FOR TOMORROW
CHAPTER 2
For disclaimer and rating information, please see chapter One.
A/N: Thank you all for sending such encouraging reviews! I've decided to post the second chapter today for all of you.
Like always, enjoy!
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Samantha Carter woke up with the worst headache she remembered ever experiencing. She blinked her eyes repeatedly, trying to focus her vision without any success. A very bright white light illuminated the room around her, and she looked down to check her clothes. "Damn it!" she said out loud. Someone had taken the liberty of removing her BDU's and had switched them for a lightweight white satin-like robe. She hated when that happened, she just wanted to know who had done it and why.
Of course, her weapons were gone, same as her radio. She tried to search the empty room for a door, a window, a way out...but nothing. There were walls surrounding her completely, white, bright walls, of a material totally alien to her. She touched the surface carefully, trying to guess the elements that composed it, and she figured it could be some sort of metallic amalgamation. The glowing part was throwing her off, and she wondered if it was all an illusion.
Trying to ignore the constant pounding in her head, she closed her eyes to remember the events before she awoke here. She had been working on both Ancient devices after she had located the Ori surrounding the planet, when they got word the Prior had arrived and they had to leave immediately. She asked Mitchell for more time, the calibration was almost there, and the weapon was beginning it's upload. Sam recalled the screams and fear of the villagers as the Prior closed in on her location, threatening everyone with his weapon. Daniel and Mitchell called her, but she ignored them. She was almost there, they had found a weapon that could kill their enemy, and she had promised herself she would go through with it, no matter what. Nothing would matter if they couldn't find a way to fight the Ori, they would inevitably reach Earth and kill them all. Without this device, there was no hope anyway, so she stayed behind and right before she could activate it, it happened. She was gone. That was the only word she could think of to explain it, because the next thing she remembered was waking up here, in a desolate, incredibly white room.
"Hello?" she began, hoping there was someone guarding the room from outside. "Anyone? Hello?" she asked again, raising her voice even more.
Nothing. Silence. She took a number of breaths, assessing her situation and searching for possibilities. Maybe the Prior caught her and sent her here. Or maybe she was transported to another planet by an ally? That was highly unlikely. Someone would've made his or her, or it's, appearance by then. When her next thought arose, she paled. Her hands went to her stomach immediately, and she closed her eyes as she tried to remain optimistic. "No, not dead. Not yet. I did not die like that. We did not die like that," she said as she looked down to where her hands rested and smiled. "We'll be fine. I know it."
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As he closed the letter, Jack walked to the kitchen counter like a zombie. He searched the cabinets for a new Jack Daniels bottle, poured the amber liquid into the glass he held and gulped most of it's content all at once.
Daniel watched as his friend drank a second full glass of liquor and stood up from the couch. He approached him, served himself a full glass of whisky as well, and drank it. "I'm guessing I was right," he said, so softly Jack barely noticed his younger friend was standing next to him.
"Why…" Jack cleared his throat and swallowed some more liquor. "How did you know?"
Daniel finally met Jack's eyes and was stunned by what he saw there. He found a fear he had never seen in those brown depths. It was panic and hopelessness. Daniel knew Jack well enough to understand his friend was re-living Charlie's death, the vulnerability and guilt resurfacing once again.
"I don't know how. She seemed so… happy. So determined to make this a final, worthwhile mission," Daniel said, his own eyes gathering moisture. He closed them to block the tears from falling, as he tried to remain strong for his best friend. "She had returned from the infirmary and said she was scared, but happy. Like she never was before. I don't know, maybe it's because I've known Sam for so long, that I thought it had to be something different. Not the type of happiness she felt with new devices, or new technologies discovered. Not even the type of joy I could see in her eyes when she thought or talked about you." Daniel looked down and took another long sip of his drink.
Jack shut his eyes tight and poured himself another glass of whiskey. He walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, sitting on the couch in silence. Daniel followed him with his gaze and jumped in shock when Jack threw the glass against the mantle with full force. Then, he saw the older man's hands holding his head, sustaining the weight of it as he shook it from side to side.
"I should've known," Jack murmured.
The archeologist came around and sat on the sofa opposite him, giving his friend space, but letting him know he was there for him. "No, Jack. How?"
"I should've been there," Jack continued, obviously ignoring the other man's words.
Daniel understood Jack's constant need to protect them. To save them. To watch over them. That had been his job for years, and that was his reason for living. At that point, Dr. Daniel Jackson was out of words, he honestly didn't know what to say to make his friend feel better. So he sat there, in silence, drinking from his glass and waiting for Jack to make the next move.
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At a very early hour, Jack opened his eyes with great effort. He looked around and made out the form of a sleeping Daniel on the couch across from his. The bottle of JackDaniels lay on the floor, empty. He cringed and rubbed his temple, as the inevitable consequences of the previous night's liquor consumption began to take effect. Sitting up and walking slowly to the kitchen, he saw the letter on the table and memories of the night before returned. He picked it up and read it again. 'Positive' The word flooded his head, repeating itself over and over. A sad smile appeared on his face, he wanted this more than anything, and he knew she did, too. He had to find her, find them. He didn't care what it would take, Air Force or not, he had to get her back - he was the goddamned Head of Homeworld Security, for cryin' out loud! And he was sitting around like an idiot passing out in her living room, while she was out there, somewhere, possibly counting on him to find her, to rescue her and their unborn baby.
