CHAPTER 59

EPISODE---------------------THREADS

Ba'al entered into the room where Anubis was sitting in his chair to report his failure. He just got back from having to retreat and leave his ships and men behind. Ba'al walked up stopping a few feet from the chair.

"You, have failed me." Anubis said, obviously pissed and upset, from his chair where he sat looking at Ba'al through his eyebrows. Some sores were present on his face.

"We have known for some time that the Jaffa cannot be trusted anymore. The remaining army of Kull warriors still stand a chance of taking Dakara…" Ba'al was saying when Anubis raised a hand.

"Worse than failure. Worse than cowardice." he said in disgust as he stood up and took a step forward. "You have betrayed me. Do you not think I have known what you have done? How can you still underestimate my powers?"

"Your methods were ultimately unnecessary. Not when there way another way of defeating the Replicators."

"I will spare your life for the moment. Only so that you may witness the fruits of your labors. First, I will retake Dakara. Then, thanks to the modifications you have made to the Stargate, I will destroy every living thing in this galaxy. Including you, all at once."

"I do not understand. You could have modified the Stargate itself."

"You have no way of knowing what is necessary. You have no idea what is planned in the grand design!"

"Who's, grand design?"

Anubis tilted his head back as he looked down on Ba'al.

"Mine!"

Ba'al watched Anubis walk off to his right and away as he thought about what to do next.

Ford and Carter were getting ready for work, or were ready actually. She was ready and was currently getting her tea. Ford had just finished shaving and was getting ready to put his aftershave on. He opened the bottle, which had an aroma she really liked, and then suddenly he felt something he didn't like feeling, especially when he was driving, or in the middle of something important, such as keeping his hands steady.

Oh no!

Carter heard him sneeze, and instantly realized what it was for and pretty much ignored it seeing as it happened every so often when they went to town. It happened at home, but rarely, and thankfully so far never when they were intimate. The only place that ever seemed safe was at the base so far, since Rebecca left, or if he was off planet. If someone suddenly knocked on the door, then she'd worry, though it had yet to happen, otherwise it was probably someone passing by. What make her accidentally drop tea on herself though was when he yelled. Not in pain, not in fear either, but in anger. She rushed in, also angry seeing as she had to change clothes, holding her gun just in case.

"What's going …" she started yelling as she noticed what had happened.

All her anger left as she put two and two together, and laughed, hard. He was looking in the mirror, anger all over his face, along with something else. Her smile never left even when they got to the base, and a little late.

They were now walking down the hallway to the gate room to actually get to Jack's office. She wanted to see what Jack had planned out on Daniel since he had been gone for over a week. Getting the message from Atlantis, and Daniel not being there for the historic occasion, was rather saddening and made then notice his not being there even more.

"You're pretty sure that Daniels out there, somewhere?"

"Sam, he has to be. I'm pretty sure that if something seriously….if he was dead, my parents would have came along and told us. Or at least told me." he said still unhappy at the morning event in the bathroom.

The stares he got was annoying, but he was otherwise ignored. Some of them would make any other woman extremely jealous, but Sam ignored them.

"You're right. I shouldn't worry so much."

"Yes, we have bigger things to worry about." he said rubbing her belly.

"We haven't even agreed on a name yet."

"I know. I've been thinking, but nothing stands out yet." he said as they walked up the stairs to the briefing room. He avoided the strange looks he got from the other personal as they left the gate room. "Anything really sound right to you yet?"

"Well, I have thought…that's strange."

"What? Oh, that is strange." Ford said as they saw through the window that Jack was in his office, but talking to another woman and laughing.

Whoever he was talking to walked out of the room as Jack closed the door smiling and mentioning something about telling her everything he knew. He turned seeing them outside and motioned them to come in as he sat down behind his desk.

"Sorry, sir. We saw you with someone and didn't want to interrupt." she said as they came in.

"No problem. What's up?" Jack asked looking up at them.

"Who was that Jack?"

"Oh, Kerry Johnson, C.I.A." he said casually.

"Sounds familiar." Ford said looking up as he tried to remember.

"Wait, isn't she the one that was investigating Goa'uld's still at large after the incident with the Trust?" Carter asked.

"One and the same." Jack said opening a folder. He looked up suddenly and sniffed.

"Sir, it's been a week and…."

"Carter. I told you to forget and wait." he said sniffing again. "All we know for sure is that he is missing."

"I know sir. I've talked with Ford and…..we believe that he must be okay, or else his parents would have said something. We just wanted to know what you planned to do….if…"

"Good! You both saw the light! About time you noticed he's probably just waiting for us to say something nice and mushy about him so he can pop up and say how thankful he is that we care." he said standing up and sniffing. The two didn't seem to give him much notice, which started to make him wonder, because it smelled very familiar. "What is that?"

"But we do care." Ford said ignoring the question. "We miss him. Just not the same without him here."

"I know, but that's not the point. The point is he's….he's probably waiting for that sort of thing and more than likely he's just going to show up through that door, like right now!" he said looking at his closed door.

They all were looking at it now. Ford walked over and opened it and looked out. Jack stood up and looked out his window from his desk.

"Waltzing perhaps." he muttered looking out the door himself then turning back to them as he realized where the smell was coming from. "Major, is that you?"

"Yes." he grumbled out as he looked away.

"What the hell are you doing with that much aftershave on? What did you do, dump it on your head?" Jack said sitting down again and waving his hand in front of his nose. "Are you trying to attract all the women on the base suddenly? You two aren't…"

"No. We have no troubles. He didn't…mean to dump it on sir." she said trying to keep a straight face.

Jack raised an eyebrow then put his hand on his chin as he leaned onto his desk.

"Okay, there's a joke here and I'm not getting it." he said waving a finger at them. "Unless you two are deciding to….have fun on work time."

"Very funny sir. We know the rules."

"Yeah Jack. I push the regs sometimes, but I don't go that far. If we had a fully functioning time machine that I could run properly…" he said as Jack began glaring harder and harder as he kept going on.

"He's kidding sir."

"Well I'm lost here, so, why do you smell….."

"A….Immortal walked, drove or who knows….came too close to the house as I just got finished shaving." he grumbled out.

"He sneezed and…" she said.

"And poof." he said gesturing with his hand that the bottle splashed his face. "I tried to get it out of my hair, three times and finally gave up. Had to change clothes to. Which is why we are late for work."

"Maybe that's the sign you needed to get that hair cut."

"No sir." they both said.

"Had to try."

"I prefer the longer hair sir. I've seen him with short hair."

"We've all seen him with short hair."

"That the point." Ford said rolling his eyes. "I don't look good with short hair."

"I could order," he said sitting back.

"And I said…"

"Yes, yes, I was there." he said sitting forward and waving a hand. "Carter is right though, in one regard. You don't look as intimidating with short hair."

"Jack's the only one I've noticed that can actually pull of either look."

"Considering I've seen his…twin brother…" she said turning back to Jack. "You ever talk to him yet?"

"Umm, we talked." Jack said looking uncomfortable. "He asked about this place, and for once I'm glad you kept your mouth shut Major and didn't tell him like you wished too."

"Did you two plan on getting together to talk more in person?" Ford asked.

"Maybe. Enough about me and my family now. Go get back to work, and you…" he said fumbling over words. "Ah, go…do something about that before you stink up the place, or worse get all the women in the facility hanging off you. Bad enough that I hear some of them fawning over how much they would like to be with you."

"Yeah, I saw some of the stares." he said and left.

"How are you doing Carter?"

"Fine sir."

"I mean…" he said pointing at her abdomen.

"Oh, other than some nausea and minor cravings, I'm doing okay. Janet has me on some special exercises and other pre-natal things."

"Good to hear. If you're doing okay than, that's all I needed to know. Just tell me if you suddenly need time off. Don't push yourself to hard like you normally do."

"I know sir. Ford gave me the same lecture and threatened to call Janet if I did something I shouldn't." she said smiling slightly. It went away quickly. "Back to my original question sir. And please sir, don't give me the run around."

"Carter," he started saying then seeing the almost pleading look.

With Ford being with her, she had let a little more emotions out now. It was certainly a different side they didn't see much, but she reigned those emotions under control in the heat of battle.

"You're wanting to know some time table, if I have one."

"It would help."

"I'm thinking, when the end of a month comes around, and we have nothing, then maybe…." he sadly. "But I'm believing he's out there, just waiting to come home and surprise us. Ford doesn't believe him dead, so I'm not, at least till then. Knowing his past, he's talking to that…lady, whatever her name was."

"Oma I think."

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Thanks sir."

Jack nodded and went back to his cluttered desk as she left.

Daniel awoke seeing a glowing white look all around him. He spun around finding a glass door with black metal around it. Kinda looked a lot like a door on those old restaurants or grocery stores back in the fifties. He walked over and went in finding it was a small restaurant with tables along the walls, four in the middle of the room with a small wall keeping anyone from looking over it. A large bar sat between the kitchen and the open space for customers. He realized the restaurant was like some place out of the fifties or sixties, but a family type, no beer, wine or booze. He realized something else, he had no glasses on but could see just fine. About a dozen or so people were seated at different tables eating and drinking coffee. He looked down seeing a sign that said please seat yourself. A waitress in a blue shirt and skirt was walking around taking orders. Some man came from the back and went to the coffee machine in the middle of the room replacing the pot. A tall dark haired woman gave him a small wave and went back to her coffee. She seemed familiar, but he couldn't place her. He walked in and went to the second booth in the middle of the room seeing as two people were sitting in the first one. The place seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn't place where exactly.

