The large steel door opened slowly to reveal four men with weapons. "You." One of the men motioned his weapon towards Teal'c. Teal'c inclined his head and stood up. Sam put her hand on his leg and he gave her a slight smile as he stepped out the door and accompanied their captures.

He was gone for what seemed like hours. He returned under his own power but there was a gash over his left eye and both eyes were swollen. The guards pushed him into the room and pointed their gun and Sam. "Your turn."

Cam stepped towards the guards as Daniel moved towards Teal'c. "You guys must have heard wrong. Are you sure it isn't my turn?"

The guard shook his head. "We'll get to you."

Sam stepped forward and glared at Cam. "I'll be fine."

The large door sealed shut after them. Cam turned towards Teal'c and Daniel as Teal'c slid down the wall of the cell. "I'm guessing they didn't just politely ask you questions."

"No, but they were stupid enough to take me to the same room as out equipment." Teal'c lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing a glimpse of an arm band. "We can input our IDC."

Cam clapped him on the shoulder and Teal'c grimaced slightly. "Nice work. Now we just need to get out of here."

"I suggest we overpower them when they return. There is no reason to wait until all of us have been interrogated." Cam and Daniel couldn't find any reason to disagree.

The light blue man at the center of the room walked in circles around Sam, who was tied to a wooden chair. "How did you get here?"

"There is a ring through which we can travel between worlds. We call it a stargate."

"Have you been to many worlds, other than ours?"

Sam nodded. "Many."

He held up Sam's bag and dropped it on the table at the side of the room. "Did you steal from all those worlds?"

"We share with those we meet who are willing. We respectfully leave those not interested in being friends alone."

"That was not what I asked. Did you steal from all those other worlds?"

"No, we cooperate with many worlds and that cooperation is built on mutual respect. Stealing would erode that respect."

The light blue man narrowed his eyes and slapped Sam before walking over and opening her bag. He pulled one of the vials of soil from Sam's bag. "So why did you come to our world and begin taking our natural resources without asking?"

Sam tilted her chin up, her cheek stinging from the slap. "We did not think this world was inhabited and we wished to learn more about it. We had no idea you were here. Somehow your whole city was hidden to us. If we had known you were here we would have introduced ourselves."

The blue man put the vial of soil down on the table. "Why did you stop at the ruins?"

"We were looking at the language written on the columns. Many times the people we encounter on different worlds are actually related to cultures from our planet but based on what we saw at the ruins you don't seem to be."

"How long until an invasion begins?"

"Invasion?"

The man walked back over to her and slapped her again. The slaps were more annoying than painful. "You heard me. When do your people plan to attack? I warn you, we have been preparing for your return for generations."

Sam shook her head. "I don't understand. This is our first time here."

"LIES!" His outburst was accompanied by a punch to the ribs that surprised Sam and left her gasping for her next breath. The door to the room opened and a light purple man entered.

"Enough, Soran. Let me speak with her."

The blue man nodded his head. "As you wish, sir." There was contempt in his salutation but he left the room as request. The purple man pulled up a chair and sat across from Sam, knee to knee.

"Soran is very committed to protecting the people and although this is an admirable trait he might have taken it a bit too far today. I apologize."

"There are plenty of people just like him where I am from also."

"In that case we do have a few things in common."

"I'm sure we do. As I said before, if we had realized you were here would have introduced ourselves much differently."

"I'm sure, but that doesn't change the fact that you came to our world uninvited. Our historical documents tell us that our world used to be under the control of beings not from our planet. The deeds attributed to them are quite awful. They too came here through the ring."

Sam nodded. "Probably the Goa'uld. They terrorized our world too. We fought them off though, as you must have done."

"Our records say there was an illness that drove them through the gate."

Sam's eyes lit up. "Really?"

He nodded. "So you wish me to believe you are not of the people that once terrorized my planet?"

"I do. There are thousands of inhabited worlds out there. Most pose no danger to your people and could in fact help your people."

"Help us?" He stood up and turned his back to her. "We have no wish to be helped. We wish to be left alone."

"That can be done as well."

"Really? I don't see how we can go back like we were now that you and your people have arrived."

"I can show you how to make sure nobody else can come through your gate."

"What would you ask in return for this?"

"My team and I wish to go home."

"So you can tell your people all about us, about our weaknesses? Not likely."

