A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. Hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 10: salvation
The general and Sam had come down from level 16. They were now entering the gate room. Suddenly they had guns and zats pointed at them.
- Whoa. It's me Daniel. Don't shoot.
- Sam. I'm happy to see you.
The gate room was a mess. You could definitely tell that someone had been shooting in there.
- I'm happy to see you too.
- What happened?
- Well sir. The drones left.
- They left? Just like that?
- Not exactly. They left something behind.
- And that something would be?
- A bomb.
- A bomb?
- Yes. It's in the briefing room.
- So what are you doing here?
- We heard a noise. Turns out that there was still a drone here He's dead now.
- Oh. Ok then.
- Where's Teal'c?
- He's with the bomb.
- Do you have any idea on how to disarm it?
- We actually know exactly how to disarm it. The language on the bomb is mix of Goa'uld and Latin. So between me and Teal'c we translated the writings on the bomb. At least most of the writings on the bomb.
- So why isn't it disarmed?
- We're trying.
They arrived at the briefing room. Teal'c and lieutenant Siler were trying to disarm the bomb.
- So. What can we do?
- Colonel Carter. General Charleston. I am glad you are all right.
- Right back at you. So what..?
- In order to disarm it we have to pull these two wires apart.
- So we don't you?
- Why don't you try it?
The general tried to pull the wires apart and got his hand burned.
- They're hot.
- I noticed that.
- We have been trying to use an isolator. But it seems that there's no material that can resist that "fire".
- Well there has to be a power source.
- Yeah. We thought about that. We couldn't find anything.
- Ok. Let's just put things in perspective. How much time do we have? What will be the power of the blast?
- Half an hour and very, very, very big, sir.
- Daniel how much is very, very, very big?
- We think it can wipe out half the country.
- Half…?
- Sir. I don't think it matters the power of the blast. The environmental damages will make all life in the planet disappear.
- That's bad. What can we do?
- I'm going to see if I can locate a power source. Daniel you said that you had translated MOST of the writings. Why don't you and Teal'c finish the translation? It might help us.
- Ok. But we'll need to do that in my office. I'll need some of my books. Sir may we go?
- Yes. Go. Call us if we find something.
- Ok.
They left.
- Lieutenant Siler do you think you can find anything that can resist the heat?
- I think there may be one material we haven't tried yet. But it is on level 12. I'll be back as soon as I can.
- Ok. Hurry up.
Siler left. Sam and the general were alone in the briefing room.
- I knew from day one that I wasn't the right person for this job but I didn't leave.
- Sir you…
The general put his hand up for her to shut up.
- Let me finish. I have to tell you this.
- Sir. You'll have time to tell me this after we disarm the bomb.
- We don't even know if we are going to be able to do that. This may as well be the last chance I have to tell you this. Please.
- Ok.
- Thank you. – The general took a deep breath. It was clear that this was a conversation he didn't want to have. But he had to. He felt obligated to tell her this. – I told you why I accepted this job. But I didn't tell you why I stayed here.
- What?
- After I was told that I would have to kill you to have my wife back I gave up my plans. I couldn't kill a person for such selfish reasons. I was ready to leave. I even wrote my resignation letter. Something stopped me from delivering it. Do you have any idea on what it was?
- You saw that you could do a big contribution to mankind?
- No. I'm afraid that the reasons I stuck around were much more selfish than that. – Seeing the confused look on Sam's eyes he decided that this was the time to come clean. – I meet you. Sam from the first moment I talked to you I've been in love with you.
- Sir. This is just because I look like your wife. You're not in love with me. You're…
- I said from the first moment I talked to you not the first moment I saw you. I love your personality, your terrific intellect, everything about you.
- I don't know what to tell you sir.
- I know you're in a relationship.
- How?
- I followed you one night.
- You what?
- Not a noble action. I know that. It's just that I had to know. The night I followed you was the night I had finally made a decision. I was going to tell you about my feelings. I was ready to quit if there was any indication that you returned my feelings. I waited for you to leave. You were entering your car and I was about to call your name when you got a phone call. I could see it in your face. You had a face of a woman in love. So I followed you. I followed you to your former CO's house.
- How do you know that that was Jack's house?
- I have some friends in the police.
- Oh.
- I know that what I did was bad. I had no right to follow you. I'm sorry for that.
- I'm shocked. I had no idea that you… I mean this is…
- Weird. But I wanted you to know that. I'm going to make right everything wrong I ever did.
- What do you mean? What are you going to do?
- For starters this.
He kissed her. It was a soft and tender kiss.
- I just wanted to do this before I die. Sam I hope you and that Jack dude are very happy together.
- What? – Sam was still is shock from the kiss. She thought she might have misunderstood what he said.
- I said be happy.
He pushed her against a wall and moved closer to the bomb.
- I do this for you.
- NOOOOOOOOOOO.
He put his hands on the wires and started pushing them apart. The pain was excruciating. He was screaming. Sam tried to get up but failed. When he pushed her against the wall she bumped her head. She was too dizzy to get up.
After much effort he was finally able to push the two wires apart.
- Goodbye my love.
Both he and the bomb had disappeared.
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A/N: Hope you liked it. Only one more chapter to go. I don't know when I'm going to be able to update again. I think I'm going to spend some time away from my computer. I'll update A.S.A.P.