TITLE: 4+1 = 5-3

AUTHOR: Jo R.

EMAIL: Jo@Ram32.freeserve.co.uk

CATEGORY: Angst, not-too-distant future fic, General friendship, Sam/Jonas Friendship, Sam/Jack UST/Eventual Romance, Janet/Jonas UST/Romance, Other UST/Romance.

CONTENT WARNINGS: None.

RATING: PG-13.

SEASON / SEQUEL: Early season seven; standalone.

SPOILERS: Nods to 'Children of the Gods,' 'Family,' 'Holiday,' 'Forever in a Day,' 'Crossroads,' 'Tangent,' 'Between Two Fires,' '48 Hours,' 'Meridian,' 'Revelations,' 'Descent,' 'Abyss,' 'Allegiance,' 'Unnatural Selection.' Small spoilers for seasons 1-6 and possible spoilers for late S6 episodes.

SUMMARY: Four plus One equals Five minus Three. Set after Daniel's return so both he and Jonas are present.

ARCHIVE: SJA, IB and Random Ramblings. Anywhere else, please ask first.

STATUS:

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, Sci-Fi Channel US, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended and no money will be exchanged. Feedback of all varieties appreciated.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: If you can't figure out the equation in the title after reading the first few parts, let me know and I'll share my madness. One of no doubt many Daniel-returns/post-Unnatural Selection stories but I had the idea for part of this (the OC) a while ago and needed a way to incorporate it into a SG fic. This is how I'm doing it.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Someone who read part one said that it reads as an anti-Daniel fic. Half way through part two, she's changed her mind. Please remember that when reading!

FORMAT NOTE: Words between {'s should be in italics. And if it looks odd, it's not my fault - Outlook has decided to hate me.

DEDICATION: Nameless Mole, first of all, for the fab beta job and for basically not letting me give up on this fic when believe me, I really wanted to at times! Also to Slapper M and Slapper J, two of the maddest Slappers around! ;)

=*=

He was back.

Daniel Jackson was back.

Exactly why he'd returned hadn't been fully explained. He didn't seem to want to dwell on the subject nor was he particularly forthcoming when it came to answering her questions. "I miss home," he'd said, all the while brushing her off, "it's as simple as that, Sam."

It wasn't simple, though. Not in the slightest.

Major Samantha Carter believed him when he said he'd missed his home and needed to find that sense of belonging again. She couldn't fault him for wanting to return to Earth, to a life that only just passed as being normal. She was glad he was back, she'd missed him a lot but.. His return had caused several complications that no one else seemed to want to acknowledge.

To the outside world, he was dead. They'd had a memorial service for him. Raising him from the dead metaphorically speaking was a complication, one General Hammond was saddled with solving.

He had nowhere to live. Granted, it was a small complication but still a problem that needed to be sorted. His belongings had been moved into storage but his apartment had been sold. He couldn't stay on the base indefinitely; he'd made it clear he wanted his full life back. He'd just have to work it out by himself, Sam decided. It wasn't that she was purposely being cruel or uncaring, but she didn't have the time to spare to help him out and was pretty sure the rest of his friends didn't either.

He wanted his life back - and with it, his position on SG-1. That was what was causing her so much trouble. Not that he wanted to be back on the team - she could understand his request and supported it, too, but she couldn't stop her mind from wandering to the person who'd miss out if his request was granted.

Jonas Quinn had spent just over a year on SG-1, working hard to overcome the hurdles he needed to get over to become a fully-fledged, fully accepted member of the team. He'd given up his life to join them, asked for a position on SG-1 so he could fight for his planet and his people, as well as for Earth. He'd more than proved his worth. He was a very valuable member of the team and deserved the right to stay there.

A five-person team wasn't unheard of in the SGC but both Sam and Jonas had been dismayed to find that wouldn't be the case for SG-1. If Daniel wanted to rejoin the team, someone else would have to leave.

"Last one in, first one out." Jonas himself had been the one to tell her that, sadly packing away the few belongings in his - Daniel's - office that he could say were truly his. "Don't worry, Sam. I might get put on another team soon."

It wasn't fair, though. That was the thought that kept her going. She couldn't see why there couldn't be five members on the team at once. She thought Jonas and Daniel would be able to work well together, maybe even cut down the time spent on translating important texts by half..

Apparently she was the only one with that view. Everyone at the SGC, even the people who knew him only by name, had welcomed Daniel back warmly, failing to remember all about the Kelownan who'd worked so hard to fit in. Even Teal'c and Colonel O'Neill were so enthusiastic in their greeting of the absent archaeologist that they'd seemingly forgotten about the man who'd slowly become someone they could call a friend. Both of them did sudden disappearing acts whenever she tried to bring the subject up and tried to get them to think about what Daniel's return might mean for the team. Teal'c, surprisingly, had made his excuses and left to meditate. The Colonel, predictably, had turned her attempt at a conversation back on her: "Geez, Carter, anyone would think you didn't want Daniel back."

His words weren't true and they both knew it. The Colonel had only said it to avoid what he knew would probably turn into a confrontation. It was something he did regularly, especially if he knew she'd be arguing on the right side.

She had grieved for Daniel more openly than most. She'd lost a brother as well as a friend, and the weeks and months following his 'death' had seen her at her most vulnerable since her mother had died. Of course she was pleased he was back, but that didn't change what had happened. She'd moved on; they all had. Allowing things to go to the way they once had been somehow seemed like taking a step backwards.

Daniel deserved to come back and Jonas deserved to stay. Sam felt like she was being forced to choose between the two of them and that was a choice she would not make. The whole situation seemed unnecessary and childish to her. Surely, there had to be a way to make everyone happy?

Her feet stopped, the automatic pilot she'd zoned into letting her know she'd reached her destination. She swallowed hard, fighting back a wave of apprehension. She had to - wanted to - speak to the General on Jonas' behalf. There wasn't anything wrong with that, so why did she feel so nervous?

Taking a deep breath, Sam knocked on the door to the General's office, knowing he was alone after a quick glance through the star chart that doubled as a window into the briefing room.

"Come."

=*=

General George Hammond had had one hell of a day and the clock on the edge of his desk wasn't making him feel any better. According to the inanimate object, he still had half a day to put in before he could go home. He'd been on the telephone all morning with the President, the Joint Chiefs and several colleagues at the Pentagon, all of them trying to help him bring Daniel Jackson back to life. At twenty past one, five hours after he'd first picked up the phone, he finally had some resolution: Daniel Jackson would be found alive and well by the Air Force by the end of the day.

He was ready to go home, to call it a day, but the annoying clock on his desk refused to tell him he could.

The knock on the door to his office made him groan aloud, eyes rolling back into his head as he rubbed his temples wearily before uttering a one worded command.

"Come."

Hammond looked up as Major Carter stepped into the office, studying her discreetly as she closed the door behind her and moved to stand at attention. Something was bothering her, he could tell. In her outward posture, she was the cool, calm, collected Air Force officer. To anyone who knew her well, she was struggling internally with a decision or a problem that was weighing heavily on her slender shoulders. The General knew enough about her and the way her mind worked to know whatever she had to say would probably be something he didn't want to hear.

"Major Carter, at ease." He smiled slightly but she failed to return it. "Please, take a seat."

"Thank you, Sir." She gulped under his scrutiny and helped herself to the chair opposite his desk, clasping her hands in her lap to prevent herself from fidgeting. "I hope you don't mind me coming to see you without making an appointment, Sir."

Shaking his head, he leaned back and tried to guess what was wrong. Nothing sprang to mind. He'd thought she'd have been the happiest officer at the SGC given the events of the previous few days, especially since she'd been the saddest when Doctor Jackson had left. "Is there something on your mind, Major? You look troubled."

"Yes, Sir. I am." The Major took a deep breath and lifted her head so she could look him in the eye. "It's about Jonas, Sir, and his position with SG-1."

General Hammond blinked once. "What about it?"

"I don't think he should be kicked off the team just because Daniel's back," Sam blurted out suddenly, the words tumbling from her mouth in a rush as she released the breath she'd been holding. "I know Daniel has every right to come back to the team and I think he should, he deserves it, but I don't think Jonas deserves to be pushed out. There has to be a way they can both be on the team, it's what's fair.."

"A lot of things in this world aren't fair, Major. You know that." General Hammond couldn't keep the quizzical note from appearing in his voice when he spoke. "I thought you of all people would be thrilled to have Doctor Jackson back.. Jonas will be given another assignment, Major. It's not like we're sending him back home.."

"But you can't guarantee his assignment will be on another team and that's what he wants to do." She gazed at him pleadingly, needing him to understand her plight even if no one else did. "General, you're the one who persuaded us to give him a chance in the first place, you said we owed it to him.. Surely we owe him more than this? He's proved himself to everyone, even Colonel O'Neill and that's saying something!"

He was silent for a moment, staring at her curiously. "Does Colonel O'Neill echo your sentiments, Major? Because when he was in my office yesterday finalising team assignments he didn't seem to share your concerns about Mr. Quinn."

"He.. Colonel O'Neill didn't mention you'd finalised team arrangements." Her lips drew together in a thin white line, her blue eyes narrowing. "I thought everything was still being discussed."

"I'm sorry you weren't told, Major, but the paperwork has been signed for the most part." He seemed genuinely apologetic but, to Sam, his sympathy felt condescending. "As of tomorrow, Doctor Jackson will be back on SG-1. Jonas' new assignment will be finalised by the end of the week."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked him squarely in the eye. "I see. Well, I'm sorry to have bothered you, General." Anger coursed through her veins, colliding with disappointment and defeat. Sam stood up stiffly. "I just thought my opinion might count for something."

The words slipped out before she had time to think them through.

"Your opinion does count, Major Carter, but unless you're the commanding officer of the team in question or the CO of the entire base, you do not get a say in team assignments." General Hammond also rose from his seat, eyeing her in surprise. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir." The nod she gave him was curt at best. She made her way to the door, assuming she was being dismissed without actually waiting for the words. Her behaviour, she knew, had him puzzled because Major Carter usually didn't make trouble, and she usually accepted what she was told like the good officer her father had taught her to be.

Well, she was sick of it. In her time with the SGC, she'd been given countless orders that she personally disagreed with but because of her position, because of her up bringing, she'd always done as she was told. She'd always followed orders and more often than not had to deal with the fallout when they went wrong, not to mention her own guilt and remorse.. She was sick of it.

"Actually, Sir, I do have a say in team assignments. At least in SG-1." Turning on her heel, she stalked over to the General's desk, holding her head high with her shoulders squared. She met his eyes defiantly, the voice inside her head that spoke up whenever she was forced to do something she didn't want to do urging her to go on. "I'd like to ask for a reassignment, Sir. Either to another team, or the lab."

The General looked stunned for several long seconds, speaking to her only after he'd had time to take in what she'd said. "I won't approve that reassignment, Major, you know I won't."

"Then I'll resign. You can't stop me from doing that." The voice in her head stopped shouting for her to continue and started yelling at her to stop. Standing up to him and asking for a reassignment was one thing, threatening to quit was another altogether..

"You're not thinking straight, Major." Hammond moved around to her side of the desk, studying her in the hopes of finding some sign that she didn't mean what she was saying. "I understand you're upset and I'm willing to chalk your behaviour up to the emotional strain of this week.. Take some time, I was going to give SG-1 a week's downtime to get used to the situation.."

"I won't change my mind, Sir. I'd like a reassignment." She wet her dry lips and continued to stand at attention. "If you don't approve it, I'll go to someone else and if they won't, I'll quit."

His hands on his hips, General Hammond shook his head disapprovingly. "What would you achieve by leaving, Major? You're needed here, you like it here.. I can't believe you really want to throw all of that away.."

"I don't want to, Sir, but if I have to, I will." Her tone softened but her posture remained determined. "Jonas can have my position on SG-1. I'll be happy with another team or another assignment."

"Jonas will not necessarily be given your place on the team if you leave, Sam." He spoke gently, trying to persuade her to change her mind. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes, Sir." She took a deep breath that was slowly released. "Should I have my resignation on your desk by the end of the day?"

Slowly, Hammond walked around to his chair, sinking into it as the headache he'd felt earlier came back full force. "That won't be necessary, Major. I'll approve your reassignment. I'll see what I can find that you'll hopefully agree is suitable."

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it." Major Carter managed a small smile and turned again for the door. This time, she made it out of the room with no second thoughts or interruptions.

General Hammond watched her go, staring at the closed door for a long time after she'd left.

