Warning: Language
Previously:
"I find it so peculiar, that you're so concerned for the Major, after you've been such a help to us."
At hearing this Sam's head perked up, and she stared bewildered at Mac. "You? How could you?"
Chapter 12
Sam couldn't believe what she was hearing. Had Mac been on their side all along? How could she show such compassion and kindness and be working with the people who were torturing her.
"What! What the hell are you talking about? I've never met you people before!" Mac saw the look on Sam's face, the look of utter betrayal.
"How could you?" Sam said once again, not with anger but with despair.
"Sam, I don't know what he's talking about; I never helped them and never will. You have to believe that." Mac was trying her hardest to get Sam to believe her, there was no room for dissention between them if they were going to escape. Mac looked at Kennedy, hatred burning in her eyes. "How dare you say I helped you, the only thing I would help you with is choosing which prison to do your time."
"Ah well yes, I can see how you might be confused. You see when Commander Rabb was meeting with Colonel Makepeace, we made sure to put a tail on him, and keep an eye on his close contacts. That would include you Colonel Mackenzie." Kennedy said walking between the two women as if he was giving a lecture. "You see when we lost Major Carter to Colonel O'Neill and Commander Rabb; we decided to watch his close friends who would be able to help him. When we saw you heading to the airport, we had someone waiting on this end to follow you."
Mac was having a hard time hearing this; she couldn't believe they had used her to get to Sam.
"Then why didn't you come after me, when I was at the first house?" Sam asked, still not believing what she was hearing.
"Because Major, the people following Mackenzie lost her." Kennedy said this part looking over at his people in the room. "However, we knew the vicinity she was in, so we staked out the local fast food restaurants and gas stations, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. When she was finally spotted, we followed her to the house you were staying at, but by that time, you were in the midst of moving. So we followed you to your new home. We waited patiently for the opportunity to present itself and it did. Unfortunately Mackenzie chose to wear that hat, and my people weren't sure if it was you in the car or not; so we chose to hit both targets at the same time."
"Huh, lucky me." Mac said she was now at least relieved that Sam didn't think she had betrayed her.
"What about the SGC, do you have people in there?" Sam asked hoping to figure out if she could trust the people she worked with.
"Now now Major, you don't expect me to give away all my secrets, do you?" Kennedy now made his way back to the chair in front of Sam and sat down. "Well I've told you some information, now it's your turn Major. Are you ready to answer my questions?"
"When hell freezes over." Sam said as smugly as she could.
"Well that's a pity, now were going to have to try and change your mind." Kennedy motioned to Stan, who eagerly stepped in front of Sam with the pain stick in his hands. He placed the stick on her chest and waited, but nothing happened.
"Ah, are you sure anyone can use this thing?" Stan said looking at the odd rod he held in his hands.
"You have to turn it on moron." Kennedy answered, not believing what kind of idiots he was stuck with.
"Oh, yea sorry." Stan said shrugging. He tried once more placing the object on Sam's upper chest then activated it.
Mac watched as Stan turned the stick on and held it to Sam's chest, to her horror she saw the light emitted from the stick also come out of Sam's eye's and mouth, she couldn't believe Sam had enough energy to scream the way she did. Then when it stopped, she saw Sam slump and fall off the chair landing on the floor with a hard thump; not moving.
Frank moved over to Sam, knelt down and reached to feel for a pulse on her neck. He stood up slowly shaking his head, then glared at Stan. "She's dead."
Stan stepped back looked down to the floor then to Frank and Kennedy, still clutching the stick in his hand.
"No, no she can't be." Mac said quietly shaking her head, with one tear running down her face.
The room was suddenly filled with the sound of alarm bells ringing. "What the hell is going on?" Kennedy yelled. Then another man came running in the room.
"The building's on fire! We have to get out of here!"
"Go check it out!" Kennedy ordered as the room cleared and he ran out after them, dropping the devices to the floor.
'Oh shit!' Mac thought; she was still tied to the chair and the fire was spreading throughout the building. "You can't leave me in here like this!" She called out, hoping someone would come back and free her.
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Jack and Harm met back at the car. "Did you find anything?" O'Neill asked.
