AUTHOR: Demon Faith
EMAIL: rosabeth@hotmail.com
SPOILERS: You need to have read the rest of the 'Charlie' series. Minor
spoilers for: The First Commandment, Tok'ra, Children of the Gods, Prisoners,
Past and Present, Into the Fire, In the Line of Duty and Fair Game. You also
need knowledge of Sleeping Beauty (?!?)
SEASON/SEQUEL: (Get ready for 'major listing' mode!) Almost immediately after
'Return to Grace'; which is set about five months after 'Dominion Hex'; which
is set about three months after 'Demon Within'; which is set a few days after
'The Dream'; which is set a few days after 'Revelations' ('Demon Within' is set
a week after 'Revelations'); which is set about a month after 'Charlie'! And
all of that lot is set sometime after Season 3!
RATING: PG-13
CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, violence, images, injury, very minor evil character
death (isn't there always? *sigh*), implication of rape (Really sorry about
that lot! I'm a very evil person!)
SUMMARY: Charlie disappears, but can Jack save her before it's too late?
DISCLAIMER: ................
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Wow, number 7!!! Can't believe I've written that many! As
usual, all 'Gourldy' speech is in hashes (#) and most italic stuff is
thoughts. All the red, strange writing, is stuff that's supposed to stand out.
Feedback is what I survive on and I NEED it!!!!!!!!! Well, that's all from the
deranged fan-fic writer. You can read the story now... (PS. My sincerest
apologies for the TBC!)
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.
Daniel is kidnapped by Graham, who has been possessed by
the evil Tok’sokar, Dakatte. SG1, SG2 and Charlie go
to rescue him but are captured, as a stranger watches
from the shadows.
Charlie woke up with a splitting headache. She groaned
before realising she wasn’t alone. Cautiously, she spoke.
“Hello? Who’s there?”
The person wiggled and then yawned.
“What the hell happened?”
Charlie smiled and squeezed Jack’s hand, before
looking around. The rescue party were all tied in pairs but Daniel was nowhere
in sight. Probably still outside thought Charlie with a shudder.
“We got Zatted. How are you
feeling?”
“Like hell. Where’s Daniel?”
“Exactly what I plan to find out.”
Charlie looked around again, noting that everyone else
appeared to be unconscious. Her legs were stretched in front of her, tied
firmly together, and a long coil of rope connected her and Jack. Connected
her and Jack. Charlie shook off that pleasing thought and shifted slightly,
testing her bindings.
“Whatcha doing Charlie?”
“Wait and see.”
Charlie tugged her left leg free of the rope and bent
it almost impossibly towards her left hand. She flexed her wrist backwards and
pulled a shiny knife out of her boot.
“Is that Sam’s?”
“Yep.
She gave it to me for luck.”
Jack was mildly surprised. Since when did Sam believe
in luck? Charlie sliced the rope by his side and Jack stretched lazily. Charlie
broke the other ties easily and Jack could finally stand up. Charlie leapt to
her feet and held out the knife.
“Free the others and head into the forest. I’m going
after Daniel.”
Before Jack could protest, Charlie was out of the door
and into the night. Jack sighed and moved to the sleeping forms of his
astrophysicist and his
~
Charlie dived from stone to stone, as the tent receded
from view. There was a roaring fire positioned by the Stargate, the flames
casting an eerie light over Dakatte and his
Finally, she saw Daniel. He was tied tightly to a
stone pillar, set aside from the main encampment. Charlie stealthily moved
towards Daniel, silent horror filling her at the sight of the searing burns
covering his skin. She moved behind him and began to work on the knots.
“Get away from me, you bastard.”
Charlie was relieved to hear Daniel speak, even if his
words were kind of shocking, coming from the quiet archaeologist.
“I don’t think you want me to do that, Dad.”
Daniel raised his head slowly. Could that be Charlie?
He felt the rope slip around him and he began to fall forward, his muscles
stiff and cold. Someone caught him as he fell and hefted his arm around her
neck.
“Come on, Dad. Work with me here!”
Daniel slowly shifted his feet forward, letting
Charlie take most of his weight. It must’ve taken at least an hour to reach the
forest edge and another hour to penetrate its depths. Daniel was getting tired
but Charlie was persistent and wouldn’t let him give up.
“Just a little further, Dad.
Almost there now.”
Daniel knew she was lying but he allowed himself to
find hope in her words. Suddenly, she stopped, looking wildly around her.
“I need back-up!”
Charlie threw caution to the wind, shouting into the
bleak forest. Daniel could hear someone approaching and knew they were after
them. As if activated by his very thoughts, help came from the most unexpected
place: up above. A net-like sling fell from the trees, landing beside
his feet. Charlie practically pushed him into it and then whistled shrilly.
Daniel began to jerk up into the treetops and just caught sight of Charlie
sprinting into the darkness. As the shouts echoed from below, Daniel slipped
into unconsciousness.
~
Sam stared at her husband, feeling drained and alone.
She swung towards him, hardly bothering to check the branches beneath her. She
reached Daniel’s side and laid a hand across his blistered forehead. She felt
Jack breathing down her neck, as she ordered Teal’c and Ferretti to move Daniel
to her shelter. They had set up this little tree camp in the hopes that they
would be safe from Dakatte. SG2 had recovered their
packs and weapons, and they had used tents and blankets to set up make-shift
beds and shelters. Daniel was set down carefully in the ‘SG1 shelter’ with Sam
kneeling beside him. Sam looked him over, thankful that most of his wounds were
superficial. Overall, he was just sunburnt and dehydrated, but to the point
where another two hours could’ve killed him. Sam drew
a cold pad across his forehead and rested her hand on his, letting her tears
flow freely. He stirred slightly and Sam wiped her eyes, unwilling to let him
see her crying. Daniel’s eyes fluttered open and Sam silently thanked whatever
deity was watching over them.
“How are you feeling?”
“Where’s Charlie?”
A counter question; very tactful. Sam was getting used
to Daniel’s avoidance of subjects but, this time, his tight tones echoed pain
with every syllable.
“We don’t know. Jack’s scouting around.”
Daniel nodded, knowing that Jack would keep Charlie
safe. He allowed his eyes to close, as his wife tended to his wounds. Sam used
the burn cream and dressings to good effect but Daniel just felt like he was
one big bandage. Sam’s next step was IVs, in an attempt to re-hydrate his body.
Daniel didn’t protest for once and the whole procedure took less than an hour.
