Only a few more chapters to go folks, thanks again for your useful tips.  As for the questions raised on the review, you'll just have to be patient and wait and see what I have planned, there will be twists and turns on route just to keep everyone on their toes. 

Now enough of the ramble, go grab yourself a coffee, and take a sit the action is about to begin!  I warn you before hand this is a big Chapter, so for those that need to pee, do so now, cos you might be crossing your legs before you get to the end.

I revised it slightly (the necklace bit) thanks for the tip Dena much appreciated, I had my reservations about that lil bit, but went with it anyway.  So thanks again.

Stargate is not mine; I'm borrowing from MGM, Gekko, Stargate etc.

Rating: PG13+

Spoilers from Season 2 upwards.

Chapter 8 – The Rescue

"Well Teal'c, do ya think I'm old?" O'Neill asked as they descended from the Stargate.

"I refuse to comment O'Neill on the grounds that I may incriminate myself."

O'Neill stared at him gob smacked, he really did think he was old. Although somewhere in his fuddled brain a little voice was saying, "It's only him working on his sense of humour…wasn't it?"

Both Teal'c and Jonas knew that this little quirky thing he had going on, was due to the fact that O'Neill was worried and frustrated, and until she was rescued, this was his way of preparing himself for what lay ahead.  And knowing that anything could happen on this mission, he was preparing his team for the same uncertainty.

As they put their backpacks on the ground, and got the equipment out to track Carter and Jaret's location, O'Neill and Jonas squinted up at the Sun hovering high above them.  The sun shining so bright that it hurt to look anywhere near it, and damnit, it was getting hot, and there was no doubt about it; they were gonna get burnt.  Luckily  they had brought with them sufficient water supplies to aid them on their journey.

Jonas was the first to speak as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a vessel containing cool water, and the other hand he used to locate his sunglasses.  "So what's the plan Colonel?"

Colonel O'Neill simply put his pack back on, took a deep breath, which caused his shoulders to rise, and simply said.  "I don't know."

Teal'c simply raised his eyebrow, and Jonas was shocked, he'd heard of impromptu planning, but considering this was Carter they were going to rescue, he expected the Colonel to at least have some idea, and was more than surprised that there was none.

"I don't understand Colonel, you always have a plan."

God, thought the Colonel, the kid was still green and had a lot to learn about the unknown.  For too long Jonas had been sat in a room learning about science, technology and cultures, but little on conflict.  He looked at him, and concentrated on his features for a few moments before he responded.  The Colonel remembering what Daniel was like in the beginning, geeky and uncoordinated, but eager.  Just like Jonas was now.  He knew that in time it would change and Jonas would become a fully effective member of SG-1, just like Daniel had.  It was times like these when he missed Daniel's banter, and hoped that wherever his friend was, that he was looking out for them on this unknown journey.

"Sometimes Jonas, the best attack method is surprise.  We don't know anything about where Carter's being held, and without that information, it would be useless wasting valuable planning and subjugating. Understand?"

"Yes, Colonel."

"Right then kids, lets go."

They had been travelling now for a little more than 4 hours and they had covered an enormous amount of ground, almost 7 miles.  The clicks on the techno gadget thingy as O'Neill liked to call it indicated that there were 2 structures within a 4-mile radius, one being only a short click away, the other showing as being approximately 4 clicks away in a north-easterly direction from their position.

Given their physical condition a few hours ago, it was surprising how far they had come in such a short space of time, but they were all getting a little weary, and were in desperate need of a rest.

Teal'c was the first to spot it, a simple structure lay ahead of them, a lone shack in the distance.  Colonel O'Neill squinted his eyes to get a better look, using his hand to shield away the UV rays of sunlight, for just a moment.  He needed to determine if there was any sign of life coming from outside or inside the building.  With his eyesight not being as great as it was, he pulled his binoculars from his BDU's and directed the lens at the shelter ahead; studying it for a short time before giving the go ahead to move forward.

Cautiously they approached the structure, no sound could be heard from SG-1 as they approached the building like a cat stalking it's prey, sliding on the ground to ensure they were not seen or heard by any occupant who may be inside.  Colonel O'Neill using sign language to indicate in which direction Teal'c and Jonas should go.  Once they were in the required position, they slowly opened the door of the structure.  It was just a simple hut, no signs of life could be found inside, Teal'c patrolling the outside just incase.  If nothing else, it gave them some shelter from the heat of the desert, and allowed them to recuperate for a few moments.

As they surveyed the inside, there really was very little to see, only small insects scurrying into the corners of the room where particles of sand lay in small piles, presumably laying wherever the wind had forced it, disturbed by the presence of visitors. A small wooden box lay towards the other side of the room, slats criss crossing across the side, where it had been carelessly tossed to one side.

