A/N: Story Title- Inheriting Family or Family depending on where this is posted.

Part 32 Silence

Disclaimer: Please See Part One
By:Fire Wolfe
Betaed By: greywizard

2.13.2011

Part 32 Silence

There was silence as both groups seemed to be thinking. Giles looked around and broke it speaking with care.

"It is clear that we have gotten off on the wrong foot, so to speak."
Buffy gave him a hard look upon hearing that, but he ignored it and continued on. "The situation has been contained, and we are all concerned for Cassandra and the planet. It gives us a starting place to speak. From what we can tell, the SGC needs help. However, we have our own responsibilities to attend to, as well.

"So, perhaps we could find a way to work together for our common good."
"Giles, are you certain we can trust them?" Willow asked. She looked around nervously. "I mean you got shot."

Willow was speaking because she knew Buffy was angry again. She did not really want to work with the Americans. Sure, she was joking about space vamps, but Willow knew her best friend. She was going to fight, but she was seriously considering doing it alone. No military help.

While it was the typical Scooby way, she had a feeling this was just too much to do alone. They would need help with the new fight. Plus, Giles was right - they still had a lot of Slayers to find and they still had the supernatural to deal with. There were currently six hell mouths, with two being quite active. She had to know that Giles was certain about his suggestion before she supported this insanity.

"We must, Willow. I know that you are all a bit concerned…"

"Understatement much?"Buffy snarked, but she took his hand trusting his options.

"Yes, well the United States Air Force has been fighting this enemy for a while."

"Thank you." This time it was O'Neill who snarked, not even cringing when he was glared at by both General Hammond and the President.

Giles sighed. Why was everyone being so damned obnoxious? He glared and decided to push on. "They may not be winning, but they are not losing, either. Their experiences will be valuable, if only to show us what *not* to do."

All of SG-1 frowned at this. Makepeace grinned; he was so enjoying the show.

"So, what help do you need from us?" Daniel asked.

As always, he was willing to try to play peace maker. This got him a dark look from Jack, but he just shrugged it off. Sometimes his best friend was too military in his thinking. It was why he was always along for the ride.

"We have a need for some people with language skills and diplomatic connections," Giles said. "We have recently ...had a bit of a shakeup in our organization. We lost a lot of people and need to replace them."

The president grinned and then outright smiled. "You need help finding watchers?"

"Yes, as well as materials and help securing the safety of the new Slayers," Giles admitted.

Buffy frowned, not at all certain she liked where Giles was heading with this. It was one thing to deal with the British, but it another thing entirely to deal with the American military. She decided to voice her concerns.

"Giles we may need help, but if we are wrong..."

"I do not believe that the people of the SGC would endanger our girls, Buffy. They have gone to a great deal of trouble to defend Cassandra. That is a point in their favor. We also will need several secure training facilities. We need trainers and, as much as I dislike the idea, the military will have those available. That is, if the President is willing to help us out."

"That will not be a problem," Henry Hayes said. "I might even let Colonel Makepeace here be of assistance, if you all want to take responsibility for him."

Makepeace froze, then straightened up. "It be an honor, if Buffy trusts what I have said is true."

Buffy sighed as she looked over at Willow and Tara. "Ladies, what do you think? Is he telling the truth?"

"Y...yes, Buffy. He is. Or at least he believes it," Tara said. She looked at Willow, who nodded.

"Yeah, he is being honest. Only we have to go get his family." Unsaid was that until Makepeace's clan was secured, he could still be a danger.
Buffy nodded. "Ok, Makepeace and his people can help ours train. I want a pardon for them, Mr. President, and their commissions reinstated. The men were just protecting their families and that's not something they should be punished for."

"Agreed. However, the fines stay. We will call that and the time they served as payment for not reporting the situation. Because they should have reported this and saved us all some difficulties," Henry said, not willing to let all discipline fail.

Buffy looked at Makepeace. "Colonel, do you agree to the terms?"

"Hell, yes, er...thank you, Mr. President, it is more than fair." He did not care if he lost a few months pay. It was far less then he would have lost if he had been stripped of rank. Also, the death sentence was now gone. He grinned. Plus, he was going to be assigned to the slayers, and that was beyond his wildest dreams.

General Hammond spoke up. "Mr. President, will Colonel Makepeace and his people be reassigned?"
Henry Hayes considered it for a moment. "Yes, and no. They will, with Lady Buffy's and Sir Giles' permission, act as a liaison between our groups. However, for morale purposes and your own comfort, they will be under Sir Giles' Command. How many are in your clan, Colonel?"

"We have over 200 adults and easily twice that in children. However, only 100 or so are combatants. The rest are elders or mothers with young children. We could send out around forty to help find Slayers. Plus, we have alliances with other clans."

Buffy smiled; this could help a lot. She looked at Xander and Faith, who both nodded their agreement.

"B, that could make a world of difference if we spread the word out," Faith said. "If we can trust these ...people to help."

"I give you my word," Makepeace said.

"So, what does the SGC get out of this?" O'Neill asked.

Buffy smirked. "Well, first off, we let you keep working the gate. Second we don't end your relationship with the United Kingdom on all your country's mutual programs. Third, you get our help with these golden god things. Plus, you get to have some access to some really interesting books."

"What books?" Daniel demanded.
It was Giles' turn to smirk. "How would a full and complete copy of the library of Atlantis work for you?"
Daniel almost fell off his chair.
The president smiled. He knew Giles had been holding back. He leaned back and tried not to look smug.
General Hammond looked over at Cassie. He wondered what the girl thought of all this?

Cassie smiled, as it looked like her families might just find a way to get along. She hoped so, because she loved them all dearly.

Jon O'Neill was jogging home from the library.

He liked the exercise, and it was only about two miles; not really a workout, even with his books strapped on.

He still could not believe Janet was gone. He was glad Jack had let him know, but he was not sure what to do. Janet had become like a sister to him, and he felt her loss deeply. He had only gone to the library, because he had to turn in a report later today.

He hated that he could not be there for Cassie, but he knew that he couldn't just show up on base, either. So, rather than waste his time brooding, he had gone to do his report and turn it in.

Sadly, it had not distracted him as much as he had hoped it would. He felt like weeping, but pushed it aside. He would drop off the report, then head to Jack's, so he could use the secure phone there to find out what was going on.

Plans made, he picked
up his speed. A stop at the school would only take five minutes.
He never made it.

A beam scooped him up and he was cursing, even as he rematerialized.

TBC...