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.
Chris was still trying to process what had been said. The chieftain of this tribe ... had sentenced her own son to die? For attacking ... ? He couldn't seem to wrap his mind around it. Not just the action she had taken, although that was a large part of it.
But he had also come to this planet, fully prepared to take his own pound of flesh. He knew that Vin and Adriana would be fine, but his heart had nearly stopped when Vin collapsed in the Gate Room. It wasn't the first time Chris had faced the possibility of losing his best friend. Hell, in the SGC, you faced dying every day. Facing the possibility of losing a team mate, a friend, every day. But that was out in the field, and Vin had been in the Gate Room when the blast fired by this woman's son had struck him in the back.
He had shot Adriana in the back of her thigh ... she would walk with a limp for a long time. And that's when it hit him. Adriana had been shot with a zat ... and Vin by that modified staff. Had the kid switched weapons? Chris asked as they drew close to the hut where McCabe was being treated, "Nadya, do your people carry zats?" Nadya frowned, mouthing 'zats?' in confusion, and Chris elaborated, "Zats. Small weapons, carried by the servants of the false gods in their hands."
Nadya immediately shook her head, and the others looked at him. Jack said quietly, "Adriana was shot with a zat. Which means Vin was right the first time. Hostiles, plural. There was more than one person shooting at them. Zats are short range weapons. They should have seen someone else, someone other than Nadya's son. Which means either Vin wasn't paying attention to the area around him ... "
"Or whoever else was there, was invisible," Daniel completed. The members of the two SG teams looked at each other uncomfortably, and the young archaeologist said, "Right. Well. I think we should see to Private McCabe and help these people, then get back through the Stargate and tell General Hammond what we found out. I know Colonel Larabee wants to get back to his people."
Nadya frowned as she led them into the hut, and Ezra explained, "Colonel Larabee looks upon V ... upon Kevin as a younger brother. He is our colonel's very dearest friend and confidante. And he is equally fond of Adriana." Nadya's eyes reflected her understanding, as well as fresh grief. And she was grieving for her son. For his brother, for his sister. And never far away was Larabee's grief.
Six years had passed since he had lost Sarah and Adam. Time had taken the edge off the grief, but it remained. While he had never truly forgiven himself for their deaths ... Ella had killed them to remove an obstacle to Chris ... he hadn't had an actual hand in their deaths. This woman, however, had effectively sentenced her son to death. The boy might survive, but it was questionable. It wasn't the sort of justice he would have chosen ... but it was justice.
And then Loren McCabe was crying out, his young face a mixture of joy and relief. Vin and Adriana had thought he was dead. Thank God they were wrong. Nathan knelt beside the young man, gently removing the bandages from his waist. Over the medic's shoulder, Chris could see the wound, and Nathan murmured, "Not deep, more a flesh wound. And it's not infected. Don't know how that happened, but I'm glad to see it. Think you're ready to go home, son?"
"Yes, sir! Dr. Wilmington and Mr. Tanner, are they okay?" the boy asked with concern.
Chris toned the rest of the conversation out, as Nathan and the others reassured the youngster that both Vin and Adriana were fine. Which wasn't entirely true, but they would be fine. McCabe would be fine. They would be bringing one person alive and in one piece. Which brought him to another question. He caught Nadya's eye and inclined his head toward the exterior of the building. She understood immediately, and the pair left.
Jack O'Neill followed, observing, "Too crowded in there." Chris nodded in agreement, and decided Vin had to have been in a lot of pain to remain in that hut as long as he had. Either in a lot of pain, or flat-out exhausted. Jack said, "I don't know about Chris, but I'm a little curious, Nadya. We were wondering if we might take the bodies of the others in SG-3 back with us ... where could we find them?"
"You may have Dr. Wyatt's body for whatever he believed. It has been kept in our river, to keep it cool. We believed you would be back for the bodies. . .and possibly for revenge. Captain Nelson's body ... there is not enough left to burn," Nadya replied calmly. Chris felt something jolt through him ... not just at her words, but the calmness in her voice. She hesitated, then continued, "We fear the false gods took the body of Major Harris. After the fighting was done, we could not find her body."
