Chapter 4

Arlington National Cemetery

The young man sported green battle dress uniform and made his way down the rows of headstones searching for the right one. His had dark brown eyes and brown hair under a field cap. His sported a rank of Captain and grasped a flag in his hand. He came to the grave of his father and stood before. He squatted to the ground and planted the flag on the grave. He gently touched the headstone and closed his eyes in silent pray.

"Love you Dad," he softly spoke. He then stood back up and gave a salute to the grave.

He didn't notice the figure under the nearby tree watching him. He started on his way to where he came from. The figure started to follow him. As the young captain got closer to the street he noticed he was being followed. He wasn't sure why he was being followed but he didn't like it. He rounded the corner of the nearby building and waited just out of sight.

He grabbed the figure as he rounded the corner of the building and pinned him against the wall. "Why are you following me?" He huffed and then got a good look at the face of the well dress man. It was his father's face.

"It's me, Charlie." Jack told him with his hands up.

Charlie stood baffled, "Dad?"

He nodded, "It's me."

He released the grip, "How? You died!"

"So did you," he sighed. "It's hard to explain."

"I'm listening," he replied still in shock.

"I'm not sure how to explain this so you will understand. There is someone who can explain it to you. You have some time?" he wondered.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Come with me," he told him. Jack never felt more like a creep than that moment. He was just creeping around and spying on people. He would feel less like a creep is he could wear is BDU's and do the same. The black suit just made him feel…Creepy. He led Charlie down to a waiting black car.

Phil sat behind the wheel and Jack opened the door for him to get in the backseat.

Charlie looked inside and found Sam Carter waiting also sporting the black suit apparel. He got in the back of the car and Jack slid down beside him and closed the door. Phil then started down the road.

Charlie sat between Jack and Sam and asked, "So…How did you survive Iraq, Dad?"

"I didn't," he told him.

Sam spoke up, "You are about to be debriefed on highly classified information. You cannot tell a soul this. Your father, myself and two others have to come to your reality from another reality…"

Charlie asked, "Multi-universe theory?"

Sam perked up, "You've heard of it."

He gave a nod, "I'm studying advanced physics."

It soon became apparent to Sam that Charlie was much smarter than she assumed. "What do you know about quantum physics?"

"Particle displacement?" he asked.

She nodded as a huge grin crept across her face.

"After I get my PhD, I plan on continuing into that area," he confessed.

"PhD?" Sam cheered. "You're going for a PhD?"

"Yes," he nodded.

Jack asked, "Whatever happened to baseball and cartoons?"

"I like baseball," he told him. "I outgrew the cartoons."

Jack pouted, "Huh."

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Well," Sam started. "You're father and I came here from another reality using something called Odin's Mirror. The Asgard had possession of it and Loki got it and brought it to Earth."

Charlie asked, "Thor and the Asgard are back?"

"Thor being the big guy with the beard and lots of hair?" asked Jack.

"Who else?" he asked.

"You would like our Thor better," he miffed.

"Thor helped stop an alien invasion," he told him. "He's one of the Avengers."

Jack wondered, "How do you feel about those dudes?"

"They are the Avengers," he shrugged. "When all else fails they get called in."

Jack confessed, "They seem kind of flashy to me."

"They are," he had to agreed. "So you are my father from another reality?" he clarified.

"Yes," he nodded. "Me and my team are trapped in your reality."

"Tell me how this mirror works." he stated.

"It uses partial displacement to make a doorway to alternate realities." Sam told him. "The people who made the mirror were highly advanced and when their civilization collapsed artifacts were left behind. They were called the Ancients. They had technology light-years ahead of us. The mirror that we accessed was damaged in this reality. It's also in Loki's hands and we don't have it. It's not working right now and needs repair. I'm not sure I can repair it even if we get the mirror back but the Ancients usually make than one of something and we might be able to find another mirror."

"How would you do that?" he asked. "It's from Asgard."

"We might have another option," was she would say. "How do you feel about working with SHIELD for a while?"

"SHIELD?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded.