=*=

The regret she was expecting didn't come, not as strong as she'd thought it would anyway. She sat alone in her lab, looking around, remembering the past. Sam hadn't told her team, she hadn't seen any of them to tell. She didn't know how to explain what was going through her mind; she couldn't explain it to herself let alone anyone else.

She remembered the past missions she'd been on with SG-1, with both the old team line-up and the new-soon-to-be-old. When she'd transferred from the Pentagon to the SGC, she hadn't known what to expect from the others she'd be working with. She'd read Colonel O'Neill's report but that was it. She'd thought Daniel was dead, didn't know Teal'c existed never mind Jonas! It was hard to believe those four people, two of them aliens, would become closer to her than her own family; she could never have guessed that joining the SGC would mean finding such amazing people she couldn't imagine no longer being part of her life.

SG-1, being a part of it, had meant so much to her, become such a big part of her.. Even just a month ago she couldn't have imagined giving it up and yet, here she was. Doing just that. And it didn't feel half as bad as she had expected.

There'd always been the possibility of moving on. She couldn't stay on one team all of her life, at least not in position as the team's Second. Both the General and Colonel O'Neill had mentioned in passing that she was practically ready for a command of her own - the only reason she hadn't been given one was because of their reluctance to break up a group of people who worked amazingly well together.

That had changed with Daniel's leaving; the door had been opened, allowing room for change. Then Jonas had joined and it'd been closed. And now, Daniel was back and the door was open again. It was her chance to move on and spread her wings and she didn't feel bad about wanting it. New opportunities were open to her, or would be after her reassignment was made official - both personally and professionally..

"Hey, Sam." Jonas walked into her lab without knocking, something unusual for him. She understood, however, when she looked up and found his arms were full of the boxes she'd seen him packing earlier on in the day. "Mind if I put these in here? I don't know where else they could go, Doctor Jackson wants his office back, I think.."

"You're welcome to keep them here, Jonas. While it's my lab, anyway." She got up off her stool and walked over to him, relieving him of his load. "I didn't think you had so much."

"I don't, not really." Jonas grinned, setting the last box down on the empty work counter. "I just have a lot of heavy books. I don't get to go shopping a lot so I usually spend my pay check ordering books from the Internet." He sat down on one of the free seats in the lab, watching as she did the same. "Are you okay, Sam? You look a little.. resigned? Is that the word?"

She smiled in spite of herself, seeing the concern in his eyes. She wasn't as close to him as she had been to Daniel - she wasn't even that close with Daniel anymore - but she was starting to think of him as another brother. He was certainly another protector at least, Teal'c and the Colonel must have given him lessons behind her back. "I'm fine, Jonas. Just trying to catch up with everything that's going on."

"Yeah, I know what that feels like." He gave her a small grin that didn't last very long. There was something she wasn't telling him and he was determined to find out what. "Has anything else happened that I should be aware of?"

Inhaling deeply, Sam exhaled slowly, folding her arms over her chest. "It won't stay secret forever and you might as well be the first to know.." She swallowed hard and met his gaze. "I went to talk to General Hammond about keeping you on the team. Apparently, he and Colonel O'Neill were in talks yesterday and finalised the new arrangements for SG-1."

"And I'm out, right?" His ever-present grin slipped a little, and the sparkle in his eyes almost faded out of existence. "It's no big deal, Sam. We knew it was going to happen.."

"I asked to be reassigned, Jonas. I don't know if you'll get my place or if the General will think SG-1 needs another scientist on the team but I had to do something." She gave him a soft smile when he froze, an expression of astonishment on his face. "I didn't think it was fair the way you were being treated."

His mouth snapped shut and he sat up so quickly he almost fell onto the floor. "You can't do that! Not because of me! SG-1 is.. You're part of the team! The original team! You can't leave it!"

"I can and I have." She managed a one-shoulder shrug, a tiny part of her wondering if she'd made the right choice before the majority of her mind quashed it ruthlessly. "It's not just because of you, Jonas. I've been on SG-1 for over six years; it's time I let someone else have the chance to be on the SGC's flagship team. It's time I started doing something different."

Jonas was still doing a very good impression of a goldfish, staring at her as if she'd gone crazy. Sitting there with him gawping at her, Sam felt as though maybe she was. "Are you sure it's what you want? I mean, they're not gonna be happy when they find out. Colonel O'Neill in particular is going to be furious.."

"That's my problem and I'll deal with it when the time comes." She gave him a smile that made her look more confident than she felt. "I don't want you to feel guilty about this, Jonas. It doesn't really have anything to do with you, I've just seen my opportunity to do something different and seized it."

"Aren't you a little sad?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd read the reports, seen her in action with the team.. He'd never seen her more alive than when she was working side-by-side with Teal'c and Colonel O'Neill.. She was never happier than when she had a new puzzle to solve.. "Where do you think your assignment will be? You'll stay with the SGC, right? Maybe you'll get your own team! That'd be cool, wouldn't it?"

A bubble of laughter escaped her lips. "Remember to breathe, Jonas. I'm a little sad, yes. More than a little if I'm honest but I can't stop feeling like this is the right thing to do. As for my reassignment, I don't know where it'll be yet. Hopefully it'll be here, there's plenty of teams that could do with another scientist or I could always work full-time in the lab.. I don't know yet. I hope I can stay here, though. I can't imagine leaving the SGC as well as SG-1."

"What are you going to do when Colonel O'Neill finds out?" Jonas seemed uncharacteristically nervous, reaching for a pen on the bench, twirling it in his fingers. "He isn't going to be happy, he'll try and make you change your mind.." He started chewing on his bottom lip, appearing guilty when he dropped the pen, his eyes falling to watch it bounce across the floor. "Do you think he'll blame me?"

For the first time since making her decision, Sam hesitated. She thought his question through, trying to decide whether the Colonel would blame him or not. It was true, if it wasn't for the changes facing the team she wouldn't have started thinking of leaving but Daniel was as much to blame as Jonas. And it was her decision, it wasn't like anyone was forcing her into it.. "No, Jonas, he won't. Don't worry, okay? I'll explain everything to Colonel O'Neill, and Teal'c and Daniel and anyone else. Believe me, this is not your fault. I wouldn't have chosen to do this if I didn't believe it was right."

He nodded and managed a small smile, a shadow of the grin that was usually spread across his face. "If you're sure you're doing the right thing..?"

"Absolutely certain." She gave him a wry smile. "Almost."

"Well, you're braver than I am." Jonas' smile widened a little, his eyes getting a little brighter. "I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when he finds out.."

The light coming in from the hallway was suddenly blocked. Both Sam and Jonas looked towards it, seeing a dark, looming shadow in the way. The shadow moved and stepped into the light, revealing itself to be the form of one very angry Colonel.

"Carter. My office. *NOW.*"

He turned on his heel and departed as quickly as he'd arrived. Sam got to her feet and sighed heavily, walking slowly to the door, feeling as though she was about to go head to head with a barrage of System Lords and their battalions of Jaffa.

"Sam?" Jonas gave her a weak smile when she turned to face him, giving her the thumbs up when he was sure she was looking at him. "Good luck."

=*=

There was no one to get in her path as she made her way to the Colonel's office, following the man himself at a slower pace. Anyone who would have been in the way had surely jumped out of it as soon as they'd caught sight of the glowering Colonel. Taking a deep breath, Major Carter looked up to find he was standing outside of his office door waiting for her, arms crossed with his foot tapping impatiently on the ground.

Without saying a word, she moved passed him and walked into his office, taking her seat without being asked.

Behind her, the door slammed shut with such force it rattled for several seconds.

"What the hell are you playing at, Carter?" Colonel O'Neill stalked around to his side of the desk but remained standing, glaring down on her. "Go tell Hammond you've reconsidered and you're staying with SG-1."

"No, Sir." Resolutely holding his gaze, she held her chin at a defiant angle. "I've made my decision and I won't change my mind."

Cursing under his breath at her stubbornness, Jack ran a hand through his hair and slumped into his seat. He stared at her unblinkingly, trying to figure out what was going on in her mind. Sometimes he could read her so easily.. Others she was a complete mystery. "I don't get it, Carter," he finally said, internally admitting defeat. "I thought you were happy on SG-1.. I thought you'd be happy now Daniel's back.."

"I am, Sir, on both accounts." She relaxed slightly, relieved to see a little of his anger drain away. After six years together he obviously knew he wouldn't get anywhere by losing his temper with her. "However, I don't think it's fair Jonas loses his place on the team because Daniel decided he wanted to come back, and I think it's time I personally move on. You and I both know SG-1 is one of the few teams with an almost constant line-up, Colonel. Everyone else has shuffled around, trying out new positions.. I think it's time I did that."

"So this is about Jonas?" His body ached with tension, his shoulders squared and his back painfully straight. "You're willing to give up SG-1 for him?"

Was there a note of jealousy in his voice or was she imagining it? Shaking herself mentally, she ignored the voice in her head that smugly told her there was. She wasn't leaving because of Jonas.. If she was going to leave for anyone, it would have been for.. "No, Colonel. That's not it at all. I'm not leaving the team because of what's happening with Jonas, not directly. I'm not leaving out of protest, I asked for a reassignment because it's the right time. SG-1's line-up will be changing because Jonas is out and Daniel's in; it makes sense that if there's going to be any further change it should happen at the same time so everyone can get used to it."

"Do you want your own command? Is that it?" Taking her by surprise, he leaned over the desk, staring her intently in the eyes. "Because it'll only be a matter of months, maybe a year at most before I won't be fit for field duty.. Command of SG-1 will pass to you if you stay with the team.."

"That's not it either, Sir, and I think you know it." She gave him a small smile, hoping he would stop taking her decision so personally. She could tell by the confused expression on his face and the slightly hurt look in his eyes that he was thinking maybe it had something to do with him. She should have expected that. Whenever something happened that he saw as being bad, he always tried to shift the guilt onto himself in some way. "I don't think I could ever accept command of SG-1. It would feel wrong. I've been on the team for so long as Second that nothing else would feel right. There's only one commander of SG-1 and that's you. When you do leave.. I'm willing to bet there'll be no original members of the team serving under a new CO. It just wouldn't be right."

"Teal'c and Daniel would stay if you were put in charge.. Can't you wait until then to get your reassignment?" The hope in his eyes died after only a few seconds, the expression on her face answering his question. "Okay. So that's a no. I just don't get it, Carter. This isn't like you.. I know you've been through a load of sh.. bad stuff..but I didn't think you wanted to leave."

She shook her head in response at his words, leaning forward in her chair ever so slightly. It was important that he understood, she couldn't let the conversation end until he did, knowing he'd find someway to make himself responsible for her decision. "Colonel, what we've been through on SG-1 has nothing to do with my decision. I don't know exactly how to explain it. All I know is that it feels right to move on at this point in my career, and my life. I love working at the SGC, I love being on SG-1. I hope this isn't the end entirely; maybe I'll be assigned to SG-1 once in a while if a situation calls for it."

"You're just saying that so I stop trying to talk you out of it." The Colonel regarded her carefully, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "You really want to do this?" Their eyes met and he found his answer. "Okay, I'll meet with Hammond later and sign the paperwork. Just promise no one's going to regret this."

The smile she gave him was warm and confident, certainly more confident that she felt. Sam entwined her fingers in her lap and chewed on her bottom lip. "I hope no one will, Sir. There should be nothing to regret." She paused and looked down at her hands. "I won't be part of SG-1 any more by the end of the day. Feels strange to say that."

"Tell me about it." He rolled his eyes and studied her again. She seemed sad but not devastated, and she seemed more nervous than anything else. "You have any suggestions for who we should have join?"

He couldn't bring himself to say 'replace you.' He already knew no one would be able to do that.

"There are plenty of officers I'd say were capable, Sir." She smiled slightly. "It depends on whether General Hammond wants someone with a scientific background on the team, which I think he will. So it really depends on who refuses to be intimidated."

His expression was a comical one of mock innocence, his tone indignant. "Are you saying someone might find me too intimidating? Should I be insulted?"

"Of course not, Sir." The cheeky grin she now wore seemed to suggest otherwise. "But I feel it's my duty to point out that we went through numerous trials before finding a replacement for Daniel in Jonas." Her grin faded and an almost coy smile took its place. "I have to admit to finding you pretty intimidating when we first met."

"Really?" His interest was well and truly caught. Mimicking her earlier position, he leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk between them. "You were?"

"Yes, I was." Her gaze refused to leave the clasped hands in her lap. "I'd memorised your report, Colonel. It was more than a little nerve-wracking to meet you in person."

Jack tried to wipe the pleased grin from his face but was pretty sure he hadn't hidden it in time to stop her from seeing it when she looked up to see his reaction. The light flush that stole across her features was a bit of a giveaway. "You hid it well, Carter. I wouldn't have known if you hadn't told me."

