Disclaimer: Not mine - see top of Reunion for the important stuff.

AWAKENING

Fanfic soundtrack: "Give me novacaine" by Green Day

--ooOooOoo--

Jonas Quinn looks up from his notes as the elevator doors open, the two occupants stop chatting when they see him. He gives them a warm smile, and hits the button for floor 18. Feeling the tension, he tries to make small talk, but gets only short, polite answers in response.

As the elevator doors close behind him on level 18 he can hear the exhalation of breath, and he's sure the two SFs are exchanging smirks.

"Great," he mutters to himself, "déjà vu."

He makes his way to Daniel Jackson's office, receiving polite, but wary greetings on the way.

--ooOoo--

Daniel unburies his head from his translations as Jonas walks in.

"Hi, how's it going?"

Jonas smiles, "It's just like old times. Here, I've finished those translations."

"Thanks, I wasn't expecting –"

"Hey, it gave me something to do. Drive me nuts just sitting around, thinking." He runs his hand along the bookshelf, reading the spines.

"Are you holding up okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Shouldn't I be?"

"No… issues?"

"Daniel, I spent over a year with SG-1, and nearly two years dealing in top level Langaran politics. People wanting to kill me is not a new experience."

"But, still."

"Not having any problems. I don't think it's every one of them, you get different viewpoints whatever species you are." He gives Daniel a friendly smile as he takes a book from the bookshelf. "I'm not going to hold a grudge, because of one bad experience. Even if I did, it doesn't make their knowledge or any of the technology any less fascinating." He opens the book at the bookmarked place. "You should see the new gadget SG-11 brought back."

"Unfortunately, Jack saw it as well. He's had it confiscated and shipped to Area 51" Daniel watches Jonas flip over the bookmark, and sees a smaller, gentler smile spread across the Kelownan's face. "That was when we were at O'Malley's, Janet, Dr. Fraiser, took it."

"Yeah, she gave me a couple of the other pictures she took," Jonas replies, deciding against mentioning that Jack O'Neill was making rabbit ears behind Daniel's head in one of his photographs.

"Didn't we get thrown out? Teal'c was singing, I think."

"You were singing, Teal'c and Jack were discussing the relative merits of ice hockey teams."

"And you and Sam?"

"We were 'hustling' all comers at pool."

"Ah, that's why we didn't have to pay for any drinks."

Jonas closes the book on the photograph, "yeah, doesn't seem that long ago. Mind you, you guys have been busy. Saving the planet, saving the galaxy, ascending, descending…"

"Developing super powers, uh, Jonas." Daniel points to a small stone tablet making lazy turns a foot above his desk.

"Sorry," Daniel winces as the tablet drops onto his desk, "I'm doing that a lot. It's probably best to ignore it. So, how are the other translations going for the doorway on PX7-485?"

"Well, since you've saved me some work I'd say…" Daniel stops and double checks the notes in front of him. He stands up with excitement. "I'd say great! This is it! We can open the door on another meeting place of the ancient alliance."

He rushes out the room, leaving Jonas with a bemused expression on his face.

--ooOooOoo--

"Remind me, why would we be interested in opening the door?"

Daniel blinks at Jack, he glances around the briefing room table at Jonas and the other members of SG-1, wondering if any of them could think of a simpler way of explaining it.

"Because we want to know what's on the other side."

"Do we have any idea what might be on the other side?"

"No, but –"

"So, it could be bad."

"Jack…"

"Sir, the stone doorway on PX7-485 does show common factors with the area we found on PB2-908."

"The planet on which we found Earnest Littlefield." Teal'c acknowledges Samantha Carter's nod.

"Yes, Teal'c. If what is on the other side is similar to what we found on that planet, it would be far more useful to us than an Ancient repository, with all the inherent risks involved with that device."

"Yes. Thank you, Carter. But still, the translation doesn't tell us anything useful. It could be bad. Very bad."

"That's never stopped you before."

Jack turns to Jonas, "Did you have to read every mission report?"

