Title: Identity Crises

 

Author: FoxPhile

 

Email: foxphile@gmail.com

 

Status: Complete

 

Category: Character Study?

 

Pairings: Jack/Sam - it may not seem that way at first, but trust me <g>

 

Spoilers:  Lots and lots -- especially Season 7 through "Grace".

 

Season:  Seven

 

Sequel/Series Info: N/A

 

Content Level: 13+ - Some bad words and heavy petting

 

Content Warnings: Shippy to the max

 

Summary:  Jack tries to figure himself out while Sam deals with her feelings after "Grace"

 

File Size/Word Count:  137Kb, 18K words

 

Archive: Jackfic.

 

Disclaimer:  Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Stargate (II)  Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended.  Please do not post or archive without the consent of the author.  © FoxPhile

 

Feedback is almost as good as Bailey's...but more intoxicating.

 

Author's Notes: This fic owes its existence to Jackfic-a-thon.   I have never in my life actually finished anything of any length at all.  It took a challenge (and a deadline!) to get me to do it. 

 

Many thanks to SGCGategirl (dee) for organizing Jackfic-a-thon.  And thanks to the rest of the Jackfic-a-thoners for their encouragement and enthusiasm, not to mention all the laughs.  And for reminding me of the big bottle of Bailey's out in the living room.

 

And, of course, thanks and {{{{{Hugs}}}}} go to CSuzy, my beta extraordinaire with whom I so often share a brain.  Which at least means I know where it is when it's missing <g>.

 

 

**********

Chapter 1

**********

 

Following the other members of SG-1, Colonel Jack O'Neill walked down the ramp, balancing a large platter on his two hands while his P-90 was gripped firmly under his arm. 

 

"Welcome home, SG-1.  Colonel O'Neill, what the devil have you got there?"  General George Hammond made it a point to greet as many returning gate teams as his busy schedule allowed for.  It was always a bell weather day when SG-1 returned in one piece, without injury or pursuing weapons fire to herald their arrival.

 

"It's a cake, sir.  As in, ‘They knew we were coming and they baked a...' I for one, think it may be one of the nicest welcoming gifts we've ever received.  And it's not even my birthday!"  Arriving at the bottom of the ramp, Jack relinquished his weapon to an SF, carefully maintaining his hold on the top heavy platter.

 

"You're not planning on eating it, are you Colonel?" 

 

Jack paused to answer his CO cocking his head a moment in thought.  "Not the entire cake, no sir.  I could be persuaded to share a bit.  But we might have to hold it down to just gate level personnel.  It's a big cake, sir, but I don't think there's enough for everyone in the mountain."

 

~*~*~

 

Having paused to receive the General's welcome home greeting, Teal'c was hard put to maintain his usual humorless expression.  Lately he had found himself becoming more relaxed in the company of his Tau'ri comrades.  He especially appreciated O'Neill's wry sense of humor, although his friend's cultural references often eluded him.  He felt at home on the base, but it did not provide much to occupy his time when he was not involved with the team in off world missions.  He would have to speak with GeneralHammond once again about the possibility of spending more of his down time outside the base.  Perhaps even secure a small living space of his own, an apartment, similar to the one where DanielJackson had lived before his ascension.  His on base quarters, while small, were certainly sufficient to his needs, but he had begun to feel a sense of confinement and wished for the opportunity to have some life of his own.  He wanted to meet other Tau'ri, and learn more about his adopted home and the people he had fought so hard to protect.

 

~*~*~

 

Major Samantha Carter and Dr. Daniel Jackson stood flanking Teal'c, but took no pains to hide their amusement.  Daniel even thought he heard Sam giggle at her CO's irreverent remarks.

 

"Colonel O'Neill," the General began with a sigh, "I can't allow you to consume food prepared off-world, let alone distribute it to base personnel.  It'll have to be quarantined, to avoid the possibility of contamination.  And it will most likely be destroyed once a few scientists have had a chance to analyze it."

 

"Oh, for cryin' out loud, General, this is hardly the first time we've eaten off-world food.  It's just the first time we've brought home a doggie bag.  And if the chow in the mess doesn't kill us, this cake sure won't.  Besides, this is phenomenal cake -- I've already had some."  Jack winked hugely at his teammates, the grin on his face, if possible, spreading to be even broader.

 

Exasperated, the General decided it was prudent to save his energy for bigger battles.  "Very well, Colonel.  But humor me and at least take that monstrosity down to the infirmary while you get your post-mission work up.  Let Dr. Frasier have a quick go at it before anyone *ELSE* has any.  Your debriefing is in 1 hour people."

 

"Yes sir!"  Jack turned to walk out the door, followed by his team.  "Oh, sir?  Could you have a pot of fresh coffee waiting?  It'll go real good with the cake!"

 

~*~^~*~

 

Along with the usual papers, pencils and other meeting paraphernalia, the table in the briefing room was also littered with used paper plates, cake crumbs and half-empty coffee cups.  Jack enthusiastically reached across to drag the cake platter towards him to snag another slice.  He loved cake, and this one was particularly delicious. 

 

Daniel removed his glasses and lay them down atop his notebook.  "There are significant ruins and other items of archeological interest on P9Z-438, General, but even I wouldn't want to risk the safety of those people by repeated visits.  They have somehow stayed below the Goa'uld radar.  If we continue to go there, or leave their address in our database, the Goa'uld are bound to find them.  I recommend the planet be designated ‘Hands Off'.  And I've got plenty of pictures and video tape to keep me busy for quite awhile, anyway."

 

The General turned to Carter.  "Major Carter?"

 

"I agree with Daniel, sir.  These are wonderful, pleasant, happy people who have no knowledge of the Goa'uld or the threat they represent.  There are no significant mineral deposits, certainly no Naquadah.  Nothing at all to justify our continued presence."  Sam nodded to the General to indicate she had completed her summary.  Knowing he would call on Teal'c before asking the Colonel for his final summation, she turned toward the Jaffa.

