Disclaimer: I do not own stargate sg-1, it is the property of MGM and this story has been written purely for entertainment value. No money has or will exchange hands – however all original story lines and characters belong to me. Thanx

I would first like to apologise for the lateness of this chapter, but lack of Internet and heavy workload made it impossible to finish any sooner. Thanks go to ste-raw for being my brilliant beta reader and to 'Harry' for making me sit there and write part of this. Thanks to all my reviewers as well.

I've got nothing else to say now, so here's the chapter…..

"Carter, Naomi did you manage to get a lock on that signal?" Jack shouted over as he picked up the now battered note, it looked as though it had been singed. Damn it.

"Ahhh, we're just seeing if we can triangulate the data we collected now." Sam told him as she busily typed away on her laptop, she'd brought it with her in case of emergencies like this one, but it had been left in one of the jeeps so that it didn't get damaged in the firefight.

"Colonel?" Naomi asked, she also sat working away, but this time she was on one of the computer terminals that belonged to one of the men that had worked there until a little while ago.

"What is it Naomi?" he asked, walking over to her and not liking the rather confused look on her features. Something told him he was not going to like what she was about to tell him.

"I've been analyzing the readings and when the rings engaged a moment ago, a strange sort of energy wave came through that has effectively shut them down. We can't use them sir, we'll have to get in another way." Normally he would have cursed about something like this and asked her for another way out. But the innate sadness in Naomi's eyes stopped him. She looked as defeated as he felt – and that wasn't going to get them out of their present situation.

"Alright, Daniel I need you to call the SGC and let General Hammond know what's happened here and that we're going to need the fastest jet possible to get us there in time… and tell him to initiate the second stage of the operation." The archaeologist gave him a confused look at that moment, but knowing that Jack must know what he was talking about he went and made the call.

"Damn it!" Amy seethed through gritted teeth as she once again yanked at the chain that attached her to the wall. When she had awoken she had found Liam unconscious next to her, they were both linked to the same chain, which in turn attached through a loop in the concrete wall of the cell they had been trapped in.

She saw Liam stir at her side and immediately went to him, he'd been beaten up pretty badly by the guards – who on Kinsey's orders had made her watch so that she would suffer as well.

"Amy." He whispered and she took his hand.

"I'm here." She told him, her voice soothing away his fears and her hand resting on his cheek once again reassuring him of her presence. This was really the first time they'd managed to talk without her still being under the influence and Liam was not about to let it pass up.

He tried to sit up, despite her protests and eventually came to rest next to where their chains were attached.

"What the hell does he think he's playing at?" he asked, wincing at the sound of his own voice as the pain in his head returned.

"Trying to get himself elected to president by 'saving' the earth I think, and trying to get as much information about the SGC as possible." Amy shuddered involuntarily and she felt him squeeze her hand a little tighter.

"It's over now Amy." But she shook her head, he realized that she looked terrified, something he'd never seen on her face before on a mission – even when she faced certain death.

"No, I don't think he is. If the others can't get her in time then the goa'uld will take us as hosts…. I don't know how we can stop it – we're just teenagers – we're not strong enough to fight this." She fought back tears she knew she wouldn't normally be crying. But due to the circumstances she couldn't help but feel defeated. It's not fair.

"Amy, they will get here on time – trust me on this one, if we were in their position you know we'd never leave them behind – especially with this much at stake. Plus they have Jonas and Naomi with them." This caught Amy's attention and Liam realized that there was no way for her to know about their friends involvement.

"Naomi?"

"Ah yeah, turns out she's been working at the SGC, she wouldn't go into too much detail but I think she's been through one hell of a lot more than she lets on." Amy nodded and crawled over to Liam, resting her head on his chest and holding him close to her.

He glanced down, slightly surprised but happy at the same time.

"I love you." She told him, sounding as though she believed it was the last time she would ever tell him. He kissed her messed up hair and wrapped his arms around her, being careful of the one he knew was still hurting her.

"I love you too Amy, but this isn't over yet."

The jet that came to pick them up hadn't exactly looked like Naomi had expected it too – it looked like a commercial plane instead of military air craft, but she'd been assured it was just a de coy and would help them to get closer to their destination.

