by Cindy Combs
"That is how it is, here in the place of dreams." Botolf lead Blair next to a fire pit where he sat on the ground. Patting the dirt next to him, he invited, "Sit, young witan. We have much to discuss."
Blair slowly sat down in the indicated spot. "What do we need to talk about?"
"Would you mind exchanging life stories, young one? While mine is longer, I suspect that yours is much more interesting." Botolf held out his hands, palms up.
Blair studied him a moment. "You call me a witan. Are you a witan, too?"
Botolf gave him a reassuring smile. "Yes."
An eager smile stretched across Blair's own face. "All right." He placed his hands on Botolf's, and immediately was launched into another world.
Jim ran a hand down his chest to flatten a wrinkle, then inspected his clearance card again. "Major John Elias," he repeated to himself. Then he checked to make sure all the flaps were properly secured. The cammies Kelso had obtained for this adventure were different from what he was use to. He sure hoped they matched everyone else's, or they could be in trouble.
There were a lot of things that had to be just right or they were in trouble. Jim suspected that due process would be out the window if he and Mac were caught. Hell, they'd probably be shot on the spot. Unless someone realized they were connected to Sandburg, then they'd be a means to force Blair to comply with their wishes. Jim would almost rather be shot.
Jim took a deep breath. He had no intention of getting caught or being used against his partner. Yet he couldn't seem to shake the tension that rang through his body. It was as if every nerve ending was on the edge of firing, in expectation of... something. What exactly Jim wasn't sure, but it seemed to be growing the further into the facility they traveled. He needed to get Blair back and see if he could make sense of it.
He glanced back at MacGyver, who was consulting his palmtop. Blair's father had cut his hair before this adventure so as not to stand out in the military crowd. In cammies and army hat, Jim would have never guessed what a peace-loving soul was under all the drab green. He just hoped 'Colonel John O'Mackey' remembered enough from his war days to pull this off. Softly, Jim whispered, "Think you can find Blair?"
MacGyver nodded as he tucked the small computer away. "Yeah. Blair got his non-existent sense of direction from his mother." He took a deep breath and led Jim into the first narrow hall of the Command Center.
Jim followed, forcing himself not to limp. He breathed a silent sigh of relief when they passed a couple of airman without even a second glance. They might get away with this yet.
They walked down several narrow corridors, past labs, offices, and medical facilities. Jim was impressed in spite of himself. It looked like a tight operation.
"Colonel O'Neill!" Unable to ignore the young, eager airman, Mac and Jim stopped. The dark haired man saluted as he beamed up at Mac. "I got your signal device for the iris all fixed. Just pick it up before you head out next time."
"Thanks," Mac swiftly read the young man's tag. "Sanchez."
The young man took off with another salute. "Any time, Colonel. Have to take care of you and SG-1, don't I?"
MacGyver gave him a wave as he whispered to Jim, "Colonel O'Neill? S. G. what?"
Jim shrugged. "Don't ask me. I'm still trying to figure out why you'd need a signal device for a flower."
"I think we'd better find Blair and get out of here," Mac softly replied.
It was amazing. Botolf's life unfolded to Blair like a movie. To learn about another human culture on an entirely different planet was beyond his wildest dreams. Admittedly, the tale of the glowing eyed aliens made it a rather scary movie in spots, but Blair was enthralled. Of course, it was more embarrassing when his own life story sailed by. Blair could only hope Botolf wouldn't think too badly of him, especially the part about Alex Barnes.
When it was over, Blair blinked at Botolf. "Amazing, young witan. You and your weardian have overcome many difficulties."
"Yeah, and I've failed about as much," Blair mumbled.
Botolf laid a hand on his shoulder. "You are blazing a trail that no one has ever traveled. You will make mistakes and find dead ends. But you are adept at finding your way back to your true path, and that is the main thing."
Blair gave him a tentative smile. "There is so much I want to ask you."
"I would love to answer," Botolf told him sincerely. "However, I believe your father and weardian are close at hand."
"What?" Blair's eyes widened in alarm.
