Title- All I Ask of You

Author- Monica (aka JussCallMeBilly)

Rating- PG-13

Spoilers- Up to Season 7, specifically "Need" from Season 2

Summary-

Genre- Science Fiction, Some Romance?

Disclaimer- All these fabulous characters belong to the wonderful people of MGM. Only this storyline is mine.

A/N- Well we got hit with A LOT of snow. We went on state of emergency so school was canceled! Finally have the newest installment... can you believe it's been two months!! Anyways to all you faithful shippers out there, there may be a small hint of shipperness. It wasn't meant to be there but let you imagination run wild.

Chapter 5. Golden Glory

" So what exactly are we planning to do?" After the radio contact, Jack had headed straight out of the control room, with Daniel at his heels. Daniel soon realized they were headed into the armory. Jack sifted through some boxes. He tossed Daniel a zat before answering him.

" Don't have one."

" So we're going into a possible hostile territory, without a plan? Okay. Excuse me if this sounds stupid, but why?" Daniel's response was the familiar "click" of amunition being loaded into a gun. " C'mon Jack, can we at least talk about this?"

Jack was already out of the armory with Daniel struggling to catch up. " Talk? Daniel, you want to talk? Okay, I'll talk. Carter is lying brain dead in the infirmary. We just found a way to help her. So no, Daniel, I don't at this exact moment have a plan."

" Jack, we all know the effects of a sarcophagus-"

" Over a long period of time. Yes, I vaguely seem to remember almost working to death while you were sleeping in one."

Daniel let out an exasperated breath and stepped in front of Jack, finally stopping him. " Look, I'm not saying we shouldn't help her- God no. I'm saying we need to think about this. I don't want to get my hopes up if... Jack, I can not go through this again."

Jack stared at him blankly. " This isn't about you, Daniel." He finally said, shoving past him, entering the control room.

" It's not about you either, Jack!" Daniel called after him.

Teal'c was already in the gate room, standing next to Major Carter's stretcher. The stargate was already connected. The nurses had quickly given her a pair of green pants under her hospital gown. Two nurses were making last minute adjustments to get her ready to travel.

" T, are we ready to go?" Colonel O'Neill asked, tossing Teal'c a staff weapon.

" Colonel, you know I can't force any of you to go on this mission without being debriefed-"

" Understood, General." O'Neill glanced back at Daniel, who was still hovering in the doorway. " Teal'c, move out."

Daniel sighed. He just had one of those feelings. And over the years he had learned to trust his instincts. The fact that he lost Sam was already tearing him up inside. But now a small light of hope was dangling in front of them. Jack and Teal'c were clutching desperately to that small string. What if nothing happened and they lost Sam for good? He didn't think he could handle that. No, he would just stay here, without hope. There was no way he would-

" Jack, wait up!"

She was still running. It didn't seem that she would ever tire. ' Keep going, keep going' she thought over and over again. The sky and ground merged into one. She was driving herself crazy trying to figure it out. Everything had an explanation, a mathematical or scientifical one. She was defying the laws of physics, let alone the laws of gravity. Her feet flipped into the air as she landed flat on her back. The running had become so automatic that she had forgotten to pay attention to it. Surprisingly, she was in no pain. If this was real life she was positive her spine would have snapped in two. She was suddenly being dragged by her ankles. The force was burning what she presumed was her skin. Her speed was catching up as her background changed from color to color. Her slope dropped dramatically. She wouldn't give up yet. ' Keep going, keep going.' She struggled against whatever was dragging her along, but she couldn't break free. ' Keep going, keep going.'

O'Neill and Teal'c were hurled through the gate. Since they were both holding onto the gurney they weren't knocked off their feet. Daniel, however, did a face plant into the ground.

" I'd just like to point out that that is the second time the gate has attacked me!" Daniel yelled while picking up his glasses.

" Good to see you SG1," Major Richards greeted them.