"No, I went in there pretending to be a patient needing some tests, they were actually very helpful. It didn't seem like they were trying to hide anything."
"Same here I just walked in there started walking around, their security was a joke." Jack shook his head, "these buildings are too big to search ourselves; I guess we'll have to wait for the re-enforcements."
O'Neill noticed four black SWAT type trucks drive up, he took out his cell phone and pressed speed dial. "Daniel, tell me that's you driving in here with the cavalry."
"Yea Jack we're just coming into the complex now, Janet's in the last truck, she's set up a mobile medical unit…in case we need it."
"That's good…" Their attention was caught by the sounds of alarm bells ringing and people running out of a building. It was one of the buildings they hadn't scoped out yet. "Daniel get every one to meet in front of the building with the alarms, I have a feeling that's the one were looking for." Jack hung up the phone, got in his car with Rabb and sped over to the building. When he stepped out of the car, he saw the SGC security detail exiting their trucks and took command. "I want this building searched floor by floor and I want everyone detained until we find Carter and Mackenzie." Jack heard a chorus of 'Yes Sir,' as the soldiers headed out gathering the people who were running out of the building.
"Where do wish us to be O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
"I want you and Daniel out here, making sure no one leaves before we can interrogate them."
"Okay Jack, here take this." Daniel said handing him a radio so he could communicate with the others.
Jack heard the radio come to life; "Colonel, there's a fire in the building. They think it started in the basement."
"Okay, Rabb and I will check out the basement, you get your men checking the other floors." Jack grabbed a utility vest from Daniel and headed into the building with Rabb behind him.
"So what makes you so sure Mac and Sam are in the basement of that building? Harm asked, hoping for an answer that would give him hope of finding them.
"Oh just that my 2IC likes to blow things up." Jack said with a slight smile.
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Mac was fidgeting trying to get out of her restraints, but the ropes were tied too tight. The room was starting to fill with smoke, which made her start to cough. Then she thought she heard something, it was very quiet but she definitely heard a moan. She looked over to where Sam way lying and stared at her intently, then she heard it again, a definite moan. "Sam!" she yelled. "Sam can you hear me? You have to wake up!" Mac now realized that Frank 'did what he could' by telling everyone Sam died it gave them, an opportunity to escape; but Sam would have to wake up first.
"Come on Sam, the plan's working; the fires already started. Now it's our time to get out of here."
Sam could hear Mac's voice in the background anxiously calling her, Sam tried to move but was finding it more difficult than before, for once she actually wished she was dead. "Ahhhh." Sam moaned once again.
Mac was ecstatic hearing Sam respond to her voice. "Sam I need you come over here and untie my hands, then I can get you out of here…Come on Major …Move, that's an order!"
"Ah, yes Sir, uh Ma'am." Sam said sluggishly, slowly crawling forward pushing her way towards Mac's voice. She finally made it to the chair Mac was tied to; with what strength she had left, she rolled herself onto her back. It was agony but she lifted her arms to the rope that was tying Mac's arm to the chair and started to untie it. She let her arms fall when the task was finally finished.
"Thanks Sam, I can handle the rest." Mac said as she started to untie her other arm, then her legs. When she was finally free, she looked down to Sam. She knew there was no way Sam was going to be able to walk out of there, and the increased smoke was making it more difficult to see and breathe. Mac spotted the phone on the desk and rushed over to it. She picked it up, but found no dial tone. She went back over to Sam crouched down and put her arms under Sam's, then noticed the object that had been referred to as a healing device; 'this might come in handy' Mac thought as she placed the object in the waste band of her jeans at the back. She went back to Sam and again hooked her arms under Sam's and started dragging her out of the room. Sam tried to help by pushing with her left foot, but found she had no energy.
It was difficult for Mac, pulling Sam, meant she was travelling backwards through the smoke filled halls. Both women were now coughing from the smoke, "Just leave me and save yourself." Sam managed to say between coughs.
"No way Major, we marines don't leave our people behind." Mac said as she continued struggling to pull Sam along with her. They were both coughing more, and Mac felt her strength declining. 'You can do it Mac, if Sam can make it through what she endured than I should be able to do this.' She told herself.
