The Mission: Prt.1

[Torie2]

This is the first of a set of stories following Megan/Malena. Besides the episode revamps I will write a couple that I'll make up a few of my own. This is one that is purely in my imagination.
Summary: When Megan O'Neill goes on a mission without Jack's permission, it stirs up controversy when she gets hurt. Setting is a week after "The Tok'ra" episodes.
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Megan O'Neill pedaled her bike blithely to the SGC. Summer was almost over and she was about to enter the seventh grade. Megan was glad school was starting up again.

As much as she loved working on the Stargate, she was ready to see her friends and find out what kind of math and science would be torturing her this year. Also starting a new year meant not going on as many missions offworld.

Megan loved going with SG-1, but since she found out about her Tok'ra genetic memory and that she was adopted after her real parents left her on Earth, she wasn't as excited about the missions.

Megan had tried to come to grips that her father, Martouf, and her mother, Rosha, loved her. but it was like she had been dumped on this planet.

Of course after a week no one expected her to adjust right away. They all thought it would take a few months for her to realize that Martouf and Rosha sending her away was the best thing for her.

Of course she knew their sybiotes cared. Jolinar, Rosha's symbiote, had died saving her life. Lantash, Martouf's symbiote, actually spoke affectionately to her and seemed to understand the frustration she felt inside.

Megan walked into the base after putting a lock on her bicycle. She pulled her burnished brown hair into a ponytail. 3 months ago it was light-brown, the exact color of Martouf's, but now it had darkened to a coppery-brown. It all came from the missions to deserted planets like Abydos.

Megan walked into Captain Samantha Carter's lab. Sam, as she was called by everyone, was working on some equipment that used to go over Megan's head. Only recently did she start to understand machinery.

"Hi, Sam," Megan said, making an attempt to act cheerful. Megan was usually quiet and not prone to cheerfulness, so this was totally out of character.

Megan really liked Sam a lot. Since Jolinar had entered Sam three months ago the two of them had gotten closer to each other. Sam had said that with the remnants of Jolinar's memory it felt as if she had given birth to Megan instead of Rosha.

"Hi, Megan! You ready to help me work?" Sam asked, smiling as she gave Megan a hug.

"Yes, Ma'am," Megan said, stepping in front of a naquada reactor. The naquada reactor clicked like clockwork in her mind. It was as familiar as her Tok'ra knowledge and also strange. Before she met Martouf she had no idea how she knew about the Goa'uld or Tok'ra, but slwoly she was getting used to the idea that her mind was quick when it came to Goa'uld technology and how it ran.

Megan and Sam worked in silence. Sam typing on her keyboard, while Megan carefully took out some corroded wiring.

"Sam, do you ever regret that Jolinar picked you as a host?" Megan asked, putting down her pliers.

Sam looked at her hard. "Why do you ask?" Sam asked.

"I don't know. It's just I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Why didn't Dad tell me?" Megan asked, a lone tear falling down her face.

Sam reached out and hugged Megan again. Sam knew how hard it was for Megan to realize that she was adopted and Jack O'Neill wasn't her father.

"He was just trying to keep yopu from getting hurt. He loves you, Megan. Just as much as Martouf does," Sam said.

"I wish I could be sure of that, Sam. Shows how much both of them actually care. Martouf abandoned me and Dad lied to me," Megan said, tears coming out of both eyes.

Sam didn't know what to say to that. Maybe she knew as well as anyone that the knowledge of her birth parents was hard on her and she had to deal with it on her own.

[Torie2]

Martouf sat quietly watching Jacob as he spoke at his first Council meeting. Jacob had told him what he was going to discuss with Garshaw before they went into the Council chambers, but Martouf didn't know how Garshaw would take it.

Jacob's plan involved the Tau'ri helping them on a mission. Of course that also meant that Jacob or Martouf was going to have to go ask them if they would help, but Martouf wasn't sure if Garshaw would agree. If she did agree he also didn't know if the Tau'ri would agree.

Martouf had been trying to forget about the alliance with the Tau'ri. It wasn't as easy as all that. He was still in mourning over losing his wife, Jolinar and his Tok'ra friends and the Council had been understanding and left him alone.

