What Will It Take? Chapter 50: 7 Min 36 Sec, a stargate: sg-1 fanfic

"... the images just faded... and I lost the connection...," and her voice trailed off as she replayed the images in her mind.

He nodded, "We were approaching the 8-minute mark and I was getting set to pull you off, and you... wobbled a little... and then the event horizon snapped off and the 'Gate powered down..."

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Ch 50: 7 MIN 36 SEC

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Three days later and they returned to try again. Each morning session yielded the same results that they'd experienced in that last afternoon session days before. Just before reaching the 8 minute mark, Sam would lose the connection.

For the afternoon sessions, she asked him to watch the timer carefully to pinpoint exactly when the connection faded. Jack was actually grateful for something to do. Not that he wanted to yank her off the 'Gate, but now that he didn't even have that to do, the seven-plus minutes of watching her stand there in a trance were extremely boring.

Seven minutes and thirty-six seconds.
Both times.

Seven minutes and thirty-six seconds.
What did that mean?

At the end of the second one, he couldn't help but notice that she couldn't hide how tired she was. Tugging her over to the now-unused landing pad, she took a seat without protest and he sat down beside her.

"I like this way of landing a lot more than the previous... method," she confessed with a tired smile.

"Not as exciting," he pointed out.

"Not as dramatic," she agreed.

"Not as much flare," he continued.

"Not as jarring," she pointed out with a rueful grin.

"No more bruise inspection," and he played up a sorrowful face and she couldn't help but smile. He smirked, always pleased with himself for being the cause of that smile.

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Talk during and after dinner was limited. Sam was engrossed with her internal musings over what she'd seen and experienced along with the new discovery that she could only hold the connection for seven minutes and thirty-six seconds.

"So, whatcha thinking?" he interrupted her reverie.

She looked up at him, startled, "What?"

He smiled and repeated his question with learned patience, "Whatcha thinking?" and he raised his eyebrows questioningly.

The thoughtful look descended on her face again, "Just trying to figure out why the sessions end at seven minutes and thirty-six seconds...," and her voice drifted off. He nodded silently and waited for her to continue. "We know that a standard wormhole can only be sustained for 38 minutes," she thought outloud. "Why it's 38 minutes, we don't know...," and she glanced over at him and he just nodded again to show that he was listening. "Here, we have some kind of.. different.. wormhole... and it can only be sustained for seven minutes and thirty-six seconds..."

"Different wormhole, different length of time," he summarized and she nodded back at him.

"But why 38 minutes for one, and only a little over seven and a half minutes for the other?" she questioned and then muttered, "Seven minutes and thirty six seconds...," as she stared into the campfire and he could swear he could almost see those mental wheels turning.

"If you're not careful, you'll strip a gear," he offered jokingly.

Not following his thoughts, she looked at him with a look of incomprehension. "What?" as she tried to figure out what 'Gate gears he was referring to.

"I was talking about the invisible gears," and he pointed to her head, "in there."

She stared at him for a moment and almost managed to keep the smile off of her face, but it escaped against her will and she looked down at the ground, "Why seven minutes and thirty-six seconds...why 38 minutes...?" and her voice trailed off again as she let the numbers sift through her mind.

He shrugged and joined her contemplation of the fire and then she looked up suddenly, "Thirty-eight minutes is 2280 seconds... and seven minutes and thirty-six seconds is 456 seconds...," and she said it with such confidence that he knew that it was supposed to mean something significant.

But what that significance was...? "OK...," he offered, willing to accept her conversions.

"It's 20 percent... one-fifth the amount of time," she explained and then continued, "The length of time that I can stay connected is one-fifth of the time that a 'regular' wormhole can generally be sustained."

He looked at her, trying to decide whether something profound or sarcastic would work best as a reply. She continued however, saving him the dilemma, "Which does not explain why the Stargate has these limits. We still don't know if these are limitations imposed by the technology, or if they are limitations imposed by the Ancients who engineered the 'Gate system."

"And knowing these answers would...?" he asked.

"Help us understand more about how the 'Gate works and therefore, what we can do with it," she answered.

"Like controlling this new orange-white wormhole," he interpreted practically and she nodded.

- - - - -

Again, they took the next two days off and busied themselves with camp chores while Sam recuperated. With their new discovery of the time limit, Sam was itching to find their next discovery and she tried convincing him that one day off was sufficient, but he was adamant that she have at least two days off before attempting to work the 'Gate again.

