Chapter Ninety One

* * * * * *

Jack had put the last suitcase in the driveway as Daniel and Amber appeared, loaded down with food.
**Just put it all in the kitchen.**
**Okay...He's still not talking to me.**
**So talk to him.**
He saw Daniel pause for a moment when Amber said something, but then he continued walking.
**You okay?**
**Not really, no.**
**We have, what...fifteen minutes before your sister's friend gets here, right?**
**About that, yeah. Why?**
**I think I'm going to send you and Janet to get your clothes. Did you call the Taxi?**
**Yes. It should be here in twenty minutes.**
**Good. We don't want to keep her long. Last thing we need is your sister going into labor.**
**Jack, she's only six months along. I doubt that she's...**
**She's carrying triplets...I think that qualifies as one of the scariest things I can imagine. Doesn't that make her chances of going into labor early even higher?**
**Yes, but not enough to panic.**
**I'm not changing three babies' diapers.**
**Yes you are.**
**Just try and make me.**
Amber's mental snort made him chuckle as he headed back into the house.
He headed to his room where Janet had gone to make sure Cassie hadn't left anything.
**Oh please stop.**
**I can't help it.**
**Yes you can. I have no desire to see her like that. That's not my idea of fun.**
Jack grinned at Amber's token disgust.
She wasn't thrilled, he'd be a bit concerned if she ever was, but she wasn't sickened like she used to be.
**You realize it's only been...less than two weeks since we first met?**
**Really? It feels like a lifetime.**
**I know.**
**She's holding her wrist again.**
**What happened to the splint?**
**I don't know.**
**Ask.**
Jack paused in the doorway, watching Janet rummage through his drawer.
Some things never changed.
He grinned, walking up to her as quietly as possible.
In an instant, his arms were around her from behind and she screamed bloody murder, her legs kicking him repeatedly.
Her head came backwards, hitting his nose and he released her, half in shock and half in approval.
As she turned on him, her fists raised and ready, he saw her glowing eyes.
He sighed, checking his nose to make sure it wasn't bleeding.
Carter.
Of all the stupid...
He winced at Amber's hilarity.
She was mentally laughing her head off at him and he was definitely not enjoying it.
"Sir! Sorry, sir!"
Sam's eyes were huge.
His voice nasaled a bit from the pressure he was placing on his nose.
It wasn't bleeding, but it felt like it was.
" 'sokay Carter. I'll live."
Sam bit her lip, listening to Janet laugh.
Janet had been in charge when the Colonel had grabbed her, but since there were so many unknowns happening, she'd put Sam in charge, immediately.
They'd been practicing...switching back and forth so either would be available in case of emergency.
The Colonel had just gotten the raw end of it.
*Sam, it's okay. That's pride in his eyes.*
*That's my Commanding Officer holding his nose and shaking his legs to make sure I didn't do permanent damage, Janet. If I keep hitting him, he's going to hit me back.*
*You're young. You can take him.*
*Promise to tranq him first?*
*Better believe it. It's my body you'd be destroying otherwise.*
Sam sighed, dropping into a raft as Janet took over.
She'd wanted to go white water rafting for awhile and Janet had made it clear that if she did it in Janet's mind, she still wouldn't be able to predict how it would go, but at least she'd be safe.
Janet had been putting the scene together for the last ten minutes and Sam couldn't wait for the water to start moving.
Janet didn't want to start the water until she could give it her undivided attention.
The last thing Sam needed was to get banged up because Janet was distracted.
She stepped forward, her hands checking Jack from head to toe.
She caught the miniscule wince as her hand probed his shoulder and knew his shoulder was bothering him.
Not surprising since he hadn't exactly been nice to it the past five days.
"Take some Tylenol for that, Colonel."
"Call me Jack while we're off duty and Colonel while we're on, okay?"
Janet raised her eyebrows at him.
"I just think we should try a little separation if we're going to be involved personally. Otherwise, we're going to have problems."
*He's right, you know.*
*I don't see you calling him Jack.*
*I'm not in love with him.*
Janet smiled at him.
"You're right...this combination stuff gets a bit confusing...but no corrections if rank slips out. Okay?"
"Deal, Doc."
She grinned at him, kissing him deeply for a moment before drawing back.
Intensely satisfied with the stunned look on his face, she laid down on the bed.
"Umm..."
Janet grinned.
"Sam's going rafting and I have to be able to concentrate on it without any outside distractions. You're now elected to guard me until she's done."
"Do I get to be on the bed, too?"
"No funny business, mister. Sam won't appreciate flying over a waterfall without warning."
Jack looked hurt for a moment before grinning and shutting the door.
Hopping onto the bed next to her, he kissed her softly.
"No distractions?"
"None."
"Okay. Rafting?"
"Yep. Not much else to do until time to leave. Now shush."
"Yes, ma'am."
He folded his arms under his head and just lay there, enjoying her closeness.
Janet stared for a minute before grinning back and closing her eyes so she could control her new environment.
Sam was more than ready and Janet re-checked everything before giving Sam the wildest, yet safest, ride she could.

