AUTHOR: Demon Faith
EMAIL: rosabeth@hotmail.com
CATEGORY: Romance, Angst, Drama, Series
PAIRINGS: Sam/Daniel, Teal’c/Janet,
Jack/Other
SPOILERS: Major for the rest of the Charlie
series, especially #7 and #8
SEASON/SEQUEL: The entire series is set
after Season 3, but not in Season 4. This story is set about 1
month after #9.
RATING: PG-13
CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, violence, injury
and implied mental torture
SUMMARY: Danielle is making her presence
felt, while the SGC attempts to control a leak to NID…
DISCLAIMER: Anything that looks familiar
(i.e. SG1, SGC etc) belongs to Showtime/Viacom and MGM. Anything
that looks original (i.e. Charlie, Danielle etc) belongs to Demon
Faith. No money was made by the author, and please don’t sue
her, cos she has no money!
AUTHOR’S NOTES: Changing Faces attempts
to capture the atmosphere of the terrible situation Charlie is
in, and because no one has any experience of this, including me,
don’t blame me if it sounds a little…odd.
Some people have expressed concern over the
‘realism’ concerning Jack falling for Charlie: all I
can say is ‘love knows no bounds’.
So, enjoy #11, and look out for #12 in the
future!
DF/xx
(THIS IS THE PENULTIMATE STORY IN THE
CHARLIE UNIVERSE)
Stargate Command. The first line of defence
for Earth, though very few people were aware of it. And SG1 was
the best in the SGC. Quite surprising really, considering SG1
wasn’t exactly your regular USAF team. Sure, it had
your typical Colonel in command and his 2IC was an Airforce
Major. But the other two members were…slightly unusual. Dr
Daniel Jackson, their rather accident-prone
archaeologist/anthropologist/linguist, who Jack thought was more
trouble then he was worth, and Teal’c, an alien to Earth
with an even stranger alien housed in his stomach, which just
happened to be Earth’s deadliest enemy. Not your
run-of-the-mill team but the best, none the less. The very best.
Then came Charlie. Beautiful, intelligent
and spirited, she was soon entwined in SG1’s lives. Weaving
a spell of mystery and intrigue, Charlie came through the bad
times to create the good times. The new legend of the SGC.
Charlie: The Girl to Save the Universe
“Jack! Where’s the pineapple
gone?”
Charlie moved slowly round the kitchen,
navigating her bump around awkward corners and doorframes. She
took another bite out of her raw potato, savouring the delicious
crunchy snack. Jack walked in, made a face at her and slipped his
hands around her waist.
“Haven’t you had enough yet?
That’s the third batch of pineapple this week, and it’s
only Tuesday!”
Charlie blushed, looked regretfully at the
potato and then took another bite out of it.
“Well, you ate a tin yesterday,”
she said, mouth full of potato.
Jack grinned, spinning her slowly round the
kitchen, laughing when she tried to make him stop.
“No Jack! You’re making me
dizzy!”
She started to laugh helplessly, as the
potato sailed out of her hand and straight into the bin. Then,
she slipped on pineapple juice, crashing straight to the floor.
“Ouch…”
Jack knelt down beside her and she glared at
him. He just grinned and she took a swipe at him.
“You are going to get me off the floor,
aren’t you? I’m not giving birth in your kitchen!”
“Our kitchen. Yours too now.
And, if the kid’s gonna have an appetite like you, what
better place then the kitchen?”
“You’re not funny, Jack. Now, get
me up!”
Jack lifted her into his arms and carried
her through to the living room, depositing her on the armchair;
legs looped over one chair-arm and head resting on the other.
“Now, that’s better. You gonna
join me or does the military call?”
Jack frowned for a moment, trying to work
out what she meant. The General had given him a leave extension
until Danielle was born, because it had soon become clear that
Charlie was far too exhausted to do anything for herself. It had
been a month since the wedding; Danielle was now the size of a
32-week-old foetus, meaning she was still growing at twice the
normal rate. Which left about a month until she was born; not
much time at all.
Jack and Charlie were both secretly
harbouring their fears, putting on the brave face to keep the
other happy. The question of what will happen to Danielle, or
indeed Charlie, after the birth was at the forefront of
everyone’s mind, especially Jack’s. He knew Harry
Maybourne still wanted to get his hands on them, and it
wouldn’t take much persuasion to make it happen. Jack knew
how easily laws and ethics disappeared at the first sign of the
military. It’s what Daniel still labelled
‘Jackism’, though Jack liked to think himself beyond it
all, though he knew that was impossible. So many complications;
but that was his job.
“So, do we have any more
pineapple?”
Jack smiled, and moved into the kitchen,
searching for the stash of pineapple that he had carefully hidden
from Charlie. He took out a tin and a spoon and walked back into
the living room. He found Charlie leaning over as far as she
could, trying desperately to reach the remote and failing
miserably. She cursed at it, picked up a cushion and threw it at
the remote. The remote flew off the table and crashed into the
wall, spilling its batteries onto the floor. Charlie clapped her
hand on her head.
“Oh, to hell with it!”
“And that was my favourite
remote…”
Charlie looked up and smiled wearily. Jack
sat down on the next chair and gave her the pineapple.
“Thanks Jack. Sorry about the remote. I
just…got mad at it.”
“Don’t worry about it. It was a
lousy remote anyway.”
Charlie chuckled and began to eat the
pineapple, leaning into Jack as she did. He absently stroked her
hair, reaching out to steal a pineapple chunk.
“Hey! That’s mine!”
Charlie frowned at him, shouting, red-faced,
and Jack looked genuinely bewildered. Charlie sighed, lay back in
his arms and shook her head.
“Sorry Jack, I don’t know what
came over me. I’m so, so sorry…”
Charlie stopped eating, put the tin down on
the table, and snuggled deeper into Jack. He picked up the other
remote and switched the television on. It had never been like
this with Sarah. They had just shouted blue murder at each other
for hours, stormed to different rooms and then later gave a
grudging apology. But then, Charlie wasn’t Sarah and Jack
hoped it wouldn’t turn out so badly for them.
“Oh, Jack, no! Change the
channel!”
Jack snapped out of his reverie and looked
up at his indignant wife and the offending television. Then, he
winced. The Great Pyramid of Giza? Oops…guess the History
Channel’s out then!
“Wait! Leave it a minute!”
Charlie strained to hear the droning voice
of the professor talk about the interior of the pyramid.
“We are not sure why the Great
Pyramid is completely devoid of writings. There have been many
theories, the most absurd of which suggests that the pyramid was
built by aliens!”
The man chuckled to himself and Charlie and
Jack bristled.
“The young archaeologist was laughed
out of academia, but now we tell his story…”
“Omigod Jack! They’re talking
about Dad!”
But Jack had already dialled the number,
holding the phone to his ear.
“Sam? Put the television on the History
Channel right now! They’re doing a biography of
Daniel!”
Sam’s eyebrows hit the ceiling. She
picked up the remote and changed the channel.
“Hey Sam! What are you doing? I was
watching that!”
“Look, you blind idiot!”
Daniel squinted at the screen and his eyes
widened.
“Oh hell…what brought this
up?”
Sam jumped back onto the sofa, still
clutching the phone.
“Thanks sir. Bye!”
Sam dialled Janet’s number and got
Cassie.
“Hey Aunt Sam. What’s up?”
“Cassie, put the television on the
History Channel and tell your mum to watch it.”
“Okay, Sam. Bye!”
Cassie ran down the hallway and shouted to
Janet.
“Mum! Put the TV on the History
Channel.”
Cassie jumped onto Teal’c, who was laid
out on the sofa, with Janet beside him. Janet sighed and switched
on the channel. Janet sat up and stared.
In Daniel’s house, Sam dropped the
remote.
Charlie gasped and her glasses slid off her
nose, while Jack tightened his grip on her arm.
It was Teal’c who stated the obvious:
“Janet Frasier, that is the
Stargate.”
~
Jack rung through to Cheyenne immediately
and everyone was called to an emergency meeting.
