The Joys of Youth
Part 3
Jack lent on the counter between the kitchen and living room watching the giggling occupant of the couch. He couldn't help smiling, even though he had no idea what was tickling Daniel's funny bone. It was just so good to see Daniel happy. He pushed himself up from the counter and made his way round to join the still giggling Daniel.
Sitting down he put his arm round Daniel. "You gonna let me into the joke?"
Daniel snorted and grinned at Jack. "After twenty years of toeing the line and only muddying up the academic waters slightly. I finally become a teenage delinquent." He gave another giggle. "Oh god, it took an Ancient doohickey to give me my childhood dream. How screwed is that!" He tilted his head back and gazed sightlessly at the ceiling and yelled, "thanks, Mom!" Jack finally joined in the laughter. It was either that or cry, he thought.
After a couple of minutes, the laughter died down and the two sat in silence until Jack gave Daniel a nudge. "Hey, the sun is still shining and there is a nice breeze. Wanna take that run to the park?"
Daniel gave a small smile. "Yeah, that would be nice."
"Ok, Wonder Boy you get yourself to the door and I'll get your chariot ready. Then we'll head out and enjoy the sun and breeze." Jack stood and dropped a kiss on Daniel's head. That earned him the 'Daniel Special' smile. The one that always took Jack out at the knees and made him forget to breath. 'Yep, that smile definitely needs a health warning.' Jack made his way to the door, opened it and began to unfold the wheel chair that was resting at the side of the door.
He had just finished setting it up when Daniel appeared at the door, moving slowly on his crutches. "Ok, babe, I gotcha." Jack gently removed the left crutch and holding on the arm guided Daniel round to the seat. He began to lower Daniel down when he felt the tingling and the sense of displacement come over him.
"Ah, crap, crap, crap!!! Oma, your timing so sucks!" Jack walked through the swirling sand into the calm centre of the storm. He looked round and felt his concern build up at the non appearance of Daniel. He didn't care that Oma wasn't around yet. He just wanted Daniel to appear.
He was just about to make his worry know when he heard Daniel's raised voice. "....you let him, die??? Didn't you care enough for him to help ascend? You helped me. Why not him?" Jack watched as both Daniel and Oma walked out of the swirling sand. Jack automatically open his arms and Daniel walked straight into them.
"She didn't help him, Jack. Let him die. Under that stone." Daniel's words were muffled as he burrowed his head into Jack's shirt. If Jack had the means he would have taken Miss Glowy out, there and then.
"You want to answer his questions?" He asked as he looked at the ascended being calmly standing there watching them.
"Parvulus asked me and I have answered him."
"Don't call me that!" Daniel snarled from Jack's chest.
"What happened was unfortunate."
"Unfortunate???" Daniel lifted his head and gazed incredulously at Oma.
Oma gave a nod. "Unfortunate. It was too soon. It was not meant to happen at that point."
Daniel frowned and stepped away from Jack. He took a couple of steps towards Oma. "You planned the accident. Didn't you. You planned it as a way for you to return to the Others. You didn't care what happened to Dad. He was just in the way. As I was. You didn't and don't really care about us." Jack watched with interest as a small ball of fire developed in Daniel clenched right hand. He watched with equal interest as the ball flew towards Oma. Who then calmly caught it and snuffed it out.
"You, were and are a impetuous and impertinent child. Your father allowed you to much freedom." Jack gaped as Daniel suddenly glowed brightly, allowing a burst of energy to launch from his hand and hurl Oma backwards into the swirling sand. There was an ominous crackling, a rumbling and the sand seemed to glitter with energy.
"I think you pissed off your Mom." Jack said and he walked to Daniel's side.
"Yeah, looks like it." Daniel said with a small smile.
"Feel better, though, dontcha." Jack grinned and gently punched Daniel on the arm.
"Yeah." Daniel grinned.
"Remind me not to piss you off."
"I will." "So?"
"So?"
"So, do we wait for Mom to return or can you get us back?" The sand crackled around them again and Oma reappeared.
"Ok, that answers my question." Jack said. The two of them stood waiting. Oma stood facing them for what seemed like minutes, but in reality was only seconds.
"As I said you are a impetuous and impertinent child." Jack grabbed Daniel's hand. Ignoring the pain that shot up his hand from the heat emanating from the hand he held.
Oma frowned. "You must learn control. You cannot let your emotions control you. That way leads to disaster and chaos. Anubis will not allow you any mistakes. You must learn control. Use your Petrus. Rely and lean on him. He is your eyes. The Darkness approaches. You must be ready. Soon the light will be needed." She gave a wave of her hand and darkness seemed to enfold them.
Jack gave a groan and found himself kneeling beside the wheel chair, which held Daniel. He looked round and realised they were still in the front driveway. Glancing at his watch he was stunned to see only three minutes had passed since they had blacked out. He lent forward and gently shook Daniel's shoulder. "Come on Sleeping Beauty wake up."
"Whaaaa?" Jack smiled as the eyes in front of him opened and blinked a few times in bemusement.
"Hey, you fully with me, yet?" He smiled again as Daniel frowned. He watched as emotions skittered over Daniel's face as the memories came back to him.
Daniel leaned forward abruptly and gripped Jack's arms. "She killed him, Jack! She stood there and watched him die! She didn't do a single thing to help him. My own mother stood there and watched my father die."
Jack wrapped his arms round Daniel. His heart broke as he heard the muffled words coming from his shirt. "I want her dead, Jack. I want her dead."
"I know, babe, I know" Jack pulled Daniel closer to him and rocked as tears soaked into the front of his shirt.
Thirty minutes later Jack sat on a park bench watching the kids swarming over the jungle gym. He licked an errant drip from his ice cream and switched his gaze to the young man sat beside him. Daniel sat with his head tilted up, basking in the warmth of the sun and enjoying the feel of the breeze drifting by his face. He had a small smile that played over his lips. Jack took another lick of his ice cream and asked, "How you doing?"
Daniel tilted his head towards Jack and his smile grew slightly. "I'm getting there. I still want her dead, but not the long, slow, painful death I originally planned for her."
"Crap." Jack took a vicious swipe at his ice cream.
Daniel gave a sigh. "I'm trying to understand her, Jack. Trying to understand why she acted as she did." He paused and huffed in frustration. "But, I can't understand. No matter how I try. It's just one more thing I have to accept and I truthfully don't understand why I should."
Jack took another swipe at his cone. "So, we are no clearer on the Light and Darkness front. Miss Glowy is seriously yanking our chains. Something I so do not like. Have I told you I don't take kindly to being used as a pawn by some high and mighty being with delusions of grandeur?"
"I think you have mentioned it, Jack. I don't like it either. But, until we complete the translations we are completely reliant on her."
Jack quickly covered Daniel's right hand as a small ball of energy appeared. "Hey, hey, easy. We don't want to fry a tree or anything. You're gonna have to learn to control that. Not, that it's a very handy thing to have. But, let's keep it for the likes of Simmons or some other piece of NID trash."
