Author's Notes: - Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
This is the last full chapter I have done at the moment. The next one is in progress.
Enjoy
Jack read the reports for about the tenth time knowing that in about five minutes he would have to tell his best friend that his daughter was missing along with the Seaquest. Honestly Jack should have known that Ari would get into trouble, she was her father's daughter.
He sighed, thinking about the girl who called him Uncle Jack with that wicked twinkle. Ari was like her father in many ways, her gift for languages, her sharp wit – though her tendency to push people came from Jack. Then there were the traits she got from her mother. Jack had been stunned when he discovered that the beautiful serene seemingly perpetually composed woman his best friend was married to had a wild side. Jack was sure that given half a chance she'd go skydiving or bungee-jumping every weekend. He sometimes forgot that Sha're was the one who started the rebellion on Abydos, not Daniel.
Daniel had just given her the inspiration.
"Sir," a voice interrupted his musings, "Atlantis has contacted us."
Jack let out a long breath and hit the button opening the link, "McKay."
"General," Rodney McKay nodded back, "I'm sending the reports through now."
"I take it you lost the toss this month," Jack chuckled, "Where's Sheppard?"
McKay shrugged, "He managed to schedule a training mission for this morning."
"Before we get into this," Jack said, "Is Daniel there?"
"He's in his lab," McKay told him, "I'll call him."
"You better get Sha're as well," Jack told him, "Okay, let's get through this fast."
x
Daniel frowned confused that Jack wanted to talk to him. Rodney waved him in to the office and moved letting him have the seat.
"I'll send Sha're in when she gets here," Rodney told him to Daniel's bemusement before he left the room.
"Jack," Daniel greeted his friend, "Not that I'm not glad to see you but this is kinda unusual. What's wrong?"
"You automatically assume something is wrong," Jack tried to say lightly before he winced; "Before you yell at me you need to listen."
Daniel grimaced, "Jack, tell me what is going on?"
"It's Ari," Jack started, "She's missing."
"What do you mean missing?" Daniel asked, trying not to overreact until he'd heard the story.
Jack quickly started explaining what had happened.
"Hold on," Daniel stopped him, "Someone called O'Neill actually translated something and you sent my daughter to check up on it?"
Jack rolled his eyes, "You know that never stops being funny. And Ari was the most qualified person to send."
Daniel nodded before his friend continued with his explanation about Ari's mission and all he knew at that moment. Daniel's fist clenched as he tried to stop panic and fear overwhelm him. Calm settled on him when his wife took his hand suddenly.
"Jack," Sha're said softly, "Is there anything else you can tell us?"
"No," Jack sighed, "Just remember how good your girl is. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."
Sha're gave a soft smile, "Thank you."
Daniel nodded to his friend just before the screen went blank.
"She is fine," Sha're took his face in her hands, "I would know if she was badly hurt or if she was dead. Arianna is fine."
"For now," Daniel dropped his eyes.
Sha're touched his chin making him look up at her, "Our daughter is more than capable. You taught her well."
"If we were on Earth I would have been the one Jack sent," Daniel reminded her.
Sha're shook her head, "My Dan'iel you wanted to let Arianna flourish on her own. You have to trust in her."
With a sigh Daniel let her move him from the office and they walked together to their room.
"So Lucas," Nathan said as he led Dr Jackson into the small vessel they'd pulled out of the water, "How are you doing?"
The teenager glanced up at him, his eyes pinched slightly against the headache, "I think I have it, Captain. Once I power this up then we should be able to access the onboard computer and get co-ordinates for the mainland."
"Excellent," Jackson noted, "If we can ever get you to Atlantis, Lucas we might not get you back out."
Nathan hid a smile at the grin Lucas gave before he turned back to the controls. He made a few final connections before reaching out and hitting the control to power it up. They all waited but nothing happened.
Lucas rubbed his temples in frustration, "I don't know…I'm sure it…"
"Dammit," Jackson snapped suddenly making them turn to her, "He doesn't have the gene."
Nathan swapped a confused look with Lucas, "What gene?"
"The ATA gene," she explained with an annoyed sigh, "It never occurred to me because it's the norm that anyone working in Atlantis has it."
Nathan grimaced, "And what exactly does this gene do?"
"It allows people to use the Lantean tech," Jackson explained with an annoyed grimace before she shook herself, "We need to check your medical files."
"Why?" Lucas asked confused.
Jackson grinned, "Because all military personnel are checked for it. It's standard procedure these days in case they're needed."
"You're telling me that this SGC are testing my people for a gene we don't even know exists?" Nathan snapped angrily.
Jackson straightened slightly and Nathan saw suddenly in her eyes what the smart-mouth was hiding.
"Homeworld security trumps your hurt feelings," she stated coldly, "Now, are you going to get the files so I can tell you who has the gene or are you going to pout some more?"
Nathan stared at her wondering if he would win a battle of wills with this girl but before he could say anything else O'Neill appeared.
"Captain," he stepped inside, stopping when the control board he rested his hand on sprung to life.
"Or we could just get him," Jackson stated blandly.
x
Tim stared at the Captain, Lucas and Ari before looking at the lit up consoles, he quickly pulled his hands back.
"What did I do?" he asked worriedly.
Bridger moved placing a hand on his shoulder guiding him forward, "It's alright, Lieutenant. Work with Lucas and let us know as soon as you have the co-ordinates. Dr Jackson and I are going to have a quick chat."
Tim and Lucas shared a look as Bridger headed out of the small ship; Ari rolled her eyes before following them.
"What was that about?" Tim asked.
