Chapter Eight:


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy


Jack O'Neill sighed contentedly. It had been a beautiful afternoon, the puddle jumper had skimmed across the water, and the sight of Atlantis from afar was breathtaking. He had no doubts now that these people were taking care of themselves. The Athosians had been nice, caring and generous. It had been a perfect afternoon.

But now, as he wondered through the corridors, on his way to visit his 2iC, he felt a slight tug of worry. John had told him when he arrived back about the 'Wraith' on their way to destroy Atlantis, and about how Sam worked constantly while he was gone. How was he going to tell her he had thoughts of staying for the fight?

Arriving at the closed door, he knocked twice, waiting. When no one opened the door, he frowned, using the keypad on the side. The door slid open, and Jack frowned at the darkness. Hoping Sam had just fallen asleep, he took a step in, as the lights flickered on automatically. He gasped at what he saw. Samantha Carter was unconscious, lying precariously along the floor. She had obviously been getting ready to sleep, dressed only in shorts and a tank top.

Jack pulled his earpiece out of his pocket. Pressing the small speaker button on it, he spoke.

"We need help here! Carter's unconscious in her quarters!" He yelled, flipping her over and carefully taking her pulse. It was weak and thready.

Jack sighed.

"Carter, what's happened to you?" He whispered, brushing her hair out of her face.

A minute later, the doctor ran in with several people trailing behind, taking her pulse again, Beckett placed a mask over her face and before Jack could react, they had placed her on a gurney and wheeled her away. Jack cursed, following them until they made it to the infirmary, the doors swinging as Jack was stopped going through by Elizabeth and the others.

"What happened?" She asked, on her toes as she looked through the window.

Jack sighed.

"I dunno. I walked in her quarters to say hi, and there she was. All unconscious."

John shook his head.

"What could have happened?"

Kate looked through the window. Rodney shuffled.

"I saw her a little while ago…" Kate suddenly turned around, eyes narrowing. Rodney laughed nervously.

"Yeah…. I kissed her…." Kate turned and walked away. Stormed would be a better word. McKay looked at her in dismay, turning back to Elizabeth.

"Then I left and she was fine! I mean, she was swaying slightly, I assumed she was tired!" Giving a look of pure desperation, he turned and ran after Kate.

"Kate I love you!" He yelled, "I realised that today!"

As he disappeared around the corner, John drew Elizabeth into a hug.

"I told him not to mess with love." He whispered into her hair. Jack turned back to the window. Jumping back, the doors swung open, and Carson Beckett looked over each of them, a tired look on his face.

"Wrongs wrong with her Carson?" Elizabeth asked, breaking apart from John.

Carson sighed.

"It looked like a seizure," Jack stiffened, "I can't defiantly say the cause, but I would lean toward the machine that got them here, they ripped open a tear in reality to cross such a vast expanse of space in the time it took. I would say the effects are still hitting them."

Elizabeth looked in sympathy.

"Are there any other effects you can see happening to them?" She asked, turning her head to Carson.

Beckett shrugged.

"Someone is just going to have to keep an eye on them. I suppose the Colonel's constant working and lack of sleep and food would be a major contributing factor into her current state of unconsciousness. Just don't work to hard, and I'm sure their effects will be lessened. Anyway, I gave the Colonel a few drugs that should have her waking up soon."

They all watched as Carson walked away.

"Is it me," piped up Ford, "Or have we all been here way to many times this past week?"

John chuckled.

Teyla looked through the window.

"Should we not be organizing for the impending Wraith attack?" She asked, as they all watched Jack slide to the floor. Elizabeth nodded.

"I sent Sergeant Bates team, and a few others out to search for a working ZPM…they should be reporting back in a few hours. I want Rodney-" Elizabeth looked at him, his eyes fixed firmly on Kate, "Er…Zelenka…translating some of the Ancient database…we need an advantage people…"

Jack looked up from the floor.

"And you have one." He whispered. Everyone stopped to look at him. "And it's us. Sam and me. We can be your advantage."

Elizabeth looked at him in doubt.

"Sam doesn't really look up to it, don't you think? And really, neither are you…"

Jack looked through the window, and grinned, indicating the others should do the same. They crowded around and looked, find Sam very well awake and attempting to stand.

"She's a fighter." He whispered, "And so am I."

Elizabeth held out her hand.

"Welcome to the fight."

John couldn't help but grin.


Rodney sighed. It had been a while since they had found out Sam was in the infirmary. It was now the moment; he had decided to be a man. A brave, heroic man. He had to talk to Kate. Knocking gently on the door to the Quarters they once shared, Rodney took a deep breath, watching them slide open.

Kate looked at him, before turning around and letting the doors slide shut again. Taking another deep breath, Rodney knocked again. No one answered. Typing his key into the keypad beside the door, it opened. Kate was lying on the bed. She glared at him.

"What do you want?" She hissed.

Rodney took a deep breath.

"I love you," He cried out, falling to his knees as she watched, an unreadable expression plastered on her face.

She opened her mouth.