Meanwhile, Jack had begun his search. By the cover of
darkness, he moved swiftly through the trees, hindered only by the night
itself. Once or twice, he caught sight of fleeting shadows beneath him but Charlie’s
slight form wasn’t among them. Then, he was greeted by an unwelcome sight: a
Jack glimpsed a shadow by the fire and light caught
metal before the figure plunged into the darkness. Jack shuddered and, forcing
Graham to his feet, moved back to camp.
~
Charlie sprinted through the forest, deep within her
adrenaline rush. She had sensed them coming but all she could do was head them
away from camp. A few years ago, noble self-sacrifice for her comrades would’ve
posed no problem for Charlie. But now, she had commitments and a great
reluctance to leave her new family behind. She was running on auto-pilot now;
the steady drum of her feet becoming a drone in the silent forest. Too
silent thought Charlie. Gradually, her footsteps slowed and she leaned
against a tree, totally exhausted. Suddenly, arms snaked around the trunk,
seizing her round the waist and clasping her mouth. A solid object connected
with her head and Charlie’s world faded to darkness.
~
Jack dumped Graham with SG2, before heading for Sam.
She was attempting to cook MREs (not an easy task
when you’re in a tree top) as the first golden rays of dawn spread through the
leafy branches. Thank God its summer thought Jack. In any other
circumstances, the spectacle would be awing, even thrilling and Jack would’ve
just sat back and enjoyed the view. But he was tense and worried, and daylight
offered little comfort to the stricken man.
“How’s Daniel?”
Sam jerked her head up, eyes wide. She calmed down
almost instantly but Jack had seen the blind panic that had ripped through her
eyes.
“Better. He should be up in a few days, but, knowing
Daniel, that will equate to a few hours.”
Jack smiled. Daniel had a habit of disobeying orders,
whether they were Jack’s or the doctor’s.
“That’s good, “ Jack leaned
over and smelled the runny mess Sam was steadily stirring, “So, what’s
cooking?”
“Macaroni and cheese.
But, like Daniel says, it tastes like chicken.”
Personally, Jack agreed with that statement but it was
interesting to note how Daniel’s name somehow slipped into most of Sam’s
sentences. Odd that.
“Ah, the famous Air Force pasta glop.
Just don’t burn it.”
Sam smiled. Jack returned her grin, and went to check
on his archaeologist friend. Daniel was grilling SG2’s military anthropologist
on events going on around him.
“And is Jack back yet? Has he found Charlie? Is Sam
still cooking? It isn’t macaroni and cheese, is it?”
“Yes, no, yes and yes, Daniel.”
Daniel looked up and smiled at his best friend, as the
captain quickly made her escape.
“So, still no sign. Are you stopping until dusk?”
Jack could hear the tight desperation in Daniel’s
voice and knew he probably sounded the same.
“No. I just came to deliver Dakatte
but I’ll…”
“Dakatte!
Have you asked him where she is?”
Jack mentally kicked himself. How could he be so
stupid?
“I’ll ask him now. See you at dinner!”
Jack climbed over to SG2, who were scratching marks
onto a trunk.
“So, we’re here, the Gate’s there and Dakatte’s camp is there. So, we need to be there!”
Ferretti connected the three lines and stabbed the
wood triumphantly.
“Master strategy, Ferretti.
But I think we must take recent events into consideration.”
All of SG2 turned to Jack, who was busy admiring Ferretti’s diagram. The guy really was excellent but Jack
had his own contribution.
“There’s a massive
#Enemy of the Feared One#
Graham moaned and tried to stand, something made impossible
by SG2 tying him to the other tree trunk supporting their tent.
“The Feared One, eh?
Well, that would be Ra but he had a lot of enemies, so I need a little more
here!”
Now, it was Ferretti’s turn
to be impressed. Jack fixed the Tok’sokar with a piercing glare.
#Apophis#
There was a clatter of Air Force plates and Jack got
splattered with MRE. Sam stood in the ‘doorway’,
frozen in place. Jack placed his hands on her shoulders and she quickly came to
life.
“Sorry, clumsy of me.”
Sam picked up the plates quickly and fled from the
tent. Jack was torn between going after her, preferably before she went after
Daniel, and grilling Dakatte.
#Are you in love with her?#
Jack turned to face the Tok’sokar.
“No, I’m not. She’s married to my best friend and I’m
in love with her daughter and why the hell am I telling you this?”
There was laughter from SG2 and Dakatte
raised an eyebrow. Jack allowed himself a smile.
“Anyway, I need information: why is Apophis here? What
does snake-head want this time?”
~
There were spinning circles. Lots of
spinning circles. Charlie forced her eyes open but immediately shut
them. He was circling her. There was a throbbing in her left arm, which
she suspected was injured.
She felt the
shadow move away from her and risked a glance at her arm. A long gash ran down
her arm and Charlie swallowed hard. Her captor had walked away but Charlie was
drained, a result of running for so long. She knew she couldn’t escape but she
could at least save Jack a futile rescue attempt. She saw a stick a little way
away and knew what she had to do.
Charlie stretched her arm across the ground and pulled
the stick slowly to her. Once it was within her grasp, she slumped down,
exhausted. Gradually, she pulled herself up and pressed her injured arm to the
ground. A pool of blood formed in the dirt and Charlie removed her arm,
grimacing slightly. She dipped the stick in the liquid and began to spell out
her message. It was in English but Charlie had no time to remember her
languages. It was for Jack anyway, and there was no guarantee that Daniel would
be on hand to translate. She was about to start the second word when a blast
ripped through her. Zat she thought. She fell
forward and her head connected with rock.
Apophis flung her off the rock, examining the writing.
A smile played on his lips and he gazed lovingly at the woman he had just cast
aside.
“You finally understand, my love. You finally
understand.”
~
Jack had begun to smoulder; you could tell by the
sudden flush of his face and the balling of fists, in an attempt to quell his
anger. Dakatte’s blunt portrayal of the ‘deal’ he had
made with Apophis only served to enrage Jack further.
“She wasn’t yours to sell!”
Ferretti was getting worried. Jack was getting more
worked up by the minute and Charlie was getting further away. Sam had brought
Daniel in, at his insistence, and the usually meek archaeologist was beginning
to ‘smoulder’ as well. And what good is this doing Charlie? thought Lou. He needed to pacify the situation.
“Jack, we need a plan. We’re not going to help Charlie
by raising blood pressure!”
Jack’s breathing slowed and his face returned to its
usual shade, with the exception of two red spots on his cheeks. Daniel’s jaw
was set and his eyes held a grim determination, only paralleled by the fiery
anger glowing in Jack’s dark pupils.
“You’re right, Ferretti. So, we march on Apophis, kill
the git and rescue Charlie. End of story.”
“Great plan, Jack!
When do we leave?”
