But she's here!
Chapter 5: Home at last?
Jack acknowledged Carter as soon as he stepped through the wormhole. "Colonel, it's good to see. Let me introduce Ambassador Martin and Captain Hines."
Carter engaged in the necessary pleasantries as she accompanied the group to Listin's mansion. "Rooms have been arranged for you here. Listin owns the largest defensive weapon manufacturing operations on Draknar. He will be our host tonight."
"Nice fella?" Jack's eyes were roaming around the main hall.
"Yes, sir. I've found him to be pleasant, intelligent, respected, and honorable." Sam watched Jack as he turned his head to stare at her.
"Honorable? How many honorable men do you know make this much money in the weapons business?" Jack swung his arm through the arm, emphasizing the grandeur of the mansion entrance.
"Few, I suspect, but I happen to be one of them." Listin stepped out of a side room and smiled at the group assembled before him. His eyes lingered on Sam, and his smile widened. "I do not expect you to instantly trust or believe me. My people understand the importance of earning trust. Lawin will show you to your rooms. I hope the accommodations please you." Listin motioned to a slight young woman standing to the side. She smiled and motioned the group to follow her. Listin pulled Sam aside.
"I've also reserved a room for you. My wives have everything you will need to get ready for the evening, and if there is something of your own you would prefer, I have arranged to have your things were brought here. It should be here before long."
Sam's eyes widened. "I hadn't realized…I mean I guess that makes sense. Thank-you."
"It was my pleasure." Listin kissed her hand and led her to her room.
--
Jack watched the party from the sidelines. He'd been introduced to too many people whose names he didn't care to remember. He'd only come to this thing to check on Carter and he was regretting that decision. He scanned the room for her one more time. It was still early, but he was still surprised she hadn't appeared yet. The room began to murmur and he followed their gazes to the top of the stairs.
Sam wore a low cut silky looking black dress that had a long slit up her right leg. Jack saw a peek of her heels as she descended the steps. Everything about her made Jack's heart beat faster, including her escort. Her hand was on Listin's arm as he led her down the stairs. Jack instantly knew his initial feeling of dislike for this man was correct. Listin led Sam straight to the dance floor. The music had an unusual sound and Sam was obviously counting her steps and trying to move with the off beats, like the Draknarians. Jack's grip on his drink tightened. Listin was holding Sam close and whispering in her ear.
Sam danced two songs with Listin before he released her. He led her to a group of men gathered by the buffet table. Sam entered the animated conversation, and the men were laughing within moments. It was clear to Jack that they were mesmerized with her.
Jack made his way to her. "Excuse me, Colonel. May I speak with you for a moment?"
Sam smiled at Jack and excused herself from the alien scientists. "Is there a problem, sir?" Sam let him lead her out on the veranda.
"Hell yes, there's a problem." Jack turned to Sam as soon as they were outside and away from others. Sam was shocked at his tone.
"Sir?"
"Are you planning to join his harem?" Jack tried to tower over Sam, but she stood tall in her heels.
"That's uncalled for."
"Oh really. You looked pretty cozy on the dance floor." Jack stepped closer to Sam, reducing her personal space to less than an inch.
"I understand my job, and I will perform it well…sir. Unless I have failed in my duty as an officer, I don't see that you have the right to condemn my actions." Sam's face hardened, unsure what had prompted Jack's attack.
"This isn't about your duties as an officer." Jack sighed and looked up at the stars. "This is about us."
Sam stepped back. "Us?"
"Yes, us. Have you forgotten about us in the few days you've been here, or do you just like toying with me?"
Sam took another step back, but Jack reached out for her. "We shouldn't be having this conversation here."
"So where do you want to have it? My backyard wasn't right. The cabin wasn't right. Where should we discuss this?"
"We're still in the same chain of command! This conversation shouldn't be taking place at all!" Sam pulled out of his arms and threw herself backwards to escape his lunging arms.
"We can't keep waiting!" Jack took three steps towards her and reached out. Sam struggled to evade his arms and fell over the edge of the railing. "Sam!"
Sam felt herself falling. Her last conscious thought was 'damn that hurt' as her head hit the ground.
