It was late about 11pm when Sam got back from a wet, raining world she was cold, wet and very annoyed with life the universe and everything in general, the guys had grabbed the showers so she had been cleared by medical first deciding to have a long soak at home instead of the quick shower on base.
She had just lit all the candles set the music and was about to step into the lovely, relaxing bath when the door rang, she cursed under her breath running to her bedroom to put on a robe then answered the door, muttering unsavoury comments about the SGC as she went, she opened it expecting an airman to say the test results had shown something or that the gate was broken instead she saw 2 police officers on her doorstep
"Hello" Sam said a cold fear and dread gripping her heart, Jack, Janet, Daniel the possibilities making her throat constrict she concentrated on her breathing
"Miss Carter?" the young woman asked, Sam nodded mutely, unable to speak
"Its about your brother, I'm sorry but he was murdered earlier this evening along with his wife and son" the officer said, Sam felt the world spin, denial was her first thought, she managed a choked no before she fell her muscles losing all strength, the male police officer catching her helping her to the sofa, the female went to the kitchen returning with a glass of water, Sam sipped it gratefully running through what they had said a thousand questions raging inside, in a weak tone she asked
"What about Lizzy my niece is she…" Sam left the question hanging unable to finish it the thought too horrible to contemplate the whole situation unreal
"We haven't found her" the policewoman said, Sam snapped out of it, anger overcoming her normally rationale, calm personality
"Why not?"
"There were no blood traces of her at the house we think the assailant took her" Sam sat numbly on the sofa, the reasons why wasn't something she wanted to think of, but she had something to do rescue her niece.
"Thank you for telling me officer I need to be on my own now" Sam said politely they exchanged glances clearly debating what to do,
"Mam, would you like us to phone anyone?" the female asked, Sam thought about it, her dad, she would have to let the Tok'ra know which meant telling people,
"Mam" the policewoman asked bringing Sam out of her thoughts, back into the nightmare.
"No thank you" Sam said quietly, showing them the door, she waited till she watched them pull out before running upstairs blowing out the candles and getting changed driving back to base wiping her eyes of the tears she hadn't know that she had cried, she signed in going directly to Hammonds office despite the late hour he was still there, she knocked walking straight in needing time off to look for Lizzy.
"Sir" she said gaining his attention
"Major I thought you had gone home" he asked genuinely surprised at her presence eyeing up her clothes, Sam looked down the grey sweats weren't uniform or even close but he didn't comment,
"I had Sir, sorry Sir, I need time off Sir I know we are backed up Sir and the stargate needs a diagnostic Sir but something really important has come up Sir and I have to deal with it Sir" Sam rambled some tears escaping her, Hammond stood up worried that his reliable Major while known for her use of Sir had said it 7 times in one sentence and was crying. As her Godfather now not a General he hugged her giving her a tissue, Sam took it using it to hurriedly dry her tears
"I'm sorry Sir I shouldn't break down on you like this" Sam apologised really embarrassed, Hammond shook his head, he didn't mind what he was more concerned about was why Sam was crying
"Sam its fine what's wrong?" he asked tenderly
"It's Mark" Sam managed to say between sobs, her brother was dead the thought made her cry more
"What did he do this time?" Hammond asked angrily assuming it was an argument or something, Mark never seemed to appreciate his sister especially now she was Air Force
"He is dead" Sam said, Hammond sat down shocked not expecting this. Mark although he was annoying, he had been his Godson and Hammond had known him since he was 2 months old.
"How, when?" He asked shocked
"This evening, he was murdered" Sam replied a new wave of crying overtaking her, Hammond stood up and gathered her in a hug a few tears of his own escaping at his Godson's death
"Lucy, Greg, Lizzy?" Sam shook her head
"Lucy and Greg are…..are with Mark" Sam managed to say unable to contemplate that her nephew and sister in law were also dead.
"And Lizzy" Hammond asked fearfully remembering the sweet innocent girl that strangely looked nothing like her parents but resembled her aunt. Mark had always joked if she didn't then he would question whether she was his. Now Hammond looked Sam in the eye, seeing the fear and despair in her eyes he felt his heart break
"Missing her blood wasn't found as the scene, they think he took her" Hammond's knees gave way he sat on the floor coming to the same conclusion as Sam to why anyone would want a sweet innocent beautiful 7 year old girl.
"Dear God" he muttered, he sat for over a minute coming to terms with the situation, then standing up he came to a conclusion, if he couldn't save his Godson he was going to damn well save his Godson's daughter, wiping the tears he looked at Sam who was looking into space.
"Major we are going to find Lizzy" he said confidently, Sam looked at him raising his eyebrow in his direction clearly asking how, Hammond went for the intercom ordering Walter to dial the Tok'ra demanding that Jacob was sent back, although Walter was un-doubtable curious to as why but he didn't question it. Then Hammond grabbed the phone dialling Colonel Reynolds quarters aware he was staying on base tonight.
"Colonel Reynolds you a hereby in charge, myself and Major Carter are going off world," he ordered Reynolds obviously tried to ask why as Hammonds face turned red with anger.
"That is an order" he bellowed, then was the red phone
"This is General Hammond I am taking leave, for a while" he reported hanging up then with a slight smile he took Sam's hand who had been watching with dull eyes not finding a shred of amusement in his actions Hammond sighed he hated to do this but he knew it was for the best, he let go of her hand in order to put both hand sternly on his hips,
"Sam, Mark is dead, Lizzy isn't we need to focus on saving her. I suggest contacting Thor on Chimera he owes us one" Sam nodded wiping hers tears and taking his hand in a show of faith they left the safety of his office going to the control room, where he wrote a note to Jacob and got a GDO. Ordering Walter to dial Edora in a ploy so nobody would know where they had really gone he stepped through with Major Carter knowing whatever the consequences he was doing the right thing.
