Across the Divide: A walk in the woods

By Se/Seesaw

DISCLAIMER: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This was written for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the authors. Not to be archived without permission of the author.

RATING: PG-13, just in case

SEQUEL: Across the divide, Across the divide: Touch and go, Across the Divide: Acquaintance in the dark

AUTHORS NOTES: This is an AU basically because I like to play around with things and will make absolutely no sense unless you've read the previous parts. So if you haven't I wouldn't bother reading much further. It's also been pointed out to me that I really should be adding in new chapters to the original fic but since I start putting each new part up as a new story I may as well keep going. The usual apologies still stand, i.e. this hasn't been beta-ed so I am sorry for any mistakes. I will probably do a sequel to this series whether it'll be a WIP or I'll just take ages and write a larger fic remains to be seen. Thanks to everyone who took the time to send feedback, huge thanks to you all.

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The pitch black of night seeped into the woods as the sun set, blotting out the world. An hour or so after they went to ground the rain began to fall. The pitter patter of rain hitting the sodden ground and two people breathing were all that Jack could hear.

After her initial nap neither slept, too much fear and adrenaline coursing through their veins that at any moment Jaffa would appear around the corner. Cold was seeping into Jacks body from the ground beneath him and the rock behind him. Beside him he could near Carter blowing on her hands.

"So." Jack broke the silence, willing to speak to the enemy to take his thoughts off the cold. "What's the pay like in the NID?"

He heard a rustling of cloth as her head turned to face him and he could just about make out the look on her face.

He hadn't expected her to reply but she did,

"Not great, but you get a nice company car."

He had to chuckle at that, finally, an NID officer with a sense of humour.

Silence descended again but Jack was unwilling to let it remain.

"So what are the chances of you telling me what you guys were doing here?"

"We were looking for one of the prisoners."

Jack was momentarily stunned into silence and she continued on.

"We had Intel that he knew where some ancient technology was."

"Should I ask where you got that Intel from?" Jack asked dubiously.

"A Jaffa was captured and brought through the Stargate when it was in possession of the NID."

"And you believed him."

"He didn't really have the choice to lie." She muttered and Jack was surprised by the disgust evident in her voice, telling him all he needed to know about their information retrieval techniques.

Silence fell again, each contemplating the evils of the NID.

Once again the frigid temperature of the night made it's known and it wasn't long before Jack felt Sam's body shaking.

"We're going to die of hypothermia at this rate." He grumbled as he began to shift his body around to get the feeling back into his ass.

"Hmm" was Sam's only reply, her lips pressed into a thin blue line. "So usually I'd buy you dinner first but I hear that Jaffa catering is a little dodgy."

"What are… you talking about?" His breath formed puffs of white smoke in the cold night air.

Carter heaved another sigh and set a determined look on her face. In a swift action that took Jack totally by surprise she unzipped the front of his jacket and slid her hands around his waist. Jack winced at the feel of her cold skin through his shirt and T-shirt.

"Sorry." She muttered into his chest as she rested her head against him, her blond hair tickling his nose.

"It's ok." He shuffled around and pulled her body tighter against his until she was almost sitting in his lap. He held her tightly and felt warmth slowly trickle back into his body. The hands around his waist grew warmer and Carter held him just as tightly.

"So this wasn't how I thought my evening would end." He spoke into her hair trying to ignore the fact that it smelt disturbingly good. He was pleased to feel her laughing a little.

"Could be worse I guess."

"You guess?" Jack added, a touch of consternation to his voice.

Her felt a giggle pass through her body, the vibrations passing from her to him. He tightened his grip on her instinctually and turned a blind eye on the strange intimacy of the situation.

Carter was silent but Jack sense her stillness was only external.

"You think very loudly." He commented after the minutes ticked past.

She blinked as he pulled herself out of her reverie.

"You figuring out general meaning of life stuff or something specific?"

She pulled a face at him and then rested her cheek against his chest again.

"I was trying to work out our position in relation to the Stargate."

Jack instantly felt guiltily that he wasn't doing something useful with his own thoughts rather then reflecting on the oddness of his day so far.

"The prison was two and a half clicks south east from the gate. The best I can tell we've travelled west at least a click and a half, two at the most. As long as the woods continue, we can continue due north and be within the area of the Stargate by about noon tomorrow."

"Sounds about right to me." Jack didn't even think about it, he knew when he was out smarted.

"That is of course if we don't come across any obstacles."

"Obstacles?" He didn't need to ask but he did all the same.

"Ravines, rivers…."

"Jaffa." Jack supplied for her when she trailed off.

"Yeah, mainly those really."

Jack refrained from commenting further on Jaffa, he knew all he wanted to know about them and didn't really feel up to talking about them.

"You think they'll send reinforcements for you?"

"As soon as they can secure the gate they'll probably send a couple of teams through."

"Right." Her voice was a strange mixture of envy and anger. "That must be nice."

They chatted idly as the night passed about nothing in particular, both careful to avoid an issues of importance and yet both unwilling to remain silent. Jack was very aware that this was not standard procedure when dealing with the enemy but it just didn't seem to bother him all that much. She was not a standard prisoner. For a start she had willingly revealed why the NID were on the planet and what they hoped to achieve there. Plus, she really didn't seem to like the NID.

