Title- All I Ask of You (maybe changing.. any ideas readers?)

Author- Monica (aka JussCallMeBilly)

Rating- PG-13

Spoilers- Up to Season 7, specifically Jolinar's Memories, Meridian, Changeling, and Solitudes.

Summary-

Genre- Science Fiction, Suspense, Romance (later on)

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

A/N- Thanks again to the few who reviewed (hint,hint). A big thanks to Lorretakay and SG1-fanfic (thanks for reviewing for all my chapters! Your the best!), who both reviewed for Chapter 5... The next few chapters maybe be slow ( I know, I know ALL my chapters are slow) because I know what I want to do like in the long run but details for specific chapters are a little sketchy still. Anyways reviews can only help motivate me... beware I might start adding in cliff hangers ;)

Chapter 6. Answers

" Come on, Sam. It's now or never. Fly or fall." She gently told herself. Yes, one foot over. Come on you're so close, she reminded herself. Second leg over the edge of the bed. Yes, yes keep going. And then came the moment of truth. She slowly stood up, swaying on her feet. Her legs collapsed from underneath her. " Damnit!"

" Ms. Carter, are you alright?" A worried nurse asked as she ran into the room. Sam winced as pain coursed through her veins and ate away at her stomach. One bruised behind coming up.

" I'm fine,"Sam insisted, refusing to take her hand. " I just want to do this myself."

" Honestly, Major Carter, you were very lucky." No response. " You are expected to make a full recovery and scarring will be almost nonexistent." As if she hadn't heard this speech a hundred times the past three days. That was as far back as she remembered in the hospital. She had spent the time in bed hardly able to talk or move, leaving her mind to sift through endless amounts of knowledge, or more appropriately, questions. Oh yeah, lucky her.

" I know," Sam snapped. But quickly regretted it. " Look I'm sorry. It's just-"

" I understand," the nurse sympathized. " You've been through a tough ordeal with the whole..." Carter smiled. This nurse was good.

" Classified." She assured her. " If I could just be alone..." The nurse smiled but looked somewhat deflated. She bid a polite goodbye and left the hospital room. Sam hated this. Her condition had been severe and the air force had her moved to St. Mercy Hospital, where she had been for the past two weeks. Alone. Sam guessed the Pentagon had worried that if any visitors from the base came there could be a security risk (or at least that was what she wanted to believe. She couldn't entertain the possibility of her friends just not wanting to visit her). Damn politicians. Two weeks. It had been two horrific weeks of intense treatment. Her stomach had been stitched up and now was just one huge disgusting cut and bruise. The rest just seemed a lot of precautions. Honestly she didn't remember almost anything from the past two weeks.

Okay, get up now. Using the bed for support, she managed to get to her feet and stay up. Good job, she silently congratulated herself. Now, walking slowly and very unsteadily she managed to cross the room and stood awkwardly in front of a body-length mirror. Here was the next step. Finally being able to look at herself in the mirror. She slowly raised her eyes and gazed at herself. Okay, she had to admit it wasn't as bad as she thought.

Her skin was slightly paler than usual and her face still had a few faded cuts. Her left eye still had a deep blue bruise on it, but did she really expect to be completely healed in a few weeks? Something still didn't feel right. She was wearing a baggy black shirt and pants a size too big, but that was just to avoid aggravation. Suck it up, solider.

" Satisfied?" questioned a voice from behind her. She spun around and saw Dr. Hopkins standing in the doorway with an amused smile. He had spiky brown hair and deep eyes that seemed perfectly chiseled into his sculpted face. A less hot version of Keanu Reeves, maybe? " You're up and walking around, so I guess that's a good sign. How are you feeling?"

" Much better, thanks." Anything to get out of here. " So can I leave yet?"

The doctor chuckled at her eagerness. " It's against my better judgment to release someone so soon-"

NO!

" But the air force has brought to my attention that your infirmary is very capable so I'm letting you out of here."

Oh thank God!

" Just slow down for awhile. Bed rest is essential, and the less stress you have to deal with, the better."

" You've never been in the air force have you, Doctor?" Sam joked.

" Unfortunately, no. You will be on a lot of painkillers which will prevent you from working, driving, and operating heavy machinery. We have plenty of counselors who deal with traumatic stress- as I'm sure the air force does. The stitches can be removed in three weeks, but the bandage should be change every couple of hours until the stitches are taken out. We gave you a tetanus shot for a nasty cut on your arm, but if you have any unusual migraines or vomiting you should be examined for side effects." Sam nodded her head like an idiot, not at all catching everything he was throwing out at her. "Is someone coming to pick you up? Even though your head injury wasn't permanent, we'd prefer that you don't drive for at least two weeks."

