Title: Taking Over Me

Author: Major_Sam

EMAIL: funky_chicken88@hotmail.com

Rating: NC17

Pairings: Sam/Shelley

Date: 04/04/2003

Website: www.realmoftheshadow.com/majorsam.htm

Disclaimer: All characters belong to MGM, Gekko and their creators. Apart from Shelley, she is mine.

Notes: This is a WIP. I’ve split the first part into 2 parts. Not sure how many more after this bout another 3.

Summary: Don't really wanna say anything. Just read it.

Warnings: None

The last few weeks hadn’t been the most ideal for two people in a relationship. Extra work, hardly any time to spend together and the fact that one of them hardly seemed interested in having a relationship.

In the last few weeks, ten members of SG teams had been killed in off-world attacks. Sam had taken it particularly hard, having been there when Major Crawford from SG8 had been killed. Which had been two days ago. Last night had been the first time Shelley had seen her since it happened. She hadn’t been in the mood for romance but had still wanted to be close to her. During the last attack, her friend Captain Russell had been killed. Shelley wanted to comfort Sam but wanted to be comforted herself.

Instead they’d eaten dinner together in silence, only speaking when the other wanted to be passed the salt. When they’d gone to bed, Sam had slept with her back to Shelley. They’d just slept like that all night until Shelley spent the rest of the night in the spare room with Mia. She’d been lonely. She missed being in Sam’s arms and it had been so long. All she wanted was to feel her next to her, to kiss her. She never felt alone when they were together. Sam had always made her feel safe and protected. Just like Daniel and Jack had done. Only now, Shelley had wanted to protect Sam but she wouldn’t let her. She wouldn’t even talk to her. Shelley had to put up with the military, stiff up a lip from Jack all of her life. And she understood that there had to be a detachment but it didn’t stop Shelley from feeling like an outsider.  Sam wasn’t the only one who was concerned about what was going on. Shelley didn’t know most of the time if the people she loved was going to come back. Having already lost Daniel, there wasn’t a moment that went by that she didn’t feel sick inside at the thought of not seeing them again. It wasn’t just Sam, it was Jack too. He was he brother. She’d already lost her mother, Daniel was gone and the last thing she wanted was to lose her brother too.

The redhead stood in the kitchen, cleaning away the plates from the night before and her breakfast. She’d look in on Sam half an hour ago and saw she was still asleep. During the night, Shelley had come to a decision. It wasn’t one she liked to make, but there didn’t seem to be any other way. She half looked at the bag on the kitchen table. Shelley had packed away most of her and Mia’s stuff before breakfast. She’d been looking around the kitchen looking for Mia’s bottles and other stuff. Like the toys Sam kept screaming at when she stepped on them when she came home in the middle of the night. Now they were packed away, with that and a few personal items of Shelley’s. A few pictures of the two of them and a few of her and Jack. There was no way that she wanted to leave. Whatever it was that was wrong with their relationship, Shelley wanted to work it out.

Her head looked up as she heard footsteps behind her and a soft shuffling sound.

"What's going on?"

Shelley looked at Sam who was standing in the hallway. The robe she put at the end of her bed was now wrapped around her waist. Her eyes were half closed, still tired from her lack of sleep for the last few nights. She didn't know how she had managed to get to the kitchen without bumping into or knocking something over.

"Shelley." Sam whispered.

Her eyes followed her around the room, finally stopping on the duffle bag on the kitchen table.

"I'm going home for a few days...until."

"You're leaving?"

Shelley shook her head.

"No. Well, yes. I am."

"Why?"

Shelley pulled out of the chairs and sat down.

"Because..."

"That's not an answer Shelley."

"I know. And I don't want to go. I just can't stay when you won't."

Sam was confused, even in her state of mild unconsciousness.

"You're making no sense."

Shelley rose from her seated position and pushed the chair back under the table.

"Why do you think I slept in the spare room last night?"

"I don't know." Sam said, shaking her head.

She moved into the kitchen, trying to make less space between her and Shelley.

"Because it's obvious that you don't want to be near me. You slept with your back to me, for Christ’s sake. You've never done that before."

"I was tired. I just wanted to sleep."

The lines on Shelley's face deepened as a scowl appeared.

"Yeah well, that hasn't stopped you before."

"Is that what this is about? Because I was tired and we never had sex last night."

The redhead shook her head, furiously.

"Of course not. I know you've been going through some stuff lately, we all have. I just wanted to hold you. That's all I wanted was to hold you. To make it all go away."

"You can't make this go away with a hug Shell. You can't make what I feel go away."

"I know. But you won't even let me try." Shelley shouted. “Why won’t you let me try?”

Sam snapped her hand back as Shelley tried to grab hold of it.

"I don't need comforting Shelley. I just want to be left alone."

The redhead picked up the hold all and held it at her side.

"Well, that's not going to be a problem is it," she said.

