Chapter 4: A Call Home

It was decided.

After consultation with her team, they were moving ahead with a plan to secure Teyla's release and hopefully, advance the possibilities for peace in the Pegasus Galaxy. It wasn't a foolproof plan, but when was it ever. Risks were inherent in every off world mission. This one held a great deal of calculated risk, much of it belonging to Sam Carter.

The past few hours had seen no fewer than three video contacts with Michael. During these transmissions, Sam, Oscar and Beloved negotiated slightly altered terms for the meeting. First of all, Sam and Oscar would come together, along with a security contingent. They would meet Michael and a small group of his followers on a neutral, uninhabited moon. Each party would have the ability to scout the area first. If either side brought more than the half dozen personnel they were allowed, the meeting would be called off.

Sam still hoped Michael might agree to take her in place of Teyla if she could make it worth his while. Better yet, she hoped the team might gather enough intelligence to rescue her altogether. Best case scenario, but admittedly unlikely, Michael would believe her and scuttle his nefarious plans. She had to admit, that was a long shot.

The meeting was scheduled for 0800 tomorrow, Atlantis time. Tonight, hopefully, she could get some sleep. But first, she needed to talk with Jack.

As she waited for the subspace connection to be patched through the Stargate, Sam did her best to anticipate her husband's reaction. It wasn't hard to do. All she needed was to think of her own reaction were their situations reversed.

Someday, it wouldn't be like this, she thought. Someday, we won't be worrying about one of us possibly dying when we go to work. She had to admit, on some level they'd both gotten used to the danger. But neither of them liked it, at least not when it involved the other.

With that thought, the screen of her laptop came to life, Jack's face looking back at her from the display, smiling when he caught sight of her.

"Hi," he said, "how are you?"

"I'm feeling good," she replied. "Back to normal far as I can tell. Haven't had the urge to eat anything bigger than a cheeseburger." She regretted the poor attempt at humor almost before it was out of her mouth.

"Funny," Jack said, with a strange set of his eyebrows. "That was worse than some of mine."

"Learned from the best," she said.

"What's up?" Jack asked. "You didn't place a very long distance call to your lonely husband just to practice stand up comedy."

Sam smiled.

"No, I didn't," she admitted. "I wanted you to know Oscar and I are meeting with Michael tomorrow."

Jack was silent. He sat still, looking her up and down. His face was inscrutable. He was doing his best to put the military mask in place. And she knew why. He understood the danger involved in what his wife was proposing. More than that, he understood why she needed to do it. Commander of the expedition or not, Sam Carter wasn't one to ignore the plight of someone who was or had been under her command. If Teyla was in trouble, she'd do what she could to help.

She wasn't calling for permission. He knew there was nothing he could say to dissuade her from going. Long ago he'd promised himself he'd never guilt her with his feelings. But maybe he could help her tighten up the tactical aspects of the meeting. At least he could try if she'd let him

"Tell me your plan," he said.

And she did. In some detail, over a secure channel, Sam shared what she hoped would transpire during tomorrow's meeting. Jack pressed to hear exactly who, besides Oscar, would accompany her. He wanted to be the one to guard her, but he'd have to settle for Sheppard, Ronon and the others.

When Sam finished her practiced recitation she sat back and studied his face.

"You're not going to try and talk me out of this?" Sam asked rhetorically.

"Would it matter if I did?" Jack quipped, raising his eyebrow in an almost hopeful query. Hey, if telling her he'd die if he ever lost her would keep her from going, he'd probably give it a try.

She smiled. Sometimes she swore she could read his mind.

"You know me too well," she said.

"Yeah, I do," Jack replied.

She loved this man.

"I know this is what you need to do," he said. "And it needs doing."

He looked at her, his eyes full of love.

"Do what needs doing Sam, but come home safe," he said. "That's all I ask."

"I'll do my best," she said, her eyes soft and holding his.

It was her usual response when she couldn't reliably predict the outcome.

TBC