“Daniel! What are you thinking? You’re not fit to go
anywhere!”
Major Carter is right, Daniel Jackson. And we should
reconsider this attack.”
Everyone turned, as the massive shadow of Teal’c
filled the doorway.
“Hey J-man!
Where’ve you been?”
All eyes were on Marc, the newest SG2 recruit, who was
blushing furiously. Teal’c turned and smiled at Marc.
“J-man?
Where the hell did that come from?” Jack said, eyebrow raised.
“It is a great honour to have Marc consider me such a
friend as to bestow a name onto me, as O’Neill has done to Daniel Jackson.”
There was silence; finally broken by Daniel’s
mutterings:
“What kind of honour is that?”
Jack, however, remembered what Teal’c had said.
“We should reconsider? Come on, Teal’c; this is your to’var we’re talking about here!
“Indeed, O’Neill. I will tell you what I have found…
After Daniel Jackson was safe, I proceeded to scout the
area. After some hours, I came to a clearing. I saw the False God Apophis
piling
There
was a noise from the trees and I believed someone was chasing me. Apophis heard
it also and disappeared from the clearing. I decided to follow.
I saw
Apophis capture Charlie and knock her out. They were fast and I soon lost
track. I moved my search to the…
O’Neill, where are you going?”
~
Jack sprinted through the forest, as if all Hell’s demons
were after him. He arrived, panting, at the site of the bonfire, now only a
pile of charred bones tempered by daylight. Jack walked around the clearing for
a while before suddenly dashing down a forest path. He came to a tree that
stood alone and soared high into the sky. It’s only distinguishing mark was a
little red streak on the trunk, about one and a half metres above the ground.
Jack hesitantly put a finger to it and the sticky red blood came off onto his
finger.
From the tree, a furrow in the dirt marked the direction
Apophis had dragged Charlie. Jack diverted his anger to strength as he
followed the trail through the forest. At one point, he came to a small stream
filed with rough, jagged rocks, some streaked with red. Jack shuddered. How
could bastard be so cruel? He continued on his way, parting trees and bushes to
follow the trail or furrows – and of blood.
Abruptly, the trees opened to daylight and Jack found
himself on the forest edge. Swearing loudly, Jack thundered towards the Gate,
blatantly ignoring every survival technique he had ever been taught. Just
before the great metal circle was a patch of blood and some scratches in red.
Jack sank to his knees and traced the letters with his finger. A tear rolled
down his cheek and he bowed his head in despair; for this was the message of
someone who wasn’t coming back:
FORGET
~
After hearing Teal’c’s account, they had made their way to
the Stargate. Ferretti pounded down the hill, stopping at his CO.
“I can’t give up, Lou.”
Ferretti stared at the writing, willing it to change. But,
no; blood it remained, and the word that burned through your soul still stung.
“Me neither, Jack. We’ll trounce the bastard.”
Jack looked up and stumbled to his feet, drawing a hand
over his eyes. Then his iron mask slammed down and the military aura settled.
“Let’s go back to base. We’ll sort it out from there.”
They walked in silence, Sam helping Daniel along and
Ferretti sticking close to Jack, just make sure he was
okay. When they got back to SG2’s shelter, Jack wasted
no time.
“Right, we’ll go after snake-head. Anything remotely Gourld
gets shot, okay? Let’s collect the stuff and move! Daniel, you’re…”
“Coming with you! You’re not leaving me behind!”
“Yes, he is! You can’t go Daniel; you’re not well!”
Ferretti and Jack exchanged knowing looks. Lover’s tiff,
thought Ferretti. He looked around at his team, proud of such a force. Marc
was thoroughly over-awed by SG1 but the two captains were bemused by the whole
spectacle. It looked like a comedy play: Daniel was waving his hands around
like a madman while Sam had grasped his arm, clinging on for dear life. Jack
was standing back slightly, looking like a student trying to recall some
long-lost fact and Teal’c, the ever stoic
Suddenly, Teal’c spoke.
“We cannot go.”
Everyone fell silent and Jack tapped Teal’c on the
shoulder.
“Why not?”
“We don’t know where Apophis is.”
Astonished looks were exchanged as the realisation set in:
they had no destination. Jack looked crestfallen and even the irrepressible
Daniel was quiet. Dakatte observed the party
silently. He had been carefully watching Jack and the emotions of the man. It
had touched him more than he cared to admit and fitted his own plans, if he
would just swallow his pride.
He decided to go for it.
#I can tell you where they are#
Even though his words were barely whispered, the room was
riveted to every word.
#All I ask in return is my freedom#
“No, I refuse!”
Jack glared at Dakatte and seized
the front of the man’s jacket. Daniel laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder but he
shrugged it off.
“Tell me,” he growled.
But Dakatte held his ground.
#I am abandoning the Tok’sokar. I know the Tok’ra will
accept me but I need to reach them quickly. Please…I know you love her#
Jack’s back straightened and he released his grip. Sam
stepped forward.
“One condition: find another host.”
#Then, you must find one for me#
Jack moved to the ‘door’ without a word and leapt into the
now-dark forest. The room waited tensely, wary glances being cast in Dakatte’s direction. Daniel and Sam were muttering to each
other and Teal’c, Lou and Marc were discussing the situation in hushed tones.
About half and hour later, Jack returned with a
“Come on, snaky! Here’s your host: get moving!”
#You must untie me first#
Sam untied him without question and he moved towards the
“Now, I want a location.”
Jack fixed Dakatte with a look, while
Sam and Marc fussed over Graham, who was still unconscious.
#Andreos. I will write
down the symbols#
Daniel handed him his notebook and Dakatte
scribbled down six rough sketches. Daniel looked them over, nodding.
“Looks feasible to me.”
Just then, Graham moaned and sat up, eyes wide with terror.
“What have I done?”
“No, not you Graham. The Tok’sokar…”
“Louise! Oh, what will she think?”
Graham broke down into tears and Sam patted his back
awkwardly, looking to Daniel for support. Jack swallowed hard. How many more
people would get hurt?
~
Charlie’s eyes flew open. She sat up and looked up around
slowly. Where was she? Who was she? Blind panic set in as she discovered
she couldn’t remember anything. She heard a door open and looked towards
it. A tall black man entered and he smiled at her. She didn’t know why, but she
didn’t like him one bit.
“You are awake, Amonette.”
Amonette? She knew that name, but
was it her own?
“Yes. I just don’t…remember.”
The man smiled and moved closer. Acting on impulse, she
pulled herself back, hitting the wall. The man stepped forward, placing his
hand on the bed. Charlie’s fear sky-rocketed and she started to shake.
#Why do you fear your husband?#
Husband?