Daniel growled and lent back against the bench and allowed the warmth of the sun to seep in and start to relax him. "I hate not being in control. Being sixteen sucks."
Jack chuckled, "That's why you have me."
Daniel snorted, "Oh yeah. Mr Responsibility, that's you."
"Hey! Watch it Wonder Boy. Let me tell you, no-one else would take you on, Mr Whiny."
"Whiny! Who you calling whiny?!" Daniel twisted round towards Jack and as he did so he knocked the arm Jack held the ice cream cone in. There was a loud splat.
Daniel froze. "Jack? Please tell me that didn't hit you where I think it hit you."
"I could, but I won't." Jack replied as he wiped the ice cream from his face. Making sure he spattered some in Daniel's direction. "You know this means war, don't you?"
"I'm sorry, you arm was in the way as I turned." Daniel tried to stifle the giggles that were bubbling up at the mental picture he was drawing. "My arm was in the way? How, pray tell, was my arm in the way?" Jack began to smile as he finished wiping his face and saw that Daniel was trying not to giggle. He lent forward slightly and brought his hand up to Daniel's side.
Daniel felt the hand come to rest at his side. "Jack, noooo. Please, I'm sorry!"
Jack smirked as he ran his fingers down the younger man's side. "I told you Danny, this is war."
Daniel began to laugh in earnest as Jack's fingers found their targets. Eventually Jack eased up on the tickling and looked down at the giggling prone figure lying on the bench. He lent down and gently pressed a kiss on the smiling lips "Love you, Danny."
"Love you, Jack" Daniel gave a little hiccup as he tried to recover from his laughter. He put up his hands and hugged Jack. "Thank you, I needed that."
Jack smiled and helped Daniel sit back up. "You're welcome. Now, you ready to head back home? Or do you want to sit a little while longer?"
Daniel settled into his original position. "I'd like to sit a little while longer if you don't mind."
"Don't mind at all Danny boy." Jack lent back on the bench, draped his arm round Daniel's shoulder and started to watch the kids swarming over the jungle gym again.
Monday came all too fast. Daniel sat on the couch trying not to let his nerves show as they waited for the arrival of the Life Coach, Hammond had arranged to visit in the mornings. Jack frowned as he handed Daniel the mug of coffee he had made. "Daniel if you don't relax you are going to blow every light fuse in the house. You're beginning to glow."
"Sorry." Daniel muttered as he took nervous sips of the coffee. "What time did Hammond say to expect her?"
Jack checked his watch. "The General said Dr Milam would be arriving around oh nine hundred."
"Nine AM. You are a civilian now, Jack. You should drop the military terms. What time is now?"
"It's oh eight fifty six and I've been military for the last twenty odd years, so suck it up Wonder boy."
"Said with such finesse, flyboy." Jack was prevented from making a reply by the door bell sounding. He gave Daniel's arm a pat, stood up and went to answer the door.
Michelle Milam gave a small start of surprise when she saw the young man who opened the door. "Mr O'Neill?"
Jack smiled. "Yeah, you must be Dr Milam." He stood to the side and Michelle walked in. A crash followed by a string of curses halted any further conversation between them. Jack gave an apologetic look and hurried down into the living room. Michelle followed him and stood watching as Jack quickly picked up the pieces of the broken mug while shushing the apologies coming from the nervous youth who stood in the middle of what looked like a puddle of coffee.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I misjudged where the coffee table was."
"It's ok, Danny. Now don't move. I'll be back in a second." Jack threw another apologetic look to Dr Milam and hurried up to the kitchen to get a cloth.
Michelle took the chance while Jack was in the kitchen to take a look at the teenager who was obviously going to be her charge. That was her first surprise. When Janet Fraiser, her old college friend, told her about Daniel Jackson she gained the impression that she would be dealing with a man in his twenties. Not the teenager that stood in front of her. Janet had been correct on one thing though, his emotional state. At the moment he was standing there, with aid of a crutch on his right arm, literally shaking with nerves. She would have to move slowly and carefully with him in the first few days.
Jack hurried back into the living room, quickly glancing between the two people standing there, knelt down and mopped up as much as the coffee as he could. Then throwing the cloth towards the steps, he grabbed Daniel by the arm and made him sit back on the couch. Throwing another apologetic look at Dr Milam he indicated to her to sit and sat down beside Daniel.
"Sorry, Jack" Daniel said quickly.
"S'ok, Danny. I'm sure Dr Milam is used to things like that happening." He gave Daniel's shoulder a squeeze and turned to the Doctor. "So, Doc. You wanna explain what you plan to do with Daniel?"
Michelle smiled. "Firstly, call me Michelle. I have no hard and fast plans. I tend to play things by ear. What Janet Fraiser has told me is that you were blinded recently and that we will have to retrain your life skills to handle the blindness. So, I hope initially to train you to use your other senses and skills to compensate for the loss of sight. Janet says you are having trouble with motion sickness." She saw the blush forming on Daniel's face. "You shouldn't be embarrassed. It's common for people who lose their sight to develop this. The trick is find ways to counteract it." She looked at Jack. "Mr O'Neill, I've been told you will be working at the Mountain."
"Yeah, is that a problem?"
"No, it's actually ideal. From what I've seen in the short time I've been here. Mr Jackson is very reliant on you." She smiled as she watched the two of them bristle at the implied criticism. "I don't mean to criticise either of you. I'm sure the last few weeks have been very difficult for you both and you seemed to have coped very well. But, it will be better if you are not around, Mr O'Neill, for these sessions. Mr Jackson has to learn to cope and deal with his blindness if he is to have any sense of independence." She smiled. "I don't plan to start today. This was just really to visit and see the situation you both live in. I will leave this schedule with you." She lent forward and placed a binder on the coffee table. "As I say I don't have any hard and fast plans, but I do intend start with Braille tomorrow. The sooner that is learned, the quicker we can move on to other things. Do you have any questions?"
Jack nodded. "From what you have said. You seem to know Dr Fraiser very well. How do you know her?"
Michelle smiled. "Janet said that would be the first thing you would ask me, Mr O'Neill. Janet and I know each other from College. It was she who recommended me to General Hammond. She said my unorthodox methods would be very suitable when working with Mr Jackson."
Jack smiled. "Yeah, she is probably right. Also if we are to call you Michelle then you should call us Jack and Daniel." He looked at his companion. "You got anything you want to ask Michelle, Daniel?" Daniel shook his head, he was still highly embarrassed at the impression he must have given the Doctor.
Michelle got up and walked round and knelt beside Daniel. "Daniel, I can call you that can't I?" Daniel gave a small nod and Michelle continued, "You have nothing, nothing at all, to be embarrassed about. Blindness is frightening and unnerving, even to the strongest person. To be suddenly plunged into a world of complete and utter darkness is soul destroying. I know, I saw what it did to my mother and I made a promise that I would do all that I could to prevent what happened to her happen to anybody else. But," and she gave his knee a squeeze, "you have to work with me and not against me, ok?"
Daniel gave her a small smile and said quietly, "Ok."
