I hope all my American readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews I've been getting for this story. It has re-inspired me, so tonight you'll get two chapters! Keep the reviews coming because they help reinvigorate my mojo!
"Are you telling me that there's an entrance to this place you didn't know existed?" Hubbard practically yelled. "This is supposed to be a secret and secure military facility. How the hell did someone not know about this? And how did someone else find out about it?"
He was staring at the men and one woman responsible for security at the Farm. None of them would look at him directly, and he was sure the blame would be passed on to someone else somewhere else and everyone of these idiots would disclaim all responsibility.
"I cannot believe that someone was able to waltz in here and help perhaps the most important prisoner we have ever had escape!"
"Prisoner Sir?" Lieutenant Caley looked at him curiously. "I thought Colonel O'Neill was a hero?"
Hubbard pressed his lips together, breathing hard. He had to restrain himself from going over and slugging the impertinent officer. "What he was makes no difference," he hissed. "It's where he is that matters. I want all roads in a hundred mile radius blocked. I want search parties out immediately – get dogs, choppers, whatever you need. You will find O'Neill!"
The people shuffled out slowly – so slowly he wanted to kick their asses. He rubbed his hands through his hair. Shit! He now had to call the General and tell him their prize had disappeared.
"Where the hell are you O'Neill?"
"He what?" Daniel yelped.
"He escaped, Daniel Jackson", Teal'c repeated for him. "General Hammond was very clear on the matter."
"He escaped?" Daniel broke out into a grin. "Thank God! How did he do it?" After a second he frowned. "And how do we know?"
Hammond sighed and wished he had hair so that he could run his hands through it. "I got a call from Colonel Hubbard – threatening me with all sorts of dire consequences if I, or any member of the SGC – was responsible for removing Colonel O'Neill from the secure facility he was in."
"And where was that?" Reynolds asked. The senior officers, along with the remaining members of Sg1 had been called to the Briefing room to be – well, briefed – on the situation.
"He didn't say", Hammond snorted. "I assume he thinks one of us knows."
"But – it wasn't us?" Daniel frowned.
"No Dr. Jackson. As far as I know, no one here at the SGC was responsible."
"But what about -"
"Daniel Jackson, I believe it is best not to speculate", Teal'c told him sternly.
"I'm not speculating, I was just wondering about –"
"Uh – I don't think you should do that either Daniel", Ferretti told him. "I think we need to be very careful about what ideas or names we throw around."
Daniel opened his mouth, but the stares of everyone around the table finally got through to him. "Oh. Yeah. Right." He nodded. But he couldn't help but think. God Sam – what have you done?
"So, what are we supposed to do?" Griff asked the General.
"We are to do an internal investigation, to determine if anyone here had anything to do with O'Neill's disappearance. And all gate travel is suspended until we receive word from the Pentagon."
"What?" The response came from a number of people around the table. "They're shutting down the gate?" Reynolds sounded angry although no more so than many of the others. "Why?"
"I believe they are concerned that we might be tempted to allow Colonel O'Neill to escape through the Stargate," Teal'c speculated.
"This is the work of the NID", Ferretti spat out. "They're bastards."
"I tend to agree Colonel", Hammond nodded, although he knew he shouldn't really say anything. "However the matter is out of my hands. Colonel Reynolds, you are to organize the investigation and report any findings to me."
"Yes Sir. Uh General? What about members of the SGC who are not – present? Do I need to investigate them?"
"You can include anything pertinent in your report," he answered vaguely. "I'm sure someone will follow up if they want more information, but for now only include anything you know for a fact."
Reynolds nodded, and thought back to that moment on the planet. God, Carter. What have you gotten yourself into?
"How is he?" Jacob asked, squatting down beside his daughter and the comatose man beside her.
"About the same", she answered. She had covered the Colonel with a blanket and had rolled another one for under his head. He hadn't been wearing a shirt when they rescued him and only a pair of scrub pants. His skin had been cold – too cold – and she was attempting to warm him. Other than that there really wasn't anything she could do.
"Did you bring a healing device?" she asked her father. Maybe it could help where she couldn't.
"No, unfortunately I didn't. They're in rather short supply and it's hard to get one now. If we can return to Te'letha I can probably find one."
"Any word from the High Council?" she asked. As soon as they had retrieved the Colonel Sel'mak had contacted the Council to ask for sanctuary for her and O'Neill. So far they hadn't heard anything back.
Jacob bent his head. When he lifted it his eyes flashed and Sel'mac spoke. "We have not, but I do not expect it to be good news", she admitted. "Although O'Neill is liked, many on the Council believe that the Tauri are essential in our battle to defeat the Goa'uld. They will not want to destroy our relationship with Earth over one man."
"Earth isn't going to cancel their treaty because of Colonel O'Neill," she scoffed. "it's important to them too."
"I know that, and you know that, but I'm afraid the Council may not."