His daughter, Malena, was another matter. As much as he tried to forget about the Tau'ri he couldn't forget that Malena lived among them. Jolinar had hid Malena on that planet when she was two years of age. At times Martouf had his doubts that he would ever see his daughter again, but a week ago she had come back into his life as if she had never left it.

"So, I think we need to ask Sam and her friends if they would help us. With Megan O'Neill being a Harcesis she can take a look at this technology Michael brought back from Antiak," Jacob said, bringing Martouf out of his train of thoughts.

Martouf felt his jaw tighten at the mention of his daughter. Megan O'Neill was the name that had been given to his daughter. He didn't know if he could ever call his daughter by that Tau'ri name and everyone respected that too.

"I don't know if we should attempt to reach them. What will we do if Malena doesn't know how the device works?" Garshaw asked the question that Martouf thought.

"I think she would know. She seems to know everything about Goa'uld technology," Jacob said.

"Either that or Captain Carter would know since she carries the memory of Jolinar," Michael said, causing everyone to look at him.

Michael was one of the younger Tok'ra. He originally came from Earth, but he had gotten separated from his group. When the Tok'ra found him, he was very ill. So ill he had to take a symbiote. In six months he had become a vital member of the Tok'ra's cause.

"Torgon is right. All right, Selmak. You, Lantash, and Torgon send the message to the Tau'ri. Tell them we wish to talk with them," Garshaw said, using all their symbiotes' names.

Jacob, Martouf, and Michael left the room. Martouf had grabbed the box that Daniel Jackson had given them to send as a message on the way out.

He looked foward to seeing his daughter again. He wondered if she would feel the same way. He could tell she was upset that he had abandoned her the first time; even though it was to save her life. He hoped that she had gotten over it. He hoped.
************************************************** **********
The chevrons locked in place and something hard hit the iris as the wormhole established.

"Open the iris," Megan said sharply to the technician as she ran to the gateroom.

The watery-black wormhole was freezing as she stepped up to it and picked up the object that landed on the metal platform. It was a Sagan Institute box; exactly like the one that Daniel had given the Tok'ra a week ago.

"What is it, Megan?" General Hammond's voice came from the control room.

Megan looked up at the elderly general. "It's the box that Daniel gave Garshaw if she needed to contact us. I think we should expect a visit any time now. Close the iris," Megan said, leaving the room and walking back to the control room.

After the iris closed and the wormhole shut down, Megan looked at the box in her hands. All they had to do was wait for the Tok'ra to dial up Earth again.

[Torie2]

The chevrons started to spin an hour later and the red alert went through the base. Megan wiped the tomato sauce that was from her dinner off her mouth as she ran to the observation room above the gateroom.

Jack, Sam, Daniel, and Teal'c were all there, along with General Hammond. "What's going on?" Megan asked.

"We think the Tok'ra have contacted us again," Teal'c said, in his precise Jaffa way.

"Ya think? I think we need to give them a better way of letting us know it's them. That Sagan Institute box isn't a good way of them letting us know they need us," Megan said, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"Chevron seven locked," the technician said, the wormhole establishing.

"Open the iris," General Hammond ordered. SG-1, General Hammond, and Megan went down to the gateroom. Three Tok'ra came through the 'gate.

Megan looked at each one. It was General Carter, Martouf, and Michael. While she liked General Carter and Michael, seeing Martouf was still a bit of a shock. Everytime she thought of him or saw him, like right now, she had to remind herself that he was her real father.

"Dad!" Sam said, as she rushed into Jacob's arms.

"Hey, kiddo," Jacob said, hugging her tight.

Megan noticed that everyone wanted her to say hello to her father like Sam did hers, but she wasn't ready for that just yet.

"So, Michael, what brings the Tok'ra here?" Megan asked, turning her eyes from Martouf.

"Selmak can tell you," Michael said, turning to Jacob.

"So, what is it that the Tok'ra want, General?" Megan said, turning to Jacob.

"We found something on Antiak. We thought you might be able to tell us what it is, Megan," Jacob said, smiling like a kindly grandfather.

"Okay, who said my memory is that good? It's fragmented," Megan said, slightly annoyed.

"You still have the memory, Malena," Martouf said, calmly.

