Summary:

"He takes a deep breath. 'You got hurt again,' he mumbles. 'Except, this time…'

'This time what?'

Jonas squeezes his eyes shut. 'This time I think you died.'"

OR

Present-Day AU. A malfunctioning time travel device and a harrowing mission force Sam and Jonas to finally confront what happened in Florida. But they're running out of time to clear the air before Jonas' latest vision comes true - a vision of Sam's impending death. Sequel to "band-aids don't fix bullet holes."

A/N: Hello again! Now that we've had a bit of a breather, we're finally going to be jumping headfirst into the meat of the plot. Things will start to get crazy soon, so you've been warned... 😁

As always, thank you so much for following this self-indulgent little project of mine. I cannot express enough how much it means to me! Like the last chapter, here are no content/trigger warnings ahead so once again I will leave you all to read. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: side by side in orbit (around the fairest sun)

A week later, when the day of the mission rolls around, Jonas is a bundle of nerves. He can't get his hands to stop shaking, and Cam ends up helping him strap on his vest.

"It's gonna be okay, buddy," Cam says once he's finished. "We'll get the crystal and come back home, and then you're gonna save Sam. End of story."

Jonas grimaces. "But what if what I saw in my vision happens on this mission? We didn't stop to think of that."

"Look," Cam replies, gripping him by the shoulders, "I know this isn't what you want to hear, but put it out of your mind. Just focus on what we need to do right now, okay? Everything'll work out fine."

"That's what Sam said last week," Jonas mumbles.

"And she's right. Now, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can get this whole time travel thing over with. Then you can finally relax, okay?"

Jonas nods. "Okay."

Cam keeps a close eye on him as they make their way to the Gate Room. Given Jonas' mental state over the past few weeks, Cam did at one point consider requesting that he remain behind for this particular mission. But he knew that the Kelownan would've caused a huge ruckus and fought that motion tooth and nail. So he ultimately put the idea to rest, choosing to trust that as long as Jonas could watch over Sam like a hawk, he would be able to keep his head on straight.

Cam hopes he made the right decision.

Sam and Teal'c, along with SG-27, are already waiting for them when they enter the room. Jonas immediately locks eyes with Sam, and they share one of about a million wordless exchanges Cam has borne witness to at this point. They stare at each other for a moment before Sam walks past Teal'c and reaches for Jonas' vest.

"Cam already fixed it," he says softly.

She ignores him, adjusting the shoulder straps anyway. "It's not too tight?"

"No."

"Did you pack snacks again?"

He smiles, if only barely. "Did you?"

Sam smiles back, although it doesn't quite erase the concern in her eyes. "I learned from the best."

"Granola or fruit snacks?"

"Both."

He makes a face as she starts to fiddle with his cap. "What are you doing?"

"It's crooked," she says. "Anyway, I thought you'd wear the other one."

"The bucket hat? It looks terrible on me."

She laughs. "To be fair, nothing about these uniforms makes a particularly impressive fashion statement."

Ahem, Cam interrupts.

They blush and step apart, making sure to stand a respectful distance away from each other. Cam feels somewhat guilty for intruding. He's never been able to figure out just what exactly is going on between the two of them, but he can tell something is definitely going on. Vala had her theories before she left for Atlantis, but he always chalked much of that up to her insatiable love of gossip. That being said, the connection between the pair is unmistakable, no matter how subtle they might think their behavior is. Personally, Cam doesn't mind whatever-it-is as long as they don't let it interfere with their duties. It can be a bit awkward to feel like the third wheel sometimes, but he knows Sam and Jonas were close long before he arrived. He doesn't believe it's ever been his right to deny them that.

"So," he says, hoping to break the tension, "I take it we're ready?"

"Indeed," Teal'c replies.

The others mumble in agreement.

Cam signals General Landry up in the control room, then turns back to his team and nods. "Let's head out," he says. "The sooner we get this done, the better."