"Good." Michelle stood and smiled at Jack. "Since we have that all sorted out, I'll leave you as I'm sure you want to discuss things." She picked up her bag and Jack got up and accompanied her to the door. She turned and looked at Daniel, still sat on the couch. "I'll see you tomorrow, Daniel, at nine thirty."
Jack opened the door. "I'll make sure he's ready and waiting for you." Michelle smiled at him and walked down the driveway to her car.
Jack watched until the car drove away and closed the door. He rejoined Daniel on the couch.
"I like her, Jack."
"So do I, Daniel."
Jack sat at his desk. His new desk that was situated in what had been Daniel's office. The office was now officially his, but Jack still thought of it as Daniel's. As did everyone else on the base. His name was on the door, but it was still Daniel's office.
They had arrived at the base early, after Dr Milam had departed from the house, and had had lunch with Carter and Teal'c. Now Jack was trying to make sense of the chicken scratchings he was gazing at in the photos of the Cube.
Daniel was sat on the couch listening to an audio book Sam had brought for him. He jerked his head up and pulled the earphones from his ears. "Jack, go back to the photograph you just looked at." Jack looked up and watched as Daniel got up from the couch and slowly moved towards the desk. As Daniel came and stood beside him. Jack made a mental note to get Siler to provide another desk chair. Jack stood up, made Daniel sit and then lifted up the photograph that had caught Daniel's attention.
As Jack looked at it, Daniel began to mutter. "Odd, really odd. Mixture of the Ancient language and the ancient Celtic language." He paused and then said, "Jack, get Nyan in here. I need him to take notes."
Jack placed the photograph down, picked up the phone and dialled Nyan's extension. Ten minutes later the Bedrosian came dashing into the office and skidded to a halt in front of the desk, panting slightly.
Jack grinned. "Nice of you to join us, Nyan." He lent round Daniel, shuffled the photographs lying there together and made a space for Nyan. Then he picked up the phone again. He waited a couple of seconds for the connection to go through. "Yeah, Siler, it's Jack O'Neill. We need a couple of spare desk chairs for Daniel's office. Yeah, yesterday would do fine. Thanks."
While they waited for the chairs to arrive Daniel began to explain to Nyan the unusual use of languages in the inscription. His ramble was interrupted by the arrival of Siler with the two desk chairs.
As he trundled them in, Siler took a look round the room. "You're gonna have to think about rearranging, sir. It's a little cramped, even for the two of you. Give me a couple of days and I'll come up with a floor plan for ya." He placed the two chairs beside the desk, gave a salute and left before any of them could say anything.
"He and Walter scare me." Jack said.
"Yeah." Nyan and Daniel replied together. Jack pulled a chair round and sat down. Nyan did the same with the other and placed a notepad on the desk.
Once he heard the other two settle Daniel spoke. "Ok, Nyan I need you to make notes of what I say. Jack, the photograph with the Ancient/Celtic inscription, which number is it?"
"Four, Daniel."
"So, it's the fourth side. Nyan, you said it was noticeable that inscriptions become more complicated and puzzling."
"Yes, Daniel. The first two sides are fairly simple. No more than two lines. But, the remaining sides are much more complicated and obscure."
Daniel, sighed. "She's testing us. No, she's testing me." He tilted his head towards the ceiling. "I really don't like these games!" He turned his head slightly towards Jack, "Ok, Jack let's get started." He settled in his chair, waited and tried not to fall out of his chair as he suddenly could see the photo that Jack was looking at, again. "Ok, as I said earlier it's odd, really odd. Definitely a mixture of the Ancient language and the ancient Celtic language. Ummm...talks of darkness and light. There is also mention of the Morrigan. Celtic goddess, Jack, of War, Life and Death. According to some legends she could shape-shift, changing from one shape to another at will. The two most common forms she used were of a beautiful woman and that of a black raven. Ok, so what is she supposed to represent? Shit, that doesn't make sense. Darkness and Light dance together to the song of eternity???? What was this person on, when they wrote this?"
Jack tried to keep his gaze fixed on the photo in front of him and not watch Daniel, who was in full flow. His hands dancing everywhere, sketching pictures in the air. It was like Daniel could hear a tune the words made that no-one else could. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Nyan frantically scribbling trying to keep up with what Daniel was saying. God he had missed this. Missed seeing Daniel so alive, filled with excitement and enthusiasm. This is what Daniel needed. The challenge of doing only what Daniel could do. Thinking outside the box, cracking the uncrackable code and making sense of the weird and nonsensical
"Alright, now why does it use that particular syntax and style of grammar??? Ummmm...ok, ok, that does not make sense. Nyan, please check the archive for use of Latin syntax and grammar with ancient Celtic in particular in relation to anything that mentions the Morrigan. Now was she a Goa'uld or an Ancient?"
Jack felt he should interrupt the ramblings as he was beginning to lose the feeling in his arms. "Daniel have you actually translated the inscription?"
"What, Jack? Oh, yes, yes I did. Sorry! Nyan, copy this down, exactly as I say it. 'Light and Darkness dance to the song of Eternity. The Morrigan watches and waits her turn. With whom shall she dance with?'"
Jack set the photograph down and walked round to Nyan and peered over his shoulder. "Ok, that is the weirdest of the inscriptions so far and the others are pretty weird. Think we will be able to make any sense of them once we have them all?"
Daniel said quietly, "I hope so."
Nyan looked from one to the other. "May I ask a question?"
Jack smiled and patted the Bedrosian on the shoulder and went back to sit beside Daniel. "You want to know how we did that." Nyan smiled and nodded.
"We, don't know. It's one of the tricks, gifts, whatever you want to call 'em, which we seemed to have gained since our encounter with the Cube." Jack said.
"We'd, be grateful, Nyan, if you didn't say anything about it." Daniel added.
"Oh, of course, Daniel. I will not say anything. I'll just go and transcribe these notes that I took while Jack was translating the fourth side of the Cube." The Bedrosian stood and smiled at the two of them.
"You do that, Nyan and thank you." Jack stood and shook Nyan's hand. With another smile the Bedrosian left the office.
"Good man, a very good man." Jack said as he turned and looked down at Daniel. "Ok, are we done here? 'Cause my stomach thinks my throat has been cut and is starting to complain loudly. You, hungry?"
Daniel stood slowly. "Yeah, let's go and see what Doris has on offer."
Jack slung his arm round Daniel's shoulder and the two left the office going in hunt of pie.
Daniel sat on the couch in the office finishing off the cheesecake he'd got at the Commissary. "Jack, is there anything in the books Nyan dug out that give the slightest indication as to what or who the Morrigan may be?"
"No, well I haven't come across anything yet. There is a pretty cool tale about her and Cu Chulainn, how he spurned her love and she hindered him when ever he went in to battle. Says that when he died in battle she settled on his shoulder in the form of a raven. Could that be a reference to her being an Ancient/Ascended? Do you want to lend your genius noggin to this? My brain is turning to mush. Though the battle tales are pretty cool."