"Yeah. Well, I never asked to be this way. So find someone else to help you. I have work to do in the lab," Megan said, her voice full of bitterness.

"Such as?" Michael asked, as she tried to leave the room.

"Naquada generator. It broke down and Sam needs help fixing it," Megan said, abruptly, as she walked out of the room.

Megan felt the tears behind her eyes, start to fall. She knew she had been rude and she had no excuse to act like that, but the pain of being abandoned by Martouf was strong. But she also felt justified in not helping the Tok'ra. Considering they had abandoned her to this planet then they didn't need help.

[Torie2]

Malena was holding some equipment in both her hands and trying to push her long hair out of her face. Her face was flushed and if Martouf saw right tears were rolling down her face.

Martouf wondered if he should try to talk with her. While it seemed like a good idea he also didn't know if it was. While she had inherited his stubbornness she had also inherited Jolinar's temper.

"Malena?" Martouf asked quietly, touching her shoulder gently. Malena whirled around, a surprised look on her face.

She furiously tried to wipe her cheeks in an attempt to show that she wasn't crying.

"Malena, what's wrong?" Martouf asked, touching her wet face with his hand.

"Nothing," Malena said, putting down a tool and picking up another tool.

"Malena, those tears mean something. What's wrong?" Martouf asked, knowing that he sounded like the fathers on his home planet. They were known to be strict with their children. Martouf wasn't sure he could be strict with his daughter. His daughter was raised by another man. She wouldn't like his telling her what to do.

Malena took a couple of deep breaths. "Why are you ruining my life?" Malena asked, not looking Martouf in the eye.

Martouf was taken aback by the question. "Ruining your life?" Martouf asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Since I found out about Jolinar and you being my parents it hasn't been easy on me," Malena said, turning back to the naquada reactor.

"I'm sorry, Malena," Martouf said, stroking her hair gently.

"Please, don't call me that. I'm not Malena. Not any more," Malena whispered softly.

"I know, Malena. In a lot of ways you aren't the daughter I once had, but if I look hard enough you are still in there," Martouf said.

"You're not mad at me for wanting to stay here?" Malena asked, turning around to look at him.

"Of course not. I think I've known since the day you were born that I couldn't raise you like the fathers and mothers do on my planet. I love you, Malena," Martouf said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and hugging her.

"I know you do," Malena said softly.

"Are you ready to help us now? The Tok'ra High Council is going to need our answer soon," Martouf said.

"Sure. I just hope Dad and General Hammond aren't angry with me for what I said earlier," Malena said, putting the tools down and wiping her hands on a rag beside the machine.

Martouf and Malena walked down the corridor to what the Tau'ri General called the briefing room. Malena wasn't crying now. Martouf really hoped that his daughter knew what the object was that Michael found. If not, they were all in trouble.

[Torie2]

Megan and Martouf entered the conference room. All of SG-1, General Hammond, and the rest of the Tok'ra sat around the table, talking.

"I have found her," Martouf said, in his gentle manner.

"Thanks, Martouf," Jacob said, before they all turned to look at Megan.

Michael was the first to say anything. "Meg, we need your help. No of us know what the object is. We figure you might," Michael said.

"May I see it?" Megan asked, holding out her hand.

Michael pressed a gold object in her hand. It had hieroglyphs. Megan wrinkled her forehead in concentration as she looked at the strange object in her hand.

"It's Goa'uldish. That much is obvious. Where did you and Torgon find this again, Michael?" Megan asked her friend, setting it on the conference table.

"I was on routine mission to Antiak with Jacob and Martouf. I went down to the planet surface to check things out and I found this buried in the sand," Michael said.

Megan looked at the object again. "Hmmmm. I honestly don't know what this is. I don't know what it does. It does seem to have a piece missing right here," Megan said, tracing a circular piece missing from the machine.

"Lieutenent Lucas, you didn't see anything on the surface when you picked up this device?" Teal'c asked, in his precise Jaffa way.

"No, Teal'c. I was a little eager to show Selmak and Martouf what I found and bring it to the Tok'ra Council," Michael said apologetically.

"Well, all I can say that unless that piece that's missing is what causes this thing to work, then it's a hunk of junk," Megan said, handing the device to Jacob.