“What about Charlie, sir?”
“I want her here, Colonel. Can you
manage that?”
“Yeah sir, I can.”
Charlie ejected the tape from the video
recorder and Jack frowned at her.
“Didn’t I tell you? I recorded the
whole program. I think the General might want to hear it.”
Jack smiled proudly at Charlie, helped her
off the floor and supported her all the way to the car. They
drove quickly through Colorado Springs, neither speaking a word.
When they arrived at Cheyenne, Sam and Daniel were waiting at the
gate and Teal’c and Janet pulled in behind them. Jack jumped
out of the car, dashed round the other side and got hold of
Charlie before she fell over.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Jack grinned, and nodded to everyone else,
as the silent crowd disappeared into the secret mountain.
~
General Hammond waited anxiously. Jack had
called him with the news, and he wanted his best people around
him. And that meant SG1, leave or not. And, of course, the other
two people who now came with the package.
He had just had word of their arrival, and
was pacing the Briefing Room, desperate to hear the full story.
He needed facts, he needed opinions: he needed SG1.
Colonel O’Neill: - smarter than
everyone seemed to think, full of wise cracks and one of the best
soldiers America had to offer.
Dr and Major Jackson: - two brilliant
scientists, always theorising, contemplating: possibly the most
intelligent people on the planet, and very much in love.
Teal’c: - stoic, calm, unflappable
– the mystery that was Teal’c. Fountain of Goa’uld
knowledge and a good and honest man and soldier.
And that was SG1 – the premier team of
the SGC. Making up two-thirds of the dejected crowd before him.
“So, what have we got?”
Jack helped Charlie into a chair, before
saluting and handing the General the tape.
“This, sir, is what we’ve come
for.”
The General called for a screen, as SG1 and
co settled round the table. Daniel was just pouring coffee when
the TV arrived. Sam put the tape in, and they sat back to watch.
“No one knows what this artefact is,
but we do know that this was the proof Daniel Jackson was looking
for, the verification of his theories. Unfortunately, soon after
becoming involved with it’s study, the military reported him
dead and he was never heard of again. And that, my friends, is
the weird and wonderful story of Doctor Daniel Jackson.”
Sam paused the video, and they were
left staring at Daniel’s face in the centre of the Stargate.
Sam cocked her head on one side and smiled.
“You were kinda cute then.”
Daniel glared at her, as everyone cracked a
smile. However, Charlie frowned.
“Wait, I’ve seen that picture
before. Yes, definitely before…Airman!”
Graham Simmons came running to her side,
while everyone looked at her, completely puzzled.
“My satellite laptop, a-sap.”
Graham nodded, and returned a few minutes
later with her laptop. Charlie started it up, then, connected to
the Internet via Cheyenne’s satellite link. Jack stared over
her shoulder, as she called up Area 51’s website. Typing in
Harry’s password, she was soon on the user net. And before
her, was the photograph.
“It’s his personal homepage,
complete with backdrop of the Stargate. I knew I’d seen it
before.”
While Jack observed in silent awe, Daniel
was thinking ahead.
“But, where are we gonna find him? And
we have no real proof: just a picture on his desktop. We
don’t even know how he got it…”
“Yes, we do. It was probably taken when
Airman Philips was here. It’s just a question of finding the
source of the picture. Then, we can find out the real leak. But,
first, we need Harry.”
Charlie’s voice had gone hard, cold,
dead, unfeeling. There was steel in her tone: that sent a clear
message to everyone present. Sam broke the uneasy silence.
“Sir, do you want us to go after
him?”
The General looked at the expectant faces
around the table, all looking to him for guidance. Sam was
uneasy, Daniel was feeling humiliated, Teal’c was subtly
glaring, Janet was anticipating danger, and Jack and
Charlie…you didn’t want to cross. Their faces were like
thunder, with almost identical expressions of hatred and anger.
And they used to be the concealers, hiding their emotions from
the world, extra guarded and afraid. Now, they were so open; it
was a miraculous transformation.
“Yes, you can go. However, only
Teal’c and Dr and Major Jackson. I don’t think Jack and
Charlie should…”
“We understand, sir. I don’t think
I’d be much use anyway. But Jack could…”
“No way in hell.”
The General smiled.
“Fine then, it’s settled.
You’re off to see the Wizard.”
~
So, what’s the plan?”
They all headed for their various cars, Jack
guiding Charlie to her seat.
“We head out in a few days. The
General’s looking up some contacts. Daniel and I were
planning a get-together for tonight; you up for it?”
Janet and Teal’c nodded but Jack looked
hesitantly at Charlie.
“Jack’ll be there, have no fear!
See ya!”
Sam smiled, got in the car and Daniel drove
off, followed closely by Janet. Jack got in beside Charlie and
started the engine.
“What do you mean ‘Jack’ll be
there’? What about you?”
“I’m not going anywhere. You need
a night off: you don’t have to worry about me.”
Jack shot her a ‘yeah, in hell’
look and then concentrated on driving.
Charlie sat back and sighed. When was Jack
going to realise she wasn’t a child? She had turned
seventeen last month: and she had handled herself a long way
before that.
She had taken up a gun at the age where he
was probably still kicking a football around the backyard. And
yet, he insisted on protecting her, trying to impose on her. She
knew how to take care of herself; there had been no other choice.
Handle it or die: the one rule of survival in war. She had chosen
to live.
And to do that she had done some pretty
loathsome things, things still whispered about in the back alleys
and military offices of North India. She lived by fear; the only
way to overcome it was to invoke it. Which is exactly what she
did.
‘Emotion is a curse: hide it all away.
Tears are often shed; but not from your eyes’. A philosophy
to live by: Sinaya’s philosophy.
And now, Jack wanted to save her, protect
her childlike innocence. Innocence? I lost my innocence before
Apophis even got his filthy hands on me. For innocence is lost in
many ways, some more frightening than others…
Charlie shook off the painful memories, and
opened her eyes. Jack was looking across at her in concern, and
she realised they were outside his house. Correction: our
house. Charlie still couldn’t get used to that. Jack got
out of the car, and offered her his hand. She accepted gratefully
and stumbled into him. He held her for a moment, smoothing back
her short hair.
“This is kinda nice.”
Charlie smiled, pulled away and motioned to
the door.
“And we can continue it without the
neighbours spying on us…”
Jack chuckled and helped into the house,
guiding her to the sofa. She sat down heavily and leaned back
against the pillows.
“Jack? Don’t s’pose you
could…”
“Black, no sugar.”
Charlie smiled. Jack saluted her, grinned
and went off into the kitchen. He couldn’t believe how lucky
he was. Charlie, young vibrant Charlie, had chosen him to
be her husband, to love for all eternity. Just thinking about it
brought tears to his eyes. What had he done to deserve it? What
value was there to his life? He wasn’t a proud man; there
were many things he had done under orders, on some military whim,
some mistake to be cleared up. Life had been one big game; then,
Charlie had died. The event that had destroyed his marriage, made
him suicidal, and eventually, brought him to the Stargate and the
saving grace of one Doctor Daniel Jackson. The person that had
restored his faith in humanity, and, though he couldn’t work
out why, apparently Charlie’s as well.
Jack sighed, and stirred the coffee and
dumped some sugar in it. He made up his and then carried the two
through to the living room.
“There you go, one coffee courtesy of
Kenco.”
“And one handsome looking waiter to go
with it?”
Jack bowed to her and sat beside her on the
couch, stretching his legs to slide beneath her. She leaned back
onto him, staring up at the swirling patterns in the ceiling.
“Are you ever afraid, Jack?
Y’know, really afraid?”
Jack absently began to stroke her hair,
while his other hand slid onto her stomach, and hers settled on
top.
“Everyone’s afraid of something,
Chaz. I’m scared of losin’ people: You, Danny, Carter,
Teal’c, Janet and Cassie – hey, even old Gen Hammond!
You’re all too precious to lose.”
“Yeah, that can be scary. Dad’s
‘fraid of heights: I’m not too bothered about them.
