Heading for the mess hall, Teal'c silently reviewed their plans in his head. Operation 'Daffy Evasion' had taken but a few minutes to plan. They had decided on their rotation for the psychiatry sessions and the timing would be carefully coordinated, using the official agenda for the base to work to their advantage. For the times when the agenda couldn't be incorporated, they had devised other extraction methods. Major Ferretti and Captain Lyndermann, who had come in search of Nyan, had overheard the summation of their plan and had volunteered their services. They would assist with keeping Doctor MacKenzie away from Doctor Fraiser and be SG-1's general backup.

The operation to remove Senator Kinsey from the premises, dubbed 'Houdini's Ghost', had been planned by SG-1 alone. They knew that SG-2, and probably everyone else on the base, would be more than eager to assist, however they did not want anyone else involved should they get caught. Again their plan used base resources, both personnel and objects. Doctors McKay and Felger would play an integral role though they were oblivious of this. Props had been adapted and those that could be positioned in advance had been. Radios that would keep them in constant communication had been tested and SG-1 had gone over the details a final time. All together it had taken thirty minutes, and they had dispersed to their usual activities so as not to rouse suspicion.

Teal'c was using his spare time to set into motion an operation of his own. He had been devising it for some time, however had not had the chance to execute it until now. Entering the mess hall, his eyes were immediately drawn to the person he sought. She was sitting alone at a side table, nursing a mug with both hands. Placed on the table before her was a small dented bronze chalice, and while she was looking directly at it, she did not seem to see it. He filled a mug of his own with hot water and added a tea bag from the dispenser dish, then approached her. "Keelah, may I join you?"

The former slave's response was automatic, far away. "As you wish."

The Jaffa remained standing, gently chiding the ingrained comment. "But is it something you desire?"

She blinked out of her stupor and gave him a tentative smile. "Yes, I do."

Taking the seat opposite her, he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "You did not sleep well?"

Keelah gave a self-conscious shrug. "The mattress is softer than what I'm used to, and the base is noisy."

"The klaxons do take some time to get accustomed," Teal'c replied, taking a sip of his tea.

A captain accidentally knocked into the edge of the table. He murmured an apology and moved on.

Teal'c caught the wariness that momentarily touched his companion's brown depths. "Staying on the base makes you apprehensive?"

She gave a reluctant nod. "Not the base so much as the people...the men," she clarified.

"Someone has been unkind or acted inappropriately towards you?" he frowned, feeling a flash of anger at the unknown perpetrator.

"Oh, no," Keelah hastily assured, seeing the fire that lit his eyes. "But that's part of the problem."

He tilted his head quizzically. "You wish people to act inappropriately?"

"No, but it's what I'm used to. Everyone has been so kind and nice despite the recent problems on base. I keep expecting them to exact...payment."

Teal'c nodded in understanding, knowing that the 'payment' she referred to was sexual in nature. Fought down another surge of anger at what her enslaver had subjected her to. "I have a predicament of my own to contend with. Perhaps I could offer a solution to suit us both."

"Oh?" Keelah took a drink of her tea and barely controlled her grimace.

Teal'c was suddenly and unusually nervous at making the request that had seemed so simple in his head. He latched on to the distraction. "The tea is not to your liking?"

"Not really," she admitted. "I have yet to find a hot drink that I like."

Teal'c wasn't overly fond of the tea that the Air Force provided either, preferring herbal varieties. He'd only chosen his current cup due to lack of choice. "I have a milder blend extracted from fruit if you would like to try it."

"I'd like that."

There was a hint of that wariness returning and he hastily hurried on. "Daniel Jackson keeps a supply in his office for me." Teal'c also had a stash in his base quarters, however he suggested the communal setting to set her mind at ease. "We could discuss my proposition there without torturing our palates."

She smiled and rose with him, picking up both the mug and chalice to take with her. As they walked side by side through the corridors, Keelah became lost in thought, her fingers wrapped around the bronze artifact absently stroking the engraved pattern. Teal'c was about to ask her about it when she spoke.

"Do you remember your childhood, Teal'c? Before you were taken into training?"

"Indeed I do, for the most part." Now in the archaeological office, Teal'c flicked on the kettle that was lined up next to the percolator, and opened the tin of assorted teas.

"You're lucky. I thought I did." Keelah sighed, pouring the unwanted tea down the sink and rinsing both hers and Teal'c's cups out. "Those years in captivity, at night when the household was asleep I'd sneak out and watch the stars, wondering which one was my planet. I played out in my mind over and over again, conversations and days and dinner parties my parents held. I thought I'd held on to all those memories...it was the one thing that I was certain my owner couldn't take from me. I was wrong. I look at this," she held up the chalice, "I recognize it as my people's. This piece wasn't mine personally, but I had one similar...I don't remember how it came into my possession, but I know that I should, that at one time the how was important. Somehow the teams have found a dozen relics from as many planets from my home world. They're like whispers of my past, things I didn't know I'd forgotten until seeing them again. Whispers I'm straining to hear but can't make out the words."

