I had some request for a sequel to 'The Beginning Of The End', which this started off being but it's kinda evolved a bit, okay a lot, since then. So I've decided to split it up and make it a work in progress rather than waiting until it's done to put it out.
You don't necessarily have to read 'Beginning of the End' to understand this, to anyone who hasn't, basically Sam and Jack are together, Lt Colonel Carter is in command of SG-1, Jack's retired and the Goa'uld are gone.
Thanks to those who reviewed 'Beginning of the End', I was pretty nervous about how it would be received so thanks for the support!!
Naliza, I couldn't ask for a better beta and friend. For encouraging me in my writing in general and getting me into writing ship I'm dedicating this story to you! :)
*~*~*
The shrill sound of the alarm clock tore through the silence in the room. Jack O'Neill rolled over in bed, doing his best to stay in the warm clutches of sleep. He reached out and his fingers found the smooth, warm skin of the stomach of the woman lying next to him. Samantha Carter stretched out a hand and shut off the alarm clock. As she did Jack stretched his arm further across her stomach and pulled her close to him.
"Don't go," he mumbled, still half asleep.
"I have to," Sam replied.
"They don't need you today," he pleaded.
"You know I'm going off-world. So unless you want Daniel to go to an uninhabited planet with lots of ruins and without anyone being in charge…"
"You're right," he said quickly. He removed his arm from across her stomach but not before softly kissing her on the nape of her neck.
She pulled the covers back and walked slowly to the bathroom. She could feel Jack's eyes on her and with a mischievous smile on her face she turned and winked at him.
*~*
Sam was walking to the briefing room when she heard her name being called by a familiar voice.
"Hey Sam," Daniel Jackson called upon seeing his friend as he exited the elevator.
"Hey. You ready for the mission?" she asked, knowing perfectly well that he would be fully prepared.
"Yes Sam," he said with exasperation. "Have you started channelling Jack or something?" he added. It was something that Jack used to do before every mission they had been on and it was a habit that Sam seemed to have adopted.
"It's my job to make sure everything is ready for the mission," Sam rationalised but she realised that she had picked up one of Jack's habits, one that had annoyed her when he had been in command.
"I know. How's Jack by the way?"
"He's fine. Are you free for dinner tomorrow?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah sure."
"Great, how does 7 sound?"
"Fine, at yours or Jack's?"
"Jack's I guess," she replied. When Sam and Jack had become a couple almost two months before they decided to keep their own houses. That was despite the fact that they had not spent a night apart except when Sam was off world.
As Sam and Daniel arrived in the briefing room they saw that Teal'c and Lieutenant Harris, the latest addition to SG-1, were already there. Lieutenant Michael Harris seemed to be settling well into the SGC and had become a valuable member of SG-1. That was a pleasant surprise considering how close Sam, Daniel and Teal'c had become over the years.
They both agreed to come over to dinner the next day. Sam was doing her best to make Harris feel a part of the group. Jack had said that he thought that Harris was an 'acceptable' addition to SG-1 and coming from him that was high praise. This was only their tenth mission as a team since the assignment of Harris after the defeat of the Goa'uld.
They all looked over as Brigadier General Thomas Stone entered the room. General Stone was very similar to General Hammond and O'Neill in his command of the SGC. He gave Sam room to work and lead SG-1 as she wanted. He also recognised her experience in matters pertaining to the Stargate and seemed more than willing to take her advice.
"So, what can you tell me about P4Y-543?" General Stone asked as he took his seat at the head of the large table.
"The planet appears to be uninhabited, the long range survey by the UAV did show ruins approximately 2 kilometres from the gate. Daniel?" Sam said.
"Yes, these ruins here seem to be of an ancient Celtic construction. We have seen very little evidence of Celtic cultures on other worlds. Despite the apparent lack of a current civilisation there may be writings which detail how this civilisation came about."
Daniel was excited about the mission. He had spent time on digs in Wales, researching the Celtic culture, and the ruins shown on the screen seemed similar to the ones he had encountered there. He was looking forward to having the opportunity to study the culture again but was slightly disappointed that there appeared to be no civilisation for him to interact with.