"He's right, Jack. There's as much risk as there is every other time we step through the Stargate. Less, since SG-13 have already checked out the planet." Daniel feels like sighing loudly at the loss of some of the go-getting Jack since the promotion to General.

"Could it be a weapon?"

Daniel clutches the straw, "yes, yes, possibly as powerful as the one on Dakara. Or maybe a way of making a powerful weapon."

"Carter?"

"Well, sir, at minimum we should check out if the translations are correct before a goa'uld gets there first."

"Fine, next free window is at 0800 tomorrow. Dismissed."

--ooOoo--

Jack is no more than two steps towards his office before he hears the completely expected;

"General."

"No, Jonas."

"Sir, hear me out."

"Save yourself the effort. The answer is no."

"In the interest of the developing relations between our two worlds, it would be –"

"Jonas! No! You are not going anywhere."

"In that case, I would like to request returning to Langara as I have no other work that needs to be done here."

"You… no, when I say you aren't going anywhere, I mean you aren't going anywhere."

"General… Jack, given my position on my world, I hardly think keeping me here against my will would be the wisest move. I'd much prefer it if you didn't set off a major diplomatic incident on my second favourite planet."

Jack feels like banging his head against the door. "For crying out loud, Jonas! I swear if you start holding your breath, you are never playing with Daniel again." He frowns at the wry grin. "What?"

"I was just thinking, that would be a dull five minutes."

Jack opens his office door with a muttered, "it'd be quiet though." He stops, "second favourite planet?"

"I quite like P3X-624."

"Oh yeah. Great beach." He carries on into the room, "still not going, Jonas. Since we have to work out what's going on with you in the time you're here, I'm not having you waste it on another planet."

"The Langaran political calendar is at the start of its short recess period, normally I'd use the time to do research. Of course, if you allow me to join the mission…"

"You could do research here."

"I only need to call in, and let them know I'll be on Earth."

Jack considers the young man thoughtfully. Damn politicians.

"Jack?"

"You haven't given me a decent reason yet."

"It'll be fun?"

--ooOoo--

From the bottom of the Stargate ramp, Daniel stares at the sight of Jonas strolling into the gate room while tightening the strap on his helmet.

"I'm sorry, was there a memo? I thought we weren't going to meet any resistance?"

Teal'c nods, "indeed, the planet is uninhabited. General O'Neill has informed Jonas Quinn of his wish he return with his brain intact."

"Or else," finishes Jonas with a grin.

A short distance away Sam smiles at the continuing banter between the rest of her team. She turns as the General walks up to her.

"Come to wish us luck, sir?"

"Come to commiserate. Getting stuck with two nerds an' all."

Sam smiles cheekily, "I wasn't the first SG leader to be put in that position."

"You're not a nerd, Carter, you're a geek." A pause. "Were a geek." He coughs, and clears his throat, "I hear the weather will be nice. Something about pressure readings from the MALP, and cloud formations."

Sam allows her CO his escape route. "Yes. I'm surprised you had so little problem getting the Kelownans to agree to let Jonas stay, sounds like there's always a lot of work to do."

"I said we'll look after him. Hell, I even said we'd make sure the kid eats his greens, and washes behind his ears."

"Jonas…"

"Mortified with embarrassment."

Sam takes in her CO's grin, if Daniel were with them right now he'd say –

"You know, for someone with such a great memory, I'm surprised he forgets what a childish ass I can be." Jack watches his former 2IC's face flicker with shock for a fraction of a second before her professionalism takes over. He smirks, "did you get that in Daniel's voice as well?"

"What did they say? About Jonas' new abilities?"

"We didn't tell them. Jonas thinks it'd be wiser to keep it to ourselves until we find out more. He says it'll get political, and you know me and politics."

They watch the Stargate connection being made. Sam glances over.

"You could come with us, sir."

"Love to, Carter. Sadly, too much fascinating paperwork to do."

"I know Jonas has a very strong ancient gene, but still, it could be useful to have someone else with more experience along," trying to give him a easy way in.