Shelley moved past her, trying to hold on to the last remaining emotions she was keeping inside. But it came out as Sam reached out and touched her arm. She turned slowly; several tears began to fall down her face.

"Where will you go?" Sam asked.

"Jack said we could stay with him until I’ve got the apartment sorted out. I'll get him to pick up the rest of my things."

Sam pulled at Shelley's arm a bit more, pulling her closer.

"There's no need for that is there. This isn't a permanent arrangement."

"It's not like you talk to me or acknowledge me when I am here. So what's the difference if I go home."

"Because...."

Sam's hand began to rise to Shelley's face.

"Don't please... Don't make this any harder for me."

"Then go," Sam said, angrily as she lowered her hand. "I was alone long before I met you."

The redhead sighed.

"You wanted to be left alone Sam. Which is fine by me. I hope you’re happy by yourself."

And she walked away. Mia had been sitting in her pushchair in the living room and Shelley pushed it and the infant towards the front door.

Sam stood and watched them leave. She'd driven away the woman she loved. Her mood had put a wedge between them and Shelley hadn't been able to break down the wall Sam had put up around her.

Shelley rang Jack's doorbell, struggling with Mia in one hand and her bag in the other. He opened the door, seeing his sister in the doorway. Mia looked up at him and started giggling. Jack smiled for a moment, but it went away as he saw the look on her mothers face. He took his niece as Shelley dropped her bag on to the porch. That look said it all. She moved into the house silently without needing to say a word.

Jack heard the crash from in the kitchen as he emerged out of the spare room, having put Mia down for her afternoon nap. Shelley was bending down, picking up the pieces of glass that had shattered.  Jack knelt down besides her, grabbing her hands before she cut herself. A small piece of glass pierced the skin on her hand and it bled a little.

"Damn it," she shouted.

She winced in pain, as it grew sore. Jack held her hand as they both stood up. He looked into the eyes of his sister, feeling her pain. Not only through the pain in her hand, but the pain in her heart. The tears began to fall slowly down her cheek as he pulled her close for a hug. He felt her shake as her sobbing began to rack through her body, making him slightly shudder too. What came from inside her wasn't the sobbing of a thirty year old woman but a five-year-old girl. That five year old he had held when he'd told her that her mother had died. The same five year old he'd told about Daniel. That kid would re-surface now and again. Now she had returned, needing her brother's comfort and support.

"I...I...I think Sam and I just broke up." Shelley whispered. 

Shelley sat on Jack’s sofa; a cushion huddled in her arms. Her eyes looked up at Jack as he approached her. Her brother placed a bowl of chocolate ice cream in her hands.

“Always worked when you were a kid,” he said.

Shelley took it from him without hesitation and took a lick of her spoon.

“How long have you been saving this?”

Jack sighed as she sat down besides her.

“Since you told me about the two of you.”

“I see.”

“You’re not angry with me?” Jack asked.

“Of course not. Looks like you were right, after all”

“What happened?”

He pulled out another spoon from around his back, helping Shelley with her pudding.

“I don’t know. We haven’t been exactly close for the last few weeks. I know you’ve been through a lot, we all have. I lost a friend, a good friend. But Sam… she won’t let me in. She won’t talk to me, she won’t let me touch her.”

Jack squirmed a little in his chair.

“And I know what you’re thinking,” Shelley said. “But it’s not like that. She won’t let me hold her to comfort her.”

“I’m sure she has her reasons.” Jack said.

Shelley stood quickly, giving her brother the whole bowl.

“What reason could she have for pushing me away.”

He didn’t know what to say to her. What could he say? He didn’t know what Carter was thinking or how she felt. It had affected them all differently. Jonas hadn’t known what to do, except keep himself to him self most of the time. The same as Teal’c had. But none of them had pushed the other away. Shelley had seen Jack and Teal’c talking. It was just Sam who refused to talk.

“I wish I knew Shell. I wish I could make this easier. I don’t think you should give up on her just yet. Give her space and some time.”

Shelley smiled.

“Looks like those sessions with Dr McKenzie paid off.”

“Maybe. But if I say anything like that again, just shoot me.”

“I will. The last thing I need from you is all that touchy feely crap.”

The redhead sitting next to him began to laugh, making him smile.

"That's good Shell. And you and the little one can stay here for as long as you like."

"Thanks. It'll only until I get the apartment sorted out properly. I've hardly been there for the last few weeks and.."

"It's okay. As long as you need to be here."

Shelley smiled. This was one of those rare moments that she loved her brother and was thankful that she had him.

"It's been a long day I’m gonna go have a lie down for a while and I want to check on Mia. The last few weeks have been unsettling."

"Kids are resilient."

"What about her mother?" Shelley asked as she stood up.

"Well, she's been through a lot. And she's come through it pretty well."

She sighed as she made her way towards the spare bedroom.

"But she can only take so much," she whispered to herself.

A few minutes passed and Jack stood up and went to check on his sister and niece. Mia was fast asleep in her bed and Shelley was sitting on the edge of the bed. There was photograph in her hand and Jack heard her sobbing softly. Tears fell from her face and splashed on the glass of the picture frame.

