Storms

Sam placed the bouquet of flowers on the mound of red dirt and stepped back. Her sad blue eyes filled with fresh tears and she let them fall. There was no one else around her. Her team waited with Bra'tac and a few of the other Jaffa a respectable distance away; she had asked for privacy to say her farewell. Her gaze glanced off the simple stone marker which held only the name of the being they had buried beneath it. Orlin. Bra'tac had told her that they would eventually replace the marker with a proper monument; there had been no time to do anything fancier in the four days since her miraculous survival and Orlin's sacrifice. She brushed at the moisture on her skin and felt a wave of sadness and gratitude for the gentle Ascended being who had given her a second chance.

She pressed a hand to her chest as though to ease the ache there. She knew Orlin had loved her even though he had known she hadn't felt the same. He had known she loved Jack and that was the reason why he had given his life to save her instead of taking Jack's. Her breath caught in her throat. She had found out from Daniel how Jack had stepped forward when Orlin had told him the price of saving her was a life for a life. It scared her to realise how close they had come to losing each other when they were so close to finally having a chance to be together.

Count them. Jack's words resounded in her head. He had told her to count the days until he could tell her he loved her so that's what she was doing; she was counting. In seven days, Jack would cease to be her CO; if pressed she could give the time to an exact hour and minute breakdown. Neither of them had spoken about it since the moment of her awakening in the infirmary. They were back to doing what they always did; ignoring what was between them, doing their jobs, pretending they were OK with that except this time they were both aware that they were counting the hours until they could stop. She was determined she wasn't going to waste the gift Orlin had given her.

Sam brushed the last of her tears away and started back toward the group waiting for her. Her mind turned to the mission ahead; the set-up of the joint study of the Ancient systems on Dakara. Sam had been released from the infirmary the day before, Carolyn proclaiming her to be in perfect health and truthfully Sam felt healthier than she had in months, years even. She had immediately petitioned Jack for permission to return to Dakara and he had agreed. She and Daniel had spent the rest of the day making the arrangements.

The archaeologist met her half-way back to the rest of the team. 'You OK?' He should have gone with her, he thought seeing how pale she was. He was worried about her, they all were. Coming back from the dead and finding out Orlin had given his life for her…it was a lot for anyone to assimilate.

'Yeah.' Sam smiled at him briefly. 'Just…' she glanced back, 'sad.' She turned back to him. 'He was a good person.'

'He must have been.' Daniel murmured. He pushed his glasses up his nose. 'You ready for this?'

She nodded. It would be the first time she had been back inside the chamber since the explosion. 'I'm ready.'

'We could wait…'

'I said I'm ready, Daniel.' Sam said a little more sharply than she intended. She winced. 'Sorry.'

'It's OK.' Daniel shrugged away her apology.

'No, it's not.' Sam contradicted him. 'I know you're being a good friend.' She patted his arm. 'But I really am OK.'

'OK.' Daniel gestured at their waiting team-mates. 'Shall we?'

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

'Colonel Carter.' Bra'tac inclined his head.

There was deference in his eyes for her that she hadn't seen before and she repressed the urge to sigh. Apparently getting resurrected by an Ascended being was something of an honour in the eyes of the Jaffa, Bra'tac included.

'I trust everything met with your approval.' The elderly Jaffa continued.

'It's a lovely spot, Bra'tac.' Sam said with a smile. The grave was located on a steep hill overlooking the city and the Stargate. It was quiet and peaceful.

'If you are ready, we should begin our walk to the chamber. It is a long way.' Bra'tac said.

'Everybody good to go?' Sam checked.

Teal'c inclined his head.

'Yes, ma'am.' Mitchell nodded.

Sam turned back to Bra'tac. 'We're ready.'

Bra'tac and Teal'c took the lead as they started down the path back towards the city.

Sam ordered Mitchell to watch the rear with the two other Jaffa who had escorted them to the grave which allowed her and Daniel to walk together in the middle like they had back in the early days of SG1.

'It's a shame Jack couldn't come.' Daniel commented.

Sam nodded; the General had been required to stay at the SGC and continue interviewing candidates for the position of the new military commander. They were running out of time to assign someone. Not that Sam would report to them; the IOA had insisted that as the Stargate's foremost expert, she was permanently assigned to the SGC and, because under the new procedures she could overrule a superior officer in the matters relating to the operation of the Gate, she would report directly to the new head of the Homeworld office, General Landry. The IOA overseer, Woolsey, hadn't directly mentioned the incident with Bauer a few years before when her command structure had overruled her advice but it seemed like he wanted to ensure she had some protection. Daniel had commented wryly that it had taken Woolsey five minutes what had taken them years; to find a way to take Sam out of Jack's chain of command.

