DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

Anniversary

Sam breathed a sigh of relief as she sank into her airplane seat, thankful she'd managed to get one next to the window. After the briefing she had only taken long enough to change in to her own clothes and grab a holdall that she had waiting in her office before driving to the airport. It had been hectic, getting her ticket and making a mad dash to the gate to board the plane, but here she was at last.

She thought she'd done a pretty good job these last few days in keeping her emotions in check. At first she had thought she was going crazy when she'd woken a couple of mornings after their escape from Hathor and felt like the world was about to end, then she glanced at the calendar and realisation dawned. During their imprisonment at the fake SGC she had lost all track of time and now that she had she remembered, it lay heavily on her shoulders and all she wanted was to be away from other people. Her thoughts turned to the place she had so many happy memories of as a child, when both her parents had been there, and Mark. When General Hammond had postponed their leave she had felt like crying and screaming but she had resolutely kept her emotions in check, carried on with her routine and managed to get through their last mission, relieved when it was all over and she was able to get out of there in time to catch this plane.

Now she could begin to work through the confusion of feelings and emotions that were threatening to take control of her, face up to things and then get back to normal. If she could. She had a feeling that nothing would ever be the same again, couldn't be the same, but she had to find a way to work through it before she really did go crazy.

The flight seemed to last for ever, but at last they touched down at Boston and Sam made her way quickly to the car rental desk, completing the paperwork as quickly as possible before heading for Plymouth. The roads were quiet, being November and between holidays, and Sam was thankful when she pulled into the motel she remembered from her childhood. Taking a look around she could feel the tears prickling and she did nothing to stop them from welling up and spilling down her face, her lower lip trembling as she could feel her emotions taking control. She curled up on the bed and cried for a while until at last her eyes closed and sleep took over.

She woke briefly several hours later, got up to take a couple of aspirin and have a drink, but then she undressed and crawled into the bed. Her dreams were plagued with memories - some happy, some sad, some very painful. All Sam really knew when she woke the following morning was that she still had a lot of conflicting emotions running through her. She found a diner around the corner from the motel, ate a quick breakfast of coffee and toast and then jumped in her car to head for the beach, hoping it was still as she remembered, the tears starting again as she drove on seeing the familiar sights from her childhood.

She parked the car, got out and breathed in the sea air, watching the ominous signs of rain clouds building up, the wind blowing with a chill to it. The weather suited her mood and she was relieved in a way that it wasn't one of those bright crisp mornings that would do its best to make you feel cheerful despite what was going on in your life or the mess you might be in.

Sam made her way down to the beach first, strolling around the deserted expanse of sand, seeing how her steps left footprints wherever she walked. Then the sea would rush up and when it retreated, there would be nothing left.

Nothing left. How empty she felt. Numb. She was an adult for crying out loud, she should be able to handle a few emotions. She smiled to herself as she realised how much like Colonel O'Neill she had sounded just then, but the smile faded and she could feel the tears starting again. She stood still now at the edge of the water and gazed at the open sea in front of her, thoughts and memories all warring for attention until she'd had enough and she turned towards the cliff path walking briskly for a couple of miles before she reached a bench at the headland with a view of the coast as far as the eye could see, the ocean stretching towards the horizon.

Here she sat, lost in her thoughts, sometimes crying, sometimes smiling to herself as hidden emotions and memories demanded attention.

*************

'What the…' Jack's exclamation halted abruptly as he saw the SF on the floor outside Teal'c's iso room. While Daniel checked the guard's condition, Jack grabbed the nearest phone to sound the alert and call for medical assistance. Within moments the alarms were sounding and Jack could hear footsteps running towards them, the petite figure of Dr Fraiser leading the way.

'What happened?' Janet asked briskly, taking in the empty iso room while she examined the injured SF.

'We came to see how Teal'c was doing but he'd already gone,' Daniel explained.

'How is he doc?' Jack asked, seeing Dr Fraiser looking up from the SF.

'He'll be fine,' Janet responded, 'It looks like someone had a go at strangling him, then gave up when he passed out.'

