They all stared at the man in front of them. Some of them hadn't seen him since his ascension 2 years ago and some were seeing him on a regular basis. Even though they all thought she was crazy.
"Daniel," Jack said, again.
Daniel nodded. The only thing Jacob could think about was whether he was going to help.
"Do you know where my daughter is?" he asked.
Daniel didn't want to have to go through it all again and see the pain in Jacobs eyes.
"I do but I can't help you."
"What do you mean you cant help? If you know where she is you have to tell us!"
Jacob was insistent.
"Daniel, then why areyou here?" Jack asked.
"To make sure you don't think that Shelley is crazy after what she told you about seeing me. Plus her being the one to find Sam."
Jack had that puzzled look on his face, again.
"Yeah what's that about?" he asked.
Daniel froze for a moment, just as he had done in Shelley's dream state.
"I have to go."
"Daniel!" Shelley pleaded.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." He said.
There was something in his voice that made Shelley very nervous. She caught his stare has he looked down at the gate room. The others looked with her. In a moment of distraction, Daniel disappeared, again.
"I give up." Jack said.
Shelley continued to look at the gate as the chevrons began to spin and the lights and sirens made everyone alert.
She followed the others down the flight of stairs to the control room where Walter Davis (Harriman) was sat. He looked up at General Hammond.
"Sgt, what's the problem?"
"It's an audio file sir, from Saimaria."
Hammond's eyebrows rose as he looked at the colonel, who in turn looked at his sister. Her heart began to race. They hadn't heard from that planet in 6 months and hadn't planned on hearing from them ever again. It was a part of the past she wanted to remain in the past.
The general was in two minds of what to do. Having been told by his superiors never to have any contact with them again, due to the nature of the crime committed against one of their team. He held in a breath and let it out slowly.
"Play the file."
"General," O'Neill said "it can't be a coincidence that Daniel disappeared at the same time they try and contact us."
"I know, Colonel."
Shelley moved several paces back as the file began to play. Not wanting to listen to what they had to say.
"We're under attack. From the Goa'uld, her name is Isis."
Shelley and Jacob stared at each other, feeling both terrified and overjoyed at the news that she was alive.
"She wants to make contact with the human, Shelley O'Neill, alone."
Jack shook his head.
"We will resume contact in one hour with details."
It went dead. There was a uneasy silence in the control room. No one knowing what to say. This was the first contact they had had from Isis/Sam in the week since she had been taken. The only real proof that she was alive!
Shelley looked at Jack. Giving him the same look she had done as a kid when she wanted something. A look that always made him give in. Until this time.
"Don't even think about it." He said.
"Come on Jack, it might be the only way of getting her back."
"I'm sure there'll be another way Shell. Not to mention you going back to that place. Remember the last time you were there?"
"Im not likely to forget." Shelley said.
The last time they had been there had been during Cecily's trial, giving evidence. The worst few hours of her life. Having to go through her ordeal over and over again. Every single detail scrutinised. Her relationship with Sam on trial too.
"Then why go back? It's obviously some kind of trap." O'Neill said.
"I agree." Hammond added.
"If it gets her back... Then I'll do it."
Jack shook his head again.
"You had major surgery a few days ago."
"I'm fine. I want to do this. Besides its not your decision."
The redhead looked in the direction of the General. Hoping he would save her.
"I'm sorry, but Colonel O'Neill is right. It's most definitely a trap, and I can't put you or anyone else in that kind of situation."
Jack saw the look on Shelley's face. As if her whole life had come crashing down, yet again.
"George."
"Im sorry Jacob."
Watching as General Hammond made his way back up the stairs to his office, Shelley grabbed hold of Jack's arm, pulling him back.
"That cant be the end of it Jack, it can't."
"I know how much you want to get her back, Shell. But putting yourself right in front of Isis isn't the way."
"We don't even know what she wants yet." Jacob said.
"That's right. Can't we just listen to what she wants and then decide?"
No matter how much he wanted to say yes, Jack O'Neill had to let them down, again.
"The General has made his decision."
The young woman shook her head in frustration. Everyone in the control room stared at her. Her refusal to accept that Sam was gone was spreading through the SGC like wildfire.
"As much has I disagree with his decision... It's his decision." Jacob said.
