SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMER: Chris, Vin, Nathan, Mary, Inez, JD, Buck, Josiah, Billy, and Orrin Travis belong to MGM, Trilogy, CBS, and TNN. The characters from Stargate SG-1 (including Ally & Cassie) belong to MGM, Gekko, and Showtime. I'm not making any money from writing this story, I just love to write. Adriana is mine, as are the assorted members of SG-3 and the natives. You're welcome to borrow Adriana and the natives, as long as you ask first, and return them intact.
SPOILERS: Bane (Stargate), Hathor (Stargate), episode where Apophis was sheltered briefly by the SGC (my memory is horrible, but Janet's reference to Apophis in the opening paragraph did actually happen in the show) , the second season premiere, when Jack first called Daniel 'space monkey.' And it does seem that Daniel gets hurt in the show as often as JD does. Also the The Nox (Stargate) and any episode involving the Tolan, the Tok'ra, or the Asgaard (I know, I really need to find the site with all of the episode titles, since there are almost ninety now, over the last four seasons) Also, my spin on Ghosts of the Confederacy (M7), One Day out West (M7), Working Girls (M7), Manhunt (M7), The Collector (M7), Obsession (M7), Penance (M7) and indirect reference s to Achilles (M7) and Lady Killers (M7).
WARNING: OFC (I know some people don't like 'em, so here's your warning), some violence, nasty language in certain sections.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Just in case you're wondering, 'Kastner' is a German name. My mother's family came over from Germany in the eighteenth century, prior to the American Revolution, and the original spelling of her maiden name, 'Cosner,' was 'Kastner.'
Also, when Vin says, "We have hostiles on our six," he's saying they're behind him. It's a military term ... six is behind and noon is straight ahead. I'm an Air Force brat who watches JAG ... and it sounded like something Vin would say in the presence of someone he considers a lady.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first M7/SG fusion. I've read one crossover, Eye of the Beholder, and heard references to another (title slips my mind, but the Scribe wrote it as part of her series), but I got the idea for an actual fusion while ruminating on the similarities between Jack O'Neill and Chris Larabee.
"Major Carter? Mind if I ask you a stupid reporter question?" Mary Travis asked, falling into step beside her friend. Major Sam Carter looked up from her notes with a smile and nodded. Mary continued, glancing over her shoulder at the infirmary, "Ever since Adriana and Vin got back, I've been hearing a lot about Major Harris and her habit of camping right beside the Stargate. What I want to know is, why is that a bad idea?"
Sam regarded her friend as they walked. They hadn't been friends at first ... both were strong-willed, stubborn women. Sam sometimes lost track of ... other things when her scientific curiosity had been piqued. Mary could be absolutely ruthless when it came to protecting hers. Her son, her family, her little circle of friends, whatever. In the beginning, she and Chris had tangled quite frequently because of that.
Janet Frasier had actually helped to forge their friendship, because she was their common link. And it had been Janet who taught them both how much they had in common. Oh, they still got on each others' nerves, but they had reached an understanding, then became friends. Sam told the other woman, "It's just the two of us, Mary, 'Sam' is fine." Mary responded with a rueful smile, and Sam realized she had taken refuge in formality without thinking.
That still left Mary's question. Sam explained as they moved slowly away from the infirmary, "By itself, it's not a bad idea. It all depends on the terrain surrounding the Gate, whether or not there's cover in case of an attack. We could tell, when we sent the probe through, that it was in a clearing, with trees surrounding. Have you ever wondered why, when we send a probe through, the general has started asking Vin to be in the control room when pictures from the probe come through?"
Mary bobbed her head and the major continued, "You weren't the only one. I questioned the general about it. His answer was, Vin was evaluating the area before we get there. For example, I was in the room when he told the general that the area would be perfect for an ambush. He pointed out that the only real cover is the Stargate itself, whereas potential attackers had the trees surrounding the clearing." A glance at her companion told Sam that Mary was starting to understand. No one had ever said Mary Travis was stupid.
"And the major had never been on a mission where she was attacked at the Gate, so she didn't see the possible danger. Still, I would think as a ... well, she's not a soldier, since she's in the Air Force, but I would have thought she would see it was a good place for an ambush," Mary observed. Sam nodded. The two women were silent. After a moment, Mary asked next, "Why isn't the Stargate considered good cover? I mean, haven't you ever gotten into a fire fight near the Gate, and used it as cover?"
"Yes, but it's not an ideal situation. We know so little about naquada, how it would react to fire. One thing I've learned, you don't make assumptions about the weapons of whoever is attacking. It's just not a chance you want to take. And there's also the possibility of damage to the DHD. Do we know gunfire ... or zat fire ... or staff fire ... will damage the DHD? Is that a chance we really want to take, under non-controlled circumstances?" Sam asked.
"I see your point. Sam, have you reviewed the tapes from the security camera, of what happened when Vin was hit by that blast?" Mary asked. Sam nodded, and Mary continued, "What do you think happened? What do you think it was?" Sam sighed, running her hand through her short blonde hair. She had learned from Janet that the burn wound didn't match wounds from zats or staff weapons.
"I don't know. From what I understand, Adriana didn't get a good look at the weapon before they came through the wormhole. It could be anything, Mary. There's still a lot we don't know about the wormholes, about how ... about how energy is diffused in it. It could have focused the blast, it could have dispersed it. Until I actually see the weapon, there's ... it's hard to say. But until General Hammond hears the rest of the story, he will not authorize anyone else to go through the Gate to investigate," Sam replied.
"And maybe not even then," Mary observed. Sam nodded. Everything would depend on what General Hammond learned from Adriana the following morning. All she knew, after the colonel emerged from the infirmary, was that they would pick up the questions in the morning. Mary sighed and murmured, "I wish I could be there for her. But Janet just shooed the men out, and I really need to get Billy. I still can't believe the general would let me bring him here." Sam smiled, seeing the shock in her friend's face.
"Well, as long as Billy is kept away from the Gate Room and other areas, there's no reason for him not to be here with his mother. And Cassie knows to keep him away from those areas when she's watching him, just as she keeps Soraya away from them," the major answered. The two women fell silent, Sam understanding that Mary was thinking of Soraya, who was now most likely an orphan. At least the little girl hadn't witnessed her father's death, as Billy had when he was about her age.
After a moment, Sam said quietly, "Look, you don't plan on asking Adriana any questions. Why don't you just ask Janet if she would mind you sitting with her? I'll look after the kids." She caught the question in Mary's eyes before she asked, adding, "I'm sure I don't mind, Mary. I've missed spending time with Cassie, and Billy's a terrific kid. It'll be good practice for me." Mary smiled and squeezed Sam's hand, then turned back to the infirmary.
She had only gone a few steps, then turned to say, "Thank you, Sam." Sam smiled in response, then Mary headed for the infimary. As she watched the public relations officer return to her best friend's side, Sam's smile slipped from her face. The men were gone from the infirmary. It was time she had a talk with Colonel O'Neill. She wanted to find out how much he had learned. Sam's instincts told her that this was far from over.
"What's going on with Adriana that you couldn't tell me over the phone?" Major Buck Wilmington demanded as soon as his old friend entered his quarters. Fifteen minutes had actually passed since he had received the call ... fifteen, nerve-wracking minutes. Chris just glared at him, barely at the end of his limited patience. But there was more than just anger in his friend's eyes. There was sorrow. And grief. Buck asked, suddenly finding it very hard to breath, "Vin?"
"Still hanging on. I just had to stop thirty times between here and there, because people wanted to know what happened out there, and I still don't have the answer to that. Sit down, Buck. You aren't gonna like it. Adriana is fine, physically. It's just ... God. How do I tell you this?" Chris asked, running his hand over his hair. It became even harder for Buck to breathe. Something was wrong with his baby sister.
"Chris ... tell me," he whispered, "please, tell me what's wrong. What's happened to Adriana?" Chris sighed and indicated a chair, then slumped into another chair. Buck did sit down. If Chris had to sit down to tell him, then he had better sit down. He lowered himself into a chair, his eyes never leaving Chris.
"It's not what has happened to Adriana, it's what did happen to Adriana. This ... this has something to do with why she hasn't spoken to you for so long. Not since the rescue mission," Chris replied. Now Buck's blood was turning to ice water. The last eighteen months had been hell for him, trying to find a way to make amends to a sister who wouldn't even speak to him, unless it dealt with a mission.
