He bit deeply into the flesh and felt the juices running down his chin. Fresh from the shower and into his working uniform of greenish brown MARPAT, or Marine Pattern Camouflage, Gwaine had snatched up the piece of fruit on his way through the kitchen.
The resounding crunch alerted his sister, who stood at the kitchen sink with her back towards him, of his presence. "So help me, Gwaine! I'm going to smack your hand with a wooden spoon if you steal one more of those goddamned apples. How the hell am I supposed to make pies for Greg's Scouts' Bake Sale, if you and the boys eat them all before I can?"
Gwaine smiled, his mouth filled with the pale yellow substance and he mumbled a half-hearted apology.
"Cam called while you were in the shower."
He swallowed his mouthful. "I'm heading to the Base in a few. Did he say I need to call him back right away?"
"No, he just wanted to make sure I didn't have anything planned, so he could drag you out for some pool and beers, after you finished everything today."
"I thought we were having steaks to celebrate?"
"They can keep until tomorrow. Go out and play with your buddy tonight."
He wrapped his arms around his sister. "Love ya, Laney."
"Love you, too, baby bro."
He kissed her cheek, sticky juices from the apple he was eating transferring to her face. Laney spun out of his arms and grabbed a wooden spoon from the utensil container on the countertop.
They were both laughing while she chased him out of the kitchen, threatening to beat him with it.
(*~*~*~*)
A visit to the Base infirmary and Doctor Lam, was the first stop on Gwaine's laundry list of "to do's". She passed him off to one of her HS's, Health Service Technicians, and he began a full morning of physical fitness evaluations, followed by a final visit to the civilian shrink who worked in the mountain. Then after a stop for lunch, he met with Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman to get the final sign offs. "Hey, Chief."
Walter looked up through his wire-rimmed glasses and blinked in surprise. "Sir, come on in. Sorry, you caught me a bit off guard, I'm not used to people calling me "Chief" around here. All the officers just call me Walter."
Gwaine chuckled, "Well, they all think they're nobles and can get away with it."
The Chief smiled and motioned to the seat across from him at the desk. "Of course, it's a bit weird to have an officer come to my office, too. Usually I'm running after them like a headless chicken, with my arms full...trying to keep everything in order...which isn't an easy task. However, General Landry is easier than General O'Neill was..." Walter seemed to have the sudden realization that he was addressing an officer and not an enlisted man. "Sorry, Sir."
Gwaine was doing everything he could to keep from bursting. Over a thousand years separated him from the lifestyle he had grown accustomed to. So many things had changed, yet there was always the same dynamics in people and the social structures that remained a constant. His sister reminded him of a more pleasant, yet just as territorial over her domain, version of the head cook in Camelot...and of course there was Walter's own mini-rant about keeping those of higher rank in line. "You remind me of a friend from back in Dark Ages. He was the manservant to a king...and was the one to help make me a knight."
Walter smiled, accepting the intended compliment.
A picture caught Gwaine's eye. He pointed to it. "Are those your kids?"
"Yeah. Bobby and Darla. My wife has been in a state of panic the past two days. Bobby forgot to tell her that his troupe was having a bake sale."
"My sister's going through the same thing with her middle boy, Greg."
"Greg Phillips?" Walter asked, smiling at the discovery when Gwaine nodded. "He came to stay at our place a couple of weeks ago."
They discussed the boys for a little while, until Gwaine glanced at the clock on the wall. Cameron was dead set on taking him out for beers that evening, to celebrate Gwaine's official return to Active Duty, which wasn't likely to happen unless all the paperwork was in order. "Well, Chief, I suppose it's time you finished the papers and made me a 'knight' of King Landry, eh?"
"Yes Sir...or should I say 'M'Lord'?" Walter joked.
"You are so coming out with us for a beer tonight!"
"Um..."
"I don't give a damn about the rules for Officer vs Enlisted. I'll take the heat for it, if it comes to it. You are joining us tonight."
"Actually, it's not the Regs. It's my wife who might have the problem. She wants me to help decorate the cupcakes."
"Oh," Gwaine drawled, conceding the point. "...that's a bit different."
(*~*~*~*)
Rockabilly music poured from the jukebox in the corner. It was a large retro thing, which the owner of the bar still maintained with pride. No CDs. Nothing digital. Just good old fashioned vinyl and needle, complete with a few scratched records and skipping songs caused by drunks careening off of it over the years.