Sam grimaced a little. She knew whoever the new commander turned out to be they would have to find a way to work together; they would still outrank her and she knew in their place she would find it hard to stomach taking command of a squadron except for one officer of lower rank who got to overrule your commands in certain scenarios and who was always going to be permanently assigned regardless of their performance. Sam resolved that any issues would not stem from her; she would make every effort to welcome the other officer and achieve a successful working relationship.

'What are you thinking about?' Daniel asked hearing Sam sigh.

'The new military commander.' She admitted.

'They all seemed a little formal.' Daniel commented remembering the candidates they had been introduced to before they had left for Dakara.

'I guess we've all gotten used to General O'Neill's more informal approach to military protocol.' Sam said.

'That's one way of putting it.' Daniel grinned. 'At least Jack will still be leading the SGC.'

'Yeah.'

Daniel caught the barely perceptible flicker across Sam's delicate features. 'What?'

Sam mentally cursed the fact that Daniel knew her so well. 'I'm a little worried about what the reaction of the new military commander is going to be when…' her voice trailed away again as she looked anxiously over her shoulder to check whether Mitchell was listening or not. She needn't have worried; he seemed deep in conversation with the two Jaffa.

'Oh.' Daniel's agile mind leaped ahead of Sam. 'You mean when…' he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Sam nodded and tried to pretend the heat on her cheeks was from the Dakara sun.

'Are you really that bothered about it?' Daniel asked. 'You won't report to them and thanks to Woolsey your position in the SGC is solid.'

'I'd like to have a good working relationship.' Sam pointed out.

'You're not going to let this stop you from being with…' It was his turn to get cautious and look back at their team-mate.

'No.' Sam said quickly. 'We've waited long enough and besides,' her expression saddened, 'Orlin gave his life because he knew who I wanted to be with.'

Daniel frowned. 'You shouldn't feel guilty about it.'

'I don't.' Sam denied. She caught Daniel's pointed gaze and sighed. 'OK, maybe a little but mostly I'm thankful,' she gestured, 'and I won't waste the gift he gave me.'

Daniel smiled, pleased at her answer.

'Things seem a lot friendlier here.' Sam commented as she looked back to check on Mitchell again. He and the two Jaffa seemed to be getting along well.

'We were talking about that while you were up at the grave.' Daniel said. 'Bra'tac was saying there has been a real turnaround in how the Tau'ri are viewed since Cral'k's allegiance to Ba'al and the extent of his dishonour has become widely known.'

'Good.' Sam said. 'I'm glad.'

Daniel glanced over at her. She hadn't talked about her experience with Cral'k and they all had shied away from asking her. 'The Council have questioned all of his associates; they've found another three Ba'al agents.'

'Do they think they've found all of them?' Sam asked.

'Maybe.' Daniel said. 'Oh, and Bra'tac says it looks as if the Jaffa are going to adopt a democratic system of government and move on from the old ways. Major Davis and SG7 have gone back to the SGC to discuss the new treaty with the President.' He smiled. 'Teal'c's pleased.'

'He seems to be being treated a lot better.' Sam noted. There had been more deference accorded to their Jaffa friend since their return to Dakara.

'Yep.' Daniel wiped his brow. 'I'm glad they came up with the Ambassador position.'

'Me too.' Sam grinned at him. 'It's good to have him back.'

'Indeed.' Daniel quipped.

Their shared laughter had the others in their party looking at them quizzically. Sam hastily changed the subject.

'I can't believe we get to study the Ancient systems.' She said excitedly.

'I know.' Daniel said happily. 'I'm hoping there's some information in the database on why the Ancients came to Dakara, some explanation for them building the weapon.'

'I want to find out how that hybrid ZPM works.' Sam admitted. 'The readings Bill took are really interesting.'

'Inter-dimensional, right?' Daniel checked.

Sam nodded. 'Somehow, they managed to pull the power from sub-space but in a different dimension rather than our own.' She lifted her hand away from her P90 briefly. 'We've come across inter-dimensional stuff before but never a power source.'

