Synergy II - The Joining
Synergy II - The Joining
by pz
Summary: Sequel to Synergy. Sam and Jack find out that they stayed a part of each other more than they bargained.
Category: Action/Adventure
Crossover: Angel
Season: any Season
Pairing: Jack/Sam
Rating: PG
Warnings: minor language
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 04/28/03
SYNERGY II - The Joining.
(Sequel to Synergy)
Jack O'Neill awoke with a grunt. Sweat matted his hair and he shrugged aside his damp, tangled sheets. He rose quickly from his bed and ran one hand through his ruffled hair. He forced his laboured breathing to slow down as he peered at his reflection in the small mirror over his wash basin. The dim lighting did nothing to hide the dark lines running under each eye.
`Crap! How much longer?' he mumbled, splashing water over his face.
He quickly pulled on his pants and a black tee shirt and with another cursory glance in the mirror he left his quarters and headed down the corridor.
Samantha Carter wearily pushed away her coffee cup and glanced at the clock. 01:30. She groaned and stretched first one arm and then the other towards the grey concrete ceiling of her lab. She deftly dismantled the test circuit that ran along the bench in front of her and with a quick last look round she switched off the light, locked the door and headed for the women's locker room.
Jack peered through the window into the infirmary. The lights were dimmed and as was usual in the SGC a couple of beds looked occupied by the curtains drawn around them. He spotted a young nurse efficiently packing away equipment that had obviously been used earlier in the day. With pursed lips, he pushed open the swing doors and entered the room. With his hands thrust nonchalantly into his Pants pockets, he strolled up to the nurse and coughed softly. She turned and flashed him a pretty smile.
`Colonel O'Neill. Is there something I could do for you? There are none of SG1 in here tonight.'
`No. There aren't. For a change.'.
He desperately tried to put a name to her face and then suddenly it came.
`Lieutenant Rush.'
She favoured him with another wide grin and raised an eyebrow waiting for him to continue.
`Err hmm. I'm having a little trouble sleeping and I wondered if I could have something. We have a big mission tomorrow and hmm......'
She tutted softly.
`Colonel! You know very well that I shouldn't give you anything without Doctor Fraiser's permission.'
`What would you do if I was a patient in a bed?'
`Then I could give you something. You know that,' she said.
`Well. I fail to see the difference,' he wheedled.
`How do I know what other medication you're on?' she said, shaking her head.
`That's easy. I'm on nothing,' he said and he treated her to a persuasive smile.
She folded her hands in front of her and gave him a meaningful look, then smiling at his hangdog expression, she reached into her pocket and withdrew her keys. Opening the drugs cabinet, she took out two small white pills and gave them to him. He closed his hand over them thankfully and with a nod turned on his heel, left the infirmary and headed back to his quarters.
Shutting the door behind him, he reached for the half full glass of water standing on the small unit next to his bed. He placed the two small tablets on his tongue and downed the water in one gulp. With a sigh, he quickly shrugged off his pants and tee and laid back down on the narrow bed.
Sam towelled her hair dry and with a satisfied sigh she dragged a comb through it and pulling her robe tightly around her she strolled back out of the showers and into the locker room. Her clothes were discarded casually on the bench and she quickly picked them up and pulled them on. As she pushed her towel into the soft bag resting on the bench, she suddenly felt very tired. So tired that she sat quickly down on the wooden slatted bench, her hands clutching at the rough surface. Strange images floated in front of her eyes. Desperately she shook her head, trying to gain control but the images remained. A small boy raised his hand towards her and she felt the knot of anguish growing in her stomach. Awful images of death and pain intermingled with other visions, some of which she almost recognised. Sand, ice, blood, her own face, muddied and bleeding. She sobbed with fear as she almost felt the daggers held almost delicately by a richly encrusted Goa'uld penetrate her body. She wrenched at her clothing, trying to gain control. Then as quickly as the images had appeared, they subsided, leaving her with a sense of relief. Her limbs felt so heavy that she knew that she wouldn't be able to walk and with a groan she collapsed sideways onto the bench.
Lieutenant Amanda Green found her the following morning and when she was unable to wake her, she raised the alarm.
Jack sat at the briefing room table, his hands toying ceaselessly with the remains of a cheap ball point pen. He'd learned long ago only to buy cheap pens as they almost always ended up with the same fate.
Daniel Jackson sat opposite him, rearranging an inordinately large pile of papers. Jack watched him as he shuffled the files. He was absorbed completely in the task. Teal'c sat perfectly still next to him, his hands clasped and resting on the table in front of him.
`Good Kel'no'reem?' asked Jack.
Teal'c raised an eyebrow at the question.
`Indeed, O'Neill. Why do you ask?'
`T', you're going to have to teach me that thing that you do,' muttered Jack.
`It would be a pleasure,' said Teal'c seriously.
