Head Trip – Chapter 32 "Mission Accomplished"

Daniel had reached their encampment and placed Jack down on his side just as the first explosions rocked the earth. He turned in the direction of the citadel and could see a massive plume of smoke rising into the blue sky. His first thoughts were of Sam and Teal'c. Did they get out in time? Were they okay? His next aim was to rush back to help, but he was interrupted by Jack who struggled to sit up and asked, groggily, "what the hell was that?"

Daniel turned in O'Neill's direction and spat out the answer, "The C4 just took out the citadel. I don't know if Sam and Teal'c made it out."

The General's blanched face turned even more pale. He motioned for the younger man to help him up, wincing as the change of position reminded him of his bruised ribs.

Jack O'Neill had one honkin' headache. The vise around his forehead refused to relinquish its hold. As hard as he tried, his equilibrium would not return and every time he stood up, he was forced to sit back down lest he fall flat on his face. This happened once again as Daniel stood beside him and they both watched the rising smoke in the distance. Never in his life did he feel so helpless and out of control.

Damn Fifth! Damn the whole friggin' lot! His people were out there alone, possibly dying, and he couldn't even aim and fire his weapon! He traveled all this way to save Sam and now she was forced to save herself.

"How did we get here? What's happening?"

Daniel sat the General down and offered him some water. O'Neill drank copiously, hoping that the water, itself, would miraculously clear his head and help him regain his composure. Jack could at least focus more clearly now; as Daniel talked, his "two heads" merged into one and that alone was an improvement. Having his line of vision restored should allow him to use a weapon.

"Jack, Teal'c managed to get you out of the citadel and then went back in for Sam. You were pretty out of it and I just about dragged you here when the C4 went off …"

Daniel could not finish his sentence as a new series of explosions shook the ground.

"Crap! Daniel, hand me my P90 and let's get out of this grass!"

The second jolt cleared Jack's head further and the fresh surge of adrenaline served to push the viselike pain to the background. He rose, shaken but determined to help his team. The two men pressed forward out of the grass but did not have to travel far. Only a hundred yards or so in front of them, they saw their teammates, moving in their direction. Teal'c was carrying the wave disrupter and Carter was holding the P90 at her side. She jogged somewhat erratically beside the big Jaffa. As they came closer, Jack's heart caught in his chest … his vision was now sharp enough to detect that both of his friends had sustained injuries. Teal'c had blood running down his arms, and Sam had bruises and blood on her face along with one arm held tightly to her side. He knew they had given as good as they got, and was feeling both relieved and proud to see them still standing.

Seeing that there were no replicators following their comrades, Jack and Daniel relaxed a bit and walked up to meet their friends. The smell of the explosives was still hanging heavy in the balmy air, but as Sam finally stood before him, another smell sent alarm bells ringing in O'Neill's head. He looked from Teal'c to Carter; their uniforms were torn and dirty, but something more …

"Colonel, turn around."

Sam looked up into his face, so glad to see his eyes clearly focused and his voice firm. But she was confused by the order.

"Sir?"

"Turn around, please … let me have a look at your back."

Sam Carter was running on empty … and knew that she had a few more miles to go. The pain from her burns would have to be borne a while longer, until they were all at a safer distance to care for their injuries and then retreat to the Gate.

"Sir, there's no time. We have to go."

Her blue eyes, filled with pain and fatigue, searched his concerned face and he felt time stand still once more. It was as if they were back on Apophis' ship, standing there, separated by a force field and speaking their true intentions through one long and revealing look. This time, though, there was no barrier and he would not let the moment get away.

"Come here."

General Jack O'Neill reached out and drew Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter into his arms. He enveloped her in a heartfelt hug that conveyed not only his pride and respect, but also his love.

Sam's back exploded with pain from the pressure of Jack's arms and she let out a gasp. He quickly pulled back and realized that he had aggravated her injuries, not to mention the stab of pain to his own ribs.

A slow smile crept across Jack's face, returned by a knowing glance from Sam.