"But, she's so close. I can't just forget about her."
"I know, it's hard. Knowing she's out there and not being able to... She's my daughter."
Shelley felt a hand on her arm and looked down. Seeing Jacob's hand resting on top of it. Offering her the support she had wanted from him for so long. As though he was accepting that he wasn't the only one who loved Sam, Shelley did too.
The redhead had paced around her office so many times it felt as though she had walked an Olympic marathon. The fact that Sam was only one trip through the gate away plagued her thoughts. Not being able to stop thinking about it, about her. Wondering why she was on that planet in the first place. It being one of the few she never wanted to go back to. But what if Isis had other ideas!
She wanted to break something, smash her entire office, to let out her frustrations. Instead Shelley sat at her desk, crying. Her tears wouldn't stop now. It had been the first time she had properly let out her emotions. Not wanting to appear weak in front of everyone.
The office that had been her home for the last few years was shrouded in almost darkness. The only visible light from a small lamp on the table. Next to it were several photos of the two of them, plus one of the three of them, Shelley, Sam and Mia. Every time she looked at it a part of her died in side. Not wanting to let go of the family they were becoming.
Being a family was one of the things Sam had always wanted. Having spent several years estranged from her father, after her mother died. Spending the time in the middle of him and her brother. That's how she and Shelley were alike. Losing their mothers at a young age and trying to keep their families together whilst father and brother fought.
Shelley picked up the photograph of her and Sam, taken on their first anniversary. Looking so happy, so in love. Oblivious to the tragedy that would befall them. She ran her finger across Sam's face.
"That's a gorgeous picture of the two of you." A female voice said from behind her.
Shelley turned her head and her eyes adjusted to the light as they were turned on. It was Janet, smiling at seeing that photograph.
"We were so happy. Now I've lost her." She said.
Janet sighed.
"Jonas told me that Isis is on Samairia and that she wants to make contact."
"Yeah, with me. Only me. What would she even be doing there?"
Janet sat down on the chair next to her friend.
"I know that some Goa'uld have influenced their hosts, you just have to ask Colonel O'Neill about that. But I've never heard of it going the other way. Host influencing its Goa'uld."
"Do you think it could have something to do with...?"
Shelley could barely say her name. The thought of even her name terrified her, never mind to go back there and see her.
"It's possible."
"I know, but if Sam is influencing her then why would she go there?"
"I guess the only way you'll know for sure is actually going to Saimairia."
Shelley stood up, pacing the room again.
"Well that's not gonna happen. Hammond said no."
"Since Jonas told me about that I've come up with an idea."
Shelley found herself back in the briefing room. This time with Janet and the hope that Hammond was going to agree with their plan.
"Do you think it would work?" Hammond asked.
"If Shelley can administer the sedative and we can get her to the Tok'ra in time." Doctor Fraiser said.
Finally the hope returned to Shelley's face. Jack saw that Hammond was seriously thinking about it.
"You're not seriously thinking of going along with this, General?" Jack asked. "She has no training in something like this. What if something goes wrong?"
"I'll be fine. I want to do this." Shelley said.
"We might only get one shot at this!" Jacob added.
"Colonel, I agree with Jacob. This might be our only chance at retrieving Major Carter."
"Please Jack. You guys risked your lives to rescue me and SG7 and Sam gave herself to protect me. Let me do this!"
She gave him that look again. That lost little girl look she had been fond of using as a kid. She placed a hand on his arm, squeezing.
"Please Jack?"
He looked into her eyes. Just seeing how much pain she had been in over the last few days. Both physically and mentally. How desperate she was to have Sam back.
"Okay, but you're not going in without some back up." He said.
"What do you have in mind?" Jacob asked.
After ten minutes they received another audio message from the Saimairians. Shelley was to proceed to the planet, on her own, with no weapons. She would be totally alone, but Jack had other ideas!
They stood at the end of the ramp, Shelley looking back at the Stargate, having gotten dressed. Now she as wearing the green SGC uniform she wore when she went off-world. Her hair long around her shoulders. She heard the huge doors to the gate room open, seeing her brother, Jacob Carter and Doc Fraiser walk towards her. Shelley could see that Janet was carrying a syringe, probably the sedative she had to give Isis. Hoping that it would work. She was nervous. About seeing Isis/Sam, about her part in getting her back to the Tok'ra and being back on that planet. Probably coming face to face with Cecily. Having had nightmares about her every night for the first months after her attack.