Botolf squeezed his shoulder. "Do not worry so, young one. You will get out. Just remember what I have told you about the glowing eyes. They threaten both our worlds."
"I will remember," Blair replied solemnly. Then he woke up to find himself back in the cell and the door opening.
Jim stood by impatiently while MacGyver played with the panel next to the door. The sentinel could see Blair meditating inside, frowning as he noticed another butterfly bandage on his guide's eyebrow. Yet he remained silent. Mac thought there might be a sound monitoring system in the cell block, and they didn't want the escape to be captured on tape.
MacGyver opened the door. Blair's eyes popped open and he hesitated when he saw who stood there. However, the mischievous eyes full with warmth assured the younger man that it really was his father and not O'Neill. Pointedly, he looked at the camera mounted above the door. Mac gave him a reassuring smile, raised a finger to his lips and bobbed his head to indicate Blair should join them.
Like a shot, Blair was off the bed and into the hall. Jim grasped his upper arms to look into his face, then inspected the bandage. Blair swatted his hands and glanced pointedly at his friend's injured leg. Jim gave him a playful cuff to the head, turning to check their escape route.
Then Blair turned to MacGyver. With a wide smile, Mac pulled him in for a tight hug. The father in him needed to make up for the turbulent days when he had been too far away from Blair to do more than advise. He also needed the reassurance that his son was okay.
Blair relaxed briefly in the older man's arms, soaking up the warmth. So much had happened since the last time he had seen his father. For a moment, he felt like everything would be all right because his dad would make it so. Then Blair stepped back and positioned himself behind Jim. They still had to get out of wherever they were, and Blair was determined to do his part as Jim's guide to ensure that they did escape. Together the three men started their journey back.
Several hours later, General Hammond's office, Stargate Command
"What do you mean, Sandburg escaped?" Hammond roared. "How in the hell did an anthropologist get out of a cell in a high security base? Were you people napping?"
The sergeant simply shook his head. "There's nothing on the cameras. My techs say our main computers have suddenly developed amnesia as far as Sandburg is concerned. We're still trying to sort it out."
As the General continued to yell, O'Neill slid up to Teal'c. "Did you find anything?"
Teal'c shook his head. "I am afraid I have failed, Colonel O'Neill. I did not find Blair Sandburg. Though there are many places to hide that I may have missed."
"It's okay," O'Neill pointed a finger at security. "That's what they're paid for."
"Dismissed." The General turned his glare to O'Neill and Teal'c. "What else can go wrong with this situation?"
Margie hesitantly knocked on the open door. "General, sir? Marston and Botolf would like to see you before they leave."
Hammond and O'Neill exchanged looks. "All right, bring them in."
Marston and Botolf walked in. "You look better, Marston," O'Neill noted with a smile.
Waiting for the translation, Marston replied. Margie translated, "Yes, I am. But I would like to go home now."
Botolf then added something. Margie's eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "When you have made peace with the young witan and his weardian, we will return."
Hammond also looked surprised. "Do you know what happened to Mr. Sandburg?"
Botolf pulled out a piece of pa
rchment from his pouch and rolled it out onto the table. "The weardian and the older witan have reclaimed their clansman," Margie slowly repeated.
Jack looked down at the drawings. It looked like a black cat and a fox with a gray muzzle was meeting a young wolf-looking dog. He raised his eyebrows as he pointed at the sketches. "Let me guess, the weardian and the witans?"
Botolf nodded. He pointed to what looked like a lion, a white bandage around its chest. "The injured warrior chief awaits their return. They are needed to keep the clans safe." He then pointed to a bird with hawk-shaped tail feathers. It looked like it was flying off the paper. "The bird of prey was sent away."
Jack sighed as he listened to Margie's translations. It was the kind of situation when they really needed Daniel.
Marston set a hard gaze on the General as he spoke. "It is not good to separate witan from weardian," Margie explained, looking worried.
Nonplussed, the General replied, "I assure you, we will do everything we can to rectify the situation."
Marston simply nodded. Margie explained, "They would like to go home now."
