"Colonel Carter, I am very glad to see you are unharmed."
"Thank you, Teal'C." Her voice was muffled against Jack's shoulder from which she had not moved.
"O'Neill, I found this phone number and letter by the radio over there." He handed Jack two slips of paper.
"Good work, T. Let's get back to the SGC and get this phone number traced to find out who's behind this. Yo, Thor buddy, beam us up," Jack announced into his Asgard stone with a satisfied grin.
"I've always wanted to say that," he confessed to his teammates as a flash of light removed them from the cabin.
After their successful rescue of Sam, SG1 sat around Thor's table on his ship, pushing disgusting little squares of Asgard nutritional supplements around on their plates. Thor couldn't eat, although not for the same reasons as the Earthlings, and he paced the bridge restlessly instead. The five friends didn't talk much, other than Thor's several attempts to express his consternation at the hostile way in which many of Earth's inhabitants seemed to be receiving the news about the Stargate program.
Thor dropped the four off at the SGC after explaining he had some pressing matters to attend to in his own galaxy. Sam felt uneasy about going home after all that had happened, so she was staying on base for the night until a security team had a chance to set up a guard around her house. Daniel had gone home to Sarah.
Teal'C and Sam had retired to their respective quarters by the time Jack found himself pacing the Gate room, staring at the Stargate, trying to assure himself that Earth would eventually make an amiable adjustment to the existence of an accessible galactic community.
The Gate stared back at him, its imposing presence mutely reminding him of how much his life had changed since he'd entered the Stargate for the first time. He allowed himself the liberty of reliving that first time he'd stepped through the watery halo, more than half convinced he was stepping through to his death. His stomach tightened at the memory.
Somehow he'd survived that first incredible encounter with the universe beyond Earth. The things he'd experienced since that fateful mission had changed him in more ways than he could begin to understand, even now. He found himself staring back in awe at the metal ring that had changed everything.
"Jack?"
Her voice startled him both in its unexpectedness and its proximity. He jumped and turned.
"Thought you'd be asleep by now," he returned as Sam reached him and sat down by his feet. He shifted and sat down with her on the edge of the ramp.
"I tried...I just keep going over and over what those men were saying while I was captured," she sighed in reply. "At first, I thought Hansen sent them, but now I don't think so. They weren't just hired to do his dirty work. They had their own agenda. All this is just so overwhelming. I thought people would be thrilled to find out about the Stargate, just like I was. I can't believe..." she tapered off, lost and sad.
"A lot of them are, Sam. Thrilled about the whole thing, I mean. The others will come to accept it in time. Earth is a complicated place with a lot of different points of view. Very few of the planets we've been to are as diverse as this one. We just need to give folks time."
"And meanwhile? Should we all hire bodyguards? You aren't safe either, nor is Teal'C, after the two of you became public figures on those talk shows."
"I'm not worried."
"Well, I am. I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. Please be careful, Jack." Sam stood up. "I'm going to try and get some sleep now."
"Good." Jack stood up and stepped close to her so he could wrap his arms around her and hold her firmly. Sam could feel the unspoken relief in the insistent pressure of his arms. He was looking at the scratches on her arms now, she noticed, at the angry welts she'd received while being abducted.
"I'm okay," she reassured him with a smile.
"I'm glad." Jack reluctantly released her, although his eyes still remained locked on hers.
"Good night, Sam."
"Good night."
Three months later
Sam frowned at the earrings she had chosen and tossed them aside. She continued rummaging through her jewelry box for something just right for the outfit she was wearing to Daniel and Sarah's wedding. The years of combat boots and fatigues had done their damage and she felt a mite awkward now when dressing up.
With a sigh of frustration, she grabbed her plain but pretty pearl solitaires and put them on, refusing to look in the mirror lest she removed yet another pair of earrings from her red and aching earlobes. She grabbed a cashmere sweater in case the church was chilly and ran down the hall to the living room.
