13 hours, 23 minutes after the event.

"C'mon Carter, let's move." Jack grunted lifting Sam up off the floor with the help from Mitchell.

"Jack what do we do now?" Sam asked barely able to speak.

"We'll think of something, but you need to rest. Don't make me make that an order." Jack replied worry deeply setting in now.

Jack and Cam helped her carefully down the empty corridors. Coming up to her old quarters Jack opened the door to allow them access, carefully walking over to the bed they placed her down gently lying in the foetal position.

"She's suffering from shock Sir." Cameroon stated the obvious.

"So would you be Mitchell, everything that's just been thrown at her." he whispered. "Leave her to rest, she'll be okay."

Jack didn't know if she would get through this. He has never seen her like this, rocking staring blankly at the wall showing no expression. It hadn't been her fault; none of this was her fault. But she felt like it was, she gave the orders to seek an alliance. She could never have known.

No one could have ever anticipated this.

Jack motioned Cam to leave he needed to be with her alone. They need to talk, when that would be he didn't know. For now he needed to comfort her.

"Ssh Sam it's okay," Jack moved behind her wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"They are all gone nine billion people... Dead! Because of... me," Sam spat, "how is it ever going to be okay. I can't fix this." tears cascaded down her pale cheeks.

"We CAN fix this and WE will fix it." Jack pulled her closer, caressing her arms.

He couldn't think right now, he had to remain strong. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. He had to remain strong for the both of them. For that much he knew.

It was all he could do, to hold on to her, because she was all he had left.

"How can you say that?" She rubbed her red puffy eyes.

"Because I have no choice Sam, I have to believe that. Because I know, and deep down so do you that we can accomplish anything - together, all of us!"

Sam turned to face him.

"I can't bring back nine billion people from the dead Jack."

"Maybe not. But there is someone counting on you more than you'll ever know." Jack finally said reassuringly.

His plan had worked he got her talking, he knew when she spoke back to him. All was not lost. She was still with them, forever the soldier was Sam. She just needed to be reminded that she is not alone. She has her family beside her and a family that will do anything for her.

"I'm sorry Jack, I..." Sam continued.

"Ssh, not know. You need to rest, close your eyes and when you wake. You'll see everything will be better."

Jack nuzzled into her neck holding her as tightly as he could. He just breathed with her, caressed her. He'd be there for her, for as long as it takes.

He'd been through shock enough times in his life to understand how she is feeling now. There was many times during his black op days he was shell shocked. He wouldn't allow himself to move, to talk, and to sleep. He stood frozen as time had stood still. Doing that didn't help at all, it made matters worse. He had realised after Charlie had died, and he had spent the past two days in anguish. He never allowed himself to sleep, he didn't think he even deserved to be alive, he didn't want to eat, didn't want to move or even blink. He had spent two days alone in the dark, Sara angry with him, hurt, lost over their child passing. He rocked himself for hours alone; hugging his knees wishing the world would pass by. It wasn't until he passed out from exhaustion, did he realise that sleep heals a broken mind.

Sam's breathing started to change, she was sleeping. Carefully he squirmed his way out of her grasp. Checking behind one last time to her still sleeping, he left in search of Mitchell and the others.

Entering a second door, he fumbled, stopping himself nearly tripping over Cams legs. Cam had settled behind the door. How long he had been there he didn't know. Jack wasn't sure how much time had passed as he held on to his wife. Judging by how much pain Cam seemed to be when he tried to move, told him that he had been there a fair while.

"Sorry Sir. I didn't think..." Cam trailed off with Jack's glare.

"C'mon Mitchell, we need to get to the others." Jack said calmly.

Jack helped Mitchell up from the cold floor, offering his hand after seeing him struggle to do it alone. He winced in pain as his bum and legs regained blood flow, fighting of an onslaught of pins and needles with every excruciating step.

"How Is General Carter?" Teal'c said aloud making the others jump from their sufferable silence.

Daniel and Vala twisted their heads around to the door to see Jack and Cam just standing there.

"She's sleeping. I want to be there when she wakes up so I'll make this quick." Jack said removing his jacket and rubbing his face.

"Right I know you all heard what Shmuel had said, and I want no one to mention it to Carter. Is that understood?"

"But Jack she's..."

"No Daniel, no one is to mention it, is that clear. We need her to be level headed; she doesn't need you all trying to get in her way to help her. There's a time and a place, but right now she needs to focus on the here and now." Jack barked.

"But Jack."

"NO DANIEL!" Jack spat.

Daniel held up his hands in defeat. He disagreed, but knew he had to back down Sam is his best friend, his sister. But Jack was her husband. No matter how much he disagreed with this, he'd always known Jack would never hurt her.

"T, how long until we get there?" Jack asked, trying to focus back on the task in hand.

"6 hours remain. This upgraded drive bodes us well O'Neill." Teal'c confirmed.

Jack thought for a moment.

"Daniel anything?"

"Nothing yet, I've been looking over the files General Ferretti had signed off. There's nothing there to indicate any threat."

"Well we are missing something?" Jack pressed his lips tightly together.

"Ahem. Is it possible we encountered this race before?" Mitchell coughed clearing his throat.

"What makes you say that?" Vala asked.

"Do you remember that frozen look Shmuel gave us when SG-12 introduced us? It was like we were not what he expected. Maybe we were not who he expected."

"Yeah but we get that a lot Cam." Daniel butted in.

"Indeed" Teal'c agreed.

"Well this seemed different, somehow."

"Different how?" O'Neill wondered.

Cam wasn't sure how different, it was just a gut feeling he had had and couldn't shake it.

"I'm not sure, Jackson mind if I read along with you. It's a hunch."

Daniel gestured Cam over and moved out of the way to allow him to look over the computer.

Teal'c looked over to Vala and asked her to take the pilot seat. He got up, waited until Vala had control then walked over to Jack.

"O'Neill, Is General Carter well, can I offer my assistance." Teal'c bowed placing a hand on Jacks shoulder, whispering for only his ears.

"She will be T' she will come around. I know it." Jack too placed a hand on Teal'c's Masculine shoulder expressing his thanks.

"She is a formidable warrior O'Neill. I give you my word, I shall honour you request and I swear on my life I will forever protect her."

"I know T' thanks, she'll be fine. We just need to work on a plan and we can fix this."

"Indeed, we are ALL SG-1!" Teal'c confirmed deeply with fighting passion.

The team looked to him and gave a weak smile. With all of his wisdom there's one thing he never gives up on. Hope.

Jack looked at everyone. Teal'c was right they ARE SG-1, the best of the best. They will fix this, no matter the cost. None of them are alone, they have each other. They all have family; right here on this ship. Neither of them are alone.

Shmuel made the biggest mistake sparing them. If only he realised the fight he had coming his way.

To be continued.

This story will skip between past an present, the past is relevant to the story, it will give you the information as to how the enemy is and how the event happened. As well additional personal story-lines to the characters. Thanks for reading. please let me know if it gets confusing.