And here is chapter five. Hope everyone had a Great Christmas, and a reasonably sober New Year! Hope you enjoy…

Captain Doctor Samantha Carter wandered through the halls of the SGC in a daze. In under two hours, she had gone through nearly every emotion she could think of: happiness, pride, shock, resignation, surprise, pity, embarrassment, curiosity, more embarrassment, amazement, awe, shame; and now she didn't know what to think. Her commanding officer was blind. On the one hand, she just couldn't accept the idea of a blind man leading a team, especially on such a dangerous mission, but on the other, the man was undoubtedly the best shot she'd ever seen. Indeed, when she'd first walked into the observation area of the large grey room currently in use as a shooting range, she'd had a moment of doubt as to whether he was blind at all - maybe this had all been an elaborate joke? But she'd know, even as she thought it, that it wasn't. This man, who was currently shooting small flying discs out of the air, really was completely blind. It was amazing. She had been so absorbed in watching the display, she hadn't noticed the equally astonished look on Hammonds face, nor the smug 'I-told-you-so' glance that Archer was shooting them both.

The Colonel was standing, relaxed, in the middle of the room. Every few seconds, Ferretti, who was standing to one side, would shout "pull!" and then press a button on a small remote he held, causing a small disc to shoot from one of the four launchers positioned around the room. A young, awed looking lieutenant was dashing around the edges, moving the launchers around to change the angles of the discs every few minutes. The Colonel hardly seemed to move, but every disc was blasted out of the air by a blank from his gun, most before they even reached their peak, even when Ferretti started launching four or even five in quick succession. It was amazing - almost hypnotic. The Colonel moved with a liquid grace she had never seen before, and there was a confidence to his movements that she found hard to associate with a blind man. And then Kawalski, who was lounging on a bench at the back of the room, raised his own blank filled gun, shooting directly at the Colonel.

She had gasped in shock, hearing an identical gasp from beside her, but the Colonel merely stepped to the side, never stopping his easy movements. Even when Kawalski stood, moving around the older man and shooting from different position, the Colonel never stopped hitting the flying discs, nor did he get hit himself. They'd watched for several more minutes, then Archer had interrupted, saying softly, "I trust that any fears you had about the Colonel's competence have been assuaged?". At her stammering agreement, he'd smiled, dismissing her. And so now here she was, wandering the corridors, trying desperately to resolve the situation in her mind. She'd been pacing for half an hour when a voice from behind her stopped her in her tracks. "Captain Carter!"

Recognising the voce, she turned sharply, snapping a smart salute. "Colonel O'Neill, Sir!"

"At ease, Captain" The man's voice held a chuckle that instantly made Sam feel certain that he knew exactly what she had just spent the last half an hour thinking. There was a short silence, then the Colonel spoke again. "Major Kawalski tells me that you observed our little…shootout earlier." It was not a question, and she didn't answer, just carefully examined her toes. He continued. "Archer insist, did he?" At this, her head snapped up. "How…?" The Colonel shrugged. "It's just the kind of thing he'd do. He's a good man. Always has been in my court. And to be honest," he lowered his voice slightly, leaning towards her, grinning, "I think he just enjoys making people squirm". Another pause, longer this time. Then he broke it again. "Just go ahead and ask, Captain."

"Sir?"

"The multitude of questions that you've been too polite to ask. You're a scientist. If you're anything like all the other scientists I've met, this is both fascinating and confusing to you, correct? So go ahead and ask your questions. I doubt any of them will be ones I haven't been asked before. I can't guarantee you'll get an answer to all of them though. Anything even vaguely scientific will go over my head so fast, you'll be able to hear it breaking the sound barrier."

Sam gaped at him for a few seconds, then decided that he was serious. Hesitantly, she tried to put her thoughts into words. "I just don't understand…how…?" She trailed off, frustrated at her unusual lack of ability to vocalise her thoughts. Luckily, he took pity on her. "How I'm able to lead a team when I'm blinder than a bat?" She nodded, relieved, before realising that he couldn't see her. He seemed to realise that she'd agreed though. "It's…complicated." He said, after a moment. "I don't really understand it myself, but what I do know, is that I hear much, much better than the average person. Inhumanly well, in fact. Nobody's quite sure why, but I can hear a heartbeat 50 metres away."

"But…but that's impossible!"

"True, though. It's taken a long time but I can also interpret which sounds are made by which movements - if I concentrate hard. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to learn all the military hand signs."

"You can hear a movement that small?"

"Like I said, it took a long time. And a great deal of cursing. And I punched Kawalski twice."

"I suppose it's like learning a new language. One that uses a different alphabet…or-" she broke off from her ramblings as she heard him chuckle. "Er-sorry Sir"

"Don't worry, Captain. That's just what Daniel said. Of course, he went on for a hell of a lot longer…"

"Is that Doctor Jackson, Sir? I can't wait to meet him, I want to compare a theory I have on the inner workings of the-"

"Yep, you two are gonna get along just fine." The Colonel flashed her a grin ."Anyway, Carter, I was just on my way to get something to eat before we leave. Care to join me?"

"If you don't mind, Colonel…"

"Wouldn't have asked if I did!" Reaching into a long sheath strapped to the side of his leg, he withdrew a short white stick. A quick snap of his wrist and it became a cane, which he gently tapped along the ground as he started to walk, great strides that meant that Sam had to hurry to catch up.

Reading her thoughts, the Colonel smiled and commented. "I don't really need the cane, but it means I have to concentrate less on my surroundings. Also, it means I always have a weapon. Guns and knives get wrestled off you in a second, but you'd be surprised how many jerks can't bring themselves to take away a blind man's cane. And it's amazing how much damage it can do if you know how to use it…there was this one time-" he coloured slightly and cleared his throat. "Ah, never mind. Coffee? Should be the good stuff, it's a Tuesday."

"Sir?" Sam couldn't keep up with this sudden change of topics.

"First rule of the SGC Carter. Good coffee is only served on a Tuesday and Friday. Edible food is on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, or if the General happens to be eating out of his office. Very important to remember that."

"Yes Sir". Sam smiled as she hurried after the blind man. He was going to take some getting used to, she thought, but hopefully, it would be worth it.

So, hope you liked it. Sorry to all those who wanted to see Jack fight Carter. I know that the whole bit with Jack is pretty unbelievable and out of character, but oh well. The next chapter will see Jack reunited with Daniel and Skaara. Hopefully. Should be up soon. Should being the operative word.

Thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter: Nicho, AT Fan, zeilfanaat, Shafa and Cruel Angel5 (I'm so glad you liked that bit, it was my favourite!)

Also, in answer to AT Fan's question, 'Blind Fury' was actually in my video at the time I read your review. I guess I'm basing Jack on a mixture of Nick Parker, Daredevil and speculation. I also watched a documentary last week about a blind boy who can see using sonar, so Jack isn't quite so impossible after all. Having said that, he's obviously not possible, but I do have a reason in my head to explain his unusual abilities, silly as it might be. As for Teal'c, that's gonna be a struggle, I'm working on it. Any suggestions? And there won't be a dog, at least for now…I can't see a Jaffa bothering to take a dog prisoner, he'd probably just shoot it. Which would be bad. Particularly for the dog.