Okay peeps, sorry. I said two or three days. I lied. Well, no. I was mistaken. See, I didn't know that midterms like to start fighting before you're in the ring. But they do. And they did. Only two more to go, and I should be studying, but today's my birthday so I'm taking a break. And finally finishing chapter three. So here's the next chapter, and the next may take a couple of days. So be patient.

Yeah, and I had a ton written, then when I went for the document, only the first page was there, -growls- so I had to rewrite a lot of it. -whines-

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, although I do want a dog. (Anyone know of a fairly small breed with hair as apposed to fur for allergy reasons -sneezes- besides a poodle?)

Jan. 1, SGC elevator, 0537

"So, do you think we could have some water?"

"Jack, do you really think that that's a good idea?" asked Daniel.

"No, but I'm thirsty."

"A water bottle won't fit through the open space, sir," an airman standing near the elevator explained.

"Oh fine."

"Jack, if you would stop pacing this may be slightly more bearable."

"Daniel, I'm in an elevator."

"We're in an elevator. And a rather large one at that. It could be worse."

"How?"

"Well," Daniel grasped for an idea. "We could be stuck in cell onboard a Goa'uld mothership."

"At least that would be interesting."

"Hey, I think I hear someone coming."

"Finally. Hopefully someone's coming who can get us out of here."

"Sounds like Sam."

"She's here already?"

"I'm thinking she got here before you."

Jack muttered something almost indecipherable, but Daniel though he may have heard something like "typical" and "should have known."

"Sir? Daniel? Are you guys alright?"

"Fine Sam."

"Just peachy Carter. So, can you get us out of here or what?"

"Sir, it's been made clear to me that the people in charge of this are perfectly capable of handling the situation," she said, glancing back as Siler left again, presumably to go work on the problem elsewhere.

"Then why are we still in here?"

"I don't know sir."

"What went wrong with the elevator?" Daniel asked.

"I think that she just said she doesn't know Danny."

"No, she said she doesn't know why we're still in here."

"Guys, I'm right here. They think that it had something to do with the— "

"Carter. I'm sure they'll figure it out. Why can't we get out from level 20? There's barely any space here, so we should be able to climb out under us."

"Except that the opening in the wall for the door of the elevator doesn't go all the way up to the ceiling."

"I know that. So why can't they just cut that part out?"

"Sir, that's highly impractical. There's the risk that you could be injured, it could cause more damage, it would be difficult to repair, not to mention the paperwork involved."

"Say no more. I need no more paperwork than I already have."

"No, sir I imagine you don't," Sam replied.

"So what's taking them so long?" Jack asked again.

Sam rolled her eyes and said, "Sir, I think that we've already established that I'm not on this." A pause, more footsteps, then, "Oh hey Teal'c."

"I have been informed that O'Neill and Daniel Jackson are currently entombed in the elevator," he replied, an almost amused look on his face.

Sam smiled, the whole situation suddenly amusing. "Yes, they are. And I don't have to get them out either."

"Hey!"

"Sir, I haven't had two solid hours of sleep all year. I'm on downtime too. The situation is under control. I think that I'm gonna go take a nap."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side so that the airman near the elevator couldn't tell if he was amused or confused.

"Carter I could order you to stay and work this out."

"You could sir, but then you would be contradicting your previous orders, not to mention showing a complete lack of faith many of the people under your command."

"Fine Carter, go and take your nap. But when we're stuck in here all year you just remember—"

"I'll remember that I was following orders…sir."

Jack stuck his tongue out and made face at her, which made Daniel chuckle.

"What?" asked Sam.

"Nothing Carter. Be off with you."

"Fine sir. I'll see when you're out of there."

"And if we're not out of here by then?"

"Then I'm taking over."

"Yes ma'am."

"See ya Teal'c."

He nodded to her and turned back to Jack and Daniel as Sam walked off.

"Do you require any assistance?"

Daniel replied, "Uh, yeah. A little water would be nice."