"I'm not joining SHIELD. I'll work with them if I have to but I'm not joining those spooks." he determined. He looked at Jack, "I'm shocked you actually joined them."

"I didn't," he assured. "They are just helping keep me and my team a secret from these dudes called Hydra."

"Hydra's back?" he winced.

"Heard of them?" he asked.

Charlie nodded, "A bunch of cult Nazis who want to rule the world."

Jack stated, "There did look kind of creepy. Loki and Hydra are working together. Not sure what the end goal is yet."

Charlie told him, "Whatever it is…It's not good."

Meanwhile

Captain Steve Rodgers had followed SG-1 the whole day prior. He decided to do some snooping around to see what he could find on them in the apartments they received. He went to the first door and found it was locked. He went to Sam's door and that locked as well. He got to Jack's door and found it opened up for the man never locked his door.

Steve cocked his head, "He leaves it unlocked. No one does that anymore." he walked into the apartment and started to look about. Everything seemed very generic to him. He noticed a lack of family photos or personalization. He went to the closet in the bedroom and opened the door. He found a number of black suits. Something caught his eye from way in the back. He pulled out the hangar and found a set of green battle dress uniform with a rank of colonel and a patch that said SG-1 on the sleeve. He then found field gear on the floor of the closet. He also found a tactical vest and radio. He discovered an MRE, batteries, first aid kit, water canteen and a rifle and sidearm with ammunition. He cocked his head in thought.

"How come he had everything for battle in his closet?" he dug through and found a military issued wallet and dog tags. He took note of the serial number. He opened the wallet and found a driver's license for Colorado; a military ID and a picture of a small boy. On the back it read, "Charlie 4th grade." He studied the photo, "A child's school picture." He then placed everything back the way he found it and closed the door.

He snuck out of the apartment and went to the next door. This time he picked the lock and got entry. Once more he found a bare minimum apartment that lacked any personalization. He went to the bedroom and found another closet filled black suits. He dug through and found a green battle dress uniform on a hangar as well. He lifted up the uniform. He found Daniel's name badge but no rank insignia indicating Daniel was not an officer or enlisted. He found another patch for SG-1 and another tactical vest. He found more of the same field gear with batteries, flashlights, food, water and a radio. He found a rifle and sidearm along with ammunitions and a first aid kit. He then dug through and discovered a hand written notebook that was highly detailed. He started to look through the notes.

"Ancients?" he asked unsure. "Star Gate?" he spotted the drawings and dialing addresses. He flipped through further, "Furlings! Nox! Asgard! Hmm…" he pondered what he found. "Goa'uld? Deceased: Ra, Apophis, Hathor…Anubis…" he wondered, "What is all this? He then continued to go through the notes, "Replicators? Looks like bugs," he noted. He closed up the book and decided to he needed to take that with him to study. He then found Daniel's wallet. He opened it to discover and military contractor's ID card, a Colorado driver's license, some cash. He noticed a lack of dog tags. He placed the items back and closed the door. He walked out of the apartment and onto the next apartment picking that lock as well.

Steve entered Teal'c apartment and noticed a lack of any personal touches as well. He went right for the closet and found the uniform in the back. He found the same field gear and weapons. He then found the wallet and Colorado driver's license and military ID card. He found a picture of the four standing in uniform before a US flag. He flipped it over, "SG-1 commencement photo." He tucked the photo back and figured Teal'c was also a contract worker. He replaced everything and went to one more closet in Sam's apartment. Once again he noticed a lack of anything personal in plain view. He went right for her closet and found her uniform as well with the same patch and a Major's rank. He found her dog tags and took down the number. He also discovered a laptop computer, extra drives and a tool kit for computer repairs. He then found her wallet and another Colorado driver's license. He found her military ID and pocket size photos of a small girl with long curly strawberry hair. He read the back, "Cassie Frasier, first year here." he found that statement rather odd. "First year here?" he replaced the items and covered up any evidence of his snooping and left the building. His mind swirled trying to put the information together as he walked down the street.