Resolutions

by Remma (morennab@yahoo.co.uk)

"Sir, how can you just leave him?"

"I'm not leaving him anywhere, Carter, I'm assessing the situation prior to taking action. What good would it do to blindly follow him through? In case you hadn't noticed, he hasn't come back, which means he can't for some reason..."

"What if he's in trouble?"

"He is in trouble, we just don't know what kind yet."

"Then how can you not want to go after him?"

"There's nothing I want more, but doing that without any sort of plan will only land us in the same trouble. That's not going to be any help to him now, is it?"

"O'Neill is correct. I have heard of this form of transportation device. It function's in a similar fashion to the rings, but, like a wormhole, travel is possible in one direction only."

"Have you seen it used before, Teal'c?"

"I have not, MajorCarter. It is not often utilised."

"I'm not surprised, what's the point of it being one-way, and where does it go?"

"It is used primarily as a training device. Jaffa are transported to a new location, and must then use cunning and skill to survive, and return to their God. As to the destination of this vartikulum, O'Neill, I cannot say."

"This what?"

"Vartikulum."

"Right. So, if it's a training device, it should be possible to get back here from there, or to get there from here, and all we need to do, is work out where there is."

"Yes."

"Okay, how do we do that?"

"Sir, there may be something here to help, maps maybe."

"Good thinking. Let's take a look around, but be careful. We don't want anyone else going a.w.o.l."

"Yes, Sir, and...I'm sorry. I know this is my fault."

"On the contrary, MajorCarter, I blame myself. I allowed my personal feelings to become a distraction. Had I been alert to the possible danger, DanielJackson would not have been lost."

"Teal'c, we were all distracted, and Daniel isn't lost, just misplaced. We are going to get him back, but we're going to have to work together to do it. If anyone has a problem with that, then leave now."

"I'll do whatever it takes to find Daniel, Sir."

"As will I."

"Good. Start searching."

"Oh-oh, this is so not good. Hello, is there anybody here? Hello? HELLO? Damn, now what. Okay, first, work out my location. I'm guessing I'm still on the same planet, so, the position of the suns should give me some indication of where I am, in relation to where I was. Which would be good if I actually knew what their position was back where I was. Daniel, admit it, you have no idea how to do this. Now, if there were any written directions, I'd be laughing. Damn. New plan. HELP, HELP, CAN ANYONE HEAR ME? I know, I know, this is silly, think, Daniel, what do you have, what do you need. I have nothing, I need everything. Not making much progress here, maybe I should..."

"Yoo-hoo, hellooo-ooo, is there somebody there?"

"Yes, yes, me, I'm there...uh...here. I'm Daniel Jackson, peaceful explorer, glad to meet you. I thought for a minute I was alone here."

"You're alone? Me too, We're alone too. Have you come to rescue us?"

"Uh, no, sorry. I was hoping you knew where we were, and how to get back. And what's with the us, I thought you said you were alone?"

"Yes, that's right, we are, all alone, for such a long time."

"O-kay, so there's no-one else here then?"

"No, not anymore. My mother was here, and Ibn, but they died."

"Ibn?"

"My father..." "And my former host."

"Woah, you're a Goa'uld."

"No, I'm Da'um." "Da'um is my host now."

"And you're..."

"Bes."

"Bes, right. And you are Goa'uld"

"Yes."

"But you allow your host to share this body?"

"Well, duh, it wouldn't be much fun for him if I didn't?"

"Uh...no...uh, sorry, getting a little confused here. You're not exactly what I expected, the Goa'uld don't generally have so much consideration for the feelings of the host."

"They don't? You know, you're right, they don't. Oh well. Are we going home now, huh? Are we, huh? Huh?"

"What? Home?"

"Home, back to my people. I'm bored, I want to go home now, are we going home now? Huh?"

"This is so weird."

"I've never been home, will I like it?" "You remember home, we have lots of memories of home." "Oh, yes, I forgot." "We're a god there." "I'll like that." "Yes, being a god is good." "So are we going home soon? Huh?"

"Oh, good lord."

"How are you getting us home, do you have a teltak?"

"No, I don't have a teltak, and I have no idea how to get you, or me, home."

