Daniel's Lab, 1030 hours.
"Dr. Jackson" said Dawn as she helped put in some his files into boxes, "I don't think I can do this… I mean…"
"Dawn" said Daniel, "first of all, for the umpteenth time, call me Daniel. And secondly, I know you can handle all of this. You've already pretty much picked up Ancient and Goa'uld in less time than it took me, and.."
"But" said Dawn, "I'm afraid I won't measure up… I mean let's be truthful here, you are the foremost expert on the Ancients, and I haven't even gotten my PhD yet… I'm so unqualified for this that it's not even funny."
"Well" said Daniel, "you've already started on your PhD right? And Anya will be helping you do all of this so that you're not overwhelmed. She's also picked up Ancient pretty quickly… which I gotta tell you makes me extremely jealous."
"But you love her for it don't ya" grinned Dawn.
"Yep" said Daniel as he leaned in and whispered into Dawn's ear, "just don't tell her I told you that."
"Lips are sealed" said Dawn as she made a zipping motion across her mouth.
"Dr. Jackson" said Colonel Mitchell as he appeared at the doorway behind Dawn.
"Hey" said Daniel as he instantly recognized the Colonel before he looked at Dawn, "Dawn Summers meet Colonel Cameron Mitchell, he's one of the pilots who saved SG1's collective hide during the Battle over Antarctica, severely injured himself doing it too, fir which we are all eternally grateful."
"Oh" said Dawn as she stepped forward and shook his hand, "nice to meet you."
"You too" said Colonel Mitchell, "ummm…. do you mind if I talk to Jackson alone?"
"It's alright" said Daniel as he interrupted the both them, "she's authorised to hear everything…. Anyway, she and Anya are the one's who'll be the key members of the SGC's translation team."
"Alright" said Colonel Mitchell as he walked into Daniel's lab, "listen Jackson, I need you to stay in SG1."
"Sorry" said Daniel, "I'll be in Atlantis."
"Jackson" said the Colonel, "you are the world's leading expert on the Ancients."
"That's what I said" replied Dawn.
"Which is why" said Daniel as he looked at both the Colonel and Dawn, "I'm going to the city of the Ancients."
"Jackson…." Said the Colonel.
"Colonel" said Daniel.
"Cam" replied the Colonel
"Alright, Cam" said Daniel as he stood behind Dawn and put his hand on her shoulder, "I consider Dawn my protégé, she'll be taking over my research when I leave for Atlantis."
"Will all due respect to Miss Summers" said Colonel Mitchell, "but I'm here to lead SG1 which is you, Colonel Carter, Teal'c, Major Rosenberg and Faith… not two letters and a number… no offence Miss Summers."
"None taken" said Dawn, "I've been trying to convince Dr….. I mean Daniel that I'll be spending time doing my PhD and I'm afraid that I won't do a good job."
"And" said Daniel, "that's why I said that Anya will help you out."
"Come on, Jackson" said the Colonel.
"Sorry, Cam" said Daniel.
"Hey Daniel!" shouted Willow as she ran up to his lab.
"Willow?" said Daniel.
"Hi again, Sir" said Willow as she panted.
"Take it easy, Major" said the Colonel, "What's up?"
"Sorry, Sir" said Willow, "but we got a message from SG12 about a woman that Daniel met before."
"Huh?" smirked Dawn as she looked at Daniel, "should I tell Anya about this?"
"Wait… wait" said Daniel as he looked at Dawn, "I know a lot of off-world women….. wait… that didn't come out right."
"Daniel" said Dawn as the Colonel smiled at Willow as the both of them looked at how uncomfortable Daniel was getting.
"Who is it?" asked Daniel as he rubbed his forehead.
"Well" said Willow, "the woman said she has something special to show you…. some rare items of archaeological significance."
"Ok" said Daniel, "and it's from?"
"Someone called Vala?" said Willow as Dawn crossed her arms across her chest and looked at Daniel who sat on his chair, "Vala Mal Doran? You know her?"
"Yes" said Daniel as he bent down and lay his forehead on the table top.