"Shelley..." he whispered.

Her head turned seeing Jack moving towards her. He sat besides and half smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I've lost her and sometimes I don't think I ever really had her. If you know what I mean?"

"Yeah I know what you mean. I'm sure she just needs space Shell. I've seen you two together, the way you look at each other. The way she looks at you, she loves you Shelley. I don't think she could keep away for long."

"I hope so, Jack. I hope so."

She wrapped her arms around her brother as she continued to cry softly. Jack had always tried to be supportive since finding out about their relationship. He'd seen how much they cared for each other and finally respected Shelley's decision. But this, this he didn't understand. How could Sam treat her like this? Push her away when it was clear that she needed her. It was an answer to a question he wanted to find out for her.

Jack left Shelley making dinner. The conversation after the bedroom had been non-existent. He knew Shelley didn't feel like talking much anymore. So he'd made the perfect excuse, some late work at the base he needed to take care of. Not that the base was where he was going.

In the back of his mind, he knew that he shouldn’t be there. But what else could he do? He wasn’t about to let Shelley get hurt again. That had happened to many times before. That he’d sat back and done nothing whilst her life had been turned upside down and inside out. What he couldn’t figure out was why Carter was doing this to her. What could be so bad that it would make her turn her back on their relationship and on Shelley. Now, when he found out about their relationship, he’d had doubts about if it would last or not. But after seeing them together for the last 8 months, Jack knew that what they had was special. There was devotion between them that made him smile. Up till now, Jack thought that Carter would never hurt his sister. Now, he just had to know why she had.

Sam lay on the couch, still wearing her robe. She hadn’t felt like doing anything since Shelley had left that morning. She’d made herself some coffee and settled on the couch all day, watching television. Stupid sappy television movies of the week and that soap opera she makes Shelley tape when she’s off world. Even now she found it less than interesting. It didn’t have the same effect than when she’s watching it and Shelley’s made those stupid noises next to her.  Shelley didn’t understand how an intelligent, beautiful woman like Sam could watch that kind of trash television. It made no sense to her. But everyone had to have a little quirk about them and Shelley had loved that in Sam. Sam closed her eyes, trying not to relive those memories again in her mind. When she’d usually be watching this, Shelley would be sitting next to her or lying on her lap. Sam often wondered why, if Shelley hated it so much, did she always watch it with her. A part of her understood, that she wanted to be close to her.

Sam looked up from the TV as she heard her doorbell ring. She wasn’t in the mood or dressed for visitors. Deep down she felt like hell and probably looked like it too. Her reflection spat out something horrible at her as she caught a glimpse of herself as she passed by the mirror on the way to the door. Her hand reached out to clasp the handle and opened the door.

“Colonel.”

Jack stood on the step and looked at her.

“Well, this is productive. I’ve got one at home just like that. Look’s like we have a matching pair,” he said.

Sam didn’t smile at his obvious attempt at humour. Instead she turned on her heels and headed back into the safety of her house. She left the door open, her subtle way of inviting the colonel in without actually asking.

Jack looked around the house. It was usually in an immaculate condition and still was apart from a few breakfast items on the kitchen table that Sam had left instead of cleaning away.

“So what’s going on Carter? It’s not like you to wallow around feeling sorry for yourself.” He asked.

She looked up from her soap-induced coma and glared at him.

“Shelley left me. You tell me how I’m supposed to feel?

Her first sentence was said with tears welling up in her eyes. But she couldn’t let him see. She couldn’t let him go back and tell Shelley how much she was hurting. However much Sam wanted her to know a part of her didn’t want her to feel sorry for her.

“I can’t tell you. I said the same thing to Shelley.”

A small smile appeared on Sam’s face as he spoke her name.

“How is she? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s okay. Well not really, but what do you expect.”

His tone was harsher than before. His calm finally dropped, making way for anger. Sam sat up straight on the sofa and looked at him for a moment before turning away.

“What the hell happened?” Jack asked. “I thought the two of you were…”

“We are… we were. I…I can’t. I don’t know what happened. What did she tell you?”

Jack moved across the living room and sat on a chair opposite his friend.

“Not much. Only that you two haven’t been getting on. That since this whole mess started at the base that you won’t talk to her. That you refuse to let her get close to you!”

This was one conversation he thought he would never have, especially not with Carter and not with his sister’s girl friend.

“Is that what she thinks this is about?”

“Is it?” Jack asked.

Sam stood from the sofa, pacing the room quietly and slowly.

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I’ve seen my friends, my colleagues die and I can’t hold on anymore.”

“Then why push her away? I thought you were supposed to love her.”

Sam stopped quickly and turned around.

“I do. That’s why I’m doing this. It might hurt now, but she’ll understand in time.”

“In time. You think that’s going to make her feel better. She’s hurting now and you’ve hurt her. No one hurts my family Carter, no one. I told Daniel the exact same thing.”

