Archive: Yes, SJD

Title: Alone in the night

Author: Scully

E-mail: scully30.miller@virgin.net

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None in this one

I don't own anything to do with Stargate SG1, I'm just borrowing the characters for a little adventure.

Summary: A mission goes wrong for Sam, and the lives of SG1 are at risk.

Synopsis: Ever wondered why Jack was so touchy feely with Sam in Descent. Here is my view on why. This takes place before the mission.

Feedback is always appreciated. :O)

Chapter 1

Colonel Jack O'Neill was strolling through the light grey corridors of the SGC, searching for Major Samantha Carter. Along the way he bumped into Teal'c who was headed towards the commissary.

"Hey Teal'c, whatcha up to?" Jack enquired.

"I am in need of nourishment O'Neill, would you and Major Carter care to accompany me?"

"Maybe later Teal'c, have you seen Carter recently, I've been searching all over the place for her"

"I have not. Maybe she is taking some time for herself, she did not seem quite herself on the mission yesterday, nor indeed was she talkative at the briefing. It was very unlike her not to go into depths on the new Technology we acquired from the DeAsha's."

Jack pondered on what Teal'c had just said, he remembered her coming back from the DeAsha homeworld and Teal'c was right, she had seemed quiet, but when he asked her about it after their return, and then again after the briefing, she had just shrugged him off. Even during the briefing, O'Neill could normally coax a smile out of her, or at least one of her quirky looks when he tried to understand her explanation of new technology, but on this occasion she seemed to not rise to the bait.

"I'll maybe join you later Teal'c." with that, he headed towards Major Carters lab.

"Carter, you in here? Carter!" He did a quick search, but couldn't find her; by this stage he was getting a little worried. He did a quick search of her office, and found schematics for the new machine, her computer was still on so, he peered over the screen to see what she had been working on. Jack scrolled down the text, but didn't understand a word of what was written, mind you, half the time he didn't understand what Carter told him, but because she could explain things in Laymans terms he was usually able to keep up.

Just as he was about to leave, Major Carter came bursting through the door, and the two of them nearly went flying in opposite directions. O'Neill just managed to stay on his feet, but Carter wasn't quite so fortunate, she fell on to her back, the air from her lungs exhaling quickly, and landed with a pained expression on her face.

"Carter, Carter, you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't see you coming!" He watched her falling, but was to late to catch her, as her legs went akimbo.

As she landed, he thought he saw a pained expression on her face, before she had even reached the ground. His concern for her had increased.

"Carter, you okay?"

As he held out his hand to pull her up, he noticed her grimace slightly.

"I'm fine Sir, really." She lied through gritted teeth. "Typical!" she thought, "Of all the times, he has to come and check on me, today had to be one of them." Sam knew he was worried about her, she had been quiet since their return, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell him what had happened after the mission.

"What can I do for you Colonel?", Sam asked absently rubbing her ribs.

"Carter, did I hurt you?" He noticed her hand rubbing her ribs in a circular motion.

"Maybe you should get ol Doc Frasier to check you out?" He replied worriedly.

Jack didn't think he'd hurt her that much, but that funny feeling was back; the feeling you get when you know a friends hurting, but they don't want to talk about it. "Go gently with her Jack" he calmly said to himself. The last thing he wanted was to scare her off, but hell, subtlety just wasn't in him.

"Carter, is something up?"

"Up Sir?"

"Yeah, you know the word, opposite to down?" he replied sarcastically.

"Did you want something sir? It's just that I've got a million and one things to do before I leave tonight. If you want this report done by morning, then I need you to leave." Carter countered boldly, if she could distract him for a few minutes, he might lose his train of thought and leave without asking any more questions. Her ribs were starting to hurt, and she needed to sit down, soon, before she fell down.

"Don't think for one minute that I don't know what your doing Carter, but you obviously don't want to talk now. Look, I know it's sometimes hard to talk to your C.O, but I'm here if you need me, okay!" He gave her a quick pat on the shoulder, and quietly left.

As Jack walked back through the corridors he bumped into Jonas on route to the commissary. "Oh Colonel, is Major Carter in her office? I need to go through a few things with her."

"Jonas, just leave her for now, she's a bit busy, and not quite in the mood for people interrupting. If I were you I'd wait till the morning, unless of course your willing to face the wrath of Carter!"

Jonas stared at Colonel O'Neill, he'd never seen the Major in a bad mood, but if Colonel O'Neill was staying away, then it would be a good bet that he should also.

"I'm going to go eat Pie with Teal'c, wanna join us?"

Jonas hadn't really spent that much time with the Colonel, and to be honest, he wasn't scared of him, just hesitant, he knew how the Colonel felt about him, and I think for the most part he had stopped blaming him for Daniel's ascension, but there were times when he just couldn't figure him out. Jonas had spoken to Major Carter about his feelings on several occasions, and she had tried to put his mind at rest, and advised him that the Colonel didn't blame him anymore, and that Jack's sense of humour would grow on him, it would just take time for them all to become a team again, and the only way that would happen is if Jonas would let go of some of his guilt and just have an open mind. So with that in mind, Jonas agreed to go with him.

In Sam's lab, one Major Carter was sore, tired and hurting, she had never felt so alone, and it scared her. Thoughts were going in and out her mind so quickly that she couldn't think straight, she knew that she could trust her team to help her out, but if she told them about what had happened, their lives would be in mortal danger, she had seen the consequences first hand.

What the Colonel didn't know was that an entity from the DeAsha homeworld had followed them through the gate, and had been laying in wait for Major Carter. Biding his time he waited to ensure that his threats were an effective method of maintaining Major Carter's silence. Her thoughts took her back to last nights encounter.

Carter arrived home last night about midnight; the Colonel had been ragging on her to get the reports finished from their previous meeting with the DeAsha's. As she unlocked her front door, she slipped off her shoes, and headed for the kitchen for an urgent need of coffee, preferably fed through an intravenous drip. "It's going to be a long night" she thought to herself as she grabbed her coffee and laptop, and plonked herself on the sofa. She still couldn't shake off that funny feeling she had had, since her return from the planet. It was like someone was watching her, eyeing her up and down, it brought shivers down her spine. As she thought of it, goose pimples on her arms rose to the surface of her skin, and she pulled a blanket over her from the back of the sofa. An image of Jaret flashed through her mind, and she unconsciously shivered again. Jaret was one of the DeAsha's leading scientist, his understanding of quantum theories, surpassed her own knowledge by miles, and whilst he seemed content to share his expertise with them, there seemed to be a darkness in his eyes, that scared her. Her very being had told her that he was not to be trusted, but there wasn't anything tangible that she could take to Colonel O'Neill.

Sam knew that the Colonel trusted her implicitly, and would back her up 100% with anything, but she didn't want to appear to be the neurotic one. Wanting at least some evidence to support her fears she kept her thoughts and feelings to herself. Now she was beginning to regret that, as a man roughly placed a cloth filled with some form of narcotic over her mouth to stop her screaming, and the last thing she heard as she fell into unconsciousness was the sound of Jaret's gruff voice.

She awoke slowly, her head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton wool balls, and her mouth tasted like sandpaper. As she tried to move, Major Carter felt restricted, then she realised that her hands and feet were bound with what felt like some kind of cloth. "Come on Sam, open your eyes!" she taunted herself. Very slowly she lifted her head and opened her eyes. A blurry image sat before her, staring at her with dark eyes that caused her very sole to become cold. The image of a young man came into focus. It was Jaret! "How the hell did he get through the Stargate?" she asked herself, and with that she thought he must of read her mind as he answered the question for her.

"I got through the Stargate very easily Major Carter. You see my people have the ability to change their body chemistry to suit the person they are travelling with. And before you ask, I know that it doesn't explain how I got through the Tauri's defences, but with our change in body chemistry, we have the ability to become invisible, thus eluding our enemies."

Sam Carter stared blankly at him, her mind was just starting to clear, and she was now getting annoyed, and thoughts of what she would do to him began flooding her mind, scores of profanities were on the tip of her tongue. Had the Colonel been here, he would have been shocked that Sam even knew the words that were clearly evident in her mind.

"Now, now Samantha is that any way for a lady to think." Jaret stated bluntly, an evil grin careering across his face. "You know what Sam, I think you and I are going to have a lot of fun!"

Sam regained her composure, and was disgusted to hear him speak her name so familiarly, the name only her friends and family called her, the name Jack called her when he was worried.

"Oh I see you've got a soft spot for Colonel O'Neill, that could come in very handy with what I have planned."

After he voiced aloud what she had been thinking, Sam finally understood, and stated very simply, "What do you want with me, and how are you able to read my thoughts, as far as I understood things, your race are not telepathic."

Jaret stood up, and started walking towards her, he got so close she physically backed herself up as far as the binds would allow. As he circled her, he placed his lips close to her ears and whispered menacingly, "Very simply put my dear, I have been genetically enhancing myself now for a long time, and so far I have been unable to find a suitable second subject, but guess what! When you and your friends turned up, I thought you were the answers to my prayers. You see, you have a unique physiology due to the protein marker left by the Goa'uld you had within you, which enables the serum I've been working on to act as a catalyst, thus enabling me to read your thoughts."

Sam was starting to become concerned, she had so much information relating to the SGC, that he could easily read her thoughts about material relating to the Stargate. Quickly she tried to suppress those thoughts as far down into herself as they would go.

Jaret, realising that she was learning to close off her thoughts very quickly grabbed her by the throat, and spat "Don't even try to outsmart me, I am stronger and more cleverer than you will ever be, and if you even try to block out your thoughts, I'll simply re- inject you to make the serum stronger."

"What do you want with me" Sam coughed.

"Oh, don't worry Samantha, you're not the main target. The SGC has something I want, and you are going to help get it for me."

Sam thought for a minute, she couldn't think clearly, she was tired and the drug, which was still in her system, was starting to make her lose focus. "What could we possible have that you would want? You are more technically advanced than we are, surely you know that!" Sam stated slowly, as she noticed her voice becoming slurry.

"I want the Tokra," Jaret stated simply "and believe me, I always get what I want."

With her face ashen, she had just enough strength left to state, "I won't give you what you want, so you'll either have to kill me, or let me go!"

Jaret's face turned beetroot, how dare she refuse him, no one had ever refused him, and he wasn't going to let this women be the first. He circled her again, and noticed the Major's eyes flutter shut, which caused him to flip. He pushed her chair over, which caused Major Carter to fall on her side hard, as she lay on the ground slightly disorientated, he purposefully kicked her in the ribs, shouting "Pay attention, I haven't finished with you yet."

Sam thought she was going to be physically sick, pain racked her ribs, she was sure she had heard a crack, as his boot connected with her body. As she lay on the floor eyes closed to block out the pain, she sensed him kneel down next to her, and slowly he whispered. "I'll make it very simple for you my dear, you have only one choice, and that choice is, that you will get the Tokra address for me, and take me to them, or I kill your Commanding Officer, slowly. You see Samantha, there is so much that you don't know about me. When you and your team arrived on my planet, I was able to retrieve and download your brainwaves onto a little disk, which I have with me here. You see it allows me to cause excruciating pain to whomever I choose. Please allow me to demonstrate."

Sam was now fully alert, her eyes focusing on Jaret's hands as he pulled some kind of device out of his pocket. She watched him punch in a couple of commands, and as he did so, she felt such pain tearing through her body. It felt like her body was on fire, she screamed in anguish as he increased the intensity. Then as quickly as it came, it went. She felt something trickle down her face, her nose was bleeding, and profusely.

Jaret stared at her, and simply stated, "That was the low setting, you see it causes the blood pressure in your body to rise dramatically, and can cause permanent brain damage over a period of time, or if on the highest setting can cause instant death. Distance is not a problem you see, so if you don't do as I ask I'll simply kill your friends one by one. However, I might just have a little bit off fun with them along the way."

Sam stared at him with tears welling up in her eyes, she couldn't let them die, she would rather die herself. The Tokra were her friends, could she lead this man to slaughter them, she wretched with pain.

She really did only have one option, and that was to give him what he wanted. As she braced herself for the impact of what she was about to say out loud, mercifully she passed out.

Jaret saw her blackout, and hit her with another injection, "What's it to be then Major" he stated simply.

Carter stared blankly, "I'll do it!"

Jaret smiled, part one of his plan was accomplished. "Very good Major." He replied as he began to untie her, knowing that in her weakened state she wouldn't be in a position to put up a fight. "Before I go Major, be advised that if you backtrack on our agreement, I will not hesitate on using this to kill you instantly, and then who will protect your precious Colonel. If you breathe a word to anyone about this, believe me, I shall inflict more pain on the Tauri, then you could ever imagine. Is that understood Major?"

Sam nodded in understanding and sank back into the blackness.