"Ok" said Willow, "I'll go back to the General and tell him that she can come through in twelve hours."
"Great" replied Daniel as he banged his head softly on the table top.
The O'Neill Residence (for now), at the same time.
Faith was helping General O'Neill move his boxes full of items into the moving van provided by the Air Force which would bring all his boxes and knick knacks to his new apartment in Washington D.C. Once she helped the movers put the last box into the back of the truck, she closed the back door and told them that everything was inside and ready to be shipped out. As she stood of the doorway of the General's former home, she walked in and looked at the empty living room which only contained the boxes from her previous apartment. She then smiled before heading up to meet up with the General who was in one of the three rooms.
"Hey" said Faith as she say him sitting down on a bed in one of the smaller rooms.
"Hey" said the General quietly as he was holding a metallic box, "everything been put into the truck?"
"Yea" said Faith as she leaned on the door frame, "they just left for Petersons. They have your address right?"
"Yea" said the General as he stared at the box in his hands, "thanks. I know you were busy and all.."
"You helped us move, Big-G" said Faith, "and I wasn't busy… well, not that much. Red's busy with the whole upgrade stuff at the SGC and well…. You needed help so.. yeah.. here I am."
"Thanks" said the General.
"You'll be sticking around, right?" asked Faith, "I mean, you don't have to go anywhere until tomorrow."
"I have to…." Said the General as Faith noticed his voice breaking a little before he composed himself again, "I mean, I have to see Hank later."
"Big-G" said Faith as she stood looked at the General and the box he was holding, "you alright?"
"Yea" said the General quietly.
"Can I come in?" asked Faith.
"Yea" said the General as he moved over on the bed, allowing for Faith to sit next to him.
"Looks like a memory box" said Faith as she sat down and looked at the greenish metallic box which was adorned with stickers and pictures drawn with crayons, "I mean I only heard of it, my memories of my childhood are really something that I don't want to relive or store anywhere… you should ask Red why."
"He used to call it that too" said the General, "can't believe I almost forgot that this was here."
"Charlie's?" asked Faith.
"Yea" said the General, "he thought I didn't know about the secret hiding place he had for this box in our old house. Sara knew about it too. When I'd come back from missions, she'd tell me that he'll take out the box from underneath some loose floor boards, open it up and look inside. She'd see this huge grin on him as he looked through whatever was in here before he closed it again, reached down and hid it away. He'd do the same thing until I got back."
"Oh" said Faith.
"I don't know what's in here" said the General as he handled the box, "even Sara never checked, although we were always tempted."
"I don't think you should" said Faith, "maybe that's what keeps a certain magic alive.. I mean not real magic but…"
"Yea" replied the General, "I know what you mean. It's what keeps his memory alive."
"I know this is a very sensitive topic" said Faith as she looked around the room and noticed the clean areas of the walls where framed pictures used to hang, "but, what was Charlie like?"
"He was the best" said the General as he smiled, "always laughing, always active, the girls couldn't stay away from him."
"My kinda guy" smiled Faith.
"But then again" said the General, "I was never around that much. Dont get me wrong, I loved the bot of them with all my heart but all that time being away put a strain on the marriage, but we never showed anything in front of Charlie. And then, that…. That happened."
"Yea" said Faith softly, "Red told me that she saw your memories during that Ancient download incident but she never told me what happened, what she saw and…."
"There was so much blood" said the General as his hands started to shake which, in turn, caused the box and its contents inside to shake as well.
"Big-G" said Faith as she held on his trembling hands.
"I ran into the house first after the shot" said the General, "I was hoping that maybe Charlie shot at the wall, I was hoping against hope that would be the case. But, I knew somewhere in my heart that… that…. I just knew something bad happened. I ran to his room but he wasn't there, then I ran to the master bedroom… and… and I saw him lying there in a pool of blood, my personal weapon lying next to him. He was looking straight at the doorway with a bullet hole in his chest…. I tried to do everything I could to stop the bleeding… and then I heard someone wailing behind me, someone screaming."
"Sara" said Faith as the General nodded.
