Hellllooooooooooo again, you'll be pleased to hear that I have a whole week off, woohoo, and I'll be sat in my garden, soakin up the rays, typing away (yeah right, like my life is that simple).
I shall be able to refresh my tired and weary brain, and maybe even finish this fic off! (I don't think so somehow, do you?)
Spoilers (none in this one, I don't think) Generally from Season 2
Rating: PG13
Stargate: Ah such a great programme, but sadly it does not belong to moi!
End Chapter 17 – Confrontation"Jack, Sam thinks you abandoned her. We don't know what sort of stuff he was pumping into her, but I bet my life on it that he twisted her thoughts and feelings. The reason Sam is so hostile is that I think somewhere deep inside she's not 100 percent sure if this is real or not. If you think about it, she's been through a hell of a lot these last few days. She was already confused before you two were captured. Coupled that with the drugs in her system makes for a very bad combination."
Jack listened intently to what Daniel was saying, it did make sense, but for the life of him, he couldn't think if a way to prove to her that this was real, and that they were here to help.
"So what do we do? I don't think it'll be long before Amemait comes back, and if he takes Carter again, I don't know if she'll live through it."
"First off, you need to get some rest. You're exhausted, and you won't be any good to anyone if you're too tired to function. Just hold on for a little while longer. I promise I won't let you down." Daniel replied sincerely.
Just before Daniel disappeared from existence once more, Jack said softly, "Daniel!"
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
Smiling softly at his friend, he nodded, and then left his friends behind.
Chapter 18 – Mind controlJack watched as Daniel dematerialised into thin air, and began to wonder where he actually went to when he disappeared. Thinking about the days events he knew Daniel was right, he really needed to get some sleep. Leaning against the corner of the wall, he watched his 2IC from a distance, he'd never seen her so restless. Even in her sleep he could see her body shifting positions in an effort to shake off whatever had hold of her. It was so hard to see her face in the dimly lit room, but he could just make out the strained features on her face.
Jack closed his eyes waiting for sleep to overtake his weary mind and body. Thoughts churned consistently in his head, eluding the sleep that he so desperately craved. Fragments of the conversation he and Sam had earlier played relentlessly on his mind. His mind frantically tried to come up with some kind of solution to bring her back, but sleep clouded his thoughts, and he fell into a disturbed sleep.
Sam didn't know how long she had slept; she knew it couldn't have been long, as her eyes felt heavy. Disorientation was clearly evident as she grasped the sides of the wall, in an effort to wake herself from her dark slumber. Her heart raced from the nightmares that plagued her dreams and filtered through to her waking state. She sat herself up fully in an effort to calm her fears that were quickly becoming reality. Glancing over towards the Colonel who looked like a lost soul, his face etched with worry.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes that felt like lead balloons, the raw emotions within her, hit with full force. Never in her life had she felt so guilty, she knew that she'd hurt him, but it was too late to take it back. She didn't even know how to fix this, or that their friendship would be able to be as it was. The fever from the toxins burned readily within her, and she felt sick to her stomach. Her head pounded partly from an infection she could feel building up. Raising her hands to her head she felt the wounds she had sustained earlier, and she cringed at the pain of touching them. The only good thing she found when she woke up was the fact that she hadn't gone screaming into a corner.
Taking a deep breath she knew that she had to talk to Jack, but knowing it was one thing. The doing part filled her with dread. Getting up from the cold ground, she drifted off towards the Colonel's direction and knelt down beside him. Her hand shook slightly partly from the toxins in her system, but mostly from fear of what she would say to him.
Gently she tapped him on the shoulder, hoping to wake him easily, Jack grunted in protest. "Sir?" Sam continued.
Somewhere in the depths of slumber Jack heard a soft cooing voice, he recognized it from somewhere, but his brain wanted to continue to latch onto the last remnants of sleep. Unfortunately the voice was persistent and he could feel a soft pressure on his shoulder.
"Colonel, I need to speak to you."
Suddenly his brain kicked into gear and he recognised the voice as his 2IC, thinking something was wrong he jerked awake with such intensity that he caught her off guard, and she backed up suddenly.
Looking at her, his first impressions were that she didn't look at all well. Seeing the fear in her eyes and knowing that it was probably the drug coursing through her veins that was making her jumpy. Now completely awake he responded softly, "Sorry Carter. Are you okay?" Jack asked bringing himself into a sitting position, hoping not to scare her off again.
"Better Sir, thanks. I'm sorry to wake you, but I needed to talk to you." Sam replied sheepishly, fidgeting with her hands as opposed to looking at him.