Her head spun around on hearing his statement and that name.  Jack knew how uncomfortable Carter was when someone mentioned Daniel. Maybe that’s why he’d said his name, to make her feel bad.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her.” Sam said, bowing her head.

“Then maybe you should tell her that. Cause right now, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Jack stood from his chair and moved across the room without saying another word. He’d said all he needed to say. He left Sam standing in the middle of the room. Jack had never seen anything get to her like this before. Was it really to do with the fact that Shelley had left her or the reason for her leaving in the first place?

He looked back to see what Sam was doing. She’d moved from the middle of the room and was now standing by the mantle piece, staring at some old photos. One of which wasn’t that old, maybe a few weeks. It was of Shelley and Mia. Jack knew how old the picture was because he was the one who had taken it. Sam smiled at the picture. But her smile disappeared as she looked around her house. That’s what it was now, just a house. Until yesterday it had felt more like home.

>Next Day

The last thing Shelley wanted to do was work. There was a pretty good chance that she would bump into ‘her’ and everything she felt over the last eight months would all come flooding back. Shelley knew that if she saw her face, those blue eyes that her resolve would weaken and she would go back to her and forget why she had left in the first place. A part of Shelley wanted to hate Sam for letting her go so easily. Why hadn’t she fought for her? Why hadn’t she begged her not to go. Bumping in to her was just something that Shelley wasn’t looking forward too.

Shelley had agreed to meet Jack for lunch before her mission briefing with SG7.

She sat in front of him, playing with her food, making it more disgusting that it already was. Whatever it had been, it certainly wasn’t edible now. Not that Shelley had any interest in eating it anyway. Her eyes flittered around the room as though she was looking for someone. But as she made eye contact with anyone she would look away quickly. Jack looked at her, stirring her spoon in her coffee enough times that it made a small whirlpool in her cup.

“You looking forward to your mission?” he asked.

Her eyes looked up momentarily before going back down to her coffee. 

“Its just a routine soil sample survey. Very routine, very boring, very me apparently.” Shelley said.

“What do you mean?”

“That’s all I seem to do.”

“Because…that is what you do.”  Jack said with a smile.

Shelley looked up again, hearing the laughter in his voice and smiled at her brother.

“I guess it is. And I do it so well.”

The redhead began to laugh. But it left her lips as her eyes fell on the figure standing in the doorway. Jack turned his head, seeing Carter standing behind them. Shelley pushed out her chair and stood up. She walked up to her, squeezing past her. Their bodies pressed against each other and Sam’s hand reached out and touched Shelley’s. The redhead stopped for a moment to look at her. She knew it was a mistake the moment she stopped but couldn’t help her self. Sam breathed in, smelling her hair. It brought back a hundred memories of her lying next to her, watching her as she slept. She felt Shelley pull away and her hand slip from hers. Her heart sank as she watched her walk away. Why did she have to be so stupid and let go the best thing in her life?

Jack stood, on his way out to follow his sister.

"She's late for a briefing. SG7 are going out on a mission this afternoon."

"I know. I remember, she told me. We were going to have lunch together before she left. Kind of a ritual thing." Sam said.

He smiled nervously at her and headed out of the commissary. Sam stood on her own again. She watched as the colonel caught up to Shelley, further down the corridor. She turned her head, managing to look at Sam for a moment before turning away. So this is what it had come to, Shelley not even able to look at her. This wasn’t what she wanted. She hadn’t wanted Shelley to leave. But her behaviour over the last few weeks had warranted her to leave. It had only been one night and Sam missed them both so much already.

Sam stood on the outskirts of Shelley’s lab, deciding whether or not to enter or to just leave her alone. Their talk the previous morning hadn’t cleared anything up. Sam thought that Shelley had just moved out to give her space. But from the way Jack had spoken to her yesterday, she got the impression that Shelley had ended their relationship.

The major smiled as she saw Shelley pottering around her lab, trying to pick up the appropriate supplies and equipment she needed for her mission with SG7. The smile on her face continued as stopped for a moment, deciding on what to take, her fancy new microscope or her laptop. Both were equally important but space in her backpack was getting limited. Shelley’s face turned into a frown, as she couldn’t decide what to take. Sam smiled as she saw the redhead’s nose crinkle. She didn’t realize how much she missed her until that moment. It was the stupidest of moments, but nevertheless simple enough to make her want her back. And she wanted her back so badly. Just spending one night alone in their bed was bad enough but the thought of spending the rest of her life without her was something she couldn’t think about. It was just too painful.

“Shelley,” she finally managed to whisper.

The redhead turned, almost dropping her laptop. Sam entered the lab, catching it before Shelley had a chance to drop it again. Their hands touched for a moment and it was Shelley who pulled away, however slowly it was. She placed the computer on her desk and moved away from Sam to the opposite side of the lab.

“I’m kind of busy, is there something you wanted?” Shelley asked.