Buck wasn't sure what he was expecting to hear. Maybe that somehow, she had been injured worse than anyone realized when she pushed JD out of the line of fire. Or something directly dealing with that day. He was expecting anything other than what Chris now said. His old friend said quietly, "Adriana isn't angry with you. She blames herself. She's been trying to figure out for the last eighteen months what she did wrong when you were kids, that you don't want her around. Her theory is that, you've never forgiven her, because your father married her mother, and not yours." Buck flinched at the reminder of his years without his father, while his mother grew old before her time. But she had always loved him, and always taken care of him.
"That wasn't her fault. Hell, she wasn't even born 'til I was eleven years old, Chris! How can she think I blame her for that?" Buck asked. Chris just looked at him sadly, and the big man realized his friend wasn't finished. Not even close. Buck licked his lips, murmuring, "There's more. Tell me, Chris. Tell me where my baby sister would get a cockeyed idea like that." But even as he verbalized the question, an answer was already starting to occur to him.
"She was what, eleven, twelve years old when you graduated from the Academy? Her mother died when she was eight? Your father ... not a prize by anyone's reckoning, raised her. Remember what he did to your mother. What do you think he did to that little girl, who looked so much like her mother? Think about it, Buck," Chris replied. Unspoken were the words, 'don't make me tell you.' Chris didn't want to say the words.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ella's attack on Buck, Vin, and Mary will be chronicled in another story, not yet written. That will probably be the third prequel, following Vin's arrival into the SGC and the beginning of his friendship with Adriana.
He didn't have to. Buck was already seeing the picture, and he didn't want to. He whispered, shaking his head in a denial he didn't truly believe, "No. No, he couldn't have. No, Chris." He kept shaking his head, begging his friend with his eyes to tell him this wasn't true. Even as his heart acknowledged it. He didn't want to accept that his father had done such a thing. And that Buck hadn't been there to protect his little sister.
"Yes. Adriana ... always thought you didn't want her around. You're her big brother. She was sure you knew. Until recently," Chris answered in a low voice. Buck buried his face in his hands with a low groan. What had he done??? Suddenly, things which had struck him odd since his sister's arrival began to make sense. The way Adriana jumped when someone touched her without warning. How quickly her actual anger had died, after they had rescued Travis, to be replaced with what he thought was indifference and aloofness.
He realized how that she had given him what she thought he wanted. What he didn't understand was, why she didn't realize he was trying to make up for that. Why didn't she know how much he loved her, how sorry he was for hurting her? Shit! What was he doing, blaming her? He was her older brother, it was his job, his responsibility, to protect her ... take care of her. As he had been taking care of JD.
"God. I thought she didn't need me any more. She's twenty-seven now. I thought JD needed me more," Buck whispered. Chris said nothing, and Buck continued, "What was I thinking? You don't stop needin' people as you get older. Hell, I'm thirty-eight years old, and I need JD. All of ya. I just don't tell y'all because it ain't seemly. And I threw her into the general's arms to get to JD, like she was a bag of trash!"
Trash. That was how his father had treated her. Like she was put there to service his needs and wants, to satisfy him. Buck's rage against himself began changing. Oh, he was still angry with himself, and he needed to do some major grovelling to his sister to ease his guilt. But he was now realizing that while he could have done a better job of looking out for his little sister, there was one other person who deserved his fury.
An image flashed through his mind of his mother. He had been eighteen when she died. Out of respect for her wishes, he had begun spending time with his father and step-mother.
Adriana's mother was born in Holland, and spoke English with a charming Dutch accent. He hadn't understood her ... not because of her accent, but because Buck's mother had showered him with affection, and Katrien showed her daughter none. A year after his own mother's death, Katrien was brutally murdered. Eight year old Adriana had found her mother's body ... but the murderer had never been found.
He remembered his father at the funeral, weeping hysterically, while his little daughter stood at his side. She looked like a little statue, she was so still. Buck didn't doubt that his father had mourned his wife, but that didn't give him the right to use his little girl like that! But then again, he had learned the hard way that his father used people. Buck loved women. To him, they were the most amazing creatures on the face of the planet. And while he had learned the hard way that they weren't the perfect angels he had believed they were, the good women he found were all the more beloved for the dark angels among them.
And his father had used women most of all. Buck's own mother. Katrien. Adriana. A white-hot fury burned in Buck's soul and he turned his dark blue eyes to his oldest friend, hissing, "That bastard. He's dead, Chris. I get my hands on him, and I will break his neck. I don't care if he is sixty-five years old, he deserves to die!" Now the rage was flowing through his veins, white hot lava, threatening to turn his bones to ash, but Buck didn't care.
And Chris was on his feet immediately, hissing right back, "That ain't the way! I know! I spent three years outta control and lookin' for revenge. And when I finally caught up with Ella, to make her pay for takin' Sarah and Adam from me, I damn near lost you and Mary and Vin in the process! You remember that? You remember holdin' Vin in your arms, with Mary standin' between two of you and Ella? You remember Mary havin' to take the life of another person, in order to protect you? I'm not lettin' you go down that path, Buck, it ain't worth it!"
Buck did remember. He remembered taunting Ella, telling her that no matter what she did, she would never make Chris love her that way he loved Sarah. The way he was growing to love Mary. He remembered Ella hurtling toward Mary with a knife, only to watch in horror as Vin stepped between the two women. He remembered watching Vin fall ... watching Mary knock the knife from Ella's hand with an anguished "No!" He remembered cradling Vin in his arms in that cabin, waiting for Chris and the others. And Mary's tears as she shot Ella full in the chest with Vin's rifle. Remembered hearing her screaming in incoherent rage as bullet after bullet tore into Ella's already dead body.
And the rage abated. His sister had been through enough. If he went after his father now, like this, she would only be hurt more. Oh, the fury was still there. But now it was containable. He took several deep breaths, trying to clear his head. Once he could think, he whispered, "What now?" How do I make this up to her? What can I do to help her? How the hell am I gonna get through this without tearing that bastard to pieces?
"You need to talk to your baby sister tomorrow, big fella. She gave me permission to tell you ... said she wasn't strong enough. She apparently knows your reactions pretty well, Buck, even if she doesn't always understand you. Then again, I don't always understand you, either," Chris answered.
Buck managed a weak smile and Chris continued, "You need to tell her that this wasn't her fault. She needs to hear it. She needs to know that you believe in her. That you will always be there for her. That she is a priority to you. It's not enough, to know that you love her because she's your sister. She needs more than that. She may be twenty-seven years old, Buck, but there's still a lost little girl in there."
Buck nodded, unable to answer. He thought of his sister and Vin in the infirmary. He thought of taking Vin to the hospital after Ella's body had been retrieved by the coroner. And unexpectedly, he began laughing. Chris blinked at him in surprise, and Buck said, chuckling, "I was just thinking 'bout Adriana, once we got Vin to the hospital and the docs said he would make it. Thought we would have to pry Adriana loose from him with a crowbar."
Chris laughed as well, easing the tension in the room. At least until Buck looked at his oldest friend, saying quietly, "The boys will want to know about this. As soon as Adriana is ready for them to hear it, I want them to know. Reckon Ezra and Josiah have already figured it out. But they love her, too. They should know."
"It's got to be Adriana's decision, Buck," Chris said quietly. Buck nodded. Chris sighed deeply, then said, "Will you be all right, big fella?" Buck nodded with a sigh of his own. Lord, he was tired! His worry for Adriana through the last few days had left him unable to sleep. He hadn't been with a woman in three days, and that hadn't helped his mood at all. And now, the events of the day were finally catching up with him.
"I'll be fine. You just let me know what the general decides tomorrow," Buck replied. Chris nodded in agreement, then slipped from Buck's quarters. The big man settled back in his chair, running his fingers through his dark brown hair. Lord, he had so much to think about! He knew one thing was true, though. Once Adriana was finished with what happened to her and Vin on that planet, it was time to have a little heart to heart with his baby sister. Complete with a bear hug only Buck Wilmington could give.
As Buck Wilmington struggled to come to terms with this revelation about his little sister, Mary Travis was quietly slipping into the infirmary. Her eyes fell first on Vin, who lay in the second bed, face down. She could see his tawny hair more easily than his face. It brought back memories, of another time she had seen him in the hospital. Mary shuddered, remembering the sensation of Vin's rifle kicking in her hands.
"Mary?" Janet Frasier asked softly, bringing Mary's attention back to the present. It had been almost two years since she had killed Ella Gaines ... three months after Adriana's arrival at Cheyenne Mountain. But she still had nightmares, when something stirred the memories. She would have a nightmare tonight. Mary shifted her gaze from Vin's still form to Janet's concerned face, and her friend asked, "What can I do?"
