Disclaimer: 'Stargate SG1', 'The 4400' and all the characters associated with both shows belong to people who aren't me. As I doubt that the owners would be willing to trade their rights for some magic beans that aren't in any way magical, this is not going to change at any point in the foreseeable future.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews, everybody.
Chapter One
Two weeks later
"Where do you think she was all these years? How long are they planning on keeping all those people locked up?"
Nobody had an answer to Daniel's questions.
After Sam had disappeared, a thorough investigation had been made but no trace of her had been found. Footage from security cameras had shown Sam entering one of the press conference rooms but although her father had left a few minutes later, Sam apparently had not.
Although the Washington officials who had viewed the tape had dismissed the dim gleam of light that had briefly shone from the partially open door as a momentary glitch, after numerous viewings of the tape, Jack had other suspicions.
When Thor brought his ship to Earth to negotiate their inclusion in the Protected Planets Treaty, Jack had pleaded with him to scan the planet for traces of naquadah. The search netted a Goa'uld hiding out near Seattle but it had also proven that Samantha Carter was definitely not on Earth.
At one point, he had made some not so diplomatic inquiries about the possibility of Asgard involvement in her disappearance, but Thor had assured him that none of his people had any knowledge on the subject.
They hadn't dared to let themselves believe that she was really back until NTAC had contacted them to let them know that Captain Samantha Carter was in their quarantine unit and had requested that they be notified of her return.
A fortnight later, however, NTAC had not released Sam, or any of the returnees and Hammond's previous requests that SGC personnel be granted permission to visit had all been denied.
"They're probably just being cautious." Mitchell suggested. "Who knows where those people have been, or what's happened them?"
"'Those people' have done nothing wrong." Daniel said reprovingly. "They shouldn't be imprisoned."
"Mr Ryland at NTAC has assured me that they have no intention of keeping Captain Carter – or any of the other returnees – in quarantine indefinitely." Hammond told them. "However, they are concerned that they may be carrying a disease that could pose a threat to the general population. They are keeping them under medical supervision for the time being."
"Have they spotted anything unusual about Carter's blood work?" Jack asked, concerned, knowing that the naquadah and the protein marker in Sam's blood, effects of her possession by Jolinar of Malkshur, could lead to some very difficult questions.
"They haven't mentioned it, but that's no guarantee that they didn't find something." Hammond responded. "My request that Captain Carter be transferred to this base for her quarantine was refused. The President doesn't feel that he can interfere, not with the publicity surrounding the returnees. I was able to pull some strings, to get Ryland to allow Dr Fraiser to see a copy of Captain Carter's medical reports. He's also agreed to one visitor. I know that the three of you all want to see her," he added gently, "but one was the best I could do. There's a plane waiting to take you to Washington, Colonel." He told Jack.
"Yes, sir." Jack nodded.
"Your meeting will be recorded – that part was non-negotiable." Hammond warned, though he knew better than to think that Jack would ever discuss the stargate unless he could be certain that there were no prying ears around. The incident with Armin Sellig had taught him that.
"I understand."
"You'd better get going, son." He knew how eager the other man would be to get to Washington. "And Jack," he called as he turned to leave the briefing room. "When you see Captain Carter, tell her that we've all really missed her."
Daniel nodded emphatically and Teal'c seconded his sentiments with a warm "Indeed."
Jack smiled. "Will do, sir."
If there had been a system used to sort the returnees into groups for quarantine, Sam couldn't see it. Quarantine Block B was the temporary home to people of both genders, of various nationalities, ages and times of disappearance.
As near as she could tell, people had been gone for stretches of time ranging from a few months to nearly six decades. None of them knew any more than she did about where they had been, though speculation was running rampant.
Accustomed to both Spartan base quarters and to camping out offworld, the quarantine accommodations were not a major problem and she could see that an effort had been made to make their confinement as comfortable as possible but between the strong smell of antiseptic the crowds of people and the television that seemed to be constantly showing the talk show of a woman who seemed convinced that the returnees were devils in disguise, it was far from pleasant.
She found the isolation from the outside world especially difficult.
NTAC officials had taken her name and personal details when she, along with the others, had been transported to quarantine and they had promised to contact her father, brother and General Hammond but she had heard no more since.
Contact with the returnees had so far been limited to doctors, guards and a handful of representatives from Homeland Security.
"Don't worry." A little girl with long blonde hair told her solemnly. "Your friend will be here to see you soon."
Sam smiled, wishing that she had the same faith.
"Samantha Carter to Interview Room Two."
"This is for you." A folded tissue was pressed into her hand.
The interview rooms were enclosed, giving an illusion of privacy but although she couldn't see any cameras, Sam knew that the illusion was a false one. Illness was not the only thing they were watching the returnees for.
At first glance, Colonel O'Neill looked much as he had when she had last seen him – she had to remind herself that it had been nearly six years, not two weeks – but as she approached the plastic barrier separating them she could see that his face had a few more lines and that his hair was liberally besprinkled with grey.
"Hey, Carter." He grinned wryly, looking as awkward as she felt. "It's been a while."
"Not for me, sir." Her response was soft.
His eyes narrowed. "You really don't remember?" The NTAC official who had escorted him to the quarantine block had told him as much but he hadn't fully believed it until he heard it from Sam.
"The last thing I remember is being in Washington. How could I be gone for six years and not remember?"
"I don't know. What about everybody else? Any of them have any idea where you guys have been?"
Sam gave him a slight smile. "Abducted by aliens is a popular theory at the moment." Unlike most of the people on the planet, they knew that this idea was not as far fetched as some might think. "Nobody remembers anything – or if they do, they're doing a great job of hiding it."
"They treating you alright in here?" She nodded. "Good. Hammond wanted to get you moved to the base, but they wouldn't hear of it. He, Daniel and T told me to let you know that we've all missed you – studying deep space radar telemetry hasn't been the same without you. We're definitely going to be glad to get you back."
"Do you know whether NTAC were able to get in touch with my brother? Or my dad?"
Jack's expression darkened. "They didn't tell you?"
Deep down, she had known the truth but she had pushed it to the back of her mind, hoping and praying that her father had gone into remission, or that a miraculous cure for cancer had been discovered, as if she could make it so by wishing.
Her father was dead.
"I'm sorry, Sam." Her CO – or former CO, she wasn't sure how to think of him – said gently. "There was nothing anybody could have done for him."
She knew that he was right but at the same time she couldn't shake the feeling that if she had been there, she might have been able to do something, anything to save his life.
It was too late now.
It wasn't until her tears started falling that she remembered the crumpled tissue that had been pressed into her hand.
TBC.