"We'll be ready for you, Narim, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry. This is the worst possible result of our accidental contact with your people."

"Not the worst result, General. Thanks to you, we may all yet survive."


Sam laughed at her teammates' antics at the table they occupied, together for a coffee break in the cafeteria. The guys had devised a game to entertain her that was an audible variation of Charades. Sam was very good at guessing the movies, books, and TV shows they had come up with, so they were now doing random hints about planets they had visited. Sam of course, was identifying them by their astronomical designation.

"Okay, okay," Daniel interrupted. "The hint is, a big alien. Big. Really big." He spread his white napkin out wide and fluttered it around, reminiscent of the aliens of the planet his grandfather had remained on several years ago. Sam's face suddenly lit up with excitement.

"Do that again, Daniel," she requested.

"What? This?" He waved the white napkin in front of her face.

"Yes! I think I can see that! I see light and dark now, all around me, and when you waved whatever you're holding in front of me, I saw a flash of white!"

"Sam! I'm waving a white napkin!" Daniel waved it again with an exaggerated flair.

Jack pulled his chair over in front of her and placed his hand on her shoulder, looking at her more closely.

"Jack," she stopped him. "What are you wearing?"

"What do you see?"

"A blue blob with a lighter blob above." She reached for the lighter blob and found her hands on his face.

"It's you! I see you!"

"Yeah! My BDU jacket is blue. That's really, really great, Sam." Jack exclaimed. Her hands were still holding his face. He reached up and covered her hands with his own.

"Take me back to Janet!"

Jack grinned widely at that, grabbed her by the arm and steered her down the hall to the infirmary with Daniel and Teal'C close behind. The entourage that entered the infirmary moments later got Janet's immediate attention.

"What's wrong?" She cried. Their hasty entrance had alarmed her.

"It's what's right, Janet. I'm starting to see things!" Sam announced joyfully. Janet grabbed her penlight and flashed it into Sam's eyes so closely that Jack winced in sympathy. But Sam loved it.

"Yep! I see it! I can see it!"

Janet put her light down. "Well, that's wonderful, Sam!"

"Nothing's clear at all, so I can't get around on my own yet, but this is still incredible! I'd forgotten how beautiful colors are."

"I'm willing to guess it won't be long now before you regain your sight completely. But don't overdo it, Sam. You are still recovering." Janet couldn't stop smiling.

For Sam and her team, who stood there soaking in the joy, the moment was close to perfect bliss.


Hammond closed the door to the briefing room and looked around the room at the officers who had hastily responded to his emergency call.

"We have received a request for asylum fromNew Tollana on PX-980," he announced without preamble, "and the government has agreed to grant them sanctuary. I want every available hand getting this base ready to receive and temporarily house approximately 150 alien refugees. Until we have further instructions from the President and the military, the aliens will remain on the base here at Cheyenne Mountain. All personal quarters will have be temporarily vacated. You all know as well as I do that temporarily housing this large a number of refugees will require every available bit of living space this facility has. If there are no questions, you are dismissed to prepare for the Tollan's arrival. Eminent arrival."

"Wow, General," Jack commented after the room had emptied. "The Goa'uld?"

"Yes. Just as we feared, Jacob had a spy aboard his ship. A Goa'uld fleet will arrive at the planet in less than three hours. Jack, you know this effort will entail more than just housing for the Tollan."

"Yeah, they'll have to bring their precious secrets with them, too. And risk us checking out their advanced technology. I can't believe they are doing this."

"Well, it's either escape to Earth or be annihilated by the enemy."

"At one point in the past, the Tollan were willing to die rather than give up their secrets to a less advanced race." Jack pointed out. "But, I guess they are willing to take the risk now."

"Maybe they trust us, Jack," Hammond countered. "And we're going to do everything in our power to ensure that trust is not violated."

"Yes sir," Jack said quietly.

It didn't take Jack long to remove the handful of personal items he had sprinkled about his on-base living quarters. After quickly packing his things into a duffel and slinging it over his shoulder, he thought about Daniel's quarters and inwardly chuckled. Daniel was going to need a lot of help. His personal quarters resembled a mini museum.

