A/N:Thanks for the reviews. In this chapter, I'll be referencing events that occurred in the episode Lost City and will be separating this episode into two or three chapters.
**I noticed some editing errors in the previous version. So here is the edited one. Hope everyone continues to enjoy the story, and please review. Thanks
Warning: Canon character death and attempted suicide (again in canon).
Colorado Springs Airport, Colorado Springs.
Willow was sitting at the departure gate waiting for her delayed flight to Sunnydale via Los Angeles. As she was waiting, she was watching a current affairs program on one of the television sets in the gate area. The program was about the new president who just moved into the white house. She felt a cold chill run up her spine as the program talked about his Vice president, Robert Kinsey. She heard from the Colonel that the man was bad news. He even tried to close down the Stargate program, and then he tried to control it by blackmailing General Hammond, forcing him to retire and then putting someone who shared his views into the Command Officer post. She quickly shook her head and stopped thinking about the man. This was meant to be a relaxing trip for her, not one where she keeps on thinking about a guy in political office who is bad news. SG1 was given a few extra days off, so she decided to visit Buffy and the other Scoobies and she was very excited. Suddenly, she heard her secure cell phone ringing.
"Rosenberg," she said as she answered her phone, "oh hi, Colonel."
"Hi Red, have you boarded your flight yet?" asked Colonel O'Neill.
"Not yet sir, it looks like the flight is delayed for a few hours," Willow replied.
"Alright, good," said the Colonel.
"What's up Sir?" asked Willow curiously.
"You're needed back on base, Red. SG1's leave has been canceled. Daniel said that SG2 found an Ancient device, so we need to get there before Anubis gets to it," said the Colonel.
"Understood Sir," said Willow as she got up from her seat and walked towards the exit quickly, "I'll be there as fast as possible."
Women's Locker room, SGC. 2 hours later.
"Hi Major," said Willow as she saw the blonde haired woman change into her combat gear, "sorry I'm late."
"That's alright Willow," replied Major Carter, "sorry about your flight. I know how much you wanted to meet up with your friends in Sunnydale."
"No that's fine. I'm excited about going through the Stargate. Doesn't really matter what else I'm doing, I'd always prefer going through the gate" said Willow smiling as she changed into her combat uniform.
"So, how are you doing? Is everything good with you and Daniel now?"
"Yep, we're good Major," said Willow, "and I'm feeling better. Now I know that I couldn't do much to save Dr. Frasier although I'll always feel a bit guilty, but I think I can handle the guilt."
"If you ever need to talk, you just need to call," said Major Carter.
"Thanks, Major," said Willow smiling, "so Major, what's the mission today?" she asked as she finished gearing up and walked out of the locker room with the Major.
"Basically put, Daniel found information about a Repository of the Ancients on P3X-439. We need to get to it before Anubis and his minions get their hands on it," said the Major.
"Minions, ma'am?" said Willow, "Does anyone say minions anymore?"
"Well now they do," said Major Carter laughing.
"So is this the same repository of knowledge that downloaded information into Colonel O'Neill's brain a few years ago," asked Willow, "the head sucker thing, as Colonel O'Neill called it?"
"Yep, that exact same sucker thing. We're going to try and bring the whole thing back with us before Anubis shows up" said the Major.
"Is that even possible?" asked Willow.
"Hopefully, that's why we need to act fast" replied Major Carter.
Willow and Major Carter walked past the sliding metal doors where they met up with the rest of SG1, 3 and 5.
"Alright campers, let's go for another jaunt through the ol' orifice," said Colonel O'Neill as Major Carter and Willow looked at each other and tried to suppress their laughter.
Planet designated P3X-439.
Willow walked with Daniel as Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c led the way to the statue where Daniel believed the repository was held. As they were getting close, Willow looked up and marveled at the headless stone statue.
"Wow," she said.
"Looks beautiful doesn't it?" said Daniel as the walked towards a statue.
"Yes, it does. So, you really think that this was a colony of the Ancients?" asked Willow.
"Yep, see the markings on this wall," said Daniel as he pointed Willow towards the strange lettering along an open hallway at the base of the statue.
As Willow stepped into the hall way, she suddenly stopped.
"Woah, do you guys feel that?" asked Willow.
"Feel what?" asked Daniel as he was checking the signs in one of the walls.
"Some sort of energy," said Willow, "Major, it's a beautiful feeling, I can't explain it. It just feels... Nice."
As she was walking through the hallways, she stopped and turned to face a flat portion on the wall.
