Storytime with Rachel F Hundred

Chapter 19

Teal’c barely felt the weight of Colonel Carter in his arms. She had remained unconscious. He kept her close. The Jaffa knew her original injuries had been worsened by her fight with the Unas. He felt a wave of pride. His team mate was a formidable warrior. It was impressive that she had killed two Unas before being captured and had found a way to ensure the rest of SG1 would find her. But it was clear that she had sustained further injuries.

He felt guilt slide into his belly like a knife. He should have refused to have left her despite O’Neill’s need for back-up. If he had stayed with her, it was unlikely she would have been captured. Of course, it was equally likely that O’Neill and Daniel Jackson would have been killed. He pushed away the useless thoughts. He should focus on the present and ensuring no further harm came to Colonel Carter rather than dwelling on past regrets, he told himself sternly.

He glanced back and found O’Neill carefully guarding their progress. The military man had obviously decided to do the same as Teal’c. Teal’c figured O’Neill had blamed himself for what had happened to Colonel Carter. It had been his decision to split the team. Teal’c knew he would have done the same in his place and he guessed Colonel Carter would have also taken the same course of action had she been asked. Yet he knew O’Neill was questioning whether his decision had been right given his time out of the field.

It had surprised Teal’c that O’Neill had accepted the position of the SGC commander although admittedly he believed O’Neill had planned to continue going off-world more than he had ultimately been able to do so. O’Neill was incredibly suited to leading men in the field; gifted. His ability to strategise on his feet; to lead his team to its fullest potential was outstanding. Teal’c could not believe that O’Neill enjoyed being away from the action anymore than he did.

They were so similar, he and O’Neill. Brothers. Both born for battle; both excelling in warfare. Both driven by a need to protect and defend. Both cared for strong women who were warriors in their own right. Teal’c had observed that his two military team-mates had come to care for one another long before either O’Neill or Colonel Carter had realised. He had been witness to their confessions and their heartache. While each had tried to move on in their own ways, their paths always seemed to inextricably lead back to each other. Teal’c had believed their reassignments would have made moving on together a possibility at last.

They cared for each other; that much was evident in each look they shared, each touch. Yet they remained apart, seemingly still trapped by the barriers that no longer existed between them. He wondered why. He was reminded of a man Apophis had once tortured. The Goa’uld had rigged the man’s cell door to burn him every time he touched it. For a time he had tried to escape over and over. Yet eventually he stopped trying to touch the door. When Apophis had taken the door away, the man had remained in the cell, unable to leave so conditioned by his previous torture. Apophis had laughed to see the man so cowed and broken that he could not see the open door in his mind to walk through it.

Teal’c figured O’Neill and Colonel Carter were as the man in the cell. They had been so long conditioned to the idea that they could not be together that now the door was open, they seemed unable to recognise the possibility and grasp it. His own situation bubbled to the surface of his mind. Did it also explain his inability to take his relationship with Ishta forward? He had spent so many years holding back from commitment, keeping himself distant so he could act unimpeded and without distraction that perhaps he was unable see he no longer needed to do so.

He considered it as they walked past the bodies of the Unas they had killed earlier. He had always vaguely thought that when the war was over he would be able to commit fully to Ishta and he could not pretend that his inability to do so was because he did not realise the possibility was there; he knew the possibility was there, the problem was that faced with it he was also faced with an unwelcome truth; he did not want to change their relationship.

Ishta was a good woman and he enjoyed her company; they were well-suited in many ways and he knew he loved her, but to pledge a lifelong commitment? He was uncertain if he wished to be married again. He had a son; Rya’c was married to a good woman. In time there would be grandchildren. He liked his freedom; he answered to no-one. Marriage held few attractions for him, Teal’c realised with chagrin. Yet Ishta deserved such a commitment and he knew that if he were to fail to offer her one that she would eventually look elsewhere and he could not blame her.

Focus on the present, Teal’c reminded himself. His thoughts had revealed the futility of existing in the past and there would not be a future if they did not stop the Doomsday machine. His gaze moved to the archaeologist in front of him. They stepped into another corridor.

‘This way.’ Daniel pointed and moved forward.

Teal’c followed, holding Colonel Carter securely. He could feel O’Neill at his back, guarding them.

Daniel stopped at the end of the corridor. It was a dead end.

‘What’s going on?’ Jack moved up to stand next to the younger man. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

‘It dead ends with this wall.’ Daniel waved at it with his free hand.

‘Maybe you’re reading it wrong.’ Jack said, pointing at the device Daniel was holding.

‘I’m reading it right.’ Daniel retorted.

‘Daniel, we’re at a dead end.’ Jack waved his hand at the wall.

Daniel glared at him.

Jack sighed and turned back to the Jaffa. ‘Any suggestions, Teal’c?’

‘Perhaps a rest is in order.’ Teal’c said.

‘Good call.’ Jack nodded. ‘Let’s take a break.’ He was already walking over to help Teal’c lower Sam to the floor.

They took a few minutes to check her injuries again and make her comfortable.

Jack pointed across the corridor at a door. ‘Is that what I think it is?’

‘Bathroom.’ Daniel said out loud.

‘There might be water. I’ll replenish the canteens.’ Jack said. ‘Stay with Carter.’

Teal’c watched him disappear into the room.

Daniel slid down the wall and took off his glasses to rub his eyes. ‘Maybe he’s right; maybe I am reading this thing wrong.’

‘You should rest.’ Teal’c advised. He lowered himself to the floor to sit beside his friend. ‘You have been awake for many hours.’

‘Jack thinks I’m leaving everyone behind by going to Atlantis.’ Daniel remarked quietly. ‘Maybe he’s right about that too.’

‘What do you think?’ Teal’c asked curious.

‘I guess I don’t see it as leaving you behind so much as that you all give me something to come back to.’ Daniel admitted.

‘Family.’ Teal’c supplied in understanding.

Daniel sighed. ‘Is it wrong to want to move on?’

‘No.’ Teal’c looked at the ceiling. ‘But you have chosen your new path, Daniel Jackson. Some of us are not so fortunate.’

Daniel looked at him. ‘You’re free, Teal’c.’ He dropped his gaze. ‘But you’re not, are you? Everyone just expects you to lead the new government.’ He sighed again deeply. ‘And Jack didn’t choose his new role and Sam didn’t really choose to go to R&D.’

‘I believe General O’Neill said it best.’ Teal’c said.

‘What?’

Teal’c held Daniel’s compassionate gaze. ‘Change does indeed suck.’

Daniel gave a short laugh. ‘Maybe you’re just looking at it the wrong way.’

Teal’c looked at him quizzically.

‘You’re a leader of your people, Teal’c. You can help shape their future.’ Daniel pointed out. ‘How many people get that kind of opportunity in their lives?’

Teal’c considered his words. Perhaps he had been too hasty at only seeing the downside to the expectation that he would lead his people; perhaps there was an opportunity he had not yet grasped. And perhaps he was to viewing his relationship with Ishta with similarly faulty thinking; instead of the loss of his perceived freedom, perhaps he should consider the opportunity that had presented itself – an opportunity to be with her.

