--author's notes: Okay I know Nat's got a big part in these last chapters, but oh well, that's how I want it. Also the name of chapter 24 is a line o'neill says at the last or 2nd last episode of season7. Now this story IS coming to an end soon sob but I hope it's a good ending 4 u ppl.. this chapter is the reason why Nat came from the future.. I know this chapter gets very sappy (and I don't usually rite such sappy stuff) but im trying to jerk ur emotions here ppl! Ahha also don't 4get to review! Cz if I get crappy reviews I'll re-write the chapter!!--
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Ch 24: Good night my someone.. good night..
"What the hell happened!?" Jack yelled.
"I was sitting with Sam while she was making sure that the bomb was working properly. Then I realised that Sam's rigged the bomb. There's no timer on it," Nat explained.
"No timer?" Dan asked. "But, we need one so we can set the bomb before the replicators get there."
"Thanx for stating the obvious Daniel!" Jack grumbled. "How could Sam forget to put a timer on the bomb!" Jack took off his hat and rubbed his head.
"I do not believe that Major Carter could forget such a thing," Teal'c commented.
"She didn't," Nat explained.
"Oh God!" Daniel exclaimed. "Sam was acting normal all of a sudden. When someone morns for someone, like she did with Martouf, you don't get over it that quickly-"
"Unless you know you're going to die," Jack finished.
"Sam was planning to stay behind on the planet and die along with the replicators," Nat explained.
Jack viciously threw his cap to the ground. "You knew this!? Why didn't you tell us BEFORE we started this stupid mission!?" Jack yelled. He began to walk up to Nat, but Teal'c grabbed Jack's arms from behind. Daniel stood in between Nat and Jack incase Jack tried anything stupid.
"I didn't know until just now. I didn't exactly check out the bomb until I was looking at it more carefully when I was with Sam. When I realised that there was no timer on the bomb, I figured that it meant that somebody would have to stay behind to detonate it. And Sam's the only one here who would have a death wish. When I realised what Sam was planning to do, I reached for my ribbon device. It was when Sam pointed her gun at me that I knew I was right," Nat explained.
Teal'c let go of Jack. Jack picked his cap off the floor and put it back on.
"So now what?" Daniel asked, moving into the cockpit. Everyone followed. "Dumb question. Can't we just attach a timer to the bomb?"
"We do not have the necessary equipment onboard with us," Teal'c explained.
"This changes things. There's only one thing to do now," Jack explained, sounding like the leader who's about to sacrifice himself for the team. But Nat had other plans.
"Yeah, there is," Nat said. She quickly grabbed her Zat and shot Teal'c. Jack grabbed his gun and pointed it to Nat.
"What are you doing!?" Jack yelled.
"Nat..." Daniel pleaded.
"Sorry Jack, but you cant be the one who does the sacrificing this time. You guys are the original Sg1! And I know you've got a lot more missions in your future," Nat explained.
"Don't do this," Daniel begged.
"Sorry, but it's the only way. Nat turned to Jack. "Jack, you told me something important when I was 18..."
"Nat, don't do this! Just put the zat down and we'll work out another way to destroy the replicators!" Daniel pleaded. Nat skook her head.
"No. We all know this opportunity will never come up again. So just listen to me," Nat pleaded. She began to lower the zat, but when Jack took a step towards her, she raised it again. "It's important!" She yelled. Jack held his hands up defensively and took a step back. "You told me that on July 7th, Sam is going to try kill herself," Nat explained.
"Oh god.." Daniel exclaimed.
"You told me how on that morning, Sam doesn't come in to work, so you went to her house to see why she didn't come to work. She took a handful of sleeping tablets, but you got her to hospital in time to save her. You need to stay alive for Sam's sake, Jack! That's why I cant let you do it!" Nat explained.
Jack held a hand out in Nat's direction. "So we'll save Sam together, just put the zat down, okay?" Jack reassured Nat.
"Sorry Jack. I cant," Nat said quietly. Tears began to well up. "I cant wait to meet you again Jack," Nat sniffed. Jack tried to walk towards Nat again. "Goodbye Jack," Nat said then shot him with the Zat. Daniel and Nat watched Jack's body hit the floor, then their eyes fixed on each other.
"Nat.." Daniel pleaded. "Please don't do this."
Nat slowly walked upto Daniel. "I have to. I want you to live," She cried. She lowered her zat as she neared him. Her tears rolled out as she cupped Daniel's cheek with her right hand. The cool metal of the ribbon device, which was wrapped around Nat's fingers, ran along Dan's cheekbone. It was soothing in a way but when he looked down into her now bloodshot eyes, his first instinct was to try stop her.