"So, what if the Council orders you to bring Colonel O'Neill in – or to hand him over to Earth?"
Sel'mac blinked – or maybe it was her father, she never quite knew. "We will accidentally misplace him. If, in that time, he escapes to another place, we cannot be held responsible."
Sam laughed softly. "Thank you Sel'mac. I appreciate it – and I know the Colonel would too. Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
Unfortunately it did. Shortly after their conversation they received a message from the Tokra High Council. It told them that they were unable to offer Colonel O'Neill refugee status. What was even worse was the fact that they were sending out a ship to escort their Tel'tak and ensure O'Neill arrived safely on Te'letha .
"Damn idiots", Jacob grumbled under his breath. He looked down at his daughter and the Colonel, one of the bravest, most honorable men he knew and sighed. "We have about twelve hours to come up with something", he told her.
Sam nodded. It was what she had expected. In her mind she could hear the Colonel say something sarcastic about the Tokra and, at this moment, she agreed wholeheartedly with him. With a couple of exceptions they were an opportunistic bunch who only ever thought of themselves.
"What about the Asgard?" Jacob asked. He knew that Thor and Jack had a good relationship. "They like O'Neill and I'm sure would be willing to help."
"They might", Sam nodded. "Although I don't know how easy it would be to live on Othalla. They're so different and their food is terrible."
"You've tried the little squares and triangles, have you?" Jacob grinned.
"Oh yeah", she grimaced. "Can you imagine what the Colonel would say?"
"Say? It's what he'd do that worries me."
"Yeah", she laughed, although she glanced down at the Colonel as she did so, and immediately felt guilty when she saw the ill man. "Even if they would help, I don't think we have time to contact them – not before the Tokra arrive. I think what we need to do is go to a planet the NID won't suspect, because I doubt if they'll give up looking for him."
"Probably not", Jacob agreed. "I still think it would be good to try and contact them. We might luck out and they could be close."
"Go ahead and try, but we need to have an alternate plan. I think you may have to drop us off somewhere."
Jacob agreed to start sending out a message to Thor – or any Asgard in the vicinity, which basically meant the Milky Way. He prayed they would answer; otherwise Plan B was in order.
Plan B was actually a small planet by the name of Pendar, only a few light years away. It was small, uninteresting, and indistinguishable from a billion other similar planets. What made it special, however, is that it had a gate.
"The best thing to do", her father said, "is to go to Pendar and gate through to another planet, and from their to another – and another, or as long as you want to keep going. The Tokra won't know where you went – and neither will we, if you don't want to tell us."
"I probably shouldn't", she smiled. "That way you can claim plausible deniability."
He nodded his head and then kissed her on the forehead. "I'm so proud of you Sammy."
"Thanks Dad – and I feel the same."
While her father set a course for Pendar – and as he kept sending regular messages to the Asgard, she returned to the Colonel's side. She reached out for perhaps the twentieth time, to feel the Colonel's forehead. He didn't have a fever, and, in fact, was still way too cold – cold and still. He hadn't moved a muscle since they'd arrived on the ship and it was freaking her out. The Colonel was never still.
She knew they had to get him some help but the problem was where. If the Asgard answered, they would definitely provide assistance but other than that it was going to be difficult.
She wished her father had been able to bring a healing device, although she wasn't even sure that would have helped. She didn't know what was wrong with the Colonel, although she had a horrible feeling they had done something to his brain. The wounds in his head were very obviously holes that had been drilled through his skull. "God Sir – you'd better be alright."
"Sam."
"What is it?"
Her father stood, leaving Ta'man in charge of piloting the vessel. "Ta'man just heard from the Tokra. Their ship will be here in twenty minutes. We need to get you down to the planet."
"No word from the Asgard?"
"No", he looked regretful. "I'm sorry."
She nodded and pushed herself up off the floor. "Okay – time to go I guess. I'd better see if I can wake up the Colonel." She gathered her pack, with all her things, and placed a few more items for the Colonel into it, including whatever medical supplies the ship had. Once she was ready she squatted down and touched him gently. "Sir. You have to wake up." When nothing happened she shook him gently. "Sir? Colonel O'Neill? Jack!"
That did it and his eyes opened gradually. He stared blankly for a few seconds and then slowly turned his head until he was looking at Sam. His mouth opened, as if to speak, but only a soft moan escaped. He closed his eyes at that, looking terribly frustrated.
"It's okay Sir", she told him. "I'll help you. Unfortunately we have to go. Can you sit up?"
She wasn't sure if he understood her or not, but after a few seconds he struggled to sit. She reached down and helped him, all the while speaking encouragingly. "Good – now let's get you to your feet."
"Here, I'll help Sam, Jack." Jacob came over and between the two of them they got O'Neill on his feet. He wobbled a bit but seemed to be able to hold himself upright. Jacob then helped him put on a shirt and jacket. "I know you probably don't want to wear Tokra clothes, but I'm afraid that's all we have."
