Near Yet Far – Parts 10 - 12

 

~*~

Part Ten

~*~

“ I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky I'll be there.

I swear like the shadow that's by your side I’ll be there.

For better or worse, till death do us part,

I'll love you with every beat of my heart,

And I swear.”

~ ‘I Swear’, All 4 One.

~*~

 

Early the next morning, Sam awoke to the feeling of being jostled on the bed. She opened her eyes in time to see Evelyn dash through to the bathroom, the sounds of the young woman being sick following shortly afterwards. With a half-sigh, half-yawn, Sam pushed herself up off the bed, stumbling into the bathroom as she rubbed at her eyes.

 

“ Evie?” She yawned again as she sat down next to Evelyn, and began rubbing her back gently once more. “ Still no better?”

 

Evelyn wiped her mouth as she sat upright, looking at Sam with tears brimming in her eyes. “ What is wrong with me, Samantha? I felt well when we were on our picnic. Is Karalynn right? Did I catch something from staying out in the rain too long once we returned?”

 

“ I don’t think that’s the problem,” Sam murmured sincerely. “ If it was being out in the rain, you’d have a cold and I probably would, too. I feel fine and you’ve got none of the common cold symptoms so.. This is something else, Honey. I don’t know what, but we’ll find out.”

 

“ What can it be?” Evelyn’s eyes were fearful as her fingers searched for Sam’s hand, clinging to it desperately once they found their target. “ I.. I am not.. dying.. am I? I have never before been so sick..”

 

“ Shh.” Sam pulled her into a warm hug, trying to hide her own concern and alarm from the young woman. “ I’m sure it’s nothing serious like that. On Earth, people get sick and make full recoveries all the time. It’s normal for people to get sick.” She released Evelyn and smiled reassuringly. “ We’ll find out what’s wrong with you soon, Evie, I promise. Corlinetta will be able to help us. We can go and see her later today when you’re feeling stronger.”

 

To her surprise, Evelyn shook her head in protest. “ I spoke to Nicholi about going to see her and he said she was visiting her family. She will not be come for several moon-cycles.”

 

Sam groaned inwardly but tried to remain reassuring on the outside. “ Well then I’ll just go to the King and explain the situation. I’m sure he won’t mind if I take you to see one of the other doctors in the palaces medicine centre.”

 

“ Courtesans are amongst all of those who are forbidden from there,” Evelyn reminded her glumly. “ Even the king cannot change the rules unless it is a matter of life and death as it was for you.”

 

“ I’ll talk to him,” Sam repeated, making a vow to herself that they would get to the bottom of Evelyn’s illness. “ Until then, I want you to get back to bed. On my way to see the King, I’ll call in on Karalynn and send her up here to keep you company.”

 

“ Okay.” With Sam’s help, Evelyn made her way back to the bed and snuggled down under the blankets, willing her stomach to calm down. She smiled dozily as Sam leaned down to kiss her forehead. “ I’m glad you are here, Samantha.”

 

“ I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Sam promised, getting to her feet as she crossed the room to the door. She gave Evelyn one last concerned glance and left, her mind focused on the task ahead. Her first mission was to find Karalynn and ask her to stay with Evelyn until she returned, her second was to somehow convince the King to bend the rules and allow Evelyn access to the technology only the wealthiest of Velenthians were permitted to use.

 

Karalynn was only too happy to help, her concern for Evelyn obvious when she heard the younger woman wasn’t feeling any better. Thanking her for her help, Sam squared her shoulders and braced herself for her confrontation with the King. She knew she could usually influence him into doing anything, if she smiled sweetly enough and used the same hopeful eyes she’d used on her father more than once during her childhood, but Evelyn had been right when she’d said it might not be up to him to decide. The medical facility was largely funded by the upper class Velenthians who used it, giving them a great deal of control over what happened there and who was allowed to receive treatment.

 

Crossing her fingers behind her back, Sam took a deep, claming breath as she paused outside the dinning room doors, hearing the King’s voice echo into the hall from inside. She *had* to be able to do this. For Evelyn’s sake.

 

~*~

 

Knocking once, Sam pushed open the door. SG-1 and the King looked up when they heard her enter. The King, having already been up on his feet, walked over to her and gave her a strained smile, his eyes troubled as his fingers fidgeted agitatedly at his sides.

 

“ Samantha, I am pleased you could join us.” He took another step closer in her direction. “ How is Evelyn this morning? I was just explaining to our guests why you couldn’t honour your plans to meet with them.”

 

“ Actually, Evelyn is what I came to talk to you about,” Sam started, feeling nervous at the look in the King’s eyes. Something was wrong, he was too tense. “ Am I interrupting something?”

 

“ No.” The King was quick to assure her. “ In fact, I am glad you are here. It will save me from having to say this twice.” He hesitated as he ushered her the a chair nearest to Jack’s. “ Perhaps you would like to go first and update us on Evelyn’s condition? I hope it has improved?”

 

Sam narrowed her eyes, seeing through his concern, knowing he was stalling in making his announcement. Regardless of seeing through him, she did as he suggested, as Evelyn and her health were her first priority. “ I wish I could tell you Evelyn’s condition has improved but I can’t. She’s still pretty sick. That’s why I’m here. Corlinetta won’t be able to help because she’s away for a few da—sun-cycles so..” She took a deep breath, her words coming out in a rush. “ I was wondering if you’d let me take her to the medical facility to find out what’s wrong with her.”

 

“ Samantha.” The King sighed heavily. “ I cannot give you permission to do that. What if someone saw Evelyn there? The other courtesans would protest.. The facilities supporters would disapprove and demand answers..”

 

“ And if you don’t, we might miss something seriously wrong with her!” Sam stared at him with blazing eyes. “ You can’t just sit by and let something happen to Evelyn because you’re scared of what some stuck-up, small-mind imbeciles will think of you for caring!”

 

“ Samantha, you know I..” The King started to explain himself but was cut off by another voice, one that was unfamiliar to SG-1 and unwelcome to Sam.

 

“ Still as outspoken as ever, I see.” Sam’s head snapped towards the door, her eyes wide as she stared in disbelief at the tall man with cool blue eyes and broad, threatening shoulders. “ I would have thought you’d have disciplined her and taught her better by now, Father.” He smirked as he stepped fully into the room, Sam standing as the King stepped between her and his son. “ You should have taught her some manners. Or perhaps announced my arrival.”

 

“ I had been about to before you so rudely interrupted,” the King responded sharply. He then remembered SG-1 and turned to them with a smile that grew even more forced as he caught sight of the dark expressions on Jack and Daniel’s faces, realising they had already learned of Sam’s history with his son. “ Taylin, these are our guests from Earth. Our new allies. Colonel, Doctor, Captain, Teal’c.. This is my son, Prince Taylin.”

 

Prince Taylin gave them a smile oozing with mock-sincerity as Jack clenched his jaw. “ Charmed to meet you, I’m sure.” His gaze paused briefly on each of their faces before coming back to rest on Sam, a grin that made her skin crawl in place on his lips. “ Don’t I deserve some sort of welcome home at the very least?”

 

“ Not from me.” Sam muttered under her breath. “ I’m going back to be with Evelyn.” She walked passed the Prince, careful to keep some distance between them, and left, closing the door a little harder than necessary behind her.

 

“ I see she isn’t over-joyed to see me.” Prince Taylin broke the silence that had settled over them at her departure, grinning lazily as he helped himself to a chair and reached for some food. “ Women like her need to be shown who has the power, Father. I told you that.”

 

The King advanced on his son, his eyes narrow slits. “ If I hear you’ve gone anywhere near her without her permission, I will have you banished from the palace for good.” He stared unflinchingly down on his son, the hand that was grasping the back of the chair turning white with the exertion.

 

Laughing, Prince Taylin took a bite from a piece of fruit, answering before his mouth was empty. “ You’ve gone soft, Father. But while you are in power of Velenthia, I will abide by your rules. For now.”

 

Under the table, Jack clenched his fist so hard his short fingernails dug into the flesh of his palm, drawing blood. He didn’t like the way Prince Taylin had looked at Sam nor did he like the way he talked about her. After learning what had occurred between them before, Jack decided he would be staying on Velenthia until the Prince left or he managed to convince Sam to leave, whichever came first. He didn’t care how much trouble he would be in with General Hammond and the Air Force, he could live with it. What he couldn’t live with was the knowledge he’d left Sam alone with a dangerous man like Taylin.

 

~*~

 

Sam paced the floor of her room as Evelyn looked at her from her position on the bed. She cursed under her breath, obviously agitated, fear and anger building up inside her in equal measures.

 

“ I feel well now, Samantha,” Evelyn spoke up, sitting up as she smiled reassuringly at Sam. “ Please, let me know what is troubling you. It’s more than the King denying us access to the facility, isn’t it?”