“I wanted to talk. You left so quickly yesterday. We didn’t have a chance to talk.” Sam said.

Shelley could barely look at her. Even know she was finding hard not to tell her that she was sorry and that she would go home with her. But she couldn’t.

“There wasn’t much left to say, Sam.”

“I think there is. Did you just move out yesterday?”

In all of the confusion and raised emotions of yesterday, Shelley hadn’t made it clear of what had happened, mainly because she wasn’t sure of it herself. Had she just moved out or had the two of them split up. That’s what she had told her brother, that the two had separated. Maybe a part of her just didn’t want to believe that it was over between them.

“I couldn’t stay any longer. Being with you and not being with you was too much for me. You won’t let me get close to you.” Shelley said.

Sam became bold and moved towards her, reaching out her hand.

“I know. It hasn’t been easy for me either. I wanted you to hold me, I want you to hold me, its just…”

“What, Sam. What is so bad that it’s worth pushing me away for?”

Sam just stood there looking at the hurt that was growing on Shelley’s face.

“I can’t explain…I can’t do this.”

“Then why come here? Why come here and…”

The redhead turned away from her. The pain in her heart grew as the realization of the situation struck her.

“Then I guess it really is over.” Shelley whispered.

“Shelley, don’t…”

She still stood with her back to Sam, but turned her head as she felt a hand on her waist. Her eyes looked at her, conveying her sorrow in her choice. A sigh escaped her throat as she enjoyed the close contact of Sam’s touch. She turned fully around, come face to face.

“We can talk about this.” Sam said.

“Its obvious that you don’t want to talk about it.”

“I just need time Shelley. I need you.”

“No you don’t.”

It was the hardest thing she ever had to say, until the next sentence that came out of her mouth.

“It’s over Sam. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t want to be with me. Who doesn’t trust me enough to talk to me! To tell me what’s gone wrong. To tell me your hurting, why you’re hurting.”

“Please…”

Sam raised her hand and brushed it against Shelley’s cheek. Her eyes closed for a moment. Part of her wanted to pull her close, taste the softness of her lips one more time. To feel her warm body next to her, fingers sliding through her hair, running down her body. Shelley took Sam’s hand, removing it from her face.

“Don’t Sam…”

Sam stepped back, letting her hand fall slowly down Shelley’s arm.

“It’s over.” She muttered.

Shelley nodded slowly. The tears began to swell in her eyes. It wasn’t easy fighting them back, but she did it as best as she could. However hard this moment was it was going to get worse. Seeing her, working with her, just wanting things to go back to the way they were, was going to be a nightmare for her.

Sam turned slowly, her heart pounded, the blood pumping through her ears as Shelley spoke the words again.

“It’s over,” she whispered softly.

Sam tried to keep her self composed and succeeded until she stepped out into the corridor. Shelley slumped down in her chair and sobbed quietly with her head in her hands. Her tears dripped down her cheeks and she wiped them away slowly. Ending a relationship was never easy. But this, this felt ten times as worse as she had before. Maybe she never had really been in love before, apart that is with Daniel. A part of her felt as though she was dying inside.

Outside in the corridor, Sam stood with her back to the wall, fighting the tears that dared to fall from her eyes. She’d been taught from an early age to fight her emotions and being in the military it was drummed into her not to let other people see it too. That was one of the reasons why Shelley had felt the need to end their relationship. Because, Sam didn’t want to tell her how she was feeling. To let her break down that wall she had put up around herself for most of her life. Sam wanted to tell her but somehow she couldn’t. However much it hurt her to accept, it was better this way.

Two Days Later

Jack sat in the briefing room, his head periodically looking around at the gate. He looked back towards the metal staircase as she saw Carter and Teal’c entering the briefing room.

“What’s going on?” Sam asked.

Jonas looked up from the table, making eye contact with Jack then with Sam.

“It’s SG7. Their twelve hours later for checking in,” he said.

“And you think that there’s something wrong?” Sam asked.

Jack looked away, a little shocked by her lack of concern. Considering that Shelley was with SG7, he thought she would be a little more upset, concerned or something other than sounding cold.

“Well considering what’s been happening lately, yeah, you could say that.” Jack said.

Sam and Teal’c made their way over to the table and sat down.

“Yes Carter, we are worried. The last thing we want is another four….” Jack could barely speak the words. “…. Dead team members.”

Everyone around the table looked at him. All of them knew that this wasn’t about any four-team members. This was about his sister and the fact that he wanted to make sure she was still alive.

“You don’t think that there’s something really wrong, do you?” Carter asked.

Her eyes flittered around the table, trying to find someone to give her an answer.

“It’s not like Major Slater not to check in,” Jack said. “And if there was something wrong, he’d find away to get a message through.”

“Not if they were all dead.” Sam said, harshly.

The colonel glared at her from his position on the opposite side of the table.

“That’s just not gonna happen.” He said.

