A/N: This isn't the last chapter, but the story is complete. My beta has the rest of it at the moment, so it should be posted fairly soon. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Keep it up.

Chapter 6

The newly reunited SG-1 made their way back toward the Stargate: Colonel Jack O'Neill took the lead, followed by Dr. Daniel Jackson supporting Major Samantha Carter. Teal'c, the Jaffa, had their six. They traveled quickly and in total silence. This was definitely in stark contrast to their leisurely stroll and joking banter just days before when they had first arrived on this planet. This time there was nothing to say. The team was whole again, complete again, but one of them was broken and they each felt that strain. "Jack, hold up a minute," Daniel said from behind. Jack turned to see him lowering Sam to the ground. Teal'c quickened his pace to catch up with the others, Jack backtracked, and they all gathered around Sam's hunched form on the ground.

Sam was rocking back and forth on her knees, her injured arm pressed securely to her chest and the other one holding her throbbing head. Teal'c tried to pick her up. She pushed him off. "Carter, what's wrong?" Asked O'Neill, using his best command voice. He was worried about his officer, his friend, but they had to keep moving if they were going to reach the gate before nightfall. Sam didn't respond. "Carter!" O'Neill shouted as he grabbed her arm away from her head, but released it quickly when he saw the look in her eyes. He had seen that look before. If he could admit it to himself, he had even seen it in his own eyes. It was the look of utter terror.

"They're coming," whispered Sam. "I can hear them. They're chanting again."

"I do not hear anything, Major Carter. Are you feeling worse?" asked Teal'c.

"What do you mean you don't hear anything?" asked Sam through her tears. She was now crying openly from the pain caused by the noise. She was crying in front of her team, in front of her CO. "When they separated us," she continued between sobs, "I heard that sound. I hear it now. I don't know why the rest of you can't hear it too, but I can hear it loud and clear and it hurts like hell."

Daniel hadn't moved from his supporting position behind her. "It's possible that they did something to her so that they were able to communicate. Except for the chanting when we were separated, they were always silent, right? So maybe they're telepathic. Maybe they did something to Sam so only she can hear them." Daniel theorized.

"That's what I assumed as well, Colonel." added Carter. She got herself together and got to her feet with Daniel's assistance. "Always the soldier," thought Jack. "This is the first time I remember ever hearing them make a sound since that initial time when we were separated, Sir. You think I'm crazy, don't you?" she asked her team.

"Why would we think that, Carter?" Replied O'Neill, while placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Just because you're hearing voices and all don't mean anything." She smiled and Jack took the opportunity to look into her eyes. The fear was still there. She was trying to hide it, and almost succeeding. But to someone who knew the game of hiding your emotions, her struggle to keep it together was transparent. "Well if they're coming, we should be going.

You okay to walk, Carter? Asked O'Neill. Teal'c could carry you, ya know?"

"You would not be a burden, Major Carter," confirmed Teal'c.

"Thank you, Teal'c." said Sam as she nodded her appreciation to the Jaffa. "I'm okay, Sir. If I start slowing you down, you have my permission to drag me if necessary."

"You're granting ME permission, Major?" said O'Neill emphasizing her lower rank, but his voice was so coated in sarcasm that she wasn't offended. She hid her fears through determination; he hid his fears through sarcasm and bad jokes.

They walked for another twenty minutes. The suns were starting to set and Jack was getting worried. They had no defense against these creatures in the dark. "O'Neill," observed Teal'c, breaking Jack's train of thought. "We are nearing the Stargate." The gate was less than a mile ahead; it's form perfectly outlined by the sunset. Under different circumstances, it would have been an once-in-a-lifetime view they would have enjoyed. As things stood now, SG-1 just wanted to go home.

They didn't make it to the gate before the attack began. The creatures overcame them. It seemed that all the creatures wanted was to get Carter back.

"No!" Screamed Carter as she was violently ripped from Daniel's arms by one of the Ozians. Its hands covered her abdomen and she cried out in pain as it began to drag her towards the trees. The remaining creatures withdrew from the area.

Jack and Teal'c stood, weapons at the ready, but could not get a clear shot. Then suddenly the creature fell forward, landing hard on top of Carter. Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c all shared the same it-wasn't-me look, before running to Carter's side. Teal'c heaved the creature off of her; Jack pulled her to her feet.

"The creature is dead," stated Teal'c as he kicked it just to make sure. There was no blood, no sign of injury. It had just fallen over and died.

"Jack, how–" Daniel began.