Hammond nodded. "Of course. I wish you a safe journey."
As the weardian and witan left, Jack made a call to Daniel.
"Wow," Daniel whispered in awe as he studied the parchment. "This is really nice work, especially since Botolf has never seen earth animals."
"Do you know what it means, Dr Jackson?" Hammond inquired, hoping to hurry him up.
Daniel straightened up and shrugged. "Many ancient cultures would assign totem animals to the members of their tribes. Native American shamans called them spirit animals. My guess is that Botolf drew the totem animal for each person." He bent his head over the table again. "My guess from the position of the animals is that this wolf represents Blair. Who the other animals represent, I haven't a clue."
"Sure isn't much help identifying Sandburg's accomplices," O'Neill grumbled.
"Maybe more than you think," Sam Carter replied. She pointed at the lion in the corner. "You said that Botolf called the lion the 'injured warrior chief'?"
"That is correct," Hammond affirmed.
"Well, Daniel and I have come up with a theory about Sandburg's weardian." Sam glanced at Daniel.
Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose. "What if, instead of lying on his dissertation, Blair Sandburg's only lies were at the press conference he gave?"
O'Neill and Hammond exchanged looks. "Go on," Hammond ordered.
Carter took a deep breath. "For the past four years, Blair Sandburg has been an observer with the Cascade Police Department, supposedly researching 'closed societies'. However, instead of shifting to different departments and talking with numerous officers, detectives, and staff as you would expect, Sandburg rode exclusively with one Major Crimes detective: James Ellison."
Hammond looked puzzled for a moment. "That name sounds familiar."
"Wasn't he that Army ranger who was MIA a few years back?" O'Neill suggested thoughtfully.
Sam nodded. "Captain Ellison and his team were on a covert ops assignment when their helicopter crashed in Peru. Even though the rest of his unit died in the crash, Ellison was taken in by the local tribe and continued his mission."
"Peru?" Teal'c questioned.
"A remote area on Earth," Daniel explained. "The people living there have very little contact with the rest of the world."
Jack gave the general a significant look. "A covert ops guy might be able to get in here."
"Only if he has computer knowledge," Hammond pointed out.
"In any case, he and Sandburg are apparently very close," Sam continued. "Sandburg even rents a room in Ellison's home. In addition, Ellison's previously good crimes-solved rate has skyrocketed since being teamed with Sandburg. In fact, Ellison won 'Policeman of the Year' not too long ago. So when the early press releases named Ellison as Sandburg's sentinel, it wasn't hard for the local community to believe it."
"Until Sandburg's press conference," O'Neill commented thoughtfully.
"Exactly," Daniel picked up. "But the really interesting thing is that only a few hours before Sandburg's press conference, Ellison's captain was critically injured. A hitman they had been investigating shot into his office. Ellison was reportedly standing right next to him at the time, so the bullet could have been meant for him."
"So Sandburg was trying to protect Ellison by telling everyone he's a fraud?" Hammond asked, stunned.
Daniel shrugged his shoulders. "It's something I'd do for any member of SG-1. Sandburg was protecting his sentinel the only way he could."
"And the injured captain could be the lion waiting for Sandburg and Ellison to return to Cascade," Carter pointed out.
Teal'c nodded. The idea made sense to him.
"So the question is, did Detective Ellison come alone, or did he have help?" Hammond stated thoughtfully.
"According to Botolf, there were two," Jack reminded him.
"I have an idea on that," Daniel began, only to be rudely interrupted.
"Here he is!" Maybourne stormed in with three military policemen. "Arrest him!"
"Arrest me?" O'Neill stared at the fellow officer like he had lost his mind. But then, the bruised, swollen nose Sandburg had given him did make the colonel look a little clownish. "What for?"
"For helping in Blair Sandburg's escape," Maybourne stated haughtily.
"Excuse me?" O'Neill was quickly becoming angry. Teal'c stepped in front of his commanding officer to protect him from the security men.
"Just a minute, gentlemen." Hammond held out his hand to stop the MPs. "What evidence do you have that Colonel O'Neill had anything to do with Sandburg's escape?"