Sam broke the stare at turned her attention to General Hammond who entered the briefing room from his office. She and the colonel stood up as he sat down at his chair at the head of the table.

“The pictures from the M.A.L.P suggest that the area surrounding the gate is clear.” Jonas said.

“And there has been no communication at all?” Teal’c asked.

Jack shook his head.

“General,” he said. “We have to assume that something has….”

“Colonel you don’t have to sell me, you leave in one hour.” Hammond answered.

Jack stayed seated for a moment, watching as Carter and the others got to their feet. There was no emotion on her face as Sam left the room. She didn’t even look back to see if the colonel was following them. He didn’t know what to think. Was she keeping it all in or didn’t she care that Shelley was missing?

**********************************

She felt cold, her arms beginning to numb in the darkness of the pit she and her colleagues had been thrown in. Her eyes found it hard to focus on anything much, let alone see any of them. It had all happened so quickly. No one had suspected that they had been being watched for the twelve hours that they had been there. Major Slater was the first one to see them, around ten Jaffa coming towards them. It had been over in seconds. They were no match for them. Shelley had tried to get to the gate but had been overpowered and had managed to sprain her ankle in the process. It still hurt like hell and it had begun to balloon up and swell. They’d been offered water and Major Slater had ripped apart of his jacket and wrapped it around her ankle. It was a poor excuse at first aide, but it had been the best he could do in the circumstances. She winced in pain from time to time, trying not to let the others see how much it was bothering her. Shelley was the only non-military person on the team and sometimes she felt that she owed it to them to be more military minded. Having been brought up with certain members of her family in the services, it was easy for her to fake it a little sometimes. Although lately, Jack had been training her and she was getting pretty good at beating the crap out of the training dummy in the gym back at the base. Every non-military personnel had to have some kind of weapons training and Jack had supervised hers. She found it difficult at first, reliving some past events in her life. Events that she still found hard to cope with and events that still haunted her and Jack. But, she had gotten through it, with his help. She found using a zat the easiest, instead of a gun. So, she had one at her side at all times when she was off world. But it did little to protect her when the Jaffa captured them.

Shelley looked up as she began to see the sun rise through the bars of the window of their cell. Major Slater looked over at her. He could see the fear on her face. She hadn't been in the firing line quite like this before. Usually when it happened she would be earth side and those she cared for would be in danger. Now it was her turn to be in danger.

"How you doin?" he asked, looking down at her ankle.

A pair of tired green eyes looked up at him.

"I'm okay, I think. Looks like the sun's coming up." Shelley said, gesturing to the sun shining through the bars. "You think they'll try and find us today?"

Slater slumped back down at her side and shook his head slowly.

"I don't know," he whispered.

"They must have realised something's wrong by now." Shelley said.

A deep sigh over took her as the prospect of being rescued by her brother sunk in. Now he was going to play to over-protective brother one more time and he was getting paid to do it. All of her life he'd been there picking up the pieces of her life when she got into trouble. But this was by far, the biggest trouble she had ever been in.

***************************

Sam stood in the gear-up room, waiting for someone to force her to leave the safety of the base. The prospect of moving right now was something she didn’t want to happen. It was the thought of finding SG7 that shook her whole being. What if they were dead? What if Shelley was dead and she never got to tell her how she really felt? She would be gone and her heart would be broken.

Sam looked at herself in the huge mirror. She hadn’t looked like herself for the last few days and she hadn’t certainly felt like herself. A big part of her was missing. Some how the prospect of spending the rest of her life without Shelley filled her with dread. A few years ago, a part of her self was happy to think that she would spend her life alone. Why did she need someone anyway? Her work would have surely got in the way of any relationship she’d tried to have. But since she’d been with Shelley, she had woken up every day knowing that someone loved her. And she’d seen the love in those green eyes every day. But what if that love had been extinguished by whatever power was responsible for the recent deaths of their colleagues? How could she cope with that? She already knew that the colonel thought that she didn’t care about the fact that SG7 was missing. How could she tell him that the mere thought of it made her feel sick inside? That if she thought about it for too long, that she wanted to cry and let it all out. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t be so emotional at a time like this. She was Major Samantha Carter, scientist, professional, detached in her way at looking at things. Or so she thought. No, she had to be the strong one. She had to remain in control of her emotions. But it wasn’t easy. People were already talking as though SG7 were dead. Inside, Sam thought that she would know if Shelley was gone. If she had been killed in whatever attack that had befallen her and her team.  If that was the case, her lover was dead too. It didn’t matter if they had split up. It didn’t matter that Shelley thought that she didn’t care for her. Sam knew the truth.

“Major Carter.” A voice boomed behind her.

Sam’s head looked up, seeing Teal’c’s reflection in the mirror in front of her. She turned her head slowly, only to look at him for a moment.

”Colonel O’Neill and Jonas Quinn are ready to depart,” he said.

Her whole body turned slowly, stepping forward towards him. As she got nearer, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, seeing that sincere, caring expression on his face. Teal’c didn’t have to say anything; he was a man of few words. But when he gave you that look, you knew what it meant. And so did Sam.