"Ready?" Jack stood with easy agility as she came jogging into the room. She made no effort to mask the gasp of approval that flew out of her mouth upon seeing him. It just wasn't fair how fabulous he looked in a tux.
"Was that a good sound or a bad sound?" Jack teased, knowing with smug arrogance he'd managed to impress her.
"Jack, you look..." she suddenly felt embarrassed at her speechlessness.
"Fantastic, Sam." he finished for her, a huge smile of approval lighting his features as he returned her stare. "You look fantastic. Uh oh. We'd better go right now or we're going to be late."
They drove down the busy streets of Colorado Springs, weaving their way past the construction at the airport. In fact, it seemed as if half the city was under construction or reconstruction. The Stargate had been raised from the depths of Cheyenne Mountain last month to be installed in the center of Colorado Springs, plunging this city into the international spotlight in a way nobody could have dreamed of six months ago.
Another, more ominous change was just as dramatic. The city was full of armed guards, a very visible force, to protect against the still threatening survivalist groups that were growing at an unprecedented rate around the world. Not visible was the satellite protection grid and the two X-303's keeping watch over the city from Earth's orbit. More X-303's were under construction. Senator Hansen had managed to find a more positive outlet for his misgivings about the Stargate program by pouring his talent and resources into pushing a planetary defense program.
"Turn there," Sam directed Jack as they pulled even with the avenue the church was on.
"Aye aye, Captain," Jack responded.
"That's aye-aye, Colonel, you know. General. Sir." Jack pulled into the parking lot and stopped at the security checkpoint. The officer recognized the now famous explorers and waved them on.
Sam watched behind them as the next car was stopped for a full search. "So is this how it's going to be from now on, living our lives always wondering which terrorist extremist is plotting to get us?"
"Oh come on, Sam, it's getting better already. Forget about it, let's just go in there and enjoy Space Monkey's wedding."
His most charming smile flashed her direction as he exited the car and waited to walk into the church at her side.
The reception was in full swing at the swank hotel clubhouse when General Landry got up and began to say his goodbyes to those seated at his table. The man looked tired and pre-occupied, Jack thought, as he shook Landry's hand and bid him good night. He appeared to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and it tweaked Jack's curiosity. Business as usual? Or did the General know something he wasn't telling anyone?
"A word, sir," Jack asked quietly, following him outside where the music was less deafening. The sounds of the night around them were muted and almost soothing as General Landry turned to face Jack.
"Jack."
"You seem... concerned. Anything you can share?"
"Jack, The SGC received a bomb threat this afternoon."
"So? That's nothing new, is it?"
"No, although we've had more than our share of threats against the SGC offices just opened at the Stargate's new location. But this one. The threat appears to be the real thing this time, according to the bomb unit investigating this call. It wasn't against the SGC per say. It was a threat against..." General Landry looked around him, and then pulled Jack into a slow gait away from the building.
"It was a threat on Colonel Carter, and we're pretty sure it's the same goons who kidnapped her several months ago. They seem pretty angry that she got away, and they're claiming she's the devil."
"That's preposterous."
"Yeah, well, you realize that she, along with all of you, disappeared in a flash of light from their hideout. They can't explain it. So they're afraid of it."
"When were you going to tell Sam?" Jack asked next. His posture had become decidedly defensive.
"Uh, we weren't. I see no need to upset her. We've beefed up security around her house and she's being tailed everywhere she goes now. By the way, security around your house has been increased as well. Just so you know."
"Yeah," Jack sighed wearily, a familiar anxiety creeping back into his consciousness with renewed intensity. "Well, I guess that's the best route to take. Thanks for telling me sir. Good night."
Jack was suddenly in a hurry to make sure Sam didn't get out of his sight for very long. He jogged back into the hotel to find her and stick like glue to her side for the rest of the evening.
It was late, or more accurately, early in the wee hours of the morning, before Sam decided she was ready to go home. Jack and she walked out to the parking lot leaning on each other a bit from the combined effects of champagne and fatigue.