"So, what can I get you?" a woman said walking up and taking a pencil from behind her ear and pulling out a pad from her open pouch on her skirt. She had her hair in a bun fashion with a red waitress hat holding it up.

Daniel looked at her confused then figured out who she was and what was going on, to a point.

At Dakara, most of the Jaffa were inside the open area that went into the Ancient room. Teal'c and Bra'tak, dressed in Jaffa battle armor, stood in the middle of the dirt as they were surrounded by the Jaffa. The Jaffa were formed up in lines as another Jaffa spoke to them while standing in front of the two.

"Brother's Bra'tak of Chulak and Teal'c of the Tauri….for your enduring courage and vision, for the strength of will that has brought us to freedom from the Goa'uld, a future we have yet to even comprehend, but one that will be determined by our own unfettered will, I hereby bestow upon you, the highest honor, any Jaffa can know." he said tapping a staff weapon on them just like a person would be done when they were knighted by the Queen in England.

"From this day forward, you shall both be known, as blood kin, to all Jaffa!" he said raising his hands in the air as he shouted.

All the Jaffa erupted into a praise of shouting yeah. The man raised his hand again and started kneeling. All the Jaffa knelt with him. Teal'c and Bra'tak looked at each other nodding. Bra'tak walked forward and gently grabbed the mans arm and picked him up.

"Brothers!" he yelled making them all stand again. "From this day forward, no Jaffa shall bow before anyone, ever again, and never again before a false god."

Teal'c nodded to Bra'tak then to him. The guy turned around to the Jaffa.

"Hail brother Bra'tak!"

"Hail!" they all yelled.

"Hail brother Teal'c!"

"Hail!" they all yelled again.

Teal'c placed his arm on his chest as did Bra'tak as the hail went forth again and a Jaffa blew a loud horn. They turned around and started walking as the cheering continued.

"Be proud Teal'c, for today we are free."

"The day is not yet over Master Bra'tak." he said as they stepped out of the temple.

They dropped their arms as they looked out seeing thousands of their brothers and sisters standing where the Stargate was, cheering at them.
"Then I shall be proud for you, and of you." Bra'tak said as Teal'c was still looking in shock at the mass of Jaffa outside.

Teal'c looked at him smiling as they walked out and down to their people. The cheering could be heard for miles. Several Goa'uld motherships were landed miles away as were a few Hal'taks, Al'kesh and some gliders. A few gliders flew overhead as the cheering continued.

Ford was getting dressed as Carter came into the locker room. She came in after finding out there was no one in there except him. He just got finished with a training class, got cleaned and was finishing tying his boot laces. She could tell he partially got rid of some of the aftershave in his hair. But it was just enough there she liked it. And if it weren't for the fact they were on duty, the thoughts running through her mind made her guess it must be hormonal imbalance troubles making her really want him at the moment. Either that or she was really in the mood. Watching him shower while cleaning up the mess he accidentally made at home didn't help.

"Sam, what are you doing in here?" he whispered looking around.

"Relax, no one is in here but you and I didn't feel like waiting outside. I wanted us to go talk to dad before he decided to suddenly leave." she said not sitting down.

"Oh, sure." he said getting up and following her out. "How's dad doing? He wasn't looking well before."

"He just said he's not been sleeping well lately."

"That's strange. I never had trouble sleeping when I had Herc, well except with that Raccoon business, and some late nights working on projects, but other than that I never had trouble."

"I….maybe it's because Selmak is really old, I don't know. He wouldn't elaborate."

"I'd be surprised if he kept anything from you."

"Unfortunately, he's done so in the past." she said sadly.

"Hey, maybe it's just hard on him knowing he's might not be able to be there for us when we have our daughter. Being stuck off world and all." he said placing a arm around her shoulders.

"Maybe. We can try asking him when we see him." she said gently removing his arm.

"You okay?" he asked with concern.

She whispered in his ear quickly then started walking again, quickly.

"Oh. Okay, I can do that."

They walked up to the room he was in and found him sitting there reading a book.

"Hey…I can call you dad right? Part of you is at least old enough to be."

Jacob laughed as he got up.

"Nice. I actually like that, Selmak did too. I don't mind though." he said shaking his hand then giving him a strange look. "Is that your aftershave I'm smelling?"

"Yes." he said sighing, then muttered. "I'd probably be better announcing it to the base."

They both then explained the morning incident. He laughed then said sorry.

"Sam laughed to, don't worry about it."

"So what's brings you two down here?"

"Well, we wanted to know when you planned on leaving, that way we can get hold of you when…."

"The little one comes along." Jacob said smiling, which changed to a sad look quickly. "I'm not sure yet Sam. I've got to talk to the council first, but I really want to be there. Let's talk about something else though, like what's her name going to be?"

"Oh, ah…." she said taking a deep breath.

"We…haven't got one yet." Ford said rubbing the back of his neck as she sat down in a chair. He walked over and sat on the bed as Jacob sat back in the chair again.

"We're…still in the deciding stage dad. There's still a few months to go so it's not a big rush. We've been working on other things."

"You thought about getting a new house then?"

"No. We are going to build on actually." she said. "Works out better this way. Besides, Ford really likes the house and so do I."

"Really? Certainly saves on time."

"Yeah, we won't have to pack up and then have to unload it all." Ford said. "Well, we have to move things so they don't get damaged, but otherwise…..you get it I hope."

"Oh yeah. Taking the roof off one section at a time while building a upstairs. Living underground has it's advantages."

"Still deciding on how and where yet dad."

"Hey, what do I have to do to get some more coffee around here?" a very fat and slightly balding man, in a business suit said from the end of the counter bar as he turned to them.

"Find true enlightenment." Oma said turning to him then back to Daniel who was looking at the man.

"No menus?" Daniel asked after looking around his table.

"We don't need them here, just order what you like."

"Okay." he said looking at the table and intertwining his hands. "I'll have the truth with a side order of clarity please."

"The Replicator version of Sam was inside your mind, trying to access the Ancient knowledge that was buried in your subconscious." she said as he looked at her. "But you gained control of her instead. She tried to kill you to stop you."

"Then why am I here?"

"The Replicator version of Ford tried to save you, but the wave took out the small escape pod that was suppose to take you to another planet, I think. Yeah, but it didn't work. That's where I stepped in."

"Okay. Things look a little more clear." he said looking away.

"Well, we aim to please. Customers come first, you know." she said smiling as she tapped her pad.

"So, I'm ascended again?"

"Not exactly. Sort of a stop along the way. You have to make that choice for yourself." she said as he nodded, but more in confusion.

"Waffles."

"With bacon on the side?"

"No. I remember this place." he said glancing around.

"You should. It came from your mind."

"My grandfather brought me here after my parents funeral. I had waffles."

"Waffles it is then." she said walking away.

"Wait!" he said semi sharply and turning to her. "How do I know it's really you this time? How do I know this isn't some sort of trick that Replica Sam is using to keep me from controlling her. How do I know that that Ford wasn't just some part of her plan to keep me busy so she could dig deeper?"

"How deep is the river if you cannot see the bottom." she said smiling as she walked up to the table.

"Deeper than the coffee in my cup, I can tell you that." the man said at her holding his cup out.

"Excuse me." she said smiling at him then turning away.

She yelled off a long order as she went back behind the counter and placed the note pad page on a handing turnstile. The chef grabbed it off as she turned away saying hold the pig.

"We have dreamed of this day for so long, fought so hard for it, and sacrificed so much." Bra'tak said entering the room with the Ancient weapon that Teal'c was currently leaning on with both elbows. Teal'c stood up fingering a panel.

"Now that it is here…."

"It is not here brother." Teal'c stated not looking at him but at the blank Ancient screen.

"The balance of power has shifted Teal'c. Our victory here at Dakara has turned the tide. Jaffa everywhere are abandoning the old ways. They are finally seeing the Goa'uld as false gods."

"We are foolish to be celebrating our conquest over the Goa'uld, when they not all dead. Anubis claimed to be a god and was false, but his powers certainly are not." Teal'c stated forcefully.

"It is agreed. He must be dealt with. But for once, there may be greater concerns that the eradication of all the Goa'uld." Bra'tak said facing him. "So consumed were we in attaining our freedom, that we were not planning for its aftermath. The Jaffa have fought with each other for so long, that uniting them at once may prove as difficult a task as convincing them to free themselves from the Goa'uld."

Teal'c nodded as he listened. Bra'tak kept talking as he looked at Teal'c then at the panels.

"Generations of war and mistrust will not be healed overnight."

"Indeed. If we do not organize quickly, freedom will become anarchy."

"The high priest are proposing a leadership be assembled."

"That is wise." Teal'c said softly.

"They wish both of us to sit on the council."

Teal'c looked at him and nodded in understanding.

"You know that will take you from the Tauri."

