Fanfiction: The Damaged Trilogy - Part II
For disclaimers and author's note see Part I.
Damage Control
Sam stared at the image in mirror. It was her face; the same face that had stared back every day of her life. Her hand reached out to trace her features on the glass. How could she look so familiar and yet be so different, she wondered. She felt like someone had broken her apart and pieced her back together in the couple of days since her experience with the Goa’uld but somehow the pieces had been put back wrongly. She spun away from the mirror and pulled on her green over-shirt. She fastened it ignoring the way her fingers trembled as she slipped the buttons into the slots. She tugged the material so it hung smooth and fingered the SG1 patch on her upper arm.
She was so lucky to be wearing it, Sam thought. Hammond had confirmed her assignment to SG1 was safe the day before, subject to her passing her physical and psychological examinations. From the look on his face, it had been something of a battle with his superiors. Her thanks had seemed inadequate to express just how much it meant to her. At least she had cleared the first of the obstacles to her return that morning; Janet had declared her physically fit for light duties and the General had authorised her to continue working on the artefacts in her lab, although her security clearance continued to be limited and she would work under Colonel O’Neill’s close supervision until she passed her psychological assessments.
Part of her resented the hell out of the restrictions; part of her welcomed them. She wasn’t sure she trusted herself even though physically, Sam hadn’t felt so good for years. Janet had a theory it had something to do with the natural healing powers of the Goa’uld on a human body. Sam had agreed to let her run some more tests. She couldn’t help but be a little curious herself; would the effect be temporary or something more permanent? She thought her curiosity was a good sign; it made her feel normal just like pulling on her uniform was comfortably familiar.
Sam sighed and looked around the room. She’d been moved ostensibly because they’d needed the beds in the treatment room when an SG team had come in injured. Sam hadn’t minded; she preferred the privacy of the small room and it had been a good place to hide while her body recovered. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by her how people looked at her suspiciously, warily. She couldn’t blame them but she had welcomed the chance to avoid their reactions for a while. Her release from the infirmary removed that option; she would stay in temporary quarters while restricted to base, work in her lab and eat in the commissary with everyone else. She rubbed her arms to comfort herself.
‘Are you decent in there, Sam?’ Daniel’s question drifted through the closed door and she sighed in relief. At least, she wouldn’t face it alone; her team were accompanying her to lunch. They were trying their best not to treat her any differently than before but she knew it was difficult for them; it was difficult for her. She crossed to the door and taking a deep breath opened it.
Daniel smiled at her. ‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’ Her own smile was anxious and fleeting.
‘You ready for lunch, Captain?’
The Colonel’s voice had Sam looking sharply to her left where the other members of SG1 were waiting.
Sam took another deep breath and nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’ She fell into step beside Jack as Daniel and Teal’c followed.
‘So, I hear from Fraiser that you can bench-press Teal’c now.’ Jack said as they moved off towards the elevator.
Her lips twitched. ‘Not exactly, sir, but there does seem to be some improvement in my physical abilities.’
‘Why?’ Daniel said as they stepped into the elevator.
‘Doctor Fraiser thinks it’s a side effect from the breakdown of…’ Sam struggled with the word.
‘The Goa’uld.’ Daniel supplied.
‘Yes,’ she said in relief, ‘we’re not sure it’s permanent. Doctor Fraiser wants to run some more tests.’
Jack frowned. The medical staff had been running tests every day as far as he could see and he was beginning to wonder if all of them were necessary. He exchanged a worried look with Daniel.
‘You know you don’t have to go through any more tests if you don’t want to, Sam.’ Daniel said carefully.
‘It’s OK,’ Sam said trying to keep her voice light, ‘I’m curious myself about the changes.’ She was relieved when the elevator doors slid open and Teal’c led the way to the commissary.
They could hear the usual bustle as they entered; the clatter and clang of crockery and steel; the hum of conversation and the occasional yell from the serving staff to the kitchen for more of some item they were getting low on. A young Lieutenant caught sight of SG1 and dropped his tray. The smash had the entire commissary turning to stare at the door.
The silence was sudden and sharp.
Sam froze as all eyes landed on her. She felt her breath leave her body; her knees weakened and for one horrifying moment she felt like bursting into tears and fleeing the room.
‘Suck it up, Captain.’ Jack murmured.
The words were barely a whisper; pitched so only she could hear. They did the trick. Her spine snapped into ramrod straightness, her chin went up and her blue eyes stared defiantly back at the crowd before they took in the hapless red-faced Lieutenant picking up the debris of his lunch. She immediately reacted as she would have any other day; she took the two steps to his side and crouched down. ‘Let me help you with that, Lieutenant.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
Jack noticed with some amusement that the young man’s face got even redder as Daniel joined in the clear-up. His own brown gaze stared hard at the watching crowd; Teal’c was already glaring at them. ‘I’m sure we’ve all seen someone drop their tray before.’ Jack said loudly. ‘Nothing to see here.’
Everyone started to turn back to their lunches.
Sam rose to her feet and handed the Lieutenant a bowl as someone from the kitchen stepped in to relieve them of the debris and mop the floor.
‘You go ahead and redo your lunch…’ Jack searched for the name of the young guy on his badge, ‘Simmons.’
‘Yes, sir. Thank you. I’m really sorry for the disturbance, sir.’
Sam and Daniel smiled at him encouragingly before they stepped back into the line. Jack breathed a sigh of relief as they got their lunches without further incident and headed for their usual table.
Sam struggled to eat her lunch of lemon chicken. She was too aware that despite the Colonel’s words, she was the object of furtive stares and barbed whispers. Teal’c and Jack were taking it in turns to glare at anyone who was bold enough to look over at them for any length of time but it didn’t stop the problem entirely. Finally, Sam abandoned the pretence of eating her main course and reached for the glass of blue jello she had picked up.
‘I really don’t know how you eat that stuff.’ Jack said, following her example and reaching for his own jello. ‘The red is so much better.’
‘That’s stuff is disgusting whichever colour it is.’ Daniel said, making a face.
‘I agree.’ Teal’c said.
She pointed with her fork across the table at the Colonel. ‘I just prefer the blue, sir.’
‘That’s because you’re not normal.’ Jack said without thinking.
There was a stunned silence at the table as all three of his team-mates stared at him.
‘I didn’t mean…that you aren’t normal.’ Jack said hurriedly. ‘Well, I did,’ he corrected himself, ‘but only about the jello not about…’ he waved his fork vaguely.
Daniel sighed heavily and shook his head at Jack’s attempt to explain himself.
Sam began to giggle.
Teal’c arched an eyebrow.
Jack’s brown gaze narrowed on her. ‘Are you giggling, Captain?’
Sam’s blue eyes looked back at him lit up with nothing but merriment and he felt his own lips start to twitch. ‘I might be, sir.’ She admitted.
‘Well, stop!’ Jack said with a wide smile. ‘That’s an order!’
She grinned back at him. ‘Yes, sir.’ She lowered her gaze to her jello and missed her male companions all exchanging a satisfied look.
o-O-o
Jack put his pen down and stretched pulling the black material of the t-shirt he wore taut against his chest and back. He sat at one end of Sam’s lab bench; Sam was at the other end. In the five days since Sam had returned to light duties they had worked out a simple routine to accommodate the restrictions that the General had placed on Sam. Mornings were spent in rehab; Sam attended counselling with Mackenzie and reported to the infirmary for tests and checks. Afterwards, the team worked out together in the gym. They all had lunch together before Sam would head to her lab with Jack; Daniel would head to his office with Teal’c. Occasionally they’d come back to consult with Sam on some aspect of science or theory. In any case, the Jaffa would return late in the afternoon and take over from Jack who had a daily checkpoint with Hammond and Fraiser. Jack would call in on Daniel on his way back to Sam’s lab and they all would head off for dinner together. Most evenings, they ended up in Teal’c’s room watching TV or a movie before they all headed for quarters. As a routine it was working well, Jack mused, but then he shouldn’t be surprised; they worked together very successfully in the field after all.
Not that the past five days had been easy. The incident in the commissary where Sam’s presence had stunned everyone into silence had not been repeated but the wary looks and whispers continued to follow Sam around the base. Jack knew it had to hurt as she saw colleagues she had previously been friendly with avoiding her but he was proud of the way she was handling it. She retained her professionalism and didn’t let the cold shoulders get to her - at least in public. But if Sam seemed to be handling it, the rest of SG1 were not; they were all bristling on her behalf and Jack knew he’d have to speak with Daniel and Teal’c before they blew up at someone although he was half-tempted to do that himself. Part of him recognised that their reactions were down to indignation on behalf of Sam; part of it was down to their own lingering sense of guilt over what had happened to her.
They hadn’t talked about it with her.
Mackenzie had overruled Fraiser and suggested a group session as a team should wait until Sam had come to terms more with her experience. He had informed Jack that Sam had total recall of everything that had happened when she had been possessed by Jolinar and he had cautioned Jack; he had told him that while SG1 being there for Sam was a good thing, that they needed to work at her pace not theirs. Jack had immediately told Daniel and Teal’c, and he knew it was as hard on them as it was on himself. The urge to sometimes blurt out how sorry he was, how he hadn’t meant to walk away from her; it all just hovered on his lips so that sometimes it felt like he had to almost physically swallow the words.
He repressed the urge to sigh and looked over at the stack of folders Sam was quietly working her way through. ‘So, what’ya doing?’
Sam didn’t look up at the Colonel but kept her eyes on the columns of numbers she was scanning. ‘Checking the gate diagnostics.’
Jack frowned. ‘Don’t we have gate technicians who do that?’
‘Yes,’ Sam explained patiently, ‘but sometimes there are unexplained anomalies in the results that need investigation and as I have the most knowledge of the gate mechanisms and the dialling programme, the General sometimes asks me to give a second opinion.’
‘Like a doctor.’ Jack commented, crossing his arms.
Sam nodded. ‘Uh-huh.’
‘And you do this by reading through all of that?’ He waved at the stack of results.
‘No,’ Sam said testily, ‘normally I run it through a programme I have set up on my computer but as my security clearance no longer gives me access to it, I have to do it this way, this time.’
‘Oh.’ Jack registered the frustration in her voice. He picked up his pen and started to continue with the report he was writing. ‘I’ll raise it with the General later.’
Sam’s eyes snapped to him gratefully. ‘Thank you, sir.’
‘He hasn’t agreed to it yet.’ Jack cautioned but he smiled at her and was pleased to see her smile back.
A sound by the doorway broke the spell and they both turned to find Teal’c stood there.
Jack glanced at the clock and frowned. ‘You’re early.’