"Yes, the force is strong in this one." He notes the surprised expression, "Simpsons. You guys have fun, bring me back something nice. Just don't let him touch anything."

"Jonas?"

"No, Daniel."

--ooOoo--

Teal'c doesn't turn as Lt. Col. Carter approaches him, keeping most of his attention on the two figures at the stone doorway, the rest alert to any danger on the surrounding hillside.

"I've done a loop of the perimeter. Doesn't look like anyone has been here since SG-13."

Teal'c nods. Sam looks down at the two small figures at the bottom of the hill, one is pacing backwards and forwards, talking, and gesticulating wildly, the other is sitting on a piece of fallen rock listening, his helmet beside him.

"Not to sound like General O'Neill, but how long do you think this is going to take?"

"I am unsure, it appears there has been an extra complexity."

"Well," she glances at her watch, "we've been here over two hours. Give it another hour, if nothing changes, head back to the gate, and update them on our progress."

Another nod. She looks back down towards the doorway, thinking of making her way down. "Has he been smiling all this time?"

"Indeed."

She exchanges a smile with Teal'c, "didn't think I'd miss that puppy dog enthusiasm."

--ooOoo--

Sam walks her way steadily down the hill, resisting the temptation to shout 'Hey, kids' as she approaches. Part way down she watches as Jonas stops Daniel, pointing to some markings, speaking a few words just out of earshot. She sees Daniel snap around, cross referencing the markings and his notes with excitement, hand flying across the text, before…

A rumble of stone.

"Thanks, Jonas. Could have said something an hour ago," she grumbles to herself.

--ooOoo--

Small segments of dust and rock drift down on the other side of the doorway. Sam shines her torch beam across the ceiling.

"It looks fairly secure, but we should stick together. Teal'c you go first, Daniel, next. And Daniel, don't touch anything, and don't wander off."

She takes a couple of steps into the corridor, before turning to the figure covering the light from the doorway. She points at the rock behind him. "You, sit. We'll check out the area first."

"But…"

"That's an order, Jonas."

"Aw, come on."

She gives him the full force military glare, and tone. "If anything goes wrong you are to go straight back to the gate and dial home, remember? Now, sit."

He sits.

"Stay."

--ooOoo--

Daniel scans each room and side corridor as he passes, mindful of the fact that, no matter how tempting, and how many useful military skills he's picked up in the last eight-ish years, Sam would almost certainly kick his backside… hard. Not that there were many places to go, most inaccessible from the fallen masonry.

He trots to keep up with Teal'c, keeping a mental note of places of interest to check later. Running the beam of his torch along the walls of the hallway as he walks, he can see the remnants of a pattern imprinted into the stone. A mixture of circles, swirls and arcs, the colours faded over hundreds, maybe hundreds of thousands of years.

He removes his hat and gives it a shake, removing some of the dust and rock settled on it.

--ooOoo--

Jonas tosses another stone towards his upturned helmet. Since moving it another fifteen feet he was now missing it two times out of three.

He sighs as he scans around for another piece of rock, his eyes naturally drawn to the open stone doorway.

--ooOoo--

Daniel stops beside Teal'c at an ornate door blocking the end of the passage. He can hear Sam behind them, dropping another flare as she approaches.

"Can you see any way in?"

He runs his light along the edges of the door, "No text, I can't see any switches." Turning his focus back to the door with it's intricate swirling pattern, "not that it doesn't mean it isn't hidden somewhere on this." He reaches a hand out towards the door.

"Daniel!"

"Fine. I'm not touching it."

"We should check out the rest of the area first. There might be an indication of how to open the door nearby."

He concedes to Sam's point, and follows as she and Teal'c start back along the corridor. He glances back at the door, hoping inspiration might strike immediately so he wouldn't have to waste time wandering around when he was certain what they came for was behind it.

He stops, he's sure he can hear a low hum, like something powering up. He turns fully towards the door, flicking the tip of his hat to remove the small stones settling on it. He feels something larger bounce off the top off his head. He looks up as he hears Sam's voice shout:

"Daniel! Watch out!"

