Disclaimer: Don't own it, wish I did, I just like to play with SG-1 once and a while. I'll put them back when I'm finished. I promise. (And if I owned it, Stargate SG-1 would run forever.)
Beta Reader: (Original): Pollyanna
Beta Reader(2013): Edited by Jon from stargatetwins dot com (Typo's are all mine.)
Reviews: Scottiedog: Yes Kayla is a stubborn as her father. Nightshae: You're going to have to wait to find out who the spy is I'm afraid, it doesn't happen in this chapter. And to answer you question, yes Reynolds does know who Jon is, which is why he wanted him on SG-3. winjan: father and daughter will get face to face and don't worry about Mitchell and Kayla, they'll be fine.
Author's Note: A big thank you once again to Polly for beta reading.
DF
Chapter Six: The Blood Stone Part 2
Cameron gritted his teeth as the Jaffa held him down, and the gold bracelet was snapped onto his wrist. "Get off me you son of a…" He never got a chance to finish, as the Jaffa holding him down slammed his head hard against the bench top and blackness took over. He woke to find his head throbbing, and somebody's fingers gently caressing his forehead. Blinking his eyes open, he grimaced, and closed them again as his stomach rebelled. "Oh god."
"Cam." Kayla grabbed the wet cloth from the bowl and squeezed the water from it. She laid it flat over his eyes; his head lay in her lap. Her head was throbbing too, and she knew why. "Just lay still, it'll pass."
"What happened?"
"Ba'al ordered his First Prime slap kor mak bracelets on our wrists," she explained, a slight waver to her voice, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. "And evidently, Ba'al modified them."
"How?"
"Not only can we not be apart from each other, you'll feel pain if I get hurt, and visa versa."
"Great," he grumbled. He felt her fingers gently caress his hair, and slowly his headache eased, and then went away. He sighed. "Thank you."
"For what?" She was a little confused, and after opening her eyes, she realized that her head didn't ache any more, not that she was complaining.
Cameron pulled the cloth from his eyes and slowly sat up, facing her, throwing it into the bowl. "The thing with your hands, took my headache away."
Kayla hadn't even realized she'd done anything; she'd just wanted his pain to go away, just as she'd wanted hers to go. "I don't know what I did, but you're welcome."
He noticed she was no longer dressed in her fatigues, and now wore leather pants, calf hugging boots and a leather vest top that was laced together at her breasts, covering them, but the tightness of the material outlined and emphasized them; all of it was in black. "Nice look, Jackson." He remarked taking a deep breath, damn she looked good.
"Ba'al's idea, but I'm not alone in his fetish for leather," she informed and gestured to him. "You came in looking like that."
He had on black leather pants, boots and a silk black t-shirt, that was stretched to show off his chest and arms. "You've gotta be kidding." Getting up, Cameron took a look around the room they were now in. It wasn't their usual cell; this was a lot better. "So, we're what, guest's now?"
"I don't think so." Hearing footsteps, she got up and stood beside him.
The door to their right slid open, and a man walked in. They noticed Jaffa guarding the door outside before it shut. "I am Na'ven," he introduced himself. "You are in the Lotar's quarters."
"Lotar?" Cameron looked questioningly at his archaeologist.
"Personal servant," she answered.
"Aha." He glanced back. "If Ba'al thinks we're going to serve him, then he has another thing coming."
"You will do as my Lord wishes," Na'ven directed, but put a finger to his lips, warning them to be silent. He shoved his other hand in the pocket of his coat, activating a device, jamming all electronics in the room and sending a false recording to the audio-video feeds. "I am Tok'ra," he told them. "We don't have much time, this room is being monitored. I have momentarily disrupted the signal."
They were surprised and relieved at the same time. "Can you help us escape?" Cameron wanted to know.
"Yes, when the time comes. There are two of your warships on an intercept course, they will be here in less than twenty hours, you must be ready to leave at that time. The shields on this ship must be brought down so you may be transported from it."
"Can you do that, when the time comes?"
Na'ven nodded. "Yes. The two of you are in danger though; Ba'al has plans for you both, more than just breaking your spirit."
Kayla swallowed hard. "He wants us as hosts?"
"Yes, for his queen and for himself."
She hugged her middle in a self-protective response. "I will die before I let him put a snake in my head."
Cameron put his hand on the back of her neck and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I won't let him, Indiana, you have my word."
Na'ven arched an eyebrow; he'd heard these two Tau'ri were close. "I will do all I can for the two of you."
"Thank you, Na'ven," Kayla said quietly.
He removed his hand from his pocket. "You will attend Lord Ba'al; any attempt to harm your God will result in your death."
"And a trip in the sarcophagus for both of us," Cameron whined. "Yeah we get it."
"Lord Ba'al waits," he commanded, and gestured to the door, seeing them hesitate. "I assure you, Colonel Mitchell, keeping Lord Ba'al waiting will only cause trouble."
Seeing they had no choice at this point, they followed Na'ven out; their Jaffa guards at the door falling into step behind them. Cameron glanced at Kayla and discreetly gave her a hand signal; she returned it understanding what he wanted. Neither knew if they could trust Na'ven, whether he was telling them the truth, or only what they wanted to hear. Slowing their pace, they let the Jaffa get closer, Na'ven glanced back and frowned, wondering what they were doing. As they reached the next corridor, Cameron and Kayla made their move, surprising both Jaffa, bringing them down using the skills they'd been taught by the Sodan. The Tok'ra agent found himself facing two Zat guns.
"What are you doing?" He hissed.
"Sorry, Na'ven, old boy," Cameron taunted, his southern charm showing through. "We can't be sure if you're Tok'ra or not; and if you are, well, to keep your cover, it's best you don't know anything."
"You're making a mistake," he warned them.
"Well, it's our mistake to make." Kayla held up her wrist with the bracelet, "How do we get these off?"
"Ba'al has the key in his chambers, within a small ebony chest."
Cameron groaned. "This has not been a good day."
"No kidding," Kayla agreed, and fired the Zat, hitting Na'ven. He collapsed in a heap at their feet. "If he's Tok'ra, we've probably just saved his life."
"Probably. Let's go," he urged, and they headed back the way they'd come. "Do you know where Ba'al's chambers are?"
"Unfortunately," she remarked, and led the way. They didn't get far when klaxons went off.
"Looks like they found Na'ven and our Jaffa," Cameron stated.
"Yeah."
He suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into an alcove, pushing her flat against the wall, pressing his body against hers, the alcove partially in darkness and shadow. They heard the marching Jaffa approach, as well as voices. He pushed her further into the shadows as a Jaffa appeared at the alcove opening, they held their breath and prayed they wouldn't be seen. The Jaffa looked in and then stepped back and walked away.
"Close," Cameron whispered in her ear before pulling back a little.
She tried to ease her ragged breathing, but having him pushed up against her it wasn't easy, she could feel the muscles ripple across his back underneath the t-shirt. She ached to run her hands down his back, but fought against it. She looked up into his blue eyes and saw the same wants. "We should go," she said quietly.
"Yeah, there's one thing before we do." He leant closer again. "Something I want you to know in case I don't make it," he said and whispered the next three words in her ear.
She smiled warmly, cupping his cheek in her hand. "I know," she brushed her lips against his and whispered his words back.
He grinned like a kid at Christmas. "We should get going."
"Yeah, we should."
Leaving the alcove, they kept their Zat's ready as they made their way through the ship to Ba'al's chambers; slipping inside the large room.
"Whoa, somebody has over decorated," Cameron exclaimed looking around.
Kayla chuckled and went in search of the ebony chest while he kept a lookout. She found it after a few minutes and opened it; it was full of jewelry and polished stones. "I've got it."
"And we've got company," he announced, coming further into the room, joining her. "So which is it?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted.
"Well, grab whatever and let's go."
She did, shoving the items into the pocket of her pants, it was a damn good thing they did have pockets. She closed the chest. "Where to?"