Teal'c nodded again and realized what it would take. Bra'tak put a hand on his shoulder as he talked to him.

"Your purpose in joining them was to one day free the Jaffa. And that day is upon us. You must not abandon your people when we need you most."

"Of that I am aware."

Bra'tak slapped him on the shoulder and started walking out as Teal'c nodded again to him. Bra'tak turned around as he was almost outside.

"The council will preside on the new Jaffa home world, where a great city is to be erected. A haven for all those who have chosen freedom. Here, on the holy ground of Dakara." he said as Teal'c turned to him. He left leaving a pleased but also astonished Teal'c behind.

Daniel was still looking around as the unknown fat man walked up.

"Hey. I know you." he said pointing at him.

"Really?" Daniel said sounding slightly scared, but more confused.

"Yeah, you're that guy in the paper. Doctor Daniel Jackson." he said setting a newspaper on the table.

The newspaper was called The Ascended Times. It had a picture of Daniel, with his glasses and in bold face print said Jackson still undecided. Daniel looked at it then him.

"It's okay, keep it. I'm done." he said with a wave and walked away.

"Thanks."

"No problem." the guy yelled back.

Daniel flipped it open to see the full section of the front page and found a section at the bottom talking about Anubis planning to retake Dakara.

After talking with her father and doing a little work, she went down and talked discreetly with the female doctor. Hormones were the problem, and she basically had to deal with it for now. To get her mind of her, problem, she went and got her dad to see if he'd have dinner in the mess hall with them.

Sam and Jacob were sitting at a table in the mess hall eating one of the dish's Ford cooked recently. He came over sitting next to her as she was asking him something about her brother.

"Tomorrow."

"I'm sorry."

"He said he's going to go see Mark tomorrow."

"Oh. That's good to hear." Ford said picking up a napkin. "Sorry to say I've only got to see him at the wedding. Really nice guy. When I met him, I wasn't surprised to have him tell me he'd come after me if I hurt you. Other than that, he liked me from the things you told him Sam. What did you tell him anyway?"

"Just about everything, with certain exceptions." she said with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear you got along with him Ford. Last guy she was getting ready to marry, he didn't like all that much."

"Well, I'm not sad to see him go. Considering the things I heard him do, I'd probably kill him if he was still around. No offense Sam."

"You're way better than he ever was." she said waving a hand. "He was….demanding sometimes, amongst other problems. Unlike you who I can boss around."

"No kidding."

"You let her run your life?" Jacob asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not run per say." he said waving his hand lightly. "She's, the boss, because I want her to be. One of the reasons I love Sam is because of the commanding personality."

Jacob sat up with a strange look and rose both eyebrows making Sam laugh.

"I'm the only woman he allows do that dad. I think it's because of his upbringing."

"What does that mean?" he asked looking at Ford even more confused.

"I had parents, well everyone has parents, but anyway, mine usually were very busy, a lot and I was watched by a lot of other women at the office or at their houses. I learned a lot from them… including things I didn't need to know." he muttered. "But they were trusted friends and I really respect them all."

"That's….interesting."

"You should have seen Sam's face when I told her."

"How long did this go on?"

"From the age of three to twelve, I think. Or it was thirteen. Basically, it helped me understand the women's world, in a sense. They told me a lot of things that should and shouldn't be done around women. Anyway, you see where I'm going?"

"I think so. Everything you learned has worked out well in saving people, most importantly Sam here. And with all that, you have made her happy in ways I never could." he said smiling then setting his fork down.

"You okay dad?" she asked as he rubbed his face.

"Just really tired lately."

"Sam mentioned something about that earlier. I never had that trouble with Herc. Is something wrong with Selmak?" Ford asked.

"No, we're just fine." he said taking a drink from his water bottle. "It's just been a long day. I'm going to turn in early so I catch you both in the morning."

He got up and gave her a kiss on the forehead and left.

"I really worried now." she said sadly, all the hormone trouble now gone.

"He did look a little tired. Maybe it's just that. He has a lot to stress on now."

"I don't know. Something just didn't seem right."

"We can go after him if you want. Take him to the infirmary too."

"No. He'd hate that. I'm just hoping he's actually tired."

"If there was something wrong, I'd think he'd tell us Sam." Ford said placing an arm on her shoulder. "I got something that might cheer you up. But it's in our lab. Something I picked up about a week ago."

"A week ago? This should be interesting. Get my mind off worrying. Amongst other things."

"Good. You have enough to stress about already. Now, what I'm going to show you, don't tell Jack or anyone else, just yet."

What he showed her, was just about the last thing she expected. She was rather, upset he didn't tell her about it when he got it, but his explanation was enough that she agreed with his assessment of keeping it hidden. Certainly helped her get her mind on something else.

The next day at work, they were looking it over, in secrecy when Teal'c came back, with not great news. Jack wasn't at work yet so she called him. Before Teal'c came to her lab, they had put away the thing they were looking at. It was currently around 8:00 in the morning.

Jack was asleep in bed when his phone rang. He reached down, feeling the floor till he got hold of the phone.

"O'Neill." he said sleepily.

"Sorry to wake you sir. Teal'c has returned with news that you'll want to hear. It's not good."

"I knew it. I'll be in, in a few minutes Colonel." he said then hung up and let the phone drop to the floor. "Crap, so much for sleeping in today. I got to go to work."

"Okay. I'll let myself out later." a tried voice said. The voice belonged to Kerry Johnson who was laying in the bed next to him.

Daniel was reading the paper when a plate of four waffles, stacked on each other was set on the table in front of him.

"You know about this?" he asked showing her the paper and the article.

"Yes."

"And you're not going to do anything about it?"

"You know I can't."

"Well, I'm certainly not going to sit here and let this happen."

She nodded and he got up taking the paper with him as he headed for the door.

"You can't leave, you're not ascended yet. You walk through that door, and you're choosing the alternative." she said making him turn around.

"You mean I'll be dead?"

"Pretty much." she said nodding.

"Okay then." he said crossing his arms. "Ascend me."

"It doesn't mean you'll be able to help your friends." she said leaning one arm onto the back of the booth's seat. "You know the rules."

"Yes, but once I ascend, I can also choose to take human form, just like last time."

"Technically yes, but you can't take that paper with you." she said pointing at it. "And you won't have the knowledge that you gained here, and good luck ever trying to ascend again. I'm certainly not going to help you a third time." she said with a mean tone.

"So what you're saying is all I can know that Anubis is plotting to destroy all life in the galaxy, and all I can do is stay here and contemplate my own enlightenment?"

"You can eat your waffles." she said walking past him to the kitchen.

Daniel sighed as he looked back at them. He looked in the kitchen direction.

"No syrup?!"

He started to go over to the bar when a woman walked up to him and held out a small container of syrup.

"Thanks." he said taking it. The woman looked familiar as he looked closer at her face. It was the woman who waved at him.

"Hello Daniel. Come, we can sit and talk."

"Do I know you?" he said as they sat down.

"Yes, you do. But we only met briefly." she said placing her hands in front of her on the table and crossing them.

"Briefly you say?" he said setting the syrup to the side with the waffles.

"You work with our son Doctor Jackson."

"Nancy Primus! I remember now. What's going on here? Who are these other people? Can you help me?"

"I regret that I cannot help. Truly regret in ways you can't even begin to understand. But the people you see here are ascended."

"Ancients?"

"A few are." she said with the same soft but strong voice.

"Why are they here?"

"To watch you." Oma said.

"Me?" Daniel said turning to see Oma standing next to him.

"You, and me as well." she said. "They are always watching."

"Really. Now why does that not surprise me."

Oma tilted her head with a half smile and walked away leaving a small thing of syrup on the table.

"So, where is your husband?"

"He is watching, as we all do."

"Is he watching Earth?"

"To a degree." she said looking away with her eyes and tilting her head. "Unusual events are…taking place. Something's we didn't expect."

"Can you tell me?"

"I cannot. Though I wish I could explain. I must go now. But I wish you the best and hope things work out."

"Yeah, well." he said tossing the paper into the seat next to him. "If I can't tell anyone, then it becomes pointless information."

"There is much that you can change, even here Daniel, if you think hard enough. If you see Ford again, tell him we say hi."

Daniel nodded as she walked off.

Jack was sitting at the head of the table with Teal'c and Bra'tak on his left and Jacob, Sam and Ford on his right. He really wanted to stay in bed, and was partially wishing he had as he heard the news. K-9 was at Ford's side next to the chair along with a metal box. Jack didn't know what it was, and hadn't really thought about asking, mostly because he probably get a more scientific explanation than he'd want to hear and his brain wasn't up to the task. The Jaffa didn't destroy the weapon after the SGC personal left it, and it wasn't a great idea to leave it for anyone really seeing as it had tremendous power.

"I told you two that you should have blown that damned thing up when you had the chance or at least when you left." Jack said looking at the couple.

"We had to at least be sure that all the Replicators were really all eliminated." she said holding a cup of tea in front of her.

"Even though we did apparently get rid of them all in this galaxy, there still may be more in other galaxies." Jacob said as he sat back more into the chair and intertwined his fingers.

"So we wanted to figure out how the device worked, in case we ever needed like that again." she said.

