A Hidden Threat

Chapter 20

Carter didn't know what to say. Everyone in the room was silent. Suddenly a commotion in the corridor, broke the awkwardness in the room.

"You can't go in there, Ms., you must stop. " an Airman shouted.

"No, I must see her, Sam...Sam...please....." a distraught voice came from the corridor.

"Amiri", Carter said, still in shock from the news that was just given to her, she tried to lift herself of the bed to see where Amiri was calling from.

O'Neill walked towards the corridor to see what was going on. It was Amiri. She looked weak and pale. He could tell something was wrong.

"What the hell is going on here?" O'Neill practically shouted.

"Jack, please I must see Sam, please....." Amiri pleaded with Jack.

"Listen Amiri, I don't think Carter is up for visitors right now, she's...she's.....just...." O'Neill didn't know how to finish that statement.

"The Mistressa....it's The Mistressa...isn't it....it dwells within her, does it not" Amiri stated with fear in her voice.

O'Neill had a face of shock.

"How the hell do you know that?" O'Neill said as he walked towards not realizing he was scaring her.

"Please....please....I knew nothing of it till just a few hours ago. It was as if it was a dream.....please I must see Sam...please..." Amiri pleaded with O'Neill.

O'Neill hesitated, but he knew that Amiri was the only connection to all this, and that maybe somehow Amiri could fill in the blanks that had everyone so puzzled.

"Fine, come with me" O'Neill stated, as he took her arm and guided her to the infirmary.

He realized that his grip on her was as if she was criminal. He released some of the tension of his grasp and looked down to her. He paused for second, looking at her frail body, a part of him began to pity the pour girl. She had been through things that no one should go through, and had no family or race to return to. He released her arm, and let her walk unguided by his side. Amiri looked up at him. She knew how he cared for Sam, and understood why he would be so aggressive with her. She knew she was the cause of all of Carters pain. And she hoped that she could also be the remedy. They reached the infirmary. Dr Frasier immediately looked up. She glanced at Carter and Daniel. They all saw that Amiri wasn't looking good.

"Amiri.." Carter quickly said. Suddenly realizing she wasn't sensing anything anymore.

Amiri walked towards Carter. She slowly placed her hand on her abdomen.

"It's true....The Mistressa it dwells within you" Amiri said. Her voice was shaking as the tears began to roll down her face.

"How do you know of this?" Daniel interjected. He couldn't understand how she knew of this. The information was confidential, and the only people that knew were in that room, as well as General Hammond.

"She came to me....i thought it was a dream...she was a myth to us....my parents used to speak of her, but as a fairytale and nothing more.....but she came to and thanked me..for being a hope for our people. But she said, over time, my body had sustained too much damage. She said for years she sustained me. When Carter came to the planet, she tested her, to see if she would be a worthy host.....

"Here we go with the host thing" O'Neill interjected quite sarcastically. Carter gave him that glance that without words spoke volume.

"The electric surges" Carter interrupted.

"Yes...she allowed them to see if you could possibly somewhere she can reside. My body was getting to weak. Where she could of destroyed our people, for her fury was warranted, she thought maybe there could be a chance..." Amiri tried to continue but the tears began to flow heavily.

"Hey...Hey..it's ok" Frasier tried to console her. She place her arm around Amiri's shoulder to try to comfort her. In doing so, her timing was right on, for Amiri was slowly collapsing.

"Sir...."Frasier yelled. O'Neill immediately went to her, grabbed her and placed her in the bed beside Carter.

Frasier immediately began to assess her vitals. As the nurses began to surround her hospital bed, O'Neill and Carter watched as they fervently worked on her.

"Janet...what's happening..."Carter said, trying to prop herself up from the bed as to see what they were doing to Amiri.

"I don't know Sam, but her vitals are weak" Janet said, as they continue to work on her.

"I'm sorry Sir, but you and Daniel will need to leave. I will let you know of her condition as soon as I have some more information" Fraiser said. You can see the worry in her eyes. O'Neill and Daniel both knew it wasn't good.

As they walked out of the infirmary O'Neill looked at Carter, he could see the worry in her eyes. She glanced at him, and for a moment they stared at each other. They both knew that their worlds were about to change. If this entity living within Carter was a threat to the base the government could take over and that was never a good sign. He started to head towards the door. He turned his head, looked away, and then back at Carter. He gave her that all familiar smile, assuring her that it was going to be ok. She smiled back. But she knew that the uncertainties of this whole situation had just started. What would the future hold for Samantha Carter? Would this entity kill her, or worse threaten the very existence of the world? A tear rolled down her face. Her strength was already sapped out of her. The strong soldier that she was always was, was weak and frail. Now all that lay in that bed was the women who loved this young girl, and possibly was watching the last few moments of her life. Would Amiri live to see another day? Would Sam ever be the same again? Would O'Neill profess his love to Carter, the way he's always wanted to? Time would only tell. And that as well was uncertain.