Chapter 13

The next morning Sam woke up to a blistering headache. She was lying in her bedroom, donning nothing but the bed covers. Groaning, she sat up taking in her surroundings. Yesterdays' outfit laid haphazardly across the room. Hanson was elsewhere, a minor reprieve to Sam.

Forcing herself forward, her toes touched the bare floor. Settling for a robe, she shuffled over to the bathroom. Sam turned the shower on and as she waited for it to warm up, she let the robe drop to the floor and braved a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Wincing, she took in the damage. Several bruises that already began to darken. One even took the form of a hand. Cuts were camaflauged in between. Feeling her side, a rib was definitely broken. All Hanson's handiwork was confined to her torso or thighs. He always knew how to hide the truth, and this was no exception.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only damage done, while she was walking from the bed to the bathroom, a deep and unforgiving pain could be felt in her core. Grinding her teeth, she closed her eyes. This was her fault as much as Hanson's. Hammond warned her, she should have listened to his advice. It was sound and logical. After all, why would a hungry lion leave its prey alive?

The shower unleashed its water, stinging the cuts and bruises in Sam's tender flesh. As the water beat down upon her abused body, she tried to think of someway out of this dangerous web. She wanted her daughter to be safe and preferably keep her safe along with keeping her reputation amongst her friends. This was not the time be prideful, pride could only make thing worse. But as much as Sam knew that she couldn't bring herself to do what needed to be done, she had to find a way to save her daughter by herself.

And if she found a way that would allow her to live, then that would be even better. Sam got dressed and walked downstairs. It seemed that a tornado had torn through the living room and kitchen. A tornado by the name of Jonas Hanson. Glass was scattered along the floor, and a irony smell was faint in the air. Blood.

Taking a sigh, Sam went to grab some coffee before leaving for work. Opening the refrigerator she noticed the Vodka was more than half empty. Sam had yet to even open it. Frustrated, Sam had failed to come up with a plan that would end in her favor. She really was stuck, and now she had to go to work hiding the fact that she was Hanson's puppet.

Carter makes it to SGC and flashes her id. Reaching her lab, she decides to stay put for the time being. She's been in worse conditions, physically, but if she hoped to fool everyone and especially her friends then she needed to be as composed as possible. Carter had to busy herself, but it was proving to be a difficult task.

Her mind kept wandering to the photo that Hanson showed her. She had a daughter. For about 6 years, someone of her own flesh and blood existed and she couldn't wrap her head around it. A child was what she always wanted, and lately she was starting to give up that dream. And honestly, that was the biggest reason for giving Hanson another chance.

Desperation was a horrible and debilitating emotion, and Sam had allowed it to consume her. But what Sam couldn't understand and surely could not fathom, was how Hanson could be so cold and heartless concerning something so precious, especially when he had a part in it. Taking a few much needed breaths, Carter cleared her head the best she could and left her self-imposed prison.

Colonel O'Neill was right, she had changed. And now she needed to take the steps in reestablishing herself with the team.

((AN: You know in the episode "Cold Lazarus" Daniel calls out to Jack, by his rank Colonel. IDK, that's the first time he's ever called him that. And only isn't it? Doesn't matter, just noticed that. Anyways, review!))