‘General Hammond has requested your presence in the briefing room on a matter of some urgency.’ Teal’c stated clasping his hands behind his back.
Jack sighed and gave Sam an apologetic look. He threw down his pen, slipped off the stool and headed out patting Teal’c’s arm on his way. He slowed as he neared the briefing room, and entered cautiously. He came to a surprised halt.
‘Samuels.’ He said in clipped recognition.
Hammond’s ex-executive officer smiled smugly at Jack. ‘Colonel.’
‘What brings you here?’ Jack asked, sticking his hands in his pockets to resist the urge to take some of his inner frustration out on the slimy man. ‘I thought you’d been reassigned from your position at the Pentagon.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Samuels confirmed. ‘I’m reporting to Colonel Maybourne now.’
Jack took his place at the table, nodding to Fraiser and Mackenzie who were already seated. ‘So I ask again; what brings you here?’ His gaze encompassed the man next to Samuels in a Captain’s uniform.
A furious looking Hammond cleared his throat. ‘They’re here to interrogate Captain Carter.’
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Excuse me?’
‘It has come to our attention that Captain Carter was possessed by a Goa’uld last week.’ Samuels said.
Jack looked over at Hammond in concern. The records concerning Carter’s experience had been given the highest classification and the personnel on the base warned not to discuss it with anyone. Someone had leaked the information.
‘We’re here to take Captain Carter into custody…’ Samuels said.
‘Now hold on there, Sparky,’ Jack interrupted him, ‘Captain Carter hasn’t done anything wrong.’
Samuels met Jack’s eyes resolutely. ‘She’s a Goa’uld, Colonel.’
‘She was a Goa’uld.’ Jack retorted. ‘It’s dead.’
‘Are you certain about that, Colonel?’ Samuels argued.
‘I’m certain about it, sir.’ Janet interrupted. ‘I have the medical records to prove it.’
‘With respect, Doctor,’ Samuels said, ‘the medical staff also believed the Goa’uld in Major Kawalsky had died when they removed it.’
‘That was a completely different situation.’ Janet said firmly. ‘Captain Carter’s latest MRI shows no sign of the Goa’uld symbiote and I was present when the Goa’uld died.’
‘And besides, she’s isn’t running around with her eyes glowing.’ Jack said. ‘That should give you a clue.’
‘According to our records, the Goa’uld fooled you for almost twenty-four hours before it revealed itself.’ Samuels said calmly. ‘It could be fooling you again.’
Jack stilled into motionless. ‘Captain Carter is not a Goa’uld. I would stake my life on it.’
‘Would you stake everybody else’s on this base?’ Samuels asked passionately. ‘On Earth?’ He shifted in his chair. ‘Tell me if you’re so confident that she isn’t a Goa’uld then why have you reduced her security clearance?’
Hammond held up a hand to stop Jack from replying. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Samuels, Captain Carter is recovering from a severe trauma. Her activities are restricted while she recovers and we are evaluating her progress on a day by day basis.’
Samuels assessed the stubborn faces staring back at him. ‘OK,’ he said spreading his hands wide, ‘if you’re so sure Captain Carter is not a Goa’uld then you have nothing to worry about in letting us take her into custody and interrogate her. She should pass with flying colours and reassure everyone.’
‘To do such a thing would endanger her recovery.’ Mackenzie said, stepping into the discussion for the first time. ‘An arrest and interrogation would be an additional trauma on top of the one she has already suffered. Further, to force her to relive her experience through interrogative techniques could damage her psychologically.’
‘Medically, sir, I cannot allow this.’ Janet said firmly. ‘As her doctor, I am not prepared to endanger my patient in this way.’
‘I’m afraid my orders stand.’ Samuels replied.
‘Actually, no, they don’t.’ Hammond said forcefully. ‘Doctor Fraiser as CMO of this facility can countermand any order on medical grounds nor do I believe your orders are valid.’
‘You’re welcome to check them.’ Samuels said smoothly.
‘I will.’ Hammond retorted. He shoved his chair back and they all rose to their feet.
‘May Captain Bell and I be dismissed, sir?’ Samuels inquired. ‘You may be some time and we had a long journey. Some refreshments would be welcome.’
‘Fine. You can go to the commissary like everyone else.’ Hammond said. ‘Dismissed.’ He strode off before Samuels could reply.
The Lieutenant Colonel picked up his cap and gestured to his companion to lead the way out. Jack watched as Janet and Mackenzie gathered their folders and left. He leaned back against the polished wooden table and folded his arms as he waited impatiently for Hammond. The Stargate caught his eye and he stared at it as he wondered how they protected Sam from their own government.
o-O-o
‘This doesn’t make sense.’ Sam muttered under her breath as she peered at a second set of numbers on the sheet she was examining.
Teal’c raised an eyebrow. ‘May I be of assistance, Captain Carter?’
‘Know anything about gate diagnostics, Teal’c?’ Sam replied, her eyes still scanning through the numbers.
‘I do not.’ Teal’c admitted. ‘But perhaps I could act as a sounding board.’
Sam glanced over at him and smiled. She spread the sheet on the lab bench and pointed. ‘These are the numbers I’m having difficulty with.’ She explained. ‘They’re the times of gate travel.’ Her finger stabbed a second column. ‘These are the corresponding electricity power measurements.’
Teal’c nodded. ‘I understand.’
‘There’s a correlation between the two.’ Sam explained. ‘Usually the gate draws the most power during out-going wormholes.’ She said, rubbing her nose as her gaze went over the figures again. ‘But these don’t make sense. The gate seems to have drawn a lot of power for some reason when establishing a wormhole to P2A108, almost twice as much as normal.’
‘Perhaps a reason can be found there.’ Teal’c suggested.
‘Maybe.’ Sam murmured. ‘But I’m stuck here.’ She softened the words with a quick smile and reached for another folder. ‘I’ll have to examine all the other occasions we’ve dialled there and do a comparison.’
Teal’c raised an eyebrow at the stack of folders. ‘That appears to be a considerable task.’
‘Tell me about it.’ She muttered. She caught his brief look of surprise at her bitter complaint and sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Teal’c. It’s not your fault I’m stuck doing this by hand.’
‘You have no need to apologise to me, Captain Carter.’ Teal’c reached for a folder. ‘I will help you.’
‘Thank you.’ She beamed at him and gestured. ‘Colonel O’Neill was going to ask General Hammond to give me my computer access back.’
‘I believe he will be successful.’ Teal’c commented.
‘You think so?’ Sam asked hopefully.
‘Indeed.’ Teal’c confirmed.
The rap on the door had them turning to see who was there. Sam’s eyes rose at the sight of an officer in his service blues; she didn’t recognise him. He looked a little old for the rank of Captain he wore and his hair cut incredibly short like a Marine; his body suggesting a street brawler than a military officer.
‘Can I help you, Captain…?’ Her voice trailed away as she searched for his name tag.
‘Bell.’
His dark eyes met hers across the room and she shivered. ‘Captain Bell.’ She repeated. ‘Can I help you?’
‘No, not specifically.’ His manner was formal and brisk. ‘General Hammond has requested Teal’c’s presence in the briefing room.’ He nodded at the Jaffa. ‘I’ll stay with Captain Carter.’
Teal’c frowned. ‘I will call Daniel Jackson.’
‘Doctor Jackson has also been called to the briefing room.’ Bell smiled coldly. ‘Don’t worry, sir. I’m sure it won’t be for too long.’
Sam reached over and patted Teal’c’s hand when it looked as though the Jaffa wasn’t going to move. ‘It’s OK, Teal’c. I’ll be fine with Captain Bell.’
Teal’c’s eyes slid to hers and she nodded. He got to his feet unhappily. ‘I will return, Captain Carter.’
Sam nodded again. Her fingers tightened on the paper she held as she resisted the urge to ask Teal’c to disregard his order and stay with her as she watched him leave. She motioned for Bell to enter. ‘Take a seat, Captain.’
‘Thank you but I prefer to stand.’
She glanced at him and shifted a little uncomfortable at the way he was staring at her. An uneasy tension crept into the lab. After a couple of minutes, she gave up the pretence that he wasn’t distracting her with his relentless look.
‘Do you have something to say to me, Captain?’ Sam said tightly, putting the sheet of paper down. Her stomach was knotting; her shoulders had stiffened.
‘Why would I have something to say to you, Captain?’ Bell took a step into the room, his dark eyes glittering menacingly. ‘Why would I have anything to say to you?’
Sam got to her feet acting without thought, slowly backing away as he approached. She circled her lab bench placing it firmly between her and Bell.
‘Why would I have anything to say to a Goa’uld?’ Bell continued, he reached behind him as he came to stand underneath the camera out of sight of security and drew out a Beretta.
Sam froze. ‘Captain, I’m not a Goa’uld. It died.’
‘And if you were a Goa’uld, you’d say the same thing.’ Bell said, his lips twisting in an ugly snarl.
‘No if I were a Goa’uld, you’d be dead right now.’ Sam said, her eyes glued to the gun. ‘You’ll never get away with shooting me on base, Captain.’
‘Which is why we’re going to leave.’ Bell said. ‘Quietly and without fuss.’
Sam’s blue eyes widened and she gave a short laugh. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I do,’ Bell said confidently, ‘because if you don’t and I don’t make a phone call to confirm you’re with me outside of the base, my associate is going to shoot Daniel Jackson.’ He watched in satisfaction as she drained of colour.
‘Daniel?’ Sam asked in disbelief. It had been a set-up, she realised. Teal’c had been drawn away deliberately.
He jerked the gun at the door. ‘After you, Captain Carter.’
She took one uncertain step and then another toward the door. He followed her out staying close to her. Her mind raced. Her first priority was to keep Daniel safe. Maybe there was an opportunity to alert the SF’s at the exit of the mountain or maybe she could get away once the phone call had been made…
‘Don’t make any sudden moves.’ Bell hissed in her ear as Sergeant Siler approached from the opposite direction.
‘Ma’am.’ Siler stopped beside her. ‘I was wondering if you’ve finished with the diagnostic reports yet?’
‘No, Sergeant.’ Sam’s mouth was dry as she answered him. ‘I’m having to do it slowly. I should have them for you later.’
Siler smiled warmly at her. ‘There’s no rush, ma’am.’
She gave a sharp nod and they continued on their separate ways.
‘Good girl.’ Bell said quietly.
They rounded the corner and headed to the elevator where she could see a man leaning against the wall waiting for it. She recognised him immediately. Samuels. What was he doing at the SGC? The scuttlebutt had been that he’d been sent back to the Pentagon in disgrace after Apophis’s failed attempt to attack Earth. He turned and smiled when he saw them.
