Hi everyone,

I hope you're all fine.

I know the story might look like a puzzle right now but everything will be sorted out in the end. So please bear with me ;).

Sorry of they are some mistakes (grammar, unusual vocabulary). English is not my native language. I just happen to love it and have done since I was 9 (Right now I'm 43... so this makes it my longest love story lol ut does not bring a perfect knowledge).

You know the song : Stargate SG-1 is not mine, I only love to play with them...

Now back to the story.

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Chapter 10

- Two words: no way!

The words echoed in the gate room where SG-1 and General Hammond were welcoming the Tok'ra members leaded by Anise… maybe welcoming was not the best suited term…

- We are glad to see you too, Colonel O'Neill., Freya's voice sneered.

- Well, if I didn't make myself clear, the answer is no., Jack repeated, ready to turn on his heels.

He wasn't to go again on some freaking mission for the Tok'ra or to try new doohickeys she knew nothing of.

- Colonel!, Hammond growled at him, making him stop on his track., Please Anise, proceed to the infirmary and then we'll meet in the briefing room., he invited her politely.

- Is SG-1 really concerned? Maybe you'd prefer some other team., O'Neill tried… to no avail.

- We have come to share information with you that might be of utmost importance., Freya told them.

- That seems to be good news., the general pondered., I can't wait to hear them.

With a little nod, he let the Tok'ra follow Daniel to the infirmary with the rest of SG-1 just after.

- We were on a good nice mission and we had to make it short because of the Tok'ra… I can't believe it., he muttered and Sam heard it.

She would have laughed hadn't she had a lot of experience keeping her feelings for her and only her because it would be one of those rare times when the colonel would say this kind of thing. Everyone knew how much he hated scientific missions…

- I hate the Tok'ra., he said but added belatedly., Dad's okay though but the others… they're like mosquitoes on a windshield. A plague to see and get rid of.

- Well, nice… image, sir. I'm sure Anise would like it., Carter quipped., I think they will need an hour to do their check-ups. I'll go to my lab and sort everything we brought back., she told him.

- Wait, Carter., he called out to her.

She stopped and turned back to him, seeing him getting closer. He took a look backwards before turning back to her, looking really serious.

- How do you feel? You know, about her… I know you weren't convinced by Daniel's opinion. Is it still okay for you to work with her?, he asked her, truly concerned.

- I'm used to working with people I don't trust, Sir., she only said and he knew she meant it.

He observed her for a few more seconds before smiling crookedly.

- Hey… I hope you're not talking about me., he quipped lightly, making her snort.

- I finally got to know you…, she replied mischievously and he thought right away back to the first time they went through the gate.

- And do you…

- Jack!

The colonel realized what he was going to ask and silently thanked his friend for his sudden appearance. He would have been in so much trouble and Carter knew it too if he had to judge on her shocked expression… and slightly pink cheeks.

- Daniel? So what does she… they want? Really want, I mean., O'Neill asked him seriously.

- Well, just what she told us, give us some information they gathered over the months.

- I can't believe it. There's always something else., the colonel affirmed.

- We'll see. I have to go to my office. See you later., the archaeologist saluted them, going away quickly.

- So… you're gonna be okay with her?, Jack questioned her once more, just to be sure.

- Yes sir. I can give her the benefit of the doubt, can't I? I know things are not always what they seem. Why couldn't it be the same for her? I would have preferred to know the truth but… we know some secrets are better off hidden., she answered, looking straight at him.

- Yeah, some are. Just… be careful and come talk to me if you need., he told her in a hushed voice.

- I will. See you soon, sir., she saluted him before going away, leaving Jack no other choice than going somewhere else too.

Just before coming in her office, Sam stayed a few seconds a few feet from the door, taking the time to hide her feelings behind a blank face. Charlie was there, working as concentrated as she always was. Carter made a quick sweep of her office, looking for any missing item but everything seemed normal. The only missing things were the ones that she had decided to pack away.

- Hi Charlotte., she forced herself to greet the young woman.

- Good morning, Sam. So the blaring was for you?, Charlie said, grinning.

- The last one was for the Tok'ra. The ones that made us come back early from our mission. I hope it will be worth it., Sam sighed., They arrived a few minutes ago.

- Tok'ra… They are the ones against the Goa'uld, right? The good snakes?

- Yes, they are… Don't ask colonel O'Neill about them, he might tell you otherwise. He's not a big fan of them., Sam sneered lightly.