 

Sighing, her shoulders slumping, Sam closed her eyes and forced herself to take several deep, calming breaths, exhaling slowly. “ Prince Taylin has returned to Velenthia. He turned up when I was telling the King about you.” She sighed again and sat down on the bed, shaking, telling herself she was just cold. It had been a long time since Samantha Carter had shaken physically with fear and she wasn’t about to admit she was doing it now. “ I thought I.. I thought it wouldn’t affect me if he came back. I told myself I could deal with it but I don’t think I can. Seeing him again..” She broke off and shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.

 

“ Then you must come away with us,” Evelyn murmured, her eyes shining. “ We will find a way, Samantha. You will be safe on Earth, back in the home you told me so much about. With the people you’ve told me so much about. You *have* to leave. I will not leave you here with Prince Taylin, and I doubt very much so that Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson will, either.”

 

“ There’s nothing that they can do, Evie.” Shaking her head, Sam tensed her shoulders and willed her mind to take control of her shaking body. “ There’s nothing anyone can do without risking the King, and I won’t do that to him. Not after all he’s done. Prince Taylin returning doesn’t affect the plan at all. You and Nicholi will leave with SG-1 in a few days time. It’s as simple as that.”

 

“ No, it isn’t.” Jack’s voice made them both jump as they turned to see him and Daniel in the doorway of Sam’s room. “ Sorry,” he apologised offhandedly for startling them. “ Door was open so we thought we’d just come in.” He shut the door behind Daniel, trading a stern look with the younger man before turning back to Sam, both men wearing resolute expressions. “ We’ve been talking about it and we’ve decided we’re not leaving you here.”

 

Standing, Sam started to argue. “ We’ve talked about – ”

 

“ Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Daniel dismissed her with the wave of his hand. “ Jack explained all the reasons for you not coming with us. We’re gonna need some more time to figure a way to get you to the ’Gate with us and then we had another idea, one that might help Evelyn.”

 

“ Oh?” Sam was curious as she sat back down again, taking Evelyn’s hand in hers to offer the young woman her silent support. “ Help Evelyn how?”

 

“ Teal’c and Gardam are going back through the Stargate to Earth today.” Jack took over the explaining, helping himself to the chair at the dressing table as Daniel sat down next to the fire. “ They’re going to debrief General Hammond and tell him we’re gonna need a few more days to get you out of here. Gardam probably won’t want to come back so.. Teal’c's going to bring Doc. Fraiser with him. Then she can look over Evelyn and tell you what’s wrong.”

 

Blinking, Sam felt the first glimmer of hope of the day start to grow inside her. “ You really think General Hammond will let Janet come through? Or let you guys stay longer than you were meant to?”

 

“ Oh, yeah,” Daniel grinned confidently. “ You know how Janet’s always itching to get away from the base.. She’ll find someone to look after Cassie with no problems. And the General will no doubt give us as much time as we need to bring you home with us.”

 

“ Well.. Okay. If you’re sure..?” Sam squeezed Evelyn’s hand. “ Where are Teal’c and Captain Gardam now?”

 

Jack grinned but seemed, to Sam’s eyes, a little nervous. “ They’re outside by the palace gates. They’re just waiting for one small thing..”

 

“ And that would be..?” Sam glanced between them warily, arching an eyebrow at the syringe Daniel pulled out of his pocket. “ What’s that for?”

 

“ It’ll be easier for Janet to know how to treat Evelyn if she knows what’s wrong with her. This is so Teal’c can take a sample of Evelyn’s blood home so Janet can see if there’s any hint as to what Evelyn’s illness is.” Daniel answered. He looked into Evelyn’s frightened eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. “ It doesn’t hurt. We’ve all had it done loads of times.”

 

“ Samantha?” Evelyn gripped Sam’s hand tightly, shrinking beneath the blankets. “ I feel much better now,” she pleaded.

 

Taking the syringe from Daniel, Sam turned to face Evelyn with a soft smile. “ Do you honestly feel better or are you just saying that so I don’t worry and don’t take some of your blood?” Evelyn lowered her gaze guiltily. “ Don’t worry, Evelyn. Daniel’s right. We’ve all had this done before and we’re all okay.”

 

“ What do I have to do?” Evelyn stared suspiciously at the syringe as Sam took off the plastic cover, the needle glinting.

 

“ Hold out your arm and look in the opposite direction to me.” Sam told her softly. Evelyn did as she was told. Sam took a deep breath and looked carefully for a vein in Evelyn’s arm. Finding one, she poised the end of the needle a millimetre above Evelyn’s skin. “ Okay. Now this might hurt for a second but I promise you, it’ll all be over before you know it. Ready?”

 

“ Ready.” Evelyn grasped the blankets in her fists and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, holding her breath. Sam fought the urge to do the same and forced herself to keep her eyes open as she jabbed the needle into Evelyn’s skin and prayed she’d find the right place. Relief filled her as the syringe started filling with blood and she let out the breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Moments later, she withdrew the needle and put its plastic cap back on, handing it quickly to Jack as Daniel pressed a small patch of material against Evelyn’s arm. “ Is it over yet?” Evelyn murmured, her eyes still closed.

 

“ It’s all over,” Sam assured her. Evelyn opened her eyes and blinked, a little confused that it was over so soon. “ It didn’t hurt, did it?”

 

Shaking her head, Evelyn smiled. “ No, it didn’t.” She looked at the material on her arm, frowning slightly at the small dot of blood that had soaked through. “ Is that normal? For it to be bleeding?”

 

“ It usually happens,” Daniel was quick to jump in reassuringly. He grinned sheepishly. “ You’re braver than I am. First time someone took blood from me, I passed out.” Evelyn giggled and leaned back against Sam.

 

“ Well, we should be going. The sooner Teal’c and Gardam have this, the sooner they can leave.” Jack got to his feet and couldn’t help a small grin at the sight of Evelyn falling asleep in Sam’s arms. “ Oh, and I put forward the idea of Evelyn coming with us to the King this morning. He said he’d let me know later today.”

 

“ Thanks.” Sam smiled at him as Evelyn shifted from leaning on Sam to leaning against the pillows. “ Have you guys made plans for the day or are you just going to be sitting by the ’Gate, waiting for Janet and Teal’c to show up?”

 

“ We were gonna do that but then Teal’c suggested they take some of Evelyn’s blood back. It’ll be tomorrow at the earliest that Doc. Fraiser has the results so we figured we’d walk Teal’c and Gardam back to the ’Gate and do some exploring of our own,” Jack replied, unable to take his eyes from hers, both of them oblivious to Daniel’s knowing smirk. “ We were going to ask you to join us but..” He gestured at Evelyn with his hand. “ You’ve got your hands full.”

 

Nodding, Sam broke eye contact to glance at Evelyn, smiling fondly as the young woman slept on. “ You guys should go exploring,” she agreed, her gaze straying back to his. “ Velenthia is a beautiful place, especially once you get a little further away from the city. I’m sure you’ll both enjoy it.”

 

“ What about you?” Daniel questioned, his smirk giving way to concern. “ With Prince Taylin being here.. I don’t know if we should go exploring or not.”

 

“ He won’t try anything,” Sam told him with a look she hoped was more confident than she felt. “ Not with you guys here, and with the King keeping a close eye on him.. If he does try anything, it’ll be less obvious and hopefully there’ll be some warning before he makes his move.”

 

“ Are you sure?” Daniel pressed, both convinced and unconvinced by her answer. He wanted to believe it, he just wasn’t sure if he should. “ We don’t want to leave if there’s a chance..”

 

“ Go,” she responded firmly. “ I’ll be fine. He won’t come near me as long as Evelyn’s here and I know Karalynn will be back any minute now so.. I’ll be fine. He won’t try anything, I promise.”

 

“ Okay.” Daniel still seemed unconvinced but followed Jack to the door regardless of it. “ We’ll be back in.. About..” He looked to Jack, unsure.

 

Rolling his eyes, Jack opened the door. “ We’ll be back before it gets dark. Hopefully in time to eat.”

 

“ I’ll see you then,” Sam smiled. “ Have fun,” she called out after them.

 

Grinning, Jack winked as he closed the door behind them. “ Yasureyoubetcha!”

 

Laughing in spite of herself, Sam got up from the bed, careful not to wake Evelyn and sat down at her dressing table. She opened the top drawer and took out her journal, flicking through the pages until she found a new, clean page and picked up her pen. Smiling to herself, she began to write, listing the developments that had kept her writing in it for the last few days, needing something to distract her from the butterflies in her stomach that fluttered around as she thought of seeing Janet again.

 

~*~

 

“ Unauthorized Off-World Activation!” The Klaxons blared and the red lights flashed. Janet exchanged a hopeful glance with General Hammond as they held their breaths, waiting for an IDC to be received and recognised by the computer.

 

“ We’re receiving a transmission code, General. It’s SG-1, Sir!” The technician who was currently sitting in the control room announced. He kept his eyes glued to the monitor, knowing a lot of people’s hopes were riding on this, feeling nervous with so many people’s eyes resting on his back.

 

“ Open the Iris, Son,” General Hammond ordered in a voice he could barely control. Behind his back, he crossed his fingers, praying this was it.

 

 “ The computer is picking up two travellers, Sir.” The technician spoke up, shifting uncomfortably.