A charged silence fell over them. They held the other's gaze, identical smiles in place on their faces. The air between them grew heavy, but it was thick with tension that had little, if anything, to do with the choice she'd made.

Sam was the one to end the silence by clearing her throat, breaking eye contact by glancing around his office, her gaze never lingering in one place for long. "So."

"So." He tried to recapture the moment but frustratingly found her eyes refused to stay put long enough.

Clearing her throat again, Sam stared at a part on the wall just above his head. "I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a replacement for me, Sir. I know at least half of all officers on base would love to join SG-1 and I'm sure more than one of them will have an appropriate background."

"It's not just about finding someone who wants to join the team, Carter. It needs to be someone the rest of us like who fits in." It was his turn to avoid looking at her as he continued voicing his thoughts against his better judgement. "I think it'll be harder finding someone to take over from you than we did for Daniel."

"You really think so?" Her eyes were fixed on him, watching intently for any sign that he was possibly only saying it to make her feel better, feel guilty or as a last ditch attempt at getting her to change her mind. "Why?"

The question made him look at her and once again, their eyes met. "Because you can't be replaced," he said with all honesty, trying to resist the almost magnetic pull. If he could only look away, he could stop himself from saying too much.. "Whoever joins the team will be a stand-in, Sam. Until I leave, you'll always belong on SG-1."

"Why only until you leave?"

"Just.. because." He couldn't bring himself to say what was going through his mind. He had a reputation to protect, not to mention the fact he didn't consider himself to be a hearts and flowers, traditional romantic type. So he couldn't say what ran through his mind. He couldn't say it was because he thought of her as belonging at his side. If he did, she'd either hurt herself laughing at him or be so embarrassed she'd never be able to speak to him again.

She smiled anyway, despite his avoidance of the actual question. It was a shy smile, though, uncertain, and that immediately put him on edge because Carter rarely let it show so obviously when she was uncertain about anything. "You won't be my CO anymore once the transfer is complete."

"I realise that." He caught her eye warily, both anticipating and dreading where she was taking the conversation.

To his relief and disappointment, she chose not to say anything else. Her silence and the tentative smile she gave him spoke volumes. A slow, matching grin spread across his face and their eyes held. Nothing was said because nothing needed to be.

=*=

"Yes, Sir. I understand that but.. No, Sir.. No, Sir. I agree but I also feel they're needed here.. Yes, both of them, Sir. No, I don't think he'd be a threat to security.. Hard feelings? Well, it's possible, Sir, but Jonas Quinn has been here for over a year, I think everyone involved has worked passed any differences.. That's true, Doctor Jackson and Jonas haven't spent much time together but I'm sure they'll get on.. But, Sir, Major Carter is.. No, Sir. Yes, Sir. I understand. Yes. I will. As soon as possible, Sir. Yes, Sir. Goodbye."

General Hammond hung up the red phone and stared at it in disbelief. He shook his head silently, his eyes closing briefly.

He had his orders. He had to obey them.

There was nothing else he could do.

=*=

Jonas was called into the General's office first thing the following morning. He was surprised to find Sam and Colonel O'Neill were already there, sitting in their own seats, neither allowing their anxiety to show on their faces.

"Do you know what this is about?" He whispered the question to the Major as he took his seat beside her. General Hammond was nowhere in sight so he assumed it'd be okay to ask.

"Most likely our reassignments," Sam replied with a small smile, noticing the way he couldn't help wiping his hands on his pants. "Don't worry about it, okay?"

"Okay." He gave her a small grin, a mere shadow of the smile that was usually always present on his face. If anything, he looked as though he were going to throw up right there and then. "Easier said that done but I'll try." His hands moved to his stomach as it rumbled ravenously. "I skipped breakfast this morning because I was so nervous," was all he said in place of an explanation. "You think we'll be here long?"

Neither Sam nor Jack answered his question, General Hammond himself did. "I'll try to keep this as short as possible, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." He took his seat behind the sturdy desk and stared at the three faces looking back at him expectantly. "Right. Let's get on with it. I received a phone call late last night while trying to determine where you would be best assigned. It was the President.. He was calling to issue an order regarding your transfers."

"The President, Sir?" Sam exchanged a glance with the Colonel on her right. "Why would he get involved? Surely he has more important things to concern himself with?"

Hammond met her questioning gaze and gave a slight nod. "I was a little surprised myself, Major, but he has shown a personal interest in the SGC before. Anyway, he had obviously heard about your request and of the situation with Jonas and Doctor Jackson. He.. Asked would be the wrong word.. I was ordered to transfer you both to Nevada immediately, Area 51 to be precise. He seems to think you could both be happy there and said Jonas could only be assigned if someone from the SGC went with him for security reasons.. No offence, Jonas, I'm sure he didn't mean it the way it sounded. Anyway, he didn't go into details but did say he wanted you both there by the end of the week."

Silence followed the announcement. Jonas blinked, frowned, blinked again and looked to his former team mates to see their response to the news. He was pleased he was going to have the company of someone he knew, but he couldn't imagine being away from the SGC. He also knew that if it were going to be hard for him, it'd be harder for at least one of the officers he was sitting with.

Sam sat there, surprised but not as deeply shocked as the Colonel and the Kelownan. She had been hoping to stay at the SGC but she'd known there was a chance she would be sent elsewhere. She'd even prepared herself for going back to the Pentagon and maybe reuniting with some old friends in Washington. Nevada.. Area 51.. Sure, there was work she could do there and she'd probably fit in well with the other scientists but.. it wasn't a scenario she'd imagined taking place. She supposed she'd just have to get used to the idea.

And so would everyone else.

It was part of the job. That was what he kept telling himself but it didn't seem to be doing any good. He could have dealt with a reassignment to another team - reluctantly. He would've got used to it in time; he'd still see her - them - around the base. He and Carter could've seen each other outside of work, too, without being afraid of what people would say if they were seen.

But Nevada.. Area 51..

It suddenly seemed so far away. There'd be no meeting in the commissary for lunch or jello. There'd be no walking passed each other in the hallways, exchanging smiles and nods.. There'd be no meeting after work for coffee or.. cake.

He'd even miss Jonas, though he would never admit it. The Kelownan had grown on him over the time they'd spent on SG-1 and he knew Teal'c and Jonas had bonded, what with being the only two aliens on the team and all.. It'd be strange not having him around just as it was strange - although in a good way - to have Daniel back.

Nevada. Wow. Jonas *and* Carter. Gone.

Maybe he should've fought harder to keep his team together, to keep Jonas as well as Daniel. He hadn't protested at all when the General had told him SG-1 was staying a four-person team. He should have done, though. Maybe if he had, things would've turned out better.

"I know this has come as a surprise to you all. I'll admit, I'm surprised myself." General Hammond looked from one face to the next, unsurprised to see acceptance in Major Carter's eyes when disbelief was still prominent on the Colonel's face. "However, you have your orders. There's nothing anyone can do to change them for now." He paused momentarily to throw a pointed look in Jack's direction. "Major Carter, Jonas, it's been an honour serving with you both. I hope you'll both be happy in your new assignments and I hope you'll keep in touch."

"Of course we will, Sir." Sam stood when the General did, saluting him as Jonas stood beside her. "It's been an honour serving with you, too. Will you let my father know what's going on when he next gets in touch?"

He gave her a small nod and stepped around the desk. He returned her salute and shook Jonas' proffered hand, watching out of the corner of his eye as Colonel O'Neill finally moved and got to his feet. "I sincerely wish both of you the best of luck with your new assignments. If you decide you want to come back to us, it never hurts to ask."

"Thank you, Sir." Acting purely on impulse, Sam leaned forward and gave him a small hug, similar to the one she'd given him when he'd been coerced into retirement a few years ago. She'd hated saying goodbye then and hated it even more as she took a step back, knowing there were more goodbyes that needed to be said.

"Jonas, I know you haven't got that much to pack away but I'm sure Major Carter would appreciate any help you could give her. I don't expect to see either of you on base after today but that's not to say you're not welcome." Hammond gave O'Neill a small nod to acknowledge his presence. "Colonel, SG-1 is on downtime until a suitable replacement for Major Carter is found."

"Yes, Sir." The Colonel gave his CO a curt nod, apparently having trouble coming up with anything more to add. He wanted to stay and protest and argue but couldn't. He was numb in a way, his military mind taking over as the other part of his brain took a backseat. "Is that all, Sir?"

"Yes, Colonel. You're all dismissed."

With one further small smile in the General's direction, Major Carter was the first to leave the office, Jonas and O'Neill following. None of them spoke as they made their way from General Hammond's office, ignoring the curious glances they got on the way.

"I.. ah.. I think I'll go tell Teal'c and Doctor Fraiser the news." Jonas gave them a weak grin when they reached the elevator and punched the appropriate button once inside.

"That's a good idea." The most she could manage was a knowing smile in response, remembering how the Kelownan and petite Doctor had become closer friends since sharing a very friendly kiss under the mistletoe at the Christmas Party at a local bar. She knew they hadn't acted on their seasonal indiscretion but suspected they both possibly wanted to. Even if they were just good friends, Sam knew Janet Fraiser would be a little upset to know he was leaving - she didn't want to think what her friend's reaction would be when she found out he wasn't the only one going. "Tell them I'll drop by later. Or I'll be in my lab for the rest of the day if they want to find me first."

"Will do."

The elevator stopped at the 21st floor and Jonas got out. A few minutes later, the carriage stopped again on level 19 and Sam got out, far too aware of the Colonel walking beside her.

In silence, they walked to her lab and sat down on the vacant stools. Sam focused on the computer screen, closing files and opening others. She wrote a few notes on a open pad, making sure whoever was brought in to replace her would have somewhere to begin.. A deep sigh escaped her as she closed the last directory. There was still so much she wanted to do at the SGC, so many things she'd be leaving unfinished.. Least of all a certain issue involving the man looking everywhere but at her.

"You don't have to stay, Colonel. I'm sure you've got something else to do." She spoke without looking up, scribbling more notes on a blank page.

He looked up at her then, startled by her having said something to break the silence they'd lapsed into. He studied her profile, noticing the way she kept her eyes averted. At the beginning, during their first year as team mates, he wouldn't have known she did that on purpose. He might have suspected but he wouldn't have known for sure. He certainly wouldn't have know she was struggling to keep herself together, hiding any hurt or misery she might be feeling, doing all she could to keep the façade in place. Now he knew her well enough, he could detect the slight quiver in her voice and see the barely visible tremble of her shoulders. "I've got nothing else to do, Carter." He could have gone for the honest and direct let's-have-a-heart-to-heart approach but that wasn't who he was. Jack went for the reserved and safe route he knew she expected him to take. "You heard Hammond, SG-1's on downtime till we find a fourth."

"Then shouldn't you be trying to do that instead of studying my lab?" She'd written everything she could think of writing, which wasn't a lot. She was sure she'd forgotten most of the vital information she needed to leave behind, but decided she could communicate it to her replacement through emails or phone calls. It would give her an excuse to check out whoever it was, too. Finding herself with nothing else to do - at least not while sitting - Sam let her eyes find his, seeing the conflict she expected and shared in his bemused gaze. "I'm okay with it, Sir," she said quietly, deciding to tackle his concern for her state of mind first. "It's not the first time I've been transferred away from the SGC. I'll cope."

"It's not you I'm worried about." He made an attempt at disputing she knew him well enough to guess what he was thinking. Just as he'd become to read her over the years, she'd learnt how to read him - something he found astonishing since he'd never made a conscious decision to let her or any of the others past his stoic demeanour. "It's those of us who are left behind I'm worrying about. What happens to us the next time we need you to pull an idea out of your.. head..?" A small smile appeared briefly on her lips. "The phone bill to Nevada is gonna be huge this year."

"Whoever you get to replace me will do fine." The smile reappeared, slightly cheekier. "I'm sure Doctor McKay would be interested.."

"No way, no how, not ever." The horrified expression he wore was almost enough to break through the melancholic haze that had settled over her. "I'm gonna insist whoever we get is Air Force and *not* Russian. I'm not having a Russian or McKay on SG-1. Never." He shuddered inwardly at the thought of having either on his team. If he had to choose, he'd go for McKay. Then he'd know the annoying scientist wasn't harassing Carter somewhere and he could always use the threat of exposing him to some form of citrus to keep him in line..