'Teal'c?' Jack asked the question, not expecting any kind of reply. 'In that case…'

'Colonel O'Neill to General Hammond's office.' Jack was interrupted before he could say any more and he headed for level 28, Daniel close behind him.

'Teal'c has left the base, Jack,' Hammond informed Jack almost before he could take a seat, glancing at Daniel but not surprised to see the younger man arriving as well. 'He armed himself with a zat gun and stunned anyone who got in his way. He…uh…he took one of the vehicles from the parking lot.' Jack, wondering why Hammond had suddenly turned evasive, twigged on to something.

'Mine I presume?' Jack asked, smiling humourlessly. 'I knew I shouldn't have let him practice his driving. So now what?'

'I need you to find out where he's headed,' Hammond said. 'Major Davis is liasing with the local authorities so that when he is found, they'll hold him until we can get there. In the meantime, I want you to try to follow him. I'll let you know as soon as we hear anything further. Is Captain Carter still around?' Hammond caught the looks being passed between Jack and Daniel.

'No sir,' Jack was the one to reply. 'She left to catch a plane as soon as the briefing was over, she'll be on her way to…?' He looked questioningly at Daniel.

'Plymouth, Massachusetts I think,' Daniel looked doubtfully back at Jack.

'The beach, she said she was heading to the beach,' Jack concluded.

'We'll need her back here to work on that artefact - this all started when you brought it back, maybe we can get some answers from it. Well, good luck gentlemen, and keep in touch.'

*************

Daniel pulled his car into the parking lot of a diner.

'Daniel?' Jack's quiet voice hid the annoyance he was feeling.

'We've been driving around for hours, Jack,' Daniel replied. 'I need a break and something to eat ok?'

'Something to eat, right,' Jack said sarcastically.

'Ok, I need coffee,' Daniel amended as he got out and stretched his cramped limbs.

'I'll meet you inside, I'm just going to check in with the General,' Jack pulled out his cell phone and within moments had snagged Daniel's arm and hauled him back outside.

'Jack I was just about to be served,' Daniel complained as he found himself being bundled unceremoniously into the passenger seat of his own car.

'They've located Teal'c,' Jack spoke over Daniel's protests as he started the car up and shot away from the diner. 'His - my car was spotted a couple of miles outside Burlington. There wasn't any sign of Teal'c near the car but he has to be close by. General Hammond is sending out a couple of SG teams to locate him - and we need to find him fast. He'll freeze to death in what he's wearing and Junior will only be able to protect him for a short time.'

They drove the rest of the way in silence, receiving updates from the two SG teams on their progress and pulled up by Jack's car at the same time as the other two teams.

'Ok - this is what we're going to do…' Jack issued his orders and within minutes the teams were going off in different directions.

The world was quiet, the cold wind rushing through the fields rustling the frozen blades of grass was all that could be heard, along with the hush-hush noise of feet moving through the scrub. Jack could no longer feel his nose and his eyes were watering with the coldness around them but he ignored these discomforts. They were all dressed for this weather whereas Teal'c had left the base wearing nothing but fatigue pants and a t-shirt - maybe a jacket but no-one was sure about that.

Jack's eyes constantly swept the area around him, thankful that Teal'c hadn't chosen to go to one of the more mountainous areas where it would be harder to look for him. At least here it would be easier to see things like that tall black scarecrow that seemed to be having a disagreement with a smaller scarecrow…

'I've got him!' Jack called into his radio, giving directions before taking off at a jog, followed by Daniel.

A few minutes later they were close enough to hear Teal'c's voice shouting something at a figure he was shaking mercilessly by the shoulders.

'Teal'c!' Jack shouted as loudly as he could, with as much authority as he could muster. 'What the hell do you think you are doing?'

Teal'c turned his head at this intrusion, looking extremely displeased at the interruption before returning to his previous task.

'Damn it, Teal'c,' Jack muttered under his breath as he gave Daniel some instructions. Daniel threw himself at Teal'c's legs, wrapping his arms around the knees causing him to stumble. At the same moment Jack grasped Teal'c's arms and did his best to pin them behind his back, relieved when Ferretti came to his assistance along with the rest of SG2 and between them managed to wrestle Teal'c to the ground. Throughout their efforts Teal'c struggled violently, shouting incoherently at them all. At last, Ferretti took a step backwards, brought something out from one of his pockets and within a few minutes Teal'c's struggles ceased as the heavy dose of sedative took effect.

