Present Day

Sam donned her Dress Blues. A full military memorial service was planned. As Jack's second-in-command for so many years it was a given that she would speak. She would talk about how great of a solider he was, and how good of a friend. She felt that she did have something written that truly incorporated who Jack O'Neill was. If she couldn't tell him in life that she loved him, she could tell him in death. No one would question it, and only the few that really knew, would be expecting it.

She didn't exactly understand why he went to the planet with the rescue teams. Yes, she supposed she was that valuable. But still that duty wasn't his. She still had a hard time wrapping her mind around the idea that they let him come.

Then the thought hit her. He came to bring her home. She remembered his phone call after they had rescued Teal'c from Ba'al. He was angry that he was kept out of the loop on that, and he didn't go on the mission. He swore to her that it would be the last time that he sat idly by and that they got to have all the fun.

"Damn it, Jack." She said to an empty room.

She thought of the future that they had briefly talked about. They were just hypothetical situations. If she went to Atlantis… If he retired and she stayed on Earth… but it was a talk. They admitted feelings for each other that had been bubbling under the surface for all those years.

She looked to the picture again. Fighting back tears, she kissed her fingers and brought them to it. She sighed, and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. She left her house, and made her way to the base.

2 months 3 weeks ago

Carter heard someone overhead. "Help me!" She yelled at the looming shadow. No answer came, but the bar across the opening was starting to be retracted. As she continued to look up, a ladder was descending into her space.

"You have a choice Colonel Carter. You can either climb the ladder of your own free will, or someone will come and get you."

"What do you want with me?" Carter demanded.

"Not a valid response." Said the voice.

Carter felt a sting in her shoulder. Her world started to spin on top of itself, and then it suddenly went back.

When she cam through this time, she was in Fallon's resting chamber. Her mind was still a touch cloudy, but it was clearing fast. She stood up, but as she tried to step, but she stumbled. She was shackled to the base of the chair that she was in. While she was still examining her confinement, Fallon and her consort walked in.

"Colonel Carter, I am so glad to see that you are awake. I suppose you are wondering what is happening. I need you. No, I should rephrase that. My people need you. There is a situation arising, and you are the only one who can help us. You see we have come across something in our discoveries, something we believe to be the savior of my people. We need your help to make it work." Fallon said to her.

Carter set her jaw, "Where is the rest of SG-1?"

"Gone back to your planet I would imagine. After all, they do believe you are dead. So, Colonel Carter, you help us, and I will let you rejoin them. If you don't…." Fallon's voice trailed off. "Well, I don't like to discuss unpleasantries."

Carter knew that the SGC would not just accept the Pentlookians word that she was dead, but it seemed as if Fallon thought they had.

"Why didn't you just ask for my help to begin with? Why kidnap me?"

"Because you never would have agreed to help us with it."

"What is it?"

"A weapon Colonel Carter, the greatest weapon of all. It is a Doomsday device."

Carter kept the look of horror off of her face. "And what if I don't help you?"

"I do not wish to speak of suck horrific things. But if you must push the issue," Fallon approached her and now was standing just inches away from her face. "The goa'uld as you call them, left more thing behind than just technology." Fallon's voice was very clam, and so cold that it almost sent shivers down Carter's spine.

Fallon took a step back. "I hope for your sake Colonel Carter, that it does not come to that."

Carter was escorted to a science and technology facility. There she was greeted by some of the scientists she had met previously, and Gerald.

"Hello, Colonel Carter." Gerald said sheepishly. "I am very sorry for my deception." He looked at her, and continued. "As you can see by the plans here, we are working on miniature black hole technology."

Carter glared at the Pentlookian scientist. He continued. "Where we are having difficulties is maintaining the neutronium field. The nuclei are deteriorating before a black hole is maintained."

Carter remained silent, she wasn't paying attention to Gerald, she was thinking on how she was going to get out of there.

Gerald looked concerned. He stepped closer to her and whispered, "I think what my government has done to you is wrong." He nervously looked around. "But, you need to help me keep up the illusion that we working. Colonel Carter, I can help you escape."

Sam looked at him. "Ok Gerald. This is what I need."

oooooo

Landry gave the ok for SG-1 and SG-5 to go back to the planet to look for Carter. This time when they came through the gate, they were not so warmly received. Security details followed them from the gate to where the incident happened. They never left the Tau'ri's side. When Mitchell asked if he could speak with Fallon, he was ultimately denied.

"So that bio-thingy, and that DNA do-hickey, they find anything Major?" Mitchell asked.

"We have found traces of her DNA, sir." The technician told him.

"So what are you telling me? Carter is really dead?"

"Something's not right here, sir. It could have happened the way the Pentlookians are saying, but to harness a black hole of that size, for there to be no remains, and for the four of you to come away totally uninjured. All I am saying is that it is highly unlikely."

"So… she's not dead?"

"No, sir. I do not believe she is. But they went through a lot of trouble to make us think that she is."

The Pentlookians security escorted the SG teams back to the gate. When they arrived they were greeted by General Landry.

"Well?" Landry asked.

"We don't think she's dead, sir."

"SG-1, briefing room, two hours."

"Yes, sir."

When they arrived, the briefing room was one person heavy. All eyes locked on him. He was the first one to speak.

"For cryin' out loud you guys… how did you lose Carter?"

TBC