He nodded at Bell. ‘Well done, Captain.’
Sam’s eyes widened. ‘You’re in on this, Samuels?’
‘That’s Lieutenant Colonel to you, Captain.’ Samuels retorted.
‘We should leave now.’ Bell said sharply.
Samuels pressed the button to call the elevator. ‘I agree.’
‘You won’t get away with this.’ Sam said, her anger beginning to stir through the fear.
‘Shut up.’ Bell pressed the gun into her side.
‘You’re not clever enough to get away with this.’ Sam said, ignoring the cold steel through her BDU jacket. ‘And you know it.’
‘Aren’t I?’ Samuels smirked at her. ‘It seems to me that I fooled O’Neil, Hammond,’ his smile widened, ‘you.’
‘So what’s the plan?’ Sam asked harshly. ‘You’re delivering me to the NID?’
‘You always were the smart one, Captain.’ Samuels said.
‘I’m not a Goa’uld.’ Sam argued. ‘I don’t know anything.’
‘We’ve read Mackenzie’s reports, Captain.’ Samuels said. ‘We know you have the memories of the Goa’uld in your subconscious.’
Sam stiffened. Mackenzie? Had he revealed everything about her sessions to the NID? ‘They’re in my subconscious, Samuels. I can’t get to them.’
‘But we can.’ Samuels pressed the button again. ‘I’m afraid the techniques will ultimately prove to be fatal but Earth will be safe. We’ll have your knowledge and you’ll be dead.’
Sam shook her head angrily. ‘I knew you were an idiot, Samuels, I didn’t think you were a killer.’
‘I said shut up!’ Bell snapped. ‘Where the hell is that elevator?’
The doors slid open suddenly and all three of them turned toward the compartment and froze.
Daniel smiled happily at his team-mate as his eyes wandered over Samuels and Bell quizzically. ‘Sam! There you are! I was just coming to talk to you…’
Sam felt Bell move the gun and reacted. ‘Daniel! Run!’ She screamed as she threw herself at Bell.
The shot impacted the wall of the elevator. Sam and Bell toppled to the ground. He grunted and slammed his fist into her face. Out of the corner of her dazed eye, Sam saw Daniel tackling Samuels. She absently noted both men were wrestling, tugging on each other’s hair and searching for a good grip.
She blocked Bell’s next punch and threw one of her own. Her increased strength lent a little bit more power and he jerked away from her. But they were too close and as she scrabbled backward to get some space, he came after her and used the weight of his body to pin her to the ground. He was too strong and too determined, she realised as she panted for breath. She reached down toward his groin as his hands went around her throat.
Air.
She couldn’t get air. She tried to gasp but his fingers were tight around her throat.
‘Sam!’ Daniel’s panicked cry was cut short by a grunt of his own.
She struggled to reach for Bell’s crotch; if she could just…her vision blurred but her hearing sharpened; there were footsteps pounding towards them…
Suddenly, the weight was ripped away from her and she took a shaky, desperate breath, filling her lungs even as she coughed. From her position on the ground, she saw Teal’c grab Samuels releasing Daniel and Jack fighting with Bell a couple of feet across the floor from her; he was straddling Bell, hitting him…
Jack’s fist smashed into Bell’s face again and again. The Captain’s head cracked on the floor yet Jack raised his fist to hit him again.
‘Jack! Stop!’ Daniel caught hold of Jack’s arm and took a stumbling step back at the fierce rage that burned in the hard brown eyes that shot to him. He took a shaky breath and forced himself not to waver under the sheer intensity of Jack’s anger. ‘He’s down. He’s not getting up.’
Jack’s gaze snapped to the unconscious man under him. The sight of Bell on top of Sam, strangling her, had snapped something loose inside of Jack; a part of him he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge any longer. Sanity…awareness crept back into his eyes and he stumbled off the body as he swallowed hard against the need to retch. A groan caught his attention…
Sam.
The thought of her gave him something to focus on and he skidded across the floor to where Sam was slowly beginning to move. He raised a hand to touch her; thought twice and almost dropped it before her shattered blue eyes met his. He tugged her into his arms without a second thought.
‘You’re OK. You’re safe now.’ Jack murmured as he rocked her gently. His hands stroked her hair away from her face and he scanned it anxiously. ‘Are you injured?’
Sam shook her head. ‘I'm OK.’ Her voice was a whisper. Her fingers covered her throat.
He pulled her hands away from her smooth neck and his eyes darkened again at the sight of the bruises.
‘Let me go!’
Samuels’ whiny voice had Jack’s head whipping round to the air force officer. Teal’c held Samuels’ arms securely. The Jaffa’s dark face was set in an angry scowl at the way he had been duped at leaving Sam. It had taken him and O’Neill less than thirty seconds to realise Samuels’ plan when Teal’c had arrived in the briefing room.
More footsteps had them turning toward the end of the corridor and the sight of the SFs arriving with Hammond along with Janet and a couple of medics brought relief to Daniel’s face. They stopped a couple of feet from the tableau.
Jack helped Sam to her feet and gestured for Daniel to step in. The archaeologist slipped an arm around his female team-mate.
‘What in God’s name is going on here?’ Hammond said, his pale blue eyes scouring the scene with shock.
‘Samuels tried to abduct me, sir.’ Sam stated quietly. She motioned at Bell lying on the ground as Fraiser felt for a pulse on the unconscious man. ‘He tried to kill me.’
‘Someone has to do damage control and this facility is clearly not up to the task.’ Samuels said desperately. ‘Don’t you get it!’ His eyes slammed into Sam’s. ‘Samantha Carter is dead. She died the minute that Goa’uld took her as a host and you’re idiots if you think any different.’
Sam’s face went white and she barely felt Daniel’s arm tighten around her trying to comfort her; trying to shield her from the words.
Hammond’s blue eyes turned to ice and he strode forward until he was an inch from Samuels’ face. ‘Airmen,’ he barked without turning away from his ex-XO, ‘get this sorry excuse for an officer out of my sight. Lock him up!’
‘Yes, sir!’ The SF’s stepped forward and Teal’c relinquished his prisoner to them.
‘You’re making a mistake!’ Samuels said, struggling against the SFs who held him. ‘I’m not the one you should arrest. It’s her! It’s her!’
They all watched as the SFs disappeared around the corner with the still struggling Samuels.
Hammond breathed out sharply and turned back to the assembled group. His eyes fell on Fraiser who was on her knees assessing Bell. ‘Doctor?’
‘He’s badly beaten up, sir,’ her dark eyes flickered to Jack’s bloodied knuckles, ‘but I think he’ll live.’
A pity, Hammond thought although he didn’t voice the words.
‘With your permission, sir, I’d like to get him and SG1 to the infirmary.’ Janet rose to her feet.
Hammond gave a sharp nod. ‘Agreed.’
He watched as they trooped away; Daniel with an arm around Sam’s shoulder; Teal’c flanked her other side as Jack walked beside Daniel, his injured hand on the man’s shoulder. The General wondered at how much more they could take as his eyes fell to the blood on the floor.
o-O-o
Jack’s eyes never moved from the man lying prone in the infirmary bed on the other side of the room.
‘I don’t think he’s going to be moving anytime soon, Colonel.’ Janet commented wryly as she walked up to him. ‘In fact, he’s going to be lucky to wake up at all. He has two skull fractures; there’s pressure on his brain we’re going to need to relieve with surgery. Doctor Warner is prepping now.’
His brown eyes met hers evenly without apology. ‘How’s Captain Carter?’ Although he had protested, they’d been separated for treatment earlier and Jack hadn’t been informed of her status since.
‘Bruises mainly. I’ve released her to her quarters to rest.’ Janet said as she picked up his hand from the bowl of icy water it was resting in to examine it with a frown.
Jack stiffened. ‘On her own?’
‘Teal’c went with her.’ She prodded his knuckles.
He let out a small hiss of pain.
‘Sorry.’ Janet said insincerely. ‘Make a fist.’ She nodded in satisfaction. ‘Well, the good news is that I don’t think anything’s broken.’
‘And the bad news?’ Jack asked dryly.
‘It’s going to take a while to heal.’ Janet said. She reached for her file and scribbled a notation. ‘I’ll get the nurse to stop by and strap it up. You should get some rest.’
‘Right.’ Jack muttered.
Janet sighed and stuffed her hands in her pockets. ‘You won’t be doing anybody any good if you don’t rest, Colonel.’
Jack was silent; the muscle in his jaw working. He couldn’t see that he was doing anybody any good full stop.
‘Sir, if you need to talk…’ Janet offered gently.
The Colonel’s brown eyes flickered to her again; his refusal clear.
She sighed. ‘I’ll send the nurse in.’
Jack nodded. He waited until she was almost out of the door before he called out to her. She stopped and looked back at him. ‘Thanks, Doc.’
She nodded and left, hurrying past a bemused Daniel as he entered. The archaeologist’s gaze went first to the injured man Jack had beaten up before it rested on his friend.
‘You OK?’ Jack asked.
‘A few scratches. I lost some hair.’
Jack snorted. ‘Samuels fights like a girl.’
Daniel wrapped his arms around his torso. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m OK.’ Jack said automatically.
‘Really.’
The patent disbelief and Daniel’s glance over at Bell had Jack flushing. He shook his head and stared at the ceiling. ‘I lost it, Daniel.’ He admitted. He raised his good hand to rub at his face and his hair. ‘When I saw him trying to kill her…I just lost it.’
‘How did you work it out?’ Daniel asked gently.
‘I knew something was off but I didn’t know what.’ Jack sighed. ‘It wasn’t until Teal’c appeared and told me Bell had sent him to the briefing room, we figured it out.’ He met Daniel’s eyes gratefully. ‘We would have been too late. If you hadn’t gotten out of that elevator when you did…’ He shook his head again. If Daniel hadn't gotten out of the elevator and ruined the leverage Bell had over Sam, had stopped them from leaving...it didn’t bear thinking about.
‘It was Mackenzie’s nurse who leaked the information.’ Daniel said. ‘Hammond just found out. Apparently she heard what had happened and decided to come clean before the investigation found her out.’
Jack’s eyes glittered with renewed anger but a nurse appeared and Daniel retreated a few steps as she wrapped Jack’s hand in a clean, white bandage. When she was done, Jack jumped off the infirmary bed and Daniel fell into step beside him.
Jack punched the button on the elevator and leaned tiredly on the wall as the compartment started moving. ‘How’s Sam handling all this?’
Daniel shrugged. ‘She seems fine.’
There was an odd surprised note to his tone and Jack frowned. ‘What’s up?’