"That you do not instantly recall the details does not mean they are lost to you." While he'd been listening, Teal'c had prepared the new drinks and he jiggled the tea bags, encouraging the leaves to infuse the water. "I cannot see the individual cells that make up my body, yet they are there. All our memories are within us, a part of us, makes us who we are. You remember them through your actions and responses."

"I don't know why I'm telling you all this." She seemed embarrassed to have revealed such private thoughts.

"Perhaps because I too was once a slave," he suggested.

"Perhaps."

"Regardless of why, I am honored that you chose to confide in me." Teal'c squeezed the bags dry and held out both cups. "Raspberry or chamomile?"

Keelah lifted her nose a little to smell the subtle fragrant aroma of each. "What do they taste like?"

"Raspberry is tart yet sweet. Chamomile soothing to the stomach."

"Raspberry, please."

Teal'c handed over the chosen mug and watched as she took another deep sniff, obviously enjoying the scent. Found himself waiting with curious anticipation as she took a tentative sip, to see if she liked it.

She gave him a shy smile. "It's good."

"I'm glad. You can use as much as you want," he gestured to the tin. "I can always acquire more."

"Thank you." Keelah took another indulgent drink then looked expectantly at him. "What is your idea?"

Teal'c delayed his answer by sipping the chamomile, was glad that Keelah had chosen the fruit tea over the flower, for his stomach was inexplicably starting to churn. "You are aware of Annika Jackson's recent determination to entangle me with a romantic partner?"

She nodded, a little puzzled at the turn of conversation. "It seems to be the number one topic of the...scuttlebutt," she partly stumbled over the recently learned word. "Major Ferretti is taking bets on who the lucky person will be and how long it will take."

"That does not surprise me." He gave a resigned shake of his head. "I do not suppose you have heard who I am supposed to fall in love with?"

"No. No one does except for him. The way I understand it, the person who places the bet tells the Major who they think it is in secret. The time frame though is known. Consensus at the moment I believe is around two months." Keelah peeked over her mug at the warrior, wondering if he'd ask why she had gathered the information. Hoped that he wouldn't because she didn't quite know the reason herself.

Teal'c didn't question the intel. "I have no intention of entering into a romantic relationship."

"Have you told Annika this?"

"Repeatedly." He let his frustration show. "She refuses to listen."

"I'm sure she only has the best intentions."

"Of that I have no doubt. And I also do not doubt that if left to go unchecked, Annika Jackson will succeed in her self-assigned mission despite my protests."

"Would that be so bad?"

"I do not have the inclination or the time. My focus must remain on defeating the Goa'uld."

Keelah felt a pang of sadness at his words. No, not sadness, she corrected mentally. Why would I be feeling disappointment? "How do you think I can help?"

"I believe that if Annika Jackson thinks I am in a romantic relationship then she will leave me in peace." He saw her eyes widen as she realized what he was proposing and he hurried on. "It would only be a relationship in appearance. You would provide me with protection from Annika Jackson's matchmaking and I offer you a place of privacy to stay that has no klaxons intruding at any given time. My new accommodation has a spare bedroom in which you can sleep and call your own. It is more spacious than the quarters here on base, plus you would naturally have the freedom to come and go as you please. Also, if it is known that you are in a relationship, the majority of the sexual banter from the personnel that makes you uncomfortable will stop. I will see to that. It will be temporary in duration, though the offer for you to abide in my house is a permanent one should you so desire it."

"Why me?" Keelah tried not to show how flustered she was. Wouldn't dare wonder at the tiny bubbles of emotions she didn't recognize in the pit of her stomach.

"I believe that you have as much a desire to enter into a relationship as I do. Your trust in men has been irrevocably damaged. As a friend, I would like to rebuild that trust."

She wanted to contradict him, but the truth was, Teal'c was right. Her experiences with men had been unkind at best, brutal at worst. Friendship, especially with a man? It was nothing more than a fairy tale. And trust...what was that? That is until three weeks ago when she had been freed and the people of the SGC had shown her that there were decent people in the universe. "Under the guise of being your lover."

"You already have my friendship. Whether or not you choose to assist me will not alter that."

His quiet words held such conviction that it caused another tumult of emotion into her already confused thoughts. "What would be required of me?"