 

All eyes were averted to the Stargate as the Event Horizon emitted its eerie blue glow. Both General Hammond and Janet moved down to the Gateroom, concerned there were only two people returning when they’d been hoping for five. They reached the bottom of the ramp just as Teal’c and Captain Gardam stepped through.

 

“ Teal’c, Captain.” The General greeted them both with a sharp nod as the wormhole behind them disintegrated. “ Where are Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson?”

 

“ They’re back on the planet, Sir,” Captain Gardam stated, her expression sour.

 

Turning to Teal’c, the General hoped to get more answers from him. “ Teal’c? Why didn’t they return with you? And what’s that in your hand?”

 

Teal’c handed the syringe to Janet. “ It is a blood sample of a young girl Colonel O’Neill wishes for Doctor Fraiser to go and see. O’Neill and Daniel-Jackson chose to remain on Velenthia until I could return with Doctor Fraiser tomorrow.” He paused and it seemed to Janet that he was fighting a smile. “ They chose to remain behind with Major Carter, hoping that they will come up with a way of bringing her back with us.”

 

“ Major Carter?” General Hammond’s jaw dropped as Janet covered her mouth with her hand to smuggle a gasp. “ You found her? She was there?”

 

“ Yes, Sir.” Captain Gardam scowled. “ General, I’d like to request a reassignment from SG-1. I don’t think I’ll be needed there anymore if Colonel O’Neill succeeds in bringing Major Carter home.”

 

The General nodded, his mind preoccupied. “ We’ll discuss it at the debriefing, in thirty minutes. In the meantime, get yourselves to the infirmary with Doctor Fraiser to be checked out.”

 

“ Yes, Sir.” Gardam saluted and marched out of the Gateroom, glaring at anyone who crossed her path. Teal’c bowed his head and followed, falling into step with Janet, who was eager to ask him all about Sam, excited at the prospect of travelling through the Stargate and seeing her friend again.

 

General Hammond remained in the Gateroom, staring at the inactive ’Gate, his thoughts racing as he tried to take in what Teal’c had said. They’d found her. He couldn’t believe it. It seemed too good to be true. His brow furrowed as he remembered what Teal’c had said about SG-1 having to come up with a way to allow Major Carter to travel home with them. Was she hurt, injured? Why couldn’t she just leave?

 

With those thoughts in mind, he left the Gateroom and headed to the briefing room, staring at the clock, counting down the thirty minutes till he got the answers he needed to the questions that played heavily on his mind.

 

~*~

 

Sam barely slept that night, just as Janet, light years away, had the same problem. Both women were nervous and excited, trying to imagine the reunion they’d both been dreaming of for months. It wouldn’t be happening under the circumstances they’d dreamt of, nor in the same place but it was still the reunion they wanted.

 

Eventually, the night gave way to day and sunlight streamed through the windows in Sam’s bedroom. She stretched cautiously, trying not to wake Evelyn, and climbed out of bed, walking towards the window as she yawned, trying to wake herself up.

 

With a smile, she moved away from the window, moving to the bathroom. Getting on her knees, she lit the coals beneath the bath and stood, starting to fill it with water. Stretching again, she wandered back into her bedroom, quietly taking a loose and simple dress from the wardrobe as well as some clean underwear from a drawer and took the clothes back into the bathroom. She started to take of her nightgown, only to second-guess whether the door to her room was locked and had to go back out of the bathroom to check. The last thing she wanted was someone – namely Prince Taylin – paying her a surprise visit when Evelyn was asleep and she was in the process of bathing.

 

Reassuring herself the door was secure, Sam went back to her bath, pouring in a generous amount of scented oils as the water continued to run. She clipped her hair up, turned off the makeshift tap and undressed, immersing herself in the warm water as soon as she could.

 

Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the back of the bathtub, telling herself she’d just lie there for a while, resting her eyes until she was completely relaxed. She didn’t count on her sleepless night catching up with her, nor did she anticipate the warmth of the water being so comforting that it lulled her to sleep.

 

“ Samantha?” Almost an hour later, she was awoken by Evelyn, who was kneeling again, having emptied the contents of her stomach. “ Samantha, wake up.”

 

“ Hmm?” Her eyelids fluttered as she woke up and became able to open them fully. She frowned on seeing Evelyn and sat up. “ Evie? You’ve been sick again?”

 

 “Yes,” Evelyn nodded. “ But Samantha, you’ve missed breakfast.” The young woman stood and handed Sam a towel. “ Colonel O’Neill and Doctor Jackson are waiting for you in the hallway. They have heard from Teal’c. He will be returning shortly.”

 

Hurriedly, Sam got out of the bath, wrapping herself in the towel, suddenly wide-awake. As Evelyn left her alone to let Daniel and Jack into Sam’s room, she quickly dried herself and got dressed, appearing a few minutes later in the bedroom, her face flushed as she searched for a hairbrush and some shoes. “ Sorry,” she apologised to Jack and Daniel as she slipped her feet into her shoes at the same time as running a brush through her hair. “ Guess I over-slept.”

 

“ It’s okay,” Jack grinned, his amusement evident. As far as he could remember, this was the first time he’d seen her late for anything, the first time she’d been flustered and something other than the Little Miss Organised everyone assumed her to be. He liked seeing this side of her, it made her a little more human and less like some machine. “ The SGC radioed us. Teal’c and Doc. Fraiser will be here within the hour.”

 

Feeling her nerves come back to her, Sam took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “ Okay. So. I’m ready.”

 

“ You sure?” Daniel teased, grinning widely. “ You look like you’re going face-to-face with a battalion of Jaffa.”

 

“ I feel like I am,” Sam muttered, straightening her dress. She glanced down at herself and raised her head, a wary expression on her face. “ Do I look okay?”

 

Laughing, Daniel walked over to her and gave her a quick hug. “ You look fine. Now quit being so nervous, Janet’s not *that* scary.”

 

“ She is if she’s got her needles with her,” Jack quipped immediately, winking at Evelyn, who giggled despite not getting the joke. “ He’s right, Carter. Relax. Doc’s probably just as nervous about this as you are.”

 

“ Okay, okay.” Sam took a deep breath. “ I’m calm. I’m ready. Okay. We should probably go now before I decide this is more than I can handle.” Agreeing, Daniel and Jack ushered her from the room before she could change her mind. Evelyn grinned at them, giggling when Jack rolled his eyes as Sam fussed over her dress. “ We’ll be back soon,” Sam promised Evelyn as she was ‘escorted’ down the hallway. “ And Karalynn’s just downstairs if you need her. Oh, and lock the door if you want to go to sleep.”

 

“ She’ll be fine, *Mom*,” Jack shook his head, putting a hand to the small of her back as they turned the corner. “ Quit worrying so much. It doesn’t suit you.”

 

Sam’s only response was to send him a glare as Daniel snickered. During the short trip to the Stargate, it felt like nothing had changed. They teased each and made jokes at each other’s expense, momentarily giving into denial, make believing that everything was the way it once was.

 

~*~

 

They got to the Stargate early. Sam started pacing as Jack and Daniel sat down, prepared to wait. She kept asking what time it was, having lost her own watch a long time ago, and kept alternating between chewing on her bottom lip or biting her fingernails.

 

Finally, the Stargate began to move and they walked to a safe distance. Sam watched the Gate with baited breath as her former team mates watched her, grinning at each other over her anxiety. Sam’s eyes were glued to the Stargate as it activated. She didn’t wince as the wormhole engaged. She forgot to remind herself to breathe.

 

“ Sam,” Daniel whispered as two figures emerged through the Event Horizon. “ Don’t forget to breathe!” Sam glared at him but took his advice and inhaled deeply, exhaling as Janet and Teal’c approached.

 

“ Major Carter.” Teal’c greeted her with a nod. Discreetly, he moved over to Daniel and Jack and ushered the two men to the side, having seen how nervous Janet had been on the other side, knowing only half of that nervousness was caused by the thought of going through the Stargate.

 

Standing in front of each other, Janet and Sam smiled shyly, each taking the time to memorize the appearance of her friend. “ This is stupid,” Sam was the first to break the silence with a sheepish smile. “ It’s not like we’re strangers..”

 

Janet shook her head but couldn’t speak, her throat clogged and her eyes shining brightly. “ Oh, come here.” She got tired of standing with her arms hanging awkwardly at her side and made the first move. They embraced warmly, clinging to each other stubbornly as they both fought tears. “ I’ve missed you so much!”

 

“ I’ve missed you, too.” Sam murmured back, holding on for all she was worth. They eventually pulled away as Jack none-too-discreetly cleared his throat behind them.

 

“ Hate to interrupt, but you did tell Evelyn you wouldn’t be long, Carter,” Jack reminded her with a meaningful look.

 

Thinking immediately of Prince Taylin, Sam nodded and the five of them made started to make their way back to the palace, Sam and Janet slowly walking behind the men. “ You look great,” Janet murmured, taking in Sam’s new appearance and noting how well it suited her. “ Wonderful, even.”

