Chapter 1
The infirmary seemed to be a lot
quieter than usual. Usual was several
nurses running around tending to the latest victims of the Goa'uld attacks. They were a deadly foe and you had to be
careful whenever you ran into them. But
a greater threat sat nearer to home.
The threat from the people who you believed to be your fellow man.
Jack looked around and
saw only a few patients this week. All
the teams had been recalled to look for SG-1 and now they were found it should
be business as usual. But no, no teams
were off world, no teams collecting samples, no-one finding new languages for
Daniel to interpret, not even finding any rocks for him.
Daniel sat on a tall
stool, looking across into some distant place.
He was lost in his own thoughts, concerns, hopes. Through past experience Jack knew not to
snap him out just yet. Teal'c stood
tall and proud, his impassive face focusing on the same spot as Daniel. Jack just stood there, he moved around paced
across the floor, trying the best he could to keep his mind off now.
He was getting
restless, he knew her recovery could take days but that didn't matter. He wanted her to wake up now, and just be
the old Sam he loved. But that thing in
her head stopped that. The hate started
to well up inside him, the surge running through his body electrifying every
nerve. The small glass vials sitting on
the edge of a table crashed towards the floor with the table landing harshly on
top of those who survived the fall.
That snapped Daniel and
Teal'c out of their dream world and a furious Jack stormed out, a small amount
of damage done. "Jack" Daniel called in vain.
Jack didn't hear him, he was too caught up in his own rushing emotions. His anger had consumed his body, it yearned
to be released. The brief release
directed on the vials made it hungry for more, wishing for more release.
**********
The halls buzzed with rumors, stories of what
happened, what's happening to Sam Carter.
Careless whispers filtered around, from the astrophysics labs to the
archaeology department. "I heard they
asked for it, pushed too hard" one voice said.
Another whispered "No that Harris guy did this and won't admit to it"
Jack stormed down the
corridors his anger and frustration building.
He didn't care where he was going, he didn't even know. He just walked, trying to put aside the
hatred. He had already covered most of
the SGC, most of the landmarks he had passed several times. Officers snapped to attention when they saw
the Colonel, he just ignored them, until he ran into them. A group of three young soldiers apologized
profoundly at Jack. "I am so sorry
Colonel, I didn't see you" one said. He
looked about 25 with cropped brown hair, too young for him to be in the SGC but
then again that didn't matter.
"Watch where your
going" he snapped knowing really it was him in the wrong
"Ah… Colonel do you
mind if I ask?" he said sheepishly
"What?" he yelled his
frustration building
"Colonel with all due
respect there are rumors" he said quietly,
trying not to stir an already angry man "Sir, we have to know what really
happened or else…"
"Or else WHAT?" He yelled "The entire base is gone
know how I nearly got my second killed" he was livid now. Jack had blown up, his arms were flailing
wildly as he talked. "Yeah, go on, tell
them what happened. In fact why don't I
make an announcement to the entire base"
Jacks shouting had caused an audience, whispering stopped and watched as
Colonel Jack O'Neill exploded, pummeling every ounce of rage onto this young
sergeant.
"Colonel I'm sorry, I…"
"Sorry" Jack screamed "How the HELL can you say that"
Jack grabbed the young man and threw him against the wall. His head snapped back, a dull crack as his
head bounced off the wall and his body slumped into unconsciousness. "Come on, come on you worthless piece of
shit, come on"
Two large marines clumped around the corner and
grabbed Jack roughly by the collar, throwing him down. He didn't try and get up, he couldn't. A knee in the middle of his shoulder blades
kept him down as his hands were tied tightly and he was, literally, carried
away. A small group of medics rounded
the corner as Jack was being escorted away.
Janet looked at him. His face
showed no remorse, no concern. Only
pure hatred. An icy cold shiver danced
up her spine as she got to work.
**********
Daniel was getting bored of staring
at that one spec on the wall. Nothing
had happened in the last few hours apart from Jack disappearing Janet being
called out for some reason. He yawned
loudly, and dragged his tongue around his dry mouth. A lingering taste of caffeine swilled around, a nauseous taste
making his stomach turn. Scrapping the
wooden chair as he moved, Daniel got up and flopped to the water cooler in the
corridor. The machine stood about four
foot high. A beige color for the stand
and a tint of blue in the plastic container.
