice came from the doorway as everyone turned to face her they saw a man standing beside her, Hailey groaned when she saw whom it was, there was no escaping that guy. Daniel looked from the man to Janet, but the woman avoided looking towards him, the others immediately noticed it but keep their mouths shut, there were more pressing matters at hand.
"What do you mean doctor?"
Hammond was the first one to react at the doctor is statement; she smiled and then turned towards the man who immediately stood at attention and saluted him.
"Colonel Cameron Mitchell sir"
"At ease son"
"He is a new recruit, and he has the ancient gene"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OTHALLA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The old treaty was very clear, it was obscure and it was forgotten but it was there, he had remembered it, it was not in the original treaty but it had been part of the agreements, so many years have passed that the little clause had been forgotten, but he didn't forget it. He had their knowledge stored up deep within his mind, they were sneaky little light bulbs but he had figured their little plan out, the ancient or so call ancients were not as pure as they wanted others to believe, they a nasty little secret that they wanted hidden.
"Is everything all right O'Neill?'
Thor had been told by Lia the way Jack had become obsessed with the ancient database and how he was determined to find something regarding the ancients. Jack smiled and turned towards Thor, yeah everything was fine, now that he knew what the ancient is plan was.
"Yeah, but your are not going to like what I found"
"Oh?"
"It is a clause on the old treaty, one that will be challenge by the ancients"
"What sort of clause?"
"If I am to take the trials then I have to do them as a human"
Thor looked confused but then it dawned on him, O'Neill was not a normal human, he possessed the ancient gene and was a more evolve form of the normal humans on earth, but the big problem was what he held in his mind, the ancient would argue that all of his great deeds, all of the humans is accomplishment were done because he possessed their knowledge.
"Why are they doing this?"
Jack smiled and took a deep breath that is what had been bothering him but not anymore; he had figured it out when he remembered the ancient is little dark secret.
"They are using it as an excuse to remove the entire ancient is knowledge from my head, that is there main purpose, and if I am to qualify in this little treaty I will have to accept the terms they dictate to me"
"You don't feel confident in your abilities?"
Jack and shock his head, he was not worried about the trials he was more worried about what the ancient were keeping from them.
"It's not that, I have something to tell you and you have to listen closely because if I am right I might not come out of this alive"
"W-what?"
"I need to tell you about the Ori"
"The what?!"
Thor had never heard of them, but something about how Jack looked and the way he was acting told him that they were beings whom needed to be noticed.
"They are rebel ancients, called themselves gods and basically all around bad guys, what you need to know is that the ancients have no control over them and that if these guys were to attack us"
"I see"
"Yeah all around bad news, I thought we had enough trouble with the wraith but here is what I think we should do"
O'Neill is voice became deadly serious and Thor knew that his friend was not here, this Jack was the soldier one, he was the one who had faced off against Goa'uld.
"Should we not gather the others?"
"No, the ancients will be alerted if that happens"
"Very well, what do you have in mind?"
"We let the wraith know where the Ori are"
It was not a fooled proof plan but anything was better than not being ready to fend off a wave of super evil ancient, no matter how much they had advance and how much they had progressed trough out the years they still had a long ways to go in order to fight a grand scale war. The Wraith were still a problem and would continue to be a problem because no matter what they did they couldn't face them on equal grounds. The Wraith held every advantage, they were around longer than humans, they knew how to fight and knew how to fight ancient technology, while they were still trying to figure out how the ancient is mechanism worked. The fight with the Wraith was a losing one, he had admitted that years ago, but this alliance, this treaty could change all of that, but just in case something went wrong, he needed a backup plan and this was his best shot.
The Wraith were powerful but were also starving to death, they needed to feed so he was going to give them the best place in town to eat, he was going to make them fight amongst themselves and maybe just maybe buy enough time for his people to catch up. Thor smiled at O'Neill is way of thinking, this was the best the man could do and he was proud of his friend.
"I will send the information to Dr. Weir as soon I am able to O'Neill"
"Thanks buddy"
A BIG THANK YOU GO OUT TO CBass
Who took it upon herself to beta the whole darn story and send it to me big thanks to her and now that I have a beta the works will continue on