Sam glanced over at the table where her bag and their equipment lay. "The black boxes you have there are communication devices. I am unsure of how much time has passed since we arrived but if we don't return on time our planet will use those to get in touch with us. If they don't hear from us they will send more teams to look for us."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, just a statement of fact."

"In that case thank you for the warning. I have much to ponder. The guards will return you to your friends."

The four guards opened the door and pushed Sam into the cell. Teal'c grabbed the guard that pushed Sam as Cameron and Daniel flew out the door at the other three guards. As soon as Sam realized they were making a break for it she helped Teal'c with the guard in the cell. Once he was out cold they turned their attention to the three guards fighting with Cameron and Daniel. Luckily the guards were so surprised they had neither the chance nor the room to shoot their weapons.

Sam was still panting as she looked at Cam, Teal'c, and Daniel. "So what's the plan?"

Cam handed her one of the guard's guns. "We get the hell out of here."

"I assumed that much. We can go up those stairs to get our stuff but there will be several guards between us and that room."

Cam shook his head. "It's not worth the risk. We have everything we need." He looked over at Teal'c who showed Sam the pilfered armband.

Sam smiled. "Nice, in that case I agree, let's get the hell out of Dodge."

Although the room in which they were held was clearly designed as a cell the building did not seem to be a prison. There weren't many guards on the level above their cell and the décor seemed to bright. Sam suspected they were really in some type of government headquarters. They quietly disabled a couple guards and four innocent people who were between them and an exit. All of them would be fine in a couple hours, once they woke and took some aspirin. They grabbed cloaks from a closet, allowing them to cover their skin tones and weapons, before making their way out onto a busy street.

Cam looked around in a circle. "Any guesses which way we should head?"

Sam glanced over at Teal'c before she pointed to the left. "That way."

Cam noticed the look Sam and Teal'c shared. "Something you want to share with the class?"

Sam sighed. "The gate is positioned near a large deposit of naquadah. I can quite literally feel it."

"As can I."

Cam crinkled his nose. "Weird."

Sam nodded. "Agreed, now let's go."

They were at the edge of the city when they heard sirens begin to blare. Cam looked over his shoulder. "Surprised it took them so long."

"Indeed." Teal'c nodded once.

"We better stick to the woods, less chance we'll be seen." The men agreed with Sam's assessment so they left the road and walked well into the night.

Sam moved up near Daniel. "You've been uncharacteristically quiet. Is anything wrong?"

"Figured quiet was important when escaping."

"It is, but you seem like something is bothering you."

Daniel's mouth tightened into a line as he contemplated. "You said your interrogator mentioned this planet being invaded in the past."

"Yes. So?"

"Well, usually when we encounter a planet that has experience with the Goa'uld they freak out over Teal'c but these folks didn't seem to realize he looked any different than us."

"It has been a while since these invaders left."

"Right but gold tattoos on one's head is the kind of thing that makes it into the books when describing your invaders."

Sam nodded. "Good point. So you think someone other than the Goa'uld were here."

"It's just an idea."

"Right, one we can ponder more later, once we're home."

Daniel gave her a small grin. "Is that your way of telling me to get my head back in the here and now."

"You know me so well."

Light was just edging over the horizon when they found the edge of the clearing around the gate a day later. They could see eight well armed men positioned along the road leading to the gate. Thankfully their backs were to the gate and to SG-1who had circled around the clearing using the woods for cover.

Cam moved up beside Teal'c and Sam. "Plan?"

"Daniel Jackson will dial the gate while we provide cover fire from this tree line. I will then make a run for the gate, input the IDC, and provide cover while you and Colonel Carter come to the gate."

Sam looked at Cameron as she raised her eyebrows and nodded. "I suggested we spread ourselves out along the tree line so they have more targets."

Daniel's face got a shade lighter. "I'd really rather you not call us targets."

Sam gave him a small grin before she moved to the right and Cameron moved off to the left. Teal'c nodded and Daniel ran out to the DHD. The guards didn't see him until the gate began to spin. They all turned in unison and lifted their weapons. Sam, Cameron, and Teal'c maintained their cover as they opened fire on the guards. Daniel crouched behind the DHD, waiting for the last chevron to lock. As soon as he heard the whoosh he picked up his head and joined the fire fight so Teal'c could run to the clearing and enter his code.

