samandjack.net

Story Notes: Email: nev_files@hotmail.com

Synopsis: A mission goes wrong...

Warnings: This one has it all (well just about). Angst, drama, romance, character death(in the next bit). May contain spoilers, but I can't remember which ones.

Author's notes: This one was written in response the Ness' 1999 Killing Challenge...major kleenex alert!! Many thanks to all my beta readers for all their help. Hope you enjoy it! * * indicates thoughts

Archive: Heliopolis, SJ Archive, my site.


The wormhole disengaged behind SG-1 as they stepped onto the dais in front of the Gate. P9J-863 was a desert world, much like Abydos. The shifting sands were a pale yellow, fine grit that somehow managed to find it’s way down the back of every one’s shirt and into the boots in under ten minutes. His MP-10 at the ready, Jack scanned the sandy wastes, saying, "OK campers, fan it out. Daniel, see any interesting rocks?"

Daniel rolled his eyes, but still answered, "Jack, they’re artifacts, not rocks." Sighing, he wandered north over a small dune in search of any signs that indicated the presence of civilization. Teal’c, knowing what Daniel was like when he found something interesting, followed, his staff weapon ready as always. That left the Colonel with Major Carter.

At the moment, she was busy scanning the horizon for any hostile movement along the ridge. Satisfied that there was no threat, she unclipped her pack and began running soil analysis tests He wandered over to her and knelt down beside her, his eyes automatically searching for movement.

He absently asked, "Find anything useful Carter?"

Sam’s eyebrows showed over the rims of her sunglasses. *The Colonel taking an interest in a soil sample? Must be the heat.* She replied, "Not really, sir." She glanced at the column of figures emerging from the readout. "It shows a lot of sulfur for this type of desert though." She paused as the rest of the scan print out emerged. Quickly flicking over the squiggles with a practiced eye, she noted something out of place. Looking at Jack, she said excitedly, "It also seems as though there is an abnormally large amount of Naquadah in the sand sir." She scooped a small plastic container full of sand and placed it into her test kit. She was reaching for a laser chromatograph when their radios crackled.

Daniel’s excited voice came through, "Jack, Sam, I think you should see this!"

Sighing, Jack stood up and offered his hand to Sam, who took it, saying, "Such a gentleman, Colonel."

His reply was a textbook O’Neill response, "Well Major, that depends on who you ask."

Receiving a chuckle from the Major, they repacked the scientific gear and headed over the ridge to where Daniel waited impatiently.

Grabbing Jack eagerly by the arm, he led them inside what appeared to be a small cave mouth, concealed by the back of a sand dune. Once inside, it was immediately obvious that it was not a natural cave. Hidden lights flickered on as they crossed the threshold, coming from somewhere behind the walls. The weird blue light cast no shadow, but caused a script of some kind to appear on a pedestal in the center of the room. The pedestal was about one meter high, circular in shape. The script resemble the Egyptian Demotic, but had a number of Greek characters in it, which seemed to both confuse and delight Daniel, who was excitedly filming every square inch of it. He reached out almost reverently to touch the pedestal, and jumped back when the top of it slid open silently, to reveal a carved stone container.

The same script on the pedestal was engraved on the stone. Daniel reached out to touch the stone, but Jack stopped him, "Daniel," The Colonel put a rising note at the end of Daniel’s name, the warning clearly evident in his voice. "Do you think that’s a good idea? They might object to you touching one of their holy things."

He got no farther before the ground began to shake violently. Daniel lost his footing and fell to the floor, his head hitting it with a thump. The video camera dropped to the floor as well, still recording.

Jack saw the stone bouncing it’s way across the top of the pedestal and tried to reach it before it fell. He dove for it as it reached the edge. His fingers grazed it’s surface an instant before it connected with the floor, cracking along the middle and revealing a hollow core. Nobody noticed the flicker of shadow that crossed from the stone box to Jack an instant before the lights died.

The shaking subsided and Jack stood up groggily, bleeding from a small scalp wound caused by a falling rock. He flicked his torch on and swept the beam around the cave floor. The beam fell on Sam, her still form laying in the corner. Jack dragged himself over there as fast as he could, fearing the worst. Rolling her over, he cupped her face in his hands as he shook her gently.

"Sam," worry etched his face as he waited for a response. "Sam, wake up." She groaned as her eyes flickered open, meeting his brown ones. Jack brushed a stray wisp of hair from her face as he said, "You OK?"

Sam smiled and nodded, wincing as she remembered her sore skull. Seeing the sudden flash of concern on her CO’s face, she said, "Really sir, I’m OK...the Air Force may have a lot of things wrong, but they do know how to make a helmet." She reached up under the helmet and touched a sore spot. Wincing again, she continued, "I’ll have a bump, apart from that, there’s nothing wrong."