"I am a private man and as such am not one for graphic public displays of affection. I would think that simply the act of holding hands, especially when Annika Jackson is near, would suffice."

"Holding hands would only work for so long." Keelah was already thinking ahead, despite not having made up her mind.

"I vow on the honor of my family that I will not make any advances you are uncomfortable with, and not without seeking prior permission from you. And should you at any time want to cease the charade I will abide by your decision," he said solemnly. "Even a temporary reprieve from the matchmaking sights of my teammate will be very much a blessing."

Her mind running a mile a minute, she plucked one thought from the sideline. "You're asking me to deceive not only the woman who rescued me, but the people who have allowed me to stay here."

"I realize that. I assure you that I have not made this request lightly. I do not relish the idea of deceiving my teammates, and it is not something I would ordinarily consider. However to put it plainly, I am desperate. I do not enjoy being forced, no matter how well intended, into situations that I cannot control. By impersonating my lover you will provide me with the time to convince Annika Jackson that I do not require nor want a woman in my life."

"I would like some time to think about it," she spoke hesitantly. "If that's alright."

"Take as much time as you need," Teal'c said. "While you are deliberating, I would appreciate if you would keep this matter between us."

"Of course. I would not discuss your private affairs with anyone else." She rose, downing the last of her tea. "I shall give you my answer by the end of today." At the door she turned back to him. "Thank you."

He was startled by the gratuity. "For what?"

"For confiding in me. No one has considered me worthy enough to do that in the past."

Teal'c didn't get a chance to respond as she ducked her head and disappeared into the hall. Staring after the woman, he was yanked from his thoughts as the radio came to life in his ear. "Teal'c, prepare for first extraction."

"Roger that, Major Ferretti. Moving out now. ETA sixty seconds. Another thirty to clear the area." He strode out into the corridor, deciding to take the stairs rather than wait for the elevator.

A  A  A

Annika signed out a P-90 and returned to level twenty-six. After the strategy meeting with her team, she had gone with Daniel and Sam to the science labs where the mystery weapon was being analyzed. The two components were being kept separated, no one wanting to inadvertently activate it until they had at least some idea of how it worked or what it did. Annika had run her hands all over the weapon base and the massive diamond in hope that her sixth sense would cooperate this time and reveal a new clue. However her gift had remained dormant. She had left the two scientists still trying to make sense of the instruction book that Daniel had translated, while they all waited for the fun and games of their 'training ops' to begin.

The quantum mirrors were being stored in one of the larger side rooms with other artifacts that had already been identified and catalogued. Laser trip wires had been set up as a security measure to ensure that if anyone came through, alarms would instantly sound and the base would go into automatic lockdown. General Hammond had already informed the marines monitoring the cameras and alarms that Annika would be working with one of the mirrors and she phoned up to let them know she was ready to begin. She switched off the lasers and carefully attached the disc the Nox had sent through and the time device. Before coming down she had pulled the file of the mission where Daniel and she had been tossed into an alternate universe, and had jotted down the year the alternate couple had come from. Trying to keep things as simple as possible, she decided to enter in the same date and time as her own reality, only adjusting the year to fit in with Casey's reality. She wrote down the full date and time and using Daniel's notes, copied the equivalent symbols beneath.

Paper in one hand and P-90 in the other, she realized that she was two hands short. Damn. Her old abilities would come in handy right about now. Over the last couple of days, as she began to adjust to her reduced abilities, she was finding that it was the little things like now, that made her realize how dependent she'd become on them. Last week she could have used her telekinesis through her astral self to hold the paper and enter in the date into the attachment, while her physical body used the channel switcher and trained the gun. Now her astral self was simply an observer, and her telekinesis could only be used in short bursts before her head thumped in a migraine. She didn't regret getting rid of them, it was just now inconvenient. She tapped the paper to her chin, thinking of a way around her hand shortage. Her gaze landed on a roll of tape that had been left out from sealing up cartons of artifacts. That'd work! Ripping off a strip she stuck the paper next to the attachment, and then using two more, taped the original control to the side of the frame. Okay, I'm ready...

Steeling herself for whatever surprises the mirror would reveal, she switched it on. The image reflected back at her was the reverse of the room in which she stood, minus herself. She took it as a good sign that it wasn't a battle scene that she had locked onto. Double checking the date, she entered in the symbols on the attachment. The scene changed to one of darkness. Annika could barely make out what looked like a storeroom. Oh, great, she thought sarcastically. How am I supposed to know which universe that is? She scanned the shelves, looking for any kind of identifiable clue. Had to stifle a squeak of surprise as the shadows moved. Two people pressed against the wall in the middle of a kiss. Squinted to see who they were. One was Jack. The woman's face was blocked by Jack's head, but the soft moan that drifted through to Annika was not Sam's voice.

