Sam just gaped at the sight in front of her. How could the stargate be gone? She finally shook herself out of shock and moved to the MALP. "Carter, how is this even possible?" Jack asked pointing his p90 in the direction of the missing gate.
"I don't know, sir. The stargate weighs just over 64,000 pounds. I'm trying to access the MALP's recording. The camera may have picked up something that can give us an idea what we are dealing with here. Sir, this shouldn't even be possible."
"Yeah, I got that, Carter. See what you can find out then we need to make a plan."
"Yes, sir." Within a few minutes, Sam and Jack were able to watch the recording. The jaffa had left the planet through the stargate then a few minutes later, the gate disappeared into thin air. "Sir, if Anubis has the technology to beam a stargate off of a planet, we aren't the only ones in big trouble."
"And, we have no way to warn Earth," Jack finished. "Do you need anything else from the MALP?" Sam shook her head. "Well then choose a direction."
"Sir?"
"Choose a direction, Carter. We can't stay here. We've got three days rations. Teal'c had the tent, so we have no shelter. Pick a direction."
The severity of their situation was not lost on Sam. They'd traveled several clicks in every direction exploring the planet before deciding the mission was a bust and returning to the gate. Of course, they were met by the platoon of jaffa, and now it looked like they'd be staying indefinitely. If they were going to encounter villagers, they usually met them within a few miles of the stargate. This was very bad. Sam swallowed. It was at least remotely possible she and the colonel were quite literally the last man and woman on this planet. Talk about irony. Sam had realized she might care a little too much for her commanding officer when he was stuck on Edora. She worked so hard to get him home. When she finally went to rescue him, he'd fallen for Laira and didn't want to leave her. Now, her poor colonel was stranded again and he wasn't even with the woman he loved.
"Carter, I said pick a direction," Jack said firmly.
"Yes, sir. We could see what's beyond the bluffs. It's getting a little late to look for a new shelter for tonight. Maybe we should camp in the cave again and see what's further out tomorrow. I could leave an encrypted message on the MALP just in case the gate is returned and they send a rescue party, sir."
"Good, Carter. Do that and let's go. I don't like the looks of those clouds. A storm is coming. We need to get back to our shelter."
"Yes, sir," Sam replied before hurriedly leaving the message. They walked in uneasy silence for awhile. Sam was busy doing the calculations in her head. Once she was comfortable that her answers were correct, she shared them with Jack "Colonel, We're a long way from home. Even if the SGC could get assistance from the Tok'ra, it would take eighteen months to travel here by ship. Of course, Thor could make the trip much faster, but his visits are considerably less reliable, sir."
"Got it, Carter. Barring Thor deciding he needs our help, we are going to be here awhile."
"Sir, there's also the possibility they think we're already dead. Help may not come."
"Oh, Carter, I have a hunch they'll get here eventually. You are the resident expert on the stargate and the daughter of our only Tok'ra ambassador. They aren't going to leave you behind. Don't give up on them."
Sam couldn't explain the sudden anger welling up inside her, and there was no stopping the outburst. "It didn't take much for you to give up on us, sir," she said spitting the word sir out with more distaste than she intended. Jack stopped walking. Sam panicked at the words that had just came out of her mouth. "I'm sorry, sir. I was out of line."
Jack simply took his pack off his back and looked at her. "So, I guess we're going to do this now, aren't we?"
"Sir?" Sam asked.
"I think I finally get it. I've been walking around on eggshells trying to get you to forgive me for what I said at my house, but that's not what you were angry about after all. You're mad because I started a life on Edora-because I didn't believe anyone was coming for me."
"Sir, I was out of li-"
"No, Carter. No backtracking, no playing the good soldier. Hit me."
"What?"
"Hit me. You'll feel better and we can move on. If we are going to be stuck here alone for God knows how long, you need to let Edora go. I mean it, Sam. Hit-"
Jack didn't get to finish his sentence. Sam hit him square in the jaw. She immediately regretted it. "Sir, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me," she apologized.
