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Demon Faith
EMAIL: rosabeth@hotmail.com
CATEGORY: Romance, Series, Angst
PAIRINGS: Sam/Daniel, Sam/Orlin
SPOILERS: Major for Ascension. Minor for: Fire and
Water, Hathor, Threshold
SEASON/SEQUEL: Last in the DYH series. Season 5
RATING: PG-13
CONTENT WARNINGS: Atomic Kitten! Argh! (lol)
Seriously: graphic injury, violence, evilness. You have been warned.
SUMMARY: There is a fire in your soul that nothing
can extinguish
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Stargate. I do not own
‘Eternal Flame’ C’est tout!
AUTHOR’S NOTES: I started this fic at the end of
2001 – wow! It’s become a running joke that this is my unfinished fic. However,
I am determined, and therefore, it is complete. Aren’t you all so proud?
Sam stared blankly at the wall. NID had ripped out
the ‘Stargate’, leaving her with battered, scraped walls, no power and sky-high
bills for her electricity and credit card. After two days of Mackenzie trying
to convince her Orlin had all been a dream, she had arrived home.
The house was quiet, deathly quiet. She had pulled
out every cupboard, every drawer; pulled down picture frames, moved furniture,
destroyed mirrors - made sure for the last time it was all gone. She stared at
the pile of cameras and bugs in her living room, surrounded by the results of
her searching. Then, she wandered away, and sat in the basement, staring. Where
the blue wormhole had gushed towards her, tempting her to it. Where he’d left
her, daring her to follow, perhaps forever…
The silence threatened to overwhelm her, suffocate
her with a cloud of…nothingness.
The phone started to ring. The sound barely
registered, a mild annoyance until it eventually died away. She heard her own
voice, cheerfully announcing her absence. The tone sounded.
“Hey Sam. Just checking to see if you’re okay. I’m
going to come over later, so I’ll see you then.”
The line went dead. Sam blinked a few times, then
resumed her stare.
~
Daniel pulled up in the drive, and stopped. The lights
flickered, with the occasional spark, the garden was ruined by muddy ruts and
footprints, and an alarm was wailing. He slammed the car door with a sigh, and
made his way up the drive.
“Sam? Are you there?”
No answer. Daniel stared at the door, still hanging
off its hinges. He ducked some loose cable, and made his way to the stairs.
“Sam? Are you alright? What happened?”
There was still no answer. He thought he heard
something below him. He moved cautiously down the basement steps, avoiding the sparking
wires on the floor. He could see her shadowy figure in the doorway, thrown into
light by the sparks. She had her back to him, staring off into space.
“Sam? SAM?”
There was still no response. Frowning, Daniel
placed a hand on her shoulder. She whirled round in shock. She tipped her head,
and then her eyes took on a glass-like appearance, and she stood slowly and
stiffly. Daniel removed his hand, as she turned to face him.
“You are here.” Her voice was distant, detached
somehow.
“Yeah, Sam. Where were you? Your machine picked
up…”
“He said you would come.”
The statement sounded hollow, as if emotion had
drained from her, and she turned away again. Daniel was confused now.
“Who, Sam? Who said I’d come?”
She ignored him, and walked over to the wall. She
reached up into the darkness, and pulled something down. It landed heavily on
the floor, and there was a spurt of water. It rolled into the light, and
Daniel’s eyes widened. //Major Carter in the Basement with the…lead piping//
Sam bent down and heaved the pipe into her arms.
She was surreal: illuminated in bluish sparks, reflected in gushing water -
staring with soulless eyes. She raised it, and walked slowly towards him. He
backed a little way, and met the wall. She came at him.
//My God, she’s really going to do it. Kill me
right here, right now. This is not my Sam, but how to stop her? What the hell
can I do?//
“Sam, please, you don’t have to do this…”
She stopped, staring at him.
“But you don’t understand, Doctor Jackson, I do.”
//Doctor Jackson?! Okay, rational Daniel,
completely rational…//
He acted quickly. Striking with the back of his
fist, he delivered a swift stroke to the side of her head. She fell like a
stone, and he caught her, narrowly missing the falling pipe. The water lapped
around them, threatening to cover them completely if he did not hurry.