But, really, I guess I’m afraid of fear. Fear traps you,
confines you, limits you and overwhelms you. I can’t afford
that: none of us can. Not with what we do.”
Jack stopped his ministrations for a moment
and just held her tightly, and Charlie leaned into his warm
embrace.
“I know, Chaz, I know.”
~
“Okay, we have two alternatives:
Government operation or The Matrix?”
Sam laughed and threw the dishcloth at him.
“Briefing first. Then, we can watch the
movie. Honestly, Daniel, can’t you ever be serious?”
“Serious? I thought that was your
job!”
Sam sighed and went to pick up her
dishcloth, which hadn’t quite made it. She bent over and
then realised her mistake. Daniel grabbed her from behind and
swung her into his arms.
“Gotcha!”
She placed her arms around his neck, and
they looked at each other for a minute.
“We are really getting too old for
this.”
Sam kissed him on the cheek and then
frowned.
“Us? Old? Heck, that’s
scary.”
Daniel nodded and walked out into the living
room. He crossed it quickly and then stood on the balcony.
“Great view, isn’t it?”
Sam nodded and kicked her legs a bit.
“Shouldn’t we be doing something?
Like working? Or cooking?”
“Yeah, we probably should.”
The doorbell rung, and they both sighed.
Daniel swung Sam to the ground and then hastily wiped the
lipstick off his cheek. Sam ran to answer the door, smiling at
the visitors.
“Hey Aunt Sam!”
Cassie ran in and hugged her, while Sam
nodded to Janet and Teal’c.
“Hey guys. Come in!”
They smiled and Janet handed a bottle of
wine to Daniel.
“Isn’t Jack here yet?”
Sam shook her head, and then indicated the
phone.
“Actually, I’m expecting him to
call any minute. Unless Chaz can talk him out of it.”
Janet gave a knowing smile and settled on
the sofa, between Teal’c and Daniel.
“He’s really changed, hasn’t
he? Since the whole thing with Apophis, he’s just become a
different man.”
“Yeah. I think he’s scared of
losing her, especially to the Goa’uld.”
Daniel smiled sadly as he said that, and
leaned back into the sofa. This was their usual conversation
topic of late, and it became very depressing after a while.
“Well, he shouldn’t be,” Sam
called from the kitchen, “Chaz can take care of
herself.”
Then, the phone started to ring shrilly and
Daniel moved to answer it. Sam slapped his hand away and picked
it up.
“Hello?”
“Mum, hey.”
Charlie glanced across at Jack, who was
looking disapprovingly at her.
“Hey! What’s up? Is Jack still
coming?”
Sam put her hand over the receiver.
“It’s Charlie.”
Daniel nodded, and Janet leaned over to him.
“Charlie? Why’s she calling?”
“Who knows.”
“Listen Mum, Jack’s refusing to
come. You’ve got to talk him into it.”
Jack had had enough. He swiped the phone out
of Charlie’s hand.
“Sam? I can’t make it.”
“Oh, really? Are you sure? Charlie
sounds fine. Actually, why doesn’t she come as well?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Ask her
yourself.”
Jack dropped the phone back into
Charlie’s palm and she gave him a sarcastic smile.
“Thank you, Jack.”
Charlie put the phone to her ear, to meet
Sam’s argument.
“Why can’t you come, Chaz? We all
want you to.”
Everyone on Sam’s side of the phone was
getting very confused. Who was Sam talking to: Jack or Charlie?
It sounded like both!
“Mum, I can’t. I really don’t
feel up to it.”
“But you must! Come on, Charlie, it
won’t hurt!”
“Mum, no. However, expect Jack in
twenty minutes.”
“Jack? I thought he wasn’t
coming.”
“Well, he is now. Bye Mum.”
Charlie put the phone down and turned to
Jack with a smile.
“You’re going and that’s
final. No ‘buts’, no excuses: you’re going!”
~
Almost exactly twenty minutes later, there
was a knock at the door. Daniel rose to answer it.
“Jack! Come in!”
Jack smiled and came in, handing Sam a box
of chocolates. Cassie ran to meet him and he swung her into his
arms.
“Hey trouble! How are you?”
“Fine, Uncle Jack. Where’s Aunt
Charlie?”
Jack put Cassie down and sat in one of the
chairs.
“She couldn’t make it, honey.
She’s not feeling well.”
Cassie mouthed a silent ‘o’ and
went to sit on Teal’c’s lap, where she had been perched
all evening, listening to the adult’s interesting
conversation.
“So, how are you going to play
this?”
It was then Janet realised Cassie was still
there.
“Cass, darling, why don’t you go
and play with Uncle Daniel’s Egyptian game?”
Cassie knew when to make herself scarce. She
dived out of the room, but kept one ear to the door.
“We’re still trying to access the
rest of NID, but no luck yet. Y’know, the girl we
need…”
“No, Charlie is not getting involved in
this…”
“Too bad, she already is. Right now,
she’s accessing NID. Didn’t you wonder why she was so
eager to get rid of you?”
Jack pursed his lips. He’d been had.
Suddenly, the phone rang and Sam picked it up.
“Charlie! What’ve you got?”
“Well, if you’re interested in the
‘wanted’ list, we’re all on it. As for Maybourne,
you are not going to believe this. He’s been working at the
White House!”
Sam gasped, and quickly relayed it all to
her friends, who were just as shocked.
“And, that’s not all. He’s
currently working at NID New York, looking for a place in
NORAD!”
“Where he’ll be right on top of
us. Quite literally. Thanks Charlie: you’ve been
brilliant.”
“Any time. Just send Jack back when you
feel like it.”
Charlie put the phone down, and made her way
slowly across the room to the couch. She switched on the
television.
Charlie soon got bored of it, flicking
through endless channels of rubbish quiz shows and cheesy TV
presenters. She struggled to her feet and made her way to the
kitchen. She reached out for a tin of pineapple but her hand
stopped in front of her, shaking beyond her control. Her hand
lowered to her side, where it stayed.
Damn you, child, stop it right now. I
need that food!
(((Sure you do. No, I won’t let you.
I’m in control now and there’s nothing you can do about
it.)))
Charlie flared, angry, staring at the vile
bump.
Right, that’s it. I’ve had
enough of you, you despicable, disgusting child; you represent
everything I’ve grown to hate. I never wanted you, I never
asked for you; you just appeared: evil, domineering, just like
your bloody father!
Charlie realised her mistake, the moment
it was over. A sharp pain shot up her spine, back arching,
bringing more pain. She thudded slowly to her knees, stretched
her arms out to break her fall, and fell onto her side, groaning
in pain. Just before her eyes drifted shut, she said the only
thought that came to mind.
“Damn you to hell, bitch.”
~
Once they were all clear on the plans, they
settled down to dinner.
“Wow, Sam, your cooking is
better!”
Sam blushed and Daniel smiled, laying his
hand on top of hers.
“Well, we got bored of take-out.”
They all laughed, able to relax for blissful
minutes, to forget they had the most dangerous job on the planet,
and to just be human.
After dinner, Daniel moved to put the video
in, but Jack excused himself.
“I’ve gotta go, I’m afraid.
Chaz will be worried.”
“Okay then, see ya when we see
ya!”
“Yeah. Good luck!”
Just as he moved towards the door, Janet
stood up.
“Jack? I could come over now, to do
Charlie’s check-up. It’s overdue, as it is.”
Jack nodded and smiled, and they made their
way to his car.
~
“You planned this?”
“No, I just had my equipment with
me…”
“And the ultrasound?”
Janet was caught. She held up her hands in
surrender.
“Okay, you’ve got me. I thought it
would be a good idea.”
“And it was; so, thank you.”
Jack turned the key in the lock and opened
the door.
“Charlie? Where are you?”
Jack wandered into the house, slightly
puzzled. He went towards the stairs, and then noticed the kitchen
door slightly ajar. He opened it and cursed.
“Janet! Get in here!”
The doctor ran through and gasped. Charlie
was laid out on the floor, face twisted into a grimace. Jack
checked her pulse, and turned his eyes heavenward in silent
thanks.
