TITLE: WHEN THE WORLD HALTS – Chapter 10

AUTHOR: WITEZON

PARING: S/J friendship/romance

RATING: PG-13 or R (depending on how you feel about swearing)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but what my mind thinks up.

SUMMARY: JACK CENTRIC - What happens when the universe is at stake, Hammond is missing, and everything rests on Colonel O'Neill's shoulders'.

Daniel, Franklin, and Banazek silently walked back to their commanders. Daniel whispered to Sam, "We've been ordered to take the camp. Your Dad has been ordered to fire from his ship and we're to get the SG members and ring back up to his ship."

Sam stared at him, then nodded. "When does Dad start firing?"

Checking his watch, "10 minutes."

She turned to Ferretti and Banazek, "We go in from our designated directions, firing as we go, get the teams, and get back to the ring area?"

Lou nodded, "Yeah." He clenched his jaw, then, "How the hell did O'Neill know this?"

Shrugging, "He just did, Lou. Now we have to make it work."

"Yeah." Smirking at her, "Someday I want to know how he does this and what his IQ is. He always plays like he's too dumb to understand, but I've always wondered."

Smirking at him, "Yeah, me too." She pulled back and stood up. "Let's do it. SG1 left, SG2 right."

"Acknowledged. Mark 2222. In five we go in."

"Confirmed." Everyone faded into the darkness taking up their positions.

Sam and Lou glanced at each other, professional faces in place. Lou whispered, "2226."

SG1 and 2 flowed into final position, Sam whispered, "Mark."

Like the shadows O'Neill had taught them to be, they entered the camp. Killing silently. Knives brought death to the jailers. Hands equally twisted necks into silence.

SG2 entered the first tent, and shouted in a whisper, "SG-3 and 12 report!"

There was silence then a haggard voice replied "SG-3 reports 3, sir. Unknown for all others."

"Then let's get the f out of there then, Lt"

In a strong, relieved, tone, "Yes, sir. We've been waiting for you."

"Identify yourself."

"CPT Henderson, sir. Also SGTs Walcott and Andreas. I think LT Gregory is here from SG-12, but wounded."

This confirmed their count. "Affirm. Who needs assistance?"

In a wounded voice, "Just Gregory, sir. Walcott, Andreas, and me can make it."

They quickly grabbed them and pushed their way out of the cell block. Other prisoners took advantage of the jail break and ran out causing chaos in the area. The SG teams expected this and used it.

Carter shouted in her hand-held, "Dad, ring us up now!"

Without bothering to answer, the rings came down and up they went. They all stood there in the sudden silence and took a breath.

Jacob called out, "Everyone hang on! We're hauling ass out of here!" With that most of them fell to the deck as Jacob shot the teltac out of the planet's orbit into space, then into hyper space.

Ferretti and Carter moved towards Gregory who was closet to them, "Lt, talk to us. Where are the others?"

Gregory held his chest as he tried to answer them, "…..they.. ahmm" – coughing – then in a choking whisper, "took them….two days…"

"Shit." Ferretti looked at Carter, then nodded in resignation.

"Goddamn it, I was hoping O'Neill was wrong."

Wearily closing her eyes for a second, "Yea, Lou, I hoped we'd find General Hammond, too."

He nodded, "Shit." He took a deep breath, "Let's get these guys settled and get some sleep. Who knows what else he's got for us to do."

Henderson spoke up, "I'm not a guy, sir. But who is he?"

Grinning at her, Carter spoke, "No, you're not, and he is General O'Neill. He's taking care of Earth now."

She stared at them for a moment, then sighed in relief. "That's what we all hoped. We knew that he would come for us."

A cold feral grin sat on her face, "He's gonna kick their asses. I'm glad to be able to see it for Connor and Wilinski."

"They didn't make it, Captain?"

She closed her eyes, "No, sir. We watched them die in front of us. General Hammond was chained to the wall as they made him watch each of being tortured."

She rolled her head against the ship's wall behind her, "For hours and hours they tortured us. Then suddenly they grabbed some of us and we found ourselves here."

"How long have you been here?"

Still with here eyes closed, she choked out around her own cough, "About 2 days, Ma'am."

"What's wrong with you?"

Shrugging, "The same as the others, Majors, a lot of pain."

Ferretti and Carter exchanged another glance and let Henderson rest. They got up and started doing triage on the survivors.

IN THE SGC

O'Neill walked into his darkened quarters, and with hardly a misstep he called out, "So, Harry, I hope this means you got something for me?"

He heard a snort in the darkness, "Damn, Jack, I know I didn't move. How did you know I was here?"

As he turned on the desk light, "I felt you, Harry."

Looking around he found Harry lying on Carter's cot. In a conversational tone, "So, Harry what's been happening?"

"You mean between someone trying to shoot, stab, or just hit me?"

"Yeah."

Sighing, "It's Hendrikson."

Searching his memory, he finally asked, "Who?"

"Hendrikson, from the Stargate Sub-Committee." Mayborne took a breath, "He's got a sick kid."

"What?"

"Sick kid. She's eight years old."

"Shit."

"He'd do anything to save her."

Closing his eyes in remembered grief, "Yeah."

O'Neill collapsed on top of his bed, and rubbed his eyes, "So, he sold out Earth hoping they'd cure his kid."

"Yeah."

"So, what happened?"

"She died yesterday."

"Shit."

After a new minutes of quiet, O'Neill asked, "You alright?"

"No."

"Need the doc?"

"Probably."

O'Neill watched him sluggishly rub his face, "I'm trying to get Hendrikson's face out of my mind when he killed himself."

Another few seconds of quiet, then, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

A whispered, "I know."

O'Neill got up, opening the door, "Get the doc in here."

His guards looked at him, shocked. One did as he ordered, calling for med support and the other pushed her way into O'Neill's quarters.

She had already pulled her weapon, locked and loaded as she quickly shoved O'Neill behind her and aimed her weapon at Mayborne.

"Stand down, Winouski, he's injured. He's done what I asked him to."

Nodding, she slightly lowered her weapon, "How did he get in here, sir? We've got your quarters under 24x7 surveillance."

Shrugging, "Don't know, Sgt, I guess your team will have to try harder."

Without looking at him, she took the rebuke for her team, "Sir, yes, sir."

Behind them the med team with more security ran in, Frazier headed them up, "Sir! You're okay?"

"Yeah, Doc, it's Mayborne that needs help."

CONTINUED IN CHAP 11