 

Teal'c did not wait for the General to address him.  The protocol of these meetings was well rehearsed.   "I do not recall any references to this planet or its people in my years of service to the Goa'uld.  It is indeed likely that the Goa'uld are unaware of them.  We should endeavor to avoid any activity which might compromise their security."

 

All eyes turned to Jack, who was just scraping the last crumbs of cake off his plate with a plastic fork. 

 

"Colonel O'Neill," General Hammond addressed the leader of SG-1, "Do you have anything to add?"

 

"No weapons, no technology, nothing of value, except, of course their snake-free status.  I'm thinking of retiring there, sir.  But in the meantime, we should erase our records of the place.  Leave them alone."

 

"Very well, people.  Your recommendations are noted.  Major Carter, please have all traces of the address of P9Z-438 removed from base computer systems.   However, I would like you to transfer the information to the security log.  We'll keep the hand written record available in the vault, in case we need a safe location.  The Goa'uld have had too much luck lately finding our off world sites.  We need to maintain our ability to set up new ones when needed.  And a world unknown to the Goa'uld is worth its weight in Naquadah for that alone."

 

Carter spoke up, "But sir, any record of this planet, whether electronic or hand written, could fall into the hands of the Goa'uld, making these people vulnerable."

 

General Hammond understood the Major's objections, and even agreed with them.  But the strategic needs of the Stargate program, along with their deteriorating alliance with the Rebel Jaffa and the Tok'ra, sometimes made it necessary to consider the needs of his own people first.  Even if it meant endangering the people of another world.  While he knew he did not need to justify his orders, he respected Major Carter, and felt she deserved an explanation.  "Major Carter.  Any one of you, or any of the gate room personnel, could be captured by the Goa'uld and the information extracted directly from your minds.   We have no means of erasing your memories to prevent that from happening.  Removing the information from all electronic sources is a significant step towards preventing the Goa'uld from finding this planet by usual means.  I have to balance our realistic ability to protect the information against the very real need we have to ensure that the human race has safe locations to escape to, in the event the worst occurs and our allies are unable or unwilling to help us."

 

Before Sam could respond, the General's personal aide stepped into the room.  "I'm sorry to disturb you sir, but there's an urgent call for you from the Air Force Academy.  General Riggs would like to speak to both you and Colonel O'Neill, sir."

 

General Hammond stood quickly.  "I believe we're basically finished here.  Colonel O'Neill, please join me in my office.  The rest of you are dismissed.  I believe you've all got a few days down time coming."

 

Jack stood to follow the General, shoving a last bite of the cake into his mouth and grabbing his coffee cup.   Carter stood quickly, and sketched a brief salute to the General.  Teal'c and Daniel came to their feet as well, Teal'c nodding solemnly in deference to the leader of the SGC, while Daniel gathered his papers together. 

 

Jogging a few steps to catch up with the General, Jack asked, "Any idea what the Air Force Academy might need from us that's so urgent?"

 

"No clue, Jack.  I talk to Bill Riggs on a regular basis, of course.  But nothing we've ever discussed has been exactly urgent."

 

"I guess we'll find out soon enough, General."

 

~*~^~*~

 

 

**********

Chapter 2

**********

 

It was déjà vu, except the cake and its leavings had been removed by a fast-moving grunt.  Carter, Teal'c, Daniel and Jack sat on either side of the briefing room table, where they had been less than an hour before, with General Hammond at the head.

 

"General William Riggs arranged to have the clone of Jack, whom we dealt with a few months ago, placed in foster care with the family of an instructor at the Air Force Academy.  The instructor, Colonel Avery Sampson, is a semi-retired Air Force intelligence officer, so we were able to share with him some knowledge of the younger Jack's situation.   Even though I'm quite sure that Jack's clone will adhere to the same rules of secrecy that I would expect from the Colonel, given the knowledge he possesses, the Air Force felt it was important to house him in a situation where some informed supervision would be available.  Up until now, the arrangement seems to have worked out well for all concerned."

 

Hammond paused a moment before dropping the bomb on the remaining members of the team.  "Yesterday afternoon, Young Jack didn't return from school. Apparently, not unlike you, Colonel O'Neill," Hammond glared sternly at O'Neill, sitting to his right, "Young Jack is rather independent-minded.  He frequently goes on after-school excursions on his own and doesn't return until late at night.  But when he still wasn't home this morning, Colonel Sampson and his wife called some of the boy's acquaintances and checked around the neighborhood.  No one has seen or heard of him since yesterday morning. As far as they can tell, he never arrived at school yesterday, which means he's been missing for well over 24 hours. And he's not answering calls to his cellphone.  Given the potential security threat, the Pentagon has been informed and they've tasked the SGC with finding the boy.  There's concern that he may have been kidnapped -- either by the Goa'uld, other aliens, or by more Earthbound threats.  Of course, it's also entirely possible that he's just following in the footsteps of his namesake and being a pain in the..."  The General paused, trying to think of a politically correct term.

 

"...mikta, Sir?" Jack O'Neill volunteered, trying his best not to sound too sheepish.

 

"Well, it takes one to know one."  Hammond assumed his best long-suffering expression and continued.  "Which means that Colonel O'Neill, I expect you to give us some insight into this boy's mind.  After all, he *is* you...just in a younger body."

 

Jack winced slightly at the reminder of just how young his younger self was.  And of the 50^th birthday he had *not* celebrated, just a bit over a year ago.

 

"But he has all your knowledge, skill and, apparently, some measure of your personality.  If anyone knows what he might do or where he might go, it's you.  And as much as the Pentagon is worried about foul play, I think we have to consider the very real possibility that the boy has simply run away from home.  Something tells me you might have done that yourself, a time or two."