It was quiet again. Too quiet. The silence between them was no longer comfortable; it was tense and thought-provoking in a not-so-good way. The whole situation felt surreal somehow, as if it were somehow happening to two completely different people. Neither could believe they'd arrived at work, fresh from a night of dreams of what could be stemming from their conversation the day before, only to find what could be was starting to look and feel more like what could have been.

Carter was again the one to disturb the still air around them, clearing her throat loudly. "It'll be okay, Sir. We'll keep in touch. All of us, I mean. Jonas and Janet have got quite close, and he and Teal'c are pretty good friends now.. Maybe we'll be called back occasionally to help you guys out if you have any big problems. Nevada isn't that far away, it doesn't take long to get there by plane.."

"Bit far to go for a cup of coffee, though, isn't it?"

His rhetorical question hung in the air between them. Sam met his gaze once again, a small, shy smile playing about her lips. "General Hammond said it wouldn't hurt to ask if I wanted to come home. I'll give it a few weeks, try to find out why the President wants us there.. Since I won't be off-world, I should get a few days off every week.. I could come back for a visit and bring some coffee with me."

"That's what I'm talkin' about, Carter." Jack's grin displayed his approval at the suggestion. "You're full of good ideas."

She smiled sheepishly, lifting one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug as the seriousness of the situation began to sink in. "It'll be okay, Sir. It's not like I'm moving to another planet."

=*=

The General hadn't been kidding when he said the President wanted them at Area 51 immediately. Two days after being given their orders, Sam and Jonas were standing at the airport, saying goodbye to their friends as their bags were loaded onto the waiting charter plane. Teal'c and General Hammond were absent, both having said their goodbyes earlier.

"Don't look like that, Daniel." Sam leaned over to hug the archaeologist again, Wishing she could remove the guilt he wore so easily. "We'll see each other again soon, I promise. It's not the end of the world."

He held her tightly, releasing her only when he opened his eyes to find a certain Colonel glaring at him. Some things, he thought, some things never change. And some things did. "I'm sorry, Sam." He kept a light hold on her hands after they pulled apart. He blamed himself for her leaving and wouldn't be surprised if everyone else did, too. If he'd never descended, she'd be staying. If he'd stayed with the Abydonians instead of returning to Earth.. "I shouldn't have come back. You guys were doing better without me."

"Don't be stupid," she admonished him with a look. "We did okay without you, yes, but that doesn't mean we're not happy you're back. We've all missed you, Daniel. Don't blame yourself for this. It might have happened anyway."

"Doubt it." Nothing she or anyone said would be able to dispel his sullen mood. Daniel glanced over her shoulder at where Jonas was standing, having what seemed to be an awkward conversation with Janet Fraiser and felt his guilt increase ten-fold. He'd taken the Kelownan from his planet unintentionally once before and he was doing it again, taking the home Jonas had made for himself on Earth away by retaking his place at the SGC. "I'd understand if you guys were angry with me, you know."

Anger was, after all, easier to deal with than guilt.

Daniel had felt out of place. He hadn't felt as though he belonged with the other ascended beings, but he'd been so sure he was doing the right thing by ascending when Oma had offered him the opportunity. He thought it was what he was meant to do, that it was fate's way of intervening and saving him from death. He'd felt certain getting Jack to stop Jacob Carter from healing him had been right, convinced he could live a much more worthwhile life with Oma and her race. He thought he'd be in a better position to help his friends and all those he cared about in their encounters against the Goa'uld and other threats they faced..

He was wrong.

He'd been forbidden from helping, forced to observe. He'd broken the rules once to try and help the Colonel, felt frustrated and helpless when Oma wouldn't let him do it Again to help the others on various occasions.. He'd gone against her orders and Assisted his friends whenever he could, whether they knew he was there or not. The metaphorical straw that had broken the camel's back had been when Abydos was threatened. So many people would have died, his friends included when they tried to help.. It would have been an insult to Sha're's memory if he'd sat back and done nothing but watch as the world that had brought them together was destroyed.

Daniel still felt out of place. He hadn't expected them to welcome him back no questions asked but for the most part, that was how it'd happened. People outside of the team saw him as a returned hero. He couldn't understand or make peace with that idea. He felt disorientated, uncomfortable at the attention he'd received.. That was why he'd asked to rejoin SG-1, that was why he'd tried to reclaim his old life. He thought - hoped - that everything would go back to normal if he succeeded in making things the way they'd once been but he was wrong.

Jonas was taken off the team and he hadn't expected that. He thought the General would allow all five of them to work together, he certainly hadn't anticipated Sam leaving. Despite her reassurances to the contrary, Daniel held himself responsible and suspected everyone else did as well.

The hero had become the villain in a matter of moments and he couldn't help thinking they'd all be better off if only he'd stayed away.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, Daniel missed the concerned glance Sam shot Jack, nor did he see the reassuring nod the Colonel gave her in answer.

"Thought you said there was nothing going on between Doc and Jonas." Jack's surprised tone acted as a temporary diversion, directing both Daniel and Sam's attention to the couple in question.

"There's.." Her voice trailed off as her eyes widened, taking in the scene playing out just a few metres away. ".. I was going to say there's nothing going on but I think I'd be wrong."

The Doctor and Kelownan chose that moment to end their embrace. Janet appeared flustered, a pink blush rising in her cheeks when she realised there were witnesses. Jonas, for his part, looked astonished. He was as stunned as the others that Janet had kissed him but if the grin on his face was any indication, he certainly didn't mind the impulse action.

"Finished saying goodbye?" The casual question was accompanied by a smirk that even Janet's glare couldn't wipe from the Colonel's face.

Taking pity on her friend, Sam forced a smile and hoped her voice would pass for normal. "We should get going. The plane's waiting." She gave the Doctor a quick hug, the pair having already said their goodbyes in the privacy of Janet's home so Cassandra Fraiser could join in. "You guys take care of yourself and we'll call as soon as we get to Nevada to let you know we got there safe."

"You'd better," Janet said softly, discreetly wiping her cheek as she took a step back. She glanced from her best friend to Jonas, feeling her cheeks burn at the memory of her impulsive goodbye. "There's no point in dragging this out so we'll go and let you leave in peace."

Jonas nodded, his eyes never straying far from the woman in front of him. He stood beside Sam, knowing that it was twice as hard for her as it was for him. Colonel O'Neill, he noticed, was the only one who hadn't hugged her and it seemed clear - as well as strange - that neither of the two officers had any intention of changing that fact.

"Take care of yourself, Jonas." Jack gave him a nod as Daniel put a comforting arm around Janet's shoulders. "Major." He gave her another nod, accompanied by a strained grin.

"Colonel." Sam returned the smile with one of her own, their eyes locking silently for a few seconds, communicating everything they wanted to say but still somehow couldn't. "I'll be in touch."

Nothing more was said and Jonas found it bizarre. No one else seemed to think it was strange, though, as Colonel O'Neill turned and led Janet and Daniel away. Confused, Jonas looked to Sam, his mouth opening as he prepared to ask the question. One look at her face made his mouth close. Her lips were sealed in a tight white line, her eyes shimmering in the fluorescent light.

They didn't speak as they approached the officer waiting to take them to their plane. Not a single word was exchanged as they buckled their seatbelts and felt the plane take off. In silence, they flew away from Colorado Springs, both painfully aware of one of the metaphorical doors in their lives closing behind them.

=*=

From: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Colonel O'Neill" <ColJONeill@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: Just a general Hello.

Hi Sir,

Just wondering how things are there. Been assigned any interesting missions lately? It apparently takes two weeks for Area 51 to officially get a copy of General Hammond's reports on all team missions so I thought I'd try and cut out the middleman, so-to-speak.

How are Daniel and Teal'c? Is Daniel over his guilt trip or is he still beating himself up? If he is, tell him to stop it! Jonas and I are quite happy here, and I now know why the President was so insistent we come immediately - these guys are behind on most of their work because they've spent so much time on the X-303 and Prometheus. There's a lot of work to be done so I'm happy, keeping myself busy as you'd probably expect.

So, how are you? I'm sorry you were busy when I called to let you all know we arrived safely. Teal'c said you were in a meeting with the General deciding on a replacement. Have you chosen anyone yet? Did you get pressured into accepting McKay or a Russian officer? Let me know what's going on - it's quiet around here, no unexpected arrivals to distract me once in a while!

Well, I think that's about it.. Oh, has my Dad been in touch yet? When he comes, will you give him my number and tell him to call so I can explain things? Thanks.

Okay, I'm really going now. Take care and write back soon,
Sam.
- Missing the commissary jello!

=*=

From: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 1:29 PM
Subject: How are you?

Hi Jonas,

I've been trying to write this email for over two hours now but don't seem to be getting very far. It's not purely my fault, though: there are a lot of distractions at the moment. SG-7 came back with two broken arms, three leg fractures and two concussions. How a team of scientists on a non-hostile planet can get in so much trouble I'll never know!

Anyway, I don't know what I want to say. I guess I should probably start with the way we said goodbye at the airport. Well, more the way I kissed you. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you - I didn't mean to. I wasn't planning on it but it's one of those things that seemed right at the time.. I have to be honest with you, Jonas. I'm not really sure how I feel but I know I care for you a lot. You're a wonderful person, a great friend and so kind and considerate.. I just need to know how you feel about me before I say anything more. I don't want to lose you as a friend or make a fool out of myself so I'll wait till you reply before trying to put my thoughts down on paper - well, the monitor but you know what I mean.

I hope you and Sam are okay and enjoying yourself. What kind of work do they have you doing? Sam said last night on the phone that she thinks you were sent to help them catch up on their backlog. Don't let them take advantage, okay? And please make sure Sam doesn't pull too many all-nighters and forget to eat properly - you know what she's like.

I've got to get back to work now. Someone from SG-7's apparently demanding more painkillers and General Hammond wants a report on their condition within the hour.

Be safe and look after yourself,
Janet.

=*=

From: "Colonel O'Neill" <ColJONeill@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: Just a general Hello.

Hey Carter!

Good to hear from you! Thought you might have forgotten about us, what with all that work you've got to do.. Carter, quit drooling. It's *work*, it's not supposed to be fun.

Things are okay on this end. We've only been on one mission and even then didn't do much - we just had to half-carry, half-drag SG-7's sorry behinds through the Gate because they'd gone and touched something they shouldn't that blew up in their faces.

Teal'c's good. Doing the usual meditating stuff. I think he misses having Jonas to help ransack the commissary but he's okay.

Daniel is still feeling sorry for himself. Nothing we do seems to help; he spends way too much time in his office re-reading his journals and going over mission reports from when he was all glowly. Maybe you could email or call him sometime? You're probably the best person to talk him through it, you guys spent a lot of time talking after Sha're died and that seemed to help him.

Quick question: is Jonas moping around there as much as Doc is here? Just wondering..

Our fourth member was officially assigned to the team this morning. Surprisingly, Hammond made no reference to McKay (thank God!) and the Russians weren't even mentioned. I think you'd approve of our fourth since she's kinda your protégé. Yep, you read right. Lieutenant Haley is now a member of SG-1. I thought she was too young and inexperienced but Hammond thinks it'll be good for her. Plus she's the only person we know who's half as smart as you so it should work out.

Dad hasn't been in touch but that Malek guy dropped by last night for some reason I didn't care to find out. Hammond sent a message back with him and I promise I'll give Dad your number when he comes through - I'll even let him use my office to call ya!

I'm running out of things to say now and wondering more and more if you're really as happy over there as you seem so I'm gonna go.

Write back when you can and I'll be sure to reply with something distracting.
Jack.

PS. Asked about sending you some jello. Apparently no can do as it doesn't travel well.
PPS. How's the coffee there? Nicer than here..?

=*=

From: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: How are you?

Janet! Hi!

It was great to get your email - after getting Sam to help me access it. The interface on these computers is a little different to what I'm used to at the SGC.

Hope SG-7 are doing better and aren't causing too much trouble. If they demand your attention too much, make sure you always send one of the nurses to deal with them. I think Captain Bryson has a crush on you so he's probably doing it on purpose.

As for our goodbye, I wasn't embarrassed at all. Surprised but in a good way. I care about you too, Janet. I haven't had many serious relationships - if I'm honest, there's only been one and that ended abruptly and painfully. She.. She was taken from me about eight years ago, when she died of something similar to cancer on Earth. You're the first person I've cared about this much since, and I think we could have something special. It wouldn't be easy since we're not together so I'd understand if you don't want to risk it. I'd hate to lose your friendship, too.