"What about Dr. Costas?" Chris asked, thinking of little Soraya. If McCabe had survived the attack of the chieftain's son, was it possible that Costas had survived the attack of the Gou'ald? Nadya frowned, and Chris continued, "A young man, a little older than V ... than Kevin and Adriana? Dark brown hair, brown eyes?" Nadya rolled her eyes at him in irritation, and Chris smothered a chuckle.
"I know of whom you speak. His body was not found, either. But we will not stop looking," Nadya replied. Which left them with one body to take home, one living boy, two missing in action, and one ... well, Chris didn't have much desire to try to track down what little remained of Captain Nelson. That would be a waste of energy, and Chris had other things that needed his attention. And Chris was more than a little troubled by the disappearance of the major's body.
"So. The fight between V ... Kevin and Captain Nelson was something else, huh?" Jack asked, obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. Chris looked at the other man, who smirked. Chris had a feeling that when they got back to the SGC, he would take every opportunity possible to tease Vin about his real name. Of course, Chris would have to get in a few comments as well.
"Kevin fought very well, yes. He is smaller than the captain was, but he fought wisely. With his head, not with his pride. We are proud to call him our friend ... our champion," Nadya replied. Jack just grinned, as if Tanner was his own younger brother ... or son ... or nephew. Nadya looked at the two colonels and said, "I am Nadya. The guide, the ... chieftain ... of this tribe. In the name of my people, I offer you my hand in friendship."
"In the name of our people, I accept your hand in friendship," Chris replied. Nadya smiled, a true smile, as Larabee's hand closed around hers. So many dead, so many missing, so many hurt. But they had their alliance. . .what Vin and Adriana and McCabe had endured wasn't for nothing. Maybe that was the most important thing. That the harm suffered by his younger 'siblings' wasn't in vain. He only hoped that Nadya could find her peace, as he had found his.
"Now," Jack O'Neill said, tossing beers to his guests, "tell me again why we're here, instead of at the bar." Chris Larabee caught his beer easily, leaning back against the counter. His eyes shifted to the others gathering in the kitchen. At his side was the still-recovering Vin Tanner. While the blast wasn't life-threatening, it did affect his mobility, and Vin was slowly regaining the full use of his legs.
"Because, Mary and I got tired of trying to explain to y'all why we're the Four Corners, and every time we go to the bar, somebody asks," Adriana Wilmington answered as Janet Frasier handed her a Coke from the cooler she had brought. Adriana leaned over to whisper something to Vin, who barely managed to keep from spewing the beer he had just sipped all over the kitchen floor. He struggled for several moments, before swallowing, then laughing helplessly.
"Don't ask," Buck Wilmington advised from his sister's other side, "Jack, just don't ask. I learned the hard way, when it comes to these two, you don't want to know." Vin turned even redder, and Adriana began blushing as well. Which told Chris that his old friend was right ... they did NOT want to know. The women ... Mary, Janet, and Sam ... just laughed and Janet exchanged a high five with Adriana.
"Is this like the time when Vin asked Adriana why, every time someone started talking about his hair, they brought up a food ... like caramel or butterscotch?" Cassie Frasier asked, easily placing Billy Travis on the counter top beside Chris, his hero. That provoked another spasm of laughter from the adults in the room. Vin's face was now roughly the same color as Adriana's Coke can.
"I think so ... and I think Vin's face is almost as red now as it was then. I seem to recall Mary telling Adriana if Vin turned any redder, his hair would change color," Janet told her adopted daughter. Everyone laughed, and Janet continued, "Now, Adriana, what exactly did you tell Vin that made him blush like that?" Adriana's only answer was a smirk, and Janet looked to Vin, who just shook his head.
"Nuh-uh. I ain't tellin' y'all what she said. Still can't believe she said it," the guide retorted, pushing himself away from the counter. He shook his head again, then added, "I'm goin' outside, where I can breathe." Adriana lightly drummed her feet against the cabinets, making her brother laugh, and Vin turned back, glaring at the young woman. Unfortunately for Vin, Adriana had grown up seeing the Larabee glare ... so Vin's had no effect on her whatsoever.