Sam would need help clearing out her quarters, too. She didn't have nearly as much as Daniel, but she would definitely need help, with her eyesight still too blurry to be of any practical use to her. His decision made, he turned and headed to the infirmary to get Sam and then go help her gather her things.

Janet and Sam were sitting together in the Doctor's office when Jack ran into the infirmary.

"In here, Colonel," Janet directed.

He quickly told them what was going on and grabbed Sam's arm to take her with him. Janet was suddenly all business, her mind running in all directions as she organized her own to-do list in her mind.

"Colonel," Janet called after him as the two were heading out the door, "Sam can't be on her own yet. Bring her things back here to the infirmary. She can stay on base with me. I don't think I'll be leaving the mountain any time soon, under the circumstances."

Jack heard Sam's sigh of frustration. A plan popped into his mind.

"Don't worry about it, Janet."

"What?" Sam questioned him curiously as he walked her towards her quarters.

"You and Teal'C can stay with me while this Tollan matter is going on. He'll need a place too, and between T and me, we can keep you out of trouble. So you won't have to stay in the infirmary."

"Thank you," Sam responded fervently.

"I could tell that living in the infirmary wasn't high on your list," Jack teased. "This way you'll be able to watch, or hear, all the Simpsons you want."

"Maybe the infirmary wouldn't be so bad," Sam chuckled.

"Joke!" she cried as he turned around and started back in the direction they had come. "I love the Simpsons."

"That's better, Carter," he advised, resuming their original direction. "Make sure you watch the attitude."

"Sorry, sir."

It seemed impossible, but the entire base was cleared out and ready for the arrival of the Tollan refugees when the Stargate burst into life a few hours later. Jack, Daniel and Teal'C were waiting in the Gateroom to greet the arriving aliens.

Sam had opted to remain behind in the infirmary rather than meet the arriving refugees. She was still upset by Narim's recent behavior and didn't want to see him right now. Secretly, Jack was childishly happy she felt that way, even though he didn't outwardly encourage her newly formed mistrust for the Tollan scientist. He'd promised to come back and take her out of the mountain as soon as possible. That would be a while, however, for it would be quite an effort getting the distraught newcomers settled.

The entire evacuation took only about twenty minutes, and the wormhole shut down with its characteristic swoosh amid the now chaotic crowd milling around the Gateroom. Hammond turned to Jack, looking confused.

"Just people, nothing else," he commented. "Let's go talk to Senil."

The elegantly attired older woman stood a little apart from her companions. Her face was lined with fatigue and grief. Hammond and O'Neill approached her.

"Pardon my bluntness, Senil, but we thought you would have more...stuff," Jack remarked, knowing it would be easier for him to blunder into such a delicate topic than for the General.

"Please do not be offended," Senil addressed them both. We felt it best to destroy our laboratories and machines on New Tollana rather than risk the knowledge falling into the wrong hands. We trust you, General, and Colonel, but we have had dealings with your government before. Not all of your leaders are as noble in their intentions as you are."

Jack smiled grimly. "I see your point. You have probably made a very wise choice, Councilwoman," he conceded.

"Does this mean you and your people have decided to accept our offer and stay on Earth? I assume you would have needed the technology you left behind in order to relocate somewhere else." Hammond had stepped in to address Senil.

Senil nodded. "We are open to discussing the possibility with your leaders, yes."

Jack felt a sudden stab of sympathy for her and the rest of the Tollan. Their way of life was about to change even more than it already had. This had to be unimaginably humbling for these proud people.

"Senil," Jack stated kindly. "I'm sorry it has come to this."

"Please, don't be sorry for us. You are providing us with the ability to continue our existence. We will be able to join with you now in our fight against our common enemy. I hope that one day, we will defeat the Goa'uld, together, and then the Tollan can begin again."

"We hope that, too," Hammond agreed.