Jack helped her slowly to her feet, sweeping the torch beam once more around the room. Seeing the as yet unmoved form that was SG-1’s whipping boy, Jack leant Carter against the wall and went to see how Daniel was.

Kneeling down next to Jackson, Jack felt the large, silent Teal’c approach from behind. Jack looked up at him and said, "Well, I think Danny’s gonna need Doc Frasier’s help with this one. Better get him back to base ASAP."

His face as expressionless as ever, the Jaffa replied, "I agree O’Neill. Daniel Jackson must be returned immediately." Never even showing a flicker on his face, Teal’c bent down and picked the fallen archaeologist up effortlessly. With Jack helping the still-groggy Major, and Teal’c carrying the unconscious archaeologist, they left the cave and returned to the Gate.

Jack punched in Earth’s coordinates while Sam sent the G.D.O through.

Teal’c stepped through the event horizon first, Jack holding his arm out for Sam, saying, "Ladies first..."

Sam smiled at his slightly mocking tone and went through. Jack paused before entering. He turned and looked back the way they had come, a brief wave of nausea washing over him. Just for an instant, before he moved into the activated wormhole, hid eyes pulsed an ugly, glowing red.



*****



"We need a medic down here!!!" Jack’s bellow echoed around the ‘Gate room as the wormhole disengaged behind him. He turned to face one of the doors as a medical crew came in at the double. They had taken to being on standby whenever SG-1 was on a mission, since they usually came back either followed by angry Jaff’a, looking like they had gone ten rounds Mike Tyson, or both.

They placed Daniel on a gurney with practiced efficiency, one of them checking his pupils before he was even laid down. Jack sent Carter with the doctors as they left, heading for the sick bay. He turned to glance up at the control room, where General Hammond stood, the concern for his best team evident even from that distance.

The General picked up a microphone, speaking into it. "Colonel O’Neill, debriefing in thirty, if you’re up to it."

Jack threw him a weary salute as he and Teal’c headed off to the sick bay for the routine post-mission checkup, pausing only to dump their packs.



*****



Jack sat on the clean, white sheets of one of the beds in the sick bay, complaining loudly. "Ow! Doctor, do you have to do that?" His expression of petulant irritation caused Janet to smile inwardly. Outside, however, she remained stern. She picked up a needle, flicking the tip with one fingernail before pushing it into Jack’s arm slowly.

"Colonel O’Neill," she said, "You know as well as I do that we all need to go through these tests. Now sit still or I’ll se that you come in here tomorrow as well for some more." Sighing, Jack decided that getting in a final comment wasn’t worth the risk.

Janet withdrew the syringe, now filled with Jack’s blood. She placed it on a tray next to her and picked up a penlight. Turning it on, she flicked the beam into the Colonel’s eyes. Jack felt a small wave of nausea wash through him as the light hit his eyes. Janet frowned as Jack’s irises started expanding and contracting wildly.

Seeing her the look on her face, Jack asked, "What? What’s wrong?"

Janet turned the penlight off and reached for another instrument, saying, "Well Colonel, you seem to be having some difficulties with your eyes. I’m going to have to keep you in here overnight for observation." She glanced back at him. Before he could voice what was on his mind, she answered for him, "And yes, I’m sure about that, no arguments." She handed him a tasteless green surgical gown and ushered him over to a bed, drawing the curtains closed to give him some privacy while he changed.

As Jack emerged, Teal’c asked, "Doctor Frasier, how are Major Carter and Daniel Jackson?"

Janet wheeled a tray full of glistening surgical tools away while she answered, "Well, the Major has a mild concussion, and a lump or two. Dr. Jackson, on the other hand, will be in here for at least another two days. He has some concussion, a sprained wrist, and a cracked rib."

Feeling more than slightly stupid in the gown, Jack said,

"Well, looks like ol’ Danny has stayed true to form then. Is he awake yet?"

Janet held the door open for them as they left, saying, "Yes he is Colonel. You know where his room is?"

Jack turned, a half-amused expression on his face. "The usual?"

"You got it. 316a, where he always is."

Jack headed off towards Daniel’s room, complaining to Teal’c about the surgical gown as he went.



*****



The door opened suddenly, Jack and Teal’c moving quickly over to Daniel’s bedside. "How are ya Danny?"

Daniel’s eyes flickered open. When he saw who it was, he answered, "Not much worse than usual, Jack." He paused, thinking for a moment. "Did you remember the camcorder?"