The other man glanced across at him. ‘Nothing.’
‘No,’ Jack contradicted him, ‘it’s something. What is it?’
Daniel shuffled his feet a little before he gave in with a sigh. ‘Don’t you think she’s handling it a little too well?’
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You think she’s still a Goa’uld like Samuels said?’
‘No!’ The denial was loud and automatic. ‘No,’ Daniel repeated a little more softly, ‘it’s just…with everything she’s been through…’ he sighed again, ‘I guess I expected her to be upset and angry.’
‘She’s a good soldier, Daniel.’ Jack said defensively. ‘She’s handling it.’
‘But that’s just it.’ Daniel retorted. ‘I think she’s repressing everything because she’s expected to be a good soldier and that can’t be healthy.’ He gestured. ‘We haven’t even talked to her about what happened with us as a team when she was possessed by Jolinar yet.’
‘Did I miss the memo telling me you got a psychology degree to go with the other bunch you have?’ Jack replied mockingly. ‘Mackenzie says we shouldn’t rush her and…’
‘Since when have you worried about what Mackenzie says.’ Daniel shot back.
Jack shoved off the elevator wall and glared at Daniel. ‘So what do you want us to do, Daniel? Force her into talking about something when she isn’t ready yet?’
‘I want us to let her know she can talk to us; that she doesn’t have to be a good soldier with us. All of us.’ Daniel said ignoring the flash of anger in Jack’s eyes.
‘She knows she doesn’t have to be a good soldier with us, Daniel.’ Jack bit out.
‘Does she? What were your words in the commissary the other day? That she should suck it up?’ Daniel countered.
Jack flushed. ‘I didn’t mean…’
‘I know, Jack.’ Daniel said quickly. ‘But what if I’m right?’
Jack slumped back against the elevator wall and considered Daniel’s words. If Daniel was right then Sam was storing up a lot of anger and pain that would have to come out eventually and if they didn’t deal with it sooner rather than later, the eruption would be worse for her; for them all.
The elevator doors slid open and Jack moved out, Daniel following in his wake as they made their way to Sam’s quarters. They found Teal’c stood outside of the door.
‘Teal’c.’ Jack jerked his head at the door. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Captain Carter wished to rest.’ Teal’c stated. ‘I thought it wise to remain outside and guard her.’
‘You did the right thing.’ Jack said. He moved up to the door and knocked gently. There was a moment of silence and Jack knocked again. The door opened slowly.
Sam blocked the entrance even as she greeted them. Her eyes fell to his bandage. ‘How’s your hand, sir?’
‘Sore,’ Jack admitted holding up the hand in question, ‘but worth it.’
Sam attempted a smile but she couldn’t hold it.
‘Can we come in, Carter?’ Jack asked when she made no attempt to move.
She hesitated and he glimpsed the desire to refuse him in her blue eyes before she stepped back and allowed them to follow her into the room. Jack closed the door and turned to face her.
‘So, how are you doing with all this?’ Jack asked shoving his hands into his pockets.
‘I’m fine, sir.’ Sam said calmly.
Her voice was calm but her face was tight with tension. Jack realised with a sinking sensation in his stomach that Daniel was right. ‘Really?’ He prodded keeping his tone light although his eyes met hers seriously. ‘Because I’d be pissed if I were you.’
Sam blinked in surprise and she glanced over at Daniel and Teal’c for their reactions. The Jaffa had raised an eyebrow and Daniel was staring at Jack with an odd expression. ‘Sir?’ She asked hesitantly.
Jack sighed and rubbed his good hand back through his hair, ruffling the brown and grey strands. ‘Look, it’s OK to be a little mad.’ He sent Daniel a pleading look.
‘I think what Jack’s trying to say,’ Daniel said stepping in, ‘is that you don’t have to pretend with us. It’s OK to say how you really feel.’
Sam folded her arms across her chest and tried to ignore the rising panic in her chest. ‘You think I’m still a Goa’uld.’ She said accusingly.
‘No!’
The simultaneous and heartfelt denial by both men reassured her a little.
‘God, no.’ Jack repeated. He sighed. He was no good at these sorts of things, he thought ruefully as Sam looked back at him quizzically. ‘You have to be mad at us.’ He said bluntly.
‘Why would I be mad at you guys?’ Sam asked uncertainly. ‘You had no way of knowing what Samuels had planned.’
‘Not about today.’ Daniel said quietly. He forced himself to meet her eyes. ‘About everything else.’
Jack gestured with his bad hand. ‘About the way we treated you when you had the Goa’uld.’
Teal’c shifted position as he realised what the two men were doing.
Sam felt her panic coming back full force. ‘I understand why you all acted the way you did.’ She said, trying to remain calm.
‘You do?’ He was going to have to push her to force a reaction, Jack realised. For a second he baulked at the idea; she’d been through enough… Jack looked across at Daniel helplessly before he glanced at Teal’c. They both nodded imperceptibly. He stiffened his resolve and searched for the things he knew would shake her composure. ‘Sam, Teal’c pulled a weapon on you…’
‘I was threatening everyone.’ Sam said defensively. ‘I would have done the same thing.’
‘Daniel avoided you.’ Jack pressed taking a step toward her. ‘Do you really understand why he ignored you?’
Sam took a step back away from Jack. ‘He was upset. It reminded him what happened with Sha’re.’
‘You’re right, Sam.’ Daniel said quietly before his throat closed up with emotion. He took a breath. ‘But that doesn’t excuse what I did. I left you alone because I didn’t want to look at you as a Goa’uld and I’m sorry.’
Sam shook her head in denial.
Jack took a deep breath. ‘You really understand why I walked out on you when you begged me not to leave you?’
She flinched and looked away from him.
Jack ignored the horrified looks on Teal’c’s and Daniel’s faces; they hadn’t known what he’d done. ‘That was you, wasn’t it, Sam?’
She spun away from him and the others; she stared at the wall.
‘I hoped it was the Goa’uld.’ Jack admitted, a lump in his throat.
‘You were upset.’ Sam said desperately. ‘You thought the Goa’uld was tricking you. I understood.’
Jack took a deep breath, his brown eyes filled with sorrow and contrition. ‘I knew, Sam. Deep down I knew it was you.’
‘Don’t.’ Her voice broke on the word as the memory rose up. No, Jack! Please! Don’t leave me! She raised a trembling hand to cover her mouth as though she could prevent the words from escaping again.
‘And I left you anyway.’ Jack said bluntly. ‘We all left you to deal with it alone.’
She crumpled suddenly with a moan. He caught her and gently lowered the two of them to the floor by the bed where he held onto her as she shook with silent sobs against his chest.
Daniel hurried around to sit beside them. His blue eyes filled with compassionate tears of his own as he rubbed her back in soothing circles. ‘We’re sorry, Sam. We’re so sorry.’
Teal’c wondered at the scene in front of him, unsure that they had done the right thing. Jack caught his eye and gestured for him to join them. The Jaffa took the few strides he needed to crouch down beside his team-mates. He placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder adding his own silent comfort as she wept.
Time passed and they remained on the floor in their awkward positions, holding onto each other.
Eventually, Sam quietened. She stiffened as awareness of where she was seeped back through to her. She pushed a little against the Colonel and raised her hand to wipe her face.
Jack loosened his hold and searched his pocket with his free hand. He passed her a tissue. She took it without looking at him and scrubbed at her eyes. He let her shift away from him. ‘I’m sorry, Sam.’ He sighed. ‘I’m sorry for the whole damned mess.’
‘I’m sorry too, Sam.’ Daniel added.
‘As am I, Captain Carter.’ Teal’c murmured.
‘You don’t have anything to be…’ Sam began.
‘We should have known it wasn’t you immediately.’ Jack contradicted her forcefully.
‘Jolinar was reading my memories, sir, in order to act like me.’ Sam said. ‘There was no way you could have known. There’s no way any of you could have known.’ She sighed. ‘If anyone should be apologising it should be me.’
‘You?’ Daniel asked surprised. ‘Why you?’
‘I threatened to kill you all including Cassie and I let Jolinar use me to get to the Colonel, to you both. She had no idea where Sha’re was,’ she couldn’t look at him and stared at the floor, ‘I used you and Teal’c.’
‘No, you didn’t.’ Daniel said, ignoring the ache of disappointment at her words. ‘The Goa’uld did that not you.’
‘It felt like me.’ Sam murmured. ‘I knew what he was doing and I couldn’t stop it.’
‘We don’t blame you, Sam.’ Daniel rubbed her arm. ‘You know that, right?’
‘I tried.’ She felt the tears press against the back of her eyes again. ‘I tried so hard but I couldn’t stop it.’
‘We know you tried, Sam.’ Jack said comfortingly. ‘But Daniel’s right. None of us blame you for what happened.’
‘If I hadn’t stopped to give that man CPR…’ Sam started.
‘You were doing your duty, Captain.’ Jack asserted forcefully, using her rank to drive home his point. ‘What happened was terrible, but there was no way you…there’s no way we could have anticipated it. Now we know the Goa’uld can do that, we’ll be more careful in future.’ He reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘You survived; that’s what’s important.’
‘Samuels said I died on the planet.’ Sam murmured.
‘Samuels is an idiot.’ Jack shot back.
‘Indeed.’ Teal’c agreed gently. ‘You are very much alive, Captain Carter.’
Sam smiled at the Jaffa.
‘Feel better?’ Jack asked gently.
She looked at him briefly before nodding. ‘A little. Thank you, sir.’
‘For what?’ Jack asked dryly. ‘Making you cry?’
She gave a small laugh and they all smiled at each other.
‘Well, I don’t know about you guys,’ Jack said lightly, ‘but all this has worked up my appetite.’
‘Cake, sir?’ Sam suggested.
‘Excellent idea, Carter.’ Jack got to his feet and helped Sam to hers as Daniel and Teal’c rose to theirs.
‘I should thank you for saving my life today, sir.’ Sam said seeing Jack wince when he moved his hand.
Jack shrugged. ‘I maybe went a little overboard.’ He admitted. ‘Fraiser’s not sure he’s going to make it.’
‘I hope he doesn’t.’ Her eyes widened as she realised what she had said but she didn’t take it back.
‘As do I.’ Teal’c growled.
They all turned to look at Daniel.
‘What?’ He asked. He pushed his glasses up his nose.
‘Don’t you have something to say about forgiveness, compassion, that kind of thing?’ Jack pointed out.
‘Not this time.’ Daniel replied evenly.
‘O-kay.’ Jack peered at him as they left the room. ‘Daniel.’
‘Jack.’
‘Are you sure you’re not a Goa’uld?’
‘Funny, Jack. Very funny.’