The Marine Captain found himself singing along to some of the tunes subconsciously. He ran his hands over the pool cue, before settling it in a comfortable grip. Sliding it backwards on the web of skin between his thumb and index finger, he leaned forward over the green felt table. The tip of the stick cracked against the white cue ball, sending it spinning towards the bright yellow nine ball. It bounced off the corner edge of the pocket and rolled back towards the center of the table.
Gwaine was still bent over, glaring at the balls on the table that refused to go into the pockets, when he felt a presence behind him. A feminine voice spoke softly in his ear. "I think you need practice."
Turning his head he met wide blue eyes, surround by short blond hair. He smirked and chuckled. Standing up, he set the cue to the side and wrapped his arms around the woman. "Samantha Carter!"
She returned his embrace, wholeheartedly. "It's good to see you again, Dallon."
"Oh, I see how it is!" Mitchell called out from the other end of the pool table, as he rolled his eyes. "I try to drag you back here for months, and can't get you to part with your precious R&D shit. The moment you finally get wind Dallon here, has been found...which by the way, was quite a while ago that he came back...you miraculously appear."
"Of course, Cameron. He's much better looking." She deadpanned, causing Gwaine to actually blush.
"Oooh! Ouch!"
"He also owes me a second date." Sam shrugged and offered an innocent-looking smile.
Gwaine was left completely speechless. He raked his hand over his scalp and looked around, suddenly noticing how full the bar had become. When he and Mitchell had first arrived, the place was nearly deserted. At some point while he was focused on the game table in front of him, the bar had filled up. His eyes scanned the crowd. He recognized nearly everyone present. Two were members of the SG Unit, whom he went through the gate with. Others were from various positions around the Base he had known, or had come to know, in his short while back, including General Landry. He was more surprised to see that even Walter had decided to stop in.
He didn't get the opportunity to respond to Sam's suggestion of a date, as he was suddenly greeted and congratulated with warm hugs and handshakes, as the rest of the crowd welcomed him back to their military family. He shook his head and grinned when he realized that his sister was among them.
Glancing around nervously, he questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"Walter called and invited me this afternoon. Don't worry, I signed the non-disclosure form, although what the hell I might overhear, I haven't a clue, but..." Laney shrugged, "It was enough to get me in the door."
Drinks were bought and toasts were raised in his honor, until he felt nearly overwhelmed by all the fanfare.
General Landry held up his hands for silence, preparing to make his own toast. Walter appeared at the General's side with a black leather folder, similar to what Letters of Commendation were presented in. "Normally, something like this is done on the Base with the intended recipient fully aware of what the hell is going on. But Captain Dallon here, I think we can all agree, is a rather special circumstance. So at my prerogative, we're doing things a bit differently."
Gwaine leaned back against the pool table, eyeing his CO warily. Although, he was quite happy to be in between two beautiful women while he listened. He had his arm was draped over his sister's shoulders, who also lounged against the table on one side. Sam Carter stood next to him on the other.
"With that in mind, seven or so years ago, all the paperwork went through. As Captain Dallon embarked on what was to be a simple mission of diplomacy, he had hopes of coming back to news we all look forward to hearing...well, almost all of us. Anyway, he sure as hell took his time."
"I'll say!" One of the Marines from Gwaine's former unit yelled out. "Nothing like being a day late and a Dallon short! HOO-AH!"
Laughter and a chorus of other "Hoo-ah's" erupted, causing more comments about Gwaine's extended vacation in another time. Gwaine wished he had his long hair back to hide the flush on his face. At only five-foot-eleven, he was just slightly shorter than many of his fellow officers. Between always managing to get out of a bar tab and then, one time, of running late to head out with his team, someone had coined the phrase. It appeared that even centuries of time would not erase it.
Clearing his throat loudly, Landry regained the groups attention. "Damn Marines," he muttered. "Now, somehow, even after all this time, Walter here was able to find the letter Captain Dallon had been waiting for." He motioned to the Chief Master Sergeant to begin the apparently impromptu ceremony.
Walter's voice rang out through the bar room. "ATTENTION TO ORDERS!"
Everyone gathered and stood. Drinks were set on the bar and tables; pool cues and darts were set aside, as they gave their full attention to the reading.
"The President of the United States, acting upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Marine Corps, has placed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity, and ability of Captain Gwaine Dallon. In view of these special qualities and his demonstrated potential to serve in the higher grade, Captain Dallon is promoted to the permanent grade of Major, United States Marine Corps, effective immediately. By order of the Secretary of the Marine Corps."