Two weeks! Well, it looks like I'll be sleeping on base for awhile.

" I'll call a car," she assured him. With that, he handed her a stack of papers of prescriptions she should get and sent her on her way. " Well that was fun," she murmured to herself, " If only it could get any easier."

oOoOo

The drive to Cheyenne Mountain was just short of a half an hour. The guards were both young men, new to the force, so she didn't have to deal with them trying to force her to go home. The time in the jeep blinked 1900, confirming why it was so dark outside. She had tried staring obliviously out of the window but the headlights were unbearable, racking her head with pain.

" We've reached the mountain, Major." Sam was jostled out of her thoughts, yet too tired to respond. She fumbled her way for the handle and fell outwards clutching to the door. Her legs felt like lead but she refused to let a couple of Sergeants see her go weak in the knees. She breathed in slowly, digging her short nails into her soft palms. She searched blindly within her pockets for her swipe card. She finally grabbed it sending pain shooting through her sore wrists. The road to recovery is a rocky path.

The elevator ticked away as it dropped from floor to floor. Had the elevators always been this bright? Her eyes finally adjusted at the last ding and the doors opened to a hallway significantly darker.

" Damn," she silently cursed as her eyes were once again blinded while trying to adjust. She rubbed her eyes furiously and stepped out of the elevators colliding into something solid. A repressed scream escaped her lips as she fell backwards until two strong hands held her upright. Suddenly she was very glad she worked with people with impossible reflexes, instead of accountants. " I'm sooo sorry-" She started before a familiar voice broke in.

" Carter?" He asked sounding unsure. He hadn't expected her here and knew he was probably imaging it, but he'd worked with her for over five years. He could pick her out anywhere.

The brightness dimmed until a rough outline of a very familiar colonel appeared. " Sir?" She choked out trying to focus even more.

" What are you doing here? Especially this late. I'm leaving, you shouldn't just be coming in- Hey, what's wrong with your eyes?" She immediately stopped touching her eyes and Jack's face came into clear focus. He was staring at her intently, studying her face. It felt as if his eyes were boring into her own. She quickly looked away and tried to think of anything to say. Of all the people to have to crash into... of all the people to catch her while she probably shouldn't be on base... of all the people who stared at her in such a concerned way that her heart wanted to melt...

" Um, sorry for, you know, uhh crashing into you."

" My fault," he quickly covered.

This small conversation was taking the only energy she had left. Everything that had once been so easy for her was now almost impossible for her to do. She let him blindly lead her to a seat, where he instantly switched into Colonel O'Neill mode. " You really should be home, Carter."

" Can't, Sir. I can't drive for a while and I want to be able to debrief tomorrow, so I figured it would be easier to just sleep on base." There that didn't sound totally lame. Oh, who was she kidding even the colonel wouldn't fall for that.

" Of course you did. How are you feeling? General Hammond's been asking the President like crazy about your condition but he keeps getting ignored. Daniel was bugging him so much he got sent off base. Did you see him-" She shook her head- " He said something about trying to sneak into the hospital. Anyways how are you?"

Was Colonel O'Neill rambling?

" Glad to be out the hospital, Sir." She offered a cheeky grin.

" I could take you home if you want?" He offered reminding himself to stop talking so much, she looked like she might pass out already.

" No, I don't want to be a burden-"

" It's no trouble at all."

" I wouldn't be able to get to work tomorrow-"

" I'll come pick you up."

" It's out of your way-"

" No, it's not."

" Yes, it is."

" No."

" It is."

" Na uh."

" Honestly, Sir, what is this the school yard?"

" You're changing the subject."

" No, I'm ignoring the subject because it is ridiculous." She got up and started to leave but he jumped up and blocked her way.

" Carter, talk to me. What's wrong?"

" Sir, I don't think I could make it..." Did she really just admit that to him?

He hadn't expected her to take him up on his offer, but he had expected that even less. The last time she had ever admitted being too tired was when she had been hunted by Anubis' super solider. Even then she hadn't actually said it." Come on I'll walk you to your room then."

" Sir, you were just leaving." She had promised herself she wouldn't be a burden. Short lived promise. Here comes the argument... " Please, Sir."

Again he was thrown off guard with how desperate her plea sounded. Before he realized it he was saying, " You will need an escort to your room-" before she could decline he was shouting to one of the guards. " Roger, over here. Make sure Major Carter gets to her room, okay? The smallest sign of something and you send her to the infirmary, understood? Good." No chances.

