General Hammond was worried and it showed. He kept staring at his phone, hoping for word from O'Neill. It had been several hours since he and Commander Rabb went rushing out of the base, and no one had heard from them since. He looked up from his desk to see Dr. Jackson and Teal'c entering the briefing room; he anxiously got up to meet them. "Any word gentlemen?"
"I'm afraid not Sir." Daniel said sadly shaking his head.
"I too am worried about Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter." Teal'c said, but you wouldn't be able to tell by the look on his face.
Their attention was brought to Sgt. Harriman who was wheeling a potable TV into the briefing room. "General Sir, I think there's something you should see." He then turned the TV on and stepped back.
They all watched intently as the screen came into view. It was the local news station; showing a picture of a house that had been surrounded by yellow police tape. "As we have just mentioned, we are at the scene of a local suburban house where reports of gun shots have been made. Witnesses state that they beard the shots and had seen the occupant of the house being carried away. They didn't know if the single female living at this house was dead or alive when they saw her being carted off. They saw a large dark truck speed off with the female occupant inside, and then were followed by a dark van. We do not have the identity of the female occupant of the house; it is being held back for notification of family. Once again reports…"
"Turn it off, I've seen enough." Hammond ordered.
"Sir, that's Sam's house!" Daniel said anxiously.
"The description sounds like O'Neill's vehicle." Teal'c added.
"Yes, I know gentlemen; I only hope it was the colonel, and that Major Carter is alright. However, right now I have matters to attend to. Sergeant get the local police on the phone, we have to take over the investigation at the major's home. I want you two to accompany a forensics team to keep an eye on them. Like Rabb said he's not sure who can be trusted on base, but I'm damn sure I can trust the two of you." Hammond said to Daniel and Teal'c
"Thank you General, we will do our best." Teal'c said bowing his head.
"I have Police Chief Reynolds on the phone Sir." Harriman told the general.
"You two meet the team up top, Sergeant arrange a team." Hammond said as he disappeared into his office.
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It was quiet in the small house, only a small lamp illuminated the living room, just enough light to let O'Neill keep an eye on Carter. He relieved Rabb a little while ago, so he could get some sleep. Now in the dim light and quiet he had time to reflect. He wondered why Carter was angry with him; she didn't seem like her normal easygoing self, that he had come to know. She now seemed withdrawn and short with him, ever since he got back from Edora. Jack's attention was brought to Carter as he heard her mumble in her sleep.
"No Daniel…have to keep working. No time…no one…left behind." O'Neill's eyes widened as he heard the words coming from Carter. Not only was she talking in her sleep, but she was starting to thrash about.
"Have to get him back….Not leaving him behind." Now O'Neill was beginning to understand what Carter must have gone through when he was stuck on that planet. He hadn't realized how hard she must have worked to find a way to get him back, or how it had affected her. He remembered Daniel telling him that she had to invent that machine they used to open the gate. That she worked hard on it, but he didn't realize how hard until now. Now he had an idea as to why she had lost so much weight, her sheer determination, sometimes gave way to her not taking care of herself; especially when someone else's life hung in the balance. He thought she was just being the normal brilliant Carter, doing what the general wanted so the other inhabitants of Edora could go home; but now his words were coming from her lips. 'No one gets left behind.' Now he knew what he had instilled in his 2IC, and how true her loyalty was. If only he could live up to her example.
"Come on Carter wake up, you're having a bad dream." Jack shook her lightly on the shoulder, he didn't want to surprise her, and have her attack him as she did Rabb. He had to admit though the sight of the two of them on the floor was kind of funny; up until the time she passed out. Now he had to wake her to make sure she was okay. He had a panicked feeling, of not knowing what to do if she really needed a doctor, or hospital. "Come on Carter wake up." This time he said it a little more firmly, and shook her a little harder.
"Ow…I'm awake, I'm awake." She said groggily grabbing onto her side from the sudden jarring.
"Sorry Carter, I tried a gentler approach, but you didn't wake up; and you know how serious head wounds can be." Jack said apologetically, feeling guilty for having hurt her.
"That's okay Sir, I understand. You ah wouldn't happen to have some pain killers would you?" Sam hated taking pills, but right now, she could do with something a little stronger than an aspirin. While sleeping on the couch her muscles had all stiffened up, and now her right side was even more painful than before. What she wouldn't give to be able to soak in a hot tub right now; but didn't think she'd be able to get into or out of it by herself. She had to smirk at the thought of how Colonel O'Neill would react to her asking him to help her out of the bathtub. 'Well a girl could dream couldn't she?' Or what about Harm, now that could be very interesting.