"You know I hate to see you cry," Daniel whispered as he ran his hand down Nat's left arm in an attempt to take the zat from her without her realising. "Makes me feel like I havent been doing a good job as your boyfriend," He whispered. Nat didn't realise that Dan had ran his hand down to her own. As Dan tried to take the Zat out of Nat's hand, she realised Daniel would obviously try to stop her, so she activated the ribbon device before he had the chance to. Daniel slowly dropped to the floor as the golden streams danced over his forehead. He could hear Nat crying, but he couldn't help but feel relaxed from what Nat was doing to him.
"I'm so sorry Daniel," Nat cried. She hadn't knocked him unconscious, but his body was extremely relaxed. She crouched on the floor next to him, knowing full well that he was still conscious, but unable to stop her. She leaned down and kissed him. A tear escaped Daniel's eye. It only made more of Nat's tears run. "Daniel, I love you. I wanted you to know that," She cried.
"Nat, please don't do this," He mumbled. Even though his body was extremely relaxed, he managed to lift his hand to Nats, which was resting on his chest.
"Jack also told me once that when I find someone that I love, to tell him how much I love him before it's too late. Now I know what he meant," Nat explained. She caressed his cheek, wiping away his tears. "I don't think I've said it enough. But yeah.." She drifted off, wiping some of her tears away. She was about to stand up, but Daniel only squeezed her hand tighter.
"Nat, please. I need you here.. with me because I cant live without you... I love you.." Daniel pleaded. He tried to get up, but failed to. Nat bent down and hugged him. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry.." Nat heard a beep from the 'dashboard' and got up to have a look. Daniel felt the ship come out of hyperdrive, and watched as she wiped her eyes once more, then picked the zat up off the floor. She crouched back on the floor next to Daniel. "Daniel, we're at the planet now. The computer says the replicators are going to be here in a few minutes," She explained before giving Daniel one long last kiss. "I love you so much," She whispered to him.
"I love you too," Daniel replied as he watched his girlfriend stand up. He knew what was coming next. Nat pointed her zat at him and shot Daniel.
"Goodbye Daniel."
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Teal'c opened his eyes and looked around the room. His head ached, and could hear a ringing in his ears.. no, it was the sound of banging. He sat up and realised that there was someone banging on the cargo bay door.
"Hello! Guys!.. Anyone!" a female voice yelled from the other side of the door. Teal'c got up and stumbled to the door. He pressed the correct code on the goa'uld keypad and the door opened to reveal a very flustered Sam.
"Teal'c! What happened! The bomb's gone!" She panicked.
"Natalie Manslow shot me with the zat nikotel in what I believe was an attempt to prevent the rest of us from... taking the bomb to the planet," Teal'c put delicately.
"This is all my fault!" Sam cursed herself. She looked into the cockpit and saw two bodies on the floor. She quickly walked past Teal'c and into the cockpit to see Jack and Daniel both unconscious on the floor. Outside the windshield showed that the ship was in hyperdrive. "Teal'c!" Sam called his attention to the window. Teal'c walked to the controls while Sam tried to wake Daniel and Jack. Sam dropped to her knees, beside Jack's body. She skook Jack's shoulder. "Sir! Sir!" She called. Jack's eyes slowly opened, and looked straight at Sam. His memories came flooding back and he remembered where he was and what had happened. His eyes widened and he suddenly sat up.
"Ow!" He complained as he grabbed his head. "Did I mention I hate being zatted!" Sam helped Jack to get onto his feet. "Where's Nat!?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer. Sam didn't reply, and went too wake Daniel up. Jack walked to the controls, where Teal'c was frantically pressing buttons.
"O'Neill. I cannot get the ship out of hyper drive," Teal'c explained, still trying to gain control of the ship.
"Sam?" Daniel asked as he blinked to get his vision to clear up. She helped him to sit up against the wall. "She's gone, isnt she?" Daniel asked.
"I.. I hope not," Sam replied, looking right into his blue, teary eyes. She put her hand on Daniel's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, and then got up to help Teal'c. Sam pressed a few buttons and the screen came up. "The ship's on auto pilot. It's set to take us back to Earth," Sam explained.
"Well, take it off auto pilot and get us back to the planet!!" Jack ordered.
Sam tried a few more buttons. "I'm trying Sir... okay, I got it. Now heading back to Pwx-912. We've been in autopilot mode for half an hour, so it'll take us half an hour to get back."
"If it's still there," Daniel mumbled from the corner where Sam left him. He was still sitting, with his knees pulled up to his chest. No-one said a word until they reached Pwx-912.