"You don't know what it is then?" Jacob asked, taking the device.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm in the dark like you are. Unless someone went back to Antiak to get the piece, we won't know what it is," Megan said, walking over to the water table and pouring a glass of water.

"Guess I could send SG-1 to find it," General Hammond said.

"I got a better idea, Sir. Why not send me? The Goa'ulds don't exactly know who I am and I can use the Chappa'pi without being detected," Megan said, sitting down.

"Megan, no!" Sam exclaimed in a tortured voice.

"Megan, I have to agree with Captain Carter. You're just a little girl. One who's the exact age of my granddaughter. What happens if you get hurt on this mission?" General Hammond asked, sounding just like a grandfather.

Megan didn't know how to answer to that. All she knew was that the missing piece had to be found to figure out how the machine worked.

[Torie2]

Megan sat in Sam's lab, resisting the urge to start throwing things at the walls. How could all the adults think that she was too young to help them?

The hypocrisy of it! They let her go on missions with SG-1 but they wouldn't let her go through the gate to find some stupid piece of metal that went to a machine that the Tok'ra found? Did General Hammond think that going offworld with SG-1 wasn't as dangerous as that mission?

Megan kicked the leg of the table in frustration. Right now it felt as if no one understood that she had to find that piece for the machine to work. Megan picked up her tools again as she attempted to fix the naquada generator.

She didn't hear as Martouf entered the lab, again. "Hello, Malena," Martouf's voice startled her. She nearly dropped the tools on her feet.

"Hello, Martouf," Megan said, turning to look at her father.

"I'm sorry that you didn't win that argument. But we're just trying to protect you," Martouf said, gently stroking her coppery brown hair.

"I'm sick of people trying to protect me. Jolinar tried to protect me and look what happened. The Ashrak killed her before I could ask why she cared so much about me," Megan said, lowering her eyes so she wouldn't look Martouf in the eyes.

"Malena, look at me. I said, look at me," Martouf ordered, raising his daughter's chin and stooping to her level so their eyes were locked on each other's.

Megan looked into her father's gray eyes. They looked disappointed in her. They were hard to look at, but Megan did.

"I've said this so many times. Jolinar loved you as much as I do. We don't wish to see you get hurt. If you go to Antiak you might get hurt," Martouf said.

"I'm not upset that you want to protect me, but I am not two-years-old any more, Martouf. I'm twelve now," Megan said, her voice small.

Martouf sighed deeply, probably frustrated that this daughter could be so stubborn. "I am well aware of your age, my daughter, but being a certain age doesn't make you wiser or smarter. Your grandfather once told me that when I was your age. You have to prove you are mature and responsible before people trust you with anything," Martouf said, his eyes hopeful that his words got through.

"I know. I know. With great power comes great responsibility," Megan said, her voice sounding bored.

"Well said, Malena. Now what are you working on?" Martouf asked, changing the subject.

"The naquada generator. I'm doing something wrong here, but I can't figure out what just yet," Megan said, turning back to the machine in front of her.

"Have you asked Samantha about it?" Martouf asked, looking at the generator with her.

"Not yet. Sam's got a lot on her mind. I don't want to bother her with something as stupid as this. Dad's getting ready to go offworld and SG-1 is getting briefed for it," Megan said, opening a compartment on the machine. It was full of wires.

"I would talk with Samantha. Or you could send the machine with me to the Tok'ra homeworld. I'll give it to Freya. She could figure it out for you," Martouf volunteered.

"No thank you, Martouf. I'll figure this out on my own," Megan said, putting the tools down and jerking the gloves off. She went to the door of the lab.

"Malena, where are you going?" Martouf asked, confused.

"I'm hungry. I'm going to the galley to get some jello or pie. Whichever comes first," Megan said, opening the door and running out into the hallway.

[Torie2]

Martouf didn't follow her out of the lab, which made telling that lie easy. Megan ran all the way to the locker room. She went up to her locker and pulled her uniform out. After quickly changing into the bulky heavy clothes and putting her hair up into her hat, so she looked like a boy, she ran to the gateroom without being caught.

Siler and the other technicians were there holding a conversation. "Hi, everyone. Don't mind me," Megan said abruptly, as she went to the dialing computer.

