Chapter 5- What the hell happened??

"Is something the matter O'Neill?"

"Huh? Oh no, I don't think so anyway. I just don't like the silence, no birds" Teal'c gently nodded his head in agreement and they both went back to 'babysitting'. Well that was Jack's term for it anyway. He was never any use on these missions. Occasionally he bought along a pack of cards or a yo-yo or something to occupy his mind. The problem being that he already had something occupying his mind and no matter how entertaining spinning that yo-yo or losing hand after hand of poker to Teal'c was, it wasn't going to rid his head of the thoughts it contained.

"Have you and Sara Watson set a date for your upcoming marriage?" The question came out of the blue.

"Erm" he mentally scratched his head. "Yeah actually, I meant to tell you guys but I was just... well I don't know what I was doing actually."

"You have been most distracted O'Neill."

"What gave it away??" he chuckled, slightly bemused at the Jaffa. He turned his head slightly at his companion but noticed that a smile hadn't even graced the stoic Teal'cs lips. "Yeah I know" Teal'c just stared, waiting for the reason. "I guess...it's just that...okay. Have you noticed that something's up with Carter?"

"I have."

"And?"

"I believe Major Carter is going through a difficult period."

"Do you know something?"

"I do not."

"Are you sure?"

"I am." Conversation stopped. Until it started to nag at Jack.

"What do you think of Josh?"

"I do not think he is worthy of Major Carter's affection."

"Why not?"

"Major Carter is an extraordinary woman, therefore, I believe it only right she finds happiness with an extraordinary man. Josh Gable is not that man."

"Right, I don't like him either."

"Have you informed Major Carter of this?" Jack stared at Teal'c as if he had grown 2 heads.

"Are you crazy?" he raised his voice a few notches.

"I am not."

"Have you?"

"Indeed."

Flabbergasted, Jack tried to speak but at the moment no words were forthcoming. Meanwhile, not much further than 20 yards away, the two scientists were busy at work. Well, one was. The other one was far too busy voicing his thoughts, much to the displeasure of the other one. Sam had given up trying to respond to Daniel's rambling and instead focused on the job at hand. He didn't seem to notice the lack of response. Every now and again she made out the words 'goa'uld', 'Thoth', 'book' and 'wow'. Daniel she guessed was in awe at something, but she kept her head down and concentrated on the job at hand. Mineral surveys...her favourite. Although anything was better than being in the company of the colonel at the moment. The last thing she needed from him at the moment was anger but that was what was being directed at her. She couldn't put her finger on anything she could've done to anger him. She turned up at the engagement party, she played pleasantries with his relatives and Sara's. She thought she had been the perfect friend for him. But ever since that night she sensed hostility from him. She had gotten Daniel to drop her off at the base afterwards. She was a little worse for wear but managed to get through security and get to her quarters without so much as a stumble. Drinking wasn't something Sam was good at and she certainly paid for it the morning after. If anyone had noticed that she hadn't been home for the past 2 weeks they hadn't said anything. Anyway, her house at the moment wasn't exactly homey. She gathered that Josh had let himself in with the key she had so foolishly given him and trashed the place. She should have called the police, but then everyone would know and she couldn't bear the pity. Sighing, she pushed herself up from her crouched position. Packing all of her samples and equipment away she headed towards Daniel.

"Hey, got anything?" she asked cutting him off from his voiced thoughts.

"God, yes, Sam. This is amazing. This wall here describes the 'Book of Thoth' which was really like his book of secrets"

"Thoth?" she asked cutting him off.

"Egyptian god. The god of wisdom according to history, but seeing as he's more than likely a goa'uld I'm gonna have a wild guess and say that, his wisdom was more than likely stolen."

"Ancients?"

"Probably."

"Great, just what we need." She sighed sadly while she looked down at her worn hands.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Fine, it's just we rid ourselves of one goa'uld then we learn of another. It's never ending. Anyway, I'm gonna go a little nearer to the tree line get some samples from over there"

"Okay and hey, one day."

"Thanks Daniel." She touched his arm as she headed towards the trees. As she unpacked her kit she heard the colonel's voice. Looking around she saw him checking in with Daniel. By the look of it Daniel was going full on depth in his explanation of the writing he had found and the colonel's eyes were starting to glaze over. Suddenly his hands went up in the air, stopping Daniel in his tracks. She saw the colonel's mouth move as he asked Daniel something. In that moment the hairs on the back of her neck stood up; something wasn't right. Daniel nodded in her general direction and the colonel turned to look at her, he turned back round, probably to tell Daniel to hurry up, and that's when it happened. The colonel started to make his way towards her when she felt her blood come to life.

"O'NEILL!!" came Teal'cs booming voice as he bounded across the ruins. She heard the unmistakeable noise of a staff weapon and a couple of P-90's being fired. Before she had a chance to fully register what was happening she felt a pair of arms grab her from behind. There was no gentleness to these arms not like the ones of her CO's which she was comfortably enclosed in a week ago.

"CARTER!!" she heard his scream, but she couldn't move. It was like that last night with Josh all over again. She vainly tried to struggle but there was no energy to it. The flashes of staff blasts became blurred, the sounds seemed to echo in her mind and that's when she felt the prick in her arm. Her last memory of that moment was a desperate looking man trying to reach her. But it was too late, and as quick as the eye could blink she was gone.