When the ship got to Pwx-912, there was nothing but large rocks.. the remains of a planet that had just been destroyed. Daniel looked out the window. Sam, along with Jack an Teal'c turned their heads towards him as he banged his fist onto the 'dashboard' in his mixed feelings of anger, dispair and helplessness.
Sam felt like her stomach had just dropped to the floor. The overwhealming guilt made her feel sick to her stomach. "Daniel, I'm-"
"Don't say anything Sam!" Daniel grumbled at her with a glare on his face. He returned to his position on the floor, and remained that way until they got back to the Tok'ra home world.
Jacob decided to come to Earth with the four remaining members of sg-1. As they walked down the ramp, Hammond had a look on confusion on his face. Daniel was behind the others, walking with his head hung low. Jacob had his arm around Sam, whose eyes were red and puffy. Teal'c kept his head low and O'Neill walked straight upto Hammond, took his hat off, and said "We need to talk," before walking straight past Hammond and into the briefing room.
Hammond excused everyone but O'Neill from the briefing, so Daniel made his way to his study. Sam had attempted to apologize to him when they left the briefing room, but Daniel didn't even acknowledge her presence. She turned to her father. "Dad!" She cried. "This is all my fault! I don't know what to do to tell everyone how sorry I am!"
Daniel kept his head down as he walked through the corridors. Even though he knew his way areound the base perfectly well, he followed the coloured lines to his study. He opened the door, and could've sworn that he could smell Natalie's perfume as he entered the room. He noticed on the desk, a book was left open. It was a journal that Daniel had given her for Christmas so she can write in. He remembered that he'd caught her writing in it just before the mission.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c stood in the doorway of Daniel's study. Daniel didn't reply, so Teal'c entered the room anyway. He saw the Journal that Daniel was looking at. "Is this the journal of Natalie Manslow?" He asked, even though the answer was perfectly obvious.
"Yeah."
"Are you planning to read it?" Teal'c asked as he saw Daniel pick up the journal. Daniel appeared to be already reading it. "Would you mind reading it aloud, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, feeling very left out. Daniel nodded and began reading.
"July 2nd, 2003: Today sg1 and I head off to Pwx-912 to destroy the replicators. Thor's already gated to his home planet, where he's going to monitor our situation from his ship. When we get to Pwx-912, Sam's going to set up a bomb that will hopefully destroy that whole naquada-enriched planet. She's hoping that the blast will be big enough to destroy the whole fleet of replicators that are heading towards Pwx-912. This morning I thought I'd have another read of Professor Daniel's journals. I was pissed off because they have no mention of the me from this time in them. In those journals, I should be at least in my 50s, but im not there. In frustration I threw the journal across the room and the spine broke. When I picked up the book, a small note fell out of the journal. It was from future Daniel. He said that when things start to get really bad, that I'd know what to do. He made reference to Pwx-912 but didn't tell me what was going to happen. (which frustrates me even more!). I figure something bad's going to happen on this mission, so this might be my last chance to write in here. I just wanna say sorry to anyone who is reading this, in the event that I have died, or gone missing, or worse.. am a vegetable. From what Professor Daniel had written in the note, I have a feeling that maybe this is when I.. well.. when I leave sg-1."
Daniel attempted to hold back his tears, but the last line forced them all out. Teal'c noticed that O'Neill, Sam and Jacob were standing in the doorway of Daniel's study, but Daniel didn't notice because he had his back to them.
"If I know Daniel, he's probably the one who is reading this first. If my guess before the mission was right, then everyone but myself survived the mission. To Teal'c, you have helped me out more than you can imagine. You not only helped me out with my meditations, but your words of wisdom, altough alien, should be written into a book. Your words have really helped me to see the world as a more beautiful place. To Sam, you were one of my best friends, in the future and now. Even though you've stopped showing it, I know you're still hurting over Martouf. And even though it might not seem possible at the moment, believe me when I say that you do live happily in the future. To Jack, you were my hero growing up. Every story of the legendary Sg-1 was what inspired me to join the Stargate program (even though I still think I only got in because of my dad's status on a starship). To Daniel.. To Daniel.." Daniel lowered the journal, and took off his glasses. He put the journal back on the table and wiped his eyes, unable to maintain enough composure to continue reading.
Teal'c picked up the journal and continued reading. "To Daniel. When I first met jack when I was 18, he told me that one day I would finally meet someone that I would want to spend my life with, and that I would feel incomplete without them around. Now I know what he meant by that because you were what made me a better person. I can't wait to meet you all again in the future..." Teal'c closed the journal and returned it on Daniel's desk. Daniel sat down at his desk and rubbed his short-cropped hair. It was then that he realised that Jack, Sam and Jacob were standing in the doorway. Daniel saw the pleading look on Sam's face. She whispered an "I'm sorry," then left.