"No time Daniel, we've got company." Jack said as he watch the Ozians began to reappear from all sides, coming out of the trees. "Daniel, dial the gate!"

Daniel did has he was told. Jack had never seen him run so fast. "Let's get out of here!" Ordered O'Neill. He reached out to pull Carter along, only then realizing that he was still holding her arm. She took a few painful steps before her knees buckled. "Whatever that thing just did to her, it must have made it worse," Jack thought. "Teal'c you got–" O'Neill began. But a staff weapon had found its way into his hand and Teal'c was several feet ahead of him, carrying Carter. Jack shook his head, not bothering to process the fact that they themselves had become somewhat telepathic over the years, and took off after Teal'c. Daniel had the gate open and SG-1 jumped through just as the chanting started again. This time they all could hear the ear piercing noise.

"It's SG-1, sir," announced Walter, the technician, as General Hammond stormed into the control room.

"Open the Iris! Get a medical team down there immediately!" Ordered General Hammond. He didn't bother to stop in the control room. He just headed down the stairs to meet his AWOL team. Daniel entered first, followed by Teal'c who was carrying Carter. She was holding her breath to prevent herself from screaming due to her pain. The trip through the wormhole had left her body feeling like it had been ripped to shreds. O'Neill backed through last, still firing his weapon.

"Shut it down!" yelled General Hammond after SG-1 was through the gate. He started up the ramp, but was nearly knocked over by Dr. Janet Frasier as she ran up to meet the injured team member.

"Sam." Said Dr. Frasier trying to assess her condition. Carter was still in Teal'c's arms, but he stood there patiently as Dr. Frasier began her examination. "Sam, I need you to breathe," She instructed. Carter finally let out the breath she had been holding and the beating of the hearts of all the people in the room stopped as her cries echoed off the concrete walls. Dr. Frasier's eyes grew wide for an instant before the military doctor in her re-emerged. "Where the hell is the gurney!" She shouted. She had run ahead of the medical aides, not even realizing it until they were coming up behind her. "Teal'c get her on the gurney. Colonel, I need to know what happened." Ordered Dr. Frasier as she took over command of the medical emergency.

She was already half way to the elevator before General Hammond could process what had just happened. He wasn't an idiot. He knew who had the power on the base during any thing medical and when Dr. Frasier said jump everyone did as they were told. General Hammond was no exception as he headed down the corridor, following SG-1 to the infirmary.

Dr. Frasier had ordered every test in the book, and after a large dose of morphine, Sam submitted willingly to her poking and prodding. General Hammond had retreated to his office, leaving orders to be kept apprised of the situation. Daniel sat in a chair opposite Sam's bed, Teal'c stood next to him, and O'Neill was slouched in the corner. They were all as close to Carter as Dr. Frasier would allow them.

"Well, there's really nothing else we can do at the moment. When the test results come back, we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with." She addressed the members of SG-1 in doctor mode, and then turned back to Sam. "Unless there's anything else you need to tell me?" she asked them all with a skeptical look.

"Uh, I think that's our cue to leave," said Daniel getting up from his chair.

"Indeed." added Teal'c with a raised eyebrow.

"We're going to get some food and then we'll come back." Daniel said to Sam as he squeezed her ankle, safe territory as far as he knew. "Want some jell-O?"

"Blue Jell-O, DanielJackson," Added Teal'c.

Normally Daniel would have laughed at Teal'c's frankness, but he couldn't manage a smile at the moment. Sam hadn't reacted at all to his touch. He wondered if she had heard anything they were saying. He nodded to Janet, whose look told him she shared his concern, and then he and Teal'c headed for the mess.

"Colonel," Janet said flatly staring at O'Neill with her arms crossed. Waiting for him to acknowledge that she was speaking to him.

"Yeah," Answered O'Neill. It was the first thing he had said since they had entered the infirmary. He spoke to Dr. Frasier but his eyes never moved from his Second In Command.

"Out!" Ordered Dr. Frazier.

"Yeah." He replied again and reluctantly walked out the door. Dr. Frasier shut it behind him, shaking her head in the process.

"That man will be the death of me. I don't know how you–" She was now alone with her friend and could speak as such. She turned back to Sam who had curled in on herself. Sam was now in a protective, fetal position. "Sam?" Janet asked as she a placed gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. "What happened?"

"I don't know, Janet. I keep telling everyone: I don't know!" Sam cried out. She rolled on her other side so her back was to the doctor. She was still fighting off the pain that any movement caused her.