"Yes Daniel, we still have your rocks on tape." Seeing Daniel draw breath to utter the standard reply, Jack said, "And yes, Daniel, I know they’re called ‘artifacts’, but we can wait until you’re better before we argue about that." He looked up as Sam opened the door, a bandage around her head, making her hair stick up crazily. A mixed look of sardonic humor and concern crossed Jack’s face as he said, "How’s the head, Major?"

Sam gave him a half smile as she moved over to the bedside, saying, "Feels like I’ve been out all night drinking." Her eyes noted the surgical gown Jack was wearing, before she said, "What did Janet have to say to you?"

Sighing, Jack rolled his eyes as he answered, "Something about my pupils not being right. So I’m stuck in here overnight for ‘observation’, which means being a pincushion, I guess."

A teasing smile settled on Sam’s lips as she said, "Aw, my poor little Colonel."

Jack raised his eyebrows. He had seen the flicker of concern in here eyes just before she covered it up. *She’s learning some of my tricks now…Who’d have thought she could hide so well behind sarcasm?*

She saw his surprise, her unspoken reply hanging in the air between them. *I had a good teacher.*

Daniel, aware that something had just happened, but unsure what it was, looked at their faces. Seeing the slightly vague, distant expression, his irrepressible curiosity coming out. Before he could say something about it, they both seemed to shake themselves back to earth.

Jack reached out and affectionately ruffled Daniel’s hair, saying, "Well, Daniel, since you’re all right, I guess I’d better be getting some sleep."

Sam glanced at her watch in surprise. Realizing that it was 10:30 already, she stood up as well. "G’night Daniel. Sleep well." Sam turned to face Teal’c. The big Jaffa had not moved since he had entered the room, still standing at the side of the bed, his hands clasped behind his back. "Teal’c, are you going to get some sleep tonight?"

Teal’c glanced at the now-sleeping form in the bed. Raising his eyes once more to the blonde Major, he said, "I will remain, Major Carter." His sole concession to spending the night by the bedside was to pull up a chair and sit down. Sam smiled to herself as she left the room.

As she was closing the door, she heard Teal’c deep voice saying softly "Daniel Jackson, I would appreciate it if you would not do this so often. I was very concerned." Sam shut the door with a faint click.



*****



Jack leaned against the wall, feeling a wave of sickness wash across him. So intent was he on not throwing up, he was unprepared for the attack that came from inside his head. He didn’t even have time to react before everything was covered in a red haze and he felt his control of his body suspended. Hearing a faint click behind him, he saw himself raise his hand to his forehead, rubbing at the temples.

"Are you all right sir?" Sam’s voice sounded worried.

*No Carter, I’m just fine! I’m stuck in my body, and I have no control over it. Things are just peachy!* Somehow, this thought never got to his mouth. What came out was "I’m fine Major. Goodnight."

Startled at his abrupt reply, Sam stared as Jack turned and headed off down the corridor to his quarters. She had gone another ten paces before she realized that he was still wearing his surgical gown.



*****



"Sir? Colonel? Are you in there?" Sam knocked on the door to Jack’s quarters. She had hurried to them as soon as she remembered that he was supposed to be in observation tonight. She turned the door handle slightly and began to open the door. It had moved only a few centimeters before it was slammed closed so hard that it rattled Sam’s teeth. She froze as she heard the Colonel’s voice come from inside.

"Leave me, now!" The voice was undoubtedly Jack’s, but somehow different. It was harder, harsher than normal, and so cold that it gave her shivers down her spine. There was a slight distortion of the vowels that reminded her chillingly of the Goa’uld. Wasting no more time, she spun around, heading off to the infirmary as fast as she could go.



*****



Janet was cleaning up her desk, preparing to go home when she glanced at the bed in the observation room. *Why isn’t the Colonel in here yet?* She thought. She got no further before the door was slammed open, admitting the puffing, red cheeked form of Sam.

"Sam! What are you doing in here?" Janet’s startled exclamation caused Sam to raise her head, managing to pant out

"Come quick! Jack something wrong." She gasped for breath as Janet handed her a glass of water.

"Slow down Sam. Take some deep breaths. There now…what’s happened to the Colonel?"

Sam took a gulp of water before she settled herself, saying, "There’s something wrong with him. He had a headache when he left Daniel’s room, and went to his room. I knew that he should be in here tonight, so I went to his room to tell him, in case he had forgotten. He slammed the door in my face, and told me to leave."

Janet’s eyebrows shot up so high that they were almost lost in her fringe. "Why would he do that?"

"I have no idea, Janet, but he sounded sorta like a Goa’uld, only different."

Janet whipped around and saw the fear in Sam’s eyes. "Let’s go, Sam."

"Where?"