"Oh, all right! 'Long as ya promise, no more comments like that, girl. Shoulda washed out your mouth out with soap the first time ya said it. As bad as your brother, just about," Vin muttered. Still, the laughter in his eyes erased any worries about anger. Adriana just beamed and Buck swung her easily down from the counter. She could have made it, no question. But these days, Buck took every opportunity to hug his sister.
The two friends left the kitchen and headed outside. Chris looked at Janet, asking, "They're really all right?" The doctor nodded, taking a sip of her own coke, and Chris continued, "Vin gave me a bit of a scare yesterday, when he fell." The colonel winced ... Vin had slipped in the cafeteria, and landed on his back. Chris wasn't as worried about his tailbone as he was about the burn. Janet had said that the wound was healing, there was no infection ... but they were still learning about the capabilities of the modified staff weapons.
"They're fine. I know, you're protective of them both, Chris, but they're fine. Adriana has started walking without her walking stick ... and that was a great idea, Buck, getting her that walking stick when you took her to the Renaissance Faire," Janet said, referring to an 'outing' taken by the Wilmington siblings two weeks earlier, when Adriana had gained some of her mobility back.
The siblings had been spending a lot of time together in the last month. To help out, Vin had distracted JD, to allow the siblings to make up for lost time. It hadn't been as difficult as Chris had feared ... it seemed the youngest member of SG-7 had overheard Adriana admit to Buck that their father had molested her. JD had quietly given his mentor all the time he needed with his sister ... for whatever reason. Chris was grateful. He knew JD was growing up, but he hadn't felt up to refereeing a bout of sibling rivalry between the archaeologist and the cartographer. Now that she had her brother back, it seemed Adriana wasn't letting go for anyone or anything.
Buck smiled now and replied, "Well, I saw the way she was lookin' at it. It was a little thing to do, and I knew she would get good use out of it. She still hasn't told me everything about what went on, after I left. I figure she had some hard times while she was putting herself through school, before she met Vin. And I reckon he helped to save her life. It ain't anything she says, or he says. But just the way they both talk about those years ... I think they needed each other. It's just my baby sister is more honest about it."
"Damn strange, what can end up saving your life. For a lost little girl, it was a shy Texan teenager. For a washed-up colonel spinning out of control, it was a suicide mission and a space monkey who has a tendency to end up in the infirmary," Jack O'Neill said, ruffling the light brown hair of the space monkey in question. Daniel glared at his best friend, and Chris laughed outright. Jack continued, grinning broadly, "Now, as for a certain steely-eyed Hoosier who happens to dress almost entirely in black when he's in civilian mode ... "
"Speaking of my tendency to end up in the infirmary, as you oh so gracefully put it, Jack," Daniel said, interrupting, "what's this I hear about you placing bets in that pool? The one about how often Private Dunne and I end up in the infirmary in a given month?" All eyes turned inquisitively to O'Neill. Daniel continued, "I can understand you putting money on Vin, when he finally decided he had enough of Captain Nelson. But betting that I would end up in the infirmary more often than JD?"
Chris looked at his friend expectantly. Jack took a long swallow of beer, then looked at his best friend/kid brother and responded, "What can I tell ya, Danny? I like to bet on a sure thing. And two sure things ... that Vin could kick Nelson's ass, and that you'll find some way of getting banged up during a mission." The affection in his eyes took any sting out of the observation. Which didn't prevent Daniel from rolling his eyes.
"Gee, thanks, Jack, you are such a comfort to have around," the young man said sarcastically, drawing another laugh. Daniel shook his head, then added, "Excuse me, I think I'll go drink with adults." He glared at Jack as the colonel bapped him lightly on the head on the way out of the kitchen, and the remaining adults laughed again. Jack looked at them, still smirking, and raised his eyebrows questioningly, as if to say, adults?
