FIC: The Stand-In (3/3) by Old Ghost
Teri's Note: This story is archived with the permission of the author.
The Stand-In
by Old Ghost
Summary: The SGC needs Jack O'Neill to help free a captured SG team, but he's on leave. Luckily, General Hammond knows a guy who might be able to stand in for the colonel. (Complete - 3 parts)
Part 1
Part 2
MacGyver and Trato arrived back at the storage hut, MacGyver carrying
several more yellow stones. Preparations for the feast were already well
under way.
"Your meal will be served shortly," Trato said as he shut the door.
Once he was gone, MacGyver said, "They're gonna be feasting with wine.
We've got to get out of here tonight. It looks like all three of these
tests involve putting you at risk. We can't stick around."
"I agree," Teal'c said, "but I am at a loss of how to proceed without
weapons."
"Teal'c's right," Carter said from her seat by the fire, a blanket
wrapped around her. "As long as the guards have Zats, we're at a
distinct disadvantage."
"I'm workin' on that," Mac said. "Jonas, see if any of those jars
contain saltpeter."
"Saltpeter?" Carter said questioningly.
"Basic chemistry," Mac explained. "What do you get when you mix
saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal in the right proportions?"
Understanding dawned. "Gunpowder," she replied.
"Exactly. Great for distracting the Banti'ans."
"Saltpeter," Jonas said, lowering a jar nearby. "But what about getting
out of this hut?"
Mac reached into his pack and pulled out several pieces of flint. "Stone
tools. We have all night to chip and flake some edges and cut the
support ropes. I picked these up in case the Banti'ans found ...." He
stopped when Trato and two Banti'ans approached the hut.
The Banti'ans delivered plates of food and a clay jug of wine. "Enjoy
the food and wine," Trato said. "It is the best we can offer." Mac and
SG-1 remained silent until he left.
"We might as well eat," Carter said, "although it would have been easier
if they gave us a knife to cut our food with." She paused when a Swiss
Army Knife was dropped in her lap. She looked up at MacGyver. Smiling,
she said, "You know, this wasn't part of the standard equipment you were
issued."
MacGyver shrugged. "Never leave home without it. Like I was saying, I
picked up the flint in case the Banti'ans found *that*."
The four ate and began discussing plans for their escape. They agreed to
wait until the village was mostly asleep or drunk before they would
assemble their makeshift equipment.
Some time later, Trato returned with an old Banti'an woman and two
guards. As the woman collected the plates, Trato pointed at Jonas and
Teal'c. "You two will come with me. We wish to give the Godslayer and
his woman some privacy." When Teal'c and Jonas hesitated, Trato pointed
a Zat at them and said, "You can be conscious or unconscious. Now ...
come."
They looked to MacGyver and Carter. MacGyver nodded and Carter said,
"It's okay. Go on."
Reluctantly, they followed Trato and a guard out.
The Banti'an woman looked at MacGyver and said, "So you are the O'Neill
... the Godslayer. I would have hoped that you had more meat on you, so
that more of us could share in more of your power at tomorrow's grand
feast."
"Wait a minute," Carter said. "You're going to *eat* him?"
"Of course," the woman replied. "He would never stay to protect us, so
we will take his power for ourselves in order to protect us from the
gods." She leered at him and said to Carter, "Enjoy him while you can,
Godslayer's woman. Tonight will be your last chance." Cackling, the old
woman left and the remaining guard followed her out, locking the door.
"Now what?" Carter asked.
"Change of plan," MacGyver said. "We still prepare everything, but since
they've separated us, the timing is different and we're gonna need the
flint tools after all. We can think about it while we work. You want
the gunpowder or the flint?"
"I know the formula so I'll mix the gunpowder," she replied. "You can do
the caveman bit."
"Ugh," MacGyver said with a smile.
Later in the night, Mac was finishing up the edge on a second flint hand
axe while Carter, having completed the gunpowder mix an hour earlier, was
almost finished loading it into small ceramic bottles that she had found
on a shelf. She was using strips of a handkerchief, soaked in wine and
embedded with gunpowder, as fuses. The two finished within seconds of
each other. While they had worked, they went over the different plans
they'd come up with, trying to plan for different situations and looking
for ways to improve their odds. Finally, they decided they had done all
they could.
Mac added more wood to the fire, watching the smoke escape through a hole
in the roof.