"She was screaming as I picked Charlie up and ran to my car" said the General, "I knew he was gone… there was no way he could have survived a shot like that… my hands were covered in his blood. I got into the driver seat with Sara cradling him in the backseat as I drove. All I could do was drive like a madman to the hospital."
"There was nothing they could do" said Faith as her eyes started to tear up.
"Nothing" replied the General as he closed his eyes, "Sara waited outside in the hallway… she.. she couldn't handle the loss… I was there to identify the body. But I couldn't hear the doctors say anything, all I saw was Charlie lying there while they were talking about procedures, paperwork and… I don't know what else. All I remembered was that I walked out of the room and towards Sara, she was screaming at me that it was my fault that he died.. my fault that Charlie had to die. And I told her that she was right. It was my fault, then I gave her the car keys and I walked home in the rain."
"I see" said Faith quietly.
"A few months went by" said the General, "I'd be in Charlie's room for hours on end with the weapon he shot himself with in my hand, I wanted to end it all and just be with him. I would drink heavily before I handled the weapon, so I never remembered if it was loaded… I'd imagine that Charlie thought the gun wasn't loaded when he shot himself, and I wanted that feeling too. I'd be so drunk that sometimes I couldn't remember if there even was a bullet in the chamber. Then one day, the day I wanted to end it all… I was sober and knew exactly what I was doing; that was the day that two officers came to Charlie's room to tell me that I was reactivated for duty… that I had to report to General West."
"The first Abydos mission" said Faith.
"Yea" said the General, "it was going to be a suicide mission. My mission was to go through the gate, determine if there was any threat to Earth and, if needed, detonate a nuclear weapon to bury the Gate on the other side. Daniel told us that he could get us home, that he knew that once we were on the other side; that he could determine the point of origin. My original plan was to just look around and then send the team back. I'd stay to arm the nuclear device no matter what, with me on the other side. Nothing went to plan, we spent more time than we should have looking for the point of origin, which led us to getting to know the Abydonians and freeing them from Ra. During the entire time we were there, I got to know Daniel well and I got to know Skaa'ra."
"They showed that you had something to live for" said Faith as a tear ran down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away.
"Yea" replied the General, "a year later, after the incident with the blue energy being, Sara was read into the program. After that, she gave me this box to keep… she told me that she's living with the memories of Charlie in our old house and that she wanted me to have something of his to keep in mine. So I loosened the floor boards here and put this inside…. Just like he used to do. I sometimes imagine that he'd be here… looking at the box when I used to go on missions through the Gate. He'll sit down on the bed and reach down and take out the box, open it and smile."
"You're welcome to keep the box under the floorboards" said Faith to the General's surprise, "I mean, you know how hard it is for a child to move to a new place? What if he doesn't like it… I mean, you know.. he'll have to make new friends and everything, get to know the new house, get to know your schedule. I mean come on.. he knows us pretty well. We come here for team nights almost every week. Besides, he's got a house full of pretty hot chicks.. in case you haven't noticed."
"Hey" said the General, "don't tempt my son."
"Can't blame us, Big-G" said Faith as she smiled, "but seriously, you can leave the box here…. Maybe that's the only way we can get you to visit sometimes."
"Hah" said the General as he looked down at the box, "so what do you say Charlie? Wanna stay with these three pretty, but crazy girls?"
"I see that he say's yes" replied Faith with a smile.
"Keep the box safe?" said the General as he crouched in the floor and took out the loose floorboards before he put the box into the empty space."
"Of course" said Faith, "we've got a Slayer, a former Witch who now has the body of an Ancient and a sister of a Slayer under the same household. He'll and the box will be safe."
"Good" said the General as he stood up and put his hands into his pockets as he looked at Faith.
"Honestly" said Faith as she led him out into the kitchen, "I really do wish that I had someone like you as a father, maybe my life would have been different."
"You don't mean that" said the General as he scratched his head, "I'm sure…"
"Red knows about my life" said Faith, "all the nasty details and… I mean… trust me when I tell you that Charlie was lucky to have a father like you. Mine wasn't there… he just one up and walked away."