 

“ Thank you, you’re just the way I remembered,” Sam grinned and shifted the straps of the backpack she’d taken off Janet, knowing she was probably still more accustomed to the weight of it than her friend was. “ The guys tell me Cassandra’s still doing well at school? And that she’s started dating?”

 

“ Don’t get me started on Cassie dating,” Janet warned, feigning a shudder. “ It’s been one boy after the last – she can’t decide what her ‘type’ is so said she had to test them all. It’s been a *complete* nightmare.”

 

“ Must be one heck of an adventure for Cassie, though,” Sam managed to stop herself from giggling. Her expression grew sombre. “ I’ve missed her. I think maybe she’s why I’ve become so close to Evelyn. In a lot of ways, they remind me of each other.”

 

“ Evelyn?” Janet repeated. “ That’s the woman whose blood you sent through the Stargate?”

 

“ Yes,” Sam nodded. “ Well, she more like a girl than a woman. In age, anyway. She’s a more mature than someone her age should be. Been through too much for a seventeen year old.”

 

Janet looked uncomfortable. “ Well she’s about to go through something else a seventeen year old shouldn’t go through.”

 

Stopping just outside the palace doors, Sam turned to face her, her eyes fearful and concerned. “ What’s wrong with her? What did the blood tests show?”

 

“ Sam.” Janet put a comforting hand on her arm. “ The blood tests tested negative for a lot of things. But it tested positive for one. Evelyn is pregnant.”

 

“ Pregnant? Evie?” Sam shook her head, not wanting to believe it. “ But that’s impossible. There are contraceptive measures everyone who’s with a courtesan must use. Evelyn can’t be pregnant unless.. Unless..”

 

“ Unless what, Sam?”

 

Sam closed her eyes and released a heavy sigh. “ Unless Nicholi is the father.” She opened her eyes to see Janet’s confusion. “ Nicholi is Evelyn’s fiancé. He’s the only person I know she would be with freely.” She took a deep breath and shook her head, shaking away the distracting thoughts she was having. “ I.. I’ve got to go see the King. I’ll see you guys later, okay?”

 

Janet and the rest of SG-1 could only nod as she raced off inside the palace, a force to be reckoned with. Jack and Daniel traded confused glances and looked to Janet for answers. The petite doctor only sighed in response.

 

~*~

 

Without knocking on the door, Sam pushed her way into the King’s study, her face flushed a deep pink colour, out of breath. Alarmed at her sudden arrival and at her appearance, the King stood, his grave expression turning into one of apprehension.

 

“ Samantha? My dear, are you well?” He stepped closer, holding out his hand. “ Is it Evelyn? She is better, is she not?”

 

“ You need to let her go to Earth with SG-1,” Sam managed to gasp. “ It’s important. You have to include her in your trade agreement. I promise you, I’ll stay for as long as I need to, just let Evelyn go.”

 

The King hung his head and sat back down in his chair, refusing to meet her gaze with his own. “ I’m afraid I cannot allow that, Samantha. Evelyn cannot be included in the trade agreement, as much as I like Colonel O’Neill and his companions.”

 

“ Why not?” Sam demanded, both devastated and surprised at his response. She had been certain he would let Evelyn go. She knew he was fond of her and she knew it wouldn’t be such a loss if he did. Although Evelyn was beautiful, she was very young and most of the men from the city were nervous about spending the night with someone younger than most of their children. “ You can let her go! She doesn’t bring in that much money! Hell, I’d even take all of her clients from her if you needed me to, no matter how much I’d hate doing it! You *have* to let her go!”

 

“ I do not think you heard my father properly,” Prince Taylin cut in smoothly, making his presence known as he stood up from his place at sitting in the chair facing the fire. “ He cannot let Evelyn go.” His eyes gleamed evilly. “ Because Evelyn now belongs to me.”

 

Sam stared, open-mouthed as all of her dreams and plans for Evelyn and Nicholi died in that instant.

 

~*~

“ Just let me ask of you one small thing

As we have shared so many tears

With fervour our dreams we planned a whole life long

Now are scattered on the wind.”

~ ‘Path of Thorns (Terms)’, Sarah McLachlan.

~*~

Part Eleven

~*~

“All my thoughts seem to settle on the breeze

 When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms

 The whole world just fades away

 The only thing I hear

  Is the beating of your heart.”

~ ‘Breathe’, Faith Hill.

~*~

 

“ It isn’t fair,” Sam complained for the twelfth time in as many minutes. The day was finally reaching its end. It was dark and cold outside, which made her all the more grateful that she was cocooned in the warmth of Jack’s arms.

 

After her encounter with the King and Prince Taylin, Sam had gone straight to her friends and former team mates to update them on the latest revelations. From there, she had taken Janet to meet Evelyn and the two women had broken the news to both the confused girl and her fiancé that they were going to be parents. Both Nicholi and Evelyn had been shocked, although it seemed that they were both excited at the news, which was why Sam had chosen not to tell them of the change in their plans. She was going to find a solution, a way to get Evelyn away from here. She *had* to. She felt responsible for her now.

 

Sam had spent the majority of the day with Janet and Evelyn, listening as Janet told Evelyn everything she needed to know about being pregnant. Throughout it all, Evelyn paid attention, occasionally clutching onto Sam’s hand when something sounded frightening. Janet and Sam later left Evelyn and Nicholi alone in Sam’s room, the two women choosing to wander around the gardens, talking about anything and nothing, just enjoying the time they were able to spend together.

 

As the day wore on, they joined their friends for their evening meal. The King and Prince Taylin were thankfully absent. They sat by the fire in the dining room talking for another two hours before Daniel decided to call it a night, with Janet and Teal’c soon agreeing to do the same. Sam had walked with Janet to her room, spending a good half an hour saying goodnight and then when she’d just about to start for her room since Evelyn had gone back to her room with Nicholi, Jack had appeared out of no where. He’d asked her if she wanted to talk, and that was how she’d ended up in his room, curled up against him as he tried to comfort her.

 

“ We’ll find a way of getting Evelyn back to Earth,” Jack assured her, rubbing her back with his hand in the same way she’d comforted Evelyn earlier. “ I promise, we won’t leave her here.”

 

“ But how are we going to get her away from Taylin? He *owns* her now and he isn’t going to just let her go. It won’t be that simple,” Sam argued, sighing deeply. “ I can’t believe the King would hand Evelyn over like that. He *knew* you were going to take her to Earth where she’d be safe. I don’t understand it. I don’t get why Taylin would *want* Evelyn in the first place. He’s never shown any interest in her before.”

 

“ Maybe it’s a way to get at you,” he suggested softly. “ He seems to be holding a grudge against you and it’s obvious how close you and Evelyn are.. Maybe this is his discreet way of getting to you.”

 

She considered his words and sighed again. “ It sounds like something he would do.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “ This can’t be it, though. He has to have some kind of ulterior motive.. I wonder what he’s going to do, why he’s using Evelyn.”

 

“ No doubt we’ll find out soon enough so why don’t you quit worrying about it?” Jack shifted so he could see her face, smiling when he saw she was struggling to keep her eyes open. “ You barely slept last night from what I saw this morning, although why you were nervous about seeing Doc, I’ll never know..”

 

Gazing up at him through deceptively innocent big blue eyes, she blinked sleepily. “ I didn’t know how she was going to react,” she mumbled. “ By now, Captain Gardam has had time to tell everyone on base what it is I do here. Janet knew before she even stepped through the Stargate. I wasn’t sure how she was going to take it, or how she was going to react to me knowing that I.. Knowing what I’ve done.”

 

“ Anyone who really cares for you won’t let something like this change how they feel,” he assured her, softly cupping her face. “ I honestly can’t see that many people on base reacting in the way you’re expecting them to, especially not anyone who’s spent any time with you before or after the mission to P6Y331. Anyone who really cares will get to know you all over again before making any narrow-minded judgments and they’ll see how special you are.”

 

Smiling gratefully, Sam caught his hand and entwined her fingers with his. “ Thank you. That means a lot, coming from you.”

 

“ Hey, you know me. Always coming up with pearls of wisdom, sometimes finding one that makes sense.” He grinned, trying to lighten the mood before it became too serious and emotion-laden. “ Now, how about we try and get some beauty sleep, okay?”

 

“ Are you saying I need it?” She asked with a yawn as he reached over and turned off the oil lamp, both of them burrowing under the blankets with Jack casually slinging an arm about her waist.

 

“ Well,” Jack’s tone was teasing, his breath warm on the back of her neck. “ I wasn’t going to say anything but..”

 

She nudged him with her elbow and he chuckled in response, making her giggle. “ I think you should watch it, Mister.”

 

“ That’s *Colonel* to you.” He retorted, clinching his hands together at her waist as she leaned back against him.

 

Her response was lost in a yawn. Within only a matter of minutes, Jack felt her relax completely as her breathing became deep and even. He held onto her, fighting the urge to follow her lead and give into unconsciousness, wanting to prolong the feeling of having her there with him. He knew it wouldn’t be forever, that falling asleep with her in his arms was a luxury he couldn’t get used to. Once they were back on Earth – and he was sure *they* would be – they wouldn’t be able to do this, they wouldn’t be able to share this closeness. Wanting to make it last as long as possible, Jack nestled his chin against the crown of her head and closed his eyes, willing sleep to stay away for a few more hours.