" I do not see the sarcophagus." Teal'c stated, scanning the area.

" There's a house about half a mile away. That's where it is." The explanation seemed reasonable enough to Teal'c.

" Captain, SG1 has arrived. Stand by," Richards directed into his walkie talkie. " Springfield, Anna; you two guard the stargate. This statement was directed to the two women. Springfield saluted Major Richards as they headed towards the cavern.

" It's just ahead," Major Richards confirmed.

" Woah," Daniel breathed as the cavern appeared. " It looks like-"

" Early America, yes Anna has talked my ear off about this already." Richards groaned at the memory. Daniel couldn't help but compare him to Jack. Captain Tyler led Daniel around the house so he could take it all in. As always, Daniel was amazed with the architecture.

" It is upstairs to the right," Major Richards explain.

" Did your team secure the area?" O'Neill double checked.

" Once we found the sarcophagus I went straight to the gate. Captain Tyler volunteered to stay behind. I'll stay down here and finish checking the rest of the rooms."

" Okay, Teal'c, let's go." Teal'c disconnected Samantha from the travel-sized machines, identical to the way the nurses had shown him before. Jack cautiously made his way up the stairs, Teal'c following behind him (with surprising agility despite his size). Jack checked the first room to the right, which was completely bare.

" In here, O'Neill," called Teal'c. Sure enough in the center of the next room was a large sarcophagus, in all it's golden glory.

" One of these things is not like the other," O'Neill sang to himself as he couldn't stop thinking how out of place it looked.

" Push that button, O'Neill," Teal'c instructed while acknowledging it with his head.

Jack squatted down and placed his hand on a black jewel. The jewel pushed in with incredible ease. The top of the sarcophagus slid open, releasing some steam. Teal'c gently placed Carter inside and watched it close.

" What now?"

" Now we wait." Colonel O'Neill sighed and sat down on some crates that were stacked in the corner.

The invisible grasp jerked again and pulled her upwards. Or at least what she'd have to guess would be upwards. Without a point of reference she had no clue what direction she was facing. But whatever it was, it continued to drag her "up." She was pretty sure she was dangling upside down. The colors disappeared. Everything was gone. No colors, no shapes, noises, light patterns, anything! She couldn't even describe it. There was just empty space.

A hand was reaching down from apparently no where. She was drawing closer to the hand. Somehow she knew is she only reached out and touched it, that everything would be okay. No more pain, no more confusion, everything would workout for the better. She slowly extended her arm. The hand was only a few feet away, inches, centimeters...

" The stargate is engaging!" Springfield looked around, no decent spot to take cover. " Come on, behind the gate," she yelled, dragging Anna to a safe area. There was a loud 'swoosh' and the stargate connected.

Anna held her breath as she expected to hear the clanking of jaffa armor. When no footsteps were heard after a few moments, they abandoned their cover to check it out. " I don't hear anyone, did you?" Anna asked. Marie shook her head. " Then why would someone dial the stargate?"

" To make sure we don't leave."

" Colonel, there is a problem with the stargate," Major Richards said running into the room.

" What's going on, Major?" Colonel O'Neill asked getting to his feet.

" It looks like someone is tying up our gate to make sure we don't leave." Richards explained. " I sent Captain Tyler and Doctor Jackson back to the stargate in case we need backup."

" Good-" There was a loud crash as the whole cabin shook. " What the hell was that?" Teal'c and O'Neill ran towards the window. " There are three goa'uld fighter planes out there," he murmured.

" What should we do?"

" Um, uh, Carter can't be moved yet. You guys go. We have to hold these guys off for thirty-eight minutes."

" Are you sure, O'Neill?"

The cabin shook again, this time more violently. " Just buy as much time as you can," Jack said regaining his footings. Major Richards and Teal'c rushed out. " C'mon, Carter. C'mon."

" Get down!" Daniel yelled as he pulled Captain Tyler to the ground.