- Well, I guess it's in him. He looks like the kind of person who needs time to trust someone and is completely reliable after that. It seems good to have him as a CO., the lieutenant let out before biting on her lips., Sorry, that was probably out of place., she apologized.

Sam observed her a little before nodding.

- No, you're right. And he doesn't really need time, he just needs to know the person… as I do., she told her, giving her a pointed look.

Charlotte looked away, embarrassed. She didn't know if it was only an impression but she was pretty sure Sam was trying to pass her a coded message. She recalled her conversation with Daniel, the way he wanted to convince her to talk about Ellie to the team but she couldn't. She had a chance to be just an USAF lieutenant in here, not the single mother lieutenant she was at Area 51, the one who had to prove herself again and again and again. Here, she still wanted to do her best but felt she had already proved herself enough to not have to justify her place. For once, she could just live her life, her passion instead of feeling she was just doing her best to survive in her environment. She couldn't afford to lose that right now. She needed time to gain some confidence.

- If you have any question, Major, feel free to ask them as long as it's work-related. I have nothing to hide. On a personal level, I'm not willing to share my life as you've been trying to push me to do on Friday night., she answered, raising her chin defiantly., This is also all about trust.

- Let's work., Sam said.

Charlotte was right and Sam knew it. They tried to pry on her life that evening, for good reasons but she could understand her reasons for being careful around them. She didn't feel the need to apologize but she needed to say something to ease the tension.

- I hope someday you will trust us enough to talk to us if you need., she told her, concentrating on emptying the box with the samples.

- I didn't steal the artifacts and I haven't tampered the network., Charlie answered, not looking at her either.

- OK., Sam just said and with that the conversation was closed.

- I've worked on the blueprints and made some calculations about the things we talked about earlier this month. It's in the file here., the younger woman pushed the file towards her., My CO at Area 51 called me yesterday. They have a problem with the first ship and he wants me to go back for a few days. He thinks it will be easier for me to describe the problem to you thus.

- Let me assist to the briefing with the Tok'ra and we'll see when you can leave., Sam granted, Charlie nodding her agreement., We brought back a lot of samples from P9G-7695. Do you want to start the analyses? You may prove your point., she offered.

- If it helps you, no problem. I'll do as you think it's best., Charlie answered, falling back in the military scheme, something safer for her.

- Work on the samples for the moment. It was your discovery. You have to do it till the end., Carter affirmed., And please stay on first name basis in this room.

Charlie observed her and then nodded, feeling as if she was holding an olive branch to her and she was willing to accept it. She would have probably been as suspicious in her place. So she took the soil samples Sam was sorting out and began her work, labeling each sample, taking notes before deciding what her next steps would be.

- I need to do chemical analyses., she informed Sam before she left the office to go to the briefing room half an hour later.

- OK. I'll be back here after the briefing or go find you if we have to go. Take your time., the older woman told her.

They went their separate ways and Sam found Daniel just outside the briefing room talking with one of his assistants who left him as she arrived.

- Sam, did you have time to unpack all your samples?, he asked her, gesturing for her to go first in the briefing room.

- Charlie is already working on them., she answered, taking a seat on one side of the table, next to colonel O'Neill.

- Good., he just said, looking at her pointedly.

She knew he was just dying of asking her if she had changed her mind about her assistant ans she could also feel that colonel O'Neill's attention was directed to her.

- You swear to me this is only a personal matter?, she whispered to Daniel, not willing Anise to hear them and ask further questions.

- I do. You can trust her., he told her back in a confident hushed tone.

As the general was joining them, she just nodded and turn her attention to him.

- So we are all here to hear about the intelligence the Tok'ra want to share with us., Hammond spoke up.

- Wait for the other shoe to drop…, O'Neill muttered, receiving a stern look from his CO., I can't wait, General., he quipped with a fake smile.

- Please Anise… or Freya, go ahead., the general said.

The woman told them everything, or so she said, about the information Tok'ra operatives had gathered lately.

- During the latest mission, we have recovered new technology…, Anise suddenly pointed out.

- I knew it and it's a big NO!, O'Neill intervened, exasperated.

- Colonel O'Neill, please let Anise tell us more about it., Hammond summoned him, giving him an understanding but annoyed glare.

- We don't want to test it on you. We became more… cautious in this matter since the incident with the armbands., Anise tried to reassure them., However, we do not have the means right now to analyze it and we wish you could do it. Maybe you can find a way to use it or develop technology from it.

- That sounds pretty good and we have an engineer to do it now…, Daniel said, throwing a look at Sam.

