Daniel

The SGC was surprisingly quiet this morning, as if a lingering hush was in the air. Mixed emotions charged through us all, the excitement of the promotions ceremony that Jack and Sam were both participating in tomorrow, Hammond's last days as acting general, the worry amid the science department of the possibility of the timeline wormhole opening today while we were off world, and my own fears that Eleanor will take the threats of sending her back through seriously and go on her own valuation while I was gone.

I walked into her office and saw she was on the phone scribbling on a pad of paper making small cartoonish drawings and yawning out into the early morning. She looked over in my direction and gave me a sleepy smile before blowing a kiss and waving goodbye in my direction. I maintained my position and she appeared confused but continued on her call.

"Do we have the chest plate of quetzalcoatl in inventory?" She asked to whoever it was on the phone. "You're going to want to send a team to Mexico City," she replied after the pause. "Yes, well you're wanting a dispatch from Mexico on the Atlantis team and they're not exactly buying in, correct?" She covered the mouth plate of the phone and turned back to me, "it's the IOA, it may take a while."

"I have time." I replied bluntly and she turned back to the phone.

"My suggestion then sir, would be to give them an example as to why this program is important. A piece of alien tech found in their own territory is a bit of a wake up call, no?" She took a long drink from her coffee and rolled her eyes at the voice on the other end. "I have it on good authority that it will be there and that the Mexican government will be very eager to have it in their possession. In fact, I would bet my career on it, and I would also bet that they'll be more apt to then send funding and manpower." She wrote down an email on her notepad and continued, "yes, I thought as much. Thank you sir." The line ended and she hung up the phone letting out an exasperated groan.

"Who's this good authority that let you in on this tech no one knew of before?" I leaned against her desk with a brow raised in question.

"Myself, I broke my arm trying to find it in March '99. Now, if Professor Yoke was fired in '98 because of my death, it wasn't found. I can't exactly tell some random man on the phone at the IOA that can I?"

"We need to talk." I said abruptly needing to cut to the chase.

"Usually the combat gear doesn't do it for me, but something about the unhinged look in your eyes is making me question my no PDA while on duty at work rule." She bat her eyes at me.

"I'm going off world today, I'll be back after lunch. McKay is attempting to dial the gate back to our timeline in two hours."

"I'll make sure I stay here so he doesn't accidentally push me through."

My eyes narrowed in on hers. "That's not funny."

"It's a little funny," she attempted to pass her flippancy off as humor to cover for feelings of guilt and I could see right through it. I walked over and pinned her body into the office chair, my hands engulfed hers against the arm rests as my body casting a looming shadow.

"Do not go through that gate."

"This is kinda doing something for me," she slipped her right foot free of her shoe and dragged it up my inner leg before perching it on the chair.

"Do not leave this room." My eyes were unmoving, the pulse in her hands quickened against my own and flooded my senses.

"Okay," her voice was breathy and I looked up at him through hooded eyes.

"No, I need some conviction here. I cannot keep hearing the idea thrown out that you go through again and wonder if you're considering it as well. Tell me that you won't. If you love me like I love you, promise me you'll stay." My voice came out more of a beg than I had hoped for but it was all I had in me. She had free will, she also had a drive to do what she thought was right, but I trusted she would do what was best for her own safety.

"And what are you going to do in the meantime Daniel? What is life going to be for you while it all implodes? I'm supposed to continue on knowing your death will ultimately be on my hands? The death of everyone?"

"I won't have a life, if you're not here." I released one of my hands and tipped her chin up to look at me directly. The pad of my thumb traced along her quivering bottom lip. "When you were gone I was unraveling but I had the promise of somehow getting you back. You go through that gate when it's reopened and my life ends with yours. Say it." I pleaded and she nodded back.

"I promise, I will be here when you return today."

"Thank you," my mouth moved onto hers, gentle and sweet and pulled back. I walked out and headed toward the gate room still feeling the pit in my stomach grow, but at least knowing I could trust she would be safe when I returned.

McKay

Standing in front of the gate usually gave me a sense of dread. I could handle anything in this world, I could rationalize and solve any issue on the Earth side. However, when I stood here attempting to dial back to a timeline that should have ended already, that should not be leaching into this one and swallowing mass into it, I felt nauseous.

The first six chevrons locked, but the seventh, it was still spinning as smoke billowed from the vents and refused to lock. I had a feeling that this would happen, things couldn't just work out in our favor. No, that would've been too easy.

"It's the teather." I muttered looking over at Dr. Lee in the control room with me. "She's too far from the gate, and Jackson's off world."

"Why would that matter with the remote?" He questioned me and I hated this spoon feeding of answers I had to constantly give everyone in this department. The only one honestly worthy of a slot in this post was Samantha Carter.

"Their DNA is embedded in the metal. They're the strongest conduits."