“She’s alive. Do you
think…”
“The sooner she gives birth, the
better.”
Jack nodded, and gently lifted her into his
arms. He hurried through to their bedroom and laid her on the
bed.
“What do you think happened?”
Janet shook her head, checking
Charlie’s vitals.
“Temperature’s a little up, blood
pressure’s normal: I’ll give her a stimulant.”
Jack nodded, and Janet gave her the hypo.
Charlie’s eyes moved rapidly under her eyelids, before
opening to the bright light of Janet’s torch.
“Oh hell…” she murmured.
Jack squeezed her hand tightly, shooting
worried glances at Janet, who was setting up the ultrasound.
“How are you feeling, Charlie? What
happened?”
Charlie was still a little disorientated,
but once she was satisfied this wasn’t the infirmary, she
began to answer.
“Um, I’ve felt better, I’ve
felt worse. On a scale on one to ten, this is
probably…”
Charlie gasped, as pain shot through her
back.
“…eleven…”
Jack was getting worried. Danielle was only
a child, for goodness sake! How could she have so much influence,
so much power? Harseisus she may be, but this…
“Okay, Charlie, where does it
hurt?”
“My…back…spine…Janet…help…”
she managed to stutter.
Janet gently rolled her onto her side,
pulling up her loose t-shirt to see the skin beneath. And what
she saw appalled her.
She was a military doctor, she had seen the
battle scars of soldiers, but what Charlie had was enough to
rival Jack. Dozens of thin white scars crossed her back, which
could only be caused by leather whips; jagged scars that spoke of
sharp knives and several badly healed bullet wounds.
But, that she had seen before. Charlie was
always in and out of her infirmary, these scars were nothing
knew. Except to Jack.
“Charlie, what the hell are
these?”
“Drop it, Jack. I’ll tell you
later,” she said in a strained whisper.
What had shocked Janet this time was no
ordinary injury: the end of her spine was slightly raised out of
her back, and there was discolouring and inflammation. It was
if…something was pushing it out.
“Charlie, tell me when it hurts.”
Janet probed the lump gently, and elicited a
sharp oath from Charlie.
“What the hell did you just do?”
Janet knew she could keep no secrets from
them.
“Charlie, I think Danielle has done
something to your spine.”
“That would be my guess, actually. She
can completely control all my motor functions: the only way to do
that would be through my spine. But, how?”
Janet nodded at her explanation: it made
sense. Jack was still trying to drink it in.
“The kid did all this? It hasn’t
even been born…”
“‘Some are born great, some
achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon
them’…”
“Charlie, now really isn’t the
time for Shakespeare.”
Janet switched on the ultrasound. She moved
the hand device gently over the lubricated area, and then
observed the images.
“Oh hell on earth…”
She could see a large network of blood
vessels penetrating the spine and connecting to the spinal
cord. And the maze centred on Danielle’s head.
“That isn’t good, is it?
Janet observed the child’s movements:
very controlled and reserved. This was no innocent; this was
someone completely in control. Janet studied the network of blood
vessels, and then realised they weren’t blood vessels at
all. They were complex nerves, linking Danielle’s brain to
Charlie’s spine. And Janet could swear there was some kind
of reinforcement around them, possibly Naquadah…they were
dealing with a parasite. Janet grimaced at her own definition.
“Janet? Tell us what’s
wrong.”
Janet turned to the two anxious faces, and
knew she had to tell them. Charlie’s life could be in grave
danger.
“It appears Danielle has grown a link
to your spine. From the positioning, I’d say she has mental
control over your entire body.”
Charlie swallowed, and her breath caught.
She couldn’t breathe!
(((Your doctor’s right. Look what I can
do!)))
Charlie clasped her hand around her chest,
and Janet quickly turned to her.
“Charlie?”
(((Marvel at the power of the
Goa’uld!)))
The child’s voice was echoing in her
mind, as black sparkles dotted across her vision.
Stop this! I’m dying…
(((I will not kill you. If you worship me as
your Goddess…)))
Charlie’s eyes widened, and Janet knew
something was seriously wrong. She couldn’t see
Charlie’s chest moving.
“Janet! What’s happening to
her?” Jack shouted at her, pleading.
“She can’t breathe, Jack.”
Charlie knew she hadn’t got much time
now. In a few seconds, she would be dead. She could deal with it,
but what about Jack?
You’re a Goddess. I will worship
you.
(((Beautiful!)))
Danielle released her. Charlie drew in her
breath sharply, drawing deep, quick breaths to try and level out
her oxygen supply.
“Oh hell, Janet. She almost killed
me…”
Jack supported her, arms around her
shoulders. Why was this happening? His beautiful Charlie,
helpless to the Goa’uld. It tore him apart.
“Charlie, I’m worried about the
total control Danielle seems to have over you. I want you to stay
in the infirmary until she’s born…”
“No way, Janet! She is not staying
there for a month!”
“Jack, you have to think of what’s
best for her!”
“And I am HERE!”
Charlie’s shout abruptly stopped the
bickering.
“Jack, Janet is only trying to think of
me. Janet, Jack just wants to be with me. I don’t mind; but
I would prefer to be here. Danielle was just exchanging
pleasantries: it won’t happen again.”
Exchanging pleasantries? She made it
sound so innocent. But there was nothing innocent and infantile
about Danielle.
“Can you guarantee it?” whispered
Janet.
“No I can’t,” said Charlie,
equally quiet in her response.
They sat in silence for a moment; the truths
spoken in whispers crashing them back to earth faster than the
SGC’s klaxons ever could.
“Okay, I’ll provide equipment
here. The infirmary isn’t really suited to permanent
residents anyway.”
Charlie smiled thankfully, but Jack was
still glaring daggers at Janet. The doctor swallowed nervously,
before backing towards the door.
“Okay, I’ll get Daniel and
Teal’c to help me bring some stuff over.”
Janet left, and Jack just sat there with
Charlie for a moment.
“Jack, I’m going to get some
sleep.”
He nodded, kissed her lightly on the
forehead and left the room. Charlie settled into the soft bed,
and her eyes drifted shut.
(((I can control your nightmares, Charlie.
You can’t escape me…)))
~
“Okay, are we ready?”
Sam grabbed her suitcase and looked around
for Daniel. Teal’c had just arrived, looking a little
strange in shorts, t-shirt and a straw hat.
“Is this correct, Major Jackson?
O’Neill instructed me in this attire.”
“Yeah, well, Jack has a twisted sense
of humour,” she murmured.
Aloud, she said, “Great, Teal’c.
And, please, call me Sam.”
“Very well…Sam. What is Daniel
Jackson wearing?”
“Just Daniel, Teal’c,” said
Sam, as she turned and gasped.
“What do you think?”
Daniel was wearing dark blue jeans, a tight,
white t-shirt and a soft leather jacket. Sam eyed up the blushing
archaeologist, before grinning.
“I like it. It’s
very…sexy.”
Daniel blushed again, and Sam smiled.
“Sam and Daniel, may I change my
clothing? I do not believe I…fit in.”
“Sure, Teal’c. You can change
upstairs.”
Sam smiled, and looked down at her own
clothes. She wore faded jeans, a pale blue t-shirt and a long,
leather coat that hung around her calf. She moved towards Daniel,
eyebrow raised.
“In fact, I love it. It’s very
macho.”
She was very close now, as Daniel stood
perfectly still. Then, she quickly grabbed his collar and pulled
him down.
“And I like macho,” she whispered,
seductively.
She kissed him deeply, sliding her leg
around his. He slipped his hands around her waist, pulling her to
him.
“When you two have finished eating each
other…”
Sam and Daniel broke away, and turned to
face a highly amused Jack O’Neill.
“Jack! What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d come and see
you off. Where’s Teal’c?”
“He’s changing. What you told him
to wear…”
Jack chuckled, and put his hands in his
pockets, sauntering around whistling.
“You can continue if you want to.
Don’t mind me.”
