Warnings and disclaimer in chapter 1.
Enjoy.
"What do you think Mitchell and Vala are doing now?" Sergeant Jorgensen asked as the three members of SG-1 casually made their way from the Sanctuary to the Stargate.
"Probably bored out of their mind," Roberts answered. "Either that or Vala's driving him crazy just for something to do."
"You don't think they'll find her?" Major Bailey asked.
"I hope they do," Roberts replied honestly. "I've heard great stories about Major Carter and SG-1. But she died over four years ago."
"And she died," Jorgensen piped up. "It wasn't like she suddenly disappeared offworld. They saw her die."
"That's true," Bailey admitted. He knew that if there was any doubt in his mind Colonel O'Neill wouldn't have accepted her death all these years. His sudden fanatical behavior at the small glimpse of hope that she might be alive was more than enough to tell him there was never any doubt about her fate until a few weeks ago. The sudden sound of the Stargate whirling interrupted his musings.
"Are we expecting company?" Jorgensen asked as they all increased their pace.
"Not that I know off," Bailey responded. They reached the clearing just as the last chevron locked into place and the wormhole whooshed into existence. They ducked down into defensive crouches waiting for someone to step through. They were surprised when Cam flopped unceremoniously out of the wormhole.
"Colonel Mitchell," Roberts said as they quickly ran up to him. No sooner had he said that then Vala came flying through the gate, landing on Roberts back and taking them both down. Jorgensen went to help them while Bailey headed for their commander.
"Colonel? Can you hear me?" Bailey reached for Cam's shoulders as the other man struggled to get clear of the gate. He quickly pulled him a few paces back. Cam rallied enough to focus on his face.
"Bailey?" he asked in surprise. He quickly nodded. "How goes the mission?" he asked.
"Fine Sir," he said looking around and seeing Roberts and Jorgensen dragging Vala out of the way just as a pack came flying through the still open Stargate. Roberts quickly retrieved it and looked towards Bailey in confusion. "The planets are willing to negotiate and the Monks are willing to hold the summit here," he continued to report as he tried to figure out what was going on.
"Well done," Cam told him. "Our mission was a success too." He said that just as another figure came flying out of the wormhole. "I'm gonna pass out now." Bailey looked down in time to see Cam's eyes roll back and his head flop gracelessly to the ground. He took just enough time to ensure his commander had a steady pulse than was racing for the next downed man, Roberts and Jorgensen right behind him.
"He's been shot," Bailey called out as they neared the man, but before they could get to him another body shot out of the gate. Bailey had just enough reflexes to grab this person in his arms, cushioning them with his own body as they both went down. He was also expecting the fall and was able to extract himself and pull the body clear of the gate within seconds. The other two had pulled the injured man off to the side and were starting first aid on what was obviously a recent and dangerously placed gunshot wound.
Another person was ejected from the wormhole and Bailey immediately recognized Dr. Jackson. Calling for Roberts to help, he quickly made his way to where Dr. Jackson had fallen, but he had already scrambled out of the way before they could reach for him. He turned back just in time to see Teal'c and Colonel O'Neill tumble from the wormhole and land in a heap at the base of the gate. He quickly checked Dr. Jackson's pulse before helping Roberts separate the remaining two men and drag them clear of the gate. Roberts nodded that their pulse was good and went to help Jorgensen save the life of the man he was working on.
"We need medical help Sir," Roberts yelled to him. Bailey nodded and Roberts started running for the DHD. He turned around to check on the mystery person he had caught and stopped short when he recognized Major Carter staring calmly around at the trees.
"Holy Shit," he cursed. "They did it. They fuckin did it." The other two looked up at his words, momentarily stunned, before continuing their tasks.
"Let's hope they didn't pay for it with their lives," Roberts called as the wormhole clicked to life. He left the DHD and went to help Jorgensen. Bailey grabbed his radio and headed toward the Stargate, never letting the missing Major out of his sight.
"SGC this is SG-1. Do you copy?"
"We copy Major," came the voice of General Hammond.