 

Before Jack could respond, Carter interrupted.  "Sir, has Colonel Sampson given any indication that Young Jack was unhappy at home?"  It felt strange calling Jack O'Neill "Jack", even when she was referring to the younger version.

 

"Not unhappy, precisely.  But, as I said, he's a very independent young man.  Sampson says he hasn't made any close friends among his schoolmates and keeps to himself mostly."  The General paused a moment and looked down at his hands, clasped in front of himself on the table.  "Not surprising I suppose.  I can't imagine what it's been like for him.  However much we may think wistfully of our youth, I don't think many of us would really want to go back to our teenage years and do it all over again.  Unfortunately, for this young man, there wasn't much choice.  In spite of his mental age, his appearance of youth makes it impossible for him to do much other than cope while his body catches up, in some measure, with his experience."

 

Carter turned to Colonel O'Neill.  "Sir, do you think it's likely that he might have gone to Minnesota?  To your cabin?"

 

"If he has, Carter, he's forgotten most of what I know about going into hiding.  That's the first place anyone would look.  Still, it's worth a shot, I suppose."

 

Hammond was anxious to get the ball rolling.  "Air Force intelligence is investigating possible involvement from terrorists and unfriendly governments here on Earth.  They've been told that the boy is a risk because he could be held as a hostage in exchange for information from his foster father.  Carter, I want you and Daniel to see what you can find out about any alien involvement in this.  See if the Tok'ra might have heard anything.  Jack, you start off by heading up to that cabin of yours.  On the way, be thinking of anyplace else you might go in Young Jack's shoes.  Teal'c, you go with Jack."

 

"GeneralHammond," Teal'c spoke up for the first time, "I believe I would be of greater assistance to MajorCarter and DanielJackson."

 

"C'mon, T," Jack recognized the note of reluctance in the Jaffa's voice, "It won't be that bad.  It's the middle of winter -- no fishing and no bugs, I promise.  Besides, we're not going up there for fun.  If we get up there and there's no trace of the kid, we come straight back.  On the other hand, if he is up there and he doesn't want us to find him, I might need your help.  I was a pretty fast runner at his age.  And I fought dirty."

 

Hammond stood up, signaling the end of the briefing.  "The Colonel has a point, Teal'c.  In case of any problems, I don't want him going up there alone.  This isn't a weekend getaway.  And in the event there are any difficulties, you're the only other member of the team who has been there.  If you don't find anything I want both of you back here posthaste to investigate other possibilities.  On the other hand, if you do find the boy, he'll be much more vulnerable out in the middle of nowhere.  If any hostiles are interested in him, he's just made their job a whole lot easier.  Colonel, we need to keep a low profile on this, but I want you and Teal'c equipped with sidearms in case of trouble.  The two of you will fly up to the National Guard Station in Duluth.  I'll send a team with you, just in case, but they'll stay behind at the base while you and Teal'c check out the cabin.  If you so much as sniff anything out of the ordinary, call in the troops.  Let's get moving, people."

 

~*~^~*~

 

 

**********

Chapter 3

**********

 

Daniel absently picked up his coffee mug and took a sip.  When no liquid actually entered his mouth, his attention was momentarily diverted from the computer screen full of lines of characters.  He starred into the empty cup, trying to remember how many he had actually drunk that day, and wondering at how fast his latest had become empty.  Realizing that he still had several hours of work ahead, he determined that another cup was inevitable.  After saving the file of translations he had been working on, he stood up and stretched his cramping neck and shoulder muscles.  He took his cup and walked out the door, headed for the cafeteria.

 

Just as he was turning down the corridor, he saw Sam turning the corner ahead, walking toward him.

 

"Hi, Daniel.  I needed a break and thought I would snag a cup of coffee from you.  The pot in my office is on the fritz."

 

Daniel looked ruefully down into his empty cup and then back up at his friend.  "You're out of luck, Sam.  I forgot to restock.  My pot works fine, but I haven't got any filters, so I'm stuck drinking the stuff they make in the mess hall.  I could use a bit of a break though, too, if you want to join me."

 

Sam executed a near perfect parade pivot and fell into step alongside Daniel.  "Well, it's a good thing I like the company, ‘cause I sure can't say the same thing about the mess hall coffee.  Still, I'll never make it without something, so Air Force sludge it is."

 

As the two walked through the utilitarian hallways of the SGC, they compared notes.  "Have you heard anything yet?" Daniel asked.

 

"Not really.  We contacted the Tok'ra, of course.  Dad called back earlier this afternoon and said he was flying back from an assignment, but he would be here as soon as he can get to a planet with a secure gate - probably first thing tomorrow morning.  General Hammond didn't want us to transmit any specific information on the situation, of course, so we couldn't just ask him if he knows anything.  I haven't heard anything back from the Rebel Jaffa, other than Pak'tal.  Have you had any luck translating the Goa'uld transmissions he brought back from the Alpha Site?"

 

They had reached the elevators, and Daniel pressed the button that would bring a car to take them down to the mess hall.  "No, nothing.  It's mostly routine chatter, of course.  Although it never ceases to amaze me how the Goa'uld can make a request for a supply shipment sound like an Imperial edict." Daniel grinned at his own joke, then turned to watch the floor indicator as it ticked off the numbers, one by one, descending slowly to their level.

 

~*~*~

 

Sam smiled.  Daniel's wry and understated sense of humor was invariably endearing.  She paused a moment to contemplate the friend she had known for so many years.  She wondered why her not-so-secret affections had always been directed toward Colonel O'Neill.  Was it true that he was the sure thing that kept her safe from a real romance?  Daniel was handsome, unattached, and un-military.  Why had her feelings for him never gone past that of an affectionate sibling?  In the beginning he had been married to Sha're, of course, and she would never have tried to intrude upon his quest to find his wife, or on his grief after her death.  But it had been four years.  Sam didn't think Daniel had been actively pursuing a romance, and she knew he still loved his dead wife and that she would always hold a special place in his heart.  But there had been a couple of occasions when women had shown interest, and Daniel hadn't entirely spurned them. 

