Ch. 8 Calm Before The Storm

Sam was hesitant to accept Jack's invitation. Then she leaned into him ever so slightly, allowing his arms to envelop her. At first she tensed. Not because she was wary of him, but because she hurt, all over. It had not been an easy day.

"I'm sorry, sir. I-"

"There's nothing to apologize for," he quieted her. Jack held her gently, being mindful of her possible injuries. Sam had not elaborated on what had happened in the time she was gone, and though he didn't know what injures she might be hiding, Jack knew it could have been much worse.

Sam didn't cry, not one tear. Nor did she move her arms from her chest. It was the two-for-one. She could receive comfort, yet still be Major Carter, USAF. Sam inhaled deeply, both to calm her still racing heart and to take comfort in Jack's gentle familiarity. Here she found safety, if only for a moment.

"Carter, I just want to be clear here. Whatever happens, we can't hide anything from each other. It's us against them. You're not alone in this."

Sam nodded, pulling back. She sent a weak smile to Daniel and Teal'c, who had given the two some space.

"So, uh, any injuries we need to know about?" Jack asked.

Sam shook her head. She certainly wasn't feeling her best, but it was her pride that had been injured most that day.

o-O-o

Teal'c's eyes traveled around their prison. They were inside a cave, and their cell wasn't perfectly square. In fact, it was anything but. There was even a small alcove, which they used as their 'facilities'. It wasn't much, but it provided at least a little privacy. In one corner there was a tiny puddle. Every so often, a drop of water would hit the placid surface, sending small ripples running outward. This would provide them with something to drink, if it became necessary.

His gaze settled on his teammates. He was proud of Sam, who continued to prove that she was a formidable warrior. Daniel had told her as much. He had said he'd admired that she'd still had the presence of mind to join in their fight after her ordeal. Sam had simply nodded. Teal'c had already decided he would kill Mal'tek where he stood, given the chance. However, he feared he might not get that opportunity. The others hadn't realized yet, but soon he would weaken without his Tretonin. He looked stoically ahead while listening to the conversation taking place.

"Tisiphone told me that as a female, she knew what could break a woman. What would be the most painful experience," Sam relayed to Daniel.

Jack stood close by, taking this in with a frown. Sam had obviously recovered from her experience enough to look at it somewhat objectively. Or maybe she had to look at it that way. Sometimes that was the only way to get through things.

"Well, she didn't realize who she was dealing with," Daniel said, pride in his voice.

"Daniel, I don't think you understand. If we hadn't been, ah, interrupted," Sam cleared her throat uncomfortably, "the situation would have been completely different. Next time I won't be able to fight him off."

"There won't be a next time," Daniel replied confidently.

Sam looked down at her hands in an attempt to not let Daniel see her unease. "Unless we get out of here soon, he'll finish what he started," she said wincingly, knowing the First Prime's intentions.

"Okay, so there's a Stargate," Jack interjected. The mood was getting way too depressing.

"Yes, sir. I don't know exactly what was going on, but the First Prime was needed ASAP."

"Well, supposing we escape, how are we going to find it? We came here by ship. We have no idea where the gate is."

"I guess we have to assume it's in this compound. I mean, it can't be that far from her base of operations," Daniel suggested.

"That's not good enough," Jack groused, shaking his head. They needed more intel. It wouldn't matter if they escaped if they couldn't find the Stargate before someone found them.

"The Goa'uld have devices that are able to locate the Stargate," Teal'c informed them.

"Yeah," Daniel recalled thoughtfully.

"Hold on a second. They might not even have that kind of technology. These guys are way behind the times. They couldn't even save their precious Morpheus," Jack said, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.

"I severed Morpheus in two, sir," Sam reminded him. "And even if Tisiphone has a sarcophagus, he'd been dead for a while by the time we arrived. I doubt he could have been saved."

"So Morpheus and Tisiphone would either have a sarcophagus or they'd change hosts every few hundred years," Daniel presumed.

"So basically we know nothing for sure," Jack stated. The rest of his team nodded. Jack crossed his arms. "Okay, so how about some dinner?"

o-O-o

SG-1 had finally gotten something to eat. It reminded them a lot of their meals on the ice planet where they had been slaves. While the others had eaten their share, Sam had poked at her meal. She'd claimed not to be hungry, but they hadn't eaten since before they'd gone on their mission. She'd finally taken a few bites just to get them off her back. However, they were right; she needed to eat to keep up her strength. They hadn't said it outright, but she'd known what they were thinking. You're the one who's going to be tortured. You're the one who's going to have to fight for your life. It had only served to make her sick to her stomach.

With only their jackets to keep them warm, they had tried to settle down to sleep in the cool cell. Teal'c and Jack leaned back to back, their shoulders and heads resting against the wall after they'd dozed off. Sam had found the most comfortable position was on her stomach. She lay not far from the men, her head resting lightly on folded arms. Daniel had taken first watch. All had been well until a barely audible whimper reached Daniel's ears.

He looked at his sleeping friends, specifically Sam. He and Jack had both had some bad nights while they had been a team. Sam, however, normally handled everything in stride, hiding her innermost feelings from them.

But not tonight.

Daniel crouched by her side, studying her face. Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. Something definitely wasn't right.

"Daniel?" came Jack's tired voice.

"I think she's having a nightmare."

"Carter?" Jack asked in surprise. He glanced down, seeing her distress. "Carter," he said, shaking her lightly. No response. "Carter!"

Daniel barely managed to move out of the way as Sam sprang up. She looked at her arm where Jack had touched her, face contorted in fear and pain. She quickly rubbed her hand across her face, trying to clear her mind and gather herself together.

"Sam?" Daniel prodded softly. "A dream?"

"No. A memory," she responded, shaking her head.

"A memory?"

"Yeah, uh, Jolinar." She paused, biting her lip. "I keep seeing her with Bynarr. What she had to do to escape."

"Major Carter, we would never ask you to do such a thing, even if it meant our survival," the now awakened Teal'c said reassuringly. The others nodded in agreement.

"I know, I know. I just can't get the images out of my head."

"Carter, you're not her, and I won't let it happen. Like Teal'c said, even if Mal'tek was going to hand you the way outta here, I wouldn't even dream of asking you to sacrifice yourself like that."

"I know you wouldn't, sir. I don't think I could do what she did, even if I wanted to." Sam shivered. "Geez, it's cold in here."

"Yes, well, let's try to get some shuteye," Jack said, scooting over. He patted the area between he and Teal'c. "For warmth," he added.

Sam squeezed herself in between the two men, ignoring the soreness of her body. She knew she was probably black-and-blue, but she wasn't about to let her team know it. She'd grin and bear it. Sam pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them.

"Comfortable?" Jack asked incredulously.

"Not really," she admitted.

"Well, if Teal'c is too muscly for you, I make an all right pillow."

A small grin appeared on Sam's lips. She was so tired and still felt somewhat vulnerable. She knew Jack would keep her safe through the night, that she could slumber peacefully. So Sam made a decision to put her uncertainties aside and think about what she wanted.

"Okay."

Jack was surprised at her willingness to accept his offer. He nodded and pulled her towards him until her body was snug against him. This was for warmth after all. Tentatively, Sam sank into his embrace, attempting to push the day's events away. She found herself drifting off. With Daniel watching out for them, Teal'c's strong presence at her right, and Jack's warmth and familiarity, Sam slept soundly through the night.

The calm before the storm.

TBC in 'Help'