"Sir we need immediate medical treatment planetside with immediate medical evac earthside as soon as possible." He could hear the orders to prepare the medical teams being shouted in the background before General Hammond got on the radio again.
"What is the situation Major?"
"I don't know Sir," Bailey admitted. "All I know is the wormhole opened and Colonel O'Neill's team came flying through looking half dead."
"Understood. Medical help is on its way. Hammond out." The gate shut down only to be opened a few minutes later as Dr. Fraiser led several SGC medical teams through the gate.
"What do we got?" she called out heading toward Major Bailey, her eyes already surveying the scene in front of her. Her teams had already started assessing the various people spread out through the clearing.
"Gunshot wound," Bailey said pointing to the man Roberts and Jorgensen were still working on. "I think that is the most critical." She nodded and ran over there, calling out instructions to her team back at the SGC.
"We'll need six stretchers," she told them when she saw one of her newest nurses had managed to get one of the arrivals in a sitting position. "Tell Warner to prep the OR. We have a GSW that needs surgery STAT. Have plenty of blood and saline available." Corpsmen were carrying through the stretchers and her staff quickly secured the team for transport. By the time she had stabilized her patient the others had already been transported back to the SGC. The rest of SG-1 followed her as she led the last stretcher home.
She passed the alien off to Warner who was waiting in the OR, but soon found herself scrubbing up when she discovered Daniel's punctured lungs. By the time she had finished sorting him out her team had finished with the rest of them. She stopped by each of their bedsides, glancing at their chart and mentally cataloging the collection of bumps, bruises, burns, and broken bones they had and wondering what exactly they had gotten themselves into to get these injuries. She had just finished looking over Teal'c's chart and was about to retire to her quarters for some well deserved rest when a sudden thought came over her. "Where's Sam?" She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but nevertheless Teal'c bolted upright and began searching the infirmary.
"We returned with her," he said desperately. "I remember throwing her through the Stargate myself."
"You rest Teal'c," she ordered when he began to get out of bed. "I'll find her." He acquiesced when his tired body refused to obey his commands. Satisfied he wasn't going anywhere, Janet called General Hammond, who promptly ordered a level by level search. Janet paced restlessly by the door, her sudden weariness replaced by adrenaline. She wanted to go search herself, but knew she needed to stay here until they called. The night staff caught onto her tension and they all waited restlessly for the phone to ring.
Hammond left his office as soon as he ordered the base to be searched. He knew the search would be thorough, that no area would be overlooked, but he also knew Sam and wanted to check the areas he thought she would most likely go personally. He left the search in the very capable hands of Major Castleman and headed down to the science labs.
Even though lab space was at a premium, no one had tried to take over Major Carter's lab yet. Considering the amount of time she spent there he thought that would be a good place to start looking. Seeing the light on in the unused lab was a good sign. He quietly opened the door enough to slip into the room and immediately saw her sitting in the corner. She seemed content there so he took a second to call both the Infirmary to report her whereabouts and the Control Room to call of the search. Then he quietly called out to her. "Major Carter?" She jerked her head up and looked around. He turned on the light so she could see him and called again. "Major Carter."
"I'm sorry," she said, looking around again, "I don't know who that is." His heart fell.
"That's all right," he said, moving further into the room and grabbing a chair. "Is it okay if I talk to you?" She nodded and he placed the chair a few feet in front of her. She studied him intently.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?"
"Why do you ask?" he asked curiously. He heard the door open and knew Janet had joined them but didn't dare look away in case he spooked Major Carter.
"I can't remember ever meeting you," she started, "but I get the strangest feeling I've known you for a very long time." He chuckled softly at that.
"Longer than most people know," he told her, motioning Janet forward. "Do you remember Dr. Janet Fraiser?"
"No," she said, but regarded the other woman with the same confused look she gave him. They shared a quick glance before Janet took over.
"Sam, why did you leave the Infirmary?" She looked confused before something clicked in her brain.
"The place before?" she asked. Janet nodded. "It was too… much. I had to get away. I started walking and found myself here and it seemed familiar." She shrugged as if that explained everything. Janet and Hammond shared another glance before Janet spoke again.