'There was that device on P9X391, wasn't there? The one that allowed you guys to see strange creatures?' Daniel asked. He had been ascended at the time of that particular mission but he remembered reading about it in the mission reports when he had been catching up on events during his year long absence.

'That's right.' Sam murmured. 'That used some kind of specific electrical field which allowed us to access the dimension and see the creatures.'

'So you're thinking there must be some kind of electrical field that allows the ZPM to access the other dimension.' Daniel mused.

'Maybe.' Sam shook her head. 'It could be some kind of phasing technology like the giant aliens use on P7X377 with the crystal skulls.' She gave a happy sigh. 'I can only speculate until we get it connected again and run some tests on it. I'm hoping the control chair will be able to access more detailed information on its operation.'

'That's why you've brought Doctor Cooper?' Daniel asked.

Sam nodded. 'He's one of the few scientists we have assigned to the SGC who has the Ancient gene. He should be able to activate the chair.'

'When are we all going to start Doctor Beckett's gene treatment?' Daniel asked.

Sam shrugged. 'I guess that's up to Doctor Lam.'

'You two seem friendly.' Daniel commented.

'She's nice.' Sam said a little defensively.

Daniel hurried to reassure her. 'I didn't mean anything bad by it. I think it's great.'

'It is.' Sam commented. 'It's just every so often I get a weird feeling like I'm betraying Janet by liking her.' She shook her head sadly. 'Silly, huh?'

'I would think it's fairly natural. I mean, you and Janet were best friends,' Daniel said softly, 'and I guess it hits a little close with Carolyn being CMO too.'

Sam nodded.

'I'm sure Janet would be pleased you made another friend.' Daniel said lightly and was rewarded when Sam smiled if a little sadly.

'You're right.' Her eyes narrowed as they began down a familiar path and she saw the mountainside with the passage into the buried Ancient buildings ahead. She felt her shoulders knot with anxiety.

Daniel saw the tension creep across her pale face and wished there was someway he could make it easier for her. He unconsciously moved closer to her and he was pleased when Teal'c dropped back to walk on the other side of Sam.

'We are almost at our destination, Colonel Carter.' Teal'c noted quietly.

Sam nodded sharply. As they got closer, she could see the study team waiting patiently outside the passage for them. They seemed to be getting along well with the Jaffa stood with them. She followed Bra'tac as he made his way to the gathered crowd.

The Jaffa master turned back to Sam as she came to a stop behind him with Teal'c and Daniel, Mitchell and the other two Jaffa bringing up the rear. 'Would you like to rest before we proceed, Colonel Carter?'

'Thank you, Bra'tac,' Sam responded, 'but I'd like to get started.' She gestured at the study team. 'I'd like to introduce our team; you know Doctor Lee; this is Doctor Cooper,' she pointed at the small blonde man, 'and Doctor Garston.' The brunette blushed and Sam swallowed a smile as she caught the other woman's darting glance at Daniel. It looked as though someone had a crush.

Bra'tac nodded firmly. 'Good.' He motioned for the two Jaffa standing with the Tau'ri scientists to move forward. 'This is Kyrel.' An elderly Jaffa with white hair which was a startling contrast to his dark skin inclined his head. 'And his son, Tolam.' The younger Jaffa nodded at them jerkily. 'They will be the Jaffa representatives on the study.'

'I am looking forward to working with you Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson.' Kyrel said in a deep voice that reminded Sam of Teal'c.

'We are looking forward to working with you also.' Daniel responded.

'Shall we get started?' Sam asked trying to ignore the reverential looks she was garnering from both of the Jaffa scientists.

The team started reaching for their equipment. Teal'c and Mitchell stepped forward to help them.

Bra'tac smiled. 'I will leave you. There is much work to do on the Council.'

'Thank you, Bra'tac.' Sam said.

'Shall we?' Kyrel made a wide sweeping gesture towards the passage clearly indicating for Sam to go first.

She took a deep breath and switched on the light on her P90. She stepped into the passage, grateful when Daniel walked up beside her. She was surprised to see how little damage had been done to the passage from the explosion Cral'k had set. She moved into the first chamber with a little apprehension. Memories flooded back to her. The dark and the sound of her breath as she waited for Cral'k to attack. The flash of the P90 as she defended her position. The panic at seeing the bomb. Cral'k's breath hot against her neck; his hands rough against her body as they struggled. Pain and nausea. Frantically inputting the instructions in the transportation system hoping it would save her life…

'Sam?'