Continued in Part III.
Damage Control
Sam stared at the image in mirror. It was her face; the same face that had stared back every day of her life. Her hand reached out to trace her features on the glass. How could she look so familiar and yet be so different, she wondered. She felt like someone had broken her apart and pieced her back together in the couple of days since her experience with the Goa’uld but somehow the pieces had been put back wrongly. She spun away from the mirror and pulled on her green over-shirt. She fastened it ignoring the way her fingers trembled as she slipped the buttons into the slots. She tugged the material so it hung smooth and fingered the SG1 patch on her upper arm.
She was so lucky to be wearing it, Sam thought. Hammond had confirmed her assignment to SG1 was safe the day before, subject to her passing her physical and psychological examinations. From the look on his face, it had been something of a battle with his superiors. Her thanks had seemed inadequate to express just how much it meant to her. At least she had cleared the first of the obstacles to her return that morning; Janet had declared her physically fit for light duties and the General had authorised her to continue working on the artefacts in her lab, although her security clearance continued to be limited and she would work under Colonel O’Neill’s close supervision until she passed her psychological assessments.
Part of her resented the hell out of the restrictions; part of her welcomed them. She wasn’t sure she trusted herself even though physically, Sam hadn’t felt so good for years. Janet had a theory it had something to do with the natural healing powers of the Goa’uld on a human body. Sam had agreed to let her run some more tests. She couldn’t help but be a little curious herself; would the effect be temporary or something more permanent? She thought her curiosity was a good sign; it made her feel normal just like pulling on her uniform was comfortably familiar.
Sam sighed and looked around the room. She’d been moved ostensibly because they’d needed the beds in the treatment room when an SG team had come in injured. Sam hadn’t minded; she preferred the privacy of the small room and it had been a good place to hide while her body recovered. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by her how people looked at her suspiciously, warily. She couldn’t blame them but she had welcomed the chance to avoid their reactions for a while. Her release from the infirmary removed that option; she would stay in temporary quarters while restricted to base, work in her lab and eat in the commissary with everyone else. She rubbed her arms to comfort herself.
‘Are you decent in there, Sam?’ Daniel’s question drifted through the closed door and she sighed in relief. At least, she wouldn’t face it alone; her team were accompanying her to lunch. They were trying their best not to treat her any differently than before but she knew it was difficult for them; it was difficult for her. She crossed to the door and taking a deep breath opened it.
Daniel smiled at her. ‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’ Her own smile was anxious and fleeting.
‘You ready for lunch, Captain?’
The Colonel’s voice had Sam looking sharply to her left where the other members of SG1 were waiting.
Sam took another deep breath and nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’ She fell into step beside Jack as Daniel and Teal’c followed.
‘So, I hear from Fraiser that you can bench-press Teal’c now.’ Jack said as they moved off towards the elevator.
Her lips twitched. ‘Not exactly, sir, but there does seem to be some improvement in my physical abilities.’
‘Why?’ Daniel said as they stepped into the elevator.
‘Doctor Fraiser thinks it’s a side effect from the breakdown of…’ Sam struggled with the word.
‘The Goa’uld.’ Daniel supplied.
‘Yes,’ she said in relief, ‘we’re not sure it’s permanent. Doctor Fraiser wants to run some more tests.’
Jack frowned. The medical staff had been running tests every day as far as he could see and he was beginning to wonder if all of them were necessary. He exchanged a worried look with Daniel.
‘You know you don’t have to go through any more tests if you don’t want to, Sam.’ Daniel said carefully.
‘It’s OK,’ Sam said trying to keep her voice light, ‘I’m curious myself about the changes.’ She was relieved when the elevator doors slid open and Teal’c led the way to the commissary.
They could hear the usual bustle as they entered; the clatter and clang of crockery and steel; the hum of conversation and the occasional yell from the serving staff to the kitchen for more of some item they were getting low on. A young Lieutenant caught sight of SG1 and dropped his tray. The smash had the entire commissary turning to stare at the door.
The silence was sudden and sharp.
Sam froze as all eyes landed on her. She felt her breath leave her body; her knees weakened and for one horrifying moment she felt like bursting into tears and fleeing the room.
‘Suck it up, Captain.’ Jack murmured.
The words were barely a whisper; pitched so only she could hear. They did the trick. Her spine snapped into ramrod straightness, her chin went up and her blue eyes stared defiantly back at the crowd before they took in the hapless red-faced Lieutenant picking up the debris of his lunch. She immediately reacted as she would have any other day; she took the two steps to his side and crouched down. ‘Let me help you with that, Lieutenant.’
‘Thank you, ma’am.’
Jack noticed with some amusement that the young man’s face got even redder as Daniel joined in the clear-up. His own brown gaze stared hard at the watching crowd; Teal’c was already glaring at them. ‘I’m sure we’ve all seen someone drop their tray before.’ Jack said loudly. ‘Nothing to see here.’
Everyone started to turn back to their lunches.
Sam rose to her feet and handed the Lieutenant a bowl as someone from the kitchen stepped in to relieve them of the debris and mop the floor.
‘You go ahead and redo your lunch…’ Jack searched for the name of the young guy on his badge, ‘Simmons.’
‘Yes, sir. Thank you. I’m really sorry for the disturbance, sir.’
Sam and Daniel smiled at him encouragingly before they stepped back into the line. Jack breathed a sigh of relief as they got their lunches without further incident and headed for their usual table.
Sam struggled to eat her lunch of lemon chicken. She was too aware that despite the Colonel’s words, she was the object of furtive stares and barbed whispers. Teal’c and Jack were taking it in turns to glare at anyone who was bold enough to look over at them for any length of time but it didn’t stop the problem entirely. Finally, Sam abandoned the pretence of eating her main course and reached for the glass of blue jello she had picked up.
‘I really don’t know how you eat that stuff.’ Jack said, following her example and reaching for his own jello. ‘The red is so much better.’
‘That’s stuff is disgusting whichever colour it is.’ Daniel said, making a face.
‘I agree.’ Teal’c said.
She pointed with her fork across the table at the Colonel. ‘I just prefer the blue, sir.’
‘That’s because you’re not normal.’ Jack said without thinking.
There was a stunned silence at the table as all three of his team-mates stared at him.
‘I didn’t mean…that you aren’t normal.’ Jack said hurriedly. ‘Well, I did,’ he corrected himself, ‘but only about the jello not about…’ he waved his fork vaguely.
Daniel sighed heavily and shook his head at Jack’s attempt to explain himself.
Sam began to giggle.
Teal’c arched an eyebrow.
Jack’s brown gaze narrowed on her. ‘Are you giggling, Captain?’
Sam’s blue eyes looked back at him lit up with nothing but merriment and he felt his own lips start to twitch. ‘I might be, sir.’ She admitted.
‘Well, stop!’ Jack said with a wide smile. ‘That’s an order!’
She grinned back at him. ‘Yes, sir.’ She lowered her gaze to her jello and missed her male companions all exchanging a satisfied look.
o-O-o
Jack put his pen down and stretched pulling the black material of the t-shirt he wore taut against his chest and back. He sat at one end of Sam’s lab bench; Sam was at the other end. In the five days since Sam had returned to light duties they had worked out a simple routine to accommodate the restrictions that the General had placed on Sam. Mornings were spent in rehab; Sam attended counselling with Mackenzie and reported to the infirmary for tests and checks. Afterwards, the team worked out together in the gym. They all had lunch together before Sam would head to her lab with Jack; Daniel would head to his office with Teal’c. Occasionally they’d come back to consult with Sam on some aspect of science or theory. In any case, the Jaffa would return late in the afternoon and take over from Jack who had a daily checkpoint with Hammond and Fraiser. Jack would call in on Daniel on his way back to Sam’s lab and they all would head off for dinner together. Most evenings, they ended up in Teal’c’s room watching TV or a movie before they all headed for quarters. As a routine it was working well, Jack mused, but then he shouldn’t be surprised; they worked together very successfully in the field after all.
Not that the past five days had been easy. The incident in the commissary where Sam’s presence had stunned everyone into silence had not been repeated but the wary looks and whispers continued to follow Sam around the base. Jack knew it had to hurt as she saw colleagues she had previously been friendly with avoiding her but he was proud of the way she was handling it. She retained her professionalism and didn’t let the cold shoulders get to her - at least in public. But if Sam seemed to be handling it, the rest of SG1 were not; they were all bristling on her behalf and Jack knew he’d have to speak with Daniel and Teal’c before they blew up at someone although he was half-tempted to do that himself. Part of him recognised that their reactions were down to indignation on behalf of Sam; part of it was down to their own lingering sense of guilt over what had happened to her.
They hadn’t talked about it with her.
Mackenzie had overruled Fraiser and suggested a group session as a team should wait until Sam had come to terms more with her experience. He had informed Jack that Sam had total recall of everything that had happened when she had been possessed by Jolinar and he had cautioned Jack; he had told him that while SG1 being there for Sam was a good thing, that they needed to work at her pace not theirs. Jack had immediately told Daniel and Teal’c, and he knew it was as hard on them as it was on himself. The urge to sometimes blurt out how sorry he was, how he hadn’t meant to walk away from her; it all just hovered on his lips so that sometimes it felt like he had to almost physically swallow the words.
He repressed the urge to sigh and looked over at the stack of folders Sam was quietly working her way through. ‘So, what’ya doing?’
Sam didn’t look up at the Colonel but kept her eyes on the columns of numbers she was scanning. ‘Checking the gate diagnostics.’
Jack frowned. ‘Don’t we have gate technicians who do that?’
‘Yes,’ Sam explained patiently, ‘but sometimes there are unexplained anomalies in the results that need investigation and as I have the most knowledge of the gate mechanisms and the dialling programme, the General sometimes asks me to give a second opinion.’
‘Like a doctor.’ Jack commented, crossing his arms.
Sam nodded. ‘Uh-huh.’
‘And you do this by reading through all of that?’ He waved at the stack of results.
‘No,’ Sam said testily, ‘normally I run it through a programme I have set up on my computer but as my security clearance no longer gives me access to it, I have to do it this way, this time.’
‘Oh.’ Jack registered the frustration in her voice. He picked up his pen and started to continue with the report he was writing. ‘I’ll raise it with the General later.’
Sam’s eyes snapped to him gratefully. ‘Thank you, sir.’
‘He hasn’t agreed to it yet.’ Jack cautioned but he smiled at her and was pleased to see her smile back.
A sound by the doorway broke the spell and they both turned to find Teal’c stood there.
Jack glanced at the clock and frowned. ‘You’re early.’
