Stargate Command, few hours later.
At the briefing following the capture of Osiris, Willow silently watched while the other members of SG1 were unhappy at the interference of Pete.
"Wow, I can actually feel the anger here," thought Willow to herself as she looked down at the goosebumps forming on her arms. She could actually sense anger coming from Colonel O'Neill, although he tried hard not to show it. "This is so weird," she thought to herself.
"Well, at least we captured Osiris. And Pete is going to be alright, even though he was slightly injured," Major Carter said while looking towards Colonel O'Neill.
"That's not the point, Carter," Colonel O'Neill replied while his arms were resting on the table in front of him, "there was no reason for him to be there in the first place. We got lucky this time; it could have turned out badly if there was a civilian fatality," he said trying to keep calm before continuing, "his interference could have helped Osiris escape."
Willow silently agreed with the Colonel; there was the very possibility Osiris could have escaped if everything went wrong due to Pete's interference. She glanced at Major Carter and saw her lips pressed together as if she was about to say something. However, the words never came and the Major sighed before nodding her head.
"You're right, sir," Carter whispered leaning back on her seat, "I honestly don't know why he was there."
"Major Carter, do you know why he has been following you?" asked Teal'c.
"No," she replied, "I wasn't even aware that he was following me."
"Major, this seems to have been a major breach of security. Especially since your friend has seen things that are supposed to be classified," General Hammond said before adding, "I had no choice but to discuss this incident with the President."
"I see. Sir, what did the President say?" asked Major Carter.
"Although he was not happy," the General replied, "he authorized limited clearance for Pete Shanahan to know about the Stargate."
"Limited, Sir?" asked Major Carter.
"Yes, you are authorized to tell him certain information about the Stargate Program. What he is authorized to know about is in this packet" said the General as he handed Major Carter a brown colored envelope, "and of course, he has to sign the Non-Disclosure forms."
"Yes, sir. Thank you," smiled Major Carter.
Taking a quick glance at Colonel O'Neill, Willow could see that he was not at all happy.
"Lieutenant Rosenberg," said General Hammond as he looked at before Willow turned her head towards him, "do you have anything you want to add?"
"Ummmm... No, sir," Willow shook her head from side-to-side.
"Very well, you are all dismissed until tomorrow. Good work in capturing the Goa'uld," said the General as he got up. Everyone in the room then stood up, the General nodded his head before going back to his office.
Once the General had left, SG1 started to leave to do their own things. Major carter was going to see Pete and Colonel O'Neill was going to his office for some paperwork. Willow didn't want to bother the Colonel since she could still sense anger radiating from him. Only Teal'c and Daniel were left in the briefing room.
"Willow, Teal'c and I are going to watch the Tok'ra remove the symbiote from Sarah's body. You wanna come and watch?" asked Daniel as he walked towards her with Teal'c by his side.
"Sure," she replied smiling, "I won't be interrupting anything?"
"Willow, you keep on forgetting you're a part of SG1 now. And a rite of passage of being on this team is watching a Gua'uld get extracted from the host" Daniel replied with a smile.
Even if Daniel didn't wear his emotions on his sleeve, the redhead could sense that he was excited about the prospect of having a friend freed from Goa'uld control. She felt the same emotion from Teal'c as well, even though the man showed a very stoic exterior.
SGC, Infirmary Observation Room
Willow watched in amazement as the Tok'ra extracted the symbiote known as Osiris from Sarah's body. She could sense that Daniel was relieved that someone he really cared about was finally rid of the snake-like parasite.
"Maybe you should go down and be by her side Daniel Jackson," said Teal'c, "she would want to see a friendly face when she awakens."
"Teal'c is right, Daniel. It would help especially since there is a chance she would remember everything Osiris did in her body," said Willow.
"Willow Rosenberg is correct," replied Teal'c while the three of them continued looking into the surgical theater from the overhead observation room.
"Thanks guys" said Daniel before he turned around and headed out of the observation room and went down to the room where Sarah was lying unconscious.
In the observation room, it was now just Willow and Teal'c who were looking down at Daniel taking a chair and sitting next to Sarah's bed.
"Teal'c," said Willow and she turned her head to look at the Jaffa, "I think I was able to sense Pete watching us today."