"And we did figure it out." Ford said.

"Great, now the Jaffa have something that can blow up the entire universe at the push of a button." Jack said as he leaned onto the table with his hands intertwined.

"Not…really." Ford said slowly. "You have to input the right…signal, as it were. Currently, the frequency is set to effect only Replicators."

"Still dangerous." Jack said.

"The Jaffa will defend Dakara with their lives." Bra'tak said.

"Okay, now tell me why they don't want to blow the thing up?" Jack said looking at him.

"The Temple of Dakara has become, a symbol of freedom, for all Jaffa." Bra'tak said.

"Much more, the Jaffa believe that the devices power helped free them by destroying all the Replicators." Teal'c said. "They also believe that by controlling this power, it will ensure their freedom in the future."

"And get them virtually anything they want." Jack stated.

"Not going to happen." Ford stated.

"The Jaffa would never use it to that end." Bra'tak said nodding at Ford, who he thought was backing the Jaffa.

"Sorry, but I wasn't referring to the Jaffa using it. Though I believe what you say. No offense Master Bra'tak. The weapon, won't work, at all, actually."

"Excuse me?" Jack and Jacob said together.

"He's right sir. We both….looked the weapon over and its power consumption capabilities. It's essentially…dead." she said tapping her fingers on the table lightly.

"So the weapon is worthless?" Jack asked.

"More or less sir. But, that depends on what we decide."

Everyone looked at Sam and Ford confused. Ford lifted the metal box onto the table as he stood up.

"No power, means no capability to fire. The odds are, with the data we found out, there's a 50/50 chance of it firing again, maybe. Same could be said for the Ancient outpost here, or a one shot deal at opening a wormhole to Atlantis."

He opened the metal box, which opened by folding the top down on both sides and pulled out a barely glowing ZPM.

"You found a ZPM Major Carter." Teal'c said before anyone else could.

"No, no." he said slowly as he placed it on the table. "I removed it from the Ancient weapon, at Dakara."

Teal'c and Bra'tak stiffened visibly.

"So far, the only ones that know we have this, is the people at this table." she said tapping the table.

"You two, have had that, for over a week, and didn't tell me?"

"No Jack, I have had it that long. I showed Sam last night and we confirmed what I checked out on it a few days ago this morning."

"Can I see that?"

Ford handed to Sam who gave it to her father. Ford sat down and put K-9 on the table.

"K-9, give us the statistically analysis on the odds for the ZPM please."

"Yes Mistress. Odds of success in firing weapon at Dakara, 45.38. Odds of successful firing of Ancient weapon in Antarctic outpost, 48.23. Odds of successful connection with gate in Pegasus Galaxy with Atlantis, 52.5."

"Those are not great odds." Jack said.

"The only reason why it would be best to use it for Atlantis is because they sent us that message."

"Well, I'll take it under advisement seeing as we are making arrangements to send help if possible. Are you sure that weapon is dead?"

"Well sir, think of it like a car, you take the battery out, it isn't going to run is it." she said.

"Can it be powered up any other way Colonel, Major?" he asked with narrow eyes.

"We haven't tried." Ford said. "But I'd say, probably not seeing as we can't even do that in Antarctica, and we have tried there."

"Well then, I guess we don't have anything to worry about. The Goa'uld can't use Ancient stuff and since the Jaffa don't have that sort of power, we don't have to do anything." Jack said.

"Unfortunately, there may be a plan in the works." Jacob said. "Seeing as the Tok'ra don't know anything about the ZPM being taken away. How did you bring this back without anyone seeing? Hell, me and Sam were with you." he said setting on the table. Jack picked it up and looked at it as it glowed in his hands.

"After we fired the weapon and started coming home, I went back in and pulled it out, hid it in my coat and that's it."

"Nice job." Jack said setting it in his lap.

"Where are you taking that sir?"

"I'm keeping it in my office. Where it will be safe, and warm." he said as he seemed to pet it as he left it there. "So, I guess we just leave the weapon as it is."

"The new Free Jaffa Nation will be pleased to hear this General O'Neill." Bra'tak said.

"We will not need tell them the weapon does not function." Teal'c said.

"If they ask, just tell them the power is gone and that was it's only shot." Ford said.

"Indeed."

"Is there anything else?" Jack asked with the still held the ZPM.

"Teal'c and I have arranged another meeting of the Jaffa Council." Bra'tak stated.

"Our hope is to strengthen the bond between the previously warring Jaffa by focusing on our common enemy." Teal'c said. "There are still many Goa'uld who remain a threat."

"Not for long though. Hopefully the other Jaffa out there will see that they are being used and turn on their false gods dropping the number of Goa'ulds left." Ford said.

"That is a possibility. If we can get word to other Jaffa of our victory at Dakara, then our victory over them will be assured." Bra'tak said.

"Agreed." Teal'c said.

"Alright then, everyone is dismissed. T, just let me know how it all goes."

Teal'c nodded as him and Bra'tak got up and left the room.

"Ah, Jack."

"Yes." Jack said turning around as he started entering his office.

"We aren't finished with that."

Jack bobbed his head as he thought. "No, I think you both are. We might need this and I don't want it used, yet. Go work on something else."

The two watched him go into his office.

"I guess we can go over the scans we got."

"That's the only thing we got Sam. Better than nothing." he said getting up with her.

Oma walked out from behind the counter bringing a pot of coffee over to Daniel. She grabbed his cup and started pouring as she asked if he wanted some. Daniel was just looking at his plate, which was empty, while resting his head in his right hand.

"More coffee?"

"Sure." he said dropping the hand. "Can you sit a minute?"

"Okay." she said setting the coffee down and sitting across from him. "Okay, how am I suppose to put it? Man, are my dogs tired."

Daniel didn't think it was all that funny but he nodded.

"Thanks." she said leaving onto the table. "How are your waffles?"

"Best I ever had in some ways. Almost exactly like Ford makes them."

She smiled and didn't say anything.

"Can you tell me why you stopped me from killing Anubis, when I was ascended?" he asked while playing with his coffee.

"If I hadn't stopped you, the others would have, and they wouldn't have been as nice about it."

"You mean they wouldn't have erased my memory and left my naked on a planet?"

"That was your choice." she said. He gave her a strange look. "Okay, maybe not the naked part, but I didn't totally erase your memories, even though I was suppose to."

"There. Okay. Why is it okay to break some rules and not others?"

She didn't say anything as they both looked at the front door to see the business suited fat man walk in reading a paper as he whistled. He took the same seat as before at the counter stool.

"Look, if you knew I had a problem following the rules the last time, why offer me ascension again?" he asked as she looked at the fat man.

"Because I didn't want to see you die without at least giving you a second chance." she said softly.

He rose an eyebrow.

"Look, I have trouble following the rules. I'm not suppose to actually be helping people ascend. You're suppose to do it on your own."

"But you do it." he said nodding at her to continue.

"I walk the line. Believe me, I've crossed it a few times and paid for it dearly."

She glanced over at the fat man, who was still reading the paper. Daniel thought about looking but didn't.

"My point is, you just need to be willing to put your prior human existence into the proper context."

He shook his head and looked at the table.

"Sorry, I've got to get back to work." she said getting up and taking the coffee pot with her.

"Coffee please." the fat man said as she walked by and didn't give it to him as he kept whistling and looking at the paper.

Ford and Carter were still sifting through the seemingly massive amount of data K-9 managed to get from scanning the device. Upon further investigation into the information and scans, K-9 gave them all better odds on the ZPM power level. Unfortunately, it was low enough on power it could be used just once. So far, the best bet was to use it to save Atlantis from the impending Wraith attack. Bra'tak and Teal'c returned from the Jaffa Council with good news saying that the council was pleased with the fact that the weapon, even though the Tauri believed it to be very dangerous, were not going to try and blow it up. It helped relations between Jaffa and Tauri alliance. With information they gathered, Anubis's Kull warriors seemed to be showing up at Tarturus, so a preemptive first strike was in the works by the Jaffa.

Daniel was dumping sugar into his coffee, lots of it. It was one of those sugar holders that you popped the top open on and poured what you needed, and he was really pouring. He was figuring that it wasn't going to hurt him so why not make it as sweet as possible and sweeter than usual, but still have that coffee flavor. Daniel kept pouring as he watched Oma and the fat man talk, argue looked more like the right word. But she seemed to be doing all the talking and pointing and had the angry woman look. After she left, he picked up the drowned in sugar coffee and walked over to the fat man who was looking at the ceiling and had a apple pie slice in front of him.

"Hey."

"Hey….Daniel. How's it going?" the fat man said turning to him with a smile.

"Do we know each other? I feel like I know you."

"Call me Jim. We ran into each other last time you were ascended." he said shaking Daniels hand.

"Pleased to meet you again." he said sitting down.

"So, still haven't made up your mind huh?" he said putting both hands out and flipping them as he spoke. "Death or everlasting enlightenment? Of course, I don't really see the choice myself."

"Of course I don't want to be dead." Daniel said holding his cup with both hands. "Listen, the reason I came over here was to ask you…..why are you talking to me?" he said staring at the man.