"I'm sorry we dragged you into this," Carter said. "I mean, we risk our
lives all the time ... it's what we do. But you ...."
"It's okay, Carter. I could've said no."
"I think I'd prefer it if you called me Sam. Or Samantha. Every time
you call me Carter, I have to stop and tell myself that you're not really
Col. O'Neill."
"Samantha," MacGyver said slowly. "Okay. I can do that."
"So," Sam said, suddenly embarrassed, "how *did* you meet the general?"
"Ah. I can't tell you. That one is *still* classified. Mind if I ask a
question, now?"
"Sure."
"What's the deal between you and Jack O'Neill?"
"What do you mean?" Sam asked.
"Heck, I've never even met the guy and I can tell there's *something*
between you two. I'm just not sure what it is."
"It's ... complicated. If we weren't both in the Air Force, serving in
the same command, I'm not sure what would happen. Well ... maybe I do.
We've encountered a few alternate realities where our doubles were
involved ... even married. But in *this* reality, regulations forbid
that kind of relationship. So, neither of us can act on anything we
might be feeling. And whatever we do feel, those feelings are more
secret than the Stargate."
"Alternate realities?"
Sam laughed. "Yeah ... that was strange."
"Okay," Mac said. "I'm not sure I can believe the alternate reality
business a hundred per cent, but now I understand. When you look at me,
you keep seeing him."
The silence lay between them for a long while.
"That's not completely true," Sam said eventually.
MacGyver looked up at that but remained silent, letting Sam either
continue or drop it.
"I never thanked you for saving me. I owe you my life."
"We're a team on this one," Mac said. He looked up through the hole in
the roof. "And as for owing me something, I think we're even. I've been
all over Earth and seen its stars from a hundred places. When I look up
from here, the stars are different and I'm reminded that I really am on
another planet. Whatever happens tomorrow, I don't regret this." He
lowered his eyes and found that Sam had moved next to him while he was
speaking.
"And I don't regret this," she said as she moved in and kissed him.
A long moment later, MacGyver said, "This is a bad idea. I'm not Jack
O'Neill."
Sam pulled back. "I know that." Her thoughts raced. "But you're right.
We really should get some sleep." She moved to the other side of the
fire and lay down.
"Samantha," MacGyver said some time later.
"Mac?"
Whatever else he was going to say, he changed his mind. "Pleasant
dreams."
"You too," Sam replied.
They were both a long time finding sleep.
* * * * *
MacGyver and Carter awoke at first light and each took half the gunpowder
and one of the flint axes. Mac wanted Carter to take the Swiss Army
Knife, but she insisted that he might need it if he had to go through
with the third trial, so he acquiesced. Shortly after that, Trato
arrived with Teal'c. Jonas was nowhere to be seen. The major and the
troubleshooter nodded to each other. They knew which plan they would be
using now. Teal'c was pushed through the door.
"Godslayer," Trato said, "you will come with me for the third trial."
"Y'know, Ipua ... can I call you Ipua? I'm not sure I should bother
playing your game. I mean, if you're just gonna eat me if I prove I'm
your Godslayer, why should I prove it?"
"That is up to you, Godslayer ... but the lives of your followers depend
upon you. If you *are* the Godslayer, they will be sent back through the
Chiapa Eye. If you are a false savior, then you ... and they ... will be
cast into the mountain's fire."
"Ah," Mac replied. He looked at Carter and Teal'c, then turned back to
Trato and said, "Let's get this over with."
"Good luck to you, O'Neill," Teal'c said.
Sam came up to him and kissed him forcefully. Teal'c's eyebrow rose
inquiringly and one of the Banti'ans snickered. "For luck," she said.
After a second's pause, she added, "Sir," and saluted.
Mac, nonplussed for a moment, recovered and saluted. "Thank you, Major,
Teal'c."
Trato motioned for MacGyver to exit the hut and he did so. Watched by
more Banti'ans than he'd seen to this point, he was escorted out of the
village in silence. He hoped the crowds wouldn't be a problem.
Once they'd cleared the edge of the village, he said, "Y'know ... I'd be
willing to bet that our world would be happy to provide you with the
means to defend yourselves against the Goa'uld. Wouldn't weapons and
defensive technology be better than eating one man?"