`You seen Carter?'
`I have not,' said Teal'c.
`She's late!' said Jack.
`Yes. It is unusual', said Teal'c after a moments thought.
`Yeah. It is.' said Jack with a frown.
At that moment General George Hammond walked into the room and took a seat at the head of the table.
`Major Carter will not be joining us today. In fact she will not be participating on this mission,' he said quickly.
Jack leaned back in his chair.
`And the reason would be.....?' he asked archly.
`It appears that Major Carter was taken ill sometime during last night and is currently in the care of Doctor Fraiser in the infirmary.'
Daniel stopped his paper shuffling and looked at the General with concern.
`Nothing serious?' he asked.
`Dr Fraiser isn't sure. It appears that Major Carter was found unconscious in the women's locker room this morning. The officer that found her was unable to wake her.'
`That sounds serious,' said Daniel, nervously fiddling with his glasses..
`Doctor Fraiser thinks it may be exhaustion' said the General.
`Carter hasn't said anything about being exhausted,' said Jack defensively.
`No,' said Hammond, `perhaps that is something we should all pay more attention to. Anyway I don't feel that Major Carter is essential for this mission, so you will go without her.'
`Yes, sir,' said Jack sulkily.
`Should we contact her father?' asked Daniel with concern.
`I don't see a need to contact Jacob at this time. I will monitor Major Carter's condition and take advice from Doctor Fraiser. Now I suggest we continue with the briefing. Doctor Jackson, if you could take us through the pertinent points....'.
Sam pulled impatiently at the white sheet, tucked tightly around her chest.
`Janet, I feel fine. Honestly!'.
`Sam. When you were brought in here, nobody could wake you. That is not normal!'
`I was only asleep. We've been working hard recently.'
`Never mind that, why were you in the locker room?'
`I was working late, went for a shower and fell asleep. That's all, Janet. I feel fine. Sg1 have a mission this morning.'
`You don't though, Sam' said Janet Fraiser firmly.
`But I feel fine!' protested Sam.
`Listen to the doc,' came a voice from the doorway.
Sam turned and looked at her CO. He was stood by the door shuffling his feet, hands thrust into his pockets as usual. A face appeared over his shoulder.
`Hey, Sam. I'd take the opportunity for a rest if I were you,' said Daniel Jackson.
`I don't need a rest,' she complained.
`Well you're having one,' said Jack firmly.
`If I need a rest, so do all of you,' protested Sam.
`General Hammond agrees and we all have down time after we get back from P990,' grinned Daniel.
Sam sighed as she realised that the decisions had been made.
`I suppose I could work on the reality splitting experiment I was in the middle of,' said Sam thoughtfully.
`Carter!! The doc said `rest' and that means no reality splitting doohickeys' said Jack with a frown.
Sam sighed in frustration.
`Come on guys. We have an appointment with a rainy planet,' said Jack, waving towards the door.
He waited until Daniel and Teal'c left the room before ambling over to stand by Sam's bed.
`Hey, Carter. If the doc says you need rest, then you do,' he said gruffly.
`You're probably right, sir. I just don't like it that you and Daniel and Teal'c have to go off world when you must be as tired as me' she said quietly.
Jack gave a very small smile.
`None of us has actually collapsed' said Jack.
`I didn't collapse. I just fell asleep.'
`Asleep! Lieutenant Green couldn't wake you.'
`I was just very tired.'
`And that's why you should take a rest.'
Sam sighed in frustration and then nodded.
`Yes, sir'.
Jack nodded.
`Good. Now we'll see you when we get back.'
And with that he turned away and left her to sleep.
Jack regretted his words the minute that he stepped through the stargate. The driving rain pelted him in the face and immediately started to soak through the fabric of his cap. He readjusted the brim and pulled his jacket tighter around his body.
`Daniel, Teal'c, head for the trees,' he shouted waving his P90 towards a small copse situated 50 yards from the stargate.
The three team-mates trudged in silence through the mud until Jack signalled for them to stop. He pointed towards a particularly dense part of the wood where the rain struggled to penetrate the heavy leaf cover. It bounced off the large plate-like leaves and ran in small rivulets down the furrowed bark of the slender tree trunks.
They stood huddled against the weather as Jack surveyed the surrounding territory. He pulled out his monocular and looked at a dark gash in the nearby cliff face.
`T. What do you think of those caves over there?' he shouted pointing in the direction of the cliff.
Teal'c turned and gazed into the distance.
`They look dry, O'Neill', he said inscrutably.
Jack grinned.
`That's good enough for me. We should be able to spot any incoming ships from there. It's strategically viable. Let's go,' he said and putting his head down, he headed out into the rain.
Sam waited impatiently as Doctor Janet Fraiser shone her pencil light first into one eye and then the other.
