* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�It�s SG-1 sir!� the technician exclaimed, there was more than a touch of excitement in his voice.
�Open the iris,� Hammond simply nodded. It seemed an obvious order but had to be said.
�And get a medical team down here stat.� He added, watching the event horizon impatiently. A little over a hour ago a village load of people had arrived through the gate. No members of Sg-1 had followed to explain the situation. He wanted answers and he wanted them all back alive.
Dr Jackson emerged from the gate holding the hand of a little girl. She immediately let go and turned back to face the Stargate. Next followed Colonel O�Neill and Teal�c supporting a very battered looking Major Carter. But they were all alive. And all still conscious.
�Welcome back SG-1,� he said over the speaker as the medic team took the Major onto a stretcher at the bottom of the ramp. Colonel O�Neill tore his eyes away from her and looked up at him.
�Thank you, sir,� he answered. What? No quip Jack? The General thought inwardly as he watched his flag ship team make their way out of the gate room, following the stretcher to the infirmary.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The General quietly approached the infirmary just under an hour later when Fraiser reported to him that they had done everything they could for all members of the team. Sam was sitting up in one of the infirmary beds, the colour beginning to return to her cheeks. A drip was attached to her arm, a bandaged wrapped round her hand and wrist and all other previously visible cuts had been patched up and covered. Dr Fraiser and her team had once again done a fine job.
Colonel sat with his legs dangling off the next bed, shaking his head and replying to something Daniel had just said. The archaeologist himself sat at the end of Major Carter�s bed with Teal�c stood besides him, his head slightly cocked to one side. Making his footsteps more purposeful, the General�s entrance drew their attention.
�We�ll dispense with the formal debriefing for now but what the hell happened? You had specific orders for a non-hostile retrieval of Major Carter.�
�General, however much I may have wanted to start a fight with them�it wasn�t us.�
�Mesnah,� Sam stated, still having trouble keeping the hatred out of her voice.
�Mesnah was a Goa�uld, General Hammond,� Teal�c elaborated. �She arrived in the town immediately after Major Carter and O�Neill�s Joining.� Teal�c began.
�Joining?�
�A marriage,� Daniel explained receiving a glare from Jack.
�Colonel, you and the Major are married?!�
�Well�you see, Sir��
�On second thought, Colonel, never mind. We�ll deal with that later. So a Goa�uld arrived on the planet?�
�Yes. She did not immediately appear to threaten the group. She was introduced as a guest.�
�However, Major Carter had unwelcoming feelings towards her. �
�Understatement of the *century*!�
�Major?�
�I recognised Mesnah. Her and Jolinar had some pretty heavy history. I spoke out against her to warn King Talus.�
�Mesnah�s intentions became apparent as her Jaffa attacked the town.�
�What did a Goa�uld want with such a small town?�
�She came to kill Kayla.�
�The little girl?�
�Yes, Sir. She is the daughter of one of Jolinar�s hosts. To kill Kayla would mean she would have won completely.�
�So what happened next?�
�Mesnah�s Jaffa began to attack. They were not equipped with Staff weapons or Zatnictels. Instead they were armed with flaming arrows, swords, and throwing knifes and daggers
�We started evacuating the people down the tunnels that led to the Stargate. Then we went to the front line.
�Teal�c and Colonel O�Neill helped getting the gate closed while I helped injured and wounded back to safety. I turned around and Mesnah was there. Right next to me. I don�t know how I didn�t hear her.� Sam said the last sentence softly, almost to herself. Hammond looked around the faces of Sg-1. They all seemed lost in thought, probably relieving the moment.
�What happened?� he asked gentle but firm. Sam licked her lips and swallowed.
�Mesnah had a sword. She err��
�She killed Carter, General. Ran her through with a sword,� Jack finished, his voice empty and emotionless. �By the time we got to her Mesnah was gone and a mothership was landing. We took Sam and the rest of the people down the tunnels. We went through a doorway where the tunnel split into two. Jaffa were pouring in. Teal�c began to evacuate the people down one tunnel while I laid down cover fire.�
�When I returned to the last of the caves Daniel Jackson had taken Major Carter to the Sarcophagus on board Mesnah�s ship,� Teal�c said solemnly and the General looked at Daniel sharply.
�Dr. Jackson we know the effects those things can have.�
�Yes Sir, but it was Sam�s only chance. I couldn�t just let her die.�
�Very well, what happened next? Major Carter does not look like she was fully healed.�
�On the contrary, Sir, I was. I got out of the Sarcophagus and felt fine. Then I engaged in combat with the Goa�uld, Mesnah.�
�And�?�
�We fought. I killed her,� Sam said, clearly not wishing to elaborate.
�Well I think that�s sufficient for the time being. Dr. Fraiser informs me you can be discharged from the infirmary in 24 hours on the provision you stay on base and take it easy.�
Sam nodded not having the effort or inclination to argue with him.
�Colonel O�Neill, Dr. Fraiser has advised me to give you strict orders to get some rest.�
�With all due respect, General, I�m fine.�
�O�Neill, I do believe General Hammond and Dr. Fraiser are correct. You did not have your usual physical stamina towards the end of out mission.�
�I was a little tired from hanging on for my life!� Jack snapped.
�So, take it easy.� Daniel shrugged.
