Author's Chapter Notes:
Thanks to all who are reading this, and especially those who have taken time to review.
Chapter 6
Jack was hiding behind a large column of the palace entrance. He, Teal'c and Katep located the armory and were helping themselves to as many weapons as possible. They zatted several of the guards, and removed their armor.
"Make sure they can't come back to bite us in the butt," Jack whispered. He zatted the fallen guards two more times, watching as they disappeared into nothing. Teal'c followed his orders and zatted the ones near him. They dressed quickly in the stolen armor. All three slipped quietly, one by one, into the armory. They stored as much as they could on their person and in the bags they had brought. Each grabbed a staff weapon and made their way back to the front of the palace. They headed through the side courtyard, where they had left the other staff weapons. As of yet, no one had missed the fallen guards.
They made their way quickly to the place where they had stored their cart. Hurriedly, they headed toward the direction of their campsite. They had planned to take a different path back, getting as far away as possible before resting for the night.
After they were far enough away from the palace that they were sure they weren't being followed, they stopped for a short break. "How much did we get?" Jack asked.
Teal'c answered as he inventoried the loot, "We have obtained eight staff weapons, sixteen zats, twenty stun bombs, several knives and two swords."
"Swords? Who uses swords?" Jack's sarcasm was never lost.
"Ra has them mostly for show," answered Katep.
"You mean like the ZPM? You guys think it was smart to take the swords?" Jack asked.
"Ra has of yet to miss the ZPM, which leads me to believe he does not know what he has, O'Neill," Teal'c replied. "I have never known Ra or his Jaffa to use swords."
"I'd like to use one on his scrawny little neck," Jack mouthed.
They continued in hushed tones discussing their next venture, carefully making their way to the bunker. After a couple of hours they were getting close to the first bunker that they had dug out to store their bounty.
Several of the men had been busy during the last few months. They had dug out a couple of large bunkers, lined with enough lumber to reinforce the walls and ensure that the sand didn't collapse back into the bunker.
They'd been making raids for three weeks, and had collected a good amount of weapons. They would need much more than this if they were to have any success. Even if they weren't sure what part they played in the timeline, they agreed they had to do something. They couldn't sit still any longer and wait.
Daniel had stayed back at the camp with Sam, she wasn't feeling too well. She was seven months into her pregnancy. She wasn't able to get around as quickly as usual, plus she tired very easily. Add to that, Jack insisted she stay out of danger as much as possible.
SG1 hadn't moved their tents with the tribe during the last move. Instead, they had made camp by a very small stream, off a tributary of the Nile. They were a couple of miles from the tribe.
Jack was afraid if their raids were discovered, it would be bad for the tribe. He felt they could get away faster and hide if it were just the four of them. Katep and his family were still with the tribe, and several of the local men were involved with the raids.
Teal'c had been able to sway a few of the Jaffa to their side. He had overheard several of them talking while staking out the palace and discovered their discontent with Ra. They hadn't been hard to talk into joining the rebels.
Teal'c was in his element. For the first time since coming here, he felt he had a purpose. He would like nothing better than to lead these Jaffa to freedom as he had led his brothers-in-arms in the twenty first century.
It was hot. Sam was resting on the bedding, listening to Daniel carry on about the young woman, Nebul, who definitely had his interest. It wasn't that she was not glad that Daniel seemed happy. She was. She had just heard it all several times. Nebul reminded him of Sha're. He had repeated so much of his story that Sam had lost the content of the conversation some moments ago, and was deep in thought.
She wasn't happy with the waves the guys were creating. It worried her, but they refused to listen. They had seemed to completely forget they didn't belong here. She could no longer influence them to limit their part in this rebellion. They ignored all her warnings.
'Hell, they're leading the damn thing. That is just wrong,' she thought. At the rate they were going they could just disappear any day, because they would never have been born. The guys just couldn't understand the severity of the changes they could be causing, and she couldn't make them. How could she guilt them, when she was pregnant? What will a new lineage do to the future? Maybe Jack was right. She worried way too much.
She stopped nagging them so much about the timeline. Now that she no longer worked in the Kitchen; and the guys all refused to let her go with them, she needed something to do. Ketra had given her some supplies and a small loom, so she put her energy into trying to learn to weave.
Sam heard someone coming, and quickly looked out. 'Good, they're back,' she thought. Daniel walked out of the tent to meet them. "Good haul, guys. Any trouble?" he asked Jack.
"No," Jack answered.
Jack bent to kiss Sam, then smiling at her asked, "How's my girls?"
She laughed at him. "I keep telling you, it's a boy."
"Ya think?" His eyes were gleaming. He knew in his heart this kid was a girl. Something just told him so. He placed his hand on her stomach, rubbing in a circle. The baby kicked.
"Always know how to move my girls," he said to Sam as they all moved into the tent.
"We will need to leave early on the morrow, if we are to be at the palace before nightfall," Teal'c stated. "We do not wish to be caught. It is most probable that the guards will be missed before long."