It was late at night before a very tired Colonel O'Neill, along with Teal'C, turned up in the infirmary to get Sam. Janet was still working on the newly arrived aliens, doing routine physicals and checking for possible contagions. Jack found Sam asleep on the couch in Janet's tiny quarters adjacent to her office.

Smiling, he crept up next to her and crouched down. "Sam?" She didn't stir. Her breathing was deep and even; she was fast asleep.

"Major Carter appears to be too tired to be moved," Teal'C observed.

"Well, we'll just stay here I guess. I'm too tired to move too, T," Jack yawned.

Teal'C gestured towards the main room. " I also am quite tired. I will sleep on that one." He pointed at the only unoccupied cot in the infirmary's main room.

Jack studied her for a few minutes before settling onto the floor next to her and nesting his head on one of the sofa pillows. An instant wave of fatigue washed over him as the events of the long day caught up with him. He closed his eyes, planning to rest just until Sam woke up.

Janet found them that way much later. Pulling a few infirmary blankets out of her supply closet, she covered them both up before retiring to her tiny closet-sized bedroom.

Jack's first awareness of returning consciousness was the nagging pain of a muscle spasm in his neck. He sat up, rubbing the sore spot and groaning, unintentionally waking Sam in the process.

"Jack?" Sam's voice asked anxiously.

"Here," he answered, laying a hand on her arm.

"What time is it?"

"Uh, 0700. Wow. I guess we slept here all night. Ouch."

Sam smiled sleepily. She knew just what he needed. They often woke up aching in the field and all of them gave each other massages from time to time. But now there was a new intimacy and ease she felt around Jack in particular that both frightened and excited her. It had happened so gradually over the course of this latest mission that it hadn't occurred to her until this moment how different their relationship had become.

"Come here." She reached out for his shoulders and began massaging his neck. His groans of approval encouraged her to continue.

"Did the evacuation go okay?" She asked as she continued to soothingly rub his taut neck muscles.

"Yeah. They're all safely quartered in the mountain now. Holy Hannah, that feels so good." He rolled his neck to a slightly different angle to encourage her to massage more deeply.

"So, what now? They can't stay here in the mountain forever."

"I don't know. Hammond is negotiating their options with the President. They'll be quartered in the mountain for a while, though."

"Oh." Sam stopped her ministrations, thinking about something but not voicing it.

"Don't stop," Jack protested greedily.

"Oh, sorry." She dug her fingers back into his knotted muscles.

"Whatcha thinking in there?" Jack probed.

"I wish they weren't staying here on the base. I don't want to run into Narim," she confessed honestly.

"Yeah, about that. What happened back on the planet with him and you? Why did he leave you in the council chamber, alone?"

"Our visit together got uncomfortable. He, aah, well, he has feelings for me. Feelings I couldn't return. My response hurt him. He had become upset with me and was bringing me back to you and the guys when we ran into Dad's team in the middle of town. I guess he decided I would be of use to the Tollan as a bargaining chip, so he took me back to the council room and left me."

"Did he hurt you?" Jack's voice was low and angry.

"No."

"But he left you alone, knowing you couldn't see."

"That was why he did it, because he thought I wouldn't attempt an escape."

"But of course you did. He doesn't know you very well." Jack reached up to his shoulders and took hold of Sam's hands, stilling them. "C'mon, then. Let's get T and get out of here."

"I'd love to."


"My Lord, there are no life signs on the planet," the navigator reported haltingly.

"They have escaped?" The irate Goa'uld roared at the hapless man at the console.

"It is the only conclusion, my Lord."

"Where could they have gone?" he thundered.

"Possibly the Tok'Ra have given them refuge," the slave answered, trembling.

Where is this Tok'Ra base located that you have been hiding on?" He demanded of the former Tok'Ra spy. Having been cheated out of the thrill of annihilating the hated Tollan, the Goa'uld was ready to wreck havoc on another likely target.

"I will plot a course to the rebel planet immediately." The attack fleet turned accordingly and re-entered hyperspace, bent on destruction and revenge.