"Would ... you mind if I sat with Adriana for a while? I don't want to ask her any questions ... I just ... want to be near her," Mary explained in a faltering voice. Janet just smiled and gently pushed Mary toward a chair beside Adriana's bed. Mary sank into it gratefully and turned to look at her best friend. She lifted a strand of pale blonde hair back from her eyes, then took Adriana's hand. Her friend's eyes slowly opened.
Adriana looked disoriented for a moment, and Mary whispered, "It's all right, go back to sleep." That only served to focus Adriana's attention on her, and a spasm of pain twisted her face. Mary asked, "Should I ask Janet for more medication? She's with Vin right now, so I wouldn't have to go far." Adriana began shaking her head as soon as Mary mentioned the guide's name. Surprise, surprise. Not for the first time, Mary wondered about the nature of Adriana's relationship with Vin. She wouldn't ask her friend ... but maybe someday, Adriana would tell her.
"It's tolerable, Mare. I'm fine," Adriana answered in a hoarse voice. Mary winced, hearing the sound. Her friend sighed and murmured, "Talk to me, Mary. Tell me what's going on. I told the colonels and the general about some of what happened on the planet, but I haven't heard anything about what's been going on since we left. Is there anything interesting going on?" Mary immediately shook her head.
One of the more positive aspects of her job was hearing all the rumors and gossip that went around. While she refused to give into yellow journalism and sensationalism (her one foray into that had been the last), Mary knew that there were kernels of truth in rumors and gossip. Technically, she was the general's public relations officer, but she was also a reporter. She couldn't write any of the stories that came out of the SGC, at least not until the country ... the world ... was ready to hear about the Stargate.
Correction. The stories couldn't be published until then. That didn't mean she couldn't write the stories. She just had to be very careful about the diskettes where they were stored. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry. The stories hadn't been written. She was paranoid about the diskettes containing her notes falling into the wrong hands, so she had created a small pocket under her desk to shelter the diskettes.
Still, there were other stories to be written here. She had made it a point to get to know each of the officers and enlisted personnel who worked here over the last three years. As Vin had been known to say, everyone has a story to tell. She smiled faintly, remembering that conversation, during one of their tutoring sessions. And he was right. Everyone had a story to tell. But not this week, it seemed.
She replied, "Nothing new, Adriana. It's been quiet here, too quiet here. I actually heard someone saying yesterday that they wished something would happen. Even it was the Tok'ra arriving. You know how Colonel O'Neill feels about them." Adriana grinned. O'Neill had never made his opinion of the Tok'ra a secret. The only one he really tolerated, or held any respect for, was Jacob Carter, Major Carter's father.
"Well, you gotta admit ... the Tok'ra are arrogant. Honestly, I don't know who are worse ... the Tolan, the Tok'ra, or the Nox. Not that I've actually met the Nox, but what I did hear, kinda irritated me. I like the Asgaard best. They're a lot more patient and a lot less condescending," her friend confided. A sudden, impish smile appeared, and Adriana added, "You know, after hearing Sam and Daniel's stories about Thor and the Asgaard, I would love to see what happened if Thor ever met Vin. They seem to like Colonel O'Neill well enough, what do you think they would make of Vin?"
Mary barely controlled a giggle, as she replied, "Now that's a scary idea!" She squeezed Adriana's hand and added, "But look at things from the perspective of the Tolan, and the Nox, and the Tok'ra. We are a very young species. They've been fighting the Gou'ald for thousands of years." Adriana scowled and Mary continued, "Still, that said, I've found myself wanting to wipe the smug expressions from the faces of some of the Tok'ra." Mary's green eyes flickered away from Adriana briefly, long enough to see Janet Frasier grinning at that.
"Thank God, I was starting to worry about you, Mary," Adriana sighed. Mary gently tapped the back of her friend's wrist, silently shaking with laughter. After a moment, the brunette said quietly, "There's something I need to tell you, my friend. And you can't say anything until I'm finished. Promise?" Mary couldn't have said why her throat closed up, or why her heart seemed to stop beating. But she numbly bobbed her head and waited.
The fog was beginning to part. Vin groaned softly as a sharp pain stabbed low in his back, and he heard a soft voice murmuring his name. Telling him to take it easy, he was in the infirmary. Well, hell, he had figured that part out on his own! But instead of responding with a smart ass remark, he concentrated on fighting back the pain. Maybe once the pain went away, he would find it easier to breathe.
Someone asked about medication, and Janet Frasier responded, "I think it's safe. The blood work I ordered just came back, and there were no foreign agents in his blood. I'm not willing to take a chance with his life until I have more information, so keep the dosage low. I also want to check the dressing on his back, make sure it hasn't become infected. When I checked him a few minutes ago, he was running a low-grade fever, and we can't let that get out of control."
"Aw hell," Vin rasped, forcing his eyes open. Janet turned to face him, a tired smile lighting her face. She put her hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing a spot between his shoulder blades. The massage gave him a focus other than his back, helped him to relax, and that in turn, helped to ease the pain in his back. He took several deep breaths, despite the ache, then whispered, "How long I been out, Janet?"
"You and Adriana returned this morning, and it's almost ten pm now. I spent most of the day working on the two of you. She's in better shape than you are, took a zat shot to the back of her leg. She'll be fine. Would you be more comfortable in another position?" she asked softly. Which was Janet's way of asking if he would prefer to remain where he was, or roll onto his back, or lay on his side.
Vin grimaced. His chest hurt, but if he was hit in the back, he would have fallen forward. That would explain that. He murmured, "My chest hurts ... ya sure I didn't break no ribs? Don't remember much 'bout what happened. Think ya'll can roll me onto my side? Easier to breathe that way." Janet smiled and handed her clipboard to one of the newcomers to the medical staff, then she and one of the other doctors eased Vin onto his side. The guide found it much easier to breathe, though it would have been even easier if he was sitting up. However, with a back injury, that wasn't real likely at the moment.
"Better?" she asked and Vin nodded, taking several more deep breaths. Janet continued, "We'll give you something for the pain, but it can't be a lot, Vin. I'm still running tests, and I don't want to run the risk of your condition deteriorating from an improper diagnosis. I know you're hurting." Vin smiled weakly, then his eyes fell on the blue curtain which had been drawn around his bed.
"Adriana?" he asked softly. Janet's brown eyes flickered, and fear seized his gut. She had said a few minutes ago that Adriana would be fine. So why did Janet look so worried? Vin repeated, "What about Adriana? Why did you pull the curtain around my bed?" Janet sat down in the chair next to his bed, so she could talk to him more freely. She glanced at the other doctors, who quietly dispersed.
"Adriana began telling the colonels and General Hammond about what happened to SG-3. I finally had to shoo them out, since she was tiring. Mary is with her right now ... hearing about your conversation after leaving the camp," the doctor answered in a low voice. It took Vin a moment to realize what she was saying, then white hot fury sliced through him, subduing the pain in his back.
"The others know?" he asked and Janet nodded. By 'the others,' he didn't mean SG-7. Yet, at least ... but General Hammond, Jack, and Chris. Dammit. He knew she wasn't ready to do this yet, but it looked like it had been taken out of her hands. Dammit, dammit, dammit! Vin continued, now feeling the effects of the medication as it flowed through his bloodstream, "And Buck? Does he know?"
"Colonel Larabee left after Adriana agreed to let him take care of that for her. But enough talking right now, Vin. Adriana's in good hands. You've got to rest ... rest and heal," Janet replied. Vin started to protest, but even as he opened his mouth to speak, he found himself fighting a yawn. Hell, he was too damn tired to argue with her. Janet gently squeezed his shoulder and murmured, "Get some sleep." And with one last sigh, Vin did just that.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The controversy regarding the age of the Sphinx is an actual one. It seems certain scientists are calling the age of the Sphinx into question, as I discovered after watching the Discovery Channel. I've spent the last half hour, trying to find the exact name of the documentary, but to the best of my recollection, it was 'Mysteries of the Sphinx,' and it was narrated by Charlton Heston.
It was growing easier to talk about it, Adriana was discovering, with each telling. The first time, with Vin, had been hell. Not because he had made it difficult, but because it was the first time in fifteen years she had discussed it. The second time had been just as difficult, because she was telling her commanding officers ... all three of them ... and they were three men whom she greatly admired and respected. It was never easy to admit to such a person just how weak and vulnerable you really were. In her mind, she understood that it wasn't her fault. In her heart, she was still accepting that as truth.
But Mary was different. She kept her promise, listening in silence as Adriana explained those years after her mothers' death. The combination of shame and guilt and grief which kept her silent as he continued to feel her up. Especially the shame of not stopping him. Of ... wanting someone to love her so desperately, she was willing to accept even this debasement, at least at first.
