Here's the next chapter, hope you like it. The chapter after this, Day 5, will be the last chapter of the story, although I may do an epilogue, I haven't decided yet. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favourited and followed the story, I'm glad that you liked it.
4th January
They woke the next morning and after all of them got showered and dressed, one after the other, they headed for the SGC. Jack and Daniel both driving, Sam having left her car on base the night before as the antibiotics she was on to make sure that her back did not get infected meant she wasn't really meant to be driving, although she could have done if she'd had to.
Sam was sitting in Jack's truck while Teal'c had opted to go with Daniel. As they drove Sam spoke. "I know I thanked you yesterday but I wanted to make sure you knew that I really am thankful for what you did sir, letting me come and sleep in the VIP room and everything," she said quietly, looking at the road and avoiding Jack's eyes as she did so.
"No worries," Jack assured her, "I would have done the same for Teal'c and Daniel."
Sam nodded and Jack saw out of the corner of his eye that her face had dropped a little. "Although I will admit I'd much rather share a duvet with you than either of those two."
Sam stayed silent, she wasn't sure that Jack had meant it the way that she was taking, but she did smile at him. Jack shrugged, telling her that he meant it, before he smiled back at her.
In the other car Daniel was talking to Teal'c. "So Teal'c," he was saying, "Do you think there is something going on between Jack and Sam?"
"They respect each other," Teal'c answered, "And they are friends."
"I know that," Daniel answered, "But do you think that there's something more than that?"
"I do not DanielJackson," Teal'c replied, "For they also respect the regulations of your Air Force and would not do anything against them."
"Mmm," Daniel hummed, "I guess so."
"Why would you think otherwise DanielJackson?" Teal'c then questioned.
"Well when I went to find them yesterday for General Hammond they were both in the VIP room and I think my knocking woke them up, and they sounded really shocked, like I'd caught them doing something they shouldn't have been," Daniel explained.
"Well they were asleep DanielJackson," Teal'c reasoned, "That does not mean that they were asleep together. And perhaps it was just your knocking that startled them awake and it took them a moment to get their bearings."
"Maybe," Daniel answered although he didn't sound totally convinced.
The two them fell silent and carried on with the rest of the drive that way.
Daniel and Jack parked beside each other when they reached the SGC and then they all headed inside. First they went and got changed before they headed to the mess so they could get something to eat. There had been no fresh food in Jack's cupboards; he hadn't gone shopping after Christmas to replenish what they'd eaten because he'd been on a mission, so that night before they'd gotten takeaway and this morning had voted to eat at the SGC. They'd had coffee while they'd waited for the shower but hadn't eaten anything.
They grabbed some food and then went and sat at one of the tables, a tired looking Janet joining them not long after. Around the room they were aware of people whispering about them but SG1 all ignored it and concentrated on their food.
"So what have you been up to?" Sam asked Janet, "Because if you don't mind me saying you look exhausted."
"It was a busy night," Janet replied, "Some of the women and children you brought back needed some attention, nothing serious just some issues with a lack of certain nutrients, and then SG5 came back with a collection of cuts, bruises, and a broken arm, after a run in with a falling tree. That all needed sorted, which wasn't too difficult to do since there were a few nurses still around, but then I had to do all the paperwork to go with it, which took ages."
"Hang on a second Doc," Jack said, "Weren't you in yesterday morning doing all that as well?"
"I was," Janet answered, "But I wasn't meant to be. I only came in to see if Daniel, and the rest of you, were really ok, but then I sort of got roped in."
Daniel leant in close and kissed her on the cheek before saying, "Well I hope that you're now intending to go home to sleep."
"Don't worry," Janet muttered back, "I'm more than ready to go to sleep right now."
"I'll drop you back if you want," Daniel suggested, "I'd hate to think that you're too tired to drive."
"Don't worry," Janet assured him with her hand on his knee, "I'll be fine. It's not that far and I can go to bed as soon as I get in. Besides, I'm sure you've got work you need to be doing."
Daniel shrugged. "Nothing that can't wait the half hour it would take to drive you home."
The conversation was then interrupted by Natasha appearing at the table.
"Natasha," Sam greeted with a smile, "How are you and your people faring?"
"Well thank you Sam," Natasha answered with a smile, "Your Doctor Janet and your nurses have taken good care of us."
"I'm glad," Sam said as she gave Janet a smile, "So what can I do to help you?"
"General Hammond has had a reply from the one you call Gairwyn," Natasha explained, "And he said he would like you present for when he explains it to us, as he says you know them the best."
"Of course," Sam replied, "Just give us two minutes to finish up here and we'll be ready."