"We better settle in, if we have to be up early," Jack said winking at Sam. For the time being, they were again staying in one tent. They were on the move and didn't want to lose any of their meager belongs, if forced to leave in a hurry. They had managed to get a couple of goats and a camel. They had a cart and materials for two tents, and some food stuffs plus their left over medical supplies.
Most of their belongings were packed and stored in one of the bunkers. They each had their P-90's and zats with them. Teal'c had a staff weapon and a stun bomb. Jack had kept some of the C-4 they had brought, but stored the most of it. The rest of the stolen weapons were stored in the bunkers. They kept the cart near the tent to pull the stolen weapons home. They had to pull the cart themselves. The camel was too slow for the fast retreat needed from Ra's palace.
They all settled into their own bedding. Jack pulled Sam close, caressing her back, silently waiting for the sleeping sounds of their team members.
"I missed you. Seems like I've been gone so long," he whispered. It had been only two days, but he worried about her anytime she wasn't within his sight. He kissed her softy. As she responded to the kiss, it became more passionate. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. Even though his need for Sam was always so strong, he worried that it may be too late into her pregnancy for much sexual activity. He remembered from Sara's pregnancy, after seven and a half months, sex was no longer an option. She'd had difficulty in her last trimester and her doctor had stopped their love making.
Jack didn't tell Sam this, even though he had talked to her about Sara. Sam knew that he had really loved Sara at the start of his marriage to her; but his "secret career" and his prolonged absences from their marriage had caused too much distance between them even before Charlie's accident. They had become good friends just before the "crystal alien" had copied him and Charlie, but they had no longer been share intimacies.
He could never really explain what "Crystal Jack" was about to Sara. She had found it best to put time and space between them for her piece of mind. He didn't see her for three or four years after that. She had contacted Jack on occasion, but Jack hadn't returned many of her calls.
In the year after he'd made General and Sam had found Pete, he found himself wondering about Sara. He'd even looked her up. She was married and living in California. He even went to see her and met her new husband, Bill.
She had saved Charlie's baseball and glove for him. She knew in her heart, Jack would want it someday. When she offered it to him, he took it. He was really glad she was happy and it was plain that she was. They had grandchildren by Bill's daughter. The kids stayed with Sara and Bill often. She loved playing grandmother. Something she thought she would never do.
In his heart Jack would always love Sara and regret their break up to some extent. Especially, at that time when he'd felt he had lost Sam forever. Jack felt more alone then than he ever had. After he and Sam were married, he'd told her about the trip to Sara's and his confused feelings concerning Sara. Sam was jealous at first. It had made her wonder if he'd loved Sara more than her, but she never voiced her worries. What good would it do? He would never see Sara again. They were together because they loved each other, even if there weren't a lot of choices of mates for either of them. They'd each wondered about the other at first. Would they be together if not stranded? After Sam became pregnant, neither of them had any doubts about their love for each other.
Bringing his thoughts back to Sam's lips, he gently caressed them with his. His slow soft kisses were quickly arousing her. He still couldn't shake the feeling he shouldn't be doing this. Sam sensed his hesitation.
"What's wrong, Jack?" Sam whispered trying not to wake the guys.
"Nothing, just wondered if we -- if it's too late to be doing much," he quietly responded.
"You mean sex?"
"Ya think? What else would I mean wrapped around your gorgeous body?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, but she could barely see in the dark tent. A little moonlight filtered into the tent.
She giggled at his tone of voice. "You mean my big body?"
"Ssshh. He covered her mouth with his hand. The guys! It's still beautiful to me. It's mine. That's my baby in there. I don't care how big you get, as long as you're both okay," he whispered in her ear, his heart filled with love and desire.
"I think it's still okay. I'm not having any kind of trouble." She reached for his lips bringing her hand behind his neck, playing with his hair. His hair was much longer, and Sam loved the way he looked. Rugged. Always needing a shave, his hair almost shoulder length, more silver than brown. His body was lean and tanned, muscles rippled.
They had to do a lot of physical work and a lot of walking just to survive. All the guys had begun to look much like the locals. Only Daniel's eyes gave him away.
Jack kissed her again, passionately. Exploring her mouth, showing Sam with his tongue what he wanted. Sam responded to him as she always did. She still couldn't believe how much she wanted him all the time. He could make her catch her breath just by looking at her.
He caressed her neck and kissed behind her ear. He was lying to her side, caressing her lovely, large body. He liked nothing better than making love to his wife. He took his time, making sure to be as gentle as possible, preparing her. He didn't want this to take too long. Truth was, he was a little afraid of hurting her.
Afterwards they stayed wrapped in each others arms. He kissed her neck, then her lips as she raised her lips to meet his. "I love you," he whispered. "Always."
It had been awhile since he had used her favorite word. Tears came into her eyes. If only she had believed him the first time he had said that, they might not be here. They could have been together six month longer. She wouldn't have spent their first six month here angry and depressed. She certainty wasn't now.
