A Tale of

Two Brothers

Under normal circumstances, Sarah Walker would be excited, and proud, to be here, in the very top-secret complex that was Stargate Command. But the circumstances today are far from normal…

Walker is in the Stargate Chamber, surrounded by an even dozen Marines; each man and woman armed to the teeth, weapons out and ready, and all waiting for SG-15 to dial home.

Walker looks back and up, sees the glassed-off partition that is the Stargate Control. Three people are in there now. The Stargate Operator is there, and, at his back, two generals; one of whom Walkers knows quite well…

General Beckman looks back down at the Stargate, her thin, pinched features made even more so by worry; a worry shared by Sarah Walker.

Chuck Bartowski and John Casey; where are they? Are they okay?

The kidnapping had been so unexpected. Who would've believed that extraterrestrials would take an interest in the Intersect? John Casey had managed to follow the kidnappers, leaving Sarah Walker behind. Now, he and Chuck were on another world, light years from Mother Earth; and SG-15 had been sent in to retrieve them.

Klaxons began to sound…

"SG-15 is dialing in, sir," the Operator speaks to the General standing beside General Beckman.

"Okay," the other general-Walker thinks his name is O'Neill-says. "Open the iris, and look sharp, people!"

At first, the opening gate reminds Walker of a bidet; although the stuff fountaining out of the gate isn't water by any stretch of the imagination. As the Stargate goes through its opening cycle, more people enter the Chamber. A doctor-Janet Fraiser-in charge of four aides bearing a stretcher, and Walker feels a chill go down her spine. SG-15 has already reported one casualty; a serious injury, and the CIA Agent is terrified…

Is it Chuck?

Walker doesn't know what she'll do if Chuck dies. She remembers John Casey asking her if she has compromised herself. She never answered the question, but she thinks Casey knows the answer anyway…

The Stargate is fully open now, shimmering like a deep lake of sunny water. A human form stumbles out, almost tripping over its feet, and Walker breathes a sigh of purest relief.

Chuck Bartowski's clothes are filthy, his dark hair is dirty, and he really needs a shower. But he's unhurt; physically, that is…

He's crying silently, tears rolling down his cheeks, and Sarah Walker runs to him, flings her arms around him, holds him close. Then, she looks up at him, and asks the question that must be asked…

"Where's Casey, Chuck?"

Chuck's features crumple, and Walker feels a very real tang of fear shoot down her spine. That's when several Marines step out of the Stargate. The leader is heavily backlit by the Stargate's shimmer. About all Walker can tell is that he is big; around John Casey's size, and that he has a body slung over his shoulders; a body wearing dark slacks and a green Buy More shirt.

Oh, god, no…

The man steps forward, into the light, carrying his burden carefully, and Walker sees his face.

John? No… Not John. Not John Casey at all…

The face is the same; the exact same. But a different soul lives behind those blue eyes.

Not-Casey walks up to the stretcher, gently lays the body down upon it, and Walker's throat tightens at the sight…

John Casey's Buy More shirt has been torn wide open and blood-stained gauze and tape covers his broad chest. More blood, some drying, some not, shows at the corners of his mouth, and his nose. Dr. Fraiser checks his pupils, and an aide slides a ventilator down Casey's throat. He's clearly not breathing on his own, and another aide is starting chest compressions as they haul the stretcher off to the Medical Wing.

Not-Casey stands there, watching the stretcher disappear, and there's a world of hurt in his eyes. Unstrapping his helmet, he looks up at Stargate Control; at the two generals; and, if looks really could kill, Walker figures Beckman would be ash by now…

"I Flashed on him," Chuck speaks quietly

"Whom?"

"Him," Chuck straightens, looking at Not-Casey. "He's John Casey's twin brother; and his name is Dave Dixon. Colonel Dave Dixon."

"What?" Sarah Walker looks at the man, at Colonel Dixon. In retrospect, she realizes she shouldn't be that surprised. Only true identical twins looked that much alike.

"They shot him in the chest," Chuck continues, the horror of what he has seen showing in his eyes. "They shot him with this weapon that came right out of Star Wars, and now, he's going to die."

"Chuck-"Walker began, but Chuck cuts her off.

"He's going to die, Sarah; and it's all because of me!"

"No," Walker keeps her arms around Chuck. "Casey isn't going to die. He's too ornery, too contrary, to die. He'll survive this; even if only to spite the opposition."

"He'd better not die," Colonel Dixon's voice startles the hell out of Walker and Bartowski. "When he's recovered, I'm gonna kick his ass into next week. They told me he was dead!"

"John Casey?"

"Casey? Hell no! His name is Johnny Dixon, and he's got a lot of explaining to do. Our Mom died thinking he was dead; and he's got four Nieces and Nephews who've never laid eyes on their Uncle Johnny, except for old family snapshots."

Colonel Dixon, please report to General O'Neill.

They all hear the PA. Dixon curses under his breath, something fairly rancid, and stomps off. Walker and Bartowski stay where they are for a minute.

Then, Bartowski stirs, begins to move.

"Where are you going, Chuck?"

"I need to find a place to pray, Sarah. Casey can't die. He's got family, whether he knows it or not; whether he wants it or not. And he can't die like this."

Chuck strode off, looking for an exit, muttering something about finding a quiet place within which to pray…