Cameron looked around and noticed the air duct. "Up there," he gestured and headed over to the wall. He gave her a leg up so that she could pull the grate free and climb in. Turning, she reached down and helped him inside. He pulled the grate shut and followed her. They crawled on their hands and knees as quietly as they could. "Where are we going?" he asked after a few minutes, keeping his voice down.
"I don't know," she whispered back. Stopping, she sat uncomfortably in the small area. She hated small areas. "Any ideas?"
He shook his head. "I don't even know where we are," he remarked quietly. "But there has to be another exit around here somewhere."
Nodding she got back on her hands and knees and started crawling, ignoring the cheeky grin on his face, he was enjoying this a little too much, or he was enjoying the view of her ass a little too much. She wasn't sure which. Finding another grate, they found it opened into a supply room. Forcing it open, they jumped down into the dimly lit room.
"I think we're safe for the moment," he told her quietly. "Now we just have to hold out until the cavalry arrives."
Kayla found a corner to sit in, putting the Zat down on the floor beside her. "You bring a girl to the nicest places, Mitchell."
He chuckled and joined her on the floor, leaving his Zat beside him. "Thanks, Jackson," he slipped his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head against his. "I meant what I said, Kayla," he said seriously.
"So did I, Cam," she declared. She studied the bracelet on her wrist for a moment. "These are like the set Vala had; she said they were some weird Goa'uld Nut marriage thing."
"Nut? As in cashew?"
She chuckled. "No, the Egyptian sky goddess."
"Aha, sorry, never heard of her," he teased.
"Well, after she nearly slapped one on my wrist, and was thrown into a nice comfortable brig, she fed the story to Jack; telling him that they were ceremonial marriage bracelets. That Nut wore one, and her husband of the moment wore one."
"Of the moment?"
"Yeah, Vala said she had many."
"I bet the General didn't fall for it?"
"No, he just told her she was full of it," Kayla remembered, and then added, "In the reality we visited, the Daniel there told me Vala had succeeded in putting the bracelet on his wrist. SG-1 had been disbanded, your doppelganger was it, and he was trying to get them all back together when Vala arrived. She caused Daniel to miss his ride to Atlantis, and because of the bracelets, they ended up meeting the Ori."
"I guess we were lucky," he unconsciously stroked her arm with his fingers. "Your dad was already gone by the time I got to the SGC, by about two weeks; Sam left a week after him and then Teal'c. I'd missed them all," he sighed. "I'd walked into the SGC on a nice April morning, expecting to be a part of a team made up of Sam Carter, Daniel Jackson and Teal'c. Only to have General O'Neill sit there as smug as hell, and tell me I wasn't there to join SG-1, I was there to lead it. I was speechless."
She smiled a little, it sounded like something Jack would do. "When did you bring Ryan into the team?"
"I was handed a mountain size bundle of personnel files and told to put together my team, and after a week of interviewing I was ready to scream. Then Michaels walked in, he made an impression right away. After about five minutes I offered him the position and told him to get his ass around the other side of the table and help me out. He just grinned, got up and changed seats."
"He reminded you of Sam, didn't he?" she guessed.
"Yeah he did," Cameron admitted. "Two weeks later I gated to Dakara and asked Teal'c to come back and join us," he paused. "Actually I begged."
Kayla giggled. "You didn't?"
"I did, and it wasn't pretty," he chuckled. "Anyway, he accepted, and I guess the big guy really missed SG-1, because he was ushering me back to the Gate faster than my feet could hit the ground. But I didn't care, I was getting the band started, it wasn't the original band, but it was the band. Then a couple of months later you turned up, I'd just lost my seventh archaeologist and was ready to beg the General to ask your dad to return." He leant over and kissed the top of her head. "I'm happy I didn't though, and I'm glad you were there."
"Me too," she said drowsily, her eyes drifted closed.
Resting his head back he closed his eyes for a quick moment; he didn't intend too, but he also drifted off to sleep.
DF
Ryan Michaels walked into the Odyssey's briefing room and found Daniel Jackson at the table, a cup of coffee next to the computer tablet he was reading. "Dr. Jackson, do you mind if I join you?"
Daniel looked up. "No, please, and call me Daniel."
He nodded and sat down. "I was wondering if you'd made any headway with Kayla's research."
"Some. Kayla is a lot better at setting out her research notes than I ever was," the senior Jackson remarked with a smile.
Ryan handed him the PDA he'd had brought to him before they'd left Earth. "It's Kayla's; she had it with her when we were captured. They found it in what was left of her vest. I thought she might have some current notes on it."
Daniel thanked him and downloaded the information to the tablet; placing the PDA next to it. "You're all close to Kayla."
Ryan nodded. "I think of Kayla as a little sister," he admitted a little embarrassed by the confession, it wasn't that he was embarrassed by the thought of it, but more in discussing it with her father. "I cherish her, she's the best friend a guy could have," he clenched his hands together nervously. "I know she didn't have a great childhood after her mom died and we've all tried to make her a part of our family. All of us, the Colonel especially; he takes care of her, on and off world."
"He loves her," Daniel stated, seeing the young major knew what he meant.
"Yes, sir, he does," Ryan agreed. "And he won't let anything happen to her, not if he can help it. Losing Kayla would be harder on him than anyone realizes. She pushes him and makes him look at the decisions he makes, the way he sees a situation. And he pushes her, to be who she is, not who they want her to be."
"Who do they want her to be?"
"You, Daniel," the younger man answered truthfully. "Ever since she came to the SGC, they've compared her to you. Slowly though, she's making them realize she isn't you. Even when she does something that screams you," he chuckled. "General O'Neill just rolls his eyes. I've even heard him mutter Danny clone under his breath."
Daniel chuckled. Trust Jack. "The General and I go back a long way, I guess he can see me in Kayla more than anyone else."
Ryan nodded slowly. "I remember Colonel Carter use to talk about you a lot when we worked together. She talked about all of SG-1, but mostly about you. I'm glad you found each other."
"Thank you."
Teal'c walked into the room with John and Jonas. "We have a problem," the Atlantis team leader informed.
"I received a message from my contact on Ba'al's ship," Chandra informed. "Colonel Mitchell and Dr. Jackson have escaped and have so far eluded capture, they are hiding on the mothership."
"I thought your contact was supposed to assure them we were coming and have them wait," Daniel stated a touch defensive.
"I assure you, Dr. Jackson, Na'ven did just that. However, your daughter and the Colonel had other ideas."
"Look, Daniel, we know they're still on the ship, and Na'ven is still going to have everything ready by the time we get there, so we can still find them, and the information, and beam them out." John said calming the situation down.
"Colonel Sheppard is correct, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c agreed.
He nodded. "I know, Teal'c." He sat back and rubbed the crook of his nose, a habit left over from when he wore glasses. "I'm just tired."
John and the others sat with them. "Did you get any sleep last night?"
"Not much," Daniel admitted. "I keep thinking we're missing something."
"What?" Ryan asked.
"I'm not sure, and that's what bothers me."
Jonas had taken back control from his symbiote. "After listening to you all, I have a feeling Kayla is a lot like you, Daniel."
"Too much from what Jack says," he said with a smile.
"Oh, she's like Daniel," John agreed chuckling. "Damn stubborn, passionate, ambitious, intuitive, ethical, a little absent-minded, and has an insatiable curiosity. Not to mention that she can be diplomatic when she wants to be."
"You have described Daniel Jackson, Colonel Sheppard." Teal'c declared.
"Thanks Teal'c," Daniel grumbled.
"It's true, Daniel," John stated, remembering. "She is so damn stubborn. She once flew to McMurdo to visit me when I was stationed there. It wouldn't have been so bad, except she had a cold and her allegories were playing up, but she came anyway. We had a great week, even though she was sick, we were together though. It was also the last one we had together, before she and the rest of SG-1 arrived at Atlantis." He saw the curious looks he was being given. "She came and saw me April of 2004, July of that year I went to Atlantis. I left her a message, but we didn't talk again until Atlantis."