"It was a bit hectic before, but it's calmed down since then. You're hurt and I want to help you." She pointed out Sam's broken arm. The pristine cast had not fared well in the crash and was starting to crack and chip away. Sam stared at it as if she just noticed she was hurt. "Please let me help you," Janet begged. She held out her hand, praying the blonde would take it. Sam stared into her eyes. They could see the fear and uncertainty warring with the familiarity she had for these people. Slowly she reached her hand out and let Janet pull her to her feet. She followed them to the Infirmary, pausing momentarily on the threshold.
"It's okay. No one will hurt you." Hammond smiled reassuringly at her and she felt some of her fear leave. She followed them into the room, scanning nervously every direction as she slowly made her way to where Janet waited. Teal'c startle her when he opened his eyes, but although she didn't remember him she got such great comfort from his presence she knew he would never hurt her. He simply nodded at her and closed his eyes again. She felt the same comfort from two other men she recognized around her and by the time she reached the bed where Janet was waiting her fear had left enough for sleep to become a wanted thing. She climbed up on the bed and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Janet and General Hammond watched in amazement as just the sight of the men of SG-1 was enough to banish Sam's fears. When she fell asleep Janet gave a sigh of relief. "That makes my job easier," she said, not relishing the thought of doing a full physical on someone as skittish as Sam was earlier.
"I'm going to post guards at the entrance to make sure Major Carter doesn't wander off again," Hammond told her. "Feel free to use them if certain patients wake up and are disorderly."
"I'll keep that in mind Sir."
"We need concrete proof this is Major Carter as soon as you can."
"I'll get some samples for a DNA test. Hopefully we will have solid proof within the next few days." Hammond nodded his approval.
"I'll let you get to work then Doctor," he said as he turned to leave the room. "Let me know as soon as Colonel O'Neill wakes up. We need to know what happened out there." She nodded as he left the infirmary.
"Let's get to work," she said as she gathered up her necessary tools and mentally prepared herself for another long stretch ahead.
It took the better part of two hours before Janet was finished. By that time the labs were already working on the samples she sent; she had plastered her broken arm, wrapped her broken ribs, cleaned and bandaged every scrape on her best friend, and had been up for more than twenty four hours and was exhausted. But she was unwilling to leave her friend's side. Instead she pulled over a chair and pulled out her chart, studying it intently as she tried to figure out what had happened to her over the last few years.
"Doctor." The word was spoken softly but the effect was immediate. She shot to her feet and immediately began searching for the emergency, not noticing her legs getting tangled in the blanket one of her nurses had thrown over her. "Doctor," the voice said again, but this time she was able to identify the owner as General Hammond.
"Sir," she asked, trying to get her sleep filled mind to focus.
"It's time for you to get some sleep Doctor," Hammond said. She blinked wearily at her watch, surprised to find almost three hours had passed since she had finished with Sam. She glanced back, just to make sure her friend was back and it hadn't all been a dream. "Get some sleep Doctor. She'll be here in the morning."
"Yes Sir," she said, grabbing the blanket and quickly folding it and putting it in the discarded chair. "What about you Sir?" she asked when he made no move to follow her from the Infirmary.
"I'm waiting for a return call from the Tok'ra," he told her. "Until then…" She smiled knowingly.
"I recommend some pillows to support your neck," she told him. "I'll send the nurse down with some."
"Thank you Doctor." She nodded and quietly made her way out of the Infirmary, pausing only long enough to pass on her request to her night nurse before making her way to her quarters. She was asleep in minutes.
The next morning she woke up refreshed. She wasn't surprised to learn the General had spent more than a few hours next to Sam's bedside, leaving only when the Tok'ra finally made contact just a few hours ago. She was surprised to find that everyone was awake in her infirmary. "Good morning," she greeted as she walked past the rows of beds. They all murmured something back to her before continuing on with their own conversations in hushed tones.
"Morning Doctor," her nurse greeted as she held out the report of the nights activities. Janet was happy to see that everyone had a quiet night. She thanked her and slowly made her way to the two curtained off beds which held Sam and the alien Joris. She slipped quietly inside Sam's curtained off area, panicking when she saw the bed was empty. She flung the curtains open to check that the guard was still stationed outside.
