Chapter 9

Evening had fallen and the dial out to save Dr. Earnest Littlefield was upon them. Sporting civilians clothes, Bonnie Barstow sat at the controls with Michael Knight as they manned the computer for the iris with Colonel Hammond standing directly behind them in uniform.

Dressed in green battle dress and armed with an M-16 rifle and gear, Sam dialed the address using the dial home device or DHD and waited for the event horizon to establish. She had previously dug her laptop out of the footlocker so she would have a computer off world.

Dressed in the new green uniforms supplied by the FIRM, String, Caitlin and Dom were ready for the first adventure through the mini gate. They were armed with pistols and rifles as well.

SG-1 had donned their uniforms and gear once more minus the P-90 rifle for there was a lack of ammunitions. Instead, they were issued the M-16 rifle. Jack stood with the tan ball cap on his head looking over String and his team. He asked, "When you taking Airwolf up?"

"This weekend." he replied knowing. "You want to fly her?"

"Yes." he nodded.

"I suppose Cait will let you." he told him. "Ask her if you can fly in her place."

He rolled his eyes. "For crying out loud." He found he now had to ask permission form Caitlin.

Caitlin stated. "I think Sam should go up first."

Jack looked at her. "Why?"

She smiled. "She follows orders unlike you."

He let out a heavy sigh.

The event horizon established before the witnesses. It was a sight to see as the water glimmered after rushing towards them and settling back into a pool.

Archangel stood in his classic white suit watching with Marella. "It looks like a swimming pool." he noted.

"It's not water." she assured him. "That is the event horizon."

Devon Miles stood next to Marella. "That is something to see." he admitted.

Beside Devon was Professor Langford and his daughter, Catherine in the FIRM's new battle dress uniforms.

Paul Langford stated. "You should see it on the big gate."

Devon lifted his eyebrows as he imagined a much bigger event horizon.

Jack looked over his team and the Airwolf crew. He gave the order. "Let's go!"

Teal'c went first followed by Daniel and then Sam. Dom walked up the steps with Caitlin.

Dom stood before it. He looked to Caitlin. "Last time I saw something like this they sent Earnest through and he never came back."

Cait stated. "We will get him back. Together?" she motioned.

"Let's go." Dom agreed as the two walked through next.

Jack stood looked at Stringfellow Hawke before the event horizon. He asked, "You ready, String?"

"You ready, Colonel?" he asked.

"Nah," he shook his head. "I'm never ready to be honest with you. Never know what you will find on the other side. Could come under fire. Could find a Goa'uld."

String asked. "What do you usually find?"

"Trees." Jack told him. "Go!" he motioned.

String then walked through the mini gate with Jack right behind him.

Colonel Hammond stood watching. He gave an order. "Close the iris, Bonnie. Monitor transmissions for return."

"I'm on it, Colonel." she replied.

Heliopolis

Jack walked through the event horizon right after String emerged. He found Sam had already gone to the DHD to ensure they could dial back home. Caitlin stood with Dom overlooking the nearby shore. A castle stood nearby.

Daniel stated. "We got time. The shoreline erodes right up to the gate in about fifteen years."

String turn back and looked up and finally got to see the size of the larger gate. "That's big." he admitted.

"Told ya the one in the cave was a mini gate." Jack stated.

String also realized it was a nice sunny day. "It's daytime here."

"You get use to the day and night thing." Jack assured.

String shook the side effects of gate travel. "That is rush. You're right, Jack. It's like being pulled in all directions while on a rollercoaster ride."

He shrugged. "You get use to it."

Dom stood looking about. "Earnest!" he called. "Ernie! It's me. Dom."

A figure emerged from the castle. A man, naked and unsure what to make of his very late rescue. He made his way out into the sun squinting. He gray hair was receding but slightly long. He remained clean shaven.

"Ernie!" Dom called.

He slowly made his way unsure if it was his old friend or not.

"It's me, Dom." he insisted. "Captain Santini."

"Dom?" he looked intensely at the man's face. His eyes grew wide. "They came for me." he realized.

"That's right." he stated. "I wasn't about to leave you stranded when I found out you were still alive. Now, get some clothes on." he told him.

Daniel had brought clothing for Earnest in his bag. He held out trousers, a jacket and boots for the man. "Here. I figured you would need these."

Earnest being saved over a decade earlier made a huge difference. He still had his wits about him despite the dreams of being back on Earth with Catherine. He grabbed the clothing and quickly got dressed. "Catherine." he began.

"She's waiting for you on the other side." Dom told him.

"She is?" he nearly cried.

Jack mentioned. "This would have been a hell of a lot easier if Dom was with us the first time."

String asked, "Didn't go as smooth?"

He shook his head. "Not at all."

Knight Industries

Bonnie sat waiting for the call from the other side. The gate soon established behind the iris. She called out. "Incoming wormhole."

Colonel Hammond rose to his feet as he had been sitting at the briefing table speaking with others who were all waiting for their friends to return. He asked, "Do we have a signal?"

She nodded. "It's Sam's code."

"Open the iris." he instructed.

The iris opened wide exposing the event horizon. The figures began to emerge. Dom stepped through first with Earnest as he helped his old friend return.

Catherine rushed to him. "Earnest." She immediately came to see him.

His blue eyes settled on his long lost love. "Catherine." he cried and then wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

Jack looked about to ensure everyone made it back and then the event horizon dissipated. He looked on at the reunion.

Earnest then looked at Paul Langford. He was much older. "Why didn't anyone come and get me?" he asked him.

"We lost the wormhole and it severed your oxygen supply. We assumed you had died. We didn't know you were alive on the other side." he explained. "Had we known, I would have sent Dom and John after you."

Jack wondered. "John?"

Dom spoke to him. "String's dad. John Hawke. My best friend."

"Ah," he gave a nod.

Paul stated. "You are here now. And as you can see…it's not the same gate that you went through."

Earnest turned around and his eyes settled on the mini gate. "Where did you find a little one?"

Daniel spoke. "In a cave in the Mojave desert. We rescued you early, Earnest. We already changed the timeline. But this way, you and Catherine have more time together and we could use your help." he gave a warm smile.

"Anything." Earnest agreed. "Just name it."

"Work with us on the mini gate?" he requested.

He agreed. "I would be honored."

Daniel stated. "I will be dialing back to do more research on the library of the four races. I don't blame you if you choose to not go back. But you are welcome."

"You say I was rescued early." he stated a bit confused.

Daniel nodded. "Thirteen years early."

Catherine stated. "You don't have to go back there, Earnest."

"Thirteen years." he pondered. "That's time I would have been stranded off world. No, you need my help. I'm going to help." he promised Daniel.

"I look forward to working with you, Earnest." he told him.

Earnest then looked at Catherine. "Will you marry me?" he finally got to propose.

"Yes!" she cheered nearly in tears.

As Earnest and Catherine kissed, Caitlin looked at String. She spoke to him. "A wedding. I'm so excited." It was a hint in reality.

He gave a sigh.