" Who are these guys?!" Tyler shouted as the space craft flew over top of them.

" I'm not sure," he shouted back as they jumped up and started to run. Again they had to dive out of the way of another blast.

Tyler rolled onto his back and fired back at the ship. It swerved as he dented a wing, but it quickly recovered. " How much longer can they hold the gate?" Tyler challenged while reloading his gun.

" Half an hour I'd have to guess."

" Okay, so we have to take on three death gliders for another thirty minutes." He said firing off another round of shots. " No sweat."

" Sir, we can't hold the gate much longer!"... " They keep locking in on our position"...CRASH... " Doctor Jackson, Doctor Jackson!"... " I'm okay"... " Major, Anna thinks that the opposite stargate may be on one of the gliders"... " That's not possible. A stargate requires more space"... " Sir, jaffa have appeared through the gate! We killed as many as possible but ten maybe twelve escaped."... " It's worth a shot. Teal'c, Glider 1 is coming up on your position. 3, 2, 1..."... " Nice shot, Teal'c!"... " This is Captain Tyler, Glider 2 is down"... " It appears Glider 3 has landed to prevent destruction"... " Sir, the stargate has disconnected!"... " Dial up the gate, Anna! Colonel, you need to get Major Carter and get to the stargate!"... " Negative. I repeat, that's a negative. She's not ready yet-"... " Jack, we can't hold them off anymore. We gotta go!"... " Carter's been in for like ten minutes!"... " She'll be okay. Everything that isn't completely healed she can get fixed up at the infirmary. You might need that time to get to the gate"... " We'll meet you at the gate as fast as I can. O'Neill out."

Jack pocketed his radio and walked over to the sarcophagus. " Okay, Carter, here goes nothing."

Three centimeters, two centimeters- the hand jumped out of reach. The comforting warmth of its presence was gone. Suddenly she was falling. Faster, faster, faster. Since when did she need to breathe again? It felt as if someone was squeezing her lungs. Her throat was burning. And then, WHAM, she was bombarded with pain.

The top of the sarcophagus slid open. Sam tried to take a deep breath but began to choke and gag instead. " Welcome to the land of the living!" She attempted to sit up but again failed miserably. " Hey, easy Carter," Jack warned, picking her up and positioning her in front of the sarcophagus, so she could lean against it.

" Ta, ta," she started but couldn't finish.

Jack grabbed his canteen and uncapped it for her. She eagerly took it and drank it.

" Woah, slow down."

The water didn't stay down very long. Soon she was coughing again and spit it all up. " Sorry," she replied weakly; very weakly.

" Forget about it," he said dismissively. He rubbed her back gently as she tried to stop coughing. " What happened?" Sam managed between coughs.

" I don't really have time to explain. Short version, this planet is under attack and we need to get home right now."

" Daniel, Teal'c?" The coughing finally subsided.

" At the gate waiting." He helped her to her feet. " How do you feel?"

A blast from a staff weapon came shooting through the window, only missing Carter because Jack yanked her out of the way. He heard her wince softly. He had tried to cushion her fall as much as possible, but he knew it still hurt her a lot.

" Sir, what are you wearing?" Her question caught him off guard. He looked down and saw her staring at his white tee-shirt.

" Long story." He responded quickly, once again helping her to her feet. He knew she would be driving herself insane trying to figure everything out, but there wasn't any time. She followed him out of the room and hesitantly down the stairs. They made it about half way down the stairs before a step caved in. Sam managed to grab his arm and prevent from falling. She stared at him afraid she pulled his arm out of it's socket, but to her surprise he was laughing. " You screamed," he mocked with a broad smile.

" Are you making fun of me?" She asked in disbelief.

" Always, Major." He handed her a zat and they exited the cavern. They went along as fast as he dared to move. He knew she wouldn't complain no matter how much pain she was in.