`Well. You seem to be alright, Sam. Just take it easy and if you feel anything unusual, come straight back to me. I'd like to keep you under observation, but I can't justify keeping you here really. However I do insist that you stay on the base' said Janet.
Sam nodded, trying not to look too pleased.
`I promise I'll tell you if I feel anything else, Janet.'
The petite doctor nodded and left her patient to get dressed.
Sam quickly pulled on her clothes and waving towards Janet she left the infirmary and headed for the commissary.
Sam sat nursing a coffee, wondering what she was going to do during her enforced rest. She couldn't remember when she had last had to think about that particular problem. Too long, she realised, rubbing the tense muscles at the base of her neck with the one hand not clutching the coffee cup. Sergeant Davis nodded in her direction as he walked past carrying a small tray containing a large slice of cake and a steaming mug. Sam smiled at the sight of the cake. Inexplicably she felt her mouth water with anticipation. She shook her head. She'd never been that fond of cake, it was a foible of Colonel O'Neill`s. One that she'd never understood. She stood up quickly and left the commissary, heading for her quarters.
Jack carefully shone his torch around the walls of the cave. They were dry and sandy and for a change, devoid of Goa'uld markings. There was a carefully constructed pile of dry wood against one wall and some broken pottery in one corner. A circle of stones in the middle of the floor contained charred sticks and bones.
`Daniel, what do you reckon to this stuff?' asked Jack, waving his torch at the pots and sticks.
Daniel walked over and knelt down next to fragments. Carefully picking up the largest piece he turned it over in the light of his torch.
`Mmm. Looks almost pre iron age. That would be interesting.' he said.
`Tell me it's not an Unas,' said Jack grimacing.
`It's not an Unas, Jack. Too small. In fact really quite fine and delicate. Non of the pieces look like they came from a large pot. They all seem to be small, high quality, almost ceremonial jars. See the remains of pigmentation on the sides. I'd like to piece one together and get a better picture' said Daniel.
`Piece away,' said Jack casually, 'T', we'll build a fire. I have a feeling we could be here some time.'
`How long do we have to wait for this Tok'ra operative?' asked Teal'c.
`As usual I have no idea' said Jack.
`Could it be Major Carter's father?' asked Teal'c.
`Could be. All we know is that we will be able to recognise him or her. So it must be someone we've met before,' said Jack.
`Would it not have been helpful for the Tok'ra to tell us who we are to meet?' asked Teal'c.
`Yeah. That would have been nice. And helpful. Did I say helpful?'
`The Tok'ra do not always appear to be helpful' said Teal'c solemnly.
`You said it, old buddy.'
`Jacob Carter seems to have embraced the Tok'ra lifestyle' said Teal'c.
`Yes he has! Still makes my flesh creep though. The thought of a snake in the head.'
`You had a bad experience O'Neill. It does not always seem to be so.'
`Carter might not agree.'
`Major Carter also had a bad experience.'
`Yeah. At least I can't remember mine. Carter lives with her experience every day.'
`It has proved useful in the past' said Teal'c.
`I think that Carter would have preferred never to have experienced the whole Tok'ra thing,' said Jack savagely.
`Maybe you are right, O'Neill.'
`I don't think our Tok'ra friend is going to show tonight, so how about I take first watch. You and Daniel get some shut eye. Daniel can take second, you third,' said Jack to Teal'c who simply inclined his head in agreement.
Jack took his position on a large flat-topped rock at the entrance to the cave. He cradled his P90 in his arms and pulled the brim of his cap down low over his eyes. He glanced at Daniel as he unrolled his bedding, then at Teal'c as he sat cross legged just on edge of the light cast by the flickering fire. Daniel sat on his bedding roll and wrote quickly into a large notebook. He had a pile of the pottery fragments in front of him and he touched them occasionally, rearranging their order and then sketching the result, leaning towards the fire for extra light.
Jack turned his attention back to the mouth of the cave. The rain was even heavier than when they arrived and it was running in rivulets past the entrance. As Jack watched, the dark sky was lit by bright flashes of lightening that zigzagged in every direction. Thunder rolled continuously around the top of the mountain.
Sam sighed in frustration and tossed her book onto the narrow bunk in her quarters. The enforced rest was hard to accept and she found herself pacing the room. Since the incident in the locker room she'd felt fine if a little distracted at times. As she walked, she relaxed and suddenly a feeling of cold crept up her legs. She closed her eyes instinctively and saw flashes of light that seemed to penetrate her mind. With a gasp she opened her eyes quickly and the vision faded. Almost absentmindedly, she rubbed at her cold limbs and shook her head to try and dissipate the feeling of panic that was just bubbling under. She'd lived for years with the odd memory flashes that Jolinar had left, but this was different. The images were more familiar and there was a more complex relationship to the images and feelings. With Jolinar it was much more as though she was an outsider watching a film being played in flashes in her head. This experience was more personal, somehow closer, as though she was a participant. Running a hand through her short choppy hair, Sam grabbed her shirt and headed for the infirmary.