Sam sighed at Daniel and shook her head. She
knew Jack was missing the excitement of his job, but Charlie came
first. And Jack wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Is this improved, Sam?”
Teal’c stepped down the stairs, and
everyone’s eyes widened. He was wearing black jeans, black
t-shirt and a leather bomber jacket, and cut a very menacing
figure, complete with black baseball cap, twisted backwards and
dark glasses.
“Teal’c, my man, you look
very…black.”
“Janet thought this was suitable for
what the Tau’ri call clubbing. I believe she is correct. It
is also suitable for this activity, is it not?”
Teal’c flashed them a rare smile, and
they all smiled at him, amazed at the transformation. Janet’s
got a lot to answer for, thought Sam.
“Shall we depart?”
~
Charlie sat up, drenched in a cold sweat.
Haunting nightmares: nameless figures dressed in black, stalking
her through the night, holding her down, touching
her…becoming Apophis, her body violated, her mind bent to
his will…she shot her family over and over again: Jack,
Daniel, Sam, Teal’c, Janet, Cassie…finding safety with
Jack, only for him to turn into Apophis…
Danielle had done this to her, hurting her
as never before.
(((If you would cooperate with me, I could
make you great and powerful. I could give you entire planets that
moved to your whim. We could rule the universe…)))
I would rather die in the gutter than
rule a universe in flames.
(((Flames can be so brutal. I think we need
a little HEAT!)))
Suddenly, flames surrounded her bed, leaping
at her, closing in on her. She could feel the blistering heat,
the imminence of death…
And then it was gone. An illusion: Danielle
could control her mind.
“Stop, please stop,” she
whimpered, “I can’t take this anymore…”
But Danielle gave no answer. Charlie slowly
got off the bed, instinctively touching her abdomen, where she
knew Danielle to be. She removed her fingers and made her way
towards the kitchen. She spotted the coffee jar and the kettle,
and knew she needed coffee. She put the kettle on to boil, and
spooned coffee and sugar into the cup. She needed something
strong and sweet. Hmm…Jack?
The kettle boiled and Charlie lifted it off
the stand. And her hand stopped. Charlie’s eyes widened, as
the kettle swung towards her and began to tip. She concentrated
hard, trying to fight Danielle’s control. There was a
growing pain at the side of her head, and for one crazy moment,
she swore she could feel something vibrating under her
skin. Suddenly, she saw blue electricity dart across her arm, and
was completely confused. Was Danielle giving her hallucinations
again? Charlie continued to fight her, but the kettle was still
tipping.
“Charlie, I’m back!”
Jack! He would help here, he would come, but
first she had to shout…
“Jack! Help me!”
Jack heard the desperation in her voice and
headed for the kitchen. Why did he leave her alone? He saw the
kettle slowly tipping, and the tiny sparks flitting across her
head. Then, the kettle tipped and Charlie screamed. Jack pulled
it from her grasp and flung it across the kitchen. She fell into
his arms and he quickly carried her onto the sofa. He quickly
removed her soaked t-shirt, gasping at the heat. Her skin was
bright red and slightly blistered. He ran into the kitchen and
grabbed some burn cream. He went back to her and smeared it over
the affected area.
“Ow! It stings, Jack.”
“Bear with me, Charlie.”
When he was finished, he looked down at her
sadly.
“That was close.”
Then, there was a knock at the door.
“It’s open!”
Jack covered her lightly with a warm towel.
It was Janet.
“Jack? What’s happened?”
“Danielle tipped boiling water over
her.”
Janet gasped, and gently removed the towel.
“You’re quite badly scalded. You
did the right thing, Jack.”
Jack had begun to pace now, getting
increasingly frustrated.
“Why should this happen? I thought it
wouldn’t happen again!”
“We should’ve taken her to
Cheyenne…”
Jack turned to Janet, quick to anger.
“Are you saying this is my fault?”
Janet, also tried and tired, snapped back.
“Well, if she was in the infirmary,
this wouldn’t have happened!”
“You should have done something!”
“You shouldn’t have left
her!”
“STOP IT RIGHT NOW!”
They were stood facing each other, but they
shut up, breathing heavily.
“Look at you! You’re at each
other’s throats. It’s as much use blaming Dad for
getting captured by Dakatte! Pull yourselves together! None of us
need this right now.”
Charlie’s voice quietened, as they
looked at her now.
“I just want some support, I want to
keep us all safe, I want it to turn out okay. Is that too much to
ask?”
There was silence, as Charlie’s tearful
voice shocked them into submission.
“Charlie, I’m so sorry…”
“Me too.”
Charlie nodded to both of them, and wiped
her eyes on the corner of the towel, wincing slightly as she
aggravated her broken skin.
“I don’t think I’m safe
here.”
“Yes, I agree. Janet, can we take her
to Cheyenne?”
Janet nodded and smiled at them both.
“Yes, that would be best. Monitoring
24/7.”
Charlie nodded.
“Okay, let’s go. How are the
others getting on?”
~
“Sam, how are we gonna break into NID
New York?”
They had been driving for hours; taking a
plane would be too obvious. It was pretty much motorway all the
way. They were almost there now, after taking an overnight break
at a motel. Sam and Daniel had taken turns driving, Teal’c
wasn’t yet confident enough behind the wheel. Daniel was
driving now, while Sam had her map in front of her.
“Well…I hadn’t really thought
about it.”
Daniel nearly hit the car in front.
“WHAT? We’ve come all this way and
you don’t have a plan!”
“Relax, Daniel. I’ll think of
something. Here, have a sherbet lemon.”
Sam unwrapped the sweet and popped it his
mouth, before taking one herself and then passing the bag to
Teal’c.
“Sam, these ‘sherbet lemons’
have no nutritional value. What is their purpose?”
Sam rolled her eyes.
“They taste nice, Teal’c.”
“But they do not.”
“Leave it, Sam. He’s winding you
up.”
Sam turned to glare at Teal’c, who
smiled at her. She turned back, muttering to herself.
“Jaffa tourists.”
Daniel grinned and went back to his driving.
“Hmm…wonder what their
security’s like.”
“The False Goddess Hathor managed to
disable their security with minimal resistance, enabling us to
rescue Daniel. I believe she cut their power, immediately after
gaining entrance. They were helpless without their technology. As
are the Goa’uld.”
There wasn’t really an answer to that.
~
Charlie took about ten minutes to get some
things together, before they left in Jack’s car. They headed
through the mountain range to Cheyenne. Suddenly, Charlie felt
overwhelmingly hot.
“Jack, it’s really hot in
here…”
Janet glanced at Jack, before motioning for
him to stop. Charlie opened the door and stepped out into the
cold mountain air. She admired the wild, rugged landscape, not
aware of her proximity to the edge.
(((You just made your last mistake…)))
Without warning, Charlie was pitched forward
over the cliff edge.
~
“Well, here it is.”
Night had fallen by the time they reached
NID New York. They crept towards the building, guns dotted around
their persons.
“How do we go about cutting the
power?”
“Surprisingly easily.”
The building looked quite ordinary, no
distinguishing features, except the large cube on their front
lawn. Teal’c crept towards it, Zat ready and opened the
door. He fired the Zat once. Sam and Daniel hurried towards him,
as he pushed the unconscious man aside, disconnecting the
communications.
“It has its own power supply!”
exclaimed Daniel.
Teal’c ripped out several wires, as Sam
watched him carefully. What the hell are we gonna do if he
gets electrocuted?
“I am finished, Sam.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows, as he turned
from his guard position at the door. Daniel on watch?
Someone’s turning the universe upside down! Sam thought.
“Okay, let’s move out.”
Sam motioned towards the dark building,
which was not even lit from the inside now. Teal’c carefully
looked over the unassuming building, and saw a fire escape.
“Follow me.”
He crept across the lawn, hiding behind
bushes and trees. Sam followed him, with Daniel watching their
six. They were soon at the steps, and began their ascent. They
overtook one another, so that two people were always watching
whilst one moved. They quickly reached the door. It had
immediately opened when the power cut, and they simply slipped
in.