Trato shook his head. "Weapons are worthless without the spirit to stand
against the gods. My people do not possess such spirit. After we take
your power, then we may talk with your world about ways to defend
ourselves against the gods."
"Well, I doubt they'd be willing to trust you after you kill me."
"Then we will use the Chappa'ai and find others."
"You really intend to go through with this, don't you?" MacGyver asked
him, already knowing the answer.
"Of course, Godslayer. Would you not do as much for *your* people?"
Mac was silent after that. He wanted to hate Trato and the Banti'an
people but he couldn't. They were doing what they thought they had to do
in order to survive. They were just too set in their ways and rituals
for him to reason with them. He just hoped they didn't have to hurt too
many Banti'ans when they made their move.
At the crossroad marker, they took the one path they hadn't used yet,
walking toward the volcano. After another fifteen minutes of walking,
Mac started to worry that the plan might fall apart if he got too far
away from Carter and Teal'c, but he soon saw their destination and
breathed a sigh of relief. The plan was intact.
Then he saw the wall. It was made of stone, nearly ten feet tall and had
no visible gate he could see. Worse, there were vents from the volcano
in the area. "This can't be good," he murmured to himself.
Trato led him around to one side and MacGyver saw that the wall extended
in a semicircle from the rock face. Near one end, there was a set of
stone steps leading to the top of the wall, flanked by two Banti'ans.
Trato pointed to the steps and said, "Climb."
Mac climbed the steps and paused at the top. There was a crude ladder
going down into the enclosed area. Looking down, he saw Jonas. He
wavered a moment and grabbed the top of the wall until the vertigo
passed. "Darn it, I thought I'd beaten that," he whispered.
"What is wrong, Godslayer?"
He wasn't about to let the Banti'ans know that he hated heights so he
said, "I'm assuming you want me to go down there."
"Yes, Godslayer. Once you are there, we will explain the trial."
Mac climbed down the ladder. Once he was off it, Trato pulled it up.
"Okay, Trato, here we are. What do you expect me to do now? Fly us
out?"
The Banti'an ignored the comment. "In a few moments, we will loose a
river of fire from Pele's mountain. Either you or your servant will be
able to survive by raising the other to the top of the wall. The one who
remains will die. We must know what kind of man the Godslayer is. You
will choose which of you lives and which of you dies." He started to
climb down the stone steps. "Choose, Godslayer."
"Why do I keep getting into these situations?" MacGyver asked the
universe.
"I don't know Ma ... Colonel," Jonas replied.
"Y'know what, Jonas? Forget it. No more pretending. Call me Mac." He
walked to the wall and started inspecting it. "The Banti'ans can't see
us in here, can they?" he asked quietly.
"No," Jonas replied equally quietly. From what I heard, the idea is that
there should be no outside influence to affect your choice ... no way for
them to tell you which decision means you're the Godslayer and which
means you're not."
"And no way for them to know if we decide to go for what's behind door
number three," Mac said thankfully.
Not understanding the game show reference, Jonas said, "Uh, Mac? There's
no door."
"Not yet," MacGyver replied, taking the tools and gunpowder bottles out
of his pockets. He gave Jonas the Swiss Army Knife and pointed to a spot
in the wall. "I'm giving us a third choice. Here ... the mortar looks
weak here and a few small, well placed explosions should open up the wall
enough for us to get away. Dig out two holes here ... and here, barely
large enough to hold these two bottles. I'll work on this side," he
added, holding up the flint axe.
Jonas began digging. "What about Major Carter and Teal'c?"
"When they hear the noise we're gonna make, that's when they'll make
their move."
A moment later, Jonas looked up from the hole he was digging out.
"MacGyver? There's a stream of lava heading toward us."
Mac looked up. Sure enough, there it was. "River of fire. Right. At
least we won't have any trouble lighting the fuses." At Jonas's
perplexed look, he added, "I'd say we've got about four minutes. Dig
faster."
Three minutes later, they finished the last of the holes and were
carefully placing the gunpowder-filled bottles.
"Okay," Mac said, "this next part could be tricky. I want to wait until
the lava gets into this area. I can use the lava to light a boot lace
and use the boot lace to light the four fuses. Hopefully, they'll all
blow close to each other and open a hole for us to get out. The lava
will flow out the hole behind us and further distract the Banti'ans while
we head straight for the Stargate. Samantha and Teal'c will meet us
there." He looked around. "Any questions?"