Hammond greeted Colonel O'Neill as he strode into the General's office later that day. He motioned for Jack to sit down.

"The President and the Joint Chiefs have met with Senil by conference phone this morning. The Alpha site is prepared to offer the Tollan a permanent home, in return for their cooperation and technical expertise in the fight against the Goa'uld. Senil has agreed to the terms."

"So the Tollan are now our reluctant allies?" Jack mused.

"Quite a change from their isolationist attitude of a few years ago," Hammond agreed. "But their circumstances have changed in unimaginable ways. The Council has agreed that the Tollan will have to make some big adjustments in order to survive."

A soft knock at the door revealed Narim, politely clearing his throat and looking very uncomfortable.

"Come in, Narim," the General offered.

"Thank you, General Hammond. Actually, I was hoping to have a word with Colonel O'Neill. When you have a moment, Colonel."

Jack looked at Hammond.

"Go on. We're done here for the time being. Dismissed."

Jack nodded grimly and joined Narim out in the hall. The two began silently walking together down the SGC passageway, Jack trying to convince himself to remain civil, Narim trying to find the right words with which to apologize.

"Colonel, I am ashamed of my behavior back on the planet. I don't expect you to excuse me, and I have no justification for my actions. I am sorry."

"I appreciate that, Narim. But I'm having a hard time understanding why you would leave Carter alone in her condition, under any circumstances. I believed you to be a better man than that."

Jack was amazed at how civilly his chastisement had exited his mouth when his hands were knotted into fists at his sides, itching to pop Narim in the jaw.

"You right, Colonel. It was inexcusable. I ask for your forgiveness. And I hope to have the opportunity to apologize to Major Carter as well."

The two walked in tense silence for several minutes.

"Narim, even if I forgive you, I don't think you'll have a chance to give Carter this same speech. She doesn't want to see you."

"Perhaps in time..."

"Don't bet on it."

They had arrived at the VIP room where the Tollan Council was resting. Narim looked miserable, but he said no more. With a courteous nod, he left Jack in the hall and disappeared into the VIP room.

After a moment of staring at the closed door, Jack turned decisively and headed for the surface. The muscles in his jaw were tight with anger. He suddenly wanted to see Sam, for no reason other than just to be near her. A primitive possessiveness had once again taken control of him.


Walter Harriman was dozing off at his post after the nonstop activity of the past few days when he heard the chevrons on the Stargate below him begin to lock one by one. Hitting the alarm, he sent out the familiar call over the loudspeaker heralding an unscheduled off-world activation.

"Who is it?" Hammond questioned over Walter's shoulder moments later.

"It's the Tok'Ra, sir," Walter replied.

"Open the iris."

Within a few seconds, Jacob and several other Tok'Ra had stepped through the open wormhole. Hammond knew right away that something big was going on from their alarmed expressions. He hurried to the Gateroom to greet them.

Their news was very grave. They reported the rapid approach of Goa'uld attack vessels, not entirely unexpected after the loss of Jacob's ship to the Tok'Ra spy. Hammond was now reeling from the realisation that Earth would soon be providing refuge for yet another more advanced race less than twenty-four hours after the arrival of the besieged Tollan. He and Jacob headed to his office to once again call the President.


It hadn't taken long to get Sam and Teal'C situated in Jack's house. Teal'C, it was decided, would sleep on the couch in the living room, a plan which the Jaffa anticipated would allow him to watch movies until the early morning hours. Although he no longer required the meditational discipline of Kel'Nor'Reem, Teal'C found that sleeping more than four or five hours at a time was almost impossible for him. Hence, he had become addicted to late-night television and was a faithful customer at the local DVD rental store.

Jack gave Sam his room so she would have the convenience of the adjoining master bath, and he was now sharing the hall bath with Teal'C and planning to sleep in his own guestroom. If the truth be told, Jack often slept in the spare bedroom anyway, because it was on the back of the house, which was darker, and the noise from the street was almost impossible to discern.