"Sam," Began Janet again. She wasn't deterred. She just sat there, stared at Carter's back, and waited.

"I don't think they raped me, if that's what you want to know." Sam finally said to Janet. She still had her eyes closed, simultaneously trying to remember and forget. "I could feel what they were doing the last time. The times before that I saw what they did on a recording device. They had machines." She was hoping Janet didn't notice her shaking. Then she felt the woman's hand on her back. No such luck that Janet hadn't noticed so she continued. "Somehow they were able to see inside of me without being inside of me." She couldn't see her friend, but she knew she had peaked Janet's interest. "I tried to snag you one of their machines, but I just couldn't manage to escape with it." Sam returned to lying on her back, hoping she had sufficiently changed the subject, but she should have known better. Janet was still staring at her and wanting more details. "It hurt. That's all I know for sure. It just hurt." This Sam could say without a doubt.

Janet nodded and squeezed Sam's hand. "You're home. We'll figure this stuff out. Get some rest."

"Yes, ma'am." Sam smiled and squeezed her friend's hand in return; before closing her eyes and trying to block out the remaining pain that no amount of drugs could touch.

Janet waited until Sam was resting and then headed for the commissary to talk to the other SG-1 members. There had to be more to this and she was going to get the answers.

Janet entered the commissary and found the men of SG-1 huddled at a table in the corner. They were deep in conversation. She approached cautiously, hoping to hear something that might help her treat her patient and friend. Daniel was explaining something to Colonel O'Neill. She could see that Daniel was exercising extreme patience. The Colonel seemed to be listening quietly, until his fist slammed down on the table, sending blue Jell-O flying at Teal'c.

O'Neill just got up and walked away, only stopping when he ran right into Dr. Frasier. "Can I see her?" he blurted out instead of an apology. She nodded but he was already out the door. She took his abandoned chair at the table.

"He's worried," said Daniel, apologizing for his friend's behavior. Janet brushed it off. She knew how much the Colonel cared about his people.

"How's she doing?" Daniel inquired.

"Not good," admitted Janet. "I don't know what else to do for her except give her pain meds. I'm still waiting for the test results. They should be back soon."

"Major Carter is very strong. I believe she will make a full recovery," said Teal'c with such sincerity it was hard not to believe him.

Jack returned to the infirmary to find Carter in morphine induced sleep. He was grateful she was resting, but regretted that he couldn't talk to her. Not that she would necessarily tell him anything new, or anything she hadn't told Dr. Frasier, but still he wanted to offer her the chance. For now, though, he was content to watch her sleep.

He had been sitting there for five hours. Daniel and Teal'c had been in and out offering to take his place. General Hammond stopped by once to tell O'Neill they had no luck contacting the Tok'ra. Dr. Frasier kept poking her head in making sure he wasn't trying to wake Sam. Colonel O'Neill hadn't moved, nor did he have any intention of moving.

He sat next to Carter's bed and alternated between fiddling with tongue depressors and rearranging the instruments on Dr. Frasier's table. He was just about to complete a miniature replica of his cabin when Carter starting gasping, trying to breathe. Jack whipped around, demolishing his cabin, and grabbed her hand in an attempt to calm her down. Her eyes were searching wildly for something to focus on, and then she found his face. Her hand squeezed his so tightly his fingers went numb. "Doc!" he yelled, unable to leave Carter's side to get help. "Doc!"

Dr. Frasier ran into the room; needle in hand. She expertly emptied the syringe into Sam's IV. The writhing woman began to relax, her breathing slowed, and her hand went lax in O'Neill's. He did not let go.

"I was just about to brief the General on her latest test results. You should come too, Sir," Dr. Frasier said softly. When he made no sign of leaving, she added: "She's going to be out for a while, Sir. I promise we'll be back before she wakes up again."

Jack nodded and reluctantly released Carter's hand and followed Dr. Frasier out of the room.

The two were almost to the briefing room when Walter's voice filled the halls. "Unauthorized Off World Activation." He now had to wait for the incoming travelers to identify themselves before opening the Iris.

Jack turned on his heals and headed for the control room. Dr. Frasier was just feet behind him. Daniel, Teal'c and General Hammond joined them immediately.

"No, IDC, Sir," Walter said, "but we're receiving an audio transmission.

"Let's hear it," said General Hammond. They all shared a horrified look as the chanting of the Ozians blasted through the speakers.

"Briefing room. Now." Ordered General Hammond.