* * * * * *

*My fish! Ugh.*
*They are probably dead.*
Daniel paused, his disgust at forgetting his poor fish mixing with his annoyance with Jolinar.
*I need to go check on them.*
*So go.*
Daniel sighed, trying to show Jolinar mental pictures of his fish to help her understand why her callousness was not appreciated.
She remained amused, but made no more comments about his fish.
He walked through the house, looking for Jack, before ending up in front of Jack's bedroom door.
It was locked.
Amber was beside him a moment later.
"Janet's taking Sam for a mental rafting thing or something. Jack's just lying there beside her. He's supposed to be asking her to drive me to get my clothes and instead he's just lying there. He's so whipped."
Daniel choked a bit.
"Whipped?"
"Trust me...he's totally whipped."
Daniel educated Jolinar on the specific nuances of the word as soon as her thoughts of Janet whipping Jack started.
He was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
*The etymology of the word is clear. I can see how it would lead to that particular usage.*
Daniel calmed himself, chuckling a bit in spite of himself as his eyes met Amber's.
"I believe it. I'll take you. I need to check on my fish. We'll just leave a note for Jack."
"We need to hurry to be back here when Judy shows up."
"Then let's go."
Daniel paused as a thought flitted past him.
"Where's Cassie?"
"She was helping me put away the food after you went looking for Jonathan. I assume she's still in the kitchen."
"Okay."
He walked into the living room, looking around.
*How aware were you while you were inside Sam?*
*Sometimes completely aware, other's completely unaware...I assume you are referring to my awareness of the world outside Samantha's mind.*
*Yeah. Jack said Sam had a goold flashback while they were in the mine. That she remembered...through you...that the sarcophagus would hurt me when used while I was healthy. Did you tell her that or was she somehow accessing your mind?*
Jolinar reeled slightly under the onslaught of emotion and memory he automatically sent her before realizing it was too much and calmed himself.
*Thank you. She was exhausted and hurt. Her weakness allowed me to breach the box, sending my memories through. She saw them all, subconsciously sifting through them for useful information. I do not know why she only recalled those specific memories. I do not pretend to understand completely what she did to me. Whatever information she did not utilize was because of her mistake. Not mine.*
*Shh...it's okay. I was just curious. It was the first time it had happened to her. That's all.*
*Amber is growing impatient.*
*Yeah, well, I can't find Janet's purse and it's her car we're taking so she can just wait.*
*There it is.*
Daniel fished around in Janet's purse and after removing her keys, he started to jot down a quick note letting them know where he and Amber had gone and that they were taking Jack's cell phone, but Amber stayed his hand with her own.
"Jonathan knows and says to be careful."
Daniel grinned.
"Still not used to it, I guess."
"That's okay. I still get slightly freaked every time your eyes glow. Just something to deal with."
"Yeah. Ready? Come on."
Amber grabbed a couple bottled waters from the kitchen fridge since it was rather warm outside.
Joining Daniel at the door, she smiled at Jack's reminder to get the spare key she'd left in the potted plant outside her door.
**Don't worry about us. Just enjoy...well, you know.**
**Shut up.**
**Must be frustrating.**
**Amber...**
She schooled her expression so Daniel wouldn't have a clue what she was thinking or feeling and followed him out the door.
She picked up Janet's suitcase and put it in the car since Janet had said to put her clothes in it to minimize luggage space.
Daniel started the car and as soon as she was buckled in, pulled out.

