Page 33 of Yankee in the Wind

After a hearty lunch, Jack and Lilly got a crash course about the security features of the mansion, and had a chance to get settled into the room that would be theirs for the foreseeable future. Lilly changed into clothes that Phoebe lent her, and in the late afternoon, the shoes Michelle had ordered for her online arrived.

Jack brought in the bag he’d packed for himself, which consisted of clothes as well as any items that could lead back to him should they be found, such as a few photos and some electronics, as well as his weapons. The house which he’d considered his safe house for the better part of the last three years was now devoid of any personal effects.

He’d also brought a box filled with things he used to disguise himself: wigs, beards, glasses, and hats, as well as stage make-up. The room Phoebe had prepared for them was large and comfortable, had its own bathroom, and a large closet to store the few things they had brought.

While Lilly took a nap to prepare for the long night ahead and catch up on the lost sleep of the previous night, Jack spent the afternoon in the kitchen, where he cleaned his guns. He was used to managing with little sleep. Besides, over the last three years he’d always slept with one eye open, never fully relaxing.

Fox and Michelle were busy hacking into a satellite control system, while Ace joined Jack in the kitchen.

“How long have you been together with Lilly?” Ace asked, pouring himself a large cup of coffee.

“We met seven years ago at a BBQ at Will Reed’s house, Thomas’s father,” Jack said.

“That’s not answering my question.”

He should have known that Ace couldn’t be fooled by the careful wording of Jack’s answer. After all, they’d trained together at the Farm. Jack looked straight at his fellow Stargate agent.

“You’re still sharp,” Jack said.

“Have to be, or I would be dead.” Ace took a sip from his coffee. “Let me guess: you hooked up only a few days ago.”

“Almost true. We had a thing seven years ago. I broke it off when I joined Sheppard’s program. You’re aware of his conditions.”

Ace nodded. “Cut all ties. He thought it would be safer for all of us. As much as I loved my father, he was wrong, though his heart was in the right place.”

“He was looking out for all of us. If he hadn’t been able to send us a telepathic message when they came for him, we’d all be dead now.”

“Wish I knew how he did that. I’ve never been able to communicate telepathically with any of the other precognitives. Have you?”

Jack shook his head. “Nope. I can only assume that because he’d had his gift for a lot longer than any of us, he learned a few things that might still be in our future. Or the fact that he knew all of us personally made it easier for him to channel his gift in some way.”

“We might never find out. We’ve gotta work with what we have.” Ace paused for a moment. “Fox told me you also get the doomsday premonition.”

“Is that what we call it now?” He let out a bitter laugh. “Guess it’s as good a label as any. I had it again last night. It’s becoming more frequent.”

“As if the event is coming closer?”

“Yep. That’s my guess too.”

“What do you see?”

“The White House. I’m staring right at it, and then I hear an explosion behind me, feel the shockwave. It’s massive.” He tipped his chin up toward Ace. “How about you?”

“I’m running toward a building, but I can’t reach it. I see six marines carrying a coffin from the cargo hold of a plane. An American flag is draped over it. Then there’s an explosion, but like you, I can’t tell where. I feel the heat and the shockwave from the explosion.”

“So you don’t know where you are?”

Ace shook his head. “No, but my best guess is that it has to be near a military airport.”

“Joint Base Andrews is the closest to D.C.,” Jack said. “Because if I feel the shockwave looking at the White House, and you feel the shockwave at a military airport, it has to be close.”

“I agree. But then I’m not sure how Fox’s premonition ties in with it.”

“What does he see?”

“He’s on the terrace of a large house by a lake. He sees the sailboats. Somebody hands him a tall glass of iced tea, and he’s thirsty, but when he drinks, he feels paralyzed. He’s trying to do something on the computer to stop a clock counting backward. But he can’t do it. Then he feels the shockwave, and it lifts the boats right off the water.”

“Hmm. There isn’t really a large lake anywhere close to Washington D.C. What if it’s not a lake, but a broad river?”