General Hammond looked down at them from the control room, waiting to give Shelley the order.
"This is the sedative. Just inject her anywhere you can. It should knock her out for several hours." Janet said, placing the syringe in the leg pocket of her pants.
"And this," Jack said, holding up a small plastic ear piece, "will let us talk you through it, and this is a hidden camera."
He placed the device on her jacket, replacing one of the buttons. Shelley moved her hair behind her ear, placing the ear bud inside. Jack signalled the general, who spoke to her. She nodded at hearing his voice.
"The first sign of trouble and we're coming through that gate for you." Jack said.
The two of them looked at each other. Not as Colonel and someone under his command, but as brother and sister.
"No matter what happens; I'm proud of you for doing this." He said.
"I know."
He held her hand tight, trying not to let the others see his softer side.
"I'll bring her home." She said.
They took a step back as the gate began to spin. As she looked down she felt a hand in hers, belonging to the father of her girlfriend. Shelley didn't say anything; feeling too emotional already. Just looking at him and smiling.
Her heart began to pound as the wormhole finally opened.
"You have a go." Hammond said. "Good luck."
Shelley took a hesitant step forward, then another and another. Finally she reached the top of the ramp, staring at the wormhole in front of her. She held in her breath and stepped forwards one more step.
Shelley let it out quickly as she appeared on the other side, on Saimairia. Greeted by 20 Jaffa, who pointed staff weapons at her. She felt her heart beat begin to return to its normal rhythm. Shelley looked around the room. It was different from the last time she had been there. Finally realising that it was in a different place and that after their last encounter they had decided to move the gate somewhere else.
The jaffa moved closer to her, looking just as menacing as they had been a week ago.
"Stay where you are!" One of them shouted.
Shelley recognised him. He was Isis' personal guard. She raised her arms, turning around, showing them that she wasn't carrying any weapons.
"That's good Shell, that's good." She heard Jack whisper in her ear.
"I'm unarmed." She said.
The guard stared at her.
"You will come with me."
Another guard grabbed hold of Shelley's arms, pushing her forwards. She didn't know where she was going. Not being familiar with her current surroundings. Shelley looked back at the gate. Seeing that it was still active. They had agreed to let it stay open until Shelley was ready to leave.
They lead her through several locked doors. Something eerie (actually both correct but eerie is more accepted) about where she found herself. It looked like a prison.
"Shelley." Jack whispered. "I've been here before. This is their prison."
She tried to remain calm as the Jaffa lead her through the prison, or what was left of it. Most of the cells had been destroyed, several of the inmates lay dead on the ground in front of her. It didn't look as though it had been much of a fight. The Saimairian's having lost badly.
Shelley couldn't help but wonder if this was the prison that Cecily was in. Was she one of the ones that were lying dead on the ground? Or had she escaped? Running away like the coward she was.
Finally they stopped and the guard pushed her inside a nearby room. She fell on to the floor, having felt the full force of the Jaffa. Her head turned, looking around the room, making sure she was alone. She was.
She stood up, watching as the Jaffa closed and locked the door behind her.
"Jack, are you still there?" She whispered.
"I'm still here." He answered.
She checked the syringe in her pocket, sighing in relief as she found it still intact.
In front of her was a full length mirror. The room looked like a bedroom of someone's quarters. It made her feel uneasy.
"You're doing great Shell."
In the control room, Jack O'Neill sat in front of the monitor on the edge of his seat. Watching as his sister waited for Isis.
"I dont like this." He said. "We've no idea what she's getting herself in to."
Shelley stood with her back to the door, not even hearing it when it opened.
There was a long silent pause...
"Shelley, she's behind you."
Jack saw her reflection in the mirror in front of Shelley.
The redhead closed her eyes, sensing someone behind her. She didn't want to open them, seeing someone other than Sam. Feeling someone pressed against her, her eyes opened slowly.
In the mirror in front of her Shelley could barely make out blonde hair behind her.