"Oh. He doesn't know how to get home." "I know, I heard. Pity, I'd have liked to go home, I'm bored." "Me too, I'm bored too." "But at least he's here now, so we're not alone anymore."

"Da'um, have you been here a long time?"

"Ages and ages, I was born here." "And I was here ages and ages before that, with Farida, when Ibn was my host. They're both dead now."

"Yes, you said. So, after Ibn died, you took Da'um as your new host, right?"

"That's it. It's lucky he was born, or I would have died too."

"So, you don't have a sarcophagus?"

"Oh, I never used one of those, they make you mean."

"Well that explains a lot. Do you always take a willing host?"

"Why wouldn't anyone be willing? Da'um was happy to blend with me, it's an honour."

"Right. Bes, are you Tok'ra?"

"No, no, no, I wouldn't like that. It might be dangerous."

"And that wouldn't be much fun, now, would it?"

"You know, you're right again, it wouldn't. They have no idea how to have a good time. That must be why I never wanted to be one."

"The Goa'uld didn't exile you here, then?"

"No. I blame Ra. If he hadn't interfered, I would still be home."

"What did he do?"

"He said my people were getting soft, and I had to train them better. That's what the vartikulum was for, to toughen them up."

"The vartikulum, that's what brought us here, right?"

"That's right."

"So, why did you use it yourself, were you trying to escape Ra?"

"No, no, not trying to escape, not trying to do anything really. After it was set up, I had a little celebration, took Farida to the temple to show it to her, women are impressed by stuff like that you know. Anyway, we were having a little fun, rolled the wrong way, and I've been here ever since."

"So, basically, you got drunk, got frisky, and exiled yourself?"

"That's it. I blame Ra."

"Of course you do. At least we're still on the same planet, so my friends should be able to find us."

"Oh, are they looking for us?"

"Yes, well, they're looking for me. I'm sure they'll work it out soon, then we'll be able to find the way home?"

"It's that way."

"If you know that, why have you never tried to get back?"

"It's a long way, I might get hungry. Or I could fall in a hole. Or get lost. Best to wait here for rescue."

"You stayed here for two hundred years on the off-chance you'd get peckish on the way home?"

"I don't like to be hungry. Do you have anything to eat, something new? We're bored with fruit."

"I have some chocolate."

"Chocolate, what's chocolate, will we like it?"

"Oh, yes, I'm yet to meet a sentient being who doesn't. Here, try some."

"Ooh...mmmmm...yum...mmmn...more, we want more."

"Sorry, that's all I've got."

"D'oh."

"Oh my god."

"What, what's funny, did I make a joke, I like jokes, tell me the joke, is it funny, huh?"

"I just realised who you reminded me of, I don't know why I didn't see it before."

"Oh, is he a great and mighty god?"

"I wouldn't say that exactly, although he does have a lot of...uh...followers. His name is Homer Simpson."

"Homer Simpson, a noble name."

"Uh...yeah."

"Will we go home when your friends find us, we'd like to go home."

"Oh, good lord."

"O'Neill, I believe these will aid us in our recovery of DanielJackson."

"What you got, big guy?"

"Xulatars."

"And they would be?"

"Location devices."

"Sweet. How do they work?"

"They indicate the appropriate direction and exact distance between two units."

"Okay, here's what we do. I take one through the vast kitchen, find Daniel, head back here. You let SG-3 know the state of play, then come meet us half way."

"Sir, what if he's on the other side of the planet?"

"Then you get us some transport. Carter, this is our best bet for getting Daniel back where he belongs, unless you have any better ideas?"

"No, Sir, I know you're right, I'm just..."

"Worried?"

"Yes. What if there are Goa'uld on the other side, maybe we should wait for backup."

"Maybe we should, but I'm not gong to. Daniel's been gone too long already, and if he's in any danger, I need to be there."

"Sir...I...are you sure...are you being...uh..."

"MajorCarter and I are concerned that your professional judgment may be compromised by your relationship with DanielJackson, O'Neill."

"I know, and you could be right. But then, my professional judgment is not what it once was, and not only where Daniel is concerned. I lost any objectivity over SG-1 a long time ago. You guys are my family now, and I would do anything in my power to save any one of you."

"Oh my god, that's what you meant, wasn't it? I was the one who assumed you meant more, but you really were telling the absolute truth when you said I meant more to you than I should. You would have said exactly the same about any of us."

