A/N: Okay, i'll address some earlier thoughts ppl had, sorry for the cliffie, i honestly didn't realize i did it. i have up to chapter fourty something written and i just posted the chapter without really looking at how i had ended it. sorry. also, yes i know sam wouldn't just take off like she did, but every person does something in their life that is so completely out of character for them, it just throws everybody off. Remember, she thought she was protecting them, and she wasn't thinking clearly. She's trained for seeing that type of stuff offworld, not in downtown CS. But thanks a bunch for your reviews, even if someone hates the story i love hearing from you!

Jack stepped through the 'Gate, tripping on the crumbling steps on the other side. Thankfully, his years in Black Ops had brought his reflex times up considerably, and he never let those fail, not with the situations they always seemed to get themselves into.

"You all right, Jack?" He knew Daniel wasn't trying to embarrass him, it was just an unconscious reaction, but that didn't keep his cheeks from turning a deep crimson.

"Yeah," Jack said, making his way down to the bottom of the steps. He could do this, he could make it. About an hour hike to the village, coupla hours meeting with the elders, an hour back and they'd be home.

He marched on ahead of Daniel and Teal'c, knowing the Jaffa would watch out for their resident archeologist.

"Jack, wait up!" He heaved a sigh as Daniel ran up and fell into step next to him.

"What is it, Daniel?" He knew he couldn't hide his annoyance. He didn't want to be here, light years from home, from Sam. He just wanted to be back on Earth, continuing his search for her. He hadn't stopped in three months and he'd be damned if he was going to stop now.

"We've got a pretty long hike ahead of us, would you mind filling us in on what you wanted to talk to us about?" By this time Teal'c had joined the pair. The three men walked side by side, silent for a moment, before Jack sighed yet again.

"Hammond wants us back up to a fully operational four man team. There's only one person I would like to bring in in Sam's place, but I would like your input, seeing as it effects you, too."

Daniel shot him a confused look. Teal'c just raised an eyebrow. Jack never consulted them before making any sort of decision. Then again, he hadn't quite been himself lately. None of them had. The fourth member of their team had to be someone they all trusted, fully, to make the dynamics work. And, Jack felt, it had to be a scientific member of the Air Force.

"I believe a Lt. Hailey would be our best bet," Jack finished, not looking either man in the eye. It was a hard decision for him to make, having to replace Sam. It was like they were finally admitting she was gone from the SGC. They would never believe she was gone from them. Jack could feel his heart ripping in two. "She has the off world experience, not as much as I'd like, but it'll do. And Carter seemed to take her under her wing pretty willingly. She's a good fighter."

"Indeed." Teal'c bowed his head to the Colonel. It was the highest form of approval he would get out of the stoic Jaffa.

"What do you think, Daniel?" Jack kept his eyes forward, continuously scanning the surrounding trees for any signs of hostility. One could never be too cautious.

"She's a good choice, Jack. I think Sam would like that." Daniel saw Jack stiffen. He knew the older man was still sensitive about her leaving; it still hadn't been possible for them to convince him she hadn't left because of him. Of course, he wouldn't believe a word they said. How could he when they didn't even fully believe it? Daniel found himself mentally kicking the snot out of Jack at times for running her off, but then he'd think of what she'd seen, and how he would have reacted, and found himself easing off the man.

A twig snapped, jolting his head up. It was at that precise moment he realized Jack had heard something that had caused his reaction, not the mention of Sam's name. They were suddenly surrounded by a battalion of Jaffa.

"Uh, Teal'c?" Jack held his P-90, waving it between the five Jaffa that stood directly in his path.

"I do not recognize the symbol, O'Neill."

"Where is Major Carter?" Oh, Shit! Jack could recognize that tone of voice anywhere. They had walked right into a Goa'uld ambush. The voice wasn't familiar, but the deep guttural sound of the symbiote talking was. He heard the voice before he could see the body step out of the tree line facing them.

The image before them startled the three men. They stayed silent, not willing to give anything up to this new Goa'uld. How he had escaped, Jack couldn't figure, but it meant bad news, especially for Sam. Before them, stood the tall, gangly body of Nathan Tanner. Jack was the only one who seemed to recognize him, after seeing his picture displayed across the television screen during the evening news. Daniel still had yet to see the news reports of the brutal murder of the Tanner family.

"I shall ask you one more time. Where is Major Samantha Carter?" Jack kept his weapon steady on the Goa'uld, ready for a stand off he knew they would lose. "Colonel O'Neill, I would advise cooperating. I could make this quite difficult for you."

"Well, in that case, why don't I go get her for you," Jack smirked as he turned around on the ball of his foot. He could hear the shot before it was fired, straight into the middle of his back. Blue light surrounded his form as he collapsed onto the ground. 'God, I hate those things,' he thought, as face met dirt.

"I will not hesitate to fire again, Colonel." Jack knew it was no lie, the Goa'uld were a heartless race. It was the only difference Jack could find between them and the Tok'ra. Well, between them and Jacob. To him the rest of the Tok'ra were just like the Goa'uld.

"She's dead," he seethed through clenched teeth. He could hear the Zat gun readying for a second shot. Two shadows quickly covered his prone form as Daniel and Teal'c moved to protect their companion huddled on the ground.

"He's telling the truth!" Daniel broke in. Was he? Oh how he hoped not, but this guy didn't know that.

A deep, guttural laugh emanated from the gut of the creature in front of them. The awful sound forced a shiver through Jack's spine. The Bastard!

"Thank you." And with a flick of his wrist, the entire battalion of Jaffa raised their staff weapons on the three men and fired.