"What do you mean, Willow Rosenberg?" he asked.
"I don't know how to explain it. We were in the surveillance van when I suddenly felt that we were being watched. It was a very strange feeling," said Willow before turning her head back towards the room below.
"Has this ever happened before?" asked Teal'c as he raised an eyebrow.
"No, but back during the briefing I could literally feel Colonel O'Neill's anger even though he was trying hard not to show it. Even now, though you aren't showing it, I could feel that you are surprised by what I said" said Willow before she turned her head towards Teal'c, "and there it is again. I can feel your surprise, just like I could feel the anger from Colonel O'Neill. I could feel the hate from Osiris, I could even feel when she, or it, wanted to shoot the van. It's really, really strange."
"How is this possible?" Teal'c asked.
"I don't know. I only noticed it during the stakeout yesterday," said Willow, "but I don't know how it works or why I get these feelings. It's like some kind of 'Willow Sense'" she continued.
"Willow Sense?" asked Teal'c, "Is that a new sense that the Tau'ri have developed?"
"Huh? Oh, no.. no.. It's just a play on a power that a comic book character called Spiderman has" said Willow smiling, "Umm… I think I should introduce you to some comic books as well. For literary reasons of course," she continued smiling as Teal'c slowly nodded his head.
"Have you informed O'Neill or General Hammond about these feelings?" asked Teal'c.
"No, I'm actually afraid to tell them. Maybe they'll think I'm nuts or something. Please don't tell them. I'll tell them sometime soon," Willow asked.
"Very well Willow Rosenberg," replied Teal'c as he gave a slight smile, "however you must promise that you will inform O'Neill and General Hammond of this situation."
"I swear," said Willow as she held up her right hand.
"Goodnight, Willow Rosenberg," said Teal'c as he smiled and bowed his head down slightly before leaving the observation room.
"Good night Teal'c," replied Willow before she went out of the room and back up to the surface and rode her motorcycle home.
SGC, Two Weeks later.
General Hammond notified all base personnel that, although he was not happy, there was a television crew on the premises by order of the president of the United States. Their job was to document and interview selected base personnel, especially SG1 and other selected SG teams for a documentary that would be aired if and when the Stargate Program is ever declassified.
Colonel O'Neill wasn't too eager about being interviewed on TV while Daniel and Major Carter just tolerated it. Teal'c, on the other hand, did not really care one way or another, and during his interview he barely said a word. As for Willow, she was having mixed feelings about any interview with this stranger.
"Oh, how I wish I was off-world on P3X-666 with SG 13 now," she thought to herself as she sat in front of the camera before one of the Airmen assigned to this project placed a mini-microphone on her lapel. However, she had no choice but to participate in the interviews with the television crew. The person in charge of the documentary wanted to get a point of view about what goes on in the SGC from one of its newer recruits.
A few hours after Willow's interview, a call came in from SG13; they were under attack by Gua'uld forces and were pinned down at some ruins discovered on the planet. Almost immediately, SG 1 and 5 plus the medical team under Doctor Frasier were activated. Willow got the page during her interview and she quickly ran out to the locker room to get geared up. At first she was thankful for the opportunity to get out of the interview and immediately felt horrible, she knew that something must have gone very, very wrong with SG13 and they would be in danger. She and Major Carter quickly got ready and ran to the gate room. On the way, they met up with Colonel O'Neill and the others. At the gate room, the Colonel gave out his orders.
"Lieutenant Rosenberg and Dr. Jackson, along with the medical team, will stabilize the injured Airman Wells. Everyone else will be providing cover fire for SG13. Is that clear?" said Colonel O'Neill
"Yes sir!" exclaimed everyone in the Gateroom.
"Alright campers, let's go get our people back. And for Gods sake, watch your sixes!" said Colonel O'Neill just before the teams walked through the blue event horizon of the wormhole.
Planet designated P3X-666.
Once through to the other side, Willow and the rest of the teams were able to hear sounds of weapons fire coming from both Earth and Jaffa weapons nearby. As they moved for cover in case of an ambush near the gate, Willow could feel an overwhelming feeling of hate and another of desperation coming from the ruins. These conflicting emotions made her heart beat faster and faster but she couldn't sense any danger in their immediate area.