‘This was my fault.’ Daniel blurted out abruptly.

‘How so, Daniel Jackson?’ Teal’c asked.

‘I should have been with her.’ Daniel said miserably. He glanced at Sam. ‘How do you think she’s doing?’

Teal’c opened his mouth to reply.

‘She’s doing fine.’ Sam cut in groggily. She started to shift and they helped her move into a sitting position. She accepted the water canteen and took a sip, wincing. She suddenly seemed to focus. ‘Where’s the Colonel?’

‘You mean General O’Neill.’ Teal’c corrected.

‘Right.’ Sam smiled weakly. ‘Where is he?’

‘He went to get some water.’ Daniel said. He looked across the hall at the closed door and frowned. ‘He should have been back now.’

Teal’c rose to his feet swiftly. ‘I will go and check.’ He grabbed his gun and entered the bathroom.

It was a large space with several cubicles towards the back. The left side was dominated by a large marble sink. Two water canteens stood by the side. He made his way in stealthily. He heard a sound at the back and moved forward to take cover by the internal cubicle wall. He moved out and aimed his weapon.

Jack looked back at him, his own weapon poised.

They lowered their guns.

‘We were concerned.’ Teal’c said crisply.

‘Sorry, I thought since I was here, I would, uh.’ Jack waved at the cubicles behind him as he crossed to the sink.

‘Colonel Carter is awake.’ Teal’c said.

‘How is she?’ Jack placed his hands in the bowl and water began to run from the faucet.

‘She is disoriented. She referred to you as Colonel.’ Teal’c watched as the other man washed his face and neck.

‘Damn.’ Jack dried off his face with the edge of his t-shirt and his eyes met Teal’c’s in the mirror.

There was a taut silence.

Jack reached for the water canteens. ‘We should get back to the others.’

‘O’Neill.’ Teal’c subtly blocked his way. ‘I have recently come to realise that not all change is to be feared if it presents an opportunity.’

Jack looked at him solemnly and a muscle tensed in his jaw. ‘We should get back.’

He walked out and Teal’c followed, satisfied the other man had listened to his words. Perhaps he should follow his own advice, Teal’c mused. Perhaps he should consider his opportunity as Daniel Jackson had suggested.

Chapter 20

Sam waited until Teal’c disappeared before she turned to Daniel. He looked tired and pale. He looked exhausted. She reached out and took his hand. ‘Hey.’

‘Hey.’ Daniel squeezed her fingers lightly. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Like I got into a fight with some really nasty Unas.’ Sam replied dryly. She bit her lip. ‘I heard your conversation with Teal’c.’ She admitted quietly. ‘It isn’t your fault I didn’t make it back to the SGC.’

‘I should have been with you. I should never have agreed to do the briefing.’ Daniel said, remorsefully. ‘It was our last mission.’

‘Daniel,’ Sam rubbed his fingers comfortingly, ‘have you considered that things turned out exactly as they were meant to?’

‘What do you mean?’ Daniel asked, frowning.

‘I mean, maybe this was meant to happen.’ Sam said weakly. ‘We probably triggered the machine when we sent the original MALP. If I hadn’t missed the wormhole home, we might have been back at the SGC oblivious…’

‘To the end of the universe.’ Daniel finished for her. His lips curled upwards a little. ‘You could be right.’ His tired face brightened. ‘So maybe I’ve been looking at this the wrong way.’

‘Maybe that’s not the only thing.’ Sam said.

Daniel picked up the energy device and waved at her. ‘You mean this?’

‘No.’ Sam hesitated but ploughed on. ‘I was thinking about the Colonel’s reaction to you going to Atlantis.’

‘Oh that.’ Daniel said dismissively.

‘You’re his best friend, Daniel. Has it occurred to you that he’s just going to miss you?’ Sam pointed out gently. ‘That we’re all going to miss you?’

Daniel’s mouth formed a perfect O. He sighed and looked at her with chagrin. ‘I never thought about it that way.’ He squeezed her hand again. ‘I’ve been so caught up in the excitement.’

‘You should be excited, Daniel.’

‘I could have thought more about how it’s been for you.’ Daniel argued.

‘You’ve wanted to go for so long and it’s not your fault, or Teal’c’s, or the Colonel’s that I ended up being the last one left.’ Sam murmured. ‘It’s just what happened. Maybe it was meant to happen like this.’ She raised a bandaged hand. ‘I think maybe we’ve all been a little blind lately.’ She mused out loud, thinking about Daniel’s conversation with Teal’c.

‘Maybe I’ve been so caught up in feeling sorry that this part of my life is over that I haven’t seen my move to Area 51 as the opportunity it is.’ She smiled at him. ‘Maybe I’ve been like Teal’c and haven’t been looking at it the right way.’

Daniel smiled back at her. ‘Well, I think I’ve been looking at this wrong.’ He held up the device. ‘You want to take a look?’

Sam reached for it when she stopped. She raised a finger to her lips and grasped her gun. Daniel immediately reached for his. Both of them were poised when Jack and Teal’c appeared. They lowered their weapons.

‘Good to see you awake.’ Jack said as he crouched down beside Sam. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘I’m fine, sir.’ Sam said stubbornly.

He held up a finger. ‘Follow it.’

She blew out a small breath of annoyance but obediently tracked his finger. She stopped suddenly as she saw another Jack crouched beside the real one; her hallucination staring back at her with concern and love. She blinked and he disappeared.

‘Carter.’ Jack snapped her attention back to him.

‘Sorry, sir.’ Sam raised her hand to the bump on her head. ‘Just tired.’

She could see the urge to disagree flit through his worried brown eyes but he nodded instead.

‘Want a trip to the bathroom?’ Jack suggested. ‘You can wash up a little.’

‘Sounds good.’ Sam murmured.

He held up a hand to stop Teal’c from reaching for her. ‘I’ve got it.’

‘I’ll come too.’ Daniel said, getting to his feet and stretching. ‘I could use a bathroom break.’

‘Let’s all go.’ Jack agreed. ‘That wall isn’t going anywhere.’

The bathroom trip was slow but it was worth it. Sam accepted Jack’s arm as she stepped out of the cubicle; there had been a small but swift argument about her going in on her own but Jack had backed down.

‘Where are Teal’c and Daniel?’ She asked, looking around the empty space.

‘Outside, keeping watch.’ Jack said as he helped her stagger over to the sink. He handed her a damp handkerchief. ‘You still seeing, uh, things?’

Sam kept her attention on the water and wiping her face with the handkerchief. ‘Does it matter?’

‘What rank am I?’ Jack asked.

Sam was surprised into looking at him. She took in the bruise that marked his cheekbone and wondered if his fight with the Unas had left him with a concussion. ‘Are you feeling alright, sir?’

‘Teal’c mentioned that you called me Colonel?’ Jack said.

‘I was just confused when I woke up.’ Sam said defensively. She tried a smile. ‘It’s been a while since we were all on a mission together.’

