Disclaimer: I own none of Stargate, or it's characters. I do own Kestrel.

Kes awoke to a full day ahead of her. She had to speak with her fathers'
barristers this morning, and get his will resolved, then this afternoon she
had arranged with Sarah Gardner to escort the Americans through her fathers
artifacts. Kes had already admitted to herself that she had an attraction to
the young doctor Jackson. Both the spark he had caused when shaking her
hand, and her eyes being constantly drawn to him. It had been three days
since the funeral, and she was ready to find out why her father was dead.
She had a feeling it was because of the ruby. She also knew by comparing the
writing from the metal container to the tablets her father loved so dearly,
they were all tied together. Neither she or her father had ever seen any
language like it. By the way the Americans had been looking at it though...
she had a feeling they'd seen it before.

Now she just had to determine how she wanted to play this. Dumb bunny, or
smart archeologist. Whatever means, she needed to find out as much as she
could. Her packing company was coming in within three days to pack the
artifacts for her move.

The taxi which took them to the Montgomery Estate pulled in just seconds
behind Kestrel. Daniel found he was eager to see her. He found it
disturbing, that this slip of a girl could command his thoughts like this.
She stepped out of her BMW Series 6 convertible, handing the keys over to a
man who had come running from the garage area, she thanked him and made her
way over to SG-1. "Hello, come on in. Sarah isn't with you today?" she asked
as she turned and headed for the door.

The others looked to Daniel to answer, "Um, no, Sarah had some stuff she
had to get done at the museum today."

"Well, that's too bad then, but at least you all could still come." The
front door opened before she reached, being held by an older balding man in
a black suit. "Thank you Simmons. I suppose I could just start showing you.
Just let me know when you wish to stop, or when you have questions. There's
quite a bit really." Kestrel led them through several different rooms
showing them a myriad of artifacts. They were fascinated by all the
knowledge that the girl knew, and the different stories she could tell about
each item.

Daniel was practically salivating at all of the different pieces of history.
"Besides the tablets at the front of the house, which we can take out later,
I do have something that I think you'll find fascinating." She took out a
key and unlocked the door of the room they had come to be standing in front
of. They entered the room, which besides a metal lab table, some scientific
instruments, and a high stool was empty. Kes walked over to a metal door
with a key and palm pad next to it. She punched in a code, and laid her palm
against it. There was a tone and the door swung open. She reached inside,
pulled out a square object, about the size of a shoe box, and put it on the
metal table. The square was a burnished gold, with Goa'uld markings covering
it. The box looked solid. Jack realized they were collectively holding their
breath. "Isn't it lovely?" she asked them.

"What is it?" Jack asked.

"Well, it was the vessel which held the Heart. Are you familiar with the
Heart?" she was looking at Daniel.

"Vaguely. There was a story that said that in their final days Nut and
Geb laid together to sleep their final sleep. Nut was married to Ra, but
loved Geb. This angered Ra. Nut was the mother of Osiris and Seth." Daniel
took a breath to continue and saw the look Jack was giving him. "Supposedly,
Geb had a device, no one really knows what it was supposed to do, it was
just called the Body of the Earth, the ruby was called the Heart of Earth,
and whoever had the Heart could use the Body. Ra took the Body, but could
never find the Heart." He moved around the table to have a better vantage
point to look at the box.

"So, now the Heart is missing, and no one knows where the Body is?" Sam
clarified.

"How did you know this opens?" Daniel asked, looking at the box it
looked seamless.

"It didn't feel solid, I figured that it had to be a container of sorts.
It took me hours," she confided, "finally I realized that since the markings
are so similar to the tablets father had, I compared, and started to work
out the code." She ran her hands along the box, it appeared random to
everyone else, but the box shifted and the lid slid outward.

"That's amazing." Daniel was impressed with the container. The inside
was heavily cushioned. "Teal'c, have you ever seen anything like this?"

"I must admit, I have not Daniel Jackson. It looks very old indeed."

Kestrel eyed the group, who were absorbed in the vessel. "I know you've
seen these symbols before. Will you tell me where or what they mean?"

