Chapter 23: Family/Team Matters Part 1

Sub-Level 20, Stargate Command

10:30 P.M

Doctor Bill Lee and Sam Carter circled around the sarcophagus SG-26 had brought back from N7M-321.

For most of the entire past week, Lee found himself scratching his head, when not his chin, determining how to open the Gou'ald stasis pod. Even with Carter's help, Lee couldn't help but wonder if opening the pod would've been possible, or a good idea.

"We could try to force it open," Lee randomly suggested.

Sam shot a look at the scientist with a risen eyebrow.

"How?" She asked. "We can't even find out why this thing was where SG-26 found it."

Lee shook his head.

"Yeah, it's kinda funny," He replied. "Slavic mythology, the Gou'ald…a bit from the Ancients…"

He shrugged before continuing.

"And even with the Russian Colonel, it's beginning to be a little too coincidental."

Now it Sam's turn to shake her head.

"I doubt there is a connection," She replied. "Ok…what about scans; was there anything you found?"

Realizing what he should have done earlier, Lee immediately walked over to the computer placed next to the sarcophagus and opened a window.

"X-rays were a bust," Lee announced, looking at the scans. "Not surprising given the fact that a typical Gou'ald sarcophagus is made of solid gold."

"Anything else?" Sam asked.

"Uh," Lee looked through the others scans made. "Yes, ultrasound confirmed that someone is in fact inside."

He took a breath.

"I'm just not sure we should…you know…"

"Open it?" Sam finished his sentence.

Lee shook his head.

"And given how complicated this thing is…it might take months to even get it to work again."

Lee rested his head on his hand before coming up with an idea.

"What about the naquadah?" He asked. "How much longer would it take to drain the power source?"

Sam became confused.

"Well, I mean, come on, this thing must have been active for centuries, at least." Lee explained.

"I don't think that would open the sarcophagus." Sam commented.

"Eh, maybe you're right," Lee replied.

He was about to rest his arms on the stasis pod before Sam stopped him.

"Ah, Ah, careful there doctor," She quickly cautioned to the scientist. "We don't know if any physical contact would do something to the sarcophagus."

Lee raised his hands in defense and backed away.

"Last week, Daniel figured out that whoever is in here could lead us to the ZPM stockpile if we can convince this person to help us." Sam added.

"Convince him?" Lee asked. "How?"

"How do you know whoever is in here is male?"

"I don't," Lee replied innocently. "But maybe until we know for sure who's inside we should refer it to 'he'."

Sam smiled, crossing her arms.

"Why don't we just refer to this person as 'JC', that's a nice unisex name, don't you think?" She replied.

"I guess."

Sam looked at her watch and her eyes widened.

"Oh damn, look at the time," She commented. "I'm sure Alexeyeva is getting impatient by now."

"Why would she?" Lee asked, confused.

"I offered her a place to stay while she recovered."

"Where?"

"No where special," Sam replied, leaving the lab.

"My place." Lee didn't seem moved for he was too busy looking at the sarcophagus.

"Well good night, General," He replied.

After Sam left, Lee looked up, stunned.

"Wait…what?"

Infirmary, Sub-Level 21, Stargate Command

Alexeyeva looked at her reflection as she pulled down her shirt a few inches. She was unable to move with the shock and disbelief with the sight of the bandage that was on her chest. The tattoo of the Church of the Savior on Blood on her chest seemed as if it was a glass portrait that had been cracked. The Russian smiled to herself with mixed feelings however. She thought about getting her chest tattooed again but, at the same time, she wondered whether or not she should just leave it as is…she was going to have all of her tattoos removed anyway. But the loss of a particular loved one changed all that, hasn't it, as she thought in her mind.

"Colonel," Carter's voice reached the Russian's.

Alexeyeva immediately released her grip on her shirt, which had unstretched and covered her chest once again.

"Da, General," The Colonel replied. "Are you ready to go?"

Carter nodded.

Grabbing her bags, Alexeyeva followed the General towards the elevator. Once they arrived, Carter pressed the 'up' button and the two waited.

"Thank you again for inviting me to stay at your home," Alexeyeva began. "But you didn't have to."

Carter looked at the Russian and smiled.

"I couldn't just leave you there, Colonel," She replied. "Besides, I thought you wanted to get a chance to live off base."

The Russian smiled.

"Da…sometimes I thought about taking a day off to visit Colorado Springs,"

Her smiled faded.

"I didn't think I would have been allowed to."