Teal'c spotted something else, a glint by the wall, as the sun caught it's side, curious as to what it was, he moved towards it.  O'Neill watching Teal'c asked, "What is it"

As Teal'c lowered his hand to pick up the object, Jonas and O'Neill were already at his side. "Teal'c?"

"It seems to be some kind of jewellery O'Neill, possibly part of a necklace"

"Let me see it 'T'" O'Neill asked, taking the object from his hand, and inspecting it closely.

Examining it, he noted that it seemed familiar to him, but he didn't know why.  Thinking hard to recall some memory from long ago.  Then it came to him in a flash of inspiration, it was Carter's.  He remembered asking her about it one night whilst at O'Malley's having dinner and a bear, Daniel and Teal'c were on an off world mission, Teal'c along just to babysit Daniel who was constantly getting into trouble, so it had just been him and Carter, and he had seen her running it through her fingers. It was the most beautiful necklace he'd seen, so simple, but enchanting, just like Carter.  "Oh hello," he thought "Those kinda thoughts are gonna get you nothing but trouble O'Neill."

Sam had told him, that it was a gift from her mother, the last gift she'd ever bought for her before she died suddenly. Carter had told him that one time, she had been distraught because she thought she'd lost it. He had asked why she kept it with her, if she was afraid of losing it, and knowing the number of scrapes they had been in, it surprised him that she hadn't lost it more times.  When she replied, he had seen her sky blue eyes light up, and the brightest of smiles that could light up a darkened sky as she answered, "Because when it's with me, I feel as if my mother is with me as well."

Jonas and Teal'c were patiently waiting, they had seen the Colonel's eyes move to the right, where it indicated he was recalling memories, and waited until the memory had surfaced.

Softly he answered, "It's Carter's."

"This is a good sign O'Neill, it means that we are going in the right direction,"

O'Neill simply nodded in agreement, he needed a few moments to himself, and took himself off into another corner of the room, and drank from his water vessel.  The others following suit.  A sense of calmness spread through the hut like a gentle wind, each contemplating what lay ahead in their own way, wondering if they were too late to save Major Carter.  They each knew that Major Carter was not in her best physical condition prior to leaving the SGC; that was evident in the way Jaret was forced to carry her through the gate.

O'Neill remembered an old adage from his former commander many years ago, when he was just a Lieutenant.  They had been sent on a dangerous mission, and prior to them attacking a fortress; the team seemed unusually quiet, which reflected on O'Neill's current circumstances. He'd asked his CO "why the stillness", and his CO had responded. "Son, in any situation like this, tenseness prepares you for death in battle, stillness ensues the certainty of it."  That night 3 of his friends had been killed.

With one last thought, he took a large breath, held it for a brief moment and let it out slowly.  He stood up and brushed the sand off his BDU's, and with a conviction that Jonas had never heard from him before said, "We go now."  There was no bravado from him or wise cracks.  Jack O'Neill meant business, and one thing one certain, no-one was going to die today, except Jaret.

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Jacob lay on the floor panting, his breathing coming in quick concession, becoming more rapid and urgent; he had never felt anything like this.  Jaret was taunting him, it was not simple revenge that Jaret had wanted, he wanted to experiment on him.

For the last couple of hours he had been at the mercy of Jaret, violent shimmers now careering through his body as Jaret recited another spell from his father's book.

Jaret found this simply delightful, watching Selmack suffer so; never in his wildest dreams did he think he would injure inflicting so much pain on his enemy.

"Retribution is mine." He taunted Jacob/Selmack.

Jacob was in severe pain, but seeing his daughter, barely hanging on, he had no choice.  He had to hold on for her sake, or until they were rescued.  He couldn't understand where Jack was, but he wished he'd hurry up, he couldn't hold out forever, and neither could his daughter.  Jacob's symbiote had been working overtime over the last couple of hours, trying to heal Jacob's injuries as quickly as he good before he was inflicted with the next round of trauma.

Jaret circled Jacob/Selmack.  Throughout the ordeal, Jacob was determined not to allow Selmack to take full control of him, it annoyed the hell out of Jaret, and caused him to inflect more pain on the hosts body, but Jacob was adamant that he needed Selmack to concentrate on healing him, and now, it wasn't just Selmack's battle, it was Jacob's.  After the way Jaret had treated his daughter, beating her, taking her away from her friends, forcing her to commit treason.  "NO", he thought, I'm not letting Jaret have the upper hand.

Sam had remained unconscious throughout, Jacob was thankful for small mercies, in the fact that she hadn't seen her father subjected to this kind of torture.  As he lay with his back against the side of the wall, he glanced up to where his daughter lay.  She looked so small and fragile, he'd never seen her like this, and it scared the hell out of him.

"Why not just kill me Jaret, that's what you want isn't it?" Jacob taunted, finding the strength from somewhere deep inside.