From what they've been able to gather from their earlier intel, Asterion Prime is an aquatic tropical planet. Several island clusters lie scattered across a vast expanse of clear blue ocean. The main island is covered with lush rainforests that conceal a network of caves buried deep within the earth. The caves branch out to the shoreline, where the sea breeze provides some relief from the humid air. Once both teams have stepped through the 'gate, Cam leads them to the water to set up camp there, in the hopes that the temperature will be a bit more bearable. After a short trek through the trees, they decide to rest atop a cliff face overlooking the beach.

Jonas has mapped out what they've explored of the caves so far. After reviewing his notes, he figures out that they're not far from where they originally discovered the device. He's still not sure how a manmade artifact of its kind ended up abandoned underground, with no signs of a past settlement nearby. But he's almost certain that the crystal must have been mined from somewhere within the cave network.

"So, where's the closest entrance?" Cam asks, coming up beside him.

Jonas inspects his map. "Well, there's one in the jungle about half a mile south of here," he replies. "Or, there's one much closer, down by the water. But if we enter from there, we'll have to find another exit. We'll get caught by high tide otherwise."

"Let's go with the jungle entrance, then," Cam says.

He turns to SG-27. It's the only all-female team in the Stargate Program, nicknamed the "Spice Girls" by its head, Lieutenant Colonel Cressida Altair. Despite her newly-christened status as team leader, she's already proven to be quite the force of nature. Jonas is honestly relieved that she's come along for the mission. If anything at all goes wrong, she and her teammates are sure to put up a fierce fight.

"Cress," Cam continues, "can you spare two to hold down the fort here?"

Cressida nods. "Vega, Antares, you stay put and guard camp. Volans is the best navigator."

Sergeant Alya Vega, the team's youngest member, nods back. Despite her age, Jonas knows better than to underestimate her. She's an award-winning black belt who actually had a shot at the Olympics before graduating from college and joining the Air Force. "Sounds good," she says, settling herself on a nearby rock.

The other member, Dr. Estella Antares - or, Stella to her friends - makes a face. "I'm the geologist," she protests. "If anybody should be hunting for rocks it's me."

Cressida scowls at her, but there's no malice in her expression. The back-and-forth sniping is a hallmark of their relationship, which to Jonas is unsurprising given that the two are actually stepsisters. "You can have a look at the rock when we bring it back," she insists. "Besides, as much as it pains me to admit, you're actually a pretty good shot."

Stella narrows her eyes but relents. "All right, fine," she mutters. "You get a pass for that compliment, but nothing else."

Cressida smirks, then turns to the remaining team member. Dr. Celia Volans is the quietest of the four, having spent much of her career in an entomology lab before her recruitment. Many at the SGC were initially skeptical of General Landry's decision to assign a bug specialist to SG-27, but her expertise ended up becoming an invaluable asset to the program. Her extensive knowledge of various alien critters - many of which have turned out to be poisonous or venomous - has saved a number of SG team members from certain death at this point. It's for that reason that some have nicknamed her the "Angel of Stargate Command," although she's still too humble to claim the title.

"Volans," Cressida says, "make sure we don't get killed by any weird bugs, okay?"

Celia laughs. "Will do, boss."

"Good." Cressida glances back at Cam. "We're all set."

Cam grants her an appreciative nod. "All right, then. Let's get moving."

Twenty minutes later they arrive at rocky outcropping, covered by a web of thick, leafy vines. Teal'c clears away some of the vines to reveal the mouth of a small cave.

Cam shines a flashlight into the darkness. "Looks clear," he says. "Teal'c, you take the rear."

Teal'c nods in assent and follows the rest of them inside.

Jonas leads the way, keeping track of their location on his map. At one point they hit a previously unmarked dead end, which Jonas makes a note of before bringing them back into familiar territory. After some time, they decide to rest in a large cavern filled with glowing stalactites.

"Crystals?" Cam asks, peering up at the ceiling.

Celia shakes her head. "Asterion glowworms," she replies. "They're more like bioluminescent leeches that like to cluster in dark, damp spaces. There's two main species: a venomous blue worm that could kill you with one bite, and a purple worm whose bite is said to contain a powerful natural anti-venom."