Very few jaffa remained. They'd only run into one so far, but they'd managed to dive out of the way, unharmed. Jack noticed her pace increasingly slowing down. " Carter, we need to pick up the pace," he called over his shoulder.

" Sorry, Sir," she quickly apologized and caught up to him. He glance over and saw her face contorted in pain. The minute she felt his gaze she'd instantly transform back into an emotionless air force officer.

" Carter, do you need a rest?"

" No, Sir," she answered hastily.

He could hear the pain in her voice. He grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. " What hurts?"

" I'm fine, Sir," she assured him but wouldn't look him in the eye. Every time she didn't want him to know something was wrong, she hid behind the word 'sir'. He was about to lay off when he realized blood staining her gown. She must have realized it too because she clutched her side and turned away very fast.

" Carter!" He accused, while reaching for her hand. She tried to pull away but he was took quick. Her hand was dyed with blood. " How long has it been like this?" He questioned, lowering into a sitting position. She followed suit.

" When we dove out of the way before I must have bumped it or something." She said trying to blow it off.

" Why didn't you say anything?!" Suddenly he felt very guilty about barking at her to hurry up.

" Would you have, Sir?" He decided to drop it. They both knew he wouldn't have said anything either. They sat in silence for a few moments.

" You want anymore?" He tilted the water bottle towards her. She shook her head, not trusting how her voice might sound. Secretly, she was dying of thirst,but she didn't think she could even hold it anymore. She was getting so tired. " No, normally means yes with you," he commented, softly. Please stop, she silently begged him. She couldn't keep refusing for much longer. He knew they should keep walking or her wound would get progressively worse. " Can I?" He indicated to her stomach. She looked uneasy but he couldn't ignore the pain radiating off her. " Lay down," he ordered.

" Colonel, please," She begged him, but he pushed her shoulder lightly so she was lying on her back. He lifted her gown up just far enough to see the whole wound. Her whole abdomen was deeply bruised. The left side looked completely ripped open. Her whole body tensed.

" Carter..." He didn't know what else to say.

" It looks a lot worse than it is," she tried to defend herself. She struggled to sit up.

" Do you want me to...?"

" No, I'll get it bandaged back on Earth. How long?"

He looked at her confused but then guessed what she meant. " In the sarcophagus?" She nodded. " Ten, maybe fifteen minutes. We tried to keep you in there as long as possible, but then these guys-" He waved his hand up indicating the dead jaffa- " showed up." She nodded again in understanding.

" I'm surprised it worked at all," she stated, even quieter than before. It was getting harder and harder for her to even speak. Jack almost laughed at what she said, it didn't look like it worked to him. She was getting worse by the minute. Jack finally stood up and got ready to start moving. Sam hoisted herself to her feet, but instantly leaned over and began vomiting blood.

" Geez, Carter," Jack yelped, jumping back in surprise.

" Oh God, I'm so sorry," she apologized again trying to straighten out.

" Why the hell do you keep apologizing, Carter? You're the one in pain! Hey, c'mere," he said softening, and helping her turn to face him. He grabbed his canteen and helped her pour it in her mouth; this time holding the back of her head so she couldn't spit it back up.

" Thanks," she replied in a tiny whisper. He wrapped his arm around her waist; slowing down the blood loss and giving her extra support. They soon continued walking, somewhat awkwardly.

Before they even saw the stargate they heard Daniel. " SAM!" He cried running up to them. " Oh my God, I didn't think I'd ever..."

" I know, I know," She said giving her a strange one armed hug. Jack shifted so that Sam was now completely leaning against Daniel, and grabbed his gun, covering their six. SG16 had already gone through. Jack nodded towards Teal'c and he stepped through also.

" Ready to go home, Carter?" Jack asked dropping his gun.

" Yeah," she whispered practically asleep. And with that the three of the headed towards the gate. Back to Earth. Home.

TBC...

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A/N More soon!! btw misstweedledee that was so sweet!! Thank you!