Daniel's gentle prompt wrenched her from the past. She focused on the opening on the far side of the chamber absently noting that the Jaffa had obviously removed the worst of the debris and rubble from the explosion. There was evidence of its damage in the scorch marks on the walls, on the ragged remains of the console where the bomb had been planted. She walked through the inner door and into the second room. The Jaffa had already set up temporary artificial lights that flooded the space and cast strange shadows on the walls. She moved across the upper level and made her way down the stairs to the metal chair. She breathed in sharply at the sight of it.

'Let's get started.' She said pleased her voice was calm and authorative.

Kyrel nodded. 'I believe our first course of action is to reconnect the power source and try to understand how much time we have available to us before it is completely depleted.'

'I agree.' Sam said with a ready smile. She moved to help Doctor Lee unpack the hybrid ZPM.

For a while, they all concentrated on getting the equipment unpacked and set up.

Daniel smiled at Sam's quickly hidden exasperation as Tolam practically fell over when she spoke to him directly. He could tell the Jaffa's reverence for her, all based on her experience with Orlin, irritated Sam. He leaned across a console as she came to stand next to him to murmur in her ear. 'You can't tell me you're not enjoying this a little. Come on, admit it.' He teased.

Sam shot him a look and leaned in closer to him. 'If you're not careful I'll remind Kyrel and Tolam that you used to be one of those glowy Ascended beings.' She threatened in a pleasant voice.

'OK. OK.' Daniel backed off rapidly. 'I think I have enough problems of my own.' He admitted under his breath. He darted a look at Doctor Garston who blushed at being caught staring at him.

Sam smirked. 'She's cute.'

'Hmmm.' Daniel said desperately searching for a diversion.

'I think we're ready to put the power source back.' Doctor Bill Lee called from his position on the other side of the room.

Sam rolled her eyes and mouthed 'later' at the archaeologist. She walked over to her fellow scientist. 'Why don't you go ahead and do the honours, Bill?'

Bill nodded. He removed the metal disc and pushed the power source into the empty space. He grunted a little as he pushed it into place. The chamber's own lights flickered into life.

Sam exchanged a pleased smile with Kyrel.

'Doctor Cooper.' Sam gestured at the chair in the centre of the room. 'You're on.'

The young blond man swallowed nervously and approached the chair with trepidation. He sat down but the chair didn't respond at all. Sam frowned. Daniel came to stand beside her and crossed his arms.

'Why is nothing happening?' Kyrel asked perplexed. 'I thought the technology was supposed to automatically respond to the Ancient gene?'

'Doctor Cooper?' Sam asked.

Cooper shook his head and tried the hand controls on the chair; still nothing happened. 'I don't know, Colonel. I can't explain it.'

'Maybe there's not enough power.' Bill suggested.

'Maybe.' Sam frowned. 'Or maybe the chair is broken.' She waved Cooper down as she stepped onto the platform. 'I'll take a look.' She tried not to think about the last time she had been near the chair as Doctor Cooper relinquished his place. She approached it apprehensively and did a three-sixty around the chair first to check its construction. There didn't seem to be anything physically broken. She sighed and realised she was going to have to sit down to look at the hand control panels. She tried not to feel self-conscious as she lowered herself gingerly into the chair.

The chair reacted.

It swivelled and inclined with enough speed that Sam grabbed the arms to avoid falling off it. There was a strange humming as all the consoles in the room fired into life.

What the hell was happening? Sam thought panicked. Suddenly a diagnostic appeared in a projection above her head. She swallowed and stared at it, unable to comprehend that she had conjured up the information through thought alone.

'Woah.' Mitchell took a step towards the data spinning in mid-air and gaped open-mouthed. The Jaffa and the other scientists had similar expressions.

'Um…Sam?' Daniel's voice wasn't quite steady as he looked across at her. 'What's going on?'

'I did not know you possessed the Ancient gene, Colonel Carter.' Teal'c said clasping his hands behind his back as he stepped up onto the platform to stand next to her.

Sam raised a hand weakly to gesture at the projection. 'I don't.'

Daniel crossed his arms and met her bewildered gaze across the room. 'Well, you do now.'

Sam held his gaze for a brief moment before her blue eyes moved back to the projection. How could she have gotten the Ancient gene? She hadn't had the gene therapy and she certainly hadn't set the chair off the last time she had sat in it before she had…before she had died and been brought back to life by Orlin. She sighed deeply. 'Oh boy.'