Chapter 2 Realisation

Sam, still sat at her terminal hadn't realised how long she had been lost in thought; it had been nearly an hour since the Colonel had left her lab. She hadn't realised that she had been sat there all this time without moving.

Her body was stiff as she got up to try and get the blood flowing through her tired body. "Wow, head rush," she thought. "Don't wanna be passing out now."

Her brain just would not co-operate at all today, she couldn't think of how she was going to get hold of the Tokra, over recent months they had had to keep moving, it was hard to keep track. It was usually a case of the Tokra contacting them, normally via her father, but she hadn't even heard from him for several weeks now.

Down in the commissary, Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c and Jonas were stuffing themselves with pie, and blue Jello. The Colonel knew that blue Jello was Carter's favourite, and he was hoping that she would come down and join them, which is why the last one was still left untouched on the table.

They had all been concerned with Carter's behaviour of late, well all except Jonas, who didn't quite understand human moods just yet. However for Teal'c and Jack, what occurred this morning, was so un- Carter like. Usually he had to vocally tell her to shut up about new gadgets she had brought back, but today it had been like pulling teeth, even General Hammond had noticed how quiet she was, and had pulled him aside after the briefing to ask what was wrong.

"O'Neill, are you not eating your desert?" Teal'c enquired.

"I was actually saving this for Carter, Teal'c, but it doesn't look as if she's gonna show. I'm actually a bit concerned, even the General has noticed Carter's lack of enthusiasm."

"Maybe Major Carter is tired! She did not leave here until late last night, and arrived somewhat dishevelled this morning if you remember. It maybe that she pulled what you call an "all-nighter".

"Yeah, Teal'c, your probably right, she has been working hard of late and could probably do with some time off, I'll go and have a chat with her later, we're not scheduled for any off world activity until the end of the week, and she did say that place yesterday gave her the heeby geebies, so maybe I'll take this opportunity and invite her fishing, what do ya think Teal'c, wanna come with?"

"O'Neill, I'm unfamiliar with the word "Heeby Geebies", please explain."

"Sorry Teal'c, it means she didn't like the place."

Teal'c tried to recall Major Carter mentioning this to the team, but could not recall such an instance, and said so. "I do not recall Major Carter mentioning this."

Colonel O'Neill knew technically that Carter hadn't said anything, but he had worked with her long enough to know when something freaked her out, and whilst she didn't show any visible outward signs that she was not happy, he noticed that she seemed on edge.

"Well she didn't actually say it Teal'c, but I know that given the chance she wouldn't want to go back. Anyway, don't try and change the subject, do you want to go fishing with me?"

Teal'c recalling what happened at the lake the last time they went - nothing, absolutely nothing. "O'Neill, why do you say that you are going fishing, when I have yet to see any fish in the lake?"

O'Neill looked straight at him with a mocked hurt expression on his face, simply replied. "Teal'c, just because you never caught anything, doesn't mean they're not there. I'm hurt that you don't believe me."

"Nevertheless, I am still not sure O'Neill. Jonas Quinn, will you be accompanying us?"

Jonas looked at the Colonel and then back at Teal'c, and tried to think up a good excuse not to go, he'd heard about the Colonel's fishing expedition from Major Carter, and it really wasn't his thing, to sit and do nothing all day, and hadn't realised that he'd voiced his opinions out loud.

"I object to Carter's description, we do not sit around all day doing nothing. It's a sport of skill, strategy and cunning. You have to think of the fish as your enemy, and knowing your enemy is to observe them, which is what we do. Isn't that right Teal'c! Teal'c!"

Colonel O'Neill just stared blankly as Teal'c rose from the table, and left the Colonel and Jonas alone. Jonas just smiled; he had got his answer.

As Jonas rose, the Colonel just mumbled, "Fine, Carter will come." He knew he was deluding himself, Carter never went with him.

As Jack entered Carter's lab, slowly this time, he saw her bent over her laptop, looking as if she'd lost her best friend. At that point he was not going to let Carter off with any more lame excuses.

"Hey Carter, it's only me"

"Sir, I'm sorry, but I still haven't finished those reports, and I won't get them finished if you keep interrupting me, I'll let you now when I'm done."

"Actually Carter, I've come to whisk you away for a few days."

"Sir" Carter looked at him all confused, her brain still hadn't got back up to speed after last night, but going away with her C.O, she couldn't believe it.

"Picture this Carter, me and you out in the sun, crickets chirping, a cool wind blowing through our hair, " He ignored the look she had given him when he mention the hair thing, and carried on. He was now on a role. "Fishing on the lake with not a soul or a pager in site, it'll be great. Now before you say anything, SG1 have got clearance for some down time, and don't tell me you couldn't use a break, because I know better."

Jack stood by her, and by the look on her face, she was going to flatly refuse his offer, but before she had a chance to say "No", the Colonel butted in. "Ah! I won't take no for an answer Carter."

Sam looked at the Colonel, if only he'd asked her a few days ago, before this whole mess. "Look Colonel, I appreciate the offer, but I've got so much work on, maybe another time?" It was more of a subtle plea than anything, but as usual, subtlety was not one of the Colonel's fortes, so flew right over her head.

He couldn't believe she'd refused him again! Well enough was enough, she was going with him whether she liked it or not, even if he had to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder - "ooh where did that thought come from?" he mused.

Shaking the picture from his mind, he replied "Carter, that wasn't a request!"

Sam couldn't believe her ears, he was ordering her to go fishing with him, now she knew that was one order she didn't have to obey, and told him so.

" Colonel, you can't order me to go fishing, it's not in my job description" she advised blatantly. "Please trust me on this, when I say, that now is not a good time."

He looked at her intensely, he knew he shouldn't push it with her, but he couldn't help him self, and pulled up a chair next to her. Carter's mind began working overtime, "Oh god, he's gonna ask me what's wrong, and I can't tell him anything." She thought.

"Carter, what's going on with you these days, your distant, moody, you didn't even give me the chance to tell you "enough" when you were describing the techno gadget thingy. It's not like you, please tell me what's going on."

She looked at him, bless, he really was worried about her, and for an instant when she saw his concerned expression, she nearly blurted it all out. That was until Jack suddenly grabbed his head, and screamed in pain.

"Oh, god, Carter!" He jumped from his chair, holding his head in his hands; blood began pouring from his nose onto the concrete floor below.

Colonel O'Neill had never experienced anything like this, the room spun wildly around him, his head felt as if it was ready to explode, and he saw Carter's shocked expression, mouthing the words, "please no, I'm sorry." He tried to grab Carter's arm for support, but felt like the world was slowly crashing around him as he sank to his knees. Carter ran to the nearest intercom shouting "Medical Emergency - Carter's Lab".

Everything, became blurry within a few seconds, and he mercifully passed out, so didn't hear the words come out of Carter's mouth, "What have I done!"

Within a few minutes there was a flurry of activity in her lab, Dr Frasier came running, demanding to know what happened, she was swiftly followed by 3 nurses. "Sam, I need to know what happened!" Doctor Frasier requested urgently. Carter looked at her, torn between saving the life of her friend, but knowing that telling the doctor may cause his death.

Sam looked down at the Colonel's still form, his face a deathly white, blood still seeping from his nose, she felt so helpless just stood there whilst Dr Frasier issued orders to the medical staff.

"Sam!" Janet barked.

"I don't now" she lied "He just grabbed his head and collapsed"

"You sure there was nothing else? No seizures? Dizziness before he collapsed? Slurring?" she demanded, before ordering the med team to take the Colonel directly to the infirmary for a CAT scan.

"Is he gonna be alright Janet?" Sam pleaded.

"I don't know Sam, I really don't! We'll know more after the scan!" With that said, Janet followed her staff towards the infirmary, leaving Sam alone to face the consequences of her actions.

Sam felt physically sick; she couldn't believe she'd let Colonel O'Neill past her defences. "One thing's for sure, I won't let it happen again, not to the Colonel, nor Teal'c or Jonas," she reiterated to herself. "I will do whatever it takes!" With that last thought, she ran to the bathroom to throw up. With her stomach now as empty as her heart, the pain in her ribs intensified, she knew she was doing more damage to herself by being here, but she would rather risk her own life than that of her friends.

Painfully she picked herself up from a kneeling position, rinsed her face and mouth and headed towards the infirmary.

The Colonel's scan had completed a few minutes earlier, and the nurses were now hooking him up to an ECG machine, and an I.V drip was being connected to the back of his hand as Sam walked in. Sam took in the surroundings and saw the Colonel being placed on machines. Janet was just hooking up a pint of O Negative blood.

Sam's didn't know how much more of this she could take, and walked up to Teal'c, General Hammond and Jonas, whilst waiting for Janet to finish with her patient so that she could give them an update. General Hammond was the first to ask her what had happened. It was one thing to keep things quietly to herself, but when faced with direct questions from her C.O was another thing. She reiterated another mantra to herself, "I will do whatever it takes, and deal with the consequences later"

Sam looked at the General, but was saved from lying to him when Janet walked over. General Hammond was the first to speak. "How is he Doctor?"

"He's stable for now, the CAT scan revealed a small arterial bleed in his brain, which is normally caused by prolonged high blood pressure. His BP's still very high at 220/180, but we've placed him on high doses of beta-blockers fed through an I.V to bring it to a reasonable level. Until it reaches an acceptable level though, he's still at risk from another bleed. All we can do now for him, is to keep him comfortable, and monitor his pressure. We'll repeat the scan tomorrow to see if the blood from his brain has been reabsorbed."

The team just stared at Janet. Sam knew what they were thinking, there would have been no way Janet would have allowed the Colonel to continue to command SG1 with blood pressure as high as she claimed.

Sam thought the whole world was becoming telepathic, as Janet spoke "I don't have any explanation as to how the Colonel's BP got so high as it is, it would have been picked up when he returned from the DeAsha homeworld yesterday."

General Hammond was the first to ask the question to Doc Frasier. "Is it possible that SG1 picked up some form of virus from the DeAsha homeworld?"

"I feel fine General" Teal'c stated.

"Me too." Jonas followed.

Sam, lost in daydream was not as quick as her comrades, and missed the beat.

"Major? How are you feeling?" General Hammond enquired, his thoughts returning to the conversation he had had earlier with Colonel O'Neill.

"Me, I'm fine too." She answered, but not quite as convincing as she wanted. The day was starting to take its toll. "How long before the Colonel wakes up?"

"Well I've sedated him for the next 24 hours, so he should wake up sometime tomorrow afternoon."

Sam walked over to where the Colonel was sleeping, and not caring who was there in the room with her, placed her hand in his and gently caressed the back of his hand with her thumb. Her mom used to do this when she was sick, and whilst she knew that the Colonel was oblivious to his surroundings, it made her feel a bit better knowing that he was going to be okay.

On placing his hand back under the covers, she made her excuses to the others, and headed out of the infirmary. Just as she was about to walk through the last door, Janet stopped her, and told her that she wanted to do a physical on her tomorrow morning. When Sam began to protest that she was fine, Janet stopped her in mid-stream, and advised plainly and simply, that she was not going to argue with her, and that if she didn't submit to a physical, then she would have no other option, but to report it the General.

Damn, Sam cursed to herself as she marched purposefully across the corridors, how the hell was she going to explain the bruises and various drugs in her system to the Doc. "No matter what happens tomorrow", she thought, "I can't have that physical."

With still no word from the Tokra, she headed for home. "Dad," she thought, "wherever you are, please get in touch soon!"

As Sam reached the front door of her home, her heart slammed into her chest, knowing that Jaret cold turn up at anytime. As she tentatively took her keys from her pocket she cautiously entered through the front door. She looked around at her surroundings, there still lying on the floor, reminiscent from last nights encounter was a broken chair, and cloth bindings strewn across the lounge. Before picking up the chair, she took a deep breath and went from room to room searching for any kind of sign that he was still here. With her hands shaking, she slowly went to the last room, reached for the light switch, and as she was about to flick it on, she heard a gruff voice from behind her; "Looking for me, I'm flattered!"

Startled, she knocked the lamp over; the lamp Jack had given her when she had moved into her first new home.

As the lamp smashed into minute fragments on her wooden floor. Tiny fragments of pottery speared her ankles. Sam sank to the floor, sobbing quietly/ Knowing that once again she was alone in the night.

Chapter 3 - Injustice

As Sam sat crouched on her living room floor, sobbing, she didn't really care at this stage that Jaret saw her in a weekend state, hell she didn't even care herself. Her friend and C.O was lying in a hospital bed, an indirect result of her own actions, she was about to commit an act of treason against her allies, her father, and her teammates.

Never before had she felt so alone so helpless, she was used to fighting against her enemies with her intellect and her skills as a warrior, but to have someone invade her thoughts and feelings for her friends and use them against her; that was something else. She couldn't even comprehend on how she could win this battle.