"Oh, you mean, because these other snobs won't even look at you, well with the exception of…what is his name now…oh yes, Mr. Carter's parents." he said scratching his forehead.

Daniel could swear there was a hint of resentment or anger when the man said Ford's name, but he wasn't sure.

"Yeah. Well, his mother anyway."

"Well, I'm different. Like Oma." he said casually as he continued to smile.

"Really? Because I kinda get the impression that you two don't see eye to eye." he said after looking toward the back.

"What, that little…?" he said looking toward the back and laughing. "That was nothing."

"We both operate somewhat outside the normal rules and regs, if you know what I mean." he said leaning over so only Daniel could really hear him. "We just don't both agree on how far outside we should go."

"Really?" Daniel said as Oma came around and grabbed two plates the chef in the back finished and took it out to some people behind him and Jim.

"Yeah. As long as the other guys don't strike me down, I figure I'm okay."

"I guess that is what I'm trying to figure out. I mean, I feel like if I agree to ascend, I'm signing a contract, and I don't even know what it says. Obviously I had trouble with the fine print last time." he said grumbling.

"You sure did."

"You know about that?" Daniel said in surprise.

"Sure. It's all out there." he said waving his hands in the air.

"I don't see where I can agree to stand by and let Anubis destroy every living thing in the galaxy." he said upset at not being able to do anything.

"Well, that's a tough one." Jim said looking sad. "Speaking of which, have you seen the latest?"

Daniel slid his un-drank coffee aside and opened the paper Jim gave him. It showed a picture of Anubis in his current body. The article read, 'Secret Plan Revealed. Anubis's dastardly plot to regain Ancient Weapon of Destruction.'

"Crafty, that one is. He really knows the ins and outs of the rules. You want to know the irony of it all, that device was originally used by the Ancients to create life in the Milky Way."

Daniel looked at him sharply.

"Well, recreate it after that whole plague thing." Jim said spinning his hands. Daniel picked up the paper and looked at it more intently.

"Now it all gets undone with the push of a button, and Anubis can recreate all things to his own liking. What a waste of a million odds years of evolution, huh?"

Jim turned in the small chair stool and looked at everyone shouting.

"And I think everyone here should do something to stop him!"

No one moved to acknowledge him, just kept eating and drinking like nothing happened.

"Ack." he said scoffing as he turned back around. "No one will."

Daniel kept reading as Jim yelled for another coffee.

"This is bad." Daniel said still looking at and through the paper.

"Yeah. But this pie is great." Jim said picking up his coffee cup and tilting back and forth. "But there is nothing to wash it down with."

Daniel set the paper down with a sigh.

"Can you stop Anubis? You did say someone should try." Daniel asked turning to him.

"I did, didn't I. Well, as far as what could be done, that's kinda complicated." he said frowning.

"Yeah, so Oma tells me." he said sighing again.

"Yeah, well, I don't think she has told you everything."

"What does that mean?" he asked quickly.

Jim fidgeted. "I'm saying…….I've already said to much."

"No, you haven't." Daniel said forcefully. "In fact you've hardly said anything at all."

Jim moved closer and pointed both hands at Daniel.

"You gave up eternal enlightenment, all the knowledge and power of the universe." Jim said then stopped as Oma walked by going to another customer. "Why do you think you did that?"

Daniel thought a moment as he looked a the counter.

"To fight for humanity any way I could."

"Yeah, very big of you." he said lightly then his voice turned hard. "You rejected everything Oma offered you, and now she's offering you another chance, out of the goodness of her heart?"

"That is the point isn't it?! She is ascended. She is good."

"Sure, best intentions." Jim said dejectedly as he turned back to his pie.

"Do you know what happened to me and Oma? Why did I take human form again?"

Jim licked the pie filling he got on his finger.

"You should ask Oma."

Daniel shook his head as Jim went back to eating his pie.

After a couple of hours of work on the information they had on the ZPM, they realized they were not going to get anywhere else. Seeing as there was nothing else of pressing matters, Jack let them go home and said he would call if something came up or someone at the base would call. So they went home to get working on personal things. They were sitting at the kitchen table talking and looking at the plans for the house, a couple plans for the house so when they drew on it, they had others for other ideas and such. Ford was in jeans and a button up blue shirt, partially open. She was in a blue blouse and blue jeans like him.

"Well, we could buy another house…"

"Do you want to?"

"No Sam. You picked a great house when you moved here. I really like this place. Building on won't be any trouble. That's if you want to."

"I do. I'm just not sure where. I mean, when she's still little, I'd rather her be close to us, but when she starts getting…..older…"

"Yeah, we don't want her that close to our bedroom considering…..how we go at it." he said as she laughed. "We could build two rooms or….go up like we discussed."

"Well, though that would take too long and she'll be here before then, we could think about it. We have the money, though the two room idea isn't bad. When she gets older, just move her into it and maybe build up later."

"That works then?" he asked.

"That's perfect. Now we have to decided on where to put these rooms."

"Well, they'd have to go out the back seeing as it would ruin the front yard and we can't go out the sides."

"Unless we bought out the neighbors."

"Now there's an idea." he said smiling. "Which one though?"

"Well, I don't really know either of them that well, so we can ask both."

"Want to go now or…" he said as the phone rang.

"I'll get it." she said getting up. "It's the SGC."

"That figures." he muttered getting up and grabbing his keys off the counter.

"Colonel Carter. What? When?" she said with extreme sadness and worry in her voice.

"Sam, what's wrong?" he asked lightly.

"Yeah, we'll be right down." she said hanging the phone up. "Something is wrong with dad."

"I'll drive." he said as she grabbed her coat.

If it wasn't for the incident that happened in California, she would have been fearful of his driving as he broke several laws to get to the base quickly. Also, if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation, she would have thought the drifting he did on corners was fun.

Right after the doctor got off the phone with them, a Lieutenant walked up handing a small package with a medical sign on it. She took it from the airman, was confused seeing as there was no return address, and opened it to receive a semi shocking note.

Daniel was still looking at the paper, Jim had left, and Oma came out and stood in front of him.

"Well, you can't stay here forever, you know." she said as he didn't look up. Something occurred to her. "Well, I suppose you could, but I don't see why you'd really want to, except for the great service."

She turned around grabbing the pot of coffee and poured it in his cup, that he actually drank. It was a surprise he wasn't buzzing off the walls, but then again, he normally drank coffee like that, a lot.

"Look, I obviously don't want to just die. I don't suppose there is any other options?"

"I can't get into it." she said turning around to put the pot back. "What's stopping you from ascending?"

"I don't know."

"Must be something holding you back. Making you doubt yourself." she said laying her hands on the counter.

"Maybe it's not me I'm doubting." he said looking at her as she leaned onto the counter at eye level.

"Look, whether you choose to accept living on a higher plane of existence has nothing to do with me or anything I can or can't tell you. It's all up to you."

"But there is something you're not telling me." he pointed out looking at her still.

"Is that what Jim said? You shouldn't be listening to him." she said quickly.

"Why not?" he asked knowing more than ever she was keeping something from him.

"Because."

"Good answer." he said as she stood up with a certain look.

"Yes." she said smiling as she walked away.

"Dad?" she asked with extreme worry as they walked into the infirmary.

Jacob was sitting in a bed with a variety of monitors hooked up to him. The doctor walked away to give them privacy shaking her head.

"Hey kiddo." he said in a semi weak voice.

"What's going on?" she asked real worried.

"It's Selmak."

"Oh. Is everything ok?"

"No. He slipped into a coma after the incident at Dakara. He's dying."

"I'm sorry dad. I have an idea of what it might be like. Having Jolinar that short time."

"What about you?" Ford asked softly.

"I….Selmak was suppose to have died weeks ago. I didn't want him to go just yet so I wouldn't let him."
"What do you mean dad?" she asked fearing the worst.

"We are…we're both dying. Selmak isn't going to make it."

"I received a mysterious package right after I got off the phone with you Colonel." the doctor said walking back in. "I didn't know what it was, but a note inside said to give it to your father or else he was going to die. I ran a test on the medicine first, and seeing as it turned out positive, your father let me give it to him."

"I had nothing to lose Sam. If it worked, I'd still be here, if not, then I was going to die anyway." he said weakly.

"What was it?" Ford asked quickly.

"I don't know. Whatever it really was, Jacob Carter is going to be okay, unfortunately, it isn't going to save Selmak."

"Why not?" Sam asked.

"I don't know Colonel. This is all that's left of the sample, though it has degraded. I don't think it was meant to be saved." she said handing over a empty vial that once held a clear fluid.

"How much time does Selmak have?" Ford asked.

"Feels like a few hours. Some of the Tok'ra are coming to say goodbye. I'm not going back with them. I'm going to stay here and live out the rest of my life with you two. However much time I get to do so."

"Where is she?" Jim asked coming back and sitting down near Daniel. He had his coat off this time showing he wore suspenders.

"I don't know. She's off doing whatever it is she's doing when she is not here." Daniel said with a grumpy attitude as he sat back.

"You ask her?"

"Yep."

"Wouldn't tell ya."

"Nope."

"Had to find out for yourself last time, too." Jim said looking toward the back. "Man were you pissed."