The fire was spreading causing the smoke to get thicker. Mac was finding it harder to breathe, and pulling Sam who was now unconscious was becoming impossible; "Where the hell is the door?' she thought to herself as she slowly made her way down the hall, hopefully going in the right direction. Mac was startled by a loud noise, then realized part of the ceiling was falling. Mac dropped Sam quickly and protected her by covering Sam with her own body.
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Jack and Harm were at the basement door and saw smoke coming from the bottom; Jack tried to open it but found it was locked, the door was a metal one, so he knew there was no way he'd be able to kick it in; he reached into his vest and pulled out some explosives. "You better warn the others to expect a blast." Jack told Rabb as he set the material around the doorknob.
Harm used the radio to warn the others what was happening then took cover when O'Neill motioned him. Within seconds, there was a loud bang and more smoke coming from the door. He saw O'Neill kick the door and it flew open.
The first thing Jack noticed as he entered the stairwell was the thick smoke; he only hoped they would be able to find Carter and Mackenzie in time. He and Rabb continued down the stairs and into the hallway; they called out Sam and Mac's names as they searched, covering their noses and mouths with arms, for protection against the smoke. "CARTER!" Jack called again.
"MAC!" Harm called after O'Neill had done so.
They continued down the long corridor, checking each room as they passed. "What's that?" Harm called out to O'Neill pointing in the direction. He saw the outline of a large mass on the floor ahead of them. They both ran towards the forms on the floor and were shocked by the sight. They could see slabs from the fallen ceiling and parts of bodies buried underneath. Both men frantically started moving the slabs and uncovering the bodies. They noticed that Mac was shielding Sam and took the brunt of the force. Harm's face paled as he tried to find a pulse, very relieved to find a faint one.
"We have to get to Carter!" O'Neill yelled out nervously; he knew Mackenzie was in bad shape but they didn't have time to be careful. He helped Rabb roll Mackenzie so she was laying on her back, then checked on Sam. "Oh God! She's not breathing he said distressed; he quickly started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. As Jack was breathing for Sam, Harm checked for a pulse; he breathed a sigh of relief when he found one. Jack kept up breathing for Sam, watching to make sure he could see her chest rise and fall.
He was relieved when he felt her move slightly and start to cough.
"Come on we have to get them out of here!" Harm yelled seeing the flames drawing closer to their position. He didn't want to move Mac, but knew they didn't have a choice; either move her now, or let the fire and smoke get them.
Jack grabbed his radio, "Daniel its O'Neill, we found them. Have medical ready when we come out." Jack put his radio away, and then he picked up Sam, while Rabb picked up Mackenzie and both men headed back down the corridor, hoping to make it to the stairwell before anything else bad happened.
Daniel and Teal'c were waiting anxiously by the door to the basement. After Daniel received Jack's message he informed Janet of the situation having her wait just outside the doors to the building. There was chaos outside, with all the security forces trying to keep the building personnel in check. Daniel kept trying to look to see if he could make any thing out, but the smoke was so thick he couldn't see anything down the stairs, he only hoped Jack and Harm would be able to find their way out.
"I believe I hear something Daniel Jackson." Teal'c said tilting his head towards the stairwell.
Daniel then heard the sound of coughing, "This way Jack!" He yelled as loud as he could hoping to guide the group by the sound of his voice. Then he saw the figures appear through the smoke, as they got closer he could see Jack carrying an unmoving Sam and Harm carrying an unconscious woman.
"This way O'Neill!' Teal'c yelled as he lead Jack and Harm to the waiting medical personnel.
Jack ran as fast as he could carrying Carter and coughing, he was relieved when he saw the awaiting stretchers. He placed Carter on the stretcher, and for the first time got a good look at her; her face was hardly recognizable not just from the dirt and soot from the fire but from all the bruising and swelling, a knot was forming in the pit of his stomach as his anger at those who did this rose. "She wasn't breathing when we found her; I had to give her mouth to mouth." Jack told Janet when she approached.
Harm carried Mac to next stretcher, praying that she would be alright; he could feel his clothes had become wet with her blood. Then he saw a man approaching wearing green BDU's and assumed he was a doctor. "A part of the ceiling collapsed on her, most of the damage is to her back." The doctor pushed him aside and with the aid of an assistant, they carefully turned her over to assess the damage.