At last, once Adriana had talked herself out, Mary said very quietly, "That bastard. That unmitigated bastard. Using that child's need for affection and love, and ... Damn him!" Her tone was quiet, but her body was trembling with rage. And her green eyes shot fire. In those eyes, Adriana could see something else. Revulsion ... but it wasn't directed at her. It was directed at Adriana's father, at the concept that someone would do that to a child not much older than her own Billy.
Neither woman could speak for several moments, then Adriana yawned. She blushed, but Mary just smiled and murmured, "Get some sleep. I'll stay with you for a few more minutes, then I need to see to Billy. I need to be with Billy." Adriana understood at once. She needed to hold her son, and reassure herself that despite the trauma of seeing his father die, he was a healthy, well-adjusted little boy.
"Do me a favor, Mare?" Adriana asked softly. Mary nodded immediately, and Adriana continued, "In the morning, could you go to my apartment and get my CD's? Especially my collection of Loreena McKennitt's CD's. There's a song I need to hear, and Vin likes to listen to her as well." Mary responded with an intrigued expression, and Adriana explained, "There's a song on one of the CD's, called 'All Souls Night.' There's a set of lyrics which runs something like this, 'I can see the light in the distance, trembling in the dark cloak of night. Bonfires are dancing, dancing a waltz on All Souls Night.' I need that imagery. A light in the dark."
Unexpectedly, Mary's eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed Adriana's hand, murmuring, "You'll have that light in the dark. Get some sleep, and I'll talk to you in the morning." Adriana nodded and Mary leaned forward to give her a brief, fierce hug. Adriana returned the embrace with equal ferocity, then Mary kissed her forehead and added, "Night, Drina." The archaeologist smiled at how quickly Vin's nickname for her was being adopted, then Mary left the room, allowing Adriana to fall back to sleep within minutes.
Chris Larabee was in the infirmary at oh seven hundred hours the following morning. He moved silently, but Janet Frasier heard him anyhow. She turned to face him, and Chris was heartened to see Vin sleeping on his side. That was good.
A soft whimper removed his attention from Tanner, and he looked at Adriana, who was moving restlessly in her sleep. Her face was screwed up in distress, and Chris saw evidence of tears on her face. Janet gently placed the clipboard back on Vin's bed, then sat down on the bed beside Adriana, gently stroking her dark brown hair and murmuring something Chris didn't understand. The archaeologist immediately began to settle down, and Janet eased her into her arms, rocking her as if Adriana was Billy's age.
"It was a bad night, Colonel, for her," Janet sighed, "she had nightmares. About her father." Chris looked from the now-calm Adriana to the doctor, who added, "I heard about what he did to her. Twice. The second time, in a lot more detail." There was a rage in her voice Chris had never heard before. Janet gently kissed the top of her friend's head, then looked at Chris hard, asking ... no, demanding ... hoarsely, "What kind of man does that to a child?" In all the years he had known Janet Frasier, he had never heard her speak that way.
"I don't know," Chris admitted, "I don't know, Janet. And if it weren't for the damage it would do to her, I'd kill him myself. She'll have nightmares for a while. But she's not alone any more. I take it that you didn't know about it, either, until yesterday?" Janet shook her head, blinking back tears. Damn. Not even her own doctor, one of her closest friends, had known about this. Chris continued, "Any idea how Tanner figured it out? Did she tell you or Mary?" Now Janet looked startled.
"How did you know ... never mind. And no, she didn't. She didn't say much about Vin. I know they met when she was a college student at the University of Texas ... that they remained friends up until the time she went to Germany to do her graduate work. He disappeared a few weeks before her departure, and then she didn't see him again until she came here. Based on what she told me, I'm guessing he disappeared, due to the hit against him ... he didn't want her getting caught in the crossfire," Janet replied.
Chris nodded grimly ... that sounded like something Vin would do. A sleepy voice startled them both with, "That was what he told me when we met up again here at Cheyenne Mountain. He only told me in his message on my answering machine that he had to go away to protect me, to make sure no one hurt me. After I came here, he told me the whole story." Adriana raised her head, looking very tired.
Janet sighed, "Busted." Adriana giggled and Janet eased her friend back against the pillows, saying, "Let me go see about breakfast for you, young lady. Colonel Larabee can look after you and Kevin for a while." Adriana squeezed her friend's hand in response, then Janet Frasier left the infirmary. Adriana looked at Chris, who regarded her with affection. Yes, she looked tired, but she seemed more composed this morning.
"Vin is never gonna forgive me for telling the entire SGC that his real name is 'Kevin,' you know that," she said in a conversational tone of voice. Chris smirked ... that was entirely likely. Buck loved to tease the guide about it, since he had allowed the entire compound to assume his given name was actually 'Vincent' for a year. Adriana continued softly, "Buck knows now?" Chris nodded and Adriana asked, her voice dropping yet again, "How did he take it?"
"About how you expected he would. Think a bull in a china shop. He wanted to kill your father, but I talked him out of it. I know about revenge, little princess ... I had to remind him of Ella," Chris replied. Adriana flinched ... she had been with SG-7 and Mary Travis for that vacation. When they had realized that Ella was in the mountains with them, and that she would go after Vin, Buck, and Mary, they had hightailed it back to the cabin.
As they approached the building, they had heard the shots and spurred their mounts harder. Adriana was the second one into the cabin, after Chris, and he had heard her gasp. There was no protecting her from what was in the cabin. Ella, on the floor, her body riddled with bullets and her eyes forever unseeing. Mary still holding Vin's rifle. Buck on the floor, cradling Vin in his arms, trying desperately to staunch the blood flow.
Now, nearly two years from that night, Adriana said slowly, "Your desire for revenge had nothing to do with what happened, Chris. Ella Gaines determined she would have you, that you loved her as much as she loved you. Not that I call that love. And what Mary did had nothing to do with revenge ... well, maybe it did. Avenge what Ella tried to take from her. But, it was more about protection ... protecting herself and those she loves."
"When did you get to be so smart, little princess?" Chris asked. This wasn't the first time they had this conversation. Adriana just smiled sadly, then sat as upright as she could in the bed, as General Hammond entered. Chris rose to his feet, then took his seat once more when the general waved him to sit. He looked at the dark-haired woman ... was she ready for this? Adriana lifted her chin as their eyes met. It was time to finish this.
General George Hammond strode down the halls of the SGC toward the infirmary, to conclude the briefing with Adriana Wilmington. He had received word from Dr. Frasier earlier, that Vin had regained consciousness. That was good news. He needed good news. Once he left the infirmary the previous night, he had gone to his office to inform the president about the death of Major Harris. He knew the commander in chief would want to let his friend know that his granddaughter was dead. The president, of course, wanted to know how it happened. Hammond had only said that he was still getting information about that.
Now, he had difficult decisions to make. How, exactly, did he explain to the president and the secretary of state that Marilou Harris was dead because she wouldn't listen? While he still didn't know the particulars, Hammond had gleaned from the previous night's meeting that Vin and Dr. Wilmington had tried to warn the major, a warning which was ignored. And perhaps that would be the best explanation for the woman's death ... the death of her entire squad.
George Hammond didn't like to lie to his commander in chief. What he planned to do wasn't exactly a lie ... he just had no intention of telling the president, or the secretary of state, the entire truth. In the first place, if he did, it would likely start a war. The general had a difficult enough time sending his people through the Gate ... that was dangerous enough. And they had their hands full with the Gou'ald.
Besides, there had been enough death already. Five people were dead, two more were seriously hurt. Vin would most likely blame himself, once he could think clearly. And Hammond was afraid the two most powerful men in the country would try to use that innocent young man as a scapegoat for the loss of SG-3. That was something which the general simply would not permit. He would live with the consequences himself.
As he entered the infirmary that morning, he noticed Dr. Wilmington sitting up in bed, and looking much better. She was still obviously very tired, but her color had improved. He smiled and asked, "How are you feeling, Dr. Wilmington?" She responded with a smile of her own ... a somewhat tired smile, but it had some of her usual warmth in it. Chris Larabee was already at her side, as Dr. Frasier set up a tray for her.
"Better, sir, thank you. Thanks, Janet ... sir, would you mind if I ate my breakfast while we're waiting for Colonel O'Neill?" the archaeologist asked shyly. Hammond gestured for her to enjoy her food, and the girl immediately dug in. The general exchanged an amused glance with Larabee ... she was definitely improving, if she was eating that well. Perhaps seeing the look, she blushed and murmured, "Sorry, sir."