*~*
The next day Jack was busy preparing dinner when he looked at his watch and realised that SG-1 was overdue. Sam had promised to call, as she did after every mission, to let him know that she was back on Earth. Jack knew how dangerous the galaxy could be, even without the Goa'uld there were still any number of hostile races out there.
He was not worried since there could be any number of reasons why they were not back yet and after all they were only an hour overdue. Daniel had probably got overexcited about the ruins they had found on the UAV survey and was refusing to leave. Sam did not quite have the same authority that Jack did; she found it harder to make Daniel leave a ruin.
General Stone stood in the briefing room, looking out through the glass towards the Stargate. He had also noticed that SG-1 was overdue but was more concerned about the team than Jack as he was still getting accustomed to the random events the galaxy could throw at you. He had only found out about the Stargate less than two months ago when he was offered command of the program.
SG-1 was now almost two hours overdue. They had not reported in to explain their failure to keep to the timetable. It was the first situation of that type he had been forced to deal with since he took command.
He turned to walk back into his office when he heard the Stargate chevrons start to engage. He walked quickly down to the control room. He watched as the gate opened and breathed a sigh of relief, SG-1 were the only team currently off world.
When nothing happened after almost thirty seconds, he looked down at Sergeant Davis.
"There's no iris code come through Sir," he said, checking the computer again.
Stone looked back at the gate before quickly checking on the monitors as a message appeared.
"We're now getting a transmission Sir," Davis announced.
"What kind of transmission?"
"Video Sir, from the MALP camera."
"Let's see then," Stone said as he looked at one of the monitors positioned above the window.
As the transmission appeared on the computer monitor Stone gasped. Lieutenant Colonel Carter was standing in front of the camera mounted on the MALP. An as yet unseen enemy was holding her P90 to her head. There was a nasty looking cut on her cheek and blood was dripping from the wound onto the collar of her jacket. The beginnings of a vicious bruise could be seen forming on her temple and another two on her jaw, her eyes were slightly unfocused but full of grit and determination.
"SGC, this is Carter, do you read?
"This is General Stone, we read you. What is your situation?"
"We have been captured, don't send a rescue team. They've said they will kill us if anyone comes through the gate. They will follow through on this, they have already killed Lieutenant Harris," Sam said calmly, there was very little emotion in her voice. Although she was speaking about Harris' death as a matter of fact Stone could see the shock in her eyes.
"What about Dr Jackson and Teal'c?" Stone asked, once he had absorbed the news of Lieutenant Harris' death.
"They're fine," she replied, Stone could see the relief in her eyes.
"What do they want Colonel?"
"Weapons and medical supplies."
"I want to talk to them? Are you listening? Return my officers immediately. This is not the way to get our help, this is a hostile act…" General Stone did not get to finish his sentence. The man holding the gun to Carter's head entered the shot. His face was painted blue and white which made him look incredibly menacing.
"We will get what we want or we will kill all three, just as we killed the other. If we do get what we need then we will release them. If you need an incentive, here is a taste of what we will do if you do not help us," he said.
Stone thought that he was going to have to watch Carter being executed because he mishandled the situation. The gun was passed out of shot after which the man holding Carter captive reached and took hold of her arm. Stone could see her fighting against him slightly but this stopped as a sickening crunch was heard as her arm got broken.
Sam suddenly looked physically sick. She bit down on her lip to stop from shouting out in pain. She dropped to her knees as the man released her, drawing her injured arm towards her chest.
"Remember, this is only a taste. It can and will get much worse if we do not get the weapons and medical supplies we need before the sun sets," he said, issuing an ultimatum.
"Four hours Sir," Sam informed him, her voice weak.
The man looked leeringly down at Carter and gently stroked her cheek. A look of pure revulsion and a trace of fear appeared on her face. She closed her eyes to try and block out the image of the man standing over her. Sam looked up at the camera, Stone saw a look he did not recognise or understand in her eyes.
"Remember, it can get very bad for her," he said calmly, staring straight into the camera.
"Call Jack," Sam whispered just before the video feed was cut off.
*~*~*
Okay, that was the first chapter, there are more coming soon so stay tuned!! But please let me know what you thought of this and if I should bother to continue the story!!