He wasn’t her husband, was he? Charlie raised a hand to her head, feeling she
was missing something.
“Tell me what’s happened.”
The man smiled again.
#You were injured, my love. Your
memory has faded but it will return. I will teach you, Amonette. Do not fear#
The echoey tones freaked her
slightly. Somehow she knew a lover’s tones should be gentler.
“Tell me about…my life.”
#You are Amonette, wife of
Apophis. Your enemies are the Tau’ri…”
~
“With all due respect…”
“He’ll say no! We can’t go back…”
“What about Daniel?”
Okay, that stung. Sam had played her ace and he had to
fold.
“Alright, we go back. But if he says no…”
“We do a EUOI.”
EUOI was the unofficial reason for disobeying orders. It
stood for ‘Emergency Use of Initiative’ and was usually grudgingly accepted by
a commanding officer. Jack smiled. Daniel had found that gem a few months ago
and had used it to his advantage many times.
“So, let’s head back.”
~
Charlie tried to understand, really she did, but the idea
that just four people could destroy world after world was too horrific to
grasp. The merciless commander, the evil scientist, the culture destroyer and
the traitor: the murderous SG1. Hate filled her at their names but it still
felt wrong. Apophis wasn’t all that convincing and his rule didn’t seem any
fairer than SG1’s blatant slavery.
“So, where are they now?”
Apophis smiled. He would have to thank Lynea
for her innovation. She had been friends with the Tok’sokar for many years and
had sent her experiment plans to him before the planetary memory loss had set
in. Tok’sokar scientists had modified the drug to allow only memory loss and
now he could tell Charlie lie after lie.
#They have retreated to Tau’ri.
They are the reason you lost your memory. They tried to capture and torture you
but Dakatte, my loyal friend, managed to save you.
Unfortunately, he was too late to save your memory. Why don’t you sleep now?
We’ll talk again, when you wake up#
Charlie nodded and settled into her bed…
Charlie stood on a cliff top, a light breeze whistling
through her hair. She looked back and then turned fully. On
her left stood Apophis, beside a tower of flame.
#You are my wife and my slave:
serve me#
Charlie shivered and turned to her right. A strange man
stood beside a great, metal circle, filled with rippling blue waters.
“I love you, Charlie. Come with me.”
The man held out his hand. Charlie stepped forward, arm
outstretched. Apophis began to shout but she paid no attention. She took the
man’s hand and they stepped through the circle. The other place was lush and
green. The man faced her, searching her eyes.
“Don’t you remember me, Charlie? I’m Jack, the one you
love. I need you, Charlie. We need you. Hold on for us. Please.”
A whole host of people appeared behind him, their faces
forgotten yet familiar. Then, Jack leaned forward and…
Charlie sat up,
feeling very confused. Who was this man, this Jack? Why was he haunting her?
The name seemed vaguely familiar but then most things did. Yet somehow they
were wrong and Charlie would have to work it out.
~
“SG1 and SG2! Where’ve you been? And
where’s Charlie?”
Daniel was leaning heavily on Sam’s shoulder and Janet was
quickly beside him, guiding him to a waiting gurney. General Hammond came into
the Gate room, as Jack and Ferretti began to argue again.
“We can’t just burst in, Jack! They’ll fry us!”
“What else can we do? We have no idea of the situation
there!”
“I do.”
Graham’s quiet voice stopped their argument. SG2’s
anthropologist was lurking nearby, making sure he was alright. Jack, Ferretti
and General Hammond all exchanged looks before the general spoke.
“I think you’d better explain.”
~
Charlie had been pondering her dreams. Why would she, a
married woman, be loved and needed by a whole host of people? Apophis suddenly
came in, a golden cup in his hands. Charlie was suddenly very afraid, even
though Apophis was smiling.
#I have some wine for you, my love. My brother, Dionysus,
brewed it especially#
Dionysus: Greek god of wine. Where had that come from?
How could Apophis’ brother be a god? Unless…
“Can I meet him? He sounds most generous.”
A slow smile spread over Apophis’ face. She was believing.
#Maybe when you have recovered.
Now, please drink. It is getting late#
Late? What did that have to do
with it? Nervously, Charlie sipped the drink. Warmth spread through her and the
world around her became muted and distant. The ever-present dreams floated into
her mind, as she collapsed on her bed.
~
The general was flabbergasted. They had recovered two
friends just to lose another. Jack was coming off his adrenaline high, and the
haunted look was returning to his eyes. Sam looked completely washed out and
even Daniel’s skin was pale against his sunburn. Teal’c looked very angry and
his eyes were glinting dangerously.
The general was getting worried. When he had let Sam and
Daniel get married, he had never dreamed that so much would come of it. And
Jack falling for Charlie…it was almost like an act of desperation.
Graham was still
recovering in Janet and Louise’s care. He was feeling extremely guilty but
after some talks from Sam, he was feeling better. Daniel had got a little
jealous but soon realised that Graham needed someone to relate to, someone who
had survived the violation.
Jack was still
pressing for the rescue attempt.
“We cannot leave her there! Graham can give us a layout and
we can get her out!”
“There is one more thing, Colonel.”
Graham shakily walked in, supported by Louise. The general
wasn’t sure how that one had slipped by him either. Sam stood up to give Graham
her seat and stood beside Daniel, a hand on his shoulder. Graham continued.
“Apophis was in league with Lynea.”
Sam felt Daniel tense beneath her touch. The very mention
of ‘Kira’ was enough to startle him.
“Apophis was planning to use a modified…Dargol
solution on Charlie.”
The room was deathly quiet. If Charlie had forgotten them,
how could they rescue her? Luckily, Teal’c had held his composure.
“We take the antidote with us. When we find Charlie, we
give it to her.”
The logic permeated the fear and everyone settled. The
general couldn’t quite believe his eyes. His two premier teams had lost their
military thought because of a girl!
He was going to send them into counselling!
“Very good. Lieutenant Simmons, brief
them on the base layout.”
~
Charlie woke up suddenly. Wow! They were pretty…powerful
dreams! And kinda erotic as well! Charlie let the memories flood her, when she
suddenly realised she was lying next to someone. Oh hell! So, they weren’t just
dreams after all…Apophis stirred beside her. Obviously, in reality, Jack had been
replaced with Apophis.
For a reason she could not place, Charlie felt repulsed by
that thought. There was something very wrong about this; she just knew it.
Somehow, she grasped at the fact that THIS WAS NOT
Feeling very confused, Charlie slipped from the covers and
went to find some clothing. She found a long, low-cut red dress and quickly
slipped it on. She brushed her hair out with a strange-looking device she
assumed was for that purpose. As she turned away, something caught her eye. It
was a screen. She had seen Apophis using it to recall information by tapping on
some buttons. Beside the screen, was an odd-looking device.