Slowly dawn seeped in and the darkness that enveloped them for the past couple of hours lifted. The green of the woodland appeared around them and Jack was grateful that they could move soon. Grateful that soon he would be able to stretch his stiff limbs and get the blood running back to his toes.

The harsh hiss of static shattered the gentle sounds of nature and caused both soldiers to tense.

"Colonel O'Neill do you read?" General Hammonds voice erupted from Jack's shoulder.

Jack was alert in seconds and in full Colonel mode. He released his radio from his shoulder and held it to his mouth.

"Loud and clear General, how's life on the other side?" It was Jack's way of asking if everyone was home safe and well.

After working with the man for many years the General knew just what he was asking.

"All safe and well here Colonel, what's your status?"

"Just doing some bonding with nature, General." He quipped.

"And the NID agent."

"She's here with me sir." Jack kept his comments short, unwilling to elaborate.

"We've sent an AV over the area, it looks like the Goul'd have withdrawn their forces. Any activity we've seen seem to be local population or escaped prisoners."

"That's good to hear sir."

"What's your position son and we'll come and get you."

"Well I'm not too sure on that one sir but if the Jaffa patrols have been called off we should be able to make our way to you."

The General paused, obviously thinking over Jack's proposition.

"If you're sure son." He was giving Jack an out.

Jack glanced down to be momentarily caught by a pair of blue eyes gazing up at him.

"We're not that far from the gate sir, may as well save some of the boys a trek."

"I'll send a team through to hold the door for you."

"Thank you General, I'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Report in every hour Colonel, safe journey home."

"Yes sir."

Jack clipped his radio back into place as Carter untangled herself from him and stood.

"You need a hand up old man." She grinned down at him.

"I'm not that old yet." He grumbled as he stood trying not to wince at the sharp pain in his legs.

The day was still grey but they had spent far too much time as it was on this planet.

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They travelled in silence, scaling rock formations and battling their way through undergrowth. Their progress was slow across the uncompromising terrain. They only spoke when they were forced to come to an abrupt halt.

"Ah crap. You think they could have mentioned this to us."

Carter stared at the swirling river before them a frown creasing her brow.

"I don't remember crossing a river on the way here." Jack went on speaking.

Carter pushed a hand through her hair and closed her eyes.

"There was a small stream with a crude bridge." She spoke, obviously recalling her journey to the prison.

"Yeah but that was a stream, this…" Jack pointed at what he viewed as icy water, "This is a river."

"It must split further inland into a number of smaller tributaries."

"That's just our luck." Jack was disgusted; he really didn't want to get wet, even if they were going to be back on earth in a relatively short number of hours.

"So can't we just follow it down stream to a smaller tributary."

"We could but then we may have to cross a number of smaller rivers."

"So one big one or a couple of small ones." Jack summed up.

"If we go downstream looking for smaller tributaries it could add a couple of hours onto our trip."

Jack wasn't all that keen on that idea.

"Besides this river isn't that big or deep it should be easy enough to cross." She cocked an eyebrow of him, "You're not scared of getting wet are you?"

Jack didn't like being provoked. That didn't mean he didn't response it just meant he didn't like it.

"Fine." He snapped and began to wade into the waters.

He was aware of her eyes on his back and the noise of her moving through the water but he didn't look at her. Instead he kept his eyes focused on his footing, keen to make sure only his feet and lower legs got wet and not the rest of him.

Jack had one foot on the opposite shore and was quietly pleased with himself that the water had not risen to above his knees when he heard the splash. He pivoted on the foot still underwater and barely kept himself from following Carter's lead.

He didn't bother restraining his snort of amusement. Before him Carter was hauling herself back onto both feet. Her entire body was drenched, water dripping from her hair and the ends of her jacket sleeves.

She was muttering some unsavoury words as she dragged herself to join Jack on dry land.

"Not one word." She scowled at him and began to promptly strip off layers of clothes.

She dropped to the ground, efficiently removing her boots discarding her socks and pulling her boots back on. She stood again and unzipped her jacket.

"Give me your shirt." She demanded.

"What?"

She dropped her jacket to the ground to join her wet socks and pulled her shirt over her head to reveal a black tank top. This too was wet.

"I want something dry, you shirt is dry. Give it to me." She stared at him pointedly.

"Say please." He teased, thoroughly amused by her discomfort.

She pulled her tank top over her head, leaving her standing before him in a modest black bra and nothing else. Jack's eyes were glued to her bare skin but not because of the expanse of milky white skin begging to be touched but because, stretching from her rib cage on the left of her body and travelling diagonally to her right hip was an angry red scar. The wound was barely healed, the viciousness of it still fresh.

It took a minute for him to notice that she was shivering but it was enough to propel him into action, quickly stripping off his shirt and wishing the T-shirt beneath it had sleeves.

"You going to tell me where you got that?" He asked as she quickly buttoned up his shirt.

"No." She snapped before turning away from him.

