Chapter Twelve: Just Breathe
Author's Note: Chapter twelve is finally (and I stress *finally*) finished. Oh, and chapter 13 is about halfway finished (in the words of Col. O'Neill, "SWEET!"). Anywho, thanx again to everyone who's stuck around reading my fanfic and for the hopefuls out there, I'm hoping to have the next chapter done soon (give me a week at the latest).
-S
***
"HELP!" yelled the Colonel. He tilted Sam's head back and gave her a breath quickly followed by another. He clutched her throat, searching for a pulse that wasn't there.
"Is anybody there?!" Where were those damn Jaffa? Where was that damn woman? "I need some help in here!!"
He would need to do CPR. That was fine, as long as Sam's heart decided to work again.
"One and two and three and four and five and one and two…" His hands rhythmically worked the compressions.
Why is this happening? Why her? Why…
"Four and fifteen." Plugging her nose, he gave her two more breaths. "Two and two and three and four and five and two and two…"
Because nothing ever goes right for you, Jack. You were cursed the minute you were born.
"Three and one and two and three and four and fifteen..." He ignored the loud cracking sound from the last compression.
Cursed to watch your friends die.
"Four and one and two…"
Cursed to have your son die from your own gun.
"Three and four and ten…"
Cursed to fall in love, then watch it slip away.
"Two and three and four and fifteen." Panting from exertion, Jack gave her two more breaths and then checked her pulse again. Jack figured shouting some more couldn't hurt, could it? "I need some help in here, damn it! She isn't breathing!"
Maybe they thought that he was lying. Heck, he would think so in the same situation. Or maybe, they'd simply been ordered to ignore them… just to let her die.
How long had he been cradling her head? How long did it take for him to realize that she had a pulse, one that he wasn't imagining?
"Thank god," he muttered. Jack continued the rescuing breathing with renewed hope. "One and two and three and four and…"
Breathe.
"One and two and three and four and…"
Breathe.
"One and two and three and four and…"
Breathe.
***
The Stargate never seemed to lose its mystery. It was the greatest archeological and scientific find. Ever. For the first time though, Daniel Jackson wished that he'd never discovered the Stargate's secret. He wished that he'd never entered the galaxy, never visited the wonders of the universe. If he hadn't walked through that gate, Sam wouldn't be brainwashed (for the second time) and Jack wouldn't be fighting for his life. He knew his logistics were wrong, but heck, didn't he have the right to be mad at something?
Daniel was in the observation room, looking through the bulletproof glass at the Stargate. He was waiting to hear the final verdict on his friend's fates. General Hammond and Jacob Carter were still in the briefing room, duking it out. He'd been forcefully "asked" to leave the room a few minutes ago, otherwise he'd still be in there. You could hear them shouting from where he was (and the walls were supposed to be soundproof!).
Daniel could only hope that the retired General was half as stubborn as his daughter was. 'Come on, Jacob,' he urged on silently.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Teal'c move to stand next to him.
They stood there in companionable silence for a few minutes. It was Daniel who spoke first. "Teal'c?" he ventured, "Do you think that it really was Sam back there on that planet?"
His friend's usually stoic expression changed, his brow furrowed and he looked at Doctor Jackson questionably. "Evidence certainly leads to such a conclusion. Both Lateef and Colonel O'Neill believed to have seen her."
"Yeah," Daniel agreed, "I guess I just want some reassurance that this really isn't just false hope… a fool's errand."
Teal'c thought carefully before answering. "You did not seem so divided before, Daniel Jackson." He pointed out.
"I guess it's because I can't help but hope for the best. Hope that Sam and Jack are alive out there," he waved towards the Stargate, "Hope that they are safe. Hope is all that I have."
"It is all I have as well," replied Teal'c, "And it is all that the people that care for both the Major and Colonel can have." He paused, looking at the Stargate. "There is hope now where there was none before."
The younger man glanced at the Jaffa and smiled.
A few minutes later, Jacob Carter joined the two men.
"I have a plan," he told them, and then he turned around, leading them back into the briefing room.
***
"One and two and three and four and…"
Breathe.
"One and two and three and four and…"
Breathe.
Jack was gasping; trying to breathe for Sam and himself was starting to make him feel dizzy. Not that he'd stop rescue breathing. He couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop until his 2IC's lungs started working on their own. He just hoped that he didn't pass out first.
Fortunately, Sam Carter wasn't one to let her CO down. It wasn't long (around the fifth breath) that she started coughing. They were awful, gut-wrenching coughs that tore at the old Colonel's heart. It was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard.
"It's alright, Sam," he muttered, "It's alright. I'm here."
Once the violent coughing had ended, she closed her eyes again. This time though, she was breathing. Everything was right in the universe. Well, close enough.
***
"Report," said Nephthys to his High Minister. Runihura briefly summed up the damages from two days ago, adding that repairs were being finished and things were getting back to "normal".
"I will be leaving here shortly, Runihura," the god told his servant, "Continue to be useful to me, and perhaps you will be fortunate to never see me again in your lifetime."
"Of course, Nephthys. I live to serve you," replied the High Minister. Curiosity got the better of him, "What are your plans for the prisoners?"
