TITLE: The Enemy of My Enemy

AUTHOR: Tiffany Flowers

E-MAIL: tiffanyflowers2@hotmail.com

RATING: PG-13

ARCHIVE: SJRA, Heliopolis, and Tiff and Alex's Archive. All others ask.

CATEGORY: S/J Romance and angst. Jack's POV.

FEEDBACK: Enjoyed. No flames, please.

WARNINGS: None @ this time.

SEASON/SEQUEL: Season 5. Set between "Enemies" and "Threshold"

SPOILERS: "Enemies" and _possible_ spoilers for "Threshold".

SUMMARY: All hell breaks loose when SG-1 return home and Sam and Jack get a surprise from Jacob.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thanks to Machelle and my mom, my two best beta readers, and Alexandra, my archivist. Thanks! :)

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp., Double Secret Productions and Showtime. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment, not monetary purposes. No infringement on copyrights or trademarks were intended by this author. I own only the story and its idea. Any similarity of people, living or dead, is coincidental.
 

Copyright 2001 TIFFANY FLOWERS

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I'm sitting in the cargo hold, staring at Teal'c. He is just sitting there doing his Kel-no-reem, ignoring my presence. I don't want to say anything either. As if there is any more that he and I can say to each other. I wonder how Apophis could do this to my friend, or even why he would do it.

I glance toward the front of the ship. Daniel is standing behind Jacob, who is concentrating on flying the ship, while Carter sits in the chair next to him, her feet on the seat, staring into the blackened space ahead of the ship.

Getting up, and hearing my old knee joints pop in protest, I make my way to the "bridge" of the ship and stand behind Carter, placing my hands on the back of the seat.

"Colonel." Carter whispers as she looks up at me. I notice that her eyes are red, possibly from crying. Either that or she's just as exhausted as the rest of us are. I place my right hand on her right shoulder reassuringly and she returns her gaze to the window again.

"How is he?" Daniel asks, causing me to pull my hand back quickly. I turn my face to look at the light-haired man to my right and just shrug my shoulders at him slightly.

"Like a brainwashed Teal'c, Daniel." I reply snappishly.

"That's it," Carter bursts out. "I'm going to try and talk to him."

I watch as she gets out of the chair and storms into the cargo hold, the doors closing behind her. Daniel, Jacob and I are silent.

I take the vacant seat and stare at Jacob until he glances sideways at me. I just stare at him some more, wondering if I should ask the unaskable question thatis weighing heavily on my mind.

"Something on your mind, Jack," Jacob asks, not taking his eyes off the control panel. "Or do you just like staring at me?"

"Can we honestly get Teal'c back?" I ask point-blank, not even giving his joke a second's thought or grin.

"Depends, Jack." Jacob answers.

"Depends on what?" Daniel and I ask in unison.

"Depends on what Apophis did, aside from revive him in the sarcophagus." Jacob tells us informatively.
 

TWO DAYS LATER

I can't stop wandering from one corridor to another in the SGC. My mind is still trying to think of ways of getting Teal'c back to us the way he was before this whole 'move the Tok'ra from Vorash' incident and the whole thing with Tanith. I still blame myself for it. I should have protected Teal'c better than that. But what is done is done.

As I enter Carter's lab, I see that she's not here, so I go to Daniel's lab. He's keeping himself preoccupied with some translations that have been collecting dust, just like his artifacts.

"Seen Carter?" I ask, as I pick up some old rock-looking figure from Daniel's desk and begin playing with it.

"No, I haven't," Daniel says, taking the figure out of my hands and placing it back where it was. "I think she's in the Gate Room or the Commissary."

"Thanks, Daniel." I say, getting the hint that he wants to be left alone. I can't blame him. I leave Daniel's lab and begin to walk down the corridor.

As I hit a junction, alarms start blaring and there are SP's running down the hall towards me. I turn around and stop one of the SP's that looks like the actor from '21 Jump Street' to find out what's going on and why the alarms.

"The Jaffa escaped, Sir." He tells me and then keeps running after the other SP's, who are heading to the Gate Room.

I suddenly get a feeling that something isn't right, so I chase after the SP team. I hear Daniel's voice right behind me a second later, but I don't respond to him. I just know I have to get to the Gate Room.