Daniel gave a silent chuckle. He never thought he'd live to see the day when Jack O'Neill actually admitted he was getting a kick out of reading. But, the Jack O'Neill who sat at the desk knee deep in Morrigan research was not the same Jack O'Neill he knew over a month ago. It was, he thought as he stood to join his soul mate, the one good thing the Cube had done for them. As he sat down beside Jack the Off world Klaxon sounded. They both twitched then settled again. If they were needed they would be contacted.
Jack was about to look at a particular passage Daniel had asked him too when the phone rang. They both froze, and then Jack picked it up. "Jack O'Neill. Yes, sir. We will be there as soon as possible." Placing the phone down he nudged Daniel to his feet. "Our presence has been requested in the gate room."
"Did they say who or what?" Daniel asked as Jack helped him into the chair.
"No, but the sooner we get there. The sooner we will find out." Jack replied as he pushed the chair out of the office.
Few minutes later Jack helped Daniel out of the chair at the entry to the gate room, handed him his crutch. Then, with Jack's hand on his left arm, the two of them walked into the room.
Jack caught Janet's scowl as they entered and he nodded towards the chair parked at the door. She gave him a small smile of understanding at Daniel's need to look independent. The two of them made their way to foot of the gate where they joined Hammond, who was looking at a woman who stood on the ramp.
"Sir?" Jack murmured questioningly. He noted that the Iris was still closed.
"She came straight through even though the Iris was closed."
Ok, that was interesting; Jack thought as he gazed at the woman who stood there dressed head to toe in black. The long black dress was etched with gold trim and had a long cape that covered it, held at the shoulder with a clasp that seemed to be of Celtic design.
Daniel gave a soft groan and Jack looked quickly at him. "Morrigan." Daniel muttered. "It has to be Morrigan. The design on the clasp. It's the Celtic design for the raven."
"You can see her?" Jack asked quietly.
Daniel nodded. "This sight thing seems to be pretty permanent if we are together." Jack turned back to look at the woman on the ramp.
She was sweeping the room with her gaze and finally it landed on the two at the foot of the ramp. She gave a smile, it was not kind. "Ah Daniel Jackson, we meet again."
Daniel frowned as he looked at the woman, through Jack's eyes. "Have we met? I don't remember."
"Oma Desala and the Others were not happy that we met."
Daniel felt Jack's grip on his arm tighten and then felt the presence of Hammond and the others as they closed ranks round him. A lump in his throat developed from the silent support they were giving him. He gave a small cough to remove it. "Are you, what was called by the Celts, the Morrigan?"
The woman walked down until she stood in front of Daniel. "I have been known by many names. The Morrigan is one, but the one I prefer to be known by is Eriu."
"So you are one the Ascended." Jack said.
Eriu turned her head to look at Jack. "Ah, Daniel's Parvulus. His rock and his protector." She gave a small smile. "No, I am not what you would call one of the Ascended. I am of the Ori, though I no longer reside with them. I was not happy with the path they were following and left to follow my own. At a point last year our paths crossed, Daniel Jackson. It would seem you have forgotten the warning I gave you then."
"And that was?" Daniel asked quietly.
"To not interact with Ori or have anything to do with them. I thought you may have remembered when you called for me."
"I did?" Daniel frowned and turned to Jack. "Did I call for her, Jack?"
Jack thought for a moment. "When you quoted that inscription to Nyan. The fourth inscription!"
"Oh!" Daniel turned back to Eriu "The inscription on the Cube. The one that mentions 'who shall the Morrigan dance with'. You responded to that?"
Eriu nodded. "I did. I had Oma Desala place that on the Cube. Though she was not happy about placing it there. I knew that sometime in the future you would need me and I made her place the means for you to contact me." She gave a wide smile. "I would always choose to dance with the light and not the darkness."
By now Jack could tell Hammond was becoming impatient. "Daniel, " he jiggled the arm he held slightly. Once he had his attention, he continued, "Why don't we take this up to the briefing room and get a little more comfortable." He turned to look at Hammond. "Is that ok with you, sir?"
Hammond gave Jack a small smile of thanks. "Yes it is, Mr O'Neill. Eriu if you would care to follow us."
Eriu gave a small nod and followed Hammond, Jack and Daniel out of the gate room.
Jack took a swig of his beer and tried to make sense of the day and quite frankly, he couldn't. He wasn't happy. His gut instinct was screaming at him not to trust Miss Glowy Number Two, Eriu. He had seen how, during, the briefing, she had never taken her eyes off Daniel. That scared him, no, it terrified him. Eriu was not all she said, or implied, she was. No, things were not good, not good at all.
His thoughts were interrupted as Daniel sat down next to him. "Hell of a day."
"Yeah."
"I don't trust Eriu."
"Neither do I."
"What are we gonna do about her."
"No idea, none, nada, zip." Jack felt Daniel hesitate. "No! No, Daniel."
"But, Jack..."
"No! You are not gonna try and contact, Mom."
"Jack, she maybe able to help. I have no memory of meeting Eriu during my time as an Ascended. Oma would be able to tell us what took place."
"No! One, the Mother from Hell will not tell us anything, not her style. Two, there is no way she is gonna get a chance to hurt you again." Jack gave a small start of surprise as he felt a kiss land on his neck.
He turned his head and was met by the Daniel Special smile. "Thank you, Jack. But I am a big boy and can take care of myself..."
"That's debatable." Jack muttered.
Daniel landed another kiss on Jack's neck and continued, "We need to contact her. We need to know what Eriu is up to and what role she has in all this." He laid a gentle hand on the side of Jack's face. "I know you are not happy about any of this and this has been one of the suckiest days of our lives. But, we have to do this. Oma can help us."
Jack gave a soft growl and kissed Daniel's palm. "Yeah, yeah. But, I go with. You are not meeting her without me."
Daniel grinned. "I know, Jack. Wither I goest, you will go. Wither I lodge, you will lodge. My people will be your people. Wither I goest, you will go."
Jack chuckled. "You rather mangled the quote from the Book of Ruth. But, yeah that pretty well sums it up." He paused, then said, "So, how do we go about contacting....Whoa!" He looked round at the Abydos landscape. "Ok, I guess that answers the question." He looked at Daniel who was standing calmly beside him. "Do we wait here or what?"
Daniel gave a small smile and pointed to the swirling sand that was fast approaching them.
"Ok," Jack grimaced, "I take it that is Mom approaching."
"Yep." Daniel said as the storm swallowed them up.
Once Jack's vision cleared he saw Oma facing them. Judging by the look on her face she was not pleased.
"You are a foolish boy. By your actions you are calling attention to yourself." Yep, definitely not pleased. A hand on his arm prevented him from making the remark that was forming in his mind.
"If I knew all the facts. I wouldn't have any reason to be so foolish as to contact you." Daniel calmly replied.
Jack felt a surge of pride and noticed there was a subtle difference in Daniel's demeanour. He was more sure and confident. Oma, it seemed to Jack, was the one on the defensive.
"What is it you wish to know?" Definitely on the defensive. Miss Glowy Number One, never ever asked a direct question. Heck, Jack couldn't remember her ever asking a question.
