Jack's POV
Thank god we're back on mission rotation. It's not that I don't like spending time with Carter, especially now things are a little more intimate, but Hammond has had me completing paperwork. It's almost like he knows and is already punishing me. Teal'c, the lucky bastard, got to go off world to visit his family and Daniel, well he's always doing paperwork so that doesn't count. It was literally just me being punished I'm sure, so when I find out not only are we back on rotation but have a mission later today I literally jump for joy.
I spent most of our mission briefing watching Carter out of the corner of my eye, she definitely didn't seem as relaxed as usual and I can't help but think it's something to do with me. My thoughts are confirmed when she practically walks into me as she rounds the corner towards the locker room.
"You okay?" I ask before she hastily mutters she's fine and continues on a little faster than I would have liked. I stand and watch her go before continuing on my way. I really hope she isn't regretting our decision, these past few days have been some of the best of my life.
"Ready?" My team all nod at me and I turn and throw Hammond a lazy salute before following them up the ramp. Pretty sure I'd be in trouble if the General could actually be bothered to come down and discipline me, instead I smirk as I mentally congratulate myself on my childishness before stepping into the gate. I'm out the other side before I really know what's happened, this planet seems peaceful enough, at the moment at least. And just like all the others there's a shit load of trees and to really top it off, it's raining. Hard.
Like a well oiled machine with head off towards our destination with each of us settling into our roles quickly. I'd hoped to use this opportunity to have a little chat with Carter but she's made an effort to walk with Teal'c and now I'm stuck with Daniel who's on full talk shit mode. I manage to nod and utter a few words now and then which appears to be enough to keep him happy. I'd much rather be walking with Carter but I'm starting to get the impression something might be very wrong there, although being a typical man, I have absolutely no idea what. When we finally reach the edge of the village we've been heading towards I'm about ready to shoot Daniel. I'm so relieved to not have to listen to him anymore I fail to spot the Jaffa patrol a little further ahead of us, thankfully Carter and Teal'c did see them and I hastily head towards cover whilst dragging Daniel along as Carter warns me over the radio.
"How many there?"
"Six Sir '' replies Carter over the radio. "I don't think they spotted us yet though" she adds. I manage to get myself and Daniel over to their position before settling in next to Teal'c.
"I didn't think the Goa'uld had been to this planet?" I ask as I pull out my binoculars for a closer look.
"I was not aware of any Goa'uld activity on this planet O'Neill"
A thoroughly unhelpful reply I think to myself, none of us were expecting to see a Jaffa patrol just casually walking by.
"What do you want to do Sir?" asks Carter, pulling me back into the moment.
"Let's keep our distance and see where they go, Carter you're with me. Teal'c, Daniel head round that side and stay in radio contact" I order.
We silently go our separate ways and for a moment I contemplate trying to find out what's going on between us but then I remember we're stalking a Jaffa patrol and that it's probably not a great strategic idea. At least I know Carter's paying attention, her P90 hasn't slipped down once since we set off.
Rounding a corner in the village we carefully take a look and both audibly gasp at the sight before us. There appears to be a line of villagers knelt down on the floor with the Jaffa patrol we saw standing behind them. More worryingly there is another figure standing before them clearly wearing a hand device. Shit, I mutter under my breath as I glance at Carter who looks equally concerned.
"We should try and help them Sir"
I knew she was going to suggest that and part of me agrees but without knowing exactly what's going on, we're outnumbered and I'm not taking the risk.
"Negative Major, let's fall back and regroup with Teal'c and Daniel" I can tell she doesn't agree but she nods and we both turn back the way we came. I'm hoping Teal'c and Daniel are doing the same as I decided not to radio them in case they were closer to the patrol than us. Suddenly a cry fills the air before the unmistakable sound of a staff blast follows. Spinning around I see three of the Jaffa patrol running across the courtyard and I spot Teal'c dragging a clearly injured Daniel away as fast as he can. I can only assume the twit got spotted and managed to get himself shot. I order Carter to follow me towards Teal'c, with any luck between us we can take the guards down whilst they are separated from the others. She doesn't move and I go to grab her before realising she's staring at the villagers in shock, the other figure is using the hand device.
"Carter, we need to help Daniel" I hiss, "let's go"
"Sir, you go, I can help them"
"What?" I splutter in shock, "in case you hadn't noticed Carter, there's still three guards and the hand device guy. Oh and the three guards chasing Daniel and Teal'c" I'm sure she's about to argue with me again when she suddenly turns and motions for me to lead the way.
It doesn't take us long to find Daniel and Teal'c and by some miracle Teal'c has managed to get Daniel to cover, leaving the Jaffa guards exposed and we take them down easily. Too easily in fact and for a moment I wonder if we've stumbled into some sort of trap but Teal'c quickly notices that they aren't actually real Jaffa.
"Have you ever seen this before Teal'c?" asks Carter, "people pretending to be Jaffa guards?"
"I have not" he replies solemnly and I wonder to myself why anyone would want to pretend to serve these so-called gods. Checking on Daniel I'm relieved to find he's relatively unharmed. Luckily for him, the staff blast grazed his thigh and I inform him he isn't about to bleed out and that he can probably walk back to the gate. He looks a little put out, it clearly hurts and he was obviously expecting a free ride home.
"Carter, hand me the med kit. Teal'c keep an eye out for the rest of that fake patrol"
"I will O'Neill but I must inform you that Major Carter is not here" replies Teal'c without the slightest hint of emotion as usual.