Annika flicked channels. Any reality where Sam wasn't with Jack definitely wasn't the right one. The next one showed Daniel's main office, with the archaeologist talking with Teal'c. It took her a while to realize what was wrong with that picture, could have kicked herself for not figuring it out instantly. Teal'c with a full head of hair was just odd. Changed channels again, and automatically ducked out of sight at seeing Sam standing right in front of the mirror tucking her hair behind her ear. Nope, Sam with long hair wasn't the right one either. Another change, but this time she remembered that the disc device hid her from view, even though the scene made her cringe. The golden walls identified the room as a Goa'uld ship, and Amaunet was strutting passed with Daniel being led around by a leash collaring his neck. She fought down the urge to shoot the Goa'uld through the mirror and hastily turned the dial. Four more very different universes and Annika let out a sigh. This could take a while.

Two dozen channel flicks later Annika felt like a couch potato clicking away at a TV remote. A subtle shift in the resonance from the mirror had her perking up to pay attention. The hum of this reality had a familiarity about it, seemed to whisper her name. Could this be the one? The second it took for the image to clarify, she would have sworn was much longer. Her face broke out into a wide grin as she recognized the slender woman through the portal. At last! This is the reality I want! Her enthusiasm dimmed a little as she watched the blonde angrily flick her hair over her shoulder and pace back and forth across the room. Hmmm...maybe this wasn't a good time to make contact. She glanced at her watch. MacKenzie was already on base, her time was running out. Taking a chance that Casey would be happy to see her despite her pissy mood, she put her gun aside, deactivated the disc and waited for Casey to realize the mirror was on.

The blonde stalked towards the Ancient device, her intent clearly to give it a kick of frustration, when green eyes registered her reflection wasn't her own. For a moment both women stared at each other, warily sizing up the situation. Then Annika's excitement got the better of her. She gave a loud crow of delight, making Casey take a stunned step back.

"Yeeehhhaaaw! I found you!" She did a little happy dance on the spot. "Do you know how many channels I've clicked? There are some seriously weird realities out there. How bizarre is this? There was even one where Sam married Daniel! Oh, and another where Daniel and Jack were an item! I tell you I switched outta that one quick smart, way too freaky for me!" She didn't notice that Casey was watching her wide-eyed without an ounce of recognition. "So, how are the kids? Has Nicholas dug his way to China yet? And Ethan is he walking? And has Emily..." her voice drifted off as it dawned that Casey wasn't as hyped up at this reunion as she was. Violet eyes scrutinized the blonde, a frown crinkling her brow. "Casey? Casey Jackson, right?"

"Uh huh."

The response was automatic and Annika could see her instantly berating herself for 'giving away' that information. Oookay, not quite the reaction I was expecting. Things weren't adding up. Casey was acting like she didn't know her. There was a nagging at the back of her mind and she rubbed her temple to focus the thought. The last time they had met, she vaguely recalled Casey mentioning 'other Casey's', and well, she was using the doorway to every possible conceivable reality. Gave a finger snap as she figured out how to determine if this was a totally different version of her friend. "Lift your shirt."

"Say what?" Casey's voice was slightly strangled..

"Is the sound working on this thing?" Annika tapped at the mirror rim and spoke louder. "Lift your shirt up!" Pulled at the waist of her own shirt to clarify.

Casey's mouth fell open, when she realized she was gaping she shut it with a distinct 'snap'. "Look, I don't know who you are, but I don't play in that sandbox, cupcake. I like those dangly appendages way too much. Well, one anyway."

Annika's smartass quip slipped from her mouth. "They're more fun when they don't dangle."

For a few seconds the blonde stared at her, then gave in to the giggles that forced their way into her throat. "So true."

"So can you...?" She tugged again at her shirt and waited expectantly.

Like a light bulb flashing over her head, the blonde realized that Annika wasn't giving the worst pick up line in history and was looking for an identifying mark. She gave a glance around the empty room. Stood in front of the mirror, her body angled away from the security camera, un-tucked her BDU shirt and tugged it and her t-shirt up to her shoulders.

"October twenty-sixth."

"Year?"

"2003."

"Well, shit!" Annika grumbled. "That's four months ago. I must have mucked up the date."

"Oh," the blonde replied uncertainly, at a loss at what else to say.

Annika glared at the attachment, thinking that Casey's idea of kicking the damned mirror was a pretty good one. Admittedly her knowledge of Ancient was pretty basic, but she thought she knew the numbers pretty well. Had a sudden thought. Casey was fluent in Ancient, at least the Casey she knew was. She tugged the scrap of paper that had her scribbles of the dates from the mirror and held them up. "How's your conversion of the Ancient calendar?"