"I believe Major Carter went to visit Minister DeLuan," Teal'c said, before smoothly joining in the conversation again. She calmed her heartbeat and quietly slipped into the last curtained area in the room. Sam was curled up fast asleep in the chair she obviously brought from her own area. She checked the two of them to make sure they were sleeping peacefully, threw the discarded blanket over the blonde's form, and quietly left the area.
"And how are you today Colonel?" she asked, coming to the first bed she saw.
"Perfect," he said, and she knew he didn't mean his physical condition. By the time she finished making her rounds General Hammond had finished with the Tok'ra and was heading down for an impromptu mission briefing. She had just enough time to check on Sam one last time before the General got down. She was surprised to find Sam awake and staring at the man on the bed, but she seemed content and Janet decided she could stay there until the briefing was over.
Jack started the briefing, but by the end everyone was pitching in to tell the story of how they got their missing friend back home. "So Sam's memories are completely gone?" Janet asked when she heard the sacrifice Sam had made to get everybody home.
"Joris was pretty sure that's what would happen," Jack said. "Why?" Instead of answering she turned to the General.
"That would explain why she couldn't remember meeting you Sir."
"But not why I felt familiar to her," he returned. She shrugged.
"Maybe her memories are still there, just buried." She made a few notes in Sam's folders as they continued.
"The files we were able to download from the Inturi computer?" Daniel asked.
"The laptop was recovered," Hammond told him. "I'll have a team start going over any data we are able to pull up."
"I think we should make stopping the Inturi a priority," Jack said. "They were damn close to making a super human and from what Vala tells us we are the only ones who know that. If they have other labs that are that close we have to consider them a real threat."
"Agreed. We'll review whatever data we are able to recover and decide on a plan of action. In the mean time I think we should pay another visit to the Creillon. If there's nothing else." The military officers tried to sit up straighter as he left, but it was hard to do between all the tubing and injuries. Janet smiled as she slid back into the curtained cubicle.
"Sam," she smiled when she noticed the other woman looking back at her.
"Is that my name?" she asked quietly after a few minutes.
"Your name is Major Samantha Carter," she said quietly, grabbing another chair and positioning it so she could look Sam in the eyes, "but its Sam to your friends."
"So we're friends," she said softly mostly to herself, turning to stare at the man in the bed once more. Janet was quiet for a few minutes, wanting to let Sam take the lead in the conversation. "Sam felt right," she said finally, "but so does Kianna."
"Kianna has been your name for the last few years," Janet told her. "I wouldn't be surprised if you felt more comfortable being Kianna than Sam right now."
"That doesn't help me find out who I am," she said sadly. Janet laughed.
"You're more than just the name you answer to. We will all be here for you as you figure out who you are."
"Thank you," Sam said sincerely. Janet nodded and left the room, pausing to put a supporting hand on Sam's shoulder. She didn't jerk away, but Janet could tell she was lost in her thoughts again.
The next few days passed in a blur as first Teal'c than Vala were released, but after their initial flee from the Infirmary they were back, this time carrying bags of food and items to keep everybody entertained. Surprisingly none of the others badgered Janet to be let go, though she had an idea that when Sam finally felt comfortable enough to leave that would change.
Sam was medically cleared first, though her uneasiness kept her in the Infirmary and Janet ordered her bed to be kept available for her. Sam kept mainly to herself, either in her own bed or next to the man Janet learned had been cast to play her father. Sam had gamely allowed them to try a few techniques to restore her memory, but so far nothing had worked. The Tok'ra had heard about her predicament and had offered the use of the Recall Device as well as a technician to operate it. They were expected to arrive within a few days.
When the rest of SG-1 arrived with a few pizzas in tow Janet quietly left the Infirmary. "So how's the rest of the universe looking?" Cam asked as he helped himself to a slice.
"The rest of the universe is boring compared to what's happening here," Roberts said in awe. "You know what they're saying? They're saying she built a Stargate."