General Landry took the certificate and the gray felt box holding the insignia pins...two golden oak leaves...from Walter. Gwaine stood at full attention as Landry stopped in front of him.
He held up his right hand and spoke the words of his oath. "I, Gwaine Dallon, having been appointed a Major in the United States Marine Corps, do solemnly swear, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely; without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, so help me God."
Landry gave him a handshake and handed the box and letter over to the new Major.
Gwaine saluted, and the General returned it. "Could you hold this a second, Sir?" He asked, holding the items out to Landry. The General raised his eyebrows in curiosity as he took them. Gwaine pulled out his wallet and thumbed through it, then he began digging through his pockets.
"Something wrong, son?"
He bit his bottom lip as he appeared to be counting the people in the room. "Um...If I had know this was going to be a wetting-down, I would have brought more money."
The General laughed. He had, in fact, been expecting this. Typically for the Marines, and also for other branches of service such as the Navy, when an officer was promoted, the after-party was referred to as a 'wetting-down' ceremony. Most often, the entire bar tab then become the responsibility of the one being promoted. "Don't worry, son. After all you've been through, this one is on the Air Force."
Gwaine smiled his thanks, and took his new insignia and letter back. Applause and cheers filled the bar room, as he turned away from his CO, and began receiving more congratulations. He smirked at Cameron...who laughed uproariously at the message the look conveyed. Whether it was the sixth century, or the twenty-first, Gwaine Dallon was once again the king of not paying his own bar tab.
(*~*~*~*)
He knew it was late...or early. Either way, Gwaine was certain he was going to wake up the intended recipient of the phone call he was about to make. He slumped into the wicker chair on the back deck of his house, and gazed at the stars above. The boys and Pops were sound asleep by the time he and Laney had returned. She was getting ready for bed, but Gwaine's mind was reeling. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he talked to someone about his misgivings.
The phone rang twice on the other end, before it was answered with a very sleep-slurred English accent.
"Hey Merlin."
"Gwaine? Gods, it's what, three in the morning there?"
"Yeah, and five where you are. Sorry to wake you."
"S'okay, what's wrong?" Merlin's voice asked, a bit more awake.
"Not really wrong. I was reinstated to Active Duty today...erm, yesterday." Gwaine said. He stiffled a groan, as he stretched his legs out onto the matching wicker coffee table.
"That's great to hear!" The voice responded around what sounded like a yawn.
"And I received an overdue promotion." Gwaine said, trying to sound upbeat.
"I would congratulate you, but I can tell from your voice, there's more to it."
"It was harder than I thought...saying the words of my oath. I kept thinking back to that run-down castle, and that round stone table, you know?"
Merlin didn't say a word, he simply listened to his friend.
"It took me so long to get over the idea that I might come back home. It was another reason I never wanted to become a knight in the first place, you know? I had already taken an oath to the service of a different kind.
"That night, I was finally ready...because of you, my friend, to accept that I could serve under a different banner. Part of me feels like: today, I broke the vow I made to Arthur..." His eyes stung with unshed tears. "Is that stupid of me?...To feel like I'm betraying a man who I served in a different century?"
"No..." Merlin said softly. "I still feel that way every time I've taken a similar oath. After so long, I sometimes wonder why I should feel that way. Maybe it's part of destiny's plan...who knows."
"...And what are we supposed to do about these oaths if he does come back? I love the Corps...always have. But..."
"I know. We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it."
(*~*~*~*)
"Doctor Lam?" A technician appeared at the door of Lam's office. "The latest report is in concerning those two stasis pods that were found in the UK."
Carolynne Lam held out her hand for the printed paperwork. Her eyes scanned over the words. A few months back SG-1, had gone to explore the possibility of an Ancient...'No, Alterian,' she corrected herself...treasure room located under Glastonbury Tor. A former Goa'uld and black market trader named Vala, had brought the information about its possible location to Daniel Jackson.
Vala tricked Daniel and linked him to her with some Goa'uld 'marriage' bracelets, making the pair unable to be more than a few yards away from each other without falling unconscious.
Under the mound where the Tor was located were ancient riddles and traps which the team, led by Cameron Mitchell, nearly failed to solve. As per usual for SG-1, they narrowly managed to avert disaster when the place began to collapse; after Colonel Mitchell was forced to duel a holographic knight.
