Prologue

She opened her eyes. The bright lights above her blinded what little sight she had and aggravated the headache growing over her right eye. But none of that mattered, she could live with the pain, she knew what had to be done. Her Long black hair had fallen loose in the struggle, and now laid either side of her. All her nails were broken and bloody. Her usual smooth olive skin was now covered in layers of dirt and sweat, her clothes shabby torn over cuts and bruises. As she struggled to get up dark shadows appeared around where she lay. Her body was too weak to help her up, too weak to even turn her head to see who the shadows were. She tried to move her arms but they were tied with what felt like rope. Though she couldn't be sure what she was seeing of feeling any more. As they crept closer pain shot up her legs. She tried to move but the pain worsened with every breath. One by one the lights went out and all went dark. Her legs were broken from the fall and she had concussion. All this only made her feel more helpless and alone than she had been on any other mission, but then this wasn't like any other mission. This one really mattered, this one really counted. As she laid in agony her eyes began to adjust. They were back.

Chapter 1

Jack waited in the control room for any news from Carter, but so far he hadn't heard a word since she left. Staring hopelessly into the Stargate's void he searched his brain for a solution, some way of helping her, but the truth was he knew he couldn't. He couldn't risk the mission being jeopardised even if it cost his best woman. That didn't of course mean any of this was ok to him. If he could he would send every man he's got into that gate to get her back, but being in charge didn't mean you could make all the rules all the time.

"jack!" Daniel had just strolled into the control room with that look on his face which meant he was worried but trying to hide it. He was still in his uniform even though this was meant to be his day off. His hair was scruffy and the bags under his eyes told Jack he had been up all night working. "Any news from Sam yet?"

"No" Jack replied. Even as he said the word his heart jumped a beat at the thought of her not coming back. "She was meant to report in 5 hours ago, but nothing yet" He paused waiting for Daniel's reply but it didn't come. He looked at him and saw the worry in his eyes. The same worry he too was feeling.

"That's unlike Sam. Maybe we should go in after her. She could be-"

"I know Daniel, but we can't. I have my orders even if I hate sticking to them, for once I really have too."

Daniel moved forward to stand next to him. Together they starred into the empty gate room, together they dreaded the prospect of everything they had worked for crashing into oblivion.

Sam tensed as the figures surrounded her. Their faces were blacked out by the darkness. One of them pressed something on a control panel beside her. Instantly the table she was laid on began to change, it moved bringing her into an upright position. She screamed as the pain from her broken legs became unbearable. A faint light began to brighten in front of her, slowly things around her became visible. Her eyes were spinning round in their sockets trying to find some way out, trying to find some way of stopping all this. If only things had happened differently. 'No one here to save you this time' She thought. 'No one here to get to you in the nick of time'. One of the figures came into the light. They were wearing a black hooded cloak, their face was blacked out but their body shape seemed human. Sam knew better, they were far from human, even if the bodies were similar in shape and design. These creatures were cunning and dangerous. They could give the Goa'uld a run for their money. The figure now looming beside her removed his hood to reveal the face that could bring down planets at a time. He was so young, barely out of his teens with such an innocent face. His eyes were an ice cold blue and his skin was pale white. His short blonde hair was perfectly shaped to cover his head, not a single hair out of place. There was only one small difference between humans and the creatures surrounding her. In their eyes there were no pupils, no small black circle to let light in. They didn't need that. Something so small and innocent was their most deadly weapon. With their eyes they could change the course of nations.

He stared at her. She tensed her body, waiting for whatever was about to happen. She wasn't afraid of them, there was no point fearing the inevitable. She had faced death so many times before it seemed a part of everyday life, wondering whether she would ever get back, if she would ever see her team her friends again, whether she would see Jack. As thoughts whirled through her mind the figure known as Lokal spoke. "Major Carter, why have you come to destroy us? We showed you hospitality, gave you medical supplies and information yet you seek to end our race. Why?" His face showed no expression, she was unsure if he was being serious with his words or being manipulative, trying to put them across as the ones who suffer. His cold eyes stared at her without blinking. The pain was beginning to subside though she knew this wasn't a good sign. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came. The world was slowly going dark again, but this time it was her eyes going dark. As she slipped into unconsciousness her last sight was of Lokal resting his hand on her arm and placed something in her hand, what she didn't know. The world, reality, time, slipped away from her and she was left to dream of better days.