"Eriu." The sand surrounding them snapped and crackled. Thunder rolled in the distance. Jack watched as Oma's hands curled into fists and glow slightly. High emotions ran in the family then.
Daniel gave a small smile and looked round at the display. "You know her, then."
Oma said nothing and Jack smirked, "Oh I think she does, Daniel."
"She leads to a path of uncertainty and danger."
"Why, if she leads to uncertainty and danger did you place that message on the frigging Cube! If you didn't want Daniel to meet her, why put it there?"
Daniel frowned at Jack. Ok message received. Try to curb the tongue.
Jack watched as thoughts flittered across Daniel's face. The way Daniel's mind worked always totally awed and fascinated him. He would never understand how Wonder Boy connected the dots and made sense of the convoluted, but Jack could happily spend hours watching the process come to fruition. Like now.
"Something happened when I was ascended and it involved Eriu. It is why she is involved now."
"Some things are best unsaid and unknown."
Jack's tongue kicked into action before he could stop it. "Crap! Sheer crap! If what happened when Miss Glowy Number Two and Daniel met is in any way connected to what is happening now and possibly in the future too. We need to know what and how, now!"
Jack groaned as he found himself back on the couch with a very pissed off Daniel stood over him.
"I thought you got the message, Jack! You just couldn't control that tongue of yours, could you." Daniel flung his arms in the air. "I had her on the defensive! For once we might have got the answers we need." He brought his arms back down and then thumped Jack on the chest. "God, if I didn't love you so much I could happily kill you right now!" With that he grabbed his crutch and headed for his bedroom. Jack flinched as the door closed with a resounding bang.
He stayed, slumped, on the couch mulling over what had occurred. Then a huge smile came over his face and he bounded up to Daniel's room.
Standing at the closed door he yelled, "You really love me?"
"Yes, I do. Now, go away!"
"Cool!" He turned to move away from the door, then turned back. "Whatcha want for dinner? There's some tuna and I think some salad."
"Tuna would be fine. Now, GO AWAY!"
Jack grinned and headed for the kitchen. He reckoned by the time the tuna salad was made Daniel would have calmed down.
Well it looked like he had been a tad optimistic regarding Daniel's state of mind by the time they sat down to dinner. So far Daniel's contribution to the scintillating conversation had consisted of several grunts and glares. He gave a mental sigh. There was a lot of grovelling to be done in the foreseeable future.
As he considered the possible forms and situations in which said grovelling would take place there was a flash of bright light and in the middle of the table rested a small pyramid.
Jack gave a soft groan as he noted it looked very similar to the Cube. He grabbed Daniel's hand as it stretched out towards it. "Don't touch it. Don't you dare touch it!"
Ooops that hadn't gone down well if that glare was anything to go by. He softened his voice and removed his hand. "Not, until we know it's completely safe."
"And, how are we going to do that, Jack, if we don't pick it up and examine it?" Daniel carried on even though Jack tried to say something. "Everything Sam tried on the Cube, didn't work. What makes you think she will have any more luck with this."
Jack suddenly realised that Daniel was looking at the pyramid, even examining it. "You can see it?"
Daniel nodded. "Yeah, as I said at the Mountain earlier today. It seems to be permanent when we are together."
They sat looking at the pyramid and eventually Jack reached out a hand and gingerly touched a side with a finger. They both jerked back in surprise as a holographic screen attached to the pyramid appeared before them.
"Ok, that's Ancient script....mentions Morrigan/Eriu....portents of disaster looming...." Daniel scowled as the display ended when Jack removed his finger.
Jack smiled. "Obviously Mom is feeling guilty and has decided to lend a hand. Aht!" He gently tapped the finger that was inching towards the pyramid. "It's late. This can wait till tomorrow afternoon when we are at the Mountain. We will need Nyan to take notes. The sooner you learn Braille the better."
"I'll be starting that tomorrow morning with Michelle."
They sat looking at the pyramid again. Such an innocent looking thing, Jack thought. But, then the Cube had looked innocent too and look at the havoc it had caused.
He stood up and walked round to Daniel. "Come on Wonder Boy. It's not going anywhere."
"Jack, it could be a key!" Daniel said eagerly as he allowed Jack to lead him down into the living room.
"Yeah, it could be the huge honking key that we been needing to help us unlock the frigging secrets the Cube is hiding." Jack helped Daniel sit on the couch and sat down beside him.
"I'll need Nyan to look out all the books we have on the Celts and Ancients....mmmmph."
Cool, Jack thought as he kissed Daniel. He had found a way to silence his Archaeologist.
Daniel ran his hand over the sheet in front of him. He frowned, paused and placed his hands back at the start of the line again.
"Take your time. Move your hands slowly and let the words sink into your fingers. It is when you try to hurry that you loose track. One of the joys of Braille is that you can't rush when you are reading it." Michelle smiled as she watched Daniel read the short passage. There was total concentration on his face and his lips moved silently as his hands ran over the words.
It amazed her how quickly Daniel had learnt and understood the basics of Braille. Janet had told her that his IQ was off the scale and that he held numerous degrees and PhDs. But, none those actually meant he could learn anything. She had only had to guide him through basics once and he had understood.
"You are doing really well, Daniel. What say we take a break and you can make us some coffee?" Michelle stood as Daniel put down the sheet he had been reading, grabbed his crutch and led them through to the kitchen. It was obvious from the way he walked that Daniel was very comfortable and confident moving around the house. In the kitchen though, some that confidence seemed to leave him. Michelle watched as Daniel carefully collected two mugs and placed them on the counter, slowly measured two scoops of coffee in the maker and added water. Silence reigned as they waited for the coffee to brew. Michelle took in the nervous twisting of his fingers and the almost silent hyperventilating.
"What's causing your anxiety?" She asked gently.
Daniel's head dipped in embarrassment. "I always managed to overfill the mugs or knock and break a mug. I've destroyed 5 mugs in the past month."
Michelle could see exactly what was happening. Laying her hand gently on his arm she said. "Daniel, your brain is placing too much emphasis on what has happened before. This is causing your anxiety levels to rise. Making a mug of coffee has become a monumental task. When in fact it should be simple. We have to find a way to break down the barrier of anxiety you have built round this task." She turned Daniel and gave him a little push towards the living room. "For today I'll make the coffee and tomorrow we will work on reducing the anxiety."
Daniel made his way back to the couch and collapsed on to it. He was totally mortified, but also relieved that they would be working on what he saw as a major jinx to his development. His hand scrubbed over his face in frustration. Much as he understood how important working with Michelle was he wished that he could be at the mountain with Jack. So much was happening now and it felt like he was being left behind. He wondered what the current situation with Simmons and the NID Scientists was. Also was Janet any further forward in the investigations with the fungus?
Daniel had to admit that he really didn't think Janet and Marta Kalowska's team were going to find a solution to his blindness. He had reached the conclusion that his blindness was Oma's doing. Oh Simmons and his merry band had played their part. But, Oma visiting him while he had been their guest had been the turning point. Daniel vividly remembered that just after she had appeared the pain levels round his eyes had increased. He was blind for a reason. He just hoped his Mother would see fit to restore his sight in the not to distant future.