**********************************

The mid-day sun began to cool, as it seemed to settle behind the palace they were being held in. Major Slater looked at his team. They were anxious that help wasn’t going to come for them. That they would remain prisoners to who had captured them. The major had been curious. He hadn’t recognised any of the markings on the Jaffa they had encountered nor had any of the others. Maybe this was someone new? But it didn’t matter. They were in trouble, serious trouble.

He felt sorry for Shelley the most. Not only because of her sprained ankle but because she wasn’t used to situations like this. He couldn’t help but think of her as an outsider. It was horrible to think that. Sometimes he thought he resented her because she was an O’Neill, on the inside at least.  Then there were her relationships. Married to Daniel Jackson and now lover to Major Carter, or so he thought. He’d heard the rumours, who hadn’t? But he didn’t know if they were true or not. Not that would make any difference at all. Shelley was an excellent addition to his team. They all got on pretty well, despite being military they socialised from time to time. Notable now, when SG1 was off world.

Everyone liked Shelley. She was funny, intelligent, caring, a perfect addition to his team. But as he looked at her, looked at them, he felt as though he’d let them down. After all he was in command of SG7 and it was his responsibility to keep them safe. Then the Jaffa came and they were all thrown into this hellhole. The question everyone kept asking them selves was which Goa’uld was responsible for holding them captive.

Shelley stood shakily on her feet, peering out of the bars. She felt slightly claustrophobic and the constant pain in her ankle wasn’t making her feel any better. Neither did the thought that she wouldn’t see her little girl again.

“She’d be having her afternoon nap about now,” she whispered.

Shelley felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see her friend and team mate Captain Atkins, also known as Victoria, or Vicki as Shelley called her.

“Try not to think about it.” Vicki said.

“I’ve tried not too.”

They both sat back down on the cold concrete floor of their shared cell.

“I know it’s hard. Major Slater has two little boys and Lieutenant Fisher’s wife is five months pregnant.”

Shelley looked across the cell at the lieutenant, his mind on other things. They were all thinking about loved ones. Then for a moment, Shelley thought about Sam and about how much she missed her. She’d tried not too. Their last meeting had been an emotional one. All Shelley wanted right now was to hold her, to tell her that whatever was wrong that they could work it out. Shelley loved her so much to let her go so easily. Now it looked as though it was out of their hands. As a chain of events had been put in place that would determine if they would remain apart.

“What about you,” Shelley asked. “When am I going to meet this mystery man?”

Her friend’s eyes lit up and a smile appeared on her face.

“I don’t know. When he’s ready I guess.”

“You think he could be the one?”

Vicki smiled.

“If we get out of this, then yes. I think he might be the one.”

“That’s great, I’m pleased for you. We all need someone in our lives.”

Major Slater looked up quickly as he heard staff and weapons fire coming from the outside of the room to their cell. Shelley heard the unmistakable voice of her brother shouting. The voices were muffled and dull but clearly the sign that help was coming. Atkins helped Shelley to her feet. More weapons fire made the walls shake. More shouting followed as the main door opened and two figures entered.

“Major Slater?” A male voice asked, as he came into view.

Jonas Quinn stood on the outside of the bars that housed his captive colleagues. The walls rumbled around them as the battle to free them outside continued. Jonas looked into the cell, seeing Shelley hobbling around.

“What happened?”

Shelley shook her head and sighed as she leaned against Captain Atkins.

“I sprained my ankle trying to get to the gate when the Jaffa attacked. I didn’t get very far.”

Shelley’s attention wondered from Jonas as the figure of Major Carter appeared in front of her. Shelley's breath began to quieten as Sam smiled at her. A feeling of relief shook Sam's whole body. She wanted to hold her, to make her feel safe for a moment but she couldn't. Sam was still hurt by Shelley leaving her. But she couldn't deny that there was still something between them, something deeper than just physical attraction. Their connection broke as Shelley's eyes went back to Jonas.

"Stand back." he said.

Jonas took out the zat from his side and pointed it at the lock on the metal gate. It made a crackling noise as the lock released, freeing SG7. Captain Atkins helped Shelley out of the cell.

“You okay?” Sam asked.

Shelley nodded slowly. Carter took Shelley’s other arm and draped it over her shoulder, helping her to walk a little more steadily. Shelley felt Sam’s hand on her waist. She turned her head to look up at her, her eyes showing everything she felt inside. It was something unspoken.

They all turned, following Jonas to where Colonel O’Neill and Teal’c were laying down cover fire. But the constant weapons fire had stopped and an eerie quiet gripped them. As they got out into the open, a heavy group of Jaffa greeted them, three of them held Teal’c in an arm lock while Jack lay on the floor, half unconscious from the zat blast he had just taken. He looked up at the other's shaking his head at Jonas who was getting ready to try and help him.

