Chapter 6: Life Goes On… -

"You did what?"

If Sam hadn't heard the soft chuckle after the question, she might have been worried. Tucking the phone in tighter between her ear and shoulder, she continued filling out the paperwork in front of her.

"Seriously though Sam, we're good to go?"

"I told you I would take care of it Daniel. Now don't forget that we have a meeting at 0800 tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Breakfast tomorrow at 0715?"

"Sounds good. See you then." Hanging up the phone, Sam turned back to her paperwork. "Who knew that coming back from the dead could generate so much paperwork?" She mumbled.

"Daniel, probably."

Sam looked up in surprise.

"Janet! What brings you here?"

Janet raised an eyebrow and glanced at her watch.

"It's 1400. Teal'c should be coming back through the gate soon."

"Right. Guess I lost track of time." Sam said as she began to put her stuff away. "Shall we?"

"Off world activation!"

Sam and Janet had just entered the gateroom when Walter's announcement came over the loudspeaker. Turning to watch the gate, Sam smiled as the iris slid open and Teal'c stepped through the event horizon.

"Hey Teal'c! Welcome back." Sam said. "I trust everything went well on Dakara?"

"As well as can be expected Colonel Carter." Teal'c replied.

"That well, huh?" Janet smiled sympathetically.

"The High Counsel was not thrilled with my decision to leave Dakara and return to the Tauri."

"Did you just say 'thrilled' Teal'c?" Sam asked, surprise and shock flooding her voice.

"Indeed."

"Wow."

Four days had passed since Sam walked through the gate into this alternate universe. In that time she managed to bring Daniel and Teal'c back to the SGC and reinstate SG1. The three of them had even managed to go off world on a mission. Which was why they now sat in the briefing room.

"Is there anything else Colonel?" General O'Neill asked, his voice cold and professional.

"No sir."

"Very well. Dismissed."

"It feels good to be going through the gate again." Daniel babbled as SG1 left the briefing room. "I can't believe how quickly the Ori are working."

"It has been almost two years Daniel Jackson since the Ori entered our galaxy."

"Right. Hey Sam what are we doing to fight the Ori in your universe? Sam?" When Sam didn't answer Daniel and Teal'c turned to find Sam still standing in the doorway to the briefing room, staring unseeing past her two teammates.

"Colonel Carter are you alright?"

Hearing the commotion outside his office, Jack came out to investigate. Seeing the concerned look on Daniel's face, and what he interpreted as a concerned look on Teal'c's impassive face, Jack's eyes followed their's to Sam.

"What happened?" Jack demanded.

"I don't know Jack." Daniel replied. "One moment we were leaving the debriefing, the next she was like that."

"Walter!" Jack bellowed. "Call the infirmary. Tell Doc Frasier that we are on our way with a catatonic Colonel Carter!"

It had been a long time since Daniel and Teal'c had found themselves sitting at Sam's side in the infirmary. It wasn't something that either of them particularly enjoyed…

…but at least she's here for us to be able to sit with her. Daniel thought. As he kept watch across the bed from Teal'c, Daniel saw Sam blink her eyes, a welcome sign after she'd been staring unblinking for the last hour.

"Sam?" Daniel asked tentatively.

"Skaara was there." Sam croaked.

"Skaara? Sam, you saw Skaara?"

"No." Sam said as she suddenly realized where she was. She smiled at the concerned looks on her friends' faces. "I'm okay guys. Really."

"Perhaps we should let Doctor Frasier decide that Colonel Carter."

"Janet! Sam's awake." Daniel called across the infirmary.

Within moments Janet was next to Sam, checking her vitals.

"Janet I'm fine."

"You call an open eyed catatonic state fine?" Janet grumbled. "You three always did cause me the most grief. Especially with unknown ailments. Remind me why I helped get SG1 back?"

I know, I know. Yet another cliff hanger. I hope you guys are enjoying this fic so far. The rest of the week is pretty busy with midterms coming up, but I hope to have the next chapter up soon. Please review...