"The weapons cupboard, where else?" They ran to the ordinance section, removing some heave duty tranquilizer guns, loading them as they ran to Jack’s quarters.

They paused a few meters from Jack’s door, Sam holding up her hand for Janet to stop. The doctor looked at Sam, frowning, wondering why they had stopped.

"Janet, we need a plan. If we just burst in there, someone’s gonna get hurt."

Janet saw Sam’s eyes fill with worry. "We’ll only use as much force as is necessary Sam. What do you suggest?"

Carter only paused for a second before saying "I won’t say anything. I’ll open the door and move around him. You wait out here until I say ‘what the hell has gotten into you’, the you come in, and shoot him. Sound good to you?"

"Best plan we’re going to get on short notice. Let’s do it." They moved quietly over to the door. Sam slowly reached her hand out. Swiftly, she opened the door and stepped into the room. Jack stood with his back to the door, whipping around as soon as he heard it open. A feral grin locked itself onto his face as he saw who it was.

"I warned you once, Samantha I told you to get out." He started walking slowly, menacingly towards her, his hands outstretched. His voice sounded like nails being dragged across a blackboard, and his eyes had a faint reddish cast to them. The glow intensified as he slowed down, his outstretched arms shaking as he fought the creature inside him. With a shudder, his eyes went an inky black.

"I’m going to enjoy this. Hurting you will hurt him even more."

Sam edged her way around him, keeping close to the walls, the tranquilizer gun tucked in the small of her back. "Oh? I thought you were supposed to be in observation tonight sir." Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead as she continued her slow movement around the room.

Jack’s hollow, black eyes glinted in the dim light. "Since you insist, I think I’ll head down there when I’m done here. I have some unfinished business to attend to in there."

Sam noted that the door was now directly behind Jack. Raising her voice slightly, she said, "Jack, what the hell’s gotten into you?" Sam kept talking as she saw Janet’s figure step into the doorway, using her voice to cover the doctor’s footsteps. You’d think you were a Goa’uld the way you’re acting."

Janet raised the gun and fired, hitting Jack next to the spine. He spun around, preparing to attack the doctor, when Sam pulled out her gun as well. It took a further two shots to bring him down, the black film draining from his eyes as he hit the floor.



*****



Jack opened his eyes and groaned, trying to turn over. He tugged harder, wondering why he couldn’t move more than a few inches. Glancing at his wrists, he saw that they were tied tightly to the sides of the bed. A quick attempt at moving his legs told him that they were bound just as tightly.

Janet’s worried face came into focus above him, saying, "How are you, Colonel?"

Her words sounded to Jack like they came from a long way off, and he felt like he was wearing ear-muffs. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus his thoughts. Speaking around a tongue that felt like it was the size of a potato, he said "Wh’t h’ppn’d?"

He felt someone stroking his hand with their fingers. Rolling his head slowly, he saw a very worried Sam, absently running her thumbs across the back of his hand.

He threw her a small smile as Janet said "What was the last thing you remember, Colonel?"

Jack frowned, thinking. At last, his voice clearer, he said "Talking to Daniel. I checked my watch, and then…nothing, ‘til now." He looked at the doctor for a few seconds before continuing, "And why am I tied up like a Christmas turkey?"

Janet sighed to herself. *Well, I never expected this job to be easy. They didn’t teach you how to deal with this at med school, but who counted on something like this even existing?* Checking his pulse, she said, "Apparently, you’ve been possessed by something, probably from P9J-863. It took you over, and you tried to attack the Major."

Jack’s eyes flew around, looking at Sam. Before he could say anything, she said "It’s ok, Colonel, I’m fine."

"Anyway," Janet continued, "we managed to bring you down with some tranquilizers, and we’ve been keeping you sedated since then. You’ve been out for the whole night." She checked his pulse before holding a glass of water up to his lips for him to sip. She said, "You had us all worried, Colonel." She left the room to tell Daniel and Teal’c what had happened, leaving Sam and Jack alone.

Jack looked anxiously at Sam. "You sure I didn’t…"

Sam quickly cut him off, saying, "Honestly, sir, I’m perfectly fine."

Jack gave her a grateful smile before closing his eyes slowly. "I’m sorry Carter," he whispered, on the edge of sleep again. "I’m sorry for what I was going to do."

Sam brushed some hair from his forehead, her fingers lingering slightly longer than was necessary. "Sleep well, Jack." She took Jack’s hand in her own, linking her fingers with his, before she closed her own eyes, succumbing quickly to sleep.



*****



"Daniel," Janet’s voice was loud and firm as she stood above the stricken archaeologist, her hands on her hips. "You are not going back to P9J-863, no matter what. You are staying in that bed until I say you can get out of it, understood?" She glared fiercely at him.