Two hours into the flight and no one was really talking, two other SG teams were on the plane but they were in the rear compartment, leaving SG-1, Jonas and Naomi on their own.

Jack had taken to sitting near the window, waiting for the plane to land so that the entire ordeal could be over…. He wasn't exactly the most patient of people – at least not when it came to rescue missions.

Everyone else was sat around the table; Jonas and Sam were working on the data they'd managed to extract from the NID base's computers. Whilst Jonas and Daniel – with some help form Teal'c, were translating the messages sent in goa'uld.

As Naomi filtered through the data she stumbled across a file that seemed to contain medical information, and knowing that Amy had probably been tested as well as drugged she opened it, skimming the material as Sam busied herself with her own laptop.

What she found startled her and shocked her back to her own childhood…. he's planning on doing the same thing here? She asked herself, catching pieces of information that dealt with clone experiments – apparently he was searching for some one superior.

At her side she could tell that Sam wasn't really concentrating on what ever it was she was looking at, Daniel seemed to notice as well and gave her a knowing look when she finally glanced over at him.

"You have to go and talk to him Sam." And at last she nodded, seeming to have fought the inner war that she was having and leaving the table.

He didn't seem to notice her approach until she sat down on the seat next to him, wary of his mood and sharing his well hidden fear. Her conversation with Daniel rang in her head and she knew that they had to talk about this now… in case later events forced them never to bring it up again.

"Jack?" she asked, knowing the use of his first name would catch him off guard… but this conversation needed to be held without mention of ranks or the military – it had to just be about them.

His eyes immediately snapped towards her and she forced her self to stay calm and hold his gaze, part of her wanted him to realize what she had to tell him before she opened her mouth… but if he did it looked like he was going to make her say it anyway.

"I've been thinking a lot since all of this started to happen and the more times I go over it in my head, the more I realize that it doesn't make any sense." Jack watched her, wanting to reach out to her and hold like he had done back in the storage room.

"We can't go on like this – it's an impossible situation… which is why I've decided to re think my career."

"Carte – Sam… you don't have to do that, you've so much more ahead of you." He leaned forwards this time and reached for her hand, no body was watching and even if they were he didn't care anymore.

But she shook her head. "I used to tell my self that all I needed was a job I could be proud of and that I enjoyed to make me happy." She paused, feeling him squeeze her hand. "But I know now that there is more to life than that. I look at Amy and Liam and I think about what it must have been like for them these past few months – before all of this started… and no matter how many times I tell myself that a version of me is living that life... The truth is that it's never going to be enough Jack and I don't care how selfish it sounds but I want that life too – with you."

All that passed between them was silence, neither comfortable nor uncomfortable, just a knowing truth passing between two people who'd been hiding from it for far too long.

"Sam, you don't have to quit the air force - or transfer from SG-1 – if that was what you were planning on doing because I'm going to retire when all of this is finished with." She was going to protest – tell him that she was the one who should be leaving and that this was all her fault, but she knew that he was right. And you're not to blame for this.

"Jack…" but he shook his head, not needing to hear her thanks.

"Just come here." He whispered, pulling her gently into his arms and holding her there. She was shaking ever so slightly and he knew she was fighting tears, tears she wouldn't cry this time – not until this was over.

"What the hell do you mean – there's no way that can happen!" Kinsey roared as he ran into the main control room of the make shift secret head quarters they were currently occupying.

"I'm sorry sir but the ship appears to be in the middle of a battle in space, it's the Prometheus by the sounds of the reports we've been getting." The man knew that if he wasn't as good at his job as he was that Kinsey would have fired him then and there – the man hated it when things didn't go his way and more so these past few months.

"Sht." he snarled, bringing his fists down hard against the metallic control panel. "That damn O'Neill must have managed to get a message through…" he paused as he remembered the last report he'd received concerning the ship. "But I though it was heavily damaged."

The man shook his head "No sir, just the engines – and they've now been repaired, it seems as though they knew what we were planning." The senator's knuckles were white against the cold aluminum, but his eyes were wide and blood shot.

"Can you get a message to them?" he growled.

"Yes sir, but I don't know how long the ship will hold out."