"She found Jack in August of that year and was sent to the Alpha site," Daniel filled in; having repeatedly read the file Jack had sent him. "She didn't come back to Earth until the day after her 23rd birthday. I doubt she even knew you were on Atlantis until she got back."
He nodded. "She rang mom and found out I was on a mission, she put two and two together and found out the rest from General O'Neill."
"When did your parents foster Kayla, Colonel?" Jonas asked him.
"Um '95', she was pulled out of the foster home she was in because the family thought she was too difficult to handle," John answered. "I came home on leave to visit my family, a cocky Captain, to find she'd taken over my room. She was a skinny 13 year old with glasses who sneezed a lot and barely spoke. Mom warned me, but nothing could have prepared me for our first meeting. She was sitting in the corner of the bedroom, a book in her lap reading. When I walked in, she tried to get herself as far into the corner as she could, she was terrified I was going to take her book from her."
He paused, getting his feelings in check. "I walked slowly over to her and sat down on the floor in my class A's and just talked to her, telling her who I was and what I did. After about an hour of me going on about everything and anything, she put her book down and crawled over. She asked if she could look at my ribbons. I told her she could, and she ran her fingers over them, and my wings; then said very softly that she liked to fly; that before her mother had died they'd gone flying a lot."
He smiled sadly. "I didn't know what to say. Mom had said she'd barely spoken since they'd brought her home, but she sat there and she told me about her mom, the accident, being in the hospital, the foster homes, how she loved to read and that she wanted to go to college and be an Archaeologist. I'm not sure why she told me, but I listened. I guess somehow she knew she could trust me."
"Perhaps it was because you both possess the ATA gene, Colonel Sheppard," Teal'c theorized.
"Maybe, Teal'c, I don't know, all I knew was I'd found a friend and a little sister," John told him. "I saw her every leave after that, even after she went to college and became an emancipated minor; we still kept in touch. As far as we were concerned, she was family. She wrote to me all the time, telling me about College. The summer she spent in Egypt, I got letter after letter; she was so excited to be on a dig at the Valley of the Kings." He saw Daniel smile, knowing he would have had the same reaction. "Of course, two summers later she went to the Polynesian Islands on a dig and was just as excited. The next year she received her last two doctorates and was offered a position at UCLA, she accepted and I helped her move."
"I'm glad she found you and your family," Daniel told him. "Thank you."
"Mom and dad fostered a lot of kids, but Kayla, she was special," John said sincerely. "In her own way, she gave them something, too, and they never forgot that."
Jon rushed into the room, "Colonel Emerson wants everyone on the bridge."
Daniel grabbed his daughter's PDA, shoved it into his pants pocket, and they left the briefing room, none of them had even noticed they'd dropped out of hyperspace. Reynolds was on the bridge, along with Teyla, Ronon and McKay.
Colonel Paul Emerson acknowledged them, "Long range scanners have picked up not only Ba'al's mothership, but two more Ha'tak ships."
"Do they know we're here?" John asked.
"Not at the moment, we're staying out of sensor range."
"Sir, Colonel Pendergast is hailing us," the communications officer reported.
"Put him on," Emerson ordered, and turned to the screen. It flickered, and the Colonel came on, "Colonel Pendergast."
"Colonel Emerson," he greeted, and then became less formal. "It seems our plan is shot to hell, Paul, any ideas?"
"We were just about to discuss the situation, Lionel," Emerson told him. "Care to join us?"
"I'll beam over," the CO of the Prometheus announced, and the screen went black.
Emerson turned, "Alright, people, we need to work this out." He stood and gave orders to his 2IC, before leaving the bridge for the briefing room, with the SG teams and the Tok'ra agent following. They took their seats, and Colonel Pendergast arrived moments later.
"We need a plan," Emerson told them. "General O'Neill is counting on us to bring Colonel Mitchell and Dr. Jackson back in one piece. Suggestions?"
"We could ring aboard," Jon put forth.
Daniel sat back in his chair. "That would get us aboard the ship, but we don't know where Mitchell and Kayla are."
John pulled a small device from his pocket and handed it to him. "We do now."
"What is that?" Pendergast inquired.
"It's a close-range Alteran life-sign detector. Colonel Carter modified it slightly."
"It can be programmed to pick up only Kayla's and Mitchell's life signs, oh, and the Tok'ra agent" Rodney added. "Of course, you still have to have the ATA gene to work the device."
Jon plucked it out of Daniel's hand and looked at the screen; it worked fine for him. "Do we have two of these?"
Rodney didn't comment, but reluctantly pulled his out. "We do."
"All right then, we split you up into two teams," Emerson ordered. "That way you'll cover more of the ship. Mr. Quinn, you'll accompany SG-3, sabotage what you can while you find your agent, and get him the hell out of there. I have a feeling he's not going to want to stay. Colonel Sheppard, Teal'c can go with you, find Mitchell and Jackson." He saw the man nod and addressed Michaels. "Sorry, Major, but you're staying on board till you get better."
"Yes sir," he said, disappointed.
"The shields on Ba'al's ship will deactivate seconds after they are raised," Chandra announced, taking control with his host's blessing. "We must hurry though; they will only remain down for a short time."
"We'll keep the Odyssey and the Prometheus out of sensor range. When you have your packages, radio in, and we'll come in and get you out." Emerson informed. "Questions?" He saw them shake their heads. "All right, let's get our people back."
The two teams left the room and headed for the fight deck.
Pendergast turned to his fellow ship commander, "Neither the Odyssey or Prometheus is capable of taking on three Ha'tak vessels."
"I know," Emerson stated. "Which means it'll have to be a snatch and grab, we get in and get out before they can fire a shot."
Nodding, the Prometheus CO stood. "I'll cover your backside while you do," he promised. "Just make it quick."
Emerson stood. "I'll be quick, Lionel," he stated. "I'm not going to hang around for any fireworks."
DF
On Ba'al's Ha'tak, Cameron heard screaming. It took him a moment to realize it was his own screams as pain raced throughout his body; every nerve felt super sensitive. They had found them in the storage room, and hauled them to their feet. They had been taken before Ba'al, and it had begun. He wanted them to break, but neither was going to give the bastard the satisfaction; he could make them scream all he liked, they wouldn't give in. The pain stopped, and he slumped forward. Only the chains held him upright. The memory device attached to his temple was the latest torture device. Modified, it created pain, without bringing forth memories.
"You are a stubborn man, Colonel Mitchell."
He looked up, breathing deeply. "Thank you."
Ba'al frowned, then stepped back as two Jaffa came in, dragging a barely conscious Kayla Jackson between them. They chained her up beside Cameron. She was waiting for her chance though, and as soon as they chained her hands she grabbed the chains and used them for balance, lashing out, kicking the first Jaffa in the face, the next one in the groin. Ba'al activated the device in his hand, and soon she was screaming in pain; induced by her own memory device. He turned it off. "Tell me what I want to know, and I will stop this."
"Go to hell," she snapped, her breathing ragged.
He handed the control device to his First Prime, and ordered the other two Jaffa to stand back. Taking a knife from his boot, he walked over to Cameron, but spoke to her. "Perhaps I have not been giving you the right motivation." He ran the blade of the knife down Cameron's chest and then with a quick thrust, plunged it into his right side. He heard the Colonel swear, seeing him gritting his teeth against the pain as he pulled the knife free, smiling mirthlessly as he walked over to her, the blade dripping with blood. "Was that motivation enough, Dr. Jackson?"
"Don't tell him anything, Jackson, that's an order!" Cameron hissed at her. His side felt like it was burning, but he wasn't giving in.
Ba'al ignored him. "Come now Dr. Jackson, do you really wish to see the Colonel bleed to death?" he asked her. "Tell me where to find the Sangreal, and he goes into the sarcophagus."
"I don't know," she told him, pulling on the chains, her throat felt raw. "I don't know."