"I've always loved you, Jack," she cooed. She had. She just hadn't known how much until they landed here.
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Sam was sound asleep when the guys woke the next morning. "Let her sleep," Jack said. "She didn't sleep much last night."
"Neither did you!" Daniel teased. Jack ignored Daniel's teasing and moved out of the tent.
"Make hay while the sun shines," Jack said under his breath. He wore a rather large smile that neither Teal'c nor Daniel missed.
They were getting ready to make another run for weapons. They had built a fire and had a quail roasting over it, when Sam came out of the tent. She smiled at them, spoke to each, and then she headed toward the small stream a few yards away from this new campsite. It wasn't yet daybreak, but she had heard them. When she returned from the stream, Jack pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and hard.
"Get a tent!" Daniel exclaimed. "Didn't you guys get enough of that last night?"
"Indeed," Teal'c quietly exclaimed. Both Jack and Sam ignored them or didn't care.
"I wish I could go with you guys today." She was tried of nothing to do but weave and listen to Daniel.
"Sam, we've discussed this already. You know you can't go. Please don't torture me," Jack begged with his deep brown eyes staring into pools of blue. He made her feel a little guilty. She knew she couldn't go. She knew she would just slow them down if they got into trouble.
After they left, she and Daniel settled down into another day of waiting. "I wish you weren't tied to me, Daniel. I hate that you have to baby sit my big butt!" Sam whined at him.
"Sam, you know I love your big butt and that big belly too!" He tried to joke with her to lighten her mood. She was prone to mood swings, especially when Jack was gone.
She didn't mind crying in front of Daniel one bit. He seemed to be her "girlfriend." The one she shared every known thing that entered or exited her mind or her body. Some things he wished she would keep to herself, but he would never tell her that. He loved Sam. He knew she needed to vent to someone. Her life style had changed so much, and Daniel felt as guilty as Sam about their being here in the first place. So he loved her as much as any "sister" or friend and listened to her talk about everything that bothered her. She said things to Daniel she couldn't say to Jack. She knew Jack would just worry too much. Daniel was her lifesaver.
After several days of raids, they decided to let up. If the palace guards were suspicious, they would have to move; and they wanted to stay at this campsite until the baby was born. They weren't too far from the tribe for help and were close to water. The season was changing and it was getting even hotter.
Things began to settle down somewhat at the camp for Daniel, Jack, and Sam; but Teal'c was restless. He had too much on his mind and too much energy with nothing to spend it on. Daniel was engrossed with Nebul. She was always on his mind or he was talking about her. He was trying to work up the courage to court her. Nebul had been married, but her husband had been captured by Ra's Jaffa and used as entertainment. He had fought to his death in one of the arena games.
Daniel was waiting the appropriate time to ask for permission from her father, Jo'sep, to court her. So he was spending a lot of time "sucking up," as Jack said, to Jo'sep.
Sam and Jack had been apart too much lately and they were making up for lost time. Teal'c felt they needed to be alone, so he started to spend some evenings at the rebel Jaffa camps. He had gained their trust and respect. They could hardly believe the warrior tales he had to share. Their numbers were secretly increasing.
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After several slow weeks they were all going stir crazy. They really needed something to occupy their time. Sam was having a difficult time moving around, her middle had grown so much. Jack was antsy and on edge. Teal'c and Daniel both knew the reason; and let it slide, giving him some slack. They too worried about Sam.
During the middle of a summer night, Jack woke to find Sam squatting in the corner of the tent. She was groaning, her arms wrapped tight around her stomach. He hurried to her side. "Sam, what the hell are you doing?"
"It's my stomach, Jack. It is killing me. I can't get it to stop."
"What do you mean?"
"Yah!" she cried out. "Jack, it hurts," she paused to catch her breath. "God, I hope it's not the baby. It's not time. I should have another three weeks. I don't want it to be this early," she cried, tears running down her face.
Jack put his arm around her shoulders and yelled, "Daniel, Teal'c wake up. I think the baby's coming. I need your help!"
Daniel moved over to Sam. Teal'c, hearing the commotion got up as fast as he could. It took the three of them to move her back to the bedding. "Please, guys, one of you go after Ketra. She will know what to do," Sam pleaded tearfully.
"Go, Teal'c, you're the fastest, and I don't want Daniel to leave. He's the only one of us that's ever birthed a baby!" Jack was half teasing for Sam's benefit, but his voice betrayed his fear.
Teal'c left the tent and hurried away toward the tribe's campsite. Unknown to him, he was followed.
TBC
Chapter End Notes:
Glad ya'll are hanging in with me! Your comments make Muse really happy.
Disclaimer: All recognizable information, characters, settings, images, etc, belong to MGM, World Gekko Corporation and Double Secret Productions. This story is for entertainment only. No infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended. Thanks for letting me play with them.