* * * * * *

Teal'c barred the door with nothing more than the strength of his presence.
Hagar Lucas Trivies sat on the bed, slumping a bit whenever the General looked somewhere else.
*The General looks ridiculous in that getup.*
*No, really?*
*Really.*
Hagar stifled a smile.
Lucas was such a part of him that he wasn't even sure he had his own opinions sometimes.
*He's not a bad man.*
*No, but he is in the way. They all are.*
*Well at least Dr. Corvores reacted to us when she saw us. Enough that they're all worried. That means she remembers us.*
*But what if she only remembers us, not your mother?*
*There's no way that O'Neill could forget his time there. If the implant works properly in him, she'll continue re-living his memories without him being able to stop it in any way.*
*I know...I'm just concerned about the long-term effects of the implant.*
*As long as it's removed in the next month, there won't be any permanent brain damage...just minor bruising that will go down with proper treatment.*
*They may try to take us with them to Florida.*
*So we'll go, even though they'll be suspicious if we simply go.*
*Make a fuss, but if they were really paying attention to us like they should...*
*They'd wonder why, if we meant to leave, there's no vehicle either parked outside or waiting to take us back.*
*Until that occurs to them, we shouldn't have a problem.*
*We're bruising a bit from the way Teal'c handled us.*
Lucas's mind became agitated.
*Can you repair the damage?*
*Not until we sleep. Otherwise, I may accidentally disconnect from you.*
*Then leave it. I have no desire to float here by myself.*
*If we don't report in...*
*Don't worry. Angela will inform Onar the moment our second check in passes.*
*I know. I'm more worried what Peri will do. Her host will not live much longer.*
*Tesaf said he knew of someone who was dying that might be receptive to a joining. Perhaps by the time we take Dr. Corvores, they'll already be joined.*
*Father is growing impatient. The political climate is tense this year.*
*He'll be re-elected. He's been doing this for far too long to let anything that mundane...what is it?*
*Gotta pee.*
*Think we can go without an escort?*
*I don't know.*
"Sir, I need to get to the bathroom."
The General just motioned to Teal'c.
*What's he doing?*
*I'm not sure, but it looks like he's...ugh. Here we go again.*
Hagar twisted a bit, making sure Teal'c knew he didn't appreciate being dragged from the room.
He sighed inwardly as the General winced at the way Teal'c was holding him.
*Is this legal?*
*No, but I sincerely doubt we can do anything about it until we get the information out of Dr. Corvores.*
*Perhaps if you can be-friend Capt. Carter...*
*As a Tok'ra? I doubt it. We aren't Tok'ra.*
*We defend this planet.*
*Yes, but we don't go out and attack the System Lords. I don't care about their petty squabbles...do you? Seriously?*
*No, not really.*
*Then we're not Tok'ra.*
*So what do we tell them?*
*We keep telling them the truth...without any extra details.*
Teal'c practically tossed him into the bathroom.
"In five minutes I will join you if you have not emerged from the room."
*Gross. Well this violates our rights.*
*At least he gave us five, he probably didn't want to do that.*
*Oh hurray for the Jaffa honor system.*

* * * * * *

To Next Chapter