Then, he noticed the wiring. //Oh, crap//
Heaving Sam awkwardly on his shoulder, he waded
towards the door. The wind whistled through the house, through the broken front
door. The basement door slammed, and he heard the latch click. //Oh hell, this
can’t be happening. I’m locked in a basement with my homicidal lover, flood
water and loose wires. Can this get any worse?//
The generator died. //Is that a good thing?// The
flickering stopped, and the fuse box was silent. However, the water was still
flowing and now he couldn’t see. Sam seemed to be getting heavier, and was
beginning to stir.
//Life’s a bitch// Daniel thought, bitterly.
He felt along the shelf, and grasped a solid
object. He pulled it towards his eyes, hoping they would adjust. //Ah-ha…this I
can use…//
~
Janet glared at Jack across the table, between
mouthfuls of spaghetti.
“This is all your fault, you know.”
“My fault?!”
Jack set down his fork, indignant.
“You gave her the damned hockey stick.”
“She wanted to learn…”
“You took her to the game.”
“She wanted to go…”
“You let her break a window!”
“Me? That was Teal’c’s fault!”
“Oh yeah, blame the Jaffa.”
The phone rang. Janet got up and answered.
“Hello?”
“Janet! I need…Sam’s out…flood…wires
everywhere…please help.”
The signal died. Janet replaced the receiver, her
hand shaking. Jack came up behind her, and put his hand on her waist.
“Who was that?”
“Daniel. God, Jack, they’re in trouble.”
~
Daniel swore, and threw the wretched phone into the
water. It fizzled, and sunk. He realised they’d have to move, and quickly. He
looked around for a perch. //Okay, a freezer…cupboard…shelf - anything!
Something to save us for a few…minutes// Daniel moved towards a large dull work
surface in the corner, and rolled Sam on top of it. //Maybe I can stop the
water…yes!//
Daniel searched for the source, mostly by ear, and
moved towards it. The water was now swirling around his waist, and soon it
would be over his head. He was almost swimming now, listening for the tell-tale
gush of water. He moved vaguely towards the sound, and then suddenly tripped.
He flew forwards into the water, writhing in the flood. He came up again,
spluttering, immediately noticing the loss of his glasses. He groped wildly for
them, but gave up, as the water rose again. He swam on, and almost collided
into the wall. The water fell on his head, and he reached up to the source. He
found the end of the pipe, and reached in front of him, finding the other end.
It was clear that he would need to find the pipe. However, the water had risen
again, over his finger, draining a little of the water away down the drainage
pipe. //Thank God for small blessings// The level would stay constant for a
while. He turned to check on Sam.
“Sam!”
The water had swamped over the counter top, and she
was disappearing under. He swum powerfully towards her, and seized her flailing
form in his arms, before throwing her over his shoulder. He needed higher
refuge.
“Daniel? What’s happening?” Sam spluttered,
disorientated and unnaturally afraid.
“Sam! How are you feeling?”
“Cold. And wet. Where are we?”
Daniel smiled tightly. She obviously didn’t
remember, and he wasn’t about to remind her.
“Surprisingly, this is your basement. It’s a
little…flooded. Where’s the highest surface?”
“Um…the counter top?”
“Not an option. How’s your ceiling?”
Sam blinked in surprise, but just accepted this
strange question.
“Well, it has some…bars…”
“Perfect!”
Before she could inquire, Daniel heaved her up in
his arms. Her head brushed the metal bars, and she reached up. Once she had a
secure grip, she swung herself up, and over the bars, resting on top of them. She
realised she had knocked Daniel into the water, as he came up coughing and
spluttering.
“Sam? Are you alright?”
“Yes, Daniel. I’m fine.”
“Right then. Do you have any spare piping?”
“I don’t think so.”
Daniel swore again, before looking at the water. It
was rising slowly, but steadily. //Damn. Ok, I need to find that pipe. It
is…somewhere on the floor//
He sighed. This was going to take a while.
~
“He called me about an hour ago. He
sounded…desperate.”
They sat in Janet’s living room - Teal’c, Jack and
Lou. The rest of SG4 would arrive soon, and Lou paced the floor nervously.
“So, what can we do? We don’t even know where they
are.”
“The phone company can’t trace his cell exactly. It
was somewhere in the suburbs of Springs.”
“Well, that narrows it down.”