The clunk of a mug being placed on the coffee table brought him out of his mental meanderings.
"Coffee is just to the left of you, at three o'clock." Michelle sat back down in her chair and took a sip of her coffee. She watched as Daniel picked the mug up and took a sip. It was obvious that Daniel's mind was no longer in the room, but somewhere else. Emotions and thoughts flittered over his face. Too quickly for Michelle to read.
"Daniel, I think we've done enough for today. We'll finish now and continue tomorrow. Is this ok with you?"
"Yes, that's fine with me Michelle. Thank you for what you are doing. It's a big help."
"I'm glad that you are finding things helpful. But, remember we still have a long way to go." She finished her coffee and picked up her bag. "I'll leave the Braille sheets with you. Perhaps you can find time this evening to go over them again."
Daniel followed her to the door. He stood there until the sound of her car had disappeared. Making his way back to the living room he pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial. "Hi Jack!"
"Hey, Daniel. How's it going?"
"Michelle finished the session early. Could you arrange for a car to be sent for me and we can meet up for lunch. You could also see if Sam and Teal'c are free as well."
"Will do, buddy. Whatcha do to her?"
"Nothing! Geez, Jack!"
Soft chuckles sounded from the other end. "You're so easy! I'll see you in a few. Interesting developments here."
"'kay, Jack. See you soon." Daniel ended the call and sat down with a wide smile on his face and waited for the car to arrive.
After lunch the four team mates made their way to Jack and Daniel's office, Daniel could sense the suppressed excitement in Jack. The man was almost vibrating with it. No matter how hard he had tried all through lunch Jack had been tighter than a clam and was giving nothing away. Daniel sighed and knew he would have to wait until Jack decided to tell him or show him what had made him so excited.
They entered the office and were greeted by an equally excited Nyan who was stood beside the desk on which sat both the Cube and Pyramid. Jack guided Daniel to one end of the desk while Teal'c and Sam went to other end. Then, standing beside Daniel, Jack lent over and gently brushed one of the sides of the pyramid. The Pyramid burst into life.
"Ernest's Planet." Daniel's voice was filled with awe, "It's exactly like Ernest's Planet."
Through Jack's eyes he watched as symbols, languages—some he knew and some he didn't—and a myriad of other things danced in front of him. He could hear Sam exclaiming over the mathematical and astrophysical and Jack was occasionally muttering about the astronomy he saw. They were all entranced and no-one moved while the display continued.
With a sudden switch the display moved from the pyramid to the Cube. The scenes displayed were unsettling. Daniel flinched as the language displayed jarred his senses. It was a language he had never seen before yet it was unsettling. Not a smooth language, nor a calming one.
"The history of the Ori." A voice in the doorway said. They all turned from the Cube's display. Eriu stood in the doorway with two SFs at either side of her.
She continued as she walked forward. "The Cube contains all the knowledge of the Ori. It's history, language and beliefs." She waved her hand to encircle the display. "We the Ori chose our own path. The path of enlightenment was not our path. We the Ori are the true path. The path all must follow to survive." She looked directly at Jack and Daniel.
"Theirs is the path of darkness. If they are not stopped all with be swallowed by the darkness." Eriu lent over and gently touched the Cube and the display halted.
"How did the Cube come to hold the information on the Ori?" Daniel asked quietly. He knew but he wanted Eriu to confirm it.
"I had Oma Desala place the knowledge in it. The light needs to know what he is to confront." Eriu intense gaze never left Daniel. To the others it seemed they didn't exist to either Daniel or Eriu.
Daniel nodded. "So, not just Anubis but the Ori as well." He looked down and then back up to Eriu. Comprehension written on his face. "You and Oma! It was not just Oma, but you as well. You both worked together and ascended Anubis. Dear god did you not know what you were doing?" He gripped Jack's arm tightly, to stop himself from physically hurting Eriu. "Either he has contacted the Ori or they have found him." He shook his head in stunned disbelief at the magnitude of it all.
"We were fooled and tried to rectify our mistake, but failed. The Ori have sense his presence and have search him out. Through their contact with him they now know the existence of this galaxy and Earth. With him they will come here." Eriu gave a wide smile. "They will not be stopped, we will not be stopped." All, apart from Daniel, were blinded by the flash of light and found they could not bear to look at the flaming being.
Daniel gave a smile. "So, you were the bringer of the news. The knowledge in the Cube will be of no real help. It is there to delay us and possibly hinder us." He gave a small shake of his head. "You think you can leave." He could sense her rising, readying to depart. He raised his hands and two golden threads spiralled from them and encircled the flaming mass that was Eriu. "No," he said softly, "No, you won't leave. You were foolish and arrogant. I am the light. I can and will hinder and destroy all connected to the darkness."
Jack who was crouched by the desk watched with awe as golden light seemed to pour out of Daniel, encircle him and the creature he held bound by the golden threads. An unearthly scream came from the being and Jack had to shield his eyes as the golden light became brighter. Eventually things returned to normal, apart from the figure lying in foetus position on the floor. Jack picked himself up and made his way to Daniel's side.
Daniel turned and smiled at Jack. "She now won't be able to use her powers or change shape."
"Geez, Daniel what did you do?"
"I destroyed the darkness in her."
A few weeks later Jack pulled up in the driveway of the house. He put it in park and sat for a moment. Things had moved on since Daniel's glowy display in the office. Eriu was still with them, as was Simmons and his cronies. He gave a small snort of laughter. Eriu was terrified of Daniel and literally cringed every time she saw him. She hadn't been of much help since Daniel had effectively nullified her. But, her memories and knowledge were of some help. She worked with Nyan translating the Ori language and explaining some of the more obscure meanings. Simmons, Jack grin widened, had tried every trick in the book to be released from SGC custody and every time Hammond and Jack had outwitted him. Oh they knew there would be a time when they would have to release him, but in the meantime he and his cohorts were still guests of the SGC. Jack's thought's turned to the youth he knew was waiting in the house. Daniel...Daniel amazed and astound him and all those around them. He could now read and write Braille fluently, Michelle visited only twice a week, but had said that it was getting to the stage were Daniel would be able to cope confidently on his own and would no longer need her help. Daniel's abilities were continuing to appear and Jack never knew what would happen next. If he admitted it, he loved every minute of it.
He turned his attention to his passenger. "Ok, now, you've gotta be on your best behaviour. Daniel hasn't been round your sort all that often. So, try not to be to enthusiastic with your greeting." A gentle woof and a swipe of a wet tongue across his cheek was the answer he got.
Jack grinned and exited the truck, hurried round to the passenger door and let the German Shepherd out. He clutched the leash and headed for the front door. It opened just as he reached for it. Daniel stood there giving Jack his 'Daniel Special' smile. Jack knew he was returning it with a goofy smile of his own.