Daniel held her steely glare for a few seconds before giving up. Waving his hands around, he gesticulated as he said, "Well, what am I supposed to do then? Just lay around all day while my best friend’s being held hostage in his own body by an alien?"

Janet sighed. *This isn’t going to be easy…* "Daniel, you can do whatever you want to help Colonel O’Neill, as long as you don’t get out of this bed, for any reason, do I make myself clear?"

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Yes Doctor." He thought for a split second, his eyes lighting up. "Can you bring a T.V in here? and my camcorder?"

Janet grinned at his enthusiasm, answering, "Yes, Daniel, we can. Just don’t over do it." She left the room, telling an orderly to organize Daniel’s T.V as she went.



*****



Daniel watched the tape from the camcorder again, searching for some hint as to how Jack had been possessed. He saw his hands stretch out, reaching for the stone box. The image went all shaky as the camcorder dropped to the floor. He heard the crash as the box hit the floor, shattering open. He only just caught the slight black flicker that crossed the screen before Jack rolled to his feet. Rewinding the machine, Daniel played it again slower. Again, the box broke. From the shards, a black shadow emerged, like a genie from a lamp. Daniel slowed the VCR even further. Frame by frame, he watched as the shadow seemed to sniff the air for a fraction of a second, before diving at Jack. Entering his open mouth, it disappeared, Jack’s eyes flashing an ugly red, fading almost before it was noticed.

Daniel excitedly reached over to the panel of instruments at the bedside, thumping the emergency button. Seconds later, Janet rushed into the room, followed by two more doctors. Seeing that Daniel was not in any immediate danger, Janet sent the other doctors to check on Jack.

Frowning at the linguist who was practically bouncing off the roof, she said, "What’s the matter Daniel?"

He pointed to the T.V screen excitedly. "Look at this Janet…" He rewound a few frames and let it play in slow motion.

Janet’s jaw almost hit the floor when she saw the thing enter the Colonel.

Grinning, Daniel said "I think we’ve found our alien!"

Shaking her head to clear away the shock, Janet asked, "Well, now we’ve found it, how do we get it out of him?"

Daniel frowned, scratching his had with his uninjured hand. "Can you bring me some paper and a pen? And some coffee?" Already, he had rewound the tape to the point where it showed the interior of the cave. His eyes were scanning the inscriptions on the pedestal.

Janet grinned and went to find Daniel some coffee.



*****



Sam looked up, her face tired and hollow. Janet walked into the room, a tight grin on her face. The grin faded as she took in Sam’s haggard appearance. "Sam, have you left his side since we brought him in?"

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her free hand, Sam shook her head.

Janet sighed again. Rolling her eyes, she said "Sam, am I going to have to order you to get some rest and a shower?"

Sam’s head jerked down to look at Jack, who had opened his eyes and muttered "She’s right, Sam, you need rest." He looked at Janet, wondering what she was doing in there again.

Seeing the question on his lips, Janet answered. "Well, Colonel, it seems like Daniel has discovered what you’ve got in you." She paused as both of them gave her their full attention, a rare occurrence when both of them were in the same room together. "He watched the video tape that he shot back on P9J-863. Something that looks like a shadow of some kind came out of that stone box when it hit the ground."

Jack looked puzzled for a second before his eyes rolled back into his head. He shuddered for an instant, his eyes coming back to their normal position. The red glow pulsed again, fading to the terrible blackness they possessed before they brought him into the infirmary.

"Supplicate, servos!" He jerked his arms furiously, trying to get free.

Sam pulled her hand away quickly, looking at Janet. The doctor checked the tubes and dials surrounding the struggling man. She pressed a button, allowing more sedative to flow into the drip attached to Jack’s arm. His eyes darted around the room, glaring angrily at the doctor.

"Ego Dominus Umbras sum. Supplicate!" His struggling subsided slightly as the sedative began to take effect.

Janet didn’t even need Sam to ask the question. She answered, a frown forming. "It seems that he’s becoming immune to the sedatives…I’ve upped the dosage, but I can’t keep on increasing it indefinitely."

Jack raised his head once more, obviously fighting the drugs.

"You have not beaten me! I can kill your friend at a moment’s notice!" A grin crossed Jack’s tormented face as the heart monitor next to the bed emitted the long, drawn out beep that signaled a heart failure. Instantly, four medics rushed into the room, wheeling the portable defibrillator with them. Janet picked up the paddles and smeared some clear gel on them, rubbing them together. She pulled the sheet down from around Jack’s chin and placed the paddles on his chest.

