Title: Outside the Lines: The Edge
Author: Annerb
Rating: Teens
Summary: How far would you go to make your world right again?
Classifications: Action/Adventure, Drama, Angst, S/J
Season: 4 (Alternative storyline for 'Chain Reaction')
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the Goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

The Edge

Predictably, Sam refused Bauer's offer of time off. It was what was expected of her. She worked obsessively on any project sent her way, crashing in temporary quarters more often than not. For one whole week she endured the knowing glances of SGC staff and the worried hovering of Daniel and Teal'c.

None of them even had a clue what was really going on in her head.

She was watching, constantly watching. Assessing, judging, working it all out.

Bauer was just a patsy. She was convinced of it. It didn't change her burning hatred of him, even as he now held her in a sort of awed esteem. He listened now when she spoke.

Unfortunately that was dangerous for Sam, so she avoided the man as much as possible. Always letting others speak over her. Bauer clearly had one purpose here, to quietly fulfill whatever agenda he was handed from the nebulous 'them' that was responsible for the coup. She didn't need him bringing their attention to her anymore than it was already was. She knew she was already walking on borrowed time.

Colonel Mathers, newly transferred and recently assigned 2IC of the base, was the one Sam watched. Jack's replacement. He was now leader of SG-1 with the traitorous York and Wash. Sam quietly seethed at the sight of SG-1 patches on their uniforms. She resisted the urge to rip them off their unworthy shoulders.

She carefully kept a mental list of the new personnel, each one of them suspect of the stain of the new administration. She judged the others around her, wondering which of the men and women she had trusted her life with over the last four years had turned their backs on Hammond and Jack.

Sam hated waiting, feeling each moment bleed away, each one a final chance to follow Jack's last order and escape the closing net to safety. She didn't want it, but she needed to think of Daniel and Teal'c. She was aware that she was playing with all of their lives, but her decision was made.

Six days of acting like model, work-obsessed Major Carter and the black sedan left its post on her street. Sam wasn't naïve enough to think that her office and home weren't still being carefully monitored, but it was a sign that she had passed the first hurdle.

It was time to move forward.

She wandered by Daniel's lab, relieved to find Teal'c there as well. They abruptly stopped talking the moment she entered, confirming the fact that they had been having a meet-up to discuss her. She just hoped they kept themselves limited to her grief, knowing his office would be bugged as well.

"Hey, guys," she said carefully with a small smile.

"Hey, Sam," Daniel said warmly. "We were just-"

"Talking about me?" Sam smoothly interrupted.

Daniel had the good grace to look embarrassed, but Teal'c just looked up at her and said, "We are simply concerned for you, Major Carter. We do not wish to see you 'work yourself into the floor.'"

Sam resisted the urge to correct him and just smiled instead. She was lucky to have such friends. Which was why she was going to see them safe. "I know, guys. I appreciate that you've given me some space."

Daniel crossed the room and rubbed Sam's arm. "Just remember that we're always here if you want to talk or anything."

Sam grabbed Daniel's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thanks. Actually I was thinking that we should grab dinner off base together tonight, like old times."

Daniel and Teal'c looked genuinely pleased that she wanted to socialize. "That would be most enjoyable, Major Carter."

"I'll pick you guys up at 1900," she said as she exited the lab.

She waited until they were halfway done with their appetizers to broach the real point of this meeting in an out of the way, noisy diner.

"I need you two to do something for me."

Daniel's head snapped up from his plate at her serious tone. Teal'c cocked his head to one side and considered her.

Sam took a deep breath and plunged in. "Teal'c, I need you to return to your family."

They both just stared at her in silence and she could tell that neither of them really understood. "I need you to leave Earth," she clarified. "Forget about the Tau'ri." Teal'c would be better off out there somewhere rather than running around on Earth, never knowing when his symbiote might mature.

Teal'c's eyebrows rose in a way that Sam read as astonishment, but he didn't say anything.

Daniel looked between them in confusion. "Sam, what are you talking about?"

Turning to Daniel, she continued, "You need to resign from the SGC. Take these papers and disappear somewhere. China, Egypt, Russia…I don't care where. It would be too hard to get you back to Abydos, too obvious." She handed him a small knapsack that held his new passport, social security card and nearly 100,000 dollars in cash.

Daniel briefly glanced into the bag before snapping it back shut, his eyes wide. "What the hell is going on, Sam?"

"This isn't the time for questions, Daniel! Just do as I say," Sam barked lowly, not really allowing herself enough time to reflect on how much she sounded like Jack.

"What about you?" Daniel asked, still shocked by her behavior.

"I'm staying here; I have a few things to take care of."

Daniel had begun to sputter at Sam's seeming insanity, when Teal'c laid a steadying hand on Daniel's arm.

"You believe we are in danger," Teal'c noted calmly.

"If you do as I ask, you will both be fine. I only ask that you make your departures as unsuspicious as possible."

Teal'c observed her for a long moment, waiting as the waitress brought them their dinners, taking away their unfinished appetizers.

"You believe O'Neill's death was not accidental," Teal'c finally said, his voice low.

"What?" Daniel demanded in a loud voice.

"Daniel, keep your voice down," Sam snapped.

"Are you trying to say that he was murdered?" Daniel hissed.

Sam closed her eyes, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. They were never going to let this go. Finally she opened her eyes and nodded.

"Sam…," Daniel said in a softer voice, clearly thinking that she was just desperately clawing at straws. Anything that could explain Jack's death.

"Dammit, Daniel. I'm not some grief-stricken crazy woman! He knew! He came to see me the night before he died; he left me a note and a key to everything we needed. Told me to hold on to them for him."

Daniel was silent for a long time, digesting what she'd said. "We're next, aren't we?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Sam finally said quietly. "So, please, do as I ask. I need to know that you two are safe."

Daniel's hands gripped compulsively at the bag in front of him for long minutes before he shoved the bag back towards Sam. "No."

"No?" Sam echoed incredulously. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"You have something planned, Sam. We want in." He didn't even bother to pause and look to Teal'c for conformation.

"It's none of your business, Daniel."

"Of course it is. We're a team."

"No, Daniel, we're not. Last time I checked, SG-1 was disbanded and Jack was dead," she said harshly.

In the ensuing silence, she quietly reflected on the fact that she no longer had any problems calling him Jack. Strange what effect death can have on people.

"I do not think you believe these words to be true," Teal'c observed quietly after a long pause.

Sam ignored the perceptive comment and pushed the bag towards Daniel again. "This is what he wanted, Daniel. Can't you just respect that?"

"Like you are?"

Sam felt color flood her cheeks, though whether from embarrassment or anger, she couldn't quite tell.

"I don't want you to see," she finally confessed softly, her fingers twisting in her napkin.

"See what?"

She met Daniel's eyes, wanting him to see the steel inside them. "What I'm willing to do to see this through."

Daniel's eyes widened with shock at her vehemence and he fell into silence.

"Samantha Carter," Teal'c intoned, "we will stand by you. General Hammond and O'Neill must be avenged. Their deaths must not be allowed to be meaningless."

"Yeah, Sam," Daniel said, finally recovering. "We do this together."

Sam felt their hands covering her own. For Jack's sake, she had tried to make them safe, but deep down she had known they wouldn't be any more capable of letting this go than she was. And maybe, just maybe, they would be able to pull this off.

"Together," she whispered in agreement.