Sam pulled Daniel to her.
“Maybourne is in an office on this
level. He doesn’t leave it. I’ll take the lead.”
As Sam swiftly moved in front, Daniel
passed this information to Teal’c. They made their way
slowly across the level, until Sam found the door.
“Shit,” she swore softly.
A sign on the door read ‘Moved
office. Third floor, second door’.
She pointed it out to Daniel and
Teal’c, before racing off towards the stairs. Sam had
calculated that they had about twenty minutes before they
realised something was wrong. They had used ten.
As they ran up the stairs, still watching
their backs, Sam thought about how hard Harry Maybourne had been
to track. Sam and Ferretti had both tried to locate Harry and
failed. It had taken Charlie, with her inside knowledge, to find
him and then General Hammond had to pull more strings than a
puppeteer to find the exact location of NID New York, let alone
Harry. Now, they were running out of time and they still
hadn’t found him. They finally emerged through the door, and
Sam started to move down the corridor.
Sam turned the corner, careful to check all
possible exits. She motioned to Daniel and Teal’c behind
her, scanning the corridor, gun at the ready. Inching slowly
along the wall, hand outstretched to Daniel’s, she made her
way towards the door at the end. Teal’c backed his way
along, making sure they weren’t being followed. When they
were mere metres from their elusive goal, the door opened and
there he was. Harry Maybourne stared at them for a minute, before
running off down the corridor. Sam chased him, aware of footsteps
behind her, shooting random blasts at his heels. He ran quickly
through the building, having the advantage of prior knowledge.
But soon his knowledge exhausted, and he found himself at a dead
end. Sam faced him; gun raised, and smiled her own unique smile.
“Gotcha now, Harry.”
Harry knew he was beaten, held out his hands
in surrender, just as Daniel and Teal’c skidded round the
corner. Maybourne pulled a face and made a point of turning his
back.
“You could’ve done so much better,
Major. An archaeologist, of all people. Not too picky, are
we?”
Sam flared and her finger convulsively
pulled the trigger. Harry yelled and fell to the floor.
Daniel’s eyes widened in shock. Teal’c ran forward,
took the flailing man, threw him over his shoulder and motioned
for them to follow him. Daniel walked up to Sam, grabbed her hand
and pulled her along the corridor, as she stood in shock, having
not meant to harm him at all. The lights flickered back on and
they knew they had to hurry. Teal’c headed for the lift and
they all piled in behind him.
“We must leave immediately, Daniel
Jackson. Before the security of this facility discovers us.”
Daniel nodded and keyed the button for the
ground floor.
~
Charlie rolled and rolled and rolled down
the hill, bumping and bruising herself, cursing Danielle every
step of the way. Finally, she stopped at the bottom.
Now, you are the most stupid child,
Danielle.
(((No, I’m not. I’m very
intelligent)))
No, you’re stupid. Will you
please tell me what killing me is going to do to you? You really
are quite thick.
While Danielle started a retort, Charlie
somehow found her voice.
“Jack? Don’t you dare come down
here!”
Jack, on the verge of stepping over the edge
to climb down, froze.
“Charlie? What’s happened? Are you
alright?”
“Okay, Jack, I’m gonna try and
pick myself up, climb up this freakin’ cliff, and you are
not to come anywhere near me. Just stay at the top. Oh, and you
might want Janet to come.”
“What? Climb the cliff?
I…what…how…are you injured?
“Jack, I just fell down a cliff. Take a
wild freakin’ guess!”
“Then, I’m coming…”
“NO! It’s too dangerous.
I’ll come up to you.”
Jack bit his lip. What was she thinking? She
seemed to just fall over, and he couldn’t do a thing to help
her. Now, he was just as helpless. Charlie was right: the cliff
was far too dangerous to safely abseil. He would just have to
wait for her at the top, wondering why this was happening to him.
Why couldn’t he have a normal life, with a normal
relationship, and a normal job? Because there’s no such
thing. Not for me, anyway. And Jack knew it to be true.
He needed the military as much as the military needed him. He had
met his wonderful wife through his extraordinary life, and they
had ended up in deep merde because of this life. But you
just had to take the good with the bad, hope it would get better
and dread retirement – was that a contradiction? Jack
decided thinking was hurting his brain, and he concentrated on
Charlie’s progress. He laid flat on the ground, peering over
the edge, carefully not to overbalance himself. He saw her
systematically find handholds, move steadily upwards and
concentrate completely on the task in hand. She was very special
indeed. Fate was a heavy-handed bastard sometimes. Charlie was an
orphan, a refugee, pregnant by a Goa’uld – yet, if she
hadn’t had the worst possible start, she wouldn’t have
found her advanced maturity, and would be condemned to a life of
almost servitude in India. But was that really so bad? Perhaps he
should just send her back, back to normality, away from him and
the chaos he brought to her life.
“Do you know how much I hate
cliffs?”
Jack smiled. She was about a metre below him
and she looked up, teeth gritted. He held out his hand and she
let go with hers, and grabbed hold of him. He pulled her over the
edge, and Janet quickly ran her assessment.
“Injury is minimal, she appears to
be…”
“Fine, well et cetera, et cetera. Help
me up.”
Jack pulled her to her feet, hugging her
close to him. Charlie buried herself in his shirt, taking in his
familiar scent. She felt his strong arms encircle her, and she
sank into his embrace. These were the moments, moments to stop
and think, moments to cherish, moments to treasure, for they were
few and far between. In a couple of months, Jack would be out
saving the world. And she would have a Goa’uld child to care
for, a murderous bitch who would try and kill her at every
opportunity. What kind of life was this? When the child was
older, what would she do? A potential System Lord in her house,
scheming to take over the universe from infancy. A homicidal
maniac in a child’s body. Anyone getting the feeling that
this will turn out badly?
But now was all that mattered. Jack and her
were together now: Danielle could never stop that. She had tried
and failed. Jack and her, Jack and her: three words that made up
the very core of her existence.
“We should be heading out, Chaz.”
We should be enjoying our lives, taking
9-5 jobs and having our own children. Where did this all go
wrong?
“Yeah, we should.” But I want
to stay like this forever.
“Then, we shall.” So do I.
“It’s okay; there’s no
hurry.” Enjoy it; there won’t be many more of these
moments.
Janet listened to the simple conversation,
thinking of her own lover. The grand plans they had made, the
whispered words, the life they wanted to lead. But, when was the
time? Time, the most, elusive, precious and valuable commodity,
and the most feared.
Janet smiled sadly. SG1 were probably the
most courageous people on the planet, the ones who had been
through the most, who had saved Earth countless times. Yet, they
suffered endlessly, taking blow after blow.
Jack had finally found happiness, to
have his lover taken by the Goa’uld, raped, hunted by NID
and now laden with a child she didn’t want.
Sam and Daniel were married, trying to
enjoy their lives. But with their adopted daughter suffering so
many trials, how could they? Both had found validation for their
best theories, but couldn’t tell anyone but each other.
And Teal’c, her dearest Teal’c
– his wife was dead, his son was now on Earth, and Janet had
to offer what comfort she could.
It all moved Janet to tears.
“Um…we should really leave now.
I don’t want you catching pneumonia.”
“Sure, Janet. We’re
coming.”
Charlie released Jack, and backed away,
smiling. He opened the car door for her, and she stepped in. He
got in the front, and they pulled away.
(((This isn’t the end. I will get
you, little girl. I will get you)))
~
The alarm bells started ringing as soon
they reached the car. Teal’c practically leapt into the back
seat, taking Harry with him. Sam got in the passenger side, and
Daniel got in and they sped off.
“We’ll head for the place
Hammond found for us. We can take it from there.”
Daniel nodded grimly, and it was then that
Sam really noticed the change in him. He had become efficient,
focused – military. He drove systematically, ignoring Harry
sobbing quietly in the back. They were a unit, functioning as
one, deadly. It scared Sam more than she cared to admit. What
were they becoming? Yesterday, they had been three friends going
on holiday. Now, they were kidnapping an NID agent, to torture
him for information. Sam was repulsed by the thought. Her and
Teal’c maybe, the trained soldiers – but Daniel? The
quiet, moral archaeologist was as much a part of this as anyone.