"Send them a message – tell them to send a smaller transport ship – the one with my cargo on it and they can have their prize." Without even waiting for a reply he left the room – heading in one direction only.

"It's five kilometers to your right sir, the entrance should be visible and un guarded." Naomi's voice called over the intercom, she had stayed on the jet – not qualified to participate in the rescue mission. Jack wouldn't have let her anyway; she in herself could be just as valuable as the clones.

The desert area they were in was unusually calm, which gave a clearer view of where they were going, but had the unfortunate side affect of letting the enemy know they were coming if they got too close.

Sam was at his side, acting as well needed back up and although neither would admit it – emotional support.

"How much time do we have left?" she asked as they cleared another dune and made the final approach, staying as close to the ground as possible.

He checked his watch and was about to answer when he saw the faint trails of a fire attack in the air, Prometheus was doing its job – the second stage was working.

"Four hours, but I have a feeling that we should get in there, rescue the hostages and get out A.S.A.P." she nodded, then cast her gaze back to the work at hand – infiltrating the seemingly quiet fortress in front of them.

She'd stayed in the safety of his arms for the past few hours, savoring every second, as their time grew shorter and shorter. In her heart she knew there was still something she wanted to tell him, something that she hadn't been able to voice yet. She had mentioned it but had never gone in to any real detail…. Hadn't told him the specifics.

"Liam, before he comes back for us… there's something I want to tell you – something Thor told me." She whispered, listening to his steady heart beat, knowing that hers was racing… there was no way she could be that calm.

"You already said something the other night – remember?" but she shook her head against him.

"No, it's not about us being able to live without the other… it was something Thor encoded into us." He shifted slightly and she moved to sit at his side, taking tight hold of his hand. She looked as though she was about to cry, what is going on here?

"Amy, what do you mean?"

"Thor did something else to our DNA, sort of like a fail safe, so that if a situation like this…." She paused, not believing what she was about to tell him. " in a situation like this, should there be a goa'uld threat to earth and we were to be taken and so that the knowledge wouldn't be lost…" now she was fighting back tears with every word that she spoke in a deliberate and some what professional manner, she was going to say this, he had a right to know.

"Hey, what is it? What did he do?" Liam's gentle voice did nothing to calm the torrent of emotions that coursed through her, there were too many things going on at once.

"He said that he'd made sure no gou'ald could ever take us as hosts – that it was the least he could do to keep the SGC safe. I don't know how he's done it… and he wouldn't go into specifics… but this could kill us Liam. Actually kill us – and I don't want to die. Not when we've been given this chance."

He barely had time to reach in and kiss her before the door snapped open and two armed guards walked in, followed by Kinsey.

"Ah, how sweet." He commented, his eyes narrowing and the look in his eyes showing such intense evil that Amy could no longer look at him.

The men removed the shackles that bound them to the wall but left the chain that connected them, roughly grabbing the center and pulling them along.

"Where the hell are you taking us Kinsey? I thought your associate snakehead wasn't due for another few hours." He just smiled that sinister smile that he wore sometimes and she shuddered. The sooner this was over….

"We've made the parameter." Came the muffled communication through the radio in Jack's pocket, it was SG-3. SG-1 had managed to get in though one of what they presumed to be the side entrance and were navigating their way around, searching as fast as they could for Amy and Liam. As of yet the hadn't managed to find them.

"Good, keep it guarded, we don't know what we're dealing with here."

"Yes sir." And the communication ceased.

Sam, who was still at Jacks side, watched the unease pass briefly across his features and she wondered if the same thoughts were running through his mind. It was almost as if she could sense her clones feelings – she was scared – terrified, something Sam hadn't truly felt in years. At least not that she would admit to…

There was a scuffle in the corridor and Jack pulled her to one side, Daniel and Teal'c behind them following suit. Liams voice was unmistakable; he seemed to be sending some very choice words in the direction of the person with him – none other than senator Kinsey.

There was a softer voice too, one that seemed to be reassuring Liam, whom he could only assume was Amy; she sounded somewhat like her older counter part, something that, for some reason he hadn't expected.

"Jack, we have to make a move, we don't know how long they have left." Daniel whispered, just loud enough that it carried to his friend.

