Sam's time in the infirmary was a disconcerting and frustrating experience. After being escorted to the infirmary by armed personnel, she found herself in the familiar sterile and clinical environment.
As she lay on an examination bed, her sense of confinement intensified. Medical personnel bustled around her, attaching various sensors and electrodes to her body for a battery of tests. The cold and impersonal atmosphere of the infirmary contrasted starkly with her past experiences in the facility.
The tests conducted on Sam were thorough, covering a wide range of medical and physiological parameters. Dr. Brightman, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) left no stone unturned, ordering blood tests, scans, and other diagnostic procedures to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of her health. Electrocardiograms, brain scans, and blood chemistry panels were just a few of the tests performed.
Throughout the ordeal, Sam remained cooperative, albeit with a sense of impatience and frustration. The constant prodding and monitoring were unsettling, especially considering that she believed there was nothing physically wrong with her. As each test came back with results indicating her physical health was indeed normal, her agitation grew.
The medical personnel, while professional, seemed to share her confusion about the situation. They exchanged puzzled glances and hushed conversations as they reviewed the test results. Sam couldn't help but feel like an anomaly in their eyes.
After what felt like an eternity of tests and examinations, the CMO finally delivered the news. "Lt. Colonel Carter, all the tests have come back normal. There doesn't appear to be any physical ailment or alien influence affecting you," the doctor explained, a perplexed expression on her face.
Sam nodded, her frustration mounting.
"I told you, I'm fine," she replied tersely.
Reluctantly, the medical staff released her from their care, and she was escorted back to the brig. The journey back was a mix of relief at having the tests behind her and a growing sense of determination to continue with her plan, despite the obstacles that lay ahead.
Jack received her test results with a heavy heart. He had hoped that she was under the influence of something. Anything that might explain her bizarre behavior. But no. Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter was in excellent health and she performed her actions while in a state of well-being. So Jack decided to send another person to speak with her. It was his last chance.
Teal'c entered the brig with his usual stoic demeanor, his tall and imposing figure contrasting starkly with the sterile and dimly lit surroundings. He approached the cell where Lt. Colonel Carter was confined, his dark eyes studying her carefully. Sam, who continued sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, looked up as he approached but remained silent.
"Lt. Colonel Carter," Teal'c began, his deep voice resonating through the cell, "I have been sent here to inquire about your well-being and to understand your current state of mind."
Sam's response was curt and dismissive.
"Well, Teal'c, you can tell them that I'm perfectly fine like the tests showed."
Teal'c continued to study her, his calm demeanor unwavering.
"I have been informed that you wish to leave SG-1 and the Air Force. Is this true?"
Sam's gaze met his, and there was a hardness in her eyes that he had not often seen before. "Yes, it's true. I want out, Teal'c. I'm done with all of this."
Teal'c tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued.
"May I ask why you have come to this decision, Lt. Colonel?"
Sam's response was laced with bitterness.
"Because I'm tired, Teal'c. Tired of not making any difference, tired of stupid people, tired of everything. I just want to live a normal life for once. To be left alone and do what I damn feel like it!"
Teal'c considered her words carefully before speaking again.
"Lt. Colonel Carter, you have always been a valued member of SG-1 and a dedicated soldier. Leaving this life behind is a significant decision. Have you considered the impact it may have on your friends and colleagues?"
Sam's expression remained unyielding, and her response was resolute.
"I have, Teal'c. Besides I don't have any friends and my colleagues will be just fine without me. I'm just one piece in the vast scheme of all this shit show. Nobody wanted me here when I arrived so I doubt they'll miss me. Just ask General Asshole how thrilled he was when I got assigned to SG-1. So, it's a decision I've made, and I don't plan on changing my mind."
Teal'c nodded, respecting her choice but still concerned for his friend. Who seemed very different.
"Very well, Lt. Colonel Carter. I will convey your message to General O'Neill."
After his conversation with Sam, Teal'c returned to Jack's office, his solemn expression conveying the same message that Daniel had delivered earlier.
"Lt. Colonel Carter wishes to leave SG-1 and the Air Force," he reported his words carrying the weight of the situation. "She believes that her colleagues will be just fine without her."
Jack nodded slowly. "Thank you, Teal'c," he replied, his voice reflecting a mixture of resignation and concern. He had tried.
Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter's departure from the SGC and the United States Air Force was a meticulously orchestrated process, fraught with secrecy and stringent legalities due to the classified nature of the Stargate program. Jack, despite his reluctance, had no choice but to initiate the proceedings for her departure.
The process began with a series of meetings and legal consultations. Sam was required to sign several Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), each more binding and rigorous than the last. The NDAs served as a safeguard to protect the classified information she possessed, and they came with strict consequences for any breach, including the threat of imprisonment.
Throughout this time, Sam remained resolute in her decision to leave the Air Force and the Stargate program. She was fully aware of the consequences and the potential impact on her future, yet her determination remained unwavering.
Once the legal groundwork was in place, the exit process moved forward. It involved thorough debriefings to ensure she had divulged all sensitive information, as well as psychological evaluations to assess her mental state. The evaluations were conducted with the utmost discretion, considering Sam's years of service and her integral role within SG-1.