Cam grimaces. The faint light from above is a brilliant shade of electric blue. "Great," he mutters. "We're in a cave with glow-in-the-dark death slugs."

Celia smiles softly. "I think they're fascinating," she says. "Anyway, as long as we don't disturb them, I think we'll be fine."

Cam meets her eyes. "I will never understand your obsession with bugs," he remarks. "They kind of freak me out."

Celia chuckles. "Well, if you ever need rescuing from a creepy crawler, you know who to call."

Cam grins and leans towards her. "I'll hold you to that promise, doctor."

Celia blushes and looks away.

Cam pats her on the shoulder before taking a seat on a nearby boulder. "How are we doing on time, Sam?"

Sam sits down next to him and checks her watch. "We've been at it for a couple of hours," she answers. "It'll be evening soon."

Cam glances at Jonas. "Why don't we take ten minutes, and then you can lead us back out? I don't want to us to get caught in the jungle after dark."

Jonas nods. "Sounds good," he agrees.

He finds a spot next to Celia, who has parked herself by the cavern's entrance. She greets him with a smile. "Hey, Jonas," she says.

"Hey," he says back, lowering himself to the ground. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," she replies. "A bit hungry, though."

Jonas digs a granola bar out of one of his vest pockets. "Want one?"

"Thanks," she says, taking it from him.

Jonas pulls another granola bar from his vest, unwraps it, and begins to eat. He glances over at Celia and notices her gazing into the distance.

"You all right?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. Just tired." She takes a bite of her granola.

Jonas continues to observe her, and soon takes notice of her line of vision. She isn't simply staring off into space. She's actually looking straight at Cam.

Jonas frowns, wondering if he should say anything. Although he doesn't know Celia as well as his own teammates, this isn't the first time he's noticed something brewing between her and the colonel.

He's about to let the matter drop when his own eyes land on Sam. She looks up from her pack of fruit snacks and smiles at him, causing him to blush and choke on a piece of granola.

"Hey, you okay?" Celia asks in concern.

Jonas grabs his canteen and takes a swig of water. "Yeah," he coughs. "Wrong pipe."

The lapse into silence for a moment until he decides to give voice to his thoughts. "Can I ask you something?"

Celia turns to him. "Sure. What about?"

Jonas rubs the back of his neck. "Look," he starts, "you don't have to answer this if you don't want to. But…are you interested in Colonel Mitchell?"

Celia turns pink - or Jonas assumes so, since it's hard to tell in the blue light. "Why do you ask?"

Jonas glances at Sam before answering. "I was just curious," he mumbles. "I mean…about how you'd navigate it if you were."

Celia cocks her head at him. "Is this about you and Colonel Carter?"

Jonas' eyebrows shoot up. "How did you - "

Celia laughs. "I have eyes."

Jonas blushes again, at a loss for what to say.

Celia's expression softens. "Look, Jonas," she continues, "I think the best thing is to just be honest with her."

That's the same thing Dr. Lam said, he thinks. "Have you done it? " he asks. "Be honest? With Cam, I mean."

Celia lets out a sigh. "Not yet," she murmurs. "I think maybe I've been waiting for him to say something, but he's a lot shyer than he looks."

Jonas looks over at Cam. "You think he's interested in you too?"

"Well," Celia replies, "I can't be a hundred percent sure. But I think he might be."

"And you're willing to take that risk even if there's no guarantee it'll work out?"

Celia looks him in the eye. "We've only got so much time to spend with the people we care about," she says gently. "I think, given that, the risk is definitely worth it."

Jonas glances back at Sam. The glow from the ceiling surrounds her in a soft blue halo, and his heart swells at the sight. Even down in the depths of this cave, she's the most beautiful thing he's ever laid eyes on. "Maybe you're right," he mumbles, unable to tear his gaze away. "Maybe I just need to tell her the truth."

The sun has set by the time they make it back to camp. Alya is keeping watch, while Stella is stretched out on her bedroll.

"Took you long enough," Stella grumbles. "Did you find a crystal?"