Daniel turned to him and leaned in closer.

"About what? Tell me." he said demanding an answer.

Jim looked around then leaned closer as well.

"What do you know about Anubis?"

"I know he's half ascended, whatever that means."

"There are many planes of existence. Between human existence and ascension." he said gesturing with his hands.

"Basically, the other's used their collective powers to keep him from effecting anything on a grand cosmic level." he said spreading his arms out.

"But it's okay for him to destroy an entire galaxy?"

"It's okay for him to do anything he could have done back when he was a regular old Goa'uld." he said pointing it out.

"Okay, I see. What does this have to do with Oma?"

"Goa'ulds are bad. Anubis is as bad as they come."

"And…"

"And…!"

"And ascension requires someone to be pure of spirit!" Daniel said not understanding what Jim was trying to say. "One must be pure to the core to achieve enlightenment. So how does someone like Anubis ascend?!"

"Now he's getting it!" Jim said clasping his hands together as though he was praying as he smiled.

"Oma helps people ascend, but she would never help somebody like Anubis!"

"But not on purpose."

"Wait, you mean you're saying he tricked her?! But how?!"

"Rule number one, no lone ascended being shall help a lower ascend." Jim said holding a finger up. "Lowers are what we call humans and such. If you deserve to be here, you should be able to get here on your own."

Daniel shook his head in frustration that the guy wouldn't get to the point, but decided to keep quiet so he might get all the answers.

"If there is an exception, for whatever reason, a majority vote by the collective can get you in, but Oma thinks she knows better." he practically almost shouted while sounding smart as he waved his hands around. "And she has taken her licks for it. I admit, for the most part, she's brought good people on board, but as the old saying goes, nobody's perfect."

"Not even us, higher beings." he said raising a couple fingers in the air and smiling. The smile went away quickly though.

"Oma helped Anubis ascend." Daniel said realizing what Jim meant.

Jim snapped his fingers and pointed a hand at him. Oma walked up then coming from near the front doorway. She was not happy.

"Get out! Get out now."

"Well, look at the time. Got to go kid. Got business to attend." Jim said looking at his watch. "It was nice talking to you though."

Jim grabbed his coat of the back of the chair and walked out with Oma looking at him with a mean glare. Daniel gave her almost the same look, demanding and answer.

Jacob fell asleep after they got done talking and was going to wake up after the Tok'ra showed up. Or so the doctor believed.

"I'm sorry to see Selmak go, but…I'm glad to see your dad is going to make it."

"He was dying and was going to wait till the last minute to tell us." Sam said upset as they walked through the hallways.

"I…don't know what say Sam. I don't know what to do to help." he said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"He lied to us. To me!" she said as they entered their lab. "Damn him!"

"He may have…."

"Have what?!"

"I don't know. I've never dealt with this sort of situation before Sam." he said really trying to help her. She was really upset and he didn't want to be on the receiving end. "I want to help, but I don't know how. If it was in my power to fix it, I would."

She sat down closing her eyes and muttered to him to close the door. After it was closed.

"You know, after all this time of being able to be closer, I figured he wouldn't have kept things from me. Personal things such as this." she said with the same tone as before. "All this time and he just…..typical. Totally typical. Just like when he had his cancer. Wasn't going to say anything at all."

"If it helps any, once he's out of here, back at our house, assuming you want him to come there, you can bite his head off then."

"I probably will." she growled.

"Sam,…"

"Look. I know you want to help, and I really appreciate the thought, but there's nothing you can do." she said holding a hand up. "And I don't want to take my frustration out on you. I just…need time alone. Time to myself."

"You're sure? I don't want to leave you alone unless you really are serious about me going. If you want me to stay, to have something or someone to let your frustration out on…."

"No. You don't deserve that. I'll be fine. I just need some time to think." she said pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Okay. If you need anything, just call on this or have K-9 do so." he said softly as he pointed at his watch. "Unless you want me to take K-9 to?"

"No. He can stay."

"Okay. But you are really sure?"

"Yes." she said as she sat down and waved at the door for him to leave.

He walked out, closed the door and went to Jack's office seeing as Daniel wasn't there to talk to and Teal'c, well other than being busy, was so busy before that he didn't have much married time, in a sense. And the culture difference would have been too great.

Jack was sitting in his office doing paper work when his door was knocked on.

"Come in." he said thinking more paper work was on the way.

"Hey General. You busy?"

"Major." he said knowing something was up by the tone Ford had. It wasn't a happy tone. "How's Jacob?"

"Well…." Ford said walking in slowly and sitting down. "Selmak isn't going to make it and some of the Tok'ra are coming to say goodbye from what he said."

"Yeah, they should be dialing in soon. I heard Jacob is going to survive. Some strange medical package with a miracle cure. Still having that checked out."

"If it was a miracle cure, I think there would be more of the cure for other's." he said shaking his head.

"You didn't do it, did you?" Jack asked setting his pen aside and leaning onto the desk. "Sounds like something you'd do."

"I doubt it. Don't know how I would have. I know how time travel works, but I haven't done it, much less built one yet. Anyway, I didn't come here to talk about Jacob. Though considering his age and the fact he isn't going back to the Tok'ra, he's most likely going to come home with us."

"What did you come up here for then? I don't see Carter with you so I'm guessing she's still with her father."

"No. Um, she's, in her lab. Wanted….some alone time." he said slowly as he looked at his hands that were fidgeting.

Jack's eyebrows raised in a questioning manner as Ford looked back up.

"Okay Jack, I need some help. This being my first and hopefully only marriage till she dies of extremely old age or they find a way to make people live longer lives or if I get lucky, live forever with me, I need some advice from someone who was married. I'm being completely serious and hope you do the same." he said with a warning tone.

"Oh. Well, I'm glad to hear you trust me enough in that regard." he said sincerely. "What's going on that you need my advice?"

"She's basically upset and told me to go away for awhile, but she's not mad at me. Just wants some alone time. I asked if she really wanted me to go and she did, so I left and she didn't call me back. And to get me is easy since…" he said tapping his watch as Jack nodded getting the message. "She's never actually told me to go away for any reason before. I don't know what to do, I'm totally lost. Should I go back or…."

"You want to know if it is…sometimes normal?"

"Yeah. I know it happens sometimes, but what do I do? I want to help, but…"

"Well, from personal experience, Sarah has told me to go away on more than one occasion, but usually cause I did something wrong."

Ford said nothing, but Jack figured that he would have made a smart remark or something to that nature. He knew it must be something when Ford really took the discussion seriously and didn't make a smart remark.

"And?"

"Oh, well, I usually just tried my best to make it up to her and it usually worked. And also tried to not do that mistake again."

"What about…"

"Your problem?"

"I'm not actually calling it a problem. And it's nothing I did."

"Okay then. Well, in this case, it's best to wait till she calls you or go back in an hour or so and check on her. Seeing as she doesn't want your help, you can't do much else. Unless something comes up that's work related, just stay away for now."

"Thanks Jack. I couldn't think of anyone else to talk to and you're more experienced anyway."

"Not a problem. That's what friends are for."

"Unless she ask, we never really talked." Ford said getting up. "I didn't know anyone else to go to and I trust you more with this sort of thing because of what the subject was."

"What conversation?" Jack said feigning ignorance as Ford left.

Teal'c, Bra'tak and most of the rebel Jaffa fleet were cruising through space and had just came out of hyperspace at Tarturus. They were on approach to the planet talking.

"The time has come for this ancient warrior to fight one final battle." Bra'tak said standing next to Teal'c who was flying.

"I think not old man. This victory will present us with many new challenges that will require your wisdom and sound judgment."

"What are people will require is a youthful, vital leadership, and that is something others are better suited for."

"You're only as old as you believe yourself to be." Teal'c said smiling.

"Hmm. Talk to me in fifty years."

Teal'c looked over at him.

"Indeed I will."

Bra'tak nodded and smiled as well.

"So, it's true?" Daniel asked sitting in the booth again. Oma was sitting across from him now that he had demanded answers.

"He tricked me." she said slowly.

Daniel waited a moment. "How? You couldn't tell?"

"No. He must have found some old Ancient research on ascension. When he came to Kheb, he knew what he was doing. When I realized the horrible mistake I made, I tried to undo it, but I couldn't." she said pausing. "That's when the other's stepped in."

"I don't understand, they only sent him halfway back. Why couldn't they all the way?"

"It's complicated."

"I noticed. What isn't around here?" he asked rhetorically.

"They warned him. He wasn't allowed to use any knowledge or power unless he otherwise would have gained it, as a Goa'uld."

"I don't understand. They let him reek havoc. They don't care if he destroys all life in the entire galaxy, life that they themselves created." he said tapping the table with both hands.

"They haven't stopped me from continuing my work." she said calmly. "I've tried to make up for it, help when I can. Though I had no real hand in it, your friend Ford is some of that help, though you already know why he's there."

"Yes. To fight the Wraith."

She nodded.

"What's your punishment?"

She said nothing.

"You're forced to watch, powerless to interfere, and to let Anubis do whatever he wants, all because of you." he said understanding it suddenly.

"I told you before, the galaxy you're from, the plane of existence, is so small and insignificant compared to the rest of the universe."