"My treat," Carter replied, smiling. Just as the elevator doors retracted open, Williams came rushing down the hall. "Colonel," She began. She bent over, panting for breath. "Da, Private Williams," The Russian asked, approaching the Canadian. Williams brought her upper body back and stretched out her hand. "Just wanted to say good-bye," The Russian nodded and shook hands with her subordinate. "I'll be back," She told her. The two let go and the Russian rejoined the General in the elevator.

1 Hour Later…

Samantha Carter's residence

11:44 P.M

Natasha's eyes nearly closed shut and the solider nearly drifted into sleep.

She heard a click as Sam turned the key to her house in the keyhole and immediately snapped back into alertness. The two entered the house and Sam turned on the light. Natasha found herself in a somewhat messy room. Numerous books were on the coffee table before a couch. Papers were on dining table with a sink full of dirty dishes. The Spetsnaz Operative noted that it was quite clear that the General spent little time at home.

"Sorry about the mess," Sam apologized. "I haven't been able to get the time to clean house."

"It's not a problem," Natasha replied. "I've handled worse places than this,"

Then she tripped over a stack of books as she tried to walk.

"Chyort!" She yelled with her face on the floor.

"Crap, sorry," Sam replied, helping the Russian get back up on her feet.

"Forget everything I just said," Natasha replied, laughing as she returned to her feet. "How in god's name do you live in this place?"

Sam could only shrug, which made Natasha chuckle more.

"Forget I asked then." The Russian added.

As Natasha settled in, or at least tried to, Sam headed for the kitchen. After placing her keys and purse on the kitchen table, she noticed from the blinking red light on her answering machine that she had a message waiting for her. After pressing the button, the machine began playing back.

"You have one new message; message recorded at 5:23 P.M; message begins: "Hey Aunt Sam, it's me." A young woman's voice began.

Sam, who was tending to the fridge, looking for something to feed the Russian with, immediately forgotten this task and quickly ran to the machine.

She recognized the voice.

It was Cassandra, a girl Sam and SG-1 rescued from another world, fifteen years earlier.

"I'm just calling you that I'll be passing through Colorado Springs in a couple of days and I was hoping to stop by and see how things are and maybe catch up. I mean, it's been years since we last spoke and it's not like you write ha."

There was a pause as Sam continued to listen.

"I've got a lot to tell you and I wish I could go back to the SGC, you know, for old time's sake. But anyway, I gotta continue driving, see you soon, later."

–Click–

"End of new messages…Beeeeep."

Carter seemed as if she were about to cry.

It's been years since she had actually spoken with the girl she brought back through the gate. Only once, after Doctor Frasier, Cassandra's step-mother, died, Sam was forced to tell the grave news to her. She hasn't seen her since.

"Who was that?" Natasha asked, indifferently, as she began to unpack in the living room.

Sam shook her head as she still stared down at the machine.

"I hate to ask you this, so you can say no," She replied. "But think you can help me clean the house?"

The Russian had to laugh.

"I get shot and the first thing my commanding officer asks me to do is help her clean her house?" She asked.

Sam was now feeling guilty. She knew it was wrong to ask her guest, but since her 'step-niece' was coming, there was no alternative left.

"But if that means this house becomes livable much sooner," Natasha added. "Then absolutely I'll help you. Just not tonight."

The Next Morning

Sam Carter's Residence

06:30 A.M

-Beep-…-beep-…-beep-….

Sam was abruptly awoken in her bed by the alarm clock's beeping. Slamming her fingers against the snooze button, Sam rubbed her eyes and nearly fell back asleep when the alarm started beeping again. Now the General began to wonder if her clock was broken, as the snooze button was supposed to let her sleep for another nine minutes. It doesn't matter. Sam sat herself up on the bed and she slowly slipped off.

She took a shower, brushed her teeth, dressed in appropriate clothing and went to the kitchen to have a light breakfast.

As she opened her fridge in the kitchen, Sam couldn't help but steal a glance at the Russian sleeping on her couch in the next room. Sam took out a jug of milk from the fridge and a box of cereal and a bowl from the cupboard. After making herself cereal, Sam ate. After finishing, she quietly placed the empty bowl in the sink and the milk and cereal box back to their respective places.