"No need to apologize, Dr. Wilmington. It's just good to see you recovered enough to eat. Once we're finished here, you can catch up on your sleep. Captain Travis arrived about twenty minutes ago with your CD collection. She's dropping Billy off with Dr. Jackson. Daniel, I mean," the general replied. His reward was a bright grin. A number of the base personnel also called Nathan Jackson 'doctor,' even though he was a medic. It created some confusion, and the situation still hadn't been worked out. No matter how many times Nathan reminded someone that he wasn't a doctor, there were still many who called him 'Dr. Jackson.'
"Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question? It's kinda been bothering me, ever since Major Harris questioned my addition to SG-3," Dr. Wilmington said. Hammond motioned her to continue, and the young woman asked, "Why did you choose me? Not just for the mission with SG-3, but for the SGC, period. It's not that I don't think I'm competent at what I do ... that's kinda the problem. I'm just competent. I'm not brilliant ... with all the choices you had, why did you choose an inexperienced twenty-five year old kid for this program?"
The question didn't surprise Hammond. The only thing that surprised him was that it had taken her this long to ask it. Then again, things had been moving so fast the last two years, perhaps it wasn't so surprising she was just now asking. This was really the first time she had time to think about it. He answered the question with another question, asking, "Do you remember the paper you wrote about the age of the Sphinx? About the possibility the geologists are right, and the Sphinx was much older than was originally guessed?"
Dr. Wilmington blinked, then nodded. Hammond continued, "You wrote that while you were at the University of Munich. You were twenty-four years old, and while the paper wasn't brilliant, it was thoughtful. You didn't take a position, you just pointed out reasons why the theory shouldn't be dismissed. You kept an open mind. You may not be brilliant, Dr. Wilmington, but you do think for yourself, even though the position isn't a popular one. That's the kind of person I want in the SGC, and that's why I specially requested you."
Her mouth opened and closed for several moments, then finally shut with a snap. She lowered her head, turning her full attention to her food, but Hammond could see the blush staining her fair skin. He exchanged another look with Larabee, who grinned. Adriana Wilmington wasn't nearly as boisterous and vocal as her elder brother Buck, or as verbose as Ezra Standish, but she was far more talkative than Vin Tanner. In the two years he had known her, Hammond had never known her to be rendered speechless.
The silence didn't last long, as O'Neill breezed into the room. Dr. Wilmington swallowed the last of her orange juice, and murmured, "Let's get this over with, shall we?" As if waiting for that very signal, Dr. Frasier removed the breakfast tray and placed a cup of coffee beside her friend's bed. The younger doctor flashed a smile, then turned her attention back to the men, saying, "Vin and I hadn't gone that far, when we saw it ... "
Adriana Wilmington was still shaken by what just happened. She couldn't believe she had let her guard down, even with Vin! And on a goddamn mission! What had she been thinking? She was supposed to be a professional, not a teenaged kid who couldn't control her tear ducts! With that eerie ability of his, Vin murmured, "Don't go beatin' yourself up, Drina. It had to come out sooner or later. And it ain't like we were in the middle of a firefight."
"And what if we had? What if we had been attacked while I was turning into a waterfall?"Adriana asked quietly. Vin just shook his head, as if he lacked the energy to argue with her. Either that, or his attention was focused on something else. She asked, instead of pursuing the topic of her lousy timing, "You see something?" Vin didn't answer at first, his blue eyes narrowing as he gazed at something.
"I ain't sure," he said softly, "Thought I saw somethin' outta the corner of my eye. You keep talkin,' Drina, I'm gonna keep an eye out. And you wouldna started in the middle of a firefight ... you're too damn focused. You woulda waited until everything was done, then you woulda fallen apart. And it ain't like you really messed up, like I did with Chanu, back in Texas." Adriana glared at him in irritation. Oh, for the love of ... !
"Oh, of course ... it's perfectly alright for me to turn into Niagara Falls while we're out in the field, but you can't make a judgment call, based on the information you had at the time. That is so typical of you, Tanner. You had no way of knowing Chanu and Claire were secretly married! The only reason I knew was because Claire was my roommate. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine, for not telling you sooner," the archaeologist retorted in a low voice, her eyes now scanning the area as well. Might as well check out the area for any ruins while she was here.
"Wouldna been right," Vin insisted, "she asked you not to tell. You couldna broke faith with her. I shoulda known somethin' weren't right." Adriana was seriously tempted to whap her companion in the back of his head, but before she could, he hissed, "Down!" Trusting him implicitly, Adriana did exactly as she was told, taking cover behind the same boulder as Vin. She kept her head low while he scanned the area, then the guide muttered, "Son of a bitch."
"What is it?" she whispered. As an answer, Vin motioned her to look over the top of their shelter ... then she, too, caught her breath. Standing maybe forty yards away was a woman. She seemed to be the same age as Chris Larabee ... perhaps a little younger, a little older, it was hard to tell. She had dark auburn hair that reached her shoulders, and she was heading steadily in their direction. It seemed a good bet that she had seen them.
Adriana's supposition was proven correct a moment later when the woman called out in English, "I intend no harm, strangers." Then repeated her statement in what sounded like Russian. Adriana spoke German, as well as Latin and Spanish, but her roommate Claire Moseley had studied Russian as part of her major in languages. Claire sometimes asked Adriana to help her study for exams ... and while Adriana couldn't speak the language, she could recognize it. Sort of. But if this woman had been brought through the Stargate to this planet, Adriana had two questions ... first and foremost, how had she learned English? And number two ...
Her musings were interrupted by Vin, who murmured, "Hell, I ain't never been in a first contact situation. Wish we had Ezra with us." Adriana laughed quietly at this statement, which brought Vin's bright eyes to rest on her. She swallowed hard as he continued, now smirking, "But ... I do have me an archaeologist. And I reckon you could talk as pretty as Ezra, or Captain Travis, if ya had a mind to."
Damn him! But there was only one other possibility ... summoning Major Harris, and Adriana cringed at the thought of the woman handling this. That would be like asking Maybourne to do something diplomatic. All right, not quite as bad as Maybourne, but she still didn't think it was such a great idea. She whispered, "All right, but watch my back, dammit!" Vin responded with an insulted look, and Adriana cautiously raised herself to her full height ... all five feet two inches of it. God, she hated being short.
"My apologies ... my companion and I meant no insult," she called back. The woman's head turned to her, and she smiled. Now, as the woman drew closer, she could tell that the native woman had bright blue eyes. Now this was getting more and more interesting. The woman had spoken in what sounded like Russian, as well as English. Where had she learned English? When had her people come through the Stargate?
"No insult was taken, lady. I am called 'Nadya,' of the Magyar," the woman replied. Now Adriana was even more confused. 'Nadya' was a Slavic name, meaning 'hope.' That fit in with the Russian bit ... but 'Magyar' was Hungarian. Who were not Slavic. Eastern European, yes, but not Slavic. However, she schooled her face into what she hoped was a diplomatic mask, and echoed Vin's wish to have Ezra here.
"I am called 'Adriana,' and this is my ... guide, 'Kevin.' We come from the planet Earth, also called 'Terra.' It is an honor to meet you," the archaeologist replied, and ignored the glare from Vin. He had gotten her into this, he could live with someone from outside the SGC knowing his real name. Adriana noticed that the woman's face had changed when she called Vin her 'guide,' but Nadya didn't speak. A bit unsettled, Adriana continued, "I ... you speak my language very well."
"I have heard of the Ta're. About sixteen seasons ago, our benefactors came. They taught us the language of the Ta're, and told us that you would come eventually, and seek to fight a common enemy. Soon after, the enemy arrived. My people retreated, in order to save the children. I am pleased you have come, Adriana of the Ta're," Nadya replied. Oh shit. First, who in the hell were the benefactors, and second, what were Adriana and Vin supposed to do now?
That decision was made by Nadya, who added with a curious look to Adriana, "You are his ... protector?" Adriana blinked, looked at Vin, who shrugged. His protector? Sure, she was protective of him ... they had argued a few times about her fierce protectiveness, especially in the early days of their friendship. And then Adriana understood. She had been the first to rise from the hiding place.
"No ... I am his companion. We protect each other, and we protect our friends ... the rest of our team. The rest of our people," Adriana explained. The other woman still looked confused, and Adriana attempted to explain, "We ... Kevin protects me, because he is my guide. I protect him, because he is my friend. A part of my family. One of my people. We take care of each other ... we're ... "
"Equals," Vin said, speaking up and stepping forward. He ignored the irritated look which Adriana tossed him ... it was about damn time he said something! Adriana was an archaeologist, not a diplomat, and she was scared to death that she would screw things up. However, she nodded in confirmation, and saw the first light of comprehension in Nadya's eyes. She still looked a little confused, though not as confused as she had been.