Sam's okay. I'm not letting her work too hard and we're not letting anyone take advantage of us. I make sure she eats properly, too, even if it means having to drag her from her lab. Things aren't as exciting here as at the SGC but we're enjoying the work we do - basically, we spend a lot of time going over the artefacts and technology all the SG-teams have brought back over the years. Sam's having fun taking things apart and figuring out how they work - a lot of the items in her lab are things she didn't get to finish working on at the SGC before having to send them here.

Again, I hope you're okay and that things aren't too hectic there.

Write soon.

Yours,
Jonas.

=*=

From: "Teal'c" <Tealc@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:43 AM
Subject: Are you well, Jonas Quinn?

I spoke to Major Carter this morning. She is concerned that something is troubling you and asked me to get in touch. Are you able to settle comfortably in your new assignment?

If you wish to talk, I will be at the SGC for the remainder of this day. SG-1 is not scheduled to leave on a mission until tomorrow morning.

Be safe,
Teal'c.

=*=

From: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Colonel O'Neill" <ColJONeill@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 2:14 PM
Subject: Coffee, Daniel, Janet and Jonas.

Hey Sir,

Shame about the jello! Guess I'll have to make do without. The coffee here is okay, I'll try and remember to bring some for you to try when I'm next in Colorado. Since sending jello is out of the question, what about sending some chocolate fudge cake? They only do fruit pie for dessert here! Help!

Great news about Haley. I know she's young but I'm sure she'll do great - she proved herself in the last training scenario and she's one person I know I can trust to understand the notes I left in the lab. Let her know my email address and number so she can contact me if she needs anything. It'd be nice to talk to her again; it's been a while.

Spoke to Daniel on the phone this morning. (And Teal'c but it was Daniel I called for, on your advice.) He sounded okay; we spoke a lot about everything and he admitted some things I promised I wouldn't repeat. Go easy on him for a while, okay? And keep an eye on him for me, he's quite vulnerable at the moment even if he tries to pretend otherwise.

On to Janet and Jonas.. Is Janet okay? I helped Jonas access his mail last night and he's been quiet ever since. He seems upset about something and checks for new messages every five minutes or so. I was wondering if maybe something has happened between the two of them? She didn't mention anything earlier, but it's not easy to tell if she's putting on an act when I'm not there. I asked Teal'c to contact Jonas since they're good friends and was wondering if you'd mind stopping by the infirmary to see if Janet's okay? I'd really appreciate it, Sir.

I heard about that incident involving SG-7. It's good that they'll all make full recoveries!

Still enjoying the work. I'm getting the opportunity to play with all the technology I had to send here ages ago. A lot of Machello's gadgets have turned up so I'm being careful. Am tempted to 'accidentally' switch a few people, though.

I am happy, Sir, but I do miss being there. I miss not going through the Gate in person; I miss not being able to snatch a few minutes of the day to gossip with Janet - contrary to popular belief, I don't work 24 hours a day, 60 minutes an hour. I also miss talking with Teal'c about Rya'c and the differences between our culture and his. And it's not easy knowing Daniel's back, but being unable to head to his office armed with two cups of coffee so we can talk about anything that's bothering us.

I miss you stopping by my lab every so often to distract me or play with machines you know you shouldn't be touching. I miss being able to discuss things with you over jello or cake and coffee.

I miss not having the opportunity to finally say the things we should be able to now you're not my commanding officer.

Teal'c and Daniel said you're heading out on your first mission with the new team line-up tomorrow. Be careful and try to come back in one piece - for my sake as well as Janet's and the infirmary nurses.

Sam.

=*=

From: "Dr. D. Jackson" <DrDJackson@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 8:15 AM
Subject: Going on a mission, wanted to say thanks..

Hey Sam,

Thanks so much for calling yesterday. I'm glad we got a chance to talk and have a real conversation. And thank you for letting me go on and on and get everything off my Chest. I needed that.

This email's only going to be a short one because we're leaving in half an hour for P7X890. Tell Jonas I'll do my best to find something interesting to bring back and send on, and that I'll email him a copy of my report if there are any ruins or translations - he really seems to love that stuff.

I wanted to ask you about Jack too, before I forget. He doesn't talk about you two Much but he mentioned in passing on our way home yesterday that you said we'd talked. Just wondered if you guys are in regular contact and if there's something going on the rest of us should know about?

Thanks again for the call, Sam. It means a lot to know you still care and that we can still be the best of friends despite the mistakes I've made in the past.

Got to go now. Wish you were coming with us. Talk soon hopefully.
Daniel.

=*=

From: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Teal'c" <Tealc@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:02 PM Subject: Re: Are you well, Jonas Quinn?

Hi Teal'c,

By now you'll be on your mission. Hope it's a good one and that you all come back safely.

I'm okay, thanks for your concern. I was waiting for a response from Janet yesterday but I realised last night I need to give her time - she's probably busy, after all. I just.. I told her something in an email, about my past, and I'm a little nervous at her reaction.

Anyway, that's all it was. I told Sam this morning so she's not worrying about me any more. Let us know when you get back so we know you're all okay.

Jonas.

=*=

From: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 12:48 PM
Subject: I'm so sorry!

Jonas, I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to write back. I've been kept really busy in the infirmary recently: three teams came back with serious injuries, Doctor Warner's on leave and his replacement didn't show up until today. I'm working on six hours sleep and now SG-1's gone on their mission so I'll probably be awake until they come home - I've learnt from past experience that trying to sleep when my friends are possibly in danger is impossible.

I'm also sorry to hear about your girlfriend, Jonas. I had no idea you'd lost someone so close to you in that way. It must have been horrible. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me and for being so honest with your feelings.

I agree it'll be hard exploring what we have being apart but I'm willing to give it a try if you are. I haven't had the inclination to develop a relationship like this with anyone else since my husband and I divorced, and I think we could make it work between us.

Re-reading that, I should pretty stupid. Blame it on lack of sleep! Basically what I wanted to say is that I'm happy you feel the same way I do and would like to try making what we might have work. And, again, I'm sorry for the delay in writing back to you. I've tried to get to the computer more than once but keep being distracted.

Please get in touch soon and take care of yourself,
Love,
Janet.

=*=

From: "Colonel O'Neill" <ColJONeill@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 10:16 PM
Subject: Stuff.

Hey Sam,

Sorry I'm writing this so late. I just got back from our mission - a complete waste of time - and found your email. I didn't get the chance to check my messages this morning so I'm sorry you've been waiting for a reply.

The mission was boring by my standards but you'd probably enjoy it. Daniel and Haley found something that made them go 'ooooh.' Some old rock with writing that hums a lot. They brought it back but Hammond's ordered they approach it with extreme caution so you probably won't get it there for a while.

Fruit pie? How are you coping? I'll be sure to send some chocolate cake ASAP. Promise.

Glad you're pleased about Haley - thought you might be. She was okay on the mission, not you but hey, no one's that perfect. In a few months, I think she'll have settled down and be more comfortable with field missions in general. I have a feeling Hammond won't be sending us anywhere that could be potentially dangerous for a while, though.

Daniel seems much better thanks to your conversation and I've made a note of what you said. I'll keep an eye on him and give him plenty of space. Teal'c's fine, too, though I think it's taking him a while to get used to being the only alien on the team!

Doc's okay, too, so stop worrying.

Be careful with Machello's stuff! They're not toys.. But if someone's bugging you, I suppose it couldn't hurt to give them a demonstration as to how that switching device works.. If anyone asks, I didn't say that.

If you miss being here, why not ask to come back? Hammond did say it wouldn't hurt to ask, the worst they can do is say no. Daniel and Teal'c and Doc would all be thrilled if you and Jonas came back. So would I.

It's weird not having you around. I keep finding myself on the way to your lab and get half way there before remembering you're not the blond scientist I'll find playing with the doohickeys. I don't think I've actually made it to the labs yet, feels odd to be there without you in some strange way. Like no one has the right to be there unless you come back.

You.. We can still say the things we want to, Sam. Even if only through email or on the phone. You have my number, I have yours.. One of us is gonna be able to take time off sooner or later. You should think about heading home for the weekend, or I'll talk to Hammond about getting some downtime and come to you instead of Minnesota - or we could meet there. I've got to try that coffee one way or another!

Find out if you can get some time off and let me know, and we'll take it from there. I know it's easier to say this kind of thing on paper/screen but we really need to talk face-to-face and figure out what's going on.

Take care and hope to hear from you soon,
Jack.

=*=

From: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Dr. D. Jackson" <DrDJackson@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 07:08 AM
Subject: Heard you were back.

Hi Daniel!

Heard you were back safely - and found an email from Colonel O'Neill in my inbox I haven't read yet. In answer to your 'query', nothing you need to know about is going on. The Colonel and I are friends, we're bound to keep in touch. And it's only fair I email him since I'm emailing you and talking to Teal'c on the phone or through Jonas.

I'm really glad our conversation helped in some way - and never, ever think you've lost me as a friend because you never will! That's a promise I know I can keep! If you need to talk to someone again, you know where I am and you know the Colonel, Teal'c and Janet are all there for you if you want them to be. They're your friends, too, Daniel. We all care about you - that hasn't changed.

I'm glad you all managed to make it home safely and I'm sure the email I've got waiting for me from the Colonel is full of details he shouldn't be sharing with me!

I'll hopefully talk to you soon - I really should spend more time working than emailing but you guys are too distracting when you're not here in person.

Look after yourself!
Sam.

=*=

From: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
To: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 12:19 PM
Subject: Need advice!!

Sam!!

Why aren't you answering the phone in your lab?!? Okay, so you're probably out having lunch but I need to talk to you! ASAP!

Is Jonas okay? Is he ignoring me? (Yeah, that's what this is about, don't worry - SG-1 are all safe and accounted for.) I emailed him yesterday and haven't heard back. Do you think he's giving me some of my own medicine or getting me back for not being able to reply to his last email sooner?

Okay, so I know he's not like that. I'm just a little.. concerned. I said some things in the last email I'm nervous about getting his reply to. I might as well tell you since I tell you everything anyway - we've been talking about starting a relationship, even if it is a long distance one and I told him in the last message that I wanted to give it a go if he did. I'm worried I might have come on too strong or he might be having second thoughts.

When you get this, please reply or call me? I'd appreciate it!

Honestly, it's strange not having you here. The last few days have been so busy but today it's so quiet. All my patients are resting peacefully, there's been no new incidents.. I caught myself thinking about calling your lab and asking you to join me for lunch then I remembered you weren't there.

Okay, I'm not making much sense and I'm wasting my lunch break checking and re-checking my emails which isn't good so I'm logging off now.

Call or write back soon.

Missing you,
Janet.

=*=

From: "Jonas Quinn" <JQuinn@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 1:13 PM
Subject: My turn to apologise!

Hi Janet,

It's my turn to apologise! Sam and me have been in meetings ever since we got up this morning and neither of us have had a chance to take a moment and unwind. We're on our lunch break now, though, so I'm sending an email to you while I have the chance!

I'm really pleased you feel the way I do about exploring what we have but I don't know how to start. Sam suggested we arrange to meet sometime, maybe both get a weekend off and you can come here or I can come there if that's easier for you and Cassandra? Just so we can talk, nothing else has to happen. We should probably take this slow - I don't want to do anything that would mess it up.

I'm sorry you've been so busy and hope things have calmed down for you now. Remember to take a break and try and sleep! You've got to take care of yourself or you won't be any good to your patients!

Unfortunately, I've got to head back into more briefings and meetings in about ten minutes and I told Sam I'd meet her for a quick bite to eat.

Let me know if you can get some time off and hopefully I'll be seeing you soon!!

Love,
Jonas.

=*=

From: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Dr. J. Fraiser" <DrJFraiser@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: Need advice!!

Hi Jan,

I know this email is a little redundant now since Jonas told me at lunch he'd emailed you but I just thought I'd write to let you know he hasn't lost interest or had second thoughts, nor have you scared him away - you're all he talked about while we were eating, and the only thing that was giving him cause for concern is Cassie's reaction to it all.

There is another reason I'm writing this email and that's to let you know on Jonas' behalf that even if you don't hear from him for a while, it doesn't mean he's lost interest. I'm sorry I can't tell you anymore than that but please know he's okay and he's still thinking about you.

Same goes for me. I miss you all a lot - I really miss heading down to your office for a quick gossip session. That said, I'm probably not going to be able to email/call you for a while but don't worry. It doesn't mean something bad has happened.

Give my love to Cassie and take care of yourself,
Love and hugs,
Sam.

=*=

From: "Maj. S. Carter" <MajSCarter@usaf.a51.gov>
To: "Colonel O'Neill" <ColJONeill@usaf.sgc.gov>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 08:01 AM
Subject: Don't worry.