He ran the blade down her arm, slicing open the skin as he went, hearing her cry out. "I think I'll give you both some time to think about it," he said with a smug smile. "I'm sure you won't let the Colonel bleed to death before you make up your mind, but just so you know, I'm not going to play this game too long." He moved the knife and plunged it into her right thigh, she screamed, tears streaked down her face, he turned and walked out of the room with his men, leaving the knife embedded in her leg.
"Kayla," Cameron called her name.
She looked at him, breathing deeply; her whole body now felt like it was on fire. "I'm okay."
"The hell you are," he said, wincing as every breath sent pain driving through him. "Hang on, help will be here soon," he urged her. "They'll get here."
She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut. She could feel his pain because of the damn bracelets, just as he could feel hers. She blinked, her eyes open again, her sight blurred by more than just pain and tears. She couldn't tell Ba'al what she didn't know; oh, she had ideas, but nothing solid. They were going to die because she didn't know. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Cameron shook his head. "No, Kayla, this isn't your fault," he insisted. "Damn it, you can't tell him what you don't know."
She saw the puddle of blood growing on the floor, his blood, and hers. She knew he was going to die, just as she knew she was, but maybe they had a way out of this that Ba'al didn't know about. They could ascend. She'd studied her father's notes, the ancient database; she knew it was a way out for them.
"Whatever you're thinking; stop it," Cameron ordered her; he'd seen the look that had crossed her face.
She heard his breathing becoming more labored; she felt it. "We can ascend."
"Ascend?"
She nodded, "We can do it."
"Indiana, you may be able to accomplish ascension, but I don't think…"
"Yes you can," she snapped at him, pain laced her voice. "You have a good heart and soul."
"There's so much you don't know about me," he said softly with regret.
She smiled, in her heart she knew all she needed to. "You are a good man, Cameron Mitchell and I am not leaving here without you."
He managed a smile. "I hope you're right, Kayla."
"I am," she assured him.
DF
Jack wandered into the doctor's front office at SGC, the Lieutenant rose quickly to her feet. She was new; he waved her down. "Lieutenant Stephens, I'm only going to say this once. Stop it. You're going to have officers walking in here at all hours; you can't be constantly jumping out of your seat."
"Yes, sir,"
"Now, is Dr. O'Hara free?"
"Yes, sir, her next appointment isn't for another thirty minutes." Stephens answered.
"I'll be quick then." He gave her a grin and walked into the main office, shutting the door, he leant against it. "Dr. O'Hara, do you have a minute?"
"For you General, of course," she said with a sexy purr to go with his playful mood.
He chuckled, leaning off the door. "I'm going to have to stop that, aren't I?"
"Yes you are," she mused, relaxing back in her chair. "What can I do for you, Jack?"
"We've received word from the Odyssey, they're putting another plan into action; their first one came up against a few problems."
Margo nodded, running possibilities through her head. "I could end up with a few extra patients, once this is over?"
"Yes, you could," he took a seat. "But that's not all I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh?" she was curious now, especially because he was fidgeting.
Jack cleared his throat. "We've been together now for a while," he saw her nod. "You know how I feel about you and Drew."
Margo knew, because she knew Jack. "You love us both."
He nodded, "I do, and I've found I can't imagine life without you. You and Drew are my family."
She got up from behind her desk and went round to him. "What are you trying to say, Jack?"
He stood and took her hand in his, "I'm trying, very badly, to ask you to marry me."
She smiled her heart racing. She loved Jack so much that she knew how hard that had been for him. She pulled her hand free and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, Jack."
"Yes?" he clarified elated.
"Yes," she giggled and kissed him.
It took a moment for his brain to catch up, but eventually it did and he kissed her back, holding her in his arms. After a moment though he pulled away, they were in her office. "As much as I'd like to continue this, we can't; rain check until tonight?"
"I'll stop by my place after I leave, and pack a few things for Drew and I before I pick him up from Mrs. Wills, then we'll head over to your place," she told him and took a tissue from the box on her desk and wiped the lipstick from his mouth. "You'd better not be late home tonight, General."
"No, Ma'am," he promised, grinning. He kissed her forehead and hurried out of the office, waving to the Lieutenant on his way out.
He was halfway to his office when Jacob joined him on the elevator.
"Jack, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary," the Tok'ra agent said, amused by it.
"I'm getting married again," he revealed.
"You proposed to Dr. O'Hara?"
"I did."
Jacob laughed and slapped the General playfully on the arm. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Jack said. "Now, I just need my kids home to make this perfect."
"We'll get them back, Jack, you know that."
"I know, and I also know what Ba'al is capable of."
"If he wants the Sangreal, he'll keep them alive," Jacob assured him.
"Yeah, but for how long," Jack wanted to know. "I know Kayla, she won't talk, she's tough like her dad, but she'll also do anything to protect Mitchell, just as he'll do anything to protect her."
"They're SG-1, Jack, that gives them an advantage," the ex-general told him. "That, and they're too stubborn, the two of them, they'll make it."
Nodding, Jack knew he was right. They were SG-1, and SG-1 had more luck than a cat. However, even a cat ran out of lives eventually, and that worried him. "Jake, at times like this – being in command…"
Jacob understood. "It never gets easy, I know. Nevertheless, you also know Mitchell and Kayla; you know they'll hang on until help arrives. And you know Daniel will get them back. He has the best backing him up."
"Yeah he does," Jack agreed.
DF
John moved quietly down the corridor on Ba'al's Ha'tak, keeping the P-90 ready, and the life sign detector held so he could see it. It had been programmed to track Mitchell and Kayla; they were the blue dots, the red ones were Jaffa. When they'd ringed aboard the ship from a cloaked Goa'uld cargo shuttle, Mitchell's had blinked out, now it was back, alerting them he was out of the sarcophagus.
Daniel came up behind him and glanced over his shoulder at the LS detector. "He's back," he whispered.
"Yeah," John answered him. "We've got to hurry." They'd stunned the Jaffa in the ring room using the Wraith stun pistols they carried, which meant they'd stayed undetected for the moment. John handed the LS detector to Rodney. The man was good with computers, but was a lousy shot. Therefore, he did what he was good at. Ronon and Teyla brought up the rear; Teal'c was at Daniel's side, with orders not to leave the man alone, not that the Jaffa would.
Further down the corridor, Rodney signaled that he had just passed the location of the prisoners. Everyone then positioned themselves to either side of a door, each getting a look at the LS detector to see where their people were before it was put away. Rodney stood aside as they rushed in, weapons firing. Daniel took out Ba'al before the Goa'uld could activate his personal shield; his Jaffa guards going down in a rain of bullets and pulse blasts from Ronon's gun.
"Ronon, Rodney, Teyla, watch the door," John ordered. The others rushed over to Mitchell and Kayla, quickly getting their people out of the chains. Both were badly beaten, and it was obvious Ba'al had not been healing them completely in the sarcophagus, just enough to keep them both alive.
Daniel lowered his daughter to the floor, being careful of her leg. A knife was still protruding from her thigh, and her arm had a nasty gash down it. "Kayla," he pulled a dressing from his vest and wrapped it around her arm.
She blinked her eyes open, "Dad?"
"I'm here, honey."
Teal'c held her leg, "This knife must come out, Daniel Jackson."
Cameron pulled away from John, and fell next to his archaeologist; he grabbed her hand. "Ba'al has us bonded together," he whispered. "Kor mak bracelets, he modified them."
Kayla gripped his hand, "Pull the damn thing out Teal'c." He nodded and gripped the handle of the knife. As he pulled it out; she buried her head into Cameron's shoulder, crying into it, muffling the sound. He bit his lip, breathing through the shared pain.
Teal'c threw the knife across the room, "I am sorry Kayla Jackson. Colonel Mitchell." He then placed a field dressing on the wound.
Both were breathing hard. "Ba'al has the key to these damn bracelets; all we found in the box in his room were trinkets," Cameron told the Atlantis team leader.
John went over to the dead Goa'uld and searched him, found the key, and released the two of them from the bracelets. "Okay, we're good to go, let's get out of here."
"More than good," Cameron insisted.