Jack drove Sam to her house, with the as yet undeclared idea that he would spend the night on her couch guarding the place. With this newest information from Landry, there was just no way he was leaving her alone.
They were a few streets away when both of them began to become aware of the sound of sirens. Soon the lights of several emergency vehicles became obvious above the trees.A fire truck came screaming around their car, heading the same direction they were. Jack's stomach tightened into a cold knot.
"What's going on?" Sam mused aloud. Jack unconsciously reached for Sam's hand and grabbed it tightly.
"Maybe we should just go to my place," he suggested.
"No, something's going on in my neighborhood and I want to know what," Sam objected. She began to pale as they drove down her street and it became increasingly apparent that the problem was at her own home. They were forced to stop about halfway down the block by a police barricade.
"Oh no," she whimpered. Sam jumped out of the passenger side of the car before Jack had even come to a complete stop and charged off down the street.
"Sam, wait!" Jack yelled in his most commanding voice, jamming the gear shift into park and jumping out to run after her. He caught her quickly and pulled her arm, jerking her to his side with more force than he had intended.
"Don't be stupid!" he growled harshly, more out of fear than anger, although Sam couldn't tell the difference. Outraged, she yanked her arm out of his grasp and tried to continue before she realized he was right and stopped. Her breathing was ragged and uneven. She refused to look at Jack, instead focusing her attention on the burning bungalow now within sight.
As she stood there, the anger on her features morphed into an incredible distress and sadness. Jack came up and stood next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders, as he dialed the SGC with his other hand.
"General Landry, please. This is General O'Neill."
After a pause, Jack said emphatically, "I don't care if he's on the john, this is an emergency."
"Jack," Sam protested weakly.
"General, this is O'Neill. Carter and I are standing outside her house, which by the way, is burning to the ground as we speak."
"Yes sir. I'll keep an eye out for them."
"Roger that, five minutes."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
Jack turned to Sam's questioning eyes.
"Landry hadn't heard about the fire. The SGC lost contact with their surveillance team on your street a few minutes ago. He doesn't want us to contact the fire and resuce personnel here at the site. Something about we don't know who to trust. An intercept team to pick you up and transport you back to base is on the way. We're to make contact in five minutes with Landry, and then every five minutes after that until you're secure at the SGC."
Sam looked like she was going into shock. "Why?" She asked tremulously, gesturing with a shaking hand at the remains of her house.
"Right now, let's get you out of here. There will be times for 'whys' later. Come on, Sam."
Jack pulled her into his grasp and held her against him protectively while scanning the area for the promised SGC team being sent to get them. He would send someone home in his car once the team secured Sam. It had suddenly occurred to him that they'd been out of clear sight of his car for a long enough time for it to possibly have been tampered with.
It had just as suddenly occurred to him that he was becoming paranoid, and for good reason.
"There they are," he gestured at two familiar SGC faces approaching in combat garb. Soon they were safely on their way to Cheyenne Mountain. The new offices just weren't a fraction as safe as the old, familiar rooms in the depths of the mountain, so they were to be kept there for the time being.
Inside the armored car, Sam burrowed deep into his arms and sat there silently, unmoving, her face hidden in his shirt, alarming Jack even more. He seemed to detect that his shirt was becoming increasingly damp, and her shoulders shook almost imperceptibly against his chest. He found himself pressing a comforting kiss, and then another, against her forehead.
How much more could happen?
TBC
Author's Notes: Thanks a million to my reviewers! You have been so encouraging and full of great ideas to help me keep writing. I realize Sam is in the same position at the end of this chapter as she was at the end of the last chapter- Jack's arms- oh well... hehehe
Since the last chapter I have done a lot of driving, and tourist-ing -is that a word- a bit of it through the outer bands of Hurricane Dennis last week! So I haven't written for a few days while I rested..I'm VERY glad to be home:)