It had five gold tubes, connected by a round piece of gold with a red stone
embedded in the middle. It held a strange familiarity and seemed to throb with
temptation and danger. Charlie picked it up and laid it over her hand. Almost
automatically, she slipped it onto her hand and clicked the gold tubes in
place. The red stone hummed and glowed slightly. Apophis stirred again and
Charlie quickly tugged it off and pocketed it. She turned to the screen and
called up a file called ‘Tau’ri Enemies’. She needed a code. Cursing, she
counted the spaces. Eight; what could you spell with eight
letters? Suddenly, she had an inspiration.
A-m-o-n-e-t-t-e
The screen beeped happily and allowed her access. Charlie
breathed a sigh of relief. She looked over the few names listed there and
suddenly stopped, pressing a finger to the words.
Jack O’Neill
She clicked the words and another screen appeared. Charlie
read over the report, her feelings of suspicion growing with every second.
~
A few hours later, SG1, SG2, SG3 and Graham were ready to
leave, feeling slightly apprehensive at the task before them. Graham had told
them that Charlie was probably being held in Apophis’ rooms, on the third
floor. As there were twenty
“Right here, we cut the ‘sir’ crap. We’re going into a
hostile situation where a ‘yes sir’ is just gonna get you killed. We’re on
first name terms until we get back. I hope you know them. If not, get knowing!
I’m not going to pretend this will be easy but we will get
out and bring Charlie with us. Personal feelings aside, she is one of the most
valuable assets to this base. We are not going to lose her. We can’t lose her.
Let’s move out!”
~
Charlie was horrified. She had been lied to! After reading
all the Tau’ri files tagged ‘important’, she knew more than enough. SG1 weren’t
murderers and Charlie had learned more than she needed to know. The report that
interested her most was the one labelled ‘Charlene’. It had described a girl
that seemed very familiar but who Charlie couldn’t quite place in her memory.
While she was searching, a file suddenly popped up. Pictorial
representations: newly activated. Charlie shrugged and clicked on the new
file. She sat back in surprise. For, staring right at her was a picture of
herself. And, underneath, it said: Charlene. Numbly, Charlie scrolled
down and stopped again. As if straight out of her dreams, Jack stared from the
screen. Charlie ran her fingers over the image, feeling a connection she could
never have imagined. She caught sight of the name at the bottom: Jack
O’Neill.
She didn’t even notice the shadow fall over her, as a Zat was raised towards her. She turned at the last possible
second, seeing only the sudden flash of light. She slumped in her chair, as her
head hit the screen.
#Disobedient fool! You shall pay
for this#
~
Jack took point, as the rest of his team tumbled out of the
Stargate. They quickly fell into formation, even Daniel, and snaked slowly
through the corridors. Jack shuddered at his own analogy.
They met their first group of
“Something’s wrong.”
Sam and Teal’c suddenly shivered and looked up at their CO.
“Something is amiss, O’Neill.”
“Yes Jack. They’re…angry.”
Jack looked at the three who had spoken, noting that they
were the ‘Gourldy’ people, the ones who had been
possessed. To tell the truth, he had felt something change as well but he
hadn’t had Hathor’s little friend for long enough to properly develop the
‘senses’. And he wouldn’t have wanted to either!
“Will this affect us?”
They all nodded in unison and Jack cursed. Just then, a
voice began to echo through the corridors in Goa’uld.
“Daniel…”
“They’ve moved to Charlie to a Section 8. They’re ordering
all
Jack’s eyes widened. Evacuating
“Graham, find us a safe place until these
Graham nodded and ran a few metres ahead before stopping at
an apparently bare wall. He ran his finger over it and the wall disappeared!
They all filed in and Graham tapped a panel. The wall shimmered back into
place, but, this time, they could see through it.
“This was Dakatte’s hiding place:
he’s the only one who knows about it.”
Jack nodded and everyone settled against the wall.
Suddenly, Marc yelped.
“They’ll find the bodies!”
Ferretti and Jack exchanged glances but Teal’c got up.
“I will see to it.”
He went out and, a few Zat blasts
later, returned, happy. He was just in time. The
“45…46…47…48,49…and 50!”
They waited a few more minutes and then left the wall’s
safety. They moved on through the corridors until they reached the second
floor. Then, Graham led them through a series of rock tunnels until they
reached a solitary room.
“This is Section 8. From what I remember, it’s an empty
room.”
Jack nodded and
motioned for Teal’c to back him up. Ferretti took the other wall with SG2 and
SG3 and waited for Jack’s signal. He counted them in and then twisted the snake.
The wall rolled away and they ran in. Daniel gasped and Jack almost stopped as
well.
Suspended above a bubbling mass of liquid, was a metal
cocoon with wide-spaced holes. Encased inside, was Charlie. Her long hair was
clamped to the bottom of the cocoon, preventing any movement. She appeared
unconscious. Apophis stood by a lever and suddenly yanked it down. The cocoon
slowly began to descend. Jack yelled but Apophis was running for the door. Jack
fired off a few rounds but the shots didn’t slow Apophis down. Daniel ran over
to the lever, just before a huge wall of flame appeared across the room.
“Daniel!”
He could hear Jack screaming and had seen the wall but he
had to stop the cage. He pushed the lever up. The cocoon stopped inches from
the liquid. Charlie’s hair trailed in it and the ends began to simmer. Daniel
knew Jack and the others couldn’t reach Charlie and he knew that he had to try.
There was a remote
lying nearby that appeared to operate a lift, which was little more than a
wooden block with a few metal bars around the edge. Daniel climbed onto the
lift, clutching the pad tightly. He moved the lift slowly above the cocoon. He
found a jacket of some kind in the lift. He fastened it onto himself and slowly
lowered himself over the cocoon. He slowly
opened the top of the casing and then noticed the clamp. Jack saw his problem
and pulled out Charlie’s knife. He tossed it to the archaeologist and, for
once, he did catch the thing. Then Daniel hesitated. Charlie adored her hair.
Could he really cut it?
“For goodness sake, Daniel! Cut it!”
Sam shouted at her husband. Daniel lowered the knife over
the connection, his hand shaking slightly. He chopped the hair in one go and
Charlie was free. He pulled her onto the lift with him and laid her on the floor.
He moved the lift across the liquid until it was metres from the edge. Then it
stopped.
“Uh, Jack?”
The lift spluttered and lurched. Daniel grabbed the bar
with one hand and Charlie with other, only just saving her from the liquid. Now
the lift was at an angle over the acid and then the bars on the tilted side
just fell off. Daniel held onto Charlie tightly, unwilling to let her slide.