Sam spent some of the time working on her notes and records of their series of experiments. As the days and weeks were passing, she began compiling a short summary chronology for reference and indexing. Sticking with their 6-day week, she scanned her notes which, as with most scientific notes, were full of internal abbreviations and acronyms that would render them indecipherable to all but the most dedicated of fellow scientists.

Day 1; 43rd Day On Planet (DOP), (50th 'EarthDay'EDOnPlanet), week (WK) 8
- - - First tested hourglass etching. Gate powered-up (GPU) when I touched it
- - - Inner ring moving (IRM) Orange-white event horizon (OWEH)

Days 2-10; through the end of WK 9 - - - resting

Day 11; 53rd DOP (61ED); beginning of WK 10; GPU, IRM, OWEH
- - - Session 1 for roughly 30 sec; Sess. 2 for 2 min.; Sess 3 for 3 min; Sess. 4 for 4 min.

Days 12-15; 54-57 DOP, (62-66ED); WK 10 - - - resting; Jack heals my bruises

Day 16; 58th DOP (67ED); WK 10; GPU, IRM, OWEH
- - - Sess. 1 for 5 min; Sess. 2 for 5 min; Sess. 3 for 6 min; Sess. 4 for 6 min.

Day 17; 59th DOP (68.8ED), WK 10 - - - camp chores and recuperating (CCR)

Day 18; 60st DOP (70ED), end of WK 10; GPU, IRM, OWEH
- - - Sess. 1 for 6 min; Sess. 2 for 6 min; Sess. 3 for 7 min; Sess. 4 for 7 min 36 sec.
- - - Session 4 ends on its own.

Day 19-20; 61nd and 62rd DOP (71-72ED); WK 11 - - - CCR

Day 21; 63th DOP (73ED); WK 11; GPU, IRM, OWEH
- - - Sess. 1-4 for 7 min 36 sec each.
- - - Determined the time limit for maintaining this type of wormhole.
- - - 20 percent of 38 minute 'normal' wormhole time limit

Day 22-23; 64th and 65th DOP (74.7-75.8ED); WK 11 - - - CCR

Day 24; 66th DOP (77ED);
- - -

And Day 24's entries would be made tomorrow. Quickly scanning over her more detailed logs and observations, she added notations and comments here and there. Next, she re-read Jack's logs and observations and then cross-referenced sections with her own. When she was finished, she sat back and watched the water in the river ripple by while her thoughts grappled with the physics equations and models required to explain what they were experiencing.

Jack watched her from his spot next to his fishing pole. He knew that her mind was working on the scientific puzzle, but he was grateful that her body was getting its needed rest and recovery time.

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Day 24 since she'd first tested the hourglass etching arrived with a clear sky but the now-common chilly temperatures.

The camera was set and recording. Each session was dutifully recorded and the sequences of photos were downloaded and indexed to match the proper day and session.

Jack checked and rechecked Sam's harness and canvas corset.

The two morning sessions each lasted the 7 minutes and 36 seconds.

Each time, Sam saw the same two rippling planes of fibrous light and the twisting wormhole. Nothing she tried allowed her to identify or recognize any star configurations or anything that they could use to direct the groping wormhole.

Jack watched her as carefully as ever, observing that she was notably tired after each session. He was tempted to insist that they should wait another few days before the next attempt, but she'd been so good about waiting patiently through the previous two days off, that he didn't have the heart to suggest cutting this day's research short.

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The rippling planes twisted and contorted as they flew by above and beneath her.
The wormhole reached, stretched and searched restlessly.
The stars glinting in the distance swam and slid out of view.
New patterns of stars immediately taking their places.

And then everything jolted.
As if someone jerked a movie camera.

And then the images resolved again.
And with stunning clarity she felt the movement of the wormhole.
She directed it to go to the right. And it did.
She directed it to-

And everything disappeared.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Just a few moments earlier...

The first session after their midday break was coming to an end. As each session was now ending rather sedately (instead of with his yanking her onto her backside), he was now able to steady her a little as she refocused on the physical world around her. He watched the timer sweep towards 7 minutes and he stepped over next to her, ready to lend support when she disconnected from the 'Gate.

Taking one last step to reach her side, his boot caught on one of the small rocks around the 'Gate and he tipped forward and reached out instinctively for balance – steadying himself with his hand on her arm.

The instant he touched her, he reeled from the sensations.

A fizzing like electricity coursed through him and an image of a glowing thread flashed in his mind.