"What?!" I yell as I stand up and spin around, "where the hell is she?"
"I believe she went to help the villagers"
"And you didn't stop her?" I splutter, unable to contain my anger. "Daniel, do not move" I tell him, he has the good grace to look sheepish before handing me my P90 I'd set down in order to help him. I'm properly seething by the time I spot Carter and I have to stop myself from yelling out and blowing her cover. Somehow she's managed to get close enough to the guy with the hand device that for a moment I half expect her to just tap him on the shoulder and yell surprise.
I can barely bring myself to watch what happens next and it feels like it's all happening in slow motion. I can only assume one of the villagers must have given her position away because the nut job with the hand device spins round and lets rip causing her to lose any tactical advantage she had. As I watch him point that stupid glowing piece of shit right at her she crumples to the floor, but not before one of the fake Jaffa guards manages to get a shot off. I'm not sure who screams out louder, me or her. Both Teal'c and I return fire and within seconds we've downed the three fake guards. The hand device idiot managed to take cover but the big man quickly takes care of him. Running across to Carter my heart is in my mouth, I've no idea what I'm going to find.
Sam's POV
I understood why the Colonel didn't want to risk trying to help those villagers but when I saw the guy with the hand device something told me I needed to help. Unsurprisingly he ordered me not to do anything and as usual I followed his command even though I disagreed. We made our way over to Daniel and Teal'c and I was relieved to see Daniel wasn't too seriously hurt although judging by the look on his face I think he disagreed with the Colonel's assessment. At this point I'm contemplating whether or not we should just get the hell out of here, after all this isn't our fight regardless of what's going on. But for some reason I feel compelled to help them, watching as the Colonel kneels in front of Daniel I quickly turn and head back towards the villagers.
I didn't see when we initially spotted them but I'm able to get a lot closer than I realised and for a second I wonder if I can simply grab the guy with the hand device before he even realises what's going on. I'm still trying to decide my next move when one of the villagers catches sight of me and his frantic movements alert their captors to my position. Before I know what's going on I can feel the burning beat from the hand device and I drop to my knees involuntarily. Then, out of nowhere, the sound of a staff blast once again fills the air and my right shoulder immediately feels like it's on fire.
I'm vaguely aware of shouting and more gunfire before I feel some hands gently laying me down and I know it's him, his scent, his movements, they're all so familiar to me now.
"Sir, I didn't" He instantly tells me not to talk and I frantically try to find his face, I need to see in his eyes that everything is going to be okay. The pain in my shoulder is excruciating and I can feel the pull of unconsciousness calling me.
"Sir, please….I'm sorry" He finally looks me in the eye and I can tell he's angry, probably furious but beneath that I can see he still cares and it's all I need to see as I finally allow myself to relax and let the peaceful darkness overtake me.
"Sam, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can"
"She lost consciousness shortly after she was shot Doc"
"Sam honey, let me know if you can hear me" Ah Janet, my friend, my best friend in fact. I so badly want to open my eyes and let her know I'm okay but my body seems to have other plans. I do manage to squeeze her hand hard enough to seemily satisfy her request and I faintly hear a voice telling me I'm going to be okay before everything goes dark again.
I'm not 100% sure whether I'm awake or not the next time I hear voices, I finally manage to prise my eyes open and for a few moments I struggle to work out where I am. When I eventually manage to bring my vision into focus I realise I'm safely tucked up in bed in the infirmary, my whole body feels like it's floating and I suspect Janet has got me on some pretty serious pain medication. I know I'm moving my lips but I'm not sure anything is coming out, trying again I hear myself make a faint groan and the tell tale clack of Janet's heels on the floor suddenly get louder before coming to a stop next to me.
"Hey" is all I manage to croak before the water my throat is desperately craving is thrust in front of my mouth.
"Take it easy Sam, you've been out for a while"
"Thanks, that's much better" I reply after the much needed liquid coats my still rather dry throat. "Is the Colonel here?"
"He's been in and out" replies Janet carefully and I can immediately tell she's hiding something.
"Is he mad?" I ask feebly knowing forwell what the answer is.
"He's just glad you're okay" replies Janet, "get some rest, you'll be back on your feet before you know it"
I watch her walk away before laying back and staring at the grey ceiling. Despite the medication I just can't stop my mind from replaying the events, I'm not really sure if it was the look of betrayal on his face or the staff blast that hurts the most. I knew being together was too good to be true, even without realising it our personal feelings have interfered with work and I hate myself for letting it happen.
"Didn't the Doc tell you to get some rest?"
My heart skips a beat when I hear his voice call out across the infirmary. I knew he'd come eventually, he always does, but I've no idea what mood he's going to be in.
"Sir"
"Carter"
"Thank you"
"For what?" Yep, he's going to make this difficult. Under any other circumstance the first thing he says or does when I'm in the infirmary is to make a joke or bring me something to read or even occasionally his constantly tangled yo-yo. Instead this time he stands at the foot of my bed with his hands shoved firmly in his pockets.
"For saving me"
"Just doing my job" Well that hurt, just doing my job. I almost want to shout it back at him but luckily for both of us I quickly remember where we are.
"I'm going to get some rest" I tell him before turning away, I can feel the tears building and the last thing I want is for him to see me cry. I refuse to turn back and face him even though I know he's waiting for me to do so. When he does eventually leave, I don't bother to try and stop myself, instead I let my tears run freely and I curse myself for letting myself get into this situation.