"I didn't think self-pity was a trait you possessed Samantha." There's me thinking I had a worthy opponent, someone I could play with, but I have to say you're just like all the other females in my village - pathetic and weak." At this stage Jaret was now sat opposite Major Carter. Jaret leaned over to touch the Majors leg and simply said, "And now the fun begins!"

Sam's skin crawled with disgust, and with strength she didn't think was left in her, she slapped his hand away, and growled with such conviction, "Don't touch me!"

Jaret looked both shocked and pleased, he did enjoy a challenge, and it looked like he was going to get it in abundance. "Ah, not quite knocked the stuffing out of you yet then Major? Good! It would simply be such a bore having to kill you straight away, when I have so many plans for you and your friends. By the way, did you like that little demonstration I gave you earlier?"

Major Carter saw the smile on Jaret's lips, whatever happened here tonight, one thing was sure, she was not going to let him hurt her friends under any circumstances.

Teal'c and Jonas were still in the infirmary waiting for O'Neill to awaken from his recent trauma. Janet came over and spoke firmly to them. "Look, I know you're both concerned, but believe me, you're not doing yourselves any good sitting here for hours. He won't be awake until tomorrow, believe me. If there's any change, I promise you'll be the first to know, now shoo, get out of my infirmary, your clogging up valuable space."

Teal'c was the first to rise; he simply stood up, turned around, bowed and said, "As you wish Dr Frasier."

Jonas nodded, and followed Teal'c out of the infirmary. "Three down, one to go" she thought, and her mind turned to her friend Sam, usually if Colonel O'Neill was in the infirmary, you couldn't prise Sam out with a crowbar. With one last check to make sure that the Colonel was settled for the night, Janet decided to give her friend a call, to make sure she was ok, she'd seen the determination in Sam's eyes before she left the infirmary, and she'd seen that look before. One particular time was when the Colonel was missing on Edora, she had never seen Sam so determined to ensure that the Colonel was returned safe and sound, and today she had seen that same look again. On this occasion however, Janet saw something else that she hadn't seen in Sam before; fear.

"Get up Major, we have work to do!" Jaret shouted. "I haven't got all day, and neither have you."

A Sam got up of the wooden floor, tiny spots of blood seeped through her leg where the tiny fragments of glass had embedded themselves from earlier. Her chest felt tight, from sitting in a cramped position. She slowly raised herself cradling her ribs for support. As she stood up, Jaret turned around and smacked her round the face causing her to fall to the ground once again. "Don't ever think of disobeying me again Samantha."

Fury exploded within Sam's mind, and it was all directed at Jaret. She wanted to hurt him... bad. "Where are we going?"

Jaret hauled her up to a standing position, and spat, "We are going to go and get the Tokra address, and we're going to get it now."

"It's 11pm, there won't be anyone at the base. The Tokra won't be contacting us now, hell I don't even know where they are at this moment in time." She countered.

"Well as there will be no-one around, it's the perfect opportunity for you to get me what I want. Believe me Major, now is the perfect time. But before we go, I have a little something for you." As soon as he said the last few words, Sam knew what to expect; more drugs.

Sam, had realised tonight, that the drug seemed to be wearing off a little, for one thing, he hadn't expected the slap that she had given him earlier, and she didn't feel as if her mind were being probed as much as it was last night or during the attack on the Colonel. So with maybe a bit of luck she might be able to calculate approximately how long the drug was lasting without it appearing obvious that she was doing so.

Unfortunately with pain being her constant reminder, she wasn't as quick as she would like, and before she had the chance, he injected her again, and Sam was then back to square one. Just after Sam's last injection, the phone rang. Jaret just stared at it, as Sam went to pick it up, he quickly pulled the device from his pocket and warned her that if she told anyone, anything, that he would not hesitate in killing them all.

Sam nodded. "Hello"

"Hi Sam, it's Janet, I just called to see how you were, you took off so quickly earlier, and I was concerned."

"Sorry Janet, I didn't mean to run off, it's just been a hectic day, that's all. I'm fine really. How's the Colonel?"

"He's resting comfortably, he should be ok in a few days. Listen Cassie is going to a friends house tomorrow night, so how about you and I having a girlie night in tomorrow? I know SG-1 are on downtime till the end of the week, so what do you say?" Janet hoped it would give her and Sam to a chance to talk, but hearing the silence on the other end of the phone, she knew it wasn't going to happen. "Sam, you still there?"

"Sorry Janet, look I've kinda got plans tomorrow, can we make it some other time? I'll give you a call and we'll arrange it, just not tomorrow. Look Janet, I hate to talk and run, but I'm kinda tired, and in desperate need of some sleep, so I'll call you soon. Bye Janet!"

Janet was left holding the phone, and with a big sigh, she replaced the receiver.

"Very good Samantha, you're learning. Now lets go."

As they drove towards the base, Jaret warned her that any sign of deceit and there would be no second chances, and told her that her death would result in her father attending her funeral, which would allow his escape through the Stargate, and thus leading him to the Tokra.

"Well, why don't you?" Sam countered calling his bluff.

"What? Kill you! No Samantha, that would be too easy. Who would I have fun with then? Mind you, I would still have Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c and Jonas to have fun with, and who was that you were talking to...ah yes, Janet!"

"You stay the hell away from them, I'm doing what you want."

Jaret sat back and smiled, he had never had so much fun, she was so easy to bait, and her love for her friends was going to cost her dearly.

As they entered Cheyenne Mountain, Jaret reverted to stealth mode, but reminded her that whilst she couldn't see him, he could see and hear everything that was going on. As they walked through the corridors, the base seemed to be deserted, and why shouldn't it, it was after midnight, and only skeleton staff were required. Sam knew that there were no SGC teams due to return till tomorrow, so knew the gate room would only consist of one or two personnel, if that.

As Sam headed towards the Infirmary, Jaret grabbed her arm, and whispered. "This is not the way to the gateroom Samantha!"

Sam shook him off her arm, and whispered, "Look, if I'm gonna do this for you, there's no way I could return to the SGC. I won't have the access codes to return, and without them I'm dead anyway. So, before I go, I want to say goodbye to the Colonel."

Jaret thought about Sam's explanation, he could afford to wait a few more minutes for his prise, an agreed.

Sam knew Janet had gone home for the night, and a locum doctor was on standby incase there was an emergency involving the Colonel. So as she entered the infirmary, only one nurse was evident, Sam simply nodded and held up 5 fingers indicating that she would only stay a few minutes.

A spotlight softly filtered over O'Neill's form, and she glanced over the machines hooked up at him, he didn't appear to be in any danger, and all observations indicated that he was dreaming. As she pulled up a chair, and gentle sat down, being careful not to jostle her ribs, she lifted the Colonel's hand and placed it gently into her own, and softly whispered; "Sir, I know you can't hear me, but I need you to understand something about what I'm about to do. You see Sir, I've run out of options, anything I do would and could result in your deaths. I wanted so much to tell you earlier, that I'm sorry. My feelings for you resulted in your getting hurt, and I know, nothing I say or do can change that. Just remember that what happens over the next few hours, it's to save you and the others, and I'm sorry that I couldn't find a way to stop this."

Sam's eyes glistened with moisture, as she let go of the Colonel's hand, he murmured, "Carter". Shocked that he had heard her, she quickly whispered, "Shush Sir, it's only a dream, go back to sleep." With that she quickly left the infirmary.

He opened his eyes slightly, but just caught sight of a tall shorthaired blonde heading out the door, and softly said, "Sam?"

Jaret was absolutely enthralled with the whole relationship thing going on between her and Colonel O'Neill. "Oh how sweet, forbidden love! You know Sam, it's touching to see how much you care for your friends, and it will be your downfall."

Sam ignored him and headed for the gateroom. "What have you got against the Tokra anyway, why all this cloak and dagger stuff, surely with your level of technology, you could find them in half the time."

"Oh I don't have a grudge against all Tokra, just one in particular."

Sam felt a cold shiver running down her spine, knowing the answer before it even left his mouth, as she remembered the conversation with her earlier in the car when she had tried to call his bluff.

Chapter 4 - That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.

Sam stared at Jaret with dejected eyes, it was her father Jaret wanted. All that time they had spent with each other, him feigning friendship when they had first arrived on the DeAsha homeworld. He had know from their very first meeting that her father was Selmack, the most wise of all Tokra. It wasn't just happenstance that his people had gotten in touch with the Tauri a week ago. He had meticulously planned it for god knows how long, and SG1 fell into the trap hook line and sinker.

"Oh Samantha, don't feel bad. You weren't to know. The Asha's are just as dense as the Tauri. Do you know how easy it was to persuade them about this alliance, they were so desperate for help to thwart an attack from the Gould, they would have accepted help from anyone."

"I don't understand, why wouldn't you want to stop a Gould attack."

For a brief moment Jaret turned off his stealth mode, looked directly into her eyes, and just as soon as it started, it finished. His eyes glowed, and his voice took on a menacing presence as he whispered, "Because I am one!"

Sam physically stepped back, a look of utter horror on her face, she couldn't understand how this could be, there had been no outward signs. "And my father?"

"Well let's just say I have a score to settle with Selmack from long ago. You don't need to know details. Now enough stalling, let's go!"

As Sam walked towards the control room, pieces began to click into place, the funny feelings she had when she was with him, the coldness in his eyes, all along she had been detecting the presence of a Gould larvae, but because of his ability to change his body chemistry, it had resulted in her misconception of what she had been feeling all along.

Sam advised Jaret that she needed a few supplies, things she would need to minimise the number of casualties when they left the SGC, and she wasn't taking any chances for her plan not to work, too much was riding on it. She gathered the raw materials from the supply locker, smoke bombs, a medical kit, and plasma balls that SG1 had acquired from P3X-479, which emitted an electronic field on activation, this would give them a few valuable seconds to flee the base without causing much damage to either the gateroom or personnel.

"One last item." thought Sam as she reached for a Zat gun. As her hand went towards the object, she felt heaviness placed on top of it. "Don't even think about it." Reluctantly she let it go. Unfortunately she could only carry a limited number of items, anything more would cause problems.

As they entered the control room, the place was deserted apart from a couple of skeleton staff. Looking at her watch, she only had a couple of hours in which to carry out her plan before the Alpha shift started.

Logging on, she scrolled through the various records from the Tokra, she needed to get Jaret off the base as soon as possible before anyone else got hurt. Thinking about her options, she could either save the life of her father, or that of her friends. As Sam tried to recall where her father's latest mission was she noticed that she was having trouble breathing, the tightness in her chest was definitely getting worse, and she knew then that it was more than a couple of broken ribs, she was beginning to bleed internally.

She looked around, she didn't even now how long she had been sitting there, all she knew was, that time was running out. The skeleton staff had gone off on a break, and she was left alone.

Then she spotted it, a communiqué from the Tokra received this morning advising the Tauri of their new location.

"Very good Samantha, now lets go."

With an incredulous look, Sam turned round and said "And you call the Tauri dense! If we go now, you won't get more than two feet from the first activation lock before the SF's come storming through. Think about it!"

Jaret snarled, and launched for Sam's throat, her back forced up against the terminal, pain ripped through her torso as the force of the terminal placed pressure on her rib cage. As his hands tightened around her throat Sam thought, "So it ends!" As the last few gasps of air reached her lungs, she tried with the last ounce of strength she had to pull his hands away. As the room spun wildly, Jaret released his grip and Sam fell to the floor gasping for air. "Don't ever tell me what to do again."

As Sam lay collapsed on the floor Jonas walked in, and rushed to her side. "Major Carter! What happened? Hang on, let me get some help."

Carter grabbed his hand, and whispered "No", her voice hoarse from the pressure Jaret had placed around her throat.

"Major, please, you need help." Jonas couldn't understand why she was refusing his offer of assistance, she was in a bad way, he couldn't just stand around. With concern etched in his face he pleaded, "Please Major, let me call the med bay."

With strength leaving her body, she released his hand. As Jonas went towards the intercom, an invisible barrier halted him. "Major, what's going on?" Every direction he turned he was thwarted by an invisible force.

Jaret deactivated his shield, and made his presence known to Jonas, his eyes flashed a brilliant white, and subsequently dissipated. "What the...."

Before Jonas had the opportunity to finish his sentence, Jaret activated the device he had used on Colonel O'Neill.

"Jaret, *No*." Carter shouted as much as her throat would allow, but the shout ended up being nothing more than a whisper as Jonas collapsed to the floor unconscious.

Jaret grabbed Major Carter forcefully to her feet, all Sam did was stand and stare at Jonas lying on the floor, she couldn't even make out if he was breathing. "Get dialling Major, NOW!"