"Just one," Jonas said.
"Yeah?"
Jonas smiled and pulled a small object from his pocket. "Do you want to
use this lighter to light the fuses instead?"
Mac looked embarrassed and then grinned. "Uh ... yeah," he said.
"That'll work, too." He took the lighter. "Stand about three feet to
the side. The way the powder was loaded, the explosions shouldn't come
outward any further than that."
"The lava's almost here," Jonas said. "By the way," he added as they
waited for the lava to reach the right point, "did you and Major Carter
...?"
"What? Samantha and me? No. No. Why do you ask?" Mac said quickly, a
little too quickly, Jonas thought.
"Oh ... nothing. It's just that you're calling her 'Samantha' instead of
'Carter' so I was wondering ...."
"Nothing happened," Mac said definitively.
"If you say so," Jonas said. His face showed humor and his tone implied
he thought Mac was less than truthful, but he let it drop.
"We don't have time for this," MacGyver said, eyeing the lava flow.
"Ready?"
"Ready," Jonas said, nodding, focusing on the matter at hand.
MacGyver lit the four fuses, then quickly backed away. The fuses burned
quickly. One of the bottles blew first. The other three blew a moment
later. Mac was first through the hole. The Banti'ans outside were
stunned. Mac knocked one cold with a roundhouse punch, falling to the
ground with the follow through even as the Banti'an went down. He got to
his hands and knees and tackled a second Banti'an. He landed a right
cross to the man's jaw, putting him down. Trato ran up and pointed a Zat
at him but before he could say anything, a burst of electrical energy
enveloped the Banti'an and he collapsed. He turned and saw Jonas
lowering a Zat he'd taken from one of the others.
"Thanks," MacGyver said, cradling his hand and wishing he'd thought of
using the Zat instead of punching people. The sound of a distant
explosion broke his train of thought. "That'll be the others. Let's get
to the Stargate." He took Trato's Zat, saying to himself, "It's not a
real gun. It just stuns people." He almost believed it.
The two of them ran down the path. They reached the crossroads first and
heard Zat fire coming from the village path. He and Jonas looked at each
other and simultaneously agreed to wait. They took up positions of cover
and waited. They didn't have to wait long.
Sam and Teal'c raced into the crossroads and each dodged as a Zat
discharge went just between them. The pursuing Banti'ans came racing up
the path. Sam and Teal'c turned and fired. At the same time, from
cover, Jonas and MacGyver fired as well. Three Banti'ans fell and the
rest dived for cover. Sam and Teal'c turned and aimed but luckily
avoided firing.
"Fancy meeting you here," MacGyver said.
"Indeed," Teal'c said as he fired at one of the bolder Banti'ans, felling
him. "Major Carter told me we were supposed to meet at the Stargate."
"We thought we'd lend you a hand," Jonas explained.
"Time to go," Sam said firing her Zat at a Banti'an who had poked his
head out, forcing him to duck again. The four of them ran for the
Stargate.
A few minutes later, they reached the clearing around the Stargate. Two
Banti'ans were standing guard. Teal'c and Sam fired, dropping them in
their tracks.
"Jonas, dial us home," Sam said.
As he started dialing, he asked, "What about the iris?"
Sam produced the signalling device. "Teal'c and I liberated this from
the hut where they'd kept our gear. It's why so many of the Banti'ans
are kinda mad at us."
Before Jonas finished dialing, the Gate activated. "Incoming!' he yelled
as the wormhole whooshed out from the Stargate. At the same time, Zat
fire came from the trees. The four took cover.
MacGyver said to himself, "Next time, MacGyver, don't open the damned
door."
"Teal'c," Sam called, "you watch the Gate. Mac, you and Jonas fire into
the trees. Don't worry about hitting anyone. Just make them keep their
distance." She turned and trained her Zat on the Stargate.
As the first person exited the wormhole, Sam yelled, "Teal'c! Hold your
fire! Colonel! We're taking fire from the trees!"
The real Jack O'Neill fired a burst into the trees. As SG-8 and SG-3
emerged from the Gate, he barked orders and they began to lay down
covering fire. The second the Stargate deactivated, he yelled, "Carter!
Dial home!"
Sam moved to the DHD, quickly entered the seven symbols and hit the red
activation dome. The wormhole opened again and she sent the necessary
code.