"I don't care. It's wrong." he stated.

"That's what you said last time." she said with a small smile.

Daniel was upset now. He got up addressing the room.

"Isn't it enough already! I mean a whole galaxy of innocent people being enslaved and tortured for generations!" he said looking around. No one paid him any attention and he didn't see either of Ford's parents around. "Now on the verge of being destroyed for nothing?!"

They still paid him no attention.

"For what?! For one person making a mistake on trying to do a good thing." he said waving a hand around the room. Oma looked down at the table then back at him, or at his back anyway.

"Come on! The least you could do is listen to me! That can't be against the grand highfalutin cosmic rule!!!" he yelled.

Still no one paid him any attention.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

He walked up to the booth behind the one he was sitting in and tried to grab some black guy by the lapels. He only manage to put his hands through him and get partially blinded by a bright light that came from where his hands went in. He backed off and the man paid him no attention.

"Okay." he said lightly. "I know you can hear me. Hasn't she suffered enough already?"

They still kept eating or reading, completely ignoring him.

"And certainly enough people have suffered enough to punish her. Don't you think you've made your point?"

"That's the thing Daniel." Oma said making him turn around. "I keep breaking the same rule. I keeping helping people ascend. That's why you are here."

"What if you stopped?" he said leaning on the booth.

"Wouldn't undo the problem." she said smiling lightly still. "That's why I keep doing what I do. Anubis can't be killed. Not by you, and not be me. And neither can Ford."

"Sure as hell won't stop him from trying." Daniel muttered.

"True."

"What can Anubis do to him?"

"Worse case, kill him. Which would be a bad thing in so many ways." she said with a grimace.

"Do you mean for us on Earth or here?" he asked unsure. "I'm reaching here, but I'm guessing that he'd be ascended.

"Yes. And there would be a lot of fighting and arguments that you can't even begin to understand."

"He try to come back wouldn't he?"

"More than likely, he'd be sent back before he could even say anything."

At Tarturus, the same planet where Carter, Jacob, Teal'c and Ford went to when Daniel was captured by the Hondurans and Jack went to save him, the rebel Jaffa were searching the large base. Jaffa were walking through the whole building. Teal'c walked up to a junction as Jaffa moved past him. Bra'tak walked up quite angry and in a huff.

"He is not here. No one is here." he said extremely upset. "The defenses we fought through were automated."

"We have been deceived." Teal'c said sadly but also upset.

"Anubis feed us this intelligence to lead us here, the forces guarding Dakara are depleted."

"We could not have known brother."

"You are right old friend. Perhaps the device at Dakara should have been destroyed. We can only hope Anubis cannot get it active again." he said placing a hand on Teal'c shoulder. He patted it then walked away.

Sam and Ford were behind a glass panel watching as Jacob, Selmak actually, was saying goodbye to his Tok'ra friends. There was three of them in there at the moment. Others had already came and gone. Jacob didn't look well though. Jack came in as the two kept looking out the window. Carter had her hands in her lap as she looked out the window. Ford had his head resting on his intertwined hands. They both had tear filled eyes.

"Hey."

"Sir." she said wiping her eyes.

"General." Ford said not looking in his direction.

Jack grabbed the other chair and sat down next to Ford seeing as Carter was on Ford's right.

"How you guys doing?"

"I'm okay sir."

Jack looked out the window then at Ford with a raised eyebrow.

"Major?"

"I'm…fine."

"You don't sound like it."

"Ah…no offense, but you never had a companion long enough to understand the loss." he said slowly. "There are still days I miss having Herc."

"What? Oh, I get it." he said slowly. "No, I don't know."

"I know what it feels like sir. It's almost like you lose part of yourself." she said slowly.

"I…can understand that….some." Jack said looking out the window again.

"Once…when I had Hercules, he and Selmak had a nice long chat. Discussed some personal things, some things about what my plans were for the future and some things about Sam. I enjoyed it and so did Herc. We didn't get to talk much after that incident at the Alpha site where we were trying to make the weapon against the Kull warriors. We or they tried a few times. After Herc left, it hurt, but knowing I was coming home to be with Sam…for as long as possible." he said taking a deep breath as she looked at him. He just kept looking out the window though. "She…you helped me get through that loss without knowing you were doing so. I only hope that knowing he'll be a grandfather within several months will help him cope with the loss."

"I've never known Jacob to give up." Jack said placing a hand on their shoulders as he got up. "He'll make it through this."

She nodded grabbing his hand.

One of the Tok'ra looked up at them. They both left Jack and came down rather quickly.

"Dad?" she said grabbing his hand.

"I…loved you both as though….you were truly my family. Take care of Jacob. He will need you both more than ever." Selmak said slowly and in a low voice. Jacob's eyes slowly closed, then his body completely relaxed as the doctor came over.

"Doctor?" Carter asked quickly.

"He's asleep Major, Colonel." she said after a minute. "I don't know when he will wake up, or if, but you'll be the first to know. Though all indications show he should."

They left the room slowly as did Jack in the observation booth. As they entered the hallway, he stopped.

"You…still want me to stay away or…"

"No." she said walking into his arms. Once back into her lab, the door closed, she let herself break down into his embrace.

Daniel and Oma were still sitting at the booth, and were talking when they heard the noise of the front door being opened by the small bell it hit. Jim had just walked back in and was carrying another newspaper.

"Can I get a coffee?" he asked with a sigh as he leaned on the side wall of the booth.

"Get it yourself." she said smiling flakily at him.

"Don't mind if I do." he said with a smile as he walked around going behind the counter. "Ooh, hey Danny boy, you see the paper?"

He dropped it on the counter and grabbed the pot and looked for a cup.

"No, what's it say?" he said barely sounding like he cared.

"The trick worked. Those stupid Jaffa took half their ships to hunt down Anubis. Meanwhile, his army was poised to attack Dakara. The remaining rebel Jaffa that are guarding Dakara are being slaughtered." he said pouring a cup. "It's only a matter of time before old Anubis gets his hands on the weapon."

"I'm sorry, but you almost sound happy about that." Daniel said looking at the table.

"Well, who? Me?" Jim said as he stood behind the counter drinking his coffee.

"Yeah. What do you have against Oma?" Daniel said turning to him.

"Daniel…" she started saying.

"No. I want to know. You're not just coming in here watching, you're coming in here to rub it in." Daniel said as Jim put his coffee down and leaned on the counter with both hands. "Why are you taking such pleasure in her punishment?"

"Me? I've got nothing against Oma. I think she's great. Don't I?" he said forcefully as he looked at her. Daniel looked at her expecting an answer.

"Hell, she's the one that helped me, ascend."

Daniel looked at him with more interest as Jim pointed at him smiling with a almost wicked smile.

"You got it now." he said with the smile as he picked up his coffee.

"You are Anubis."

Anubis laughed hard as he lifted the cup and saluted him with it.

"Cheers." he said still laughing.

"The rebel fleet that was guarding Dakara have fallen to the forces of Anubis." Teal'c said as he stood at the side of the table that faced the gate. Jack was looking out at it, but turned around.

"Bra'tak and the remaining ships will not arrive in time." he said as Carter and Ford walked up from downstairs. "Anubis now controls the weapon."

"Well, we have nothing to worry about, except getting the planet back for the Jaffa." Ford said.

"Unfortunately that is not so."

"Oh hell no." Jack said rubbing his face. "Wait, don't tell me…"

"He figured out a way to activate the weapon?" Carter asked, obviously insulted she still hadn't figured out how to do so with the Antarctic weapon.

"Intelligence reports we gathered before the planet was taken over fully indicate that it is possible Anubis can activate the weapon." Teal'c said.

"Fine, then we get the biggest damned nuke we can find and shove it through the gate!" Jack said making a gesture of tossing an object.

"Anubis will certainly have the gate shielded. It will not arrive in one piece." Teal'c stated.

"Damn. I was about to suggest letting me go take the planet back myself."

"I don't think so Major. Anubis probably knows your weakness and I'm not raising a daughter alone." she growled.

"Yes, right, what was I thinking? Silly me." he said quickly at her glare as he fidgeted and looked away. "Very stupid suggestion."

"Well, then what can we do?" Jack asked obviously flustered and frustrated. "Give me something."

"If we can dial the Alpha site, then maybe we can prevent the wave from effecting either planet." she said after a moment. "It may only buy us the thirty eight minutes…"

"Go, go. Do it." he said shooing them away.

"Sergeant, dial the Alpha site, now." she said coming off the metal stairs first. The gate started dialing, then something went wrong.

"Wait a minute, that's not me."

"What?" both Carter's said.

The gate stopped, then started dialing again.

"Incoming wormhole!" Walter announced as he closed the Iris.

"Nothing is going to stop that energy weapon." Carter said.

"If it is the weapon." Jack said.

"Not unless I cut the ring in half." Ford said.

"That could take out the base, theoretically." she said.

"Better that than the whole planet Carter." Jack said.

"No Iris codes." Walter said.

"Everyone else abandon the base. I'll cut it in hal…."

"I'll do it. Go get that sword of yours." Jack said. "Just in case, Carter, let's set the self destruct."
"Sir, that might not…"

"Just do it with me." he said typing away.

