As promised, Sam and Teal'c returned to base within the hour having found nothing that enabled Sam to even begin to figure out what had happened. The fact that Janet, Daniel and Jack were standing at the elevator doors once they got down to her lab did nothing to alleviate her mood.
"Where you been, Carter? asked Jack.
"Sam I specifically remember ordering you to stay on base" said Janet.
"Still can't believe you kicked me out of your lab Sam" mumbled Daniel causing Jack and Janet to glare at him.
"Guys I went for a drive with Teal'c, I sat in the car and didn't move OK?"
"Well you've earnt an overnight stay in the infirmary Sam"
"Seriously Janet, what's wrong with my quarters?" asked Sam, as she absently rubbed her arm that was resting in a sling before abruptly stopping when she realised her mistake.
"Sam, how's your arm?" said Janet.
"It's a little sore that's all, I'm fine I promise"
"Well you look terrible Carter so I'm ordering you to go with the Doc and no arguing" he told her as he waved a finger in the air. Janet stuck out her arm to Sam who begrudgingly allowed her to wrap it round her waist, secretly grateful to be able to lean into her friend. She hadn't wanted to admit it, but her shoulder had begun to ache and she was starting to feel light headed.
"Cassie wants to go back home" said Janet as he helped Sam get back into bed before giving her some painkillers.
"What do you think?" asked Sam.
"Honestly, I don't know but she can't stay here forever, perhaps you can stay with us for a few days, I can keep an eye on you and I'm sure Cassie will appreciate the company"
"OK" replied Sam as she yawned loudly.
"Get some rest Sam" ordered Janet, leaving her friend unsuccessfully fighting the urge to sleep.
At the request of General Hammond, all of SG1 accompanied Janet and Cassie home, Jack claimed he had nothing to do with the situation but Sam was sure she wasn't the only one who didn't believe him.
"After helping Sam to get settled on the couch, Janet followed Cassie to her room leaving the rest of SG1 wondering what to do with themselves.
"Food?" asked Jack, rubbing his hands together.
"Indeed" replied Teal'c, "I will accompany you O'Neill"
The next few days passed without incident, Sam's shoulder although still tender was on the mend and Janet and Cassie were able to relax and enjoy each other's company. With the end of the weekend fast approaching, Janet and Sam agreed that on Monday Sam would go back on light duty and return home.
"Night Sam" yelled Cassie after they'd finished yet another movie.
"Sleep well" replied Sam as she gave her a hug. Cassie kissed her Mom on the cheek and headed off to bed. It wasn't until she closed her bedroom door that she noticed the piece of paper pinned on the back of her door.
Colorado Zoo, 10am.
Come alone or others will suffer
Cassie's hands shook as she reread the note, quickly glancing round her room she had no idea who had put it there let alone how they got in. Wishing she could tell Sam or her Mom, she got into bed and fell into a fitful sleep. Waking early the next morning, Cassie quietly got ready before leaving the house in the hope of not waking up the others, knowing if she did see them she'd almost certainly not be able to keep quiet about the note.
"Morning Sam" said Janet, greeting her friend with a cup of coffee as she joined her in the kitchen. "Sleep well?"
"Not really" muttered Sam, as she took a large gulp of the hot coffee. "I couldn't shake the feeling that something still isn't right"
"You don't look so great Sam, are you sure it's nothing else? Janet asked, as she walked round the worktop to stand in front of her. Not waiting for a response, Janet carefully pulled the corner of Sam's shirt down and took a look at her wound.
"Sam, this is infected, why didn't you say anything?" Janet told her angrily, "I need to get you back to the SGC so I can sort this out"
"If it helps, I didn't want to alarm Cassie" replied Sam, trying her best to look contrite.
"Speaking of Cassie, have you seen her this morning?" asked Janet.
"I haven't, I'll check her room while you get ready"
"No sign of her, looks like she headed off to school already" said Sam as she waited for Janet by the front door.