`So, Sam. What form do these feelings take?' asked Dr Janet Fraiser.
`I wish I could explain, Janet. It's as though I'm experiencing someone else's life. I see things and I'm not reacting how I normally would, I'm reacting as though I were somebody else' said Sam slowly.
Janet completed taking Sam's pulse, and pushing her hands into the pockets of her white coat she perused Sam.
`Do you know who this person might be?' she asked.
`I'm not sure. Sometimes I have an idea, but it doesn't make sense.'
`Do you want to tell me?' asked Janet.
`I'd rather not. Not until I'm more sure Janet.'
`Could this be something to do with Jolinar?'
Sam shook her head.
`No. This is different said Sam.
`Well there's not a lot more I can do until we know more. But I am going to insist that you stay here tonight. Just for observation' said Janet firmly.
She raised her hand immediately to stop Sam's protestations.
`There's nobody else in tonight, so you won't be disturbed.'
Sam recognised the petite Doctor's determined tone and with a with a sigh she nodded.
`Good. Make yourself comfortable in that bed over there. I'll be back to check on you in an hour or so. And Sam, don't worry. Although this is distressing the physical harm resulting from the phenomenon seems to be minimal. I'll get a sandwich sent up and a drink.'
Sam slid the curtains closed around the bed and pulled on the regulation pyjamas that Janet had left on the bed.
`For cryin' out loud,' she muttered to herself as she climbed into the bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Jack's grip tightened on his P90 as a particularly loud crack of thunder echoed round the cave. He heard movement behind him.
`O'Neill. This storm does not seem to be abating' said the deep tones of Teal'c.
`No. The noise interrupt your Kel'no'reem?' asked Jack.
`It does not help' said Teal'c.
`Yeah. I think it's getting worse' said Jack.
`Do you think it will prevent the Tok'ra operative landing?'
`Well, T' old buddy, I wouldn't like to land anything in this, never mind the beat up old cargo ships that the Tok'ra seem to prefer travelling about in' said Jack.
`They are the most anonymous to the Goa'uld' said Teal'c seriously.
`Yeah. Still, something a little more stylish would be nice. Something with a little less gold' said Jack sarcastically.
Their conversation was interrupted by a particularly vivid crack that sent shocks of electrical static through Jack's hands causing him to loosen his grip on his P90.
`Ouch! Did you feel that?'
`Indeed, O'Neill' said Teal'c.
`T', go wake Daniel, though how he can sleep in all this amazes me' said Jack glancing at Daniel who was sleeping soundly.
He watched as Teal'c shook the archaeologist awake.
`Daniel, get up. This storm's taking on similar proportions to Noah's flood' said Jack waving his arm expressively at the cave entrance.
Daniel polished his glasses and pushing them firmly onto his nose he wandered over and stood next to Jack watching the light show outside the cave.
`This looks a little more than just a bad storm' he said nonchalantly.
`And exactly what do you mean by that, Daniel' Jack shouted over the thunder.
`Remember Medrona?' shouted Daniel back.
`The place with the weather doohickey?'
`The touchstone. The weather reminds me of that. Kinda' out of control. As though the terraforming were breaking down.'
Jack peered out of the cave entrance. The rain had know turned to sleet and the cold was penetrating his boots. He stamped his feet to try and dissipate the cold. The wind was increasing in strong gusts, driving the slush well into the cave entrance and Jack moved to stand in the lee of a tall rocky outcrop. Suddenly the sky erupted into a spectacular lightshow as lightening flashed in jagged lines from horizon to horizon. Almost in slow motion Jack saw a sharp point of light seemingly detach from the boiling clouds and race directly for the peak of the tall rocky pillar that he was sheltering behind.
Daniel shouted a warning as the lightening struck the rock and the tall edifice exploded, toppling sideward, completely obliterating the entrance to the cave. Daniel's voice was muffled by the clouds of dust that filled the cave and he coughed convulsively. When he eventually found his voice he called out.
`Jack, Teal'c, are you ok?'
A torch beam cut though the swirling dust, the light moving quickly from one side of the cave to the other.
`Daniel Jackson. I am here. I cannot see Colonel O`Neill,' came the deep voice of Teal'c.
`Jack!' shouted Daniel.
He stopped and listened for a moment, but there was no response.
`Jack was underneath the rock immediately before it was struck by the lightening. Let's check it out,' said Daniel making his way over the boulders and rubble that were scattered all over the sandy floor of the cave. He bent down and picked something up and shook it.
`I have Jack's hat', he shouted.
`I will examine the cave from the right hand side. You could take the left, Daniel Jackson' called Teal'c.
