"So how long have you guys known Ellen for?" Sam questioned as they still sat in the mess hall, waiting for Teal'c to finish his lunch.
"Oh um, Ange and Stoney have known her for about five or six years or something, and I've only known her for a few months before she came here and before Pete died," Danni said gently, looking at her, to which Sam nodded, looking at the trio.
"Where is Mac?" Ange spoked up gently, looking up to see concern, and distrust in Sam's eyes.
"Ah she's busy at the moment, we usually all meet here for lunch, but if someone's busy they send their apologies, and the rest of us eat then take them something afterwards."
"Why don't you trust us?" Ange frowned.
"What makes you say that?"
"The look you're giving me for starters and the fact that you're withholding something."
"How do you know if I…"
"Carter!" Turning, they all saw Jack moving towards the table, Sarah clinging to him tightly, and Daniel close behind. Jumping up Ange gasped.
"Sarah!" Moving around the table to him, she let her hand rest on Sarah's back gently, as the four year old looked at her. "Hey!" She smiled, to which Sarah only nodded. Swallowing she watched the little girl before looking at Jack. "She showed you didn't she?" Ange whispered, looking at him.
"What?" He frowned, not having heard her completely, but then again not wanting to answer the part of the question that he did hear.
"She showed you what's going to happen to Mac. That Mac's going to die, that the baby isn't going to make it, that…" She stopped as she felt the tears welling in her eyes. "It's too late, we're too late. She's lost the baby hasn't she? And you thought that we had something to do with it? You weren't going to let us see either of them, were you?"
"Now's not the time for accusations, Ange," Stoney put in gently.
"Oscar!" She exclaimed, turning to look him square in the eye. "What would you do, if the situation was reversed? I know I'd think like that, that her friends were coming to see her after she'd just lost her baby, that she's in a critical condition, that she's dying, and there's nothing that can be done about it! You know you would too! Mac chose to be here, because Samantha is her sister, because when she's here she can see her father, this is where Pete was killed, this…" Stopping she sniffled watching him. Sighing he nodded.
"Yeah ok, I agree with you, but Mac's a fighter, she came through it with Sarah, she fought, they both fought,"
"Stoney you don't get it!" Ange exclaimed as a tear trickled slowly down her cheek. "Mac is not going to make it this time, Sarah was her chance, Sarah is what's left, and Sarah has to stay here, because these guys can help her, they can get the best and most experienced people in the world here to do anything within twenty-four hours! They can keep her alive if anything happens! It's too late for Mac; she needed something done years ago!"
"Ange!" He huffed.
"Oscar she's NOT LIKE US!" she screamed, as she started sobbing and falling back into her seat. "She's… she's dying," she cried. As the others looked at each other Sam was in shock, as she looked at Jack.
"Colonel?"
"She's right Carter. Ellen's dying, Sarah showed me what's going to happen, that there isn't anything that can help her. But there is something that can stop the same fate happening to Sarz. We just have to do it, and hope to god that things will be different. She can help us in finding and working out what needs to be done, in order to help her."
"Colonel…"
"Carter we don't have time to argue. When Ellen passes away Sarah wont have that long, and I'm as sure as there is a hell that Ellen will hold on as long as she can, and in that time, we have to help Sarah! Let her friends stay with her, we'll look after Sarz and get her through this!" He stated looking her square in the eyes.
"Permission to speak freely sir?"
"Yep,"
"I'm not going, you can order me but I'm not going, I'm staying with Ellie, Colonel. I trust you, and I trust that you will help Sarah, and make sure she lives for as long as anyone else, but I'm not leaving my sisters bedside. If or when she does die, I'll be there; I'll be there when she wakes up like she was for me." Nodding he smiled gently.
"That's alright Carter, you go and tell doc that Danny boy, T and I are going to help Sarah and find what we need to find, if Hammond gives the go ahead!" Nodding she swallowed and turned leaving the group in the mess hall.
