"Dr. Landon!" Sam called as she trekked through the forest. The foliage wasn't as dense as it most likely normally got – according to Dr. Bowens – but it was still pretty thick. "Dr. Landon!" Frustrated, she tried the radio one more time. "Dr. Landon, this is Colonel Carter. Come in."
Silence.
"If you cannot vocally respond, please tap the receiver twice."
Silence.
It was all Sam could do to keep from swearing. As she rounded the next bend, she decided that this was the last time she'd be babysitting ANY scientists for a while. She now completely understood how Jack had felt all of those years, and she was NOT going to put up with it again – at least, that's what she hoped. She wasn't really prepared to tell General Landry that.
"Amazing!"
Sam jumped at the sound of the familiar voice, her hands still on her gun.
"Landon? Dr. Landon?"
"Colonel Carter!"
Sam turned around once more, this time ready and willing to shoot – but for completely different reasons. One of which involved tossing the young scientist into a nearby bog.
"Dr. Landon," she stated calmly, her gun still trained in his direction. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Colonel Carter. How are you?"
"Peachy." Sam frowned at her own use of the familiar phrase, but kept her stance combative. "Where've you been, Doctor?"
"That's just what I wanted to tell you! I found something that I think you should see." When he motioned to grab her elbow, Sam shook it away and smiled.
"Oh, no, doctor," Sam began with a shake of her head. "You just… point me in the right direction."
"O… K… Colonel?" Dr. Landon glanced wearily at her gun as she slowly set it at her side.
"Yes, Doctor?"
"Are you alright?"
Sam smiled saccharinely, her hand resting comfortably on the firearm's butt. "I'm fine. Please. Lead the way."
"Absolutely. Now, I just thought that you should know that this was completely on accident. I was packing my equipment, when suddenly energy readings started spiking right… here." Jovially, he jumped into the center of a ring full of leaves and grinned like a kid at Christmas.
"What did that mean?"
"Well, I found out that I couldn't contact any of you on radio…"
"Ah… And?"
"It meant that I… Well, that maybe we HAD found something cool enough to take back to the SGC. I mean, I know it's been a while, and the pressure's on our teams more than it has been in recent years, but -"
"'Cool enough?'" Sam repeated. The young scientist nodded sheepishly and pushed his hair out of his face.
"I know it's not what we were looking for, but - "
"What is IT, Doctor ?" Sam insisted.
"What? Oh! Oh… Yeah, well, what I found was a crystal."
"A crystal."
"A crystal that has the exact same readings as the ZPM that was found in Egypt. It's not the same shape, size or color, but it appears to be fully charged."
Sam frowned.
"Really?"
Dr. Landon nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. "Yes."
"Where is it?"
"I left it where I found it, because I didn't know if it was booby trapped or anything."
"Yeah, that would be bad," Sam answered nonchalantly as she followed him to a nook not too far away. "Did you touch it at all?"
Quietly, the doctor continued heading to the crystal. When he turned around, he had guilt written all over his face.
"I don't blame you for touching it," Sam answered softly. "If we start getting chased by giant insects or huge rocks, I'll cause you bodily harm. Otherwise…"
"Yes, ma'am," Isaac answered with a grin, and continued to lead the way. "Well… Here it is." Immediately, he moved the tree branches out of the way for Sam, revealing a greenish-bluish-aqua crystal, roughly three inches long and an inch in diameter.
She couldn't imagine what it did, but she was sure she didn't want to touch it - almost. Sometimes, despite what Colonel Carter knew, Dr. Carter wanted to come out and play. There were times when she wondered if she had dual personalities. With a self-deprecating sigh, Sam checked the readings over Isaac's shoulder and nodded in agreement.
"Everything's exactly the same," she noted.
"Everything."
"Well, I guess we WILL have something to bring home after all."
Jack stood in the Control Room, preparing to hear back from Carter and the rest of the team, and ready to call it a night. Glancing at his watch – it was 11:06 pm – he realized that he hadn't been home in days. General Landry had been kind enough to allow him these small luxuries, but he knew that Landry probably thought he was a nut job. As it was, Jack had lucked out. His trip back to Colorado Springs had coincided perfectly with a meeting that Landry had with the Joint Chiefs in Washington. Jack had jumped at the chance of playing interim-CO of the base in Landry's place.
He knew that Carter had been reluctant to take the team out on this cake mission, but had relented anyway, without argument. He wondered if she was just looking for a break, or if she figured arguing with General Landry would be pointless. Landry appreciated Carter just as much as the next general, but he was still pretty old school, so to speak.
Still, he was a good guy, rough around the edges like Hammond had been during those first few years, and like Jack had been sometimes. Really, Landry was a great pick, if he did say so himself. Jack couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic, though, standing up in the Control Room like he owned the place. He hadn't been actually inside the SGC in months.
"Uh, sir?" Walter called from his spot near the console.
"Yes, Walter?"
"You said to bring it to your attention if you looked like you're, uh… out of it."
"Oh, right. Yes. Thank you, Walter."
"Anytime, sir."