Her departure was handled with the utmost discretion. A farewell ceremony was organized but she immediately declined which surprised everyone. It was as if she simply didn't want to have any further contact with anyone associated with the SGC or the Air Force for that matter. Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c were particularly hurt since she didn't even bother to say goodbye. She simply left, emptying her locker room when she was sure none of them was at the base.
As she officially left the Air Force and the SGC, Sam felt a mixture of emotions—relief, sadness, and uncertainty about the path that lay ahead. She knew that her decision came with profound consequences, but she was ready to embrace this new chapter in her life, one that would take her far away from the secrets and dangers of the Stargate program. She now had other secrets to protect.
The passage of two weeks had done little to alleviate the sense of unease and uncertainty that lingered within the SGC. Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter's departure from the Air Force and the SGC had left a clear void. The absence of SG-1, a team that had been at the forefront of countless missions and triumphs, was felt by everyone.
Jack, in particular, grappled with a complex mix of emotions during this time. He had chosen to avoid passing by Sam's house or reaching out to her. It was a decision born out of a sense of self-preservation, a desire to protect himself from the painful reality of her absence. He couldn't decide which was worse—seeing her and facing the upheaval of emotions or not seeing her at all.
His avoidance of Sam and her home was a reflection of his inner turmoil. It was a way to deflect and distract himself from the gaping hole she had left in his life. Each passing day seemed to make the void she had left behind more pronounced.
The disbandment of SG-1 had only intensified the sense of loss and confusion among the personnel at the SGC. Sam's name was still mentioned, but always in hushed conversations and whispers, as if speaking her name aloud might make her absence more real. It was a difficult adjustment for everyone, and Jack, in particular, bore the weight of her departure heavily.
He couldn't help but wonder about the reasons behind her sudden decision to leave everything behind. The unanswered questions gnawed at him, and he found himself in a state of perpetual introspection, trying to make sense of what had transpired and how it had affected him personally.
As the days passed, Jack knew that he couldn't stay away from Sam's house much longer. The need to confront the reality of her absence, to find closure in some form, tugged at him. But for now, he remained in a state of emotional turmoil, grappling with the profound impact of her departure on his life and the lives of those who had served alongside her.
Jack's decision to visit Sam's house was accompanied by a tightness in his chest and a sense of dread that had been building for the last few days. The internal struggle to confront the reality of her absence had finally pushed him to make the drive one Saturday afternoon. As he parked his truck in front of her driveway, he couldn't help but hope that she hadn't moved or completely disappeared from their lives since her departure from the SGC.
His worst fears seemed to materialize as he stared at the closed curtains and noticed the absence of her familiar vehicles—a Volvo and an Indian motorcycle. Sam didn't have a garage, so the vehicles should have been in plain sight. "She could be out, shopping," he muttered to himself, trying to rationalize the situation.
With a heavy heart, he decided to wait for a little while, hoping that she might return. However, after two long and agonizing hours spent sitting in his truck, the realization that she might not be coming back any time soon began to sink in. He made the reluctant decision to ring her doorbell, despite his trepidation.
The doorbell rang three times, but there was no response from inside. Just as he was about to give up and leave, one of Sam's friendly neighbors who had been watering his garden noticed him and approached.
"Hi, are you looking for Samantha?" he asked in a welcoming tone.
Jack nodded, his worry evident.
"Yeah, I am. Have you seen her recently?"
The neighbor offered some information that only deepened Jack's concern.
"I think she's out of town. Two weeks ago, I saw her leave with two bags in her car, and I haven't seen her return yet. The other day, a guy came and picked up her Indian."
Jack's interest was piqued. Sam was fiercely protective of her motorcycle and only allowed a select few, like Siler, to handle it.
"A guy came to pick up her Indian?" he repeated, seeking more details.
The neighbor nodded and described the visitor.
"Yeah, he was wearing a suit and tie, which I found quite strange. Besides his hands and neck were all covered with tattoos. Not that I'm against tattoos", he quickly added. "But it was strange", he reinforced.
Jack couldn't help but agree with the neighbor's assessment.
"Yeah, that is strange," he acknowledged, his confusion and concern deepening. He thanked the man for the information and returned to his truck, more puzzled than ever.
As he drove away from Sam's house, he couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was happening in her life. The mystery surrounding her disappearance had only grown, leaving him with even more questions than answers.
Jack couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was happening with her. She was no longer part of the Air Force, which meant that the military channels weren't an option for tracking her down. However, Jack had other means at his disposal, and he was determined to find out what had happened to her, even if it meant using unconventional and potentially illegal methods.
His first course of action was to try the official channels. He contacted the local police, federal agencies, and any law enforcement entity that might have information about her whereabouts. Unfortunately, the official channels yielded no results, leaving Jack frustrated and even more concerned.
Faced with a lack of progress through legitimate means, Jack decided to tap into the back channels of his extensive network. He reached out to an old acquaintance from his black ops days, someone who specialized in tracking and locating individuals off the grid. Jack explained the situation, providing Sam's name and all the relevant identification information he had, and then he waited for any leads or information to come in.
Throughout this investigation, Jack had to juggle his responsibilities at the base, a task that became increasingly challenging as his thoughts remained consumed by the mystery of Sam's disappearance. He continued to run the SGC, but his head was often elsewhere, preoccupied with finding the former blonde Lt. Colonel who had been his 2IC for so many years.