Daniel felt the warm panting wafting against his legs. He crouched down and gently reached his hands out, encountered warm fur, a snuffling nose and eager tongue that swiped his chin.
Jack looked down at the dog and his new master. "He goes by the name of Hermes and I'm sure you will able to tell me exactly who he is named for and the whole history behind it."
Daniel laughed as he stood, took the leash and the two men and the dog walked into the house.
Jack sat at the computer in the study trying to make sense of the household accounts when a wave of mild pain, frustration and annoyance hit him. He reached out with his mind, *Danny, you ok?*
The two of them didn't often use the link that existed between them as normally they were together. That morning, however, Jack had decided to tackle the accounts and Daniel had decided to take a walk with Hermes.
Daniel's answer came quickly back. The frustration and embarrassment clearly ringing in Jack's head. *I'm fine, Jack. Hermes decided to go one way and I, the other. I've got a couple of skinned knees. No, biggie.*
Jack sent a mental chuckle.
*Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, flyboy. Once I've gathered my scattered wits and Hermes stops with the licking. We'll be home in a few.*
*Alright. I'll have a nice soothing mug of coffee waiting. Will you be wanting me to kiss the owies better?*
A smirk came back. *Depends where you want to place the kisses.*
*Daniel Melbourne Jackson! Get your mind outta the gutter!*
A mental picture was Daniel's reply. One which had Jack struggling to get his hormones under control. Who'd thought that under that innocent exterior lurked such a filthy mind.
The sound of loud grumbling and mutters herald Daniel and Hermes' return. It was a rather disgruntled youth and smirking dog who entered.
"I thought you said the mutt had been trained." Daniel grumbled as he and Hermes made their way down the stairs into the living room.
"Oh he is, love, and he will act accordingly when he is in the harness. You had him on the leash and to him that means he is off duty."
Daniel threw Jack a disgusted look and tried to stride past him towards the couch. Unfortunately, his foot caught the leg of the coffee table and he found himself being firmly held and sprawled against Jack.
"I know you love me, Wonder Boy, but, you don't have to continually throw yourself at me to prove it. Oooof!! Hey!" Jack let go of Daniel to rub his stomach. "No need for that!" He watched as Daniel flung himself down on the couch. "Boy, are you in a mood. What's brought this on?"
Daniel lent forward and picked up the mug of coffee Jack had prepared for him. After taking a sip he let his breath out in a huff. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just frustrated and a little embarrassed. I should have remembered to put the harness on Hermes when we went out. But, I was so eager to get outside, I forgot." He placed the mug back down on the table and gave a sigh. "I panicked, Jack. When Hermes took off and I fell, I panicked. I'm so used to being able to see everything through your eyes, I forgot I was blind and I panicked. Then I heard your voice in my head and I relaxed." He gave the couch seat a thump with his hand. "Darn it! I shouldn't be so dependent on you to the point I even forget I'm blind!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Jack quickly sat beside Daniel and took his hand in his. "You are no more dependent on me than I am on you. Geez, you scare me daily, sport. Especially when you do your hocus-pocus stuff and go all golden glowy. There is no way in Netu that you are totally dependent on me. Michelle says she's going to stop her sessions because you don't need them anymore. Heck, so you forgot." He lifted the hand he held and gave it a kiss. "We all forget things when we are in a hurry or we are thinking of something else. So, you panicked." He gave the hand another kiss. "I panic big time when you do the hocus-pocus stuff. There's a tiny tiny part of me that is terrified that you're going to get so wrapped up in your abilities you won't need me and leave again." He drew Daniel close to him and in a hoarse voice whispered, "I couldn't cope with that Danny."
Daniel wrapped his arms round Jack and stroked his head. "I will never, ever, leave you again, Jack." He planted a kiss on top of Jack's head. "Never, Jack. Together, always."
A black nose pushed its way between them followed by concerned brown eyes. Hermes had sensed the emotions and now wanted to comfort his masters. He tried to lick their faces which caused Daniel and Jack to start wrestling with the dog. All three of them ended on the floor, wrestling.
"Yes!" The triumphant yell brought Jack running from the library in the corner of their office. He'd been searching for a reference on Lugos, a sun god from Gaul (now the north west region of France) and the southern parts of Britain. He was also known as Lugh (in Ireland) and Llue (in Wales). Daniel had said there was a reference suggesting that the god was one of the longest existing gods of the Celtic religion, which was highly unusual. It was also unusual for the same god to be worshipped by so many branches of the Celts. Jack was hoping that this guy would turn out to be more friendly than Eriu had been.
Daniel was twirling round in his chair quietly chanting "yesyesyesyes" as Jack arrived at the desk. He stood and watched as Daniel celebrated whatever it was he was celebrating. "You gonna clue me in?"
Daniel stopped his chair twirling and grinned at Jack. "I've translated the sixth and final side of the Cube."
"You have?! Let me see!" Jack hurried round the desk and sat in the chair next to Daniel's. He lent against Daniel, his chin resting on Daniel's shoulder, as he looked at the computer screen. "Flames shall engulf, darkness shall follow. But, light shall dispersed darkness and destroy the flames. NO! No way! Nope! Non! Nada! YOU are not facing the Ori and Anubus on your own. Remember? Together, always. Where you go, I go." Jack in his ranting totally ignored the fact that the last quotation was the simplest and the clearest.
Daniel stroked the hands that were clutching his shoulders tightly. "It's ok, Jack. Its ok. I have no plans to face either the Ori or Anubus on my own. I am hoping that you will be with me. Also Sam, Teal'c and whoever else Hammond feels should be with us."
Jack dropped his head down to the base of Daniel's neck. "Sorry, seeing that scared me."
He sat himself back in his own chair and scrubbed his hand over his face. "Why do you always have to be the saviour of the Universe? Why are these things always dumped on you? It's like you are a magnet which just keeps attracting every piece of scrum that the Universe produces."
Daniel gave a weak chuckle. "I don't have an answer for that, Jack. But I do know that with you as my rock and Sam and Teal'c as backup, we four, together are unstoppable. The Fantastic Four!"
Jack laughed out loud. "Oh yeah, I'm Mr Fantastic, you're the Human Torch, Sam is Invisible Girl and Teal'c...." He fought back the laughter threatening to overwhelm him. "Teal'c....oh god....Teal'c is the Thing." He gave up and collapsed in heap on the floor as the mental picture of Teal'c as the Thing danced round in his head. Daniel soon joined him on the floor as he picked up the picture from Jack. The two of them lay, clutching each other, howling with laughter.
When he had recovered slightly, Jack looked up at the dancing blue eyes that were gazing sightlessly at him. He reached up and stroked back a stray strand of blond hair that had flopped forward. Daniel lowered his head slightly and Jack met him in a gentle kiss.
Daniel smiled and stroked Jack's cheek. "Together, always."
Jack smiled back and placed an other kiss on the lips close to his. "Together, always."
"An unbeatable force!"
"Sureyoubetcha!"
"Ok, what have we got?" Jack look round the table in the Research and Linguistics briefing room.