 

~*~

 

Waking slowly, Sam smiled at feeling the warmth of another person surrounding her. She glanced at the windows, the position of the sun her only method of telling the time, her smile fading as she remembered why she’d gone with Jack into his room: to talk about Evelyn and the new obstacles thrown into their way by Prince Taylin.

 

Sighing, Sam started to slip from beneath the blankets, freezing when she felt Jack move behind her as he tightened his grip and mumbled something incoherent. Smiling to herself, she tried to untangle his arms from around her waist. As with every morning, Sam wanted to be up and out before he woke up. She had the feeling being around him first thing in the morning would be awkward, fearing that some part of him would still see her as ‘Major Carter’ and that first thing in the morning, when he was still half asleep, he’d forget that there was more to her than that.

 

Somehow managing to replace her body with a pillow, Sam quickly found her shoes and slipped out of the room. She quietly made her way to her room, hoping she wouldn’t bump into anyone, relieved when she didn’t. She changed quickly and tidied herself, an idea forming in her mind. Jack had said he suspected Prince Taylin’s actions had something to do with her, and him getting even with her. If that was true, then maybe there was a small chance she could convince him to let Evelyn go.

 

The problem was, what would Prince Tayiln want in return and would she be willing to pay the price of Evelyn’s freedom?

 

Praying she was doing the right thing and that she would be able to do whatever necessary, Sam made her way from her room to the wing of the palace she knew Prince Taylin would be in.

 

~*~

 

He sat in his chair by the fire in his own private study, sipping wine despite the early hour. Prince Taylin was happy, content. Everything was going the way he wanted it to. He had control, he had power. It was a feeling he’d been addicted to since he was a child and first realised who his parents were and what that meant for him. One day, he would rule all of Velenthia, with a firmer hand than his father, and he would relish it. He would enjoy the control it gave him, he would use the power to do as he wanted, not what his advisors suggested.

 

The knock on the door came as no surprise. With a lazy grin, Prince Taylin set the goblet he was drinking from down on the table at his side. He stood, taking his own sweet time, and walked over to the door, sauntering casually, knowing who would be waiting for him on the other side.

 

Swinging the door open, he grinned widely, his grin oozing charm. “ Samantha. What a pleasant surprise!” He opened the door to allow her to enter. “ Please, do come in.”

 

Somewhat reluctantly, Sam stepped into the large room, her fingers twitching at her sides. She stood by one of the chairs in the room, her legs feeling weak but unwilling to sit down and give him any more of an advantage over her. “ This isn’t a social visit,” she started, watching warily as he moved to his chair to retake his original position, picking up his goblet again.

 

“ I know,” the Prince grinned smugly. “ I was expecting you to visit me.” He arched an eyebrow and gave her a speculative look over the brim of his goblet. “ However, I must say I was surprised you did not choose to visit me last night. I understand you instead spent your night *willingly* with Colonel O’Neill?”

 

Sam bristled. “ What I do and who I do it with is none of your business.” She took a moment to take a deep breath and calm herself down. Anger was not going to be helpful in this situation. She had to try and stay on his good side, as hard as that was going to be. “ I’m here to discuss Evelyn, and ask you to reconsider.”

 

“ Reconsider?” The Prince echoed with a hollow laugh. “ What is there to reconsider? Evelyn is a sweet girl, rumoured to have been taught all she knows by you. I’m sure she will keep me very, very happy when I need her to.”

 

“ But she’s just a child!” Sam exclaimed, trying to appeal to his sensitive side, not expecting to find one. “ She doesn’t deserve to spend the rest of her life confined to this place. She deserves much, much better. Please,” she implored. “ Let Evelyn go back to Earth with SG-1. She can be so much more there than she is here, please give her the chance.”

 

“ Why?” He put his goblet down and stared into her eyes, curiosity mingled with another emotion she couldn’t decipher but didn’t like shining in his eyes. “ Tell me, Samantha. What would *I* gain by letting Evelyn go? She cost me much, my father refused to give her to me as a gift but was unable to deny by request at purchasing her. Give me one good reason why I should let Evelyn go and tell me what I would gain in return.. and I may consider your request.”

 

Biting back a sigh, Sam straightened her back. “ You should let Evelyn go because it’s the right thing to do. Because she’s too young to be of any use to you. She was born into her role here as much as you were born into yours. There must have been times in your life you wished you could be normal. Times you wished you could go outside the palace and play with all of the other boys?” She paused to take a deep breath. “ You scare her.”

 

The Prince stood and walked up to her, stopping merely inches away so that when he spoke, his breath rustled her hair. “ Do I scare you, Samantha?”

 

Defiantly, willing her body not to give her away, Sam raised her head to meet his gaze and stared unflinchingly into his eyes. “ No.”

 

Surprisingly, he chuckled with mirth. “ Samantha, you never fail to amuse me.” Suddenly, his face lost all traces of humour and he grasped her upper arms firmly, leaning in close to glare menacingly at her.  “ You should be, Samantha. You should be very afraid of me.” As abruptly as it came, his threatening stance disappeared as he backed off. “ So. You have yet to tell me what I could gain from letting Evelyn be free to leave.”

 

“ What would you want?” She asked, fighting to keep her tone even.

 

Grinning, Prince Taylin sat back down in his chair. “ What would *you* personally be willing to give, Samantha? How close are you and Evelyn? How much do you *really* value her welfare?”

 

 “ Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll tell you if I agree,” Sam responded coolly, keeping her expression neutral despite feeling terrified at what he might say on the inside.

 

“ I will allow Evelyn to leave with your Colonel,” he began with a smile. “ If you consent to being my Queen and help me convince my father he is too old to continue ruling Velenthia. You will easily be able to sway his decision, Samantha; you have more power over him than my mother ever did. With you at my side, I will be able to control Velenthia how I want to, with no interference from my father.”

 

“ What?” Staring at him in utter-shock, Sam couldn’t believe what she was hearing to be true. “ You want me to *marry* you.. and you want me to tell your father to give up the throne and turn his kingdom over to you?”

 

“ Basically, yes.” The Prince smiled at her. “ Wonderful plan, isn’t it? I can see it clearly, Samantha. You would make me a very happy King. And I could promise to stay loyal to you, without taking a mistress.” He arched an eyebrow suggestively. “ If what I hear is true, you are more than enough for one man.”

 

Shaking her head, Sam turned away from him, disgusted at his proposition and appalled that she was actually considering it. “ You can’t marry me,” she decided eventually, turning back to him. “ I’m a courtesan, you’re a Prince. Surely that isn’t allowed?”

 

“ If I say it is allowed, it shall be,” Prince Taylin assured her, obviously pleased with himself. “ Do not worry yourself, Samantha. Our marriage will be celebrated by the people of Velenthia. An ordinary woman – as ordinary as you could be – marrying a Prince. It is like those fairytales my father is so fond of hearing from your world, is it not?”

 

“ Not really,” Sam mumbled, shaking her head again to clear her thoughts. “ I need some time to think about this. I can’t decide.. I need more time. It’s a big decision.”

 

“ You have till midday tomorrow,” the Prince told her with a smile. “ I will make the necessary arrangements so that if you consent, the wedding will take place tomorrow.”

 

“ Tomorrow?” She felt her bottom jaw drop again. “ That soon?”

 

“ These things, Samantha,” he murmured, “ are best not left too long or the moment passes. Perhaps, if you keep me waiting, I will change my mind and you will not be able to convince me to let Evelyn go.” He got to his feet as she started walking towards the door. “ Remember, Samantha. This is the only option I will give you, the only time I will be lenient. You must ask yourself, does Evelyn mean so much to you that you will trade your freedom for hers?”

 

Unsure how to answer, Sam left quickly, heading straight for her room. She couldn’t face seeing any of her friends or the King. She needed time to think.

 

~*~

 

She had been hoping her absence would go unnoticed but she wasn’t that lucky. Within an hour of breakfast being over, there was a soft knock on the door that she recognised to belong to Janet. She sat up, smiling as she remembered all of the times she’d be able to confide in Janet over the years, knowing without a doubt that if there was only one person she was going to feel comfortable sharing her problems with, then it was Janet. Feeling a little better at the thought of being able to talk her predicament over with one of her best friends, Sam got off the bed and made her way to the door, relieved to find only Janet standing on the other side.

 

“ Phew,” Janet smiled. “ I thought for a moment I’d followed the directions wrong and got the wrong room.” Her relief and smile dissipated, seeing something in Sam’s face that set her on edge. “ Sam? Are you okay?”

 

“ Not really,” Sam forced a smile for appearances sake and opened the door fully to allow Janet to enter. “ I *really* need to your advice on something. Something.. big.”

 

“ Well.” Janet sat down on the bed and wriggled around to make herself comfortable. “ I’m all yours for the day. The King said I wouldn’t be granted access to the med. Labs until tomorrow so.. you have my undivided attention.”

