Disclaimer: Standard drill. Story is mine, nothing else is.
A/N: Oh, finally. I have forced myself to write some of the 'spring cleaning'... It seems to me that every time I start to untangle the plot, something happens and I keep on adding new things... It just pops in my head and I have to add it, I swear! Ok... On with the untangling.
Till the end of the time
Chapter 7
"All right, Doctor. How is she?" General Hammond asked.
Last few days have been rather difficult for all of the SGC, because in this confined area news spread like wildfire and most of the people seemed to be honestly concerned for Major Carter. Of course, SG-1 had the most at stake. It doesn't get any worse... when one of your teammates gets attacked, starts to behave irrationally, sees things that are not there and speaks in an alien language, it is a sure signal that something is seriously wrong.
Of course, it was a standard procedure with SG-1. Every once in a while, one of them would get an unwanted guest, got shot or die. But usually, those things could be fixed.
Or to put it in better words, Major Samantha Carter would fix them most of the time, with the help of Dr. Daniel Jackson. Colonel Jack O'Neill would be there to give them a fair share of sarcastic comments, and Teal'c to raise that brow of his, in attempt to understand, and once in a while, he would.
"She is better now. Much better, actually. Wound is healing, and there seems to be no after effects of that... whatever it was," Dr. Fraiser answered.
"Have you had any luck in translating what Major said, Dr. Jackson?"
Daniel nervously fidgeted with his cup of coffee and then reluctantly raised his eyes, and said, "Actually, I have. The language is ancient version of Tamarian, which is very similar to some of the languages currently spoken in Sector P44, although there seemed to be certain peculiarities which have not been transferred to...."
"Just translate what she said Daniel," Jack interrupted in a tired voice.
"Oh, right," Daniel looked at the note he had in front of him, "Ractah means The Protected One. At Tamarian home planet, there is a legend of the woman that possessed all the knowledge of her world and was able to foretell the future. It is said that she had predicted destruction of her people by a race that would come from far away and take over their bodies..."
"Goa'uld?" Colonel asked.
"Yes, I believe she predicted Tamari will be conquered by Goa'uld. They have. Just after she made her prophecy, she disappeared. No one knows what happened to her."
Everybody was silent. Whatever had anything to do with Goa'uld was bound not to come out right.
"Second word... Sta'a... means simply Help."
Daniel noticed how Jack's eyes flickered over the room and came to stop on the chair in which Carter usually sat. He thought he noticed brief outburst of immense pain on his face, but quickly discarded it. Sam was getting better now. Colonel had less and less reason for worry, except, of course for this thing, which reminded him that everybody was waiting for the rest of the translation.
He cleared his throat and continued, "Wacree sunt heela. It confused me for a while, for the expression is almost forgotten and rather unique in the meaning, which does not coincide with direct translation. In loose translation, it means: What has been taken, must be returned. Last part, 'Dar soon'... I don't know what it means. Words are unknown to me, and it seems they hardly belong to Tamarian, because of their original construction, and I would say they are closely related to Frisan, which indeed, is..."
"That would be all, Dr. Jackson, thank you."
Daniel seemed a bit annoyed for the sudden interruption of his explanation, but returned quietly to his seat. Jack was still looking at Carter's seat.
It was now that Daniel truly felt, for the first time since Sam wasn't there with them, that something was missing. The room ached with void. He sighed, but turned his attention back to Dr. Fraiser, which has started giving full account of Sam's recovery. Long story, and with a hopeful happy ending.
Course of conversation was once again turned to the mysterious words Carter has spoken. She seemed to have no recollection of ever saying such things, or in that voice. Dr. Fraiser confirmed she had no alien organism inside of her, not Goa'uld, nor any other creature. It seemed to easy the atmosphere a little bit.
"Colonel, planet SG-1 had visited on its last mission, was in Sector P44, is that correct?" Hammond asked.
Jack simply shrugged his shoulders. He could never remember those damn names of the places they visited. Just bunch of numbers and letter without any sense at all. Carter usually remembered them. She is good with numbers... Unwillingly, his eyes turned to her seat once again.
Then before anyone could notice what was going on, Daniel spoke, "Yes, Sir, planet P224X6 is in the Sector P44."
"I read your report on the mission, Colonel. Do you have anything to add that might help with this situation? Anything concerning Major Carter?"
Jack's thought wondered to the same place where he found Carter that night.
'It was her.
He could tell even without looking into her face. It was her uniform, her body beneath that piece of clothing. Her blood that he felt on his fingers, as they moved up her leg. In the vague light that penetrated into the cave somewhere above his left shoulder, he saw blood staining upper part of her pants.