Her darling, innocent Daniel – though maybe she
underestimated him. He had never talked about his childhood, but
it couldn’t have been easy for him. Moving from home to
home, no one willing to cope with a smart kid.
“You won’t…get
away…with this, Major… they’ll find me…”
“You’re assuming
there’ll be something to find.”
Sam was surprised at her own voice, as she
turned to Harry.
“You bitch…”
“Temper, Harry. I’d be careful
what you say. Danny has a very violent temper…”
And he actually looked scared. Sam
couldn’t blame him. The moonlight gave Daniel a surreal
appearance, a hard appearance. He looked to be invulnerable,
strong enough to take on the world. And he was. It made him look
damn sexy.
Harry wisely shut up after that, and
Daniel soon pulled into the drive of a grand looking house. A
shadowy figure opened the door, just as Sam and Daniel got out of
the car, followed by Teal’c, who was still carrying Harry.
“You’ve got him?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.”
The man held the door open, and
Teal’c carried Harry in, and Sam and Daniel walked in after
him. Teal’c carried Harry through to the room the man
indicated.
“My doctor will tend to him. Come
into my office.”
Sam and Daniel walked into the man’s
office, followed shortly by Teal’c. They sat down in the
chairs that were present and the man turned on the light.
“Makepeace?!?”
“Major Carter, or Major Jackson now;
Doctor Jackson and Teal'c. Good evening to you all.”
“And why the hell are you here?
Shouldn’t you be locked up somewhere?”
“Secrets are very valuable, Doctor
Jackson. I knew enough to be released. I now work for the FBI.
You’re worried about the breach in the Stargate
Program?”
Another person who’s changed
– what’s happened to the world?
“Yes. We know that Harry had a part
in it. We want…”
“We’ll take it from here. You
can stay here for the night; there are rooms upstairs. Single
beds only, I’m afraid. Good night.”
Makepeace swung round on his chair, back
to them. I think we’ve been dismissed, thought Sam.
She stood and walked out, followed by Teal’c. Daniel sat on
the edge of the desk.
“The leopard never changes his spots,
Robert. You’re still working for him, aren’t you?”
“What’s it to you?”
Makepeace turned, suddenly looking old and
haggard.
“When O’Neill discovered the
operation, I was finished. I was only doing my job, for goodness
sake! He took it all away from me, everything I had worked for,
everything I had earned! This is my second chance, to show them
all.”
“You’re vengeful.”
“Why shouldn’t I be? He ruined
my life! Just…just…get out!”
Daniel stood slowly, and moved towards the
door, standing in the entrance.
“I’m telling you now, Robert: do
anything to Jack, and I won’t hesitate to break your
neck.”
And with that, Daniel closed the door,
leaving Makepeace to brood in the silent darkness.
~
“Well, everything checks out. Pulse,
respiration and blood pressure are normal. I took an EEG, and it
proved my theory. Danielle has currently got overriding control
over your brain. However, I think your brain is adapting to her
interference, and it will soon put your control on par with
hers.”
“But, that’s good, isn’t it?
Control is good, right?”
“No, Jack, not quite. Say…two
teams tried to dial into Cheyenne at once. They would both try
and establish an ingoing wormhole and neither would succeed.
That’s what it would be like with me. My brain and
Danielle’s would vie for control and my body simple
couldn’t cope, so wouldn’t receive instructions from
either centre. Which means…”
“Total shutdown. Okay, control is bad.
Gotcha.”
Charlie smiled warmly at him, and grasped
his hand tightly. He could be so sweet sometimes.
“Possible coma, but, no offence
Charlie, I don’t think the balance will be quite right.
Danielle has shown an amazing capacity for adaptation herself,
but this will cause more problems. Your body will get incredibly
confused. This would lead to in-coordination, confusion and
possible epilepsy. This isn’t going to be easy,
Charlie.”
Who said it was? Did Goa’uld puppet
come in this job description? I mean, was there a job
description? I have got to contact my union…
“I know, Janet. But we can get do this.
She’s not going to ruin me – I won’t let
her.”
Janet studied Charlie’s world-worn
expression, and sighed to herself. Charlie had lost everything
– her childhood, her family and her home – just to be
thrown into this twisted world of military secrets and
Goa’uld deception. Yet, very much in love with her husband,
though Janet could see the fear in her eyes even now. She was so
scared of losing him, afraid that her new life would all be
stolen away.
Charlie was just seventeen, with her whole
life ahead of her. In her short life, she had seen the horrors of
war, suffered Goa’uld possession not once, but twice,
burdened with a Harseisus and faced death more times than she
could count. She had an exceptional maturity and intelligence far
beyond her years. Charlie was a survivor.
And Janet had faith in that survival now.
“Charlie, I want to keep you in here
for a few days observation. I’m going to run a few scans,
and then I’ll give you a sedative so you…”
“NO! You can’t do that!”
Jack saw the blind panic in his wife’s
eyes, and it ate away at him. He drew her into his embrace, and
rocked her steadily, glaring daggers at Janet.
“Colonel, she needs to rest…”
“Chaz said no!”
“This is what’s best,
Colonel…”
“For who exactly? Her or Danielle? You
gonna run off and tell Maybourne? Like you did last time!”
Janet gasped in shock, as Jack’s words
stung her. He has accused her of treachery! How could he even
think it? She just stared in shock, as Jack fiercely protected
Charlie. Then, Charlie gently pushed him away, trying to regain
her composure.
“Janet, I can’t go to sleep.
She’s waiting for me there; I can’t escape her in my
sleep. She controls my dreams, she controls my mind – Janet,
she’s driving me insane!”
Charlie whispered the words, visibly
shaking, trying to remain in control – of her emotions, and
her body. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, bruise-deep shadows
below them, and frown lines creasing her soft skin. She appeared
to have aged about thirty years.
“If you send me there, I can’t
fight her. I’m powerless, Janet, completely destroyed. She
will win, if you send me straight into her hands.”
Charlie’s voice was a hoarse whisper,
body in spasm from the effort to remain in control. Jack
supported her shoulders, holding her against his chest, as she
fought Danielle’s control.
“Charlie, if you don’t rest,
you’ll die. Then, Danielle truly will have won.”
“Victory without reward is no victory.
Danielle will be as dead as me. She won’t let that
happen.”
Charlie began to convulse, the waves of pain
surging through her body. Jack tried to hold her down, and Janet
came to help. Charlie was drenched in sweat, and began to froth
at the mouth. Janet had no choice. She grabbed the syringe of
sedative and jabbed it into her arm. Gradually, the convulsions
ceased, and Charlie’s body relaxed into slumber.
“How could you? You’ve just
condemned her to death.”
“Jack, she was about to die! Her body
can’t cope with that kind of stress!”
“So, you just hand her over to the
Goa’uld?”
“Jack, they were tearing each other
apart! Charlie’s no good dead.”
“And, of course, being a mental
vegetable will prove very rewarding!”
“How do you know that? She could pull
though this just fine, but only if she takes care of
herself…”
“By being put in a mental gauntlet with
a Goa’uld!”
“Danielle is no Goa’uld.
She’s as human as the rest of us…”
“This is not a biology lesson! This is
Charlie’s life we’re talking about it!”
“Which is why she needs to rest!”
Janet and Jack faced each other off,
breathing heavily, and faces red with rage. Jack backed off and
collapsed in his chair beside Charlie, taking her hand in his.
Janet watched him for a moment, before bowing her head.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I did what I
thought was best.”
“I know, Janet,” he said tiredly,
“You have a job to do. Pity I couldn’t do mine.”
Jack couldn’t take it anymore; he broke
down, tears filling his eyes. This was the final straw: he was
one step away from falling straight off the proverbial cliff.
Janet came over and drew him into a hug, and
he openly sobbed.