"Let’s give him 250 Joules" There was a rising whine as the machine charged up, before Janet said "Clear!" A jolt ran through Jack’s body, causing Sam to flinch in sympathy. Janet checked the monitor. "Try it again at 350." Again, Jack’s body convulsed as the current hit him. This time, a steady beep beep from the machine signaled the all clear. Placing the paddles back with the be-fib machine, Janet quickly checked all Jack’s vitals. Seeing that everything was steady, she turned to the medics, saying, "Let’s get him into the ICU. I want him on a heart-lung machine ASAP. Let’s stop this happening again, people." As the bed was wheeled out, Janet placed a comforting arm around Sam’s shoulders. She saw the tears that Sam was bravely trying to hold back. She drew a handkerchief out of her sleeve and handed it to her. "It’s ok, Sam, it won’t happen again." Janet said, rubbing up and down Sam’s back with her hand as the Major wiped her eyes. "We’ll fix him up."



*****



Daniel looked up from his frantic scribbling on the paper to see a bed go past his door at a jog, surrounded by doctors. As Janet went past with Sam, he called out, "Janet! What’s gong on?" He sat up as Janet saw who was calling, and started fiddling nervously with the pen held in his fingers.

Janet got a chair for Sam to sit in as Teal’c came in as well. The Jaffa looked at Janet, saying, "What has happened, Doctor Frasier?"

Janet cleared her throat before saying, "The Colonel woke up and shrugged off the effects of the sedatives. The alien took over, and said some things in another language, then told us that he could kill Jack at any moment. To prove it’s point, it stopped Jack’s heart." Before Daniel could respond, she continued, "He’s fine now, we managed to get his heart started again. He’s been moved to ICU for a while, and I’ve upped the dosage for his medication."

Daniel frowned, asking, "You said the alien spoke in another language…what did it sounds like?"

Janet frowned, thinking.

Sam coughed, then said, "Sounded something like ‘supplicants, servers," then something about umbrellas…"

Daniel rubbed his temples, thinking hard. After a moment, he said, "Umbrellas? Could it have said ‘Umbras’?"

"Yes, that’s it!"

Daniel snatched up a page of closely scrawled script from the table next to him. Showing the translation to the women and Teal’c, he said, "’Umbras’, it’s close to the Latin for ‘shadow’…That’d make sense." He rapidly scanned his writing, looking for something. He raised his eyes, looking at Sam as he ran the new translation through his head. "Here’s what I can translate at the moment…" He pointed to a picture of the box that the shadow was in, running his finger along the inscription as he said "’In this cask lies the Shadow Lord, trapped for all time. If he should ever be loosed, the only salvation is through the Lands of the Dead, and the Rites of Light’…Although I’m not sure about the last part, it seems as though we know what has taken over Jack. I think I have an idea about the ‘Rites’ they talk about too…"

Sam stood up and said, "Thank you Daniel." Before she left the room, heading for the ICU.

Janet was about to follow her, when Daniel grabbed her by the sleeve. "Doc, this is only going to take me a few hours, so you should get Jack prepared…"

"For what?"

"Well, if I’m right, or if this fails…" The silence hung in the air as Janet stood up slowly. Steeling herself, she thanked him, and left to break the news to Sam.



*****



Sam sat in the hard, plastic chair by the side of Jack’s bed, watching without much interest as the clock ticked it’s way through the day. Idly, she noted that she’d been in here for at least three hours. Stifling a sob, she crossed her arms, closed her eyes, and began to think.

*Life would be so much easier if he wasn’t so damned attractive.* A smile flickered across her lips as she remembered the twinkle in Jack’s eyes as he teased her.

A little voice spoke in her head saying, *So what, exactly, is the problem Carter?*

*The problem is that I like him too much, and he’s my CO.*

*So? You know he likes you, you’ve seen him watching you when he doesn’t think you’re looking.*

*He does not!*

*Huh!*

*Ok, so maybe he does…that doesn’t change the fact that he’s my CO. Remember the reg’s?*

*I bet if you smiled sweetly, the General would make an exception.*

*Well…*

*So? What’s your problem? You know how you feel.*

*Do I? How do I feel?*

*You love him, stupid, you just haven’t admitted it to yourself yet. Everyone else know about it though.*

*What!?!? Assuming, for a moment, that I do love him, how does everyone else know?*

*Oh, come on, Sam. There’s so much chemistry there you’d have to be blind not to notice.*

*Ok, ok, enough already! I’ll admit it. I love Jack O’Neill. Now what?*

*Tell him, silly.* Sam’s eyes snapped open as she heard Janet open the door. Sam blushed slightly as she caught Janet’s eye.