 

The elevator car arrived and the two teammates stepped inside.  Sam pressed the button for the appropriate floor, and stepped back to the rear of the car.  They rode up in comfortable silence and Sam continued to reflect on her feelings for the archeologist.

 

He was undeniably intelligent, dedicated and committed.  He was also perhaps one of the most compassionate human beings Sam had ever known.  No one would ever mistake Daniel for a real military man, but his fighting skills were excellent, and Sam would trust him to cover her back as much as she would the Colonel or Teal'c.  Still, while he was skilled with weapons, she knew he hated the need for them.  Daniel wouldn't hurt a fly.  Unless that fly was threatening one of Daniel's teammates, in which case the fly was history.

 

He was thoughtful and sweet, and if she allowed herself a moment of fantasy, Sam could imagine that he would be a terrific, passionate, and gentle lover.   Except that if she closed her eyes and imagined Daniel kissing her, when she opened them, it was Jack's face she imagined pulling back from the kiss.  It was Jack whose fantasy voice whispered "I love you" in her ear during an imaginary evening at home, cuddling on the sofa and watching a movie.  It was Jack's hot, sweaty, glistening biceps that cradled her on top of his chest as they lay in each other's arms after imaginary lovemaking.  And it was Jack who turned to her, handsome in his Class A uniform, chest covered with medals, as he slipped a simple gold band on her finger, proclaiming, "With this ring, I thee wed", in the imaginary wedding that would never happen.

 

"Sam?"

 

"SAM?"

 

"What?  Oh, right."  Somehow, they had gotten into the mess hall line.  Sam was standing with a hot cup of coffee in front of the cashier, holding up the line.  She fumbled to get some cash from one of the pockets of her BDUs.

 

"It's ok, Sam, I got it.  But we need to go find a table and let these other folk pay for their food."

 

Blushing slightly at the memory of where she had gone while she walked, zombie like, through the last few moments, she smiled an apology at the others in line behind her and followed Daniel to a table on the other side of the room, next to the wall.

 

~*~*~

 

Setting his cup down and taking a seat in the hard, plastic chair, Daniel looked at Sam, noting with concern the sudden, sad look in her eyes.  And the tired lines that surrounded them.

 

"Sam, is everything ok?  Maybe you should skip the coffee and go home tonight, get some sleep?"

 

"No, it's ok.  I'm definitely tired, but it's nothing I can't handle.  I've just been doing a lot of thinking lately.  Ever since I got back from Prometheus.  A concussion can do wonders for one's introspective abilities, I guess."  Sam paused to blow across the coffee and take a cautious sip.  "And there was awhile there that I really wondered if I ever would get back.  I guess that kind of thing makes you take a look at your life, see if you're on the right track."

 

Now Daniel was really concerned.  He had never known Sam to question her path in life.  As far as he knew, she was doing exactly what she wanted in life and had everything she wanted.  Well, *almost* everything.  When he had joined the original team that traveled to Abydos all those years ago, Daniel had been pretty naïve about the affairs of men and women.  But even he had recognized the sparks that flew between Jack and Sam when the two had stepped through the gate together the day they came to warn the Abydosians of the renewed Goa'uld threats.  And later, when Sam had been dolled up in that magnificent dress in the village of the Shavadai, the attraction, at least on Jack's part, had been obvious.  Of course, he and Teal'c had been struck by her beauty, too.  But something about Jack's reaction had been different.  And it had definitely sent a signal to the other two male members of the team.  Jack might let regulations keep him from ever making a move, but Sam was still his, and everyone else better keep their hands off.

 

"So, have you been contemplating a new direction?"  Daniel wondered if maybe Sam had decided to take matters into her own hands, perhaps leave the SGC in order to free herself to pursue a life with Jack.  It would be a major blow to the team, and to the program, but Daniel couldn't help but hope that it might be true. He wanted his two friends to find the kind of happiness he'd had with Sha're.

 

"Contemplating, yes.  But I haven't really made any decisions, yet."  Sam studied the rim of her cup, wondering if she had the nerve to jump into unknown waters.  "Daniel, you can tell me this is none of my business, but...have you ever thought about getting involved with another woman?  I mean, since Sha're's been...gone...for a few years now, have you thought about moving on, finding someone else to love?"

 

~*~*~

 

This was definitely not a direction Daniel had expected the conversation to take.  But if insight into his own love life was what Sam needed to get direction for her own, he would try to open up to her.  "If you're asking if I've been on a date in the last 4 years, no, I haven't.   What I had with Sha're was amazing, and special.  And, as much as it hurt to lose her, I'd do it all over again, just to have those few years we had together.  It was worth anything, because she truly was the love of my life.  So I'm not looking for anyone, because I don't believe that anyone else could ever be as much a part of me.  But I'm trying not to completely close myself off from the possibility, either.  Believe it or not, as much as I love my work, I really don't like to think of myself alone for another 30 or 40 years, slowly gathering dust with my "rocks", as Jack likes to call them.   Still, I can't help but think that anyone else would be second best.  A true love is an amazing thing, Sam.  If you think you've found it, don't waste the chance, no matter what."

 

Sam looked intently at Daniel, trying to decide just how far she should take this.  "So, if a woman you know, a friend maybe, let you know that she was interested in something more than friendship, you'd consider it?"