"Alright, we're clear. Doc, go with your escorts and recover airman Wells," ordered Colonel O'Neill as Willow's group made their way to where Airman Wells lay injured while the others went towards the sounds of fighting. As Willow was running along with her group, she silently wished her team good luck.
"Willow, once we reach Wells, we need you and the others to cover Doc. Frasier, ok?" said Daniel.
"Yes Daniel," said Willow.
As they were moving towards the injured Airman, the feeling of hate grew ever stronger and as they got closer, Willow could sense that the feeling of hate was emanating from the Jaffa who had SG13, and now the rescue party, pinned down. As Willow's group reached airman Wells who was lying on the ground with a staff blast injury, they heard a panicked sounding Major Carter on the radio saying that Colonel O'Neill was down after he took a shot from a staff weapon. Willow's heart stopped when she heard what Major Carter said and quickly glanced at Daniel and Doctor Frasier who were equally worried.
"Willow, we need to concentrate on Airman Wells right now. Jack will be alright" said Daniel trying to calm Willow since he could see the fear in her eyes for the condition of their Commanding Officer. Willow looked up as he spoke to her and could see the fear in Daniel's eyes as well, but he was doing his best to have a calm exterior.
"Lieutenant," said Dr. Frasier once they reached the Airman before getting down on her knees and then looking up at Willow, "I need you to put pressure here".
Willow did as she was told by Dr. Frasier and eventually Airman Wells was stable enough to be moved back to the Stargate. All the while, there were sounds of both gunfire and plasma blasts all around her while she began firing at the oncoming Jaffa once the Airman was fit to be moved. Suddenly, she felt an extreme feeling of hate coming from somewhere close by, particularly from her twelve o'clock. She quickly turned with her P90 and aimed for an area of trees where this feeling seemed to be emanating from.
Before anyone could react, Willow started firing towards what at first looked like a lump from afar. Almost immediately, this 'lump' stood up and started firing a staff weapon. Although Willow and Daniel were able to take him down, the Jaffa managed to get off a few shots which miraculously missed them. However, as the Jaffa fell after being riddled by bullets, he somehow managed to get off one more single, lucky shot.
In slow motion, Willow was able to see the orange colored blast fly past her and hit Dr. Frasier square on her chest, making her fly backward due to the force of the blast. At that moment, a shocked Willow tuned out everything around her. All she could see at that one moment in time was Janet Frasier lying on the ground, neither moving nor breathing thanks to a bleeding hole in her chest. Slowly, she could hear screaming and she was sure that it was coming from Daniel who was on the radio calling for a medic. Then she heard screaming, shouting and sounds of weapons blasts coming from some distance away.
She looked back down at Dr. Frasier just lying on the ground and suddenly she came to her senses. Willow quickly moved to where the doctor lay and put her hands over her chest.
'If there was ever a need for magic, this is it,' thought Willow to herself as she concentrated any magic she could have stored in her body. 'Please work, please heal,' she continued thinking to herself as she willed Dr. Frasier's wound to heal itself and for her to breathe again.
"Willow what are you doing? Willow?!" said Daniel as he saw Willow take position over Dr. Frasier's body. Tuning out all other sounds and distractions, Willow closed her eyes and concentrated on healing her fallen comrade. But just as soon as she closed her eyes, she snapped them back open and tears started to well up in her eyes.
"Oh God no," Willow whispered as she looked down at Dr. Frasier's body. The wound wasn't healing, "Dammit heal! Heal! Heal!" she yelled as Daniel looked on, still in shock. "Please heal, please live," said Willow softly as she remained on her knees staring at the body, but it was too late. She started to feel tears travelling down her cheeks while her heart raced as she thought, 'I can't heal someone who is already dead.'
"Carter to Daniel!" screamed Major Carter over the radio, "Daniel we need to get out now. We're being overrun here. There's too many Jaffa, and the Al'Kesh are causing problems! Get to the gate, we'll meet you there! I repeat, we need to retreat. Move now!"
"Willow! Willow! We need to go now. There's no more time" said Daniel grabbing the redhead's shoulder and then shaking her before looking at the other two airmen who just arrived at their location with a stretcher. "Listen, you two, get Wells on the stretcher and go to the Stargate," he ordered.