" I'm impressed with the amount of trust, Sir." Was that a joke, Carter?

" Carter, when it comes to your health you're lucky I don't escort you myself." Before she could interpret exactly what he meant, he took off back towards the elevator.

Roger straightened and followed her down the corridor towards her "quarters". She had slept in the lab much more frequently than any room of hers. She remained in control even though her legs were begging to buckle underneath her. She finally reached the long hallway that held all the rooms. She would never had minded sharing her room, but being a member of the flagship team ensured her a room all her own.

Luckily the guard opened the door before she had to go through the process of finding her swipe card. " Thank you." She handed him the prescription papers to be brought into the infirmary so they could privately get the medications for her.

The room was about a third of the size as her lab, with only enough room for a bed and a desk. She stumbled her way into bed and fell asleep before even considering to take off her shoes.

oOoOo

She woke up numb. Not a pleasant, morphine drip enhanced numbness. A painful, bone numbing soreness that captured her whole body and threatened to squeeze the very life out of her. She gasped quickly for as many breaths that her lungs would allow. You knew this wouldn't be easy. Teal'c lasted three days sharing his symbiote. Daniel had been exposed to over eight grays of neutron radiation and was able to waltz through Stargate Command. Colonel O'Neill stayed nine days with a fractured skull in an Iraqi prison, and SAVED himself. She could handle a little pain.

She quickly grabbed her clothes from a drawer and pulled them on. She tightened her belt but her pants still sagged unnaturally. He shirt went well below where it should have been, and it felt as if she was accidentally wearing Colonel O'Neill's clothes instead of her own. She ran her fingers through her hair which now felt too long and too thick. She checked her watched, 10 hundred hours. Crap. She would have normally been awake hours ago. She flew (or flew as fast as someone in an unbelievable amount of pain can) to the women's locker room and within minutes had brushed her teeth, washed her face, and applied make-up to cover up her bruising.

By 1015 she was at the infirmary waiting for the doctor to give her her medications. Dr. Argo tried to insist a medical check-up but she babbled out a weak excuse about being late for a debriefing and promising to come back afterwards. He seemed satisfied and handed her five bottles of pills. As soon as she left, she hungrily jerked off a cap and poured a couple of pills into her palm and shoved them into her mouth. She didn't care about overdose or side effects and all the crap. She wanted the pain to stop. Now.

oOoOo

" Major Carter, it is a pleasure to see you again. How are you feeling?"

" Good morning, General. I'm feeling fine," she lied straight through her teeth. General Hammond smiled. Okay, apparently he'd bought it. She could lie with the best of 'em, even before she was in the military. Random facts could pop into her head easy to create an excuse or alibi, and she had always been able to pull off a look of pure innocence. She wasn't proud of it, but growing up Mark got things pinned on him a lot more than he should have. Plus she had plenty of practice, every person she ran into on her way from the infirmary to the briefing room, had asked her the same exact question.

" Sam!" A death-grasp attached itself around her midriff.

" Daniel! Hi," she hugged him but slowly detached herself. She was still an air force major, and hugging was still a big no-no in the air force.

" God, it's so good to see you. We'll catch up later?" She nodded and he returned to his seat.

" I was pleased to hear that you wanted to debrief so quickly, Major. We've got a copy of the report you wrote before visiting the planet. As well as a full detailed account on everything Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c, and Doctor Jackson remember about the mission." General Hammond slid the folder down the table. " If you'd like to leaf through it and collaborate what you remember..."

Sam opened the folder and examined the contents on the first page. It looked like another language. Had she really written this? She examined it closer. She had no clue what half these words even meant!

" Is something wrong, Major?" She glanced up at Colonel O'Neill and realized a frown had appeared on her face.

" F-fine," she stuttered. " Just out of curiosity, when exactly did I write this?"

" Uhh, maybe a couple days before we went there?" Daniel answered looking around for confirmation. " Just after the MALP sent back images."

" Oh." This doesn't make any sense. " I'm sorry, I can't do this."

" Carter?"

" Maybe later." She grabbed her folder and started to leave. Colonel O'Neill jumped to his feet and gently grabbed her arm, to stop her from leaving.

" Major Carter, what is going on?" General Hammond asked, clearly confused.

" I'm sorry, Sir- Sirs. I've got to go. I I can't debrief yet."

" If something happened that you're not comfortable discussing you can see a counselor."

Sam looked at the General like he had two heads. " What? No. I need to look into something, please." She started to leave again but Colonel O'Neill pulled her back.

