A/n: I hope everything is well. I am excited and honored to be added into one of the c2 communities, thanks to roseofthegate. Once again, sorry for any mistakes, and still season 8 spoilers, although not much. Beware of slight language… (Disclaimer: I don't own stargate or anything related, etc…) Thanks for reading, enjoy!
After just having revealed some intense emotions for her CO who happened to share the same feelings, Sam proceeded to walk to the infirmary where she had ordered Dr. Miles to pack all tranquilizers and place them in storage room C where no one could access it easily. She knew that was the first thing she had to do to make sure Fifth's experiment didn't run smoothly. Normally, she wouldn't have accepted defeat so quickly, but Fifth was a different matter. She knew he would do anything to get his plan executed, because she experienced first hand his determination. She was reminded of the pain he had caused her and winced at the thought of it again. Hopefully it didn't have to amount to that. Sam's mind was also racing over the incident she just had in Jack's office. She hadn't imagined both feeling so in love with each other; it was just a lot to take in. Even if they had known each other's feelings for the past six or seven years, they couldn't have predicted this boiling over at such a crucial time when replicators were multiplying on some planet, Fifth being invulnerable to the ancient weapon, and Jack just becoming general, learning how to run the base without screwing everything up. It was overwhelming for all parties, including the fact that Jack and Sam were rarely together anymore, ever since he had to stop going off world. That was probably what triggered Fifth to conduct such an experiment, perhaps to test the strength of their wits, wills, and well, love.
The infirmary was empty when Sam walked in. She started rummaging around the cabinets to make sure no tranquilizers were to be found. Good, none there, perfect, just as planned. She thought to herself as another thought was triggered by a sense of déjà vu. Oh no. What if Fifth had sent the pathogen through before or during my transport home through the wormhole? Damn, why didn't I think of this before? I hope my gut is wrong this.
Right when she thought that, a familiar sound came from behind her. She spun around to find Teal'c aiming a zat gun at her, ready to fire. Jack walks in from the other end followed by Daniel. "You know you're very predictable, but that's what I love about you." He said with a smirk. Meanwhile, Daniel was preparing a syringe. Sam didn't have her vest with her and was completely unarmed. "Look, can't we do this the civil way? I'll walk with you to wherever and talk it out." Sam was almost pleading.
"No can do Carter. We know you too well; you wouldn't give up without a fight. I have backup. I may be affected by some pathogen, but I'm still me. I'm still general and commander of this base. Everything I do is still Jack O'Neil, just a little less uptight; I'm free to express myself and it would be wise for you to give in."
"Hey, I would if I could, but Fifth made me immune, remember? I don't understand why this is happening at all. We can never get a break." Sam retorted. Yeah, why did Fifth keep me immune? It would be so much easier just to get me sick too, and then I wouldn't have to be the bad guy and kick my friend's miktas. Jeez! But at the moment, Teal'c is still holding the zat gun and Daniel's probably preparing a cocktail to knock me out so…. "Please, guys, if I go peaceable…" Sam pleaded advancing towards Daniel.
Suddenly, she grabbed Daniel, twisted the syringe out of his hand, twisted him around, and pushed him in front of her as a shield. Teal'c was surprisingly slow with his reflexes and couldn't shoot now that Daniel was the target. This was probably due to Teal'c's tretonin; like a symbiote, it lessened the effects of the pathogen. Somewhere inside, Teal'c knew that he didn't need to shoot anyone. And Jack didn't interfere probably because he thought it amusing that once again Carter fought against all odds, against the SGC personnel. He chuckled at the thought; she could probably do it, but not today, not on his watch. "Sam, sweetheart, let Danny boy go." He gave her a stern look. "Don't make me hurt you."
"My Jack would never do such a thing."
"This is for your own safety and mental well-being. Release him or I will take action."
"I will shoot both of you if necessary." Teal'c added firmly.
Sam was backed up against the closed door of the infirmary; she thought she was fine with Daniel shielding her even if Teal'c did shoot; she'd have a chance to release him and run for it. Jack knew this and gave Daniel a signal. With that, Daniel drew another syringe from his pocket and jabbed it into Sam's arm. The effects were immediate as Sam fell to the floor. Daniel and Teal'c took this as a cue to leave the room while Jack and Sam talked.
Jack went over to hold her and smooth away the hair from her face. The tranquilizer only had a minimum dosage to relax muscles and calm her, so she was still slightly conscious. They both looked into each other's eyes and smile.
"I wanted this to happen, you know. I was only putting up a fight as a façade, although I wasn't quite sure if the pathogen left you as you. I'm glad you're still you, cause that's the only part I love." After a moment she spoke again. "I guess I should thank Fifth for what he's done. Do you know when the pathogen's effects wear off?"
"Don't thank him just yet; it's not over."
"But isn't this enough? Any further, we'd be court marshaled no matter what. I can't let it go any further." She strained to get up.
"After all these years, you would leave it at that? I understand you just got over Pete, but for cryin out loud, this is a chance to be together without regulations, just you and me. No one's gonna know; no one's gonna remember except us." Jack pleaded.
"Jack, I know we've done worse when we were Jonah and Thera and countless times off world, but we're still in the military, and nothing's going to change the regulations wherever we are. Believe it or not, I think going further would affect our work relationship; the regs are there for a reason." Sam said sadly knowing that if it weren't for those damn regulations, she would gladly run into his arms and go off to who knows where.
"Then I'm sorry Sam, but I can't let this window of opportunity go. Forgive me."
Jack kissed her lips softly as he injected her with another tranquilizer. She gave a slight whimper and went limp.
"Oh Carter." Jack said lovingly, "for crying out loud, don't make it so hard on me, give in…just this once." He said to her unconscious, knocked out, precious, beautiful, peaceful body, as he tenderly picked her up and walked to the gate room.
"Dial P3X-561, my little excursion's going to take a while, so tell Daniel and Teal'c to follow up in 24 hours."
"Yes sir," Sergeant Walter said, and proceeded to engage chevrons. "Chevron Seven encoded and locked; you're good to go, General."
"Thanks. Oh, and if Hammond drops by, tell him I'm on a very important mission, one I've waited for all my life."
"Yes sir."
Meanwhile, Daniel talked while Teal'c kelnoreemed.
"Were you really going to shoot me?"
"Yes, it was an order: 'do what is necessary.'" Teal'c replied with his eyes closed, still in meditation. Even though he had no need to kelnoreem, it was still good for relaxing.
"Do you feel any different? You know, cause of the pathogen…"
"I do not feel any ailment of sorts Daniel Jackson."
"Oh, me neither."
After a long pause Daniel spoke again. "I was just thinking: what if this was all a lie? Hyperactive delusions if you will. Maybe we're not infected by anything at all; maybe because we think we are, we act more freely without judgments. Ohmigod, it's like Hamlet and Macbeth all over again…"
"I have read these plays. Because of each character's determination to fulfill their destinies and prophecies, they brought destruction on themselves. If what you speak of is true, Daniel Jackson, then we must notify O'Neil at once."
Daniel stood up in haste. "Gah, I can't believe we didn't think this thing through. Fifth is one slick bastard; he likes to play tricks on people's minds. He is more human than I thought."