I know I made you wait, but it was only for a little while. I had to do some research on Ancient Scripture, and believe me it was like going back to school again Mimi, you will have to wait and see what happens, sorry I'm not giving anything away. Just to warn you aswell, there's a lil bit of angst, but not much, promise.
Before I start once again a big thank you to Dena, what can I say, you're a gem.
Thanks again, all of you for the reviews they really are much appreciated, as this is my first story ever, I'm pleased your enjoying it, and thank you for the hints and tips on the way. Now I'll shut up and let you get on with reading.
Spoilers: Season 2 onwards
Rating PG13
(Ending, Chapter 8)
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 spared a glance at Jacob standing silently to one side, tears glistening in his eyes as he stared at his daughter's unmoving body.
Jonas didn't even know where to begin; never before had he felt so useless, "I can't Colonel, I've never seen this language before!" He cried in complete panic.
"I'm so sorry, but…. I just can't read it."
Just as they were all about to give up hope, a voice was heard from the far corner.
"No, but I can."
Chapter 9 – Ascension
They all turned round simultaneously, Jack's eyes red and swollen from holding back unshed tears. Jacob Carter wasn't doing much better and was allowing his silent tears to fall freely onto the cold stone floor.
"Daniel" O'Neill spoke softly, barely breathing. "How, What?"
"I'll explain later Jack, we need to concentrate on Sam." Daniel said, strangely enough sounding like he had before he 'died'.
None of them could believe their eyes, they had not seen or heard from Daniel since his ascension nearly 6 months ago.
"Jack, we need to continue CPR" Jacob pleaded in earnest as he watched Jack stop his efforts to resuscitate his daughter.
Jack had been desperately trying to bring Sam back for what has seemed like eternity, but in reality was less than 10 minutes. He would give anything for Sam to show some sort of sign; something solid that would convince everyone there that she hadn't gone. Jack had watched as Sam had faded into the darkness, her bright blue eyes still showing no signs of life. He would give anything at this moment to have her come back to him.
Daniel walked towards them, kneeling ever so gentle besides his friends. "Jack, Jacob, I can help, but you have to trust me."
Jack and Jacob were still on their knees administering CPR to Sam, as Teal'c and Jonas looked on, feeling useless to help out their friend. Every couple of seconds all you could hear from Jacob was "one and two and three and four and five…breathe. Jack forgetting about Daniel for a moment, as he delivered a quick breath into Sam.
Both men were torn between listening to Daniel and continuing the breathing Sam desperately needed to stay alive. Uncertainty and apprehension clearly apparent as Daniel continued.
"This might not work." Daniel said appealing directly to both Jack and Jacob. "But it's the only way I know to give Sam the chance to live again."
Jack looked pleadingly at his friend; he would do anything for her. Daniel had never witnessed such a heart-rending plea, from his former C.O. He trusted Daniel like a brother, knowing that if anyone could help, he could.
Jacob was the first to speak. "Daniel, what do we need to do?"
Daniel placed his hand on Jack's shoulder, and up to that point, Jack thought that he had lost a few brain cells from the incident yesterday, and was only imagining that Daniel was there. It was only when he had physically touched him, that he realised that he wasn't hallucinating Daniel looking directly in his eyes, "You need to let her go."
Both Jack and Jacob stared directly at the man they believed to be their friend. He knew it would be the biggest sacrifice either one of them would ever face, but Daniel knew that it was necessary to bring her back.
Jack, who was still on his knees appeared to have been physically knocked over. Disbelief evident in the strained features of his face as he recoiled from Daniel's touch.
"No way, Daniel!" Jack said continuing to count under his breath as he continued administrating CPR. Do you *know* what you're asking us to do?" He says breathing once again for Sam. "I'll tell you shall I! You're asking us to stand around and watch her die. Are you nuts? Did you lose a few brain cells on route to never never land?" O'Neill shouted vehemently wanting to get as far away from Daniel as he possibly could, but knowing he couldn't leave Sam alone. He could not allow her to die.
Jacob believing that Jack had got to the point of wanting to deck Daniel, told Teal'c and Jonas to take over CPR. Jacob got up quickly and headed towards O'Neill, and physically had to restrain him, O'Neill looked as if he were ready to burst a blood vessel.
Jack just couldn't believe his ears, and what's more he thought, he couldn't believe that Daniel was even suggesting something like this; in effect he was asking him and Jacob to kill her. Jacob seeing the look of utter horror in his face knew that it wasn't something that Jack would be able to do.
Jacob who had finally released his grip on O'Neill watched him start pacing back and forth like a pack animal; trapped in a small cage, not knowing which direction he should take. Sadness replaced by anger. He placed his hand on Jacks shoulder and turned him around. Daniel simply standing near by watching the interaction between them, unable to act until Jack was ready to listen. But time was fading, and if he didn't act soon, it may be too late to save her.