Then Major Carter started a chain of events, which she knew she couldn't stop, and subsequently dialled the gate address. As the first chevron locked into place, the automated system automatically noted that this was an unauthorised dial out, as it would normally require 2 sets of authorisation codes. However, as Major Carter knew the systems inside and out, she had been able to go through the back door, and override the authorisation codes. With doing so, she ensured that no one could stop the dial out in mid-stream, she did this by setting up firewalls around the mainframe of which only she had the combination. Knowing that once her and Jaret went through the gate, the system would shut down and reboot itself. Unfortunately by the time they had figured out where her and Jaret had gone, it would be too late.

Jaret grabbed the plasma balls along with the Major and ran towards the gate. Dragging Sam along with him, he entered the corridor, the alarm system was now fully engaged, and the sirens blared, red claxons went off in all directions. SF's could be heard running through the corridor towards them.

As they rounded the corner, Jaret threw a plasma ball, which rolled, along the floor towards the uniformed men, and within seconds a charge of energy and light exploded before their eyes, which allowed him unrestricted access to the wormhole itself.

As he ran up the ramp, Major Samantha Carter lost her balance and fell across intricate weaves of metal that made up the Stargate's ramp. Jaret realising that the Major was not going to get through on her own steam, he hoisted her over his shoulder.

The blast doors from the control room suddenly opened to reveal General Hammond, Teal'c and several SF guards staring at the intruder, who was manhandling the Major onto his back. They stood, helpless to stop his escape with one of their own.

Jaret gave a quick wave, and ran through the wormhole.

Chapter 5 - Comrades in Arms

It had been nearly 6 hours since they had seen Sam disappear through the gate with Jaret. Teal'c recognised him before they went through the wormhole, and at present Teal'c and the General were in the process of reviewing the security logs, which fortunately had not been tampered with. The SGC staff were desperately trying to get the gate back online, but as yet to no avail, what ever Major Carter had done, she had ensured a complete system shut down, and Siler had already apprised the General that there was little chance that the system would be up and running within the next 12 hours.

Jonas had been taken directly to the med bay; still unconscious. It wasn't known at this stage if he was going to make it. The General had been advised that it may be a few more hours before they knew for certain if he had suffered any permanent brain damage. Doctor Frasier had advised them that due to Jonas's physiology, and his increased mental capacity, what ever had effected him, had done so on such a level that she wasn't even sure if he would wake up.

General Hammond had asked to be kept informed of the situation, and to notify him of any change in his condition, and he wanted to be informed as soon as Colonel O'Neill awoke.

As General Hammond and Teal'c sat through the vid cams, he came across a section whereby Major Carter had entered the armoury. They saw Carter grab several items from the weapons store, and noted that on several occasions she appeared to be talking to herself.

Quietly disconcerted with what he had witnessed, he paused the video, and turned to face a sombre looking Teal'c. The General felt truly sorry for him, 2 of his friends were currently in sickbay, and his other friend had disappeared; maybe permanently.

The General knew Teal'c was not one to openly show his feelings, but it hadn't been that long since Daniel had ascended, and they were all still grieving for him in their own way; including Teal'c.

"Did you notice that Teal'c? The way Major Carter was behaving." To the General, it appeared as if she had become schizophrenic, gesturing wildly to an invisible force, talking to thin air.

"I did indeed General, but I do not think at the time, the Major was mentally incapacitated. If you recall throughout the time that I have served with SG-1, we have come across many life forms that possess the ability to alter their form, and become stealth like, such as the Nox and the Reetu. I do believe that Major Carter was being influenced by some kind of external force, and I believe that force was Jaret."

General Hammond nodded for Teal'c to continue.

"It is my firm opinion that Jaret has the ability to alter his form, similar to that of a shape shifter, or he must be carrying some device to ensure that he remains invisible. Without further evidence General Hammond, I cannot speculate."

General Hammond turned the video back on and continued to review the logs. Both were tired and weary, he couldn't believe how much film he and Teal'c had gone through, they had both been up for the majority of the night, and the General was aware that Teal'c had been disturbed during his Kel no reem, and without this meditation, Teal'c would in time become sick. He checked his watch, it was now almost 10 am, and it wouldn't be long before the Colonel woke.

"Teal'c listen, we have been up for nearly 24 hours, you did not get to finish your meditation, and I have not slept for some time, before we continue, I think it would be a prudent gesture if we at least got a couple of hours of sleep."

Teal'c turned towards the General, lifted one eyebrow, which caused his forehead to crease and responded in such a baritone voice that no one could mimic, and simply said. "I wish to remain. I do not require meditation as yet, please permit me to continue General. I shall inform you of any findings."

"Teal'c you will not be any use to your friends, if you make yourself sick. We are both tired and in need of rest. There may be subtle things that we are missing due to the fact that we have been at this so long. In all honesty I cannot allow you or myself to continue until we've rested."

"General, they are more than my friends, they have become my family. I must do everything in power to ensure that Major Carter is returned safely"

"Teal'c, I appreciate your concern, and believe me when I say, I want Major carter to return as soon as possible, but it's not open for debate. Three hours rest Teal'c, no less. After you have rested we will go back to the infirmary to check on the Colonel and Jonas, hopefully Doctor Frasier will have more news for us."

"Is that an order General?" questioned Teal'c.

"Let's just say, that it is request that shouldn't be ignored."

Teal' knew that meant that it was an order, and with a slight bow of his head, he departed the briefing room leaving behind a haggard looking General.

After three hours of restful sleep, General Hammond awoke and headed towards the Infirmary, he knew that Teal'c would already be there, and hoped he had managed to get some rest, as the day was going to be a long and arduous one.

As the General was about to enter the infirmary, Teal'c was just slightly ahead of him; the Colonel was pleased that he had at least rested some.

Doctor Frasier was just coming out of her office, and headed towards them. "Oh General, Teal'c, I wasn't able to contact you on the phone, and your secretary advised that you were already on your way here General."

"Has there been any change Doctor?"

"Yes Sir there has, Colonel O'Neill has just woken up, and he mentioned something about Major Carter being here last night, and he's still a bit groggy and confused, but the good news is, his blood pressure has stabilised to a more acceptable level. Now, what I don't want to happen Sir is for his blood pressure to rise again. To do so, may bring on another bleed, and the colonel, may not be as fortunate next time. So please Sir, by all means explain what has happened, but for the time being, give him the watered down version."

"I understand doctor, I won't stay too long. Has there been any change in Jonas's condition?" asked the General, as his eyes drifted towards the second gurney that held the young still form of Jonas Quinn.

"Well, he's stable for now, we've got him hooked up to respiratory for the time being, but I'm hoping it's only a temporary measure."

The General's face filled with concern, he hadn't realised how much damage had been done. The doctor seeing the General's expression as she mentioned the respirator, quickly added, "Don't worry sir, it's to help him heal, he is cardiopulmonary system is still functioning, but I've paralysed him, to allow his body to recuperate."

"Thank you doctor, I promise not to stay to long"

As Teal'c and general Hammond strolled towards the Colonel, he was pleased to see him sitting up slightly, and whilst he knew the Colonel was not ready to face a battle, he had seen him in worse conditions than this, and that within a few days he would be back to his normal sarcastic self, and he didn't mind a bit.

Teal'c waited for the General to ask the first question, "How are you feeling Colonel?"

"Like I've been to an all night liquor party, without the party, and I'm now convinced that somewhere in my jumbled up brain, there's a little man hitting me with a sledgehammer."

Both General and Teal'c looked at each other, if the Colonel was making wise cracks, then it was a sure sign that he was on the road to recovery.

"General, please tell me what's going on. Old Doc Frasier has been clucking around me like a mother hen, and they won't give me the full story on what happened to Jonas. General, if you don't tell me what's going on soon, I'm gonna go nuts. I heard the nurses whispering something about Carter, but I was a bit out of it earlier. I think she came to see me, but I don't remember anything else."

The General wanted to obey the doctors ordered, but could see plainly for himself that it was doing more harm than good only giving him half an explanation.

"OK Colonel, I'll tell you the whole story, but you will have to promise me, that when I tell you, you will need to stay as calm as possible, and not go jumping about. You are not healed yet Colonel."

Colonel O'Neill was now even more concerned, what could have gone so wrong, that they had to moddly cuddle him, fragments of conversation came filtering through his head from last night. He knew it had to do with Carter, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what had happened in her lab, he remembered some reference to carrying her over his shoulder, but that's as far as he got. With that thought crossing his mind, the machine, which monitored his pulse, started to bleep, as the general and Teal'c watched his heart rate accelerate.

The General and Teal'c looked concerned. Teal'c was the first to speak this time; " I shall alert Dr Frasier."

Jack looking sheepish, and thought to himself, "Damn those machines, a man can't even have a little daydream without the whole world knowing." Aloud he said, "Teal'c it's OK really, you don't need to bother the doc, I'm fine really."

"Very well O'Neill, however if you over exert yourself, I shall be forced to baby-sit you." Teal'c countered with a deadpan expression.

O'Neill braced himself for what the General had to tell him, he was expecting the worse, and it wasn't far from the truth. As the General continued to explain the happenings of last night, the Colonel's heartbeat continued to rise, which alerted the doctor.

".......and the last we saw of Major Carter, she was being carried through the Stargate." General Hammond finished.

Jack's hands and knuckles were white as chalk where he had clenched his fists, his heartbeat now hovered around 110 beats per minute. As he threw back the covers, both Doctor Frasier and Teal'c placed a restraining hand on his chest.

"And just where do you think your going Colonel." Janet demanded.

"Where am I going? Where am I going?" he repeated for effect. In his mind he was saying, "where the hell do they think I'm going, I'm gonna get the hell out of this infirmary and go and find Sam, that's what I'm gonna do, and there aint no way in hell I'm gonna just sit here and wait. Waiting was not his style, and he wasn't gonna start it now. All he knew was that Sam was in trouble, and that's all it took to get him fired up as hell.

"I'm not sitting here, whilst my team are injured, I'm gonna go out and tear the head of that mans shoulders, and when I'm finished, I'm gonna use it as a hockey puck. That's what I'm gonna do!"

"Colonel!" they all shouted in unison, it was like having 3 mothers all at once.

The General gave the others a look indicating that he would take control on this one, "Jack, look I know you're concerned, but you are not 100%. I will authorise you and Teal'c and whomever you need to bring back Major Carter, but for the time being, you are staying put, at least until Dr Frasier gives me the OK, and the Stargate is back on line. All I'm asking is that you be patient for just a little while. I promise you that as soon as we find out any information, we'll let you know, now for the time being, you need to calm down."

"General, how can I calm down, my team are being struck down one by one." He gave Teal'c a look that said help me out here.

"General, if I may make a suggestion, perhaps the Colonel and I can review the remaining security tapes, at Doctor Frasier's discretion of course."

The Colonel gave Janet his puppy dog eyes, sadness and concern for his friend clearly evident. Janet knew there was more to this than comradery, and relented.

"Fine, but first Colonel I want you to get some rest."

O'Neill whined like only he could, "Oh common doc, I've been asleep for nearly 24 hours already, don't you think I've slept enough."

"Colonel, I'm not prepared to argue with you on this one, you either get some rest now, or you don't view the tapes. Which is it to be?"

Jack pulled a face and said "Fine."

With that Janet headed towards her office, finally getting the last word.

O'Neill grumbled silently "Who made her in charge?"

The General replied "The United States Air Force!"

"I'm still not getting all my memo's." Jack responded with a sour face, and subsequently grew very tired.

Teal'c and General both said their goodbye's to allow him to rest, and both felt that the weight of the world had been lifted from their shoulders. They were determined now, that they were going to get Major Carter home, and safely.

Chapter 6 - Past and Present

The sun was beating down on Carter and Jaret; the temperature seemed to increase with every step they took. They had arrived almost 5 hours ago, and their surroundings consisted of nothing but sand and dunes. Carter had been unconscious for most of that time, and Jaret had found some kind of shelter for the two of them. With Carter lying with her face towards the dishevelled wall of the man made shack, Jaret was sat crossed legged on the floor, with an open book and amulet to his side.

Jaret heard a murmur to his left, and realised Major Carter was waking, he decided that this was the most opportune time to secure his surroundings, before the Major was fully alert, so got up, and headed towards the outside of the hut. The first thing she noticed as she tried unsuccessfully to open her eyes was the dry heat, it hit her like an oven, her throat was perched, not only from the humidity, but also due to the fact that Jaret had near killed her. She catalogued her injuries; bruised larynx, possible internal injuries from the ribs he broke a couple of days ago, dehydration - definitely, and numerous bruises of which she really didn't have the energy to note. Something was missing though she realised; drugs! There were no drugs in her system, for the first time in 48 hours her mind was her own; but she didn't and wouldn't know if she was alone until she'd turned herself around to inspect her surroundings.