"Well not a real Stargate," Vala countered from her chair by Daniel's bedside. Roberts looked up triumphantly.
"I knew it. Pay up." Jorgensen groaned as he started to reach for his wallet, but before he could pull out his money Vala finished.
"Just a little portable one." Roberts groaned and Jorgensen smiled triumphantly.
"So the rest must be true too?" Roberts asked as he handed his money over to Jorgensen. "How she took out the entire Inturi complex with one bomb?"
"Hey," Cam interjected, "That one was me."
"Acting on my idea," Vala added.
"Which you would not have had if Major Carter had not deduced the alternate power source the Inturi were using," Teal'c pointed out.
"Well," she shrugged, "there is that."
"Did they really kiss?" Jorgensen asked eagerly. They all turned and stared at Vala.
"What?" she asked innocently. "It was the most romantic yet utterly tragic thing I have ever seen."
"Don't ask me," Cam said, blushing slightly. "I was busy looking at a monitor." They all burst out laughing at the same time. "So what's going on out there?" Cam asked when he could breathe again.
"We were able to recover most of the files you managed to download," Bailey told them, "and the team Hammond sent to the Creillon emerged into the chaos of a civilization trying to save itself from utter catastrophe. Only we didn't buy it this time. When the backup they called for had big guns instead of computers they realized they were caught and surrendered."
"They have dozens of these scenarios playing out on worlds all over the galaxy," Roberts continued where Bailey dropped off, "each designed to target people with a particular skill set."
"And when they find a possible candidate?" Jack asked, needing to know how he ever let his Major slip through his fingers.
"They clone them," Bailey answered. "Apparently their work on Binora left them with superb cloning skills. And since they never worry about putting any mental attributes inside the clone they are able to clone a fully grown human being within a few days."
"They then take the clone and out and have a very public execution on some made up charges. The executions are designed to have little to no evidence left behind to suggest that a clone was ever made. The visiting people usually leave at that point which leaves the Inturi free to whisk away their victim at their leisure."
"Damn," Jack said, hating the fact that he fell for a textbook con.
"We're taking them out Sir," Bailey said to the group. "This won't happen to anyone else." There was heavy silence for a moment.
"What about the Coalition?" Daniel asked.
"The shit's hitting the fan there," Roberts told them. "The secret's out and the other planets are not too happy with Birona right now."
"The Bironians aren't too happy with the Chancellor either," Bailey told them. "He might have been able to save face with his people if he had something to give them in exchange for being lied to for all these years, but there was a second explosion in the old city. The Stargate Project Lab exploded with enough force to completely wipe out the remaining Inturi as well as completely obliterate whatever was left of the city and even reach over to where the mine was."
"She must have overloaded the generators," Daniel said, "and turned that whole lab into a time bomb. But why?"
"To keep the Inturi from following us," Cam said," and to keep the mini Stargate out of the wrong hands. Plus you really can't blame her for wanting to take the whole lot down. They kinda had that coming."
"Well," Roberts continued, "whatever her reasons, the second explosion was big enough to be seen from the new settlement. The people realized they had nothing that could have caused such an explosion. The Chancellor tried covering it up, but by then it was too late. The cat is out of the bag and the people are pissed."
"That's nothing compared to how the Monks are taking it," Bailey added. "They've effectively closed the door on all the planets. Now the governments need to petition to allow certain citizens in for treatment. They did say they would try and help any of the victims from Birona that we were able to identify, including Major Carter."
"So we're maintaining diplomatic ties with the Sanctuary?" Cam asked.
"I believe friendly is the word we're using right now," Bailey said. "The planets and the Monks realize they need to get their act together before we can move ahead with negotiations. We've decided to give them that time. We'll still be there if they need us, but the ball is in their court now."
"The penny pushers aren't too happy about the loss of all those resources but…"
"It was worth it," Jack interrupted Roberts and stared at the curtain which Sam was behind. No one disagreed with him.
"We'll let you get some sleep," Bailey said as he pulled Roberts and Jorgensen from the room. "Get well soon." With that the team was left to their own thoughts.