When Teal'c reached the steps leading to the gate he opened fire, allowing Cameron and Sam to emerge from the edge of the woods. They both kept firing as they ran. Daniel ran out of ammo first. Teal'c pushed Daniel through the gate as Cameron started up the steps.

Five more soldiers stepped from the woods as Sam approached the steps and they seemed to focus their attention on her. Sam took two hits to her back and went down. Cameron and Teal'c ran towards her. Cameron took a shot to the leg. Teal'c grabbed him as he stumbled. Sam pushed herself up. "Go."

"Not without you!" Cameron screamed. Teal'c took a hit in his upper right arm but shook it off as he dragged Cameron towards the gate. Sam got one leg under her and tried to stand up but was hit two more times and went back down. She wasn't moving. Teal'c pushed Cameron through the event horizon. Teal'c turned back towards Sam but the velocity of two bullets hitting his chest pushed him backwards through the gate.

The three men stayed low as they emerged through the event horizon, avoiding the artillery that followed them through the gate. As the bullet holes piled up all eyes stayed on the gate, in the hopes Sam would come flying through but instead the event horizon faded.

"SG-1? What the hell just happened?" General Landry looked from the men bleeding on the gate ramp up to the now dead gate.

Med teams ran in as Teal'c sat up. "Colonel Carter was shot trying to reach the gate. We must return and liberate her."

"All three of you go to the infirmary. Walter, get a UAV ready to deploy. Which SG teams are on base?"

"Three, five, six, ten, and twelve."

"Tell three, five, and six they have a briefing in ten minutes."

"Yes, sir." Walter got busy making calls as men started running around the gate room getting the UAV prepared. Daniel came up the stairs.

"I told you to go to the infirmary."

"Unlike the others I'm fine. Let me help."

"Fine. Tell me what happened." Landry held up a hand as Daniel's mouth opened. "Quickly."

"We didn't know the planet was inhabited. Their city was somehow hidden. They caught us by surprise and we woke up in a cell. They thought we were invaders. Apparently they had trouble with that in the past."

"Doctor Jackson." General Landry's warning tone spoke volumes.

"Right, sorry. They interrogated Teal'c and Sam before we escaped. We walked for over a day to get back to the gate and they were guarding it when we got there. I dialed while they laid down cover. I came through the gate first so I didn't see what happened after I left."

"Where is Colonel Carter?"

"I don't know." Daniel looked out towards the gate. "Cameron said she'd been shot."

"Damn." Landry turned back to Walter. "How much longer on that UAV?"

"Finishing touches are being done now."

"Dial the gate as soon as they're done."

"Yes, sir." Walter started dialing as soon as the men in the gateroom gave him a thumbs up and moved out of the way.

Landry and Daniel watched each chevron lock in place until the gate came to life. Images started coming into Walter's computer as the UAV emerged from the gate. The UAV tilted to the right.

"What's happening Sergeant?"

"The UAV has been hit, sir. It isn't going to be able to maintain its altitude."

"Damn. Use the self destruct. We don't want those guys getting any more of our technology."

The image disappeared as the UAV exploded.

"Your continued attempts to invade our world are pointless." Daniel, Landry, and Walter all looked at the computer, from which the voice originated.

"Sergeant?"

"I don't know, sir."

Daniel looked towards the blank computer screen. "They have our radios."

"Perfect." Landry leaned over and toggled the microphone switch. "We have no interest in invading your planet but we do want Colonel Carter returned to us."

"As I said your attempts are pointless. She's dead."

Daniel staggered backwards as Landry looked at him. "Then you can let us retrieve her body so her friends and family can properly say good bye."

"No. You will count your losses and leave us be. I promise you we will shoot anything or anyone that comes through the ring of light. We have spent many years preparing to fight the invaders who tried to destroy us in the past. We will win."

"We never tried to invade your world. We didn't know your planet was inhabited when we visited. If we had known we would have introduced ourselves properly. All of this could have been avoided."

"But it wasn't avoided and now she's dead. That's the price you have paid for your mistakes. Now leave us alone. Fire." The sound of multiple bullets being fired at the gate could be heard but the shooters had no idea those bullets couldn't enter the event horizon.

Landry moved his hand in a line across his throat. Walter cut the power to the gate. Daniel was leaning against a computer consol still staring out at the gate.