--
The alien stood in the center of the lecture hall stage and addressed his fellow scientists and the government officials. He was nervous, but he hid it well. He clutched his notepad as if it was a security blanket.
"We have learned a great deal from the latest subject. It originates from the terra system. It has the height of old ones, several tonans taller than the Nox, Asgard, or us. It displays moderate intelligence with high physical and endurance levels. Its problem solving skills are excellent, but it has a poor understanding of the physical laws of the universe. It has moderate ethical and moral development. Let me demonstrate." A screen behind the small man flickered to life.
--
Sam woke to the sound of rhythmic beeping. She knew the sound well and was relieved to be in the infirmary. As her eyes flickered open, she registered the feel of a hand holding hers. She rolled her head in the direction of her hand.
"Hey, beautiful. You've been out for a long time." Jack squeezed her hand and smiled. Sam's eyes widened, and she pulled her hand from his grasp.
"What is wrong with you? We're in the SGC!" Sam hoarsely whispered the warning.
"I know that, and I'm glad you know it. Doc was worried the hit to your head might have knocked out a bit of your brilliance." Jack grinned and his eyes twinkled.
"You know what I mean."
"I'm tired of hiding and waiting. The time is right for us."
"Did I miss the invitation to your retirement party? Or maybe you changed military branches? Did you get fired? Did I get fired?" Sam was panting.
"Don't get yourself all worked up. You just woke up. It can't be good for you." Jack's brow creased.
"Sir? I brought you some lunch." Jack looked up at the nurse holding a lunch tray. He smiled at her. "I see you're awake, Colonel Carter. I'll inform the doctor." The nurse smiled as she deposited the tray and left. Jack took the top off the tray and looked at his lunch.
"Yuck, I hate orange jello."
Sam pushed herself up and looked at the tray of food. The iced tea, chicken and green beans looked delicious after the weeks of eating alien concoctions. Just as she was getting ready to ask for her own tray she noticed the purple pear-shaped fruit.
"What's that?" Sam sat up fully.
"What?" Jack glanced at the tray in confusion. Sam pointed to the foreign looking fruit.
"That!"
"Oh, right…you were off world when these were brought back by SG-9. They are so sweet. You'll love them." Jack picked up the alien fruit and sliced it open.
"Alien food is being served in the commissary?"
"I thought it was about time."
"Where am I, and what have you done to me?" Sam began looking around the room, trying to decide what else felt wrong.
"You're in the SGC infirmary. You'll be ok. Doc will be here in a minute. Just relax." Jack pushed the tray away and reached out to calm Sam. She pushed him away and scooted to the opposite edge of the bed.
"Doc!" Jack's slightly panicked call got an immediate response. The door behind him opened, and Janet walked in carrying a chart. As soon as Sam saw her, she jumped off the bed and began screaming.
"Let me go! I won't tell you anything! Let me out of here!" Sam backed away from them and ran for the door. She was barefoot and her gown was open in the back, but she didn't care. She knew she had to get away from these people pretending to be her friends.
--
"As you can see it has a very strong subconscious. It has been fighting my attempts to scan its brain since the beginning. It was easier to watch its reactions to scenarios but even that approach is beginning to fail." The screen behind the small man went dark.
"It does not carry the disease, but I fear the choice it and the other newlings are making could doom them to follow our path, a path neither we nor the Nox or Asgard have been able to escape. If they are forced, they also may choose ascension, something of which it is aware, leaving us without any options. I recommend we contact them and seek their assistance." He laid his pad aside as the room filled with murmurs.
--
Sam again woke to the sound of beeping. She groaned internally as she realized she was in the infirmary again. Sam opened her eyes and looked to the side of the bed. He was there, sitting in a chair and playing with his yo-yo.
"Why are you holding me? I won't tell you anything."
Jack looked and frowned. "We aren't holding you."
"So I'm free to leave?"
"Well…uh…I guess, once the doc clears you and everything."
"So I'm being held." Sam turned her head and looked up at the ceiling.
"I don't know what you went through out there, Carter, but I promise you this home. You're really back."
"Like you'd say anything else. My name is Samantha Carter. I'm a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. My serial number is…"
"I get it. I get it."