Once revealed however, much of the treasure was typical of what one might find in an Indiana Jones film...but there were a few items that clearly did not belong. The first of which was a book that Jackson had honed in on immediately. Another item appeared to be a device that utilized the Alterian Communication Stones found on a previous mission. These stones allowed a person to swap bodies with someone who had a linked stone in another place. The device found allowed the person's consciousness to travel even farther outside of the suspected range.
Unfortunately for Daniel and Vala, the stones took their consciousness to a distant galaxy and nearly got them burned alive; while the SGC worked to disconnect them from the device. It also opened the door to a new, unexpected enemy for the entire Milky Way Galaxy, called the Ori.
A technical team from Area 51 took charge of the rest of the cleanup and cataloguing of items under the Tor, while the SGC dealt with more pressing issues. It wasn't until almost a month later, that they uncovered a hidden room containing two stasis pods.
In one, was a blond man in chainmail and a red cloak similar to what Major Dallon and his friend had when they were rescued. The techs' at Area 51 had not been privy to the reports on Dallon's return, so they had no idea of a possible link to recent SGC activity. The other held a dark-skinned woman and a child, who they surmised to be around a year in age. The energy sources for the pods were nearly depleted, and no one wanted to open them until they had a better idea what they would be dealing with.
A few years prior, a woman had been found in the ice of Antarctica. She was the last remaining Ancient they knew of at the time. Sadly, she had died not long after from a disease the humans had no knowledge of. The techs first priority was to stabilize the energy to the pods. After that was done, many other crises arose that required more immediate attention...such as deployment of the Mark IX "Gatebuster", a Naquadria-enhanced nuclear warhead, along with the ship Prometheus...in an attempt to shut down the building of a Supergate from the Ori's galaxy to the Milky Way.
When the reports of the stasis pods had finally crossed Lam's desk, the SGC's doctor nearly fainted. There was no description of people actually being in the pods.
The only thing in the mumbo-jumbo of the badly written report that even led her to realize there was something worth looking into, was the mention of a "subject" visually showing symptoms of the Bubonic Plague.
Her former work, as an Air Force Liaison to the Center for Disease Control, had Lam jumping into action and ridiculing everyone in the chain of command at Area 51 for their callousness. It took a lot of work to get through all the red tape, but she had the pods moved to the SGC. For the past two weeks her own staff had been working around the clock, in an attempt determine what sort of precautions were needed to open the stasis pods.
Lam was also waiting for Major Dallon to be cleared for Active Duty, before bringing him in on the effort. She had consulted with the psychiatrist on base, and the woman had recommended waiting until Dallon was secure in his return. The woman felt that if he was able to recognize the costume of the blond man, it could either help, or hurt his own mental progress. Lam didn't like keeping him out of the loop, and told her father...who happened to be General Hank Landry...on several occasions. Unfortunately, when it came to things like a psychiatric evaluation, even his hands were somewhat tied.
Carolynne's mind worked over what she read in the reports. All three occupants were confirmed as being definitely human, not Alterian. She breathed a sigh of relief. Humans she could treat...alien lifeforms were a completely different matter sometimes. The woman and child appeared to have been in rather good health prior to contracting the Plague. After doing research, she realized that the first cases of the Plague in the UK were around the late sixth century. That information coincided with what she already suspected, that these people were linked the Major.
As long as a proper quarantine was in place, and antibiotics were at the ready, the woman and child would soon be freed from their state of suspended animation. The problem would come in trying to explain to them what was going on...if they survived the transition and the heavy medication, which sadly, didn't always work.
There was also no way to tell for certain, how far along they were in the progression of the disease until they were released from stasis.
All of that didn't worry the doctor as much as the blond man did. His chainmail armor obstructed most of the scanning equipment available to them, including some modified from alien technology.
Dried blood and a break in the mail, was visible near the man's abdomen, but other than that, Lam could find nothing wrong with him. She worried about the position of his suspected injury and what internal damage there may be associated with it.
Sighing heavily, she set the reports aside. Major Dallon would be returning to his first full day of work tomorrow. The three people in the pods had waited this long, one more night wouldn't make a difference.
AN: So...two fangirls nearly died after reading the prologue to part 2... hehehe wonder how many I could get if I wrote a shower scene with Gwaine...hmmm
Thank you Tholey, TiP, IcarusLSU, and Nance for the reviews!
As always special thanks to the last two for beta flow reading and proofreading. I know the two of you get to see this before it's posted, but as you know, things always change just before the final upload :-) So, it's wonderful as always to still read your reactions to the finished chapters.