 

Daniel smiled, excited that he might actually be witnessing a breakthrough in the odd saga that was Jack and Sam.  Sam was obviously worried that Jack wasn't over Sara.  And, apparently, in spite of what was obvious to everyone around them, she was concerned that Jack thought of her only as a friend and colleague.  Daniel reached across the table to take one of her hands in his own, squeezing gently to lend encouragement to his words.  "Of course I would, Sam.  Any man would.  Just because I lost my first love doesn't mean I can't find love again.  And as special as a first love is, who's to say that a new love can't be just as special?  As for falling in love with a friend, I would welcome that.  We've all been through so much, I can't imagine trying to have a relationship with someone who doesn't already know me, someone that I would have to hide so much of my life from.  I think that may be one of the reasons I haven't been actively looking for anyone."

 

~*~*~

 

Sam was stunned, and not a little self-conscious, that Daniel was holding her hand, right there, in the middle of the mess hall.  And he had even given it an intimate little squeeze.  Maybe she really had been overlooking something all these years.  True, it violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the regulations.  A relationship with Daniel would complicate the team dynamics.  It could compromise their ability to work together on dangerous missions.  But since Daniel was not military, and not her superior, it wasn't actually forbidden.  Maybe this was the answer.  Now she just had to find the right time to approach him.  The mess hall was definitely not the place.  She really couldn't do anything while on base.  She would have to come up with a casual reason to see him off base.  Or maybe she should just be bold and direct.  Go to his house at the first opportunity and just tell him what she was thinking.   Her father would be proud of that idea.  Reach out and grab what you want from life, and get what you deserve, Sam!

 

Feeling decidedly adventuresome, she returned the squeeze before quickly retrieving her hand to wrap it around the almost-forgotten cup of coffee.  She smiled warmly at the man across from her.  "Thank you, Daniel.  I really appreciate how you've opened up about this."  Suddenly, she remembered the situation that had kept them both on base for so many hours.  Mentally chiding herself for thoughts more appropriate to a teenaged schoolgirl, she stood to go.  "I should really be getting back.  General Hammond wants me to go over all the reports on Young Jack, see how much we can safely share with the local authorities on this.  Before the Air Force had a chance to bury it, the school truant officer reported Young Jack missing.  So now we have to come up with some background that explains how a 15-year-old suddenly turns up out of no where.  The cops ran across a Lt. Colonel Beck who remembers talking to Young Jack about his "Uncle Jack O'Neill", so they're asking lots of questions about the connection."

 

Sam headed towards the door, but flashed another dazzling smile at Daniel.  "See you later?" 

 

~*~*~

 

Daniel nodded, smiling back.  He couldn't believe how well this had worked out.  He'd always thought someone needed to give Jack and Sam a good, solid shove towards each other, but he'd never really contemplated taking on the job himself.  He certainly didn't think of himself as a matchmaker.  But the smile on Sam's face told him that something he had said had obviously brought her to a decision.  And it was apparently one that made her very happy, judging by the bright change in her mood.  Daniel felt that he had accomplished something momentous.  He couldn't wait to see what happened next.

 

~*~^~*~

 

 

**********

Chapter 4

**********

 

Jack and Teal'c flew to Duluth immediately after the briefing.  They spent the evening getting supplies and renting a truck, then billeted overnight on the base.  The drive out to the cabin the next morning gave Jack some quiet time to think.   In the past few months, Teal'c had become a regular chatterbox compared to the silent stoicism of his first few years with the SGC.  But he was still a man of relatively few words.  When Jack and the boy had parted outside Colorado Springs High, the kid seemed excited about the prospect of school.  It was a chance for a "do-over".  Not many people got that in life.  But Jack the older hadn't thought much of the idea then, and he sure didn't think much of it now.  Still, there hadn't been much choice.  There wasn't enough room in the Air Force for two Colonel O'Neills.  Jack was beginning to wonder if there was enough room in the *world* for two of him. 

 

"O'Neill," Teal'c broke Jack's silent contemplation, "I am curious about your choice of lodging here.  Often, when we arrive on a planet, you express disdain for the arboreal growth that is frequently present in great abundance.  Yet you choose to spend your free time in a location surrounded by a great number of the trees you so dislike."

 

Jack couldn't resist the urge to pull the Jaffa's leg a bit.  "Oh, but Teal'c.  These are different.  These are *Minnesota* trees.  They're very special.  I *like* these trees."

 

Teal'c lapsed back into silence, staring intently out the window of the truck at the passing forest.  "I fail to perceive any significant distinction, O'Neill."

 

Jack smiled, and decided to go for broke.  "Well, you're just not looking hard enough, T.  See, these trees, they speak to me.  I understand their language."

 

In spite of some recent comments on the habit, Teal'c couldn't stop himself from raising one eyebrow and looking askance at the Colonel.  "O'Neill.  The trees are silent.  They do not speak."

 

"Sure they do, Teal'c.  In fact, they sing."

 

Turning back to look at the road ahead, Teal'c clasped his hands in his lap, having concluded that he was once again the target of O'Neill's humor.  "I suspect, O'Neill, that you are attempting to deceive me in a manner meant to be humorous.  I believe you call it, ‘pulling my leg'."

 

Jack began to chuckle.  It'd taken 7 years, but the Jaffa was finally starting to catch on. 

 

The two grew silent again, as Jack navigated through the twists and turns of the narrow roads that would eventually lead to his private hideaway.  Driving wasn't easy.  The state was pretty good about clearing even these roads during the winter, but accumulations of piled up snow on either side had compressed the already slim track down to just barely the width of one vehicle.  If they met another car coming from the other direction, someone would have to drive in reverse until they reached a turn off with some maneuvering room.  Which started Jack thinking.  He didn't want to drive right up to the door, which might tip off the young man.  He would have to turn into the driveway of a neighboring cabin about half a mile down the road.  If he remembered right, there was a sharp turn in the neighbor's driveway, just a little past the entry, which would effectively hide the truck from anyone passing by on the road.  That was important in case he and Teal'c actually arrived before Young Jack.  Even though the boy had a more than 24-hour head start, Jack felt sure he wouldn't have arrived at the cabin just yet.  He hadn't taken either of the Sampson's vehicles, so he would be coming by bus, or by train, and most likely hitching and hiking the last several miles.  Jack sincerely hoped the boy hadn't dredged up really old memories and hot-wired someone's car.  On the other hand, Jack knew, and was certain the kid also knew, that a good 30 miles of the trip to the cabin could be cut off by hiking cross-country from the highway.  It wouldn't be easy in snow, but if the kid had snowshoes with him, or could fashion some, the hike could be done in just a couple of hours.