"They will come with me." Nephthys cherished the expression of repressed rage on his High Minister's face. "They are valuable to me. Perhaps even more so then the Tok'ra was," explained the god. Not that he should need to justify his actions to anyone. Nephthys continued, "I journey through the Gateway to Eternity in three days. Make the proper preparations."
Runihura was dismissed and as he turned around he could hear Nephthys' words to a Jaffa guard.
"Bring the female Tau'ri to me."
My Kamilah, he thought. No, he then corrected himself, Major Samantha Carter, he thought with bitter fury. His nose still hurt from when the Major had broken it. His Kamilah was dead and Runihura hoped desperately that Sam Carter suffered for everything she'd done.
***
Jack looked at the zat with a keen eye and tried to concentrate on figuring out a plan. It didn't help that Sam was in the corner, barely alive. He had to limit himself to checking up on her only every other second. They had the tools (weapons), and it was obvious that somebody had figured out some sort of strategy (hence the excellent "Get out of Jail Free card"), but the timing couldn't be off…
From the vicinity of the corner, Jack heard a groan and a cough. "Colonel?" asked a weak voice.
Jack was up immediately; he hid the goods under the silver food cover and put them under the bed for extra camouflage. He was at her side in no time.
"Sam?" he asked in return. She looked feverish. This is bad. Really bad, he thought half heartily. On the other hand, she could be dead right now, the optimist in him muttered. Jack gave her a poor-excuse for a grin. "You don't look so hot, Carter," he muttered affectionately.
The major gave a gung ho attempt at a smile; she was putting up a brave front. "Colonel? I have to tell you…" she was interrupted by her body's need to breathe.
"Shh… Carter. Don't tried to talk."
"Never regretted any of it…" She always had to be stubborn, didn't she. "It's been an honour serving under you, sir."
No, no, no, no… "No, no, Carter… don't you start with that "honour serving with you" crap. You can't give up on me. Besides, I don't want to have to break in a new second-in-command. Do you know how hard it is to find someone who can break the laws of physics on a regular basis?" His joking tone fell flat.
"Colonel," her voice was raspy and broken, "I know when I've been beat." She continued before he could start to object. "Don't…" she took a few more breaths, "Blame yourself." Her eyes were fluttering, and she struggled with her last words, "Love you, sir."
No, no, no, no, no…
Jack could only stare at her, his expression like a deer caught in headlights. She loved him. She was dying and she told him that she loved him. The major's skin was white and her breathing was uneven and faint. Colonel Jack O'Neill had never been so scared in his life.
Such a moment was full of opportunities. It was three of Nephthys' Jaffa who took the cue and entered the cell without warning, ready to take the major to their master.
***
"So there's a plan?" said Daniel Jackson, repeating the obvious.
"Yeah," answered Jacob, "At least some semblance to a plan. I have a ship that we can use to get to Abayomous without using the Stargate."
"Wait a second, you have a ship?" interrupted Daniel.
"Yes," Jacob answered, "The point being, we could use it's stealth technology get us in orbit and, hopefully, get Sam and Jack out of there."
All this time, Jacob had a ship up his sleeve and didn't mention it? mused Daniel Jackson, Wonder what Jack would say if he were here?
"Why didn't we use the ship the first time around?" asked Daniel.
"I'm pulling a few strings, Daniel, to get it. Unfortunately, we probably won't be able to get our hands on it for another two days. Also, it will take at least another day to get to Abayomous by ship." The Tok'ra continued speaking before the doctor could object. "Listen, it's the best I can do," he said and he briefly glanced at General Hammond, "And this way, at least we have a chance."
With a consistency that was getting damn annoying, Sam's dad was right. So, what else could Daniel do?
"I suggest you get some sleep, Doctor," said General Hammond, "Everyone here has been going for almost forty-eight hours."
Two days! It's been almost two days? Apparently exhaustion hadn't caught up with Daniel, yet.
"Teal'c, I'm sure you could use the downtime too." The Jaffa nodded his head to agree.
Before Daniel knew it, Jacob and Lateef were being whisked off to VIP rooms and he was heading back to his own on-base quarters. He'd get some sleep.
On the other hand, maybe he'd go to the commissary and get some coffee.
***
Sam barely felt it when she was shoved roughly into the ziggurat. She was hardly conscious and half-aware of her surrounds. Nephthys wasted no time.
'What is the location of the Tok'ra base?' demanded his voice as the ribbon device raped her mind.
Nephthys watched in pleasure as the Tau'ri let out a weak scream and crumbled to the floor. The girl is strong, he thought, but not strong enough.
"Why torture yourself, Major?" taunted the Goa'uld, "Just tell me… everything and I promise it will all stop." This was the highlight of his day. She was kicked in the chest by a large Jaffa guard; she couldn't hear the crack of more ribs, but the pain was enough.
Sam's body couldn't take anymore abuse. Her head tilted back at an awkward angle and her eyes rolls back into her head; she took one last breath.
Runihura glanced at the new "development" with disdain.
Of course, she just had to have the insolence to die on him.
***
TBC
(I apologize for the recent theme of Sam dying at the end of each chapter. She's starting to catch up with Daniel. lol.)
Teaser for Chapter 13:
"It was time for Operation: Save Sam (he so had to figure out a better name for that!). But, deciding to break out of jail was one thing though. Getting out would be harder."