--ooOooOoo--

Daniel warily removes the arm he threw up to cover his face. He reaches out a hand to prod the large piece of stone static above him. Looking around he sees the two stunned faces of his team-mates.

"Uh, Daniel, could you move? I don't think I can hold it for long."

Jonas voice breaks into his own slightly shocked mind, and he makes a quick few steps towards the voice. The stone finishes it's journey downwards, bringing up a cloud of dust as it slams into the ground.

"Wow," is the only thing he can think of to say. He turns back to his colleagues, noticing Sam's expression has changed from stunned to something approaching annoyance, also that Jonas was definitely wilting under her glare.

"Sam, he just saved me from serious injury." The glare turns in his direction, "…and I'm going to go and have another look at that door." Sidling away, Teal'c finding it sensible to follow, he mouths a 'Thanks' to Jonas.

Jonas returns his attention to Sam, he clears his throat. "I should probably be going back that way."

He watches Sam indicate his lack of helmet. "It's uncomfortable." A raised eyebrow, "I'll put it on when I get back."

"You might as well stay, at least I can keep an eye on you."

"Really?"

"Yes, but you stay behind me, and you do not touch anything. That's an order."

He gives her a huge grin, and snaps off a quick salute, "yes, Colonel."

--ooOoo--

Sam walks up to the rest of SG-1. Staring at the door as she approaches.

"It wasn't glowing before."

Daniel turns, "no, and this looks like it might be a switch."

He gives her a hopeful look, she nods. Daniel presses his finger against the button. The door slides to the side revealing a darkened room.

They advance carefully into the room, as they do the lights come on. The space is set out like a laboratory, a computer system against the far wall hums into action. The floor continues the pattern of circles, while more swirls and curves moved up the wall towards the high ceiling. To the right a large table and recessed panels, to the left a large text covered wall.

Crossing the room, Sam moves towards the computer, fascinated by the images of four human forms on the large screen. Text she can't make sense of scrolls down the side of each figure.

Daniel walks over to the text covered wall. It appears to be a variation of the Ancient language, because he can't read it immediately. He moves his hand over the lettering, as if he can read the text through his fingers.

He hears behind him the unmistakeable electrical whoosh of a ring system, along with a quiet groan of "oh, fimu-"

--ooOoo--

"Jonas? Are you okay?"

"Hey, Sam. I'm fine."

"Stay there, we'll come to you."

"Not the way I came in," he looks at the rock covered recess where the ring platform was, "had a bit of a cave in. It might take a while to dig the rings clear."

Sam gives Daniel the evil eye before clicking her radio, "can you see any other way out?"

"Uh, yeah, in the wall there seems to be a groove, could be a door. I just need to find…"

"Jonas, stop. Don't do anything until we get there. We should be able to get a lock on your position"

"But…"

"Jonas, stay put, and Jonas…"

"Yes?"

She looks over at Daniel. "Don't touch anything."

"Yes, Colonel."

--ooOoo--

Jonas stops examining the groove in the wall. He regards the small room around him, soft light shines down from hidden points in the ceiling. On the four walls is a passage of text, one for each of the four languages of the ancient alliance.

He approaches the largest area of text, written in the language of the Ancients. Shoving his hands deep in his pockets with a muttered, "don't touch," he moves along the wall, attempting to translate the words without his notes.

He pauses when he hears a click under foot. He looks down at the depressed panel under his boot, he looks back up at the sound of metal sliding against stone. A large orb in the centre of a dark blue metallic, raised, ribbed setting has appeared in front of him.

A repository of the knowledge, containing the library of the Ancients, he thinks, this is so

"Sweet," he finishes, just as two arms reach out to grab his head.

--ooOoo--

Jack stalks into the gate room, the dark look on his face clearing the path ahead.

"Jonas!" he roars, "What did I say!"

"It's intact, General. I've just… added to it."

--ooOoo--

In the briefing room, Daniel is finishing his explanation of the effects of the Ancient repository.

"Essentially, overwriting your conscious mind with all the knowledge of the Ancients."