"Crap!" he finally yelled, awakening Daniel from his sleep.
"Jack?" the younger man called, sitting up startled and rubbing his hands on his face.
"We gotta go. You comin'?" Jack asked, after returning from the bathroom and grabbing the car keys from the table.
"Yeah, sure… let me… give me five minutes," he said, and after using the restroom himself, both men left the house and drove to Cheyenne Mountain as fast as it was possible.
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"Come on! Somebody!" Sam screamed again, trying to stay awake. She calculated she had been there for over a day, given that her watch was gone and she was unconscious for some time. When she finally sat on the floor, her knees touching her chest and her arms surrounding her legs, a beam of light appeared and a tall brunette took form in front of her.
Sam stood up immediately, taking a few steps back, but raising to her full height. She watched the person in front of her, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had fair skin, big green eyes, and long, curly auburn hair. She smiled kindly at her, but Sam took a couple more steps back.
"Don't be afraid, Samantha," the woman said gently, as she reached for Sam's hand.
"Y-you know my name. Who are you? Where am I?" Sam asked, as she looked at the woman's extended hand and then up to her eyes.
"My name is Mili'ah," the other responded calmly.
"Ok, Mili'ah, where am I?"
The woman smiled and remained silent for a long time. Finally, Sam walked closer and stared, still cautious of her.
"I get you're not going to tell me, right?" Sam continued.
Mili'ah nodded and smiled again, more brightly this time.
"Why?"
"It is not time. You will know soon enough."
"No. Tell me!" Sam yelled impatiently.
"Samantha, you must be patient."
"Listen to me, I was taken against my will more than a day ago; I need to know what you want! My people must be worried about me, and they will find me!" Sam said, tears beginning to gather in her eyes, but her strength kept them from falling.
The woman looked at her in amusement, watching as Sam lost her control and turned from her after her outburst. "They cannot find you, dear," she said simply.
Sam turned as those words were spoken, fear emerging in her expression. "Please, you can't keep me here. I'm…" But she stopped. Such revelation was not worth making, at least not yet. With all the strength she could manage, Sam walked closer to Mili'ah and challenged her with her gaze. "Look, I'm not scared of you, or whomever it is that you work with. I think you are underestimating me and my people."
The woman smiled again, not bothered or threatened by Sam's words. "Samantha, such confidence! It does not surprise me, though." Another bright smile illuminated the woman's face. "I don't expect you to be afraid of me, I know you. We all do." She gazed at her with the same strength and depth, as her smile widened even more. "I think it is you who underestimate me." And with that, the bright beam of light appeared, taking Mili'ah with her.
"NO! Wait!" But it was too late. With Mili'ah's disappearance, a bowl of what appeared to be food and a cup with water was left in her place. Sam ran her hands through her hair in desperation, and covered her face with her palms as she let her body fall to the floor once again.
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"Jack, what are you doing?" Daniel asked, as Jack reached the locker room and began to change into BDU's.
"What do you think I'm doing, Daniel?"
Daniel rolled his eyes and approached him. "I know what you're doing now. I'm asking, why? Where are you gonna go?"
"I'm contacting the Asgard," Jack responded as he put his vest on and began to tie his boots.
"Where?" Daniel continued, more puzzled than before.
"Daniel, quit asking stupid questions and change. You either come with me or shut up and leave!"
The younger man raised his eyebrows and shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no… not this time! You tell me where you are going, and how in the world you plan to call the Asgard… We haven't been able to reach them in months!"
Jack turned and glanced at the emotional face in front of him. He lowered his head and sat back on the bench, running his hands through his rebel hair. Daniel watched as despair took over his friend again, and he decided to sit beside him.
"Jack, you can't just run out of here like a mad man. I understand what you…"
"Do you really? I doubt that, Daniel." Jack gazed at him intensely and sighed. "Sam is lost. And she's pregnant. Pregnant. Now there are four options: one, she ascended, which I am praying to God is not it. Two, the Ori have her, I'm also hoping I'm wrong about that one. Three, the Asgard are responsible, the best option I'm considering at the moment. And four…" He froze then.
"She's not dead," Daniel finished for him. "You think this doesn't worry me like hell, too? Sam is like my sister! I want her back soon… alive! Her and the baby. But you are doing what you always do, Jack, you're shutting me out. You're shutting all of us out."
Jack looked away. With both palms, he rubbed his face desperately. "What do you want from me, Daniel?" he said exasperated.
"Work with us. You're an amazing leader, Jack. The best I know. But you can't let your emotions rule you like this every time. Nothing good will come out of it, believe me." With a deep breath, he took off his glasses and held them in his hands.
Standing up from the bench, General Jack O'Neill headed for the door and held it open. "You comin'?"
The younger man watched him in disbelief. "Where, Jack?"
"Landry's office. We need a plan, right?"
Daniel smiled and stood up, as both men walked out of the locker room and headed to the base commander's office.
TBC…..