"Not yet," Cam says. "We'll look for a few more days before we head back home."

Stella sighs and lies back down. Everyone else starts to settle in around her. After a meal of not-quite-filling MRE's, they prep for the night, choosing to take turns being the lookout.

"I'll take the first watch," Sam offers, perching herself on a rock.

Jonas jumps up to join her. "Me too," he chimes in.

Sam catches his eye, looking as if she wants to protest. But Cam interrupts before she has the chance to speak. "Sounds good. I'll take second."

"I will take the third," Teal'c says.

"Guess I'll take fourth," Cressida adds. "That covers it."

Cam nods and lies down. "Don't get distracted, you two," he quips, aiming a smirk at Sam. "If shit hits the fan, you're responsible for saving our asses."

She blushes and makes a face. "We'll be fine."

"Right," Cam says, closing his eyes. "Whatever you say."

Sam glares at him, but within a few minutes, he's fast asleep. The others soon follow.

After some time, she turns to Jonas. He's sitting next to her now, bracing his palms against the rock. "You don't have to stay up with me," she says quietly. "I'll be okay."

Jonas shakes his head. "I'd rather not take any chances."

Sam's eyes soften. "We'll find that crystal, you know."

"I hope so," he mumbles. "That cave system is pretty complex, though. It could take awhile."

"Maybe," Sam says. "Or maybe we'll get lucky."

He wants to say something about not believing in luck, but he decides to hold his tongue. Instead, he turns and gazes out at the ocean. The waves shimmer in the light of the planet's full moon. "It's beautiful out here," he murmurs.

"Yeah," Sam agrees. "Kind of a shame we're here on business, though. It's a good night for a swim."

Jonas glances back at her and laughs. "What is it with you and night swimming?"

Sam blushes and looks down. At first, he's puzzled by her reaction, but then he recalls the memory he just dredged up. Florida. The pool. The kiss. His face starts to burn.

"It's nice," she mumbles suddenly.

He frowns. "What is?"

"Night swimming," she says softly.

Jonas gets the distinct impression that she's not actually talking about swimming. "Yeah," he murmurs. "Maybe you have a point."

She looks up at him. The moonlight makes her eyes sparkle, and the sight is so breathtaking that it takes all his strength not to close the space between them.

His resolve wavers, however, when her hand brushes against his. "I'm glad you're here," she says. "I was afraid Cam wouldn't let you come."

"Why?" he laughs. "Because I'm a nervous wreck?"

"I wouldn't put it that way," Sam chuckles. "But you have been on pins and needles lately."

Jonas can't argue with that. "I just want all of this to be over," he sighs.

She falls silent for a moment, glancing down at their hands. Then - "Remember when you pretended to read my palm?"

Jonas gives her an odd look, unsure of where she's going with this. "Yeah, I do."

"Do you think you could do it again?"

His brow furrows. "Why?"

Sam shrugs. "I don't know. Just something silly to take our minds off of everything."

Jonas eyes her for a minute before agreeing. "All right," he says at last, flipping his hand over and offering it to her. "As you wish."

She makes a face. "Are you ever going to stop quoting The Princess Bride?"

He grins. "Nope."

Sam shakes her head. "Okay, Westley," she laughs, placing her hand in his. "Have at it, then."

Jonas strokes her palm with his thumb. He wants so badly to lift her hand and press a kiss to her wrist, if only to feel the thrum of her pulse against his lips. He's almost desperate, he realizes. Desperate to touch her, to hold her, to know that her heart is still beating. Desperate to reassure himself that it'll keep beating, long after the time of his vision has passed.

"Well?"

Sam's voice jolts him out of his reverie. He clears his throat and begins inspecting her palm. "Hmm, let's see," he says. "Ah, yeah. Here we go."

"What is it?"

Jonas' thumb pauses above Sam's pulse point. Her heartbeat is a little fast, but it's steady. Alive. "You're going to live a long and happy life," he murmurs, silently willing his words to come true. "You'll have everything you'll ever need, and even when times are tough, you'll find a way through like you always do."