‘General Hammond has requested your presence in the briefing room on a matter of some urgency.’ Teal’c stated clasping his hands behind his back.
Jack sighed and gave Sam an apologetic look. He threw down his pen, slipped off the stool and headed out patting Teal’c’s arm on his way. He slowed as he neared the briefing room, and entered cautiously. He came to a surprised halt.
‘Samuels.’ He said in clipped recognition.
Hammond’s ex-executive officer smiled smugly at Jack. ‘Colonel.’
‘What brings you here?’ Jack asked, sticking his hands in his pockets to resist the urge to take some of his inner frustration out on the slimy man. ‘I thought you’d been reassigned from your position at the Pentagon.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Samuels confirmed. ‘I’m reporting to Colonel Maybourne now.’
Jack took his place at the table, nodding to Fraiser and Mackenzie who were already seated. ‘So I ask again; what brings you here?’ His gaze encompassed the man next to Samuels in a Captain’s uniform.
A furious looking Hammond cleared his throat. ‘They’re here to interrogate Captain Carter.’
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Excuse me?’
‘It has come to our attention that Captain Carter was possessed by a Goa’uld last week.’ Samuels said.
Jack looked over at Hammond in concern. The records concerning Carter’s experience had been given the highest classification and the personnel on the base warned not to discuss it with anyone. Someone had leaked the information.
‘We’re here to take Captain Carter into custody…’ Samuels said.
‘Now hold on there, Sparky,’ Jack interrupted him, ‘Captain Carter hasn’t done anything wrong.’
Samuels met Jack’s eyes resolutely. ‘She’s a Goa’uld, Colonel.’
‘She was a Goa’uld.’ Jack retorted. ‘It’s dead.’
‘Are you certain about that, Colonel?’ Samuels argued.
‘I’m certain about it, sir.’ Janet interrupted. ‘I have the medical records to prove it.’
‘With respect, Doctor,’ Samuels said, ‘the medical staff also believed the Goa’uld in Major Kawalsky had died when they removed it.’
‘That was a completely different situation.’ Janet said firmly. ‘Captain Carter’s latest MRI shows no sign of the Goa’uld symbiote and I was present when the Goa’uld died.’
‘And besides, she’s isn’t running around with her eyes glowing.’ Jack said. ‘That should give you a clue.’
‘According to our records, the Goa’uld fooled you for almost twenty-four hours before it revealed itself.’ Samuels said calmly. ‘It could be fooling you again.’
Jack stilled into motionless. ‘Captain Carter is not a Goa’uld. I would stake my life on it.’
‘Would you stake everybody else’s on this base?’ Samuels asked passionately. ‘On Earth?’ He shifted in his chair. ‘Tell me if you’re so confident that she isn’t a Goa’uld then why have you reduced her security clearance?’
Hammond held up a hand to stop Jack from replying. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Samuels, Captain Carter is recovering from a severe trauma. Her activities are restricted while she recovers and we are evaluating her progress on a day by day basis.’
Samuels assessed the stubborn faces staring back at him. ‘OK,’ he said spreading his hands wide, ‘if you’re so sure Captain Carter is not a Goa’uld then you have nothing to worry about in letting us take her into custody and interrogate her. She should pass with flying colours and reassure everyone.’
‘To do such a thing would endanger her recovery.’ Mackenzie said, stepping into the discussion for the first time. ‘An arrest and interrogation would be an additional trauma on top of the one she has already suffered. Further, to force her to relive her experience through interrogative techniques could damage her psychologically.’
‘Medically, sir, I cannot allow this.’ Janet said firmly. ‘As her doctor, I am not prepared to endanger my patient in this way.’
‘I’m afraid my orders stand.’ Samuels replied.
‘Actually, no, they don’t.’ Hammond said forcefully. ‘Doctor Fraiser as CMO of this facility can countermand any order on medical grounds nor do I believe your orders are valid.’
‘You’re welcome to check them.’ Samuels said smoothly.
‘I will.’ Hammond retorted. He shoved his chair back and they all rose to their feet.
‘May Captain Bell and I be dismissed, sir?’ Samuels inquired. ‘You may be some time and we had a long journey. Some refreshments would be welcome.’
‘Fine. You can go to the commissary like everyone else.’ Hammond said. ‘Dismissed.’ He strode off before Samuels could reply.
The Lieutenant Colonel picked up his cap and gestured to his companion to lead the way out. Jack watched as Janet and Mackenzie gathered their folders and left. He leaned back against the polished wooden table and folded his arms as he waited impatiently for Hammond. The Stargate caught his eye and he stared at it as he wondered how they protected Sam from their own government.
o-O-o
‘This doesn’t make sense.’ Sam muttered under her breath as she peered at a second set of numbers on the sheet she was examining.
Teal’c raised an eyebrow. ‘May I be of assistance, Captain Carter?’
‘Know anything about gate diagnostics, Teal’c?’ Sam replied, her eyes still scanning through the numbers.
‘I do not.’ Teal’c admitted. ‘But perhaps I could act as a sounding board.’
Sam glanced over at him and smiled. She spread the sheet on the lab bench and pointed. ‘These are the numbers I’m having difficulty with.’ She explained. ‘They’re the times of gate travel.’ Her finger stabbed a second column. ‘These are the corresponding electricity power measurements.’
Teal’c nodded. ‘I understand.’
‘There’s a correlation between the two.’ Sam explained. ‘Usually the gate draws the most power during out-going wormholes.’ She said, rubbing her nose as her gaze went over the figures again. ‘But these don’t make sense. The gate seems to have drawn a lot of power for some reason when establishing a wormhole to P2A108, almost twice as much as normal.’
‘Perhaps a reason can be found there.’ Teal’c suggested.
‘Maybe.’ Sam murmured. ‘But I’m stuck here.’ She softened the words with a quick smile and reached for another folder. ‘I’ll have to examine all the other occasions we’ve dialled there and do a comparison.’
Teal’c raised an eyebrow at the stack of folders. ‘That appears to be a considerable task.’
‘Tell me about it.’ She muttered. She caught his brief look of surprise at her bitter complaint and sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Teal’c. It’s not your fault I’m stuck doing this by hand.’
‘You have no need to apologise to me, Captain Carter.’ Teal’c reached for a folder. ‘I will help you.’
‘Thank you.’ She beamed at him and gestured. ‘Colonel O’Neill was going to ask General Hammond to give me my computer access back.’
‘I believe he will be successful.’ Teal’c commented.
‘You think so?’ Sam asked hopefully.
‘Indeed.’ Teal’c confirmed.
The rap on the door had them turning to see who was there. Sam’s eyes rose at the sight of an officer in his service blues; she didn’t recognise him. He looked a little old for the rank of Captain he wore and his hair cut incredibly short like a Marine; his body suggesting a street brawler than a military officer.
‘Can I help you, Captain…?’ Her voice trailed away as she searched for his name tag.
‘Bell.’
His dark eyes met hers across the room and she shivered. ‘Captain Bell.’ She repeated. ‘Can I help you?’
‘No, not specifically.’ His manner was formal and brisk. ‘General Hammond has requested Teal’c’s presence in the briefing room.’ He nodded at the Jaffa. ‘I’ll stay with Captain Carter.’
Teal’c frowned. ‘I will call Daniel Jackson.’
‘Doctor Jackson has also been called to the briefing room.’ Bell smiled coldly. ‘Don’t worry, sir. I’m sure it won’t be for too long.’
Sam reached over and patted Teal’c’s hand when it looked as though the Jaffa wasn’t going to move. ‘It’s OK, Teal’c. I’ll be fine with Captain Bell.’
Teal’c’s eyes slid to hers and she nodded. He got to his feet unhappily. ‘I will return, Captain Carter.’
Sam nodded again. Her fingers tightened on the paper she held as she resisted the urge to ask Teal’c to disregard his order and stay with her as she watched him leave. She motioned for Bell to enter. ‘Take a seat, Captain.’
‘Thank you but I prefer to stand.’
She glanced at him and shifted a little uncomfortable at the way he was staring at her. An uneasy tension crept into the lab. After a couple of minutes, she gave up the pretence that he wasn’t distracting her with his relentless look.
‘Do you have something to say to me, Captain?’ Sam said tightly, putting the sheet of paper down. Her stomach was knotting; her shoulders had stiffened.
‘Why would I have something to say to you, Captain?’ Bell took a step into the room, his dark eyes glittering menacingly. ‘Why would I have anything to say to you?’
Sam got to her feet acting without thought, slowly backing away as he approached. She circled her lab bench placing it firmly between her and Bell.
‘Why would I have anything to say to a Goa’uld?’ Bell continued, he reached behind him as he came to stand underneath the camera out of sight of security and drew out a Beretta.
Sam froze. ‘Captain, I’m not a Goa’uld. It died.’
‘And if you were a Goa’uld, you’d say the same thing.’ Bell said, his lips twisting in an ugly snarl.
‘No if I were a Goa’uld, you’d be dead right now.’ Sam said, her eyes glued to the gun. ‘You’ll never get away with shooting me on base, Captain.’
‘Which is why we’re going to leave.’ Bell said. ‘Quietly and without fuss.’
Sam’s blue eyes widened and she gave a short laugh. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I do,’ Bell said confidently, ‘because if you don’t and I don’t make a phone call to confirm you’re with me outside of the base, my associate is going to shoot Daniel Jackson.’ He watched in satisfaction as she drained of colour.
‘Daniel?’ Sam asked in disbelief. It had been a set-up, she realised. Teal’c had been drawn away deliberately.
He jerked the gun at the door. ‘After you, Captain Carter.’
She took one uncertain step and then another toward the door. He followed her out staying close to her. Her mind raced. Her first priority was to keep Daniel safe. Maybe there was an opportunity to alert the SF’s at the exit of the mountain or maybe she could get away once the phone call had been made…
‘Don’t make any sudden moves.’ Bell hissed in her ear as Sergeant Siler approached from the opposite direction.
‘Ma’am.’ Siler stopped beside her. ‘I was wondering if you’ve finished with the diagnostic reports yet?’
‘No, Sergeant.’ Sam’s mouth was dry as she answered him. ‘I’m having to do it slowly. I should have them for you later.’
Siler smiled warmly at her. ‘There’s no rush, ma’am.’
She gave a sharp nod and they continued on their separate ways.
‘Good girl.’ Bell said quietly.
They rounded the corner and headed to the elevator where she could see a man leaning against the wall waiting for it. She recognised him immediately. Samuels. What was he doing at the SGC? The scuttlebutt had been that he’d been sent back to the Pentagon in disgrace after Apophis’s failed attempt to attack Earth. He turned and smiled when he saw them.