As Sam walked through the corridors she knew that Ange, Danni, and Oscar were following her to the infirmary, but right at that moment she couldn't careless about them, about the Colonel, or about anyone else but Ellen. Swallowing hard, she crossed the thresh hold and went into the infirmary. Upon seeing the doctor she smiled gently, walking over to her, with her tail of three.
"Janet,"
"Sam, I'm sorry about before, I just…" stopping she watched the blonde in front of her, who was smiling gently.
"It's ok. I just, I have to talk to you about Ellie, and Sarah and what Daniel and the Colonel are putting to General Hammond at this very moment."
"Ok, how about my office?"
"Yeah sure,"
"Ah what about, your tail?" she asked gently. Smiling gently, Sam turned to them.
"If you guys don't mind waiting outside for a bit, that would be great, I'll come and get you before I go and see Ellie,"
"Yeah sure, what ever," Ange mumbled turning and walking back the way the group came, with Danni in tow.
"Sorry, she and Mac are best mates have been for years, she's just upset." Oscar apologised.
"It's alright I understand, I'd probably be the same if the situation was reversed," Sam smiled gently, before turning back to Janet and moving to the office, while Oscar went outside with the girls.
"Alright Sam what's going on? Who are they? And why are they here? I'm pretty sure that they don't have all the necessary clearance!"
"Your right they don't. They are Ellen's friends. They worked with her for years, and were here when her partner was murdered. They helped Ellie through that and now they're here to try to help her again. Except that one of them is aware that…" Stopping Sam looked away.
"Sam?"
"Janet, there's nothing that can be done for Ellie. She's dying; she has been since Sarah was born apparently. She's only held on this long because if she died so would Sarah. The Colonel, and Daniel, is talking to general Hammond and Teal'c about something that will save Sarah's life. I didn't want to go, and I didn't want to know what they have to do, or where they have to go. I want to be here with Ellie. I want to be there when she comes around, and when she passes away, like she was here for me, all those months ago."
"Sam, we have lots of things brought back, through the gate, not only technology, but medicines you should know, you and SG-1 have brought back most of them!"
"Janet, you're not listening to me! There is NOTHING that we can do! Ellen is dying, and it's because she never underwent some…" Sighing he rubbed her eyes and forehead. "I don't know initiation sort of thing and because of that, she is dying."
"Sam…"
"Janet, they're trying to save Sarah's life at the moment, one of Ellen's friends yelled at one of the others just before, 'she's not like us'. Janet she knows, she's probably known all along! But has never said anything, because obviously after six or more years of friendship with nothing going wrong, you start to doubt those things! Now its happening, she knew it was going to happen, and she knows it happening, even before anything was said!"
"Sam, that's impossible! Ellen will pull through! It's not the seventh century!" Sighing she shrugged and looked away.
"She won't Janet! Ellie's going to die, but she'll hold on long enough for us to get Sarah to where ever it is that she needs to go, and save her from dying as well." With that Sam stood. Looking at her best friend. "I'm going to let them sit with her for a while. I'm going to go and talk to General Hammond and see if they can all get clearance. If so I'll have to tell them, that they won't be allowed back to Australia, or if they do, they'll have to be careful and we won't be able to protect them, anymore. Janet please just make her as comfortable as possible, and let them stay with her for however long they desire." With that Sam turned and left the room.
"Ange, I believe her, she wont let us sit here forever you know!"
"Yeah I know, but I just can't help but get the feeling that they don't want us here! Take a look around the place! There's that guy for starters!" She started motioning towards the closet SF. "They're everywhere! They're watching us!"
"That's because this base isn't meant to be here of something! Apparently it's meant to be somewhere else! They don't want us telling anyone or doing something to screw the place up, Ange. Come on please?" Sighing she shrugged.
"Yeah maybe."