"Yes, I meant every word I said. I would rather die than lose you, or Teal'c. As for Daniel, I might as well die if I lose him, because my life would be over."

"I think I'm beginning to see that."

"So, let's get this done."

"Yes, Sir. Good luck."

"O'Neill, you will retrieve DanielJackson, well and unharmed."

"You can count on it."

"Daniel, hey, Daniel. Dammit, where are you."

"Jack, over here. I'm here. You came for me, I knew you would."

"God, Daniel, you're okay. You are okay, right?"

"I'm fine, and really happy to see you."

"Same here, Danny. You're really not hurt, or in danger, not even a little bit?"

"Jack, I'm fine, no problems...apart from not being in Kansas anymore."

"You noticed that."

"Almost immediately."

"Well, time to get you home, Dorothy."

"Me too, we're not in Kansas either. What's Kansas. Have you come to save us? We want to go home too, are we going home now, huh, are we, huh? Huh? Who's Dorothy?"

"Going to introduce me to your friend, Danny?"

"Oh, right. Now, don't freak, Jack. Jack, meet Bes and Da'um. Bes is..."

"A Goa'uld? You've been sitting here making nice with a Goa'uld? You said there was no danger, how can there be no danger with the Goa'uld here."

"Not the Goa'uld, a Goa'uld...kinda."

"What kinda, he's either a Goa'uld or he's not."

"He is, but he's not your average snakehead. I don't think he's evil per se, a little annoying maybe, but not evil. He and his host are blended, like the Tok'ra."

"He's Tok'ra?"

"No, he's like the Tok'ra...he didn't think it would be much fun battling overlords, so he chose not to join them."

"He has a point, besides, can't say I'd choose to live with those uptight, humourless, self-important..."

"Oh, you know the Tok'ra too? Could they be more boring? Do you have chocolate?"

"What?"

"We like chocolate."

"This is weird."

"That's exactly what I said. This is weird."

"Daniel, is he humming? Oh, for crying out loud, what's he doing now?"

"Who knows, he loses interest easily. Just wait, any time now he'll start asking if we're going home again."

"Home? Did you say we were going home now?"

"Dammit, Daniel, you've set him off again."

"Sorry. Incidentally, do you have a plan?"

"A teltak, you have a teltak?"

"Oh let me look...nope, nothing in that pocket, nothing in this pocket, nothing in my pack. Sorry, looks like I'm fresh out of teltaks."

"D'oh."

"Oh my god, he's..."

"I know."

"I knew he looked familiar."

"I know."

"All he needs is a couch, television and jelly donuts. It's uncanny."

"I know."

"Damn, how can I hate him now."

"I know. Jack, I think we're going to have to take him with us."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Daniel?"

"I don't see why not. His people want him back, he wants to go back, and, frankly, I would hardly class him as public enemy number one."

"I guess. How did he get here anyway?"

"Accident."

"Accident?"

"One day, when a little the worse for drink, he took his girl up to the temple to show off his new doohickey, apparently that kind of thing impressed her. Anyway, long story short, they kind of...rolled through, while...uhm...otherwise engaged."

"A man who knows how to party."

"Well, he is the god of fun, music, children and pregnant women."

"So? Hathor was the goddess of sex, drugs and rock and roll, and she was a total bitch."

"Hathor? You knew her? I knew her. You need to watch Hathor, beautiful, but she'll have you fathering a nation when all you wanted was a good time for a few millennia."

"Been there, done that."

"Well now she's a popsicle, so she won't be bothering us again, right?"

"What's a popsicle, is it good, can I be one?"

"You wouldn't like it, Bes, trust me. It's cold, very cold."

"Oh. I don't like being cold, Daniel. Maybe I won't be a popsicle after all."

"Good choice."

"Okay, time to hit the road, kids. Nice as this place is, I don't think I want to retire here."

"I'm ready. Do you have a map or something?"

"Or something."

"That's a xulatar, all that does is show you how far home is, it can't take you there. How are we going to get home?"

"Bes, Da'um, the only way out of here is on foot. Now, Jack and I are leaving, if you want to come with us, that's fine, but you will have to walk."

"Or you could stay here."

"We're bored here."