The group looked at Jack. Most of her security check had come back,
however they were still waiting on some final information. He didn't know
what was taking so long, but hoped it came back soon. Jack nodded slightly
at Daniel. Kestrel followed all of this, processing the information that she
was learning just by watching them. Daniel turned to her, "We have seen
these before. We're working on translating them, much as you have been. We
aren't at liberty to tell you more, it's a highly classified military
operation. I'm sorry."

Kes stared at them for several minutes. "I understand, and I don't hold
it against you. I'll just keep working with the information that I've been
gathering."

"Sarah said that the lab was running tests on the box and the ashes
contained in some Canopic jars?" Sam asked, a little relieved by the girl's
easy acceptance, and intrigued because she felt the usual twinge from being
near naquadah. She was pretty sure the box contained that mineral.

"Actually, yes. My father and I own a private lab. When testing the box
it came up with a mineral not known of on Earth. Also, when we ran the
ashes, it contained human dna as well as an unknown source of dna, again not
seen on Earth. Quite the find actually." The four Americans had gotten
quiet. Kestrel's cell phone rang, so she excused herself to the corner to
take the call.

"Jack, I really think we should see if she'd let us take the box and
ashes back to study. This could be an incredible find. Who knows if Geb's
Body does exist, and what it does?"

"Do you think she would be willing to do that Daniel?" Jack asked.

"I don't know, probably not if we aren't willing to share with her."
Daniel whispered, "I don't think this will be along the lines of Alec
Colson, but she did legally discover the find along with any information
that it entails."

"Why do we not ask, and at least find out how willing Kestrel Montgomery
would be to share?" Teal'c intoned quietly. The four looked at each other
one last time, and turned to face Kes who was finishing up her phone call.

"No, I can't be concerned with that right now, James. I am not
interested in filing a claim against the theft of the gem. As far as I'm
concerned, it shouldn't even have been out for everyone to see." They looked
at each other over this comment, "James, do what you will, but I will not be
signing any documents stating anything about the Heart." Kes flipped her
phone shut and looked at the four. "Well, who's ready for a bit to eat?"

Kestrel put the box away in the vault, and locked the door behind her.
They headed down to the dining room, where a cook was setting out food.
"Thank you Rosie love." she said giving the cook a quick hug.

"Get on with ya now." the older woman grinned, "You make sure you eat
everything up today. I won't be having you waste away to nothin'."

The group sat at the table and started eating the delicious food that
she had left for them. "Miss Montgomery.." Daniel began only to cut off by a
wave.

"Please, do call me Kes."

Daniel flushed slightly at the smile directed towards him, "Kes, do you
think, or would it be possible for you to loan or rent the findings, such as
the box, ashes and jars, to us? That way we could take it back with us and
do some research?"

"It's funny you should ask that Dr. Jackson. Actually, you're the second
group who've come to me to make such a request. The first group was
Americans as well. Although I must admit, I'm more impressed by the fact
that you showed up in person."

"Who was the first group...if you don't mind my asking?" Jack asked.

"A Mr. Al Johnson. He said he was part of a government organization in
the States called the NID. I told him I would have to get back to him. I
couldn't get any confirmation to prove he was who he said he was, so when he
called back, I declined." Kes looked at the group again, "The ruby went
missing the very next night. I must admit, at first I thought you were part
of this NID as well."

"What makes you think we aren't?" Daniel asked.

"You've already told me you were military, you haven't tried to pocket
anything since entering my home, and I know that Sarah Gardner, before
coming back to London had some dealings with the US Military." At Jack's
shocked look, Kes laughed delightedly, "Don't look so shocked General, even
some archeologists have resources."

Sam looked worried, "Kes, what exactly did the NID want to borrow from
you?"

"They wanted the ruby, the box it was contained in, the Canopic jars,
and the ashes, oh yes, and my fathers tablets that he had found years
earlier."

"This is bad Jack."

"I know Daniel."

"That could explain a lot of different things."

"I know Daniel." Jack stressed.

"Is everything alright?" the redhead asked, taking a sip of her tea. She
seemed quite calm. Looking at them all, the next words out of her mouth
silenced them, "You think these men had something to do with my fathers
death? and the ruby being missing?"