Carter knew that it was gonna hurt like hell when she finally did move, "Oh Carter, for crying out loud, get your ass moving." She groaned inwardly, and as soon as the words came out of her mouth, she realised she'd been hanging around with Jack O'Neill for far to long. Sam, placed one arm on her ribs to cradle them for support, and her other hand she used to shimmy herself until she was in a half sitting, half lying position. Once she was in a reasonably comfortable position, with her body leaning more to her injured side, she remembered what she had done, and knowing that she could never go back, her mind drifted towards her friends back at the SGC.

Thinking about the last few moment before going through the Stargate, seeing Jonas lying there, his still form strewn across the control room floor, hell she didn't even now if he was alive, and then there was Teal'c, what he must be going through. Her and Teal'c had grown quite fond of each other, and knew that with him, she didn't have to act like a female version of GI Joe all the time, and she knew that he respected her. Not just for her cunning intellect and proweress, but due to the trust she placed in her friends, trust that was unending. He had seen her at her worst, when she had been lost and frightened, especially after Daniel was gone, and the Colonel was deathly ill, she had nearly given it all up. That was until Teal'c found her crying in the locker room, he had given her so much comfort and hope during that time, that she knew now, that no matter how lost she was, be it in herself, or on some god forsaken planet, he would be there.

Then there was the Colonel......... "Oh Jack, where are you when I need you?" she sighed softly. Of all the things they had been through together, she knew it would be him that she would miss most of all, not just their relationship, "Huh that's a good one Sam." She thought "Relationship, sure a professional one, but she wanted more, so much more...damn those regulations, she didn't just want to be his 2IC anymore, she wanted him to hold her in his arms, and tell her that everything would work out all right." Deep down though, she knew it wouldn't work, there were just too many obstacles standing in their way.

"Snap out of Sam, this won't get you anywhere, sitting here feeling sorry for yourself" she scolded herself. As she looked around, there didn't appear to be anyone nearby. Then her thoughts turned to Jaret; "Where are you, you little cretin, probably skulking under a bush waiting to pounce."

After three unsuccessful attempts to get her butt of the ground without inflicting any more damage, she finally succeeded, and with her voice croaking like a bull frog she quietly shouted, "Yeah me, I'm standing!"

Her triumph lasted but for a brief moment, as she turned and saw Jaret stood to one side.

Sam's face sunk when she saw him. "Damn, it's you. There's me thinking I'd got lucky and you'd gone and got yourself killed."

"Ah Sam, cranky after our little nap are we! Nice to see your back to the land of the living again..........took you long enough!" He replied sarcastically.

"Where are we?"

"In a hut, miles from civilisation. Something you want to confess Sam? Get a little lost did we?"

"What do you mean miles from civilisation, this is the correct address, I'm positive."

"I hope for your sake you're right. Now drink this, we need to keep moving. I'm warning you now Major, you have till the end of daylight to get me to the Tokra, or you die, and so do your friends. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Crystal."

With that he threw a bottle of water in her direction, but unfortunately her reflexes were not what you would call on top form, and subsequently the bottle went rolling across the floor. Knowing full well that he wouldn't pick it up, she walked over to where it had stopped, and hesitantly lowered herself down to pick it up...... and seriously regretted it.

As she took a swig from the bottle, she asked how far from the Stargate they had travelled.

"We've gone about 8 miles. Believe me Major we would have gone a lot further if you were a little lighter."

Jaret smiled, he loved to bait her, but judging by Sam Carter, she was madder than hell, and once she was outta this mess and feeling better, she was gonna deck him.

Before they left, he stopped her going out the doorway. "Forgetting something are we?"

"Crap" she thought he had forgotten about the drug. As the drug hissed into the side of her neck, her thoughts again turned towards her father. "If there was any justice in this world, her father would come running to her rescue, and kick the crap out this guy for her. She knew the Tokra couldn't be too far away, especially if they had gone 8 miles already then it should only be a short distance further. She needed to find out as much from Jaret as possible, before they met up with the Tokra. For one thing, her father would assume that this man was a friend of hers, "why wouldn't he?" She thought before once again she could feel him in her, burrowing and prying every part of her brain for an answer.

After an hour or so, Carter was near exhaustion, she had already drank the last drops from her water bottle, and got to the stage of sheer thirst, that she contemplated sticking her tongue inside the bottle to secure those last droplets, she was sure the Colonel would to have loved seeing that in action! They had both remained silent throughout the journey, except for the occasions when Sam would veer off in a new direction; she knew it wouldn't be long know. Every part of her body ached with tension, the heat radiated all over her, she had sand crystals in places the sunlight never saw, and she was in desperate need of a new body, water - lots of it, and Colonel O'Neill, and not necessarily in that order.

"I must be getting delirious", she thought.

As they neared a large Dune, which would provide them with some protection against the sun, Jaret advised that they would rest here for some time, and Sam though that this was the most opportune time to find out what the grudge was between Selmack and her father.

As she sat down gingerly, Sam observed Jaret taking something out of his pocket; it seemed to be some kind of book and amulet. Sam was curious.

"Why not just ask me what this is?"

"Okay, I'm asking."

"This was passed down from my father to me, it has very special properties to it." Jaret advised.

"Does it have anything to do with you wanting revenge on my father?"

"Samantha, you do take things personally don't you! I don't have a grudge with your father....only Selmack"

"Why!" Countered Carter boldly.

"You really want to know do you? Well, Samantha, just because it's you, I'll tell you."

Jaret opened the book so that the pages were clearly visible to Sam, it contained reams and reams of hieroglyphics. "My father' name was Toth." God Sam wished Jonas or Daniel were here, her knowledge of Egyptian mythology barely scratched the surface compared to what she knew about alien devices. Jaret continued, "He was a great Egyptian god, he created all things mystical, wisdom, magic, writing and........ Astrology, which is probably why you and I get on so well Samantha." The look that Sam gave him was incredulous, but he took no notice and carried on.

"He was the wisest of all Egyptian gods, his knowledge was revered all over Egypt, this book contains all of his knowledge, spells; he even had the ability to bring people back from the dead. Ironically enough, he couldn't do bring himself back."

"So where does Selmack fit into things?"

"It was Selmack who killed him; right before my eyes. You see this book contains valuable secrets, and because of it's value, my father had it cursed. Those that tried to take the book, were forced to read the text and solve the answers, otherwise it would kill them; the earth swallowing them, and taking them to the underworld to..."

"Anubis" answered Major Carter finishing off his sentence.

"Very Impressive. Selmack intervened on one occasion after several people lost their lives, and killed my father, which is what takes us here."

"But that was a long time ago wasn't it? Why now?"

"Revenge Samantha, is best served cold."

Sam, sat numb, she didn't know what to say, what could you say to something like that. She hadn't recalled her father mentioning this, but then again why would he. What would he have told her; "Hi Sammie, guess what I found out, Selmack committed a pre-mediated murder." Yeah, that really would have sat well.

"We must move now." Jaret informed her.

"No matter what happens" she thought, "he's still my father, and I would give my life for him."

Back at the SGC

Colonel O'Neill was now wide-awake and raring to go, he and Teal'c were just reviewing the last tape, before Sam and Jaret had disappeared through the gate. On two separate occasions, Janet had ordered the Colonel to calm down, as it wasn't doing anything for his blood pressure to get so agitated.

"What do you expect Doc, this is Carter we're watching, and she's in serious trouble, and I just laid here."

"Colonel, you were unconscious." Janet argued, not believing her ears, he was just so caught up with losing Sam, he couldn't see that there would have been nothing he could've done even if he was able.

"That's no excuse Janet."

Janet rolled her eyes, and walked away, she was not going to get involved with this debate; she was onto a losing battle. No matter what she said to him, it went in one ear and out the other. He had been whining to be released for the last few hours, and was severely getting on Janet's last nerve. It was like he had blinkers on, he had to be the one to save her, no-one else, just him, and what he sometimes forgot is that they were Sam's friends to, but at this stage, there was just no use talking to him.

On resuming the video playback, the Colonel and Teal'c had just watched Sam enter a few command codes into the PC when they saw Jaret grab her by the throat. From this point on, all you could hear was Colonel Jack O'Neill reiterate like a mantra, "I'm gonna kill him! Then I'm gonna put him in a godamn sarcophagus, and kill him again!

"O'Neill, I believe that you may have suffered brain damage, we do not have a sarcophagus."

Jack gave him a look and said, "Then I'll build one, okay. If this is you working on your sense of humour Teal'c, then it needs some work."

"It was not meant to be a joke O'Neill, I was merely stating a fact."

"Work with me here Teal'c!" Jack told him, Teal'c simply nodded in understanding.

They returned their attention to the vid screen at the point Jonas walked in, and saw him try and get help for Carter. Then they saw it...his eyes glowed.

"Son of a.." before he had a chance to finish his sentence the General walked in.

"General, we've found something on the vid tapes. Jaret's a Gould sir, no doubt about it."

"Well done Colonel, as soon as the gates active, which I have been informed will be in a few hours, you are good to go."

"Thank you Sir."

Chapter 7 - Within Reach

They had now been walking for some time, the further they went the more tired Major Samantha Carter became. The sun beat down on them, never relenting, burning her body as they walked, she now no longer sweated, which was far more comfortable, but she also knew that it was one of the first stages of heatstroke, which was not good.

Ahead in the distance she could just make out some kind of dwelling, she didn't really know at this stage if it was the Tok'ra, or some other inhabitants claiming this world as their own.

Although they had only been travelling a few miles, Sam felt as if it had been an eternity. Sam was used to covering this much ground on a daily basis with SG-1, but with her injuries so severe, she get stumbling in the sand pockets of the dunes, and each time she fell, she aggravated her injuries all the more.

Jaret, as kind and helpful as ever, did little to assist her on their journey. Sam couldn't remember a time when she had felt so awful. Her breathing was now becoming ragged, even her pains had pains. She also knew that she was feverish even in the heat of the desert. Her insides felt as they were on fire with every step that she took, the only thing that was spurring her on, was the fact that if she died here, she would die alone, which would then allow Jaret to kill not only her team mates, but also her father, and one thing Carter had in abundance was determination that that was never gonna let that happen.

She lost her footing again and stumbled helplessly to the ground, jarring her weary body, she tried once more to lift herself of the dune, putting every last bit of strength she had, but on this occasion she failed, her body refusing to co-operate any further.

Jaret sensing her thoughts and feelings knew now, that Major Carter couldn't continue without assistance. His plan wasn't going as well as he thought, he needed to get to Selmack, and without Major Carter there as a bargaining weapon, there was no way the Tok'ra would trust an outsider, and it would be doubtful that they would even show themselves to him. He needed her as leverage.

He turned round to walk back to where she had fallen. Sam's vision was blurring, she recognised the blackness around the edges of her eyes, and with pain racking her body, her last thought was for her friends and how she had failed them, as hard as she tried to stay with it, her body could take no more and again she passed out, but this time she didn't expect to awaken again.

Jaret saw her eye lids flutter, her eyes rolling towards the back of her head, and knowing she was near death, he scooped her up in his arms and carried towards the buildings.

As she lay in his arms, he carried on to the stone called structure, his arms and legs growing heavier with each step. Then he saw it, a group of people coming out of the structure, he couldn't tell at this stage if they were Tok'ra, but one thing he knew for sure is; they had seen him.

One of the guards re-entered the building, presumably to tell the others. The other 3 headed towards him, their speed increasing with each step they took. It was not long before they surrounded him, weapons raised in a defence stance. They knew they had the advantage, a lone man carrying a female in his arms, unless he dropped her, it was unlikely that he had the advantage point, and that was exactly what Jaret wanted them to think.

"Who are you?" One of them demanded. "Why are you here."

"I was searching for Jacob Carter, I understand that he may be here, please you must take me to him. This is his daughter Samantha Carter, she's severely injured, and in need of medical assistance."

"You have not answered my question! Who are you, and how did you find us?" The guard reiterated.

"My name is Jaret, I'm a scientist, I was working with Major Carter when we were attacked. She told me that her father was involved with a resistance group known as the Tok'ra, and gave me this location." He continued to lie, and found it comforting that they appeared to be buying into his charade.

"You will follow us!" they explained, shepherding him and the Major inside the communal building. As he surveyed his surrounding, they descended further and further down underground, small pockets of crystallite laidened the walls. He had heard of this material before, but had never seen it, it was quite impressive. Looking down at Major Carter, he noted her skin was deathly pale, apart from spots of bright red tint on her cheeks from fever.

At this point, Jaret noted that you couldn't descend any further, he also noted that he was being led into an open cavern, where he was told to wait, he laid the Major out onto a stone slab, and watched 2 guards take stance at the entrance, it wouldn't be long now he thought.

With only two guards visible, he placed his hands in his pocket to pull out the amulet, in preparation for the next stage, and placed it along side of Major Carter.

He waited a few minutes and then heard footsteps in the hallway, he then saw him; Selmack.