Jack steadied her as she swayed on her feet.

‘And I’m really glad you’re here.’ The truth spilled from her lips before she could stop it.

He stared at her.

‘I mean, it feels right that it’s the four of us for the last SG1 mission.’ Sam hurried out. She darted a nervous look at him.

‘Yeah.’ Jack slid his arm around her, tucking her closer to his own body.

She clung onto his shoulder with a hand as they took a step away from the sink. ‘You know Daniel wanted a big mission like saving the world for our last one.’

‘See I knew this was his fault; I just didn’t know why.’ Jack joked.

They smiled at each other.

‘Come on.’ Jack said, sobering. ‘Let’s get back to saving the world.’

They all settled back in front of the blank wall.

Daniel handed her the device. ‘I can’t understand it.’

Sam checked the calibrations and his readings. She bit her lip. ‘I don’t think you’re reading it wrong. The energy signature is definitely coming from behind that wall.’

‘Maybe there’s another way around.’ Jack suggested.

‘Or maybe we’re just not seeing it right.’ Daniel countered. He walked up to the wall.

‘Daniel?’ Jack questioned.

‘I see where he’s going with this, sir.’ Sam said suddenly understanding what Daniel had in mind.

‘You do?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You want to explain it to me?’ Jack asked dryly. His eyes twinkled at her.

Sam smiled at him. ‘What if the wall isn’t a wall?’

‘What?’ Jack looked completely bemused.

‘Sam’s right, Jack.’ Daniel gestured at the wall. ‘Maybe this is meant to be a security feature. If all anyone finds is a dead end then they stop searching.’

‘You believe the wall to be an illusion.’ Teal’c surmised.

‘Or some kind of advanced holographic projection.’ Sam said.

‘So we just walk through it.’ Jack said, reviewing the wall with new eyes.

‘You could try it.’ Daniel made a sweeping invitation with his arms.

Jack looked at Daniel suspiciously. His eyes moved back to Sam who looked at him encouragingly. He turned back to the wall. ‘OK, then.’ He reached forward and poked at it with a finger. ‘It feels solid.’

‘Maybe you have to think about walking through it.’ Daniel said.

Jack sighed. ‘Think about it?’

‘Think about it.’ Daniel repeated.

‘Right.’ Jack closed his eyes. He took a deep breath.

Sam found herself thinking alongside him. Walk through it. A giggle had her eyes snapping to the left of the Colonel. Grace grinned at her before the child turned and skipped through the wall. Her breath lodged in her throat.

Jack moved forward and disappeared.

Chapter 21

Jack opened his eyes and breathed in a relieved breath. He wasn’t stuck in a wall. The room suddenly brightened with artificial light and Jack blinked as he swore. He looked at the control room that was revealed with a sense of satisfaction; each wall had banks of monitors and controls; the layout was reminiscent of the reports from Atlantis – smooth metallic like consoles. There were a few stools and chairs. It was windowless but there was another door at the back; Jack checked it out quickly and found a small storage room filled with gadgets that no doubt would send Daniel and Carter into coos of ecstasy if they discovered them; he closed the door on the room firmly.

‘Sir.’ Carter’s anxious radio call interrupted the moment.

‘I’m here, Carter.’ Jack answered. ‘I’m coming back through.’ He turned and closed his eyes again. This time he walked forward confidently. He made it back into the corridor unscathed.

The other three members of SG1 looked at him in relief. He gestured over his shoulder. ‘You were right. There’s a control room back there.’

‘So how do we all go through?’ Daniel asked, looking at the wall sceptically.

‘I believe we should employ the Tollan method.’ Teal’c suggested calmly. His gaze met Jack’s and Jack glimpsed the hint of amusement in the dark depths.

‘Really?’ Jack made a face.

‘The Tollan method?’ Sam asked. Her face was pale, too pale. Jack could see she was struggling to stay with them again.

‘You know,’ Daniel wiggled his hand, ‘holding hands.’

‘Ah.’ Sam smiled at Jack’s evident disgust. ‘I see.’

‘Which is why I’m going to repeat this;’ he paused dramatically, ‘really?’

‘We should give it a try, sir.’ Sam offered her hand and he helped her to her feet. She lurched ominously and Jack reacted swiftly, picking her up.

‘I’m fine.’ Sam protested, even as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

‘OK, I’ll take Carter through and come back for you guys.’ Jack said, ignoring her, his arms tightening around her.

Daniel nodded.

‘I believe that would be wise.’ Teal’c said.

‘Sir.’ Sam tried to protest again.

Jack turned back to the wall. ‘You might want to close your eyes, Carter.’ He closed his and stepped through again.

‘Ow.’ Sam’s voice had him opening his eyes cautiously. She was wincing under the bright lights.

‘Sorry. I forgot to warn you.’ Jack said as he lowered carefully to the floor. ‘I’ll go get the guys.’ He took a step away from her and looked back. She was looking at the consoles with glee. ‘Carter?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Don’t touch anything.’ Jack warned. He spun on his heel and walked back through to the corridor before she could deny his charge.

‘You guys ready?’ Jack asked, taking in the packed rucksacks that they had slung over their shoulders.

‘Indeed.’ Teal’c held out his hand.

Daniel smirked and held out his.

Jack scowled. ‘Fine. Let’s get this over with.’ He clasped their hands. ‘On three. One, two, three.’

They stepped through and into the control room.

‘Wow.’ Daniel’s head swivelled from side to side. ‘This place is incredible.’

Jack let go of his companions’ hands with more haste than grace. ‘OK. So we’re all through the wall. Now what?’

‘Well, the answer to stopping this Doomsday machine has to be in here somewhere, right?’ Daniel said, gesticulating at the various consoles.

‘If you say so, Daniel.’ Jack said rubbing a hand through his hair. ‘What do we need to do?’

‘You need to initialise the systems, sir.’ Sam advised as she hoisted herself to her feet using the edge of one of the metal consoles. ‘That way Daniel and I can work on them.’

‘Daniel.’ Jack corrected. ‘You need to rest, Carter.’

‘Sir.’

‘Jack’s right.’ Daniel said. ‘I mean, until we know which of these consoles we need, you should rest.’

‘Indeed.’ Teal’c lined up beside Jack.

Sam glared at them. ‘I’m fine, Colonel.’

‘You’re not fine.’ Jack shot back, deciding to ignore the rank issue. ‘You have a major concussion and you need rest.’

Her defiant gaze clashed with his but he wasn’t backing down. She needed rest.

‘Sam,’ Daniel moved forward and took her hands in his. ‘We are absolutely going to need you later to understand how to stop this. If you get too tired now…’ he shrugged.

‘Daniel’s right.’ Jack said supportively. He held her disappointed gaze. ‘We need you to save our butts later. Get some rest.’

Sam nodded reluctantly.

‘Teal’c, why don’t you help her get settled?’ Jack suggested.

