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Their lives once again slipped into a comfortable routine. Methos had returned to Cheyenne Mountain, bringing with him a dozen other Immortals. They formed three new SG teams.

Jack had put Casey in charge of giving these Immortals the same physical training that all the other SGC cadets received. On this day they were all moaning as Casey forced them to repeat the routine they had just finished.

"Come on guys, you need to be able to do this. We may be Immortal, but we still have to build up our stamina the same as everybody else. Trust me, when you’re fighting the snakeheads, you need every advantage you can get. There are a hell of a lot more of the bad guys than there are of us. So we have to be smarter, faster, better than they are. One more time, and we’ll call it a day."

They were finishing up with some floor work, which would stretch and cool muscles, when a new, stronger 'buzz' hit her. It had a familiar feel to it. She looked up, and saw Duncan watching her across the room. The look in his eyes made her heart jump. The stirring in the back of her mind became stronger. Memories of their time together began to flood her mind.

"No!" That was not how it had happened! He had kissed her, but she hadn’t responded that way! She had stepped back, the kiss ending almost before it began. Casey gasped a breath, glanced around at all of the eyes looking at her strangely. "I’m sorry, I guess I was talking to myself there. Let’s call it a day," she said.

He waited until they were alone in the gym. "Hello, Casey."

"Hello, Duncan."

"Methos told me you were in charge of training."

"Not so much in charge, as just sort of the instructor," she replied. She considered Teal'c to be the one in charge when it came to the gym, although technically that honor went to Major Jameson. She wiped her face on a towel. When she reached for her water bottle, Duncan beat her to it, and offered it to her. Their fingers brushed briefly. The contact sent a jolt through her body.

Duncan’s eyes were as wide as hers as he felt the fire rip through his body. He reached out and touched her cheek. The fire that tore down his arm nearly made him cry out. He looked at the red marks that his fingers had left on her face.

"No…this cannot be happening," Casey whispered "Oma promised me…" She could feel the flames beginning to lick her body. She was more aware of the smell of him, his skin, the cologne he used, had always used. The need to feel him, taste him, was nearly overwhelming. She fought to maintain control.

Duncan stepped closer to her, reaching for her.

"No!" She stepped back. "If you really love me, Duncan, then leave…now!"

"No, lass. Not this time. I’ve loved you for too long. Waited for you for too long. You were meant to be with me," he said, his brown eyes burning, suddenly unfamiliar.

Teal'c’s training came to her rescue. She managed to dodge the Scot with a minimum of physical contact, although every time they did touch, it became more difficult to fight the fire.

Two SFs chose that moment to walk into the gym. With a sob of relief, Casey ran towards them. Both of the men knew who she was, but they didn't recognize Duncan.

"Mrs. Jackson, are you okay?" Sergeant Anderson asked, holding her by the shoulders.

She shook her head. "No…please, take me to my husband…now!"

The other Marine had planted himself between Duncan and Casey. "Mister, you’d better just stand where you are," he warned.

"Casey!" Duncan called to her as she was leaving the room. "I love you, and you love me! We were meant to be together!"

By the time that the sergeant had gotten her to Daniel’s office, she could barely walk. The fire that raged in her body was almost unbearable.

"Doctor Jackson!" Sergeant Anderson called out. He was fully supporting Casey’s body now.

Daniel looked up. He felt his heart stop. He had seen that look in Casey’s eyes before. When the fire was consuming her. "No!" he whispered hoarsely.

Casey staggered into his arms. "Oh, Daniel, I’m so scared! What’s going on? Oma promised me that you and I would be together!"

Daniel frowned. "Did she Casey? Are you positive?"

Casey nodded. "She said that we would be together, as always. I know she meant with Jack and Sam too, but you and I are to be together. She promised me!"

Daniel pulled her against him. "Then someone else is doing this," he said, although doubts were eating away at him. What if Oma’s promise was not that he and Casey would be together forever?

Duncan went quietly into the cell. He remembered being in the gym, and saying hello to Casey, but his memories of the minutes following that were blurred. The fire was calmer now, but he could feel that the flames were just beneath the surface. He sat down on the cot, and dropped his head into his hands. What was happening? It wasn’t time for the fire to burn again. As much as he loved her, as much as he wanted her, this wasn't the way. He wanted her to come willingly to him, or not at all.

A   A   A   A   A   A

Casey was lying on the bed, still trembling from the encounter. Daniel brought a glass of water in to her.

"Here, babe."

She sat up and took the glass. "I meant what I said, Daniel. If I have to fight the universe to stay with you, I will." She drank a bit of the water, trying to cool the flames that were still lurking within her.

"I know babe, and I’ll fight it to stay with you." He looked up at the ceiling. "Oma, what is going on?" he asked softly.

A soft glow lit the room around them. "Casey is in great danger."

"And why is that, Oma?" Daniel stood and faced the Ascended one.

"There is a…war…of sorts, beginning to brew between the Ascended and the...others...Immortals as well. They are furious that I interfered with their plans. They care not for what Duncan and Casey want, only what they want. You must take Casey away."

"To where? Pick a planet, they’re already there," Daniel snapped in reply.

"Not everywhere," Oma smiled. "There are places where I can yet offer protection."

The light flashed around them, and when it faded, they were standing on a dirt road. The sun was just dipping below the horizon. In the distance they could make out the light of fires.

Daniel put his arm around Casey. "Are you alright, babe?"

She laid her head against his shoulder. "As long as I’m with you," she replied.

He planted a kiss on her temple. "Let’s go. Oma wouldn’t have put us here if she wasn’t sure that we could find refuge." They began to walk down the road, towards the small village.

