Chapter 10
The cargo ship was coming in hot and fast.
Sam clutched the sides of her seat, her eyes wide as the planet blurred in front of her. The fire of the atmosphere burned past them, revealing swirls of blue, green and brown. Before she knew it, they were diving for the surface, soaring over a rippling ocean as they approached the one of the landmasses on the planet.
By her side, Teal'c held into the controls, guiding the bulb with the palms of his hands. Sam saw the sweat trickling down his neck, his normally smooth face puckered with wrinkles of concentration. But Teal'c never broke. He remained focused, keeping the ship level as he started his descent.
"This will not be a pleasant landing," he told her.
Sam nodded and jumped to her feet, running to where Colonel O'Neill and Daniel were seated. Neither of them moved as she approached, nor did they seem to acknowledge her presence. Quietly, Sam placed each of her hands over one of theirs, trying to rouse them from their stupor. The two of them stayed silent, and for Sam that was a frightening prospect.
"Sir?" she asked.
O'Neill's sleepy gaze followed her as she crouched down beside them. For a moment, she thought he didn't recognize her.
"Colonel?"
He cleared his throat. "Carter?" he asked, finding his voice.
"Yes," she said, only slightly relieved. She squeezed his hand and turned to Daniel, giving him a light shake. "Daniel?"
Daniel didn't answer. He didn't even turn his head at the sound of her voice. Sam pressed her hand to his forehead. His face was hot, flushed. She knew they were running out of time.
"He doesn't talk anymore," O'Neill told her.
Sam nodded, but refused to dwell on that fact. She slipped her hands under Daniel's arms and tugged upward, propping him against the wall and positioning him in a better angle as they made landfall. Since the seats themselves did not carry restraints, Sam thought this corner of the cargo ship would offer the most protection for them. Still, she knew that Teal'c was piloting the cargo ship the best he could, coming in as quickly, but as safely, as possible.
"Colonel, I need for you to get close to Daniel and hold on. Can you do that for me?"
He stared at her.
"Sir?" She tapped him on the shoulder. "Do you understand me?"
He dug the heel of his palm into his eye and finally nodded. "Yeah. Hold on."
"Good." She said, giving him another squeeze. "Remember, hold on. I'll be right back."
Sam fought against the momentum of their descent as she pushed farther into the ship. When she reached Ningal, she double checked the restraints and then helped the woman to her feet. She hobbled, but allowed Sam to lead her towards O'Neill and Daniel.
"We are going to crash," she told Sam.
"Teal'c knows what he's doing. We couldn't afford to come in at a normal pace," Sam explained, hoping the bitterness in her voice came through loud and clear. She seated the woman beside O'Neill. "Duck your head," she ordered.
Ningal did as instructed. With the three of them tightly secured in the corner, Sam hurried back to the console, grabbing onto Teal'c's seat and looking over his shoulder. They were just above the ground now, the grasses and rock blurring into streaks of green and rust. She saw a speck dotting the landscape in the distance.
The Stargate.
"I suggest that you secure yourself," Teal'c said.
Quickly, Sam returned to her seat, grabbing onto the arms, and readied herself for impact. "Hold on," she told him.
He did not nod an affirmative, but Sam knew that he had heard her. Teal'c's grip on the controls tightened and he made one last final push.
The cargo ship started to slow as it scraped over the top of the ground. The frame of the Stargate sharpened, its shape widening from a mere speck to a small circle. As they closed in on the platform, the grating increased, filling the cabin with the distinct whine of metal against rock. Sam clutched the seats and braced herself.
The cargo ship bounced once, twice, as it careened out of control against the ground. Each time, she barely could hold on, her body lifting from the seat and smashing against the sides. She grinded her teeth, ignoring the flash of pain as the cargo ship veered right. Finally, as the ship slowed, it slid over the bedrock, crashing into a large tree.
The lights flickered and Sam could smell something burning. Groaning, she held her side. As the haze lifted from her eyes and she regained her sense of balance, she put aside her pain to check on the rest of her team.