Placing one of the small cups under the tap, and pulled on the shiny
metallic lever. The bubbles fluttered
up to the top of the holder as the water poured steadily into the tiny plastic
cup.
He swigged a large mouthful, allowing the cool water
to flow down his throat and filter the fresh water through his system. The beep of the heart monitor was all that
could be heard. The single continuous
tone indicating some life, but Daniel wished there could be more than that
annoying dull blare on the eardrums.
He glanced at the clock and registered the time as
three o'clock. He stretched and placed
the now empty cup on the table. The
shards of glass crunched underfoot, scratching the floor. He knew he couldn't do anything for Sam
here, he knew he should get something done, more to get his mind off
worrying. But he wanted to be here when
she woke up, show he still believes in her, even though Jack seemed to have
disserted them.
He looked around, the room had not changed in the last
hour and a half and was not likely to if he went to grab something from the
mess hall. Teal'c stood guarding the
doorway.
"Hey Teal'c do want anything from the mess hall?"
"I am fine Daniel Jackson" he replied
"Okay, well I'm gonna grab a bite to eat. I'll be back in ten"
Teal'c raised an eyebrow
"Just tell someone if she wakes up"
He bowed his head and moved aside
to allow Daniel to move past. Resuming
his position after he had passed, Teal'c stood and watched intently over his
friend, a single bleep being emitted.
**********
General Hammond was not having a
good day.
First of all there was the disappearing Senator act so
no-one could answer to what happened, then there was a damn good officer on the
brink of falling into a coma. To top
all that off he had a hot headed Colonel in the brigs after attacking another
officer.
He walked purposefully down towards the brigs. They were all at maximum capacity all
yelling to see different Commanding Officers but only getting a stiff look from
the General. Only Harris had been given
a single cell. They were still trying
to get answers from him and those they saw running towards the bunker. Hammond was looking for O'Neill now. He could not be doing with insubordinates
now, especially when there were more important things to worry about.
Jack was found in the interrogation room slumped
patiently in the chair, solemnly looking out of the small window. He smiled as he saw Hammond, the kind of
smug smile you would expect from a criminal mastermind. Hammonds anger showed as he stormed into the
room. "Colonel I am going to give you
one chance to explain yourself" he said slowly and quietly. "Now start talking"
"What's there to say?, you no what happened you know
why I blew up" he said calmly
"Colonel I am in no mood to play games"
"Ooh, poker" he said bolting upright, like child being
bribed
Hammond was not going to have this. He was pissed off as it already was. "Okay Colonel, you want to play a game. Try go pack your bags. You are suspended indefinitely for unruly
behavior and you will not spend more time on my base then needed"
Shock fixated itself over Jacks face, he didn't expect
this. He slumped into his chair, he
didn't argue, he couldn't.
**********
Daniel strolled along the
corridors, blissfully unaware of Jacks recent actions. He munched on his sandwich, tuna and
sweetcorn, and washed it down with a cola.
Nervous glances were exchanged between many of the officers he
passed. He smiled pleasantly and didn't
follow their concern. He walked
peacefully along the corridor, taking a detour half way. He stared at the door to Sam's lab, a crack
of light filtering through the door.
Intrigued Daniel pushed open the door.
Jacob sat on a tall wooden stool, hunched over something. He was back in the tunic provided by the
Tok'ra, plainly decorated with a simple leather case to compliment the light
brown fabric.
"Jacob" Daniel said softly
He shot round and looked at him. His eyes were red, they looked sore. He had been crying, not even Selmak could
mask the pain he had been through over the last few months. He sniffed and started talking, his voice
broken "Daniel, what are you doing here?"
"Same thing you are, holding on as best I can" he
replied
Jacob looked distant now, his mind changed focus
"She'll pull through"
"I know but…" he looked down at
what he was holding. A framed
photograph lay in his hands. The simple
metal frame covered a picture of Sam and Jacob. There was someone else, from what he could tell this was Mark,
her brother. He had never seen him
before. He had short brown hair, his
eyes were the same blue as Sam's. They
were all smiling, the sun beating down
around them, only masked by the shade of the trees they were under. Jacob looked down and forced back another
tear.