"You told us" said the General as he sat down behind the counter while Faith made a fresh pot of coffee.
"Not everything" said Faith.
"You told us about your mother and…." said the General when he suddenly looked at the emotions on Faith's face, "Faith?"
"My mother was an alcoholic" said Faith as she sat across from the General, "she would get into benders and well, she'd get out of control; very out of control. Like if she saw me, she'd beat me… she'd say that my father left because of me and that it was my fault that she started drinking. She'd call them trophies you know…. A bruise here, a bruise there… she was making them where people wouldn't see…. Not that she cared…."
"Faith" said the General as he went and sat next to her.
"When I was fourteen… or was it fifteen… I don't remember" said Faith as she looked at the General, "she started to have men over regularly… a different one every night. She'd conduct her business and I'd stay in my room… I'd hear everything.. some of them would beat her and others… well, let's just say that I wish the police were called from all the noise that she was making… maybe they would have taken me away from her. Then one night, I was sleeping and I guess the man of the night was bored with her… while she was passed out.. he came into my room… and…. and…"
"Oh Faith" said the General as he hugged Faith who had already started to cry.
"I couldn't do anything" sobbed Faith, "I wasn't activated then… I…. I was just a normal kid. But she found out what happened and instead of kicking his ass, she asked for extra money. It was the same after that, every guy… at least the ones who paid would…. I did what I had to do to survive. She said that if I did anything, if I told anyone in school then she'll let them kill me. Big-G, they would….. they would…."
"I know…. Shhhh" said the General as she sobbed into his shoulder, "you're safe now, I'm sorry."
"It went on for a year" said Faith as she buried her face into his shoulder, "then one day… while one of her customers was… you know… I suddenly felt this strength flow into me, like I could do anything in the world. So I turned back and punched the bastard. Can you imagine how I felt when he flew off me and hit the wall naked? I walked towards him and beat him to an inch of his life for what he did to me… I made him beg for my mercy but I had every intention of killing him for what he did."
"Did you?" said the General as he looked into Faith's bloodshot eyes.
"No" said Faith, "he picked up his clothes and ran away. I walked into the living room and saw mom passed out on the couch with an empty bottle of vodka in her hand and another empty bottle of gin on the table. I later found out that that was the night Kendra died in Sunnydale. The next day, there was a knock on the door. Despite my strength, I was still terrified that it would be another guy… or a group of guys that my mom said that she was going to service at the same time… she excitedly walked up, looked at me peeking out my door and told me to get ready.. that they were paying top dollar for a whole night with her, and then with me. But instead of a group of guys, Professor Dormer walked into the apartment carrying a briefcase."
"Your first Watcher" said the General.
"Yea" replied Faith, "she saw me peeking out my room and she gave me a smile…. The most beautiful smile I've ever seen. She then turned to face mom and told her she wanted to take me away to be trained for an important calling…. A destiny. That I would be able to make a difference in the world. My mother laughed in her face… she said no, that I wasn't going anywhere because I was a cash cow for her. She said that she had regulars who would pay extra… a lot extra for some time with me and that there was nothing Diana could do about that. Diana, Professor Dormer, said that she'll call the police, get me out of there and that with her connections, she'll get Social Services to place me in her care. Mom laughed… can you believe it? She laughed in her face…. Again. She dared Diana to try it, that some of the cops were her customers…. Some very satisfied customers. So can you imagine my shock, the people who were supposed to be protecting me… helping me… were…. I felt so betrayed that I just closed the door and cried."
"Faith" said the General, "you don't have to continue."
"It was thirty minutes later… or was it more?... I can't remember…. but Diana came into my room and told me to pack up a bag. She told me that we were leaving" said Faith, "I didn't complain, I wanted out. As I was leaving I saw mom signing a piece of paper while grinning. I later found out that she gave up all her parental rights to me…. that she demanded payment from Diana since I was so important to her. And Diana gave her the money, she gave her sixty thousand dollars out of her own pockets so that my mother would never see me again. I never saw mom that happy…. She was ecstatic when she grabbed the cheque and told Diana, 'you can have the bitch now, she's all yours'."