Jaret laughed aloud, growing more and more unpredictable. "You'd like that wouldn't you, quick and easy.  Why should I let you off so easily?  You certainly didn't afford my father the same generosity, did you?  I saw him suffer at your hands, and it wasn't quick and painless, was it Selmack.  You made sure of that when you killed him the way you did! Do you know what it was like watching your father die?  It's just a shame Samantha can't witness her fathers demise."

Then he hit Jacob with another blast, causing Jacob to black out for a few moments.

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SG-1 had finally reached the structure; there were no guards around the perimeter.  O'Neill had been informed by General Hammond prior to their departure that there would be only a few Tokra there at present, and that the Tokra had been scouting for new locations in preparation for the move of their new headquarters.

This was too easy, he thought, but then why wouldn't it be.  As far as Jaret aware, the figures that Sam had been typing into the computer back at the SGC were to ensure their escape, but what he didn't know was that Sam had left an encoded message for them, and unless you understood Base 8 math, he wouldn't have realised.

Silently and with such gentle grace, they crept towards the front entrance, ensuring that any noise they made was minimal, they needed total surprise. O'Neill indicated with a hand signal to Teal'c to take right flank, and Jonas the left, this allowed him the opportunity to go through the middle.  They descended the stairwell, weapons raised in anticipation of what they would find.  He wasn't taking any chances when it came to Sam.

O'Neill heard something, very faint, but evident.  It appeared to be coming from a small area down the corridor. He turned around to the others and placed a finger on his lips indicating silence, as they proceeded towards the room.  They could hear shouting from Jaret, and screams.  They recognised the one who was screaming; it was Jacob.  They listened intently trying desperately to gather as much information they needed to get them all out of there safe, they weren't quite close enough to hear everything, they needed. Desperately trying to hear a sound from Carter he heard something, which caused his blood to go cold, it was Jacob.

"…What does it matter, she's dead anyway."

O'Neill didn't know what to feel; he put his head against the stone rock as he became slightly dizzy from shock.  His thoughts and feeling in turmoil, he felt physically sick. "Oh God, we're too late, and I never even got the chance to tell her." He thought.  Teal'c placed a hand on his shoulder, providing some comfort to his friend.  Although Teal'c felt the loss deeply, he knew that Jacob Carter was still alive in there, so they still had a mission which they had to continue, he would grieve in his own way when this was over.

With his eyes, Teal'c conveyed that they still had to rescue Jacob Carter, before it was too late.  Well if he was going in, he was going in hard.

Then he came up with a plan, he and Teal'c would go through first, O'Neill knew that Jaret wouldn't be expecting Jonas, as Jaret believed him to be dead.  This would be the element of surprise.  O'Neill advised Jonas that he and Teal'c would go through first and distract him, and then Jonas was to send an energy ball in, which he believed would disrupt any mechanical devices Jaret happened to have on him.

Jonas knew that the Colonel was placing all his trust in him, and he wasn't go to fail this time.  He took a deep breath and nodded.

O'Neill patted Teal'c on the back as they neared the entrance.  Then they saw the bodies of the Tokra scattered across the floor, dried blood caked their faces. "God, what happened to them?" he thought.

Then they heard Jacob's scream.

"Oh well, now or never!" thought O'Neill knowing that with the position of the bodies blocking the entrance, they wouldn't be able to get in without alerting Jaret.

Jaret heard them at the doorway and grabbed Jacob by the throat, manoeuvring him in front of his body, thus protecting himself.

"Well well well, Colonel Jack O'Neill, and Teal'c isn't it?  How nice of you to join us." Jaret grinned, now he had more souls to torture.

With their weapons still raised and pointed at Jaret, the first thing he saw was Carters deathly pale face, and his blood ran cold once more. 

Jaret looked the two of them up and down, and laughed heinously, "So you're the rescue committee, humph good job.  What did you expect, for me to just hand them over, I have the advantage point here gentleman," indicating to his grip on Jacob.

O'Neill had had enough, this guy was pissing him off, not only had he killed Carter, but he was playing with them, and more than anything, he didn't like to be played with.

Jack looked towards Jacob, his eyes radiating pain, "Jack, forget about me, Just shoot him."

"Shut up Jacob." Jack countered in a dark tone.

"Jack, he…"

"Jacob, I know what he's done" he answered in a tone that said "I know what I'm doing, trust me."

"Put your guns down gentleman, and take a seat over there." Jaret stated matter of fact.  "I'll get to you in a minute."

Both Teal'c and O'Neill laid down their weapons and took a few steps forward and to the left, Jaret released his grip on Jacob as he slowly walked to centre of the cavern.  O'Neill muttering, "Like hell you will." Then suddenly he shouted "NOW JONAS"

Not having time to react, Jaret turned round, to see Jonas Quinn fling an energy ball in the direction where he was standing.  The light and intensity of the electrical current being amplified in the room, as it hit its target.  O'Neill and Teal'c shielding themselves from the brilliant light, Jacob just managing to get behind the stone pillar where his daughter lay.