O'Neill fired another burst at one of the more daring Banti'ans. "SG-1,
you're up! Get out of here!"
Sam raced through the Stargate, dodging Zat fire. Teal'c and Jonas
entered almost side by side. MacGyver paused when he reached O'Neill and
the two of them looked at each other for a moment, then both shook
themselves.
"You, too," O'Neill said. "Get out of here."
Mac nodded and ran through the Stargate. He stumbled on the other side
and half fell, half rolled down the access ramp. Jonas helped him to his
feet. Over the next minute, the two SG teams came through. O'Neill was
the last one through. As he stepped through, a staff blast just missed
his head and impacted against the far wall.
"Close the iris!" General Hammond ordered from the control room.
"Disengage the wormhole."
"You don't suppose they're gonna try to follow us?" MacGyver asked.
"I hope not," Sam said. There were no telltale *thunk* sounds before the
wormhole disengaged. "Looks like they decided not to follow."
"SG-1, MacGyver, welcome back," General Hammond said.
* * * * *
After they had all been checked out by the medical staff and debriefed by
General Hammond, MacGyver and O'Neill disappeared into a conference room
and locked the door. Eventually, the rest of SG-1 found themselves
waiting outside the door.
"They've been in there for an hour," Sam said. "What could they be
talking about?"
"I seem to recall that you had a great many questions whenever you met
your own double," Teal'c said.
"Yeah," Sam said, "but Mac *isn't* the Colonel's double. They just
happen to look a lot alike."
Jonas was quiet, writing in his notebook, waiting.
The sound of the door unlocking brought them all to their feet.
MacGyver, who was dressed in his jeans and leather jacket, carrying his
overnight bag, emerged first. He paused, then said, "Hello."
Jack followed him out. "Something we can do for you?" he asked.
"We, uh ..." Sam began.
"General Hammond said he wants to speak to MacGyver before he leaves,"
Teal'c said.
Mac looked at O'Neill and shrugged. No one moved.
"Oh, fer cryin' out loud," Jack said. "This way." He began walking down
the hallway. MacGyver walked after him and the rest of SG-1 followed.
General Hammond was waiting in the briefing room. As O'Neill and
MacGyver entered, he said, "Come in. Sit down." As the rest of SG-1
reached the doorway, Hammond shook his head, knowing how hard it was the
break those four up. "The rest of you might as well come in, too," he
said with a small amount of humor in his voice.
"General," MacGyver said, "it's been quite a ride."
"The ride doesn't have to end, son," the general said.
"I ... what?"
"From what I've heard in the debriefing, you saved SG-1's lives and
showed your usual level of resourcefulness ... a resourcefulness that we
could use here at the SGC. I've been authorized to offer you a permanent
position in the program. You'd be travelling with one of the SG teams
through the Stargate, helping to evaluate the societies and technologies
we encounter."
"That's great," Jonas said.
"You would make a fine addition to the SGC," Teal'c said.
Sam and Jack were quiet, so MacGyver asked, "Colonel, Major, what do you
two think?"
"It'd be strange," Jack said, "but I suppose as long as you don't go
around impersonating me any more, it sounds like a good idea."
"Hey," MacGyver said, "once was enough ... Godslayer. It's too hard
pretending to be you."
Jack gave him a sardonic look then shook his head. Glancing up, he said,
"What do you think, Carter?"
"If it's what he wants, then I'm all for it," she said carefully. She
looked at Mac. "Is it what you want?"
MacGyver considered, but he already knew his answer. "I don't think so.
All of this is amazing, but I like my life. I like spending time with my
son. I like working on environmental issues to help make sure *this*
planet will be supporting us for a long time." Jack seemed relieved, so
he couldn't resist adding, "Still, if you ever need me, y'know, for a
single trip, let me know."
General Hammond smiled. "We'll keep that in mind. And we can trust you
never to mention any of this outside of this facility?"
MacGyver nodded. "I still know how to keep a secret, George."
Hammond stood up and the rest of them followed suit. "It was good to see
you again, Mac." He extended his hand and Mac shook it.
"Any time," Mac said. "I still owe you one."
"I think at this point *I* owe *you* one," Hammond replied.
"I'd settle for a meal before I go," Mac said. "I'm starving."
The general laughed. "Sure. If one of you wouldn't mind taking him down
to the commissary?" he asked the members of SG-1.