"What about Sam Carter?" She asked coldly. Rodney looked at his knees.

"I was foolish. I was a stupid git. And I hate myself for hurting you. And right now, all I want to do is crawl up in a little ball and cry. But I need you to know the truth. I need you to know I'm an idiot and I made a mistake. And not the first one mind you – but you make me feel like a want to be a better man. A better person to be with you. I just needed you to know that. I love you Kate."

Tears running from his eyes, he climbed to his feet and shuffled from the room. Half way down the corridor, something ran into him. Jumping slightly, he staggered, only to realize it was Kate. She turned him around and kissed him, burying her head under his chin.

"I love you!" She cried out, "Just don't do that ever again!"

Rodney grinned a watery smile.

"I'll never do that again." He laughed, he bent down on one knee, "Kate, I love you-" she covered her mouth "-and I want to make all my future mistakes with you. I want to be with you for the rest of my sarcastic days. Will you marry me?"

Kate laughed aloud.

"YES RODNEY! YES!"


Elizabeth watched the Stargate, a slight frown on her features. It had been four days since Jack and Sam had miraculously appeared in the middle of the gate room, and they were no closer to finding a solution to send them back, or to fend off the impending Wraith attack.

Hearing muffled footsteps, she watched a certain blonde haired person step up beside her.

"Aren't you meant to be in the infirmary colonel?" She asked, smiling. Sam shook her head.

"Beckett let me out early with some pretty dopey pills on a count I was driving him mad."

Elizabeth grinned.

"So, what are you thinking about?" Sam asked, leaning forward to look into Elizabeth's eyes.

The mood suddenly turned serious.

"I'm afraid many people will die." She said glumly. Sam nodded.

"Sometimes it's unavoidable. You should just take solace in knowing it was their choice. It wasn't taken from them. They always knew there was a possibility."

Elizabeth shook her head.

"They might have had a choice, but their lives will still be taken against their will. No one wants to die."

Sam smiled knowingly.

"Is this about people losing their lives, or is this about John Sheppard fighting on the front line?"

Elizabeth nodded slightly.

"I'm afraid he'll be taken away from me." She whispered.

Sam patted her back.

"I used to worry something like that would happen to me for a long time."

"What changed?"

"Nothing. I just learnt to keep it under chain and key. There's nothing I can do."

Elizabeth looked at her for several minutes.

"A wise decision."

The Stargate suddenly activated. Jumping slightly, Elizabeth and Sam both turned to the control technicians.

"Who is it?" Elizabeth asked, slipping into her commanding role as she walked to the counter.

Zelenka looked up.

"We have received Sergeant Bates signal…but nothing is coming though."

Suddenly the radio piped up. Sam leaned down to listen.

"(STATIC)…We're coming in hot! The Wraith have infested…planet…(Gunfire)…medical team…needed…" There was a loud scream, "HELP! OH GOD! A DART!" There was another, echoing scream, before the radio went dead. A minute later, the Stargate disengaged, leaving everyone in shock.


"Okay," Elizabeth said somberly. "About half an hour ago, Sergeant Bates team radioed in. They were under attack on the planet we designated M65-644; we thought it was empty, with temples that refer to a hidden ZPM. Well, we lost contact with them. We have been unable to raise them on their radio's, and the M.A.L.P was destroyed by Wraith guards."

The people packed into the briefing room shuffled and shifted.

"We have assumed the team was taken by the Wraith, possibly so they can extract information on Atlantis."

Rodney, sitting in the chair next to Kate's, looked questioningly toward Elizabeth and John, who sat at the head, beside Jack and Sam.

"What are we going to do?"

John spoke up.

"We need to take care of this. A team is going to be formed, a special team, who are going to the Wraith, to if, possible, rescue Bates team. Or…or we are going to have to make sure his team can't be tortured for information."

Rodney frowned.

"And we do that how?"

Taking a deep breath, John gave Elizabeth a long look.

"We might have to kill them."

Nearly everyone in the room looked shocked.

"What?" Ford stuttered, "As much as I don't like Bates, kill him?"

Jack gave a look that clearly brokered no argument.

"We have to do what's necessary to make sure Atlantis secrets will not fall into the Wraith hands."

Ford nodded mutely.

"So," Elizabeth said, once more in charge, "This is a mission I don't want anyone to undertake lightly. You all have a choice here. I want people to volunteer."

Slowly, several people raised their hands, including Teyla, John, Rodney, Sam, Jack, Ford and a few others.

Elizabeth looked at Jack and Sam questioningly.

"I don't know if I can allow you two to go…"

Sam narrowed her eyes.

"I'm fine. It's not like I'll be in danger from over working. Being captured maybe, over work, no."

Elizabeth relented.

"Fine. Just make sure your not working too hard."


It was then, several hours later, that the team, all fitted out in guns, vests and black BDU's, slowly walked through the gate, one by one.

John turned back the window before entering the horizon, blowing a kiss toward Elizabeth before walking backwards, through the Gate, and too the mission they all dreaded undertaking.

Ttfn!