The Jaffa inclined his head in agreement. Jack watched for a moment as Carter grudgingly accepted help before he dragged himself back to the problem at hand. He caught Daniel’s eyes and jerked his head at a far corner. The two men gathered together at a console.

Daniel looked at him, his blue eyes shining with worry. ‘Sam keeps calling you Colonel, Jack.’ He glanced toward her. ‘I don’t think she even knows she’s doing it.’

‘I know, Daniel.’ Jack put a hand on his shoulder. ‘The sooner we do this, the sooner we get her home.’

Daniel nodded.

Jack slipped into one of the bucket seats by a console. ‘So what do I do? Think at it?’

‘You just touch it.’ Daniel said.

Jack raised his eyebrows but he laid his hands on the console. It buzzed and flickered to life. The monitor sprang up filled with data.

‘Fascinating.’ Daniel murmured as he scrolled through the text. ‘This is some kind of log.’

‘Of the Doomsday machine?’ Jack checked impatiently.

‘No.’ Daniel shook his head. He pushed his glasses up. ‘This isn’t it.’

Jack wheeled the chair to the next console.

‘Jack.’ Daniel protested, gesticulating at the monitor wildly. ‘This could be important.’

‘Is it the Doomsday machine?’ Jack asked again brusquely, he was already placing his hands on the second console.

‘No, but…’

‘But nothing, Daniel.’ Jack interrupted, motioning for the archaeologist to move his butt. ‘You can play around all you want once we save the world again.’

‘Right.’ Daniel moved back to Jack’s side.

They were almost a third of the way around the consoles when they found it. It was inconspicuous; a small monitor on its own between two larger consoles. The monitor flickered into life. A planet appeared on the screen with a data stream of information on the right hand side.

‘I think this is it.’ Daniel peered at the data intently, his nose practically on top of the screen.

‘You think?’ Jack checked sceptically. Daniel had thought the same thing two consoles back. They had spent ten minutes with it before they had realised it was the wrong one.

‘No, no, I’m sure.’ Daniel nodded enthusiastically. ‘This is it.’

‘OK,’ Jack sighed in relief. ‘That’s…’

‘Although…’ Daniel frowned.

‘Daniel.’ Jack said warningly.

‘No, no, this is it.’ Daniel nodded again. ‘I’m sure.’

‘You’re sure?’ Jack asked caustically.

‘I’m sure.’ Daniel said.

Jack glared at him. He pointed at the screen. ‘So, how do we stop this thing?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Daniel said.

‘You’re not sure?’ Jack frowned.

‘I’m not sure.’ Daniel pushed Jack subtly out of the way. ‘This might take some time.’

Jack left Daniel to it. He stretched easing the kinks and aches from his muscles before he walked back to where Teal’c had situated Carter. She was tucked into one sleeping bag with another had been placed on the floor below her to provide extra comfort. Her head rested on a rolled up jacket.

The Jaffa rose from the floor with a fluidity that Jack envied. ‘Colonel Carter is sleeping.’ Teal’c said. His tone suggested that Jack would be unwise if he woke her.

‘Good.’ Jack responded. ‘She probably needs the rest.’

‘You should also rest, O’Neill.’ Teal’c looked at him kindly.

Jack would have argued but he couldn’t deny the tiredness that had his head pounding and his body aching.

‘Sleep.’ Teal’c advised. ‘I will wake you when Daniel Jackson finds something to report.’

‘Right.’ Jack patted his friend’s muscular arm. He unpacked another sleeping bag and used it to cushion the hard floor. He settled close to Carter.

He closed his eyes. He knew he could do with the rest; he was tired. He had stayed in shape when he’d been at the SGC but the regime in Washington was already beginning to take its toll. He really wasn’t in good enough shape to be fighting Unas and running around Ancient cities. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he was irked at the idea of Daniel going to Atlantis – maybe he was envious. He and Daniel had started their Stargate adventure together; taken down Ra together; liberated Abydos together. Now Daniel was going to head away on his own, continue the adventure without Jack.

Jack hated the idea. The jealousy was part of it but he was also worried that he wouldn’t be around to watch Daniel’s back, rescue him when he got into trouble. Not that Daniel was the same naïve archaeologist that Jack had first known but Jack hated the idea that he wouldn’t be around for Daniel if he needed him. But he couldn’t blame the other man for wanting to go. Daniel had found the lost city of Atlantis. It was an archaeological discovery of the century – millennium even. He deserved to be the one exploring the city.

When the expedition had first set out, Jack had refused to let Daniel go because they hadn’t known if the expedition would ever make it home. As much as no-one had liked to say it, the members of that first team had been expendable – even Elizabeth Weir. It was to her credit that she had moulded a team out of some of the rather odd characters that had gone to Atlantis in some difficult circumstances. With travel between Atlantis and Earth assured with the Daedalus there was no reason why Daniel couldn’t fulfil his dream and Jack knew he shouldn’t stand in the way of that. He was going to miss him though. At least Carter hadn’t decided to go to Atlantis too…

He opened his eyes and looked at her. Her face was pale and tense, faint lines marking her skin around the corners of her lips and eyes even in sleep. Her lips were bloodless; a pale pink that worried Jack. The bruises stood out in stark relief. Her breathing was laboured and he figured her ribs must be hurting her. She had been through so much, Jack thought anxiously. He knew her head injury was worsening; the fact that she kept lapsing into calling him Colonel was a worrying sign.

Mission first, Jack told himself. They had to find a way to stop the Doomsday machine. Once they did that, they could find a way home and get Carter some medical help.

A wave of resentment ran through him. He turned over to lie on his back and stared at the ceiling. He could hear Teal’c and Daniel quietly murmuring around the Doomsday console. He closed his eyes and rested an arm over his face to block out more of the light.

He was tired of putting the mission first, Jack realised. He had been ready to retire; to move on with his life…instead he was stuck in a job he didn’t want – one that needed to be done, sure – but one that kept him from spending time with the only people who mattered to him and one in particular.

Jack repressed the sigh that threatened to escape his lips. He rubbed at his chest to soothe the tightness there. He had promised Carter he would always be there for her and he hadn’t meant just as her friend or her team-mate. While he stood by his original decision after her father’s death to give her time, he was beginning to question why he hadn’t asked her out the minute he had technically moved out of her chain of command. The idea that he simply feared changing their relationship as Teal’c had inferred seemed incredible to him but he was wondering if it wasn’t true; if he hadn’t used the physical distance of his new assignment to hide from his real fears about whether he was good enough for her. It was no wonder Carter was questioning whether it was too late for them.

Was it too late?

The question hit Jack squarely in the face. He lowered his arm and looked over at Carter. She was badly injured and he was scared, deep down scared that she wasn’t going to survive the mission. More than that, he wasn’t sure if any of them were going to survive the mission. Even if they stopped the Doomsday machine, they all still had to find a way off the planet. They would do it, Jack determined forcefully. They would complete their mission and they would all get home safely. That was the only acceptable outcome for him.