When I enter the Gate Room, my heart plummets to the floor, Daniel is speechless, while Hammond and Jacob are staring at the scene in front of us in horror. The SP's that passed me are now aiming weapons in the direction of the Stargate.

I look at the two people standing on the gunmetal grey ramp leading up to the Stargate. Teal'c is holding Carter against him like a human shield. His left arm around her throat and a 9mm sidearm against the right side of her head. I can see the tears sliding down Carter's pale cheeks. I can't breathe. It's like someone stomped the air out of my lungs and won't let any back in. I can't lose Carter like this. I won't lose Carter like this.

"Teal'c," I say, trying to step forward. "Don't do this. Carter's your friend. You know that."

"Lies!" Teal'c cries out in his deep tone. I take an involuntary step back.

"Teal'c," I try again. "C'mon, buddy. Let's talk about this like rational people. Warrior-to-warrior, if you will."

"You are a coward, O'Neill." Teal'c says. His words hurt a little after his strong friendship over the past four years.

"Let Carter go and we'll talk about this." I beg slightly to the Jaffa. Carter's eyes are on me the whole time. Mine on hers and then Teal'c's. I try and step closer to the ramp, only to stop when Teal'c puts the gun tighter against Carter's temple. Carter squeezes her eyes shut, causing more tears to cascade down her face.

"Your attraction to Major Carter shall be your undoing, O'Neill." Teal'c warns me. I don't care now if Generals Hammond and Jacob Carter heard that, Teal'c is partially right.

"Teal'c," I say, taking another cautious step up to the ramp. "I care about her, yes. But it won't be my undoing."

"I do not understand." Teal'c says, letting his guard down long enough.

I charge Teal'c, pushing Carter out of the way at the same time, and wrestle him for the 9mm. As I get Teal'c in a position where I'm sure to have won possession, Teal'c flips us over and the gun suddenly goes off.

My eyes are squeezed tight and I wait. I then suddenly feel both Teal'c's weight and a slight electrical charge. Teal'c falls off of me, as he has been shot by Jacob's Zat gun. I slowly open my eyes and let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I also get up to my feet slowly. Carter, Daniel, Hammond and Jacob are all staring at me in shock, or terror, I don't know which.

"Oh, God!" Carter yells out. “Jack!"  I look down and see that I've been shot in the stomach. I look up just in time to see Carter running to catch me as I fall into unconsciousness and into her arms.

I wake up and notice I have I.V.'s and all sorts of wires hooked to me. I lift my head a little and look around the best I can. I see Carter sitting in a chair on the right side of the bed, book over her chest, asleep.

"Carter," I whisper hoarsely, then clear my throat. "Sam."

"Sir," she says sleepily. "Hey, how do you feel?"

"Been better," I quip. "What about you?"

"Been worse." She replies, forcing a slight laugh for her benefit or mine, I guess.

"How's Teal'c?" I ask. Carter looks at the book now in her lap for a minute, then puts it aside.

"The Zat blast that he took still has him unconscious," Carter informs me. "But he's still alive. As are you."

"What can I say? I'm like a cat. Nine lives. Me and Teal'c." I joke.

"You were lucky, Colonel," Carter says sternly. "The bullet lucky lodged itself in some fatty area in your stomach. Janet says you'll be fine in a week."

"Good to know." I reply, suddenly getting tired.

"I'll let you sleep, Colonel," Carter says, getting out of the chair, the book remaining behind. "Night, Sir."

"Night, Sam," I whisper as I drift off to sleep. "Good-night, Sam."
 

ONE WEEK LATER

As I enter the locker room to change and go home, I see Daniel and Teal'c talking. Three days after Teal'c had been shot by the Zat and had been left unconscious, he woke up as his old self.

"Jack," Daniel greets. "Teal'c and I were thinking of going to O'Malley's. Want to go with us?"

"Actually, Daniel," I say. "I'm just gonna vege at home and nurse a beer. You guys have fun, okay?"

"Okay," Daniel says, slightly upset that I turned him down. "Ready, Teal'c?"

"I will meet you on Level 19, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c says, hanging back for a particular reason. I think I'm the reason.

"Okay." Daniel responds, and then leaves Teal'c and I alone.

"Colonel O'Neill," Teal'c begins. "I must apologize for my actions. I was not acting like myself. For your injuries caused by me, I am sorry."

"Ah, Teal'c," I reply. "It's okay. I knew you'd be back to normal eventually. Glad you're home, Teal'c. Now go have fun with Daniel and Carter."