"It can't be. She can't be."

"Doctor Jackson, are you telling me there's no way Colonel Carter could be dead?"

"No. Yes. I mean Cam said she'd been shot but…dead? I don't know." He shook his head.

"It's about time you go to the infirmary." Landry waved over at a Sergeant watching from the corner. "Help him down to the infirmary." Daniel went along, stumbling in his state of shock.

Landry collapsed in his office chair. His hand lingered over his phone as he sighed.

Five hours later General Landry, Colonel Cameron, Teal'c, Daniel, and General Jack O'Neill sat around the conference table listening to two lieutenants.

"As you can see here the FRED was recording as SG-1 approached the gate and it kept recording even after SG-1 had returned to base."

"Some of SG-1." Jack growled.

The nervous Lieutenant cleared his throat. "Ummm, right. The video was downloaded in a data dump when we dialed up to send the UAV through. Colonel Carter can be seen getting shot and then she falls out of frame. A moment later her head can be seen reappearing as she attempts to get up then but she goes down again. Several moments pass before we can see three blue men enter the frame." The lieutenant fast forwards.

"Two of the men bend down and one keeps looking around. We can't see what the two men are doing because they are out of frame but when they stand up they appear to be pulling Colonel Carter. They move out of frame before the gate reopens, you can tell when that happens because of the glow." He stopped the video.

"I head noises as it played. Were you able to figure out what was being said?" General Landry pointed towards the screen as he spoke.

"Some of it, sir. We could hear someone off camera ask if she was alive," his eyes cut to General O'Neill, "but we couldn't make out the answer. The same off camera person then says to put her in the truck." The lieutenant paused and looked around the room to gauge their disappointment. "This is where we switch to the UAV video. There wasn't much of it but we did get a few still shots." He made a couple clicks on his computer. "Here we can see the DHD and steps to the gate platform.

Daniel grimaced. "Is that blood?" Jack's neck muscles tensed.

"Yes, sir. We think it is Colonel Carter's blood. We know they moved her body and that spot is approximately where she fell."

"How does this help?" General O'Neill looked away from the screen and glared at the nervous lieutenant.

The poor man looked towards the other lieutenant and coughed. The second lieutenant reluctantly stepped forward. "We did some calculating based on the length of time between when Colonel Carter was shot and when they moved her, as well as the area covered by her blood, and determined that blood loss alone would not have explained her death."

Daniel smiled. "So she isn't dead?"

Jack shook his head. "How many times was she shot?"

"Ummmm." The first lieutenant looked down at his notes. "It looks like she was shot four or five time."

Jack looked back at Daniel. "She was shot four or fives times and she wasn't wearing a vest. She might not have bled out on the spot but that doesn't mean she survived for long."

"But it also doesn't mean she's dead. We have to proceed as if she's alive."

Jack looked at the nervous lieutenants. "Thank you gentlemen. You're dismissed." Both men scurried out of the room as if they were mice being chased by an alley cat.

"I'm not saying we should give up on her Daniel but this evidence isn't enough to risk more people's lives. It would be damn difficult to blast our way through the gate." Jack sighed and looked at Landry. "We need to keep dialing and bugging the hell out of them though, sending UAVs through, download any information the FRED collects, and let them know we're here. Maybe somebody on there side will get tired of hearing from us and decide to negotiate her return"

Landry nodded. "If we get any hint that she's alive we'll send teams and bring her home."

Cam hit the table and stood up. "This is bull! I for one think she's still alive because let's be honest this is Sam, but even if she isn't there are plenty of us willing to take the risk, even if we were only bringing her home to bury her properly."

Teal'c stood in solidarity. "I agree with Colonel Mitchell. It is wrong to leave her there." Jack knew their accusations were directed at him. A few years ago he would have been the one demanding action but he no longer had the luxury to risk so many for one.

"Do you honestly think I'm happy about this?" Jack slowly stood up. His whole body ached and he was tired but he knew sleep wasn't in his immediate future. "I'd gear up and go with you if it was anything other than a suicide mission. I can't authorize sending teams through under these conditions." He turned his back on the room and left. He kept his shoulders square and his head high as he walked through the halls to her lab. He closed the door behind him and collapsed into her chair. He ran his hands over her lab bench, the bench that had allowed him to maintain an appropriate distance between himself and her for all those years when he wasn't supposed to be attracted to her but was. It was just big enough that he could lean across and not be too close. They could talk and he could make her laugh but they were far enough apart for it to be acceptable.