"We're a pair, aren't we? Now, Carter, since you seem to have things under command and I'm still recovering from a nasty headache, tell me what our next move should be …"

As Teal'c and Daniel foraged in the tall grass, gathering up all their equipment, the former commander of SG1 and his very able replacement began walking down the Allerian highway towards the Gate. Sam had her map out and was telling Jack that if they were able to set some distance between themselves and the ruins of the citadel during the remaining hours of daylight, she thought there was a good chance that any pursuing replicators could be contained if and when they followed them. She then shared some of the important data she had learned from Fifth, confident that Thor would be able to now track and destroy First and his new colony and other Replicator outposts.

Jack was surprised that Sam had killed Fifth, knowing that it would have taken a courageous effort on her part. He sensed that she wanted to talk to him much more about what transpired in the control room. He was still feeling angry at himself for the surprise attack and the mind probe. He had the feeling that Fifth had torn secrets from him which may have unsettled Carter. She alone heard what was revealed. There was also some unfinished business on Earth. How would Sam handle seeing "herself" lying dead in the SGC morgue? What to do with the Replicator's body? And that little matter of his going off-world without permission ….

Teal'c and Daniel stepped from the grass barrier and followed their teammates on the gravel roadway. The sky was a brilliant blue and the breeze began to dissipate the smell of destruction and chaos that they were leaving behind. It was as if Alleria was reawakening to its original innocence and beauty. The grass was waving and birds began to reappear in the sky.

Sam Carter was walking gingerly but so engrossed in her conversation with the General that it provided the remaining energy before stopping for the night. She knew that Teal'c and Daniel would cover their six and, as painful as her injuries were, they were not unbearable. She and O'Neill had been able to talk freely and openly about the past two days and what they had experienced. They had not been so relaxed in each other's company in a long, long time. Having him here by her side and knowing that he would not leave her behind also comforted her. But knowing that, in the end, she had to depend on herself and her military skill to save the mission provided even more consolation. She felt a new confidence and ability to cope with whatever future missions would demand.

In fact, she was feeling euphoric because of the surge of hope she felt in what she now secretly knew. Jack loved her! No, he was not quite aware that she knew this as a consequence of his mind probe. She would find a way to tell him. If she were brave enough to face Fifth and eliminate him, she would find the courage to face Jack and share her true feelings.

It would be much harder to live with her acts of deception and eventual betrayal of Fifth … she would be haunted by what she had to do in order to survive. She knew that it was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. But she was standing here, alive, and her team was alive and she eradicated a major threat to her planet and planets beyond.

The Allerians? The circle of wisdom? She wanted to know more about these people; she now felt compelled to find out if any of them could have possibly escaped through the Gate. It would become a personal mission. She wanted to tell them that it was now safe to return; that she, Samantha Carter, had freed them from their oppressors. Fifth's face suddenly flashed in her mind and she realized that in some strange way he had been destined to be a victim … he was neither all human, nor all machine. He was truly oppressed. In killing him, she had released him. "De oppresso liber."

"Carter? Hey, Sam … are you with me? I've been talking to you but you seem miles away. Are you okay?"

Jack O'Neill was grasping Carter's shoulders, albeit very gently, and interrupting her walking daydream … she moved beyond her numerous thoughts and looked into his face once more.

"Sir, I am so sorry … you're right … as we've been walking, I just started thinking about this whole mission and about all the ramifications of what has happened. There are some things that must remain confidential and off-the-record once I tell you … can we do that?"

"You know, Carter, I get the feeling that you and I are gonna have one helluva debriefing when we get back to SGC."

Looking up into Jack's somewhat amused face, Sam Carter knew that this mission, which had forced her to deceive, had also forced her to face the truth - about herself and the man she loved. There would be no going back now.

"What?" O'Neill prodded ...

It was Sam's turn to give an enigmatic grin.

"Read my mind."

Thanks for reading my story and the many kind reviews. I hope you enjoyed the Sam I wrote for you: strong, decisive, in command, and courageous. I hope that this is the Sam Carter we get to see more of in Season 9 of Stargate!

Special thanks to my guru, SG1-Fanfic, whose own stories have inspired me! And thanks to all the loyal citizens of Samanda at the Gateworld Forum/SaGC (Sam's a Great Character) thread for supporting this project.

This story was written purely for pleasure and no intention of infringement of copyright regarding Stargate productions and characters.

Peace, CG