"Um...pretty good."

"Do you know the symbols for this one?"

"That's the...um...time where you are?" Casey studied the date.

"Month and day," she confirmed, "but not the year. I'm trying to get thirteen years ahead to see...well, you." She gave a lopsided grin that was a little bemusedly returned. Only now did she realize how bizarre this whole thing must be for this woman who looked so much like her friend. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? Anyone would think I'd been raised by a Goa'uld! I'm Annika Jackson." She gave a wave. "Can't shake your hand, or I'll end up standing next to you."

Casey hesitantly waved back. "Jackson?"

Annika bobbed her head up and down. "Yeah. Different universe. I'm Daniel's wife here."

"Oh." To hide her discomfort, that Annika well understood, at meeting a woman claiming to be her husband's wife, Casey patted down her pockets in search of a pen to write the correct translation of the date Annika had shown her.

"Here, catch." Annika tossed her Sharpie through the mirror, which Casey caught. "So, are you psychic, too?" Small talk wasn't exactly one of her strong suits but she was trying to set the still shocked woman at ease. Plus any information she'd be able to gather would help her identify if she was even partway close to the reality she was after.

"Too?" Unable to find any paper in the room, Casey wrote the symbols on her hand and held it up for the redhead to see. "I think you forgot that the Ancients had a fourteen month calendar."

"Duh, of course they did." Annika gave her forehead a self-berating smack, catching with her other hand the pen as it was returned to her. She jotted down the symbols, answering the question at the same time. "Casey...the other Casey Jackson I met, is a very powerful seer. I have a few gifts of my own."

Casey nodded. She had sensed the power in the woman even through the barrier of the mirror. "I don't know how powerful I am, but I'm a seer."

"Seems to be a running theme with the second wives of that gorgeous archaeologist," Annika replied, snapping the lid back on the felt tip with a grin. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Annika frowned, noticing the color shift in the woman's aura at the mention of Daniel. Those expressive green eyes had been full of anger and a bit of anguish, when they had first focused on her. Okay, this woman wasn't the Casey she'd been looking for, but from what she could read from her aura she had the same tendency to bottle things up as 'her' Casey, which was never a good thing in any reality. "You can tell me to take a flying leap through a wormhole...but...is everything alright?"

She snorted. "Oh, everything's just peachy."

"You've been hanging around Jack too much," Annika grinned. "It might help to talk about it." She could see that the blonde was debating if she was completely nuts even contemplating opening up to a perfect stranger. Smiled encouragingly. "You can vent as much as you like with someone you'll never see again."

With a sigh, Casey made her decision. "Sha're walked through that thing this morning."

Violet eyes went wide. "You're kidding!" She remembered the heartache 'her' Casey had gone through when Sha're had turned up on Abydos. Oh, this was not a good day for this Casey.

"I wish I was!" Casey exclaimed. "I know Daniel loves me...but..." One slender shoulder moved up and then back down, a movement she didn't know her companion found familiar.

"But he's a bit on the confused side right now?" Annika asked softly.

She started to nod, then pulled her lip between her teeth. "I don't know how confused he is...he knows that this woman isn't his wife. But she's so damned demanding! And Daniel just can't seem to say no to her. It's not helping that Skaara and Kasuf seem to expect him to behave as if she is his wife. Skaara doesn't seem to like me at all."

"I don't suppose you've considered kicking her ass?" Annika leant against the tall table behind her, making herself comfortable. "I found it quite therapeutic bouncing her nomadic butt across the desert."

"Literally?" Green eyes surveyed Annika's small frame doubtfully.

"Uh huh, my telekinesis was never more handy." Absently she wondered if she was still capable of doing that. She'd practiced moving small things but none as heavy or big as a person. Gave herself a little shake to bring herself back to moment. "It was either that or have your counterpart shoot her."

Casey seemed to seriously consider the suggestion. "Sha're's clinging so tight to Daniel I'd probably end up kicking him."

"Sounds like he needs it," Annika replied dryly. Recalling that 'her' Casey's biggest fear was that Daniel would leave her, she added, "If it helps any, I can see Daniel's love for you cocooned all around you, unwavering and unquestioning."

"See it?"

"Aura," she shrugged by way of explanation. "Daniel's is entwined with yours even though he's not physically with you. Sha're hasn't a chance to even nick the surface." She studied the hue of colors that only she could see. "In fact, it looks like he is in full Mother Hen mode right now."

"For her?"

Casey sounded so forlorn Annika had to control the urge to step through and give the woman a hug. Hammond would not be happy if she trapped herself in a parallel universe again. "No, Casey, for his one and only Angel."