"Major Carter is not coming, O'Neill," Teal'c tells me. "She said that she would like to take a 'rain check'."

"Hmmm," I think aloud. "Where did you see her last, Teal'c?"

"I believe she was in her lab, O'Neill," Teal'c said, exiting the locker room. "I will see you soon."

"Yeah sure, ya betcha, Teal'c." I joke, hoping that Teal'c attempted a grin. After I change into a pair of khakis, black T-shirt and my black leather jacket, I head to Carter's lab.

When I get there, I stand silently in the doorway, watching her work on her Naquadah reactor, her back facing me. I quietly sneak up behind her and cover her eyes with my callous hands.

"Hey, Colonel," Carter laughs. "Heard you ran away from Janet today."

"How'd ya know it was me?" I ask, not hiding the surprise in my voice.

"I know the feel of your hands," Carter replies, and then suddenly blushes. "What I meant was...er, that is...well."

"Carter," I say, stopping her. "I know what you mean. It's okay."

"Right." Carter answers, turning back to her reactor.

"Come on," I say, turning her around and pushing her out of the lab. "I want to talk to you away from here anyway."

"Where are we going?" Carter asks, worry evident in her voice.

"My place," I say, grinning. "Just to talk. I promise."
 

JACK O’NEILL’S RESIDENCE- 1 HOUR LATER

As I re-enter the living room, Carter is looking out my backdoor. I walk up beside her and hand her the unopened beer in my right hand. She takes the beer with a quiet 'thank you' as my answer.

"Colonel," Carter starts. "What did you mean when you told Teal'c that your caring for me won't be your undoing?"

"I meant that I won't let it be my undoing." I tell her honestly.

"Oh." Carter replies, disappointment filling her sweet voice. I glance at her with the same sudden fear that I had had when Teal'c had the gun to her head.

"Carter," I whisper, heading to the couch. Carter follows and sits next to me. "I was really scared when Teal'c had that 9mm held to your head. I was afraid to lose you. I don't want to feel that again."

"You mean that you don't want to care about me anymore." Carter says, making it sound like a statement rather than a question.

"No," I say. "What I meant was....I'd rather care about you than lose you."

Carter is staring at me now like I've lost my mind, but I haven't. I'm thinking more clearly than I have in a long time.

"What are you saying, Jack?" Carter asks, surprising me by actually using my first name.

"I want to love you forever, Sam," I say, kneeling in front of her. "Will you do the same? Will you marry me?"

"Oh, Jack," Sam gasps suddenly. "What about the rules? What about our jobs?"

"Well," I say, trying to hide the grin that is fighting it's way onto my face. "If I didn't ask, Jacob would torture me with Tok'ra jokes. I thought I'd take my chances with an informal court-martial."

"Court-martial?" Sam says, fear in her voice.

"Kidding,' I laugh. "Hammond and Jacob both threatened to make my life miserable if I didn't ask you soon."

"Yes, Jack," Sam says finally, grinning herself. "I'll marry you."

Sam leans down and takes my face in her hands, brushing her thumbs over my lips. Her lips then press against mine, her tongue asking for entrance. I grant her entrance and she kneels on the floor with me, her arms wrapping around my neck at the same time. As she falls deeper into my embrace, I pick her up from the floor and take her to my bedroom.

Once there, Sam begins to remove my shirt and then throws it onto the floor. Her shirt soon follows. I begin to trail kisses down her neck as she digs her nails into my shoulders and back. Sam then begins to remove the rest of my clothes as I do with hers. We are soon disrobed and teasing each other with hot, passionate kisses. Sam places her hands on my face once more and kisses me more deeply than before and I do the same. I can feel Sam's heart pounding under my  chest. I begin feeling her soft breath against my neck as I begin to rock against her.

After Sam and I experience our breaking points and are sated, Sam lays on my left side, her fingers tracing designs on my chest. I can tell that she is slowly falling asleep, so I don't disturb her and let her slip into her deep sleep. I know that she needs it as much as I do. I know I need sleep. Especially after all that's happened in the last month or so.  I can say that I am happier than I have been in a long time. As I slip into an undisturbed sleep myself, the last thought running through my mind is, I thank God for new change and directions to go in. And I thank God for Sam. Things will be good for us now. Thanks Jacob.
 

THE END