Promptly, the Stargate began to spin, reminding Jack that he did have some odd business to take care of with Carter and the mineral/plant samples. What the heck had been wrong there? No traces anywhere? Weird. He was so not up to dealing with alien plant/mineral pirates. It just didn't seem appealing, and he was definitely out of practice. Six months as Head of Homeworld Security, and Jack had other things on his mind. Where bunting decisions had gone, dinner dates with schmoozy-schmoozes on Capital Hill had come. He was still debating which was worse. Walter had a mean sense of color coordination and finesse that his new aide just did not possess.
"Jack?" Daniel asked as he walked into the Control Room. "Is that Sam?"
"Supposedly," Jack answered. "You're up late."
"Yeah, well, I keep thinking about what Teal'c and I learned at the village this afternoon."
"You mean the murder of that store owner?"
"Yeah… It was pretty odd. The leader of the village said that there's been a feeling of unrest amongst the villagers for a few days now. I mean, before this the village hadn't had any violent crimes committed in 25 years - not even assault of any kind."
"Weird," Jack commented. "Not even a brawl?"
"Receiving SG-17's IDC, sir," Walter announced.
"SG-17?" Jack asked, turning to Daniel. "Teal'c need you to grab something for him?"
Daniel held up his book of translations and shook his head.
"No video games?" Jack insisted. "DVDs?"
"O'Neill," Teal'c voice boomed over the speakers.
"Yeah, Teal'c," Jack responded. "Talk to me."
"I have just found Colonel Carter," Teal'c said bluntly. He really wasn't sure how else he was supposed to tell O'Neill anyway, so that seemed like a good enough tactic to choose. Jack shot Daniel an incredulous look, before leaning over the microphone once more.
"Come again?"
"I have found a woman who claims to be Colonel Carter. She claims to have come through the Quantum Mirror - from another reality."
The looks on Daniel's and Jack's face were priceless.
"I, uh, thought we were done with those," Daniel quipped. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Teal'c," Jack warned. "I know you're not ever really good in the wisecracking department, but this had better be a joke."
"I am unsure. She has been tortured, that much is clear. She also appears to be wearing clothes that were stolen from the nearby village."
"Teal'c?" Daniel asked as he practically shoved Jack out of the way. "Do you know how long she's
been there?"
"She has been here since this morning, Daniel Jackson. Though I understand what you are asking."
Jack turned to Daniel and frowned. "What are you asking?"
"A villager was murdered late last night." Daniel shrugged. "It just seems like much more than a coincidence."
Jack nodded, duly noting that observation. When he turned back to the microphone, he was at a loss.
Decisions, decisions.
"O'Neill… I believe she is in need of medical attention, if you are willing to permit asylum."
"OK, OK, Teal'c," Jack cried. "I get it."
When he turned to Daniel, he received no help, as Daniel seemed just as confused.
"You're the General, Jack," Daniel reminded him with a very Daniel-like smirk.
"Yeah, thanks…" He turned to Walter, who looked completely neutral, before clearing his throat and turning to Daniel again. "T, if she's as sick as you say, the likelihood of her murdering a villager is slim, correct?"
"Indeed, O'Neill."
"It could just be a coincidence, right?"
Daniel looked doubtful, but hopeful nevertheless.
"I am unsure, O'Neill."
"Come on. This is Carter we're talking about. An injured Carter."
"Not ours, Jack," Daniel said slowly. "But I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt."
"Teal'c? Bring… Uh… Bring this Carter through the Gate as soon as possible. We'll have a medical team awaiting on standby. Proceed with caution."
"Understood, O'Neill. Colonel Carter and I are approximately half an hour away from the Stargate and will join Colonel Ellis, Major Wells, and Captain Wertz before we return to the SGC. Teal'c out."
The wormhole disengaged, leaving Jack feeling a lot more apprehensive than he had when the night began. It would be a half an hour before Teal'c and this… other Carter… got to the Stargate. At that time, he would have no choice but to follow through with his plans. If she was a friend - great. If she was a foe – they'd survive. A Carter from another reality had always proven to be harmless, if not extremely helpful in getting the job done for them. He kinda doubted she had done anything to that villager, but was still pretty anxious about the whole thing. It wasn't wholly out of the realm of possibility, after all. Theoretically…
They had a procedure for this anyway, he told himself. Everything would be fine.
But, he began to ask himself, how many times had great plans gone horribly wrong? Could he afford the risk? General Hammond had taken many risks in the past, and they had all (mostly) turned out OK in the end. Could he expect the same luck? Should he?
He supposed he'd find out in time – assuming he was given the chance.
If worse came to worse, well… Jack knew that Landry would be offering no more free trips to Cheyenne Mountain in the future.
The next time the Stargate engaged, it was Carter calling in to tell him that one of the doctors had found some "great discovery," and that they'd like to run some tests. His eyes characteristically glazed over after "energy," mostly out of habit, so he wasn't 100 sure why Carter had made the call.
Jack was at a temporary loss, though. How had it gone from being "very important that they get home" to "very important that they stay" in one hour's time? He had reluctantly agreed, but had given her a three-hour limit. He trusted her implicitly, and – at times – tended to put unreasonable amounts of pressure upon her abilities, he knew. Still, she had been grateful for the chance to figure out "The Crystal."