"That's not like her" replied Janet, "but I guess I should be grateful I don't have to drag her out of the house everyday. Come on, let's get you back to the SGC and perhaps the Colonel can give you a refresher course on the benefits of letting the Chief Medical Officer know when somethings wrong" Sam rolled her eyes at her in response before following her out of the door and towards the car.
Cassie had been waiting at the zoo entrance since 9am, looking at her watch, she still had another 10 minutes to go before she would find out who sent the note. Glancing around her she noticed a black van pull up and two men step out onto the kerbside. A shiver ran down her spine as she realised they were here for her. There's no way I'm getting in that van she thought to herself. Looking around she noticed they were walking slowly towards her. Getting up slowly, she turned and walked into the zoo, pulling out her cell phone as she went.
"Can you answer that Sam?" asked Janet, they were on their way back to the SGC, having assumed Cassie had headed off to school early.
"Hello"
"Sam, I need your help" replied Cassie, clearly out of breath.
"Woah Cassie calm down and tell me what's wrong" ordered Sam as Janet looked at her in panic.
"OK, we're on our way. Keep moving and don't stop for anyone until I call you OK?"
"Sam, what's going on?" asked Janet
"We need to get to the zoo, Cassie thinks she's being followed, I'll call the Colonel on our way" replied Sam.
The rest of the journey was spent in a nervous silence, both women worried about Cassie and what they were potentially walking into. Sam knew that Jack would be on his way with half the SGC and had told them to wait for backup but she knew Janet had no intention of waiting and frankly, neither did she.
"Are you sure you're up to this Sam?" Janet asked her, already knowing what she'd say. Sam only nodded in response, her eyes staring straight ahead with a determined look on her face.
Pulling up in the parking lot, Sam called Cassie whilst Janet took a careful look around, happy they weren't currently being watched.
"Cassie, it's Sam. We're here, where are you?"
"Oh Sam, I need help, someones following me"
"Stay calm Cassie, where are you? asked Sam again.
"I'm by the reptile house, please come quickly"
"Stay in there, we're on our way" ordered Sam as she and Janet headed towards her as fast as they could.
Reaching the reptile house, Sam immediately noticed the two men dressed in black that had entered just before them. Motioning for Janet to follow, they slipped in quietly through the exit. Scanning the room, Sam quickly located Cassie who was sitting in front of one of the exhibits, signalling for Janet to go to her, she hung back on the lookout for the two men she'd seen moments earlier. All of a sudden, Sam was aware of the hard end of a handgun pressed into her side followed by hot breath on her neck.
"Walk, now" the voice behind her ordered. Doing as she was told, she watched another man do the same to Janet and Cassie. Fumbling around in her pocket for her phone, she glanced down and managed to dial the Colonel's number which was fortunately at the top of her last call list. Leaving the line open, she prayed he'd hear what was going on.
"Carter?" answered Jack, "Carter, talk to me. What's going on?" He could hear muffled conversation down the phone but not enough to work out what was going on.
"Is it Sam?" asked Daniel from the back seat, along with Teal'c they'd all headed straight towards the zoo as soon as Sam had called Jack. Waving at Daniel to be quiet, Jack flicked the speaker on his phone so they could all hear what was going on.
"Where are you taking us?" was suddenly clearly heard through his phone.
"We must hurry O'Neill" commented Teal'c as Jack gripped the steering wheel tightly as he floored his truck.
Despite her best attempts to walk as slowly as possible, Sam realised they were going to end up in the black van they were heading towards. Having already asked where they were being taken and receiving a sharp prod in the back from the gun still positioned in the small of her back. Knowing they were running out of time, she made a last ditch attempt to provide Jack with some much needed information.
"Couldn't get something other than your typical black Ford van then?" she asked in a mocking tone. She was rewarded with a swift blow to the temple as she was roughly shoved into the back of the van with Janet and Cassie.