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Sam walked to her quarters on base, unwilling to climb the ladder all the way to the surface unless absolutely necessary. When there, she kicked of her shoes and was finally asleep seconds after she closed her eyes.

She was back by the elevator. They had been working on getting Daniel and the general out for days. Everyone had dark circles under their eyes.

She walked over and looked down. For some reason she could see Jack's face clearly. He looked as tired as everyone else, and there was an accusing look on his face.

She stared at him and suddenly someone starting talking rather quickly directly behind her.

"They've tried everything."

She spun around to see Rodney McKay of all people explaining the situation to her. "They've tried cutting out the top of the elevator, but it didn't work. They tried to cut out part of the wall but Daniel was badly burned. The tried contacting the Tok'ra and the Asgaurd, but they couldn't find them. We've run a full diagnostic on the elevator, but we can't find anything wrong with it."

Full diagnostic on the elevator??

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh no. you've been asleep much too long. I'm the expert on elevators now. All that time you were sleeping I spent on Earth studying them. I've been at it all year long."

"Have you tried rebooting the system?"

"Oh, silly Sam. You can't reboot an elevator. It's not like a computer."

"But you just said—"

"I know very well what I said. Why don't you go say goodnight to your prince and get some sleep. If anything can be done, we'll figure it out. You're of no use to us now Sam. You slept too long."

She tried to fight back tears. It hurt to be useless. But she did as she was told. She walked back over to Jack. Daniel was curled up sleeping in a corner and Teal'c was meditating.

Why was Teal'c in there?

"He tried to get us out when you left," came Jack's mournful voice, explaining what she hadn't asked. "He's been stuck in here with us for a long, long time."

"Jack, sir, I have to go sleep. I'm so tired."

"We all are. Can't you get us out of here? People have died in elevators before you know."

"Sir, it's been made clear to me that the people in charge are handling it."

"Who? McKay? He's not been trying. He didn't even point to the stupid EM field generator at the elevator. He pointed it at the stargate of all things. You need to do this, but I can't order you because it would show a complete lack of faith in the people under my command. Please, Sam."

She had tears streaming down her face as she replied, "I'm so sorry Jack. You know I can't. I'm sorry. I have to go sleep now."

"Alright. Go get your beauty sleep. But when you don't wake up for a hundred years, remember it was because your prince was stuck in an elevator all year long and couldn't come kiss you awake."

She turned and ran, all the while repeating, "I'm sorry Jack, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry Jack." There was a harsh tapping as firefighters with axes tried to break into the elevator. She kept running and apologizing, but she couldn't get away from the noise. Finally it stopped. They couldn't get it. But she kept running and getting nowhere.

Then she heard a familiar voice. "Carter?"

It was all her fault. She should have helped. "I'm sorry Jack."

"Carter? Sorry for what?"

"I'm so sorry."

"Carter! Wake up!"

She was jostled and suddenly her eyes opened. Jack was kneeling there beside her bed, her sweater in hand.

"Sir?"

"Hey. You've been asleep for like, ever. I was gonna wait for you to wake up, but you were taking too long."

"You're out of the elevator?" Her voice was hushed and he followed her example.

"Um, yeah. Something to do with a circuit or a fuse or something, and a cable and…and I think that I'll let Siler explain it."

"Yeah. So no need to cut the base apart or bring in firefighters with axes?"

"Nope." He paused. "Firefighters?"

"Never mind."

"Hey, are you alright? You sounded rather disturbed."

"Yeah, just a really freaky dream."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"No, not really. Why do you ask?" she whispered.

"Well, you kept saying that you were sorry, and I was wondering if there was something on your mind."

Sam shook her head and sat up. Jack stood and held his hand out. She accepted it and as he helped her up, he asked, "Jello?"

"I'd love some. Ya know, I haven't had any all year."

As they walked out, Jack asked, "You sure you don't wanna talk about it?"

"Yes sir. If you don't mind my asking, why are you so persistent?"

"You called me Jack."

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There ya go. Next part. Almost finished. I think. But I really need to go study now.

Review, review! It's good for your health! (Okay, it's good for my mental health, but you get the picture.)