"So ... he is not your consort? She is not your consort?" Nadya asked. Adriana felt her jaw drop to the ground. She managed to snap her mouth shut before any abnormal insects flew inside. But still, she felt her jaw wanting to drop open once again. And she didn't dare look at Vin. She was afraid of what she would see. Aw hell. This actually wasn't the first time someone had asked that, though not exactly in that manner. During the last two years, she had found it necessary to explain on more than on occasion, that yes, that there was indeed a middle ground between more than friends and not quite lovers. While her close friends knew better than to ask about her relationship with Vin ... others in the SGC weren't always as wise.
Most, within the first six months, had learned not to ask that question around Chris Larabee, or risk being burned by his green eyes. There had been a few since then who braved the Glare ... braved the Tanner accuracy ... braved finding a pitcher of Inez Rescillos' finest beer dumped in their respective laps ... in order to ask why Adriana and Vin weren't a couple. Adriana shut up a few with, 'because we're not.' Vin shut up a few more with 'mind yer own business.'
The rest ... ahhh, the rest generally found themselves looking at a dressing-down session with General Hammond for inappropriate behavior. Pestering a member of the SGC about her love life definitely qualified for that. Still, it would be inappropriate for Adriana to react strongly to the question, which was innocent in this case. The archaeologist replied, "No, not my consort. We are friends." More than friends, not quite lovers.
"And you are not the leaders of your people," Nadya added. Adriana shared a 'not just no, but hell no' look with Vin. Looking amused, the woman continued, "In your language, my title translates to 'guide,' which was why I was confused. I guide my people." Adriana gulped. Aw hell! Vin was right, they should have brought Ez with them. Misunderstandings tended to create intergalactic incidents.
Perhaps sensing the distress from the archaeologist, Nadya continued, "Perhaps you would like to eat with us? I am sure you have many questions for us." Yeah, Adriana thought, like how in the hell you learned English in just four years ... assuming your 'season' is the same as our 'season.' And who is your benefactor? The Tok'ra? Nah, that's not their style. The Tolan? Forget it. The Nox ... please, run yourself a reality check.
"We should radio base camp, let them know that we ... won't be back when we planned," Adriana replied, looking at Vin. He nodded, and Adriana continued, turning her attention back to the chieftain, "It would be our pleasure, Nadya. We must first contact the rest of our group, to let them know that we will be late returning." And make sure they haven't been wiped out by the Gou'ald in the process, Adriana thought.
We should probably tell the major, the archaeologist mused to herself, that's standard protocol. Nadya asked, "Perhaps the others in your group would like to eat with us as well?" Which meant that the invitation had just extended. Hell. Adriana exchanged a glance with Vin, who bobbed his head once. With a sigh, Adriana activated her radio. She had a really bad feeling about this, but there was nothing for it.
"Base camp, this is Wilmington, over," Adriana said. Nadya blinked a little, possibly taken aback by the sight of Adriana 'speaking into' her shirt. Costas answered her, which surprised her a little. However, the archaeologist continued, "Good news, Doctor. We've made contact ... and we've been invited to dinner. All of us. Care to join us?"
"Uhm, well, that's very kind, but I don't think that'll be necessary, Dr. Wilmington. Other arrangements have been made ... Major, please. Dr. Wilmington is doing her job exactly as she should. Would you prefer that she and Mr. Tanner would be slow roasted over a fire? It's considered very bad form to turn down an invitation!" Dr. Costas answered with exasperation.
Adriana rolled her eyes. So that was it. She could understand the major's hesitation, since this was a new planet ... but they had to take that chance. She said, "Message received, over and out." Costas acknowledged her final message, and Adriana apologized, "It will just be myself and Kevin. It falls to the two of us to ... build a bridge between our people." Vin rolled his eyes ... but waited until Nadya's back was turned. Adriana stuck her tongue out in response. Not exactly the most dignified behavior for an archaeologist, but it seemed like the perfect response at the time.
As he and Adriana followed Nadya into the village, Vin was trying to make sense of what had just happened. His instincts weren't screaming at him that this was a trap. But how had Nadya and her people known that he and Adriana were here? Yes, they had been talking, but both had kept their voices down. It was a habit that had begun while they were in Texas ... Adriana out in front with him, the guide, and quietly talking.
Then, it had been a matter of privacy. They were with a large crowd of people, and both youngsters wanted to keep their conversation just between them. In the field, it was a necessity for survival, being able to move and speak quietly. Vin seriously doubted if his conversation with Adriana had attracted the attention of the village. What then? He didn't buy that Nadya just happened to be in the woods.
"Nadya, if you don't mind, like to ask you a question," Vin requested. Adriana glanced at him, and he wondered if the same thing had occurred to her. The woman inclined her head in agreement, and Vin continued, "How did you know to come look for us? You said that your benefactors taught you how to talk like us ... that they told you we would come. How did you know to look for us today?"
"We saw your machine, but it did not see us. We knew then that our benefactor had spoken truly, that you would come to help us. After we saw your machine come through the Great Circle, my people decided amongst themselves that each day, around the time that your machine came through the Great Circle, I would seek you out. And today, was the day," Nadya replied. Vin blinked, then looked at Adriana again. One way or another, they had to figure out who had helped these people, and who had told them that the SGC would help them against the Gou'ald. They would, of course ... but who were these benefactors?
His friend was on the verge of asking a question of her own, but it was then that they arrived in the village. Several small cottages had been built within a circle, perhaps to mimic the Stargate, the Great Circle, as they called it. Nadya called out something, and Adriana stepped closer to Vin, murmuring, "It sounds like a summons. I can't tell you what she's saying, but given her tone of voice, I think she's summoning them to meet us."
"Sounds 'bout right to me," Vin agreed in an equally low voice. He noticed something out of the corner of his eye, and asked in a slightly louder voice, "Nadya, what's that fer?" He indicated what caught his eye, and saw a shadow pass over the woman's eyes. He guessed, "You just had a death in your tribe." The woman inclined her head. A glance to his right told Vin that Adriana had made a similar guess.
"Yes. One of our elders just died. We burned her this morning, so she can be reborn," Nadya replied. It took Vin a moment to understand. It made sense. Burn the body and scatter the ashes. Nadya added in a somewhat choked, "The elder was my mother." Vin lowered his head in respect, and from the corner of his eye, saw Adriana imitate the movement. Nadya looked at them both intently ... Vin could feel her eyes burning into him. Then she said, "You have both lost your mothers. When you were small."
Adriana's dark head snapped up. Her hazel eyes sought Vin's, and Nadya continued, "I could see it in your eyes. My mother was an old woman. She had lived many years, and seen all of her grandchildren born. She had a good life. But it is our way to mourn. We must mourn." Adriana stepped close to Vin once more, quietly slipping her hand into his. Vin closed his own fingers over hers.
It seemed the archaeologist was at a loss, as well ... what exactly were you supposed to say to a mourning chieftain? The chieftain in question once more seemed to know what they were thinking, for she smiled gently and said, "There is nothing you need say. It is my loss, it is our loss, but I am grateful for your consideration." As JD would have said, huh? Vin understood the words, but he didn't understand what she meant by 'consideration.'
Before either the archaeologist or the guide could ask a question, however, they were surrounded by people. Vin took a deep breath, and felt Adriana's fingers tighten on his. Her turn to comfort. It had always worked like this. It almost frightened him, that both Adriana and Chris seemed to read him so well. It frightened him because of the trust he put in both the tiny, feisty archaeologist and in the team leader. Vin Tanner was not a man used to trust.
But it was a comfort too. Vin remembered a time, not long after he had cleared Chanu of kidnapping his wife Claire, when he had fallen ill. He had been cold and tired and miserable. When he awoke, it was to find himself in a clean bed with a warm blanket, and a pair of hazel eyes watching him anxiously. When she saw his eyes, she had smiled warmly and asked him how he felt. And laughed at his rather blunt reply.
Looking around, Vin could see that reflected in the faces of the people who surrounded him, the way they looked at Nadya. As if she was a part of their family ... which, he reckoned, she was. The head of the family, as Chris was the head of the SG-7 family, or General Hammond was the head of the SGC family. He knew what Chris would do to protect one of his, and General Hammond ... Vin took a long look at the woman who had acted as their guide, and decided he never wanted to find out what this woman would do to protect one of her own.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Much as I'd like to, I can't take credit for Claire's comment about a woman's beauty being no excuse for a man's lack of control. I heard it from a friend, back when I was dealing with unwanted advances of my own, and questioning whether I had done something wrong.
