Chapter 10

Jack couldn't really remember how he got from the top of the steps to the bottom. He only knew one moment he had been beside Daniel looking down at Carter and the next he was beside her. He immediately searched for a pulse, sliding a hand over her neck. The steady thump had him breathing out in sharp relief.

'Jack?' Daniel prompted anxiously.

'She's got a pulse.' Jack confirmed. He reached for the radio with his other hand. 'Reynolds, come in.'

'Reynolds here, sir.'

'We've found Colonel Carter in the temple. She's unconscious. We're going to need some assistance getting her out.'

'Understood. I'll redirect SG12 to your position with the med team. Out.' Reynolds replied.

Jack looked up at Teal'c who had positioned himself on the steps. 'Go wait for them at the entrance. Show them down here.'

The Jaffa nodded and sprinted back up the stairs.

Daniel was already kneeling on Carter's other side, reaching into his pack to pull out medical supplies. 'You think we should move her?'

'No.' Jack realised belatedly that he hadn't removed his hand from Carter's neck and slowly withdrew it. 'We should wait until the med team gets here. She's breathing.'

'It looks like that she already did some first aid.' Daniel noted as he motioned at the bandages on her hands.

Jack nodded. 'She's dry. She changed clothes.'

'She must have come down here for some reason and fallen.' Daniel theorised out loud. 'Maybe there was another tremor.'

'She knows to stay in easy reach of the entrance for rescue.' Jack muttered.

'It looks like she banged her head.' Daniel pointed out as he covered her with a blanket. 'She might have been disoriented.'

Jack shot him a look. 'Where the hell is that med team?'

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently. Daniel and Jack both covered Sam's prone body as dust and debris fell from the walls.

Jack reached for his radio. 'Reynolds!'

'…, sir.' Reynolds broken voice was barely audible.

'Get everyone back through the gate now!' Jack ordered. 'Do not wait for us! Repeat, do not wait for us! Copy?'

'Copy that.'

Jack let his hand drop and he held on grimly as the earth continued to shake. He didn't know how long he and Daniel remained curled up over Carter. He spared a thought for Teal'c and hoped the Jaffa was OK. He figured the Jaffa would have stayed in the temple rather than heading back to the gate.

The tremors finally eased away. Jack checked Carter's pulse again. It was still strong. He shone his light around the space. The artefacts in the room had fallen all over the floor although the Stargate at the far end had remained upright. He reached for his radio. 'Teal'c?'

The radio crackled.

Daniel pushed his glasses up his nose and stared worriedly at Jack.

'Teal'c?' Jack tried again.

'I am here, O'Neill.' Teal'c's voice came through strongly.

'What's your situation?' Jack asked briskly.

'I am well but the temple has sustained some damage.' Teal'c radioed back. 'The entrance way has been blocked by debris. I will endeavour to shift it.'

'Copy that.' Jack sighed. He clicked his radio on again. 'Sierra Golf One to any remaining personnel. Come in.'

There was silence.

'Repeat, Sierra Golf One to any remaining personnel. Come in.' Jack shook his head. It didn't look like anyone else was on the planet. His heart sank as his eyes fell on Carter. She needed medical attention.

'You think everyone got back OK?' Daniel asked as Jack kneeled back down next to Carter.

Jack shrugged.

'They'll send another rescue team.' Daniel assured him.

'Maybe.' Jack muttered without thinking.

'Maybe?' Daniel asked.

'There might have been more damage to our gate, Daniel.' Jack pointed out. He rubbed a hand through his short grey hair. 'And if I was Hank, I wouldn't be keen on sending any more people to a planet that's unstable.' He tucked the blanket closer around Carter.

Daniel nodded slowly. 'I'll, uh, I'll go and help Teal'c.'

'Careful on the stairs.' Jack cautioned. He watched Daniel until he was out of sight before he sat down beside Carter. He rooted into the pack for a long lasting temporary light. He switched it on and switched off the light on his P90. He placed it to one side before he scooted back over to Carter.

He knew he couldn't wait for a med team to confirm her condition. Carter needed immediate care. He gently stroked her bangs away from her forehead and winced at the dull bruise and raw scrape. He did a cursory check of her limbs and was relieved to discover she hadn't broken any. He trailed his fingers gently down her neck and gave a sigh of relief; she didn't seem to have broken her neck. He shifted and lifted her t-shirt to check her spine and ribs. More bruising on the ribs but there was no evidence of internal bleeding and her spine seemed OK.

He tugged her clothes back down and lifted her head to place his spare t-shirt underneath it. He shifted her body into a recovery position and tucked the blanket back around her. Once they had the temple door clear, Teal'c could carry Sam back to the gate, Jack determined.

The silence was oppressive.

Jack took a sip of water from his canteen and decided to look around; he should check for any dangers especially given the whole Doomsday machine thing. He picked up his gun, switched the light back on and quietly stepped away from Carter. He moved slowly, careful of any traps. His beam of light fell across the various statues, pots and vases that had fallen into the floor. His boots crunched on ceramic and jewels but his eyes were narrowed, looking for anything that might be dangerous. He came to a stop at the other end of the room.