Maybourne snapped his fingers. A young airman, after glancing to the General for permission, slipped a tape into his VCR and set it to run. "This is a camera that's independent from the regular system," Maybourne explained. "It's aimed at the cells."
Everyone watched as two men walked up to Sandburg's cell. "Sir, that's Detective Ellison," Sam pointed at the muscular man.
However, none of SG-1 was prepared when the face of the second man was revealed. Teal'c stared at Jack in shock. "Colonel O'Neill?"
"That's not me, Teal'c," O'Neill assured him, his eyes glued to the screen. He watched as his double unscrewed the panel next to the door.
"It certainly LOOKS like you, Colonel," Maybourne accused.
"It's not him," Carter and Daniel spoke at the same time. They both smirked. "The Colonel would have never opened up a panel," Carter explained.
"Yeah, Jack would have shot it with the handiest weapon," Daniel added.
"I think I resemble those remarks," Jack replied with a faint smile.
"Besides, at the time of this tape, Colonel O'Neill was with me," Hammond pointed out.
"Then who is this?" Maybourne demanded, glaring at Jack as he pointed at the screen.
"How in the hell would I know?" Jack asked, exasperated. "First, a crystal being comes back from a mission looking like me. Then some mad scientist on another planet makes a robot that just like me." Jack waved his arms, his anger growing. "What is this? Do I have 'copy me' written on my forehead?" Then he stopped, stunned, as his double gave Sandburg a hug.
"Then explain THIS!" Maybourne pulled out a framed picture. "This was found in the box of office supplies Mr. Sandburg was carrying yesterday."
Jack tore his face away from the screen and took the picture. He stared in amazement at the faces. There was his double, arms around Sandburg and another young man.
"O'Neill?" Teal'c again asked.
"Oh, for crying out loud, this isn't me, Teal'c. My hair hasn't been that long since I graduated from high school."
"Then who is it?" Maybourne demanded.
"I don't know!" O'Neill barked back.
"I think I may have an idea." Daniel nearly winced when all eyes focused on him. "According to one of my friends at Rainier, Blair Sandburg met his father for the first time a couple of years ago. Since then, he has become qu
ite close to him and a half brother. Blair even told me that he had a job offer from his father's facility. This may be a picture of them."
"Do you know their names?" Hammond asked.
Daniel shrugged. "Only that one is named Sam and the other is Mac. My friend wasn't sure which was which. He did remember that the father works at a think tank in California."
"That still doesn't explain how they got through our security system so easily," Maybourne grumbled. "I still think Colonel O'Neill should be held pending an investigation."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh, for crying out loud, I didn't help them. I didn't even know I had a double."
Before Hammond could intercede, there was another knock at the door. An airman led in an older blonde woman. "Sir, this is Dr. Jill Ludlum. She designed our security system."
"Thank you for coming, Dr. Ludlum." Hammond shook her hand. "As you can guess, we are in a bit of a turmoil since this happened."
"That's all right, General," Ludlum replied. "I'd like to know how my system was breached." Then her mouth dropped open when she spotted O'Neill. "Mac? Did they call you in, too?"
"Mac?" Jack drawled slowly, remembering what Daniel had just said.
"This is Colonel Jack O'Neill," Hammond explained. "Who is 'Mac'?"
Dr. Ludlum smiled. "MacGyver, with the Phoenix Foundation. He helped me test and modify the security system here. You look just like him." She examined O'Neill again and shook her head, amazed at the similarities.
"MacGyver? THE MacGyver?" Carter asked, stunned. "You mean the legend who brought people and information back and forth across Eastern Block borders with only a Swiss army knife and a roll of duct tape? That MacGyver?"
"Yes," Dr. Ludlum confirmed.
"And he worked on this security system?" Hammond asked slowly.
Dr. Ludlum nodded. "He did a lot of the testing phase, seeing if he could break in. He also helped me a lot with the computer coding."
They all looked at each other as the realization set in: They had abducted the son of the man who knew their security system better than they did.