Jaret crumpled to the floor in a heap.  Jacob scrambled forward.  "Jack, whatever happens don't let him speak, the book he has, it's a book of spells, he can kill you in an instant."

Jack walking to where Jaret was lying pointed a Zat in his face, as Jaret's eyes opened. "I just need an excuse, and so help me I'll shoot ya."

Jaret opened his mouth to speak, but before he had a chance to say anything Jack shot him, not once, but twice, then whispered. "That was all I needed." Then promptly dropped the Zat on the floor, and stood silently, feeling completely alone and lost.

Now that it was over, Jacob had to get back to his daughter, and said, "Jack, don't just stand there, I need your help, Sam's dying."

O'Neill thought he would fall on the floor! Did he hear right? Did Jacob say that Sam was alive. "What?" he stated quizzically.

"Jack now is not the time to act stupid, now get your ass over here and help me."

His heart skipped a beat, she was alive, he couldn't believe it, how could she be, he'd heard Jacob say those words.  O'Neill ran up to the pillar, Jacob was on one side, he was at the other, Teal'c and Jonas were now standing slightly behind them.

Jack's instincts kicked in, as he placed his hands on the side of her throat checking for a pulse. He kept it there for a few seconds, just to reassure himself. It was faint and erratic, but it was there.  With his hand moving upwards to cup the side of her face, he gentle began caressing her jaw line.  His other hand smoothing back her hair that was damp from fever.  He started out softly, looking for any kind of response from her.  "Sam, can you hear me, common Sam, open your eyes for me, just for a minute."  Nothing was happening, so he tried a bit harder, shaking her ever so slightly, but being careful not to cause further injury. "SAM, come on, you've had enough sleep, it's time to wake up. Sam, come on no sleeping on the job, especially in front of your C.O."  Then he saw it, for just a brief moment, a flicker. "Sam, please, come back to me."

Jacob's eyes fixated on Jack's face, listening intently to what he was saying, Jack wasn't saying come back to 'us', he was saying come back to him, and it wasn't until that moment, did Jacob realise how much the colonel loved his daughter.

Just then Sam opened her eyes, only slightly, but they were open, Jack and Jacob looked at each other and smiled the widest smile you had ever seen, Teal'c and Jonas grinning in the background. "Welcome back Sam." O'Neill whispered as he noticed her hand moving ever so slowly and purposely up to his.  She laid her hand on top of his and rubbed her thumb back and forth as she had that night in the infirmary.  Jack O'Neill had never felt so content in his life.

Sam licked her lips and croaked; "You risked your life to come back for me" she smiled.  Her eyes suddenly growing very tired. "Thank you." And with that her hand fell back on to the slab where she lay.

Jack's face dropped as he saw her body go limp, urgently he shouted at her "Sam, Sam, please don't leave me now."

Jacob checked for a pulse, there wasn't one, oh god he was going lose his daughter, frantically his mind worked, think Jacob. He couldn't think, then he heard Selmack, "CPR, you must resuscitate her now."

"Jack", he prodded, "we must do CPR, 'NOW' Jack. Get her on the floor, you breathe for her, I'll do chest compressions. 'Jonas' grab the book by Jaret, it's a book of the Living and the Dead, it has allsorts of spells, that could bring Samantha back, 'get reading'"

They placed Sam on the ground to give themselves better leverage for the chest compressions to work.  All Teal'c could do is standby as he watched his friend trying to breathe life back into Major Carter. All you could hear was; "One and two and three and four and five, breathe."

By this stage Jonas had found the book and was checking through it.  The writing wasn't anything he had come across before, panic started to set in, as he knew then that he couldn't help her.  Racking his brain, trying to remember something…he couldn't. "Oh God."

"Jonas" Colonel O'Neill shouted vehemently.

All Jonas could say was "I'm sorry, I can't read it, I've never seen this script before."

He looked at the Colonel, eyes filled with unyielding sorrow.

 "Jonas, you have to try, please." He begged, "This is Carter."

The Colonel looked at Jacob; unshed tears in his eyes, Carter wasn't responding.

Jonas didn't know where to look, he had never felt so useless, "I can't Colonel, I've never seen it before, I'm so sorry, I can't read it."

Just as they were all about to give up hope, they heard a voice from the corner.

"No, but I can."

End chapter 8

I know I'm cruel, but what can I say, you wanted a bit of Jack worry, well there you go.

I know it's a long chapter, and for those that prefer little snippets, Sorry, I just got carried away.  So where will the next chapter take us…answers on a postcard please.

Hope you liked it.