Daniel headed leftwards and systematically moving rocks, he headed round the edges of the cave. A groan caught his attention.
`Teal'c did you hear that?'
`I did, Daniel Jackson. It came from over there' shouted Teal'c waving the beam of the torch towards a large pile of rocks.
Daniel quickly headed in the indicated direction, stumbling as he hurried. He could make out a pale shape on one side and he knelt down next to it. With a trembling hand, he cleared the small stones and rubble from Jack O'Neill's face. His eyes were closed, his mouth contorted in a grimace of pain.
`He`s here, Teal'c' shouted Daniel.
The large figure of the Jaffa materialised next to him as he hesitantly placed his finger tips on his CO's pulse point in his neck. He held his breath as he waited.
`He's alive! Just!' he said with a sigh.
`Jack! Jack! Can you hear me?'
Jack's head moved fractionally to the side and although his mouth opened slightly, no words were uttered, instead dark bubbles gathered on the corner of his mouth and ran down his chin.
`I believe that Colonel O'Neill is trapped by that rock,' said Teal'c pointing towards a large slice of red striped granite that appeared to pin Jack down. It was precariously balanced on two smaller rocks.
Daniel's face was grim as he spoke, `If that rock slides off the two smaller ones supporting it, Colonel O'Neill will be crushed beneath it.'
`I believe that you are correct' said Teal'c.
`For cryin....loud. Don't talk about me behind my back......' came a weak whisper.
`Jack!'
`No. It's Carter!.......who ......you........think.......it.......is?' stuttered Jack almost too quietly for Daniel to hear.
Daniel allowed himself a small smile.
`Teal'c we need to work out how to move this rock'.
Sam woke up with a start. It was dark in the infirmary. Desperately she tried to suck in a deep breath. Her chest felt crushed under an invisible weight. With tremendous determination, she let out a single shout.
`Janet!'
The face of the petite doctor appeared around the curtain surrounding Sam's bed.
`Sam?' she said softly.
She looked carefully at Sam's face and quickly turned on the overhead light. Sweat was running down Sam's forehead and her face contorted into a grimace. Her breathing was shallow and strained. Janet immediately grasped her wrist and with a frown she looked at her watch as she counted Sam's pulse. Pulling aside the blanket and sheets, she opened Sam's pyjama top and pressed her fingers against Sam's ribs. As she did so, she felt her patient's breathing return to normal and her body relax.
`Sam? Can you talk?' she asked.
Sam nodded slowly.
`What happened?'
`I don't know, Janet. I woke up feeling as though there was a huge weight pushing me down into the bed. It felt like I had half a dozen broken ribs' said Sam quietly.
`Physically you appear to be fine, Sam. Perhaps you need to talk to Dr. McKenzie.'
Sam shook her head vigorously.
`Please no, Janet. Not McKenzie' pleaded Sam.
`Well give me something to work with Sam' said Janet with frustration.
Sam shuffled herself up to a sitting position in the bed, her forehead furrowed as she tried to piece together the facts.
`Let's see,' she said almost to herself, `dreams, no, not dreams, visions. Some of which I can kind of recognise in a strange way, some of which I know I haven't actually seen, but I still somehow recognise the situation, some I know I have never experienced, thank god! Feelings of temperature, in the most recent case, cold and wet. Feelings of extreme compulsion to sleep. I'm craving cake for no reason. And the latest one, this feeling of being crushed, I don`t know where that could come from. I know that it feels very real.'
`You say that it doesn't feel like Jolinar's visions?' asked Janet.
`No, it doesn't,' said Sam firmly, `With Jolinar, it's like I'm watching a film. These are like I'm actually there. It's much more like we experienced on P....'
`When you had to combine with the others to create an entire dimension?'
Sam suddenly smacked her fist onto the bed.
`Of course. That's it! I'm experiencing some of what they're feeling. We haven't completely separated' she said, her voice rising in excitement.
`You mean that these visions and feelings are what other members of SG1 are feeling?' asked Janet with a frown.
`Yes! I think so' said Sam.
`Well, from what you've just been experiencing, I would say that one or more of them is in trouble' said Janet with a raise of the eyebrows.
Sam looked at the doctor in consternation.
`Oh my god! You're right. I have to go and see General Hammond immediately' she said.
`If you're going to suggest setting up a rescue mission, I think that the General may be a little reluctant' said Janet.
`He may be!' said Sam, `but he'll have to listen to me. He just has to!'
`I am unable to move the rock' said Teal'c with just a hint of frustration in his voice. He was stood next to the pile of stone, sweat running down his hugely muscled arms.
Daniel looked at him and then turned to face Jack.
`I heard,' he whispered.
`General Hammond will send help soon. We're already overdue' said Daniel.
He continued scrabbling at the sandy soil next to Jack's chest.