Sir.. Jack,

I don't really know how to write this so I'm just going to come out and say it. I read your email yesterday but didn't get a chance to send a reply. Partly because I didn't know what to say, partly because I didn't have the time.

I was hoping to get to Colorado this weekend or next but it doesn't look like it'll be happening now. In fact, I won't be able to email you or anyone else for the foreseeable future and I won't be able to phone for a while. I can't say anymore as it's classified and I know you'll understand that.

Please don't think this means I'm having second thoughts because I'm not. I'll hopefully be able to get in touch at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Please let the others know they shouldn't be alarmed if they don't hear from either Jonas or myself and let my Dad know I'm okay when he eventually turns up.

Don't worry about something happening to me while I'm gone - we still have to talk over coffee so I'll be back!

In the meantime, keep safe and make sure you're still here for when I get the chance to get in touch again. I won't forgive you if you go and do something stupid and I come back to find you're not there!

I'm afraid it's goodbye for now.
Love,
Sam.

=*=

Reading the words for the sixth time didn't make them any less cryptic. Jack re-folded the printout of Sam's final email and put it back in his pocket. No matter how many times he read it, he would never be able to make sense of it.

Re-reading it again wouldn't give him the answer to where she'd gone or why he couldn't get in touch with her.

The only chance he had of learning anything new was if Jonas had let something slip to Janet in one of their conversations. Hoping to get another clue or piece of the puzzle, Jack headed for the infirmary wondering if she'd be there so early in the morning. Fortunately the light in her office was on. Knocking softly twice, he opened the door and put his head around it before she had a chance to respond. "Hey Doc. Got a minute?"

She lifted her head and stared at him, blinking owlishly. "Ah, sure. Take a seat." Janet pressed the button on the computer monitor and the screen went black. "I didn't realise it was morning already."

"You've been here all night?" He did as he was told, entering the office fully and taking a seat as he studied her carefully. He had to admit that she looked exhausted. "What happened?"

"Lieutenant Havers suffered complications during the night, we were in surgery for three hours." A hand that trembled due to lack of sleep passed over her face and eyes. "She'll be okay if we manage to keep the infection from spreading any more than it already has." She gave him a small smile when her eyes were finally able to focus on him. "But that's not why you're here so.. What's the problem?"

He hesitated for a second; pondering on whether he should broach the subject he'd come to talk about in case she didn't know anything - let alone anything new. He didn't want to risk saying more than he should but, at the same time, he needed to know what was going on. "I.. I was just wondering if you'd heard anything from Jonas or Carter recently..?"

"I had some emails from them both yesterday." Janet glanced at the monitor briefly and then back at the expectant Colonel. "Jonas said they'd been in meetings all day, then Sam said that they might be unreachable for a while. I take it you heard the same?"

"Yeah." He reached into his pocket and removed the folded piece of paper, keeping it clasped in his hand. "It's to do with something classified, probably a mission, though I can't think what it could be if it doesn't involve the SGC."

Clasping her hands in front of her, Janet stared at him evenly, managing to keep her expression calm although inwardly she was struggling with a heavy sense of dread. "Do you think they're in any danger, Colonel? Maybe that's why they can't contact us?"

There was a small pause as he looked at her, his eyes darkening at the thoughts that crossed through his mind. "It's a possibility," he said slowly, reluctantly admitting that it was. "But I can't think of what kind of mission they could be assigned at Area 51. I'm not sure I want to know, given our past experience with test flights in Nevada." Shuddering inwardly at the thought of Carter and Jonas going through what he and Teal'c once had, Jack pushed the mental images attacking his mind to one side. "They'll be okay, Doc. Carter said we shouldn't worry if we don't hear from her, so whatever they're doing can't be that bad."

Her hopeful eyes met his. "Is that all she told you, Sir? She didn't give you a hint of how long they'd be out of reach?"

"She just said not to worry." His reply was honest even if the confidence he injected into his words was not. He tightened his hold on the folded piece of paper, crushing it into his palm as he pictured the words running across the page in his head. "She said that she expected us all to be here when she - they - get back so they can't be planning on staying away for too long." The sharp corners of the scrunched up paper in his hand bit into the flesh of his palm and he got to his feet slowly. "Don't worry, Doc. They'll get in touch soon."

"If you don't mind me saying, Colonel," her voice stopped him just as he reached the door, "you don't sound very convinced of that."

"Carter said she'd be back." His flat reply was accompanied by a shrug. "I have to believe she was telling the truth."

Janet said nothing to prolong the conversation and watched him leave. She'd been hoping he'd be able to convince her that everything was alright, that she'd had a sleepless night without just cause. He hadn't, and she knew their individual feelings of unease had grown as a result of their conversation.

Turning the monitor on again, Janet stared at the email her best friend had sent her the day before, re-reading the words.

'It doesn't mean something bad has happened.'

"Let's hope you're right, Sam," Janet muttered aloud to the screen. "Please don't let anything bad happen, wherever you are."

=*=

It had happened so suddenly. One minute they were standing in Sam's lab, surrounded by their things, discussing the emails they'd sent to their friends in Colorado.. The next they'd been standing aboard an Asgard vessel, watching through the view screen as Earth got smaller and smaller.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jonas stood barely a few inches away, his eyes narrowing as he tried to keep their focus on the shrinking planet.

Her breath was released in a long, heavy sigh. "That it feels like we're never going to see Earth again let alone live on it?" She saw his nod out of the corner of her eye. "Then yes, I'm thinking what you're thinking."

"We're doing the right thing, aren't we, Sam?" He looked at her with round, almost fearful eyes. When he looked at her like that, he reminded her of a puppy afraid of being scolded for doing something it shouldn't. "We *have* to do this. No matter what or who we leave behind?"

She turned to him then, meeting his eyes and speaking with a calmness she certainly didn't feel. He wanted reassurance; she was supposed to tell him they were doing the right thing. He wanted her to lie. "We weren't given much of a choice, Jonas. If Janet and the Colonel and everyone else were allowed to know what was going on, I think they'd probably approve. Eventually," she conceded with a ghost of a smile. "When we get there, I'll insist we get the chance to send some sort of message to them. As it is, I don't think it's right keeping this from the SGC. They have every right to know what's going on and I intended to make General Wright see that."

Jonas nodded and hesitated for a second before opening his mouth again. "Why do you think the President wants to keep it a secret from the SGC? I thought he trusted General Hammond and the others?"

"He does, Jonas, but.. There's probably more going on than we know about. He must have a good reason to keep it a secret, one I doubt I'll personally agree with, but I'm sure we'll find out more when we get there." Sam shrugged and stared back out of the window; surprised to see Earth was barely a dot in the distance. "What I want to know is how the Asgard got involved and why they haven't let on to Colonel O'Neill. I thought he was the only one they'd get involved with."

"I believe I can answer that, Major Carter." The soft voice took them both by surprise and Thor seemed a little amused as they turned to look at him - as amused as an Asgard ever got, anyway. "It is because of our involvement in the Omega Command project that you are here. We insisted that your superiors ask either O'Neill or yourself to join the project so that we could communicate and work together through you. You will be our ambassador on behalf the people on Kaia and O'Neill will remain our ambassador on behalf of the people on Earth."

"Kaia? Is that where we're going?" Jonas lifted an eyebrow.

"That's the name of the planet they built the SGOC on." Sam gave him a quizzical glance. "Why?"

"No reason." The Kelownan shrugged and explained himself to both her and Thor. "That's Earth in Scandinavian. I remember reading it somewhere on the Internet. Just thought it was fitting."

Sam shook her head slightly. "Wonder who decided on naming the planet that."

"I believe it was General Wright, Major Carter." Thor, again, was the one to answer, his head tilted slightly to the side. "We will be arriving at Kaia shortly. Once you have settled in your new homes, the Asgard will honour our alliance with the Omega Command and share our technology."

"If you're going to share your technology with the OC, why won't you share it with the SGC? Surely you know by now you can trust them.." She took a step forward, gazing curiously at the small, grey alien standing in front of her. "You know they won't do anything stupid with it and they probably need it more than the OC since the Goa'uld know they exist.."

Thor gave a slight shake of his head. "I appealed to the Asgard High Council with that in mind but they decided our resources would be best used helping the people of Kaia develop technology that can be used against the Goa'uld. We would not be violating the Protected Planets Treaty we have with the Goa'uld regarding Earth and we have asked General Wright of Kaia to share all-important break-throughs with the SGC as soon as they are made. There is no one at the SGC we would trust with our technology now that you and Jonas Quinn are to join the Omega Command."

"We haven't said we'll stay," Jonas rejoined the conversation, mimicking Sam in moving closer to the Asgard. "We're only here because the President ordered us to come and have a look.. We didn't say we'd stay forever, we have to get back to Earth.."

"That is not what we have been told." Thor stared from one astonished face to the other. "We were under the impression that you would be staying on Kaia for the foreseeable future. It is part of our agreement."

"We were under the impression we were going to be assigned to the OC on a temporary basis, to see how it worked and see if we can offer any additional information that would help those who already work there." Sam leaned against one of the walls, her brow furrowed thoughtfully. "If we were to stay - and at the moment I doubt we're going to have much choice - would we still be able to contact our friends? Would you be able to pass messages on for us?"

Thor shook his head, appearing almost apologetic. "I am sorry, Major Carter. One of the conditions in our alliance with Kaia is that we will not alert the SGC to the projects existence. We will be leaving one of our long-range communication devices so that General Wright can keep his superiors on Earth updated. Perhaps you will be permitted to use it to send messages to your friends?"

"It's a nice thought but I don't think it'd be allowed. If anything, getting messages from us through other people would make our friends more suspicious than they probably already are, Colonel O'Neill especially." Jonas' shoulders dropped, the thought of being unable to let Janet know where he was and that he'd rather be with her finally sinking in. "They'll want to know where we are eventually, when we don't get in touch like you said we would. What do you think they'll do?"

Sam shook her head and let her eyes slide shut. "I don't know, Jonas. Maybe General Wright will be able to explain when we get to Kaia or maybe they'll just tell the SGC we were sent on a dangerous mission and didn't make it back."

The cynicism in her voice did not go unmissed.

"You think the President would tell them we were dead so they didn't look for us?" He shifted uncomfortable, struggling to come to terms with what was going on.

"Anything's possible, I guess. I never thought the President would go behind General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill's backs and set up a second base off-world without telling them. I don't know what's going on any more." Her eyes opened and she pushed herself away from the wall. "Like I said before, I'm going to make it clear to Wright that keeping the SGOC a secret isn't doing anyone any good."

Taking a step closer to her, Jonas chewed nervously on his bottom lip. "Do you think he'll listen?"

"It's hard to say, I've never met him before. If he's like General Hammond, he might. If he's like some of the other General's I've met.." Sam sighed again and looked at him helplessly. "He won't care."

A flash of white interrupted the conversation and Heimdall appeared in the room, standing beside Thor. "We have arrived at Kaia. Your things have been transported to the coordinates we received from the Omega Command. If you are ready, we will send you to General Wright's office within a few moments."

"We're as ready as we'll ever be, thank you." She managed to give the two Asgard a small smile, one that faded the moment they disappeared. She sensed more than saw Jonas approaching her. "I don't just think we're never going to see Earth again, Jonas." Her head turned ever so slightly, her eyes locked on his face so she could see his reaction.

"I know we're not."

If he replied, it was lost in the light that engulfed them and helped them take the final step away from home.

=*=

Five days passed and they still hadn't heard anything from Jonas or Sam. The hope that whatever classified assignment they'd been given was only a temporary one died. Daniel, Teal'c, Janet and Jack had each tried phoning Area 51, also known as the Groom Lake Base, in the hopes of getting through to someone who knew where their friends were, but the phone either kept on ringing or they were put on hold until they eventually decided to hang up.

Even Lieutenant Haley had tried at her team mates' suggestion, telling the officer who eventually picked up the phone in Major Carter's lab that she was working on one of Sam's experiments and needed to talk to the woman in question. Her phone call had been transferred to another scientist who told her to pack up the experiment she was having trouble with and send it on; it would be passed to Major Carter as soon as she was available.

SG-1 were assigned a two-day mission, and went hoping that when they came back Doctor Fraiser would have some good news for them. Their hope was shattered when they arrived at the SGC to find Janet wasn't standing at the bottom of them ramp.

Jacob Carter was.

"Welcome home, SG-1." General Hammond stood beside his old friend; his eyes following the four team mates as they walked towards them. "Did you find anything of interest?"

"We didn't get very far talking to the natives," Daniel answered when no one else made a move to. "They were a little distracted by Teal'c's presence and by our weapons, but have invited us back for further talks of an alliance. I'd recommend sending a diplomatic team; it might put the Maeans more at ease."