"Apology unnecessary, Carter. You were following orders. I expected to have to repeat said orders a few more times before you actually hit me, but nice right hook, Carter," Jack said as he rubbed his jaw. "I gave up because I'm a broken-down soldier. We're a dime a dozen, Sam."
"No, you aren't," Sam disagreed.
"I am, but I should have had more faith in my team. I should have known you'd find a way, Carter. Feel better or do you need to hit me again?"
Sam smiled. "No, thank you, sir. I think once was enough."
"Good. My jaw kind of smarts. Let's get to the cave. It's starting to sprinkle."
There was a little less palpable tension as they sat down to eat their rations. They watched the rain pour down and discussed the SGC. Sam was concerned about Teal'c, but Jack assured her his symbiote probably already had him on the mend. They discussed the small wild life they'd seen as they hiked. Jack hoped it would taste like chicken. Sam was grateful they had found their comradery again. He couldn't know how she felt about him, but she could have his friendship again. That was enough. It was for the best. She only hoped help would indeed be coming.
SGC
"Walter, have you managed to get a lock yet?" Hammond growled as he entered the control room.
"No, sir. We are attempting once each hour as you ordered, sir. It will not engage."
Hammond turned his attention to Dr. Lee. "I need a solution. Get your team on it. Top priority."
"Yes, sir."
Daniel walked into the control room. "General, I need to be on the team that goes through."
"You will, son. Just as soon as that wormhole engages, you will be joining SG3 on the rescue mission." In a softer voice, he continued, "Dr. Jackson, Teal'c is stable. There's nothing you can do at the moment. Go and get some rest. I'll send someone to wake you as soon as we get the gate to lock."
"I'm fine, general."
"It wasn't a request. We don't know what we'll find on the other side of that gate. You need to rest so you aren't a liability. Do I make myself clear?"
Daniel nodded and made his way to his quarters, but sleep did not come easy.
The Planet
Jack and Sam got an early start the next morning. Thankfully the rain had stopped, but the ground was muddy and hiking in the mud was never fun. Jack only hoped there was a friendly village on the other side of those bluffs. Sam still looked a little off to him. He didn't really want to live off the land for the better part of the next two years constantly worrying about her health. Eventually, he was going to have to bring up his concerns, but she was finally actually speaking to him again. He didn't want to upset her or make her think he didn't have faith in her. He'd really missed her.
"Sir, I'm not sure we should stop for lunch," Sam said as it got close to lunchtime. "We need to conserve our resources."
"Carter, you need to eat. You've got to keep your strength up," Jack argued.
"But, if we don't find something soon, we're going to run out of supplies," Sam replied and Jack was grateful she didn't add the honorific sir at the end of her sentence.
"Look, Carter, I wasn't going to mention it, but I'm a little concerned. You look a little thin and pale."
Sam tried to laugh it off. "Gee, thanks, sir. Pretty sure I'll be a lobster by nightfall though. That'll handle the pale."
"I'm serious, Sam. Is there something you aren't telling me?"
Sam looked down then finally answered, "I'm a little underweight. Janet's been monitoring me. She has me on iron pills and a good multivitamin."
"And, how many of those do you have with you?"
"Not enough, sir."
"Why wasn't I notified you were sick, Sam?"
"Hammond knew about the anemia. I guess I overdid it while you were gone. I think it might be my fault we were assigned this mission. It was supposed to be easy. I think Hammond was trying to give us a break," Sam said softly. "I'm sure he didn't expect a stolen stargate," she added.
"Sam, you should never have worked yourself so hard. I'm not worth it."
"You're my commanding officer, sir. You've taught me many things, but there's one thing that stands out above the others. Nobody gets left behind. I'd do it again."
Jack didn't know what to say. It was his fault she was rundown, and he had to find a way to take care of her. This just kept getting better and better.