"I think he means Vin and Adriana, Colonel," Sam Carter replied, laughing as well. O'Neill blinked, as if in surprise, and Carter continued, "Cassie, why don't you tell me what's been going on at school? The last time you were at the mountain, we didn't get much of a chance to talk." She put her arm around her honorary niece, and led her into Jack's living room. Chris just smiled, putting his arm around Mary as she stepped beside him. Vin had told him earlier that he needed to talk to Adriana ... there were a few things left unsaid between them. Chris hoped they had said those things once Daniel reached them.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's been a few seasons since we last saw Jack's place in Denver, so I'm relying on memory here. In other words, don't take the description given of his backyard as gospel. Also, the lyrics for the entire song of All Souls Night, from whence the title came, is below. It was written and sung by Loreena McKennitt. What, me write something like that? In my dreams!
"I'm sorry."
They had been sitting outside for no more than a minute when he heard the words.
Vin had arranged himself against Jack's deck, careful of his still-healing wound. Adriana sat directly in front of him, her legs stretched out in front of her, with her back resting against his shins. It brought back memories for the guide. They had often sat like this, back in Texas. Almost always on a hot summer night, when Adriana didn't have to worry about classes the following morning, and together, they would look up at the night sky.
More than once, Adriana had fallen asleep like that, her head leaning back against Vin's kness. And he would let her sleep for a while, before waking her ... or at least, trying to wake her. There had been a few nights when he had to carry her inside. The trust she had exhibited had taken his breath away. Trust from a girl who trusted no other male ... only Vin Tanner. He had betrayed that trust only once, and swore a silent oath. Never again.
So when Adriana said softly, "I'm sorry," Vin wasn't even sure he had heard her right. Hell, he thought he had imagined the whispered apology. Vin just waited, frowning. Adriana sighed, then looked down at her sneakers. He could only see the back of her neck, around the dark brown ponytail which controlled her hair this morning. She continued after a moment, "I'm sorry I didn't watch your back better."
"Drina? What are ya talkin' about? When didn't ya watch my back? You've always done a right fine job of it," Vin said slowly. He thought about what had happened over the last month, and wondered if that was why she had seemed so strange to him at times. As if she was holding back from him, but reluctantly. Not because she really wanted to, but she had been. . .tentative. Anxious, even.
"After the fight ... you passed out, remember," Adriana said quietly. Actually, from what Vin remembered, he had just fallen asleep, but he wouldn't split hairs with her right now. He was more interested in finding out where she had gotten this loco idea that she had let him down. And knowing her as he did, Vin also knew that if he interrupted Adriana now, he would never find out what he wanted to know. His long-time friend continued, "I was holding you, remember? And you told me that I didn't have to. You fell asleep in my arms ... and then ... "
Vin waited patiently. He remembered, of course. In the weeks since their flight from the Magyar village, the memories had come back to him slowly. Janet had said it was a combination of exhaustion, stress and pain which had caused his temporary black-out. Things had happened so damn fast, once that kid, Nadya's kid, had started shooting at them, and that hadn't helped, either. Adriana continued in that low voice, "I fell asleep, too. While you were trusting me to watch your back, I fell asleep."
Ahhhh ... now things were starting to make sense! Vin sat up, ignoring the dull ache in his lower back and grasped Adriana's shoulder. That touch was enough to turn her around. He said softly, once he could see her face, "Ya did watch my back, Drina. Ya forget, even asleep, I can deal with anythin' comin' at us from the front. After I had to leave Texas five years ago, I spent the next two years lookin' over my shoulder, 'til I met Chris and the others. Never really relaxin.' There is always a part of me which is awake, even when I'm asleep. And with ya coverin' my back, I knew I had to cover the front."