A   A   A   A   A   A

"What do you mean they’re gone? Gone where?" Jack demanded, pacing his office.

"We don’t know, sir," Sam replied. Even though she and Jack were practically living together, when they were at work, he was still her CO. "Sergeant Anderson said that he drove Daniel and Casey home, and they were there when he left. Daniel’s jeep is still in the parking lot. Her purse is still at the house, nothing has been disturbed. They’re just...gone."

"Okay. Check the airports, bus stations, cab companies, car rental agencies. Find them," he ordered. He'd accuse Thor of taking them, but whenever the little gray alien showed up, he was the one who ususally disappeared.

Sam nodded and headed for a computer terminal.

Jack resumed his pacing. All the little hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. And when that happened, bad things followed.

A   A   A   A   A   A

Casey snuggled closer to Daniel, the chill of the morning air bringing her out of sleep. Soon they would have to get up and start their day. It was a sharp contrast to what she was used to, but she had to admit that Daniel was right when he said that simple life could bring the most happiness.

The villagers of Ronta had been friendly, and willing to take them in. Daniel had built them a house, just a small hut, really, but it kept out the rain, protected what few belongings they now had, and offered privacy for lovemaking. She was learning to weave and sew, he was learning to hunt and tan hides. The only thing Casey missed was a hot shower, and she missed that every morning as they bathed in the river together. Soon it would be too cold to do so. Maybe, she thought hopefully, they would be home before then.

A soft wet nose pushed in between them. "Hercules, move," Casey whispered, pushing the huge dog away. She could hear the dog’s tail thumping against the wall. She kissed Daniel, his lips and mouth responding to her even in his sleep. "Good morning," she whispered.

"Good morning," he smiled sleepily. His fingers reached out to brush against her breasts, smiling wider as her nipples hardened against them. He kissed each one in turn. "I’m kinda uncomfortable. I need you, My Star," he whispered.

"I’m here, my love," she whispered in reply. She slipped her hand between them and began to caress his stiffened member.

He kissed her, moving over her as he did so. She was ready for him, she was always ready for him. He sighed as he slid into her body. They moved together, the union of their bodies bringing sweet release.

"Daniel?" It was Malachi, one of the men from the village, and Daniel’s best friend here. He lived with his wife and family in a small hut next to theirs. "Come, it is time for us to go. The herd will not stay in the valley for many more days. We need meat," he said.

"I’ll be right there," Daniel responded. He kissed Casey, nuzzled her neck, held her tightly. For one brief moment he felt as if this would be the last time he would ever hold her in his arms. He shook the feeling off.

"How long will you be gone?" Casey asked.

"Two days, three at the most."

"Be careful," she said, kissing him again.

"Always. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Casey hated the times when he was gone with the other men, she missed being in his arms as they slept. Hercules, the huge dog that had adopted them as soon as they arrived, looked up at her and whined, his big tail thumping against the ground. She ruffled the fur on the dog’s head. "Go ahead. Just stay out of Daniel’s way." Casey could have sworn that he had a grin on his canine face. He gave a happy yelp and went running after Daniel.

She sat down in front of the loom. It wasn’t hers, it belonged to the woman who now called Casey 'daughter'. To become a part of the village, two families had to be willing to adopt them, one family to adopt Daniel, one to adopt her. Malachi had been more than willing to adopt Daniel, the friendship between the two had been immediate. Laurel, an older woman, widowed and with only one son, had eagerly adopted Casey, anxious for the help an extra set of hands would offer. Casey was willing to do what was required of her, and if their relationship wasn’t exactly one of friendship, there was at least quiet acceptance between them.

She brought the heavy tamper down on the threads she had just woven, snapping it against them until the threads were tightly compacted so that they wouldn’t come apart. Casey enjoyed the work, it took her concentration to do the job correctly, and it kept her from thinking about and missing Daniel.

Tory, Laurel’s grandson, came running into the room, his eyes wide. "Strangers come! Many strangers!"

Daniel, being a linguist, had very little trouble communicating with these people. Casey still struggled to understand some of the words and many of the nuances. But this she understood perfectly. Before she could wonder who these strangers might be, she felt the pain and ‘buzz’ of approaching Immortals. There were several of them.

She stepped outside of Laurel’s hut, and saw Duncan and a group of men walking towards her.

"I’ve come for you, lass. It’s time we go. We have a ceremony to complete," Duncan said. His voice was cold, flat. His eyes were cold as well. She shivered as she looked at him.

"Duncan, no. I am not going with you. I don’t love you-" Casey started, her hands on her hips.

"I din’na care whether you love me now or not. In time, you will." With that, he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

Casey began to scream, pounded on his broad back. She looked at Tory. "Daniel! Find Daniel! Please Tory, find Daniel!"

The boy, his eyes wide, watched her being carried away. Her cries sent him into action, and he raced down the hillside towards the valley where the men would be hunting.

By the time Daniel had returned to the village, wild-eyed with fear and rage, Casey had already been gone for the better part of the day. The villagers who had witnessed the abduction repeated the story of what had happened over and over. He  stood in the center of the cluster of huts, screaming his anger to the gods, tears streaming down his face. Hercules sniffed the ground where Casey had been sitting, followed her trail to the point where Duncan had picked her up. He sat down on his haunches and began to howl. The sound of the man and dog grieving sent shivers into the villagers.

He couldn’t believe that it had happened again. First Sha’re, now Casey. He was determined that this time there would be a different outcome. He would never give up, and he would bring her home again.

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