Jack's first thoughts were, that at least the hostility didn't appear to be rearing it's ugly head. Then decided that his best bet was to keep his mouth shut; at least for now. His heart went out to her, knowing that this was difficult for her to say in light of their previous attempts at talking to each other. Nodding for Sam continue, he hadn't realised how much of an effort this was for her; her whole body seemed to take a huge intake of breath.
"I'm… sorry for what I said." Sam whispered, her voice hardly audible. "What I said was nasty. I didn't really mean it, but…well, I suppose part of me did, otherwise I wouldn't have said it…would I?" Lifting her eyes slightly to gauge his reaction, he surprised her in the fact that his face remained neutral, which usually meant that he was either so angry with her, but didn't want to show it. Or she'd hurt him more than she realised. Her eyes filled with tears at the thought that their friendship couldn't be salvaged.
Jack lifted his hand to wipe away the silent tears that began to fall down her cheek, she was surprised by his efforts to calm her. Looking directly at him, she saw his own eyes fill with sorrow at her having to go through this. Sam was never one to get tearful, and Jack had only seen her cry a couple of times since they had been friends, and it pained him to watch her go through this. Inside he knew that this was a necessary part of the healing process, but knowing it didn't make it any easier.
"After you got taken away…I was so angry with you. You left me." It was as if a whole weight had been lifted from her shoulders, she'd finally told him why.
"Sam,… I screwed up. I know that. Getting killed though *wasn't* part of my plan." Jack retorted.
"I know that Colonel, but when he injected me with those chemicals, things started to get jumbled. He was saying stuff, twisting my thoughts and feelings, and I didn't know what was real and what wasn't. All I remember for the most part is that I shouted for you and…" Sam couldn't finish the sentence; it was too much for her. Jack knew that this was something she had to say, even if it was the most difficult thing in the world for him to hear.
Reaching for her hand in the darkness he grasped it in the hope that she would reciprocate, and was pleased to feel her hand grab hold of his, giving it a gentle squeeze he said softly, "You shouted for me, then what?"
Jack watched her struggle with her words until she said, "You…you never came back for me."
Jack just stared blankly at her; for once he was lost for words. Sam stared back searching for some kind of recognition that he wasn't mad at her for revealing this to him, in all their years of serving together, this was probably one of the most honest conversations that they had had with each other. For Sam the silence was unbearable, and she attempted to move away from him once more.
"Sam…" Jack started unsure of what to day next. "Please, don't go."
Sam looked longingly at him; her eyes falling to their hands, which were still entwined together. Jack held on to her more tightly in an effort to keep her next to him. Sitting herself back down again she allowed Jack a few minutes to gather his thoughts.
"I don't know what to say, Sam." Jack's eyes searched upwards as if looking for inspiration. "If I could go back and change things, I would. *I* made a mistake, and you paid for it."
"Sir."
Giving her his full concentration he looked her squarely into her eyes and said with such conviction, "Before you say anything, I just want you to know that I would *never* leave you behind."
Hesitantly she asked, "You wouldn't?"
"After everything we've been through, you still doubt me?"
"No, not really, but…oh I don't know. I'm still confused." Sam countered releasing Jack's grip on her hand. "I want to believe you, but…."
Before she had a chance to finish her sentence, they both heard heavy footsteps quickly approaching them. Without giving their conversation a second thought, Jack with sudden alacrity hauled Sam to her feet. If they were going to face it, they would do it together.
The cell doors opened to revel four Jaffa guards, their weapons in a stance that indicated that they were ready for any futile attempt made by the Colonel to escape.
"Jaffa KREE!" The first prime bellowed, indicating two guards to approach their prisoners.
Jack whispered to his 2IC, "Whatever happens, I will *not* leave you." Sam simply nodded her head in understanding.
Coming up beside them, the two guards raised their staff weapons, the edge of the weapon nudging them in the direction that they should take.
Leading them through the now familiar gold corridors of the Goa'uld ship, neither one of them spoke. Both in their own ways preparing themselves for what was to come. As they neared the chamber where Amemait lay, Sam felt physically sick. Her stomach churned at what lay in wait. Unable to control it any longer, she could feel the bile steadily rising in her throat. Her throat burned from the acid rising up, she felt dizzy for a moment and had to stop for fear of passing out. Jack glanced over to her as he felt the pace slacken slightly. Sam was visibly shaking and a tinge of green reflected in her pale faces, he mouthed, "You okay?"
Shaking her head in response, she stopped dead in her tracks and vomited where she stood. A grin spread evilly over the guard's faces. Jack went to move towards her, but was stopped in his tracks.
"She's sick."
"And she will be a lot sicker if you do not keep moving human. Keep walking." The guard stated.
Wiping her mouth, she looked at her C.O and said weakly, "I'm fine, Sir. Let's just get this over with."