"I'll do it," Jonas said when no one else spoke up immediately.
"A car will be waiting to take you to the airport whenever you're done,"
Hammond said to MacGyver. "And thank you."
Mac nodded. "Good-bye, George."
Jonas led MacGyver to the commissary, leaving the rest of SG-1 behind.
After MacGyver had been given a plate of Oriental mixed vegetables, which
Jonas decided to sample as well, they sat down to eat. After the first
bite, Mac was sure the vegetables had never even *heard* of the Orient,
but he was too hungry to care.
"I'm surprised you're not staying with the SGC," Jonas said about halfway
through.
"It was tempting," MacGyver said, "but that last firefight by the
Stargate was what really convinced me. I don't think I could kill
someone else, and from what I've heard and seen, it seems like I'd be
forced to do that sooner or later ... if I stuck around."
"I think I understand," Jonas said. "And you're probably right. I've
done things I never expected to do. Being here can change you." They
were silent for a while, finishing their meals. "I just thought you
might have stayed because of Major Carter."
"Are all of your planet's people this direct?" MacGyver asked him.
"Actually, most of them are adept at lying and conspiring. My
'directness' is one of the reasons I'm here instead of there. So?"
"So?"
"Major Carter?"
MacGyver rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm not the kind of person who
makes life altering decisions based on a potential relationship with
someone. Now can we drop it?"
"Sure," Jonas said. "No problem. I'll walk you out."
As they left the commissary, they ran into O'Neill and Teal'c.
"Teal'c, it was a pleasure to meet you."
The Jaffa nodded. "Fare well, MacGyver. It was an honor to serve with
you."
Teal'c and Jonas looked expectantly at Jack. "What?" he asked them.
After a moment, he turned to MacGyver and held out his hand. "Thanks for
filling in ... and for not getting my people killed."
Mac took the offered hand. "Just keep saving the planet and we'll call
it even," he said.
Jack smiled at that one, then said, "Deal."
Mac nodded, then he and Jonas continued to the surface. He didn't see
Sam anywhere.
At the HMMV, Jonas said, "It was good to meet you, MacGyver."
"I'd say I hoped to see you around, but that doesn't seem too likely,
does it?"
"Not really," Jonas replied. "Have a safe trip."
The HMMV pulled away.
The trip to the plane was uneventful. He took one last look around the
base and then boarded the jet. He found Carter sitting in one of the
seats, an overnight bag stored on the seat across the aisle.
She looked up. "I have a few days' leave and thought I might spend it at
the beach. I spotted a Bed-and-Breakfast about two blocks from your
place."
Mac looked at her measuringly. He walked over, stored his own bag and
then took the seat opposite her. "Yeah ... Stonetree's place. I know
the owner. It's nice."
"That's good," Sam said. "Do you know any restaurants I should try?"
"A couple," Mac replied. "It depends on what you like."
"Great. I'd like to buy you dinner ... as a sort of thank you ... for
saving my life."
"That's not necessary, y'know. I ...."
"I know," Sam interrupted him. "I want to."
Mac paused before responding. "You *know* that he ...."
Sam put her fingers over Mac's lips. "I know," she said. "Secrets ...
remember? So, how about dinner?"
Mac was silent for a long time, then he said, "Sure. You like
Vegetarian? I know a place with a *great* vegetarian lasagna. They
...."
They talked about restaurants all the way to the coast.
* * * * *
A week later, there was a knock at the door. Sam had returned to the SGC
a few days earlier.
"It's open!" Mac called.
"Hey, Dad. How's it going?"
"I'm in the kitchen, SAM. You're just in time for lunch. When'd you get
back?"
"Late last night," he said, coming around the corner. "I just wanted to
stop by and ... Dad! What happened to your head?"
MacGyver ran a hand through his still-short hair. "I thought I needed a
change. What do you think?"
"It's ... uh ... short."
"Yeah," Mac grinned ruefully. "It's not really me, is it?"
"Not really. If we're eating, I need to wash up. You can tell me about
it over lunch."
"Take your time ... lunch can wait." He watched his son go into the
bathroom and caught sight of himself in the hallway mirror. He looked
into the mirror, remembering Samantha. "Not really me at all," he said
to his reflection, "but I'm glad I answered the door. Good luck, you
two."
THE END