"What are you doing, Megan?" Siler asked, watching as she dialed in coordinates.

"I'm going to where the Tok'ra found that device. General Hammond said I could," Megan said, the lie falling easy off her tongue.

The techs didn't argue with her after she had said General Hammond said she could. After the seventh chevron incoded, she picked up a zat gun and went down to the wormhole.

Megan felt the cold wormhole as soon as she got to the ramp. She took a few breaths, trying to relieve the nervous feeling in her stomach. She closed her eyes and stepped through the gate, right into a deserted, barren planet.

It looked like Abydos and the planet they had found the Tok'ra on. Megan picked up the metal detector that she had taken out of the lab without Martouf noticing. She turned it on and pinted it a certain direction. The arrow pointed west of the Stargate. Megan followed it, losing track of he time.
**********************************************
Sam entered the lab, surprised at only seeing Martouf there. Megan had stormed off after General Hammond had said that she couldn't go to Antiak.

"Martouf, where's Megan?" Sam asked.

"She told me that she was hungry, Samantha. She was going to the galley," Martouf said, by way of explanation.

"I was just in the galley, getting some coffee. I would have see her," Sam said, a worried expresssion on her face.

Martouf's face suddenly changed to that of one who was also worried. "Does Malena often do things without telling anyone?" Martouf asked, getting a disturbed look on his face.

"Are you thinking the same thing I am? That she went to Antiak after General Hammond told her not to?" Sam asked.

Martouf nodded his head. "She is like Rosha in a lot of ways. You could not forbid her not do something everyone saw as dangerous. Rosha would do it," Martouf said firmly.

"I think we need to go to the gateroom. We can see if we're right. Then we can go tell General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill," Sam said, rushing out of the lab, Martouf on her heels.
**********************************************
Siler looked up as Captain Carter and the Tok'ra man, calld Martouf, entered the observation room. "Siler, did Megan O'Neill come in here?" Captain Carter barked.

"Yes, Ma'am. She went on a mission. She said General Hammond said she could," Siler said, alarmed at the looks the Captain and the Tok'ra gave each other. They were worried looks.

"May we see the coordinates she went to?" Captain Carter asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Siler said, pulling up the coordinates. The Captain looked at them closely.

"Do you recognize them, Martouf?" Captain Carter asked the man next to her.

"It is Antiak. Malena didn't have to ask anyone where the planet was. She would already know it," Martouf said, his voice flat.

"I think we had better tell General Hammond. We're going to have to send a team after her to bring her back," Captain Carter said, her voice sounding like she was close to tears.

"Is Megan in trouble, Captain?" A female technician asked.

"She could be if the planet is overrun by the Goa'ulds. The System Lords will kill her if they find out who she is or who her parents are," Captain Carter said, leaving the room, Martouf following.

[Torie2]

Megan was starting to feel tired. Walking for hours on the deserted planet was already causing the soles in her military boots to go flat.

Megan wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her shirt. The planet was so hot that she had discarded the jacket. Sweat ran down her forehead. She wished now that she hadn't left without a water bottle.

Megan sank down beside a dune and took a few deep breaths. In the middle of one she heard the sounds of something in the horizon. She looked up and saw the death gliders that Teal'c had said that the Jaffa was known for.

Megan took her binoculars out of the pack on her back and zeroed onto some specks. Jaffa! On this planet! Michael had said he found the machine on this planet and thaqt it was safe.

Megan looked back in the direction of the Stargate. For her to make it to the Chappa'pi without being killed would take a miracle of God.

Megan decided to try it. As fast as she could she ran pell-mell to the Stargate. "Kree!!!" A Goa'uld's voice yelled from behind her.

Megan didn't turn her head back to look. A searing pain lanced into her leg, but she just couldn't stop running. In the matter of a few seconds she reached the DHD and started dialing coordinates for home.

[Torie2]

"General Hammond, someone's trying to activate the Stargate," Siler said, looking over at General Hammond as he was briefing SG-1.

"Who do you think it is?" Jacob Carter asked. General Hammond had asked the Tok'ra to be a part of the briefing on the mission to Antiak.

"We don't know. Someone who knows our coordinates," Siler said, as the chevrons for Earth locked on the computer.

