^ * ^ * ^ * ^
Chapter Two: Ship
^ * ^ * ^ * ^
FOUR MONTHS
Carter sat behind her desk, staring at the ceiling of her new office. Standing up suddenly Carter walked around to the front of her new desk and picked up the nameplate. Colonel Samantha Carter. "Colonel…" Carter murmured, "That's going to take a lot of getting used to…" She sighed and set the Toblerone shaped item down. She paced around her office, returning to the desk quickly, not surprising considering the fact that her office really didn't have much space in it. The furnishings consisted of a desk, two chairs, a computer and a bookcase. Not that Carter was complaining, she still had her lab and that was enough space for her. She was glad for the office though; she could use the extra desk-space. Carter returned to her chair, but remained standing as she lifted a framed picture off the desk. It was a picture of SG-1, the original SG-1. Carter winced, it was horrible, having to correct herself like that, replacing Jack was hard. Both with a new member of SG-1 and moving up to fill his shoes. It was rather funny, how easily Carter had fallen into Jack's place. She laughed bitterly to herself; she was the SGC's new Jack O'Neill, complete with piles of paperwork.
Carter found herself shaking as she stared down at the picture in her hands, staring at one member in particular…
A sickening crack filled Carter's ears and she stumbled, falling to her hands and knees, praying silently for the world to come back into focus. "Carter!" she heard Jack yell.
Carter felt herself being lifted to her feet, "Sir," she replied, blinking heavily. Carter recognized the feeling of being practically dragged into the forest. She blinked hard again; taking a deep breath she shook her head slightly. As the world began to spin out of control again, she made a mental note not to move her head. When the forest was right-side-up again she spoke, "I think I can walk."
Jack looked at her skeptically before letting go of her waist, not moving very far in case she fell again. Carter swayed slightly, but stayed upright. "Move out," Jack said quietly, Carter noticed then for the first time that Teal'c and Daniel were with them. Jack turned and started out; Carter took one step and would have fallen if not for the fact that Daniel inserted himself under her arm. Carter smiled thinly at her friend and started forward again with his help.
Carter shook her head and set the photo back down on her desk, she didn't need to think about that, she needed to figure out a way to get to Jack.
"Unauthorized Off-World Activation." Carter looked up reflexively at the speaker in her office before starting off at a jog to the control room.
"Receiving Tok'ra ID, sir," Carter entered the control room just in time to hear someone say to General Hammond.
"Open the iris," Hammond commanded as Carter came up beside him. Carter watched as the blue event horizon appeared from behind the dull grey iris. Carter admired it for less than a second before she ran to the Gate room to greet the Tok'ra who came through.
"Dad!" she exclaimed as her father stepped through the event horizon, followed closely by Anise.
Jacob smiled and pulled Carter close to him in a hug, "Good to see you sweetie."
Carter pulled away and offered a hand to Anise, "Welcome to the SGC, what can we do for the Tok'ra today?" she asked as she shook Anise's hand.
Hammond entered the Gate room then, "General Hammond," Anise greeted, "The Tok'ra require your assistance."
Jacob sighed and rolled his eyes at Anise's bluntness, "Good to see you George."
"And you Jacob. Come up to the briefing room and we can discuss the reason you're here."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Carter sighed to herself as she closed the door to her office, leaning against the door. Oh how it would be nice if the Tok'ra came for a nice visit every once in a while, not to ask for their help in some mission that they couldn't do.
The Tok'ra had a small "'ship plant" on some planet that had been discovered by a Goa'uld. The Tok'ra, of course, wanted the SGC's help. And of course Earth jumped to help the Tok'ra. Carter sighed again and looked at her ceiling before turning around and leaving her office again to assemble her team.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Seven days and many dead Goa'uld and Jaffa later Carter found herself staring at a small ship somewhat like the one that SG-1 had taken to Hell, but heavily modified. Carter turned to look at the rest of SG-1, meeting Teal'c's eyes, trying to convey her plan to her unofficial 2IC. As he wasn't in the military he couldn't technically be her 2IC, but he really was. Understanding filled Teal'c's eyes and he turned to the young Tok'ra who was with them, "I am sorry," he said, knocking the Tok'ra out. Daniel and Zach Crook, the fourth member of SG-1, jumped and looked at Teal'c in amazement, then turned to Carter when she didn't reprimand him.
Carter looked steadily at the two men, "I don't expect you to follow me, you can if you like, but please don't tell the Tok'ra before we get away." She saw understanding in Daniel's eyes and turned away before he could protest.
Teal'c was already opening the ship and Carter stepped in, knowing Teal'c would follow after her. She turned around to see all of SG-1 behind her, while Teal'c closed the door. "You think I'd just leave you two to get Jack all by yourselves? I couldn't trust you to stay safe!"
Carter turned to look at Zach, he shrugged, "I didn't know Colonel O'Neill personally, but I know he'd have to be a great man to inspire such loyalty in those under him. That and I've heard stories."
Carter swallowed heavily, the closest to tears that she'd been in a long time, "Half of those stories aren't true," she murmured softly. Taking a deep breath she turned to Teal'c, "Get us out of here before they realize what we're doing." Teal'c nodded and turned toward the controls. Carter stood solidly beside him and stared unseeingly out the window in front of her, We're coming to get you Jack…
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
General Hammond stared at the Tok'ra in front of him. "You're telling me that SG-1 stole a ship from the station after they'd helped liberate it and are currently headed off to God knows where and we have no way to find them?"
The Tok'ra squirmed, "I'm afraid so."
General Hammond sighed, if Carter was leading, he knew where they were going, "Let's just hope they get back okay."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A/N: Kay. Here's the end of Chapter Two (or three depending on how you look at it…). Thanks to all who reviewed. I'm already halfway through Chapter Three so that'll be up by the end of the week in all likeliness. Also, my cousin's going to be scanning the picture that inspired the story on Friday, so I'll probably have a link up with the next chapter.
Jettwolf90: Tah dah! More!
Mugseymalone: :D I was trying to end with a dramatic line like that, but unfortunately, this chapter screwed it up. :D, I don't know, I wanted to write a story centered around Carter, she's one of my favorite characters.
Laura: Don't be to impatient, it's going to be a long story. :D.
Mlle Lambert: Yeah well, I'm even eviler in another story I'm writing right now.
Lynn: :D, there there, you'll find out eventually.
Max: Thanks for the opinion, it has been noted.
Ilovesg1: *grins slightly* you'll find out soon. *grins again*
Sher: It's nice to know that people like what I'm doing :D.
Black Leather: *blushes* aww… that's so nice…
Mel: tah dah, more!
Charlie sg-er: well, there'll definitely be a convo with Jacob within the next couple chapters… just not in this one… And if Jack was going to be at anyone's house, it would be mine. So there :P.
Thanks for all the lovely reviews, it really inspires me. In fact, I wrung this chapter out of my brain just for you guys. And believe me, it was a slow and painful process. Well, actually that's a lie, once I sat down to write, it was easy, but anyway…