It was the pain that woke her, but before she could move or say anything else, Talon took control of her to keep her still.
[Wait]
I hurt.
[I know. I'm working on it. You have to stay still, though. If I release you, can you hold still?]
Yeah.
She didn't like it when he took over, and he knew it, but she knew there was a reason for it if he did. Like this time. Talon released her, reminding her silently to hold still.
They ambushed us, huh?
She was just beginning to remember what had happened, with a little help from him.
[Yeah]
They'll pay.
[Oh, yes. They'll definitely pay]
He was more intent on healing her, but there was no mistaking the anger he was feeling that the system lords would dare harm his host. Especially without warning like that.
This changes the plan.
She winced as he began to knit her broken arm, and he silently apologized for hurting her, even though they both knew there wasn't anything he could do about the pain. Not when he had so much to heal.
[Yes. We'll need a new plan]
I need to call Jack. He'll be worried. They'll be worried.
[It'll have to wait until I get you more stable. Then we'll need a place to meet]
No longer than necessary.
He agreed, and then told her to be quiet so he could concentrate on what he was doing.
.............................
"You guys aren't listening to me," Sam said, exasperated. "I've been looking through this technology. I know what it can do. You've given up on her and you shouldn't. The shields might have held. She might be alive."
They all looked over at Carter with varying degrees of emotions on their faces. Hammond and Daniel looked hopeful – sort of. Jacob looked tired. Teal'c's face was completely expressionless – the Goa'uld were capable of a cowardly ambush and the Jaffa knew it better than anyone. Jack and Brad both looked devastated, but were trying to hide it. And failing.
"She said the shields were modulated to-"
"Sam," Jacob held his hand up to stop her. "She should have called. It's been 12 hours since the attack. If she and Talon survived, they would have contacted someone. They have to know we know about the attack and would worry."
"Maybe she's lost communications." Sam looked over at Brad. The Major had been looking through the technology with her for the last two weeks, and although he didn't understand much of it, Sam had tried to tell him as much as she could, trying to make him feel a little better about what Mitchell was doing. If Brad could trust the technology, then maybe he'd believe she had a chance of returning. "The shields might have-"
They were interrupted by a familiar alarm.
"Unscheduled off-world activation! Repeat! Unscheduled off-world activation. Security teams to the embarkation room!"
Jack and Brad were on their feet instantly, but the others were only seconds behind. All of them hoping, but none of them daring to really believe it might be their lost friend. Hammond stopped at the Command Center, but everyone else went straight to the embarkation room and stood slightly behind the security teams, watching the closed iris intently.
"Who is it, Sergeant?" Hammond asked.
"SG-2, Sir. The old one."
"Open the iris."
Hammond went down to join the others, coming over to stand next to Jacob as the iris opened, revealing the activated Stargate.
"It's her code."
"You're sure?"
"She's the only one that has it, Jacob."
"Then it-"
They were interrupted when a rock came sailing through the Stargate, and Daniel ducked when it came sailing right at him.
"Is she aiming at me?" He asked, remembering that the last rock had almost hit him as well.
Jack ignored him. He was already heading for the rock that had landed against the far wall. All eyes were on him as he bent over and picked it up, peeling off the note that had been wrapped around it, and tossing the rock itself to Brad, who caught it and stuck it in his pocket. Jack had given him the last one, and Brad had it on the mantel at Melony's house. Apparently, he was going to have a collection of them.
"It's from Melony," Jack confirmed, looking at the note. "A Stargate address, and a smiley face." He handed the note to Hammond, who looked at it and nodded. There was a definite atmosphere of relief in the embarkation room at that moment.
"Is it the same as the last place we went?" Sam asked.
Jack shook his head. He didn't have the last one memorized, but it didn't look the same.
"I'm going this time," Brad said, looking at Jack as if daring him to say otherwise.
"I am, too." Jacob said.
Jack scowled. He wasn't so sure he wanted Jacob to come.
"Fine." Hammond took the choice out of Jack's hands, and handed the note to Sam so she could take it and put it into the dialing computer. "You'll leave in five minutes. Go get weapons, though. I don't want any more surprises. I'll have Doctor Fraiser meet you here."
Jack nodded. If Mitchell was hurt in the attack, Fraiser was the one to patch up whatever Talon couldn't handle. He headed for the door, followed by Teal'c, Brad and Daniel.