"Yes, Dr. Jackson," said the two airmen who put Wells on the stretcher and quickly moved towards the Stargate
Willow was still in shock as she whispered to herself in a harsh tone, "I can't protect them! Why can't I protect them!" before turning her head towards Daniel, who ordered her to move back to the Stargate. At the same time, she could still sense the hate coming from the attacking Jaffa, but now her anger and desire for revenge was even greater. She quickly felt something grow within her, she could feel that it was something dangerous - like a form of primal rage - and she welcomed it.
"Willow," said Daniel softly but firmly, "we need to go now. We're taking Janet with us. She won't be left behind." Over the distant yelling, the calls over the radios calling for all teams to retreat, and the distant sounds of weapons fire, Daniel heard Willow whisper to herself.
"Not enough."
Willow was barely aware of what she said as she glanced at Daniel, who looked on in surprise. Her own voice didn't sound like her, but the words came out of her mouth. Willow slowly looked up and saw the look of shock in Daniel's eyes. She could suddenly feel everything - from the rapid heartbeats and the desperation of the SG teams to the hate of the Jaffa and the Gua'uld symbiotes; she felt everything as she slowly got up to her feet. In her own anger, she rolled her hands into fists and then concentrated on the symbiotes.
As he stood up, Daniel was slightly shaken by the look on Willow's face, "Willow?" She didn't look like the young, fresh-faced girl he knew. This Willow in front of him looked absolutely cold; he could sense extreme anger just radiating out of her which gave him the chills. It was a feeling he never felt before and he was uncomfortable; a part of him felt an instinctive fear as he watched Willow's eyes and hair darken to a jet black colour tone, "Willow?" All of a sudden, everything had quietened down, there was no sound of weapons from either the SG teams or the Jaffa. All he could heard were distant screams. Daniel turned towards the direction of the screams - the same direction of the earlier weapons fire - before turning back towards Willow who was staring in that direction as well, "Willow?"
"Daniel," Major Carter spoke over the radio, Daniel noticed the lack any weapon sounds in the background as she continued, "something weird is going on here."
"Sam, something weird is going on here as well. It's Willow, something's... I don't know," Daniel replied. He honestly did not know how to describe what he was seeing. In fact, there was a part of him that felt creeped out.
"Willow? Daniel, what's going on with Willow," asked Major Carter sounding worried.
Before Daniel could answer Major Carter, Willow turned her head towards Daniel. She gave him a cold smile that froze the blood in his veins. Turning towards the direction of the ruins, Willow concentrated on more of the symbiotes in the Jaffa who had come out of hiding to ambush the teams nearest the Gate. Using her mind, she pictured them getting crushed by an invisible hand.
Daniel was staring at Willow when suddenly he could hear screams coming from the direction of the ruins. Desiring to know what was happening, Daniel quickly ran towards the other teams at the ruins to see what was going on. Once he reached the ruins with his P90 in his hands and ready to be fired, he saw Jaffa everywhere doubled over in pain. Eyebrows furrowed, he put down the weapon as they fell to the ground before convulsing. Shocked at what he was seeing, he turning around towards Willow who was walking towards him with a cool expression. Daniel then turned away from Willow to see Major Carter running towards them and saying that she had been taking cover behind a wall alongside Colonel Dixon and the body of Colonel O'Neill.
"Daniel, what's going on? Where's Willow" asked Major Carter.
"Sam, it's Willow. She's doing this," said Daniel as he turned towards Willow who stepped out of the treeline as as all the remaining Jaffa on the ground, except for Teal'c who just joined them, lay unmoving.
"Are you alright, Daniel Jackson?" asked Teal'c.
"I don't know," he whispered as Major Carter gasped when she lay her eyes on Willow who walked past her and Teal'c. "I feel... cold," Daniel replied as the three of them watched Willow take several more steps as she turned her head to the left and stopped. She then turned her body and raised up both arms towards the sky. Daniel, Teal'c, and Major Carter quickly moved towards her while turning their heads. And then they caught sight of the three Al'Kesh coming towards them from the air.