The next two hours were filled with food and laughter, questions and answers. Adriana had a thousand questions to ask Nadya, and the chieftain did her best to answer them. Vin merely sat beside his friend, listening intently. They had learned that Nadya's people had been brought from Earth relatively recently, only in the last thousand years. Adriana found it rather strange that no one had noticed the disappearance of an entire village, but that was a question Nadya couldn't answer. The archaeologist muttered to Vin that she had some mega-research to do when they got back to Earth. The guide said nothing in response.
Around the year 1000, 'round twenty-five people each had been removed from the present day countries of Russia, Hungary, Poland, and many other Eastern European countries. According to Adriana, that was the reason for the dis-crep-ancy between the given name of the chieftain, and the name of the tribe. Vin hadn't understood at first, until she told him that 'Nadya' was a Russian name, and 'Magyar' was Hungarian.
Fortunately for the friends, Adriana had picked up some Russian history from her roommate, and she was able to put the pieces together, based on Nadya's answers. However, it wasn't until they returned to the base camp that Adriana explained what she had learned to Vin. The guide wasn't a stupid man, under any circumstances, but there was still a great deal lacking in his education.
From what she could tell, the Gou'ald had returned to earth in one of their mother ships, for the designated purpose of taking more slaves. The new slaves were then deposited on their current planet. Over time, the language barriers began to break down and the slaves created their own language, which was a combination of several languages. They had a common enemy, in the Gou'ald, the false gods.
As Adriana knew from working her way through college in a factory only one step up from a sweatshop, having a common enemy went far in uniting a people, and these people were far more sophisticated than the original slaves of the Gou'ald. After four hundred years of domination, the newly created people fought back against the Gou'ald and lived peacefully for a few hundred years. But people, no matter what culture or planet, have short memories ... and the ties forged in slavery and hardship began to falter.
The Gou'ald returned to the planet, forcing the people to bind together again. But the rules changed. The people who remained after the Gou'ald wiped out their respective villages banded together, with the stated purpose of surviving long enough to wipe out the Gou'ald again. They retreated to an area where they could give the impression of being cowed by their once and future masters ... but even as they seemed helpless farmers, they were creating an army of their own. And then, the mysterious benefactors had arrived four years earlier, or sixteen seasons, as Nadya had put it.
Adriana admitted she had no idea who had helped the Magyar. A few quick questions eliminated the Tok'ra, Tolan, and Nox, though she hadn't really believed it was any of them. The description given to them by Nadya had eliminated the possibility of the Asgaard. Like Adriana, Vin thought it was real likely that Nadya and her people would have mentioned it if their benefactors were 'bout two feet tall and gray.
But the description convinced both the archaeologist and the guide that the Magyars had been aided by a humanoid. They were both pleased with the first contact, however, and Vin knew Adriana was looking forward to a good night's sleep. He noted that a guard hadn't been set up around the perimeter ... no one was even keeping watch. Vin called, "Base camp, Vin and Adriana comin' in!"
"Well, well, if it ain't the tumblin' tumbleweed," mocked an annoyingly familiar voice. Vin just shook his head as Captain Nelson, second in command to Major Harris, swaggered up to them. The man was a Chris Larabee wanna-be, with his own version of the Larabee glare. Trouble was, he had none of Larabee's quiet menace or compassion ... end result being a bully. The pair had tangled in the past. Nelson had a bad habit of not takin' no for an answer when he was out carousin.'
And Vin being Vin, the guide never could stand by and watch a woman being hassled. That was how he had ended up in the SGC ... why stop somethin' that worked? Unfortunately, the girls whom Nelson hassled couldn't bring themselves to report the sonovabitch, so he kept it up. Somehow, they had gotten it into their heads that somehow, they deserved the unwanted attention. Vin had tried to 'xplain to them that they done nothin' wrong, that it was Nelson who was wrong. As Claire had succintly put it once, after fending off unwanted advances, her beauty was no excuse for their lack of control. Vin couldn't have agreed more.
But the girls generally didn't see it that way. And Nelson liked to look for ways to cut down Vin. He had realized early on that General Hammond saw through his attempts to undercut Tanner, so Nelson compensated by going after JD, or the women around Vin. Including his companion, as he did now.
Nelson sighed, giving Adriana a once-over, "You know, Tanner, I just don't get you. You got babes like Frasier, Carter and Travis around ... and you hang around with this ugly mutt." At his side, Vin felt Adriana stiffen ever so slightly. A sidelong glance told him that she had her mask firmly in place, even as Major Harris stepped out of her tent. But Vin, who knew his companion, knew the barb had hit home.
She had grown up in the shadow of her handsome, outgoing older brother, even when Bucklin wasn't around. She had compensated for her lack of looks, as she saw it, by working as hard as she could in school. The teenaged girl had reasoned there was little she could do about her looks, since she would never be pretty, no matter how hard she tried. But ... there was something she could do about her brains. And by God, she had done something.
Vin replied, slipping his thumbs between the waistband of his jeans and his belt, his hands closing around the buckle, "And I don't get what a waste a' oxgyen you are, Nelson. You ain't got nothin' better to do than insult someone who's a whole lot smarter than you, I don't reckon I got much to say to you. C'mon, Adriana, we'll set up over there ... that way, we can set up an ambush a' our own, 'case the Gou'ald decide to sneak up on us."
"I think that would be a wise idea, Mr. Tanner, since it seems you're more capable of proper behavior than my own second is," the major said. The captain jumped. Obviously, he had no idea that his commanding officer was nearby. He did a neat about-face, and the major glared at him, adding, "Captain Nelson, that is enough! You are supposed to be an officer and a gentleman, and insulting Dr. Wilmington is hardly the behavior of either!"
As JD would have said, slam dunk. Vin kept his smug grin to himself, knowing that it would only incite the captain further. He could take Nelson himself, no problem, but he knew Nelson wouldn't go after him. He'd go after Adriana, and Vin wasn't about to let that happen. Captain Nelson stood at attention, responding, "It won't happen again, Major ... I apologize for my behavior!"
"You're damn right it won't happen again, Captain. Because the next time I hear you speak that way to Dr. Wilmington, I'll personally kick your ass back through the Stargate, and let her tell General Hammond why you're off my team. Is that understood?" the major snapped. Vin saw what little color the captain had in his cheeks disappear as the major made her threat. Harris repeated, her eyes flashing with rage, "Is ... that ... understood?"
"Yes, Major, crystal clear!" was Nelson's only reply. The man's body was ramrod-straight, and Vin had the uneasy sense that he was the only one who could feel the hatred from the captain. This wasn't over yet.
"Good. Now, you apologize to Dr. Wilmington, then I want you to find a nice, hard rock where you can stand guard. You'll have a four hour shift. You say anything else untoward, to anyone, during this mission and you'll be taking all-night watches. Dr. Wilmington, Mr. Tanner, when Captain Nelson finishes his apology, I'd like to hear about these natives you encountered. Since you're both among the living, and not out in the woods sick, I'm assuming that my misgivings were incorrect and the natives are friendly," Major Harris said.
Vin finally looked directly at Adriana, who mumbled an acceptance of Nelson's equally mumbled apology. She looked as stunned by the change in the major's behavior as he was. The pair followed Major Harris to her campfire and the lean-to she had constructed, using her blankets and some branches. Huh. Maybe the woman wasn't as incompetent as he had feared. Still, he didn't fully trust her.
"What have you learned?" Major Harris asked as she eased herself to the ground. Vin and Adriana sat down opposite her, and Vin snuck another look at Adriana's face. The kid looked stunned. Major Harris evidently saw this as well, for she smiled faintly and said, "Dr. Wilmington, I may have issues with your youth and experience, but there is no way I will allow Captain Nelson, or any other member of this unit, treat you like that."
"Oh," Adriana said. She shook herself, then said, "Apparently, Major, they were expecting us. About four years ago, they received a visit from humanoids who taught them English, and told them of us. Then, when we sent out the probe, the villagers saw it, but the probe didn't see them. The villagers asked their chieftain to make a pilgrimage, for lack of a better word, to the location where the probe was noticed, until the visitors came."
"The chieftain's name is 'Nadya,' and her people's a combination of Hungarian, Russian, Polish, and other folks. Seems they got took by the Gou'ald 'bout a thousand years ago," Vin took up the narrative, "and brung to this planet in one of them big ships a' theirs." Without meaning to do so, he was lapsing into his old speech patterns. Adriana nodded at the major's expression, a faint smile hovering about her own lips.
