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Stargate Command/24 hours later.

Jack rubbed his forehead, exhausted. The past twenty-four hours had been rough. They had sent two more probes back to the planet before finally admitted it did no good- they shorted out as they immerged from the wormhole to be covered by water.

The General tapped his watch. In forty-eight hours, he was authorized to send two more probes to the planet… and then to forget about it- to declare Carter M.I.A.

He snorted and sipped the cold coffee on his desk. Like hell he would.

Å

She felt battered and bruised… god, whatever happened to her hurt more then a Goa'uld pain stick… and that was saying something.

Without opening her eyes, she tried to take in her surroundings. She was lying in a bed.

In a bed? The last thing she remembered was being swept away by a great wave of water.

She instinctively felt someone enter the room and tensed.

"Shh…" a soothing voice whispered, "you're all right… you're safe. I promise, no hard will come to you."

Carter opened her eyes. She started to sit up but gentle hands pushed her back. "Lie down, you are injured," the voice said.

She could hear the person moving away from her. "Who are you?" she whispered, "where am I? Where's my team?"

Where's Jack?

Out of the shadows, young woman came forward and tugged a blanket over her. "Shh… rest…"

Carter struggled against the drowsiness for a moment but finally succumbed. The young woman studied the sleeping Colonel for a moment before leaving quietly.

Å

Two days later, Stargate Command's control room.

Jack stared at the images being transmitted from the M.A.L.P (the water had fallen enough for the M.A.L.P to actually be able to send pictures back). "It's gone." The DHD was literally gone. The entire area around the gate was covered with uprooted trees and other debris. He looked over at Daniel who stood next to him. "It's gone," he repeated.

The archeologist appeared to be frozen with shock. "So what?" he demanded, finally finding his voice, "We can't go? Well… can't we contact the Tok'ra or the Asgard? We-"

"Daniel," Jack cut in, "I've already tried contacting the Asgard- no luck so far. As for the Tok'ra," Jack snorted, "they'll be about as much help as this." He held up his fingers to indicate a smidgeon. "I'm sorry."

Å

Daniel stormed into his office followed by Teal'c. "What the hell is wrong with Jack?" he demanded.

"I believe O'Neill thinks he is making the best choice possible," Teal'c said slowly.

"Teal'c!" Daniel took a deep breath, "He's sentencing Sam to death! I mean, we could always manually dial the gate!"

Teal'c paused for a moment. "Perhaps O'Neill did not think of this."

Daniel snorted, "When he goes missing, Sam's up day and night trying to find him and when-"

"O'Neill," Teal'c cut in. Daniel looked over at the doorway. Jack was standing there.

"Jack," he began instantly, "couldn't you let Teal'c and I attempt a rescue? We could always manually dial home," he pleaded.

Jack hesitated- something Daniel immediately picked up on. "Come on! We're talking about Sam! She's-"

"All right," Jack cut in.

"...Probably hurt and... What?"

"You can go," the General said, "Just let me send a probe through first."

Å

She stirred; her eyes opened. "Are you hungry?" a musical voice asked from the doorway.

"A little," she admitted; she looked around, "where's my team?"

The girl moved toward her, giving Sam her first real look at her benefactress. "Do not attempt to sit up- you will only damage yourself further. As for your 'team', they made it safely through the chappa'ai."

"Who are you?" Carter asked, accepting the glass of water the girl offered.

"My name is Sari. How may I serve?"

"I need to get to the Stargate."

Puzzlement was written across the girl's face.

"The chappa'ai," Carter explained, sitting the glass down. "I need to get to the chappa'ai."

The girl's face was expressionless. "I will get you something to eat," she said, gliding from the room.

Å

"The M.A.L.P was crushed, sir," Harriman said softly, staring at the static filled screen.

"What? That's impossible," Daniel protested.

Walter shook his head. "It was unable to materialize on the other side."

"So, the gate is covered?" Jack questioned.

"It appears to be, sir."

"Of course it is," muttered Daniel.

"Could we not attempt to contact the Asgard?" Teal'c asked.

Jack shrugged. "We could, but that beamy-thingy only works when he's near Earth and last time we tried to contact him, it took him several weeks to respond."

"Surely the Tok'ra have a ship," Daniel reminded him, "And they do owe us one- or two."

Jack nodded. "I've already made contact with them- they're waiting your visit."

Three hours later…

"Why do they all pick such sandy planets?" Daniel muttered, picking his way across the vast desert.

"We are nearly there, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said, giving Daniel a sympathetic look. It was not easy for the archeologist to walk the three miles through the deep desert sands. They reached the rings and were whisked down into the tunnels. Garshaw waited for them there.

"Welcome," she said warmly, holding out her hands, "the Tok'ra are glad to see you."

"Garshaw, we've come to ask a favor."

"Straight to the point." She smiled, "What is this favor?"

"We need to borrow a ship," Daniel said quickly, "The fastest one you've got"

She looked surprised, "May I ask why?"

"Major Carter is stranded on 94X-928," Teal'c answered,

Garshaw looked puzzled, "The Stargate will not function?"

"The Stargate appears to be covered."

She bent her head; "I will take this matter to the Tok'ra High Council."

"Is there a way we could talk to Jacob?" Daniel inquired.

She shook her head. "Selmac is on a mission for the Tok'ra- he should return tomorrow around mid morning."

Daniel nodded. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

"Would you like to stay until he returns?" Garshaw offered, "it would save you a trip to the Stargate."

The archeologist and the Jaffa exchanged glances. "Well, I suppose we could," Daniel finally answered.

She smiled and turned to one of the Tok'ra guards. "Take them to the guest quarters," she ordered before disappearing down the hall.

Å

"Hello? Sari?"

The girl appeared. Sam studied her. She had dark brown hair that reached to her waist and solemn brown eyes that currently were filled with relief. "You have waken- I was afraid you would never wake up."

Sam gave her a little smile, "I'm sorry I worried you."

Sari smiled back, looking much younger then Sam thought she was. "How may I serve?"

"I would like to send a message to Earth, if you could help me there," she stopped. "Why not?" she asked the girl who was shaking her head vigorously.

"It is far," Sari began slowly, not able to meet the Colonel's eyes.

"I could tell you what to say, please- they'll worry about me," Sam pleaded. "I know the flood rivers were high but… surely they've gone down."

The girl looked at her with compassion on her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "it can not be done."

"Why not?" Sam demanded, pushing herself into a sitting position.

"It is gone."

All the color drained out of Carter's face as she heard those three words. "What?"

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