As Jacob ran towards his daughter, fear and anger was embedded so much in his eyes, that he barely noted the man to her side, and due to the fact that his physiological makeup was not that of a normal Gould, the thought didn't cross his mind.

"What the hell happened to my daughter?" Jacob demanded. "And where the hell is Colonel O'Neill."

Jacob knew something was very wrong, not just the fact that his daughter appeared to be dying, but in the fact that SG-1 were nowhere around, this in itself caused Jacob to worry, he had never seen this man before, and there would have been no way Jack O'Neill would have let her go off with a stranger, let alone through the Stargate.

"Well, I'm waiting for an answer."

Jaret picked up the amulet, and placed it in his hand and stepped back slightly, then proceeded to speak in a language Jacob Carter had never heard of.

"Akum kretinome fasalatay iddiun ma konat abiyasinnia gretoricus."

"What the hell are you saying...?"

Before Jacob had the chance to challenge him further, gasps could be heard from all around him. Jacob turned around to see his comrades drop to their knees in pain, their eyes bulging from lack of oxygen, their weapons strewn on the floor beside them as blood seeped from various parts of their orifices.

Rushing to their aid to check for signs of life, he noted there was none. Jacob Carter had never seen anything like this...no he recalled, he had. Not him though, it had been Selmack that had witnessed this, many years ago. He knew of only one person that could've caused the death of his people in this fashion, 'Toth'. Shaking the image from his mind, he knew that it was impossible, he had seen Toth die, at his own hands, he couldn't think of anyone else that could've possessed this much power.

As he tried to recall his memories of the past, Selmack remembered a son of Thoth. No, it couldn't be him, he would have recognised the Gould within him. At this moment though, it wasn't important, all he was concerned about was the fact that this man had just killed his comrades and was standing by his daughter.

Jaret's eyes flashed, he was now able to show himself as he truly was, for the first time since he had hidden amongst the DeAsha's.

"I know that you recognise my strength and power Selmack, surely you remember me."

Jacob ignored him; his concern for his daughter was his only thought now, as he asked. "What did you do to her?"

Looking from Major Carter to Selmack, he walked over to where Jacob was and answered. "I needed her to get to you, and a wonderful job she has done, and now that I've found you, she has now served her purpose."

"What do you plan to do with us?" At this point it was now Jacob Carter speaking and not Selmack.

"Selmack and I have some unfinished business to take care of, and as for your daughter, well it won't be long until she'd dead. Pity really, I was really becoming quite fond of her."

"If you've touched one hair on head, so help me I'll..."

Jaret cut him off mid sentence and simply stated, "You are not in any sort of a position to barter. I will do whatever I please, and with whomever I please. Starting with you."

-----------------xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx------------------------

O'Neill had had enough, he'd been cooped up long enough, Teal'c had been with him throughout, but now his patience was getting very thin, and he wanted out. Doc Frasier had been concentrating on Jonas for the last couple of hours, all his vital signs, had stabilized, and she'd taken him off the life support, and ordered another CAT scan, as he had begun to wake up.

"Come on Jonas" he thought as they had taken him down to complete another scan, and was relieved to see that when they had returned him to the infirmary, Jonas was alert and talking, and although not quite himself yet, he knew the young lad was out of danger.

As they settled Jonas back in bed, Colonel O'Neill called the Doc over and asked. "How is he?"

Doctor Frasier looked from one patient to the other. "He's actually doing remarkably well Colonel, better than you actually. It's hard to believe that only a couple of hours ago he was taken off the respirator. I asked him, if his fast healing was a genetic trait of his people, but he said it wasn't. That's the only other explanation I have, unless it has to do with his work with Naquadria. It must have altered his chemistry enough to allow for rapid healing, which will come in handy knowing SG1's record."

O'Neill looked at her, his eyes creased into small slats, and with his nose wrinkling he responded. "I resent that! We have a great record for catching the bad guys, hell we've saved this world..." Colonel O'Neill looked to Teal'c for an answer.

"I believe it is now nine times O'Neill."

"Thank you Teal'c. There you go, 9 times, sure we've had our share off cuts and scrapes, but hell, who hasn't. It's an occupational hazard Doc."

Here we go again thought Janet, "Yes Colonel, I accept that, but let me tell you something, that I'm sure has escaped you....you're not getting any younger Colonel."

Of all the things that he was expecting, that surely wasn't one of them, and with a mocked hurt expression replied, "I resent that Doc, I am not old...I'm..." he paused trying to think of a good analogy "... think of me as a bottle of scotch. I get better with age."

Humph thought Janet Frasier. "Anyway Colonel, the reason I came over, was because I wanted to tell you that you can go, I've had enough of you cluttering up my infirmary, and whining to the nurses...." But before she had the chance to even finish her sentence he was out the bed, and standing on his own two feet, then realising that hospital gowns expose various parts of your anatomy, sheepishly he tried to cover his fully exposed butt. And whilst you tend not to care very much what the doctor sees when you're feeling half dead, modesty comes back full force when you're feeling better.

"Teal'c go get my clothes will ya", the quicker he got outta here the better. He was now on a mission, and as soon as he Teal'c returned, he quickly got dressed and walked over to the bed Jonas was occupying.

Jonas looking slightly agitated when he saw the Colonel walking over. This was the part that he had been dreading. Knowing that he had failed saving Major Carter, he was expecting to face O'Neill's wrath. He knew how close the two of them were, an unspoken bond between them, but he didn't realised how strong it was until he had actually started going out on missions with them, and he wasn't looking forward to facing him.

"How you feeling Jonas?" Jonas was a bit taken back, there was no hostility in his voice, only concern, and it shocked him. Maybe the Colonel had truly accepted him as part of the team.

"Much better, Colonel, thanks. Look, I didn't get a chance to tell you, but the man that was with Major Carter, he's a Gould." Jonas bowed his head and continued. "About Major Carter, Colonel I'm sorry, I tried to help her, but..."

The Colonel really did feel sorry for him, he knew Jonas would blame himself for not being able to stop Jaret, but he also knew through good friends, the only person that should be blamed was Jaret.

"Don't worry about it Jonas, there was nothing you could've done to stop him, we reviewed the security logs, and found out what he is, and now he's gonna get what's coming to him. Look Jonas, take care, we need you back with us."

Lifting his covers and dangling his feet over the edge, Jonas responded. "I'm ready now Colonel, believe me, I need to do this."

Colonel O'Neill watched as Jonas slipped away the covers and sat up, promptly revealing something he shouldn't. "Um, Jonas! You might wanna do something about the draft behind you, know what I mean." He snorted.

"What?"

"I was trying to be subtle Jonas, but since no-one ever gets my subtlety, don't know why that is, do you Teal'c" he said getting off track. "Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand, you've got your butt showing."

"Oh" Was all Jonas could muster at this stage. "Sorry Colonel."

"Oh don't worry about it Jonas, I had a little butt thing going on myself a few minutes ago. Look Jonas, I know your all eager and raring to go, and I want you to come with, really I do" seeing Jonas's face, "but you're not fit enough yet. We need ya, but we need you fit, understand?"

"Yes Colonel."

With that, he left the infirmary and headed towards the Control room to find General Hammond.

As he walked into the gate room he peered through the hardened glass and saw that Siler and other techies were still working on the gate, and the computer system.

The General watched as Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c walked towards him. "Good to see you up and about Colonel, how are you feeling?"

"Fine and dandy Sir, and raring to go and kick some Gould butt. Wasn't the gate supposed to be up and active by now?"

"Yes Colonel it was, but there were a few complications on route, it shouldn't be too long now."

Impatiently he said "Sir, we may be running out of time, couldn't you just sorta demand the techies to hurry up?"

"Colonel, believe me when I say, you don't wanna rush them with this much energy flowing through their fingertips."

"I know Sir, its just that.."

"I know what the stakes are Jack."

"Yes sir."

So for next hour and a half an impatient Jack O'Neill paced the control room floor in circles, people moved out the way every time they came near him, noting that he kept on glancing at his watch every few seconds, and generally getting under everyone's feet. Cursing when one of the techies dropped a tool, because it meant that they lost valuable time picking it up.

Noting the displeasing faces of his staff, as the Colonel continued to pace, he put a hand out to stop him, "Colonel...Jack, please go and do something constructive, you're not helping anyone here, and frankly you're in the way."

The Colonel just muttered "sorry", he just couldn't help himself, they just seemed to be going to slow for his liking. As he and Teal'c were headed down the steps, Siler shouted that they were done, and the gate could be started up again.

"About time!" Jack mumbled. "Come on Teal'c, time to get our stuff and go rescue Carter."

Approximately 20 minutes later, the coordinates had been fed into the computer, and the dial out sequence had been actioned, O'Neill had packed so much firepower into his pack back that Teal'c had commented that he could probably take out an arsenal.

As they watched the last chevron lock, the Stargate was now fully active, General Hammond spoke down from the control centre "SG-1, you have a go, bring her back safe Colonel" and with a slight nod, they proceeded to go up the ramp. They barely got two feet onto it when they suddenly heard a voice behind them shouting, "Stop, wait for me."

Both turned round simultaneously and saw Jonas not more than 10 feet behind them. The Colonel looked up towards the control room and gave a quizzical look towards the General. "Jonas, I know you want to come with, but you've been through a lot, and trust me when I say you don't want ol' Doc Frasier comin after you, cos you escaped her clutches."

"She gave me the all clear Colonel, honest." Jack just gave him one of his "I don't think so" looks.

Seeing the scepticism in the Colonel's face, he replied, "you can ask her yourself", and pointed to the control room and sure enough Doc Frasier was there giving them the okay.

"Ah, youth is a wonderful thing," he thought.

"Good to have you back Jonas." then as SG1 headed up the ramp with such determination and purpose in their stride, Colonel O'Neill turned to face Teal'c and asked, "Do you think I'm old?" However, before Teal'c could answer they entered the wormhole, his atoms dematerialising.

Chapter 8 - The Rescue

"Well Teal'c, do ya think I'm old?" O'Neill asked as they descended from the Stargate.

"I refuse to comment O'Neill on the grounds that I may incriminate myself."

O'Neill stared at him gob smacked, he really did think he was old. Although somewhere in his fuddled brain a little voice was saying, "It's only him working on his sense of humour...wasn't it?"

Both Teal'c and Jonas knew that this little quirky thing he had going on, was due to the fact that O'Neill was worried and frustrated, and until she was rescued, this was his way of preparing himself for what lay ahead. And knowing that anything could happen on this mission, he was preparing his team for the same uncertainty.

As they put their backpacks on the ground, and got the equipment out to track Carter and Jaret's location, O'Neill and Jonas squinted up at the Sun hovering high above them. The sun shining so bright that it hurt to look anywhere near it, and damnit, it was getting hot, and there was no doubt about it; they were gonna get burnt. Luckily they had brought with them sufficient water supplies to aid them on their journey.

Jonas was the first to speak as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a vessel containing cool water, and the other hand he used to locate his sunglasses. "So what's the plan Colonel?"

Colonel O'Neill simply put his pack back on, took a deep breath, which caused his shoulders to rise, and simply said. "I don't know."

Teal'c simply raised his eyebrow, and Jonas was shocked, he'd heard of impromptu planning, but considering this was Carter they were going to rescue, he expected the Colonel to at least have some idea, and was more than surprised that there was none.

"I don't understand Colonel, you always have a plan."

God, thought the Colonel, the kid was still green and had a lot to learn about the unknown. For too long Jonas had been sat in a room learning about science, technology and cultures, but little on conflict. He looked at him, and concentrated on his features for a few moments before he responded. The Colonel remembering what Daniel was like in the beginning, geeky and uncoordinated, but eager. Just like Jonas was now. He knew that in time it would change and Jonas would become a fully effective member of SG-1, just like Daniel had. It was times like these when he missed Daniel's banter, and hoped that wherever his friend was, that he was looking out for them on this unknown journey.

"Sometimes Jonas, the best attack method is surprise. We don't know anything about where Carter's being held, and without that information, it would be useless wasting valuable planning and subjugating. Understand?"

"Yes, Colonel."

"Right then kids, lets go."

They had been travelling now for a little more than 4 hours and they had covered an enormous amount of ground, almost 7 miles. The clicks on the techno gadget thingy as O'Neill liked to call it indicated that there were 2 structures within a 4-mile radius, one being only a short click away, the other showing as being approximately 4 clicks away in a northeasterly direction from their position.

Given their physical condition a few hours ago, it was surprising how far they had come in such a short space of time, but they were all getting a little weary, and were in desperate need of a rest.

Teal'c was the first to spot it, a simple structure lay ahead of them, a lone shack in the distance. Colonel O'Neill squinted his eyes to get a better look, using his hand to shield away the UV rays of sunlight, for just a moment. He needed to determine if there was any sign of life coming from outside or inside the building. With his eyesight not being as great as it was, he pulled his binoculars from his BDU's and directed the lens at the shelter ahead; studying it for a short time before giving the go ahead to move forward.