"It could be Malena," Martouf said, looking at the coordinates.

"It's quite possible. The kid's watched us type in the coordinates a zillion times in the past three months," Jack said, by way of explanation.

After ordering the soldiers to have their machine guns aimed at the Stargate, General Hammond ordered Siler to open the iris.

A small figure jumped through the watery wormhole and collapsed on the ground. The figure was dressed in the combat clothes of an SG team.

"It's Megan!" Jack thundered, running down to the gateroom. Martouf, Sam, Jacob, and Michael followed him.
**********************************************
Megan felt the searing pain in her leg as soon as she hit the ramp on Earth. She took a good look at her leg. It looked like it had been burned from the knee to the ankle.

"Oh lord!" Megan groaned, the sight making her slightly nauseated.

"Megan!" Jack said, crouching beside her and taking her in his arms.

"Dad! It hurts!" Megan said in a gasping sob.

Jack looked at Megan's leg and by the look on his face he looked as if he were going to throw up as well.

Martouf also crouched beside her and looked at the burn carefully. "It looks as if it has been cauterized. There will be no danger of infection. If this had been worse, you might have lost your leg, Malena," Martouf said gently.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Megan said, her teeth starting to chatter.

"Megan, I'm sorry, but this is really going to hurt," Jack said apologetically, as he scooped her up.

Megajn gave a muffled yelp of pain as the steps jostled her leg. At that moment she didn't remember any more as she passed out into a blessed, pain-free darkness.

[Torie2]

Megan woke up nearly 24 hours later. Looking around she recognized the infirmary of Stargate Command. Dr. Frasier was talking to Sam, Martouf, and Jack.

"She nearly lost the leg. I've done what I can to control the bleeding. I've also had to sedate her. I would suggest bed rest for the next two weeks," Dr. Fraiser said.

"None of you have to talk as if I'm not in the room," Megan said weakly.

Jack, Sam, Martouf, and Dr. Fraiser looked over at her in surprise. "Hey, Kid. How ya feeling?" Jack asked, stooping over and kissing Megan's forehead.

"Sore. I was shot by a staff weapon, wasn't I?" Megan said, wrinkling her forehead in concentration.

"Yeah," Jack said gruffly.

"Sam, how long was I asleep?" Megan asked drowsily, looking at her friend.

"Nearly 24 hours," Sam said, running her hand through Megan's coppery-brown hair.

24 hours! Ow!" Megan yelped, trying to sit up. she fell back among her pillows, the pain evident in her eyes.

"Malena, what are you doing?" Martouf asked, puzzled by his daughter's behavior.

"Trying to sit up if you must know," Megan grunted out a sarcastic reply, which judging by Martouf's face he didn't like.

"Megan!" Jack said sharply.

"You are in no condition to be sitting up. We're going to have to sedate you again," Dr. Fraiser said, from over in a corner.

"What? Dad, don't let her. I hate needles. I'd rather get shot with a zat weapon then get the shot," Megan pleaded with Jack.

"I'm sorry, Meg, but I'm going to have to agree with Dr. Frasier. If we want you to be well again we're going to have to sedate you," Jack said.

"Thanks a lot, Dad. I thought you were on my side when it came to shots," Megan grumbled bitterly, as Dr. Fraiser stuck a needle in her arm and she dropped off to sleep.

Sam and Martouf looked at Jack with slightly bemused expressions on their faces.

"I'm sorry she's not in a very good mood," Jack apologized.

"You don't have to apologize, O'Neill. Rosha was a lot like her when she got hurt on missions. It's actually humorous," Martouf said, watching his daughter sleeping.

"I always thought she got it from me. I get hurt on a mission and I'm not a very good patient. I always want to get up," Jack said, grinning.

"I think Megan is going to sleep for a couple of hours. I'm going to get some coffee," Sam said, changing the subject.

"I'll go with ya, Carter. You coming too, Marty," Jack asked, not noticing the look of distaste on Martouf's face at being called Marty.

"No. I'll just sit here and watch Malena sleep for awhile. You and Samantha go ahead," Martouf said, sitting down in a chair that was next to Megan's bed.