And then it was gone.

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"Jack?"

"Wha-?"

"Are you allright?" she was looking at him with concern.

"Uh..," and he looked around. Sam, the 'Gate, the harness... "Uh, yeah," he finally responded.

"What happened?" she asked, still studying him intently.

"I'm not sure," he admitted and then shook his head as if to clear it. "It was getting near the 7 minute mark and I stepped over to be ready for when you disconnected from the 'Gate... and I stumbled on... a rock or something," and he looked down for the offending object and then continued, "... I grabbed your arm for balance... you were still connected...," he paused and looked at her briefly before continuing, "When I touched you, it felt like a low grade electrical shock," and he immediately saw worry flash over her face, "Low grade," he repeated and then continued before she could object, "and an image of a long, white glowing ribbon flashed in my mind... and then it was gone."

She nodded thoughtfully, "I think something changed when you touched me, Jack," she ventured and he waited curiously.

"I couldn't recognize any patterns or configurations of the stars... and I couldn't see any pattern or direction to the movements of the end of the wormhole... but... then... everything jerked... and I think that's when you touched me," and she glanced over at him, "and then for a brief moment, I could feel the end of the wormhole... and I'm pretty sure that I made it move a little... and then everything disappeared," she finished.

"So that white glowing snaky-thing is the wormhole?" he asked.

Nodding, she grinned, "Cool, isn't it?"

He shrugged, "Seen one snake...,"

She rolled her eyes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

He watched her circumspectly as they ate dinner. She was obviously tired, but she was still churning over ideas in her head. Thinking about the ramifications and possibilities of what had happened when he'd touched her. She was a mixture of subdued excitement and intensity. And he was fairly sure of what was restraining her otherwise natural scientific fervor.

"So?" he asked open-endedly.

She looked up from the dinner she was eating but paying no attention to, "Hm?"

"So... any ideas about the... what happened when I touched you?" he specified conversationally.

She nodded absently, "I don't know how it works... or why... but it seems to require both of us...," and she met his eyes, "I think that the two of us could get the wormhole to connect to another 'Gate – to which 'Gate I'm not sure, but I think we could direct it – we just need to figure out how to identify Earth or some other planet that we know is safe."

He looked back at her silently and then gave her a twinkling grin and simply said, "Cool."

She couldn't stop her smile at his affectionate mocking of her earlier comment. Then she continued thoughtfully, "We do have a problem, though..."

And he finished her sentence, "Who pulls us off if we both turn into zombies?"

She nodded and stared thoughtfully into the fire.

- - - - -

They started discussing the options and potential risks. As the evening wore on, Sam had to face the reality that she was going to have to admit the one risk to him that she hadn't shared weeks ago. When the risk had been only to herself.

"Sam?" he asked for the third time, half-perturbed that she wasn't listening to him, half-amused that she was lost once again in her overactive brain.

She looked up and realized from his tone that he'd probably been trying to get her attention for some time, "Sorry," and she sent him a small apologetic smile.

"Where were you?" he asked with honest curiosity.

She looked up guiltily and then looked away and sighed. "Just thinking...,"

"Oh. My. Gawd!" he mugged and she couldn't help but roll her eyes and smile a little, but then her smile quickly faded – something that he noticed immediately. "What is it?" he asked again.

She met his eyes briefly and then closed her eyes and took a breath, "There's one more risk... or consideration we have to consider...," she started and then paused.

"What?" he prompted.

"There is a chance... or a possibility... that it might work something like the Lantonan's Asgard protection device...," she hesitantly offered.

He looked back with a puzzled expression as he searched his memories and then he made the connections, "That thing that Greaves...?" and then he stared at her hard, recognizing that she'd realized this possibility weeks ago. And she hadn't said anything.

She watched the anger flare and burn in his eyes and waited for the fall-out.

The silence stretched between them and the fire seemed to pop and crackle with his annoyance.

"So - what? I would have been standing there and you could have just gone all glowy and then disappeared?" His voice was low and deep with anger, "What? You figured the wormhole would have connected and that would make everything fine???"

She winced but shouldered his words because she knew they were justified. When Colonel Greaves had merged with the Lantonan protection device, the Tauri had provided 'the human component' and the hostile Jaffa had been transported away. When she was the only one connected to the 'Gate, she hadn't mentioned the possibility that it too, might require 'a human component' – require it...and use it... up. She searched her mind for something to say, but couldn't find an explanation or apology that he'd accept.