He nodded at Bell. ‘Well done, Captain.’
Sam’s eyes widened. ‘You’re in on this, Samuels?’
‘That’s Lieutenant Colonel to you, Captain.’ Samuels retorted.
‘We should leave now.’ Bell said sharply.
Samuels pressed the button to call the elevator. ‘I agree.’
‘You won’t get away with this.’ Sam said, her anger beginning to stir through the fear.
‘Shut up.’ Bell pressed the gun into her side.
‘You’re not clever enough to get away with this.’ Sam said, ignoring the cold steel through her BDU jacket. ‘And you know it.’
‘Aren’t I?’ Samuels smirked at her. ‘It seems to me that I fooled O’Neil, Hammond,’ his smile widened, ‘you.’
‘So what’s the plan?’ Sam asked harshly. ‘You’re delivering me to the NID?’
‘You always were the smart one, Captain.’ Samuels said.
‘I’m not a Goa’uld.’ Sam argued. ‘I don’t know anything.’
‘We’ve read Mackenzie’s reports, Captain.’ Samuels said. ‘We know you have the memories of the Goa’uld in your subconscious.’
Sam stiffened. Mackenzie? Had he revealed everything about her sessions to the NID? ‘They’re in my subconscious, Samuels. I can’t get to them.’
‘But we can.’ Samuels pressed the button again. ‘I’m afraid the techniques will ultimately prove to be fatal but Earth will be safe. We’ll have your knowledge and you’ll be dead.’
Sam shook her head angrily. ‘I knew you were an idiot, Samuels, I didn’t think you were a killer.’
‘I said shut up!’ Bell snapped. ‘Where the hell is that elevator?’
The doors slid open suddenly and all three of them turned toward the compartment and froze.
Daniel smiled happily at his team-mate as his eyes wandered over Samuels and Bell quizzically. ‘Sam! There you are! I was just coming to talk to you…’
Sam felt Bell move the gun and reacted. ‘Daniel! Run!’ She screamed as she threw herself at Bell.
The shot impacted the wall of the elevator. Sam and Bell toppled to the ground. He grunted and slammed his fist into her face. Out of the corner of her dazed eye, Sam saw Daniel tackling Samuels. She absently noted both men were wrestling, tugging on each other’s hair and searching for a good grip.
She blocked Bell’s next punch and threw one of her own. Her increased strength lent a little bit more power and he jerked away from her. But they were too close and as she scrabbled backward to get some space, he came after her and used the weight of his body to pin her to the ground. He was too strong and too determined, she realised as she panted for breath. She reached down toward his groin as his hands went around her throat.
Air.
She couldn’t get air. She tried to gasp but his fingers were tight around her throat.
‘Sam!’ Daniel’s panicked cry was cut short by a grunt of his own.
She struggled to reach for Bell’s crotch; if she could just…her vision blurred but her hearing sharpened; there were footsteps pounding towards them…
Suddenly, the weight was ripped away from her and she took a shaky, desperate breath, filling her lungs even as she coughed. From her position on the ground, she saw Teal’c grab Samuels releasing Daniel and Jack fighting with Bell a couple of feet across the floor from her; he was straddling Bell, hitting him…
Jack’s fist smashed into Bell’s face again and again. The Captain’s head cracked on the floor yet Jack raised his fist to hit him again.
‘Jack! Stop!’ Daniel caught hold of Jack’s arm and took a stumbling step back at the fierce rage that burned in the hard brown eyes that shot to him. He took a shaky breath and forced himself not to waver under the sheer intensity of Jack’s anger. ‘He’s down. He’s not getting up.’
Jack’s gaze snapped to the unconscious man under him. The sight of Bell on top of Sam, strangling her, had snapped something loose inside of Jack; a part of him he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge any longer. Sanity…awareness crept back into his eyes and he stumbled off the body as he swallowed hard against the need to retch. A groan caught his attention…
Sam.
The thought of her gave him something to focus on and he skidded across the floor to where Sam was slowly beginning to move. He raised a hand to touch her; thought twice and almost dropped it before her shattered blue eyes met his. He tugged her into his arms without a second thought.
‘You’re OK. You’re safe now.’ Jack murmured as he rocked her gently. His hands stroked her hair away from her face and he scanned it anxiously. ‘Are you injured?’
Sam shook her head. ‘I'm OK.’ Her voice was a whisper. Her fingers covered her throat.
He pulled her hands away from her smooth neck and his eyes darkened again at the sight of the bruises.
‘Let me go!’
Samuels’ whiny voice had Jack’s head whipping round to the air force officer. Teal’c held Samuels’ arms securely. The Jaffa’s dark face was set in an angry scowl at the way he had been duped at leaving Sam. It had taken him and O’Neill less than thirty seconds to realise Samuels’ plan when Teal’c had arrived in the briefing room.
More footsteps had them turning toward the end of the corridor and the sight of the SFs arriving with Hammond along with Janet and a couple of medics brought relief to Daniel’s face. They stopped a couple of feet from the tableau.
Jack helped Sam to her feet and gestured for Daniel to step in. The archaeologist slipped an arm around his female team-mate.
‘What in God’s name is going on here?’ Hammond said, his pale blue eyes scouring the scene with shock.
‘Samuels tried to abduct me, sir.’ Sam stated quietly. She motioned at Bell lying on the ground as Fraiser felt for a pulse on the unconscious man. ‘He tried to kill me.’
‘Someone has to do damage control and this facility is clearly not up to the task.’ Samuels said desperately. ‘Don’t you get it!’ His eyes slammed into Sam’s. ‘Samantha Carter is dead. She died the minute that Goa’uld took her as a host and you’re idiots if you think any different.’
Sam’s face went white and she barely felt Daniel’s arm tighten around her trying to comfort her; trying to shield her from the words.
Hammond’s blue eyes turned to ice and he strode forward until he was an inch from Samuels’ face. ‘Airmen,’ he barked without turning away from his ex-XO, ‘get this sorry excuse for an officer out of my sight. Lock him up!’
‘Yes, sir!’ The SF’s stepped forward and Teal’c relinquished his prisoner to them.
‘You’re making a mistake!’ Samuels said, struggling against the SFs who held him. ‘I’m not the one you should arrest. It’s her! It’s her!’
They all watched as the SFs disappeared around the corner with the still struggling Samuels.
Hammond breathed out sharply and turned back to the assembled group. His eyes fell on Fraiser who was on her knees assessing Bell. ‘Doctor?’
‘He’s badly beaten up, sir,’ her dark eyes flickered to Jack’s bloodied knuckles, ‘but I think he’ll live.’
A pity, Hammond thought although he didn’t voice the words.
‘With your permission, sir, I’d like to get him and SG1 to the infirmary.’ Janet rose to her feet.
Hammond gave a sharp nod. ‘Agreed.’
He watched as they trooped away; Daniel with an arm around Sam’s shoulder; Teal’c flanked her other side as Jack walked beside Daniel, his injured hand on the man’s shoulder. The General wondered at how much more they could take as his eyes fell to the blood on the floor.
o-O-o
Jack’s eyes never moved from the man lying prone in the infirmary bed on the other side of the room.
‘I don’t think he’s going to be moving anytime soon, Colonel.’ Janet commented wryly as she walked up to him. ‘In fact, he’s going to be lucky to wake up at all. He has two skull fractures; there’s pressure on his brain we’re going to need to relieve with surgery. Doctor Warner is prepping now.’
His brown eyes met hers evenly without apology. ‘How’s Captain Carter?’ Although he had protested, they’d been separated for treatment earlier and Jack hadn’t been informed of her status since.
‘Bruises mainly. I’ve released her to her quarters to rest.’ Janet said as she picked up his hand from the bowl of icy water it was resting in to examine it with a frown.
Jack stiffened. ‘On her own?’
‘Teal’c went with her.’ She prodded his knuckles.
He let out a small hiss of pain.
‘Sorry.’ Janet said insincerely. ‘Make a fist.’ She nodded in satisfaction. ‘Well, the good news is that I don’t think anything’s broken.’
‘And the bad news?’ Jack asked dryly.
‘It’s going to take a while to heal.’ Janet said. She reached for her file and scribbled a notation. ‘I’ll get the nurse to stop by and strap it up. You should get some rest.’
‘Right.’ Jack muttered.
Janet sighed and stuffed her hands in her pockets. ‘You won’t be doing anybody any good if you don’t rest, Colonel.’
Jack was silent; the muscle in his jaw working. He couldn’t see that he was doing anybody any good full stop.
‘Sir, if you need to talk…’ Janet offered gently.
The Colonel’s brown eyes flickered to her again; his refusal clear.
She sighed. ‘I’ll send the nurse in.’
Jack nodded. He waited until she was almost out of the door before he called out to her. She stopped and looked back at him. ‘Thanks, Doc.’
She nodded and left, hurrying past a bemused Daniel as he entered. The archaeologist’s gaze went first to the injured man Jack had beaten up before it rested on his friend.
‘You OK?’ Jack asked.
‘A few scratches. I lost some hair.’
Jack snorted. ‘Samuels fights like a girl.’
Daniel wrapped his arms around his torso. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m OK.’ Jack said automatically.
‘Really.’
The patent disbelief and Daniel’s glance over at Bell had Jack flushing. He shook his head and stared at the ceiling. ‘I lost it, Daniel.’ He admitted. He raised his good hand to rub at his face and his hair. ‘When I saw him trying to kill her…I just lost it.’
‘How did you work it out?’ Daniel asked gently.
‘I knew something was off but I didn’t know what.’ Jack sighed. ‘It wasn’t until Teal’c appeared and told me Bell had sent him to the briefing room, we figured it out.’ He met Daniel’s eyes gratefully. ‘We would have been too late. If you hadn’t gotten out of that elevator when you did…’ He shook his head again. If Daniel hadn't gotten out of the elevator and ruined the leverage Bell had over Sam, had stopped them from leaving...it didn’t bear thinking about.
‘It was Mackenzie’s nurse who leaked the information.’ Daniel said. ‘Hammond just found out. Apparently she heard what had happened and decided to come clean before the investigation found her out.’
Jack’s eyes glittered with renewed anger but a nurse appeared and Daniel retreated a few steps as she wrapped Jack’s hand in a clean, white bandage. When she was done, Jack jumped off the infirmary bed and Daniel fell into step beside him.
Jack punched the button on the elevator and leaned tiredly on the wall as the compartment started moving. ‘How’s Sam handling all this?’
Daniel shrugged. ‘She seems fine.’
There was an odd surprised note to his tone and Jack frowned. ‘What’s up?’
The other man glanced across at him. ‘Nothing.’