Now there was confusion in the dark hazel eyes, and Vin sighed, turning her around more fully. Bad enough that his back was hurtin' some, no reason for her to twist her spine into one of those pretzels she loved so much. He continued, "Ya was behind me, Drina. Woulda made it harder for ya to reach a gun, or any other weapon, and get a decent aim, even if ya was awake. What, ya thought all this time, ya let me down?" The dark hazel eyes flickered away, and Vin put a stop to that by drawing her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"I reckon," she answered quietly. In other words, it had been eating her alive, ever since that night. Damn girl. Then again, Vin supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. She was Buck's sister by blood, but there were times when he could have sworn she was Larabee's sister by blood as well. Adriana looked up at him and sighed, "In my mind, I know I'm being stupid, Vin. But you had been through two fights already, you were tired, and I was supposed to stand guard. Alright ... sit guard."
Vin laughed and Adriana smiled ruefully. The guide said softly, "Ya was tired, too, Drina. Did ya really think I would blame ya for falling asleep? Hell, we had McCabe outside the tent, standin' guard. And we didn't run into trouble until we left the Magyar village. Ya did nothin' wrong, Drina. Nothin' in the world. Do ya understand me? I don't want ya thinkin' that ya let me down, because ya didn't. And ya never have."
There was a long silence, then Adriana nodded. Satisfied, Vin put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her back to sit at his side. They sat in silence for several moments before Daniel Jackson came outside, quietly laughing. Vin took no notice ... just kept his arm around his friend. Things didn't liven up again until the others spilled outside, laughing and joking. Even then, Vin tuned them all out. All except Chris Larabee, who sat down on his opposite side.
Chris and Adriana ... two opposite ends of the spectrum. Chris, who needed no words. Adriana, who needed mainly affection. It had taken Vin time to realize that ... and that he enjoyed showing her affection. Touching her shoulder, squeezing her hand ... a one-armed hug at times. His entire team had become his family, along with certain members of the SGC. SG-1. Mary and Billy Travis. Janet and Cassie Frasier. General Hammond.
Adriana, who had become his friend a long time ago, under a fierce sun. What had she said, only weeks before her graduation? Vin tried to remember. Someone had referred to Vin as her boyfriend, and Adriana ... yes. She had said that she and Vin were more than friends, and not quite lovers. Then added she didn't know if they would ever become lovers, and if even they did, it was no business of whoever.
Vin had laughed when she relayed that part of the story to him, looking grimly proud of herself. He laughed now, and Chris looked at him with an amused grin. He could see the question in his best friend's eyes. No, he would share the joke with Chris later. For now, he was content just to be. To listen to JD and Buck with their running jokes about Buck's animal magnetism and JD's peach fuzz. Nathan and Ezra sparring yet again, though not with the heat which had marked the first year of SG-7. Josiah easily laughing. Jack and Daniel bantering about something else. All welcome sounds.
He slowly became aware of humming coming from next to him. Adriana. And as he looked at her, at his first adult friend, she smiled and began softly singing, "I can see lights in the distance, trembling in the dark cloak of night. Bonfires are dancing, dancing, a waltz on All Souls Night." Vin smiled. He had heard that song one time when he had awakened in the infirmary. A song about the Celtic New Year. Endings and beginnings, wasn't that what Adriana had said? And it had seemed fitting for the Magyar alliance.
As the others fell silent, Adriana began the song again, and this time, Vin joined in. There was a slight hesitation, then Mary added her own voice, perhaps understanding what the song meant to the two friends. In his mind, Vin could see the bonfires of the song. The light in the dark. The light in the distance.
'All Souls Night'
by Loreena McKennitt
"Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
figures dance around and around
to drums that pulse out echoes of darkness,
moving to the pagan sound.
Somewhere in a hidden memory
images float before my eyes
of fragrant nights of straws and of bonfires
and dancing till the next sunrise.
I can see lights in the distance
trembling in the dark cloak of night
candles and lanterns are dancing,
dancing a waltz on All Souls Night.
Figures of cornstalks bend in the shadows
held up tall as the flames leap high
the Green Knight holds the holly bush
to mark where the old year passes by.
I can see lights in the distance
trembling in the dark cloak of night
candles and lanterns are dancing,
dancing a waltz on All Souls Night.
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
figures dance around and around
to drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
and moving to the pagan sound.
Standing on the bridge that crosses the river
that goes out to the sea
the wind is full of a thousand voices
they pass by the bridge and me."
The End