Sam now sat quietly on his bed, waiting while Jack blustered about in his walk-in closet, making sure he had everything he and Teal'C needed so they would not have to disturb her once she retired for the night.

"So, are you sure you know where everything is?" Jack asked her again as he came out of the closet, his arms full of blankets for him and T.

"I'll be fine, Jack. I can see well enough now to find my way around."

Jack laid down the pile of blankets and sat down next to Sam. "How many fingers am I holding up?" He flashed three fingers about a foot in front of her eyes.

"One? Two?" Sam was squinting furiously at the hand that was point-blank in front of her.

"Three." Jack corrected, standing up and putting his hands in his pockets. She closed her eyes in defeat.

"So, are you sure you know where everything is?" He repeated pointedly.

"I'll figure it out, Jack." Sam was definitely recovered enough to reassert her independence. To prove it, she made her way to the bathroom, clutching her towel and PJ's.

"Good night," she dismissed him.

Jack walked as far as the doorway, but as soon as Sam had entered the bathroom and shut the door, he stopped, unsure, feeling like he should be helping her, unwilling to leave her alone. Finally he shook his head, reluctantly made a conscious choice to back off, and went back to sit with Teal'C in the living room.

A few hours after the house had grown quiet, the phone next to the bed in Jack's room woke Sam from her slumber with its persistent peals. Startled at first, she caught herself just before she answered it, as awareness dawned on her as to whose house, and bed, she was in. The door from the hall opened abruptly as the phone rang for a fourth time and Jack stumbled groggily across the bed and its occupant to grab the phone.

"O'Neill," he muttered. Sam sat up, rubbing her shin where he had fallen on her, curiously listening in on the one-sided conversation. She quickly surmised that it was the SGC.

"Can I talk to Jacob?" Jack asked after a long silence, during which he had obviously been listening to a long explanation. Sam couldn't help herself.She inched closer to Jack's side trying to hear her father's voice through the receiver. Jack glanced over and pulled her closer.

"You're right, Jacob, this isn't a huge surprise. Do the Tok'Ra have a safe site picked out? How long before the fleet arrives at the Tok'Ra base? Yeah, I'll bring them both in with me. Sure, Jacob, she's right here."

Jackdrew Sam in closer to his side, more for his own comfort than out of necessity, and placed the phone in her hands.

"Dad? Are you okay? Yes, he's bringing me in with him. I'm looking forward to seeing you, too. Love you too, Dad." She handed the phone back to Jack, who placed it in its cradle. He sighed wearily.

"Here we go again. How soon can you be ready to go?" Jack stood up, rubbing his eyes and hair. Sam pulled her blanket up over her head.

"I'm staying here."

"You are not. Come on, I'll make us some coffee." Jack pulled the blanket away, affectionately ruffled through her hair and nudged her shoulder.

"I'm up," she protested.

Forty minutes later, Sam, Jack and Teal'C were on their way back to the SGC through the still dark streets of Colorado Springs. Jack filled them in as they drove.

"Looks like the Alpha site is going to be very busy for the next few weeks. Hammond is sending several SG teams through to assist the Tollan and the Tok'Ra with the relocation. SG1 has been specifically requested to monitor all access to the Stargate. Nobody wants to take a chance that there might be another spy out there somewhere who could betray the position of the Alpha site."

"Carter," Jack added after a brief pause, "You'll stay at the SGC for now. Hammond needs you there."

Jack didn't elaborate as to why. But Sam knew it was because she was not yet sufficiently recovered. It still hurt and she turned to face the window as she struggled to accept the fact that her team was going without her.

A brief flash of pain behind her eyes only served to remind her of her lingering infirmity and she bit her lip in frustration.

With unerring timing, Jack's hand slipped onto her knee and remained firmly in place as they drove.

He knew, and she loved him for it.


A/N: Those Goa'uld just don't give up! More to come in the next chapter: 'The Alpha Site'. Also to come: Sam misses her team. But most of all Jack of course. Some of you are worried about Narim. Don't worry. This is Sam 'n Jack fantasyland, remember? They are MTBT.