He tapped his radio earpiece. "Reynolds, this is Sheppard, we have our packages; how are you doing?"
They felt the vibration of an explosion before Reynolds replied, "We're good to go, Sheppard, shields are down, permanently."
"Then let's get out of here," he told him. "Odyssey, this is Sheppard, SG-1, 3 and Atlantis team, are good to go."
"Sheppard, this is Odyssey, we're on our way."
"We have enemy soldiers approaching, come towards us!" Teyla yelled from the door. Ronon began firing in both directions down the corridor, keeping the others covered. The others joined them and continued firing as the Jaffa rushed down the corridor from both directions. They switched places to reload and cool their weapons, finally stopping when they felt the transport beam take them. Suddenly they found themselves on the flight deck of the Odyssey.
"Let's get out of here," Emerson yelled to the pilot and navigator. His ship was now under attack from the other two Goa'uld motherships, but their shields were holding. "Get Mitchell and Jackson to the infirmary!" The order wasn't necessary, as the rescue teams were already headed off the bridge and down the corridor, followed by medics who had been standing by and were now rushing to keep up. Teal'c had scooped Kayla up into his arms and rushed out; Daniel and John had grabbed Cameron's arms, while Rodney and the Tok'ra agent had grabbed his legs. Everyone else followed the injured out the door, clearing the bridge. Emerson had enough to deal with. "As soon as we're clear, make the jump!" he ordered the pilot, sitting to his left at the helm.
"Yes sir!" she called back.
"Where is the Prometheus?"
"Flanking us, sir," answered the navigator.
The ship was hit with another energy blast, causing the lights to blink. "How are the shields?"
"Holding, sir," the Lieutenant answered.
The pilot noted a green light on her console, "We're clear sir, jumping to hyperspace," she answered as they disappeared into the hyperspace window.
"The Prometheus?"
"Following us, sir, returning fire," his 2IC reported from behind the command chair, where he could monitor the screens and video feeds, "Repair teams have been alerted, but so far no reports of damage."
"Thank you, Major. Nice work everyone. As soon as we're able, I want a message sent to Stargate Command, telling them the mission is completed. Take over Major, you know where I'll be."
"Yes sir," his 2IC acknowledged as Emerson headed for the infirmary.
In the infirmary John sat next to Daniel, who looked exhausted from healing his daughter as much as he could. "How are you doing?"
"Peachy," the archaeologist remarked, a little sarcastically, and then sighed. "Sorry, John, we needed the intel."
"It's okay doc," he assured Daniel. "Believe me when I say, I wanted to take out Ba'al just as badly as you did."
Teyla came out of the ICU and sat next to Daniel. "I am sure Kayla and Colonel Mitchell will be fine, Daniel. You're daughter has proven to be stronger than she appears, and General O'Neill says Cameron is too stubborn to give in."
He smiled slightly. "Thanks, Teyla."
Ronon and Rodney returned from some errand, and wandered over as they reported, "The Tok'ra have headed to quarters, Emerson has a guard on them both."
"He trusts Jonas, but not Na'ven," Rodney added. "SG-3 also said to let them know if blood donors are needed, they are all willing."
"Kayla is the same blood type as I am," Daniel remarked. "AB negative, I don't know about Mitchell."
"Colonel Mitchell has O type blood." Teal'c informed them, pleased that he knew such details about others.
"He's covered then," John stated. He looked to his team members, "Why don't you guys get cleaned up, I'll stay with Daniel."
"We'll come back when we're done," they promised, and headed off.
It was then John noticed Daniel staring at his hands - there was blood on them where he had grabbed his daughter's leg, sealing the wound. "Look, Daniel, I'm guessing it's going to be a while before we can talk to them, maybe we should get cleaned up too," and looked to Teal'c for support, making a gesture with his head.
Teal'c caught on. "Colonel Sheppard is correct Daniel Jackson."
"I'm fine," Daniel insisted.
"Daniel," the fact that Teal'c only called him by his first name, made the man look. "You would not want your daughter to see her blood on you; her first thoughts would be that you were hurt."
He knew Teal'c was right. Nodding, he stood, along with John. "Yeah, I'll um, go get cleaned up."
"I'll stay, Dr. Jackson," Ryan told him. "If anything happens, I'll let you all know."
"Thanks Ryan."
He smiled as Sheppard and Teal'c guided the man out of the infirmary. When they were gone, he sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn't gone with them, but he felt exhausted, more emotionally than physically. Leaning back, he closed his eyes and waited.
Teyla was the first to return, and sat down, "Are you alright Major Michaels?"
He opened his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I dozed off," he sat up. "John and Teal'c managed to convince Daniel to get cleaned up."
"That was a good idea," she said with a warm smile. "You are all very close to Kayla."
"She's family."
Teyla smiled again. "Then she is very lucky," she told him. He nodded, agreeing with her.
Ronon arrived a few minutes later with Rodney, a few minutes later, Daniel returned with John, Teal'c, and Jon O'Neill. Colonel Emerson found them all waiting outside of ICU.
"Any word?" he inquired.
"Not yet, sir," John answered. He wasn't surprised when the man sat down, waiting with them. This was SG-1, they were legendary, even this new SG-1.
When the Odyssey's CMO finally came out, they all stood, wanting to know the news. Doctor Nicholas O'Reilly acknowledged Emerson. "Colonel."
"How are Mitchell and Jackson?" the Colonel asked.
"Both are resting comfortably, sir," he reported. "Colonel Mitchell's injuries were 75 percent healed; even so we found he'd lost a lot of blood, which we're replacing. It's his exposure to the sarcophagus that has me concerned though. He reported that he was repeatedly placed in the device, for different lengths of time; he's already showing signs of withdrawal."
"And Kayla?" Daniel inquired, his arms crossed protectively across his chest.
"Dr Jackson; we are replacing the blood she lost, and have her on antibiotics to steam any infection. Using the Ancient healing gel you brought with you, I've treated the wounds you were unable to seal. She's also showing signs of withdrawal, but not as bad as Colonel Mitchell. We removed the implants glued to their foreheads by using a weak solvent. Both are having a reaction to bright lights at the moment, and Dr. Jackson's eye sight is blurry. I'd like her to see a specialist when we return to Earth."
"Can we see them?"
"Yes, but only two at a time," the doctor insisted.
"You and Sheppard go in," Jon told Daniel, and the rest of them agreed.
The two men followed the doctor into the ward, noting dimmed lights. Cameron and Kayla were the only ones in the ward, their beds side by side.
"Not too long," the doctor told them and left.
Daniel and John quietly walked closer, the archaeologist going over to his daughter. She looked pale, dark circles under her eyes, a nasal cannula in her nose. She was hooked to a heart monitor, and a pulse monitor was clipped to her finger, as well as having a blood pressure cuff around her uninjured arm. The injured arm was bandaged and strapped up in a sling. She looked too young to be a part of it all, too young for the burdens of the job. When he touched her hand, she woke, blinking her eyes, squinting.
"Dad?"
"I'm here," he told her.
"Cam?" she asked.
"I'm here, Kayla," Cameron told her; there was a waiver to his voice, he'd woken when they'd walked in.
"You're both going to be fine, kiddo," Daniel told her; he rubbed her hand gently.
"My eyes, hurt," she told him groggily.
"It's going to be all right, Kayla, I promise," he said softly. "Close your eyes." He put one hand over her closed eyes, and the other over her injured arm. He closed his own eyes, breathed deeply and slowly, concentrating, healing.
"What's he doing?" Cameron asked as he saw John reach out and place his hand on Daniel's back, and noticed a tiny glow at the contact point.
"Healing her eyes," John replied in a whisper. "Do you need anything?" He noticed the man's hands were shaking a little.
Cameron whispered back, "No, the doc said it's just the effects of being in the sarcophagus."
Daniel removed his hands, opening his eyes. Kayla was asleep, peacefully, by the readings from the monitors. Daniel turned as John removed his hand from his back, and whispered, "Thanks for the assist." He then noticed Cameron; the usually strong Colonel was in pain from an addiction that Daniel knew far too much about. In addition, his daughter was going to go through the same thing unless he did something. He turned to his friend. "Can you get Jon in here, I want to try something."