The Jaffa lead them back in to the cell. Teal'c and Jonas took Shelley's arm each and helped the limping botanist down on to crate in the middle of the tiny room.

"Thanks for the rescue Jack, really big help." Shelley said.

A groggy Jack slumped down against a wall next to his sister. Rescuing his Shelley and SG7 had seemed like an okay plan but they hadn't counted on the 50 or so Jaffa waiting for them. Apart from Shelley's sprained ankle they all seemed to be okay. Well as okay as they could be having been held in a small, stinking cell for the last day or so.

Sam sat on the opposite side of the cell. She wanted to ask Shelley how she was but since they'd split up she didn't know how to approach her. Sam wanted to seem caring but also wanted to still have that professional detachment she was always so fond of without sounding too cold.

"Don't you want to talk to her?" Jonas asked.

The young alien had walked across the cell to where Carter was sitting and had sat down without her even noticing. She had been too busy looking at Shelley. For a moment before looking away, Shelley caught her stare and looked away her self.

"Of course I want to talk to her. But what do I say?"

"You could start by asking how she is, then go on from there!"

Jonas smiled at his friend, colleague. He’d seen how Shelley’s capture had affected her over the last few days. He was one of a few who knew about them and about their recent break-up. He’d also seen how Shelley had been before her off world assignment. She’d been quiet, distant and a little angry. Even now, Shelley could barely look at Sam. Even if she did want too.

Jack finally shook off his confused state, patted Shelley on the shoulder and went to check on the other member’s of SG7. Shelley watched him as he began to talk to Major Slater. A sharp pain shot through her ankle and she winced in pain. Sam looked up, hearing her displeasure. She stood up too and walked across to her, kneeling down besides her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Shelley looked up, meeting with Sam’s eyes. The redhead shook her head slowly.

“It really hurts now!” she whispered.

Sam looked down and lifted up Shelley’s leg, placing it on her lap. She picked up her foot and slowly began to unlace her boots, taking the boot off carefully. The redhead pulled an uncomfortable face as Sam peeled off the bandage that Major Slater had made for her ankle. She ran her finger across the bump on the ball of Shelley’s ankle and back across the heel. Shelley shivered at feeling Sam’s touch for the first time in nearly a week. Her head looked up, her eyes locking with the blonde’s. Sam wanted to say something else to her but what could she say? Their conversation was limited to 'How are you' and 'Is your ankle feeling better' they couldn't really have a proper conversation with all these people around. Sam had decided that when they got some time alone together, if they got some time alone together that she would explain why she had been acting strangely lately and tell her that she wanted her back.

Both of them looked up, with everyone else as they heard the cell doors clatter open. Two Jaffa and a seriously evil looking man entered the small cell. His bony finger pointed out at Shelley.

"Bring her!"

The two Jaffa moved across the small room and picked her up off the ground, pushing Sam out of the way in the process. She stood up quickly, watching as the colonel tried to set his sister free, but failing.

"Wait! Take me instead." Carter shouted.

The evil man looked back for a moment. The remaining member's of SG1 just looked at each other then at her.

"Carter!" Jack said.

"It's okay sir."

Sam turned back to look at Shelley, seeing the redhead shake her head.

"Don't." she whispered.

Sam hesitated. She desperately wanted to touch her, to touch her face for just a moment. But couldn't.

"It's okay."

Instead she gave her a warm smile.

"Bring them both." The man shouted.

Two more Jaffa that had been waiting outside entered the cell. They took Sam's arm, dragging her out of the cell as the other two did the same to Shelley.

Teal'c looked across the cell at Colonel O'Neill who could not believe that this was happening. He'd come to rescue SG7 and his sister but ended up having her and a member of his team taken away for god knows what reason. They had to get out of there, and soon.

Sam looked down at Shelley as she was pushed down next to the redhead.

"Are you okay," she whispered.

Shelley nodded slowly and managed to pull herself up off the ground. They were in a large room, walls decorated in rich fabrics and brightly lit. In front of them was a small vat, like a small fish tank. Sam began to shake, she could feel it, sense what was inside it and feared what was about to happen. She turned to Shelley, fear in her eyes. But she couldn't let it show. Sam was more scared for her partner than she was for her own safety. That's why she had asked to be taken in her place. But in the end, Shelley had been taken anyway.

Shelley's eyes were fixed on the evil looking man that had taken her and Sam from the cell. Shelley realised that he must have been some kind of priest. Sam watched as he circled around them and then walked back to the vat. He put in his hand and pulled out a screeching Goa'uld symbiote. It wiggled around in his hand, desperate to find a new home. The priest moved towards them, the Goa’uld clutched in his hand. He nodded to the Jaffa who grabbed hold of Sam and Shelley.

The priest lowered his hand, showing the Goa’uld his choices. It screeched between the two. Shelley looked at Sam. She'd never been so scared and began to shake.

"Close your eyes!" Sam whispered. "Please."

Shelley did as she was told, then everything faded to black.

...... To Be Continued