"Tell me," Major Harris said hoarsely, "tell me everything, from the first time you saw them." Vin and Adriana exchanged a glance, and silently agreed not to tell the major about their conversation out in the forest. It was none of her business, and while Vin knew his friend wouldn't crack in the field, the major didn't know her as well as Vin did. The guide nodded to the archaeologist, trusting his friend to tell the story.
"This was only your first day ... how did things get so out of control, just between the end of your first day and yesterday?" General Hammond asked as Adriana paused to take the medication which Janet had just brought her. She needed to take a breath anyhow. The second day was when everything had gone to hell ... less than forty-eight hours had passed since the nightmare, and Adriana needed a few minutes to corral her thoughts. She glanced over at Vin, who was moving restlessly beneath the sheets. It wouldn't be long at all before he regained consciousness for a longer period of time than the first time.
"Especially since Major Harris seemed to be improving, at least in controlling her people. And she was listening to what you had to say ... like the general said, what happened?" questioned Colonel O'Neill. Adriana nodded wearily. Yeah, she knew. The trouble was, she wasn't even sure what happened. She and Vin had returned to the place Vin had chosen as their camp site, with Vin taking first watch, and they had been hopeful.
"What happened is Major Harris turned her ears off," a tired, raspy voice responded from the other bed. Adriana didn't move her head at first ... she wanted to see Chris Larabee's expression when he heard his best friend's voice. He didn't disappoint as a broad grin appeared on his handsome face, and relief lit his eyes. Janet stepped to the bed, guiding it closer to where Adriana rested with help from one of the other doctors.
"Good to see you back, Tanner," Larabee said, grinning. Adriana grinned herself and turned her head toward her friend. Vin was smiling, though he grimaced a few times in pain. She still didn't remember how Vin was wounded, but for now, it was enough that he was awake. Adriana supposed she would feel better if he was cracking jokes, like he often did when he was in pain and trying to reassure his friends.
"I'd say it's good ta be back, Larabee, but I ain't so sure a' that yet. General ... Colonel," Vin said, nodding first to Jack O'Neill, then to General Hammond. He grimaced again, muttering under his breath about back-shooters. He sighed, closing his eyes briefly, then opened them again, saying, "Now, Adriana's done a right good job of tellin' y'all what happened. And don't listen ta her, she was a perfect lady."
"To quote JD, you know nothing I do is perfect," Adriana fired back, enjoying the banter. She looked up at her friend, asking, "Janet, should he be talking this much? I mean, didn't that whatever hit a lung or something?" Vin responded to the teasing by reaching over his head, grasping a pillow, and flinging it around Janet. The pillow landed on Adriana's lap. The archaeologist smirked and added, "Your aim's off, Tanner."
"Could I interest you gentleman in taking another break? Adriana's been talking for four hours, and it's almost lunch time. Come back in an hour?" Janet requested. The two colonels looked at each other, then at their shared boss. General Hammond nodded his agreement, and Janet turned to Vin, adding, "I need to check your bandages, Vin, make sure we don't have an infection setting in."
"We'll be back in two hours, Dr. Frasier, I need to check on the status of the other SG units," the general replied. Janet nodded in acknowledgement. Hammond nodded to both of the recovering patients with a warm smile, then he left the room. Larabee rose to his feet and headed over to Vin's bed, taking the tossed pillow with him. O'Neill scooted closer to her, while Janet just watched in fond exasperation.
"You doin' okay, kiddo? Anything I can do? Better food? Redecorating your quarters? Beating up the next guy who bad-mouths you? I think I could interest Teal'c in that, you know how he hates bullies, and he hasn't been in a good fight for a while," Jack offered. Adriana blushed and laughed.
O'Neill laughed with her, then his brown eyes grew serious. He said very quietly, "Listen, kiddo. Tanner would have taken care of Nelson, no question. I know that kid, and he doesn't take kindly to people insulting his friends. You remember what happened when Maybourne threatened JD?" Adriana made a face, remembering Vin's quiet fury with the slimy officer. Vin always worried her when he was like that. That was when he was at his most dangerous.
"I remember. And I know. The thing is, Colonel O'Neill, he did defend my honor. Later. After all hell broke loose, and it was him and Nelson," Adriana replied. She shuddered, remembering the brutal fight between the pair. Nadya's arms strapped tightly around her body, holding her in place. Why did people feel the need to hold onto her when Vin was fighting? She wouldn't have interfered ... after the first time she had tried to interfere during one of his fights, she had learned to control herself.
"I knew I liked that kid for a reason. Now, if I could just figure out where I've seen him before," O'Neill said, shaking his head. Adriana laughed quietly. Back to this, were they? The colonel insisted, "I know he looks familiar, I just can't place him. Maybe it's the hair? Wonder if I could convince him to get a regulation cut. Would be interesting to see what he'd look like with short hair."
Adriana stared at him, aghast, then retorted in a low voice, "Over my dead, lifeless body!" O'Neill blinked at her in surprise, his mouth forming a silent 'ooookay.' Realizing what she had just done, Adriana turned scarlet with embarassment, and she muttered, "Sorry about that, sir. I just like Vin the way he is. I ... " She found herself turning even redder, though she hadn't realized that was possible, and she dropped her eyes.
"At ease, Doc, I was just teasing you. Vin's Vin, and I wouldn't want to change him, either. I like the kid. I just gotta have something to tease him about, otherwise, he'd think something was wrong. Kinda like the way Doc Frasier is glaring at me right now. Ya hear people talking about the Larabee glare ... well, tween you, me, and the fence post, I think Doc Frasier is a helluva lot more scary."
"Colonel, that's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say," Adriana replied, laughing. O'Neill winked at her, squeezed her shoulder, then left the infirmary. She reclined against her pillows, sighing quietly. Chris and Vin were speaking very softly. The archaeologist smiled to herself. Chris Larabee had worked real hard for three years at not caring. About himself, about anyone else. And for the last three years, every illusion which Larabee had created for himself had been shattered. He wasn't the cold, unfeeling ass he thought he was. Or wanted to be.
She didn't pretend to understand the relationship between the colonel and the guide. Hell, half the time, she didn't even understand Larabee. But she recognized that in his own private way, Chris was as fiercely protective of his best friend as Adriana was. He didn't show it the same way her elder brother showed his protectiveness of his young protÈgÈ, didn't show it even the same way he did to Billy Travis, his mother, or Adriana herself. Chris Larabee had other ways of showing it when there wasn't a crisis.
Looking over at Vin now, seeing his wide grin as Chris murmured something to him ... hearing his laughter. She never heard Vin laugh that much. He would smile ... his eyes would light up with amusement and mischief, but he didn't laugh much. This was what she wished for him. Vin had told her once, when they had both been drunk and maudlin, that he would have never let down his guard if it hadn't been for her. Maybe one day, she could tell him what he had done for her.
"He'll be fine, Adriana," Janet said softly as she settled the tray on Adriana's lap. When Adriana's eyes returned to the doctor, Janet continued, "I checked his reflexes while you were explaining what happened that first night. He can feel his feet, there is no paralysis. I just need to make sure there's no infection. He'll be weak for awhile, but he will be fine."
The calm certainty in her friend's voice went far to alleviate her concern. Adriana said softly, "I thought for a while there that we would lose him. I'm sorry for not having more faith in you." Janet smiled and gently squeezed her hand. Adriana sighed, then stiffened as a shadow fell across her bed. It would take a while before she would be able to get over that. She looked up to find Buck staring at her, his heart in his eyes.
"Hey, Bucklin, 'bout time you dragged your sorry ass in here. Was beginning to wonder 'bout you," Vin called from the other bed. Buck and Adriana looked over at the Texan, but from the corner of her eye, Adriana could see the relief in her brother's eyes, and the mischievous smile he wore. Adriana swallowed hard. It seemed the reckoning had come, and she wasn't sure if she was ready. She was half grateful for the reprieve ... and didn't know what else she felt.
"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes, Vin. When you gonna drag your lazy ass outta bed, and start doin' what they pay you them big bucks for?" Buck fired back. Vin just laughed, and winked at Adriana around Larabee's shoulder. Chris turned, and repeated the action. Adriana almost started giggling at her surrogate brother's wink. That led her to wonder about Ezra. Had he visited, while she was out?
"Soon 's the doc gives her approval. Feelin' a mite low for that, though. How you doin,' Buck?" Vin asked. Buck stepped to the bed, and Chris moved away, allowing his two best friends to talk. The colonel's green eyes were locked on Adriana ... and that was how she knew that she was now the topic of conversation between her older brother and her close friend.