Teal'c already was stumbling to his feet. He left the controls, holding onto the back of the seat for support. When Sam approached him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, helping him towards the back of the ship.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
"Now that I am in your care, I will be fine," he said with a smile.
Sam found herself grinning despite their situation, regaining a sense of optimism. If Teal'c could find a moment of humor in their dire circumstances, then she knew they would be okay.
That is what she kept telling herself.
When she reached the rear, she reluctantly let him go. She hurried back to the console area to retrieve Ningal, Colonel O'Neill, and Daniel. They were exactly where she had left them, huddled in the corner. Ningal was the first to stir, but she was last to concern Sam. Immediately, Sam made her way into the corner to dig out O'Neill and Daniel.
"Daniel," Sam said, placing her hand on his cheek. He didn't respond to her touch.
Sam felt a flutter of fear hit her stomach. Once again, she pushed it aside and slipped her arms under him, tugging him forward. When she felt her grip was strong enough, she pulled him out of the corner and started to drag him toward the exit. Thankfully, Teal'c had found enough strength to make it to the ramp.
"I will proceed to the Stargate," he told her as she met him by the exit.
"Are you well enough to dial home?" Sam asked.
Teal'c tapped his staff weapon to the floor in a display of determination. "I am."
She nodded at him, giving him the green light. Teal'c went first, wearily stumbling down the ramp before he staggered toward the DHD. Sam followed him, dragging Daniel with her. By now, he was unconscious, and completely non-responsive to any of her pleas or commands. But he was breathing and that was all that mattered to her at this point.
The chevrons began to lock as she placed Daniel's limp body by Teal'c's feet. She urged him to continue as she ran back to the cargo ship.
O'Neill was tougher to retrieve. He kept slipping in and out consciousness and had lost all lucidity. She wasn't sure if he was delusional or if he was hallucinating, but his thrashing and incoherent mumbles were keeping her from successfully guiding him toward the exit. She struggled to keep control over him.
"Sir, just hang on a little longer," she said. She fought with him again, holding onto his wrists as she shoved him out the door.
Once they were outside, O'Neill's resistance waned, allowing Sam to get a better handle on the situation. Quickly, she guided him to the DHD and sat him down by its base.
A wormhole had been established.
"I have sent the signal," Teal'c informed her. "General Hammond is waiting."
"As soon as you see me exit the ship, take Colonel O'Neill through the Gate," Sam said. "I'll take Daniel."
"What of the Sinnu priestess?" Teal'c asked.
"I'll handle her. Don't worry."
Teal'c frowned, making his reluctance known. Sam was grateful for the protection her friend offered her, but it was her turn to protect him.
Sam ran back into the cargo ship one last time. Reaching Ningal, she withdrew her knife and sliced through the bindings on the woman's ankles. Without a word, Sam seized her arm and led her down the ramp, bringing her to the DHD. Teal'c nodded at her and grabbed O'Neill, dragging him to his feet. Sam held onto Ningal and followed, making sure that Teal'c did not stumble or collapse. When he reached the event horizon. Teal'c stopped, securing his hold on O'Neill and leaned on his staff weapon for support. Then, he stepped forward, disappearing.
Sam wasted no time in following him. She jogged up the steps, dragging a resistant Ningal along with her. As they reached the event horizon, Sam did not hesitate to throw the woman through.
She knew that the Stargate would not stay open indefinitely. Running on pure adrenaline, Sam stomped down the steps and rushed over to Daniel's side. She tried to coax him to walk, but he was too far gone to respond. Having no other choice, Sam dragged him again, pulling his body toward the platform. She heaved him up the steps and without hesitating, Sam threw herself and Daniel into the event horizon.
Gasping for breath, Sam collapsed onto the other side, the stress and magnitude of the last couple of days finally catching up with her. The SGC seemed to blur into various shapes and faces, all non-distinct, as people poured over her and her team. With the knowledge that she had done all she could for her friends and teammates, Sam slumped her shoulders and bowed her head, sending a silent prayer that her team would make it.