"That'll be interesting experience."

"No it won't be, Jonas, because once I get through to Thor it's coming straight out." Jack's glare stops Jonas' protest.

"Why?"

"What?"

Daniel leans forward, "why do we need to remove it so quickly?"

"There is the dying bit."

"I don't think we can be sure that's going to happen, he seems to be handling it much, much better than you did. In fact, if Jonas hadn't mentioned it I'm not sure we would have noticed. Now, it could be because Jonas' physiology is different. Might be because he's a lot younger."

"Hey!"

"Besides, there's quite a bit of time before anything happens, which would give us an opportunity to see if we can access any useful information. As long as Dr. Brightman, and Jonas, can't see any physical effects."

"I do feel fine, General."

"I don't care!"

"You have not been able to contact Thor?" asks Teal'c.

"Not yet, I'm sure he'll be by to pick up his messages."

"So in the mean time, we have no choice but to wait."

Sam looks concerned. "Sir, I'd like to request permission for SG-1 to return to the planet. If we can't get hold of Thor we might be able to find something we could use in the mean time."

"Good idea, go. I'll have SG-7 help you out." Jack watches his old team leave, he tries to ignore the huge grin beside him. Standing up he simply says, "no."

"Why? As Daniel said, nothing happens in the first few days anyway."

"Because I say so. Because if you ask again, not only are you going to be stuck on base, you are going to be stuck in this room, where I can see you!"

Jonas considers his options.

"I'll go get some lunch."

--ooOoo--

Daniel closes the screen on his video camera, he strolls over to where Sam is working on the alien computer.

"Anything interesting?"

Sam runs a hand through her hair, "nothing like we found in Antarctica. Some small items, did you notice the mixture of technologies we found?"

"Yep. Ancient, furling, asgard."

Sam nods in agreement, "you've noticed what we walked past on the way in." She points to a hole in the ceiling by the door.

"Looks like an asgard scanner. Good thing Teal'c's lost Junior."

"Yeah. How about you? Anything in the text?"

"Nothing jumping out at me immediately." Daniel holds his hands up, "I didn't touch anything this time."

"The only other thing we have is this."

Daniel notices the computer is no longer on. "Did you manage to get anythng out of it?"

"So far, not much. I'm guessing it must be linked to the repository in some way. Lieutenant Aster has gone over it and she thinks it uploaded everything into Jonas. It's completely unresponsive."

"Jack's gonna be disappointed."

Teal'c arrives with a large metal case.

"Well, I'm hoping that this is only out of power. Otherwise Jonas somehow managed to cram a whole load of stuff in his head."

--ooOoo--

Jonas looks over the objects on the shelf, picking up a three inch high replica of Tutankhamun's death mask.

"Tutankhamun, the boy king. Inherited the throne at 9, 11th king of the 18th dynasty. Currently believed not to have been murdered, but to have died of an infection to a fractured leg."

He turns it around in his hand, noticing the indentation around the crown and the small hinge on the side. He flips up the lid to reveal a lighter inside. He grins.

Daniel takes it out of his hand, "one of Catherine's, she enjoyed collecting these silly little bits and pieces. Trying to untangle it all so I can catalogue it is taking a bit of time."

Jonas looks hopeful, "I could do it for you if you'd like. It's not as if I'm busy."

"No, I don't think so. I've been given a personal explanation by Jack of the SGC's new rule."

"Yeah, unfortunately for me everyone's sticking to it."

"'Jonas touches nothing, or I will shoot you.'"

"I think it was his tone that sold it to everyone." Jonas picks up a ornate gold box from Daniel's desk, fiddling with the clasp. Daniel plucks it from his grip. He gives Daniel a look of protest.

"Haven't you got anything better to do?"

"I was meant to be spending training time with Teal'c. Until Jack found out it was going to be combat staff training."

"That must have been disappointing," says Daniel, perplexed at the idea that anyone would want to spar with Teal'c.

"Oh, more so for Teal'c than for me." Jonas smiles, "I think he sees me as his science project."