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5 days later [July 7th, 2003]
Frasier was typing on her computer. She was entering the data from the physical examinations of sg-1 from when they got back from their last mission. She reached across her desk and picked up her mug of coffee. When she tipped her head back with the mug, she saw O'Neill standing in the doorway.
"Hey doc. I need you to come with me to Sam's house," He said.
"Sam's house?"
"I'll explain on the way."
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Jack knocked on Sam's front door, but there was no reply.
"Do you think she's already.." Janet drifted off.
"I wont let her die like this!" Jack grunted as he kicked in Sam's door. Janet headed straight for the bedroom with Jack close behind. When the reached the bedroom, they found Sam curled up on her side. Janet ran straight to Sam's side and took her pulse.
"Her pulse is extremely weak!" Janet cried. She noticed the bottle of sleeping tablets clutched within Sam's hand. Jack picked Sam up off the bed. "We've got to get her to the hospital NOW!" He yelled. They ran to his four-wheel drive and lay Sam in the back seat and they made their way to the hospital as fast as they could.
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"Are you sure you want to do this Doctor Jackson?"
Daniel placed his metal trashcan on top of his desk and placed Nat's journal in it. "Yeah. Even when she was alive she didn't want me to read it," He explained. His voice was croaky and his tears began to well up again. "I doubt she'd want me to read it after she.." Teal'c put a hand on Daniel's shoulder to comfort him.
"Daniel Jackson?"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you don't want to keep the journal, as a reminder of who Natalie Manslow is?" Teal'c asked, handing Daniel the box of matches.
Daniel forced a smile. "Thanks Teal'c. I'm sure," Daniel replied, taking the matches. "She's always going to live in here," Daniel put his hand to his heart. Teal'c smiled and he watched as Daniel set Natalie's journal alight.
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Jack sat in the waiting room, biting his nails; a habit he thought he'd broken when he was a teenager. Janet was in the emergency ward with the doctors that belonged to that hospital, and had been there for an hour. The suspense was killing him. Twice he'd gone to the payphone to call Daniel and Teal'c, and twice he hung up before dialing the phone number. He knew Daniel had had it hard enough with Natalie's death, but they still needed to know. So, he sighed, and got up and walked to the payphone for the third time in that hour. He dropped in a quarter, then dialed the number to Daniel's study, where he'd been moping that morning.
"Hello?"
"Daniel."
"Jack. Hi."
"You remember what Nat said? Sam DID take the sleeping tablets. Janet and I rushed her to St Mercy Hospital," Jack explained.
"We'll be right there!" Daniel hung up and filled Teal'c in on what had happened.
As soon as Jack hung up the phone, he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see a balding man standing behind him. "Jacob!" Jack was a little taken back. "How did you-"
"Doctor Frasier called me. How's Sam?" He asked anxiously. Jack explained how he'd been waiting for an hour. Just then, Janet came into the waiting room. Jack and Jacob practically ran across the waiting room towards her.
"Sam's going to be alright. She's going to feel a little nauscious for a while, but she's well enough for you to go see her," Janet explained. Jacob hugged Janet, almost lifting her off the ground. While he was doing that, Jack patted Janet on the shoulder in thanks and headed for Sam's ward. Hers was the second room on the left, which he was glad because he didn't have time to get lost. He slowly tip toed into the room to see Sam lying in her bed, looking out the window to her right. Jack walked up to Sam's left side, but she continued to look out the window.
"Hey Sam," Jack said softly. Sam realised that he rarely calls her by her first name, but she kept looking out the window. Jack didn't get any response from Sam, so he sat on the side of the bed and took her left hand in his. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "Sam, even if you're not going to talk to me, at least look at me." Sam turned her head from the window to Jack. He let out a little smile when she turned to him. Her face was sad, and he could tell she didn't feel like talking. "You're probably wondering how I thought to come to your house," Jack began. Sam didn't usher a word, and kept looking at him with the same expression. So Jack continued. "Natalie told me that in the future, I'd told her when and where you'd try commit suicide," he explained. Sam's eyes began to water, and she turned her head back to the window. "Sam, please. Look at me." Sam turned her head back to his. "I just wanted to say that... even though Natalie told me, I think that even if she didn't tell me what was going to happen, I would still have had the gut feeling that something was going to happen to you," He explained. Sam looked up in an attempt to hold back her tears.