"DR, Jackson is right O'Neill." Teal'c concurred quietly.

"I'm aware of that, but we don't know how many guards he has here – or what the situation is. We'll wait for them to clear the corridor and then follow, Carter stay with me, Daniel and Teal'c you guys watch our six." He knew that it might have sounded like a somewhat questionable, but he would be able to do his job better if she was at his side. Then at least he knew she was safe.

As they neared the room it became clear why they had headed in that direction, it was another control room with the markings for a setoff transportation rings on the floor.

Both Liam and Amy knew what that mean and the look they shared was one of mutual fear and understanding. Being teenagers it seemed, came with the double-edged sword of heightened emotions. Bother were fearful beyond reason, but they also felt the deeper connection that tied them together… something they prayed death wouldn't irradiate.

Kinsey was altering the settings on what appeared to be the control panel at the other side of the room, whilst the guards stood either side of the clones. Liam reached for Amy's hand and she held on tightly. I don't want it to end here.

Sam could see them from one side of the doorway and Jack watched them at her side, she was sure she knew exactly what was going through her counterparts mind – the same sentiment that rang in her mind.

"Sir, when to we make our move?" she whispered barely loud enough for him to hear.

"When I give the signal." And before she'd nodded to acknowledge his response he motioned for her to move forward and together they made their way quietly into the room, Teal'c and Daniel only a few meters behind them.

Amy and Liam turned and acknowledged their presence almost as soon as they'd come through the entrance, proving to Sam that they were connected – there was no way for them to have heard them.

The Senator was still at the other end of the room and if they were quick enough they all knew that they would make it out of there before he knew what they were doing…. But, as with the other twists and turns they had faced in the last couple of days, things worked out a little differently.

"Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter, it's good to see you again." Kinsey announced, turning to greet them and motioning for the guards to move the clones closer to him. "What? You think that I didn't know you were in the building? It didn't surprise you that you met with so little resistance. Now come now colonel, I though you were smarter than that."

Jack swore, pointing his gun directly at the senator as his team stood at his side, they could hear soldiers heading down the corridor and although re enforcements would be there shortly, things were not going well.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at Kinsey?" he asked pointedly, neither his aim nor his gaze wavering from their target. He wanted to pull the trigger at that very moment but he knew he was only to shoot as a last resort. The mission was to get Amy and Liam out of there, which was what he had to do.

"Trying to save your ass and that of everyone else on this planet Jack." He explained, carefully pulling Amy to his side, as if he could predict what Jack was about to do.

"Let her go Kinsey, your plans already been stopped – the Prometheus is up there right now destroying what's left of the goa'uld ship." But the older man only laughed.

"Oh come on Jack, did you really think you would win that easily – you may have destroyed the mother ship, but you didn't take care of the transport ship currently heading towards us." And he would have questioned that comment had he not seen the data on the screen behind the senator.

"Let the girl go Kinsey – she can't help you – she doesn't know anything." But he shook his head, taking her – despite Liams protest and using her as some sort of human shield. She tried to free herself from his grasp but it didn't work.

Troops gathered around them, both Kinseys and SG personnel, the battle had alre3ady started in other areas of the base and the dull sound of gunfire echoed in the background. Sam felt for her clone and knew without doubt what she was feeling. But the look that haunted her was on Liams features, he looked helpless as he tried to fight and she saw a pain in his eyes that she has only seen once before… but now was not the time. She had to believe they would get out of this.

Once again Kinseys taunting laughter echoed in the quiet tension that filled the room. "Oh they know enough Jack, gate addresses, new technologies foreign to the goa'uld… things not found in any mission report and information I couldn't hope to get my hands on by normal means." Amy shuddered; she knew what could actually be coming… something no one else apart from Liam as aware of. Maybe it's worth us dying if they can all be free.

"And what the hell are you supposed to get in return?"

"Enough weaponry to defeat any threat to earth or our nation and to finally take control of the gate program, the administration will be over turned when you and your precious major carter go to court marshal, hell even the damn country will be mine after this."