They sat in thought for a few moments, before the
doorbell rang. Janet went through to the door, and opened it. She frowned for a
moment.
“Hello?”
“Ms Frasier? You are Janet Frasier, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
The man was slightly put out, but continued anyway.
“I’m from the electricity board, ma’am. Your
acquaintance, Samantha Carter, overloaded her generator. We’ve been trying the
house for hours, but there’s no answer. We thought we’d contact you.”
Janet froze. Her mind whirled in panic, and she
felt like she would collapse at any minute.
“Do not, under any circumstance, turn on the power.
We think she’s flooded out.”
The man’s eyes widened, as Janet called though.
“We’ve found them! Hurry!”
~
Daniel dived under again, reaching into the murky
water. His legs were numbing in the cold water, and his teeth chattered as he
searched.
“What are you looking for?”
“A pipe, Sam. To stop this water.”
He floundered uselessly in the dark, wading in the
general direction of Sam’s voice. He tripped again, plunging under. He barely
had the energy to return to the surface, breathing heavily and shaking. Daniel
fell forwards again, and grasped at something, to try and drag himself up. But
it sunk with him, and he had to find the floor again. The water was now around
his chest, draining him of energy. He pulled the object to the surface, and
examined it.
“Longish, round, metallic…ah, pipe!”
“You found it? Well done, Daniel!”
He blinked stupidly, before calling up.
“Right, I’ll fix it now.”
Daniel waded out again, trying to make out some
objects in the dark that had now started to float in Sam’s basement. He found
the other pipes, and stared at them blearily. His fingers were dead, and he
could hardly feel his legs now. Soon, he would sink like a stone.
“Daniel? Have you got there yet?”
“Almost, Sam. Please, just…keep talking.”
Sam hated the weariness in his voice, the mental
and physical exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. And she couldn’t
remember why there were here, stranded. But, somehow, she knew it was her
fault.
“Um…alright. I think…I think that…we should…go and
see…Cassie, soon.”
“Sounds…good. When d’ya…think?”
Sam closed her eyes and swallowed. They were
talking about the future, one that may never happen. If they couldn’t get out,
get free…in time. Time, so fragile, so delicate…//Oh hell, we’re going to die
here. In my damned basement!//
“Thursday. It’s her…birthday soon. I don’t
know…what to buy her.”
Daniel fumbled with the pipe, slotting it into the
top pipe with stiff fingers. The water flowed over his fingers, but eventually
he managed to secure it. He heaved it up again, slipping backwards in the
water. It wouldn’t quite fit into the other pipe. He continued to slide, but
could only concentrate on the pipe in front of him. With one last push, the
pipe secured, as he plunged under again.
He struggled feebly, but couldn’t find the energy,
or the will. He sunk, slowly…
“Daniel! Damnit, answer me!”
Sam was frightened. She knew he was tired, and this
could be it. She jumped down, landing with a numbing splash. She waded towards
the floating mass, and pulled him into her arms. His lips were blue //from
cold, or death?//, and his face pale. She blew softly, before checking his
pulse. //Nothing//
The word echoed through her numbing brain. She
moved quickly towards the floating counter top, and laid him across it. In the
cold, wet hell of her own home, she tried to save him.
“One, two, three…hell, it’s not working…why isn’t
it working…come on Daniel!”
She wanted it so much, to bring him back to her, to
give her life-breath to him. Again and again, as the water flowed around her…
Suddenly, he spluttered, and choked on water. She
turned him quickly to the side, and he coughed up the water from his lungs.
//This water is cold. It must be affecting my…optimistic streak///
“Sam?” he said, wearily.
She pulled him off the counter top, and held him
tightly to her.
“Don’t you *ever* do that again.”
“I’ll try.”
~
Jack drove faster than he’d ever done before, which
was saying something. He pulled into Sam’s drive, swearing at the mess it was
in. They leapt out, as Lou’s boys drew up behind. Janet rushed headlong in,
followed closely by Jack. Teal’c called back to Cassie.
“Do not move, Cassandra Frasier! This is not safe!”
They charged in, narrowly avoiding the loose
wiring. They split up, and Teal’c went down the basement stairs. Water was
leaking out of the corners of the doorframe, and the old door was creaking.