The rest of the table nodded and finished the rest of their plates and then took them back to the counter. Janet then said her goodbyes and headed out for home, assuring Daniel that she was going to be fine, and the rest of them headed up to the briefing room.
They got there and found that Hammond and the other two women who had been in the room yesterday deciding on where they were going to be going, talking quietly. It looked like Hammond was listening carefully to what the women were saying in quiet slow voices, obviously still not sure that Hammond was really listening to them and not about to snap like they were used to.
The three of them then looked up as SG1 came in through the door, listening to Daniel explain something that he'd found on some tablet, no one was overly attentive though, just letting the sound of his voice fill the silence.
Daniel fell silent as they came into the room and everyone took their seats.
"Thank you," Hammond said to Natasha. Natasha nodded in reply and then Hammond started talking. "As I said I have been in touch with Gairwyn," he began, "And she has agreed to take you all in. It won't be the easiest life but they respect each other there and will take you in, no questions asked. Their numbers are low due to an attack that took place a few years ago, and they are still rebuilding parts of what was destroyed, but if you will help them then that is all they need."
Natasha and the other two women shared a glance before Natasha said, "Can we please have a moment to discuss this?"
"Of course," Hammond answered, "Take all the time you want. You can use my office to offer you some privacy."
"Thank you," Natasha accepted before she stood. The other two women followed her lead and they walked into Hammond's office.
While they were talking Hammond turned to SG1. "How are you all feeling?" he asked.
"Good thank you General," Jack answered, "We all slept fairly well last night I think."
Daniel, Sam and Teal'c all nodded; there hadn't been too many incidents last night that had woken them all up, in fact none of them had had a night mare that had caused them to make enough of a fuss to get the rest of them up as well.
"I'm glad," Hammond said.
"Have you heard from the Tok'ra at all yet sir?" Sam asked.
Hammond nodded. "They got back quite quickly for a change," he said, "And they've sent gate coordinates for the planet that they are currently based on so you can come and speak to them."
"Good," Jack answered, "Would it be possible for us to go as soon as possible sir?"
Hammond was silent for a moment before he answered. "They're expecting you," Hammond said, "At some point within the next few days. I would rather you wait until tomorrow though, so we can make sure that you are all totally ok after your ordeal."
Jack glanced at Sam, almost too quickly to notice, before he shook his head. "We're fine sir," Jack assured him, "We can go today."
Hammond frowned at him for a moment before he said, "I want you to wait please, and I also want you to get checked over, to make sure that you are over the slight malnutrition and dehydration that you exhibited when you came back from the planet."
Jack rolled his eyes. Hammond raised an eyebrow at him and said, "It's not up for debate Colonel, either go to the infirmary and get checked over or don't go and see the Tok'ra."
Daniel looked away, biting his lip to hide a smile, Sam doing much the same beside him. Jack glared at them but the two of them just looked back at him, just managing not to smile too much. Jack looked for support from Teal'c, but the Jaffa just looked back at him with a blank face.
Jack sighed and turned back to look at Hammond, who was watching the four of them with an amused look in his eye. He was glad to see that the way they all acted with each other hadn't changed, that told him that while they'd been through a lot, especially Sam, when they'd been on that planet; they were going to help each other get through it.
Hammond looked past the four of them and to his office. "It looks like they've come to an agreement," Hammond said, nodding to the office.
SG1 all turned to look at the office and saw that the three women were all nodding.
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed as the three of them then came out of the office and retook their seats.
SG1 and Hammond all remained silent, waiting for Natasha or one of the other women to start speaking.
It was Natasha who eventually broke the silence that had over taken the room. "This place you call Cimmeria sounds like it will be a good fit for us. We are not opposed to working hard, we are used to that, and so long as we are treated as equals we will be happy to do whatever is needed."
Sam smiled at her. "They are lovely people," she assured them, "And they will make you feel welcome, that I am sure of. They worship a god called Thor and he teaches them to stand tall, be proud, and most of all treat others as you wish to be treated."
Natasha smiled at her. "They sound like good people," she said, "But we do not worship any god, the reason we are in servitude in the first place was because of our gods, they came and took the women to act as servants to them, and when they left us, we do not know why, the men decided that they wanted servants too and so the cycle continued."
"That sounds like a Goa'uld," Daniel mussed, "What was their name?"
"He was called Anubis," Natasha answered, "One day he was there and the next he was gone. At first we thought that he had forsaken us but then we realised that that meant we were free from his rule of terror."
Jack shared a glance with Hammond before he said, "Anubis died."
"A god cannot die," Hazel objected.