 

“ Where is everyone else?” Sam asked softly, locking the door behind her before joining Janet on the bed.

 

Shrugging, Janet stretched out languidly. “ I sent them out for the day, telling them we needed a chance to do some serious girl-talk. Surprisingly enough, they didn’t put up too much of a fight. I don’t think they really wanted to spend the day listening to us go on and on about the colours of nail varnish and other mundane things men think women talk about.”

 

“ I don’t think we’ve *ever* talked about the colour of nail varnish,” Sam murmured as she curled up on her side, facing her friend. It was deceptive how comfortable she seemed, how.. at home.. she felt.“ Have we?”

 

“ No. But we can always start, I guess.” Raising herself up on her elbows, Janet looked down on her friend, concern shining in her brown eyes. “ I get the feeling what you want to talk about is more serious than nail varnish or even these clothes we’re being made to wear. Spill it, Sam. You said it was a biggie. Prove it.”

 

“ Oh, it’s a biggie,” Sam sighed. “ A real big dilemma.”

 

“ Come on.. Share!” Janet insisted, wanting to know what was causing her friend such confusion.

 

Closing her eyes, Sam swallowed the lump in her throat. “ I went to see Prince Taylin this morning. About Evelyn. I wanted to know if there was any way he would change his mind and let her go through the Stargate with you guys in a few days time.”

 

“ And is there?” Janet pressed when Sam seemed to falter.

 

Giving Janet a short nod, Sam opened pained eyes. “ Prince Taylin said he’d let her go.. On two conditions. One being that I help him convince his father to give up the throne and hand over his royal title. The other.. The other being that I consent to marry him. He wants me to be his wife, Janet.” She bit her lip to stop it from quivering, feeling more helpless than she had in a long time. “ He said it would be a trade. My freedom for Evelyn’s. I don’t know what to do.” She turned to Janet, her expression beseeching. “ What do I do? I really need your advice on this one, Janet.”

 

“ Sam..” Janet started to say something but stopped, her mouth closing with an audible snap. “ I can’t tell you what to do,” she answered eventually. “ I can give you my opinion.. But it’s up to you in the end.”

 

“ What’s your opinion?” Sam asked. “ Anything you have to say will be helpful. I’m.. I don’t want to say yes to him. I *really* don’t want to be trapped in a marriage with him.. But I can’t just sit by and let Evelyn be forced into staying here. Not now she’s pregnant.. If the Prince finds out she’s with child.. He’ll have the pregnancy terminated and I know she doesn’t want that. God, Janet, I’m so confused. I’ve got less than twenty-four hours to decide what to do, and if I agree to it, the Prince wants us to get married tomorrow!”

 

“ My opinion,” Janet murmured calmly, taking Sam’s hand. “ Is that although your heart is telling you one thing, your head has to be telling you another. Marrying this guy.. No. You can’t do that, in my opinion. I’ve heard what he did to you or almost did to you and I think marrying him is leaving yourself open to that kind of treatment for the rest of your life. However,” she smiled weakly. “ This is where I get contradictive. I don’t believe Evelyn deserves that either. I don’t think she should have to stay here with him and I don’t think you could live with yourself if you let that happen.”

 

“ So what do I do?” Sam questioned, confused as much as helped by Janet’s reply and advice. “ What do you think I should do?”

 

“ Leave,” Janet stated bluntly. “ You, Evelyn and Nicholi. I think the three of you should just pack your things and leave with the rest of us. Don’t wait to be given permission, don’t ask for your freedom or make deals to keep it. It’s *yours*. It’s your right to be able to do what you want to do.”

 

Shaking her head, Sam cleared her throat to dislodge the unshed tears there. “ I want to be able to agree to that, Janet. But the King..”

 

“ Will have to learn to deal with the consequences,” Janet finished sharply. “ He had no right keeping you here in the first place, Sam. Answer me honestly, when you first came here before you developed your relationship with him, did you want to go home?”

 

“ Of course I did!” Sam answered vehemently. “ I still want to go home, I just don’t see how I can with everything being as it is..”

 

“ Then why didn’t you come home?” Janet continued relentlessly. “ You didn’t come home because you felt you had your freedom taken from you, your free-will to choose. The King, although he’s nicer than Prince Taylin, is just the same as his son. He kept you here against your will and made your decisions for you, just like his son is doing now.” She squeezed Sam’s hand. “ I know you won’t be able to accept what I’m saying but you asked for my opinion and I’m giving it to you. Leave. Don’t let someone else tell you what to do.”

 

“ I wish I could,” Sam mumbled, hiding her face in her pillow. “ Times like this I wish I was more like Major Carter than plain old Sam.”

 

Smiling softly, Janet reached over to hug her. “ There’s nothing wrong with Sam, and she’s not plain or old. She’s pretty great, you know.”

 

“ I wish I could believe that,” Sam murmured. “ But it seems like Major-Doctor Carter is the useful person. Not me.”

 

Making a quick decision, Janet got to her feet and held out a hand to Sam. “ I think we’ve had enough serious talk for one day. You have a lot to think about and a lot to decide.. But you’ve got till tomorrow. So.” She grinned mischievously when Sam accepted the hand she offered. “ It’s time for a distraction and you always told me I was good at those. Lets go for a walk around the palace grounds and you can tell me all about your adventures here in Velenthia and about the people you’ve met.” She winked as Sam stood. “ We can even make fun of some of ‘em if it would make you feel better.”

 

It was a weak smile but a smile nevertheless that graced Sam’s features. “ Then what are we waiting for? It sounds like fun to me.”

 

She wasn’t able to forget the decision she had to make, but for a few carefree hours, she was able to forget about it, putting them out of her mind so she could enjoy some time with one of her best friends, knowing that it might be the last chance she got.

 

~*~

 

Morning came before she was ready for it. Sam got out of bed without waking Janet, who had fallen asleep beside her as they’d stayed awake until the small hours, gossiping about the people on Earth Sam used to know. It was the type of girl-talk gossip the guys couldn’t have told her about, the things only girl friends knew.

 

In an almost mechanical way, Sam got herself washed and dressed, slipping out of the room after writing Janet a short letter. She felt large amounts of regret and remorse; regret for not having done everything she wanted and remorse for having to let so many people down. She felt fear and uncertainty, afraid of what the future would bring and of what the consequences to her actions would be.

 

Doubting herself even as she walked to her destination, Sam told herself she had no choice. She *had* to do this. She had come to care about Evelyn more than she had realised but she had no choice. This was the only decision she could have reached and been happy living with. It was the right thing to do.

 

It was the only way she could look in the mirror every morning and meet the eyes of the person staring back.

 

~*~

 

‘Dear Janet,

 

I know you are going to disapprove of my decision but after staying awake for most of the night thinking about it, I realise this is the only decision I could ever make. I’d like to believe it’s the only decision Major Carter would have made, and I’d like to hope that you will understand.

 

By the time you’ll have read this, I will already have given Prince Taylin my answer and the preparations will be underway. Please, don’t try to stop me. I *have* to do this, for my own piece of mind as well as Evelyn’s safety and that of her child.

 

I’m going to marry Prince Taylin. Not on the conditions he stated, on conditions of my own. If he refuses to compromise, there will be no wedding and I’ll admit defeat. The conditions are that he lets Evelyn go and agrees to give up in his quest of taking over the throne before his time. I’m going to suggest that once we’re married, we go and live in one of the other cities on the planet until he naturally succeeds his father. I will have nothing to do with any plans in dethroning the King.

 

Enclosed with this letter is a journal. The book it’s written in was a gift from the King when I first arrived and it’s become a diary of everything I’ve been through since arriving here. I want you to take it back with you and use it to help fill in the gaps for General Hammond and my father. I’d like to think Cassandra and Evelyn might some day read it, too. Hopefully it will help explain why I’ve changed so much, and why I feel like I have to do this.

 

Please don’t try and stop me – all I want for you and the others to do now is leave. Take Evelyn and Nicholi and get somewhere safe as fast as you can.

 

Please make sure everyone knows I love them, and that I’ll be thinking of them even though I won’t be with them.

 

Take care of yourself,

All my love,

Sam.’

 

The letter fell from her numb fingers. Janet glanced at the watch on her wrist, wishing she knew what time it translated into being on Velenthia. Deciding she couldn’t risk having slept in, Janet ran from the room after picking up the journal and concealing it in her dress. She had to tell Colonel O’Neill and the rest of the team. Before Sam did something they would all regret.

 

~*~

 

“ Colonel O’Neill!” Janet burst into the dining room, her eyes wide as she struggled to catch her breath. She noticed the King was missing and felt dread start to rise in her chest. “ We’ve got to stop her!”

 

“ Stop who?” Jack stood, obviously alarmed by her appearance as Daniel walked over to her and put an arm around her shaking shoulders. “ Doc? Where’s Carter? I thought you spent last night doing the girl-talk thing?”