The Colonel didn't respond at all, which was disconcerting to the two Carters who were used to his continual, and usually inappropriate quips when it came to the Tokra.
"Okay – you have everything Sam? Jack, there's a pack for you too. I know it's going to be hard for you to carry it, but let's see if you can try."
"Jacob/Sel'mak, a vessel is approaching," Ta'man announced. "We must send you to the planet below."
"Okay – to the rings you two." Jacob helped Jack walk over to the platform and then left him there. "Try and contact Thor, if you can", he told Sam. "He can let me know where you are and that you're safe. I expect they'll monitor me pretty closely for a while, so I wouldn't try and contact me directly."
"Okay Dad – and thank you!"
"It's okay kiddo. You just take care of yourself and Jack. I'll see you soon."
She nodded and put her arms around the Colonel. A moment later the rings appeared and then they were gone.
"I hope", whispered Jacob when they were gone.
"Ja'nel of the Tokra is calling us Jacob," Ta'man called to him. "He wishes to know if we have O'Neill."
"Yeah – well, tell him I'm busy and will get back to him in a minute." He walked over to the controls, next to Ta'man, and sat down. He gave his fellow Tokra a small smile. "It's about to hit the fan Ta'man. Thank you for what you've done."
His companion gave him a grin. "Bo'rek and I have not had this much fun in many years", he answered, speaking for both himself and his symbiote. "And the High Council are a bunch of scared old men and women. I thank you Jacob/Sel'mac. Shall we respond to Ja'nel?"
"Okay", Jacob sighed. "Let's get this over with."
The rings deposited them less than a hundred meters from the gate and they immediately moved towards it. O'Neill was able to walk, although slowly, and seemed to be able to understand her instructions. He still handed shown any emotion and didn't speak, but at least he was awake. Sam prayed that whatever was wrong with him would simply wear off. It may have been the drugs he'd clearly been given.
She gated them through to PW9 4X4 – another deserted but safe planet. She then sent them through three more gates, wanting to make sure that they wouldn't – couldn't – be followed.
Unfortunately, none of the planets they travelled to were appropriate for any long-term visit. None of them had a local indigenous population – or enough resources to support them for more than a few days. No, they needed to find a planet with local inhabitants that would welcome them, or at least not try and kill them or send them away.
The problem was, any of the friendly planets that had established some contact with Earth would be first on the NID's list of places to investigate. There might be one or two that would defend them, but she really didn't want to put any of their friends through that.
"Damn it Sir", she muttered, after they'd gone through their fifth gate and were resting for a few minutes. "I'm just not sure where we should go!"
Jack stared at her, his blank face giving her the shivers. Was he even in there? But after a few minutes he began to struggle to his feet.
"What? Sir – what are you doing?" She jumped up and helped him, when it became obvious he wasn't going to rest. Maybe he had to use the facilities, and she began to look for a convenient tree. But then O'Neill began to move towards the gate so it couldn't be that. "Sir?" she asked again.
He didn't respond but eventually made it to the DHD. As soon as he arrived he grabbed onto it, resting against its solid presence. A moment later he reached out shaking arms and hit one of the glyphs. That was followed by a second one, which immediately lit up.
"Colonel, what are you doing?" she asked nervously. He turned his eyes on her – those empty seeming eyes – although this time she was positive he was trying to convey something to her. His hands had stopped, although the first two glyphs were still lit. "Are you taking us somewhere?" she asked.
He continued to stare and she wanted to scream but knew it wouldn't help. "Colonel – do you know where we can go? Do you have a planet it mind?" After a couple of seconds more he turned and reached for a third glyph. She shrugged and let him go on, deciding to trust him.
It could be that he did know something – maybe he was accessing information from the Ancient library – or he could be leading them to their death. She knew she would have to make the decision in a moment – one of the tougher ones of her life.
Eventually all the glyphs were lit. Again O'Neill turned to her, his eyes boring into hers. She got the strange impression he was asking her permission. After a couple of heartbeats she nodded. "Go for it Sir."
His eyes moved back to the DHD and he reached out – somewhat tentatively this time, and pushed the center. Immediately the event horizon whooshed out towards them, and then settled back into the usual sea of blue.
"So, I suppose you want us to go through", she asked, sounding almost casual. She didn't look at him this time, but instead kept her eyes focused on the event horizon. She sighed. "I really hope you know what you're doing and we don't end on some frozen glacier again – or into the hands of some trusty Goa'uld." She sighed again. "Let's get our things Sir and then it's off to I don't know where."
She collected his pack and helped him put it on. She then gathered her things and stepped to the DHD, where O'Neill continued to stand. "Come on then Colonel – let's go."
This time he actually placed his arm around her shoulder as she grasped his waist and together they made their way up the stairs. He even looked down at her before they went through. "I really hope you know what you're doing." On that the two of them stepped forward, through the event horizon and off into the unkown.
Evil cliffy