Faith looked up at the General's face and saw a mixture of anger and sadness, one emotion tryng to beat the other one to the forefront. Eventually, it was compassion that won out as the General held Faith's hands in his and squeezed. Faith took that as a signal to continue.
"Diana took me to her home, she told me about the Slayer and about the monsters that we thought were just imaginary. She trained me and educated me; I received a crash course in various subjects from her, especially history. She was such a stickler for museums and stuff. Some of my best moments with her was when she'd take me to museums between our training and study sessions. That was the first time I've felt loved by anyone. And then, two years later… she was slaughtered right in front of me… and I ran…. After all the training she gave me I couldn't fight Kakistos hard enough or smart enough… all I did was run… and then I had to survive again."
"Faith" said the General as he got up and handed her a cup of coffee before he sat next to her again.
"I didn't want to go back to my mother" said Faith as she looked down onto the floor in embaressment, "but I had no skills… so I did what I could. I stole, I hustled and most…. The most… the only thing that I had going for me was myself…. So I…. I.. used my body….. I…. I promised myself that I would never become like my mother. But what I had to do… I…. Big-G, Jack… I….."
"Shhh" said the General as he hugged Faith tight when she broke down again.
"I'm sorry" said Faith as she sobbed into his shoulder again, "I'm so sorry.. please forgive me."
"We all get into situations that we think we can't get out off" said the General as he felt the wetness from Faith's tears, "you got out of it, you're safe now… you're with people who love you… you've got Red, you've got me, Carter, Daniel and Teal'c… you've got the people in Sunnydale who care about you too. Things have changed a lot since then, you've changed a lot since then. And I'm damned proud of you… we are all proud of you."
"That's why I wish I had someone like you as a father" said Faith, "I know it would have been much better than the hell I've been through."
"Sara and I always wanted a daughter" said the General as he looked at Faith and wiped away her tears, "a younger sister for Charlie but the way I see it, he already has two older sisters in you and Red."
Faith laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I'd have loved to have you as a daughter" said the General as he got off the chair and kissed the top of Faith's head, "make no mistake about that."
Faith nodded as she too got off the chair.
"How about you come with me to Hank's?" said the General as he led her out of the kitchen, "then the three of us will go for lunch."
"Alright" laughed Faith as she wiped her tears, "I just have to change."
"Sure" said the General as he saw Faith walk off to the rest room.
While Faith was in the restroom, General O'Neill walked over to the small room and looked inside.
"Charlie" said the General softly, "watch over the girls. You've always wanted a sister and now you've got three. Look after them, will you? I promise I'll come by as often as I can, but this way… you've got someone here who'll be with you every day of the week."
"Big-G?" said Faith as she got out of the restroom in a change of clothes, "I'm ready."
"Me too" said the General as he looked into the room and slowly closed the door.
As he closed the door, the General distinctly heard a child's laugh coming from the room.
"Faith" said the General as he opened the door again, "you hear that?"
"Hear what?" asked Faith as she looked into the room.
"Ummm… nothing" said the General as he closed the door and smiled into the room, "I'll see you soon, little man."
Gateroom, SGC, thirteen hours later.
"So Sir" said Willow as she stood next to General Landry and Colonel Mitchell, "I take it you let her stew for another hour?"
"General's prerogative" he smiled.
"I'd have done the same, Sir" said Colonel Mitchell as he watched the ripples on the Stargate before a woman in black leather walked through the event horizon, accompanied by two members of SG12.
"Can you say bondage?" whispered Willow as she looked at Colonel Mitchell, while General Landry was at the foot of the ramp.
"Welcome to Stargate Command, I'm General Landry" said the General as he then motioned towards the two officers standing at either side of him, "this is Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Major Willow Rosenberg."
"Ummm…" said Vala as she looked the Colonel up and down, "I'm sure I'd have remembered you."
"Right" said the Colonel, "and you are?"