Teal’c raised an eyebrow.
“O’Neill! Down here!”
Sam looked up, and wrapped her arms tighter around
Daniel.
“Teal’c! Sir! HELP!”
Teal’c turned back to the door, and stepped
forward, as Jack ran down the stairs. Janet followed, as Teal’c knocked.
“Major Carter! We are going to rescue you.”
Sam sighed, before lifting Daniel’s face up. He
murmured softly, passing in and out of consciousness. She pulled him closer,
suddenly afraid. Were they too late? What if…what if…//I can’t even think about
it! And I never…told him//
“Ok…no! Don’t open the door! This place is flooded
out - you’ll need to stand back!”
Her voice shook, and the waiting exchanged looks.
Janet and Jack stood back, and Teal’c picked up a rod from the side of the
staircase. He stepped back a few paces, before reaching out and unhooking the
latch.
The water inundated them, charging with the vigour
of stallions, crashing over the steps. Jack pulled Janet to him, despite her
protests, as they were soaked in the spray. The water flowed back into the
basement, levelling out over the bottom steps.
The ‘rescuers’ waded in slowly, and stared. The
whole room was covered in water, and a pipe leaked steadily in the corner. Sam
was dragging herself upright, Daniel hanging limply in her arms. Teal’c slipped
through the water like a fish, laying Daniel across his shoulder. Jack
followed, leaving the petite doctor on the bottom step. He took Sam gently in
his arms, and carried her out.
It was then he realised it was gone. He had Sam, in
his arms, holding her - and he felt nothing. She was one of his best friends,
his comrade and *nothing else*. And that feeling elated him.
When they were in the relative safety of Sam’s
kitchen, Janet checked them both over.
“They’re both suffering from hypothermia. Lou, find
some towels; Jack, run a warm bath upstairs, not too hot. Captain Rogers - boil
the kettle.”
“Will he be okay, Janet?”
“Sam, you’re not as bad as him. How come?”
Sam turned her face guiltily downward.
“He lifted me onto the ceiling ladder. He was in
the water at least an hour, looking for the pipe. To stop the water.”
Sam almost cried with the guilt, the aching feeling
that she had caused it all.
“Okay, Sam, calm down. Do you have an en suite
shower?”
“Yes, down the hall.”
Janet nodded to herself, deep in thought.
“Right, shower down there. In your clothes, don’t
take them off. Warm water only. They’ll be towels outside.”
Sam nodded and shuffled down the corridor,
listening to Janet.
“Teal’c, call the SGC. Get an ambulance down here
a-sap.”
~
It was dark outside, so Jack pulled the light cord.
Nothing. Swearing softly, he called downstairs.
“Janet, the power’s off!”
His cursing was mirrored, and she sighed.
“Teal’c have you phoned the SGC?”
“I am, at this moment, in communication with
General Hammond.”
“Ask for a generator.”
“Of course, Doctor Frasier.”
“Sam, the…”
“Power is off, and I can’t use the shower.”
“Yeah, We’re going to take Daniel upstairs - can
you sit with him?”
//Me? Who *must’ve* caused this? The reason that
he’s lying there? The Death Touch to every man I meet…//
“Sure, “
she said, weakly.
“General Hammond will send the generator, an
ambulance and a…sponge team,” said Teal’c, confused.
Janet smiled tiredly, before motioning to Daniel,
who was stirring again.
“Teal’c can you carry him upstairs please. I want
to warm him up before the ambulance arrives.”
Sam walked through the shadowed halls, following
Teal’c’s solemn procession. This was her home, her comfort and rest - and now
her nightmare. Daniel could die in this darkened Hell; she could never feel
safe again within these walls.
They walked into the bathroom, and she looked up at
Jack. He was surrounded by moonlight, a mystical reflection in the water.
Teal’c lowered Daniel almost reverently into the
bathtub, and he floated like mist. Jack picked up her orange water cushion -
it’s bright colour mute in the shadowed half-light. They lifted Daniel
slightly, and placed the cushion under his head. His face was cast in the
orange light from the buffers, like firelight. Sam had too much experience of
seeing Daniel in firelight - burning in death, watching his ‘children’ die,
seeing Teal’c slip away in hatred. Fire was death - evil, unstoppable death.