He searched her eyes and knew that she hadn't been willing to take the chance that he wouldn't let her try to work the 'Gate. And he had to admit that he didn't know if he would have allowed it. But he was still angry that he hadn't had the choice. That she hadn't told him. Or that he hadn't seen the similarities and the subsequent risk himself.

She opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her, and she closed her mouth silently and looked back at the fire.

He also knew that if the positions had been reversed, he probably wouldn't have told her. For the same reasons that she hadn't told him. They were so different and yet so alike, and that made a small smile quirk the edges of his mouth as his anger ebbed a little. She looked at him uncertainly and his smile grew just a little more.

"Getting me back for not telling you about the broken ribs?" he asked challengingly, referring to their adventure in Antarctica.

Surprise crossed her face at his joke and then relief and she sent him a small smile along with, "And don't forget the punctured lung," she pointed out.

"Right," he nodded and then stood up and she watched him expectantly. "Look Sam, I understand what you did and why...and I know that if the positions were reversed, I'd have probably done the same thing... but I'm still pretty pissed-off," and she nodded her understanding. "I'm going to... head to bed," and he stepped over towards the tent.

'G'nite," she sent after him softly.

He unzipped the tent doors and she barely heard a soft, "Goodnight, Sam," float over as he zipped the tent back up.

- - - - -

She stayed up for another three hours.
Watching the stars.
Pondering how their relationship had developed over the past three months.

General O'Neill would have simply dressed her down for not informing her superior officer of all of the possibilities and/or risks. And that included any possible dangers to herself. He'd always reserved the right to apply that rule in one direction only... allowing himself to conceal his injuries and the risk to himself. Never leaving any of them behind, but reserving the right to order her to leave him behind. From Colonel to Captain and Major, or General to Colonel, he had always been the superior officer and she the subordinate.

But here, after almost three months stranded on this planet, things had changed.
He'd allowed them to change.
He'd allowed equality in their relationship.
Now, there were suggestions and recommendations instead of orders.

And here and now, he was recognizing that she wasn't simply his 2IC anymore. That they were two people stuck on this planet. Two people with strong feelings for each other... each willing to sacrifice themselves for the other.

He obviously wanted to rant and rail at her, yet he hadn't.

She let out a long, slow breath and wondered where the coming weeks would take them.

- - - - -

When she finally crept into the tent, she found him facing away and towards the tent wall. She could tell by his breathing that he wasn't asleep, but he didn't say anything, so she didn't disturb him. Shedding her clothes from the day for the t-shirt and pants that she had elected for sleepwear, she slipped under the covers. Giving him his space, she lay on her side away from him.

He lay with his eyes open in the dark, listening to her get settled for the night. Memories of his feelings that day in the clearing after the accident surfaced. Gratitude for another chance. His feelings for her as he watched her sleeping. And the words of that oh-so-familiar song floated through his mind as his memory replayed those images and feelings.

...and he said someday I hope you get the chance
...to live like you were dying.
...Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about
...what'd you do with it? what did you do with it?

...and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
...and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
...and I became a friend a friend would like to have

...and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
...and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying

The words echoed in his head and he knew that he'd already forgiven her... but she didn't know that.

The covers moved and she felt his arm around her waist as he spooned up behind her.

"I'm still angry, but I'll get over it," he spoke quietly.

"I-," she started to speak... to say just what she didn't know, but he saved her by interrupting.

"It might take a few weeks... a few trips to the lake... a few back rubs...," he continued.

"I think that can be arranged," she returned softly.

A few moments of silence and then, "Of course, all would be forgiven if you could figure out how to get the Simpsons to show on the event horizon..."

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- - -

TBC

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Author's Notes:

As always, a Special Thanks to SG-1 Yahoo Transcripts
wwwdotmoon-catchindotnet/transcripts.htm (just replace the dots with periods)
Episode 502, 'The Sentinel', transcript by Liz
Episode 603 'Descent', transcript by AQ (where Thor's mind was in the Goa'uld ship computer).

And, credit also goes to the Episode Guide & Synopses at the SciFi Channel's Stargate SG-1 website for information about Episode 502, in particular.

And as in Chapter 43 (Mortality), the lyrics quoted earlier are from the song 'Live Like You Were Dying', by Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols. If you'd like to hear the song sung by Tim McGraw, go to wwwdotsmashitsusadotcom/index.cfm?PageAudio&SubPagealbumdetails&AlbumID634 (and replace the dots with periods)

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