"I'm Vala" she said confidently, "Vala Mal Doran, and where is my Daniel?"
"Your Daniel?" said Willow.
"Yes" replied Vala, "we have a connection ever since he picked me up on his ship."
"You mean the ship you stole and tried to sell to the Lucian Alliance?" said General Landry.
"It was just a misunderstanding" said Vala nonchalantly as she walked down the ramp and looked at the men in the room, "I've already had this happen before, I mean you know… a group of men surrounding me with weapons… will I be checked again? Because that was real fun the last time, right boys?"
Willow looked behind her as the men from SG12 started to move around on the ramp and looked at each other nervously.
"And just so we're clear" said the General as he nodded towards Willow, "not all of us here are male."
"I know" said Vala as she looked at Willow before looking at Colonel Mitchell, "but males are much more fun to tease."
"Right" said Willow as she rolled her eyes.
Willow: "Daniel! Your friend is here."
Daniel: "She's not my… arhgh! Fine, I'll be there soon."
Willow: "Cool. And Daniel?"
Daniel: "Yes?"
Willow: "After today, I really suggest getting Anya some flowers and chocolates."
Daniel: "Right."
"Sir" said Willow as she looked at the General, "Daniel will meet us at the briefing room; he's on the way there with Dawn."
"Dawn?" said Vala, "what kind of a name is Dawn? And who is she to my Daniel?"
"This way" said the General as he led Vala up to the briefing room while Colonel Mitchell and Willow walked slowly behind them.
"Any news with Teal'c, Sir?" asked Willow as they walked up the stairs to the control room.
"None" said the Colonel, "and I've had no luck with the personnel files either. All of them are….."
"Not the SG1 you know, Sir?" asked Willow.
"Yep" said the Colonel, "have you talked to Sam?"
"Colonel Carter's on the Prometheus now testing the sensors for the outpost search on Earth" said Willow as she and the Colonel walked up the metal stairs slowly, "she's enjoying herself at Area 51."
"Anything on our guest?" asked the Colonel as he made a mental note to call Colonel Carter later.
"She's…. I'm getting mixed messages from her" said Willow, "she's hiding something, but I don't know what."
"Peek into her mind?" asked the Colonel.
"That's unethical, Sir" said Willow as she suddenly blushed, "but I don't think I need to…. She thinks real loud."
"Huh?" said the Colonel as he saw Willow's face turn bright red, "Major?"
"Ummm…." said Willow as she tried to avert her eyes from the Colonel, "I think I'll sit down… Sir."
"Major" asked the Colonel confused until he saw that Vala was eying him up and down again which was when he put two and two together and quickly sat down onto the seat next to Willow, "she's… umm…. Thinking about me naked isn't she?"
"Yes, Sir" said Willow as she moved a little away from the Colonel, "sorry."
"Right" said the Colonel as Daniel and Dawn walked in.
"Daniel" smiled Vala demurely as she stepped forward.
"Where is it?" asked Daniel impatiently.
"It?" asked Vala surprised.
"The rare archaeological discovery?" said Daniel.
"I guess this discovery is whatever is in the silver case in front of the Colonel?" asked Dawn as she walked towards the case and opened it.
"I lied" said Vala as Colonel Mitchell glared at Vala while Daniel turned around and started to walk away.
"No she didn't, Dr. Ja….. Daniel" said Dawn as she removed a cloth that covered what looked like a tablet.
"What is it?" asked Daniel as he glared at Vala.
"A tablet" said Dawn as Faith walked up the staircase.
"Hey… whoa…" said Faith as she saw what Vala was wearing, "nice outfit… very…. Very…. Chic."
"Thank you" smiled Vala as she looked at the General, Daniel and the Colonel, "none of you commented on this beautiful dress…. So rude."
"Vala" said Daniel.
"Daniel" said Vala as she rubbed her hands together excitedly, "the real reason I'm here is that I'm pregnant… and you're the father."
"Daniel!" said Willow and Faith as they glared at the archaeologist.
"Dr. Jackson" said Dawn as she crossed her arms on her chest and looked at Daniel, "you have some explaining to do."
