Chapter 17: Calm before the Storm

1537hrs: SGC... The injured members of SG1 were transferred by a heavily armed protection detail. The general wasn't taking any chances with the rogue NID lurking around. They arrived safely and were now resting peacefully in the infirmary.

Agent Malcolm Barret arrived on base around 1200hrs. Both Hammond and Maybourne briefed the agent on what they knew. Harry left with Barret to gather evidence against Pete Shanahan and Jessie Bell. A federal judge came through with a warrant quickly once the situation was explained.

Sam sat with Jack holding his hand once again. Sam spoke softly to him hoping he heard her. "Jack, you were right. Pete was hurting me. I was blinded by fear and stubbornness." Sam paused to look around the isolation room, seeing no one she continued. "I only dated him because I was afraid of being alone. I wanted to be with you so much it hurt. The fraternization regulations were like the energy barrier on the ship." She added holding back tears of regret then continued.

"There was little hope of us being together if we both were on SG1. I had the fear that If I wasn't there to watch your six you'd die. That caused me many a nightmare." She added as a tear escaped. "The general offered me the position of 'Head scientist and R & D' a few months back. Come back to me and I'll ask if it's still available. We could be together then."Sam paused stroking his hand letting out a long sigh.

"I had a dream that we were married Jack. We had a beautiful baby girl; Lucile Grace O'Neill was her name. Lucile was so precious too. I'd like to have a baby girl named Lucile or Lucy for short." She paused looking up at the observation room sensing a presence. After a hard look finding no sign of anyone she continued talking. "I want to go your cabin too. Please fight this poison and come back to me. I'm sorry for hurting you, I love you!" Sam said letting loose the tears that she was holding back.

(I'm not evil, I swear…okay maybe a little. I don't mean to leave everyone hanging…much!)

Cassandra was ready to enter the isolation room when she heard her godmother talking. She paused at the door hearing the last part of Sam's declaration. Cassie knew that they both belonged together and would be. Their love was written in the stars literally.

The now ex-boyfriend always gave her the creeps when he was around. She often felt threatened somehow in his presence. She didn't say anything to her mother about that. In hindsight she should have.

Cassie asked why Sam wasn't dating her father. The only answer she got was 'its complicated honey. Don't worry; things will change once your godmother comes to her senses.'

Mom had told her about Sam getting rid of creepy Pete. She also said Sam was going to do whatever needed to be with Jack. Cassie sent a small prayer up to God asking him bring her father back to them. There were a lot of people that needed him down here. Cassie needed Jack to walk her down the aisle to her future husband she out in for good measure.

Cassie quietly walked up to other side of the bed. The chair she pulled out made a scooting noise alerting Sam to her presence. She dried her tears then spoke. "When did you get here Cassie? I'm glad you're here for your father. He needs all the encouragement we can give him right now." Sam said lightly caressing his hand. "I was dropped off at the hospital this morning. I road with some cute Marines on the way back." she replied smirking causing Sam to give her a funny look. "Don't worry, Moms on the job, she'll find a cure. I've been praying to God as well." Cassie replied while holding her father's other hand.

"Me too Cassie, I just hope God is listening. I haven't been to church in a long time." she answered back. "Mom and I attend Sheppard Books services. He's a great preacher." Cassie said. "I met him this morning, really nice guy. We prayed together several times at the hospital" Sam informed her goddaughter. Cassie just nodded.

"Uncle Daniel and Ron are doing much better now. They seem to be more relaxed being back on base. They've been asking about you too!" she told Sam. "They have, I would have thought they'd be mad at me. Are you mad at me?" she asked. Cassie took a minute then answered "At first I was because you were dating creepy Pete and not Dad. Mom explained the situation but I could never stay mad at you." she replied. Cassie got up giving her godmother a much needed hug. Sam just cried more which caused Cassie to cry as well. Sam apologized to Cassie even though it wasn't needed.