"Don't worry Jacob.
When she gets out she will want to see him"
"The question is will she get out?"
"Look I was heading back there, come on. She'll be awake soon"Jacob
nodded and placed the picture gently down on the work bench. He got up, following Daniel out. He flicked off the light and the room was
suddenly consumed by the dark.
**********
Jack threw together his possessions. A few clothes, books (which Daniel didn't
believe he had) and a few photographs.
These had mainly been taken around the base. Several shots of various labs.
A couple of group photos. Janet
taking care of Daniel. Teal'c with that
look. And Carter, working like a trooper despite he CO's
distractions. He ended up knocking over
a pretty expensive piece of equipment.
He smiled at one, but put it down.
He turned out and headed straight for the surface. They'll find out eventually he thought.
Sitting comfortably on the dresser, the picture smiled
upwards. On it, Jack and Sam laughing
hysterically as Daniel tried desperately hard to pick up the huge piece of
metal resting on the floor. The
memories of the old Sam were too much for Jack, he was starting to resent them,
wish they had never existed, all because of some new beginnings.
*********
Trekking along the
corridors Daniel and Jacob moved in unison, reacting to awkward glances and
condemning stares. Daniel frowned. 'What's wrong with everyone today?'
he asked himself. The corridor went
silent as they turned the corner. All
eyes seemed to be fixated on the two men standing unaware at the top. In the middle of the corridor a small red
puddle of blood was spilled on the floor and a nervous captain looked on as the
crews tried to clean it up. Daniel
asked. He shouldn't of. "What happened?", he asked innocent from the
knowledge. He was met with worried,
frantic glances around each and every person in that small cramped passageway. "What happened?" he asked again this time,
serious. The lightness had gone from his
voice, replaced by a forceful apprehensive tone.
"Colonel O'Neill…" one
man started coyly
"What? What's happened
to him?" Daniel replied
"No, Colonel O'Neill
did this to Lieutenant Bailey. He just,
flipped, went berserk" The realization
hit Daniel hard. Jack was beyond it if
he has already gone completely total already.
Daniel had expected a little, but attacking another officer was beyond
his comprehension. Why would he do
this? He didn't like 'snake heads' but
the Tok'ra were different. "What's
happened to him?" he asked the dread showing in his voice
"The General suspended
him, told him to leave the base"
"Hammond must have been
really cheesed off with Jack if he did that" he mumbled
"I'll talk to Hammond"
Jacob added carefully "See what I can do, but first…" He gestured towards the Infirmary and both men continued
onwards. Daniel was caught up in the
middle of a war where someone was going to get hurt, guaranteed. He shoved his hands into his pockets and
dragged his feet childishly along. He
yanked off his thin black frames and rubbed his eyes. This was going to be a long day.
**********
Jack threw his belongings into the
trunk and flopped in lazily. The tall
peak of Cheyenne was dusted over with this years snow. His normally blue car was now a pure sheet
white. Obviously these guys had never
heard of garages. He fumbled around
trying to poke the keys into the ignition.
The car rumbled into life and the wipers swept away gracefully the snow
attached to the windscreen. He threw he
car into gear and pulled out of the main gates to a quick salute from the
unlucky guard. He turned onto the road,
twisting the tuner into a station. The
music blared out of the speakers causing nothing more than noise in the
car. But it drowned out the cries of
others, it blocked the nagging and the disapproval. A deep voice talked slowly through the microphone, introducing
the next song. It was soft, slow. A simple guitar line repeated several
times. A strong male voice added to
this. The lyrics were strong, they were
full of hurt and as the title says 'No Regrets'
Tell me a story, where we all changed
And we live our lives together, and not estranged
I didn't loose my mind, it was mine to give away
Couldn't stay to watch me cry, you didn't have the time
So I softly slip away
The chorus broke in a
smooth transition into his feelings on the aftermath
No regrets, they don't work
No regrets now, they only hurt
Sing me love song, drop me a line
Suppose it's just a point of view
But they tell me I'm doing fine
#
I know from the outside, we were good for each other
Felt things were going wrong when, you didn't like my mother
I don't want to hate but that's all you've left me with
A bitter aftertaste and no fantasy
Of how we all should live
#
No regrets, they don't work
No regrets now, they only hurt
I know there still talking, the demons in your head
If I could just stop hating, you I'd feel sorry for us instead
#
Remember the photographs, insane
The one's where we all laughed, so lame
We were having the time of or lives well thank you
It was a real blast
#
No regrets, they don't work
No regrets now, they only hurt
Sing me love song, drop me a line
Suppose it's just a point of view
But they tell me I'm doing fine
#
Everything I wanted to be, every time I walked away
Every time you told me leave, I just wanted to stay
Every time you looked at me, and every time you smile
I felt so vacant, you treat me like a child
I loved the way we used to laugh, I love the way we used to smile
Often I sit down and think of you for a while
And then it passes me but I think of someone else instead
I guess the love we once had is officially
Dead
The song ended abruptly. A painful tail of a broken heart. Jack felt exactly the same way. Everything had changed. Every thought, emotion came screaming up to
the surface once more. He had felt
something for Sam, but that had changed.
