The other lost city

Chapter XXVIII

"So, what do you think?" Garibaldi asked.

"I don't know," Hammond answered. "I don't think they will agree."

"The situation is difficult, if only Shannahan hadn't opened his mouth."

"Perhaps we can take care of him," Ford said, "you know, special ops?"

"The damage has already been done," Jacob said, "and I don't want you to think I don't believe the men in special ops are good, but we have other ways of making someone dissapear without taking care of him the way you are insinuating."

"I still don't think that would be the answer to our problem," Hammond said, "and we can't 'take care' of Shannahan. If he disappears now, people will start talking."

"I must say that I think George is right, but what else can we do?" Jumper said.

The Generals and the Admiral were in Jack's office. They had been discussing what to do when Jack and Sam returned in a few hours. The President had called and told them what possibilities the Joint Chiefs had discussed. They were the ones that had to make the final decission as Hammond and Jacob were the ones that knew the two officers better. But it was very difficult, the situation was very complicated and they couldn't loose any of them.


After aproximately two days under the mountain, Mark returned to Sam's house,where his family was supposed to be staying.

"Hello," he said as he opened the door with the key Jacob gave him before he left the base.

"DADDY!"

"Hi, baby," Mark said hugging his little girl. He kissed her forehead.

"We missed you."

"Dad," his son said.

"Hello, kiddo, where's your mum?"

"In the bathroom," Mike told his father.

"Where were you daddy?" Steff asked. She had been worried about her dad. He usually didn't leave them for so long.

"I was with your grandad in the mountain where Aunt Sammie works"

"Can we go daddy? Grandpa said we could go if General Jack let us."

"General Jack?" Mark said smiling.

"Aunt Sammie calls him General, and grandpa calls him Jack," Steff explained.

"Well, I don't know sweetheart," Mark said, "Come on, let's get something to eat."

"We are not hungry, dad."

"Well, I am, Mike."

They went to the kitchen and Mark saw that there were a lot of supermarket bags on the counter.

"We had to go to the grocery store because Aunt Sam didn't have anything here!" Mike told his father.

Mark smiled. He knew his son hated going shopping. He prefered to stay at home and play with his computer games, but Sam didn't have any of those things here so….

"Well, she spends a lot of time working."

"Why?"

"Because she loves her work, honey." As his daughter's face still looked puzzled Mark

continued with an explanation. "She spends a lot of time with her friends that work there. That's why she likes her work so much."

"Mark, you're back!" Emily said.

Mark reached his wife and kissed her. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she said smiling. "Did you hear that Pete went to a journalist and leaked the story?"

"I know, I know," Mark interrupted her, "They're seeing what they can do at the mountain."

"Well, actually, I think it's really simple."

"You think?"

"They go out, I mean Sam and her CO, and say there's nothing between them."

Mark smiled, "I wish things were so simple. But the situation is complicated."

"Complicated? I don't see how that's possible."

"Emily, Sam and Jack are in a mission at the moment. They are unreachable. Dad and the other Generals don't know when they are coming back."

"Oh, but, well, when they come back, they can go out and tell the press the truth."

"The truth," Mark said thoughtfully, "I must say again that I wish things were so simple. Honey, Sam and Jack might be gone for a long time."

"I don't understand, Mark. They are only on a mission."

"I know, but I can't say anything else," Mark told his wife. Then looked at his kids.

"Who wants to go to the park and have some hot dogs?"

"ME!" the children exclaimed.


When they reached the bottom of the stairs of the Temple, they saw a fire and a group of people around it.

"Come on" Jack told Sam and started walking to the fire. "They are waiting for us."

"Sir," Sam said, "we don't know if they are hostiles."

"They are Ancients, Carter."

"Oh," Sam said, then "How do you know?"

Jack stopped and looked and frowned. He was thinking, then he smiled with that little sexy smile he has. "Don't know, but don't worry, Sam. They are the Ancients," he said reaching for her hand and kissing it.

"If you say so," she answered smiling.


They walked to where the Ancients were. One of them rose up.

"Jonathan, Samantha, glad you decided to join us," the Ancient said, "I am Morfin. This is Bella, you know her" he pointed the Ancient woman they had met before, "Conleth" a bald man lowered his head in a greeting way, "and Fallon" he said presenting a red-headed woman.

