Sam was tired, she didn't remember ever being this tired; Daniel was right in suggesting she go home to rest. The only problem was trying to stay awake during the long drive home. When she finally made it to her street, she didn't notice the black van parked across from her house. She turned down the bend that would take her to the alley behind her house to her driveway. 'Finally' she thought turning off the ignition and grabbing her keys. 'Boy I don't know how long it's been since I've been home, I hate to think of what's growing in my fridge' she said as she headed for her back door.
Sam fidgeted with the key, trying to find the lock in the dark. Finally opening the door, she stepped in and reached for the light switch, only to have nothing happen. "Damn, that's all I need. I know I paid the electricity bill." Sam was suddenly startled by a hand that covered her mouth, and another that grabbed her around the waste. Instinctively she thrust her head back making a loud noise as she came in contact with the face of her attacker. She then slammed her elbow into his ribs causing him to release her and bend over in pain. She turned around grabbed his head and got ready to drive her knee into his face; when she was grabbed forcibly by the shoulder and turned around quickly having her face encounter a fist. She stumbled back slightly with the contact; but adrenaline had kicked in and she was acting on instinct. She blocked the next few blows then lifted her leg and kicked him in the stomach. The first attacker had regained his composure took out his gun and hit Sam in the back of the head. She went down hard, landing on her side. The first attacker wasn't done though; he was angry with her for breaking his nose and took it out on her by kicking her in the side. "That's enough Stan, they want her alive." The second guy said pulling Stan away from Sam. "Come on we have to get her out of here."
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O'Neill and Rabb were in O'Neill's truck racing down the streets of Colorado Springs. "How much farther O'Neill?"
"We're just about there." Jack said swerving around the corner of Sam's street. He came up to the house, drove the truck over the sidewalk, and parked it on Sam's lawn. "There aren't any lights on; Carter might have already gone to bed."
Their attention was brought to the front window; they could see a flashlight shining in the house. "That looks kind of odd." Rabb said.
"Ya think" O'Neill answered, opening the door to exit the truck. Rabb followed as the two men quietly made their way to the front door. Rabb had his gun out and ready, while O'Neill looked through the window.
"Do you see anything?" Rabb whispered, trying to see in the small window of the door.
"Just the flashlight moving around, I can't tell anything from here."
"Did you hear that?" Rabb said after hearing loud noises coming from within.
O'Neill put his hand up to silence Rabb, and then gave a few more hand signals. The two men stood on either side of the door, waiting anxiously. The door slowly opened and they could hear two men talking.
"Sling an arm over your shoulder and let's go; we should've been out of here long ago." The second assailant said angrily.
"It's not my fault, geez my nose is broken you know." Stan said grunting, while slinging one of Sam's arms over his shoulder.
"Stop whining and let's go." They approached the now open door hauling Sam between them. As soon as Stan stepped out the door, he was pulled violently by the arm causing him to release Sam, turn around and came in contact with a fist, the blow so powerful it didn't take long for the blackness to overtake him.
Rabb seeing O'Neill take care of one of the guys lifted and pointed his gun at the second; causing him to raise his hands and drop Sam. "Step outside the door, keep your hands up." Rabb said in a steely voice. He had seen the figure they were carrying fall, but had to take care of this situation first.
O'Neill heard an engine start up, and tires squeal, he had just enough time to pull Rabb into the house, before shots were being fired at them. They had to step over Sam's prone body; Jack pulled her away while Rabb slammed the door shut. Jack ran to Sam's kitchen and went to retrieve her gun from its hiding place. He then returned to the front room with Rabb. "We have to get out of here, before they get reinforcements." O'Neill said cocking the pistol. Rabb gave him an accusing look. "What? There shooting at us, what do you want me to do, throw rocks at them?"
"How do you suggest we get out of here?" Rabb said, realizing O'Neill was right, and dropped the subject for now.
"You grab Carter and head for the truck, I'll cover you." Jack said throwing the keys to Rabb.
Rabb caught the keys, "I hope you're a good shot." He said heading towards Carter.
"The best." Jack said, as he watched Rabb head towards Sam. He was impressed Rabb caught the keys, seeing that is was almost pitch black in the house.
Rabb was kneeling beside Sam, "Major, can you hear me?" He was sure Carter was still unconscious, but it was worth a try. Receiving no answer, he proceeded to turn the major over. "Oh my God!" Rabb said startled.
"What! What's wrong with Carter?" Jack said anxiously.