[Wait]
I hurt.
[I know. I'm working on it. You have to stay still, though. If I release you, can you hold still?]
Yeah.
She didn't like it when he took over, and he knew it, but she knew there was a reason for it if he did. Like this time. Talon released her, reminding her silently to hold still.
They ambushed us, huh?
She was just beginning to remember what had happened, with a little help from him.
[Yeah]
They'll pay.
[Oh, yes. They'll definitely pay]
He was more intent on healing her, but there was no mistaking the anger he was feeling that the system lords would dare harm his host. Especially without warning like that.
This changes the plan.
She winced as he began to knit her broken arm, and he silently apologized for hurting her, even though they both knew there wasn't anything he could do about the pain. Not when he had so much to heal.
[Yes. We'll need a new plan]
I need to call Jack. He'll be worried. They'll be worried.
[It'll have to wait until I get you more stable. Then we'll need a place to meet]
No longer than necessary.
He agreed, and then told her to be quiet so he could concentrate on what he was doing.
.............................
"You guys aren't listening to me," Sam said, exasperated. "I've been looking through this technology. I know what it can do. You've given up on her and you shouldn't. The shields might have held. She might be alive."
They all looked over at Carter with varying degrees of emotions on their faces. Hammond and Daniel looked hopeful – sort of. Jacob looked tired. Teal'c's face was completely expressionless – the Goa'uld were capable of a cowardly ambush and the Jaffa knew it better than anyone. Jack and Brad both looked devastated, but were trying to hide it. And failing.
"She said the shields were modulated to-"
"Sam," Jacob held his hand up to stop her. "She should have called. It's been 12 hours since the attack. If she and Talon survived, they would have contacted someone. They have to know we know about the attack and would worry."
"Maybe she's lost communications." Sam looked over at Brad. The Major had been looking through the technology with her for the last two weeks, and although he didn't understand much of it, Sam had tried to tell him as much as she could, trying to make him feel a little better about what Mitchell was doing. If Brad could trust the technology, then maybe he'd believe she had a chance of returning. "The shields might have-"
They were interrupted by a familiar alarm.
"Unscheduled off-world activation! Repeat! Unscheduled off-world activation. Security teams to the embarkation room!"
Jack and Brad were on their feet instantly, but the others were only seconds behind. All of them hoping, but none of them daring to really believe it might be their lost friend. Hammond stopped at the Command Center, but everyone else went straight to the embarkation room and stood slightly behind the security teams, watching the closed iris intently.
"Who is it, Sergeant?" Hammond asked.
"SG-2, Sir. The old one."
"Open the iris."
Hammond went down to join the others, coming over to stand next to Jacob as the iris opened, revealing the activated Stargate.
"It's her code."
"You're sure?"
"She's the only one that has it, Jacob."
"Then it-"
They were interrupted when a rock came sailing through the Stargate, and Daniel ducked when it came sailing right at him.
"Is she aiming at me?" He asked, remembering that the last rock had almost hit him as well.
Jack ignored him. He was already heading for the rock that had landed against the far wall. All eyes were on him as he bent over and picked it up, peeling off the note that had been wrapped around it, and tossing the rock itself to Brad, who caught it and stuck it in his pocket. Jack had given him the last one, and Brad had it on the mantel at Melony's house. Apparently, he was going to have a collection of them.
"It's from Melony," Jack confirmed, looking at the note. "A Stargate address, and a smiley face." He handed the note to Hammond, who looked at it and nodded. There was a definite atmosphere of relief in the embarkation room at that moment.
"Is it the same as the last place we went?" Sam asked.
Jack shook his head. He didn't have the last one memorized, but it didn't look the same.
"I'm going this time," Brad said, looking at Jack as if daring him to say otherwise.
"I am, too." Jacob said.
Jack scowled. He wasn't so sure he wanted Jacob to come.
"Fine." Hammond took the choice out of Jack's hands, and handed the note to Sam so she could take it and put it into the dialing computer. "You'll leave in five minutes. Go get weapons, though. I don't want any more surprises. I'll have Doctor Fraiser meet you here."
Jack nodded. If Mitchell was hurt in the attack, Fraiser was the one to patch up whatever Talon couldn't handle. He headed for the door, followed by Teal'c, Brad and Daniel.