John nodded, "Sure." He headed back out to the waiting room. "Hey, O'Neill, Daniel wants you."
The younger man nodded and went with him, the two of them going into the ward. "Daniel?"
He turned. "I want to try and heal them of the withdrawal," he revealed. "I'm going to need both of you to help."
"How?" Jon asked him. He saw that Mitchell was once again asleep, as was Kayla.
"You both have the ATA gene, naturally, without the therapy treatment, so I think it'll work with you."
"What do you want us to do, Daniel?" Jon asked him.
"We need to get the beds closer, so I can touch both of them at once. I don't think I can do this twice. I'm about tapped out from healing her leg, arm and eyes," Daniel stated. Both men moved quickly, being careful of IV lines, returning to stand with him between the two beds.
"What now?" Jon questioned.
Daniel took his daughter's hand and then Cameron's. "Put your hands on my shoulders, and be ready to catch me when it's over."
Jon wasn't quite accepting of what he could contribute, but he trusted Daniel and did what he was told.
Sheppard didn't think Daniel had any energy left, and had a feeling some risk was involved, but it was worth a try, "Okay, Daniel, be careful."
Nodding, Daniel closed his eyes and began, and as he concentrated, his hands glowed. This time however, the glow slowly spread, until both Cameron and Kayla were covered in a pale light. Then the light was extremely bright for a moment, then back to pale, before dissipating altogether. Daniel collapsed backwards, and an equally drained Sheppard and Jon barely caught him as they all gently fell in a heap.
Dr. O'Reilly returned from his short break in the canteen, witnessed the three on the floor, and urgently whispered, "What the hell is going on?" He waved at the stunned ICU staff, "Nurse, get these men onto a bed."
Sheppard and Jon waved them off, indicating that they were OK, and helped the nurses get the unconscious Daniel onto a bed next to his daughter. Dr. O'Reilly hurried over with a tray full of drugs, ready for anything. Checking for pulse and respiration, he looked up at the monitor the nurse had attached to the patients forehead, and found that Daniel was in a deep sleep. He then checked on his other two patients. They were still both asleep, their blood pressure was better, as were their heart rates. He turned to the two men. "So, now we have three men playing at doctor. What did he do?"
"Daniel healed them of the withdrawal, and a few other things." John revealed. "Healing, though, exhausts him; he'll probably sleep for about an hour."
"Alteran healing?" When Jon nodded yes, he added, "And if it's more than an hour?"
"Then he could be in trouble, doc," the Colonel said bluntly.
Over the next hour, the rest of SG-1, Sheppard's team and Jon kept a bedside vigil. They stayed out of the way of the doctors and the nurses, but they didn't leave. As two hours approached, they began to worry. Daniel hadn't woken, and neither had Kayla or Cameron. Finally though, Kayla stirred and woke, and immediately noticed that her eyesight was perfect, without glasses. She had noted a slight improvement after being placed in the sarcophagus, but now she could see everything clearly at a distance. She immediately had flashbacks of flying in a glider, worried that she would not be able to spot power lines in time.
She was brought back to the present as she heard Teal'c ask, at her side, "Kayla Jackson, how are you feeling?"
She turned to him, "Sore. What happened?"
"Your father healed both you and Colonel Mitchell of the ill effects of using the sarcophagus."
In the bed next to her, Cameron woke from the sounds, "Hey guys, what's going on?"
Ryan was on the other side of the bed, and answered, "You're going to be fine, Colonel," he told him. "Daniel helped; he healed you of your sarcophagus addiction."
"Why is he unconscious?"
"Healing someone drains him," John declared, worried, "but he's never been unconscious this long before."
"He's done this more than once?"
"Oh yeah, your Major there wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Daniel," the Atlantis team leader declared.
Kayla pulled herself up, hissing as pain from muscle soreness raced up her leg and arm. "Give me a hand, Teal'c."
"You should not move, Kayla Jackson," he warned her.
"I'm fine, I just need to stretch to get the cramps out of my limbs." Over the protest of the nurses, she removed the sensors and pulse monitor. Gripping Teal'c's arm, she swung her legs off the bed, thankful she wore scrubs. She slowly slipped off the bed, smiling as the Jaffa kept her upright, taking her over to her father, while Jon moved the IV pole so she didn't pull out the needle. She perched on the bed with her father, then reached out and took his hand, squeezing, "Dad; come on dad, I need you. We all need you to wake up."
Cameron pushed his sheet back and sat up; carefully swinging his legs off the bed. He grabbed the IV pole after disconnecting himself from the monitors, and smiled as the nurses threw up their hands in protest. With Ryan's help, he stood and walked over to Daniel's bed, standing on the other side of it. He put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Come on Doctor J, it's time to wake up. Pancakes are on the menu!"
The others gathered around, all of them urging him to wake up. Doctor O'Reilly rounded the corner of the ICU unit, and was shocked to see two of his patients out of bed, but backed off at the frown Ronon gave him. Colonel Emerson, who'd returned to check on them, gently waved the Doctor to hold tight.
Kayla squeezed her dad's hand again. "Wake up, dad, please." She felt her hand being squeezed, and smiled. "Dad?"
Daniel opened his eyes, seeing them all, and asked in a groggy voice, "Hey, what does a guy have to do to get a good night's sleep around here?"
"Well, it's about time, Jackson," Cameron jeered, grinning, and then removing his hand as he slowly headed back to bed.
Daniel turned away from Kayla, "Mitchell, you are too much like Jack for your own good at times, and where are my pancakes?"
"Thanks, and about that breakfast..."
Daniel groaned, and then frowned, "What are the two of you doing out of bed?"
"My thoughts exactly," the doctor retorted.
"Get back into bed, the both of you," Daniel told them sternly.
His friends laughed as they helped both Cameron and Kayla back to their beds, the nurses reattaching their monitors, making tsking sounds.
John patted Daniel on the shoulder as he helped the man sit up, legs swinging off the bed. "Nice work there, doc."
"Yeah," he agreed, "This time."
"Every time, Daniel," his friend insisted.
"How long," Daniel asked him.
"You were going on two hours," John answered, knowing what he meant.
"It's getting longer."
"Yeah," his friend patted his back. "So stop doing it, that's an order."
He smiled sheepishly. "Yes sir."
"Good man."
"Oh, please," Rodney mumbled as roamed the room, bored as usual.
"Hey, would somebody explain to me what is going on?" Cameron asked, interrupting.
Hopping off the bed, Daniel shoved his hands into his trousers, and began his explanation, with the doctor listening very intently. When he was finished, he saw Cameron glance at Kayla, who arched an eyebrow. "What?"
"After a rather intense session with Ba'al and his ribbon device, we were given some sarcophagus time, and then had the bracelets put on," the Colonel revealed. "I woke up with a headache from hell, in the Lotar's quarters, along with Kayla."
"We were to become Ba'al's personal assistants," she added.
"That explains the leather," Rodney remarked, remembering the exotic clothes Kayla had been wearing.
"Oh, yeah, Ba'al's idea of servant wear," Cameron said sarcastically. "Anyway, Indiana there puts her hands on my forehead and after a few minutes my headache is gone, and since we were sharing pain, so was hers."
Daniel looked to his daughter. "Did your hands tingle, and feel a little numb?" He saw her nod, removing his hands from his pockets; he crossed his arms against his chest. "That's how mine are. When I heal something, more than a scratch, they glow."
"How's that possible?" Ryan asked. "I thought it was only Ancients who had healing abilities."
Daniel agreed with him. "It's also evolution. The ability can be depleted, by mixed breeding, out of a race; or improve by cross breeding. The last time Jack had the knowledge of the Ancients in his head, he was able to heal as well. His evolution was sped up because of the download, allowing the mind to alter organs that produce cells, and hence introduce the Alteran gene into the rest of the body."