He looks up to see Sam's eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you," she whispers.

A stray tear rolls down her cheek, and before he can stop himself, Jonas lifts his free hand to brush it away. "I'm sorry I made you cry."

"It's okay," she sniffles. "I'm fine."

He lets his hand linger on her cheek, and he's once again reminded of the night she kissed him. He's spent so many nights since replaying that moment in his mind, wishing he could rewrite the ending. What would've happened if he hadn't pulled away, if he hadn't doubted how much she really cared for him? Would he have woken up the next morning in her arms? Would they be together now?

Jonas thinks about what Dr. Lam and Celia said, about needing to be honest. True, he could go on pretending like the manufactured boundary between him and Sam doesn't bother him at all. But will that really preserve their friendship, or will it just make everything worse? And what if, despite all his efforts to save her, their time is still about to run out?

He swallows back the lump in his throat. "Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something."

Sam locks eyes with him. "What is it?"

He leans closer, close enough so that he can feel her breath on his skin. "I was scared to tell you before," he says softly. "But I feel like I have to now."

Her gaze flickers to his lips. "Tell me what?" she whispers.

"I - "

Crack!

They jump apart, startled by the noise. Sam whirls around to peer into the trees.

"What was that?" Jonas asks.

Sam shakes her head. "I'm not sure," she answers quietly. "Could just be an animal. Or it could be - "

"Bandits?" he finishes.

Sam grabs her gun and begins creeping towards the treeline. "Wake the others," she murmurs. "I don't want to take any chances."

Jonas tiptoes over to Cam, fighting back the swell of anxiety in his chest. It's fine. They'll be fine. It's probably just a bird or something. "Cam," he whispers, shaking the colonel's shoulder. "Cam, wake u - "

A sudden yelp cuts him off. He spins around, panic seizing him in its grip. Then, he watches in horror as Sam's gun clatters to the ground, her body collapsing into a heap beside it.

"Sam!" he cries out, all at once forgetting to be quiet.

Jonas rushes over to her, vaguely registering Cam and the others waking up behind him. He doesn't notice, however, the dark figures now slinking through the trees towards them.

"Sam, are you - aah!"

A sharp stinging sensation shoots up his leg, and his vision begins to blur. His knees buckle underneath him. Suddenly, he's lying in the dirt, the sky is spinning, and he can't seem to make sense of anything anymore. "Sam," he croaks, reaching for her. "Sam - "

His hand finds hers just as the world goes out of focus, and everything fades to black.

A/N: The title of this chapter is taken from the lyrics of "Nightswimming" by R.E.M., as a reference to Sam and Jonas' conversation about the subject.

As I mentioned in the last chapter, SG-27 are all OCs created for this story. Even though the following actors themselves are obviously younger than the cast of the original show, I'm a very visual person so I picked some facelaims in case anyone is curious about what I think they look like:

Cressida Altair - Katie Findlay
Alya Vega - Keana Lyn Bastidas
Estella Antares - Izuka Hoyle
Celia Volans - Amanda Wong

Their first and last names are mostly all taken from star- or constellation-related names, with the exception of Celia, which means "heavenly."

The Cam/Celia subplot wasn't originally part of the plan, but as I was writing this chapter I realized I wanted something to parallel Jonas' dilemma with telling Sam the truth about his feelings. I don't know how much I'm going to expand on it, but I do think there's something weirdly cute about this career military guy potentially being interested in a nerdy scientist who seems sweet and unassuming but is really, really obsessed with bugs lol. Combat, he's fine with. Bugs...maybe not so much. If the idea holds my interest enough, I might do more with it later. (I can envision some scenes where she tries to introduce him to some neat new bug she discovered on some planet and he indulges her and lets her make him hold it because he likes her, but is secretly dying inside because "oh god it's an alien bug ew gross get it off me" 😆).

And yes, I know I'm being cruel with that awful cliffhanger, but I did warn that things were about to get crazy. This is just the beginning of the rollercoaster, so strap in, guys 😂