'Good work Ferretti,' Jack sounded breathless.

'Dr Fraiser thought it might be needed,' Ferretti replied as he safely disposed of the needle he had just used.

'You got him?' Jack turned to SG4 who had just arrived, before following Daniel.

'Are you alright?' Daniel jogged up beside the woman who had been the subject of Teal'c's attentions. As soon as she was free she had scrambled to her feet and began backing away from the scene unfolding in front of her, observed by Daniel who had been unable to do anything until Ferretti's injection had taken effect. He reached out a hand making her jump but at the same time she came to a halt. She watched him warily, wondering what on earth was going to happen now. 'I'm sorry about that,' Daniel smiled at her, 'Murray's been ill and managed to get away from his doctor. As you can see, he's pretty strong. I'm Daniel Jackson by the way.'

'I'm Maria Connolly,' she said cautiously. 'I'm fine, really. Just a bit shaken up I guess. Thanks for your help, but I really should…'

'Everyone alright here?' Jack joined the two of them.

'This is Maria Connolly, Maria, this is Jack O'Neill,' Daniel performed the introductions.

'I'm fine, thank you, I just need to…' Maria tried to leave again, finding herself prevented from doing so by Daniel's hand on one arm and Jack's on the other. 'What the hell do you think you're doing? Let go of me.' she snapped, unsettled by Teal'c's unprovoked attack and now feeling distinctly spooked by these two others.

'That would be Colonel Jack O'Neill, USAF,' Jack pulled out his ID from his wallet and showed it to Maria who didn't seem particularly reassured by this information. 'I'm afraid I'll need to ask you a few questions before you can go.'

'Why - you're not a cop or anything, you don't have any right to stop me from leaving,' Maria said fiercely. 'Now will you please let me go.' She tried to free her arm but found she was held too securely.

'I'm afraid you're mistaken - in the interests of national security I do have the right to question you. Murray has been involved with some highly classified projects for the air force and I need to determine whether or not he has revealed anything.' Jack said, his tone irritating Maria.

'Well he didn't,' she growled back at him, giving him a black look. 'He just started shouting in some foreign language I couldn't understand. I have no idea what he was saying. Now can I go?'

'Not yet,' Jack started to say when Daniel caught his attention. Maria looked at the two men in turn, wondering what was going on when Daniel started speaking.

'If you wouldn't mind telling us what happened, we shouldn't need to keep you any longer,' Daniel flashed her a reassuring smile.

'Ok,' Maria sighed, resigned to the fact that if she wanted to get home any time soon she might as well co-operate. 'I was out for a walk when I came across your friend. He was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the field with his eyes closed. He was only wearing a t-shirt and I went over to him to find out if everything was alright - I thought he might be lost or sick or something. When I spoke to him he ignored me to begin with, then when I shook his arm, he grabbed me and started shouting. He sounded really…'

'Angry? Crazy? Nuts?' Jack offered while Maria tried to find the right word, earning himself an exasperated look from both Maria and Daniel.

'Worried, like he had lost something, or needed to do something important.' Maria finished up. 'That's when you guys arrived on the scene.' She stopped talking and waited for a short time before speaking again. 'That's all. Can I go now?' Her voice was much quieter now and Daniel, taking a good look at her spoke up.

'Sure, thanks for your assistance. Can we give you a lift?'

'No, really, I…' Maria paused as she felt herself beginning to react to the attack and realised she really couldn't face the long walk home and that she might not actually make it. 'That would be great, thank you.'

The walk back to the car was quiet. Teal'c had already been escorted back to the base by SG2, SG4 had followed them leaving Jack and Daniel alone with their respective cars.

'I'll meet you back at the base Daniel,' Jack said, eager to find out how Teal'c was. 'Thanks for your help Maria, and I'm really sorry about all this,' Jack threw over to a Maria who didn't appear to be listening as she got into Daniel's car.

Within moments, silence fell on the area once more.

To be continued……