Janet just grinned, knowing what was going through the Major’s head. *And it’s about time too…I wondered how long it would take them.* She glanced at Jack, who opened his eyes. He looked at the door as General Hammond came in, followed by Teal’c, and Daniel, who was allowed out of bed for a short time, because it was necessary.

Janet ran her eyes over the graph at the foot of the bed before saying "Well, Colonel, it seems like we’ve found a possible cure for you."

His face broke into a grin, but it froze as Hammond said, "But there are some risks, son. If Doctor Jackson’s right, you could quite possibly not survive the cure. Or, it might not work at all."

Jack closed his eyes for a moment, thinking. When he opened them again, he said, "I’ll do it." He glanced at Carter. Seeing the look in her eyes, he continued, "Can I speak with the Major alone first please?"

The General placed a fatherly hand on Jack’s shoulder, murmuring, "Of course you can, Colonel." He left the room, taking the others with him.

Jack watched as the door closed behind them and waited a second or so before facing Sam. She took his hand in hers, giving him a brave half-smile as he sighed.

As he drew breath to say something, Sam cut him off. "Jack, there’s something I need to tell you, before you say anything."

Startled somewhat, Jack let the breath he had drawn out, nodding to her to continue. "You know that you mightn’t survive this, don’t you?" Again, Jack nodded, his throat closing slightly as he choked back tears. "Well, I just wanted you to know that I…" She swallowed, gathering her courage. "I know you’re my commanding officer and all, and you probably still care about Sarah, but I wanted you to know that I love you…If anything goes wrong." Sam blinked the tears out of her eyes, looking down into Jack’s. "It can take something like this to make us realize how much someone means to us, and then, it’s usually too late. I want you to know…Jack" Jack gazed up into her red-rimmed eyes, his heart hammering in his chest. "You know I’ve been attracted to the lunatic fringe, but I fell for you before I knew you were out there. When I looked into your eyes at our first briefing, I saw pain, and a steel wall, and I saw hope. As I learnt more about you, I saw the hope flare, and the walls come down. You fascinated me. I wanted to get inside you, find out what made you tick, and when I got there, I didn’t want to leave. I I feel like I’m a part of you, and I don’t want to lose you."

"Sam," She closed her eyes, her heart clenching within her. There was a silence for several seconds. When Sam opened her eyes, she saw Jack still looking at her, a small grin forming. "I wish you’d told me sooner…"

Sam leant down, brushing her lips against his, wishing that he could take her into his arms and tell her that it was all right, but he couldn’t. Jack drew a shuddering breath before meeting Sam’s gaze again.

"I love you too, you know." She was about to respond, when he continued. "But there’s more…" Seeing the confusion cross her face, he said, "If this doesn’t work, and that thing is still inside of me, I don’t want to live like this."

Sam cried out, "Jack, no! I couldn’t do that to you!"

Calming himself, he said, "Sam, please…I couldn’t bear living like that…never knowing what I will do next, strapped down, and drugged senseless. It would be kinder for me to die. Please Sam, do this for me…"

Her heart shriveling inside her, Sam laid her head down next to Jack’s and sobbed into his hair. Tears pouring down her cheeks, she choked back another sob, saying, "I will, only if there’s no other choice...none."

Jack swallowed tears of his own, placing a tender kiss on Sam’s temple. Sam lay on the bed for several minutes, her shaking subsiding. Eventually, she brushed some hair away from Jack’s forehead, running her fingers through his graying locks.

"I’d better get Daniel in here." She stood up, looking at him for a moment before going to the door. Wiping her eyes, she opened it, signaling for Daniel to come in.

Daniel came into the room wheeling a tray laden with items, saying to Sam, "Well, I’ve got everything I need… The Rites say that his can only be done with three people present, and, since I know that you won’t leave him, it’s up to us Sam."

Jack faced Daniel, his eyes calm. "Are you sure you know what you’re doing Daniel?"

Daniel swallowed before saying, "Um, I’m as sure as I can be Jack." He glanced at some notes he had taken outside. Moving quickly, he set up twelve candles around the bed, lighting each one in turn. He had glued all of the broken pieces of the stone cask together, leaving the two halves separate. Placing one half on either side of Jack’s head, he stepped back. He glanced at Sam. "I need you to make sure that none of the candles go out, Sam. If one does, light it again as quickly as possible." He went over to the light switch, flicked it off, and faced Jack in the half-light. "I’m about to begin, Jack. The Shadow Lord will try to take you over again. You must fight it. If you let it beat you, it will have complete control over you, forever." Daniel read over his notes one more time before he placed them on the tray and stepped back. He drew a deep breath and began reciting the Rites of Light in a deep, sonorous voice.