She found a pencil in a drawer and took a piece of paper lying about. Within a few seconds, Sam wrote a brief note. After grabbing her bag on the way out, Sam glanced at the Natasha. She was sleeping soundly, if not peacefully, in a fetal position, facing the back of the couch and holding onto a pillow on her chest. Just before Sam could turn her head and go for the door, she noticed a small hint of something shiny. A closer examination showed that it was a knife. It wasn't one of the Russian's, that's for sure. Natasha hadn't brought any and even if she did, security would have found them. She must have decided to steal one of Sam's kitchen knifes for use of self-defense. Smart lady. Sam thought about taking the knife back, but she didn't want Natasha to freak out and accidentally stab her. So with a shrug, the General left for work, knowing that the Russian could take care of her self.

2 Hours Later

Mess Hall, Stargate Command

8:45 P.M

The three remaining members of SG-26 sat at their table, eating breakfast in silence.

None of them, especially Major Witkowski, were sure of who was going to be taking over the team in the Colonel's absence. Unlike most second-in-commands, Witkowski actually had trouble getting used getting to new Cos that he was assigned to. Yet somehow he found himself used to working under a Russian. It wasn't until half an hour earlier, he had found out that there was no replacement; he would be taking command. It was now just the three of them for awhile.

"Any idea what they're gonna have us do?" Ortega asked.

Witkowski shrugged.

"Hopefully just patrol missions for now," He replied, before looking to his left to find Williams.

"Don't be so down on yourself," He told her. "It wasn't your fault that she got one in the chest."

He paused, eyeing the Private's emotions.

"It's not like you saw it coming."

'Thud'

Williams dropped her head on the table, shaking her head against the surface.

"In my profession," She replied. "That's exactly what I gotta do."

She turned her head to face the major.

"When I put on the suit, I roll the dice with the lives of myself and the guys who are watching my back." She took a breath.

'Crunch'

'Crunch'

The Major shot a look at the Spaniard, who was eating his toasted bread. The Major made a 'what the hell are you doing?' look and the Sergeant took notice.

"What?" He replied innocently. "I'm hungry."

The Major shook his head and allowed the Canadian to continue.

"As I was saying, I gotta know if the bomb is a fake or decoy; does it have a timer or a remote detonator; who's watching and who isn't; is it rigged to blow on contact or better yet; what if the place has got a minefield protecting the IED…"

Neither the Major nor the Sergeant could reply.

"I should have noticed that the guy wasn't dead and that he might have followed us through…which he did." Williams added. "It's my job to see things coming. That the job of an EOD specialist."

Witkowski shrugged. "Point taken Private," He replied.

Ortega could only nod as he continued to eat.

"How do you handle the pressure?" He asked.

Williams thought for a moment at how to respond.

"I didn't have to at first," She replied. "Because I wasn't always the one in the suit…but when I was…I…"

She trailed off, unsure of the words she wanted to say.

The hesitation deterred Ortega away from the question and it was quickly dropped.

"I'm sure she's fine, amiga," The Spaniard said, changing the subject. "The General's taking care of her,"

The Private rose her head up and crossed her arms.

"Yeah," She replied coldly. "Maybe."

"And about that," Witkowski added. "Why the hell would Carter give the Colonel such treatment…it's not like Alexeyeva is anything special."

"She isn't, it's her current condition that warrants the relocation."

It was General Carter.

The three quickly stood up to salute.

"At ease and as you were," Carter told them.

The three nodded and sat back down.

"How is the Colonel doing?" Williams asked.

"She's fine, I think," Carter replied, sitting down with the team.

Witkowski raised an eyebrow, confused.

"When I left, I found her sleeping with one of my kitchen knives."

Ortega grinned. "She's Spetsnaz," He commented. "Of course she sleeps with something under her pillow."

"More like cuddling with the thing," Carter replied.

"Uh…oookaay." Ortega replied. "That isn't loco whatsoever,"

Williams chuckled quietly.

"Yeah, maybe," She added.

Carter smiled.

She knew that the team was trying to distract themselves from having to worry about their CO, which was why she decided to suspend them of further missions.

"But we're fine with just the three of us," Witkowski replied.

Carter shook her head.

"I understand you want to get back out there but without the Colonel, but sending you out there into possible combat is a violation of what the SGC had agreed to with the U.N."

"To hell with the U.N," Witkowski retorted. "We can handle it."

"Then can I at least post you on security detail if you insist to go off world so bad?" Carter asked.

The Major sighed.

"Sure, why not." He replied.

"Good," The General added. "Because if that's the case, I'll be sending you to the Alpha site,"

"Better there than here," Ortega commented.

Carter smiled again.

What she didn't tell them, of course, was that she didn't want them knowing about the fact that they would have to testify for justification of the existence of the ten new SG teams. They had enough to worry about without it.