"Sam, please promise me something. And now I want you to actually say it. Promise me you'll never try commit suicide ever again," He asked, holding her hand tighter. Sam still didn't usher a word. "Sam, I can't survive without you. I've already lost a son. Plase don't let me lose another person that I love." Sam's eyes left the roof, and looked right at Jack's.
"I promise," Sam whispered. Jack smiled and kissed Sam's hand.
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Ch 24: Good night my someone.. good night..
"What the hell happened!?" Jack yelled.
"I was sitting with Sam while she was making sure that the bomb was working properly. Then I realised that Sam's rigged the bomb. There's no timer on it," Nat explained.
"No timer?" Dan asked. "But, we need one so we can set the bomb before the replicators get there."
"Thanx for stating the obvious Daniel!" Jack grumbled. "How could Sam forget to put a timer on the bomb!" Jack took off his hat and rubbed his head.
"I do not believe that Major Carter could forget such a thing," Teal'c commented.
"She didn't," Nat explained.
"Oh God!" Daniel exclaimed. "Sam was acting normal all of a sudden. When someone morns for someone, like she did with Martouf, you don't get over it that quickly-"
"Unless you know you're going to die," Jack finished.
"Sam was planning to stay behind on the planet and die along with the replicators," Nat explained.
Jack viciously threw his cap to the ground. "You knew this!? Why didn't you tell us BEFORE we started this stupid mission!?" Jack yelled. He began to walk up to Nat, but Teal'c grabbed Jack's arms from behind. Daniel stood in between Nat and Jack incase Jack tried anything stupid.
"I didn't know until just now. I didn't exactly check out the bomb until I was looking at it more carefully when I was with Sam. When I realised that there was no timer on the bomb, I figured that it meant that somebody would have to stay behind to detonate it. And Sam's the only one here who would have a death wish. When I realised what Sam was planning to do, I reached for my ribbon device. It was when Sam pointed her gun at me that I knew I was right," Nat explained.
Teal'c let go of Jack. Jack picked his cap off the floor and put it back on.
"So now what?" Daniel asked, moving into the cockpit. Everyone followed. "Dumb question. Can't we just attach a timer to the bomb?"
"We do not have the necessary equipment onboard with us," Teal'c explained.
"This changes things. There's only one thing to do now," Jack explained, sounding like the leader who's about to sacrifice himself for the team. But Nat had other plans.
"Yeah, there is," Nat said. She quickly grabbed her Zat and shot Teal'c. Jack grabbed his gun and pointed it to Nat.
"What are you doing!?" Jack yelled.
"Nat..." Daniel pleaded.
"Sorry Jack, but you cant be the one who does the sacrificing this time. You guys are the original Sg1! And I know you've got a lot more missions in your future," Nat explained.
"Don't do this," Daniel begged.
"Sorry, but it's the only way. Nat turned to Jack. "Jack, you told me something important when I was 18..."
"Nat, don't do this! Just put the zat down and we'll work out another way to destroy the replicators!" Daniel pleaded. Nat skook her head.
"No. We all know this opportunity will never come up again. So just listen to me," Nat pleaded. She began to lower the zat, but when Jack took a step towards her, she raised it again. "It's important!" She yelled. Jack held his hands up defensively and took a step back. "You told me that on July 7th, Sam is going to try kill herself," Nat explained.
"Oh god.." Daniel exclaimed.
"You told me how on that morning, Sam doesn't come in to work, so you went to her house to see why she didn't come to work. She took a handful of sleeping tablets, but you got her to hospital in time to save her. You need to stay alive for Sam's sake, Jack! That's why I cant let you do it!" Nat explained.
Jack held a hand out in Nat's direction. "So we'll save Sam together, just put the zat down, okay?" Jack reassured Nat.
"Sorry Jack. I cant," Nat said quietly. Tears began to well up. "I cant wait to meet you again Jack," Nat sniffed. Jack tried to walk towards Nat again. "Goodbye Jack," Nat said then shot him with the Zat. Daniel and Nat watched Jack's body hit the floor, then their eyes fixed on each other.
"Nat.." Daniel pleaded. "Please don't do this."
Nat slowly walked upto Daniel. "I have to. I want you to live," She cried. She lowered her zat as she neared him. Her tears rolled out as she cupped Daniel's cheek with her right hand. The cool metal of the ribbon device, which was wrapped around Nat's fingers, ran along Dan's cheekbone. It was soothing in a way but when he looked down into her now bloodshot eyes, his first instinct was to try stop her.