‘No,’ Jack contradicted him, ‘it’s something. What is it?’
Daniel shuffled his feet a little before he gave in with a sigh. ‘Don’t you think she’s handling it a little too well?’
Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You think she’s still a Goa’uld like Samuels said?’
‘No!’ The denial was loud and automatic. ‘No,’ Daniel repeated a little more softly, ‘it’s just…with everything she’s been through…’ he sighed again, ‘I guess I expected her to be upset and angry.’
‘She’s a good soldier, Daniel.’ Jack said defensively. ‘She’s handling it.’
‘But that’s just it.’ Daniel retorted. ‘I think she’s repressing everything because she’s expected to be a good soldier and that can’t be healthy.’ He gestured. ‘We haven’t even talked to her about what happened with us as a team when she was possessed by Jolinar yet.’
‘Did I miss the memo telling me you got a psychology degree to go with the other bunch you have?’ Jack replied mockingly. ‘Mackenzie says we shouldn’t rush her and…’
‘Since when have you worried about what Mackenzie says.’ Daniel shot back.
Jack shoved off the elevator wall and glared at Daniel. ‘So what do you want us to do, Daniel? Force her into talking about something when she isn’t ready yet?’
‘I want us to let her know she can talk to us; that she doesn’t have to be a good soldier with us. All of us.’ Daniel said ignoring the flash of anger in Jack’s eyes.
‘She knows she doesn’t have to be a good soldier with us, Daniel.’ Jack bit out.
‘Does she? What were your words in the commissary the other day? That she should suck it up?’ Daniel countered.
Jack flushed. ‘I didn’t mean…’
‘I know, Jack.’ Daniel said quickly. ‘But what if I’m right?’
Jack slumped back against the elevator wall and considered Daniel’s words. If Daniel was right then Sam was storing up a lot of anger and pain that would have to come out eventually and if they didn’t deal with it sooner rather than later, the eruption would be worse for her; for them all.
The elevator doors slid open and Jack moved out, Daniel following in his wake as they made their way to Sam’s quarters. They found Teal’c stood outside of the door.
‘Teal’c.’ Jack jerked his head at the door. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Captain Carter wished to rest.’ Teal’c stated. ‘I thought it wise to remain outside and guard her.’
‘You did the right thing.’ Jack said. He moved up to the door and knocked gently. There was a moment of silence and Jack knocked again. The door opened slowly.
Sam blocked the entrance even as she greeted them. Her eyes fell to his bandage. ‘How’s your hand, sir?’
‘Sore,’ Jack admitted holding up the hand in question, ‘but worth it.’
Sam attempted a smile but she couldn’t hold it.
‘Can we come in, Carter?’ Jack asked when she made no attempt to move.
She hesitated and he glimpsed the desire to refuse him in her blue eyes before she stepped back and allowed them to follow her into the room. Jack closed the door and turned to face her.
‘So, how are you doing with all this?’ Jack asked shoving his hands into his pockets.
‘I’m fine, sir.’ Sam said calmly.
Her voice was calm but her face was tight with tension. Jack realised with a sinking sensation in his stomach that Daniel was right. ‘Really?’ He prodded keeping his tone light although his eyes met hers seriously. ‘Because I’d be pissed if I were you.’
Sam blinked in surprise and she glanced over at Daniel and Teal’c for their reactions. The Jaffa had raised an eyebrow and Daniel was staring at Jack with an odd expression. ‘Sir?’ She asked hesitantly.
Jack sighed and rubbed his good hand back through his hair, ruffling the brown and grey strands. ‘Look, it’s OK to be a little mad.’ He sent Daniel a pleading look.
‘I think what Jack’s trying to say,’ Daniel said stepping in, ‘is that you don’t have to pretend with us. It’s OK to say how you really feel.’
Sam folded her arms across her chest and tried to ignore the rising panic in her chest. ‘You think I’m still a Goa’uld.’ She said accusingly.
‘No!’
The simultaneous and heartfelt denial by both men reassured her a little.
‘God, no.’ Jack repeated. He sighed. He was no good at these sorts of things, he thought ruefully as Sam looked back at him quizzically. ‘You have to be mad at us.’ He said bluntly.
‘Why would I be mad at you guys?’ Sam asked uncertainly. ‘You had no way of knowing what Samuels had planned.’
‘Not about today.’ Daniel said quietly. He forced himself to meet her eyes. ‘About everything else.’
Jack gestured with his bad hand. ‘About the way we treated you when you had the Goa’uld.’
Teal’c shifted position as he realised what the two men were doing.
Sam felt her panic coming back full force. ‘I understand why you all acted the way you did.’ She said, trying to remain calm.
‘You do?’ He was going to have to push her to force a reaction, Jack realised. For a second he baulked at the idea; she’d been through enough… Jack looked across at Daniel helplessly before he glanced at Teal’c. They both nodded imperceptibly. He stiffened his resolve and searched for the things he knew would shake her composure. ‘Sam, Teal’c pulled a weapon on you…’
‘I was threatening everyone.’ Sam said defensively. ‘I would have done the same thing.’
‘Daniel avoided you.’ Jack pressed taking a step toward her. ‘Do you really understand why he ignored you?’
Sam took a step back away from Jack. ‘He was upset. It reminded him what happened with Sha’re.’
‘You’re right, Sam.’ Daniel said quietly before his throat closed up with emotion. He took a breath. ‘But that doesn’t excuse what I did. I left you alone because I didn’t want to look at you as a Goa’uld and I’m sorry.’
Sam shook her head in denial.
Jack took a deep breath. ‘You really understand why I walked out on you when you begged me not to leave you?’
She flinched and looked away from him.
Jack ignored the horrified looks on Teal’c’s and Daniel’s faces; they hadn’t known what he’d done. ‘That was you, wasn’t it, Sam?’
She spun away from him and the others; she stared at the wall.
‘I hoped it was the Goa’uld.’ Jack admitted, a lump in his throat.
‘You were upset.’ Sam said desperately. ‘You thought the Goa’uld was tricking you. I understood.’
Jack took a deep breath, his brown eyes filled with sorrow and contrition. ‘I knew, Sam. Deep down I knew it was you.’
‘Don’t.’ Her voice broke on the word as the memory rose up. No, Jack! Please! Don’t leave me! She raised a trembling hand to cover her mouth as though she could prevent the words from escaping again.
‘And I left you anyway.’ Jack said bluntly. ‘We all left you to deal with it alone.’
She crumpled suddenly with a moan. He caught her and gently lowered the two of them to the floor by the bed where he held onto her as she shook with silent sobs against his chest.
Daniel hurried around to sit beside them. His blue eyes filled with compassionate tears of his own as he rubbed her back in soothing circles. ‘We’re sorry, Sam. We’re so sorry.’
Teal’c wondered at the scene in front of him, unsure that they had done the right thing. Jack caught his eye and gestured for him to join them. The Jaffa took the few strides he needed to crouch down beside his team-mates. He placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder adding his own silent comfort as she wept.
Time passed and they remained on the floor in their awkward positions, holding onto each other.
Eventually, Sam quietened. She stiffened as awareness of where she was seeped back through to her. She pushed a little against the Colonel and raised her hand to wipe her face.
Jack loosened his hold and searched his pocket with his free hand. He passed her a tissue. She took it without looking at him and scrubbed at her eyes. He let her shift away from him. ‘I’m sorry, Sam.’ He sighed. ‘I’m sorry for the whole damned mess.’
‘I’m sorry too, Sam.’ Daniel added.
‘As am I, Captain Carter.’ Teal’c murmured.
‘You don’t have anything to be…’ Sam began.
‘We should have known it wasn’t you immediately.’ Jack contradicted her forcefully.
‘Jolinar was reading my memories, sir, in order to act like me.’ Sam said. ‘There was no way you could have known. There’s no way any of you could have known.’ She sighed. ‘If anyone should be apologising it should be me.’
‘You?’ Daniel asked surprised. ‘Why you?’
‘I threatened to kill you all including Cassie and I let Jolinar use me to get to the Colonel, to you both. She had no idea where Sha’re was,’ she couldn’t look at him and stared at the floor, ‘I used you and Teal’c.’
‘No, you didn’t.’ Daniel said, ignoring the ache of disappointment at her words. ‘The Goa’uld did that not you.’
‘It felt like me.’ Sam murmured. ‘I knew what he was doing and I couldn’t stop it.’
‘We don’t blame you, Sam.’ Daniel rubbed her arm. ‘You know that, right?’
‘I tried.’ She felt the tears press against the back of her eyes again. ‘I tried so hard but I couldn’t stop it.’
‘We know you tried, Sam.’ Jack said comfortingly. ‘But Daniel’s right. None of us blame you for what happened.’
‘If I hadn’t stopped to give that man CPR…’ Sam started.
‘You were doing your duty, Captain.’ Jack asserted forcefully, using her rank to drive home his point. ‘What happened was terrible, but there was no way you…there’s no way we could have anticipated it. Now we know the Goa’uld can do that, we’ll be more careful in future.’ He reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘You survived; that’s what’s important.’
‘Samuels said I died on the planet.’ Sam murmured.
‘Samuels is an idiot.’ Jack shot back.
‘Indeed.’ Teal’c agreed gently. ‘You are very much alive, Captain Carter.’
Sam smiled at the Jaffa.
‘Feel better?’ Jack asked gently.
She looked at him briefly before nodding. ‘A little. Thank you, sir.’
‘For what?’ Jack asked dryly. ‘Making you cry?’
She gave a small laugh and they all smiled at each other.
‘Well, I don’t know about you guys,’ Jack said lightly, ‘but all this has worked up my appetite.’
‘Cake, sir?’ Sam suggested.
‘Excellent idea, Carter.’ Jack got to his feet and helped Sam to hers as Daniel and Teal’c rose to theirs.
‘I should thank you for saving my life today, sir.’ Sam said seeing Jack wince when he moved his hand.
Jack shrugged. ‘I maybe went a little overboard.’ He admitted. ‘Fraiser’s not sure he’s going to make it.’
‘I hope he doesn’t.’ Her eyes widened as she realised what she had said but she didn’t take it back.
‘As do I.’ Teal’c growled.
They all turned to look at Daniel.
‘What?’ He asked. He pushed his glasses up his nose.
‘Don’t you have something to say about forgiveness, compassion, that kind of thing?’ Jack pointed out.
‘Not this time.’ Daniel replied evenly.
‘O-kay.’ Jack peered at him as they left the room. ‘Daniel.’
‘Jack.’
‘Are you sure you’re not a Goa’uld?’
‘Funny, Jack. Very funny.’
Continued in Part III.