Stargate: Exile I ch 1

Stargate Exile

Book I: A New Life


Chapter One


“Wakey, wakey!  Wake up!”

“Wha...  No, go away.”

“Uh...that’s really not an option, Daniel.”

“Then just be quiet.”

Gabriel could feel the cool breeze of what was promising to be a beautiful day outside blowing against Daniel’s face.  He sighed in frustration as Daniel pulled the white silk covers up over his head to block out the sunrise.  They had been living in Idlewyld for three months but Daniel had yet to adjust to the shorter days.  

“Come on, Daniel, get up!”

“No.”

“Well, if you’re not going to use your body, can I?”

“Knock yourself out.”

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”

Gabriel chuckled as he took control and sat up.  He stretched the kinks out of Daniel’s neck.  He felt Daniel mentally rolling over and going back to sleep.  Getting up Gabriel padded over to the closet and picked out a pair of dark brown cotton slacks and a forest green silk shirt with a deeply cut v neck.  

“I know it’s not what you would decide on,”  Gabriel chuckled  “but if you’re going to sleep in then I get to chose what we wear.”

Practically bouncing Gabriel made his way through the halls of his former and current home.  He couldn’t help his good mood.  Today marked the first official day of the Idlewyld Spring.  He, Daniel, and Sam had been working hard to tame the central garden in the middle of the expansive temple and he knew that any day now the flowers were going to start blooming.  

“The Bleeding Heart flowers might even be out today.”  Gabriel beamed to himself.  “Sam will be thrilled, she had those in her garden at home.”

Gabriel couldn’t wait to see the central forest back to its former glory.  It had always been his favourite place and after century upon century of isolation in the inky blackness of the stasis jar he wanted so much to revel in the spectacular colours of nature.  After so many years of war and strife he was finally feeling like he could relax and enjoy life.

Coming to the Gateroom Gabriel’s mood was somewhat tempered.  Jack was standing on the dais, just staring at the inactive Stargate.  He wasn’t taking to ‘retirement’ very well.  He always seemed restless, and agitated.  It only got worse when Sam was around.  

Gabriel had hoped that Idlewyld would give them a chance to finally be together after all the centuries that had kept them apart.  However, there was distance between them now more than ever.  In fact they barely seemed to speak to one another.  Not out of anger, more like out of nothing to say, or nothing they wanted to admit to saying.  Gabriel sighed causing Jack to turn around and force a smile.

“You’re up early, Daniel.”

“No he’s not.”  

“Ah, Gabriel.”

“Yeah, Daniel’s in here sleeping.”

“I should have known by the shirt.  Daniel wouldn’t be caught dead in something that...”

“Colourful?”

“I was going to say ‘gay’,”  Jack shrugged  “but I guess ‘colourful’ works.”

“You two have no taste.”  Gabriel shook his head.

“We’re not supposed to, we’re guys.”

“So am I.”

“No, you’re just male.  There’s a big difference.”

“So what does it take to be a ‘guy’.”

“First off you need to have the common sense not to wear bright green silk.”

“This is forest green.”

“Second you have to not know the difference between ‘bright green’ and ‘forest green’ or if you do know you need to keep quiet about it.”

“Looks like I’ve got a lot of work to do if I want to be a ‘guy’.”  Gabriel chuckled.

Jack smiled as well but his mirth quickly faded.  He looked as though he wasn’t sleeping well in months.  He hadn’t been talking about it to Daniel and part of Gabriel feared that it was because he made Jack uncomfortable.  Daniel had assured him that he and Jack never really ‘talk’ talked, but Gabriel couldn’t help but feel like he was preventing Jack from asking for help.

“Everything alright?”  Gabriel asked point blank.

“I hope so.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing.”  Jack sighed.

“Jack...do you need to talk to Daniel?”

“No.  I’m sure everything’s fine.  Car...”  Jack replied and then hesitated.  “Carter hasn’t mentioned anything about being ill to you recently, has she?”

“She hasn’t.”  Gabriel answered truthfully.  “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.”

Gabriel knew Jack was hiding something, but he couldn’t figure out what.  He had been spending a lot of time with Sam working in the garden and she hadn’t seemed ill to him.  Gabriel was about to ask more, but Jack steered the conversation away.

“Are there any good fishing places near here?”

“There is a beautiful lake to the Southwest about three miles.”

“Excellent, now all I need is a pole.”

“I’m sure someone in the village can help you out with that.”

“Thanks, Gabe.  Say ‘hi’ to Daniel for me when he wakes up.”

Jack forced another unconvincing smile and walked off.  Gabriel dragged his hands through Daniel’s hair in frustration.  Significantly sobered Gabriel slowly made his way out to the garden that he loved so much.  They had cut back all of the over growth and cut paths through it once more.

The sun had risen about an hour ago and it was casting its gentle bluish glow down on the fresh leaves of Spring.  The morning dew still clung to everything and soaked the hems of his pants as he walked through the grass.  He walked towards the giant ancient tree in the center.  It had died long ago, but its petrified trunk was still a sight to behold.

Gabriel’s sense of serenity and calm had almost been restored when he suddenly heard a violent retching.  Breaking into a run Gabriel rushed towards the tree where he felt the sound had come from.  

Wearing a pair of white pants with grass stains on the knees Sam was sitting at the base of the tree crying quietly.  Gabriel’s blood chilled at the way she held her arms crossed over her stomach.  He cursed himself for not realizing what was going on sooner.

“Daniel!  Wake up!  Now!”  Gabriel demanded as he relinquished control.

“Gabriel?  What’s happen...”  Daniel stopped as he saw the scene.  “Sam!”

Startled Sam looked up at Daniel.  She hastily rubbed away her tears and flashed him a brave smile.  Still concerned Daniel came up and knelt down in front of her.  He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, she was shaking.

“Are you alright?”

“I was hoping that it was just my imagination,” Sam whispered  “but there’s no denying it now.”

“Sam, what’s wrong?”

“Daniel, remember what Neith did?  Sam’s...”

“I’m pregnant.”


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