10 Minutes Later…

Williams went through her desk in her quarters, looking for anything she might want to bring with her off-world. Since she wasn't to see any action, Williams thought she would bring a book or her MP3. No use in leaving anything behind.

She found her I-Pod but not a book. When she turned her head to face her bed, however, she found her copy of War and Peace lying on the pillow.

Williams walked over and methodically picked up the book. Taking one look at the cover, Williams immediately thought back to the Colonel. With a scoff, Williams walked over to the garbage bin and dropped the book inside.

Williams then grabbed her vest and gear and left the room without a second thought.

Gate Room, Stargate Command

Witkowski checked his Arctic Warfare rifle before he slinged it over his back. The gate behind him began to spin, dialing the address for the Alpha Site. Ortega stretched his neck before resting his hands in his vest.

"Guard duty…" He mumbled.

"Chevron 1 engaged,"

"A de mierda job if you ask me,"

"No one asked you Sarge," Williams retorted.

"Whoa," Witkowski replied, surprised. "Where did that come from?"

"Chevron 2 engaged,"

"Sorry Major," Williams answered sheeply.

The Major chuckled.

"That's not what I meant." He said. "I'm just curious at where your aggressiveness came from,"

"Chevron 3 engaged,"

Williams looked away as her cheeks got red hot.

"Just trying to accept that the Colonel won't be around for a while, so yeah, I'm pissed,"

"Too right," Witkowski replied, turning to the gate. "I'll also have to get used to it,"

"Chevron 4 engaged,"

"I just hope that bloody sarcophagus was worth the price we paid,"

5 Minutes Later…

Alpha Site, P4X-650

"SG-26, Colonel Pierce," The Commanding Officer of the Alpha Site said as he shook hands with the arriving Major.

"Major Witkowski, sir," The Englishman replied.

The two men let go as the other two members emerged from the portal. The Stargate then shut down.

"I heard about what happened to your CO, Major." Pierce said to the Second-in-Command. "I'm sorry,"

"She isn't dead yet," Witkowski replied. "There is nothing to be sorry about, sir."

"Understood, Major," Pierce added. "I'll show you to your quarters,"

He then led the way.

"I don't know why the General would transfer you here," Pierce added a few moments later. "To be honest, there isn't much to do."

"A Replicator set foot on this base with promise and turned out to be a pain in everyone's collective colillas, sir," Ortega commented back.

Pierce could only shrug. "Well it's not everyday so it's nothing to be concerned about." He replied.

"Where are we going to be staying, Colonel Pierce," Williams asked.

"Right this way," The Colonel replied, leading the team to their new rooms.

Samantha Carter's Residence, Earth

Natasha had to wonder.

Her eyes opened abruptly and yet she couldn't move. Maybe it was the lack of blood in her legs, given her position, or perhaps it could just be the stress she was under.

What she truly wondered about, was how she messed so bad at being a mother. Once the blood circulated into her legs, she sat up.

She looked at the knife she still had in her left hand.

There was blood.

Natasha cursed under her breath when she realized that she messed up again. Examining herself, as well as the couch, she found an extremely small pool of red on the seat where her right arm laid. She must have accidentally cut herself in her sleep. Even Spetsnaz training couldn't cover that kind of basic, at least she didn't learn it. The pain set in once the Russian became alert again, the last thing she needed. Covering the wound with her free hand, Natasha headed over to the kitchen.

"She better have bandages," She mumbled in Russian.

After nearly tripping twice over the some of the things that were on the floor, the Russian reached the kitchen and began to look for something to cover the cut. She found several bandages and wrapped them around her wound.

"I hope that Samantha won't mind I took her a few band-aids from her First-Aid Kit,"

Then she paused with a smile.

"Or that I just referred to a General, my current superior officer, by her first name…ya takoĭ durak," 'I'm such an idiot'.

She let out a quiet laugh before smacking herself on the forehead.

After she cleaned herself up, Natasha undressed on her way to the bathroom. She wasn't really going to be the defying force in the house at that moment; it was better to go with the flow for now. Stepping into the tub with a showerhead overlooking her, the Russian turned on the faucet and allowed only cold water to strike her. A sort of self-punishment for what she has done…or at least what she failed to do.

Natasha sat down at the back of the tub and curled herself up. She then cursed loudly. She had forgotten that she just placed a fresh bandage over her would and now it would be ruined. She really thought she was an idiot.

With that matter out of her reach, she placed her head into her arms and cried.