Jack held his head in his hands. He sat in the locker room, sore after another too-intense workout session he had promised Fraiser he'd ease up on. It had only been six months since Sam was taken, but it felt like a lifetime.
They had been visiting the Tok'ra for another bullshit meeting to discuss their future as allies, something Jack thought was useless drama anyway, when gliders began to descend and attack the underground base. He remembered the march of Jaffa troops in the tunnels, the echo of their armor clinking together, the smell of the staff blast that had hit Daniel as he tried to protect some since-forgotten information that seemed important at the time.
Sam had been closest to Daniel. She had leaned down to help him up when she was shot with a zat from a Jaffa that Jack had missed. If he had hit that damn Jaffa, Sam would still be here. Jack never missed. Why the hell did he have to miss that one time?
He didn't even see the Jaffa grab her. After Sam went down, he had heard a yell from Teal'c behind him, which came too late to warn him against the zat blast that came from around the corner and knocked him out. The last thing he heard while conscious was the sharp blast from the same staff weapon that had shot Daniel, and Jacob's body slumping to the ground.
When they woke not much later, all in one piece save for Daniel's shoulder wound and Jacob's staff blast wound that Selmak was working quickly to repair, the silence was deafening. The tunnels were still intact. The information they were trying to protect was still in place, but the Jaffa were gone and more importantly, so was Sam.
Six months later and they still didn't know why Sam had been taken but they had been left. After the attack, they searched the tunnels for any evidence. None turned up. SG-1 and Jacob, much to the reluctance of the Tok'ra, had spent much of the last five months turning over every last leaf to try and figure out where she had been taken and by whom. There hadn't even been so much of a breath of a rumor from any world they visited or from any ally they asked. They were now on stand-down, the last six months taking its toll on the team, and Jack was restless. They didn't leave a team member behind. Damn it, he didn't leave Carter behind. Sam.
His hair was too short to run his hands through properly, but the tips stood up straight and he was sure if someone walked in right now, he would look a little crazy. His hands were cracked and bloody from hitting the boxing bag too hard, his leg limping from too much exertion. He didn't know how long he sat there, dirty and musty, but it must have been a while because soon he heard the door creak open. A large body stood next to him, making his appearance known but not commanding.
"Teal'c."
"Colonel O'Neill. Doctor Fraiser is worried for your health." Jack knew that Teal'c probably hadn't even talked to Janet today, but he was appreciative of his big friend's worry.
"Thanks, T." He sighed. "Tell her I'll be fine. Just got a little too intense today. You know what they say, pain is only temporary, and all that jazz." He waved his hand dismissively.
Teal'c cocked his head to one side. "This is not the first time we have had this discussion in here, O'Neill. You sat here in a very similar manner not long ago."
He so didn't want to have this conversation, but he figured it would happen eventually and at least it was with Teal'c. He knew Teal'c didn't always understand Earth customs, but he did his best remain logical in emotional situations.
"Dammit, Teal'c. It's been six months!" He looked up at his friend, and was surprised to see Teal'c face looking toward Carter's locker. "It should have been me."
When Teal'c didn't respond, Jack could feel the anger build within him. "Hell, I was the one that missed the damn Jaffa that shot her! I should have taken that hit. I should have been there to help Daniel." When Teal'c continued to ignore him, he shot up, wincing at the sudden shock of pain that ran down his leg. Turning towards Teal'c, he continued his tirade.
"Teal'c, she's been gone six months. We don't leave anyone behind. Dammit, T, we shouldn't have left her behind."
Teal'c turned to him then, hands clasped behind his back, but looking straight into his eyes. "O'Neill, you could not have prevented this. I was the last to fall, and I saw one of the Jaffa take Major Carter. We were greatly outnumbered, and Major Carter fought bravely."
"T, you don't get it. I missed."
"Yet, you, Jacob Carter, and I were all taken down by the other Jaffa. If you had not missed, I do not believe the course of events would have been altered. Major Carter would not blame you."
"I blame me." He sat down again, and he felt the tears prickle at the corner of his eyes. He might never see her again. Might never get to hear her laugh at his jokes that weren't even funny, see her brilliant smiles that met the corners of her eyes, steal glances that they both pretended they didn't notice.
"We will get Major Carter back. This is not the first time you have been separated, and you will see each other again. I will give my life if it means finding Major Carter."
"But what if we're too late?" It was silent and Jack knew that Teal'c was worried about the same thing. They had no idea where she was. There was nowhere to start looking.
And it was then the claxons started blaring loudly, announcing the arrival of an incoming message. "SG-1 to the control room!"
He and Teal'c looked at each other, neither daring to hope for news but both anxious for it, and walked as fast as they could to the control room. Daniel and Hammond were already there, and they stood behind Siler, who was waiting on the General's order for acceptance of the message.
At his approval, Siler activated the message.
"Jack?" A soft voice on the other end and all ears instantly perked up. "Jack?"
Walking towards the mic, he responded, "Sam?"
"Jack, I'm so tired. I'm so cold." The voice was tinny, and it sounded weak.
"Sam, you need to tell me where you are." It was silent in the control room, all of the men holding their breaths as they waited for her response.
It was several moments, to Jack it seemed like hours, before they heard her speak.
"Please," she begged. It sounded far away, like it was directed to someone behind her. "Please, I don't know what you want. I don't know who these people are. Please tell me."
Jack's heart dropped. She sounded so lost, so hopeless. He had never heard her sound so helpless. Then a scream ripped from her throat and it was so agonizing and so raw.
It was quiet then, and Jack said hopefully, "Sam?"
It was several beats before she replied. "I don't know who you are, but please help. He won't stop until you help," and then the connection dropped.
As the Stargate shut down, the control room was silent. Everyone avoided looking at each other, and the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Fuck," he heard Daniel mutter finally. "Sam."
"Did we get a gate address?" Hammond asked, taking command.
It was a moment, and everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
"Yes, sir!" Siler confirmed proudly.
A collective breath was released, and before Jack could even ask, Hammond gave the order: "SG-1, suit up and be ready to depart in two hours. You'll take SG-6 with you, and Siler, try to get Jacob on the line. He'll want to be in on this one."