Sensing that Daniel, Teal'c and the Major were about to grab her and then move for cover from the on-coming attack, Willow closed her hands into fists while imagining squeezing the symbiotes of all the Jaffa on the aerial vehicles. The next thing everyone witnessed was the three flying monstrosity's crashing straight into the ground. After the Al'Kesh fell to the ground, Willow walked towards the columns of smoke while feeling shock and surprise coming from every SG team member. She soon strode past a surprised Colonel Dixon before pausing. Willow turned her head towards Dixon who had his eye brows furrowed at her while her eyes were on the unconscious Colonel O'Neill. Willow could sense his heartbeat and shallow breathes just as she could sense a Jaffa who was still alive, but just barely. She watched as Daniel, Major Carter, and Teal'c strode around her before Colonel Dixon turned his attention towards them before asking the Major what was going on. As the Major told Colonel Dixon that it was time to leave, Willow noticed the Colonel staring at the Major with a questioning expression on his face.
"Colonel O'Neill will explain everything once we get back to the SGC, sir," the Major said. And that seemed to have been enough for Dixon who sighed before saying that he though they were all going to be overrun by Jaffa. Hearing some of the debris shift, Willow turned towards one of the crashed Al'Kesh and began walking while the Major asked Teal'c and Daniel to help Colonel Dixon. Willow also heard the Major tell two of the medical team to grab one of their extra stretchers and collect Fraiser's body. Once everyone began doing what they were supposed to be doing, teh MAjor turned towards Willow who was already closer to one of the crashed Al'Kesh. Carter started to move towards her - following her - when she raised her weapon and rushed towards Willow when a badly injured Jaffa stumbled out of the remained of the nearly gutted ship.
Even though Willow sensed the apprehension from Major Carter, who was rushing towards her, Willow approached the bleeding Jaffa as he stumbled forwards before raising a Zat at her. With a snarl, Willow squeezed the symbiote before the Jaffa cried out in pain and then dropped the Zat. He fell to the ground and lay on his side while screaming in pain before rolling onto his back. Once he was on his back, Willow stopped stopped mentally squeezing the symbiote. Once she stopped, the Jaffa was able to calm down and stare at her in anger when she stood over him.
"Who sent you here?" asked Willow as she crouched down while Carter stopped next to her. "Tell me and your life will be spared, I swear I won't kill you," Willow continued speaking in that cold tone as she reached into the Jaffa's symbiote pouch. She started to slowly squeeze the symbiote with her hand. She squeezed the symbiote enough to cause the Jaffa pain but not enough to kill. As she was doing this, Major Carter a hand on Willow's shoulder while listening the Jaffa panting as he stared at the both of them in anger.
"My lord Anubis sent us. He will come down and kill you all," the Jaffa screamed in defiance.
"Thank you Jaffa," said Willow before she tightened her grip around the symbiote and then squeezed until the blood of the symbiote mixed with his own blood. He died screaming Anubis' name.
"Willow," the Major whispered once the Jaffa was dead, "it's over, let's go home." She had to admit, there was something creepy about seeing Willow in this state. The Major hoped that this was temporary as she looked at the three crashed Al'Kesh and then at the dead Jaffa before she looked at Willow who was still staring at the dead Jaffa.
"Dr Fraiser's dead," Willow's voice cracked as her hair, much to the Major's surprise, started to turn red once again. Major Carter looked on as Willow turned her head towards her - she was relieved that Willow's eyes were once again green - as she continued, "she's gone." Carter watched the tears that were welled in Willow's eyes start falling down her cheeks.
Major Carter placed a hand on Willow's shoulder and said, "Willow, what happened to Janet... Dr. Fraiser was a tragedy. Because of what you just did, we are taking her back now instead of later. She died a hero, Willow" continued the Major as tears started to roll down her cheeks as well. The Major explained to Willow that Colonel O'Neill was still alive but just barely, and that he needed to get back to the SGC. "So let's go home," she said standing up before she held out her hand to Willow. With tears still falling down her cheeks, Willow grabbed a hold of the Major's hand and then wiped the tears with the back of her left hand. They were going back home.
"Minus one," Willow thought to herself as she and the Major walked away from the crashed ships.
TBC