Her eyes widened at hearing Daniel's endearment for her, then filled with renewed fire. "He's got a funny way of showing it."

"Trust him," Annika said softly. She didn't know what else to say to convince her. And really if the positions had been reversed, and she had been told by a total stranger who claimed to be psychic, the feelings of her husband, it would take more than a few words. She wished that she could continue the conversation until she saw those green eyes fill with faith and confidence in her Daniel's love for her, but she simply didn't have the time. She gave an apologetic smile. "I hate to cut you off, but I really need to find ‘my’ Casey."

Casey nodded. "No problem. I should probably see if I can get a bit of work done."

"It was nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

"He loves you, Casey. Don’t doubt it," Annika said, trying one more time to convince her.

"Right." She took a deep breath. "Right," she repeated.

To Annika she sounded more sure the second time, yet she suspected it was an act put on for her benefit. The redhead gave a wave and an encouraging thumbs up, then reactivated the monitoring disc, effectively cutting off Casey's view of her universe. Turning the controller in the opposite direction she'd used before and entering the correct set of Ancient numbers Casey had given her, Annika considered checking up on the woman who was the spitting image of her friend when time wasn't such an issue, just to see if things had worked out. A snort of derision blew from her mouth. When was time not ever an issue? They just solved one problem and ten more cropped up. Sometimes she found herself wondering just how she had filled her days before being brought into the SGC. She didn't remember ever being bored, yet she doubted that she would be able to go back to those 'simple' times. As hectic as her life had become and with all the problems that seemed never ending, she knew that she wouldn't be able to give it up. She loved it, for as dangerous as it was, the wonder and excitement of being a part of something so meaningful outweighed the negative.

It took another fifteen universe hops before Annika once again felt that resonance shift. She had met three other Caseys, none of whom had that special Mayan tattoo her Casey had. At least she assumed they hadn't. The blondes hadn't been inclined to show her proof of their statements. But this time it wasn't just a sort of familiar hum, it was spot on. She was positive that she had been to that universe before. Eagerly her eyes swept the room. Felt a stab of disappointment to find it empty. She hadn't considered this possibility. Finding the right universe and then having no one she could ask to find Casey for her. And that led onto a most unpleasant thought. Maybe Casey was on a mission. It could be days or weeks before she'd be able to make contact with her friend. She didn't have days and weeks, she only had minutes, possibly a couple of hours if she could dodge her session with MacKenzie. Stifling the knot of worry she focused on the first problem at hand. How to get someone's attention. Stepping through the mirror wasn't an option. Hammond would read her the riot act if she got herself confined in an alternate universe brig, and then her teammates would take a turn. Astral traveling wasn't something she wanted to do either. Given how the personnel had reacted to seeing her last time, someone was liable to get shot, and this time she didn't have her telekinesis to safely disarm them. Hmmm...I can't go through, but what about something inanimate? Toss something through and let it trip the alarms that she was sure were set up though she couldn't see them. Not exactly very subtle, but time was counting down, making her desperate.

Annika was considering what object to send through when a blur of movement caught her eye. Her mouth opened in surprise to see a person seated in an office chair streak across the portal window and out of her range of sight. The chair rolled too fast for Annika to identify who it was, except to say it was someone with long blonde hair. A second later the chair rolled once again into view. The momentum was less forceful, and it ground to a halt directly in front of the mirror. Annika heaved a sigh of relief to see her friend, who was now spinning the chair around in circles. For all intents and purposes, Casey looked bored out of her skull. With a grin Annika deactivated the monitoring device. "Things a bit slow in Hope today?"

The blonde practically tipped out of the chair in surprise at hearing a voice in the 'empty' room. Emerald green eyes widened in surprise and delight as they focused on the mirror and who was standing before it. "Annika! So it was you who was calling to me!"

"Calling?" Annika tilted her head curiously.

"Yeah, it's been driving me nuts for days! I've been hearing these...whispers in the wind. They made me drag this hunk of rock out from storage," she gestured to the quantum mirror. "Duncan thinks I've flipped my lid!"

"But I only thought to track you down this morning!" Annika protested, then gave a wry grimace. "Well, only consciously thought of it this morning. Sorry, psychic radio is a little unpredictable."

"Ya' preaching to the preacher, girlfriend!" Casey shrugged the apology off as unnecessary. "Goddess, it's good to see you!"

"You too!" Annika enthused. "You wouldn't believe what I've gone through to make this call! The other Caseys I met are a bit grouchy."

"Uh huh." Recalling her first encounter with the fiery redhead Casey raised a wary eyebrow. "And what exactly did you say to the other 'me-s' to make them so grouchy?"