"Not gonna happen Kinsey, we haven't broken any rules." Jack's aim was still right on target, he only needed Amy to move a few inches and he would have a clear shot only as a last result…

"I don't think that the military will see it that way." Beeping from the control panel behind him sent a wicked gleam of a smile across his lips. "Well sorry about this Jack, but it seems my associate is ready." He took a few steps forward, Amy still struggling in his grasp. Her mind still torn between dying to save her friends or fighting for a life she wanted to keep…. But not knowing for sure if they would die or what exactly Thor had done, she kept fighting.

Knowing that the fight was drawing nearer and that the rings would engage any second, Jack caught the eye of this clone, who was also being dragged towards the rings. The teenager smiled, knowing what Jack wanted him to do as he issued one final warning.

"Kinsey, I have orders to shoot you down if you do not co operate – the government you think are on your side want your ass for this. So put down the girl and step away." But he did neither.

The sound of the rings slowly being powered up entered the room and nearing gunshots meant the battle had either been won or lost. Unwilling to shoot without it being the only option left, Jack faced the cruel eyes of the senator straight on and asked one more time.

"Kinsey for the love of god will you let the girl go, or I swear I'll pull this trigger and blow you to hell." It was one of the only times he could remember saying those words and truly meaning them, the scene before him scared the hell out of him and he couldn't help but picture 'his' Sam in Amy's place.

"Not going to happen Jack, and you won't shoot me – not with the girl this close."

In the seconds before the rings engaged, several things happened. Kinsey pushed the girl further forwards, holding her in a steadfast iron grip, Liam wasn't far behind them and it became clear that Kinsey intended to board the goa'uld ship with them. Jack knew beyond a doubt that he had no choice.

"Let her go Kinsey!" he shouted, making it absolutely clear… Before nodding his head and waiting as his younger counter part released himself and pulled as hard as he could on the chain. Amy wasn't released but she was father enough away for what he was going to do…

Two loud gunshots rang over the already increasing noise, the senator flew backwards, his head at an abnormal angle as Amy broke away, pulled by Liam and out of the way of the rings.

Kinsey hit the control panel hard before sliding to the ground, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. His body was still, his eyes gazing hollowly towards the floor where a pool of blood formed form the two bullet holes in his chest. They'd both hit their target – his heart.

When the rings had ceased, Sam ran to block the power connection so that no more transport attempts could be made and Daniel contacted Naomi and Jonas on the ship, giving them instructions about the goa'uld vessel in orbit but not able to tell them what had happened – other than Liam and Amy were safe now.

Jack stood motionless, watching the scene before him play out as his officers and soldiers walk in, having been them who'd won the fire fight and arrest the guards in the room. He knew a medical team would soon be there for the senator, but there was no way of helping in now.

Liam had his arms tight around the crying figure of Amy as she sobbed into his shoulder. Their chains were removed but no one had asked them to move, they'd been through enough torture and separation for now to warrant them being left alone.

"Jack?" a voice at his side asked, and he turned to see Sam stood there, he hadn't noticed her walk towards him.

"Carter…Sam." He sounded as though he was waking from a dream, one that appeared to be all too real.

"Everything's been dealt with here, the medical team will be here any second and the threat of the goa'uld vessel has been neutralized. I don't know the details yet but I'm sure we'll be fully briefed once we get back to the SGC." He nodded so slowly and when she followed his gaze she realized who it was he was looking at.

"They'll be fine now Jack, they'll get to live out their lives in peace." Again he only nodded, but she felt a warm and gentle pressure on her hand, which he now held in her own.

He wanted to take her into his arms, but knew that they weren't entirely safe in their careers just yet, but he couldn't do nothing either. Whatever the outcome of this, he would make sure that they were together.

Sam smiled warmly at him, one barely showing to anyone else – not that they seemed to be paying attention.

"Come on Sam, lets get out of here." He whispered and she nodded, reluctantly letting go of his hand as they left the room.

Liam and Amy watched from where they sat against each other on the floor, they hadn't looked at the dead senators body, knowing only that he was gone and wouldn't be coming back. The torture and torment that they had endured at his hands was over now… it was all over.

Well apart form an epilogue I've pretty much finished this story now and would like to ask all those who've read it to review it please – if you have the time, as this has been one of the hardest stories I've ever had to write. (Constructive criticism and positive reviews are always welcome as they help me improve my writing skills.) Thanx.