Teal'c lit the candles around the circle he had made one by one. One by one they lit up the room to bring calm to his tortured mind. The circle would help guide him to the place he was seeking. No one ever really understood why he did this, though many had tried it for themselves. Perhaps he was seeking calm in himself, or was he really seeking a god he no longer had. Someone who would not mislead him into slavery, and condemn his family to a life time of shame. He sat in the centre of the circle he had made out of sand from his home planet. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift into the deepest realms of his imagination. His son Ryack stood before him holding out a hand. His face was covered in dirt and cuts. He took it, it felt so real, so young. The thought of being with Ryack was painful, he had left him behind so many times, and every time was more difficult than the next. Not knowing if he would see him again, whether his luck had finally run out. Teal'c was led forward. A thick mist fell over them like a storm at sea and in the distance he saw figures coming towards them. Dressed in white, they seemed to float across the floor he assumed was there. Their faces were hidden from view, but he could make out the silhouettes if they came a little closer. It was hard to tell where he was, the mist made it difficult to see more than a few metres around him. He could hear them speaking, but softly he could hardly make out their words. The voices seemed so familiar. The figures seemed so familiar. What did this mean? Why was he being guided here, to this place? They were almost visible, any moment now he would find out who they were. Any second they would come into....

"Teal'c?" Jack as usual walked in at just the right moment. Just as quickly as they had come into view the figures flew backwards into the mist. His son Ryack let go of his hand and disappeared. He was back in his room with Jack starring at him with a look that said 'oops?' The candles still burned around him, but judging from the amount of wax running down the sides Teal'c had been gone a long time, maybe an hour. Yet it only felt like five minutes, where had all the time gone? Teal'c stood up showing no sign that he was deeply annoyed by this interruption. He placed his hands behind his back and tilted his head, almost bowing to Colonel Jack O'Neil.

"Erm did I interrupt something?"

"No O'Neil, you did not" Teal'c thought it best not to tell Jack anything to do with his meditation as he has found that it usually goes strait over the top of his head. Jack straitened up.

"Ok well sorry anyway. I was just taking a stroll around the block and thought id drop by and see how my old buddy Teal'c was doing."

"Has there been any word on Major Carter?" Teal'c saw Jack's eyes flicker as he mentioned her name and guessed the answer would be no.

"No, nothing yet. But you know Carter, likes to keep us on our toes." The mood changed to become somewhat uncomfortable for both. Teal'c's expression was unchanged but inside he was worried. He had lost a friend before from SG1. It was not easy then and he did not wish to have to re live that experience.

Teal'c was a very hard man to read. He was dark in colour and mainly built of muscle. He had only recently shown the ability to smile and if you were lucky you might even catch a laugh. His sense of humour needed a lot of work, but he was trying. Teal'c had recently started to let his hair grow. Not too much but it certainly gave him an essence of normality. The gold tattoo on his forehead was unmissable. If he went out in public he had to wear a hat in case anyone recognised it. They couldn't afford to take any risks. He had had problems when he was allowed an apartment outside the SGC. Now he was confined to base unless there was a damm good reason. He had a habit of trying to help where help was not needed. But his heart was true and he had never let them down. Jack was the opposite. His was muscled but skinny all the same. His hair had turned grey and he was starting to look tired. He had brown eyes which you could get lost in if you stared to long. They showed a life time of pain, The loss of his son, collapse of his marriage, and now the thought of loosing one of his best team members. He had recently been promoted to commander of the SGC and as usual was taking it all in his stride. He was the joker of the group and had the ability to put a lighter edge on a tense situation. But this was no time to crack jokes, they were all worried, afraid even. Things must have gone horribly wrong for Carter not to contact. They all knew what this could mean.

"Will there be a rescue mission?" Asked Teal'c.

"No word so far on how we should proceed. The president wants to make sure we give her enough time, and even then I'm not sure if he'll let us go in after her."

"Do you intend to leave Captain Carter or mount your own rescue mission if necessary?" Teal'c raised one eye brow at Jack, knowing full well he had questioned Jack's ability to take orders.

"What would make you think I would 'mount my own rescue mission' Teal'c?" Jack looked back at him, but was not surprised at the comment as he knew he had considered this many times in the last 8 hours.

"During my time with you, I have come to realise you do not like to leave a man behind even if it jeopardised your career." They stared at each other. Teal'c knew he would do whatever it takes, they had done it for him before he would do it for them. Jack felt the same, he cared about Sam more than he had ever told anyone. She was the only one he couldn't stay angry at. She had saved him many times before. This time it was his turn to save her. No more words needed to be said between them. They had made their decisions, together they would fight for Sam. No one gets left behind on Jack's team. They headed towards the control room and to find Daniel.