A moment later, she felt a hand on her right arm then another on her left. One of them moved, moving away the hair to the back of her neck. Lightly tracking the skin with her fingers.
Her body began telling her that the the touch belonged to Sam. That only her and one other person knew how she liked to be touched. How much it aroused her! Shelley felt the woman nuzzling against her neck.
The redhead breathed hard, finding it hard to concentrate on her mission.
In the control room all of them men took a step back. Finding the moment a little too personal. Janet sat at the monitor, shaking her head at her male colleagues.
"Shelley," she said clasping the microphone, "it's not her. Remember it's not her. She's using Sam's memories to get to you."
Shelley held in her breath and let it out slowly as she moved away, out of reach of the Goa'uld.
Finally they faced each other. One a little more nervous than the other.
"Is that anyway to great your..."
Isis tried to find the right word. Not wanting to get it wrong.
"... girlfriend."
"You are not Samantha Carter. You may look like her but you're not her."
"And neither would I want to be. She's weak. Just like all humans."
Shelley's eyes saw what Isis had done to change who Sam was. Dressing her in golds and reds and changing the way she wore her hair. Now all slicked back. On first impressions, Shelley hated it.
"You're wrong."
"I've seen the way she coddles you like a newborn baby."
Sam's voice rang through the speaker system in the control room. No one knew what to say. Jacob lowered his head. Not wanting to see or hear his daughter.
"Scared you may get injured."
"Because she cares. When have you ever cared about something, someone other than yourself?"
"Careful Shell," Jack whispered, "don't piss her off completely."
"Why am I here? Why did you bring me here?"
Isis moved around the room, making Shelley back further away from her.
"Shelley O'Neill," Isis said, "or should I call you, Shelley Jackson?"
Shelley didn't react. Just seeing the look on the Goa'uld's face. That mischievous grin that Sam always gave her, when she was in a playful mood.
"I know my host doesn't like calling you the latter."
"Why don't you just stop and get on with it. Why am I here?"
Isis began to walk around the redhead who moved with her. Not wanting to let her out of her sight. Making sure those back in the control room saw her too.
"You and I got off on the wrong foot."
"Torturing me for information is getting off on the wrong foot?" Shelley asked.
Isis laughed.
"I admit, I may have exaggerated a little. That's why I came here."
The young woman was puzzled.
"Call it a peace offering." Isis said.
After a few seconds the doors opened and two Jaffa entered, pushing something. Shelley tried to see what it was, lying under the sheet. Isis stood next to it. Grabbing hold of the sheet, pulling it off.
As soon as she saw who was laying there, she looked away.
"Oh my god." Shelley heard Janet whisper in her ear.
Shelley stopped moving. Isis stopped too, standing behind her.
"You... You killed her. Why?"
"Oh no, my dear. I didn't do anything. Your beloved Samantha killed her. And she enjoyed it." Isis whispered in Shelley's ear.
"No, no, no." shelley said, shaking her head. "She wouldn't."
Isis began to surround her prey again, watching in sheer delight of Shelley's horror.
"She enjoyed it. Killed her with her own bare hands! Watching as the life drained from her eyes."
Shelley looked back at Cecily's lifeless body on the table behind her, still wrapped in the sheet. She wasn't sorry she was dead. Just in the way in which it happened. If indeed Isis was telling her the truth. Goa'uld had a tendancy to lie when it was to their advantage. But what could she gain from telling her that it was Sam who killed Cecily and not herself. And what was the difference?
"Sam would never do that."
"After what that woman did to you! I'm surprised she didn't do it sooner. The rage she felt when she saw her kneeling in front of her, was just exquisite." Isis said.
Shelley continued to shake her head. Not believing for one moment that Sam killed Cecily, let alone be capable of it.
"It was what you wanted, wasn't it? She did this for you."
"Sam knows I would never want her to kill for me. I love her too much for her to do that."
Isis scowled.
"I thought you were in control?"
"I let her out to play, occasionally. When I need to be entertained."
"You think this is funny. A woman is dead."
Isis shook her head, growing impatient of Shelley's ingratitude.
"Don't lie and tell me you didn't want that woman dead. I can hear it in your voice. Saw it in your eyes when you saw her lying there."
Isis stood behind Shelley again, whispering in her ear.