The gate paused and it shut down. All for nothing. I stormed out without a blink and walked down the hall to the stairwell climbing the next flight and making my way to Eleanor's office. I took in a breath to maintain my composure and gave it a gentle knock.

"Come in," she called out and I did just that. She looked over at me, her face unreadable, and went back to her computer. "Yes?"

"Would you come to the gate room with me?"

"No." She continued scrolling and typing as I felt the slight stab of rejection hit me. I had not anticipated her answer. She always just did as she was told, whatever I said.

"Why?" Was all I could blurt out and she looked back at me calmly, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. She had said that we were friends before, or at least friendly. She seemed nice enough, but I needed a slot on that Atlantis team and she and Jackson were in my way.

"I don't really trust you McKay." And there it was. The use of my last name. I expected that from colleagues, the military, but she had made a point to call me Rodney. No longer was I her equal in her eyes, and she was never my equal in mine.

"The remote won't open without a conduit. That's you."

"I am the only conduit? That feels too expected." My only response was a look of annoyance back, and she turned to her computer. "Daniel should be back in a few hours. Then we can talk about it."

"He's your keeper then?"

"He doesn't threaten to shove me through the gate."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned. "Look, I'm. I'm sorry. I'm not a bad guy. I just," I sucked the air through my teeth and stared at her back.

"You're not a bad guy, you're just selfish. You forget," she looked over her shoulder at me, "I know you. I knew you. You were selfish then too but you never threatened my life. You are a brilliant man, you're funny and have a kind heart, sometimes. But right now you're desperate and acting rashly. Come back after SG-1 returns and we'll talk about this together. Jack should have the final say, he'll be acting General soon."

"I'm not trying to hurt you. On purpose I mean. I don't want anyone to be harmed."

"No, you just want the problem solved. We all do." I took that as my dismissal and I went back to the lab to figure out a way around this hiccup.

Jack

I spat out a gelatinous chunk that had rolled around my mouth after purchasing a questionable snack in the marketplace. We stood outside Chulak once again while Teal'c was inside the halls of his brethren arguing alongside Bra'tac. Daniel was sitting on the stone steps reading a worn handwritten book in some dialectic I was unfamiliar with, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Carter had gone off to inspect the reservoirs of water for the seasonal harvest.

"Do I have to bring anything tomorrow night?" I broke the silence between us and Daniel blinked confused looking up at me. "For your party."

"What? Oh. No. It's uh, it's catered I think. I'm not sure. Eleanor planned it, and it's not our party. It's for you and Sam." He scratched his head and winced, "your uh, your promotions." I threw him a look that told him I knew what he meant by that. We were doing well keeping work life and home life separate, but the few nights that Eleanor, Sam and Janet Fraiser had together discussion was held on our relationship. Daniel had always known, he'd seen the small glimpses and from what I was told in every universe and timeline he'd seen Sam and I were together. So why not this one? That's why I had agreed to be temporary acting General soon, Sam had put in applications to Area-51 and the Pentagon alongside me.

As if on cue she came back with a curious look on her face. "Sir, Daniel, any news back yet from Teal'c?"

"No. What is it now Carter? My last mission can't just be easy?"

"Well sir, the locals say they've seen extra ships in the sky at night. As if looking for something." Her eyes darted between Daniel and I and we heard footsteps behind us.

"There is nothing more to be said." I heard Bra'tac call out from the building.

"This feels like deja vu. We've done this bit, yes? The free Jaffa ask for Teal'c's help and then shun us?"

"Unfortunately sir, this seems to be a larger issue." Carter's lips formed a tight line and she looked over my shoulder to see the collection of Jaffa coming toward us.

"The system lords are threatening our skies, on your careless whims." A broad man shouted out as Teal'c finally stood with us.

"We have done no such thing, the Tauri are equally to be respected. They are our brothers in arms, as we are to them." He growled out.

"The system lords have stated they will attack us as a show of force and allegiance with Anubis and Ba'al if you do not yield your mystery weapon." Bra'tac clarified to us.

"Our Atlantis threat." Daniel hissed out and stood to his feet.

"They can't act on Earth because they don't think they will win, but if they threaten our allies they believe they'll weaken us." Carter assumed out loud.

"Is it all three?" I queried and Bra'tac shook his head.

"No, Yu is choosing to remain neutral."

"The Prometheus can handle two, especially with the upgrades coming soon." I let out a puff of air and took a step forward. "If it's alright with the Jaffa," I motioned to both Teal'c and the council who had stormed after him. "I'll send a team in tonight to monitor the skies as well. See what we are up against. Then we can offer resistance that hopefully will allow the system lords to leave with their snake tails between their legs, fair enough?"

The larger Jaffa who seemed to be acting leader looked amongst his peers and they all nodded. "You will have a week. Nothing more." He cast a smug look of defiance in Teal'c's direction and turned on his heels back inside.

"Wonderful, Master Bra'tac, pleasure as always." I gave him a customary head nod and he returned the gesture as he walked us back to the gate.