Dr. Lam entered as Jack interrupted Sam.
"I see you're awake. Mind answering a few questions for me?" Lam smiled. Trying to ignore Jack's humph sound.
"My name is Samantha Carter. I'm a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. My serial…"
"Well I'm glad you know who you are, but that really wasn't where I planned to begin." Lam glanced over at Jack who shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm glad you guys corrected the doctor in this round. You might want to skip the purple fruit also." Sam grimaced at Lam and Jack.
"I'm sorry, Colonel, but I don't know to what you are referring." Lam's brow creased as she watched Sam.
"Right. So what are these questions?" Sam looked at Lam, ignoring Jack's presence.
"Since you've covered who you are, let's start with where you were when you disappeared."
"I was on Draknar. I was sent to gain their trust and learn about their technology."
"Who was with you?" Jack leaned forward as he asked the question. Sam glanced in his direction.
"I went alone, but you, Ambassador Martin and Captain Hines joined me yesterday, at least it was yesterday by my recollection. How long have I been out?" Sam watched Jack and Lam share a look. "What?"
"You were found three days ago on P5X-642 when we did our weekly communications check. You've been missing for a month and a half. You were last seen leaving 642 for Earth, but we had no record of you dialing in or returning. When the rest of SG-1 came back without you, the search began. We didn't find any sign of you, and all evidence of SG-1's time on the planet had been erased. We knew somebody had cleaned up, and we figured that same somebody had you. We had no clues about who that somebody could be. All we could do was keep dialing the planet and calling for you. Three days ago we dialed up, turned on the FRED and saw you lying in the grass in front of the stargate." Jack fumbled with his yo-yo. "I never gated out to meet you, and I don't know an Ambassador Martin or Captain Hines."
"So you're saying the days I spent on Draknar weren't real?" Sam looked from Jack to Lam and back.
"I'd say that's a distinct possibility Colonel. I'd like to do a CAT scan since you've apparently undergone some kind of cerebral manipulation. I also want you to be evaluated by a psychiatrist." Lam was writing in the chart as she spoke.
Sam leaned back against the raised gurney and grumbled. "I should have known I'd have to see the psych guys."
--
Daniel, Teal'c and Cameron came by just before lunch. They'd been by each day to see her while she was unconscious.
"Hey, Sam. It's good to have you back and awake." Daniel grinned broadly as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Thanks."
"I had faith you would return to us." Teal'c nodded.
"I appreciate that, Teal'c."
"Yeah, we all did. Are you feeling ok?" Cameron smiled and swayed back and forth.
"I suppose." Sam eyed all the men suspiciously. They were acting too nervous. "So Daniel, how's your naquadria research going?"
Daniel glanced at Jack before answering. "Not so hot, as I don't do any."
"Oh, right. How's your daughter Teal'c?"
Teal'c tilted his head to his left. "If you mean my daughter by marriage, she is fine."
Sam nodded. "Cameron, have you found the secret of the arctic yet?"
"I think you mean the Antarctic, and I thought General O'Neill was the secret. Are we passing your test?" Cameron leaned forward, resting the palms of his hands on the foot of her bed.
"This doesn't really prove anything." Sam's voice inched up several notches. "You've been messing around inside my head, so of course you know the answers!"
All four men shared a look.
"I'm not crazy…you're just not real. I don't know why I care so much if imaginary people believe in my sanity or not." Sam sighed and pulled the covers higher over her chest.
"You care because we are real, and you can feel it." Daniel reached out for her hand. He squeezed her limp fingers, disappointed in the lack of response.
"If you say so." Sam scowled.
"So ask us anything…anything at all and we'll answer it." Daniel sat up straight and opened up his arms.
"You don't get it. I've apparently been living inside my own head for quite a while without realizing it and it felt 100 real. It felt just as real as this, so I have no reason to believe this is any more or less real than that. I have no idea how to tell real from fake!" Sam was panting. Her eyes were wild, and she was sitting up straight on the gurney by the time she finished screaming.
"It's ok. We get it." Jack tried to soothe her, but she gave him a patronizing look. "We're trying to understand." He sighed.