"Understood, Doctor Jackson. We'll debrief in half an hour; in the meantime, get yourselves down to the infirmary." The General gave them a brisk nod and turned to leave.

"Sir?" It was Daniel, again, who chose to speak up. "Have you or Doctor Fraiser heard anything..?"

A brief sympathetic look passed over Hammond's face. "No, I'm afraid we haven't."

"I tried calling myself," Jacob joined the conversation, his gaze lingering on the Colonel's face so he could witness the other man's reaction to his words. "I was told Sam and Jonas were unreachable at the moment but that someone would let Sam know I called."

Colonel O'Neill didn't say anything as he walked out of the Gateroom but Jacob saw his hands clench at his sides. Teal'c and Daniel followed their CO, with Haley following at a slightly slower pace. General Hammond sighed and shook his head, waiting near the door for Jacob to catch up.

"They're not taking it well," Hammond murmured as the two men made their way to his office.

Jacob sighed and took the deep breath Selmac told him to take. "You can't blame them, George. Especially now they can't get in touch with them." He gave his friend a sidelong glance. "Do you have any idea what's keeping her and Jonas so tied up in Area 51?"

"I wish I did." General Hammond shook his head and closed the door behind them when they made it to the office. "I know it's none of my business since they're no longer under my command, but if we haven't heard anything from either of them by the end of next week I'll get the President involved if I have to. People can't just disappear into thin air and I know Major Carter and Jonas wouldn't agree to anything that demanded they never get in touch with their friends here at the SGC."

Sitting down in the vacant chair, Jacob let his shoulders slump and his calm mask drop to reveal the worried expression on his face. "I hope you find something because something about this whole thing doesn't sit right with me."

He tried to contact his daughter a further three times before he left Earth for the Tok'ra base. His call was diverted to a different department every time, resulting in the same useless answer: "I'm afraid she's unavailable at the moment. If you'd like to leave a message, I'll make sure it gets passed on."

He left feeling certain that something was wrong, wondering where on Earth his daughter was, unaware that the further he got from the planet, the closer he got to Sam.

=*=

They were treated like heroes and hated it.

Everyone at the SGOC - and everyone on the whole planet, for that matter - seemed to know who they were. The officers of the Stargate Omega Command facility, both the Americans and the Russians, acted as though they were old friends. Their families, who'd been invited to live on the planet after the officers had been given their assignment, all seemed to know who they were, too. Even the children who were waiting for the school building to be completed stared up at them in awe if they went outside for a breath of fresh air or a short walk.

On their first day, they'd been given a guided tour of the facility, surprised to find it almost identical to the lower levels of the SGC - as far as the inside appearance went. Three levels, including the one with the Stargate on it, were underground. The other four levels of the facility were built above ground with no mountain hiding it. It wasn't a secret, anyway. Everyone on Kaia knew of the program's existence and was in some way connected to it.

There were teams that went out on missions, just like at the SGC. There were scientists who stayed at the facility, working shift patterns. There was a small team of archaeologists and linguists who spent most of their time out on missions or studying texts and artefacts others had brought back; they were led by Doctor Victoria Samson, a woman who would give Daniel a run for his money when it came to the amount of languages she could speak. The other adults, the ones who weren't involved directly with the project, were in charge of building the other settlements in the growing city, and some had already been lined up or volunteered to take on the role of teachers when the school was up and running.

Humans weren't the only race present on the planet. Sam and Jonas hadn't expected to see any familiar faces but that's what they found. Half of the Jaffa who'd turned against the Goa'uld had moved without the SGC knowing to Kaia. Bra'tac was there, as was Teal'c's son, Rya'c. It was only when Sam saw him training with the other Jaffa that she realised she hadn't seen him at the SGC's off-world site last time she'd been there. There were also some Nox, some Tollan who had survived the Goa'uld attack on their word - Narim, Sam was told, had sacrificed himself so they could escape - and within a few days, several Asgard turned up. There were also some aliens Sam and Jonas had never seen before - some small, fluffy animal-like creatures and some tall, slender purple-skinned people who had become close friends with the Nox.

Every day, Sam went to General Wright's office. Every day, she fought to have the people of the SGC told about the second base. Every day, she was knocked back and told to drop the subject.

"I don't understand why they're being so stubborn," she fumed to Bra'tac and Jonas, pacing in the middle of the area of the city the Jaffa had been given to start their own settlement. "Things would get done a lot faster if the SGC was allowed to know and help.. If we connected the computer systems controlling the two Stargates, off-world teams would have two chances to get to safety if a mission went wrong."

"Your people have their reasons, Major Carter." Bra'tac gave her a sympathetic look. "I understand your reluctance to withhold information from your friends but we have no other option. General Wright and these people have been very supportive of the Jaffa and of the other races they have welcomed here. We have finally found a place where we can make a safe home for our people without having to hinder our fight with the Goa'uld."

"I see your point, Bra'tac, but you're here willingly." Jonas sighed and continued dragging the stick he held through the dirt, drawing nonsensical pictures. "Sam and I weren't given a choice. We can't even let our friends know we're all right."

Bra'tac lowered his gaze and stared at the ground. "I wish I could help you but I cannot. I cannot risk General Wright taking back the sanctuary he has offered us."

"We know, and we wouldn't ask you to," Sam said sincerely with a small smile. "It's just good to see you, Master Bra'tac. It's nice to have another familiar face around."

He nodded to her as she stood and walked away, Jonas following just a foot behind. The two of them walked away from the Jaffa camp, passing through the buildings the Nox and Tollan were making together with the furry aliens and the purple ones. The planet resembled Earth but the city was like no other they had seen. The mix of different cultures and races made for interesting viewing. Even the section of the city that housed the families of those who worked at the SGOC showed signs of alien involvement.

Sam and Jonas walked through the houses and half-done buildings, turning away from the SGOC facility when it came into sight. They'd been allowed to choose where they wanted their homes to be. Sam had chosen a secluded spot on the edge of the forest that surrounded the whole area and Jonas had chosen a spot near-by. They were both going to have big homes built, almost in their honour, whether they wanted it or not.

Standing in the place her house would be in a few weeks time, Sam gazed around at the world around her, barely able to see the markers outlining Jonas' plot from where she was. There would be a considerable amount of distance between them, to give them privacy from each other, although neither particularly wanted it. The only reason they'd need privacy was if they were to get involved with someone and neither could see that happening.

Not on Kaia.

"We're on our own, Jonas." She didn't need to open her eyes to know he was standing right behind her. She didn't need to look to see the matching glimmer in his eyes. "I can't think of a way to get us out of here and I don't know if I could leave knowing they need us here. This is our home now, whether we like it or not."

Feeling awkward at first, Jonas put him arms around her, the gesture of friendship comforting to them both. "At least we're not alone, Sam. At least we've got each other."

=*=

It only took three weeks for their houses to be built. It was something Sam was pleased about, she found living in her quarters within the facility reminded her too much of the SGC.

She still argued daily with the General about keeping the SGOC a secret but she'd come to accept her position there. General Wright thought he'd managed to win her over by promoting her to Lieutenant Colonel and making her his Second in Command but that wasn't why she'd given up demanding to go home. She'd spent a long time in the labs, going over the projects the other scientists were working on, and knew how useful they would be in the battle against the Goa'uld. With help from the Asgard, Tollan and purple people - a race called the Mignon, they could probably have created some sort of defence for themselves against the Goa'uld within a year, two at most.

Knowing that almost made staying there worth it.

Her work in the lab with the other scientists and races was one of four things that kept her going. She was allowed to go out on missions with her own team; that was the second. The third was the thought that as soon as they made a big enough development, the SGC would be alerted to the second Stargate Command's existence and that would hopefully mean she got to see her friends again. Jonas was the fourth thing, his friendship growing to mean as much to her as her friendship with Daniel. He became another brother, the only person on the whole planet who truly understood how she felt, the only person she could talk about everything and anything with.

They spent their days off together, at either one of their houses, talking about their friends on Earth. They decorated his home so that Janet would like it if she were ever able to see it. They decorated her home with a certain Colonel who wasn't her in mind.

"Ready to go, Sam?" Jonas stood in the doorway to her lab, decked out and ready to go. He held an extra pack in his hand - her pack - and grinned when she looked up. He'd settled on Kaia as much as he could and was determined to make sure they made the most of their situation and took care of each other. In the back of his mind, he was constantly reminded of a promise he'd made Janet. "Ellis and Carson are waiting in the Gateroom."

"I'll be there in a minute, Jonas. I've just got to leave a note for Thor and Heimdall in case they arrive before we get back." She hesitated for a second, her fingers hovering over the keys of one of the three computers in her lab. She was almost as fluent when using the computer the Asgard had given her as she was when using Goa'uld or Tok'ra technology, but it was still new and a bit confusing sometimes. Finding the keys she needed, she resumed her typing, only pushing her chair away when the console beeped to let her know her work had been saved. "Okay, let's go."

He stood in the hallway patiently, helping her slip her pack over her shoulders and secure it before they started for the Gateroom, side by side. "Have you had your talk with General Wright today?"

"Yep," she matched his teasing grin with a mischievous one of her own. As their friendship had grown deeper, and because the atmosphere on Kaia was more relaxed than the one in the SGC, their real personalities had begun to show through their facades. "He thought I wouldn't have time since we've got a mission but I was waiting for him in his office this morning. Oh to have had a camera with me.. His expression was priceless."

"I'll talk to Gleason in security, she might be able to get us a copy of the tape and, if it's clear enough, we can make a screencap to put up in the common room." His sense of humour was as wicked as hers and almost as appealing as she remembered Colonel O'Neill's being.

"Good idea." The bright smile she rewarded him with showed her approval and the sparkle in her eye warned him that she was in the mood to gossip. "You know, I don't think anyone here actually likes the guy. According to Price, he's been on a bit of a power trip since he got this command. And according to Sandra, Price's wife, he thinks he's in with a chance of being President of Kaia."

His laugh startled two airmen who were already in the elevator when they got there. The two officers, one whom had once worked at the SGC, smiled in greeting when they saw who had caused the carriage to stop at their floor. "Colonel, Jonas. You leaving soon?"

"As soon as we get to the Gateroom," Sam said with a small smile, nodding her head at Henderson, the one who'd spoken, and Rayleigh, the one who hadn't. "And it's Sam, okay? No one else uses my title unless the General's presence." It was one of the unspoken rules that made living on Kaia and working at the OC more bearable. There weren't as many restrictions so there weren't as many masks or barriers preventing friendships from developing.

"If you say so, Sam." Henderson grinned and pressed the button for the bottom floor again to get the elevator started. "Are you guys gonna be at the school recital next week? The kids and the teachers would love it."

Jonas exchanged a smile with Sam and nodded for both of them. "The first multi-cultural event of the year? We wouldn't miss it. It'll be fun to see how what the teachers have put together. It can't be easy having to come up with something the kids could do to entertain six races."

"Seven including you," Sam reminded him with a soft smile. "It should be interesting, a lot of the parents have been tricked into joining in because there's only 30 kids at school."

"Henderson's one of them," Rayleigh said, grinning slyly at his friend. "He's dating Carla, one of the single mums teaching at the school, so she bribed him into volunteering."

"Carla Johnson? Michelle's sister?" She smiled again when Henderson nodded, the tips of his ears turning pink. Michelle Johnson hadn't wanted to be alone on Kaia and since her sister had been trying to escape an abusive ex, the President had agreed to let Carla and her son, Jamie, join her. It was a little unnerving, Sam thought to herself as the carriage came to a stop at their floor, to know everything about everyone. Unnerving in one way, kind of comforting in another. "She teaches mathematics, right?"

Henderson looked proud as he nodded. "Upper and lower classes. She's smart enough to work here but she's needed more at the school."

"Colonel Carter, Mr. Quinn," General Wright barked at them the moment they stepped through the doors. Henderson and Rayleigh gave them sympathetic looks as they dashed off to their posts. "You were due to depart five minutes ago! We have three off-world teams due to return back today, you are preventing them from returning home. What if they're under attack of the Goa'uld? You should show some consideration for your fellow officers!"

"First of all, they wouldn't have to wait to get to safety if we joined forces with the SGC and second of all, I doubt very much that any of the teams out there are trying to come back at this very precise moment. OC-3 isn't due back until 1300 hours, OC-6 is due at 1500 hours and OC-7 isn't coming back till 1800 hours." Her expression was calm, her voice clipped. "With all due respect, *Sir*, maybe you should spend more time checking the roster and less time yelling at people who are just trying to do their job."