"You know I hate to see you cry," Daniel whispered as he ran his hand down Nat's left arm in an attempt to take the zat from her without her realising. "Makes me feel like I havent been doing a good job as your boyfriend," He whispered. Nat didn't realise that Dan had ran his hand down to her own. As Dan tried to take the Zat out of Nat's hand, she realised Daniel would obviously try to stop her, so she activated the ribbon device before he had the chance to. Daniel slowly dropped to the floor as the golden streams danced over his forehead. He could hear Nat crying, but he couldn't help but feel relaxed from what Nat was doing to him.
"I'm so sorry Daniel," Nat cried. She hadn't knocked him unconscious, but his body was extremely relaxed. She crouched on the floor next to him, knowing full well that he was still conscious, but unable to stop her. She leaned down and kissed him. A tear escaped Daniel's eye. It only made more of Nat's tears run. "Daniel, I love you. I wanted you to know that," She cried.
"Nat, please don't do this," He mumbled. Even though his body was extremely relaxed, he managed to lift his hand to Nats, which was resting on his chest.
"Jack also told me once that when I find someone that I love, to tell him how much I love him before it's too late. Now I know what he meant," Nat explained. She caressed his cheek, wiping away his tears. "I don't think I've said it enough. But yeah.." She drifted off, wiping some of her tears away. She was about to stand up, but Daniel only squeezed her hand tighter.
"Nat, please. I need you here.. with me because I cant live without you... I love you.." Daniel pleaded. He tried to get up, but failed to. Nat bent down and hugged him. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry.." Nat heard a beep from the 'dashboard' and got up to have a look. Daniel felt the ship come out of hyperdrive, and watched as she wiped her eyes once more, then picked the zat up off the floor. She crouched back on the floor next to Daniel. "Daniel, we're at the planet now. The computer says the replicators are going to be here in a few minutes," She explained before giving Daniel one long last kiss. "I love you so much," She whispered to him.
"I love you too," Daniel replied as he watched his girlfriend stand up. He knew what was coming next. Nat pointed her zat at him and shot Daniel.
"Goodbye Daniel."
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Teal'c opened his eyes and looked around the room. His head ached, and could hear a ringing in his ears.. no, it was the sound of banging. He sat up and realised that there was someone banging on the cargo bay door.
"Hello! Guys!.. Anyone!" a female voice yelled from the other side of the door. Teal'c got up and stumbled to the door. He pressed the correct code on the goa'uld keypad and the door opened to reveal a very flustered Sam.
"Teal'c! What happened! The bomb's gone!" She panicked.
"Natalie Manslow shot me with the zat nikotel in what I believe was an attempt to prevent the rest of us from... taking the bomb to the planet," Teal'c put delicately.
"This is all my fault!" Sam cursed herself. She looked into the cockpit and saw two bodies on the floor. She quickly walked past Teal'c and into the cockpit to see Jack and Daniel both unconscious on the floor. Outside the windshield showed that the ship was in hyperdrive. "Teal'c!" Sam called his attention to the window. Teal'c walked to the controls while Sam tried to wake Daniel and Jack. Sam dropped to her knees, beside Jack's body. She skook Jack's shoulder. "Sir! Sir!" She called. Jack's eyes slowly opened, and looked straight at Sam. His memories came flooding back and he remembered where he was and what had happened. His eyes widened and he suddenly sat up.
"Ow!" He complained as he grabbed his head. "Did I mention I hate being zatted!" Sam helped Jack to get onto his feet. "Where's Nat!?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer. Sam didn't reply, and went too wake Daniel up. Jack walked to the controls, where Teal'c was frantically pressing buttons.
"O'Neill. I cannot get the ship out of hyper drive," Teal'c explained, still trying to gain control of the ship.
"Sam?" Daniel asked as he blinked to get his vision to clear up. She helped him to sit up against the wall. "She's gone, isnt she?" Daniel asked.
"I.. I hope not," Sam replied, looking right into his blue, teary eyes. She put her hand on Daniel's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, and then got up to help Teal'c. Sam pressed a few buttons and the screen came up. "The ship's on auto pilot. It's set to take us back to Earth," Sam explained.
"Well, take it off auto pilot and get us back to the planet!!" Jack ordered.
Sam tried a few more buttons. "I'm trying Sir... okay, I got it. Now heading back to Pwx-912. We've been in autopilot mode for half an hour, so it'll take us half an hour to get back."
"If it's still there," Daniel mumbled from the corner where Sam left him. He was still sitting, with his knees pulled up to his chest. No-one said a word until they reached Pwx-912.
When the ship got to Pwx-912, there was nothing but large rocks.. the remains of a planet that had just been destroyed. Daniel looked out the window. Sam, along with Jack an Teal'c turned their heads towards him as he banged his fist onto the 'dashboard' in his mixed feelings of anger, dispair and helplessness.