"Um, sorry to interrupt," Sam said gently, as the three looked up at her. "I just had to explain a few things to the doctor. But I was going to show you to Ellie's bed, then go to see the general, about the three of you getting clearance."
"Clearance? Clearance for what?" Stoney frowned.
"Clearance to this place, to know what we do here, to know everything. However if the president and the joint chiefs agree to this, you'll have the opportunity to return back to Australia if you wish, however you are going to have to sign a disclosure statement. Well actually you'll have to sign it either way. But if you stay here with us, then you can get the same protection as what everyone here gets, and what Ellen and Sarah have also been given.
"If you return to Australia however we can not give you the same protection from, people like the NID, the federal police, or any other organisation that my be watching you once you leave this facility." She stated watching them.
"But if we decided to stay, and leave the base, to say… Go to a house that we might have bought now that we live here…"
"You will receive the same protection as you would if on this base."
"Oh ok, sweet."
"I'll show you to Ellen's bed now, please follow me," she said gently, as the trio stood and followed her back into the infirmary. Once at the closed door to the only single room, she stopped. "She is barely conscious, please, I know you wont but please, don't disturb her." She whispered gently, watching them as they nodded. Opening the door Sam moved aside to let them inside the room. Then she closed the door and moved off to talk with General Hammond.
"Alright campers, here we are!"
"P3Y-787"
"Look! There's TREES!" Jack commented sarcastically. Rolling his eyes Daniel sighed before setting off, down the trail that they'd just found minutes earlier.
"Jack!"
"What is it Daniel?"
"Ah, I don't know if you've forgotten, but we're here to save Sarah's life, not to admire the trees, and say how much like earth it is, and groan at every similarity!"
"Hey I know that!" Jack huffed, before following him, and moving past to lead the expedition. As they walked for what felt to all like hours, they finally came across a cave.
"That's it," Sarah whispered from her position on Jack's back. Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and head resting on his shoulder as she watched where thy were walking.
"What that?" He questioned pointing to the cave. Nodding Sarah sighed and closed her eyes, as her grip faltered. Wrapping his arms quickly behind him he called over his other shoulder. "DANIEL! TEAL'C!"
"Jack what is it?" Daniel questioned slightly puffing.
"I think she's lost consciousness! We were talking and the next thing I know is that she's slipping down my back!"
"Oh ok, hang on." As Daniel moved back around Jack he grabbed Sarah gently, yet tightly. "Ok I got her, let go Jack."
"You sure you have her?"
"Yes, just let go!" As Jack let her go, Daniel took her. Holding her tightly, as Jack turned, and looked at her in Daniels arms. Turning back to the cave he moved forward, to see a small door. "Jack?"
"She said this was it, before she lost consciousness!" Turning he looked at them. "Bring her over here, and let's see what happens!" As Daniel and Teal'c moved across to the cave, Sarah slowly started to stir in Daniel's arms.
"Sarah?"
"Uncle Danny?"
"Yeah it's me, uncle Jack and Uncle Teal'c are here too!" Nodding she struggled to open her eyes.
"Down," she mumbled.
"Oh sweetie, you're not strong enough at the moment."
"Down," she repeated shifting in his grip.
"Put her down Daniel!"
"But Jack…"
"We need to see what happens! She came too when you got her close enough, now lets see what else happens!" Sighing Daniel nodded and complied with the order. As he put Sarah down, she crawled across the rough surface to the small door and pressed her hand against the cold rock. As the ground shifted the three men jumped, and watched as she stood, when a door opened and she went inside, seconds before it closed. Preventing the men to follow her.
"Good one Jack! Now what?" Daniel scolded.
"Hey don't go blaming me! This was more her idea then anyone's! And besides she's going to be fine!"
Knocking on the closed door, Sam couldn't help but feel more nervous, then ever before. She knew that this was going to be a routine request and she's done it a few times before. Once for her father then for Pete, and now for her sisters friends and team mates. It won't be as bad as fighting the Goa'uld, she knew that was for sure, but she also knew for sure that there was a lot at stake!