"What? Puny human to Jaffa warrior in twelve easy steps?"

"Heh, yeah, something like that."

Daniel notices Jonas looking at the fertility icon from P6Y-792 he is using as a paperweight, and slowly moves it out of reach.

Jonas pulls a face. "Did you find anything interesting in the text on 485?"

"No. A lot of welcomes, place of my legacy, nothing useful."

"Legacy?"

"It's very traditional with these things." Daniel highlighting the words 'these things' by holding his hands beside his head.

"Oh, so nothing I can help you with."

"Maybe Sam could find you something to do."

"She working on the computer you brought back. She said that if I came back to bother her in the next five hours, she'd deprogramme my security pass."

--ooOoo--

"So, what's cooking?"

Sam turns from her laptop as the General calls out.

"Unfortunately, not much sir." She indicates towards the alien computer, "I've tried every power source we've got on the base, but I still can't get it going. On the planet we didn't find anything that indicates it needs much in the way of power, and all the crystals are intact. I've even had them scanned to check there aren't any hairline fractures." She shrugs. "It's just not working."

"Have you tried kicking it?" Jack reflects on her expression, "Oh well," he says, reaching out to pat the top of the alien computer, "I'm sure you work it out. You always… was that me?"

"I think it was, sir. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier," Sam grins at the prospect of digging into the technology, "after all, it was made by the Ancients."

--ooOoo--

Jack can hear the muffled protests of Walter through the closed door of his office.

"Sir, General O'Neill is -"

The door opens sharply, and a man stalks in.

"Can I help you?"

"General O'Neill, it seems the SGC hasn't kept us up to date on recent developments."

"And you are?"

"My name is Agent Philip Anders, from the NID."

"Ah." Jack gives the man a once over. Medium build, dark hair, suit. He wonders if the NID recruits on the basis of weaseliness. Going around the top universities looking for the most irritating person they can find. "What recent developments are we talking about?"

"Jonas Quinn."

"I believe Ambassador Quinn is only here for a short visit. You know, catching up with old friends. I'll remember to send a memo out about his vacation plans in future."

"You know as well as I do that that is not what we're talking about."

"What are we talking about?"

"The return of his psychic abilities. Not only that, the fact he has been in contact with an ancient device."

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what the problem is."

"You have on this base a person who has the potential to defend Earth from any future attacks. Who carries with him the knowledge of the Ancients. And you have done nothing with this information. It is part of the role of the Stargate Command to ensure we gain as much valuable defence technology as we can. Incidentally, a factor you seem to be slipping up on recently."

"What, between defending the planet?"

"I have been assigned to ask Mr. Quinn to join us at the NID in order to monitor his development."

"Ask? Or demand? Given the history of the NID, I think he's better off with us."

"There have been changes at the NID."

"There are always changes to the NID. You guys should get together and sort it out over a coffee."

Anders leans over the desk, trying to be intimidating, "I think you should remember that your command hasn't been particularly spotless. I would think your retirement could be brought forward."

Jack smiles at him, calmly, "and I think you should remember he is a high ranking official from one of our allies. Who happen to have quite a lot of nice shiny stuff we use to build our valuable defence technology with." Jack goes over to the door, holding it open. "I'm sure the President wouldn't want us to jeopardise our friendship by holding one of their leading diplomats against his will."

Anders follows him to the door. Jack carries on talking before he can utter another word.

"In any case, I've spoken with a representative of the Joint Ruling Council of Langara, and we agree that it would be best if Ambassador Quinn remain at the SGC. Now if you don't mind I have a base to run."

--ooOooOoo--

Jonas reviews the expressions around the briefing room table. He shrugs, "I don't know what else to say except nothing."

"Seriously? Nothing? No sudden desire to build something that takes two Carters to work out?"

"Sorry, sir."

Jack leans back into his seat, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment.

"But it's been five days!" exclaims Daniel, "surely there must be something?"

"Daniel, honestly I've got nothing more than the two years worth of the base library I've caught up on."

"No diagrams of the gate technology, no base eight math, no speaking another language?"