 

“ We did,” Janet breathed heavily, her eyes wide. “ But Sam.. Prince Taylin gave her an ultimatum. He said he’d let Evelyn go free if Sam agreed to marry him. He said she had till today to decide and that if she said yes, they’d be married before the day was over, probably so she couldn’t change her mind. I woke up this morning to find a letter Sam had written, telling me it was the only way and that she was going to say yes.” Her tone grew desperate. “ We have to stop her!”

 

“ Damn it,” Jack swore as he strode over to the door, pulling it open with such force the handle almost came off in his hand. “ I knew that bastard was up to something.”

 

“ We can’t let her go through with this, Jack,” Daniel piped up as he, Janet and Teal’c followed their leader, trying to match his pace. “ After what he did to her before.. if she marries him..”

 

Jack lashed out at a nearby wall, kicking it so hard he felt shivers of pain climb up his leg as he jarred it, trying his best not to show how much it hurt. “ I know that, Daniel. I *know*.” He stopped as they approached a crossroad of hallways. “ Now. Which way is that chapel-thing that tour guide showed us? The place the King married his wife?”

 

“ I don’t remember,” Daniel admitted downheartedly, hanging his head as Janet squeezed his arm gently.

 

“ Would Evelyn not know, O’Neill?” Teal’c reminded them. He was heading in the direction of Evelyn’s room before anyone answered, as determined as the rest of them to put a stop to the wedding.

 

~*~

 

With Evelyn’s help, SG-1 and Janet managed to find the chapel-like area of the palace. They were surprised to find it was brimming with people by the time they got there, and were disheartened to see the King at the front of the church, looking decidedly unhappy with the proceedings as his son paced, grinning broadly. Turning, Prince Taylin noticed them and made some motions with his hands. Within seconds, they were surrounded by guards who escorted them down the aisle to the front pew where the Prince was waiting for them.

 

“ My friends,” he greeted them in a voice that dripped insincerity. “ I am honoured you could make it. Samantha will be so pleased you could join us.” He ushered them to the pew, the guards standing close by, sitting either side of them to make sure they did as the Prince told them to. “ I reserved the best seats for you. You will have a clear view of the ceremony from here.” He leaned down to whisper to Jack, sending a silent warning with his eyes. “ Do not think about disrupting my wedding. I will not hesitate in having you and all of your friends killed if you do.” He leaned closer, speaking directly into Jack’s ear. “ And I will make Samantha pay in other, more interesting ways.”

 

Pulling back with a chuckle that turned into full-blown laughter at Jack’s expression, the Prince resumed his position at the front of the congregation. Music started to play and the doors SG-1 had just stepped in through opened.

 

A distraught Karalynn led the way down the aisle, a forced smile that was easily seen through on her face. A tear slipped down her cheeks as she caught sight of the ashen face of Evelyn and Sam’s friends in the first pew. Behind her, a resigned Samantha Carter walked as slowly as she could, her heart pounding in her chest as she fought valiantly to keep her tears at bay.

 

Jack did as all the other guests did and twisted in his seat to get a glimpse of the bride. Instead of joining in with their gasps and whispered comments at how beautiful she looked, he stared at her, his heart clenching painfully. She *did* look beautiful, in an intricately designed gown of cream silk and gold embroidery. The only thing that wasn’t beautiful was the look in her eyes. The pain, the reluctance, the fear.

 

Her eyes locked with his and she pleaded with him not to interrupt. She *had* to do this. She would never forgive him if he stopped her and let Evelyn take her place. Nodding discreetly, Jack swallowed the lump in his throat even as the guard at his side sent him a warning glare.

 

Throughout the ceremony, Sam was only aware of two things. One was the words that were coming out of her mouth and the feeling she had that she was saying them to the wrong man; the other was the intense feeling of someone’s gaze burning into her back, a reminder that Jack was there and he was watching the whole thing.

 

Prince Taylin slid the ring on her finger and threw a triumphant look in the direction of his father and those in the first pew. Sam looked down at her hand and saw the shimmer of gold there, a seemingly permanent fixture. A solitary tear trickled from her eye down her cheek as she stared at it, a symbol of what was now her role in life.

 

The wife of a husband she would never love.

 

~*~

 

Celebrations were had all over the city, although many failed to understand why everything had happened so quickly. In the palace, however, the mood was very different, very sombre. Everyone but the Prince seemed to think what had happened was something to mourn, not celebrate. SG-1, Evelyn and Janet had been escorted back to their rooms by guards and it was Sam’s understanding that the guards had been assigned to watch over them all night.

 

She was thankful, though, when her new husband over-compensated for everyone’s lack of enthusiasm and drank almost all of the wine he had ordered. She watched him be escorted by two guards to his room - *their* room – with a sinking heart, knowing she was expected to join him.

 

“ I will never understand why you did this, Samantha,” the King approached her, his face pale and lined, his movements weak and shaky like an invalids. He was having trouble standing, feeling light-headed, a light sweat breaking out across his brow but he resisted everyone’s attempts at leading him away. He insisted he needed to speak to his new daughter before he could sleep. “ Your act of compassion.. Of sacrifice.. It is unrivalled by any other I know.” He brought a trembling hand to her cheek in time to catch a tear that fell from her eyes. “ I wish you hadn’t done it, Samantha. I wish you had not married my son.”

 

“ I had no choice,” Sam murmured despondently. She noticed the looks she was receiving off some of the guests and shifted uncomfortably. “ I think that’s my cue to leave.” ‘And join my husband,’ was what she chose not to say.

 

The King nodded and let her go, watching sadly as she went. She was barely out of the room before his legs gave out on him and Akima was there with Lord Davin, helping to get him in a chair. “ What have I done,” the King mumbled as he was sat down and fussed over. “ What have I done?”

 

~*~

 

Trying her hardest not to wake her new husband, Sam changed for bed and climbed in beside him, doing her best to keep as much distance as possible between them. She curled up on the edge of the bed, withdrawing as much into herself as she could, closing her eyes tightly as he continued to snore loudly beside her.

 

Silent tears began to slip out from under her eyelids as she felt the heavy weight of the gold band on her finger, a constant reminder of what she’d done. A possible reminder of her biggest mistake.

 

~*~

 

In his room on the other side of the palace, Jack stared blindly out of the window. He sat slumped in the uncomfortable chair, knowing his back was going to protest about his position in the morning but being too depressed to care.

 

She was gone.

 

She was on the same planet, in the same city, in the same building, breathing the same air, sleeping under the same stars.. And yet, it felt like she was further away than it had done when he was Earth with no idea of where she was.

 

At least then there had been hope. Now there was none.

 

He hadn’t slept well the night before, having become accustomed to having her beside him, no matter how much he’d tried not to get too used to the feeling. At the moment, it felt to Jack as though he’d never sleep again.

 

He didn’t know how he could, knowing she was somewhere with someone else.. With her husband, with a man he vowed to protect her from.. He’d failed. Just like he’d failed her all those months ago by letting her be taken, he’d failed her again. He’d let her go.

 

She was gone. And he missed her. And it hurt knowing she was lying within arms reach of someone other than him. It hurt a lot.

 

More than he cared to admit.

 

~*~

“And if I don't need your touch

Why do I miss you so much, tonight.

If it's just frustration

Why is my heart aching

To hold you forever

Give a part of me I thought I'd never

Give again to someone I could lose

If I'm not in love with you.”

~ ‘If I’m Not In Love’, Faith Hill.

~*~

Part Twelve

~*~

“You are all I'll ever want, but this I am denied

Sometimes in my darkest thoughts, I wish I'd never learn

What it is to be in love and have that love returned.”

~ ‘Written in the Stars’, LeAnn Rimes and Elton John

~*~

 

She was up and out of the room before Prince Taylin woke up. After a restless night of purposely trying to stay awake without letting her guard down, Sam was exhausted. She dressed quickly and left for the dining room as soon as she could. No one else was there by the time she arrived so she curled up in one of the chairs by the fire, attempting to get an hours sleep before anyone put in an appearance.

 

“ You couldn’t sleep, either, huh?” She jumped when she heard his voice, turning round as she tried to calm her racing pulse. “ Sorry,” Jack apologised easing himself into the other chair. “ I didn’t mean to startle you.”

 

“ S’kay,” she mumbled, leaning back into the chair again as her eyes slid shut. “ And in answer to your question, I don’t think I slept at all last night.”

 

“ Your husband keep you up all night?” He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth, seeing her eyelids open immediately in hurt surprise. “ I didn’t mean that.”

 

“ Yes, you did,” she responded softly. “ Otherwise you wouldn’t have said it in the first place. You wouldn’t have been thinking it.”

 

Shifting uncomfortably, Jack broke eye contact, looking away from the pain in her eyes. “ Sorry.”

 

“ Nothing happened,” she told him flatly. “ He was passed out by the time I got there and I left this morning before he could wake up.”

 

“ You seem to have a habit of doing that,” he mumbled. “ Your husband, Doc, Evelyn, me. You always leave before the person you’re with wakes up.”

 

She didn’t try to deny it, she just nodded her agreement. “ Yeah, I do. It’s easier that way. No awkward moments, no time for regrets.. Simple.”