"No… no…" said Daniel as he shook his head, "nothing….."
"Well there is a one out of ten chance that you're the father anyway" said Vala as she winked at Colonel Mitchell who did a double-take before looking around confused.
"Ok" said General Landry as he glared at Vala before turning to Dawn, "now that we've cleared all of that up, Miss Summers?"
"This is gibberish" said Dawn, "I don't recognize it."
"May I?" asked Daniel.
"It's in Ancient" said Vala grinning.
"Ummm…." said Daniel, "no its not… Dawn's right.. this is gibberish."
"The person I got this from….." said Vala as Faith interrupted her.
"Stole" said Faith.
"Acquired" replied Vala as she looked straight at Faith.
"Stole" said Faith.
"Stole is such a….. nasty word…." Said Vala, "ok, borrowed.."
"To borrow something implies you'll be returning it" said the Colonel, "unless you're like my neighbour who borrows my lawnmower and never returns it."
"Yes" said Vala as she pointed at Colonel Mitchell, "I'm that."
"In other words, a crook" said Dawn.
"Daniel" said Vala as she pouted at Daniel, "I see you've gone for a younger model now….. I wasn't good enough for you on the Prometheus? I remember you like getting slapped around, we had a lot of fun in fact."
Willow coughed as she tried to restrain herself from laughing at Daniel's face, before he looked at Dawn's shock.
"Nothing happened" said Daniel as he looked at Dawn, "she's insane."
"Ohh…" said Dawn, "Anya's gonna hear about this."
"Great" said Daniel as he turned to the General, "Sir, I'm going to go and finish up packing and then I'm supposed to meet Anya. In addition, Dawn's right. This is all gibberish."
"It's in code" said Vala with a grin, "and I know the cipher."
"Why do you need us then?" asked Daniel.
"Reading it is one thing" said Vala, "but understanding it, that's completely different."
"OK" said the General, "then give us the cipher, and you can be on your merry way."
"Look" said Vala, "I was told that tablet leads to a huge collection of Ancient treasure on Earth… and I want my share of the loot. I'll share it with you 70-30 since I had to risk my life and steal that thing."
"So you did steal it" said Willow.
"Told ya" said Faith.
"Come now, ladies" said Vala as she looked at Faith and Willow, "I never said that I didn't steal it."
"Yes you did" said both Willow and Faith as Vala grinned in response.
"Miss Summers, Dr. Jackson" said the General as he stood up, "take Vala with you and decipher the tablet."
"But…" said Daniel.
"The Daedalus doesn't leave for another twelve hours" said the General, "get it done before that."
Gateroom, SGC, 0000 hours.
"Big Guy" said a beaming Faith as she walked up to the Jaffa, who was in his traditional robes, as he walked down the ramp, "how you been?"
"I am well, Faith Lehane" said Teal'c as he gave her a small bow.
"I thought Cam said that you'll be busy?" asked Faith as they walked out of the Gateroom together and into the hallway.
"Indeed" replied the Jaffa, "however, the Council is in recess until tomorrow."
"Cool" said Faith, "which means we'll have some time to catch up. It's been months since we've seen each other."
"I recall the last time we have talked was after Willow Rosenberg and yourself announced your upcoming nuptials to me over the Stargate" said Teal'c, "Ishta and Ry'ac have asked me to pass on their congratulations."
"Thanks" said Faith, "if everything goes as planned, the wedding will be on in a year."
"I believe the Earth expression is…. I cannot wait" said Teal'c.
"Indeed, Big guy" said Faith as the both of them turned around a corner when suddenly they heard Dawn's voice on the intercom.
"Medical Emergency!" said Dawn, "I have a Medical Emergency in Dr. Jackson's office."
Faith and Teal'c looked at each other and ran as fast as they could to Daniel's lab when they heard General Landry's voice over the intercom.
"Medical Emergency!" said the General, "Medical Emergency in holding room one."
"What the heck's going on" said Faith as the both of them ran towards Daniel's lab.
Infirmary, SGC, 1500 hours.