"Why don't you go see the Daniel and Ron, I'll stay with daddy." she told Sam. "Okay, just make sure he behaves. He's a horrible patient." she said with a crooked smile and drying tears. "You don't need to tell me twice, mom tells me all about his escape attempts and other antics." Cassie said smiling through drying tears too.

Once Sam had left to go see Daniel and Ron Cassie turned her attention to Jack. "Okay Dad, you heard Sam. You need to behave because Mom is just itching to use her new needles." she said brushing hair away from his eyes. "Since I have a captive audience I'm going to tell you all about my week. If you're a good boy I might even tell you about Alex, he's on the football team." Cassie said with dreamy eyes. "I'll save that for latter. You remember the father/daughter dance we attended? Well, one of the uppity up girls was so jealous that she got caught defacing our picture. She got into so much trouble….." she told her father in detail. When she started talking about Alex the dreamy eyes came back out.

Ajani: A warning would be giving away plot lines, just saying. The punishment for Mr. & Ms. Potato Head is still up in the air. How about listening to Justin biber music?

Sam approached the infirmary doors cautiously. Did they blame her for what happened? Did she deserve to be forgiven? Sam overheard them talking and laughing, something about Wolverine & Jean Grey. Taking a deep breath she entered the room quietly not to interrupt their discussion.

Daniel saw her first and smiled at her. "Sam, I'm glad to see you." he said genuinely. "Hey Major. Are you feeling better? Sophia told us what happened." Ron greeted his superior. "It is most pleasant seeing you Major Carter. How is O'Neill?" Teal'c asked as he vacated his chair giving it to her.

Sam was a bit taken back at their warm welcome all things considered. "I'm doing better now that the colonel is on base. The guards outside of his room are reassuring. Jack's condition hasn't changed much. The poison is still working its way through his body from what Janet told Me." she informed her teammates. "Doctor Frasier will find a cure; she has not failed us yet." Teal'c reassured her. Sam smiled weakly at him. "I'm glad the two of you are okay. I was worried for all of you." she told them.

"Umm… guys. I also owe all of you an apology." she said in a small voice. "What for Major? You didn't do anything wrong." SSgt Nantz told her. "Indeed, you were not at fault. Pete Shanahan & Jessie Bell are the ones that shall pay for this transgression, dearly!" Teal'c added. "Same here Sam. We're not mad at you. We just hated seeing you get hurt by that excuse for a man. I'll quote one of my favorite superhero's 'HULK ANGRY, HULK SMASH PUNY MAN!'" Daniel said perfectly with mock anger. He went against his earlier statement just to get a smile on Sam's face.

Everyone burst out laughing including Sam. She felt better now, they weren't mad at her, just concerned. Sam still felt they deserved an explanation. "I still feel the need to make amends though." she started. The three men looked at Sam waiting for her to continue. They each new she needed to get this off her mind. "The general offered me a position in the labs three months ago. I would have been in charge of the other scientists. The reason I didn't take it was my fear of not being with you guys and the colonel. I feared that something dire would happen if I wasn't with you. You're my family; I don't know what I'd do without you. I just accepted things the way they were. "She told them honestly. "I didn't see away for Jack and myself to be more that what we were." Sam said barely looking up at her family.They all nodded in understanding. SG-1 was more than a team; they were a family of misfits and lost souls. Sam took a deep breath then continued. This next omission was going to be hard.

"My brother Mark called convincing me to go out with Pete about 3 months ago. The beginning of the relationship was simple. I guess it just became convenient for me, my loneliness was solved." She continued looking up this time. "I wasn't totally happy, just content." Sam said in a regretful manner.

"No offence Major but it sounds as if it was too convenient." the SSgt interjected. "Indeed, I believe that the rogue NID used your brothers' friendship against you Major Carter." Teal'c added. "They're right Sam. The NID have no morals. You're not blaming Mark are you?" Daniel said while fixing his glasses.

"I'm not, however Mark is blaming me. I tried to explain why I ended the relationship. Mark took Pete's side form the beginning." Sam told her friends. "He wouldn't believe the truth even if I could tell him." She added for emphasis. "Your also right about the relationship being to convenient. I realize now he was trying to drive a wedge between us, specifically Jack and I." she added holding back a tear or two.