And when they did get home…well, Jack considered nervously, maybe Teal’c was right; maybe all change was not to be feared. He stretched out a hand toward Carter and curled his fingers gently around hers, careful of her bandages. He closed his eyes and slid into sleep.

Chapter 22

Daniel yawned widely. He arched his back trying to ease the deep seated ache that had set into his shoulders and glanced over at the sleeping couple behind him. Not for the first time in the hours that had passed, he took in the way Jack’s hand covered Sam’s. His eyebrows drew up, peeking above his glasses. His eyes skittered away as though he had seen something he wasn’t supposed to see before he could stop to think. He shook himself a little. Too many years, Daniel thought wryly; there had been too many years of looking the other way when it came to Jack and Sam; ignoring how they felt about each other because if any of the team acknowledged it openly then SG1 would be over. But given SG1 was over officially and Jack wasn’t Sam’s CO anymore, maybe it no longer mattered if Jack held Sam’s hand while they slept.

He turned back to the monitor. Deciphering the text on screen was taking longer than he had hoped. The Ancient language used was older than any he had encountered before. He was struggling to translate and he knew his own tiredness had something to do with that. Teal’c had alternated between exploring the control room and helping Daniel with the translation.

‘I don’t get it.’ Daniel muttered out loud, taking his glasses off to rub at his sore eyes.

‘What do you not get, Daniel Jackson?’ Teal’c asked. He adjusted his stool to bring it closer to the console.

‘Why would anyone build a Doomsday machine?’ Daniel leaned back on his stool and stared at the screen, hoping the letters would start to make sense to him.

‘To protect themselves.’ Teal’c suggested.

‘From what?’ Daniel sighed heavily. ‘This is probably the oldest Ancient city we know about apart from Dakara, and both here and Dakara have weapons that literally could wipe out all life in our galaxy.’

‘Perhaps the Wraith.’ Teal’c mused.

‘No, I don’t think that’s it.’ Daniel said. ‘I think this city is older than Atlantis.’ He pointed at the screen. ‘This language is the oldest dialect that I have ever come across. I think the Ancients built this place long before they constructed Atlantis or maybe even Dakara.’

‘Perhaps there was another enemy the Ancients feared.’ Teal’c said.

‘Another enemy.’ Daniel turned the idea around in his head. ‘One they felt they would need to destroy the whole galaxy to take out? Isn’t that overkill?’

Teal’c’s eyebrow arched. ‘It would depend on the enemy.’

‘Not a good thought.’ Daniel muttered. ‘OK,’ he refocused on the text on the screen, ‘this is the planet.’ He tapped the revolving sphere in the graphic. ‘And this is showing real time what is happening.’

‘Which is what, Daniel Jackson?’ Teal’c asked patiently.

‘That’s what I’m not so sure about.’ Daniel admitted. He pointed at the streaming data. ‘This is definitely monitoring some kind of power build-up but I can’t tell how the machine works from the translation.’

‘Perhaps it is time to rouse Colonel Carter.’

Daniel nodded. He got up and stretched as Teal’c made his way over to their sleeping team-mates. Jack was immediately alert and Teal’c stooped to inform him of their progress. Jack nodded and reached out to gently wake Sam. It took longer than Daniel liked for them to rouse her.

Sam gestured at the monitor as she settled onto the stool. ‘So what am I looking at it?’

‘The Doomsday machine, I think.’ Daniel pointed at the sphere. ‘This is definitely the planet and this,’ he tapped the screen on the right, ‘is some kind of power reading; it’s escalating.’ He tapped a command on the keyboard. Text appeared under the sphere. ‘I’ve translated most of this but it’s not making a great deal of sense to me.’ He took her through it slowly.

She nodded occasionally and frowned thoughtfully. ‘Go back over this section for me.’ Her fingers traced a middle section.

Daniel complied.

‘You getting any of this, Carter?’ Jack asked, leaning into her personal space to look at the monitor.

‘A little, sir.’ Sam replied absently. A line appeared between her brows as she turned over the information in her mind. ‘The physics is way beyond anything we’ve dealt with before but…’

‘But?’ Jack and Daniel prompted in unison. They shot each other an annoyed look.

‘But I think I understand the basic principles.’ Sam sighed and her hand crept to her forehead. ‘Effectively, this explains that the machine is drawing energy from the planet’s inner core.’

Daniel sighed. ‘So that would explain the earthquakes.’

‘What?’ Jack asked.

Sam turned to him. ‘The core of a planet is a furnace, sir. Usually, the intense heat, keeps all the metals and ore at the centre in a molten state. They provide a stable magnetic force for the planet. If that’s disturbed, it will cause planetary disruptions…’

‘Like earthquakes.’ Jack inserted.

‘Or volcanic eruptions elsewhere on the planet.’ Sam arched her back and stopped abruptly when her ribs protested. ‘Weather disturbances. It explains why it was raining.’

‘I do not understand.’ Teal’c commented.

‘The power from the core is being siphoned into the city…somewhere.’ Sam tapped her fingers restlessly on the desktop. ‘Eventually, the planet won’t be able to sustain the power drain and will implode; the energy from that will be sucked into this…somewhere and then there will be a massive explosion.’

‘Wiping out the entire galaxy.’ Daniel completed.

‘That’s a hell of a lot of energy.’ Jack commented.

‘If this text is correct, the planet’s core is made up mostly of molten naquadah.’ She waved a hand at the room. ‘So’s the city.’

‘It’s one big bomb.’ Daniel realised.

‘Undoubtedly, the Ancient’s chose P2X654 for this reason.’ Teal’c suggested.

‘I think you’re right and…’ She stared at the monitor.

Daniel exchanged a concerned look with Jack.

‘Carter.’ Jack said firmly to regain her attention.

Sam looked at him as though he had startled her. ‘It’s subspace.’

‘What?’ Jack asked again.

‘The power is being siphoned into subspace.’ Sam repeated. ‘That’s why it will survive the planet’s implosion. The explosion will rip through subspace. It’ll tear everything in the galaxy apart at the sub-atomic level.’

‘Nice.’ Jack motioned at the screen. ‘How do we stop it?’

Sam bit her lip. ‘I’m not sure we can, sir.’

‘Sure we can.’ Jack said confidently.

‘We’re dealing with technology way beyond our understanding.’ Sam began. ‘I don’t even know where to begin, Colonel.’ She rubbed her forehead.

Daniel winced at the rank she used for Jack.

‘How about an off switch?’ Jack asked, leaning forward again and evidently ignoring the rank issue. ‘Can’t we just switch it off?’

‘It’s too late for that.’ Sam said.

Jack’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Excuse me?’

‘There was only a small window of opportunity to stop the power build up.’ Sam said tiredly. ‘The first twenty-four hours after the Stargate initiated. We’re way beyond that.’ She moved suddenly, pointing at a schematic on the screen. ‘It looks like the original system wasn’t tied to the Stargate.’

‘Ra.’ Daniel blurted out. ‘He must have modified the weapon.’

Jack gave him a sceptical look.

‘I think he’s right, sir.’ Sam said.