She was lying face down, in the muddy ground. Carefully, he turned her over, and pulled her torso on his lap. Her head fell back into his arms. His mind was clouded, and the only thing he could think of was her.
Jack never prayed. But now, that he held her in his arms, he prayed with all his might. He prayed for her.
They were in an enemy territory; unknown, cold and cruel, as it had been proved many times during this mission. Daniel and Teal'c managed to return back through the Stargate, the two of them were left behind. Stargate was blocked by the enemy. They couldn't go back that way. Natives told them that there was another one, on the other hemisphere of this forsaken land. But even then, there was no insurance that one was functional.
er hands were cold. But even before he had a chance to check for pulse, she opened her eyes and looked straight at him. She never said anything, just fell back into unconsciousness again. Jack carefully cleaned the mud of her face and pulled her back into the corner.
He checked for her wounds. There were none. Still she was hurt, and the blood was hers for sure. Chance of internal injuries was his great concern.
Enemy was near. His leg hurt. Gunshot wound. Well, those weren't gunshots, but the description was pretty close. And it hurted like hell. Gunshot, I tell you.
As he cradled her in his arms, and prayed for night to come as soon as possible... for the darkness was their only chance of escape, and prayed for her to hold on, he began to fade into unconsciousness himself.
Firmly holding his Major close and covering her body with his, for warmth and protection, in the hidden corner of the cave, he never noticed small ball of light finding its way to Carter's feet, and slipping into her body.
He only remembered her body suddenly becoming warmer and then everything went black...'
"No, Sir, I think my report covered everything about Major's condition on that mission..." his voice trailed off, as he noticed female figure standing at the door.
Blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes. There was no mistake. Major Samantha Carter was standing at the doorway of the debriefing room, and she was smiling at him. She was smiling at him! Jack quickly stood up, and as everybody else noticed her, they followed his example.
"Permission to attend the debriefing, Sir." her voice still shivered a bit, but the change was so slight, that only Jack noticed it. Of course, he noticed a lot of things about her, that other missed so easily.
General's face stretched into a big smile.
"Permission granted, Major. Welcome back."
Exclamations of greetings and welcomes suddenly buzzed around the room.
"It is good to be back, Sir," Sam said, and took her usual place.
Janet and Daniel had a smiles like they had just won the lottery. Hammond looked pretty much the same, even Teal'c had a smile. Which was quite an unusual thing to see.
But Jack, dear old Jack forgot to sit down, even after everybody has returned to their sits. He was standing and staring. With his mouth open.
"Sir, it is just me," she spoke quietly.
'Oh, no, it is never just you, Carter. It is YOU.'
When he realized everybody were looking quite curiously at him and smiling, he sat down and said with a grin, "Good to have you back, Major."
'Very good, indeed.' Both of them thought at the same time.
And both of them smiled at each other at the same time.
No one missed this, so Janet and Daniel began to snicker, when suddenly Janet realized something and her face turned serious.
"Why are you out of the infirmary? I have strictly forbidden you leaving your bed."
"Oh, Doc, give her a break!" Jack seemed cheerful, too cheerful.
"Umm... Janet, I... my wound is gone," Carter answered.
She was encountered by many curious looks.
"What to you mean gone? You were healing, yes, but the process is not complete. I checked you this morning." Janet was confused and she was not the only one.
"Oh, yes it is. I don't know how, I can't explain it. Colonel..." she turned to Jack, "I believe you have something that belongs to me. I need it back."
Everybody was looking at two of them, but no one really understood what was going on.
"What do you mean, Major?" Jack asked, having a really bad feeling this was about his recent search through Major's lab.
"You know what I am talking about, Sir. I need it now. Now, Sir!" her voice was getting louder and the room suddenly fell very silent and very cold.
"Major Carter! Please restrain yourself..." Hammond felt this was not a good moment to interfere, but it was his duty.
Sam was positively shrieking with anger.
"Jack! Now! Hand it over!"
Suddenly, she felt quiet and clutched the side of the table. Her face grimaced in pain, and the same deep, hoarse voice was heard.
"Ractah! Dar soon! Wacree sunt heela!"
Everybody was on their feet. Sam fell on her knees, and looked at Jack, who was now at her side with the pleading look.
"Please, Jack, give it back... or she will..." she started quietly, but her body suddenly twitched in pain, and she grabbed his shoulder.
"Hurry! I can't fight her... any longer. Hurry!"
A/N: God I hope you can follow this fic, cause I can't. J Anyways, review please! *sweetest smile in the world*