"Daniel" said Anya who had been sitting by his bedside while he was unconscious, "finally, you're up. You know how long you've been asleep? I thought maybe… you know… you were in a coma or something."
"Anya" said Daniel who was rubbing his forehead, "what happened? Is it time for our date?"
"You've been asleep for over twelve hours" said Anya, "Willow called me when you didn't wake up. I'm sorry you missed the trip to Atlantis, I know how much you wanted to go."
"Ah" said Daniel as he finished rubbing his forehead when he saw what looked like a golden bracelet around his wrist that Vala had put on him hours ago, "where is she?"
"Hi Daniel" said Vala as she happily waved from the adjacent bed, "guess what?"
"No" said Daniel as he glared at Vala.
"What?" she replied.
"Daniel Jackson" said Teal'c as he, along with Willow and Faith, walked up to him.
"Teal'c?" said Daniel, "I thought you were busy?"
"Indeed I was" said Teal'c, "however the Council meeting is not until tomorrow."
"Ah" replied Daniel, "Umm.. Willow, any chance of getting this off me?"
"Tried my TK" said Willow, "all I got was a headache, sorry."
"Faith?" asked Daniel as he looked pleadingly at Faith.
"Sorry" said Faith, "I tried but those are locked in tight."
"Anya" said Daniel, "I wish these were off."
"Sorry" said Anya as she kissed Daniel's forehead, "I can't do anything about inanimate objects, but if you want a wish for her, then… well…"
"Oh please" said Vala, "as if saying I wish gives you everything I want."
"Oh it works" said Willow.
"Fine" said Vala, "then I wish that the next man who comes through that door will be my soul mate."
"Done" said Anya as she smiled at Vala.
"Hey Jackson" said Colonel Mitchell as he came through the door as Daniel, Anya and the others tried not to laugh.
"Did I miss something?" said the Colonel as he looked on confused at everyone while Vala was giving him a seductive wave.
"No, sir" said Willow as her face turned red in her struggle not to laugh.
"Colonel Mitchell" said Vala as she gave him a pout, "they're making fun of me, now would you be so kind as to get these restraints off me?"
"No" said the Colonel.
"Please?" said Vala.
"No" replied the Colonel.
"So you're one of those people who like their women retrained?" grinned Vala.
"Huh?" said the Colonel as Vala winked at him.
"Daniel! Daniel! Daniel!" shouted Dawn as she came running into the infirmary, "the code… the code…. Tablet…. Its…"
"Easy… Easy" said Willow as she telekinetically grabbed a chair as Vala looked on with her mouth open in surprise, "sit down… you look like you ran a marathon."
"The tablet… the tablet.." said Dawn as she panted while she sat down, "it is Ancient…. It's…. It's signed by someone called Myrddin… and…"
"That name" said Daniel as he sat up in bed slowly, "I heard that name…."
"It's in the portion of the Atlantis database that the Atlantis Expedition brought back" said Dawn, "and yes, I checked that name against the list of names there again."
"And it's there?" asked Daniel surprised.
"Yes" said Dawn excitedly, "you know what that means?"
"This Myrddin was one of the Ancients who evacuated to Earth during the siege" said Teal'c, "and he is the same individual who carved this tablet?"
"Yes" said Dawn and Daniel together.
"Daniel?" said Willow.
"Myrddin….. Myrddin.." said Daniel excitedly as everyone except for Dawn looked at him confused.
"Don't you guys get it?" said Dawn, "Myrddin is someone we've heard stories about… everyone has, especially magic users."
"No" said Willow as she came to a realization.
"Red?" said Faith.
"Merlin" said Willow, "are you serious?"
"Yes" said Dawn and Daniel together.
"Wait" said Colonel Mitchell, "you're telling me that Merlin… King Arthur and the Round Table's Merlin was an Ancient?"
"Most probably" replied Daniel.
"Are you sure?" whispered Anya as she looked at Dawn, "you're telling me that the greatest magician… the legendary Merlin was an alien?"
"Well" said Daniel, "I guess we get to find out, huh?"
TBC.