"If I start speaking another language I'll make sure you're the first to know, Daniel."

Everyone turns to Daniel for a translation. Daniel takes in the grin. "Oh cute, very cute, Jonas."

Sam reaches for an explanation, "I suppose it could be down to your physiology, the powers you have inhibiting how the information unpacks itself."

"You sure the grabby thingy was working?"

"Fairly sure, sir. There was power, but it looked like it was off, as if there was nothing left to download."

Jack turns to Jonas, "you did get the full on flashing light show didn't you?"

Jonas nods in reply.

Jack shrugs, "maybe some people aren't suited to the technology the way other people are. Maybe some people have more potential."

Daniel purses his lips at the slightly smug look. "Strangely, I don't find that encouraging."

Sam decides it might be best to step in before Daniel and General O'Neill start another of their minor 'discussions'. "I think we'll find the answer in the computer we brought back from 485. I'll managed to make a copy of the majority of the information on it. It looks like it's mostly in ancient, but there are elements of the other three languages."

"Anything else you bring back that might be any use?"

"No, sir. Once everything is out of the computer that's pretty much it."

--ooOoo--

Jonas stands at the window of the briefing room watching the activity in the gate room below. He turns his head towards the figure in Jaffa battle dress reflected in the glass.

"Did you have a good meeting?"

"I believe you will become a great Jaffa warrior before I become a diplomat of your skill."

Jonas laughs at Teal'c's slightly sour expression, "it can't be that bad surely."

"There are many times when I believe the old Jaffa ways are the best."

"The old ways?"

"With a weapon."

"Still, it must feel great to have achieved so much."

"Indeed. I agree it makes many aspects more bearable."

Jonas turns back towards the window, "long way to have come in eight years."

"Many changes to many things, Jonas Quinn."

"Shol'va."

Teal'c tenses at the word, he looks at his friend's reflection in the window.

Jonas smiles in return, "a traitor becomes a hero. It's a good journey to have made."

"It is one we have in common."

"Yeah," the smile flickers before coming back with more humour. "Free Jaffa nation. I'm surprised you haven't decided to remain there. There must be so much work to do."

Teal'c doesn't respond.

"Well, if it helps I'll give you a little hint for better diplomacy." Jonas grins at the raised eyebrow, "spend less time with General O'Neill."

--ooOoo--

Jack keeps pace with Teal'c easy stride as they walk towards Daniel's lab.

"So our buddy Baal is building the troops again."

"It appears he is regaining control over Anubis' warriors."

"Never keep a bad snake down."

He leans against the doorway of Daniel's lab. Daniel is turning a page of computer printout slowly in his hands.

"Ya forgotten how to read."

"Uh, no, no it's something Jonas pointed out." Daniel picks up another page holding it against the first. "The information from the computer is also in code."

"I thought it was in ancient."

"It is, well, most of it, but it appears that you have to rotate the letters depending how the other languages interact with it. Jonas showed me the first pattern. Unfortunately he's wandered off, so I'm just trying to work out how the others fit." He waves one of the pages at Jack. "Anything jump out at you?"

"Cake."

"What?"

"Cake, you want some? Me an' Teal'c are just heading down to the commissary."

"Uh, no."

--ooOoo--

Jonas wanders into Sam's lab. She looks up from her place at her desk.

"Still bored?" she asks.

"Yeah, just a bit. Tried to talk the General into letting me do something," he grins, "odd to hear the words 'big' and 'honking' used to describe my brain."

Jonas leans over the object on Sam's desk. It looks like an uncased naquada reactor, but smaller.

Sam slaps his hand away.

"Okay, okay, I'm not going to touch anything. What is it?"

"I'm trying to modify the reactor technology to make it more efficient. Hopefully it will give us a more stable environment for using the naquadria."

Jonas looks around the lab. It appears to be shielded pretty well, but still…

"Isn't that dangerous."

Sam smiles, "don't worry, I'm only using a minuscule amount of naquadria. It should be enough to provide me with the data I need before we move onto the real thing."

"Still, it'd make a big bang."