Cautiously they approached the structure, no sound could be heard from SG-1 as they approached the building like a cat stalking it's prey, sliding on the ground to ensure they were not seen or heard by any occupant who may be inside. Colonel O'Neill using sign language to indicate in which direction Teal'c and Jonas should go. Once they were in the required position, they slowly opened the door of the structure. It was just a simple hut, no signs of life could be found inside, Teal'c patrolling the outside just incase. If nothing else, it gave them some shelter from the heat of the desert, and allowed them to recuperate for a few moments.

As they surveyed the inside, there really was very little to see, only small insects scurrying into the corners of the room where particles of sand lay in small piles, presumably laying wherever the wind had forced it, disturbed by the presence of visitors. A small wooden box lay towards the other side of the room, slats criss crossing across the side, where it had been carelessly tossed to one side.

Teal'c spotted something else, a glint by the wall, as the sun caught it's side, curious as to what it was, he moved towards it. O'Neill watching Teal'c asked, "What is it"

As Teal'c lowered his hand to pick up the object, Jonas and O'Neill were already at his side. "Teal'c?"

"It seems to be some kind of jewellery O'Neill, possibly part of a necklace"

"Let me see it 'T'" O'Neill asked, taking the object from his hand, and inspecting it closely.

Examining it, he noted that it seemed familiar to him, but he didn't know why. Thinking hard to recall some memory from long ago. Then it came to him in a flash of inspiration, it was Carter's. He remembered asking her about it one night whilst at O'Malley's having dinner and a bear, Daniel and Teal'c were on an off world mission, Teal'c along just to baby-sit Daniel who was constantly getting into trouble, so it had just been him and Carter, and he had seen her running it through her fingers. It was the most beautiful necklace he'd seen, so simple, but enchanting, beautiful; just like Carter. "Oh hello," he thought "Those kinda thoughts are gonna get you nothing but trouble O'Neill."

Sam had told him, that it was a gift from her mother, the last gift she'd ever bought for her before she died suddenly. Carter had told him that one time; she had been distraught because she thought she'd lost it. He had asked why she kept it with her, if she was afraid of losing it, and knowing the number of scrapes they had been in, it surprised him that she hadn't lost it more times. When she replied, he had seen her sky blue eyes light up, and the brightest of smiles that could light up a darkened sky as she answered, "Because when it's with me, I feel as if my mother is with me as well."

Jonas and Teal'c were patiently waiting, they had seen the Colonel's eyes move to the right, where it indicated he was recalling memories, and waited until the memory had surfaced.

Softly he answered, "It's Carter's."

"This is a good sign O'Neill, it means that we are going in the right direction,"

O'Neill simply nodded in agreement, he needed a few moments to himself, and took himself off into another corner of the room, and drank from his water vessel. The others followed suit. A sense of calmness spread through the hut like a gentle wind, each contemplating what lay ahead in their own way, wondering if they were too late to save Major Carter. They each knew that Major Carter was not in her best physical condition prior to leaving the SGC; that was evident in the way Jaret was forced to carry her through the gate.

O'Neill remembered an old adage from his former commander many years ago, when he was just a Lieutenant. They had been sent on a dangerous mission, and prior to them attacking a fortress; the team seemed unusually quiet, which reflected on O'Neill's current circumstances. He'd asked his CO "Why the stillness?" and his CO had responded. "Son, in any situation like this, tenseness prepares you for death in battle, stillness ensues the certainty of it." That night 3 of his friends had been killed.

With one last thought, he took a large breath, held it for a brief moment and let it out slowly. He stood up and brushed the sand off his BDU's, and with a conviction that Jonas had never heard from him before said, "We go now." There was no bravado from him or wise cracks. Jack O'Neill meant business, and one thing one certain, no one was going to die today, except Jaret.

Jacob lay on the floor panting, his breathing coming in quick concession, becoming more rapid and urgent; he had never felt anything like this. Jaret was taunting him, it was not simple revenge that Jaret had wanted, he wanted to experiment on him.

For the last couple of hours he had been at the mercy of Jaret, violent shimmers now careering through his body as Jaret recited another spell from his father's book.

Jaret found this simply delightful, watching Selmack suffer so; never in his wildest dreams did he think he would injure inflicting so much pain on his enemy.

"Retribution is mine." He taunted Jacob/Selmack.

Jacob was in severe pain, but seeing his daughter, barely hanging on, he had no choice. He had to hold on for her sake, or until they were rescued. He couldn't understand where Jack was, but he wished he'd hurry up, he couldn't hold out forever, and neither could his daughter. Jacob's symbiote had been working overtime over the last couple of hours, trying to heal Jacob's injuries as quickly as he good before he was inflicted with the next round of trauma.

Jaret circled Jacob/Selmack. Throughout the ordeal, Jacob was determined not to allow Selmack to take full control of him, it annoyed the hell out of Jaret, and caused him to inflect more pain on the hosts body, but Jacob was adamant that he needed Selmack to concentrate on healing him, and now, it wasn't just Selmack's battle, it was Jacob's. After the way Jaret had treated his daughter, beating her, taking her away from her friends, forcing her to commit treason. "NO", he thought, I'm not letting Jaret have the upper hand.

Sam had remained unconscious throughout, Jacob was thankful for small mercies, in the fact that she hadn't seen her father subjected to this kind of torture. As he lay with his back against the side of the wall, he glanced up to where his daughter lay. She looked so small and fragile, he'd never seen her like this, and it scared the hell out of him.

"Why not just kill me Jaret, that's what you want isn't it?" Jacob taunted, finding the strength from somewhere deep inside.

Jaret laughed aloud, growing more and more unpredictable. "You'd like that wouldn't you, quick and easy. Why should I let you off so easily? You certainly didn't afford my father the same generosity, did you? I saw him suffer at your hands, and it wasn't quick and painless, was it Selmack. You made sure of that when you killed him the way you did! Do you know what it was like watching your father die? It's just a shame Samantha can't witness her fathers demise."

Then he hit Jacob with another blast, causing Jacob to black out for a few moments.

SG-1 had finally reached the structure; there were no guards around the perimeter. O'Neill had been informed by General Hammond prior to their departure that there would be only a few Tokra there at present, and that the Tokra had been scouting for new locations in preparation for the move of their new headquarters.

This was too easy, he thought, but then why wouldn't it be. As far as Jaret aware, the figures that Sam had been typing into the computer back at the SGC were to ensure their escape, but what he didn't know was that Sam had left an encoded message for them, and unless you understood Base 8 math, he wouldn't have realised.

Silently and with such gentle grace, they crept towards the front entrance, ensuring that any noise they made was minimal; they needed total surprise. O'Neill indicated with a hand signal to Teal'c to take right flank, and Jonas the left, this allowed him the opportunity to go through the middle. They descended the stairwell, weapons raised in anticipation of what they would find. He wasn't taking any chances when it came to Sam.

O'Neill heard something, very faint, but evident. It appeared to be coming from a small area down the corridor. He turned around to the others and placed a finger on his lips indicating silence, as they proceeded towards the room. They could hear shouting from Jaret, and screams. They recognised the one who was screaming; it was Jacob. They listened intently trying desperately to gather as much information they needed to get them all out of there safe, they weren't quite close enough to hear everything, they needed. Desperately trying to hear a sound from Carter he heard something, which caused his blood to go cold, it was Jacob.

"...What does it matter, she's dead anyway."

O'Neill didn't know what to feel; he put his head against the stone rock as he became slightly dizzy from shock. His thoughts and feeling in turmoil, he felt physically sick. "Oh God, we're too late, and I never even got the chance to tell her." He thought. Teal'c placed a hand on his shoulder, providing some comfort to his friend. Although Teal'c felt the loss deeply, he knew that Jacob Carter was still alive in there, so they still had a mission which they had to continue, he would grieve in his own way when this was over.

With his eyes, Teal'c conveyed that they still had to rescue Jacob Carter, before it was too late. Well if he was going in, he was going in hard.

Then he came up with a plan, he and Teal'c would go through first, and O'Neill knew that Jaret wouldn't be expecting Jonas, as Jaret believed him to be dead. This would be the element of surprise. O'Neill advised Jonas that he and Teal'c would go through first and distract him, and then Jonas was to send an energy ball in, which he believed would disrupt any mechanical devices Jaret happened to have on him.

Jonas knew that the Colonel was placing all his trust in him, and he wasn't go to fail this time. He took a deep breath and nodded.

O'Neill patted Teal'c on the back as they neared the entrance. Then they saw the bodies of the Tokra scattered across the floor, dried blood caked their faces. "God, what happened to them?" he thought.

Then they heard Jacob's scream.

"Oh well, now or never!" thought O'Neill knowing that with the position of the bodies blocking the entrance, they wouldn't be able to get in without alerting Jaret.

Jaret heard them at the doorway and grabbed Jacob by the throat, manoeuvring him in front of his body, thus protecting himself.

"Well well well, Colonel Jack O'Neill, and Teal'c isn't it? How nice of you to join us." Jaret grinned, now he had more souls to torture.

With their weapons still raised and pointed at Jaret, the first thing he saw was Carters deathly pale face, and his blood ran cold once more.

Jaret looked the two of them up and down, and laughed heinously, "So you're the rescue committee, humph good job. What did you expect, for me to just hand them over, I have the advantage point here gentleman," indicating to his grip on Jacob.

O'Neill had had enough, this guy was pissing him off, not only had he killed Carter, but he was playing with them, and more than anything, he didn't like to be played with.

Jack looked towards Jacob, his eyes radiating pain, "Jack, forget about me, Just shoot him."

"Shut up Jacob." Jack countered in a dark tone.

"Jack, he..."

"Jacob, I know what he's done!" he answered in a tone that said, "I know what I'm doing, trust me."

"Put your guns down gentleman, and take a seat over there." Jaret stated matter of fact. "I'll get to you in a minute."

Both Teal'c and O'Neill laid down their weapons and took a few steps forward and to the left, Jaret released his grip on Jacob as he slowly walked to centre of the cavern. O'Neill muttering, "Like hell you will." Then suddenly he shouted "NOW JONAS"

Not having time to react, Jaret turned round, to see Jonas Quinn fling an energy ball in the direction where he was standing. The light and intensity of the electrical current being amplified in the room, as it hit its target. O'Neill and Teal'c shielding themselves from the brilliant light, Jacob just managing to get behind the stone pillar where his daughter lay.

Jaret crumpled to the floor in a heap. Jacob scrambled forward. "Jack, whatever happens don't let him speak, the book he has, it's a book of spells, he can kill you in an instant."

Jack walking to where Jaret was lying pointed a Zat in his face, as Jaret's eyes opened. "I just need an excuse, and so help me I'll shoot ya."

Jaret opened his mouth to speak, but before he had a chance to say anything Jack shot him, not once, but twice, then whispered. "That was all I needed." Then promptly dropped the Zat on the floor, and stood silently, feeling completely alone and lost.

Now that it was over, Jacob had to get back to his daughter, and said, "Jack, don't just stand there, I need your help, Sam's dying."

O'Neill thought he would fall on the floor! Did he hear right? Did Jacob say that Sam was alive? "What?" he stated quizzically.

"Jack now is not the time to act stupid, now get your ass over here and help me."

His heart skipped a beat, she was alive, he couldn't believe it, how could she be, he'd heard Jacob say those words. O'Neill ran up to the pillar, Jacob was on one side, he was at the other, Teal'c and Jonas were now standing slightly behind them.

Jack's instincts kicked in, as he placed his hands on the side of her throat checking for a pulse. He kept it there for a few seconds, just to reassure himself. It was faint and erratic, but it was there. With his hand moving upwards to cup the side of her face, he gentle began caressing her jaw line. His other hand smoothing back her hair that was damp from fever. He started out softly, looking for any kind of response from her. "Sam, can you hear me, C'mon Sam, open your eyes for me, just for a minute." Nothing was happening, so he tried a bit harder, shaking her ever so slightly, but being careful not to cause further injury. "SAM, come on, you've had enough sleep, it's time to wake up. Sam, come on no sleeping on the job, especially in front of your C.O." Then he saw it, for just a brief moment, a flicker. "Sam, please, come back to me."

Jacob's eyes fixated on Jack's face, listening intently to what he was saying, Jack wasn't saying come back to 'us', he was saying come back to him, and it wasn't until that moment, did Jacob realise how much the colonel loved his daughter.

Just then Sam opened her eyes, only slightly, but they were open, Jack and Jacob looked at each other and smiled the widest smile you had ever seen, Teal'c and Jonas grinning in the background. "Welcome back Sam." O'Neill whispered as he noticed her hand moving ever so slowly and purposely up to his. She laid her hand on top of his and rubbed her thumb back and forth as she had that night in the infirmary. Jack O'Neill had never felt so content in his life.

