Leslie noticed Sam's improved mood and the small touches Jack and Sam shared on the sly. She smiled and decided to keep her mouth shut. She didn't want to interrupt a good thing.
Sam made lunch, tuna sandwiches that were a little crooked, with chips and tea. Jack and Leslie both complemented her improved kitchen skills. Leslie brought Sam a special surprise, a romance novel in brail. Sam hadn't ever read a romance novel but she was desperate for entertainment. She'd finished eight chapters before Jack finished making dinner.
It was late that night when the phone rang. Jack rolled out of bed and grabbed the receiver.
"O'Neill." Jack's forced his eyes open.
"It's Colonel Mitchell. I'm sorry to wake you sir, but Teal'c just called. You and Colonel Carter are needed on base. Daniel and I are preparing now."
"We'll be there in half an hour." Jack peed, slipped his jeans on, brushed his teeth, and went to Sam's room. He shook her shoulder and she rolled over.
"Jack?" He squeezed her shoulder once. "What's wrong?" He pulled on her arm. She sat up and he handed her a pair of sweat pants.
"Where are we going?" Jack wrote SGC on her arm. Sam slipped the pants on and went to the bathroom. When she returned Jack gave her a pair of socks and her tennis shoes.
"I need my bra. It should be on the chair." Jack looked around the room until he saw the white garment of his many fantasies lying over the back of a chair. He retrieved the object and rubbed it before handing it to Sam. He was about to turn around when he realized her arms had just disappeared into her shirt. There was some movement under her shirt and then her arms reappeared.
"I'm ready now." Jack took her hand and spelled WOW. "Just a girl trick. I thought you would've known all of those by now." Jack led her out of the bedroom and picked up the brail printer. 'Knowing about them doesn't mean they don't still amaze me when I see them.' Sam laughed as Jack led her out the door.
"I know you can't answer me and drive but when we get to the mountain I'd like to know why we're going to the SGC in the middle of the night? At least I'm assuming it's the middle of the night since I was asleep and it's cold. Damn but this communication thing is frustrating." Jack squeezed her hand once and kept driving. They made it to the base in record time. Jack signed in and helped Sam through the checkpoints. They were directed straight to the briefing room.
"General Landry, Colonel Mitchell called and said we were needed immediately." Sam's hand was on Jack's arm, just as Leslie had taught him.
"Thanks for getting here quickly. Teal'c radioed in and told us the free Jaffa have possession of a sarcophagus. Their position is tenuous and he isn't sure how long they can hold the planet. He said if you were going to come you needed to get there soon. I have to tell you I don't think it's safe for Colonel Carter to be traveling into hostile territory in her condition." Jack looked at Sam.
"I agree but we don't have another choice. It could be years before another sarcophagus is available. If Sam agrees we have to try this." Jack pulled the printer out of his bag and sat it on the table. He wrote out the whole scenario for Sam. She only had to read it once before she agreed.
"Get geared up. You leave in twenty minutes." General Landry watched Jack lead Sam out of the room and was filled with trepidation. He felt like he was sending them to their death and he couldn't shake the feeling.
Normally twenty minutes was plenty of time to get geared up but Sam needed a tade more help then usual. Jack was doing his best but it wasn't happening fast enough. When Daniel and Colonel Mitchell stopped in to see what was happening they both pitched in to get Sam ready. She complained bitterly about all the help but they were ready on time.
Jack asked for a minute alone with Sam. The rest of the team left the locker room and headed to the gate. Jack caressed Sam's face. She placed her hand on his. He kissed her gently and spelled ILOVEYOU on her cheek. She smiled and repeated the sentiment. Jack led her to the gateroom. Daniel assumed a position on Sam's other side and Colonel Mitchell took rear.
Teal'c was waiting for them on the other side. Staff blasts could be heard in the distance.
"I do not know how long we can hold this position. We must hurry." Sam kept up with the fast pace. She trusted Jack to not lead her astray. It only took them five minutes to get to the sarcophagus. Jack helped Sam inside. He paced while the machine hummed, feeling uneasy about leaving her inside it for so long. The sounds of zats and staff blasts were getting closer and Jack was getting more nervous.
"It's taking too long. We gotta get her out of there."
"You can not rush the process, O'Neill." Just as Teal'c finished his sentence a blast shot into the room. Everyone dived for cover. Teal'c and Jack took up positions on either side of the door and began firing. Colonel Mitchell and Daniel were on either side of the sarcophagus, waiting to fire on anyone that made it past Teal'c and Jack. Two free Jaffa ran past the door and were shot mid-stride. They fell just past the door. Manumit's Jaffa came up to the door and began firing heavily. Everyone was returning fire. The sarcophagus took several hits. It began to whine.
"Jack! Something's happening!" Daniel's eyes widened as the whine continued. A blast hit the sarcophagus just beside Daniel's head. When he looked up again he saw a hole in the gold. Daniel could see Sam's hair through the hole. Jack's moment of interruption to look at Daniel cost him. He was engulfed in blue before he could respond to Daniel. Teal'c, Daniel, and Colonel Mitchell continued to fight but they were severely out numbered and joined Jack too soon.
Jack awoke to the familiar feeling of having been electrocuted. He instantly knew what had happened and groaned.
"Daniel? Teal'c? Mitchell?"
"I am here O'Neill, as are Daniel Jackson and Colonel Mitchell."
"Where's Sam?"
"I do not know."
"Ah, hell." Jack rolled over and grimaced as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees. "We gotta get out of here and find her."
"I concur but I thought it would be best if we waited until everyone had awoken." Jack lifted his head and saw that Daniel and Colonel Mitchell were still out, along with several free Jaffa.
Within twenty minutes all of the cell's occupants were awake. They tested the cell door and then began discussing other options. A sneering guard appeared just as the escape discussion had become ridiculous, involving large beasts of burden and a deathstar.
"This is three times you have attacked us. My lord wishes to know why you have dared to tread upon his land." The guard looked around the room and pointed to Teal'c. "You will provide us with answers."
"You are mistaken." Six more guards crowded around the door as the guy in charge opened the cell. He pointed to Teal'c and Teal'c accepted his offer. An hour later Teal'c returned. He had obviously been beaten but he was still walking. He entered the cell and waited until the guards had retreated.
"So what'd they want?" Jack moved over to Teal'c and spoke in a whisper.
"They wanted to know our intentions."
"Well I know you didn't tell them anything so what else happened."
"I did not have to tell them anything. They already knew why we were here."
"How?" Teal'c looked down at the ground.
"Colonel Carter has been taken as a host." Jack stepped back. His eyes were wild but he collected himself quickly. Daniel saw his reaction and pushed his way over to Jack and Teal'c.
"Teal'c, what happened?"
"Colonel Carter has been taken as a host." Daniel turned to Jack.
"We have to get her back."
"I know that." Jack punched the wall once, releasing some of his anger but not enough. Jack paced the cell and everyone was wise enough to stay out of his way.
Several quiet hours passed. One of Monmumit's guards passed the cell and handed something to Teal'c. Teal'c stepped away from the bars and moved to the back of the cell where Jack was waiting.
"There will be a revolt soon. We must be prepared to escape." Jack nodded and ran his hand through his hair.
"You and Daniel lead the Jaffa to the gate. Mitchell and I are going after Sam."
"I do not think now is the time."
"I brought her here to get well. I won't leave her."