 

Jack hadn't done much hiking through the snow recently.  It was too darn hard on his knees.  In fact, he rarely came to the cabin in the winter months anymore, although there had been a time when he loved it.  But he and Teal'c would have to walk from the place where he parked the truck over to the cabin itself, keeping themselves hidden as best as they could in the bare trees of the sparse winter forest.  And if they did arrive before Young Jack, they would have to hole up in the cabin without a fire or any lights that might warn the kid of their presence.  It was beginning to look like a very long couple of days of waiting.

 

~*~^~*~

 

Jack parked the truck as far off the driveway as he could manage.  On the off chance that his neighbor might choose this week for a winter getaway, he didn't want him running into the truck.  Fortunately, the snow cover here, though deeper, was more even, and didn't have the walls of plowed snow looming on either side.  This meant that the driveway was actually considerably wider than the road had been.  He and Teal'c got out and loaded up with gear from the back of the truck.  Teal'c had a bit of a hard time adjusting to walking with snowshoes, especially while carrying a heavy pack.  Ever the warrior, though, he adapted quickly and soon had to slow his pace so as not to get ahead of O'Neill.  He might be stronger and more fit, but he had no idea how to get to the cabin.

 

Even for O'Neill, hiking the half-mile along the road wouldn't have been difficult.  But crossing uneven terrain, hidden by snow, made the going a bit tough.  O'Neill was glad when they approached the edge of the forest, and could see the outline of his cabin by the frozen lake. O'Neill chuckled silently at the fleeting thought of teaching Teal'c to ice skate, if the ice was thick enough.  The roof and half the porch were covered by about a foot of snow.  Icy crystals of frost clung to the corners of windows. 

 

Luckily, they had approached from the direction of a stream that provided water for the cabin.  Jack was able to check on the reservoir. Jack always drained the reservoir in the late fall, so that the water would not freeze and crack the concrete tank.  He also disconnected the pump mechanism and stored it inside the cabin, where it would be protected from the extreme cold.  The tank was still empty, and there was no sign of the pump, which meant that Young Jack probably hadn't arrived yet.  Still, he silently directed Teal'c to hike inside the tree line to the other side of the property, while he went the other direction.  The lake would prevent them from doing a full 360-degree reconnaissance, but they would be able to view the cabin and the surrounding property from nearly all sides.

 

Satisfied that the place was unoccupied, he backtracked with Teal'c to the backside of the cabin, the back entrance of which was only a few feet from the edge of the trees.   Anyone approaching from the driveway wouldn't see them, or the marks they made in the snow.  Even obliterating their tracks with a tree branch wasn't quite the same as the pristine, untouched plane of solid snow that had been there before.  It felt strange to be using stealth tactics on his own property. 

 

Jack carefully turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.  Inside, he silently surveyed the small kitchen.  There were no signs that anyone had been there since he last left it, several months before.  He signaled Teal'c to check the two bedrooms while he went into the living room and checked on the bathroom. 

 

Finding nothing, the two men decided they could afford to relax and settle in.

 

~*~^~*~

**********

Chapter 5

**********

 

"How long do you believe we should wait for the young man to arrive, O'Neill?  It is entirely possible that he will not come here at all." 

 

Teal'c and Jack were huddled on the floor of one of the cabin's bedrooms, where they couldn't be seen by anyone through the windows.  In addition to heavy underwear and parkas, they had wrapped themselves in several blankets to keep warm.  Although Jack kept the oil furnace burning all winter, to prevent the cold from damaging the furniture or the wood paneling and floors, it was kept at a low temperature.  He felt it was safe enough to raise the heat a bit, but it would take some time for the cabin to heat to a comfortable temperature.  They had been waiting for about two hours, though, and it didn't seem like the temperature inside the small room had risen more than a degree.  The sun had set, and it had begun to grow dark outside.  And with the dark, the world outside grew colder.  Jack hoped his young counterpart wasn't stuck out in it.

 

"I'm figuring, if he's headed here, he's going to get here as fast as he can, without stopping anywhere along the way if he can help it.   I don't think he has a whole lot of money, and if he's really trying to get away from it all, he'll need to spend what he does have on supplies.  He'll know I don't keep much here over the winter.  If he's coming, he'll get here tonight or tomorrow.  If he's not here by the next morning, we'll head on back."

 

"Can you think of any reason why he might leave his foster home, O'Neill.  It does not seem a wise decision.  Most particularly given the season."  Jack thought he could detect a slight shiver going through the big Jaffa's body.

 

"Teal'c, old buddy, I'll take it as a compliment that you assume the kid will always make wise decisions, but tell me, haven't you ever known me to come up with a real corker of a stupid notion now and then?"

 

"I have noted that your ideas sometimes appear to lack forethought.  Although you have remarkable fortune in that even your less wise decisions seem to work out in an advantageous manner, O'Neill."

 

"That's what we call luck, Teal'c.  I only hope my young namesake shares that with me.  If he really is heading this way, and he's on foot like I think he is, he's gonna need luck if he doesn't show up soon.   As to why he might run away, probably for the same reasons I ran away when I was his age.   Except I couldn't really explain it then and I don't think I can now.  Call it an independent streak combined with an insatiable wanderlust.  I got to a point where I couldn't stand being stuck in one place, and I couldn't stand doing what my folks said to do.  For him, it's probably 3 times worse, considering that he's 3 times older than I was then."