"Suit yourself," Jack said, he and Sam leaving the room.

Martouf sat there for the next couple of hours holding his daughter's hand and thinking of what might of happened if she had lived with him and Jolinar instead of coming here.

[Torie2]

Megan woke up a few hours later, watching Martouf sleep in the chair. She pushed up on her elbows, wincing with pain as she shifted her hurt leg. It took all her self-control not to scream in pain.

"Ow!!! She said softly so as not to wake him. No luck. Martouf had to be the lightest sleeper.

"Malena, how do you feel?" Martouf asked, his gray eyes full of concern.

"Sore. I didn't mean to wake you up, Martouf," Megan said weakly.

"It's all right. I wanted to be with you while you were here," Martouf said, touching her shoulder with his hand.

"I guess I can't avoid you forever, Marty," Megan said, in an attempt to crack a joke.

"I don't really like being called that," Martouf said.

"What? Marty? Let me guess my father called you that," Megan said, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes. My name is Martouf, not Marty," Martouf said, as Sam and Jack entered the room.

Megan looked at her dad. He didn't look mad at her, but then she never knew with Jack O'Neill.

"Dad, are you mad at me for disobeying you?" Megan asked, changing the subject.

"No. I'm just disappointed that you would. You have changed, Kid. It seems as if you are not acting like my daughter any more," Jack said, his eyes sad.

Megan looked down. "I'm sorry, Dad. I guess the Tok'ra in me just wanted to go and find what Michael and Torgon missed," Megan said, with a rueful smile.

"It's all right. I'll just be glad when you go back to school. Then I won't have to think about you getting hurt on these missions I go on," Jack said.

"What makes you think I won't still be going. as long as all of ya need me and my genetic memory I'm still going on missions with you. Just not as many during the school year," Megan said, her voice getting humorous.

No one could answer that. She was right. As long as Earth needed her she was going to still go on the missions.

[Torie2]

Megan carefully dressed, trying not to succumb to the dizzy feeling she had as she put her weight on her injured leg. Martouf had said that healing would be slow, but Megan hadn't counted on it being so long.

Michael, Jacob, and Martouf were still on the base after three weeks. Megan wished they would just go home, but when Michael had found the part Megan was looking for on Antiak, General Hammond had said he wanted to have a debriefing.

This was the reason Megan was disobeying orders and trying to dress herself. She wanted to see what was so important that she had gotten shot up.

Megan put her jacket on over her black tanktop and proceeded to move slowly along the corridor to the debriefing room. It was a good thing no one stopped her.

Megan stood before the door, unsure if she should go in. Her dad and all of SG-1 was there and the Tok'ra as well. Michael had set the Goa'uld device on the table. Megan slowly pushed open the door, causing everyone to look at her.

Martouf and Jack's faces were identical expressions of shock as they looked at her. Megan knew her face was pale and drawn, but she shouldn't have looked that scary.

"Am I late?" She teased, a brief smile touching her lips.

"No. Of course not," General Hammond said kindly from his seat.

"Thank you, General," Megan said thinly as she tried to move from the spot where she stood.

She slwoly, but surely made it to where her seat was at the conference table. Her seat was at the opposite end across from General Hammond. Her dad and SG-1 sat at one side of her while her father and the Tok'ra were on the other side. She sank into the chair, taking a deep breath of relief.

"Does it still hurt, Meg?" Michael asked her.

"Only a lot, Snake boy," Megan teased, a glimmer of humor in her dark-blue eyes. Since she found Michael she liked to tease him for having a symbiote. Him and Torgon took the teasing well.

"I guess you just don't want to stay in the infirmary and just read books all day," Micahel said.

"Nope. Now, let's get this meeting started please. Walking down here sure made me tired," Megan said, her voice revealing the fatigue.

"You shouldn't have walked down her, Malena," Martouf pointed out gently, but firmly.

"Martouf, I'm not a baby. I just had to know what was going on with the device that Michael found. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," Megan said, taking a drink from a glass of water that Sam had set in front of her.

"She's right. Let's just get the meeting started people," General Hammond said from the other end of the table. Everyone changed the topic to the subject everyone had been thinking of for the past three weeks. But that didn't stop Jack or Martouf looking at Megan concerned.