Sam licked her lips and croaked; "You risked your life to come back for me" she smiled. Her eyes suddenly growing very tired. "Thank you." And with that her hand fell back on to the slab where she lay.

Jack's face dropped as he saw her body go limp, urgently he shouted at her "Sam, Sam, please don't leave me now."

Jacob checked for a pulse, there wasn't one, oh god he was going lose his daughter, frantically his mind worked, think Jacob. He couldn't think, then he heard Selmack, "CPR, you must resuscitate her now."

"Jack", he prodded, "we must do CPR, 'NOW' Jack. Get her on the floor, you breathe for her; I'll do chest compressions. 'Jonas' grab the book by Jaret, it's a book of the Living and the Dead, it has allsorts of spells, that could bring Samantha back, 'get reading'"

They placed Sam on the ground to give themselves better leverage for the chest compressions to work. All Teal'c could do is standby as he watched his friend trying to breathe life back into Major Carter. All you could hear was; "One and two and three and four and five, breathe."

By this stage Jonas had found the book and was checking through it. The writing wasn't anything he had come across before, panic started to set in, as he knew then that he couldn't help her. Racking his brain, trying to remember something...he couldn't. "Oh God."

"Jonas" Colonel O'Neill shouted vehemently.

All Jonas could say was "I'm sorry, I can't read it, I've never seen this script before."

He looked at the Colonel, eyes filled with unyielding sorrow.

"Jonas, you have to try, please." He begged, "This is Carter."

The Colonel looked at Jacob; unshed tears in his eyes, Carter wasn't responding.

Jonas didn't know where to look, he had never felt so useless, "I can't Colonel, I've never seen it before, I'm so sorry, I can't read it."

Just as they were all about to give up hope, they heard a voice from the corner.

"No, but I can."

Chapter 9

Jack heard the words, and knew the voice, but no it couldn't be, could it? He'd watched him die a few months ago. He half expected to turn round and see him naked, what with him leaving his clothes behind an all.

They all turned round simultaneously, Jacks eyes red and swollen from holding back unshed tears. Jacob Carter, not caring who saw, let his tears fall freely onto the cold stone floor.

"Daniel" O'Neill spoke softly, barely breathing." How, What?" He asked sounding more puzzled.

"Those questions don't matter now Jack, we need to concentrate on Sam." Daniel said, strangely enough sounding like he had before he 'died', and standing there fully clothed. None of them could believe their eyes, they had not seen or heard from Daniel since his ascension.

"Jack, we need to continue CPR" Jacob pleaded in earnest.

Jack had been desperately trying to get Sam to show some sort of sign, encouraging her silently and persistently, but there was nothing. He had seen her fade into the darkness, her bright blue eyes devoid of any sign of life. He would give anything at this moment to have her come back to him. They had been trying desperately to revive her for what Jack had thought was an eternity.

She had slipped away so silently, as if waiting for them to find her so she wouldn't die alone. Jack however was not prepared to let her go, and with Daniel there now to help, he somehow found the strength to continue.

They were both physically and emotionally exhausted, both of them never relinquishing the love they had for her in their own special way, and they weren't prepared to give up, it just wasn't an option.

Daniel walked towards them, kneeling ever so gentle besides his friends. "Jack, Jacob, I can help, but you have to trust me like you've never trusted anyone in your life."

Both men torn between listening to Daniel and continuing the breathing Sam desperately needed to stay alive. Uncertainty and apprehension clearly apparent as Daniel continued.

"I warn you both, it may not work, but it's the only way I know to give Sam the chance to live again."

Jack looked pleadingly at his friend; he would do anything for her. Daniel had never witnessed such a heart-rending plea, from his former C.O. He trusted Daniel like a brother, knowing that if anyone could help, he could.

Jacob was the first to speak. "Daniel, what do we need to do?"

With his hand on Jacks shoulder, he looked directly in his eyes, "You need to let her go."

Both Jack and Jacob stared directly at the man they believed to be their friend. He knew it would be the biggest sacrifice either one of them would ever face, but Daniel knew that it was necessary to bring her back.

Jack, was still on his knees appeared to have been physically knocked over. Disbelief evident in the strained features of his face as he recoiled from Daniel's touch.

"No way, Daniel! Do you *know* what you're asking us to do? I'll tell you shall I! You're asking us to stand around and watch her die. Are you nuts? Did you lose a few brain cells on route to never never land?" O'Neill shouted vehemently trying to get as far away from Daniel as he possibly could.

Jack couldn't believe his ears; in effect he was asking him and Jacob to kill her. Jacob seeing the look of utter horror in his face knew that it wasn't something that Jack would be able to do.

Unfortunately with Jack stepping back from Sam, it meant that she was not receiving the vital oxygen needed to sustain her.

Jacob shouted over to Teal'c and Jonas, to take over from them. Jacob needed answers, and so it appeared did Jack.

Jacob walked over to Jack, who was pacing back and forth like a pack animal; trapped in a small cage, not knowing which direction he should take. Sadness replaced by anger. He placed his hand on Jacks shoulder and turned him around. Daniel simply standing near by watching the interaction between them, unable to act until Jack was ready to listen. But time was fading, and if he didn't act soon, it may be too late to save her.

"Jack, look at me." Jacob spoke firmly and intently eyes filled with sorrow. "I have more love for my daughter than you will ever know. I know what it's like to standby and watch someone die, knowing that their fate is in someone else's hands, and I also know how much you care for her."

Jacob didn't know if he was getting through to him, sometimes a person is so consumed with guilt and grief that it swallows them whole, he was not going to let that happen to Jack. "Jack, please, you need to listen to Daniel, he's your friend. You've trusted him with your own life so many times, so has Sam. All I'm asking, is that you trust him now."

With his hands rummaging wildly over his face and through his hair, he knew that Jacob would never let go of his daughter, unless he trusted the other implicitly. Jacob was right, he did trust Daniel, he knew he would not intentionally let Sam die, and with a slight nod in Daniel's direction, he moved forward.

Daniel placing a hand on Jack's forearm for support, he told them of the mythology surrounding the ancient script. "Legend states that a person can be brought back from the dead using the amulet and the book, but to do this, we have to let her go. Her body is so weak from fighting, that her soul... her essence is caught between here and the after life."

Jacob nodded for Daniel to continue, Jack just staring at him, not fully comprehending what was being said, but he just couldn't trust his voice to speak.

This book has many properties, including bringing back a person's soul into their physical body.

Daniel thought he saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes, but he didn't want to give them false expectations, knowing that there was a big chance that this wouldn't work. Part of the ritual involved letting go of all doubt; any trace of it may have an adverse reaction on the ritual.

"Please, *both* of you need to understand that it may not work, any negativity you have, you need to let go of now." They nodded in understanding. "There's one more thing."

Taking a deep shaky breath, his hands shaking in fear of what was to come Jack asked "What else?"

"Sam herself has to want to come back. Without her co-operation it won't work, and believe me, what lies ahead is beautiful, and may be too hard to resist."

With that Daniel went over to Teal'c and Jonas, and told them to stop. They had heard the exchange going on behind them, and knew what had to be done to save the life of their friend all over again.

As they gathered around her, seeing her slip away; a serenity of calm fell before the group. Jack was the first to speak as Daniel prepared himself.

"Daniel, look I'm sorry about what I said before, I didn't mean it...it's just....it's Carter, you know?" O'Neill not good at this sort of thing, simply said, "I just wanted to say thank you for trying. I know how hard it must have been for you to have stood by like this and watch her suffer during the last few days and knowing that you couldn't stop it. If I forget to tell you later, I appreciate it, you've been a good friend to all of us."

Noone needed to say anything else, Jack had summarised their thoughts and feelings well enough for all of them. Daniel then directed them all to kneel beside her.

With the amulet safely guarded in his hand he carefully positioned it across her chest making sure that it was positioned in exactly the right place. He opened the book laidened in ancient scripture and recited in the books mother tongue;

"Hail, thou god Aniu! Hail, thou god Pehreri, who dwellest in thy hall. I beg thee to allow that her soul may come to us from any place wherein it may be. Thou findest her family and friends standing by thee. Let her never lie down in death. Let not the essence of Samantha Carter, whose word is truth; lie down dead among those who lie in Anu, the land wherein souls are joined to their bodies in thousands. Let her have possession of soul and spirit, and let my word be truth."

"Observe then, O ye guardians of Heaven, return her soul wherever it may be. May it gaze upon its earthly body, and return her back to thee."

After the last word was spoken, Daniel knelt beside them, watching and waiting patiently to see if she would find her way back home.

Noone spoke, not wanting to disturb the serenity and importance of what had taken place a few moments ago. They all new that it was now simply a matter of time.

Chapter 10 - Watching and Waiting

They had been sat patiently by her side for over an hour now, Jacob had told the others that he needed to walk around and clear his head. Jonas had gone off to find some water, which left Teal'c, and Jack with the now apparently solid Daniel. No one had spoken since the ritual had concluded, but now Jack O'Neill was getting impatient. He could only put his emotions on hold for so long.

It was like she was gone, but not quite. Jack remembered the time they believed Daniel had drowned by fire, and they'd had their memories altered; watching him die, but then feeling as if he hadn't.

Drumming his fingers silently on the floor, Jack was the first to speak, not quite sure if this was the appropriate time or place to speak, especially in front of Sam. Pretending Sam was just 'sleeping' Jack whispered to Daniel as if not to disturb her;

"Daniel" Jack said with a touch of apprehension.

"Jack" Daniel replied remembering all too well how often he and Jack played this game.

"When will she....you know?" He gestured his hands towards Sam's body.

"The Afterlife's not on a clock you know Jack" Daniel retorted.

"I know Daniel, but it's been like an hour already, shouldn't we have seen... I dunno...something?"

"Like what?" Daniel asked his eyes squinting trying to fathom what the hell Jack was on about.

"How the hell should I know? You're the expert in this afterlife stuff." Jack responded in a forced whisper.

Teal'c who had remained patient throughout this exchange decided at this point he needed to intervene. "You must learn patience O'Neill. It is not yet certain, if Major Carter will return to us. She may have found things more pleasing on the other side."

Shaking his head as if trying to clear it, and getting increasingly impatient with every minute that passed without *something* happening. Jack's frustration was now clearly showing. "What could possibly be more pleasing Teal'c, than being here with us?"

Daniel spoke up at this stage "Well actually..."

"Ah Ah Ah... I don't want to hear it." Jack replied hastily.

Teal'c and Daniel simply tilted their head upwards in disbelief. They knew that Jack was not the most patient person in the world, but surely he didn't expect the Gods to just beam her back into her body, like some episode from Star Trek, or maybe he did.

"It may be O'Neill that she's going through some sort of ritual, to ensure her worthiness of returning to this world." Teal'c pointed out as matter of fact.

"Do ya *know* how stupid that sounds Teal'c." Jack countered getting more frustrated by the minute. Then realising what he had said, and whom he'd said it to, Jack just muttered, "sorry 'T'."

"It is ok O'Neill, I understand how difficult this is for you."

"I know ya do Teal'c, and I know that this hasn't been easy on you two either. I just don't know what to do with myself. I'm just not used to this waiting around stuff."

Not being able to stand it any longer, Jack stood up abruptly.

"Listen you two, I'm gonna go and find Jacob, there are a few things I need to speak to him about." With that, he left, and headed towards the surface. He wasn't quite sure what he would say to Jacob, but knew he needed to talk with him. Judging from the churning of his stomach, it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.

O'Neill had forgotten that night had fallen on this planet and that it was damn cold. Rubbing his arms with his hands, trying to heat up, he wished he'd bought his jacket.

"Jacob? You out here?" Jack searched for him in the distance scanning the horizon.

Then he heard a small voice approximately 20 feet away, "Over here Jack."

Colonel Jack O'Neill hesitantly walked over to where Jacob was sat, simply staring at the stars that twinkled so brightly in the heavens. Jack O'Neill placed himself a couple of feet from Jacob, silently staring at the horizon ahead of them, searching for that place called home, which seemed (and probably was) a million light years away.

Neither of them needed to speak, it was sufficient enough that they were there, together, providing silent comfort.

"Jacob, about before, I'm sorry if I behaved inconsiderately. I know how much faith you put in Daniel, and me for that matter, and I know I behaved like an ass....totally unlike me I know, but..."

Jack wasn't sure, but he thought he had seen Jacob smile slightly.

"Don't worry about it Jack, I know how much you cared for her."

Jack heard the word 'cared', being used in the past tense and began to panic. Jacob couldn't possibly have given up on his daughter, could he? It shocked him. Jack always believed the ex-General could think positively about any situation. Seeing him here, vulnerable, it was somethi