‘Ra must have found this place, realised what it could do and altered the system for his own purposes.’ Daniel began excitedly. ‘He must have brought the Stargate we used to replace the one originally here to make it work and built the temple as a means of access to the city.’

‘Great.’ Jack bit out. ‘But how does that help us stop this thing?’

There was silence.

‘I’m sorry, sir.’ Sam said dejectedly. ‘I just can’t see how.’

Jack grimaced apologetically. ‘You’ll get it, Carter. Just,’ he waved at the monitor, ‘keep at it.’

Sam nodded. She turned back to the screen.

‘Maybe I should check out the rest of the consoles.’ Daniel suggested. ‘This may not be the only one which has information. We might learn something from another.’

‘Carter, you stay with this one.’ Jack nodded at Teal’c who took the seat beside her. Jack jerked his head at Daniel and he followed the older man to the next console.

‘You think this is really going to help?’ Jack asked cynically.

‘Do we have any other choices?’ Daniel countered.

‘Good point.’ Jack initialised the system and moved away to let Daniel take a look.

The archaeologist started reading through the directory and shook his head. ‘This looks like the DHD for the original gate.’ He gestured at the keyboard. ‘The symbols are the same as the gate in the temple.’

They moved on. Two consoles later and Daniel glanced at Jack. The military man was staring back at Sam worriedly. Daniel looked back at the screen. He shared the other man’s worry. Sam looked pale and in pain.

‘Anything?’ Jack asked, turning back to him.

Daniel shrugged. ‘I’m not sure.’ He sighed. ‘But my eyes feel like they’re going to explode.’ He took his glasses off and rubbed at them.

Jack left Daniel alone and the archaeologist looked over his shoulder to find Jack prepping the emergency camping stove and organising the rations. Fifteen minutes later a mug of soup was pressed into his hands.

‘Thanks.’ Daniel grimaced at the grainy tomato taste but swallowed the hot liquid down gratefully. Its warmth seemed to rejuvenate him immediately, giving him much needed energy.

‘Sorry it’s not coffee.’ Jack quipped as he retook his own seat and drank for a similar mug to the ones he had handed to his team-mates.

Daniel smiled tiredly. ‘I think I’ve gone beyond coffee.’

Jack pulled a shocked face and Daniel’s smile widened. They both turned their attention back to the soup.

‘Jack.’

‘Daniel.’

Daniel cleared his throat. ‘I, uh, I just…about Atlantis.’

Jack looked at him surprised.

‘You know I’d take you guys with me if I could, right?’ Daniel looked at the other man, his sore blue eyes shining earnestly.

His friend looked back at him before his gaze dropped to his soup. ‘I know.’ Jack looked up and they looked at each other silently for a long moment.

They shifted uncomfortably on the chairs.

‘So…’ began Jack, gesturing with his mug at the screen.

Daniel cleared his throat. ‘So. This looks like some kind of Ancient transportation device for the planet.’

‘Cool.’ Jack murmured. ‘Can we use it to get off the planet?’

‘No.’ Daniel shook his head. ‘Just to move around on the planet.’ He took another slurp of his soup. ‘I don’t think it has anything to do with the Doomsday machine.’

‘Let’s move on.’ Jack said decisively.

Four more consoles and they hadn’t found anything of use. There were only two remaining.

Daniel watched as Jack initialled the next one. He leaned forward. ‘Uh oh.’

‘Uh oh?’ Jack repeated.

‘I think this is related.’ Daniel said quickly. ‘Sam!’

Teal’c helped Sam move over to the new console.

‘I think this is monitoring the power build up in sub-space.’ Daniel explained. He read the text slowly to her and she nodded with understanding.

‘This explains the sub-space device.’ Sam said tiredly. ‘As the power is drawn into it, the device amplifies the energy, a hundred-fold.’

‘That’s how it can be so powerful.’ Daniel stated.

She nodded again and pointed at the monitor. ‘Daniel, what’s this?’

‘It’s a countdown.’ Daniel realised. ‘It says we have five hours.’

‘Five hours to what?’ Jack asked bluntly.

Daniel hesitated and turned to Jack. ‘To when it’ll explode.’ He looked at Teal’c, and Sam before his gaze returned to Jack. ‘We have five hours to the end of the galaxy.’

Chapter 23

‘Hank. It’s good to hear from you.’

The soft Texan drawl on the other end of the phone brightened Landry’s mood. ‘George. How are you?’

‘I’m doing fine.’

Landry could picture the newly retired Hammond smiling on the other end of the phone. Probably the other man was seated at a kitchen table, coffee mug in hand, civvies instead of the uniform…

‘Retirement treating you well?’ Landry asked a little enviously.

‘Very well.’ Hammond agreed. ‘But you’d probably better not tell Jack I said so.’

Landry laughed appreciatively at the dry humour. He ran a hand through his brush-like brown hair, as he considered what he was going to say.

‘So, what can I do for you?’ Hammond asked gently as though prompting him.

‘Well, you did say I could call at any time.’ Landry said, trying to buy some time. He had called the other man mostly because his gut was telling him to get a second opinion but he had to admit to himself, he hadn’t quite worked out what he was going to say.

There was a moment’s silence on the other end.

Hammond sighed. ‘So what did they do now?’

‘They?’ Landry asked, stalling.

‘SG1.’

Landry gave a sigh of his own. He shifted the phone and leaned back in the chair, enjoying the creak of the leather. ‘That obvious, huh?’

‘The President called me after Jack left Washington for the SGC.’ Hammond said.

Landry almost smiled. It looked like he wasn’t the only man seeking Hammond’s advice. ‘Hayes told you Carter went missing.’ He checked.

‘He did.’ There was a question in the simple statement.

‘We organised a SAR; her former team-mates volunteered.’ Landry explained succinctly. ‘They all missed the wormhole home.’

‘They’re missing?’ Hammond’s concern filled the sentence and Landry suddenly realised that SG1 were not the only people to have served for eight long years together. Perhaps Hammond had served his last year at a distance but it had evidently not diminished his fondness for his former flagship team.

‘The Prometheus has been deployed to get them since we haven’t been able to reconnect with the planet.’ Landry heard the defensive note in his words and winced suddenly regretting the call. He ploughed on. ‘That’s not the only issue though.’

‘Oh?’

‘Apparently there’s some Doomsday device on the planet they’re stuck on which could end all life in the galaxy.’ Landry swivelled the chair to face the wall. He started as Hammond chuckled on the other end of the phone. ‘You know most people wouldn’t laugh at that especially when they know it might really be true.’

‘Jack told me once that saving the world shouldn’t get old but you go through it enough times and…’ Hammond paused, ‘well, let’s just say the novelty wears off.’

‘I’m hoping I don’t ever get there, George.’ Landry sighed. ‘What do I do?’ His fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the chair’s arm.

‘SG1 will find a way.’

‘You seem sure of that.’ Landry shifted in his chair and tapped his free hand on the arm of the chair. ‘In fact, everyone seems sure of that.’

