I lay at an awkward angle in the box, the blackness echoing, in, out, in, out, I really didn't like this but felt that I had little choice in the matter, I couldn't let anyone get hurt because of me that wasn't the Carter way, the crate moved jerking, I could hear footsteps and the 2guys complaining about some General at area 51 requisitioning all these artefacts, I kept quiet, an airman asked them to sign out they continued down the corridor.
"We need to open that for security reasons" one said my heart soared they were going to find me.
"Can't it's sensitive Major Carter would kill us if it got broke" the guard didn't get the irony in the statement, I scowled then realised nobody could see me,
"We will still need to check it" the guard said the weight of the box jerked slightly I heard a gun shot, and then several others returned fire I couldn't tell who was winning, one came into the box hitting me on the upper arm I screamed, I could feel the blood dripping out I remained silent hoping nobody had heard it not wanting Cassie to get hurt, even more gunshots echoed finally I got some answers as I heard Colonel O'Neill's voice and footsteps running towards me,
"What happened?" he asked sounding breathless
"We tried to check the contents of this box" a guard reported
"Well open it" his impatient tone left no room for interpretation,
"Sir I need to get these men to the infirmary" that was Janet I could trust Janet right
"Janet" I said, the room went quiet, then chaos
"Shit open it now" Colonel O'Neill yelled, through the bullet hole an eye appeared it gazed in at me,
"Sam, we will get you out" I realised it was her eye at the hole I could hear hammering someone yelling for a crow bar
"Sam are you ok you weren't hit were you?" she asked I was glad she couldn't see me blushing,
"Umm only once" her eyes was back immediately
"Where?" she asked trying to check me over
"On the arm, its not too bad, Oh god Cassie" I reminded myself her limp body being chucked into the cupboard wasn't something I'd forget in a hurry.
"Where is she?" Janet's stern tone was back she sounded scared and worried I wished she felt like that about me,
"Sam where is Cassie?" her voice brought me out of my musings
"They locked her up in a cupboard downstairs by Colonel O'Neill's quarters I think she was hurt bad" Janet looked torn between the two of us, as I peeped through the hole,
"Go" Colonel O'Neill ordered, she hesitated
"She is your daughter. Go" no more hesitation she left running down the corridor
"Stand clear" he ordered I ducked lower squinting in the light he smiled at me I smiled back he gaze went to my arm,
"Shit Sam, lets get her to the infirmary" he ordered I was hauled out surprised at the amount of people, I was dumped on a gurney and rushed down the corridors, a quick glance at my arm showed blood and a lot of it,
"Whoa" I found myself smile, I was unsure why but shocked at the blood I was losing but fascinated I had never been shot before,
"It's okay Sam" Jack reassured me taking my hand I pulled it, away his face crumpled to a querying expression. I didn't want his pity, not when he thought I was a druggie and only hung around out of sympathy and guilt.
Janet and Cassie weren't there instead was another doctor who introduced himself as Warner, I smiled, he looked at my arm.
"Looks like a flesh wound" he observed
"Well it really hurts" I told him, defending my arm
"I'll x-ray it to make sure there are no fragments of the bullet in your arm then a few stitches and you'll be as right as rain"
"Cool" I said simply lying back on the bed waiting I was wheeled into X-ray then back into the infirmary, Janet and Cassie had arrived, Cassie was lying on a bed at the end unconscious, she had a large bandage on her head, Janet stood by talking to Jack while stroking her hair, Daniel and Teal'c were nearby looking on with concern, Jack was sitting on a chair clutching her hand, no one looked round at my arrival, I found myself getting jealous slightly disappointed nobody had come to see how I was but I was use to hiding disappointment after so much let down by my dad, I lay there smiling at Dr Warner who came back and stitched me up, then he dressed it with an oversized bandage and put it into a sling giving me a shot of antibiotics,
"Can I go now?" I asked the first words I had spoken in a while
"Sure I'll have a guard escort you to quarters for your own safety of course"
"Whatever" I shrugged it didn't bother me I was kind of glad I wouldn't be alone, Teal'c walked over
"May I escort you Samantha Carter" he gave a slight bow with the use of the dreaded name
"Sure 1 condition its Sam, not Sammy or Samantha just Sam" he smiled and lead the way I trotted beside
"Can I ask a question?"
"I believe you just did" he replied raising an eyebrow,
"Well another one"
"Yes"
"Why do I get a funny tingly feeling when I'm around you?" he stopped walking and faced me,
"You have Naquidria in your blood; this reacts with my symbiotie,"
"Symbiotie what's that?"