“I don’t know if I can do this,
Janet. I mean, she’s so wonderful. The best thing that ever
happened to me. But I can’t watch her fade, Janet; slowly
erode away in front of me. I can’t lose her, not like
this…”
“I know, Jack. You can get through
this. But first, you have to let your friends in.”
~
“Have a safe journey, Major
Carter.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sam got in the car, and Teal’c got in
the back seat. Daniel turned to Robert, and smiled coldly.
“Remember what I said, Robert.
Don’t disappoint me.”
Daniel got in the driver’s seat, and
they drove off. Robert stared after them, and smiled to himself.
“There are far worse ways to hurt a
man, Doctor Jackson. Far worse ways.”
~
Charlie knew there was only one way to get
through this: ignore it. She mentally hummed to herself, sinking
into Kel’no’reem almost automatically, but she
wasn’t trying to reach Danielle. She was trying to reach
herself.
Danielle’s only weapon against her was
destructive memories, and unfortunately, they both had them in
plentiful supply. However, there was a place in her mind where
there was peace and tranquillity. A place of beautiful memories:
visiting the Ganges Delta, the first time she kissed Jack, their
‘holiday’ in the Land of the Light and their wedding.
And though those memories were few and far between, they stirred
something Charlie that had been with her most of her short life
– rebellion.
If Danielle could control her with her
imagination, Charlie could do the same.
Hey kiddo! You’ve got one big
problem, ain’t ya? You’ve got no identity, no purpose.
You’re a bit pointless really.
(((Why, Mama, you might actually be
right. I need a form…)))
‘Mama’ was what Danielle was
calling Charlie, in mockery of motherhood, and, in a way,
childhood too.
This was Charlie’s opportunity
– while Danielle had no ‘physical’ representation,
she could not be ‘hurt’ by Charlie. However, she was
far too proud, as arrogant as her Goa’uld ancestry. And
Charlie could use that to her advantage.
Slowly, a dark shape began to appear,
slowly coalescing into a shape. Charlie primed herself, and the
shape became clear. Charlie grimaced. The figure looked eerily
like herself. True, she was darker, and older, and obviously
supposed to represent Danielle when she was a
‘goddess’. Charlie smiled, and launched her attack.
Danielle screamed. Charlie’s
memories were fierce and concentrated – losing a battle,
cruel punishments, fear of death at every turn. These were things
Danielle had no experience of, nothing she had preparation for.
The child shrieked, and her voice faded from Charlie’s mind.
It was if the clouds had drifted away and the sun was shining
down on her from Heaven. Satisfied with her victory, Charlie
settled into a deep sleep.
~
Daniel pulled up to the gates of the SGC and
smiled sweetly at the female guard on duty. She melted.
“Hiya Daniel. You want to come
in?”
“Please.”
She opened the gate and Daniel drove
through, parking in the small car park reserved for SG team
members. He got out, grabbed his jacket and headed down to Level
28.
When the lift opened, Daniel found himself
facing Jack. A very distraught Jack.
“Jack? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing much. Charlie’s in the
infirmary. Wanna come?”
“Sure thing, Jack.”
They stepped into the lift and went up to
the infirmary. Jack suddenly stared at Daniel, looking horrified.
“Daniel,” he said quietly,
“You have blood on your coat.”
Daniel looked down at his coat, and saw it
covered in dried blood. I’m going to get that Jaffa…
“Oh, it’s nothing, Jack. Had a bit
of an accident, that’s all.”
“Crap. Where’s that from?”
“Jack, that is none of your business!
You know the military – rules are rules!”
Jack was shocked. He had heard that
countless times, but the words seemed so wrong in
Daniel’s voice.
“You’ve changed, Daniel.”
Daniel leaned back against the lift, and
closed his eyes for a second.
“There was no other way. You’re
used to this life, Jack, you were always military. I
couldn’t stay so…naïve – I couldn’t afford
to. I knew that just one slip could take Sam from me, Charlie,
you, Teal’c, Janet, Cassie – any one of you, and I
can’t lose you. Not like that, not when I can do
something.”
Daniel opened his eyes again, and
straightened himself up. Jack looked into his expressive eyes,
noting how they were getting harder to read.
“So, what’s up with Charlie?”
Jack sighed, as the lift reached the right
floor.
“Well, Danielle and her had
a…disagreement. They had a fight, Charlie got pitched over a
cliff…”
“WHAT? Hell, is she alright? Will she
be…?”
Jack held up his hand.
“She’s going to be fine. This
month may be a bit trying, but she’s going to be fine.”
Daniel could hear the quavering note of
Jack’s voice – and he also knew that attitude. When
Jack was in this mood, he felt as if could will the world to
rights if he just believed he could.
Daniel folded up his jacket, carefully
concealing the blood stain. Jack watched him, as they walked
towards the infirmary. Jack couldn’t believe the change in
Daniel, and he hadn’t even noticed. They walked into the
infirmary.
“Daniel! How are you?”
Janet came up to them, smiling. She held a
thick folder in her hand, almost full enough to burst. Daniel
caught sight of the name, and shook his head. Charlene
O’Neill née Jackson. Who else?
“Can we see her?”
“Sure. She’s in a private
room.”
They followed Janet to Charlie’s
room, where they found her hunched over several large folders,
pen in one hand and dictionary in the other. She looked up,
smiled and took off her glasses.
“Hey Dad. How’d it go?”
“Good, Charlie. Whatcha doing?”
Charlie held up a photocopy of a stone
tablet and sighed. Jack gave her a reproachful look, and she just
shrugged.
“You gonna discharge me yet?”
“Yeah, you’re all set.”
Charlie mouthed a ‘thank you’
and collected up her folders, and stood up slowly. Jack reached
to take her arm, but she held him back.
“She got a reprimand. It’s
alright now. Everything’s okay.”
Jack nodded, and took her folders, as they
headed out. Daniel followed for a while, before excusing himself,
and heading to his office. He entered the room and closed his
eyes in apprehension. He opened them slowly, and sighed at the
large pile of folders on his desk.
“Does no one on this base know the
meaning of ‘off-duty’?” he murmured.
Daniel picked up the folders, and made for
the door again, when something caught his eye. The gold amulet
glinted from his open backpack, and Daniel put down the papers.
He knelt in front of the bag, and carefully removed the amulet,
running his thumb over the beautifully inscribed Eye of Ra. He
watched how the light reflected from its smooth surface, how the
necklace seemed to throb with its own energy, and he wondered yet
again how such a striking amulet could be used for such evil.
Sighing, he put it in his drawer.
He sat back in his chair, twirling his
pen, wondering where Daniel ended and the military began.
~
Charlie sat heavily on the sofa, leaning
into the arm. Jack sat down beside her, hand brushing her
shoulder. She changed her mind, and settled herself in his lap.
She looked up at him, admiring the thick set of his jaw, the
cropped, greying hair, and the warm brown eyes twinkling with
mischief. She smiled slowly, pulling herself up to kiss those
inviting lips. His arms shifted around her, and she slipped her
cold hands up his T-shirt.
“Hey, that’s not fair!” he
protested, but her kiss silenced him.
“Okay, it’s fair,” he
conceded. Charlie smiled, and leaned into his shoulder, as his
lips trailed her neck.
“The sunset is beautiful
tonight.”
Jack looked up, as the red and orange rays
filtered through the French window. The sun’s dying rays
played on their faces, casting them in a golden light.
“Not as much as you.”
Charlie looked across at him and rolled
her eyes.
“Flatterer! Want some coffee?”
“No, let’s stay here a while.
Watch the sun. Talk a little.”
Charlie shut her eyes, resting her head
beside his.
“Talk a little? Or talk a lot?”
“I don’t need you to say
anything. You’ve said all I need to hear.”
And as he thought about it, those words
drifted into his mind, the words that meant so much, yet were so
simple:
It’s alright now.
Everything’s okay.
And that was all he needed to hear.
There would always be change.
But love was always a constant.
THE
END
…of 11! And there you have it!
Aren’t you glad I’ve finished that endless set of
cliff-hangers?