‘They’re SG1, Hank.’ Hammond comforted him. ‘And there’s no one better at what they do than them.’

‘So, I just sit here and wait for them to save the day?’ Landry checked brusquely.

‘They’ll come through.’ Hammond assured him. ‘They always do.’

‘Hmpnh.’ Landry wasn’t convinced but as he moved the chair back round to his desk, he realised the other man’s certainty had eased his doubts. ‘I guess I didn’t realise how close they were.’

‘They’ve been through a hell of a lot together, Hank.’ Hammond said quietly. ‘More experiences in a single lifetime than most people would go through in several. What they do is unlike anything else we’ve ever experienced. I’m not sure they would have survived a single one if they hadn’t been so willing to fight for each other.’

Landry nodded slowly. ‘I guess I understand that.’ He was surprised to realise he meant it. He sighed and changed the subject; his mind turning to his other worry. ‘I was also calling you to sound you out about a different matter.’

‘Oh?’

‘Woolsey.’

‘As in Richard Woolsey?’

Landry fingered the report on his desk. ‘What’s your take on the guy?’

Hammond was silent as though considering his answer. ‘He means well but he has all the finesse of a rodeo bull.’

Landry laughed. Hammond had described Woolsey perfectly. ‘The IOA sent him to investigate SG1 being MIA. You think he has an agenda?’

‘He thinks they’re too maverick; that I let them get away with too much.’ Hammond admitted. ‘It’ll just add to his case although what he expects to achieve by it given their redeployments is anyone’s guess.’

Landry frowned. If it was something that Landry prided himself on, it was his political savvy and he thought he knew where Woolsey was going with his investigation. Jack’s new position was a powerful one; Woolsey could be using the findings to try and influence the new Head of Homeworld Security, but the only sticking point on that idea was that Jack was unlikely to take any notice. Or maybe that was the point; if Jack brushed off any findings Woolsey came up with, the new Major General might find himself discredited and undermined in the eyes of the IOA and maybe even with Hayes.

‘Thanks, George.’ Landry said warmly.

‘Good luck, Hank.’ Hammond replied.

Landry smiled. ‘I’ll let you know when they get home.’ He disconnected the call and hung up the phone. He reached for the report on his desk.

A rap on his door arrested his reading and he called for the person to enter.

Colonel Reynolds marched briskly into the room and at Landry’s silent gesture closed the door behind him. ‘You wanted to see me, sir?’

‘I did.’ Landry waved him into a chair and regarded the dark-haired man with his sharp, intelligent features for a long moment. ‘I’ve been looking over your record. General O’Neill and General Hammond speak highly of you but both note you need more command experience if you’re to move up the ranks.’

Reynolds nodded slowly.

‘So, I’m going to put you on rotation for the SGC command.’ Landry stated crisply.

‘Sir?’ Reynolds blinked in astonishment.

‘Although your primary position will be SG3 leader, you’ll also cover for me in absence, that type of thing.’ Landry confirmed.

‘Yes, sir.’ Reynolds smiled. ‘Thank you, sir.’

Landry nodded. ‘And now we have that out of the way, as you know Colonel Carter is transferring to Area 51.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I’m sure you’re also aware from the rumour mill that I’ve been thinking about Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell to replace her as SG1 leader.’

‘That is the rumour, sir.’

‘Well, the rumour’s true.’ Landry confirmed. ‘I’d like your opinion on Mitchell. I understand you were the SG team leader who gave him the final evaluation?’

‘I was.’ Reynolds said. ‘He has good instincts, sir, but he does have a tendency to think he can do it all himself. He’s a good leader. He just needs some seasoning.’ He hesitated.

Landry raised his bushy eyebrows. ‘You can speak freely, Reynolds.’

‘Mitchell’s a good man, sir, but he’s new to the SGC and the SG1 designation carries a certain…’ he struggled for a word.

‘Kudos?’ Landry suggested.

‘Expectation. People hear SG1 and they expect the premier team, sir.’

‘And you don’t think Mitchell makes the grade?’ Landry said bluntly.

‘I think Mitchell is an excellent candidate, but I think leading the team is a lot of weight for anyone, sir, never mind someone new to the SGC.’ Reynolds explained.

Landry regarded the SG3 leader thoughtfully. ‘They do seem to have quite a reputation.’ He murmured.

‘SG1 have never failed us when it’s mattered, sir.’ Reynolds supplied. ‘That’s quite a standard to meet.’

‘Then Mitchell’ll just have to meet it.’ Landry returned.

Reynolds nodded.

‘That’s all, Colonel.’ Landry dismissed him.

‘Sir.’ Reynolds left.

Landry sat back in his chair. He reached the file on his desk – Mitchell’s. He stared at the blue cover for a long time. He could understand why Reynolds was hesitant. Mitchell might have excelled in the 302 squadron and proven he was an exceptional pilot but he was still an unproven SGC recruit. Landry frowned.

‘They’re SG1. SG1 have never failed to us when it’s mattered.’

He had definitely underestimated the sense of responsibility and respect the SG1 designation carried but maybe it was about time it became simply another SG team. He placed the file to the side, his decision made. Mitchell would be SG1 leader. He knew he was taking a risk but he had a feeling Mitchell would work out fine. And if SG1 didn’t stop the Doomsday machine, well; it was all immaterial anyway.

Chapter 24

Sam closed her eyes. They had been working for the past four hours going through the information in the Ancient database trying to find anything that would help them. She didn’t want to say it had been useless but it had perhaps been less than useful. There was so much information and her head was spinning.

Her eyes settled on Jack. He and Teal’c were currently helping Daniel on other side of the room. They were revisiting some of the earlier consoles that they had dismissed just in case they could help. Jack looked tired, she noted. His face was grave, the lines deeper than normal. The bruise on his cheek stood out against the stubble on his jaw. His brown eyes were worried. His grey hair was in complete disorder, tufts sticking up everywhere. His clothes were dusty and torn. He was leaned back in his stool, hands interlinked behind his head. He had ordered her to rest so she had resumed her place on the floor.

Sam felt the burn of failure in her gut as she pushed her hands through her blonde hair. She knew they were all looking to her to solve it but she couldn’t. Her thoughts were becoming fragmented; she would think she had something only to realise she had already considered the idea and dismissed it. Her concussion was worsening and that wasn’t a good sign. She was so tired. She wanted to curl up and go to sleep but she knew she needed to stay awake. They were running out of time if they were going to save the galaxy again.

Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, Sam thought tiredly. Maybe their luck had finally run out and this time they wouldn’t find the last minute solution that saved them all. Maybe all the worry about the changes in their lives had been for nothing; maybe they had no future after all. If she did have to die, there were worse ways to go than on a mission to save the galaxy with the rest of her team – with the people she loved most in the world beside her.

‘You can’t give up.’ Her hallucination of Daniel sat beside her.

‘Indeed.’ A hallucinatory Teal’c dropped to sit in front of her cross-legged.