"A load of nothing." Jack swung his head to the left and fixed a glare on the person who had spoken, Dr Jason Adams. Jack was convinced the man thought he should have been placed in charge of Daniel's department after the Cube had done it stuff. Doctor Adams hadn't and now found himself having to work for a 16 year old and a 25 year old.
Daniel's quiet voice broke the silence just as Jack was about to speak. "Do you have any evidence to back up your statement, Jason?" Jack made a pretence at studying his notes to hide his grin.
Doctor Adams made some sputtering sounds and then waffled on about the study of the Cube and Pyramid being a waste of time. Time that would be better spent trying to learn the Ori language so that they could negotiate with them.
Jack quickly placed his hand over Daniel's left, which was beginning to glow slightly.
*Much as I would like you to, love. You can't blast him out of his chair.*
Daniel turn his head slightly towards Jack. A tiny smile twitching on his lips. *Aw, Jack, come on. Just a tiny blast. I wouldn't really hurt him and it would make me feel better.*
Jack coughed back a chuckle as the mental picture of Adams flying out of his chair reached him. *You are so bad!* He turned his attention to Adams. "Am I correct in my assumption, Doctor Adams, that you are recommending that we try to negotiate with the Ori when they finally arrive in our galaxy?"
"Yes, Mr O'Neill, I am."
"I see..." Jack shifted some papers about for a few seconds then lifted his head and pinned Adams with a furious gaze. "Haven't you read anything that has been transcribe and translated from the Cube or the Pyramid?! Aht! I don't want to hear it." He took a breath and looked at everyone else round the table. "Does anyone else feel the same way as Doctor Adams?" A series of fervent no's echoed round the table. "Good. It would seem Doctor Adams that you are alone in you opinion on this matter. I therefore think it would be wise that you take the rest of the day to re-evaluate you position with this department and also with the programme."
They all watched as Doctor Adams stood, gathered up his papers and flounced out of the briefing room.
*He could be a problem, Jack*
*Yeah, I know. But, we will deal with that later. Darn, I shoulda let you blast him!*
Jack gave the table a small rap with his knuckles. "Ok, folks lets get back to the matter in hand. Nyan, you and Doctors Kennedy, Elliot, Miles and Walsh are currently studying the Pyramid."
Nyan nodded. "Yes, we have deduced that it is a repository such as you and Daniel found on the planet you call Ernest's Planet. For such a small item the information it holds covers, we think, thousands of years of history and information." He paused and looked at his colleagues sat beside him. "We have however encountered a minor problem."
"Oh?" Daniel straightened up from the Braille machine he was using.
"Yes..." Nyan blushed slightly. "We can't seem to get the Pyramid to work."
"You just have to brush the side of it Nyan." Jack replied
"Yes, sir, we know. But, none of us can make it work. It's not just us either. We have had others try to activate it, but none can.
It seems only you and Daniel are able to. What information we have gathered comes from the recording that was made in your office when it was first activated."
Daniel looked alarmed. "Is everything on the recording?"
Nyan gave a small smile. "No Daniel, all that the recording holds is the images the Pyramid produced."
Daniel sagged slightly in relief. No-one, apart from those who had been in the office and Hammond, knew what had actually happened to Eriu. The official story was that the Cube had done something to her. Daniel's part in it was not mentioned.
"Darn it what on earth has Miss Glowy done to it?" Jack huffed in frustration.
"We can only assume, sir, that both it and the Cube are in someway tuned into yourself and Daniel."
"Well we can't both be around every time it needs to be switched on! There must someway to activate it without needing one of us there to do it."
"If there is, we haven't found it yet," replied Doctor Elliot.
"I don't think Oma has anything to do with this, Jack." Daniel said thoughtfully.
"She must have, Daniel. She sent it to us in the first place."
"I know she did. But, I don't think she was responsible for the current problem." Jack looked at Daniel and waited. He could see the cogs working in Daniel's mind and knew if he waited patiently Daniel would produce the answer and solution to the problem.
"It's to do with our heritage."
"Our heritage?"
"Yes, who we are and where we come from."
"Ok, you I understand. But, me? I don't have a link to the Glowies."
"How can you be certain of that, Jack?" Daniel stood up and began to pace. Holding up a finger, Daniel pointed it at Jack. "The Ancient's Download."
"Doesn't prove a thing." Jack said defensively.
"Does too." Daniel waggled the finger at him and continued to pace as he spoke. "It didn't react when Teal'c walked through the light and looked inside it. But, it reacted to you." He stopped pacing and looked directly at Jack. "When you walked through the light it reached out and grabbed you. It...reached...out...to you. It sensed something in you and reacted." Not waiting for a response from Jack. Daniel started to pace again. "Which brings me to our heritage. Most of you know about my link with Oma Desala. So, we can say that it is through my link with her that I have the ability to activate items relating to the Ancients."
"Among other things." Came the mutter to his left.
*Behave, Jack!*
*Ok, ok!*
*Thank you!*
The telepathic link had developed over the months and had started in the infirmary when Jack had felt Daniel's unease and fear after the encounter with Simmons. At first they could only sense feeling and emotions, but as their ease and familiarity with each other had built so had the telepathic link along with an empathic ability. Neither of them fought or denied any of the abilities as they appeared. They just accepted them as part of who they were now.
Daniel speed of pacing increased as he warmed to his subject. "You're proud of your Irish Heritage, aren't you Jack."
"Yep! One of Paddy's boys here." Jack said proudly.
Daniel grinned. "And from which race are the Irish descended from?"
Jack pride disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "The Celts" He muttered.
"Eriu was a Celtic god or was given god status by the Celts. Just imagine for a moment, what would happen if a branch of the Ancients settled and lived in the lands of the Celts. Lands that eventually became, Northern France, Cornwall in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. We are coming across a lot of references to the Celtic Gods and it is possible that they were Ancients."
A soft groan came from Jack. He could see where Daniel was heading. 'Please let his hypotheses be wrong!'
*I'm not wrong, Jack. Sorry.* Daniel had picked up Jack's thought.
"So, Daniel, you are saying that it is possible that Colonel O'Neill is a direct descendant of an Celtic Ancient." Doctor Miles said.
Daniel nodded. "Not, possible, Carl. Probable."
A louder groan and a soft thud was heard.
*Don't, Jack. You'll give yourself a headache.*
Jack raised his head from the table and scrubbed his hands through his hair. "Don't wanna be a relative of the Glowy Brigade." He whined.
"Suck it up Jack." Daniel said as he sat back down. "Face it. It is highly probable that you are. We could always ask Oma to confirm it."
"No, no, no! No Abydos, no sandstorm and no Oma." Jack waved his arms in a frantic negative gesture.
"Well, in that case, you are just going to have to accept my gut feeling about this."
Jack smiled and ruffled Daniel's hair as he stood. "I'll always accept your gut feelings about anything, Wonder Boy. Now, lets go and take a look at our toys shall we? I feel that this meeting isn't going to produce anything anymore."
With Jack and Daniel leading the way they all headed for the lab where the Pyramid and Cube sat waiting for them.
