* * * * * *
Terry wavered between extreme irritation and resignation.
They were never going to leave this world.
That's why the dragons had given them a baby.
They knew there was no danger in giving a baby to people who would never leave.
They might even get to the Gate...and then get taken on another trip.
He wondered what the dragons made of the Gate and then his breath caught.
He looked down at the spirals, covering his eyes to protect them from the glare.
This was what Mason had described.
He flicked his radio.
"Mason! Harris! Fr...ah...I'm flying over some rather huge spirals. Can you hear me?"
"Sir! Yes, sir. Mason's...a little out of it, but coming around quickly. Do you need us to try to..."
"Nope. Stay put. Plant your feet if you have to, but stay put."
"Sir, if we stay with the dragons, we'll have a better chance of getting back with you since they don't seem to like to be gone for long periods of time."
"Harris, if at all possible, stay put. I actually know where, relative to the Gate, that you are. So stay."
"Yes, sir."
Terry gritted his teeth, hurriedly putting away the radio as the dragon decided rollercoaster loops were a good idea.
He disagreed, but was apparently out-voted.
* * * * * *
Cassie scooted slowly across the seat, looking out the window.
She avoided the other windows, even though all the people sticking their heads and fingers in had been scared off by Teal'c earlier.
There were still breath imprints on the windows from people trying to see in through the lightly tinted windows.
Her heart was beating a mile a minute, now, though, as she saw the uniformed men trying to politely, but firmly shove Teal'c aside.
"Sir, we need to assess the situation. If you don't mind, this officer will take your statement."
"I will say nothing."
"Oh please. Sir, we really need some answers here."
"I have been informed many times of the need for secrecy. I will not break my oath. I do not recognize your authority."
The policeman gaped a bit and then shoved past him.
Teal'c turned, walking with him.
People formed a shell around the officials as the Paramedics arrived, piling out and efficiently getting basic triage equipment set up.
"We need everyone to move back! We have injured here! Please! Everyone back up!"
The McDonald's parking lot was full of pedestrians trying to see and medical, as well as law enforcement, personnel, trying to figure out the situation.
Daniel sighed, wondering just how bad this was gonna get.
Amber was in the crowd, trying to get back to the group, but either the police were being blind and didn't notice she was covered in blood...not all of which was Jack's, he was afraid, or else they just figured everyone was joining in the fun.
*She will be most annoyed when she does rejoin us.*
*Yeah, well...she'll be most annoyed if everyone gets treated except for her.*
*Her wounds are not severe. A Tok'ra healer will take care of them quickly. They will come for us.*
*Uh huh...yeah...I can see Jack just being thrilled...ugh.*
*He is still here. You can see him.*
*It's not the same.*
*Life would be most boring if everything stayed the same.*
*Boring works sometimes.*
* * * * * *
Nora kept trying to move away from the dragon and the major, but was thwarted by the invisible force throwing her wherever she didn't want to go.
Finally, she reached out to her CO, mentally pushing herself into him.
Maybe whatever this sticking force was that kept her with him would keep her from flying everywhere else if she was deliberately staying next to him.
As she pushed inside of him, her brain went black.
Terry opened his eyes, scared to death...seemingly literally.
He looked around himself, and then he looked into his own eyes and saw...something else.
"Who are you?"
Nora snapped awake, looking around her at the dragon she was now riding.
She was in a body...a real body...a...male...body.
She gripped the dragon harder, trying to figure out how it had happened.
It was obviously her CO's body.
Part of her felt as if she'd always been in this body and part was sickened, not finding familiar connections.
Questions hit her.
Where was Gorowitz?
Was he dead?
Had she killed him when she entered him or was he here, too?
Terry glared at whatever/whoever was inside his body.
He'd heard of things like this happening to SG-1, but he'd always figured they were at least slightly exaggerated.
He couldn't deny, though, that something had stolen his body.
He decided to run, surprised when he actually did move into his body, fierce determination filling him.
Blackness brushed through his mind.
Terry coughed, looking around him.
He must've blacked out for a minute there.
His hands felt a little tingly and he saw he'd been gripping the dragon so tightly, blood circulation had been cut off.
Strange.
Nora shook her head, glaring at her CO.
He'd taken back his body.
How had he done that?
At least she thought it was Gorowitz...
What if there were more than one ghost around here and they were taking turns with her CO...musical bodies...?
Nora reached out to see if she could take it again and this time, there was slight resistance.
Not enough to stop her, but enough to be uncomfortable as she pressed inside.
Terry opened his eyes, scared to death...seemingly literally.
He looked around himself, and then he looked into his own eyes and saw...something else.
"Who are you?"
Nora sighed, this time determined to enjoy her sojourn in a real body.
Terry glared at whatever/whoever was inside his body.
He'd heard of things like this happening to SG-1, but he'd always figured they were at least slightly exaggerated.
He couldn't deny, though, that something had stolen his body.
He decided to run, surprised when he actually did move into his body, fierce determination filling him.
Blackness brushed through his mind.
Terry coughed, looking around him.
He had a massive headache.
His hands felt a little sore, but nothing big.
Nora looked on, annoyed.
She stared at her CO, still not sure whether it was him or not.
It looked like him.
She chastised herself immediately for that bit of wisdom.
She looked like him when she was wearing his skin.
That had been really nice...
She knew she missed being alive, but to feel, for even a moment, flesh and blood around her...
She wasn't going to pass up this opportunity.
She wouldn't keep the body...just...borrow it when no one was around and wouldn't notice Gorowitz acting...un-Gorowitzy.
Nora smiled a bit, pushing into him again, grimacing when it felt like pushing through mud.
Terry opened his eyes, scared to death...seemingly literally.
He looked around himself, and then he looked into his own eyes and saw...something else.
"Who are you?"
Nora relaxed, leaning back with a satisfied smile on her face as she concentrated on each and every small detail his body offered her.
Terry glared at whatever/whoever was inside his body.
The smile on his own face sent cold shivers through him.
He'd heard of things like this happening to SG-1, but he'd always figured they were at least slightly exaggerated.
He couldn't deny, though, that something had stolen his body.
He decided to run, surprised when he actually did move into his body, fierce determination filling him.
Blackness brushed through his mind.
Nora glared at the body she'd just been shoved out of.
It was just going to be like this, then.
A fight.
Fine.
Terry coughed, looking around him.
He had a massive headache.
A small trickle of liquid touched his lip and he touched it, his eyes widening when he realized it was blood.
Nora moved backwards when the blood made it's random little way down her CO's face.
She was sure she'd done that.
His body must be reacting to her taking it.
Guilt ate at her and bitterness swamped her.
She couldn't even enjoy a little bit of happiness without something spoiling it.
Well, she didn't have to go into him.
It was only when she'd deliberately tried to control herself that it had happened.
So she just wouldn't...do anything.
She grimaced, hating the decision she'd just made.
She hated being dead.
* * * * * *