"Then come with us. How far is it, anyway, Jack?"

"According to this zoota, about two days walk, which means we should meet up with Teal'c and Carter sometime tomorrow."

"Do they have..."

"No."

"D'oh."

"Look, two days is not so bad, and we have plenty of snacks to see us through, so you won't starve."

"What shall we do?" "I don't know, what do you want to do?" "I don't know. I don't like walking." "I don't like walking either, but if we don't go, we'll be alone again." "Maybe someone else will come and save us, someone with a teltak." "That would be good. But maybe someone with a teltak won't come." "No, maybe not. They didn't before. Maybe we should go." "Maybe we should." "Maybe there will be chocolate." "I like chocolate, let's go." "Yes, let's." "Or we could wait here." "Yes, we could do that. Do you want to do that?" "I don't know, what do you want to do."

"Oh, for crying out loud."

"We should be in radio range any time now, the terrain looked pretty easy going from the U.A.V. telemetry, so unless..."

"DanielJackson will be well, MajorCarter. O'Neill will locate and retrieve him, there can be no other option."

"Yes, of course. Thanks for being so...comforting."

"You are welcome."

"Teal'c..."

"I am here, should you require assistance of any kind."

"I know, you always are. You're a true friend, Teal'c, and I've behaved so badly to you. I'm so sorry, you must have thought I'd completely lost the plot."

"Your apology is appreciated, but unnecessary. My concern over your irrational behaviour was for your well-being only. As it was for us all."

"I realise that now. I don't know what I was thinking. The crazy thing is, that if I had thought about it rationally, I would have known that things could never work out between the Colonel and me."

"I have never thought you compatible. I am pleased that you are now able to see this."

"So am I. I just wish it hadn't taken Daniel being in danger to make me come to my senses."

"Are you senses, then, returned to you?"

"Oh yes. I was all mixed up before. On the one hand, I wanted...needed...to believe that the Colonel didn't really care for Daniel. Since he didn't love me, I couldn't accept that he truly loved anyone else, especially not a man. It felt like a total betrayal of everything I thought I knew, although his obsession with the Wizard of Oz was always a bit suspect. And then, at the same time, I'd tell myself that any relationship between Daniel and the Colonel was bound to alter the dynamic of the team, that the Colonel would be unable to control his feelings, and would always put Daniel first, no matter what. I never let myself see the hypocrisy of the fact that I had been wanting exactly that relationship for myself. You and Janet both tried to tell me, but I wouldn't let myself hear."

"O'Neill is sincere in his affections for DanielJackson, yet I trust the integrity of his command. He would never permit his emotions to control his actions to the detriment of SG-1. Surely his restraint in this situation is ample proof of his leadership qualities."

"He's the best C.O. I've ever served under, and I think a lot of that has to do with Daniel's influence on him. He's always been a good soldier, but Daniel makes him a better man."

"DanielJackson has indeed had a profound influence on O'Neill, as he has on me."

"On all of us, Teal'c."

"I concur. It is the nature of our friend to change the perceptions of those he meets. We would all be the poorer for his absence."

"Absolutely. It's funny, it was the alternate universes that started me thinking of a possible future for myself and the Colonel. I thought that because those Sams were with their Jacks, that I should be too. But they weren't us. I didn't even particularly like the Sam I met, and I'm not sure I would have liked the General O'Neill that Daniel met either. He sounds like a hard hearted, uncompromising, rigid...soldier."

"And yet, after only a few hours exposure to our Daniel, he was prepared to sacrifice his life to assist him."

"You're right, he was. I wonder what would have happened if things had gone differently for them. Would the marriage still have been on, or would the good General have been on the first plane to Egypt to track down his own Daniel"

"We will never know."

"No, but we can guess. I've never had that sort of influence over the Colonel. He listens to me, and follows my advice, at least where there's something scientific involved, but I could never affect his belief system the way Daniel does. Maybe that's because he'll always be my superior, and we can never truly be equal. You'd think the fact that he's always the Colonel to me, never Jack, would have clued me in. And to be perfectly honest, much as I admire the Colonel, there are times when I really want to smack Jack upside the head. Those witty comments are so wearing. I swear, if I have to hear one more Austin Powers impersonation, I will not be responsible for my actions."