Rodney was now interested in the conversation, "Carson theorized that Daniel has evolved after ascending and descending twice, thus activating the genetic codes of the Alterans."
"And Kayla?" Cameron wanted to know.
"Well, like Sheppard, she has the gene naturally; I suppose it was just a matter of time before we saw the evolution degradation reverse itself by accidental breeding."
"Well, as fascinating as this is, my patients need their rest," the doctor interrupted, and then addressed Daniel.
"Dr. Jackson, if you don't want to spend a night in my infirmary, I suggest you have a decent meal and then an early night."
"Got it." He kissed his daughter on the forehead. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay."
He left with the rest of his team, which still left the rest of SG-1 and Jon. The doctor wasn't falling for it. "Oh no," he told them. "Out, all of you, you can see the Colonel and Dr. Jackson in the morning."
Emerson smirked at their expression. "Let's go, Major, Teal'c, Mr. O'Neill, we've taken up enough of the doctors time." Reluctantly, they left with the Odyssey's commanding officer. Dr. O'Reilly checked his patient's vitals, and then left them alone.
Cameron managed to roll onto his side, wincing a little as he faced his archaeologist. "Are you sure you're all right?"
She smiled. "I'm fine, I promise," she reassured.
"Indiana, we've talked about this, you scaring me," he teased. "I don't want to go grey before my time."
Kayla chuckled, "I'll try and keep the grey from your hair, Cam."
"Okay," he let it go. "So, you think the doc has a pack of cards lying around?"
She smiled, shaking her head. "I'm not playing cards with you, Mitchell."
"Oh come on, Jackson."
"No," she told him, and closed her eyes, hearing him grumbling as she grinned. Then realized she'd forgotten to ask her dad where his glasses were. She sighed, she'd ask him tomorrow.
DF
Walking out of the SGC base hospital ward, Dr. Lam smiled as she saw the General and Dr. O'Hara talking. The whole base knew of their engagement, and so they enjoyed the good mood the man was in. She acknowledged them happily. "General, Dr. O'Hara."
"Hey, doc, how are the kids settling in?" Jack asked her. The Odyssey and Prometheus had returned an hour ago; Mitchell and Kayla had been beamed directly into the infirmary, and into Dr. Lam's care.
"Good General. In fact, if they keep doing so well, I'll release both of them tomorrow afternoon." Carolyn reported. "They'll have to take it easy for a while, light duties, but I don't see any complications. They'll be back on full duty within the next couple of weeks."
"And Daniel? Sheppard told me what happened."
"Daniel is fine, Jack," she assuring him. "His team is cleared to head back to Atlantis whenever they're ready."
"Good, Carter is driving me nuts, calling me up and asking me when he's coming home," he groused. "I mean, doesn't she realize how much it costs to make a call from the Pegasus galaxy. Verizon is killing us."
Margo slapped his arm. "Behave. Besides, we use MagicJack!" And that made Dr. Lam laugh.
"Yes, Ma'am," he said. "I'm going to see my kids, ladies," he quickly kissed his fiancée's cheek and hurried into the ward.
Carolyn smiled, "Whatever you're doing, Margo, I suggest you keep doing it."
Margo grinned cheekily. "I intend to," she mused and they both giggled, finding the whole thing amusing.
Jack strolled into the ward and over to where Teal'c and Ryan Michaels were seat next to Mitchell's and Kayla's beds. "Colonel, what have I told you about looking after my girl?"
Cameron smiled. "I did my best, sir. In fact, I'd say she did a pretty good job of looking after me," he praised.
"Of course she did, she's a Jackson," he dismissed casually. "I hear the doc is springing you both tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
"You couldn't convince her to let us go today, could you, Uncle Jack?"
He rolled his eyes. "When you want out of the infirmary, I'm 'Uncle Jack'. When you're begging me to let you go off world on some crazy wild goose chase, I'm plain old 'Jack'."
She giggled. "You're not old, Jack."
"Thank you, sweetheart."
Carolyn Lam had been listening at the door, she walked in. "So what are you supposed to be sweet talking me into, General?"
"These two want out, today," he told on them.
"They do, do they?" She smiled at them both while shaking her head no. "I think tomorrow is good enough. Even though I'm continuing to dress all wounds with the Ancient healing gel, they should spend at least twenty-four hours in my care, stretching muscles, looking for torn ligaments and malfunctioning brain cells."
"Oh come on, Doc, I feel fine," Cameron complained.
"So do, I," Kayla added.
"That's because of the painkillers, Dr. Jackson," Carolyn said, finding it amusing.
"I can take them at home, just as well as I can take them here," she pointed.
"She has a point, doc," Jack agreed.
Daniel came into the ward. "Hey Jack, guys. What's going on?"
"Your daughter and Colonel Mitchell want to leave my care, Daniel," Carolyn said, holding back from grinning. "I would have thought after two days in the Odyssey infirmary, they'd enjoy my lovely establishment."
"Janet found sedation was a good trick," he offered. "Well, that's how she kept me in here."
"She was a sneaky woman," Jack added.
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.
Cameron looked over to his teammate. "We're doomed, Jackson."
"No kidding."
Carolyn smiled; she'd teased them enough. "How about you two make it through the day and I'll think about it again before I go off duty."
"We get to go home, not our on-base quarters?" Kayla inquired.
"You get to go home," she assured them.
She looked to Cameron, who nodded. "It's a deal."
"Then I'll see you both this afternoon," Carolyn told them and walked out, chuckling to herself.
Jack looked to his friend. "So, Danny, when are you heading back to Atlantis?"
"This afternoon actually," he admitted. "I wanted to go over a few notes with Kayla before I left."
"Well, I'll leave you too it," he patted him on the back and left.
Ryan and Teal'c left also, saying they'd be back later.
Daniel took a seat beside his daughter's bed; he had a computer tablet with her research notes on it. "I've been going over your notes regarding the Sangreal. How close was Ba'al?"
"Close," she admitted.
"That's what I thought."
"However, he doesn't have the address of the planet where the Sangreal is located," she added.
"You do though," Cameron guessed.
"Yes."
"So you lied, you told Ba'al you didn't know where it was," he said, finding her ability to hide the truth from a monster like Ba'al impressive.
"Well, I wasn't sure until he showed me what he had, hoping to trigger a reaction from me; then I worked it out," Kayla admitted. "Of course, he did shoot me for not telling him what he thought I knew."
"He shot you for dumping a goblet of wine in his lap too," Cameron noted.
"True, but it was worth it, just to see the look on his face," she smirked.
Daniel groaned. "Baiting a Goa'uld isn't the smartest thing to do, Kayla."
"I know, but he deserved everything he got," she declared.
"He did," Cameron backed her up.
Her father shook his head. "So, you know where the Sangreal is?"
She nodded. "Access file – bloodstone."
Opening the file, he found a Gate address, as well as the notes on how she figured it out. "When you put relative positions of the three worlds that Arthur and his knights set off to in their quest for the Sangreal, their coordinates formed an equilateral triangle, until you added their departure point and then you get," he frowned slightly, "a tetrahedron, a perfect pyramid."
"The pyramid is a visual representation of 'three into one'," she told him. "Three addresses into one, being the location of the planet where the Sangreal is located, is an address made up of the symbols from each of the three worlds: Castiana. Sahal and Vagonbrei."
"So you got Ryan to cross reference the addresses in the database with those of Castiana, Sahal and Vagonbrei, searching through planetary designation made up of symbols from the three addresses." Daniel theorized. "There could have been hundreds of permutations."
She nodded, grinning. "There was one."
"So that's what you and Ryan were doing last night," Cameron guessed.
"Yep," she said smugly.
Daniel chuckled, "Nice work."
"Thank you, but I think you would have figured it out, given the chance, after all, most of the work was done by the other Daniel's. I just put all their research and Ba'al's together and got the answer."
He smiled at the fact she was uncomfortable finishing the puzzle herself, and wanting to give others due credit. "You did very well, Kayla," he closed down the data and stood. "I'd better get out of here before Carolyn chases me out. I'll see you before I go."