"Please, sit," Bella said politely.

Jack sat on the floor, and Sam sat next to him. Their knees were touching.

"We have a lot to discuss," Conleth said, he had a very soft voice.

"Really?" Jack asked.

"Yes, Jack," Bella said. "We have to talk about the quest you started some days ago."

"Well, let me tell you that that mission is over. We are going back to Earth."

"Jack, we understand that you are angry for what happened to Sam."

"ANGRY! ANGRY?" he yelled and stood up. "I'M NOT ANGRY, I'M FURIOUS. WE TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU" he pointed to Bella, "YOU SENT US HERE, WHERE FIRST," he started marking his words with his fingers, "WE WERE MADE PRISONERS, THEN, I WAS SELECTED TO BE SACRIFICED, AND FINALLY THEY KILLED SA-CARTER!" He stopped, trying to regain his breathing, "AND YOU THINK I HAVE GOOD REASONS TO BE ANGRY! I AM NOT ANGRY, I AM FURIOUS!"

Sam watched as Jack yelled at the Ancients. She didn't think that yelling at the Ancients was a good idea, but Jack always did things she would never do, and he was, after all, still alive.

"Jonathan, please," Morfin said. "If you let us, we can explain everything to you."

"Explain? There is nothing to explain," Jack said very coldly.

"Jack," Conleth said.

Jack was going to say something when, "Sir" Sam said, "I think we should hear what they have to say before we go home"

Jack looked at her, "Carter, you almost died because of them."

"Yes, and I am alive because of them too."

The Ancients looked at each other. They knew Sam was the only one that could make Jack do anything, even things he didn't want to do. He sat down. He was glued to Sam, not only their knees were tocuhing now, but he had his hand on her thigh and their shoulders were touching.

"We will stay and listen, but this doesn't mean we won't be going back home."

"Thank you," Morfin said to Sam. "Now, it is time for you to know why you were brought here and what will happen next."

"Nothing will happen next because we are going home," Jack said stubbornly. He was acting like a kid.

"Of course, Jack," Bella said. He looked at her with his brown eyes almost closed. He didn't believe her.

"I'm serious about this."

"We know," Bella answered him smiling.

"Sir," Sam said, "why don't we let them talk?"

Jack didn't answer.

"You have passed the second test," Morfin said, looking at Jack to see if he was going to say something. When Jack didn't, he continued on, "This test consisted in confirming how strong your love is."

"When Samantha," Fallon said for the first time, her voice was like the voice of a little girl,

"saved you, Jonathan, giving her life in exchange, part of the test was achieved."

"Part?" Sam asked. She had had the feeling her sacrifice was what had them passing the whole test.

"Yes. Part of the test," Bella said. "When Jack killed Ganan, he showed how much he loved you, and the test was succesfully completed."

"Why?" Sam asked. She didn't understand.

"You gave you life for Jonathan, Samantha," Fallon said, "and Jonathan gave part of his soul for you."

"Part of his soul?"

Jack was looking at the fire, "When you kill someone, your heart, your soul, is broken. Part of your soul leaves you when you kill" he said.

"Jonathan gave part of his soul for you, Samantha."

Sam covered her mouth with her hands. She didn't know that. "We have killed many people," she said after the initial shock.

"Yes, we have, Carter," Jack said in a bitter tone. Sam looked at him and lost herself in those beautiful brown eyes.

The Ancients saw the silent conversation that was taking place between the two officers.

"You don't have to worry, Sam. Your soul is healed when you give your life for others or when you find love," Bella said trying to calm her down, "And you give your life every time you go through the Stargate to save Earth and other races from destruction."

"How?" Sam looked at the Ancient woman.

"Love heals more wounds that any other thing."

Sam nodded. She understood but still had a lot of thinking to do. One of the things she needed to know was how Jack knew all this.

"As the test has been passed, you are able now to explore the walls of the Temple to continue to your next destination."

"No. No." Jack said. "We are going home and only home."

"Jonathan," Morfin said, "if you go home now, you will never find the Lost Lovers City."

"The Lost Lovers City?" Sam asked.

The Ancients smiled widely.


A/N: I love reviews so thank you for reviewing.