An unusual silence fell over everyone in the room. People stopped what they were doing, watching the scene with unrestrained curiosity, the only person present who wasn't on Sam's side being the General himself.

Wright's mouth opened and closed several times but nothing came out. "You have a mission, Colonel. We'll talk when you get back.."

"No, General, we won't. You can't do anything to me without losing the Asgard's support and therefore losing the confidence of the President and your place at the SGOC." She kept her voice dangerously low so only Jonas and the General himself could hear, knowing that embarrassing him publicly would only make things worse.

His mouth formed a tight white line, his eyes spitting fire at her. "Very well, Colonel," his words were curt at best. "Have a safe mission and we'll debrief when you get back."

"Yes, Sir." She refused to be the first to break eye contact, keeping her chin held high as he walked away. She saw Jonas move closer out of the corner of her eye and risked taking looking at his face, relieved to see barely contained amusement instead of the disapproval she'd been dreading. "Did I just do something stupid?"

"No." Jonas risked giving her a fully-fledged grin as they began walking up the ramp towards the active Stargate. "I think it was great. And you're right; he can't do anything to you. That's what makes it so cool."

"We're only safe as long as they still need us, Jonas," she said quietly, hearing the footsteps of their two team mates on the ramp beside them. "We need to get the SGC involved before we find a way of defending ourselves against the Goa'uld."

The Kelownan at her side nodded. They took the step forward together and appeared on the other side of the Stargate at exactly the same time. "As soon as we make some progress, Thor will insist the SGC is told. It's going to be okay, Sam. No one on Kaia will let anything happen to either of us. No one but Wright, anyway."

"I'm not worried about when we're on Kaia." She gazed pointedly over her shoulder as their companions, a Captain Jennings and a Major Miller, arrived, both men glancing around warily. "It's when we're off-world. Jennings and Miller are the only two people without family on Kaia, they're the only two who don't get involved with the social happenings. It's strange that they happen to be the two officers Wright assigned to be paired off with us, isn't it?"

"You didn't think to tell me this when we were still on Kaia?" Jonas glanced at the two burly men, swallowing when one of them narrowed his eyes in response. "You think we can trust them or not?"

She shrugged and pulled her cap on, forcing the smile she gave Miller and Jennings as they made their way over to the pair. "I'm probably being paranoid but watch your six, okay?" A subtle nod was his answer as their team mates stopped beside them. "Okay, guys, we're on the lookout for any remaining Asgard technology. We'll split up, go in sets of two but we'll check in every twenty minutes. The last time the Asgard were here they were fleeing from the replicators and although they're hopefully not a threat anymore, they might have left something behind that is." When all three of the men staring at her expectantly nodded, Sam continued. "Miller, Jennings, you guys go East. Jonas and I will go West, if you see anything unusual, don't hesitate to get in touch. And be sure to check in when you're supposed to, okay?"

Jennings and Miller nodded and started out in the direction she'd ordered them to go. Exchanging a glance with Jonas, Sam started to go the opposite way, trying to ignore the voice in her head that told her to go home.

=*=

The planet wasn't what she'd expect from an old Asgard base. There were very few signs of advanced technology and a lot of greenery. In some ways, it reminded her of Earth and of Kaia. There was a lot of grass, old dirt paths and a lot of trees. Colonel O'Neill, she decided with a small smile, would love it.

"It's kinda nice here," Jonas' voice broke into her thoughts, his eyes roaming over their surroundings. He was searching for some sign that the Asgard had been there once but had found none. "Peaceful. Unspoilt. Maybe the Asgard's base was underground?"

"Thor said we should be able to see it if the replicators left anything remaining. It doesn't look like they did." Sam shook her head and frowned, disturbed that they couldn't see even the smallest piece of evidence to say they were looking in the right place, and disturbed at the feeling she got when they walked out of the trees and into a small clearing. "Ah, Jonas?"

He stopped beside her, a hand moving to rest on his gun. "Yeah?"

"Do you feel like we're being watched?" The radio at her side chose that moment to hiss and cackle, making her jump. "Okay, maybe I'm being paranoid." She took the radio from her pocket and pressed down. "Miller, Jennings, report."

Another burst of static was followed by the voice of one of her team mates. "Colonel Carter, we found what looks like a few replicator blocks. Should be pack them up and head back to the Gate?"

"No, don't touch them." She exchanged a wary glance with Jonas, keen eyes scanning the woodland around them. "Take a few pictures but we won't be taking them home with us. Can you see any sign of the Asgard base?"

"Negative, Colonel."

She sighed softly. "Okay, take a few pictures, then head back to the Gate. I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to. Jonas and I will meet you there. Carter out." Sam saw Jonas look around nervously as she clipped her radio back in place. "Worried I'm not just being paranoid?"

"With evidence that the replicators were here but no sign that the Asgard ever were?" He kept his hand on his gun, his eyes darting from one tree to the next. "The sooner we get to Kaia and talk to Thor about it the better. I'm sure he said the Asgard didn't find any replicator pieces when they came to check the planet was safe so.."

"So where did they come from if they weren't here a few weeks ago?" She started walking back the way they'd come before he had a chance to answer. "I don't know, Jonas, but something about this place gives me the creeps, let's get home as soon as we can."

They were almost out of the trees at the edge of the clearing the Stargate was in when they heard it: the telltale rumble as the Gate came to life. Without needing to be told, Jonas went one way and hid between a dense patch of shrubbery and trees while Sam went the other, unclipping her radio as she knelt down. "Miller, Jennings, come in." She prayed the crackle of the radio wasn't loud enough to attract the attention of whoever was coming through the Gate, wishing they weren't so close.

"We read you, Colonel. Did we just hear the Stargate activate?" It was Jennings who spoke, unlike before when Miller had been responding, sounding understandably nervous.

"Unfortunately, yes. Take cover and hold your position until you hear from me again." She kept her voice as quiet as possible, hearing branches split as whoever it was began walking along the mud path and towards her hiding place. "Over and out."

She kept her head down as the footsteps got close, leaves rustling and twigs breaking under the heavy footfall. She estimated there were four of them and hoped they were Jaffa. It'd been a while since she'd been in a gunfight, and even then she'd been taking orders from the Colonel instead of being the one giving them.

"These are recent tracks, O'Neill."

Her breath caught in her throat and her heart rose in her chest.

"Thought so. Jaffa?"

Colonel O'Neill. Sam's eyes darted to the bushes she knew Jonas was hiding under and managed to meet his gaze through the leaves and branches. His astonished expression would have been comical were it not for the fact she was fighting an inner battle with herself. Should she stay hidden and go back to Kaia without saying anything or should she let them know she was there and tell them about the Omega Command's existence?

"It does not appear so. These tracks are too small to be Jaffa. They appear to be made by a human but I believe General Hammond said this place had not been visited before."

"It hasn't, I remember asking for this assignment because it wasn't on the Goa'uld cartouche and no one else had been here. Maybe there's a village near by with people like us?"

"I don't think so, Doctor Jackson. The UAV we sent out this morning showed no signs of life or civilisation on this planet."

Lieutenant Haley. Sam could see their feet and froze. She couldn't let them know, not yet.. They'd be angry and saying goodbye again would be too hard..

"Nope, it only showed trees. My favourite. Tell me again why you thought we should come here, Daniel?"

"Because I thought it would be an interesting walk through the forest?"

"If you wanted to do that, we could've all gone to Minnesota."

"We wouldn't be able to distract ourselves there, Jack. You know we'd be too busy thinking about them."

Them? Sam glanced again glanced over to Jonas, vaguely amused to see the look of astonishment still in place on his face. Could 'them' be *them*?

"Being on another planet isn't gonna make a difference, Spacemonkey. Until Hammond gets through to someone who knows where Carter and Jonas are, none of us will be able to *stop* thinking about them."

Her eyes closed as silence fell over the four people standing just a few feet away.

"Okay, campers. Here's what we're going to do. Teal'c, Haley, you guys go that way, we'll go this way. Check in after three hours. If we haven't found anything by then, we'll meet up and go home."

"Yes, Sir."

"Stay on your guard and move out. If you come across whoever made these tracks, get in touch with us immediately."

"We will, O'Neill."

The feet moved in opposite directions. Sam and Jonas remained hidden until there was complete silence, doing their best to avoid making any sound as they stood and brushed the dirt and twigs clinging to their clothes away.

In silence, they made their way back to the Stargate, standing behind some trees as they radioed the other half of their team to let them know it was safe. Five minutes later, Jennings and Miller appeared but still Sam and Jonas said nothing.

Jonas dialled the Stargate and Sam sent the GDO code through the open wormhole. When the light on her remote flashed to let her know the computers on the other side had received the signal - a new feature to the remotes the OC teams had developed - she led her team back through the Stargate to Kaia.

General Wright's snide comment about her team being home before they were due fell on deaf ears. She went to the small infirmary, speaking only to answer yes or no to the doctor on duty's inquiries. She left the facility before the debriefing could begin, without even leaving a message for General Wright to let him know she was going to be absent.

Only when she was in the safety of her own home did she stop and allow herself to think about their close call. She sat down in front of the unlit fire, wrapping her arms around her knees as she stared sightlessly at where the flames should be.

"Sam?"

She would've known who it was even if he hadn't spoken. No one else would have entered her home without knocking first.

"We were so close, Jonas. We could've said something and gone home with them."

He sat down in the chair nearest to her, knowing she wouldn't welcome any gestures of comfort or friendship. Not yet. "We decided we were going to stay and help make this place worth while. As soon as we can tell them we're okay, we will. They'll understand."

"I'm not so sure. You heard Daniel; they're worried about us. No one's telling them anything and now we're just as bad by not taking the chance when we had it." She sighed and let her chin rest on her knees, curling up into herself as much as possible. "If they find out we were there and said nothing.."

"They won't, not until we want them to and by then, we'll be able to show them why we did it." He shifted in his chair, staring at her back. He could sense she was upset but knew her well enough to know she was in that place where she wanted to be alone even though she needed someone there. He wanted to say something to make her feel better but knew there was nothing he could tell her that would achieve his goal. "Thor and Heimdall are waiting on base. I told them about the replicator pieces Jennings and Miller found and they want to talk to us. It sounds serious."

"Right." Her voice was thick as she slowly regained her composure. She was grateful that he cared enough to follow her but she didn't particularly want to have to talk about how she was feeling. Thankfully, he seemed to pick up on it. "We'd better head back, then."

They each stood and headed for the door, heading back to the SGOC in silence, both trying to concentrate on what the Asgard wanted to tell them and not on their close encounter with their former team.

=*=

"SG-1, how was your mission?" General Hammond asked the question even as he began dreading the answer. The expressions his flagship team were wearing were enough to set him on edge. "Colonel? What is it? What did you find?"

The Colonel met his gaze grimly, a look of distaste arranging his features. "Haley and Teal'c found a few replicator blocks, Sir. Daniel and I found a whole lot more of them."

"Blocks? Not actual replicators?" He wasn't sure whether to be alarmed or intrigued, watching as the four people in front of him squirmed uncomfortably.

"Just blocks and a warning, Sir." Daniel swallowed, his face pale as he remembered reading SG-1's mission reports on their last encounter with the replicators. "The blocks were smaller than we're used to and spelt out a message."

"What was the message, Doctor? Colonel?"

Lieutenant Haley shuffled from one foot to the other, her anxious eyes unable to stay in one place for long. "It said that they were coming, General Hammond. It said the replicators were coming for the humans of Earth."

=*=

The occupants of the briefing room had been stunned into silence.

Jonas and Sam sat across the table from each other, glazed expressions on their faces.

"Are you saying," General Wright began, his incredulous voice slicing through the descended quiet, "that there are three of those replicator people out there somewhere?"

"That is what we said, yes." Heimdall blinked her big black eyes, focusing on the irate General instead of his two staggered officers. "We regret to inform you that we were wrong when we said we could destroy all of the replicators once we had them confined. Somehow, three of their creations escaped. We believe they are the robots known as First, Third and Fifth but we cannot be sure. The Asgard vessel that came into contact with them was destroyed before we could reach it."

The General slammed his hands down on the desk, startling Jonas out of his thoughts. "And you didn't think you should mention it sooner? I've read the reports; I know these bugs are as big a threat as the Goa'uld! The President will not be happy when he hears about this!"

"We have not been made aware of their presence since. We did not believe they would travel to your galaxy." Heimdall sounded haughty, obviously unimpressed by the General's show of anger.

"We have been preparing for this," Thor interrupted, trying to calm the situation. "All of the devices we have been helping Colonel Carter and your peopl