Jack quickly saw their predicament. He climbed a metal scaffold-like structure
that ran beside the pool, Teal’c and Sam following. When he was level with the
lift, he called to Daniel.
“You’re close enough Daniel. Just hold onto Charlie.”
With Teal’c and Sam anchoring him to the scaffold, Jack
plucked Charlie from Daniel’s grip and placed her on the scaffold. He then went
back for Daniel, and lifted the exhausted archaeologist onto safe ground. SG1
made their way back down, with Jack carrying Charlie over his shoulder. When
they were on the ground, SG2 and SG3 cheered, while Graham just looked
thankful.
“Well, let’s get home people!”
They were just a few corridors from the Stargate, when
suddenly the ground began to shake. Daniel collided with Jack and Charlie shot
out of his arms. She skidded across the corridor and finally stopped. A massive
rumble shook the complex and bits of stone began to fall from the ceiling.
“No!” Graham shouted.
Everyone went tumbling, as the building collapsed around
them.
~
Jack woke up to the sound of muffled crying. He could see
Sam wandering around and Teal’c was standing over him. He couldn’t see SG2 or
SG3 but Daniel and Graham were lying nearby. It was then that he noticed the
huge piles of rocks everywhere. Sam was leaning over something on the floor and
administering an injection. An injection? Jack leapt
to his feet and ran to where she was standing.
“Oh shit!”
Charlie gave him a watery smile. She was lying on the
floor, surrounded by debris but what was far worse was the pile of rubble
completely covering her lower legs. Large, heavy rubble.
Jack blinked back tears and kneeled beside her.
“Hey Jack. Sorry I’m such a mess.”
Jack stroked her hair gently, as Sam began to prattle.
“I gave her the
injection and I’ve given her some morphine as well. The last thing she
remembers is writing the message she left us. We’ll have to give her some more
Anti-Dargol when we get back.”
Jack nodded slowly, not hearing a word of it. Sam smiled to
herself and went to check on Daniel. Jack took the girl’s hand gently.
Suddenly, her eyelids fluttered dangerously and Jack gripped her hand harder.
“No! Stay with me, stay with me!”
Her eyes stopped fluttering but she looked very disorientated. Jack whispered soothingly.
“It’s okay, it’s okay: just listen
to me okay. It’s very important for you to listen, okay?
Because…because…there’s going to be a test later.”
Charlie smiled faintly and Jack smiled as well. Lou and
Marc watched from a distance, smiling at the couple.
“Tell me a…story.”
Jack smiled again, dimly trying to recall some story to
tell. He felt Daniel approach.
“How about you tell her about Sleeping Beauty?”
Jack looked at Daniel sceptically.
“She’s not American, idiot. She keeps pestering me to tell
her and I won’t. You can do it. And,” he blushed here, “I don’t know either.”
He couldn’t help it. He laughed loudly and SG2 and SG3
joined in. Charlie’s smile got wider.
“Come on, Jack. Daniel needs his…education…”
She started to choke and Sam hurried over. Jack tried to
hold her. Somehow, she sat up.
“Burns…burns!”
Sam jabbed her with another injection. As Charlie sat up
fully, the rocks shifted and she screamed. Jack quickly sat behind her,
stopping her lying back down. She sat between his legs, breathing heavily. He
wrapped his arms around her and she held onto them tightly. She relaxed against
him and he began to whisper.
“How about we tell Daniel about Sleeping Beauty later? I’ve
got another story for you.
Once there was a beautiful, young girl called Charlie.”
Charlie laughed but he laid a finger on her lips.
“And she met this horrible, old man called Jack.”
Charlie laughed again.
“It doesn’t go like that, Jack. Let’s say he was kind,
gentle, smarter than everyone thought and a really
nice guy.”
Unknown to Jack and Charlie, the rest of the room had moved
to listen to the story.
“If you like, Charlie. Well, he fell in
love with her and one day…”
“She pricked her finger on a spindle and fell asleep.”
Jack looked down at her, smiling.
“I thought you didn’t know Sleeping Beauty.”
“That’s what Daniel thinks.”
Daniel was about to comment but Sam placed a hand over his
mouth. He glared at her but she just trailed her fingers down his back. SG2 and
SG3 watched in fascination, while Teal’c and Graham watched with something
close to relief.
“Anyway, she fell asleep and the tall, dark and handsome
Jack came along…”
“Are you trying to get in my good books, Miss Jackson?”
“Anything that works, Jack. As long as I get you as well.”
Jack was totally taken-aback. Charlie just smiled and
snuggled deeper into his chest.
“Should I continue?”
Charlie gave a small nod and closed her eyes.
“Hey! No sleeping while I’m story-telling!”
Charlie groaned and opened her eyes again.
“Thank you. Well, Jack came along and found Sleeping Beauty
and he kissed her and…”
“She woke up.”
“Excuse me, who’s telling this story?”
“Don’t you want me to wake up?”
“I suppose so.”
“Exactly. Please continue
high-and-mighty storyteller.”
Jack sighed and continued the story, totally oblivious to
all the people watching them.
“Sleeping Beauty was extremely grateful and when Jack asked
her to marry him she…”
“Said yes, because she wanted to marry Jack with all
her heart and soul because she loved him very much.”
Jack was speechless. Had he heard her right? He expected
her to say something feminist that Sam had drilled into her but this?
“Then, they had a wonderful wedding and lived happily ever
after. Isn’t that so? Now, could everyone who has been listening to the story
concentrate on getting us home. I’m tired and Jack
won’t let me sleep!”
Jack turned around and frowned. There was a communal blush
before they all went back to work.
“How did you know?”
“Lucky guess. Is anyone going to get
these rocks off me?”
“Artefacts!”
Daniel responded automatically, even if he was wrong.
“Actually, Danny-boy, they really are rocks this time!”
“No! He’s right!”
Charlie pointed to strange looking tablet sitting on top of
the pile of rocks. Daniel ran over, almost losing his glasses in his
excitement. He blew dust off the thing and began to read.
“‘Sunsets and moonshine, shadows and light; my fairest and
dearest, queen of the night…”
“I know that poem!”
Jack and Charlie shouted together. Daniel stared at them
strangely.
“It does seem familiar…”
“It was my first assignment. I translated it before the
base emergency with Hathor.”
Daniel stared at her in surprise.
“Good memory.”
Charlie smiled, then yawned. Jack
looked at her worriedly but she waved it off.
“Cart me off to Janet and I’ll be fine. Actually, why don’t
you guys go to the Gate and get her?”
