A Hidden Threat

Chapter 16

Amiri stood in silence. Her mind racing. Where will she go? What will she do? Maybe she can be asked to be sent to another planet, try to restart a life of her own. But how? She knew no-one. Her race was completely wiped out, but by what? Carter made her way to Amiri. She felt her despair, even more so now that they were in the caves. She wrapped her arm around her and whispered to her "it's going to be ok". But Amiri knew that she was just saying it. Carter had no idea what the outcome of this disaster was going to mean for Amiri.

"This is amazing" Daniel interrupted the silence.

He had begun to read the books in the cave. Everyone was exhausted and took the time to rest while Daniel and the rest of the team tried to figure what this cave was all about. It seemed like an eternity for Jack who kept pacing. Research was never his forte, neither was patience.

"It seems these books are an entire history of the Jibaritan people. An entire timeline, and ....." Daniel paused.

He continued to read and suddenly started to put one and one together. Daniel was always a fast learner. He always seemed to put things together a lot faster than the team. Minus Carter, but she was more technical than Daniel was.

"Yes.."Amiri interrupted. "It is here that Canan taught me, but the books from where you read from, He forbid me to read. I could never understand why, but I always obeyed his wishes." Amiri stated, with a face of question and curiosity.

"Um...Jack, can you come here for a second".. Daniel stated trying not to attract attention to his hesitation and look of concern.

"What Daniel?" Jack said.

Still annoyed that the answers they sought were becoming harder to find. Will Carter be stuck on this god forsaken planet, till they find whatever it is that is threatening her life? That is what was on Jacks mind.

"Jack?" Daniel startled him. He had kind of gone in to Carter land.

The book stated that they were at war, war with a race called Beror. It states that both races, the Jibartan and Beror people, were in search of something or someone.

"Something or someone?" Jack stated.

"Ahh can you be a little specific Daniel" Jack hated when Daniel talked in riddles.

"I'm trying to read the dialect. Um.....something called the "Mistressia".

Suddenly as the words escaped Daniels mouth, Amiri crumbled to the ground. The light within her glowed quickly, but it was as if a camera had flashed. As quickly as it glowed it disseminated.

Amiri began to sob uncontrollably. But it was a sound that no human had ever made. The team stood in shock. Carter quickly tried to console her but, the sound was almost deafening. Amiri then collapsed. She was unconscious.

"Janet" Carter yelled.

Dr. Frasier quickly ran to her. She tried to assess her situation with as little knowledge as she had on Amiris physical make-up. The medical team immediately started to work on her. Carter backed away. There was nothing she could do for her. Jack could see the dismay in her eyes. He walked towards, and just gave her the Jack "C'mere", and that's all Carter needed. She turned to him and allowed him to hold her. She was feeling all the hurt, confusion, loneliness, and pain that Amiri had been feeling. But as a solider she had to "suck it up" as they say. But a human being can only take so much. She sobbed into his shoulder, not loud enough for the others to hear, but loud enough for Jack to hold her tighter.

"Sam, it's gonna be o.k. We have to hang in there. We can't give up now." Jack softly said to her, as he held the back of her head, and the soft tendrils of her hair laced between his fingers.

Carter couldn't get a word out; her sob just masked whatever syllable tried to escape her mouth.

"I can't get a pulse!" Dr. Frasier suddenly screamed from across the room.

Carter spun around but in doing so, suddenly made the room spin uncontrollably.

"Carter!" Jack said as he grasped her arm, before she headed straight for the cave wall.

"I'm fine...I'm fine" Carter whimpered. "Please, Jack, I have to go to her" Carter said softly.

The use of his first name, startled him a little. But after the Zatarc incident, and the whole "this stays in the room", he knew that their feelings for each other had not changed. He released his grasp on her, and Carter was by Amiri's side. She slowly grabbed her hand, as the medical team performed CPR on her, to no avail. Suddenly Carter started to feel the very same surge she did when she met Amiri for the first time. But this time it was getting stronger and stronger. She tried to let go of Amiris hand but she could not. Somehow whatever energy was emitting from Amiri had no encompassed Carter as well. Carter could hear the people around her, but it was as if she was in a bubble, she could see them reacting but at a slower rate.

"Carter" Jack yelled for her. But she would not respond. Jack reached for her, but as he did, a jolt of energy filled the room, and Carter went flying across the room, right into to Teal'c.

"What the hell?" Jack immediately screamed as he dashed his way to Carter.

"Carter! Carter!" he stated as he shook her face in hopes to wake her.."Dam it Sam...wake up....wake up...." He yelled.

"Doc" Jack yelled for the Doctor.

In that instance Amiris pulse returned.

"Dear God we have a pulse" Dr. Frasier said as sweat poured down her brow. The medical attended to Amiri as she immediately ran to Carter not knowing what just happened.

Teal'c had already laid her down on the ground. Jack wouldn't move.

"Sir you have to step aside. Please Sir.." Dr. Frasier had to practically beg him.

She immediately knelt down by Carters side and tried to assess her condition.

"Her heart rate is through the roof" Dr. Frasier yelled. "I can't stabilize it." Dr. Frasier yelled. "Dam it Sam...C'mon..." Fraiser yelled.

"C'mon Sam, C'mon, Sam stay with me." Dr. Frasier pleaded with her. She wasn't only attending to an officer in the military. She was attending to her friend. They had grown quite close through-out the years. She couldn't see losing her now. None of them could. Especially Jack. He had put "them" aside for so long. Together they faught the Goau'ld, killed many Jaffa, her body had been taken over by a Tokra symbiote, and yet he did not give up on her. And yet, through all this, through all her victories and defeats, would this be the death of Samantha Carter? Would he not be able to tell her the things he had wanted to tell her for years....the very three words, she had wanted to hear? But military and duty stood in the way. Would they ever get that chance?