`If I can just make some kind of depression, it should help relieve the pressure from your chest' he muttered, wiping one hand across his dirt smeared face.
`Daniel..... Stop' came Jack's voice weakly.
Daniel stopped for a moment and looked at his friend's face with concern. It was lined with pain and his eyes looked pale and faded.
`It's .... no..... good'.
`Yes it is,' said Daniel, `It has to be'.
`No.... it.......doesn't. Sometimes.....have........to......stop'.
`No! No! You don't. Here take a drink of water' said Daniel, tilting his flask towards Jack's mouth.
Daniel watched as a small trickle of water made a line down the dust coating Jack's face. The small stream ran past his mouth, but Jack just turned his head slight away.
`Save.......it' he whispered.
`Damn it, Jack. Why don't you fight?' shouted Daniel angrily.
Jack just looked at him and then closed his eyes. His head fell slightly to one side. Daniel sighed in frustration before turning towards Teal'c.
`Teal'c we have to get help soon. Is there any way we can get out of here?'
`I cannot see an exit and if we attempt to move the rocks, we may cause more to fall on Colonel O'Neill. I believe that we must rely on General Hammond. I have faith that he will not allow one of his teams to be left behind'.
`I guess that you're right' said Daniel, `What about the Tok'ra we are supposed to meet? They may be here first'.
`I would rather rely upon General Hammond' said Teal'c curtly.
`Yeah. Guess you're right. In the meantime we need to make Jack as comfortable as possible. I just hope that they are sooner rather than later.'
Daniel turned his attention back to the trapped man next to him. Jack's head was moving from side to side and his lips moved.
`No......no..... No more........Binar..........' he muttered.
`Binar? Isn't that the particularly unpleasant person that we met on that rescue mission for Sam's dad?' asked Daniel, almost to himself.
`It is' said Teal'c.
`Wonder why Jack's thinking about him?' said Daniel to himself.
`You have a go, Major' said General Hammond as the event horizon splashed into existence.
Sam nodded towards him and quickly walked up the slope and into the shimmering pool. Two burly marines from SG3 followed her.
Sam stepped through into a raging blizzard. The snow was travelling horizontally and she quickly pulled her coat closed around her. She turned to face her companions.
`Wait here. If I'm not back in four hours, tell General Hammond' she shouted, competing with the howl of the wind.
Captain O'Connell shook his head.
`General Hammond said that we were to accompany you' he shouted.
`Captain, I'm giving you a direct order' shouted Sam back at him and she waited as indecision crossed his face, and then he nodded.
Without speaking further, she turned and headed into the storm. After walking for five minutes she stopped and closed her eyes. Her breath was burning in her lungs with the pressure that the wind created. Her eyes were streaming and sore and snow was pushing against her legs and feet.
`Come on guys' she muttered, `show me where you are'.
Suddenly she got an overwhelming image in her mind. It was dark and she could see swirling patterns of dust, lit by a beam of light. She cut the image as she felt the pressure start to build on her chest.
`Ok' she muttered, `So you're somewhere dark and dusty. `Now all I have to do is find you'.
The wind dragged strongly at her clothes as she bent her head down and tried to walk. After faltering for a few steps, she spotted a depression in the ground a couple of feet in front of her. With a sigh she collapsed down into it and pulled the hood of her parka tightly over her head. She shifted slightly and pulled her P90 out from its position where it dug into her side. She took a couple of deep breaths and sank down into the dip, forcing her strained muscles to relax. She was concerned at her lack of progress, but knew that she needed every ounce of strength to battle the storm. With deliberate force of will she allowed her mind to empty. The pain in her chest started to build to almost unbearable levels, but she took slow breaths and allowed herself to enter into the merging of minds as they did on P.... She recognised the sharp tactical thinking of her CO and realised that his were the thoughts that had intruded into her brain recently.
`So, sir. It's you and me against this world is it?' she muttered to herself.
Some of the visions she'd seen made sense to her know. The boy, that must be Charlie. The longing for cake. The dark thoughts too. They were all part of what made him who he was. She realised that it meant that he must be injured, but she didn't know about the others. He had been the first that she'd melded minds with on that planet, so they were together longest. That must be why a part of his mind had stayed with her.
`Can you feel my thoughts, sir?' she whispered.
That idea made her feel uncomfortable. As a team they worked with superb co-ordination. They barely had to speak in combat situations. She already knew what he would think and do and visa versa, but that was a long way from knowing someone's innermost thoughts. It was the idea that he might pick up some of Jolinar's legacy that strangely disturbed her the most. The images that had been left in her mind had been carefully pushed to the back, but they sat there always and sometimes they intruded into her consciousness and disturbed her equilibrium. Images of pain and torture and undying love and a determination of purpose that left her breathless.