"Come!" The only word that, showed that he was inside the room. Opening the door Sam walked in and gently closed the door behind her before moving across the room, and sitting in one of the two chairs opposite his on her side of his desk.
"General, I was wondering if Ellen's friends could get clearance so we can tell them what's happening to her, and where Sarah is…" Stopping she watched him, swallowing she watching his reaction. Smiling he nodded.
"I've already thought of that Captain, and I can inform you that the president agrees and has authorised their clearance, to this project."
"Really?" She gasped, totally in shock. Smiling he nodded.
"You seem shocked by the news Captain?"
"Well yes sir, I…" Smiling he shook his head.
"Go and let them know the news, captain. Let them know what they are getting into, before you talk to them, and before you show them this facility!"
"I already have sir, I was talking to them before I took them to see Ellie sir, I told them that they will receive protection from us here and if they live off base, but will not if they return to Australia, and that they will all have to sign the non-disclosure statement. They have agreed so far general. With minimal questioning sir."
"Good to hear Captain!" He grinned. "Dismissed!"
"Yes sir!" She stated before standing and saluting. Turning on her heal Sam couldn't help the small smile that had escaped as she opened the door. Closing it silently behind her as she moved into the corridor outside the generals' office.
Sighing Ange watched as the monitors beeped, and showed that Mac was still alive. They had been sitting in the room, for almost an hour, and had not been disturbed other then for the nurse coming into the room to check Mac's ob's and make sure she was ok, before once again leaving. Not once did she ever talk to any of them. Taking her hand Ange felt tears spring to her eyes.
"Hey Mac, we're here, we're not going anywhere! You can't get rid of us that easily!" She smiled gently, feeling a small amount of pressure on her hand, and squeezed Mac's hand back in gesture.
"Hey Mac, Bernie sends his best as well! They had him in charge for a while there after, well… After what happened to Pete, and then when you left to come here, and now well, I have a feeling that the three of us are going to be recruited as well," Danni smiled at her, picking up her other hand and kissing the top of it, before letting it rest gently back on the bed, by her side.
"Anne…Gie…" Mac breathed, struggling to open her eyes.
"Hey shh Mac, we're all here, Stoney, Danni, and me. Just take it easy," she said gently.
"Ange," she whispered opening her eyes to catch a glimpse of her best friend. Smiling Ange sat forward and smiled.
"Hey there! You've given everyone here a pretty good scare!"
"Ange, Sarah?"
"Jack's looking after it, you need your rest don't worry, I've heard that he's taken her somewhere but no one here is telling us anything, Sam said she was going to talk to the general to see if we can get clearance, and then she was going to tell us everything, so I'm sure we'll find out what's going on soon. But you need to rest, so you can get better."
"No, I… Ange I'm dying, you know that, and so does Sam. They are trying to save Sarah, its ok. I know where they are and what they're doing. As soon as Sarah's safe I'll go…" She whispered gently, before she closed her eyes.
"Mac, no! You listen to me! The doctor here said she's going to look after you! So you better keep your end of the bargain and start fighting this!"
"I am fighting Ange, and I can't hold on much longer! It's draining me; I'll wake up before its time. Promise to take care of everyone for me,"
"Yeah I promise, sweetie, I promise. We'll stick together!" Nodding Mac swallowed before taking a strained breath, before closing her eyes again. As the door opened slightly, they turned to see Sam standing there closing the door.
"How is she?"
"She just woke up, and went back to sleep," Danni said gently. Nodding Sam looked at the three of them.
"The president has agreed to let you all know what we do here. In these folders is the non disclosure agreement, that you must sign before I tell you anything." She said passing them the blue folders. Looking at the logo Stoney frowned.
"What does, 'SGC' stand for?" He asked looking up at her.