She's not the same. The demons
are real. The pain was real. The photographs were real. He threw the car into top gear and charged
past anyone on the road. He was going
to end this, soon and at any cost.
**********
Daniel walked into the infirmary
distracted by Jacks actions of late. He
looked up to see Teal'c still stood there, guarding his friend. Only a few nurses were in the room, tending,
caring for the patient. "You alright?"
he asked
"I am fine Daniel Jackson" he
replied
Daniel looked like he was,
distracted, worried. Janet was in the
main part of the infirmary making sure Jacks victim had nothing more than a
serious concussion and a deep cut to the back of his head. He looked on Sam and was glad she didn't
know what was happening in the real world.
He dragged the chair over to her bed side and motion for Jacob to sit
down. He declined the offer, opting to
stand over her. They just watched in
silence. Not even an exchange of
glances, except stealing one at the clock, 8 o'clock.
Janet walked in on them and saw a
very worried team of people. "Watching
her every none movement won't make a difference" she said softly, understanding
they were worried "She'll wake up in her own time" she finished as she grabbed
a quick look at the board hanging on the end of her bed.
"I know it won't help but" Daniel
paused for a second mid sentence "I just want to be here when she wakes
up. I'll feel guilty otherwise" he
finished
"Why because she was always there
for you?" she inquired
Daniel smiled and nodded. He looked over at the heart monitor, wishing
he could do something more. He leaned
back in his chair and leaned his head backwards, looking up at the
ceiling. He rubbed his face roughly and
sat up.
"General Carter, General Hammond
asks when you are planning to return to Vorash" Janet said standing up right
slightly upon addressing him.
"He knows when I'll go back" he
said, his eyes still fixed on his daughter
The silence resumed as they were all
now watching. Janet was the first to
move. In her past experience no one had
ever taken a bullet to the heart and lived.
Then again, those she treated didn't have an alien living in them as well
which helps healing. She just walked
out the door when a chair scrapped the floor and landed with a thud on the
floor. Janet turned around to see
Daniel stood bolt upright, his eyes dancing over Sam's body. Jacob was stood, slack jawed at the end of her
bed. Teal'c had now even positioned
himself closer.
Janet came back in quickly and then
saw a miracle.
A clenched fist moved slowly along
the bed. The previously lifeless
shoulders now animated themselves a scrunched up around the owners head. Sam mumbled softly as she fought her way
back into the living world, he body fighting to stay alive. Janet moved past slowly, she pulled of the
oxygen mask around her face. Jacob
moved over to the right hand side of the bed with Daniel and prayed that what they
were seeing wasn't a horribly vivid dream.
A strangled cough, and an unhappy moan preceded an eye opening slowly,
only being able to do half a job. The
other side joined in and some form of focus was gained.
Sam woke up her eyes tried to focus
but she knew where she was. The shot
still rang out in her ear, but that wasn't the last thing she remembered. There were voices telling her ordering her
to wake up. These voices were coaxing
her again trying to get her to wake up .
She opened her mouth to speak but her throat was dry. She scrunched up her face and shifted her
body into a more upright position.
She tried to talk again. Her voice was hoarse, staggered but still
with that edge of confidence "Hello Campers"
**********
