Chapter Eighteen:


Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain


It had been several more days. McKay knew as time went on, the chances of being able to return to Atlantis was diminishing, obstacles were throwing themselves out, stopping them from getting back, one after another, as the group of them in the SGC fought to return.

With all major leaders here on Earth, Rodney wondered if, on Atlantis, who was in charge, and if they somehow managed to return, would everything shift back to how it was.

Looking past a heavily working Kate, past the papers scattered on the table, past his empty coffee cup, lying on it's side, as his eyes glazed over and he pondered about the incoming Wraith attack on Atlantis. It was the end of the month. They were running out of time. If they didn't get back soon, the Wraith would attack Atlantis while it was disorganized.

"We'll make it on time." Kate's soft voice cut through his thoughts. He looked at her worried face, taking her hand in his.

"Of course we will." He whispered, not believing it himself, "Of course we will."


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy


Zelenka rubbed his temples. He was sitting at the control panel, watching two men he hated the most prance around, directing orders. Kavanagh and Bates.

"Zelenka!" Came Bates still voice. The scientist looked up tiredly. "Stop slacking off!"

Feeling anger rush up inside him, Zelenka stood to his feet.

"No! I've been working four days without sleep! You can't force me to make this…nuclear bomb sloppily!"

Bates, drawing himself up, stalked over.

"You're questioning my judgment?" He yelled, hand-gripping Zelenka by the front of the shirt.

"I'm not the only one." Zelenka replied coldly.

Bates smirked, letting go and turning around to the small crowd that had gathered.

"Who here wants me and my friend Kavanagh to step down as commanders?" He asked. No one raised their hands.

"Who wants me to take over the most-likely-dead leaders jobs and keep this place, and all you around me, alive!"

No one raised their hands.

Bates raised his eyebrows.

Feeling furious, Zelenka stepped forward.

"Who wants out leaders to return to us?"

Everyone raised their hands.

Bates, his face set in quiet steaming fury, opened his mouth to speak.

"Well you know what? No one is coming back. They VANISHED. VANISHED. Like when the Earth people came here! But you know what? I don't even think they were real! I think they were fake! But our great leaders didn't believe my concerns and let them evolve into our community! And look at them now! They're all gone! Everyone! All of our leaders! I don't think it's a coincidence."

"Our military leader and the Earth ones are most likely stuck on the wraith inhabited planet, being tortured for information!" Said a voice from the middle of the crowd indignantly.

Bates grinned.

"So they are…" He said cheerfully, walking away. "So they are…"

And the crowd watched him go silently.


Stargate Command, Cheyenne Mountain

Sam grinned, picking up her cane and slowly walking to the men watching her.

"Looking good!" Daniel said appreciatively, looking at her cane, as she hopped along, her wheel chair folded away in the corner of her lab, almost forgotten.

Jack grinned one of his million-dollar grins.

"Definitely Carter! Looking really good!" Sam blushed. Teal'c offered his arm, which she shook.

"It is indeed good to see you well Colonel Carter." He said, a smile on his face for the first time in weeks.

"Looks like the rehab worked well." Daniel said, grinning as he pulled her into a bone-breaking hug.

Sam was grinning ear to ear.

"Well kiddies," Jack said, interrupting, his own face lighting up, "I have a conference with the joint chiefs about this situation…" He drifted off. "I might see you guys later eh?"

Daniel nodded, as Jack stepped forward and took Sam into a gentle hug.

"Great to see you up and around." He whispered into her ear, winking before walking away. Teal'c nodded before following to see Jack off.

"So," Daniel said clapping his hands together. "How are you going with the machine repair?"

Sam nodded and led the way to her workbench, pointing at the dismantled parts.

"I don't know if it's going to work. I've done the best I can to repair it…its technology I have really no experience with. So, I'll put it together this afternoon, and hopefully when General O'Neill returns, he can test it."

Daniel smiled.

"I believe in you Sam." He whispered, taking her once again, into a hug, before winking and walking from the room.

Sam sighed contentedly, sitting back down. She grinned inwardly. Things were beginning to lookup!

Pulling the parts toward her, she began to put the machine back together.


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy

Zelenka once again looked at the base of the bomb sitting in front of him. It was a doomsday device, made in hope of being able to destroy the Wraith shields. Zelenka didn't think it would work, he had seen Wraith ships before, their bombs seemed to explode off the shields like water off a windscreen.

In the background, alarms began to ring.

"The Wraith!" Zelenka called out in shock as Bates ran through the door, "They're here!"

Panicked talking quickly filled the corridors of Atlantis.


Earth

Jack looked around. The plane was empty. It was a private plane, Jack knew, but being alone was slightly depressing. He hadn't realised it was well past midnight, the night was twinkling with bright yellow stars, the houses on the ground below him were like small multicolored boxes.

"General Jack O'Neill…" Said a sneering voice, as a man suddenly occupied the chair beside him. Jack raised his eyebrows. The man was holding a gun loosely in his hand, his clothes a black suit.

"And you are?" Jack asked snidely, reaching stealthily for the gun hidden under his seat. Then man looked at his fingernails.

"It's no use." The man said happily, "You pilot removed all the guns before we came." He was right. The usually place where Jack's gun was, was now empty.

"Who are you?" Jack asked again, face tightening.

She man held out his empty hand.

"My name is Franklin Rodgers…I'll be your Trust kidnapper for today. And for today, if you play nice, you're my hostage."

Jack groaned as the place veered to the left, leaving course for a new destination.


The phone rang. Daniel looked around the empty office before picking it up.

"Hello?" He asked. After a minute of talking, he hanged it back up, his face tight as he walked in the direction of Sam's lab.

As the large door opened, and Daniel spotted Sam bent over the machine, a large energy burst sent them both flying backwards. Daniel was the first to his feet, running to where Sam was lying against the wall, surprised to see a grin on her face.

"Are you okay?" He asked, helping her to her feet. She nodded. The smile still stuck firmly. "What was that?" He asked, confused. Sam grinned a little bit more.

"That," She answered, "was a working machine. Of course, we need Jack to make it actually transport people, but it works!"

Daniel's face tightened again.

"Washington called," Daniel said, his voice crumbling. "Jack's plane never made it. A group took it over, kidnapping Jack and the pilot en route. We lost them."

Sam paled so much, Daniel had to place hands on her back to keep her upright.

"It'll be okay…" He whispered soothingly, sliding to the ground with her in his arms. Sam buried her face in his shirt, crying, as Elizabeth walked through the door. She took one look, before turning out and sneaking out again.

Some things were best left as they were.

Ttfn!