"Do we order the evac sir?" Walter asked.

"Wouldn't matter. When the self destruct goes off…"

"Got it sir."

"You do make a great cup of coffee." Anubis said setting the pot back and walking out from behind the counter.

"Your friend Ford thought he could stop me from using the weapon by taking its ZPM. But I know things." he said pointing at his head.

"Well, I got to go. Got a galaxy of my own to create."

Daniel looked at Oma then got up and rushed him, only to go through him. Anubis turned around chuckling as he spread his arms out.

"There's nothing you can do. You don't have the power."

"But I do." Oma said standing up.

Anubis turned around, loosing the smile as everyone in the place looked up at them. She was engulfed in a bright light then it went away to show her in a very light blue like suit.

"You can't kill me either." he said with a small laugh.

"I can fight you."

"You can't win."

"It won't matter, you won't be able to do anything but fight me back."

"What are you going to do?" he said with a mocking tone.

"Something I should have done a long time ago." she said walking forward.

"No…..no…no!!!!" he said as they both touched and were engulfed in a bright light before Daniel. The light suddenly exploded like a firework and then there was nothing there anymore.

Daniel walked forward looking around, then at them all that were now looking at him.

"You're too late." Jack said as Ford entered the room with the sword in hand.

"What?"

He looked down seeing the self destruct counting down from ten at a fast rate.

"Well," he said sticking the sword in the floor and grabbing her hand. It was evident he was thoroughly pissed off, but didn't explode. "It was fun. To bad the time machine is so far away. This situation sucks."

"Yes, it was." Jack said as they watched the countdown. "And it does suck."

It suddenly stopped at 1:27, then slowly went down. The gate suddenly shut off.

"Wormhole disengaged."

"Strange, what's going on?" Carter asked.

"Right at the moment, I'm not really thinking about that." Ford said typing in his code quickly.

"Must be a system malfunction." Walter said as the self destruct was aborted. The gate started back up moments later.

"I'd say wait ten minutes or longer then shut it down." Ford said as the computer screen said they were dialing the Alpha site. "Just in case."

"Wow." Jack muttered as he tried to pull the sword out a moment later. "You can…take this…away...now."

He somehow managed to get it out and being unaccustomed to its weight, nearly dropped it on the controls.

"Nice Jack. I'll take that before you accidentally hit someone, like yourself." he said grabbing the hilt.

"I'm not that bad!" Jack said as Ford put it back in its sheath.

"Alpha site established." Walter said.

"Great. Give it ten minutes. Better inform the Colonel why we're calling." Jack said. As they started to leave, something occurred to Jack and a few other's. "Wait a minute you two! How in the hell did you shut off the auto destruct without having another pass code?"

"Bypass. I'll explain later." he said walking out.

"Yeah. You'll explain it to me first though. How'd you do that?" she asked jerking a thumb.

After putting the sword away, they all went to the briefing room to talk after Bra'tak showed up. As they all sat down at the briefing table, Ford was missing.

"Where is he?" Jack asked.

"Right here Jack." Ford said coming from Jack's office and sitting next to Sam who was on Jack's right. "I was putting something in your office."

"Which was?"

"A robe."

They all gave him confused stares.

"I don't know why. Just found a note attached to the wall where my sword goes that said take a robe and put it in your office as I went to this meeting."

"Who wrote it?" Carter asked.

"It was typed and I didn't go looking for K-9."

"Oh. Well, let's get down to business. Master Bra'tak."

"We arrived at the planet not having to fight a single foe. The ships in orbit did nothing to stop our approach. As did the ones on the planet. The Kull warriors were disorganized and confused. As though they no longer knew what to do." Bra'tak said.

"They had no master to serve." Teal'c said with a smile.

"With that, they were easily defeated." Bra'tak said.

"Nice." Ford said.

"Indeed. Many Jaffa lost their lives at Dakara, but those that survived are united like never before. And we have come to a agreement. The weapon must be destroyed."

"That's good." Jack said.

"A new memorial will be erected in its place, so that our triumph over the Goa'uld will never be forgotten." Bra'tak said.

"You do know that that means…leveling the mountain?" Ford said.

"Indeed."

"Okay, just so you know. Wait, we should dismantle it. Might find some interesting things we can use later. Anyone ever figure out how he was going to fire it?"

"We did find another ZPM, but it's power was depleted. We can only assume that he knew a way to, re-charge it." Bra'tak said.

"Bummer." Jack said. "If only he had for us."

"You know, I'm still at a loss as to what happened. We were about to blow up the base, Anubis was about to fire the weapon, then…nothing. Like he was suddenly gone." Carter said.

"Indeed. It is a great mystery." Teal'c said.

"Oh hell, it is not. We all know who did this." Ford said sitting up in the seat. "It's blatantly obvious."

"You're right. See, I told you all there was nothing to worry about." Jack said waving his hands.

"I do not understand." Bra'tak said.

"They believe that Daniel Jackson is somehow responsible." Teal'c said.

"Nope. No I'm not." a voice from Jack's office said. Everyone, with the exception of Bra'tak and Ford seemed slightly surprised.

"Sounds like he's on the floor in your office Jack. Finally decided to come back Daniel?" Ford yelled.

"Ah, yeah. I guess so." he said a little loudly.

"I think I just realized why I was suppose to bring that robe." Ford said as Jack got up.

"Don't come in!" Daniel yelled as Jack started to enter.

Jack turned away quickly and walked back towards his chair. Moments later Daniel walked out with a SGC issue green robe on tied tightly around him.

"It's a….long story."

"Well, go get some clothes on then come back here and give us all the details." Jack said about to push him out, but decided to drop his hands.

"Right…I'll…you know. Ah, who knew I needed something to wear and where to put them?"

"I got a strange note. That's about all I know." Ford said.

"Okay, thanks. Oh, your parents say hi. They didn't come to you did they?"

Ford was…a little shocked and sad. "Thanks. And no. Would have been nice though."

He came back about fifteen minutes later and they got the story.

The next day, Jack had somehow managed to get Sam to try and go fishing at his house in Minnesota for once, since eventually she'd be constantly at home. Daniel was sure surprised, but congratulated the two on the expected baby. The biggest problem cropped up when he asked if a betting pool had started. Jack then started it saying when he believed the little princess would arrive. By the end of the week, most of the people that were regulars at the SGC, were in the bet. Since Ford and Carter were rich to begin with and would probably know the exact time in a few months anyway, thanks to K-9 and Janet who was asked to be their personal doctor for the ordeal, so they were not allowed to make any bets.

Jack, Sam and Ford were sitting on the end of his dock with poles in the water. All in casual clothes. Sam in a dark blue long sleeve shirt and blue jeans, Ford in a black turtle neck and blue jeans and Jack in a dark blue heavy shirt with blue jeans. He had his sunglasses on and a hat. Ford had his sunglasses on too. Carter had hers hanging from her shirt collar.

"This is nice. We should have done this sooner." she said slowly reeling in her line.

"I told you. Many, many times." Jack said and then lightly smacked Ford's arm since he was next to him. "Didn't I tell you to try and get her out here as well."

"I did try, on several occasions." he said baiting his hook.

"There's no fish in this pond is there?" she said.

"Nope." Jack said as he tossed his line out again. Sam laughed.

"I always thought you were joking." Ford said as he tossed his line out.

"I thought you fished here?" she asked.

"No. We went fishing other places. Mostly big lakes since I could afford it and didn't mind paying. Jack almost had me buy him a large yacht. But I talked him out of it since he'd never have time to enjoy it. Maybe later."

"Yes, we caught some big ones then." Jack said as he slowly reeled his in.

Daniel and Teal'c came walking up and set a couple chairs down and a cooler. Jack was drinking a beer. Sam had a diet Pepsi out.

"I don't like fishing and getting skunked. But in this case," Ford said setting his pole down as reached for a pop from the cooler they brought. "The company is worth every min…"

His pole suddenly was jerked off the dock and into the water splashing water into his face. Ford was still hunched over in his seat with his hand in the cooler in front of him. His bobber dropped and didn't come up as he tilted his head and then turned to Jack with a questioning look.

"Jack?"

"I saw that too Daniel." he said lowering his glasses.

"Are you sure there's never been any fish in this pond sir?"

"Ah…I've never caught any or ever had a bite in this pond."

"Something strange is going on. Three unusual things going on. That's not a coincidence." Ford said wiping his face off. "And that was a good pole too. Damn expensive as well."

"Coincidence huh, probably not Ford." Jack said sitting back again. "But now we can enjoy fishing to see what's out there. Then you can cook it or I can." he said with a smile.

"Well, if we ever find out who's done these things, we can thank them." Sam said as she got a bite suddenly.

They ended up getting three large Rainbow trout, a couple pictures, and Ford did get stuck cooking them, or more to the point, he insisted on cooking them after finding out that Jack was going to show him how he liked to cook, which usually included dumping beer on the food as it was grilled. Daniel and Teal'c didn't like the idea of beer flavored food and Teal'c just stayed away from alcohol to begin with. Ford mostly insisted seeing as Sam was not suppose to touch alcohol at all. Jack conceded at that point. He never got his pole back, ever.