"It's coming from here," said Willow.
"Jack!" shouted Daniel to his friend, "looks like Willow found something."
"Alright Red, what did you find?" said the Colonel as he approached Willow.
"Something's here," said Willow as she touched the wall when suddenly a black colored object came out of the wall.
"Oh!" said the Colonel as he grabbed Willow's shoulders and pulled her to the opposite wall. Willow saw the rest of SG1with their backs flat against the opposite wall as well. Willow stared at the black object as a small screen opened up and she glanced at it from where she was standing with Colonel O'Neill. She was surprised that all she could see were some colored lights dancing around on the screen. As the others were arguing about what they should do about the device, Willow felt a familiar sense of hate from somewhere.
"Colonel, we have incoming!" she screamed just as Colonel Reynolds got on the radio to inform them that Gua'uld ships were spotted. Willow saw Teal'c and Major Carter take up positions to cover them as Colonel O'Neill and Daniel were arguing about who should look into the device and have the information downloaded into their head. As they were arguing about whether to destroy the device or not, Willow started to slowly walk towards the device, she felt as if she was compelled to touch it.
"Colonel, stop Willow!" said Major Carter just as she turned and noticed Willow walking towards the device.
"Red, Red!" shouted the Colonel as he grabbed her, "neither you nor Daniel will be putting your heads into that thing, understand?! We need Daniel to translate whatever I say and do once I get all Ancienty and I need you to help him, is that clear? This is my job."
Just before the Colonel turned away from her and looked into the device, Willow saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. The next thing she knew, the device popped out and grabbed the Colonel's head and she heard a sound coming from the device indicating that the download had started. Willow felt that compulsion to touch the device once again. It was as if the device was calling out to her. Before anyone could react she stepped forward and touched the Colonel's shoulder. Suddenly, all the other three members of SG1 could hear a scream coming from Willow.
Willow could hear a scream from somewhere. At first, she thought it was Major carter but then realized it was coming from her mouth. A few seconds later, the device let go of the Colonel's head and he collapsed while Willow became unsteady on her feet and reached to lean on the wall.
"I want to puke so badly," she said to herself.
"Teal'c, Daniel help the Colonel and get him to the Stargate, I'll set the charges so that Anubis cannot get the information," said the Major while turning to Willow; the blonde officer could see the younger girl looked pale.
"Willow. We need to go," shouted the Major, "can you do the same thing you did on '666 to cover us?"
"No, Major," said Willow with both of her hands pressing against the sides of her head, "I can't concentrate."
"Let's go Willow", said the Major as she grabbed Willow's hand and ran for dear life towards the Stargate, as she ran she pressed the button on the detonator and they heard a small explosion that hopefully destroyed the device.
Gate room, SGC.
After Willow and Major Carter walked through the Stargate, she saw Colonel O'Neill go to the infirmary.
"Alright Willow, let's go get checked out," said the Major.
As Willow walked down the ramp, she suddenly grabbed Major Carter's arm to keep her balance.
"Willow? Willow?" said the Major as she felt the young girls fingers tighten around her arm, "medical emergency, send someone to the Gateroom" she shouted at the personnel at the control room.
Willow could barely hear Major Carter's voice as she saw the Gateroom melt away all around her. "Ok, what's going on?" she thought to herself. She could feel the recycled air of the Gateroom become a breeze on a nice summer's day. She looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing a yellow sundress instead of her combat gear.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked herself. She looked around and saw houses with well-manicured lawns, and she was focused on one particular house. "Colonel?" said Willow as she ran towards him, "Colonel O'Neill, thank God you're here. Where are we? All I remember is that we were at the Gateroom, now we're in... suburbia, I guess". She noticed that the Colonel was not looking at her, instead he was looking past her. "Colonel?" said Willow as she reached for his face but her hand just passed through. "Colonel?" said Willow feeling a bit scared now.
"Daddy!" said a voice behind Willow.
Willow turned around and saw there was a boy, maybe four or five years old running towards them, or at least towards Colonel O'Neill. Willow also saw that behind the boy was a woman, slim with blonde hair.
"Charlie, Sarah!" said the Colonel, " Charlie, guess what I got you a baseball mitt, wanna throw the ball around?" said the Colonel as he hugged his son.
"Yes daddy," said the little boy.
"Alrighty, let's go," said the Colonel as he ran to the lawn with the boy and before he started playing catch with Charlie, he grabbed the blonde woman and kissed her passionately, "I love you so much, honey".