//The extinguished flame can never return. Nor the
extinguished soul//
“I will
await the ambulance.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
They slipped away, their figures shadows, their
voices whispers - wanting to shout and scream and come into the light…
“Sam? What’s happening?”
She looked at him, frightened now, floating in the
orange, shadowed Hell. The embers glowed, and the flame was burning still.
“We’re trying to warm you up. We were pretty cold.”
Sam shivered again, and he reached out to her. His
fingers were a little warmer than hers, but she was charged by the pure energy
in his fingers, the electric touch of her lover’s skin. //The love that was
lost, the flame that went out, the time that is no more…//
“Get a blanket, Sam. You’re frozen.”
“I’m fine, really…”
“No, you’re not. Go, get a towel or something, at
least.”
She sighed, and pulled a fluffy towel from the cold
radiator. She pulled it around her shoulders, then took his hand again. It felt
like she was alive again, soaring through the sky, riding on wings to heaven.
He touched her, and the world was perfect.
CLOSE YOUR EYES
GIVE ME YOUR HAND, DARLING
DO YOU FEEL MY HEART BEATING?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
The wail of a siren broke the moment, a touch just
a touch, orange just a flame. They were soon in the house, moving upwards,
towards them in their furnace.
“Major Carter? Doctor Jackson? What happened here?”
“Long story, Sergeant. Just get us out of here.”
“At once, Major.”
She stood slowly, giving him access to Daniel. They
drew her away, foil blankets replacing fluffy towels, harsh white light
replacing orange glow. The ambulance carried them away, from Hell, from the
water that would’ve let the flame die.
Daniel was wrapped up like his precious mummies,
silver blankets covering him. Sam sat beside him, saying nothing, showing
nothing, feeling…nothing. //The fire may burn, but it never heals//
Wheelchairs to the infirmary, as if two legs were
not enough to carry her heavy heart. Janet, back again, scurrying, probing,
orders dripping from her lips like water.
“Okay, Sam, we’re moving you to a warmer room.
We’re going to wrap you up for a few hours, see how it goes. Okay?”
The cold was returning, to her body, and her heart.
Ice gripped her soul, veins flooding with frosted fear.
“Daniel?”
“He’ll be there, Sam, don’t worry.”
She was also mummified in the silver cloth, and the
gurney carried her into the other room. There were heaters all around, and
another gurney was already stationed in the secure warmth.
The medics drifted away, and she called to him.
“Daniel?”
“Sam.”
The voice was tired and drowsy, yet her name
sounded like a shining pearl when spoken from those lips.
SAY MY NAME
SUN SHINES THROUGH THE RAIN
“How are you doing?”
“Feeling better. You?”
“Warmer, for sure.” //But my heart is bleeding, and
I can’t stop it//
OF A LIFE SO LONELY
COME AND EASE THE PAIN
“Samantha and Daniel - are you feeling well?”
“Yes, Teal’c, thank you.”
“Ditto, Teal’c.”
“What is ditto?”
Sam closed her eyes, and smiled.
“Never mind, Teal’c. I’m fine as well.”
“That is indeed good. I am here to set up some
candles. Perhaps they will aid your recovery.”
//Surely the heat from a candle flame is not
sufficiently…//
“Thank you, Teal’c, I’m sure it will help.”
Sam sighed to herself. Daniel was much better at
these symbolism things. //Flames, fire - symbolism, so pure yet obscure to the
scientist’s mind//
Sam twisted her head, to see the candles. They were
beautiful, dancing lights and melted beads. And fire - pure flame burning
brighter than the diminished soul.
Sam settled down to sleep, the ice melted by the
candles.
~
Daniel woke up slowly, slightly disorientated. He
moved his arms, and discovered they were free. Carefully, he sat up, and looked
around. The room was dimmed, and apparently empty. He stood gingerly, almost
afraid he would snap, and wandered towards the other bed.
She lay there; golden hair spread on the pillow,
fairytale princess of the SGC. He touched her face, smiling to himself.
I BELIEVE
IT’S MEANT TO BE, DARLING
I WATCH YOU WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING
YOU BELONG WITH ME
She had been his, the one he loved with fervour,
the sun on a darkened heart. Now, it was all gone, the sun had set and they
would never see another dawn.