Everyone exchanged uncomfortable looks.
“There’s a solid wall of rubble down there. We can’t break
though.”
Charlie opened her eyes fully and saw the massive wall. Ah,
problem.
Charlie felt a
niggling memory play on her consciousness. She knew she had something to help. But what? She moved a hand to her pocket and her fingers
closed around something. She pulled it out. A ribbon device! Without
thinking, she slipped it onto her hand and aimed it at the wall in front of
her. It glowed powerfully and blasted straight through the rocks! Ferretti went
to examine the hole, as Charlie fell back against Jack, feeling drained. He
laid a hand across her forehead, and the chill cooled her hot skin.
“She’s burning up, Sam. Go and get Janet. Take the ribbon
with you. I’ll stay with Charlie.”
Sam nodded, signalling to Teal’c, SG2 and SG3 to follow.
Graham went as well, but Daniel hesitated.
“Go Daniel! We’ll be fine.”
The archaeologist nodded and ran for the hole. Charlie
sighed to herself. The first time she’d had alone with Jack in ages and she was
pinned down by rocks. Wasn’t life unfair? Jack was oddly silent at that moment
and Charlie was concerned.
“Are you alright, Jack?”
“Did you mean it?”
Mean it? Mean what? Charlie was very confused. Was Jack
delirious?
“Mean what, Jack?”
“When we were telling Sleeping Beauty. Did you mean
it?”
Ah, the story. Charlie thought over her
words and her eyes widened. Oh, that part.
“About the proposal? Depends
if you said it.”
Now, Jack looked at her strangely. He thought over the
story. Could he say it? Could he change their lives?
“Alright,” he said slowly, “ I
love you Charlene Jackson. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, handsome prince; nothing would please me more!”
Charlie settled back against Jack and he began to absently
stroke her hair. Janet smiled to herself and slowly came through the hole in
the rock, followed by a grinning SG1, 2 and 3.
“Are you alright, Charlie?”
Jack and Charlie both looked up. Charlie smiled at Janet’s
words but Jack wasn’t in the mood for smiling.
“Ya think? Anyway, how are we
getting her out?”
“Hang on, Colonel. I’ve got to check her out first.”
Jack began to grumble but Charlie slapped him playfully. He
pretended to look hurt and she started to laugh, which quickly turned to
coughing.
“Relax Charlie. I’m almost done!”
Janet motioned for Teal’c and Ferretti to come over.
“Okay: lift the rocks slowly and carefully. Charlie; just scream if it hurts, okay?”
“Okay, Janet,” Charlie said in a voice that meant she most
definitely wouldn’t. Jack knew that tone well and offered his hand to her. She
took it gratefully and Jack knew he would have one very
squeezed hand by the end of this.
Janet nodded to Teal’c and the
The pile was soon only one-layered and Janet knew the
trouble would begin to start. Teal’c removed the smaller rocks from her legs,
accompanied by Charlie’s hissing and Jack’s occasional yelp when Charlie’s grip
got a little too tight.
After one hour there were only three rocks left, huge
chunks of supporting pillars from the upper layers. There were two medium-sized
ones on her left leg and one large one on her right. Jack wrapped his free arm
tightly around Charlie’s waist and she laid hers firmly on top. She squeezed
his hand tightly and Teal’c began to lift one of the medium rocks.
“Argh! Ow…ow…ow…OW!”
Charlie bit down on her lip to stop herself screaming but
it was obvious the pain was getting too much. As the rock was lifted clear,
Janet gave her another injection of morphine. Charlie leaned against Jack,
whimpering softly. He stroked her hair lovingly and glared daggers at Teal’c.
The Jaffa moved to pick up the other medium rock and managed to lift it and
throw it away without so much as a sound from Charlie. Underneath the rock, was
a thin, dirty cushion that had been firmly sandwiched between the rock and
Charlie, saving her some pain.
Janet looked over Charlie’s left leg, noting the area of
possible crushing and other internal injuries. The leg was generally bloodied
but didn’t look too seriously damaged. But the other leg…
“Go ahead, Teal’c.”
“I will need Ferretti’s
assistance.”
Lou nodded, and they both made for the rock. Charlie
squeezed her eyes shut and Jack wrapped his arms around her completely. They
began to lift. Charlie shrieked, and then began to sob between screams. Tears
were streaming down her cheeks but the rock was finally gone. Janet winced at
the sight of her shin. There was a dent: a definite area of impact, with
surrounding skin and tissue caving into the opening. Janet quickly wrapped the
legs in loose bandages and secured them in plastic casts. Charlie was mildly
sobbing now but Jack’s constant stream of whispers was obviously providing the
intended comfort. Janet had brought a gurney through the Gate with her and
Teal’c, Marc, Daniel and Ferretti moved to lift Charlie onto it. Jack supported
her as she was lifted up and then accepted Sam’s help in standing. He moved
quickly to Charlie’s side, ignoring the protests from his stiff legs.
“Are you alright, darling?”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry, okay?”
Charlie was asking a promise of him and he couldn’t refuse
the desperation in her eyes.
“Okay, sweetheart. Rest
now.”
Charlie’s eyelids drifted over her eyes and Jack helped with
pushing the gurney back, avoiding rubble and debris. They soon made it to the
Gate and Sam dialled it up. The minute the signal had been sent,
they stepped through and were greeted by gasps of surprise when they came
through. The General was looking very strained and worried but Jack didn’t have
time to stop and chat. They wheeled Charlie to the infirmary and Janet began to
set up a morphine drip. She shoed everyone out of her infirmary and slammed the
door. Then, she looked at the young girl she had to save.
~
“Will she be okay?” Daniel asked for the fiftieth time.
Sam patted him arm
again and Jack paced another length of the corridor. Since Janet had shoed them
into the corridor, everyone had been on edge. SG2 and SG3 had whizzed to the
showers but SG1 stubbornly refused to move. Medics came popping out to make
them go away but they wouldn’t budge. Daniel kept pestering them and this was
the first they had had in hours.
“Janet thinks so, but you waiting here will not help!”
“Too right! Now, go away!”
Janet finally came out, a few streaks of blood on her face.
Teal’c resisted the urge to cradle her in his arms and merely raised an
eyebrow.
“What is Charlie’s condition, Janet?”
“Yeah, how is she?”
All attempts of sarcasm had faded with he
hours and Jack was in pure concerned mode.
“The left leg isn’t as bad as we thought and, in time,
should heal on its own. But the right…it’s badly smashed and irrepa…”
“You are not cutting it off! Call the bloody Tok’ra, for
crying out loud!”