 

Teal'c seemed to absorb that for awhile.  When he spoke again, Jack could hear the genuine concern in his voice.  "You believe the plan for the young man to assume the ‘normal' life of a teenage boy was unwise, O'Neill?"

 

Jack sighed, remembering the misgivings he'd had about *that* plan.  He'd tried once more, when he dropped the boy off, to get him to reconsider.  He should have known it wouldn't work.  He was sure Young Jack was just as stubborn as he was, and would not easily give up on an idea once it took up residence in his thick head.  "I didn't do well in high school, Teal'c.  And I don't mean academically, although I wasn't exactly inclined to hit the books too regularly.   You may have noticed I'm not exactly enamored of authority figures."  Jack thought he saw the ghost of a smile crack the dark façade of his friend.  Or maybe it was just a trick of the dimming light.  "Anyway, I was feelin' my oats in high school and the teachers, my parents and just about everyone around me was trying their best to keep me in line.  It wasn't a happy time.  And I haven't changed that much in 30 odd years.  I can't think of a worse fate than to have to go back to that."

 

Teal'c nodded.  "I often wonder, as I have observed Rya'c struggle with the difficulties of coming to manhood, how it is that I managed to survive it, myself.  I wonder, too, how my own father was able to deal with me at that age."

 

It was Jack's turn to chuckle.  "Are you telling me you were a rebellious teenager, Teal'c?  Did you give your folks Ne'tu?"

 

"Indeed."

 

A comfortable silence settled between the old friends.   The light outside had completely gone, except for a silver haze of moonlight, reflected off the snow.  The men's eyes adjusted to the dim light.  Jack got up once to relieve himself in the small bathroom that wasn't much more than a closet wedged between the two bedrooms.  Gratefully, he crawled back under the blanket and shivered awhile as his chilled body absorbed the preserved warmth.  He had nearly dozed off when he was startled by Teal'c's whispering voice.

 

"It was about 3 years after the ceremony of prim'tah.  A young Jaffa is considered to be a man and a warrior once he has had a symbiote implanted.  It is a great responsibility -- one that every young Jaffa is expected to live up to.  Although we adults are fully aware that the young still have much to learn and a great deal of maturity yet lies ahead of them.  Still, the young are expected to conduct themselves with the seriousness of a warrior.  There was a young girl in our village, one who was of about my same age.  She was exceedingly beautiful.  We had grown up together and were good friends.  Two years after the Age of Prata, she was sent to be a priestess of the temple.  About a year after that, during the time of a festival, she had returned to visit her family and to assist with the festivities and ceremonies.   As is the custom, one of the other novices accompanied her.  During the festival, I convinced her to steal away with me into the woods.  I had missed her very much and thought I could convince her to leave the temple and run away with me.  Her companion saw us leave.  It was our good fortune that she went to my own father, and not the girl's.  It is forbidden for novices to consort with men, and doubly forbidden for a man to seduce a novice.  Had her father known, he would undoubtedly have had me killed.  I'm certain my father considered it, but perhaps my mother stayed his hand.  As it is, he punished me by requiring that I train continuously, without break, for five days.  It took me 2 full days of Kelno'reem to recover my strength afterwards.  And I was not allowed to leave the village for a year, except for training exercises."

 

Jack almost couldn't believe what he'd just heard.  "You, Teal'c, a regular Romeo?  I've always known you had a certain appeal with the ladies, but I never realized you were a hot-blooded young stud!"

 

Teal'c leaned his head back against the bed.   "The incident served to cool my ardor for young women.  And I had a full year during which my only outlet was combat training.  I believe my father was wise - it has served me well."

 

"Bet you didn't think back then that he was so wise, did you?"

 

"No.  I did not."

 

"Well, it *does* sound like it was a pretty dumb thing to do.   Still, we guys do lots of dumb things for women.  You mind taking watch for a bit, Teal'c?  I think I'll see if I can get a little nap."

 

"Very well, O'Neill.  Sleep well.  I will awaken you if there is any sign of the boy."

 

~*~^~*~

 

 

**********

Chapter 6

**********

 

Sam had finally decided to take Daniel's advice and go home.   She had finished the report for General Hammond, who passed on the information that she recommended to the local authorities.  After that, there wasn't much left to do but wait for responses to their calls.  They had called the Asgard as well on the off chance that perhaps Loki had gotten loose and taken back his little "experiment". 

 

The next morning, while Jack and Teal'c drove through the snows of Minnesota, Sam was drove through light flurries in Colorado Springs, headed back to the mountain.   Waiting for the elevators to get down to her office, she remembered why she so often elected to just stay there.  Getting in and out took so long it sometimes didn't seem worth the effort.  

 

As soon as she arrived in her lab, a message was waiting for her to report to General Hammond's office right away.  She found Daniel and the General waiting for her. 

 

"Major Carter, I'm glad you're here.  The Asgard have responded to our call, and have assured us that Loki remains in custody.  I didn't make any mention of the boy, of course, but with Loki secure, it seems unlikely that the Asgard would know anything about Young Jack's whereabouts.  I'm afraid your father's been here and gone.  We would have contacted you, but he was in a hurry to return.  There are some issues heating up at the Alpha Site that Selmak feels require his presence.  We discussed the problem with Jack's clone, and he said he hadn't heard anything among either the Tok'ra or the Jaffa, but that they would continue to monitor any communications intercepted from the Goa'uld for any likely references, and pass on anything that might be significant.  Oh, and he sends his love and asked me to give you a big hug.  Consider it done, Major."