‘She hasn’t given up.’ Jack waved at her as he took a seat next to her on the opposite side of Daniel. ‘She’s just regrouping. Isn’t that right?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Sam murmured. ‘I don’t think I can do it this time.’

‘Sure you can.’ Jack said.

‘Not this time.’ Sam repeated.

‘You’ll figure this out.’ Jack reassured her. ‘You always do.’

‘No,’ Sam laughed, ‘no I don’t. I don’t always figure it out.’ Look at what happened with Pete, she thought sadly.

‘That was different.’ Daniel said quietly. ‘And you did figure that out.’

‘Just like you’ll figure this out.’ Jack added.

‘Your fate is in your own hands, Colonel Carter.’ Teal’c added.

‘Which fate?’ Sam looked at Jack. ‘Do you mean,’ she pointed at him and at herself, ‘or,’ she gestured at the room.

‘Perhaps we should focus on the immediate threat.’ Teal’c murmured.

‘But that’s the problem, isn’t it?’ Daniel said. ‘There’s always something else getting in the way.’

‘There’s always something else.’ Sam agreed. The war with the Goa’uld, the Replicators, Anubis…and when that was over, when it looked like they had a chance to be together…Jack’s reassignment, her reassignment…the end of the galaxy…she closed her eyes.

He had come to rescue her. He wanted her – the kiss had shown her that and he cared about her, she was certain of that – she’d always been certain of that but did he love her? Sam had thought she had gotten her answer when Jack had told her ‘Always’ but with the distance of his new assignment and all the other changes in their lives, doubts had crept back in and instead of simply talking to him, she had done what she always did – she had used the excuse of her own reassignment to run away from it. That was what her hallucinations had been trying to tell her earlier.

‘You can still have everything you want, Sam.’

Her father’s words echoed in her head. She opened her eyes and looked over at Jack. She guessed that was true. In fact, their reassignments made a relationship more possible because she was out of his direct chain of command. Sure, they would still need the Air Force to grant them some leeway, and their relationship would be long distance but it would be worth it. For the first time in years, they truly had a window of opportunity if they didn’t miss it or the galaxy didn’t blow up.

She frowned; a window of opportunity, why did that strike a chord with her?

‘What’re you thinking?’ Grace asked.

Sam turned her head, startled out of her thoughts. ‘I don’t know.’ She admitted.

Grace was playing in a sandbox, building a pyramid with a metal ring evidently in place of a real Stargate. She had built a moat around the pyramid and it was filled with water.

Sam leaned forward her attention caught. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m playing at building pyramids at Giza, silly.’ Grace rolled her eyes and grinned at Sam. ‘You want to play?’

‘You built a pyramid?’ Sam questioned. ‘Not sandcastles?’

‘Sandcastles are boring.’ Grace said. She leaned forward into the moat and pulled out a plug. The water started to drain away.

Sam stared as it ran out, over the floor.

And suddenly everything was crystal clear; she knew how to stop it.

‘See I knew you’d figure it out.’ Jack grinned proudly at her.

Daniel looked at her anxiously though and Sam felt an answering flutter of nerves. ‘Just remember, Sam,’ the archaeologist advised, his eyes locking on hers suddenly with a very real ferocity, ‘don’t give up.’

The hallucinations disappeared and her vision blurred. Sam blinked. The sight in her right eye was patchy. Her heart pounded in panic. Her head injury was worsening; loss of vision even if it was in one eye wasn’t good. She must be bleeding, she realised.

‘Carter?’ Jack crouched beside her and offered the water canteen. ‘You OK?’

‘I think I know how to stop it.’ Sam blurted out, trying to cover for her weakness. Focus on the mission, Sam, she thought resolutely. She brushed the water canteen aside and Jack helped her to her feet. She leaned on him as she staggered across to the console and sat down on the silver stool.

‘Sam?’ Daniel questioned her softly as he and Teal’c came to stand beside her.

‘There was always a window of opportunity when the machine started to stop it.’ Sam said urgently.

‘But we missed it.’ Jack said plaintively. ‘You said it was too late.’

‘I was wrong.’ Sam responded.

For an instant, both of them stared at each other as though there was another meaning to their words.

Daniel cleared his throat, regaining their attention. ‘You were wrong? Does this mean we can stop it?’

Sam pulled her gaze away from Jack’s to meet Daniel’s. ‘Not completely.’ She qualified. ‘If the machine was stopped in the first twenty-four hours, it had to have some way of draining the energy from the sub-space device…’ she began excitedly.

‘…and if we can find out how to do that we can stop the galaxy exploding.’ Daniel said.

‘Excuse me?’ Jack interrupted. He waved at them. ‘What?’

‘Sir,’ Sam turned to him, gesturing at the screen, ‘the Doomsday device is made up of two parts,’ she raised one hand, ‘the planet and,’ she raised her other hand, ‘and the subspace device. The planet exploding would be bad…’

‘Very bad.’ Jack interjected.

‘Very bad,’ Sam agreed, ‘but it wouldn’t take out the whole galaxy.’ She took a breath, her blue eyes determined and certain of her theory. ‘If we take out the subspace device, the galaxy and Earth are safe.’

‘But the planet explodes.’ Jack pointed out.

‘Yes,’ Sam said tightly, ‘but we can’t prevent that. There’s been too much of the core destabilised, even if we switch off the machine completely and drain the subspace device.’

‘Carter, we’re kind of stuck on this planet.’ Jack pointed out caustically. He gestured around them as though to prove his point.

‘Maybe not.’ Daniel said suddenly.

They all looked at him; Teal’c with a characteristically raised eyebrow.

‘We’re not?’ Jack asked disbelievingly.

‘The Stargate in the temple was the original gate, right?’ Daniel said out loud, waving his arms wildly. ‘So the one we used was one Ra replaced it with. Now we know from the gate that we found in Antarctica that our point of origin was different on the original gate but it still meant Earth. So you see what I’m saying.’

‘No.’ Jack said bluntly.

‘The symbols are different, yes,’ Daniel waved his arms passionately, ‘but they probably relate back to the symbols on the gate we used to get here. We can work out the address home.’

‘There’s no DHD.’ Jack pointed out.

Daniel gestured at the DHD they had found. ‘It must dial the Stargate in the temple.’

‘There’s an idea.’ Jack pointed at him. He looked around the team. ‘OK. Carter, Daniel; you guys work on stopping this subspace…thing and working out our home address. Teal’c and I will go scout out the way back to the bridge; make sure there are no Unas lying in wait.’

They all nodded in agreement. They had a plan.

Jack looked at Sam proudly. ‘Good work, Carter.’

‘I still have to make it work, sir.’ Sam said quietly. Her worry about her head injury poked at her and she pushed it away ruthlessly; she had to focus – just for a little while longer.

Jack smiled. ‘You will.’

‘Sir.’ She stopped him as he turned away. ‘Be careful out there.’

Jack nodded and Sam turned back to the console. They had a lot of work to do if they were going to save the galaxy and get home.

Next: Let Go and Hold On: Chapters 25-30