Six days ago he had stood on the other side of her bench, saying good-bye again. They had spent a week together at the cabin and he hadn't been ready for it to end so he had missed his flight. She thought he was gone but he surprised her and showed up after her pre-mission briefing. The distance wasn't technically required anymore but it had felt right to assume his usual position on the far of side of her bench. He had leaned across it as she worked, interrupting her thought process. She pretended to be upset he missed his flight but he knew she was happy to see him. Even after years of working together they didn't tire of being with each other. Working on opposite sides of the county made their time together seem even more precious. She took an early lunch so she could see him off on the new flight he did make. He figured she wanted to be sure he would actually go this time. She had kissed him good bye, even though they were on a military base and in uniform. Although they had permission to be together it is wasn't like her to be so open about it but it had made him exceedingly happy. That happiness now seemed so far away.

The image of Sam going down as the bullets struck replayed in his mind. He knew if he hadn't seen it he would have spent his life tortured about the possibility she was being held captive but that image would now never leave his head. It would join all the other nightmares that filled his nights and sometimes his days. Jack picked up her pencil and flipped open a notebook that was laying to his right. It was filled with calculations that were well above any math he understood. He ran his fingers over the letters and numbers. Were these the last things she wrote?

He shut his eyes and pinched the ridge of his nose as his eyes filled with tears. Generals don't get to cry, especially not on base, even if their, what, girlfriend, lover, best friend, died. None of those terms seemed right for what they shared. They had known each other for over a decade but technically their relationship was still fairly new. It hadn't felt new though because they knew each other so well and they had both wanted it for so long. They fell into an easy rhythm together, moving in sync around the kitchen as they cooked, picking restaurants and movies, grocery shopping, snuggling on her sofa as they watched television or read mission reports. Their ease with one another in the bedroom had been especially pleasing. He had worried it would be awkward after their years of serving together so he let her take the lead their first time and had been richly rewarded. She read him well, physically and mentally. He tried to do the same but she was less predictable, those little surprises pleased him and kept him on his toes.

Jack opened his eyes and scanned the room. His eyes fixed on a gold paperweight on her desk. He went over and picked it up. It was cold to the touch and looked like a smiling fish. He had given it to her after they had found Daniel alive with the fish guy who was looking for his wife. Losing Daniel had been hard on all of them but she felt like she had shown too much weakness in the wake of his loss. All her years of military experience had led her to believe she had to be invulnerable. The paperweight had been his way of saying she was allowed to feel deeply. He didn't know she had kept it all these years. He didn't remember seeing it on her desk. Maybe she had found it recently. He wished he could ask her. He sat the fish back down, turning it slightly, hoping it put it back like she left it.

The door to her lab slowly opened. "I thought I might find you here." Daniel stepped into the poorly lit room.

Jack straightened up but kept his back to Daniel. "You were right."

"So were you." Daniel closed the door behind himself. "I know you'd do anything for her but we can't go rushing back in yet."

"I'm so glad you agree." Sarcasm dripped heavily from his words. He hated the decision he'd made. Every bone in his body wanted to run through the gate with his P90 going full blast. Standing here with his chest on fire was far worse than being shot at.

"Don't be like that Jack."

He turned to face Daniel. "Two years ago I would have been the one demanding to go back for her."

"And Hammond would have shot you down for all the same reasons."

Jack put his hands in his pockets. "I know." He sighed. "I miss letting him do it."

"Are you going home tonight?"

Jack shook his head. "No. There's a flight back to Washington tomorrow so I'll just grab a room here for the night. Landry will keep dialing the planet and if anything changes I'll come back."

"Is there anything you want me to do?"

"Can you go clean out her fridge? I honestly doubt there's much in it since we'd just gotten back in town."

"No problem."

"I'll be back next week, once I get my schedule cleared. Then I can worry about the big stuff."

"Is she going to be declared dead?"

Jack shook his head. "No, she'll be classified as missing in action. Her will lays out what she wants done in that instance."

"I guess that's good, right?"

"I'll see you when I get back next week."

"Alright. I'll go, but let me know if you need anything else." Daniel left Jack alone in Sam's lab.