She's engaged, Jack! To another man! And let's not forget the fact that you're still her commanding officer!
The raging voice inside Jack's head hadn't shut up all day, no matter how he tried to ignore it. Every time he found a bit of peace from his own conscience, he would up and see her. Just like right now.
She stood twenty-five, maybe thirty feet away talking with several women of the community. As he watched, Gabrae Sonarnon ran up to her and tugged on her pant leg. The little girl looked about four, with a mass of honey blonde curls that hung half way down her back. She held a ribbon out to Sam, and Jack watched as she combed the girl's hair with her fingers and skillfully plaited the curls into a braid. When she finished, she knelt on one knee and Raeya hugged her before running off again into the mass of children on the other side of the field.
Jack had to look away. The thoughts that invaded his head were ones that had no place. Like how natural she looked braiding the hair of a little girl. How happy she seemed. How he wished he could be the one to put a smile like that on her face. And wondering if she smiled for Pete the same way she smiled for him. Because she did smile for him, a different smile than for anyone else. It had been that way for a long time, but he hadn't seen it in awhile. Not since Pete Shanahan.
Jack chucked away the rock he had been worrying between his fingers. He had decided they could stay for another night, a diplomatic gesture to join in their celebration since they so graciously offered. And he knew there was no use denying he wanted to stay here for just a while longer. The more he was here, the more depressing the gray walls of the SGC seemed.
"You appear pensive, O'Neill."
Jack looked up from his perch on a rock to where Teal'c stood on his left. "Nah," he said, and bent over to pick up a new stone. "Just enjoying the fresh air."
"It has been many months since you came through the Gate with us. Of all the worlds, you chose well to accompany us here."
Jack picked up more rocks, shaking them in the palm of his hand like dice. "I'm thinking you're right, T. A nice safe planet. No risk. No gunfire. No Jaffa breathing down our necks. No System Lords hovering over the atmosphere."
"Does this disappoint you?"
Jack let the rocks fall from his hand. "Maybe. Maybe not."
"Hey, Jack?"
Jack dusted off his hand and stood as Daniel jogged over to them. "What up, Daniel?"
"Uh, I've been talking with Hetta. He's the educator here for the children. And he told me about some ruins about five miles from here – or, at least, that's my best calculation trying to convert their methods of measurement to ours. It's not exact, but either way it's not too far. I believe we could walk to it and return in a day, and I'm very curious to see if I can determine a point of origin for these people. Or maybe even which, if any, goa'uld brought them here—"
"Daniel!" Jack snapped, and Daniel stopped, staring at him expectantly. "Are you asking me something? Or telling me. Either way, get to the point."
Daniel blinked, his eyebrows bouncing up over the rim of his glasses. "I'd like to check them out. But I want to return to Earth and pick up some materials before I go. I didn't pack for an archaeological study."
"Did you ask Carter?"
Daniel glanced over his shoulder to look at Sam, where she still talked to the group of women, and back to Jack, his lips pursed. "Well, uh, no, I just--"
"This is Carter's gig. I'm just extra baggage, Daniel. Clear it with her." Jack knew there was an irritated edge to his voice, but he was irritated, so it was completely justifiable.
"Uh, okay. I will. You.. okay? Jack?"
"Fine. Let me know what Carter decides." He moved between Teal'c and Daniel and headed for the main Meeting House. Everyone seemed to be outside this time of day, and right now he felt like being away. Just... away.
The inside of the meeting house was dark compared to the bright sunshine outside. All four walls were banked with low tables, leaving the center open for young children to play while their parents ate. There were no chairs, just thick cushions and everyone sat on the floor during dinner. The room was empty except for three people at the far end who were talking together. Jack nodded his head as he entered, a silent greeting across the space, and walked to a pile of cushions in the corner of the room. With a sigh, and a groan for the ache in his knees, he sank down into the cushions. He figured he was still digesting the meal from the night before, never mind the bountiful breakfast that had been served, and a nap would do him a world of good. Kind of like during half time of the game on Thanksgiving Day. They weren't set to meet with any elders until later that afternoon, anyway.
He was just slipping into sleep when he heard the doors open with a slow creek. "Sir? General?"
Jack clenched down with his teeth. He once thought there was nothing he hated more than to be called 'Colonel' by Sam Carter. He was wrong. 'General' was ten times worse.
"Over here, Carter." Sam moved from the door to stand near his knees, looking down at him. Jack crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head back on the cushions to see her. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to let you know, I gave Daniel and Teal'c the go ahead to return to the SGC. They'll be back within an hour, but Daniel wanted to collect some things to go to the ruins tomorrow. And Teal'c was running low on Tretonin."
Jack nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"I hope that's--"
"Your gig, Carter. Your gig."
Sam frowned slightly. "Yes, sir. Sir, have I--"
The radio at her waist, clipped there when their ALICE vests were set aside for the visit, buzzed and clicked before Daniel's voice came through. The background feedback was heavy with static, and Jack barely heard what he said.
"Sam, I think – problem – Gate dialing through."
Sam held the radio to her lips. "Repeat that, Daniel."
"The Gate is acting weird. It seemed to delay in connecting. I thought you might want to come see before we go."
"It's going to take me at least fifteen minutes to get there. What is it doing?"
The static lessened, making Daniel easier to hear. Jack stood from the cushions and stood near Sam, listening from her radio.
"Nothing now. The last chevron didn't engage right away. It took probably five or six seconds longer than usual. But then it connected and the wormhole opened."
Sam arched one brow, and shook her head. "Does the event horizon seem steady?"
"Seems fine."
"Sound familiar?" Jack asked.
Sam shook her head. "We've had situations where the chevrons didn't seem to engage immediately, but we've never had any wormhole continuity issues when it happens."
"Should we close the Gate?" came Daniel's voice again, the static heavier than moments before. "And try again?"
"Do you think there's a problem?" Jack asked.
"Not that I know of. But, just to be safe, I'll head to the Gate and check it out. I should be back in an hour, or so."
"I'll come with you. Tell Daniel to go. The sooner he goes, the sooner he's back."
Sam relayed the message, and Daniel responded. They left the meeting house together, and once they found Aaroon and explained where they'd be, Jack and Sam headed south to the Gate. It was a good fifteen or twenty minute walk from the village, and a bead of sweat had formed down Jack's back by the time the hit the clearing. The season was much like fall in Colorado. Cool nights, but the days could be surprisingly warm. Especially in the direct sun. As they reached the DHD, Jack motioned towards it with his hand.
"I guess we dial 'er up and see what happens."
"Yes, sir."
Sam pressed the familiar symbols on the DHD to get them home, the familiar click-thud sound of each echoing through the valley. The inner wheel of the Gate turned, and the corresponding chevrons lit up. But when she pressed the final symbol, the one for point of origin, nothing happened. The inner wheel didn't move. The familiar hum stopped. Sam pressed on the central dome of the DHD. Nothing.
Jack looked from her to the Gate, and back to Sam.
"What's up?"
"I don't know, sir."
She dialed again, with the same results. The first six chevrons engaged, but at the seventh chevron, nothing. As if the button was broken.
"Carter..." Jack said, drawing out her name.
Sam shook her head. "I don't know, sir."
"Is it not getting any juice? Why isn't it--"
"I don't know, sir," Sam said, her voice tense. She tried the symbols again, with the same results. "We can't dial home."
Thunk! There went the other shoe