He'd also conveniently forgotten to tell her that Teal'c was about to bring "her" home from his own mission. Details like these could remain unknown for as long as he wished. He was a General, after all.
When Teal'c and the rest of SG-17 reached the Stargate with Other Carter in tow, it was 12:15 am. They had made good time, according to Teal'c, considering an amazing downpour had started 15 minutes into their trip. With Daniel at his side, Jack was more than sure that he'd like to ask SOMEONE for advice. Unfortunately, Daniel was just as worried as he was, and Carter was tied up at the moment. Landry had been unreachable.
Twenty-five trained SFs stood at the base of the ramp, greeting Teal'c and the others like the dutiful soldiers they were. Instead of standing down upon SG-17's arrival, they stayed on alert – per Jack's orders.
She certainly looked like Carter. Stumbling down the ramp, with the help of Teal'c and Captain Peter Wertz, she looked just like Carter – but different. She definitely looked ill or injured, but she seemed afraid to make eye contact.
Again, Jack began to question his decision. Had he done the right thing by bringing her here?
As he and Daniel made their way through the SFs to Teal'c, Captain Wertz and Colonel Vincent Ellis, this Carter shrunk away from them. Teal'c shot Jack a knowing look and shook his head warningly.
"Sam?" Daniel asked quietly. "Is that you?"
She nodded in response, only managing to dig her hands further into the material of Teal'c's uniform, eliciting a small frown from Jack.
"Teal'c," Jack began, "it looks like you've got a fan. Why don't you escort her to the infirmary and meet Daniel and me in my office as soon as possible, OK?"
Teal'c bowed in the affirmative, and led the woman in question to the infirmary, six armed SFs following closely behind.
Jack was left with yet another feeling of apprehension. He couldn't fully explain it, but something about that woman sent off all kinds of alarms.
She had nodded in response to one of Daniel's questions. She had clung to Teal'c like he was her lifeline. But never once had she glanced in his direction.
He told himself that he wasn't jealous, that he had no reason to be. Not only was this not THEIR Carter, but this woman looked terrified. Of course she'd be weary of certain people. Maybe he wasn't even in the reality that she was from. Stranger things had happened.
Still, he couldn't deny the niggling feeling that rose from deep within his stomach.
Never before had Jack feared a decision he'd made as much as he did now.
She was soaked to the skin, and angrily cursed the human form she had taken. Because she was smaller than the four men, and not dressed like them, the rain had felt that much harsher. Captain Wertz had awkwardly offered her his hat, and had blushed deeply when she kindly declined. Fifteen minutes into their trip, she accepted the jacket he offered. It helped her arms and chest somewhat, but her hands were still like ice, reminding her of nine years before, of a memory that was hers, but an experience that was not. Vaguely, she remembered O'Neill complaining about water in his ears many years ago. These memories would keep her in check, keep her focused, keep her Sam. The more like Sam she was, the better her chances of survival.
Still, she began to doubt the wisdom in retaking a semi-human form. She wasn't quite human, wasn't quite ascended. But she still looked better than Anubis.
The walk with Teal'c had been uneventful, but more interesting than she had anticipated. She had underestimated her own power until she had taken the trek with Teal'c. Her ability to act just like her original, complete with the "drowned rat" look, had kept Teal'c dutifully at her side, and had been worthy of an Oscar. This proved that her original and Teal'c had indeed grown even closer than the last time she remembered being with him.
He did not speak, but his quiet presence warmed her in places she had once considered untouchable. It disturbed her as much as it thrilled her. A new challenge, a new discovery. She would use this to her advantage. There had been many times in the past when Teal'c had held a weapon aimed at her because she was a threat to Earth and to the SGC. Now, she was sure that he could hold the weapon on her, but doubted that he would ever be able to fire it without hesitation.
Two doctors had examined her while six SFs stood at the opposite side of the room. She hid a smile as she recognized one of the men from the Alpha Site so long ago. His face seemed emotionless, but she had a feeling that he had never looked at her original the same way again. She could sense his fear, almost feel his heart rate increase when he noticed that she was staring at him. Her fingertips twitched with anticipation as she pondered how she could terrify this man further.
The doctors had been gone for ten minutes, but she knew that they were equally concerned. No one, she knew, would take kindly to any other version of her original, and she was no exception. Still, she had complete control of her body, giving the doctors the appearance of a weathered, tired and abused woman, both inside and out. Their instincts and training would make it impossible for them to dismiss her, despite their fears.
"We're going to assign you your own quarters, Ms. Carter," one doctor stated with a fake smile as he walked back into the room.
She smiled back, weakly and cautiously.
"You are a bit dehydrated, but we think you'll be fine with some rest," the second added. "General O'Neill would like to speak with you in the briefing room before you go."
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you, very much."
Slowly she stood up and followed the two physicians out of the infirmary, flanked on all sides by SFs. Everyone noticed the slow stagger to her stride. No one saw the smug look of victory in her eyes.
