I really don't understand why teachers insist on having class after they've given the midterm exam. I guess it is kind of a good thing though...I finished the next chapter. One warning though - the last few chapters have gone a slightly different direction than I was originally planning, so when even though I was planning on this being the last chapter, my "evil" side showed itself when I came to the place where this chapter ends...I just couldn't resist leaving you with another cliff hanger before I finally explain everything. Don't be too mad. I will post again at the beginning of week. I have 20 hours round trip in a car this weekend, so I should be able to have the next chapters ready to go when I get back. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: More Revelations –

As the wormhole disengaged behind them, everyone except Sam looked around in surprise. Sam was focused on the device she was carrying, but was not unaware of the emotional undercurrents coming from her team. Allowing them their space, and not really wanting to answer their questions just yet, she took several steps away from the team and continued to scan the area.

"Why are we here Sam?" Daniel asked, coming up behind her. When he didn't receive an answer, he glanced at the device in her hand. "What are you looking for?"

"Not what, Daniel, who." Sam said off-handed. Frowning, she put a hand to her forehead.

"You okay?" Daniel asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Yeah, just a headache." She replied while turning around. "Keep your eyes open. The person we're looking for may have been here a while and could be anywhere." She said to the rest of her team. "I'll take point. Teal'c, watch our six, after what happened last time we were here, we can't be too cautious."

The team walked in silence for several minutes. All the while, Sam kept a close eye on the device she was carrying. 30 minutes out from the stargate, Daniel's curiosity got the better of him.

"Sam, who are we…"

Sam held up a hand for silence and to stop the rest of her team, cutting Daniel off in the process. Going down on one knee, she slipped her pack off and began rummaging through it. She felt, rather than saw, her team follow her example in moving low to the ground. Pulling a bundle out of her pack she waited. Daniel, Janet, and Teal'c began to get restless. Just before Daniel opened his mouth to speak, rustling was heard in the bushes.

Immediately the other members of SG1 lifted their weapons. Looking over her shoulder, Sam motioned for them to lower their weapons. She ignored their questioning looks as they obeyed her order, and turned back towards the approaching stranger. Several long moments later, a figure finally stepped from the bushes and stopped in shock and fright at seeing SG1.

"It's okay." Sam said, standing up and extending the bundle of clothes to the naked figure. "We're friends."

"My god…" Daniel and Janet whispered simultaneously.

Λ

Jack paced back and forth along the length of the window overlooking the gateroom. Pausing occasionally he would glance down, hoping to see the gate activating.

"O'Neill."

Jack whirled around to see Skaara standing on the other side of the briefing table.

"Why are you here Skaara?"

"Are you not pleased to see me O'Neill?" Skaara asked, walking around the table towards Jack. In a moment of nostalgia he saluted.

Jack couldn't help but smile as he returned the salute.

"Of course I am Skaara. It's just that…" Jack paused.

"Every time you are visited by an Ascended something bad happens." Skaara finished for Jack.

Jack nodded again. "First Daniel ascended, then Abydos was destroyed, and now…?"

"I am here to send Colonel Carter home."

"Send her home?" Jack asked in shock. "You can do that?"

"Indeed. That is how she came to be here. A couple of us were…concerned at what was happening. We decided that Colonel Carter, coming from a universe so close to this one, would be the best choice to do what we could not."

"What do you mean what you couldn't?"

"The Others would have stopped us if we had attempted to directly interfere."

"And you aren't interfering now?" Jack quipped sarcastically.

"I am here simply to clean up the mess that has been created." At Jack's confused look, Skaara continued, "Colonel Carter made a demand of one of my…" Skaara paused, searching for the right word.

"Co-conspirators." Jack filled in.

"Yes. The demand was one that could not be ignored. The results were…" Skaara sighed. "Well, the Others…intervened."

"Which means what exactly?"

"Unscheduled offworld activation!"

Jack shot a look at Skaara before he hurried down the stairs into the control room. Skaara followed him. Jack wondered briefly if anyone else could see him.

"What is it Walter."

"Receiving IDC sir. "Walter replied. "It's SG1, sir."

"About damn time!" Jack exclaimed. "Open the iris." He called over his shoulder as he sprinted to the gateroom.

Mere seconds after the iris opened, Sam and Janet came through followed closely by Daniel and Teal'c carrying a stretcher between them.

"Medical team!" Jack bellowed.

By the time SG1 made it to the base of the ramp, the medical team was there. Daniel and Teal'c laid the field stretcher on the one that the medical team brought in. quickly the whole party hurried out the door towards the infirmary.

In the haste, Jack had not had a chance to see who SG1 brought back. As the medical team and SG1 moved out the door, he once again felt horribly out of the loop.

"Colonel Carter!" Jack exclaimed, stopping all of SG1 and Janet in their tracks. "Care to enlighten me about what is going on?"

"Sorry General," Janet answered, putting a protective arm around Sam. "Sam is needed in the infirmary right now. We should be ready to debrief in an hour sir." With that SG1 and Janet hurried to the infirmary.

"Oh for cryin' out loud!"

I must warn you: my "evil" side quite often takes control when I'm writing. And even though I'll have everything written when I get back, my "evil" side may decide not to post immediately if there aren't a whole bunch of reviews for me to read when I get back...(mwahahahahaha)