"Okay."
He took the computer tablet and headed out.
"You did do good, Kayla," Cameron praised, "Real good."
She nodded and settled back against the pillows, turning her head to look at him. "When we get out of here, do you want to stay at my place for a while?"
"Well, you're going to need someone to look after you, Indiana," he informed her. "Since I'm your commanding officer, I think it's my duty."
She smiled, knowing there was hidden meaning behind his words. "Thanks, Cam."
"You're welcome."
That afternoon, Daniel and the rest of his team stood in the Gate Room ready to leave; Sergeant Siler was reattaching the ZPM, having worked out a way to do it quickly and easily when they needed it.
Jack stood with his friend. "So, you'll let us know when the wedding…?"
"Of course, I need my best man there," Daniel remarked with a grin. "And Sam needs you to bring her dad."
"I'll have him there, even if I have to hog tie him," Jack informed.
That picture flashed into Daniel's mind, and he chuckled. "Thanks, Jack."
"No problem," he grinned. "Just be prepared to come back, I happen to need a best man too, you know."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," his friend promised.
Teal'c and Ryan arrived, with Cameron and Kayla close behind, dressed in standard fatigues, happy to be together again.
Kayla smiled at Daniel, "Soon as you get back, I'll take you for a ride in my 69 Mustang."
Daniel frowned, looked from his daughter to Jack. "She owns a 69 Mustang?"
"Cherry red," the General said with a smug grin. "Mitchell and I helped her pick it out, it's a sweet ride."
Shaking his head, Daniel went over to his daughter and gave her a hug. "Be careful, huh, I can't keep coming back and saving your asses. Jack and Elizabeth will start complaining about the inter-galactic phone calls Sam and I make to each other."
Kayla chuckled. "We'll be careful," she promised.
"Good girl," he straightened and held out his hand to Mitchell. "Look after my girl, Colonel."
"No problem, Doctor J," Cameron said, shaking the man's hand. "The guys and I always look after our girl."
Daniel smiled at that. "Thank you."
The Stargate started to spin and the chevrons locked, all eight of them, the Stargate activating with its usual splendor.
"Come on doc," John urged, and then turned to O'Neill. "It's been fun, General."
"Likewise, Colonel," Jack said. "Tell Elizabeth, thank you, we appreciated your help."
"Any time, sir," he saluted, and then stepped up onto the ramp with the rest of his team. After a final wave from Daniel, they vanished into the watery pool.
Jack turned to his flagship team. "You lot have the next four days off, I'll see you all Monday morning, bright and early. T, you're welcome to stay off base if you like."
"Thank you O'Neill."
Nodding, Jack hurried out, followed more sedately by SG-1. "I'm going to be staying with Kayla, big guy, and we will contact you immediately if we experience any symptoms from the sarcophagus. You can hang at my place if you like, and spend quality time at the nearby mall and lakeside park," the Colonel offered. "My DVD collection is yours for the watching."
Teal'c smiled. "Thank you Colonel Mitchell, I would like that." He turned to Ryan. "Major Michaels, would you like to have dinner with me."
"Yeah, thanks, T, we can do that and then check out the Colonel's DVD collection."
"Indeed."
"Well, we're all settled then," Cameron declared. "Let's get out of here; I need to stop by my place to grab a few things, so you guys can follow us. T, can you drive my car? I'll take Kayla in hers, as her arm is still a bit stiff."
"I shall."
"Then it's a plan."
"My office first, I want to get a few books," Kayla told him.
"Nope, no books, Indiana, you're going home to relax," Cameron insisted.
"Not even the romance novel Carolyn lent me?" She inquired.
"Romance novel?"
"Yes, I do read something other than old journals and research books," she said, chewing on her lip to stop smiling.
"Okay, that one you can bring," he agreed. "Does the guy in this book get to first base?"
"First, second, third, and he slides into the home plate," she mused, "Why, want to borrow it when I'm finished?"
"Just might, Jackson," he teased her, knowing she was doing the same to him.
"Then let's move, Mitchell."
"Slave driver," he mocked, and his team laughed.
An hour and a half later he was carrying Kayla out of the elevator and down the corridor to her apartment, his bag swung over his shoulder, along with her satchel containing a few things from her office, including the talked about romance novel. Thankful his side was healed, and Kayla didn't weigh that much, or he'd be in real trouble.
One of Kayla's newer neighbors, a medical doctor, was coming down the corridor from the other end, having used the stairs. "Hey, Colonel, what's she done this time?"
"She is right here," Kayla retorted.
Cameron chuckled. He liked Dr. Mike, the guy didn't ask too many questions, knowing they both worked at Cheyenne Mountain. "Some of the natives didn't like us digging around their burial grounds," he lied. "My peacekeeper here tried to defuse the situation and ended up being knifed for her troubles."
"Bad?"
"Bad enough."
"Hey," Kayla grumbled. "Still here," she reminded them again.
Mike chuckled and took the keys from Cameron's hand, opening the door to Kayla's apartment. "Sorry, Kayla," he mumbled as he followed them in. When she'd been settled on the sofa, and the bags had been put down, he handed the keys to the Colonel. "If you need any help dressing Kayla's wounds, give me a yell, I have the next couple days off."
"I'll do that, doc, thanks."
"Take it easy, Kayla," Mike bided.
"I will, I have my nurse here."
Chuckling, both men walked to the door, then Mike asked quietly. "Is Kayla all right?"
"Yeah, doc, she's going to be fine," he assured. "We bounce back."
Mike was no psychologist, but he heard the pain behind those words. "You know where I am if you need me."
Cameron nodded and thanked him again before shutting the door. Going back over to Kayla, he sat down and helped her out of her jacket that she'd only had one arm in. "How's the pain?"
"Not too bad," she admitted. "I might lie down for a while though."
"On the sofa or your bed?" he asked, laying the jacket over the back of the sofa.
"Bed, please."
Getting up, Cameron scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom; he laid her down and carefully removed her shoes. "Jeans off or on?"
"Off, they're not that comfortable to sleep in."
He nodded and removed them with a casual ease, taking her socks off too. He grabbed a pair of sleeping pants and helped her into them. "There you go, yell if you need anything."
Kayla smiled warmly. "I need you to go lock the front door and then get your cute butt back in here, Mitchell."
He grinned smugly. "You think my butt is cute?"
"Oh yeah, now hurry up."
Chuckling, Cameron did what he was told. He brought his bag in and her satchel. Leaving them near the cupboard, he kicked off his shoes, seeing she was watching him, her glasses on the bedside table. The sling she was supposed to keep on was hanging on the bedpost; she'd managed to roll onto her side, a pillow under her weak leg for support.
He pulled his socks off and shrugged out of his jeans, folding them up he left them on the chair with hers and strolled over in his boxes and tee shirt. Crawling onto the bed, he lay beside her and she snuggled close.
"Better?" He asked.
"Yeah."
"Hey, how come your dad wasn't wearing his glasses?" He inquired as he stroked her hair.
"I don't know, I forgot to ask," she admitted.
Cameron chuckled softly. "Ask the General when we get back on, Monday," he suggested, finding it amusing that she'd forgotten.
"Sounds like a good idea," she said, closing her eyes, feeling safe and comfortable in his arms. Her injured arm lay across his waist.
Having her laying there in his arms gave Cameron the chance to think. They'd been together in the same team for six months, and in that six months they'd fought side by side, laughed, cried and become a family. He couldn't imagine not having her at his side when they went through the Stargate; watching his back as he watched hers. They'd been together romantically since they returned from Atlantis; they kept what they felt for each other away from work and off world. Their private life was their own, but their work life was completely professional. They'd always been a little touchy, but no one took any notice of that, it was how they were.
"Cam."
"Yeah."
"Stop thinking."
He chuckled, "Sorry, Kay."
"S'kay, just stop it; trying to rest here."
Smiling, he kissed the top of her head. Oh yeah, they were fine.
DF
To be continued…