"I only, very nicely I might add, asked them to lift their shirt." Annika pretended to be miffed.

"Yeah, that's going to go over well. 'Hi, I'm Annika, lift your shirt'," she replied drolly. "I'd have decked you...well, I'd have wanted to deck you"

"It's not like there was anyone else in the room," Annika defended what at the time had seemed like a logical, simple request. "No one else would have seen! And your Picasso artwork is one of a kind." She paused with a mischievous grin. "And by the way, would you lift your shirt?"

"Not so fast, Red." Casey placed her hands on her hips, pretending to be serious. "How do I know that you're you?"

"How many Annika's do you know with a purple star on their forehead who knows about your tattoo? And have dogs named Thor and Hathor?" Annika didn't need the visual proof. The fact that they were even having this conversation was enough to determine that this Casey was the right Casey.

"One," Casey conceded. "But that doesn't mean there might not be another Casey out there with a tattoo, and another Annika with a purple star..." her voice trailed off. "Right. So how have ya' been?"

"Oh, you know, same old, same old," Annika shrugged. "Ba'al's developed a fixation on me. Stopped a zatarc. Had a little timeline incident that we had to rectify. Oh, and Sam and Jack are engaged, and Teal'c moved next door to Daniel and me."

"Sounds normal to me," Casey chuckled. "Best way to deal with Ba'al, blast his ass into tiny pieces. Worked nicely here." She absently rifled through the desk draw beside her, her fingers closing around a necessity for what looked to be a long chat. "Want an Oreo? We can...um...pass them through, right?"

The redhead gave a nod. Hell, a few days ago they had been like yo-yo's ducking between timelines, a few cookies would be no trouble. The silent quip reminded her of the reason she had sought Casey out, but she pushed it aside for now. Was it such a crime to want to spend a few minutes catching up with a friend? "You're a woman after my own heart!" she sighed blissfully, accepting the packet of chocolate delights, selected a couple and then passed it back. "We're working on Ba'al. But Daniel wants the pleasure of strangling him. I don't have the heart to deny him." 'Unscrewing' the two cookie bases apart she scooped up the sugary cream onto her finger, then sucked it off. "How about you? How are those adorable kids of yours?"

"The kids are great." Casey bit into her own cookie, catching a couple of crumbs with her tongue. "Emily is playing the part of the Easter Bunny in the Easter pageant this year. Nicholas has discovered Daniel's toolbox, and has proceeded to take out every screw he could find. My kitchen damned near fell apart. And Ethan has hidden my locket only God knows where, and He might not be too sure."

"Oh, how cute! I want to see photos!"

"I'll have to run down to Daniel's office to grab the newest ones...can you hang around?"

"Sure. Operation 'Houdini's Ghost' is on hold until our 'target' arrives. We're laying low until then."

Casey couldn't miss the wicked mirth in violet eyes. "Sounds intriguing...I'll be right back, and you can tell me all about it."

"Okay. I'll get us some coffee." Annika was already heading for the door, her excitement at seeing her friend clearly evident.

"Perfect." Without a backward glance, or any thought of how totally bizarre the situation was, Casey dashed out of the room, racing for Daniel's office. When she arrived, she scooted past Duncan, and leaned over Jack to reach the newest photos of the kids. What the two men were doing there, she hadn't a clue.

"Casey?" Daniel asked, a frown on his face.

"No time...Annika's getting coffee to go with the Oreo's." She had arrived like a whirlwind, and left the same way.

"Did she just say Annika?" Daniel blinked at his friends.

"That's what I heard," Jack replied.

"She's doing it again," Duncan groused.

"Doing what?" Jack asked.

"Using SGC equipment for her own personal...use," the Highlander grumped.

Daniel was quick to think of a suitable excuse for his wife. "Can't we call it an exchange of intel?"

Duncan raised one dark eyebrow. "Exchange of intel? That's very creative."

"Thank you," the archaeologist grinned. "It's part of my job."

A  A  A

Grabbing two cups of coffee from Daniel's office, Annika realized she didn't know how Casey took her cup of liquid sanity. Stuffed packets of sugar and creamer in her pocket and headed back to the storage room, knowing that she had an almost goofy grin on her face. It wasn't just that she liked Casey, it was a wonderful feeling to be able to talk with someone who knew and understood about visions and premonitions and... She cut off the thought before it even formed. That was for later. Now was the time for a good old fashioned gasbag!

When Casey returned, whether or not she should have, she was able to smell rich, fresh coffee. Annika had already pulled a crate forward to lean against and made herself comfortable. The blonde swapped the photos for the coffee that her friend carefully passed through.