She cleared her mind again and tried to project thoughts of hope. She tried to tell him that she was coming to help. She concentrated purely on those ideas and tried to stop her mind from wandering into areas that she didn't want him to know. Her analytical thoughts processed the information that she'd gleaned and suddenly she realised that they were in a cave. That meant rocks, mountains, cliffs, perhaps a hill. She squirmed in the confined space of the stony depression and pulled out a MALP readout.
`There' she said out loud 'it has to be that cliff. It's the only likely place. It's close, thank god, must only be another hundred yards or so.'
She raised her head over the lip of the hollow and squinted into the gusting snow. She could make out a darkness to the left that should correspond with the cliff face. All she had to do was make it there. She'd think about what to do at that time when she actually made it. Suddenly from the corner of her eye, she saw a flying branch that had been ripped from a tree by the ferocity of the storm. Before she could move it struck her a glancing blow in the cheek causing her to scream out loud. The noise was ripped away by the wind as she instinctively put up her gloved hand to her face. When she pulled it away, she looked in dismay at the red blood staining the white coating of snow.
`Crap!' she muttered, 'I do not need this right now.'
She felt her eye closing as her face swelled around the wound. She pressed one hand against the cut to staunch the blood flow and with the other she pulled out a field dressing from a pocket in her jacket. She ripped open the sterile packaging and placing the pad on her eye, she wrapped the bandage diagonally around her head. Satisfied with her makeshift dressing, she gritted her teeth, lowered her head into the wind and headed for the looming darkness a little way in front of her.
Jack O'Neill suddenly opened his eyes.
`Jack! Stay with us' murmured Daniel Jackson.
`Carter.........' muttered Jack.
`Sam's not here. She stayed at the SGC' said Daniel as he wiped the blood from Jack's mouth.
`No..... Carter's here'.
`No, Jack. She isn't. She didn't come. Don't you remember. She was suffering from exhaustion' said Daniel kindly.
A small smile crept over Jack's face.
`Carter'll.......save.........us'.
`I know that she usually does, but I think this time it'll be someone else' persisted Daniel as he gave a worried look towards Teal'c.
Jack just smiled some more, then suddenly he cried out.
`Crap!.......... Face..........hurts'.
Daniel lent over and looked closely at Jack's face. One eye was screwed up and his face was contorted in pain.
`I can't see anything wrong, Jack. Where's the pain?'
`Below............eye' he sighed and as Daniel watched his other eye closed and his face relaxed as he drifted into unconsciousness.
`I don't think Jack's doing too well. I hope the rescue hurries up' said Daniel to Teal'c.
`Is Colonel O'Neill hallucinating?' asked Teal'c.
`It seems so. He thinks that Sam's here and he thinks he's hurt his eye, but I can see no evidence.'
`Colonel O'Neill is used to Major Carter saving us. It seems only natural that he should think the same will happen this time.'
`Yeah, but we all know that it's not going to happen' said Daniel sadly.
Sam sheltered against the rugged rock face of the cliff as she gathered her breath.
`Got here, sir. Just hang on. Any new rock fall should be fairly visible' she muttered.
She found it comforting to talk to the Colonel as she gathered her thoughts. It distracted her from thinking about what condition he may be in. She knew he was still alive. She couldn't pin point how she knew. It was just his presence in her mind. He was still there. Not vividly but still there. She edged along the rock face until she came to an area of blackened rock.
`What's happened here?'
As she spoke, even the driving, thick snow was penetrated by a searing light. It was was immediately followed by a crack that hurt her ears with it's intensity.
`Lightening! Of course. The cliff was struck by lightening causing a landslide. That's why it's all black. Ok. Let's call in the others'.
She pressed the button on her comms unit and shouted into it, hoping that her two burly companions picked up her message.
`O'Connell! I've found SG1 but we may need rock cutting and lifting gear. On the double. Can you dial up the General and pass on the message. And tell him that at least Colonel O'Neill is hurt, so prepare the medics. They are trapped in a cave in the cliff face a couple of hundred yards from the stargate. Do you copy?'
She listened intently until she heard the crackly response.
`We copy'.
Satisfied, she turned her attention back to the rock face and pulled at a few loose rocks, which rolled down and formed a pile at her feet.
`Where are you, Colonel?' she mumbled 'If I knew where you were, I could blow this rock face'.
She concentrated, resting her face against the cold stone.
Jack stirred again.
`Carter...' he muttered.
`Yeah' said Daniel shaking his head.
`I'm...........here'.
Sam saw Daniel in her head. She saw him leaning over her and she realised that she was seeing what the Colonel was seeing.
`Good, sir. I know now that Daniel's fine. What about Teal'c?'
Jack moved his head slightly and gazed at Teal'c who was stood silently to one side.
Sam saw Teal'c.
`Thank you, sir. Now can you tell me where you are in relation to me?'