Jack was confused by the constant swing of their fledgling relationship, one-minute inmate, the next teasing and the next hostile.

"You must have done something fairly drastic to get that as punishment." He tried to pry but hard eyes connected with his when she finally turned back to him.

"It's not the ones that scar that I worry about."

She moved away from him briskly and he could do nothing more but follow.

The terrain finally levelled making their journey that bit easier. Again they travelled in silence, Carter in the lead, Jack following behind. He studied her back noting her tense shoulders. She was apprehensive about their return to earth but by the looks of the scar on her chest it wasn't the SGC's welcome she was worried about but the welcome wagon the NID would have for her.

Jack's radio crackled shortly after 13 hundred hours and Colonel Makepeace's voice erupted from it.

"We're reading activity 300 meters south west of the gate, any chance that's you O'Neill?"

"Roger that, try not to open fire on us when we come out of the tree line."

"We'll do our best O'Neill. Over."

Jack shook his head at the constant jibes between the air force and marines and managed to walk into the back of Carter. She had stopped just as the forest was thinning. Jack could just make out part of the Stargate sitting in the clearing beyond.

"I guess this is where we part ways O'Neill."

"I guess."

"It's been… interesting." She settled on the word carefully and Jack figured he'd been called worse.

"You do realise you're going to get arrested when you step into that clearing." He said as they the muffled voices of SG-3 filtered through to them.

"You do realise it won't stay that way for long." She was mocking him; he could hear it in her voice.

"We'll see."

"O'Neill." Her voiced pulled him up just before he stepped through the cover hiding them from sight. He turned to find Carter standing closer to him then expected. Before he could say a word she had moved and was firmly pressing her lips to him. Jack froze in surprise as her tongue briefly plundered his mouth.

Before he had the time to make up his mind to pull her closer to him or push her away she had stepped back. A dazzling smile was plastered on her face although her cheeks were tinged red with embarrassment.

She shrugged, "I was just curious."

"Eh." Jack's brain was still about two minutes behind and his eyes were glued to those lips and that smile.

"My life isn't conducive to second chances and regrets."

"Right." Jack nodded and tried to look like he knew what she was on about.

"You better lead the way, they might shot me."

"Right." Jack said again and instantly felt idiotic. He marched forward into the clearing to hide his discomfort.

He was greeted by 4 gun barrels but none where pointed at him. They were all aimed at the woman behind him.

"O'Neill glad to see you in one piece." Colonel Makepeace stepped forward and shook his hand.

Two members of SG-3 kept their guns trained on Carter as the third relived her of the zat.

"She cause you much trouble." Makepeace nodded at her.

Jack wasn't all that sure how to answer that one so he made do with a simple "no." He was grateful that the Colonel didn't push him as to why his prisoner had been armed.

Sam Carter was frisked and with a swift kick was knocked to the ground. One marine placed a knee in the small of her back while he secured her hands in cuffs. Jack tried not to wince at the manoeuvre.

"Ready to move out sir." The marine addressed both of them at once and Makepeace turned to the gate. Jack tried to make eye contact with Carter but she wouldn't meet his gaze as she was dragged back to her feet by two sets of rough hands.

"I believe there's a cup of coffee waiting for you on the other side O'Neill. Jackson said something about suicide mission strong." Makepeace informed him with a chuckle.

Jack was warmed by the thought of Daniel's extra strong special brew that he only ever made after particularly arduous missions. At least it was one thing he could look forward to, how to explain what went on over the past 14 hours with Sam Carter was a whole other kettle of fish.

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Jack felt refreshed. After his briefing on returning from his adventures with NID agents Hammond had allowed Jack to take the remainder of the day off. His wound was minimal enough for Doc Fraiser to allow him to go home. It was amazing what a shower and sleep in a proper bed could do for you.

A shadow fell over the report that Jack was idly flicking through. He looked up to find Daniel standing above him.

"Jack." He greeted succinctly before dropping into the seat opposite him.

"Daniel." Jack returned his greeting cautiously.

"There's been some news."

"What now?" Jack muttered, "Fleet of Goul'd ships here to destroy us, fleet of politicians her to bore us." He asked annoyed.

"Not quite that bad. It's about that NID agent you were trapped off world with."

"Carter."

Daniel frowned, obviously surprised that Jack knew her name. "Yeah, she was being transported to a high security facility yesterday."

"Yesss." Jack had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"Well she never arrived."

It had taken even less time then she had predicted for them to spring her, she must have been in custody for less then 12 hours before she was sprung.

"Let me guess they have no idea where she is or who took her."

Daniel nodded.

"Figures. What about the other agents you brought back with you?"

"They're being held in a high security facility but so far we haven't gotten anything out of them. I'm not sure we ever will."

"So it was only Carter that was taken?"

"Looks like she was the only one they wanted. They must have something big planned for her."

"That's what I'm worried out."

Jack downed the rest of his coffee and stood.

"What ever way you look at it Daniel it's not the last time we'll meet the NID." He picked up his report and headed to General Hammond's office to discuss this latest development. God only knew what the NID would throw at them next.