 

Sam blushed slightly at the familiarity.  Even though General Hammond had been "Uncle George" when she was growing up, she made a concerted effort to maintain proper military decorum with him, especially while on base.  Leave it to Dad to brush all that aside.  General Hammond, of course, sided with Sam.  So he wouldn't give her that hug here.  But she knew he would make a point in the next few days to drop by her home so that he could share the more private parts of her father's message with her.

 

Hammond continued.  "Dr. Jackson hasn't gotten anything useful out of the first set of Goa'uld communications.  It's beginning to look more and more like the boy has simply disappeared himself somewhere here on Earth.  Major, you and the Doctor know Jack better than anyone on this base.  Which means, that you also know Young Jack.  I'd like you two to think of anyplace in town or in the surrounding areas that *Jack* would go if he were trying to get away from things, or hide out for awhile.  Check places out...talk to people.  And be sure to drop by Jack's house, see if you see any sign of the boy.  For all we know, Young Jack is holed up there, expecting Jack to come home from a mission.  If you don't have any questions, you're dismissed."

 

Sam snapped to attention.  "Thank you, sir.  We'll get right on it."  She and Daniel exited the office, and proceeded to the elevators for the long ride back up to the surface, including stops along the way to pick up coats from their respective offices.

 

~*~^~*~

 

They spent most of the morning, and a good part of the afternoon, driving around looking for the missing young man.  As instructed, they stopped by Jack's home first.  Sam couldn't help but marvel, as she did each time she visited his home, at what a beautiful place it was.  So peaceful, and so in harmony with nature.  Jack might travel the stars on a regular basis, brandishing his P-90 and his zat, but he was a real nature boy at heart.  Having determined that no one had been in the house, other than the "real" Jack, they scoured nearby fishing streams and campgrounds, most of which were all but deserted in the dead of winter.  They knew that Jack frequently stopped by a bar or two around town, but they discounted those.  It was unlikely that the Young Jack would be allowed inside.  While executing their search, they checked out any likely shelters that Young Jack might have used.  A young man seeking a place to get out of the cold could easily break into offices and ranger stations in the closed campgrounds and parks.  But those, too, had yielded nothing. 

 

They grabbed a quick lunch at a fast-food restaurant, but by 4:30 they were exhausted and hungry.   They agreed to call it quits for the evening.  Sam decided this might be a good time to pursue her plan of action.

 

"I'm gonna call the base and report in to General Hammond.  What do you say we go back to my house and order a pizza?  My treat."

 

Daniel was driving.  He glanced over at Sam, a little surprised at her sudden change of subject.  "Well, I'd like to see if there are any more Goa'uld communications to translate before I decide to call it a night.  But if there's nothing new, sure."

 

After she finished her report, Sam dutifully asked if any further communications had been received.  Feeling a little guilty, she crossed her fingers and hoped there were none.  She wanted to find out if her encounter with Daniel over coffee the previous night had been all that she thought it was.  If maybe there was a spark of something there that she had overlooked all these years.  On the other hand, if there were more communications, they might contain information that would lead them to Young Jack.  Still, she felt a little thrill when the answer came back that nothing further had been received. 

 

"What about your car, Sam?" Daniel asked, when Sam told him they could go straight to her place, "don't you want to pick it up?"

 

"No -- that's not necessary.  And it would be a bit out of the way.  I can just take a cab in tomorrow morning."  Sam leaned over and turned on the radio.  It was tuned to a station that blasted out heavy metal rock tunes.  "Daniel!  Is this what you usually listen to?"  Sam had to shout to be heard above the din.

 

Daniel laughed and turned the volume down.  "No.  But sometimes in the morning, when I haven't had enough coffee yet, I'm a little groggy.  This helps keep me awake on the drive to work.  You can switch to anything you like."

 

Sam quickly scanned through the stations and stopped on one that played oldies.  Daniel glanced over at her again.

 

Seeing the look of surprise on his face, Sam defended her choice.  "Yeah, I know.  I'm a child of the 80s, but I like music from the 50s and 60s.  Mom used to play this stuff when I was really young.  It makes me feel good.  I guess it gives me a connection to her."

 

"It's ok, Sam.  You can listen to anything you like.  Actually, I kinda like this music, too, for similar reasons.  Mom and Dad used to love to dance around to this stuff when I was real little.  Hearing it reminds me of that."

 

During the rest of the drive to Sam's house, the two chatted, sharing memories of growing up.  Sam knew Daniel's parents had been archeologists, but she never realized all the fascinating places that he lived before their tragic deaths.  And it amazed her how vivid his memories of those years were, considering he was only 8 years old when he was put into foster care.  She shared with him some of the exotic locales she and her family had been posted to while her father was on active duty.

 

When they arrived at her house, Sam invited Daniel to make himself at home while she went back to the bedroom to quickly change out of her uniform.  When she returned, she was wearing a soft, but loose teal green sweater and a pair of comfortable jeans.  She had briefly pondered the idea of something a bit more alluring, but decided it would be too obvious.  And besides, it really wasn't her style.  Daniel had found her audio equipment and tuned the radio to the same station they had listened to in the car, turning the volume down to a level that would allow conversation.  Sam detoured into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.  "Would you like something to drink, Daniel?  Beer goes great with pizza, you know. I've got St. Pauli and Guinness, any preference?"

 

"St. Pauli sounds good.  Thank goodness you have better stuff than Jack."

 

Sam grabbed two bottles and quickly opened them on the counter.  She opened a drawer and snagged the pizza menu on her way back to the living room.  Sitting down on the other side of the sofa, she handed Daniel his beer and offered him the menu.  "Anything in particular you want on your pizza?"

 

Daniel took the beer, but waved off the menu.  "Anything is fine.  I'll even do anchovies, if you like ‘em."

 

"I usually keep it pretty simple.  I like some kind of meat on it, just not pepperoni.  So I