"I can not tell you that with you having signed it first." Sighing he nodded. As they all flicked through the papers, Sam smiled as she saw Mac opening her eyes. Moving around the bed she took her hand gently. "Hey there sleepy head,"
"Sam…"
"Yeah, it's me. The Colonel, Daniel, and Teal'c have taken Sarah, I told them I wanted to stay here with you so I can't tell you what's going on, sorry."
"It's alright; I'll know when it's done." Nodding sadly, Sam sighed.
"Can't you just hold on until Sarah gets back?"
"She'll be unconscious for a few hours Sam; I won't be able to make it. If she's conscious when they get back, then I won't be…"
"Ellie, please just try! You can't let Sarah go through life without having said goodbye to one of you! She missed out on her father, and that was only a few months ago! It's her fifth birthday next week, you have to hold on as long as you can, please let her say goodbye…" She said gently, squeezing Mac's hand gently.
"I'll try," she whispered, with a sigh and a nod before closing her eyes for the final time. Well until Sarah got back that was. Looking around Sam stood up straighter, as she noticed the three watching her and smiled gently, at them as they passed the folders back to her.
"Ah, Oscar is it?" She questioned frowning.
"Yeah Oscar, but people call me Stoney. Either is fine," he smiled. Nodding she sighed gently, looking t Mac before at the folders then to the three confused faces.
"Oscar, 'SGC' stands for Stargate command, this is this command. What we do here is the biggest not only national but world wide secret. No one outside this mountain knows what we do here, except for the president and the joint chiefs. Not even our family's are aware of hat happens in here. People just think that it's NORAD. This is what you came through, when you hit sublevel 12."
"Ah, ok… So what does Stargate command mean?" He frowned.
"It means we're Earth's first source of defence. We have been protecting Earth for the last five years. Going on six years, and in that time, we have stopped several attacks on Earth that would have wiped the entire world as we know it from the face of the Earth. There would have been not one soul survivor left. We would not be the threat that other races out there fear.
"There are several teams. They range from one to nine. And there are a further eleven teams being talked about and possibly organised in the near future to boost our defences up to twenty teams. These teams are designated SG-1, SG-2, etc, we have several allies on other planets in the galaxy, and there are many that frequently come here, as well as us visiting them. The Colonel, Daniel, Teal'c and I are on SG-1, and Ellen was also."
"SG-1? Doesn't that mean you go everywhere first? I mean being number one and all?"
"That's correct Danni?" She questioned with a small frown. Smiling Danni nodded. "We get all missions before any other team, and when a team is in trouble we are always on standby to go through first as their rescue party."
"Ah ok wow!" Stoney stated looking at her. "So what now?"
"I will show you around the base when the time comes, and you will be given your own quarters, and everything in which you need, including the uniform. I am unaware of what team or teams that you will be assigned to, but, I am almost certain that you might get split up. There might be two of you assigned to one team and the other to a different team; you might all get assigned to the one team, but what I suspect will happen is that after your physical and psychological exams you will be put on three different teams."
"Oh ok," Ange mumbled, looking at the others, who seemed to shrug. Sighing she looked at Mac and nodded. "Ok. But we'll have to contact the commissioner of the Victorian police force and tell him, something!"
"Nothing for you to worry about Angie, everything has been taken care of! The president will call and take care of everything. If you wish to sell your houses we can do that. Or if you wish to rent them, that is also possible. However we will be taking you back, to gather some of your personal things…"
"If Mac dies, she's going to want to be buried next to Pete! I mean then it'll be a trip where we can pack all our things, put our houses on the market and stuff…" Ange mumbled, looking at Mac, who was now either sleeping soundly or unconscious and oblivious to everything that was going on around her.
"I am aware of that, Angie. We will work something out I promise you." Sam stated looking at her, before licking her dry lips and swallowing. "Now if you would like to follow me I'll show you some of the base that you will now call home," she said gently, forcing a small smile. Nodding the three got up and moved to the door. But not before Ange bent down whispering to Mac, and kissing her forehead.