Dr. Warner was surprised when he saw an object covered with blood sticking out from her waistband; he pulled it out and recognised it as Tok'ra healing device. He shook his head thinking 'too bad I can't use this; it would sure come in handy right now.' He then put it in his pocket and continued his assessment.
Daniel and Teal'c made their way to Sam's stretcher standing next to Jack. The shock on Daniel's face was astounding, "Oh my God." Daniel had to put his hand on Jack's shoulder to steady himself. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Janet was assessing Sam's condition; she had put an oxygen mask on her face for the smoke inhalation trying to assist her breathing. When she saw Sam's face she was appalled and worried about a concussion and broken bones as she checked her eyes. She then went to check her abdomen after O'Neill informed her of Sam's initial injuries. Janet took her scissors and cut Sam's shirt open, she found an odd red mark on Sam's upper chest, but didn't know what caused it.
Teal'c knew exactly what caused that mark and his jaw clenched. "That mark is from a Goa'uld pain stick Dr. Fraiser."
Janet shook her head in disbelief, she knew about these items and the amount of pain they caused and had to hold back the tears that threatened to fall for her friend.
"Those bastards!" Jack yelled when he realized what was done to Carter.
"I shall seek revenge for Major Carter." Teal'c informed his friends; "Of this you can be sure."
Janet continued her assessment by cutting away the bandages around Sam's a ribs and abdomen. She was shocked to find that Sam's entire abdomen was bruised; she could see old bruises on the right side as well as new one's forming covering even the left side. "I hope there's no internal bleeding." Janet mumbled under her breath as she palpated Sam's abdomen.
Sam was feeling like crap, she was awake but not able to open her eyes yet, she felt something over her face, which actually hurt like hell. Then she felt someone poking her stomach, but could only manage a small moan, then the coughing started.
Jack heard Carter moan and start to cough and was at her side in a flash. He took hold of her hand and placed his other hand on her shoulder "It's okay Carter, your safe now; we've got you." He saw her eyes flutter open and lock onto his; he could swear he saw a look of relief wash over her features.
"Sam, oh geez Sam, I'm so glad we found you…" Daniel started.
Sam moved her left arm slowly to pull down the mask on her face, "It was….Kennedy…" she managed to say with a raspy weak voice. She started to cough again and Janet moved to put the mask back on Sam's face.
"That same asshole that tried to take Teal'c away to experiment on him?" Jack saw Sam nod her head yes.
"I'm sorry gentlemen but we have to get her back to the base, I'm afraid she might have internal bleeding, and I need to get x-rays." Janet said as she started to move the gurney towards the medical truck.
Teal'c spoke up before Sam was wheeled away, "Rest assured Major Carter, I will exact revenge on those whom have harmed you."
"Excuse me Colonel O'Neill, Dr. Warner asked me to give this to you." A young airman said as he passed O'Neill the Tok'ra healing device.
"Thank-you airman." Jack said then turned to Daniel and Teal'c, "It's too bad, the only one who can use thing right now is the one who needs it." Jack saw the other gurney holding Mackenzie she had an oxygen mask on and was also being wheeled to the medical truck. He saw Rabb following it, looking utterly lost. "Rabb, over here." Jack called waving him over. "How's Mackenzie doing?"
Harm was feeling so hopeless, as he moved to join O'Neill. "The doctor's not sure, he thinks there might be damage to her spinal cord and a concussion, but won't be able to fully assess her until she wakes up…She hasn't woken up yet."
"She will, don't worry." O'Neill told him, but didn't really know if she would. "Look Rabb, you can ride back with me to the base; I know all the good waiting spots in the infirmary. Jack motioned to Daniel and Teal'c, "Look guys I'm going back to the base inform Ferretti who we're looking for, and … ah hell detain everyone until we can find out who else was helping Kennedy."
"Okay Jack, and look after Sam. Teal'c and I will help handle things here." Daniel told him, and Teal'c bowed his head.
"Come Daniel Jackson, we must search for those who perpetrated this heinous act on Major Carter and Colonel Mackenzie."
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A/N: I hope every one got what they wanted from this chapter, don't worry more to come.