- She's already pretty busy and we have a bunch of scientists who can do the job likewise., she answered, thinking about Charlie's first assignment and how she had already done much more than it.

- When can we have that item here at the SGC?, Hammond asked.

- The agent who was to bring it back had some problems. We lost contact with him yesterday., Anise admitted reluctantly.

They all looked at each other before turning back to the Tok'ra.

- Let me guess… you want our help to save his ass?, O'Neill sneered.

- Who is it?, Sam asked, worried: her father could be this agent.

- Selmak., Freya told them, calmly.

Sam froze, unable to process the news for a moment. She felt at the same time her teammates getting closer somehow and it helped her get her grip back.

- Where was he? General, sir, permission to go save him, please., she inquired respectfully right after that.

- Sam, we need to know more about the situation before I grant you that request., Hammond temporized, before facing Anise., Where was he before you lost contact?

- We…

At the same moment, the gate started to spin and the klaxons to blare in the compound. The five SGC members got on their feet and went down to the control room.

- Unauthorized off-world activation!, echoed in the room.

- Who is it?, Hammond asked to the technician.

- We received no IDC yet, sir. It's arriving., he suddenly pointed at the screen.

- How many teams are off-world, sir?, O'Neill asked, his hands in his pockets, his cool attitude betrayed by the serious glint in his eyes.

- Five that are not due right now., the base commander explained, frowning.

- It's the Tok'ra, sir., the technician told them.

- Doctor Jackson, go get Anise, please., Hammond told him., Open the iris.

A few seconds later, a Tok'ra operative came through as Anise arrived in the gate room, soon joined by SG-1 and Hammond.

- General Hammond, I presume. I'm Tajan from the Tok'ra. I came with words from Selmak., he told them before concentrating on her fellow.

- You can talk in front of them. Is Selmak alive? Do we know where he is?, Anise asked him back.

- Selmak arrived a few minutes ago. He wished to come here to bring the piece of technology he has gathered but had first to debrief with the high council. He asked me to come and tell you he was safe. He also wanted to know if he could come in one hour's time., the operative explained, easing Carter and the others' worry.

- Sure, he can come., the general told him.

- With your permission, General Hammond, I will go back with Tajan. Selmak will explain everything to you better than I'll do as he was the one who discovered it., Anise told them.

They exchanged a few more words and then the Tok'ra left.

- Dad's coming, Carter. You must be pleased., O'Neill said with a little smirk.

- Yes, that's great. I don't know how long he will stay around though. I hope it's for more than a few hours., she said, eager to see her father.

- Well, maybe you can convince him to work with you on this new technology., Daniel suggested.

- General, with your permission, I'd like Lieutenant O'Neill to be present for the meeting with my father. As Daniel said, she's specialized in retro-engineering., she said, casting a quick glance at her friend who seemed pleased.

After all, maybe it would be quicker if Charlie could take a look at it too, she thought in spite of her first idea.

- Permission granted. Let's reconvene here at… 1400 so. Go eat people. We don't know how long the meeting will last., their CO chased them away from the gate room.

- Thanks, Sam., Daniel told her.

- No need. If I'm to work with my father, he will have to work with her so better make it easier for everyone., she answered, shrugging.

- Ok people, you heard the General. I want everyone in the mess in fifteen minutes' top., O'Neill said, not trying to bring his two scientist teammates directly there.

They both nodded, went in and left the car when they had to while Teal'c and him made their way to the commissary.

- Are you done with your chemical tests?, Sam asked Charlie as soon as she entered her lab.

- Some are still in progress but I'm analyzing those that are done., the younger woman told her., How was the meeting?

- Pretty interesting and in progress too. Come on, we need to eat and, except if you already did, you're coming with me., Carter informed her.

- Wait a minute… You don't have to be nice with me if you don't feel like doing it., Charlie said, not willing to hurt her, just to make her at ease., I'm just here to assist you.

- Please Charlie, come eat with us. I know things have been awkward but we could make it a new start if you wish., Sam offered., And after that, you will follow us. We will probably need you for another project. Come on, briefing at 1400.

Instead of taking more time to think of it, Charlie took it as an order and followed her to the commissary where she had to sit down next to Colonel O'Neill and Sam. At first, things were a little awkward but Daniel managed to soothe the edges and meal finally went pretty fine.

- Shouldn't we go to the briefing room?, the lieutenant asked tentatively when they passed the door that leaded to the briefing room.

- There are some cases when we go directly to the gate room., Daniel said., Just come and observe.