"Anubis was not a god," Sam explained gently, "He was an alien in a person's body, much like the Tok'ra who I believe you know, but unlike the Tok'ra Anubis and the rest of the Goa'uld completely take over a person's body and mind."
"We know of the Tok'ra," Natasha agreed, "They came to the village once, but they did not stay long and did not say why they were there."
"Another thing to add to the list of things I have to say to them," Jack muttered.
Sam nodded in agreement and then said, "I'm glad that you have found our suggestion agreeable, I hope that it works out for you."
Natasha inclined her head in Sam's direction.
"If that is sorted," Hammond said, "Then I shall invite you to take a party through to meet Gairwyn and her people before you move there, today or tomorrow if you want to."
"Thank you General," Natasha replied, "Would it be possible for Sam to accompany us?"
"I'm sorry," Sam said, "But I'm already scheduled to go off world tomorrow, and I'm not allowed off world today, if I was able to I would gladly go with you. But I can assure you that Gairwyn will take good care of you, and I'm sure that General Hammond would be able to find someone else to accompany you if that's what you want."
Natasha shook her head. "If you are busy then would it be ok if we waited another day or so before we went and had a look?"
Sam looked at Hammond, waiting to see what he would say. Hammond nodded. "Of course, take however long you need; you are guests here until you find a new home that you will be happy in."
"Thank you General," Natasha replied with a smile, "Now we will take our leave, and go and tell the rest of our people the good news."
Hammond smiled at her. "Of course. SG1 can you wait another moment please?"
SG1 nodded and watched as Natasha, Hazel and the third women left. Once the door had shut behind them, the four team members turned their attention back to Hammond.
"So long as you're sure that you're up to it I'll have you scheduled to go off world just after breakfast tomorrow, I know we have a lull in travel then and it'll give you all a chance to have your tests done and get the results."
Jack nodded. "Anything else sir?" he asked.
"One thing," Hammond replied, "I know that all of you are annoyed with the Tok'ra."
"No kidding," Jack muttered under his breath, causing Sam to smile slightly.
Hammond ignored him and carried on talking. "And that you have every right to be. But they are our allies so give them a chance to explain themselves before you let loose with both barrels."
"Are you not going to tell us to be polite?" Jack asked with a slight smile.
Hammond shrugged. "I know there's no point, you're annoyed and you're going to let it show," he said, "Plus after what you've gone through on their information they're going to deserve it."
Jack smiled at him. "Well that is fair enough sir," he joked.
Hammond rolled his eyes and shook his head. "That's it," he told them, "I'll see you tomorrow at ten in the gate room, provided that your tests all come back clear."
"See you then sir," Jack said as they all stood.
Hammond nodded and then watched as they all left the room, Sam however didn't follow them and Hammond gave her a questioning look. "Are you ok Major?"
"Yes sir," Sam answered, "I was just wondering if you knew if my dad was going to be there tomorrow."
"I think he is Major," Hammond answered.
Sam nodded but stayed where she was, looking around the room, anywhere but Hammond's face.
"Major?" Hammond questioned. He then took a step closer and said, "Sam?"
"It's nothing really," Sam said, "It's silly."
"I've known you all your life," Hammond said gently as he rested a hand on her shoulder, "I have never once believed you when you've said it was nothing."
"It's just the last few days," Sam said slowly, "They haven't been the best."
"That they haven't," Hammond agreed, "What else."
"I just want someone to give me a hug Uncle George," Sam said, looking at her feet.
"Oh Samantha," Hammond said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Sam. It was only a quick hug, it wasn't really something that the two of them should be doing as commanding officer and subordinate, but it did make Sam feel better.
"Thank you sir," Sam said.
Hammond smiled at her before saying, in a semi serious tone, "Now go and get some work done Major."
Sam smiled back at him, knowing that he was joking, before she turned and headed for the door.
Until lunch they all went their separate ways, Daniel doing some work in his lab, Sam doing the same in hers, Teal'c going to his room and kel'no'reeming, and Jack wandered around for a bit before he headed to his office to try and make a start on the paper work he had piled in there. After lunch, which they ate together, they all headed down to the infirmary to get their tests done.
The nurses took their blood quickly and sent them to get tested. SG1 all then went back to work.
While Daniel and Teal'c headed back to do what they had been doing before lunch, Sam and Jack headed to see Natasha and her people, to make sure that they were ok and being taken care of, and if there was anything the two of them could help them with, like telling them more about Cimmeria.
By the time the end of the day rolled round they were all more than ready to head for home. They said their goodbyes to Teal'c outside of his room and then the three of them headed up to the surface together. Once they'd reached their cars they all said goodbye to each other and headed home.