"Indeed."

"Teal'c, I am constantly amazed by how much you can convey with so little."

"Carter? Teal'c?"

"Reading you Sir."

"At last. Bit of a problem here, kids. Big, honking river. Deep, fast, no bridge. Possibly some fish."

"Yes, Sir. We know about that."

"And?"

"GeneralHammond has provided us with an air vessel."

"An inflatable raft, Sir."

"Sweet."

"What's that, what's an inflatable raft? Is it like a..."

"No."

"D'oh."

"Sir, is there a problem?"

"No, just one seriously annoying Goa'uld."

"A Goa'uld! Sir, shouldn't we..."

"Trust me, Carter, no way is this particular Goa'uld into galactic domination, that'd be too much like hard work for the lazy, whining, s.o.b. The only way he could defeat anyone is by boring them into submission."

"If you say so, Sir."

"I don't think there'll be any problem with returning him to the bosom of his adoring followers. After all, they want him, we want rid of him, it's a win-win situation. Provided I don't horribly maim him first. So, what's your e.t.a.?"

"We should be with you in about an hour, Sir. Maybe you could check out the fish situation while you wait."

"I wouldn't want Teal'c to get jealous."

"I will survive, O'Neill."

"Sir, is Daniel..."

"I'm here, Sam."

"Oh, Daniel, it's so good to hear your voice. Are you..."

"I'm fine."

"You know, Janet once told me that stood for fucked, irrational, neurotic and emotional."

"So that's why she always smirks when I say it. Damn."

"Daniel, I'm so sorry, it was all my fault that you were put in danger..."

"Sam..."

"On the contrary, MajorCarter, had I been more observant..."

"Hey, enough. I'm here, I was never in any danger, and even if I had been, no-one was to blame. Please, can we just move on."

"I hope so Daniel. But I do need to apologise, to you and to Colonel O'Neill. My behaviour has been unprofessional, and downright rude. I'm sorry. I hope I haven't damaged our relationship beyond repair."

"Sam, that could never happen. All I want is for us to be friends again. I miss you."

"I miss you too, Daniel."

"Jack?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Ditto."

"Ditto? Ja-ack."

"What do you want from me, you know I suck at this mushy stuff."

"I, however, have no objection to mush. O'Neill, DanielJackson, MajorCarter, I wish to express my fond regard and deepest affection for you all. I, too, desire the restoration of our team...of my family."

"I was just going to say that."

"Of course you were, Jack."

"Sir, I realise now that I totally misread the situation..."

"Not without a lot of help from me, Carter."

"All the same, my insubordination was inexcusable..."

"Carter, I'll accept your apology on one condition. That you'll accept mine. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Sam, are you really going to be okay with this?"

"I'm going to try, Daniel. I know now how much I stand to lose, and SG-1 is too high a price to pay."

"I swear I wanted to tell you sooner, you and Teal'c, but Jack was worried about compromising your position. He didn't want you to have to lie if there was any trouble, it was never a question of trust."

"I know, Daniel, I understand."

"Good, and no more secrets, I promise."

"MajorCarter, I, too, intend to pursue a romantic involvement."

"Oh, well, thank-you for sharing, Teal'c. Anyone I know?"

"Yes. DoctorFraiser. We have a date."

"Janet! When? She never said a word."

"Our understanding is of recent date. We spoke shortly before our ill-fated visit to the temple, and the loss of DanielJackson."

"Oh, well, congratulations, I think you'll be very good for each other."

"That is my hope."

"Anyone else got anything they want to get off their chests?"

"I think we're about done with the revelations, Jack. I think we should celebrate."

"I think we should finish this mission."

"Well, obviously, but after."

"I think that's a great idea Daniel."

"That's two of us then. You up for it Teal'c?"

"I am."

"Which just leaves you, Jack. Sure you're not interested?"

"I guess someone should be there to make sure you guys don't get into trouble."

"That's settled then. First night home, we go out and have one hell of a celebration."

"What about us, we like celebrating, we want to celebrate too. Can we celebrate, huh? Can we?"

"For crying out loud. Daniel, remind me to shoot you the next time you want to rescue anyone, especially irritating, Homer Simpson impersonating Goa'uld."

"Oh, good lord."

***The End***

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