The only good thing that Jack could see was the fact that at least this time they were together, and he would not jeopardise her safety this time. He just wished that whatever Daniel, Jacob, Teal'c and Jonas were doing, they had better do it sooner rather than later, because he really didn't know how much time they had left.
Turning the corner once more, they were led into the same chamber as before. There stood before them was Amemait, Daniel's words swam before him… 'The devourer!'
"Ah Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter. Welcome back." Walking towards Sam, he raised his hands to her face. "And how are we fairing Major? Oh *not* good I see."
"I'm fine!" Sam replied through clenched teeth.
Grinning happily, Amemait knew things were proceeding nicely; just as he had planned. Turning his attention towards Colonel O'Neill, noting the scratches on his hands and face. "I see you've been busy Colonel."
All Jack could think of at this moment in time was how much he wanted to deck this guy, but he had to restrain himself. Not wanting a repeat performance of what happened earlier, he clenched his fists to stop himself. Fury was building up slowly within him.
"Colonel, I can see how impatient you're getting. I shall not keep you waiting any longer. Jaffa 'KREE'." Amemait indicated to the guards holding Jack. He pointed towards the table in the centre of the room.
Sam shouted, "NO!"
Ignoring her pained cries, the Jaffa lifted Colonel O'Neill to the table, and strapped him down. Jack tore a look in Sam's direction, and shook his head as a way of telling her not to interfere. Jack's thoughts were only for his 2IC and not for himself, at least they weren't going to hurt her.
"Don't worry Major, *I* won't hurt him." Amemait crooned in her ear causing shivers to reverberate down her spine.
Sam looked at him with distrust; she didn't like the tone he was using. Did she hear correctly? Looking at Jack then back at the system lord, she couldn't fully comprehend what he was saying. Why then was Jack strapped to the table, if Amemait wasn't going to torture him like he had done with her?
Seeing the confusion in her face he lent forward until he was merely inches away from her face and lowered his voice, and taking on a menacing tone he explained. "You're confused, I can tell. Well Major Carter, let me explain." Pointing to a side table to the left of her he continued, "You see these little devices over there? You remember them don't you?"
Flashes of memory surfaced in her mind, "Pain, intense pain." That was what she remembered.
"Ah I can see that you do. Well, as I said before, *I* won't be using them on the Colonel."
Sam let out a long slow breath; the adrenaline that was being released into her body caused her body to shake.
Amemait face contorted into pure evil as he said. "*You* will be using them Major."
Sam's mouth opened, her eyes widening in fear at what he was expecting her to do. Her head shook in protest. Her voice quavered for a moment, but the sternness in her voice depicted that she would refuse point blank to do anything the Amemait wanted.
"NO!"
Moving towards the table of implements, he grappled hold of a vile filled with a colourful substance. Picking up a syringe, he loaded it. Then flicked the tip of the syringe he moved purposely towards Sam. With her eyes staring at nothing but the hypodermic in his hand, she struggled wildly against her captors. The Jaffa's firm grip on her arms increased, and she cried in pain at the pressure that was being excerpted on them.
Jack tried to use his own body weight in a vein attempt to try and stop him injecting her. All, it did however was cause the straps to dig into his skin even further.
"Carter!" Jack shouted in desperation.
"I won't do it!" Sam told Amemait in a voice that meant business.
"You won't have a choice Major!" Amemait told her coldly, and then slowly injected the substance into her arm.
As the remaining contents were emptied into her blood stream, Sam felt herself losing the struggle. Her head became light headed once more and she felt herself falling back into the black void, mercifully she passed out.
Watching his 2IC slowly sink to the floor, he shouted to Amemait, "What have you done to her."
With a look of complete nonchalance in his eyes, he smiled as he left the female on the floor. "Oh don't worry Colonel, she's not dead."
"I said, *what* did you do to her!"
"I'm simply making her more co-operative. She didn't seem to want t comply before, so I gave her something special to ensure her obedience. You see, she really does care for you. My little experiment will determine how much. It'll be up to her if she kills you or not."
"She won't kill me." Jack replied with complete certainty.
"Only time will tell Colonel. Now, I must prepare my subject."
A frown creased over O'Neill's eyebrows as they knitted together, "What do you mean, 'prepare her'?"
"Oh did I forget to mention that aspect? I've been learning a few new mind control techniques. Very experimental of course, but since I now have a worthy subject I thought I'd put them to good use."
"If you harm one hair on her head, I swear I'm gonna…"
"Colonel O'Neill, *you* are in no position to do anything." Then walked away leaving a very worried Colonel O'Neill as he watched the guards take his 2IC away.
End of Chapter 18.
A/N: Will Sam resist in the mind control techniques or will she take the life of her CO? As always, let me know what you think, I'm not beneath begging you know. Oh go on, you know you want to.