"Jack, look at me." Jacob spoke firmly and intently eyes filled with sorrow. "I have more love for my daughter than you will ever know. I know what it's like to standby and watch someone die, knowing that their fate is in someone else's hands, and I also know how much you care for her."
Jack felt as if his head was going to explode, he didn't understand how things had got this far. Damn he wished he'd never taken them to that damned planet, then none of this would have ever happened. He knew Carter's feelings about the place when they had returned through the gate, but did he confront her then….No, he'd left it until it had gotten to the stage where she couldn't talk to him. Feeling annoyed with her and guilty, he felt ready to hit something, and Daniel was his target.
Jacob didn't know if he was getting through to him, sometimes a person is so consumed with guilt and grief that it swallows them whole, he was not going to let that happen to Jack. "Jack, please, you need to listen to Daniel, he's your friend. You've trusted him with your own life so many times, so has Sam. All I'm asking, is that you trust him now."
With his hands rummaging wildly over his face and through his hair, he knew that Jacob trusted Daniel, a hell of a lot more than he did at the moment. Thoughts of Sam played in his mind. He new Jacob was right, but it was so hard to let her go, he loved her, but he felt guilty because he never told her. Jacob was right, he did trust Daniel, he knew he would not intentionally let Sam die, and with a slight nod in Daniel's direction, he moved forward.
Daniel placing a hand on Jack's forearm for support, he told them of the mythology surrounding the ancient script. "Legend states that a person can be brought back from the dead using the amulet and the book, but to do this, we have to let her go. Her body is so weak from fighting, that her soul… her essence is caught between here and the after life."
Jacob nodded for Daniel to continue, Jack just staring at him, not fully comprehending what was being said, but he just couldn't trust his voice to speak.
"This book," he continued "has many properties, including bringing back a person's soul into their physical body."
Daniel thought he saw a glimmer of hope in their eyes, but he didn't want to give them false expectations; there was a big chance that this wouldn't work. Part of the ritual involved letting go of all doubt; any trace of it may have an adverse reaction on the ritual.
"Please, *both* of you need to understand that it may not work, any hostility you have, you need to let go of now." Jacob nodded in understanding.
Jack felt offended, he wasn't hostile, he was just frightened that she wouldn't come back, and he didn't know what to do, for the first time in his life,* he* wasn't in control.
"I am *not* hostile Daniel, I'm just concerned that this mumbo jumbo stuff isn't gonna work." He retorted between breaths.
"Jack, just trust me on this, I know what I'm doing."
"There's one more thing." Daniel added.
Taking a deep shaky breath, his hands shaking in fear of what was to come Jack asked "What else?"
"Sam herself has to want to come back. Without her co-operation it won't work, and believe me, what lies ahead is beautiful, and may be too hard to resist."
With that Daniel went over to Teal'c and Jonas, and told them to stop. They had heard the exchange going on behind them, and knew what had to be done to save the life of their friend all over again.
As they gathered around her, seeing her slip away; a serenity of calm fell before the group. Jack was the first to speak as Daniel prepared himself.
"Daniel, look I'm sorry about what I said before, I didn't mean it…it's just….it's Carter, you know?" O'Neill not good at this sort of thing, simply said, "I just wanted to say thank you for trying. I know how hard it must have been for you to have stood by like this and watch her suffer during the last few days and knowing that you couldn't stop it. If I forget to tell you later, I appreciate it, you're the best friend a guy could ever hope for."
No one could think of anything more that needed to be said. Daniel directed them all to kneel beside her.
With the amulet safely guarded in his hand he carefully positioned it across her chest making sure that it was positioned in exactly the right place. He opened the book laidened in ancient scripture and recited in the books mother tongue;
Hail, thou god Aniu! Hail, thou god Pehreri, who dwellest in thy hall. I beg thee to allow that her soul may come to us from any place wherein it may be. Thou findest her family and friends standing by thee. Let her never lie down in death. Let not the essence of Samantha Carter, whose word is truth; lie down dead among those who lie in Anu, the land wherein souls are joined to their bodies in thousands. Let her have possession of soul and spirit, and let my word be truth.
Observe then, O ye guardians of Heaven, return her soul wherever it may be. May it gaze upon its earthly body, and return her back to thee.
After the last word was spoken, Daniel knelt beside them, watching and waiting patiently to see if Sam would be able to find her way back home.
Noone spoke, not wanting to disturb the serenity and importance of what had taken place a few moments ago. It was now simply a matter of time.
End Chapter 9
I know this is a bit shorter than what I normally write, but I've put up Chapters 9 and 10 for you to make up for it. I wasn't quite sure about this chapter, but there you go.
As usual, I welcome all your views and want to say a huge thank you to DC Chic, who helped a lot with this Chapter, cos it was in dire need of a bit of TLC, I think it had come out in sympathy for Sam.
The text is from the Book of the Dead, and are translations from Egyptian Mythology, but I've had to tinker with them slightly to suit the chapter, but hey, call it creative flair. Thanks to Sir E.A. Wallis Budge for the translation of the book.