Or, was there hope still? Was this just a spark, or
a flame to consume them with its passion? Did he see ardour in those azure
eyes, or just an empty heart?
Azure eyes that were staring straight at him - she
was awake.
“Daniel? Where am I?”
He looked around to check, then nodded to himself.
“Infirmary. I haven’t seen Janet yet, but I’m sure
she’s around.”
“Actually, she isn’t.”
Daniel turned, Sam grasping his shoulder to sit.
They stared at Colonel Simmons, aghast.
“Why the hell are you here?”
He shook his head mockingly, as Sam tried to stand.
She slipped on the cold floor, and Daniel held her, strength returning in
anger.
“Now, Major, that’s no way to talk to your
superior.”
“Haven’t you done enough?”
Daniel’s voice was strong, as the jigsaw slid into
place. There was only one answer…
“Not nearly enough, Doctor Jackson. For the task is
not yet…complete…”
Sam didn’t really understand what was going on, but
Daniel knew. And that was enough. She looked down at the white dress she wore,
and frowned. Where had this come from?
“You did…that to her, didn’t you? You and the
psychiatrist…”
Sam looked up, realising they were talking about
her. Did Daniel know the answers, the reason for her unknown guilt?
“Indeed, Doctor. She is a tool, the way to bring
the SGC to its knees. You were the test.”
“Daniel? Sam said, warily, “What is he saying?”
Daniel didn’t look down at her, but kept staring at
Simmons, who was smiling sadistically.
“Tell her, Doctor Jackson. Or, are you afraid? Of the
consequences?”
Daniel swallowed. Sam meant everything to him -
this could be the end for both of them, if he simply told her the truth. //When
did it all get so complicated?//
He turned to her, and placed his hands on her
shoulders, suddenly afraid of her.
“Sam,” he said quietly, “when I arrived at your
place, you were in a trance. You…attacked me, with the pipe. I had to…knock you
out.”
She stared at him in horror, her mind reeling. She
attacked Daniel? With the pipe? Was this her life, or some low-budget horror
flick? The memory flooded back, the compulsion to kill, to taste his
blood…//What the hell?! Am I a vampire now?//
“Bravo, Doctor. Mackenzie implanted a notion in
your mind - a blood lust, if you will. You wished to destroy him, rip out his
beating heart and…devour.”
Sam felt nauseous, her mind dutifully supplying
images in glorious Technicolor. She backed away from Daniel, meeting the wall.
The distance calmed her, but she couldn’t escape the pain.
“Sam? Please, don’t…”
“NO! Don’t come too close, I might…hurt you…”
He ignored her, and stepped closer, concentrating.
Sam started to sweat, panicking. She would lose control, kill the one who
mattered most…
She saw Colonel Simmons heading for the door, away
from the unstable woman. He locked the door, and then turned. A hefty Jaffa
threw him against the door, and Jack O’Neill’s voice growled at him.
“Where are they, Simmons?”
“I have no idea what…”
“Colonel Simmons, I demand to know where my people
are.”
“If this…monster puts me down…”
Teal’c grudgingly lowered him, but held on to his
collar. General Hammond came into view, with Janet beside him.
“Take us to them.”
“With pleasure.”
Teal’c released the man, and he walked up the
staircase. At the top, there was a massive observation window. They moved
towards it, and Janet gasped.
Sam stood against the wall, as Daniel slowly walked
towards her, clearly afraid.
“Sam, it’s okay, you don’t have to do this…”
“No, I can’t…it’s going to take over…”
Simmons reached for the microphone:
“Remember the blood!”
Daniel stopped still, as Sam changed before him.
Her eyes clouded over, and she straightened.
“You will not escape me.”
She rushed at him, knocking over a tray of
instruments, and he was thrown against the opposite wall. She pinned him with
her hand, and licked her lips. She leaned close to him, and whispered.
“Play along with it. I think it’s worn off.”
Daniel was confused, but gave her the barest of
nods. Suddenly, he was thrown over her shoulder and onto the floor. Wincing, he
tried to sit up, but she pinned him again, still wild and out of control…
“This is faking it?”
“Call it realism.”
Sam reached out behind her, and pulled a scalpel
across the floor. He was afraid now, wondering if she wasn’t a little schizophrenic.
