Chapter 10
Larry looked up from the chessboard, he wasn't really seeing, when first Charles then Don walked in the house. Both men looked exhausted but they were walking under their own power and they were smiling as they talked.
"Charlie!" Alan rushed into the living room, "Oh my god I just saw the news! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Dad, I'm okay," said Charlie, allowing his father to grab him and hold him. Alan hugged him and then drew back to hold Charlie at arm-length he looked at his son's face closely.
"Are you sure? You look a little pale. What happened?" he turned to Don, "What happened, Don? The news said something about terrorists." Alan shook his head as if he couldn't really grasp what he was seeing.
"He's fine Dad; didn't the Air Force call you?"
"Yes, yes," said Alan, "I spoke to a nice young woman who told me you were being released and would be home within the hour. But the news," he gestured back to the kitchen when he'd seen the report.
"They always blow these things out of proportion," said Charlie, "I will tell you though, I'm exhausted I'm going to hit the hay." With that he waved to Larry, who was still sitting by the chess board, and walked to the stairs.
"Goodnight, Charles," said Larry, "I'm glad you're okay." Alan watched him go a little askance.
"Is he really okay?" he asked Don. Don walked into the sitting room and collapsed into a chair.
"He's fine, a little tweaked, but fine. The doctor wouldn't have let him go if there was anything to worry about."
"But what happened?" asked Alan.
"A lot of this is classified," said Don, "but the long, and the short of it is; he was taken by some people who thought he knew something to help them. With the help of a friend from the Air Force I was able to track him down and get him out before they did much more than give him a sedative."
"But it's been days Donnie, we were so worried," said Alan.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't call it would have compromised our position."
"I understand, but I don't like it."
"I know, but it all worked out, we caught everyone involved, the Air Force was so impressed with how Charlie handled himself they're going to work on getting his clearance back."
"We always knew they'd want him back," said Larry, "He's too valuable an asset for them to continue with that particular punishment."
"He's much more than an asset, though Larry, if this experience has taught me one thing it's to not take him for granted as the go to guy to solve the problem. God," Don shook his head, "those people they didn't even see him as living person, just an asset a receptacle of knowledge that they could mine. It was too close."
"Are you okay Don?" asked Alan.
"No, I'm really not," said Don, he sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Sorry, I'm just tired it's been a long couple of days, I'm going to go check on Charlie and crash in my old room," he stood up and left the two men with their chessboard.
"Do you think we'll ever get the full story of what happened?" Alan asked Larry.
"Probably not," said Larry, "but we can take solace in the evidence presented to us here. They are both here alive and physically unharmed. The rest we merely need to allow to take its course, they will recover from whatever shock they suffered and judging by Don's insight they may be the better for it."
"I hope so," said Alan, looking up as if to see his two sons through the ceiling.
"If at the end of a long day what we are left with is hope, then I believe it has been a good day," said Larry, looking back to the chessboard.
"I think I'm just going to go up and check on them," said Alan getting up.
Alan opened the door to Charlie's room and smiled. Charlie was lay sprawled on his bed sleeping peacefully and Don was sat in the chair by his side also fast asleep.
Epilogue
Daniel was sat in his office going over a few last minute details in his report.
"So that extraction ceremony was a bit of a let-down," said Jack walking into Daniel's office dressed in civilian clothes.
"It is what it is Jack," Daniel sighed closing his folder.
"Okay, what's up?" asked Jack leaning against Daniel's desk.
"It's nothing, I'm just tired."
"Come on Daniel I know you," said Jack.
"When can I go back to my apartment?" asked Daniel, "For that matter when I can I leave the mountain without an escort?"
"Daniel we've talked about this, we need to track down the rest of Grey's group."
"It's been weeks already it could be months or years before you get them all if you ever do."
"We still don't know why they wanted you."
"Bryant teased me with the threat of studying me, dissecting what ten years of alien contact has done to me, but I remembered something else from when they were transporting me to Eureka."
"What was that?"
"They said they were taking me to cold storage."
"What does that mean?"
"They thought I'd served my purpose with the SGC, but I was too valuable and too dangerous to be left on the street. They were going to put me in stasis until I was useful again."
"How very cost effective of them," Jack grimaced, "But that's not to say they won't try again."
"So I get to be a prisoner here instead," said Daniel.
"It's only temporary, Daniel."
"You don't know that." He stood up with his file.
"What's that?" asked Jack.
"I've got a briefing with Landry," said Daniel walking to the door.
"I know, I was going to sit in," said Jack falling in to step beside him. "So what is it?"
"A get out of jail free card," said Daniel. The men walked in silence to the briefing room. They sat down waiting for Landry to join them.
"So you want to give me a hint?" asked Jack.
"You remember the Ancient inventor Janus?" asked Daniel with a grin.
The End.
Well that's all I wrote! I want to thank everyone who has been following the story and for you reviews and encouragement. I truly appreciate it. I hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as I have and I hope you tune in for more fun and games withe guys in my other stories. Later Cynic