As Willow was staring at what was going on around her, she saw everything melt away again and she found herself lying down in the infirmary.
Infirmary, SGC.
Willow quickly sat up in bed, and as she did she grabbed her head, "oh, head rush."
She looked around and saw that she was the only one in the infirmary; even the table where Dr. Brightman sat was empty. "She must have gone home for the day I guess," said Willow to herself.
"Ah, Lieutenant," said Dr. Brightman as she stepped around the corner, "sorry I went to get some files to General Hammond."
"Hi Doctor," said Willow, "can I please go now?"
"Woah, woah, easy there Lieutenant," said the doctor, "you fainted in the Gateroom and you've been asleep for over 10 hours. I would like to keep you in the infirmary for tonight."
"But I'm feeling fine doc," said Willow looking innocent, "the sleep left me refreshed and I'm ready to go home and watch some shows on TV. I forgot to turn on my TiVo so I should catch it."
"Lieutenant," said Dr. Brightman sternly, "I'll let you go, but if you get any more dizzy spells, you are to report here immediately. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Willow as she got off the bed and ran out the infirmary doors, "ummmm... Doc?" said Willow sheepishly as she popped her head back through the infirmary doors.
"Everyone's gone home lieutenant," smiled the doctor.
"Thanks," replied Willow as she left the infirmary entrance.
Five minutes away from residence of Colonel O'Neill
Willow was riding her bike to the Colonel's house. She had questions about what she had seen, and why was she seeing a vision of the Colonel's son and ex-wife? As she was riding at high speed, she went around a corner when suddenly she saw the road and the surrounding area melt away, just as it did in the Gateroom. The last thing she remembered was she pulled hard on her brakes before everything changed and she found herself outside the same suburban house as before.
She saw Colonel O'Neill sitting on the porch with his ex-wife as Charlie ran towards them. The Colonel told him something, Willow couldn't hear what it was, and the boy went into the house. Willow saw the Colonel and Sarah in each other's arms smiling and cuddling. Willow smiled to herself as she rarely saw the Colonel this happy when suddenly, she heard a gunshot come from the house. Willow saw the Colonel and Sarah immediately get up and run into the house. She ran after them into the house, up the stairs and into what seemed to be the master bedroom. Before she went inside, she heard two screams of anguish coming from the room. Upon hearing those screams, Willow knew something horrible had happened. She slowly walked into the room and saw a spray of blood on a wall and on the carpeted floor. "Oh dear God," she thought to herself once she saw Colonel O'Neill, Jack, holding his son close to his chest. She saw blood flowing down from the boy's wound onto the Colonel's clothes and he was absolutely inconsolable.
Then just as it appeared, everything changed again and she found herself in the same room again. This time, there was no sign of blood anywhere and it looked like the room was set as a memorial for Charlie. She then noticed Colonel O'Neill was sitting down on the bed with his back to her. Willow walked around the bed until she was facing him and then noticed the gun in his hand.
"Colonel, what are you doing with a gun," she asked loudly, forgetting that he couldn't hear her. Just then, she saw him lift the gun to his temple and pull the trigger. Willow flinched when the gun made a sound that indicated that it wasn't loaded. Willow then saw the Colonel bring his gun down again and play with it before repeating the cycle. Just then Willow saw everything melt away again and the next thing she knew, she was lying in a ditch looking up at the stars.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, son of a..." willow said to herself, as she slowly got up and checked herself for injuries. She was relieved that, other than some bruises and cuts, nothing was broken. She went to check her bike and was glad that it was still running. She thought about turning around but she had questions that needed to be answered. So she carefully got back into the bike and reached Colonel O'Neill's home.
Colonel O'Neill's residence, 2300 hours
"The light's are on, I sure hope that means he's not asleep yet," thought Willow to herself as she parked her bike next to the Colonel's truck. As she walked towards his door, she stopped, "what do I tell him? He'll think I'm nuts coming to his house this late at night to talk to him about some visions, or whatever that was". As she thought about walking back to her bike, she saw movement inside the house, so she absentmindedly knocked on the door.
"Crap," she thought to herself as the door opened.
"Red?" asked the Colonel, "what are you doing here so late? And what happened to you?"
"Sorry to bother you so late, Sir," said Willow, "but I needed to talk to you about something. May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure," said the Colonel as he stepped aside to let Willow in, "what happened young lady? Spill it" he said as he saw Willow walking in with a slight limp.
"It was nothing really; I just umm….. crashed my bike on the way here."