" Carter, what the hell is going on?"

" Colonel, let her go." The Colonel gave General Hammond a questioning look, but let her go. She quickly hurried down the stairs and out of sight.

" What the hell was that?" Jack re-asked.

" Jack, who knows what she's been through. She needs time to recover." Daniel stated in his annoyingly logical way. " General, permission to-"

" Granted." Daniel practically ran out of the room only moments before the General dismissed himself. Jack gave Teal'c an incredulous look. Teal'c returned the stare

oOoOo

Sam slumped down in her chair, flipping through the files. " Why doesn't any of this look familiar?" she growled to herself. She shoved the files off her desk and grabbed a different bottle of pills. She grabbed two and swallowed them. There was a soft knock on the door. " No, not now!" Sam whined while the knocks continued.

" Sam, come on, Sam. It's me, Daniel. Open up, Sam." She sighed and stuffed the bottles of pills underneath her mattress. When she was positive they were all out of sight she slowly opened the door. " Can I come in?" She nodded and moved to the side. Daniel stood uncomfortably in the center of the room, so she sat on her bed. They said nothing for a long time. Daniel finally took a seat at the desk. He had wanted to say so much, but had a feeling even if he did talk she wouldn't listen.

" Have you always wanted to do this, Daniel?"

Daniel looked up, surprised. " Do what?"

" This. Explore other planets. Be an archaeologist."

" Explore other planets? What kid didn't want to? I started wanting to be an archaeologist is the eighth grade. We were studying ancient Egypt, and the pyramids and ruins fascinated me. After that, it became an obsession." He laughed softly at the memory.

" I wanted to be a ballerina," Sam spoke softly.

" A ballerina? You?" Daniel laughed louder. Sam through her pillow at him to shut up but was laughing too.

" I took ballet for eight years! It isn't so unbelievable." Daniel, however was still laughing. " Oh shut up, Daniel."

Daniel finally calmed down. " What made you want to be a ballerina?"

" Okay, this is going to sound really dumb. When I was eight my mother took me to see The Nut Cracker. It had been the best day of my life. I was absolutely in love with it. I practiced constantly, took a ton of classes. I always thought being a ballerina would be the greatest thing in the world. You'd get to dance and make people happy. All the time. I saw my dad after the military and what it did to him. I swore I'd never do that. Never kill anyone..." her voice died out.

" What changed your mind?"

" When my mom died." Daniel's face fell as he realized he had approached an emotional topic. " No, it's okay. Anyways, after she was gone I quit dancing and then I don't know. Air force just seemed the way to go."

" How very Save the Last Dance-ish of you." Now was Sam's turn to crack up. " Teal'c likes it. I swear!" he tried to cover. Daniel turned a deeper shade of pink as Sam almost fell off the bed in her fit of laughter.

" So are you going to ask me?" Daniel looked at her completely clueless. " About what happened. I know that's what you're here about. General Hammond wants you to get me to tell you what I remember. So go ahead ask away. I'll answer all your questions."

Daniel looked about ready to argue, but instead asked, " How'd you find the forcefield?"

Sam bit her lip but answered. " I heard something. I'm not sure what but something."

" Voices?"

" No. Daniel, I'm not crazy. It was more like a sound. It's hard to explain. I followed the sound. I know I should have said something to you or the Colonel but I was sure I was just hearing things. Anyways I had been walking and then suddenly I was..."

" Where? Where were you?"

Daniel was now leaning close, hanging on Sam's every word. She jumped up and started to pace the room.

" I don't know! It was like I had been transported to another world. Only I didn't get a feeling like I usually do when I'm using the stargate or rings. There were people. Tons of them. They were all wearing-"

" Grey?"

" Yes!"

" Jack said the same thing."

" He found the civilization?"

" He was the one who found you."

Carter closed her eyes. She couldn't imagine if it had been the other way around and she had found him.

" Was, was I dead?"

" You were pretty close. Do you remember anything, Sam? Anything at all?"

Sam shook her head. " That's it. I remember being there and seeing people and then- nothing."

" Concentrate on the sound. Do you think something was calling you? Like luring you to them for some reason."

" How do we know it wasn't the villagers who attacked me?"

" When Jack found you he said it looked as if a massacre had happened. We're guessing they were attacked with you."

" Were any of them? Did any of them...live?"

" I'm sorry, Sam." Sam sat back on the bed. " I know it's a lot to take in. Remember we've had over two weeks to deal with all of this."

" I want to go back."

" What?"

" Back. I'm going back."

TBC...