Sam felt like her stomach had just dropped to the floor. The overwhealming guilt made her feel sick to her stomach. "Daniel, I'm-"
"Don't say anything Sam!" Daniel grumbled at her with a glare on his face. He returned to his position on the floor, and remained that way until they got back to the Tok'ra home world.
Jacob decided to come to Earth with the four remaining members of sg-1. As they walked down the ramp, Hammond had a look on confusion on his face. Daniel was behind the others, walking with his head hung low. Jacob had his arm around Sam, whose eyes were red and puffy. Teal'c kept his head low and O'Neill walked straight upto Hammond, took his hat off, and said "We need to talk," before walking straight past Hammond and into the briefing room.
Hammond excused everyone but O'Neill from the briefing, so Daniel made his way to his study. Sam had attempted to apologize to him when they left the briefing room, but Daniel didn't even acknowledge her presence. She turned to her father. "Dad!" She cried. "This is all my fault! I don't know what to do to tell everyone how sorry I am!"
Daniel kept his head down as he walked through the corridors. Even though he knew his way areound the base perfectly well, he followed the coloured lines to his study. He opened the door, and could've sworn that he could smell Natalie's perfume as he entered the room. He noticed on the desk, a book was left open. It was a journal that Daniel had given her for Christmas so she can write in. He remembered that he'd caught her writing in it just before the mission.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c stood in the doorway of Daniel's study. Daniel didn't reply, so Teal'c entered the room anyway. He saw the Journal that Daniel was looking at. "Is this the journal of Natalie Manslow?" He asked, even though the answer was perfectly obvious.
"Yeah."
"Are you planning to read it?" Teal'c asked as he saw Daniel pick up the journal. Daniel appeared to be already reading it. "Would you mind reading it aloud, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, feeling very left out. Daniel nodded and began reading.
"July 2nd, 2003: Today sg1 and I head off to Pwx-912 to destroy the replicators. Thor's already gated to his home planet, where he's going to monitor our situation from his ship. When we get to Pwx-912, Sam's going to set up a bomb that will hopefully destroy that whole naquada-enriched planet. She's hoping that the blast will be big enough to destroy the whole fleet of replicators that are heading towards Pwx-912. This morning I thought I'd have another read of Professor Daniel's journals. I was pissed off because they have no mention of the me from this time in them. In those journals, I should be at least in my 50s, but im not there. In frustration I threw the journal across the room and the spine broke. When I picked up the book, a small note fell out of the journal. It was from future Daniel. He said that when things start to get really bad, that I'd know what to do. He made reference to Pwx-912 but didn't tell me what was going to happen. (which frustrates me even more!). I figure something bad's going to happen on this mission, so this might be my last chance to write in here. I just wanna say sorry to anyone who is reading this, in the event that I have died, or gone missing, or worse.. am a vegetable. From what Professor Daniel had written in the note, I have a feeling that maybe this is when I.. well.. when I leave sg-1."
Daniel attempted to hold back his tears, but the last line forced them all out. Teal'c noticed that O'Neill, Sam and Jacob were standing in the doorway of Daniel's study, but Daniel didn't notice because he had his back to them.
"If I know Daniel, he's probably the one who is reading this first. If my guess before the mission was right, then everyone but myself survived the mission. To Teal'c, you have helped me out more than you can imagine. You not only helped me out with my meditations, but your words of wisdom, altough alien, should be written into a book. Your words have really helped me to see the world as a more beautiful place. To Sam, you were one of my best friends, in the future and now. Even though you've stopped showing it, I know you're still hurting over Martouf. And even though it might not seem possible at the moment, believe me when I say that you do live happily in the future. To Jack, you were my hero growing up. Every story of the legendary Sg-1 was what inspired me to join the Stargate program (even though I still think I only got in because of my dad's status on a starship). To Daniel.. To Daniel.." Daniel lowered the journal, and took off his glasses. He put the journal back on the table and wiped his eyes, unable to maintain enough composure to continue reading.
Teal'c picked up the journal and continued reading. "To Daniel. When I first met jack when I was 18, he told me that one day I would finally meet someone that I would want to spend my life with, and that I would feel incomplete without them around. Now I know what he meant by that because you were what made me a better person. I can't wait to meet you all again in the future..." Teal'c closed the journal and returned it on Daniel's desk. Daniel sat down at his desk and rubbed his short-cropped hair. It was then that he realised that Jack, Sam and Jacob were standing in the doorway. Daniel saw the pleading look on Sam's face. She whispered an "I'm sorry," then left.