The Stargate loomed in front of him. The light glanced over the silver ring, the symbols were unusual. Jack frowned. He'd spent eight years of his life going through the gate and authorising travel to other worlds, and admittedly, he wasn't the best at remembering addresses but he didn't recognise any of the symbols on the gate at all. He looked around; he couldn't see a DHD. If Ra was using the gate as a second exit from the planet then there should have been a DHD…

'Jack?'

'Here, Daniel.' Jack responded into his radio.

'Teal'c and I have almost cleared the door.' Daniel radioed back.

'Great. You and Teal'c head to the clearing and check on the state of the gate. I want to make sure its OK before we try and move Carter.'

'Right. We'll check in when we get to the clearing.'

His light caught on a seam in the wall. A secret door? His frown deepened as he took another step towards it. Secret doors were never a good thing. His gaze followed the beam of light as it travelled down the crack. He couldn't see a door handle or any way of opening it. He sighed. No doubt Daniel would find a way but hopefully they wouldn't be on the planet long enough. If the naquadah generator was intact they could all gate home safely.

A moan drifted across the room.

Jack's head snapped around.

Carter.

He hurried back across the wide space. She had already shifted into a sitting position, resting heavily against the wall, when he reached her.

'Hey,' Jack crouched down beside her

Her blue eyes widened at the sight of him and she held up a hand as though to ward him off. He refrained from touching her.

'I was wondering when you would show up.'

Her direct tone him aback. He pressed his lips together. 'Sorry.' He said shortly as he sat down beside her, putting his gun on the floor and resting against the wall. 'We had some trouble with the gate or we'd have been here earlier.'

'Sure.' Sam agreed wincing. She closed her eyes.

'Daniel and Teal'c are checking out the gate. As soon as they give the all clear we'll head home.'

Sam's eyes opened and she stared at him.

Jack shifted uncomfortably under her relentless gaze. 'What?'

'I guess this is the pep talk?' Sam said.

'Do you want a pep talk?' Jack asked bemused.

Sam sighed. 'Isn't that why you're here? You think I need a pep talk. Well,' she winced again, 'I guess I think I need a pep talk.'

'OK.' Jack's eyes flickered to the bump above her and wondered how badly Carter had hit her head. He decided it would probably be best to play long with her. 'Well, I guess if you need me to give you a pep talk, I can give you a pep talk. What are friends for, right?'

Sam rested her head against the wall and her eyes fell shut again. 'So we're back to that?'

'Look, Carter,' Jack said gruffly, his heart suddenly pounding twice as fast at her question, 'maybe this isn't the best time…'

She laughed cutting him off mid-sentence. 'When is a good time?' She opened her eyes to look at him with frank amusement.

She had a point, Jack thought ruefully. Every time they'd ever come close to talking about what was between them something had gotten in the way.

Sam's gaze roamed over him. 'I know you're always going to be here for me as a friend; I've never doubted that.'

Jack nodded. It was the truth no matter whatever physical distance might be between them with their various assignments. It was why he was there after all.

'I just thought…' she dropped her gaze, 'hoped, I guess, it was more than that.'

'Carter.' Jack didn't know what to say to her; he didn't want to have this conversation with her when she was concussed and injured. Hell, she probably didn't know half of what she was saying. He should stop this before it went any further.

'You know the last time you told me you weren't complex.' She sighed. 'Or I told me.'

His own intent to put a stop to the conversation was arrested. Jack lifted one eyebrow in inquiry. 'The last time?'

'So I told myself that you weren't complex and if I thought you wanted only friendship, then that's all it was.' Sam frowned. 'At least, I think that's what I thought.' She closed her eyes. 'It's all so confusing.'

'It's that.' Jack agreed wholeheartedly. He looked at her pale face concerned. 'Carter…'

Her eyes opened to look at him with raw honesty. 'I got it all wrong.' She continued. 'And now it's too late.'

'Is it?' The question was out of his mouth before Jack could prevent it.

Sam looked at him curiously. 'Isn't it?'

Jack took in a deep breath and backed off the question. He waved at her. 'Carter, don't you think we should talk about this later? We really should focus on getting out of here.'

'You're right.' Sam admitted. 'I should really focus on getting out of here.' Her eyes were still on his. 'One more thing…'

'What?' Jack asked relieved the discussion was over.

Sam moved before he could react. Her lips covered his as her hand moved to cup the back of his head. It was everything he remembered about kissing her; passionate, loving, wonderful. For a split-second, he was stunned before the reasons why it wasn't a good idea started yelling in his head; she was injured, he was taking advantage, they were off-world on a mission. His hand moved to push her away gently, only she moved back before he could.

Sam stared back at him in shock. 'Oh my God.' She murmured, her blue eyes searching his. 'You're real.'