"Ah, what, no…I was just surprised. No one mentioned Major Carter was a woman." Rabb was truly stunned at this discovery.
"Well at least I know you can tell the difference. Does it really matter at the moment?"
Rabb was snapped out of his shock, by the situation. He checked for a pulse and was relieved when he found one. He then lifted Sam up into a fireman's carrying position, then nodded to O'Neill that he was ready.
Jack opened the door, noticed that one of the goons was still unconscious on the porch, but the second one was gone. He made his way out on the porch behind one of the pillars. Bullets started whizzing by him, he noted where they were coming from, and started to return fire, "Go!" he shouted to Rabb, as he watched him carry Sam to the truck. He waited until they were both situated and Rabb had the engine running before he started his dash for the truck, shooting as he ran. As soon as he jumped in the open door, Rabb floored it and took off with wheels screeching.
Rabb was driving extremely fast, taking curves at breakneck speeds causing the occupants to bounce from one side to the other. Luckily, Sam was in the middle and didn't hit the doors like Rabb and O'Neill did. O'Neill kept a protective grip on Sam, so she wouldn't end up hitting the dashboard. "Which way?" Rabb called out.
"Take the next left and a right two streets after that. We can't go back to the SGC right now; they could be waiting for us on the route. We'll have to lie low, until I can figure something out." Jack said, as he watched to see if they were being tailed. After a few more instructions and a few more miles, they found themselves in front of a small house on a secluded street. "Wait here, I'll just be a minute; keep the engine running."
Rabb watched as O'Neill headed to the front door, it took him a few moments before he was opening the door and heading in. Next thing he noticed was the garage door opening and O'Neill waving him in. Rabb parked the truck, and O'Neill closed the garage door behind them. He let out a sigh of relief as he turned the ignition off. He now took the time to have a closer look at the unconscious woman leaning against him. She had short blonde hair with a patch of dried blood on the back; she was also dressed like O'Neill in the drab olive green BDU's. He had to admit she was beautiful, and wondered how O'Neill managed to work so closely with her; but then he had the same problem with Mac, only they were the same rank, and he wasn't her CO. His attention was brought to O'Neill as he opened the truck door.
"Okay, let's get her into the house." Jack said reaching for Sam's shoulders.
"Careful, she's got a head wound; I don't know how serious it is." Rabb said as he helped O'Neill shift her position.
"Well it's a little late to worry about that now, after you slung her over your shoulders." Jack said, now he had Carter out of the truck and had one of her arms draped over his shoulder.
Rabb got out of the truck and rushed over to them, and quickly picked Sam up in his arms. "Lead the way Colonel." Rabb saw the look O'Neill was giving him. "What, you looked like you could use a hand." After all, he was younger and looked stronger than O'Neill, and Carter certainly wasn't heavy to lift. O'Neill should appreciate the help.
Jack shook his head and led Rabb into the house and to the living room; the lights had already been turned on when they entered. "Put her on the couch, I'll be back in a minute."
Rabb watched O'Neill head to one of the other rooms after he laid Carter down. He looked at her face and noticed a bruise forming on her cheek. He then reached behind her head and felt a large lump where he saw the blood earlier.
O'Neill returned carrying a first aid kit; he turned on the table lamp next to the couch. "Ok let's see what we've got." He said as he sat on the coffee table in front of Sam.
"Looks like she got hit hard over the head, there's a lump that's already formed, and some dried blood. I also noticed a bruise forming on her face, looks like she took a punch." Rabb said as he moved out of the way to let O'Neill tend to his teammate.
"Go get some ice, for an icepack." O'Neill ordered, he was now in Colonel mode, and didn't have time for emotions. He felt the back of her head and winced when he felt the lump, 'definite concussion' he thought. He continued by feeling the back of her neck, everything felt normal, he only hoped he was right. He saw Rabb return with the ice pack, "Give me a hand to turn her on her side." He wanted to be very careful to make sure he didn't cause any more damage by moving her. When she was lying on her side, he checked the back of her head closer; there was a definite open cut by the lump but it had stopped bleeding, so for now he placed the ice pack on the back of her head. "Stay here while I check out the surroundings." Jack said as he got up and checked his gun, and then he headed out the back door.
Rabb was adjusting the ice pack when he heard Carter moan; he sat on the table and waited for her to wake up.
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A/N : You may not have noticed, but I worked hard in the previous chapters to make sure no one referred to Sam, as she or her. I hope the little surprise for Harm worked.