Jack was all fire and the same will was obvious on Teal’c’s
face. One did not face a Black-Ops trained colonel and a massive
“Fine, we call the Tok’ra…”
“Wait!”
Sam charged through the infirmary doors, with Daniel close
on her heels. Janet shrieked in frustration but Jack and Teal’c barrelled past
her as well. Sam went straight to the infirmary safe and removed her Goa’uld
healing device. She slipped it on and headed for Charlie. The girl was still
unconscious and Sam hovered her hand over the exposed
leg. Daniel took a step back and the others watched in silence.
The device began to hum and Sam closed her eyes, falling
into concentration. She passed it over the leg several times and the others
watched the bone reform and the skin grow over the wound. The leg soon
straightened and conformed to its former appearance. Sam quickly passed the
device to the other leg and the wounds present there quickly closed as well.
Sam stopped after ten minutes of work, looking totally exhausted. She stumbled
backwards and Daniel caught her, hugging her tightly. Jack brushed at a tear
and Janet moved forward, motioning to Jack.
“I’m going to give her the second Dargol
injection. Hold her if she convulses.”
Jack nodded and prepared himself. Janet gave her the injection
and her body went into seizure. Jack pinned her shoulders and held her as the
convulsions rippled through her body. Suddenly, her eyes flew open but she
continued her struggles.
“Get off…get off…GET OFF!”
Jack released her, hurt filling his face. He backed away
slowly, as she stopped moving and just lay there, staring straight up.
“No…” she whispered.
Janet moved slowly to her side and touched her arm. She
flinched away and Janet quickly removed her fingers. Sam and Daniel’s faces
were full of worry and Teal’c was puzzled. But Jack was afraid, oh-so-afraid
for his Charlie, who was now a silent wreck.
ONE MONTH
LATER…
“Am I safe?”
The
words echoed in Jack’s mind, spinning through the jumble of thoughts that
haunted his conscience. Charlie had whispered them to Janet a week ago, coming
out of her three-week silence. She hadn’t spoken or barely
moved since Janet had given her the Anti-Dargol, shying away from any contact.
Janet had put her on a food drip because she also refused to eat. Then, she had
spoken; three words that rocked his world. Am I safe? What had happened
to her, what terrible monstrosity had hurtled tough Charlie Jackson into
despair? Janet had told Jack immediately and he had come in, to see Charlie
sitting up and reading. She had looked up, her expression vacant. Then,
recognition had flooded her face and a small smile had curved her lips. Jack
had slowly stepped forward and held out his hand. She had pressed hers gently
into it, closing her eyes, as a tear escaped from under her eyelid. They had
just remained in that position for several hours until Janet had walked in,
asking Jack to leave. Then, a simple parting of hands. No word was uttered, no
sound made: just a simple connection found.
Charlie had insisted on getting up that week and Janet
couldn’t refuse, because there was nothing physically wrong with her. Jack
thought over her words one last time before getting up and heading for the
infirmary. He came to meet her and she smiled at him again. He took her hand
and they walked towards Daniel’s office in silence. When the door was closed
and locked, Charlie turned to him and began to speak.
“We’ll forget it, shall we? Pretend it didn’t happen.”
“All of it?”
Charlie closed her eyes, as if searching some inner sanctum
for her answers.
“Why don’t you…ask me again?”
Jack smiled, then swallowed. He
cleared his throat and rolled onto one knee. Charlie blushed slightly, as Jack
took her hand and met her eyes.
“Charlene Jackson, will you marry me?”
There was an urgent knock on the door and, when Charlie
didn’t answer, Jack got up to get it. It was Teal’c and Ferretti, the latter
holding flowers. He moved forward and held them out to Charlie. She smiled and
placed them into a waiting vase. Lou backed out and Teal’c stepped forward.
Jack winked at her and slipped out.
“Are you well, to’var?”
“I shall be, kar’ec.”
Teal'c was concerned. Something had happened to Charlie
that she refused to talk about and this worried him. Jack had protested
counsellors and psychiatrists and the rest of SG1 had agreed. Charlie didn’t
need a bunch of strangers trying to tap into her head.
“I see, to’var.”
“One question, Teal’c: what happened to my hair?”
Teal’c smiled. Charlie’s hair change was indeed quite
dramatic. The silky black locks curved tightly around her head, ending at the
top of her neck, with a few black strands flinging around below that. Teal’c
picked up some scissors and snipped them carefully. Charlie smiled at him.
“Thanks. Who cut it then?”
“I believe it was Daniel Jackson.”
“Why that…”
A look of panic suddenly crossed Charlie’s face and she ran
for the newly-installed basin in the office. She promptly threw up, as Teal’c
approached her.
“What is wrong, to’var?”
Charlie retched again, clutching her sides, as her lunch
emptied itself into the sink. Finally, she stood up and wiped her mouth on a
nearby towel.
“Been happening for a few days now.”
“Maybe you should visit Doctor Frasier.”
Charlie was about to protest but another wave of nausea
forced her to silence. She wiped her mouth again and slowly nodded.
“Should I escort you?”
“No, I’ll be fine, Teal’c.”
Charlie made her way to the door and began to walk to the
infirmary. She wondered why she felt so tired. She entered the infirmary,
knocking gently on the door.
“Janet? Are you here?”
The doctor popped her head around her office door and
smiled.
“Hello Charlie. Why are you here?”
“Teal’c insisted I come. I’ve been feeling sick.”
Janet nodded pleasantly and took a clipboard, running
through a series of questions.
“And, when was your last period?”
“Why do you need that?” Charlie snapped.
Janet’s eyes widened.
“Just general information, Charlie. Are you okay?”
“Fine. Um…about…well…”
Janet eyes her suspiciously. She went to her office and
asked Charlie to collect a sample of urine. The girl did as she was told and
Janet sent the sample to the lab. Charlie was eying her curiously but seemed
extremely angry about something. Janet just couldn’t work out what.
An airman walked in a few minutes later.
“Here’s the result, Doc.”
Janet smiled at him and the airman left. She looked over
the form and closed her eyes. Then, she opened them and read it again: High
levels of chorionic gonadotrophin.
Charlie stood up,
noticing her expression.
“What’s wrong, Janet? Tell me.”
Janet looked up at the girl in horror.
“You’re pregnant.”
TO BE
CONTINUED…
Uh-oh! Well, you’ll have to wait for #8 I’m afraid! And,
right now, I’m predicting major Jack angst…
(A small note: The scene with Jack and Charlie on Andreos is based on a scene from Star Trek: DS9 when Sisko was losing consciousness and Kira was trying to make
him stay awake. If anyone can tell me the name of this episode, I’d be very
grateful!)