"Or did you want to watch her as she did it. See those cold eyes drain of life."
Shelley felt her breath on her neck.
Jack and the others watched as she raised her hand, taking the earbuds from her ear, gripping it in her fingers.
"No Shelley don't..."
"Why did she do that?" Jacob asked.
Shelley crunched the bud in between her thumb and forefinger. Hearing it break.
"Of course I wanted her dead, after what she did to me," she said.
Then she turned around, looking at Isis and then at the body laying in the table.
"But that's all it was; a wish. I couldn't have gone through with it and neither would Sam. Not unless she was being used by someone, like you."
Isis smiled at her.
"She was right. She said I wouldn't be able to fool you."
Isis moved across the room to where Cecily's body lay. She pulled off the sheet, letting the redhead see her.
"This is what the two of you wanted for so long. Why does it matter who killed her as long as someone did?"
Shelley didn't know how to answer her. The death of Cecily did close a door in that particular horrible part of her life. But it left some questions unanswered. Cecily had never really given an answer as to why she did what she did. Keeping quiet during the whole of her trial. Shelley still blamed herself. That she did something to lead her on. A word or a look!
"Would you take any pleasure in knowing that she begged for her life like a child?"
Even though Shelley could barely look at a dead body, she forced herself into glancing at the woman's body.
"Is this all you got me here to see? To show off the fact that you murdered someone?"
"Not just anyone."
"WHAT DOES IT MATTER?" Shelley shouted. "She's dead. Why are you still here? Don't the Goa'uld kill and run? They don't normally hang around."
Shelley felt a presence behind her. Her hand began to hover at her side. Only an inch away from the syringe in her pocket.
"I wanted you to see what I'm capable of before you lose your faith in ever getting her back."
Isis pressed up against Shelley's back. Her arms falling to her side, holding one of the redheads hands. She parted her fingers, slotting them together like a vice.
"I'll never stop."
"Believe me, you will."
The Goa'uld nuzzled against Shelleys neck again, nibbling on her ear. The desire she could feel from her host was in danger of coming to the surface. Finding the idea of being with this woman, fascinating. But it would have to wait, until the time was right.
"Once I'm finished, I'm going to destroy everything she ever cared about. And everyone who cared about her. You'll end up hating her and she'll be my host forever."
Shelley's hand slowly dipped into her left pocket, carefully taking out the syringe with her fingers. Gripping it in her hand she raised it upwards, slowly.
"I'll never stop searching for her, no matter what you do!"
As Shelley was poised to take action, Isis grabbed her wrist, forcing Shelley to the floor and making her drop the syringe.
"DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID?" Isis shouted.
In the control room they watched Shelley fall to her knees.
"General?" Jack said.
The general nodded, giving the signal for SG1 to rescue the innocent.
Teal'c and Jonas, who had joined them a few minutes before, followed behind O'Neill has he raced towards the gate room.
Shelley grimaced in pain as she heard her wrist crack.
"I know everything my host knows."
Isis' tone was full of anger and rage. Shelley hadn't heard anything like it before. A mixture of Sam's and something unworldly.
"She knows they wouldn't have sent you completely alone and unguarded."
Isis bent down, picking up the syringe, examining it, wondering what it was. It looked familiar. She searched Sam's memories, trying to locate the right one.
"This must be Doctor Fraiser's work. Now what could it be?"
Isis still held Shelley's wrist, twisting it even more.
"Some kind of Goa'uld poison? Or perhaps a sedative to knock me out?" she said.
The redheads eyes fluttered, giving away her tell.
"Ahhh."
She yanked Shelley up, almost pulling her arm out of her socket. Holding her firmly in her arms. Shelley struggled. This wasn't going as well as she had hoped.
"I'll see you again, Shelley O'Neill." Isis said, kissing her hard on the lips.
Shelley felt the tip of the syringe enter her skin and then began to feel sleepy. Isis laid her down on the floor, carefully.
Shelley looked up, trying to keep focused on Sam/Isis' face. But it was fading. Her heart beat began to slow. Feeling every single beat. One by one, getting slower and slower. Her eyes getting heavier and heavier. Knowing that she'd failed. Letting everyone down. She'd lost her, again.