Annika fished out the sugar and creamer and tossed the packets through before eagerly looking at the family shots. "Oh my god, that can't possibly be Ethan! How can he have grown so much in six weeks?"

"I know, he's growing like a weed! Little bugger skipped right on past crawling to toddling around!" Casey took as sip. "So what's this Operation 'Houdini's Ghost'?" Conducting a mission within the SGC itself was unusual to say the least, unless there was a foothold or other such incident. From the glee that was evident in Annika it obviously wasn't one of those times.

"It's not exactly an official mission." Annika's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We've been left to our own devices today, so to keep ourselves amused we're trying to scare the shit out of Kinsey to get him off the base."

"Keeping the mind active and a public service all in one," Casey approved. "What's the Houdini reference?"

"Ah, well, last time Kinsey was here, he got squirted with venom that smells worse than a room full of skunks with bad BO, courtesy of a visiting weasel name Houdini." She saw her friend's confusion as to why a weasel would be on base and she shrugged. "Long story, but we're trying to recreate that special memory for the senator."

"Oh, I want details!" Casey chuckled. Kinsey was long gone from their world, but there was always another pain in the ass politician she could adapt the plan to.

Annika launched into a detailed explanation of their return from the Bassat planet, and the adventures of the escape artist rodent that had run amok on base that day, then gave the details of their current plan.

Their laughter echoed between the two universes. The pair began swapping stories of what had been happening since last they met. Casey was just finishing a recount of finding Loki’s secret laboratory, and the very handsome thief named Marcus, tossing in that Thor’s love interest had returned, when the door behind Annika opened and Daniel wandered in.

His head was bowed in frustrated concentration on the holographic instruction manual in his hands. He didn't need to look up to know that Annika was there, he had automatically used their bond to track her. "My Angel, can you sense anything off this? We found a hidden page, a list of job descriptions we think, but the context is still a mystery."

"Sure." Annika put down her coffee on the floor beside her and took the proffered device. Fighting down her amusement that Daniel was so caught up in the mystery of the Ancient riddle that he was oblivious to the fact they weren't 'alone', she channeled her mind towards the new page.

Casey, recognizing the engrossed look that was the spitting image of her own husband, couldn't resist speaking up, just to see if he'd respond. "Hello, gorgeous."

"Hmmm?" His gaze absently looked up then straight back down to his wife. "Oh, hi, Casey."

Annika handed the device back to him. "All I'm getting is the same phrase repeated over and over again. 'It must be all but just a few'."

The archeologist's brow creased into a frown trying to find a scrap of sense in the cryptic comment. "That's...intriguing. And of no help whatsoever." His teasing was as much on autopilot as his entry into the room.

"Hey, I'm just the microphone," she grinned.

Daniel bent down to give her an automatic peck on the lips. "Thanks." He tapped at the holographic device, indicating her help no matter how 'illogical' her insight had been, then walked out.

The blonde and the redhead lasted all of two seconds before snorts of laughter spilt from their lips. Daniel was Daniel in any reality. And they wouldn't change him for anything!

Casey was about to speak, but Annika held up her hand. "Wait for it."

Back out in the corridor, thoughts nothing to do with the Ancient device that was so frustrating him began to intrude. It must be all but just a few...Hello, gorgeous...it made no sense, how can it be all and just a few?...odd that another woman besides my wife would call me that...maybe the instructions are encoded...another woman calls me gorgeous and Annika's not scratching her eyes out?...why was she sitting on the floor, drinking coffee in front of the quantum mirror?...Hi, Casey... He paused in mid step. Casey? Hurriedly he backtracked to the room he'd just left.

Annika was counting down her fingers. "Three, two, one..."

The two women swung their heads towards the door, just as Daniel with eyes as big as an owl's poked his head back in.

"Casey?" More than a little bemused he stepped in.

The blonde wiggled the fingers of one hand in a wave and held up the packet of cookies. "Want an Oreo?"

"Er...no thanks." Daniel looked from his counterpart's grinning wife to his own who looked equally amused if a little sheepish. "Everything okay?"

Casey's nod was immediate.

Annika's, however, was just a fraction hesitant. "Just had the urge to chat."

"Yeah, me too," Casey quipped. "I've been waiting for this long distance call for four days now!" The psychic though joking, had thrown in the timeframe deliberately. She hadn't missed her friend's pause or the now slightly worried tinge to blue eyes. And now Annika seemed to be holding her breath, while Daniel had shot her a startled look. Yep, this chat had been called for more than just happy social reasons.

"You too, Daniel," Casey replied. She waited until Daniel had closed the door behind him then turned her attention back to Annika, who was sipping her coffee, pretending the atmosphere hadn't changed. "So, what's up?"