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5 days later [July 7th, 2003]
Frasier was typing on her computer. She was entering the data from the physical examinations of sg-1 from when they got back from their last mission. She reached across her desk and picked up her mug of coffee. When she tipped her head back with the mug, she saw O'Neill standing in the doorway.
"Hey doc. I need you to come with me to Sam's house," He said.
"Sam's house?"
"I'll explain on the way."
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Jack knocked on Sam's front door, but there was no reply.
"Do you think she's already.." Janet drifted off.
"I wont let her die like this!" Jack grunted as he kicked in Sam's door. Janet headed straight for the bedroom with Jack close behind. When the reached the bedroom, they found Sam curled up on her side. Janet ran straight to Sam's side and took her pulse.
"Her pulse is extremely weak!" Janet cried. She noticed the bottle of sleeping tablets clutched within Sam's hand. Jack picked Sam up off the bed. "We've got to get her to the hospital NOW!" He yelled. They ran to his four-wheel drive and lay Sam in the back seat and they made their way to the hospital as fast as they could.
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"Are you sure you want to do this Doctor Jackson?"
Daniel placed his metal trashcan on top of his desk and placed Nat's journal in it. "Yeah. Even when she was alive she didn't want me to read it," He explained. His voice was croaky and his tears began to well up again. "I doubt she'd want me to read it after she.." Teal'c put a hand on Daniel's shoulder to comfort him.
"Daniel Jackson?"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you don't want to keep the journal, as a reminder of who Natalie Manslow is?" Teal'c asked, handing Daniel the box of matches.
Daniel forced a smile. "Thanks Teal'c. I'm sure," Daniel replied, taking the matches. "She's always going to live in here," Daniel put his hand to his heart. Teal'c smiled and he watched as Daniel set Natalie's journal alight.
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Jack sat in the waiting room, biting his nails; a habit he thought he'd broken when he was a teenager. Janet was in the emergency ward with the doctors that belonged to that hospital, and had been there for an hour. The suspense was killing him. Twice he'd gone to the payphone to call Daniel and Teal'c, and twice he hung up before dialing the phone number. He knew Daniel had had it hard enough with Natalie's death, but they still needed to know. So, he sighed, and got up and walked to the payphone for the third time in that hour. He dropped in a quarter, then dialed the number to Daniel's study, where he'd been moping that morning.
"Hello?"
"Daniel."
"Jack. Hi."
"You remember what Nat said? Sam DID take the sleeping tablets. Janet and I rushed her to St Mercy Hospital," Jack explained.
"We'll be right there!" Daniel hung up and filled Teal'c in on what had happened.
As soon as Jack hung up the phone, he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see a balding man standing behind him. "Jacob!" Jack was a little taken back. "How did you-"
"Doctor Frasier called me. How's Sam?" He asked anxiously. Jack explained how he'd been waiting for an hour. Just then, Janet came into the waiting room. Jack and Jacob practically ran across the waiting room towards her.
"Sam's going to be alright. She's going to feel a little nauscious for a while, but she's well enough for you to go see her," Janet explained. Jacob hugged Janet, almost lifting her off the ground. While he was doing that, Jack patted Janet on the shoulder in thanks and headed for Sam's ward. Hers was the second room on the left, which he was glad because he didn't have time to get lost. He slowly tip toed into the room to see Sam lying in her bed, looking out the window to her right. Jack walked up to Sam's left side, but she continued to look out the window.
"Hey Sam," Jack said softly. Sam realised that he rarely calls her by her first name, but she kept looking out the window. Jack didn't get any response from Sam, so he sat on the side of the bed and took her left hand in his. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "Sam, even if you're not going to talk to me, at least look at me." Sam turned her head from the window to Jack. He let out a little smile when she turned to him. Her face was sad, and he could tell she didn't feel like talking. "You're probably wondering how I thought to come to your house," Jack began. Sam didn't usher a word, and kept looking at him with the same expression. So Jack continued. "Natalie told me that in the future, I'd told her when and where you'd try commit suicide," he explained. Sam's eyes began to water, and she turned her head back to the window. "Sam, please. Look at me." Sam turned her head back to his. "I just wanted to say that... even though Natalie told me, I think that even if she didn't tell me what was going to happen, I would still have had the gut feeling that something was going to happen to you," He explained. Sam looked up in an attempt to hold back her tears.
"Sam, please promise me something. And now I want you to actually say it. Promise me you'll never try commit suicide ever again," He asked, holding her hand tighter. Sam still didn't usher a word. "Sam, I can't survive without you. I've already lost a son. Plase don't let me lose another person that I love." Sam's eyes left the roof, and looked right at Jack's.
"I promise," Sam whispered. Jack smiled and kissed Sam's hand.