"Oy, alright take a seat at the dining table, I'll get an antiseptic lotion and some bandages," said the Colonel.
"Thanks, sir," said Willow.
"So what are you doing here this late at night? I thought you were laid up in the infirmary after your fainting spell?" asked the Colonel as he rubbed some antiseptic and bandaged up the cuts on Willow's arms and face.
"I had a question I wanted to ask, Sir," said Willow softly, "and it is a bit personal."
"Ok," said the Colonel as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm sorry to ask you this Colonel, but how did Charlie die?" she asked as she looked at Charlie's picture that was hanging on the wall.
Willow saw the pain in the Colonel's eyes once she mentioned Charlie's name. "Why do you need to know that?" He said sadly, "Hold on, did Daniel tell you about Charlie?"
"No Sir, I'm really sorry," she said as she started tearing up as she remembered her vision, "I was there, I mean I saw a vision or something... I think. It was of you and your ex-wife, Sarah" she continued as she saw Colonel O'Neill's face which was in complete surprise, "you sent Charlie back to the house for something, and then there was a shot from the house. I saw everything Sir" she said quietly.
"It happened when he was 8" said the Colonel sadly, "I asked him to go upstairs and wash his hands for dinner. He found my gun and..., I guess you saw what happened."
"I'm so sorry, Colonel," said Willow as she looked down, " I'm not sure what's going on with me... again" she continued as she started to feel dizzy again.
"Red? Willow, what's going on" asked Colonel O'Neill concerned for the junior officer.
"I just had another flash Colonel. Did you really eat a whole chocolate cake after dinner, in one sitting?" asked Willow, "by yourself, I mean."
"Ummmm... Yea, but how would you know that?" asked the Colonel embarrassed.
"You had that cake on your couch while watching a Simpsons marathon," said Willow, "seriously, Sir?" Suddenly Willow grabbed the Colonel's arm.
"Red?" said Colonel O'Neill as he saw a look of terror in the girl's face, "Lieutenant, can you hear me?" he asked as he felt Willows nails digging into his arm.
Willow saw everything melt away again. She could see, but not hear, that the Colonel was saying something. Then even he disappeared. Willow then found herself in complete darkness when, all of a sudden she saw pinpricks of light come out of the darkness, one after another until Willow noticed that she was looking at a sky full of stars. Looking down, she saw that she was standing on water as far as the eye could see; she was standing on an ocean. She looked back up at the sky and didn't recognize any of the constellations. Feeling a sense of unease she turned around and what she saw amazed her.
"Wow!" she shouted to herself, "it's beautiful!" she said as she saw a city of lights. She started to walk across the water as it shimmered on her every step, after some time she reached on of the sides of the city. "Looks like some sort of a pier," thought Willow to herself, "now where is a ladder to climb this thing?" After finding a ladder, Willow climbed up the pier and once she reached the main level she stood up and took a good look around. The main thing she noticed was towers of varying heights, with the tallest one occupying the center of the city. Then all of a sudden, she saw everything melt away again and found herself lying on a bed in a room she didn't recognize.
The next morning, Colonel O'Neill's Residence.
"Oh yea, I'm at Colonel O'Neill's house," said Willow to herself as she got up and walked out of the room and into the hallway. "Ummmm... Colonel?" said Willow as she saw the Colonel sitting on his couch having a cup of coffee.
"Willow, are you alright? What happened last night?" asked the Colonel concerned about his junior officer, "you were talking to me about cake and then you looked terrified about something before you fell asleep. I carried you to the guest room instead of just sleeping on my dining table" he continued as he brought her a cup of coffee
"Thanks for the coffee, Sir," said Willow looking embarrassed, "sorry for causing you trouble."
"What happened Red? How did you find out about Charlie? Why did you seem out of it last night?" asked the Colonel.
"I told you, Sir, I had a vision last night," said Willow nervously, "I'm telling you the truth, I saw everything that happened with your son, I saw your ex-wife, I even saw your first trip through the Gate to Abydos. It's like I'm able to see your memories, but I'm not doing it on purpose. I swea.r"
"Ok... that's just creepy on so many levels, Red," said the Colonel.
"Tell me about it," she said quietly as she looked at the carpet, "Ummmm… Sir, I think I may have also seen the lost city," said Willow.
"What do you mean?" asked Colonel O'Neill.
"The lost city," said Willow looking up, "the one that Daniel talked about, the one supposed to have those great Ancient weapons. I think I may have seen it," she continued, smiling.
TBC...