"Pete Shanahan would not have succeeded. We are family Major Carter. O'Neill says families stick together like adhesive." Teal'c said confidently. Sam grinned knowing what Teal'c was doing. "It's 'like glue' Teal'c, 'like glue.'" Daniel informed the Jaffa. "Did I not say that Daniel Jackson?" which caused Ron and Sam to snicker at Daniels perplexed face. "I've been hanging around Jack too much. I'm even carrying a Beretta off base now for crying out loud!" he said with a huff. His remarks caused further laughter amongst the teammates.

Sorry for the delay, been working a lot of overtime. The heat really drains a person's energy.

"There you are Sam; I've been looking for you." Janet said. Sam's smile quickly turned to a frown. "What's happened, is Jack okay?" she said as she got in a hurry. Her three teammates had a worried look as well. Janet lightly grabbed Sam's arm as she tried to leave. Sam looked at Janet in confusion stopping in her tracks. "Sam, please sit back down. I just gave him a check up and there's no change yet." she informed everyone in the room.

"Okay, then why are you looking for me?" Sam asked a little less worried. The CMO took a breath and smiled "Sophia and I isolated the poison not long ago. It's a combination of several plant, sea creatures and manmade poisons. We're working on an antidote now. We're fortunate that the poison has been slowed down due to the colonels ATA gene." she explained. Everyone in the room let out the breath they were holding. "That's great news Janet. What kind of antidote do you think will work?" Daniel asked. Sam sat in quiet sending a thank you up to God. Her prayers were answered in part. "We're going to formulate an antidote from the cures to each part of the new poison." Janet replied in a hopeful voice. "I have asked for additional help because of the complexity of the poison. Unfortunately once the poison has taken hold there'll be little I can do. We're going to work around the clock if we have too." the CMO said.

"I shall speak with General Hammond about contacting our allies. The Tok'ra owes us many favors. It's time for them to pay up." Teal'c said with conviction. "That would be a great idea Teal'c, I'll go with you." Sam said with a half smile. "I welcome your company Major Carter." he replied. The remaining friends talked amongst themselves about possible solutions with great hope.

Captain Nelson was a character on 'I Dream of Jeanie'. My first love was Barbra Eden. I wanted to marry her.

General Hammond had a debriefing scheduled at 1800hrs. Sam was on her way back to sit with Jack. Teal 'and her were unable to talk with the general. He was in the middle of a debriefing with SG-25. Sam was thinking to herself on her way back to Jack. Right about now Jack and I should be talking but no! Murphy had to intervene.'

Sam was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the SF. "Major Carter." SF Cherry said crisply. Sam was startled out of her thoughts jumping a bit. "Sorry Ma'am didn't mean to scare you. The general wants to speak with you." he informed her."That's okay SF Cherry, I should've been more aware of my surroundings. I'll head back up to see the general then."She replied. The SF escorted Major Carter to the generals' office as ordered then went back to his other duties.

General Hammond was lost in his thoughts. How was he going to tell his god daughter her privacy was violated. He hoped against all hope that his worst fears didn't come true. It would mean the end of her career. The humiliation would be even worse for her. A knock at the door brought George out his thoughts, Samantha was here. It was time to face the facts. He knew how Colonel O'Neill's would react, kill Shanahan slowly and painfully. Teal'c would be right there with him too. If Shanahan was smart he'd leave the country, hell the planet if he could. "Come in Major." he beckoned. Sam came in and saluted her godfather. Once he saluted back he told her to have a seat. "You wanted to see me sir." she said. "Yes Major, I did. What I'm about to tell isn't going to be easy for you. I'm going to need you to be strong." he told her with a grimace. "How bad is it sir?" she asked quietly. "Not good at all, Sammy. Not good at all." George replied sadly. She dropped in the chair along with her already low morale. When it rains it pours she thought.