She ripped the flimsy white shirt, and placed her hand on his chest. She
gripped the knife tightly, and smiled menacingly. She placed it on his chest
and drew the blade down. Daniel cried out.
“I don’t think you should see anymore, do you?”
Simmons closed the blast doors, and turned to face
the audience. Jack looked strangely pale, Teal’c was murderous and the
General’s face was pale and drawn. Janet had walked out.
“So, you see, Sir, you have no one to retrieve.”
~
The moment the screen came down Sam threw aside the
scalpel, and seized the ripped material. She folded a piece and pressed it
against the wound, tightly.
“God, Daniel, I’m so, so sorry…”
“S’ok Sam. I’ll…live…”
She looked up, fear and anxiety flooding her face.
It had only been a flesh wound, but that did not really concern her. As soon as
she held the knife, she had wanted to draw blood. When she drew it back, she
wanted to plunge it into his chest. Sam knew that if she had not controlled
herself, she would’ve eaten his heart in a moment. It sickened her.
She moved away, placing his hand over the cloth.
Being a medical room, there was a supply of dressings and treatments. She
applied antiseptic to the wound, and wrapped it tightly in a bandage. She found
another shirt for Daniel, wondering the entire time about when they would come
and how they could escape She found no answers.
“We need to get out quickly, Sam. Do they have a
vent in here?”
Her eyes widened in realisation, and she
scrutinised the walls. She hurried to the vent cover, and pulled off the grill.
“Yeah, it looks big enough. Come on - let’s get out
of here!”
Daniel climbed in first, before reaching down to
Sam. When they were both inside, Sam replaced the grill.
Moving through the narrow passage was slow and
painful. The stuffy tunnel seemed to suffocate them, and Sam felt like the
walls were closing in. She hated enclosed spaces, but had got used to them over
her career.
They seemed to reach a natural conclusion to the
tunnel, a metal porthole that looked like it opened from the other side. Sam
swore softly, before turning back to Daniel.
“I think we’re stuck.”
He was about to reply, when an alarm sounded. All
the section barriers fell, one not three metres behind them. Suddenly,
something fell out of the wall and burst into flame. They pressed against the
porthole, and Sam hammered on it desperately. The fire danced towards them, and
it was becoming difficult to breathe.
Jack was walking along the corridor, an arm around
Janet’s shoulder. Suddenly, he could hear a knocking, and violent coughing. He
looked up, at a porthole in the wall, where a trail of smoke emerged.
“Holy Hannah!”
Teal’c followed his gaze, and released the
mechanism. Sam and Daniel fell out and onto the floor, as the flame filled the
entire tunnel. Without a moment’s hesitation, Teal’c dragged Daniel to his feet
and away from Sam.
“Stand back, Major Carter. I do not wish to hurt
you.”
Daniel hacking cough was interrupted with hasty
speech.
“No…no…she’s ok…it’s gone…stop…”
Daniel fell to his knees, bent over with the
wracking in his chest. Sam fell down also, a hand to her chest.
“Can’t…breathe…” she spluttered.
Daniel collapsed sideways, and Sam fell still.
Soon, the alarms were ringing loudly, echoing through the corridors. They
wasted no time. Teal’c slung Daniel over his shoulder, while Jack took Sam.
They hurried towards the nearest exit, the lighting dimmed and the sirens
wailing.
The exit was guarded, and Zats were held up. They stopped,
angry and uncertain. It was General Hammond who spoke.
“Colonel Simmons, stand down.”
“I can’t do that, sir. I have strict orders to
detain Major Carter and Doctor Jackson.”
“And I’m over-riding those orders, *Colonel*.”
Simmons sighed, as if exasperated. He pulled a
folded sheet of paper from his pocket, and handed it to the general.
“I think you’ll find it’s all in order.”
Hammond took it uncertainly, and opened it out. He
read for a few minutes, before looking straight up at Simmons.
“Why did you do this?”
Simmons shrugged nonchalantly, before taking back
the paper. Thee guards moved closer, suddenly menacing in the flashing corridor
lights.
“It’s your choice, General. Hand them over freely,
or go down with them.”
The situation was hopeless, and Jack knew it. As
much as he wanted to fight this, it would only end up worse for all of them.
Maybe they could appeal against this - if only they could get back…