"Jackson said something about everyone being tested for a gene without Bridger knowing," Lucas told him, "The Captain did not like that."
"I'll bet," Tim murmured shaking himself, "So, what are we doing here?"
Lucas turned his attention back to the console, "Okay, the co-ordinates."
x
"Captain," Ari followed him out of the Jumper towards an empty lab, "What now?"
He leaned against the wall looking thoughtful, "Could the reason Mr O'Neill doesn't have a headache be because he has this gene?"
Ari tilted her head, "It's possible. Smith has the gene and she doesn't have a headache."
"How do you know she has the gene?" Bridger asked suspiciously.
"All telepaths do," Ari shrugged, "It's why they can do what they do."
Bridger nodded before frowning in thought, "So why did the Jumper not react to you?"
"I don't have the gene," Ari replied with another shrug.
Confusion covered his face, "But your abilities?"
"They come from somewhere entirely different," she told him, "It's a long story that I'm not going to get into. Look," she changed the subject back to the original one, "I don't believe that you only have one person with the gene. We need to check the medical files."
Bridger nodded, "Then let's do that. Follow me, Doctor."
A little stunned by his sudden attitude change Ari had to jog to catch up with him. She was worried about the headaches the crew were having and felt she should be able to do something more about them. Her dad would have an idea; he would already have a theory which, if not right, would be pretty damn close.
Reaching the infirmary Dr Smith was passing out pain medication to the crew members who were in the worst shape. Looking up when they passed she nodded at the Captain's signal before passing over to one of the other doctors and following them into the small room at the back of the large room.
x
"The gene results are under the reference M35-117," Jackson told them as Wendy opened up her own medical file, "It's a simple 1 or 0 designating the presence or not."
Wendy nodded checking her own records, "And I have it."
Jackson gave a small shrug a slightly smug smile on her lips.
"Alright," Nathan said, annoyed at himself that he was actually beginning to like the young woman, "Dr Smith, can you search the records and provide the number of crew have this gene."
"Of course," Wendy nodded.
They waited in silence; the only sound was Wendy tapping the controls. After about five minutes she turned to them.
"There are fifty members of the crew with the ATA gene," she told them.
Jackson frowned, "Well that rules that out as the reason for O'Neill not having the headache."
"We thought that fact he has the gene like you could be the reason he doesn't have a headache," Nathan explained when Wendy looked at the two of them confused.
Wendy frowned, "Lt O'Neill doesn't have the ATA gene, not according to his file."
"That's impossible," Jackson stated, "He activated the Jumper, he has the gene."
Wendy brought up O'Neill's record; Jackson studied it carefully for several minutes before turning to Nathan.
"Okay, now I'm intrigued," she stated, tilting her head in thought, "We have three options here."
"Which are?" Wendy asked.
"One, he doesn't have the gene and there is another reason he managed to activate the Jumper," Jackson stated ticking it off on a finger.
"But you've never known that to happen," Nathan noted.
Jackson nodded before continuing, "Two, this is an error by whoever entered the results."
"And three?" Wendy asked.
"This was a deliberate attempt to hide the fact Mr O'Neill has this specific gene," Nathan finished for the young woman.
Jackson nodded grimly, "And personally I really want to know why."
Jonathan checked the co-ordinates Lucas had sent him hoping that they were actually for land. The headaches were getting worse; thankfully Dr Smith's painkillers were, so far, holding his at bay.
"Captain," he greeted Bridger when he walked onto the bridge with Dr Jackson, "We're heading for what we hope is the mainland."
"Hopefully once we're there the headaches will stop and we can work out what is happening," Bridger mused.
Jonathan nodded, "I sent the senior staff to get something to eat then a few hours rest. I would suggest you follow their example, sir."
Bridger nodded before turning to the young woman beside him, "You too, Dr Jackson."
The young woman shrugged, "It's a good idea. It's not like I can do much else at the moment." She started off the bridge, turning back suddenly, "No escort?"
Jonathan saw the smile slide across Bridger's face when he asked, "Do you need one?"
Jackson smiled at them, "I'll see you in a few hours."
The two men watched her leave for a moment, waiting until she was out of hearing range.
"Do we trust her now?" Jonathan asked.
Bridger shrugged, "Everything she's told us has been true. She was brought up knowing that this Stargate was a secret, her furtiveness is because she knew she couldn't talk about it. I'm keeping an eye on her but I don't think she's a danger to us."
"We need to trust her so she trusts us?" Jonathan asked.
"Precisely," Bridger told him.
x
"According to the information Lucas pulled from the Jumper," Jonathan explained as they stood back from the crew where they could talk freely, "We're about ten hours from land. I sent everyone for some rest so that they were fresh for us sending a team to the surface."
"Good thinking," Nathan nodded approvingly, "Did Lucas get anything else?"
Jonathan shook his head, "No, the systems have been badly damaged. He's going to need a lot more time with it to get anything else."
"How long did it take you to get him out of the Jumper?" Nathan chuckled.
Jonathan grinned, "Less time than you would think. O'Neill walked out and it powered down."
Nathan chewed his lip for a moment in thought before asking, "You've known Tim a lot longer than I have."
"He was chosen by Stark to be the communications officer," Jonathan shrugged, "He was actually here before I was."
"So Stark sponsored him?"
Jonathan frowned, "Captain, is something wrong? O'Neill is completely loyal to you and the Seaquest."
"That's not what I'm worried about," Nathan told the younger man, "His medical records state that he doesn't have the gene to control the Lantean tech."
"What?"
Nathan sighed, "And I agree with Dr Jackson that this had to be deliberate. The question becomes why?"