"Just some run of the mill ibuprofen, nothing stronger I'm afraid." Then Jack noticed the look on Carter's face. "Ah Carter what are you smirking at?"
"Ah nothing Colonel, just thinking how funny it is that I for once wished I was in Janet's infirmary." 'Good one Sam, he should believe that one.'
"Yea that is the last place any of us want to be. I'll just go get you some water for the pills, it's better than nothing I hope." Jack said as he headed for the kitchen.
'Come on Sam you've got to stop thinking about him; no good will come of it; after all you know he doesn't have feeling for you. Not after seeing him with Laira.' Sam thought to herself.
O'Neill went back to her side and handed her the pills and water. "Here you go Carter, now maybe you should try to get some more rest, it will be morning soon, and we're going to have our work cut out for us." He watched as she painfully eased herself back down and closed her eyes. He had to think of a plan soon, Carter needed him now, more than ever; and he couldn't bring himself to let her down.
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Daniel and Teal'c had been at Sam's house for a while now; the initial shock of the sight was wearing off. When they had stepped into Sam's house, Daniel couldn't believe the mess, he could tell there had been an altercation, and by the looks of the place, Sam had put up one hell of a fight. What shocked him the most was the sight of the blood on the floor. He only wished that it wasn't all Sam's. He had made sure to watch the forensics team gather evidence; before the clean up team took over to get rid of the blood. Now he had to make sure to get all the evidence the police had collected. If it was Sam's blood, they had to make sure to get it back so no tests could be run on it. How ironic it was, worrying about the health of his friend, and having to be so controlled about collecting her blood. He wondered how people were able to do this all the time. Now came the hardest part; reporting to the general.
"Yes General, Daniel here. Teal'c and I have done what you asked. There were signs of a struggle, and quite a bit of blood on the floor…The clean up team is about to start, and I have to go to the police station to get all the evidence they collected."
"I'll make a few calls to make sure you won't have a problem. Look Dr. Jackson, I know how difficult this must be on you, but we can't give up hope. We'll just have to wait until someone makes contact and lets us know what's going on."
"Thank you General and I'll keep my fingers crossed." Daniel said before he hung up the phone. Then he noticed Teal'c's puzzled look.
"It's just an expression Teal'c; it means we well hope for the best."
"Than I too shall keep my fingers crossed Daniel Jackson."
'Boy this was one hell of a long night.' Daniel thought, as he got ready to go to the police station.
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The house was now filled with the morning light waking up Sam. She started to stretch, then decided against it at the first twinge of pain. She looked over and saw the Colonel resting on the chair, his eyes were shut, but somehow she doubted he was asleep; not when it was his watch, but then again, they were on earth, and not really on a mission; so it was possible he nodded off.
Then that familiar urge came over her; yes, she had to go to the bathroom. She thought she would try to get up and make it to the bathroom on her own; after all she rested her knee all night, it should be better now. With that thought and will, she slowly moved herself into a sitting position trying to be as quiet as possible so she didn't wake up the colonel. 'One down, now the next.' Sam thought as she tried to stand for the first time unassisted. She was standing, albeit on her good leg, she waited a few moments to make sure she wouldn't get dizzy. Then she decided to take her jacket off here it would be easier since she was standing.
The next step was to put weight on her right leg. Slowly she started to increase the amount of weight on her leg. 'Not so bad' she thought. Then she tried to take a step; it was painful but nothing she couldn't handle. So she slowly made her way across the living room, using whatever furniture she could to put her weight on. It was taking her longer than expected to cross the room, and the knee was becoming more painful. She was about to make it to the wall when the door in front of her opened with Harm coming out quickly. The two knocked into each other and Sam would have ended up on the floor if Harm's quick reflexes hadn't grabbed and picked her up. She ended up in his arms with her head against his chest as she tried to muffle a cry of pain. Harm being caught off guard was forced to step backwards and knocked into the wall with a loud thump.
O'Neill heard the commotion and was up within seconds pulling his gun out.
At that very moment their attention was brought to the front door as it swung open, and a gun was pointed at Harm and Sam, and then at O'Neill.
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A/N : Hope to have the next chapter up soon.