She allowed her mind to float free as Jack tried to focus on the various parts of the cave that were in his line of vision.
She sighed in frustration as she realised that she couldn't get a baring on his position. One rock looked very much like another.
`Wait, sir. Stop. Focus on the large rock that's pinning you down.' she shouted.
Daniel watched as Jack's eyes flicked from one point of focus to another.
`Jack, stay with me' he said urgently, but suddenly Jacks dark eyes switched to the rock that was pinning him down. He stared at it intently.
`That's it,' shouted Sam in triumph 'Look at that rock. It's striated with red veins. None of the other stones nearby look like it. It must have come from a different era of rock formation than the others. I'll see if I can find the other end of the rock.'
She glanced around and edging slowly along the rock face, she suddenly found herself confronted with the edge of a large jutting rock that was covered in red striations.
`Now, how far have I got to one side before the cave mouth finishes and the solid rock face starts' she muttered.
`Nine and a half feet' came back the reply.
Sam grinned. She knew that the Colonel had an unfailing eye for distance. It's what made him such an accurate shot.
`Right or left?' she added.
`Your right' came the response.
`Chocolate or black forest gateaux' she asked flippantly.
`Coffee and walnut' came the reply immediately.
She laughed out loud and then measured the distance carefully.
`I'll be there in five, sir'
`What took you so long?'
She laughed again as she placed a small charge, nine feet away from the red rock. She stood back as she set the detonator.
`Cover your ears, sir' she said.
Jack spluttered as he tried to move his one free hand up towards his ear.
`Jack, what's the matter?' asked Daniel.
`Cover.........ears' he said hoarsely.
`Why' said Daniel irritatingly.
Jack summoned all his strength and shouted.
`NOW!'
Daniel and Teal'c instinctively followed the order as a sharp retort echoed through the cave sending up a new cloud of smoke and causing a small shower of stones to clatter down around them. A cold draught whistled through a small hole in the fallen rocks and a torch beam cut through the dust laden air.
`Daniel!' came the familiar shout.
`Sam!!' shouted back Daniel.
`Teal'c?'
`I am here, Major Carter'.
`How's the Colonel?'
`Pretty rough. He's trapped under a large rock' said Daniel, `but obviously not as delirious as I thought'.
`A rock cutting crew and medics will be here shortly' shouted Sam.
Jack just smiled to himself as he listened to the conversation.
`The weather out here is bad'.
`We think the terraforming is breaking down like that time on Medrona' shouted back Daniel.
`I think you're right Daniel. Wait I can see lights, I think they're here, so just tell the Colonel to hang in there'.
Sam stood by the Colonel's bed as he looked up at her with a frown.
`That was a pretty risky stunt you played there, Carter.'
`Nobody gets left behind' she quoted back at him.
`Yeah, but the conditions were appalling. And after I'd dressed down O'Connell for letting you go alone, he told me that you'd given him a direct order to stay by the gate.'
`Yes, sir.'
`Would you like to explain to me what the hell you were thinking of?'
`I'd worked out that we were still communicating like we did on P...; but I needed to concentrate to control what was happening. I knew someone was injured and time was important. I thought that I'd make better progress alone and it would give me the privacy to concentrate on communicating. Try explaining to a marine why you're suddenly talking to yourself!'
`What took you so long?'
Sam's jaw dropped in astonishment.
`You knew!'
`I suspected. I knew it was you in my head. Only you think in quite that way' he said shyly.
`Why didn't you say anything when everyone thought I was ill?'
`I thought that maybe you were exhausted as well. And like you said it sounds pretty implausible'
`I see' she said, a little annoyed, `I'm still puzzled about the locker room incident. Why did I feel so tired?'
`Sleeping pills' he said with embarrassment.
`You mean you took sleeping pills?'
`Bad dreams' he said with a grimace.
`Why didn't you say?'
`I persuaded that little lieutenant Rush to give me some pills. Fraiser would have blown her nut if she'd have found out.'
Sam laughed out loud.
`You're afraid of Janet!'
`Of course I am. She wields a mean needle' said Jack with a sulk.
Sam looked serious for a moment.
`Do you think this is going to last forever?' she said.
Jack shrugged.
`I honestly don't know.'
`It's a bit embarrassing' she said slowly.
`I won't tell if you won't' he said quietly.
`Was it really that bad? Ba'al?' she asked.
`There's no point in me lying, is there?' he said, `and what about Jolinar?'
`Backatchya' she said with a grin, letting her hand brush his momentarily.
His cheeks pinked up for a moment.
`What happens if you, y'know, fall in love or something?' he said.
`What happens if you do?' she replied honestly.
`Then you'll know about it, I guess' he said ruefully.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
`I suppose I will' she said softly.
`Backatchya' he said with a wide grin.
THE END
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