- Can you at least tell me who we are to meet?, she whispered to him as they approached., I don't want to feel like an idiot. I don't even have my gun on me.

- You military…, he sighed disapprovingly., You won't need it. We're going to meet off-world allies, the Tok'ra. They're…

- The ones who got apart from the goa'uld… or something like this., she cut him.

- Yes, they are those ones. I see you learned your lesson well., he teased her.

- Ever since I've been given a higher clearance. I just thought…, she stopped dead in her tracks when entering the gate room and seeing with her own eyes the artifact that had brought her here.

- Impressive, isn't it?, Daniel told her somewhat smugly.

She was so at loss for words that she simply nodded. She was completely oblivious to the looks the others were throwing at her, mostly kind as they could remember their first impressions at seeing it. Sometimes, it was hard to notice how much time had flown by as they had gotten used to it.

- You'd better close your mouth or flies are gonna go in., O'Neill joked to pull her out of her trance.

- There are no fly at this level, O'Neill., Teal'c intervened.

- It's just an image, T. Don't make me explain it.

At that moment, the ring began to spin to the right and Daniel prevented his friend to go forward.

- Stay here. It's safer., he told her.

- Chevron one…

They heard the technician announce the state of each chevron as the soldiers took place around them aiming at the gate and suddenly, an enormous mass of water-like substance burst through the room before receding to form the event horizon, making Charlie take a step back.

- If you're touched by the kawoosh, you'll be hurt., Daniel told her.

- Yes, I know. I guess it's because it would come from the wrong side. I don't understand why people with such advanced technology didn't prevent this kind of thing to happen. They could have created some kind of shield., she mused.

As she felt a stare on her, she turned her head and saw Sam frown at her. She gulped, thinking she had said something stupid.

- This is actually a good question. We know they were able to create energy fields to prevent floods as we saw on an immersed gate once. It's weird they didn't think to equip the gates with this kind of security equipment., Sam concurred.

- Oh for crying out loud, ladies! Can't we simply enjoy this peaceful moment before attending an entire meeting on some brand new technology you will have the utter joy to play with., O'Neill pestered.

- Sorry, sir., Sam let out with a crooked smile.

- Yeah sure you betcha…, he mumbled.

Charlie saw the event horizon shuddered slightly as a figure went through it. It was a slender tall man. He wasn't in his prime but he had something about him, something that inspired her respect, about the same way she felt for General Hammond.

- Dad!, Jack exclaimed as Jacob went down the ramp, pulling her out of her reverie once more.

The former general, now liaison to the Tok'ra, noticed the new element and observed her quickly as Hammond dismissed the guards.

- Dad?, Charlie repeated, dumbfounded, vaguely hearing Daniel sigh next to her while pushing her to move forward.

That was one thing she wouldn't have thought possible. Colonel O'Neill had a relative coming from off-world? She never heard of anything like this before.

- Dad?, Jacob questioned, looking from one to another and noticing the name on the young woman's vest.

Shocked was well under what he felt at the moment. He knew about the son he lost but how could he not know about a daughter, all grown-up on top of that?

- Never heard about a daughter of yours, Jack!, he said, furrowing his brows.

- A daughter… Oh no! She's just…, the colonel began, knowing he was nearing a pretty thin line there, not wishing to hurt anyone… and the "just" was a pretty bad idea thinking of it.

- We only have the same name… with two Ls., he judged necessary to add, making his team snort.

- Really?, Jacob let out, observing attentively the two of them.

- I could have sworn you had something familiar, don't you think, Georges?, he threw at his friend, looking pretty amused.

- The dimples…, the general said before ordering them to the conference room.

The two O'Neills looked at them before each other and just shrugged. Charlie followed the others afterwards, leaving Jack with Sam and her father.

- I thought we were to meet an alien ally., Charlotte whispered to Daniel.

- Well, we are… sort of. I'll explain to you later?, he suggested.

- Err… OK., she acquiesced.

As the Carters briefly hugged, O'Neill stopped besides them and made a huge grin.

- You are so wrong, Dad., he said before turning towards his 2IC.

- Carter…

- Yes sir?

- Do you see any dimple there?, he asked her, showing the sides of his mouth with a finger.

- Not any dimple., he stated.

While Jacob burst into a loud laugh, Carter just gave a hint of a smile but the glint of her blue eyes gave her amusement away.

- Why do you feel the need to justify this, Jack?, Jacob told him patting his shoulder., It was only a joke., he told him, leaving him to head to the briefing.

Jack looked at him, feeling like an idiot.

- I knew it!, he just shouted back before following their steps.