�You too, Dr. Jackson. The three of you are infirmary bound for twelve hours, minimum,� Janet interrupted.
�Doc!� Jack protested at the same time as Daniel�s, �Is that really necessary?�
�Yes, it is. And be grateful I�m not recommending longer,� She said with what Jack could have sworn was a grin.
�Teal�c, you�ve also been under a lot of strain but I have no medical reason to keep you here.�
�I shall partake in Kelnoreem to refresh myself, Dr. Fraiser.�
�That�s what I was going to advise.�
�The refugees you brought back will be cared for here for a few days until we can find a suitable planet to relocate them to. We�ll have a formal debriefing in twenty-four hours if you�re all well enough.�
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two days later, the gate was being dialled up to send King Talus and his people to a new planet.
The gate room was full with the refugees who were nervously looking at the gate. Sam had only been released from infirmary twelve hours ago but now stood in the gate room with Rana, Anya, Lila and Tia. They stood in a small huddle to one side with Kayla standing watching behind them. King Talus stood at the foot of the gate, watching it head high. All his people had been offered the option to stay here but nearly all of them opted to stay with him.
�Are you sure you�re going with him?� Sam asked them with a kind smile.
�Yes,� Rana replied, �We are well cared for and all that remains of our families are with him.�
�You are not coming?� Tia asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.
�Well since I disgraced myself by fighting�� Sam joked as the blue energy splashed out into the room. �My place is here.�
�Remember to visit okay?� Rana said, taking her into a hug.
�I�ll try,� promised Sam, returning the hug. As they pulled away she watched them walk up the ramp and felt a pair of eyes on her back. She turned and saw Kayla.
�Kayla?� Sam asked her. She hadn�t had the chance to talk to Kayla much since they got back.
�I will stay wherever you stay,� Kayla said determinedly. �I think my mother is dead. But you�re what I always imagined my mother would be like.�
�Kayla, I need to tell you some things....� Sam began.
�You said I could come with you!�
�I know I did, Kayla. You have to listen to me.�
�No! I don�t want to leave you. I�I love you like a mum.�
�Kayla��
�Will you be my mum?�
Sam took a deep breath as Kayla watched her intently.
�Kayla, my life here is very different to the one you used to know. And I need to tell you some stuff about me. Like how I knew your mother.�
�You knew my mother?!�
�Sort of. I�ll explain it to you if you want.� Sam offered, Kayla nodded then frowned.
�Does this mean you won�t be my mum?� She asked. Sam looked at her softly and smoothed some of her hair back.
�If you want me to be,� she said eventually and Kayla flung herself into Sam�s arms. Sam hugged her tightly as she thought about the impact this decision would have on her life. Janet managed it, but Janet didn�t go off world regularly. Didn�t take life-threatening risks regularly. Sam knew how unpractical it would be to have a child but she didn�t care. She was through with work being her life. She wanted to love, to be loved, and to have a family. She�d taken the first step by telling Jack how she felt. This was the second selfish decision she had made. Yes, it is selfish, she thought, but damn it, I deserve it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sam stood in the control room, arms folded across her chest, looking out at the last of the refugees leaving.
�I can�t believe you let him boss you around,� Jack said from beside her.
�I didn�t really have a choice.� She smiled.
�I�m sorry,� he said eventually.
�It wasn�t you fault. And it wasn�t all bad. It was�fate.�
�Fate? You believe in that?� he asked looking at her. She shrugged
�No. But whatever happened I would have gone to that planet. I would have met Kayla. Mesnah would have come. How it played out may have been different if I didn�t have you guys. If we weren�t a team.�
�Maybe that was fate too.�
�You believe in that?�
Jack shrugged then added, �No.�
A comfortable silence followed as they watched the last of King Talus�s people go through the gate. Sam thought about the conversation she�d had with Kayla after the others had left. Kayla was surprisingly intelligent for her age and although the idea of symbiotes was almost unbelievable, she had grasped the concept. In fact, she had told Sam that knowing that, made Sam even more of a mother to her. Sam smiled and the though.
�I�ve decided to adopt Kayla,� Sam causally mentioned. Jack glanced sideways at her then back out at the gate room.
�Yeah?� he answered, it wasn�t really a question.
�Yeah. Do you think that will be a problem?� she asked, turning towards him as the gate shut down. Their gaze locked and Jack looked into the sparkling blue eyes he loved.
�For who?� he asked. She only answered by holding the look. �For you? No.�
�For you?� she asked, carefully. They both knew what she was asking. Something they couldn�t talk about on base but the question had to be asked now. An issue they had to deal with. He sighed and looked away.
�As your CO, I�m confident it won�t affect your work. And as your friend, I�m happy for you. You deserve it,� he said. He left out one further sentence and they both knew it. Before it would have been a step over a line they couldn�t cross. But now, now they had already crossed that line and they were left someone they didn�t know how to act. No rules or regulations to tell them. So they both needed to step very carefully.
THE END!
AUTHORS NOTE:
Alot of hard work went into this story so thatnk you for reading it through to the end! :) Feedback would be loved!
[email protected]
i'm in the middle writing the sequel so if you're interested pop back and have a look in a few. Or if you'd like to beta read what i've done so far i would be very grateful!