He continued walking,
"It is a parasitical creature that lives within me in return I receive perfect health and an extended life"
"Wow sounds cool" what I wouldn't give to never have a cold or flue,
"It is not I am solely dependant on this creature for my health, when the creature reaches full maturity it takes a human host, they can be evil called Gould or good called Tok'ra" maybe not I thought
"Hey dad is a Tok'ra" he looked surprised his eyes widening
"Indeed, your older self was possessed by a Tok'ra"
"What happened?" I had to know somewhere in my mind a memory was calling
"The Tok'ra was called Jolinar she jumped into your body without your permission"
"Why"
"Her host was dying"
"Why didn't she ask first" I asked puzzled
"I do not know"
We walked the rest of the way in silence, reaching what I presumed were my quarters he opened the door,
"I will personally ensure your safety" he told me
"Why, its not like anyone cares"
"You are mistaken everyone cares a great deal for your health and safety" he corrected me, I shrugged not wanting to go into it
"Whatever" I went in purposely closing the door so he couldn't follow removing the stupid sling that went into the corner, and going to the bookcase picking up a book on stargate travel that was probably left there by mistake, I sat on the bed and began to read glaring at the security camera as I did so.
I was really getting into the book, when I saw the author, Samantha Carter, that was me, I was so smart, some of my ideas had little evidence but they were probably I could understand why they wanted her back, a knock at the door drew my attention away
"What" I yelled
"Sam it's me Janet can I come in?" she asked,
"Whatever" I called back, the door opened
"Hey how is the arm?"
"Its fine how is Cassie?" I avoided answering too much
"Slight concussion she was asking after you wanted to make sure you were ok"
"Tell her I am fine"
"Why don't you come and tell her yourself" she suggested I looked at her weighing up my options, if I said no it would inevitably lead to more difficult questions, that I didn't want to answer
"Ok" I stood up Janet didn't, I followed her gaze it was looking at my sling, I felt myself blush.
"Sam" she asked,
"Yeh"
"Why aren't you wearing your sling?"
"I don't need it"
"Forgive me if I am wrong but weren't you just shot?" she asked knowing the answer
"Yes but it was threw a big wooden box"
"And wasn't it on the same arm you recently broke"
"Well technically I broke it like 20years ago" I stopped at her scowl,
"Sam" her tone meant trouble
"Ok I'll wear it" I muttered picking up the stupid crappy thing a putting it on moaning under my breath
"Good isn't that better" she gave me a bright smile, I frowned walking out the door towards the infirmary, Janet followed,
"Hey Cassie" she opened her eyes and looked at me relief flooding her face, I felt awkward under her gaze
"Sam thank God you're ok" she looked at me reminding me of Janet the up and down what is she hiding is she really ok look,
"What happened to your arm?"
"I was shot, it is just a flesh wound nothing serious, how are you?" I asked anxiously
"Mum says it is a concussion, how were you shot?" I noticed everyone looking at me a blushed not use to so much attention, Uncle George joined us and I began my tale
"Cassie and I were going to the commissionary to get tea when the lift opened, these 2 guys got out and said they had been looking for me, they dragged me away from Cassie and said if I didn't want them to shoot her then I would go with them, since I figured nobody would miss me and I didn't want Cassie to get hurt cus of me I agreed they put me in this wooden crate as the knocked Cassie out and put her in the cupboard, they got a hammer and started to hammer the lid on and I freaked they said the more I shouted the more oxygen I would use up, I worked out if I rationed the air I could last 3 hours, I heard the guys up top saying they needed to open the box then gun shot, one of which hit me and that's it" I told them greeting silence I lowered my gaze studying the floor.
I shifted feeling uncomfortable as they all took in my report, Janet broke the silence
"Sam why do you feel that nobody here would miss you?"
"I heard you and Colonel O'Neill talking about what would happen if they couldn't change me back, you said nobody wanted me" I didn't meet their gaze as I was determined not to cry, instead I made for the door.
"Sam we didn't mean…." Janet began trailing off, I stopped facing them determined not to let them see my hurt.
"Sure you didn't, its ok, I don't mind just next time tell it to my face" I told them earnestly after all my own family wanted nothing to do with me why would strangers,
"Sam we didn't mean what we said" Janet tried again
"Yes you did you don't want to admit it," I told her walking away
"Carter, what we are trying to say is that we were sorry, we shouldn't have even thought of discussing your future without you there, we shouldn't have doubted that you were clean and we shouldn't have said you would be a bad influence on Cassie" Jack told me
"Right Sir" I carried on walking away not really caring any more, caring only led to hurt and betrayal,
"Damn it Carter that's not really accepting my apology" he told me following me down the corridor,
"Yes Sir"
"And call me Jack your not in the military"
"Yes Jack Sir" I rolled my eyes again trying to leave, he blocked my way
"Sam don't shut us out" he told me
"I'm not you shut me out by talking behind my back and hating me thinking I am I bad influence"
"Yes you are shutting us out, you feel abandoned cus your mum died and your dad abandoned you have learnt the best way not to get hurt is not to let anyone in, that's not a life Sam"
"Whatever" I yelled pushing my way past him and running down the corridor throwing my sling behind me, running to the safety of my room and shutting the door fighting the tears that threatened to fall, Carter's don't cry I repeated again and again,