"Not as big as it should do." Replying to Jonas' quizzical expression she continues, "according to the computer model, I should be getting much more power out it than the data shows."

They both look at the reactor for a moment.

"That's because you've routed an extra step which is modulating the power flow unnecessarily." Jonas points to the mass of wires, "if you do a straight connection between these two points, you will still be covered by the existing safety systems, but be no longer wasting energy on the monitoring systems which are being duplicated here."

"Wow, I think you're right." Sam bends into the guts of the machine.

"Personally, I'm surprised your puny human brain managed to create this technology in the first place."

"Hey!" protests Sam with a smile, looking around for something softish to throw at him.

She stops, a puzzled expression forms on her face. She looks up at Jonas.

"What?" says Jonas with an innocent grin.

Sergeant Siler knocks on the door before Sam can answer his question. She waves him in, taking a quick glance at Jonas at the same time. Jonas is flicking idly through a book on wormhole physics he's picked up from her desk.

Siler puts a large box of technical parts on a free space on her table.

"These are all the leftover parts from the last upgrade, and all the other bits and pieces the engineering guys have collected over the years. I'm not sure how much is salvageable."

"Thank you, Siler."

"If you need a hand, I can help you sort through it later."

"No, I'll be fine. Maybe I'll get Jonas to do it." Her smile at Jonas slides from her face as she sees him staring blankly into space, book page half turned in his hand.

Sam looks down at the reactor device. Uh oh.

--ooOoo--

Daniel speeds around the corner on level 19, head, as usual, deep within his notes.

"Whoa there, buddy. Wanna watch where you're going."

Daniel pushes his glasses up. "Sorry, Jack, didn't see you there."

"And I thought with my handsome good looks I was unmissable."

"I'm just on my way to see Sam. I've gone over some more of the text we found on 485, I'm hoping she'll be able to run a computer programme to speed up the decryption of the code." They turn into the corridor to Sam's lab. "Where are you going?"

"Gonna see if Carter's got any new toys to play with."

"Haven't you got a base to run?"

Sergeant Siler flies backwards through the open door of Sam's lab, slamming into the wall. They both feel the residual pulse of pressure as they run towards him.

"Siler, are you okay?"

Siler mumbles a response, another stay in the infirmary is on the cards.

Jack checks Carter's lab, broken technical gizmos cover the floor, sheets of paper are still drifting down from the ceiling. Looking around he only sees one person in the room.

Then Sam's head slowly peeks above the far side of the table. Watching the figure on the other side of the desk carefully, she stands, arms wrapped protectively around the naquada reactor.

With one hand on the table, one hand to his head, the book he was reading joining the rest of the items on the floor, Jonas looks around at the mess he's made.

He smiles apologetically to Sam, and nods in response to Jack's "infirmary, now!"

--ooOoo--

Nothing wrong? Right, I believe ya.

Jack's response to Dr. Brightman follows him back to the VIP quarters he's been assigned for his stay. He fiddles with the ring on his finger subconsciously as he sits down on the bed, scooting himself up so that his back rests against the headboard.

He takes the ring off his finger, playing it in his hands, looking at it reminds him of Kelowna. He isn't looking forward to returning, and dealing with the endless round of meetings and negotiations. A small, sarcastic, smile tweaks his lips at the thought of Langaran negotiations.

He closes his hand around the ring. Leaning his head back against the wall he closes his eyes, and tries to relax. Not think of having to deal with anything, on Langara or Earth.

A mental picture of the piles of reports he left behind in his office push themselves into the free space in his head. He sighs, no matter how hard he tries all he can think of is work. Endless reports, and meetings which just kept going around in circles. Trying to stay polite when every session seemed to stray too close to being completely pointless.

Need to wipe the slate clean and start again. Build it the way it should be.

He smiles. Opening his eyes he looks down at the ring in his hand. It rises a short distance above his upturned palm, and travels cleanly to the bedside table.

"That's interesting," he says in a voice unlike Jonas Quinn's.

--ooOooOoo--

To be continued...