"Ego Pontifex Luxus sum, Dominus Umbras, vocoque adhic locus."

He spread his hands in the air above over Jack’s body, trembling as he struggled silently.

"In nomini Luxos, te iubeo hic corpus abii."

He closed his hands slowly, as if gripping something. A dark shadow pooled around the body as Jack opened his eyes. Swirling darkness, they focused on Daniel in hate and rage. A hoarse cry came from his lips, grating on Sam and Daniel’s ears as Jack writhed against the bonds holding him down.

"Id non faciebo!"

The heart rate monitor double it’s pace, Jack’s body twitching in time to the frantic beat. Daniel’s face hardened as he continued, sweating as he concentrated.

"Facebas! Abii hic corpus, habitateque in hanc arcula. Adhunc habitate longam, poste aeternam. Hic te iubeo, Dominus Umbras de Nomeniis Deorum Luxos! Abii!"

The candle flames lengthened and stilled, standing like glowing sentinels around the bed. Daniel spread his hands apart, clenching them into fists. His jaw tightened as Jack howled in agony.

Shaking, he said, "Fiat Lux!"

A soft, pale glow formed around his fists, covering them like gloves. He opened his hands and lowered the towards the blackness now hovering inches above Jack, who now lay quiet, agony still written on his face. Sinking his hands into the shadow, Daniel gripped the seemingly insubstantial shade which twisted in pain, it’s shriek now so high pitched that it was almost unheard. Struggling against the shade, Daniel moved his hands up to Jack’s head.

Bunching the darkness into a tight ball, he said, "Clause!"

A faint gust of wind whispered across the room, it’s touch bearing with it the smell of decay, an absence of hope. One candle wavered, then died. Sam jumped out of her seat so quickly that it fell to the floor. Picking up the box of matches, she struck one and touched the flame to the smoldering candle wick.

A long, drawn out ‘beeeeep’ echoed through the room, Jack’s body stilling.

The halves of the box one either side of Jack’s head lifted into the air, turning so that they faced each other. Thin beams of light came out of the edges, heading to the other half of the cask. As they neared the balled shadow, they slowed, almost stopping. The shadow began to grow, forcing the beams of light back. Finally, the candle caught again. As the flame spread upwards once more, the shadow contracted, recoiling from the light. Now enclosed behind bars of light, the shadow shrunk further as the halves of the box came together. Just before the edges touched, a faint wailing came from inside, growing softer as the cask closed. A flash of intense white light came from it as the edges touched.

Blinking rapidly to clear the fading purple after-image, Daniel glanced at the candles. As their light stretched towards the ceiling, all twelve of the flames spread out, forming a golden ring around Daniel and Jack. It contracted, rising over Daniel’s head and settled on Jack’s chest. It flowed over him like a sheet, molding to him. It flared once, before fading.

Sam immediately felt for a pulse in Jack’s neck. Tears falling down her cheeks, she placed her hands on his chest, starting CPR. Sobbing with each compression, Sam said, "Live, damn you! Live! Don’t leave me, Jack, please!"

Jack opened his eyes and coughed. Immediately, Sam took his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely, her hands undoing the ties that held him down. His arms wrapped around her as she buried her face in his neck, hugging him so tightly he felt like his ribs would crack, but he didn’t mind. Raising his eyes to Daniel, he mouthed the words "Thank you."

Daniel smiled wearily at the couple on the bed before heading tiredly outside to the waiting people at the door.



*****



Daniel and Sam stood facing each other in front of the opened Stargate, their hands touching the cold metal of the new cask. Jack held it in his hands, gazing into the event horizon. They had taken the cask and placed it into a box made from solid trinium, and welded the lid on. On the outside of the metal surface, they had engraved the Rites of Light, as well as a warning to all who saw it not to touch it. Finally, after many weeks searching, they had located a barren world, devoid of life, and whose local ‘Gate would only accept incoming objects. Now, they were about to send the Shadow Lord there, hopefully for eternity.

Jack drew a breath, his face creasing into a grin as he lifted the box and threw it at the event horizon. A sigh of satisfaction escaped his lips as the ‘Gate disengaged, sealing the Shadow Lord on his desolate world. They headed up to the surface of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, all happier that there was no chance of the shadow coming back. When they reached the car park, Daniel headed over to his car, leaving Sam and Jack standing alone, Jack’s arm draped casually around Sam’s waist. He turned her to face him and kissed her lingeringly. When they broke apart, Jack took Sam’s left hand in his own and kissed the golden ring on her finger. Grinning happily, he looked into her face and said "See you at the altar, Mrs. Carter-O’Neill…"



Finis!




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