 

“ Regrets?” He leaned forward slightly in his chair, trying to see her eyes so he could read what she was feeling. Her face was expressionless, giving nothing away. It rarely did. Her eyes, however, they were how he knew what she was feeling – when she let him see into them, that was. “ You think Doc and Evelyn would regret spending the night with you?”

 

“ No.” She kept her eyes lowered, knowing he was trying to discern what she was feeling through them. “ But we’re not talking about Evelyn, Janet or even Prince Taylin, are we, Colonel?” She raised her face to his, challenging him to deny it.

 

“ So you think I’d regret it?” He arched an eyebrow. “ How could I regret it? We did nothing to regret, we fell asleep end of story.”

 

“ Bet that’s not what Captain Gardam’s telling everyone on base,” she said with a soft sigh. “ You know, this is a totally redundant conversation. It doesn’t matter what regrets either of us have, it doesn’t even matter what she’s been saying.” She swallowed the unshed tears in her throat. “ I can’t go back home now, anyway. There’s no chance. No hope.” Inhaling a shuddery breath, she deftly brushed away the sole tear that escaped with her fingers. “ You guys should leave immediately, I have no way of knowing how long the Prince is going to tolerate you being here. You should take Evie and Nicholi before he changes his mind.”

 

“ I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again,” Jack murmured, reaching out for her hands. “ We’re *not* leaving without you. Not now, not ever.”

 

 Smiling wryly, Sam entwined her fingers with his, knowing it might be the last chance she had to share any kind of intimacy with him. “ You have no choice. You have to let me go. There was a chance before.. A possibility that we’d somehow find a way to get me out of this place but there isn’t now. I’m *married*. I agreed to get married, I made a promise. And I never go back on my promises, Colonel.”

 

“ Neither do I,” he returned. “ And I made a promise to myself as well as the others that I’d bring you home. I have no intention of breaking that promise. So. I’m not giving up and I don’t think you should either.”

 

“ Too late for that,” Sam muttered, pulling her fingers away. “ I gave up the moment this went on my finger.” She held up her hand with the wedding band on, staring at it with contempt. “ So should you have done.”

 

Shaking his head, Jack leaned back in his chair. “ I never give up. Would’ve thought you’d learnt that about me by now, Carter.”

 

Smiling despite herself, she rolled her eyes. “ Oh, yeah. I learnt that a *long* time ago. I guess I was hoping something had changed over the last few months but I guess, since you’re here now, you didn’t give up on me, did you?” She sighed deeply and shook her head, trying to get a grasp on her feelings and the conversation. When had it started getting away from her? “ Shame you came this far only to find a dead end. You know, no one could fault you for giving up now. There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do. It’s time you gave up, Jack. It’s time you let me go and got on with your own life.”

 

“ Not gonna happen, Sam.” He responded, using her first name just as she’d used his, setting a personal tone to the conversation. “ I’ve only ever given up twice before, a long time ago. One was when Charlie died, and the other was when I was stuck on Edora. I gave up on you then and I shouldn’t have. I won’t make that mistake again.”

 

“ It’s a little different this time,” she protested. “ I’m the one trapped on a planet light-years from home and even a particle beam generator isn’t going to help. It’s more complicated this time.”

 

“ Important things usually are complicated,” he murmured. “ That just means you’ve got to work a little bit harder to get what you want. Though I’m finding it difficult to believe I’m going to have to work harder than you did on that particle-thing. Didn’t you defy the laws of physics or something with that thing?”

 

“ Something like that,” she answered with a small smile. “ But that isn’t going to help us in this situation. Otherwise I’d give you instructions for how to make one and I'd be out of here.”

 

“ True, but the point is..” Jack looked up, catching her eyes. “ You didn’t give up on me then. You found a way to get me out of that situation and now it’s my turn to return the favour. We’ll figure something out. If you can defy the laws of physics to bring me home, I’m sure with Danny and Teal’c and Doc, we can find a way to defy the laws of Velenthia to bring you home. Just don’t make my mistake and give up on us because we’re not going to give up on you.”

 

Sam just nodded, her fingers finding his again. They didn’t say anything else, they just held hands and sat in their respective chairs. Twenty minutes later when the rest of their team found them, they were still in the same position, clinging to the others hand even in sleep.

 

~*~

 

Prince Taylin woke up and a groan. His head was pounding and his mouth felt dry. Grumbling, he fumbled around for a goblet of water, taking a big, long gulp from the goblet he found greedily. He sat up and the previous days events came back to him with a sudden burst of clarity.

 

Narrowing his eyes, he scrutinised the room around him, looking for any signs of his wife, telling himself she wouldn’t be stupid enough to disgrace or anger him by spending their wedding night with another man. A pleased smile tugged up the corners of his mouth as he saw the bed beside him had been slept him, even as he searched his mind for any foggy recollection of her joining him.

 

He couldn’t remember anything past drinking his seventh goblet of wine, toasting his father for bringing her to Velenthia in the first place.

 

Gingerly, Prince Taylin climbed out of bed, swaying on his feet. He stumbled around the room, opening the door to find his attendants waiting expectantly outside. With a  grunt, he invited them in. The three attendants, two men and one woman, bustled around him, ushering him into the bathroom where they cleaned him and then back to the bedroom where they dried and dressed him. In all this time, the Prince didn’t lift a single finger to help.

 

“ You can go now,” he ordered them briskly once they’d finished, thanking them being the last thing on his mind. In his mind, they should feel privileged. He was the Prince, the soon-to-be King. They should be pleased to have the honour of helping him prepare himself.

 

“ Your Majesty,” one of the young men lingered behind, nervously bowing to his Prince.

 

“ Yes? What is it?” Prince Taylin snapped, anxious to be left alone so he could find Samantha and greet her in the way a husband had the right to greet his wife. “ Get on with it, boy. I don’t have time to waste.”

 

“ I was given a note for you, your Majesty.” The young man bowed again and fumbled around in his pocket, eventually withdrawing a piece of folded paper. Bowing again, he handed it to the Prince with a shaking hand. “ I will leave you now, your Majesty.”

 

The Prince didn’t hear him. He snatched the piece of paper and waited until he heard the door shut, opening the letter and devouring its contents with eager eyes:

 

‘Meet me in the gardens, after the evening meal. I have a proposition for you.’

 

The note was signed from ‘Colonel O’Neill’, and Prince Taylin was immediately intrigued. He had no intention of giving up his new wife but he decided he would meet the traveller, for his own amusement if not for curiosity’s sake. Grinning, Prince Taylin folded the note and put it in his breast pocket, pushing himself to his feet.

 

Their meeting wouldn’t take place until later. In the meantime, he had his wife to find.

 

~*~

 

Sam and Jack awoke to find their friends eating breakfast alone, talking in soft, quiet voices. They both blushed on realising their hands were still joined and quickly pulled away, embarrassment reining over the disappointment they both concealed.

 

“ Well, look who’s awake,” Janet noticed them first, smiling at Sam as she searched her friend for any sign of bruises or tears. She was relieved to find none, moving her chair aside so Sam could sit beside her at the table. “ Good morning.”

 

“ Morning,” Sam mumbled, sitting down. She stifled a yawn with her hand and gave the food a cursory glance, quickly deciding she wasn’t feeling up to eating anything, settling for a goblet of fruit juice. She looked around the faces at the table and frowned. “ Where’s Evelyn? I thought she’d be with you guys..”

 

“ She’s free now,” Daniel told her, trying to look happy when all he could think about was *why* she was free. “ Nicholi made her pack her things yesterday and took her back to his house. Bernadette and Torin insisted on it after they found out why you’d.. Why you married Prince Taylin. They said they couldn’t let you do that for no reason.”

 

“ Good.” Sam nodded, satisfied with the answer. At least it meant Prince Taylin was holding true to his side of the bargain. “ I don’t suppose any of you have seen the King this morning, have you? He was supposed to join us for breakfast.” They all shook their heads and she felt something inside her stir. It wasn’t unusual for the King to choose to eat breakfast alone but she’d expected him to join them to keep an eye on how his son was treating her. She had been almost certain he’d be there. Noticing her companions were looking at her, she forced a smile. “ I’ll see him later, I’m sure it’s nothing.”

 

No sooner were the words out of her mouth, the door to the dining room opened. Karalynn stepped in, looking worried as she approached Sam, relief dawning in her eyes when she saw the younger woman was bearing no signs of having being hurt during the night. “ Samantha,” she lowered her voice. “ I’ve been sent to request your presence in the King’s sleeping chambers.”

 

“ Why?” Immediately suspicious, Sam tried to quell the unease she felt stirring in her stomach. “ Is he okay?”

 

Karalynn shook her head. “ I’m sorry, Samantha. He took ill late last night. He cannot leave his bed.” The slightly older woman squeezed her shoulder supportively. “ He’s asking for you.”

 

Alarm and dread made their way through her body as Sam stood on legs that felt weak. Wordlessly, she half-ran from the room with Karalynn trailing her, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a knot of fear tighten itself in her stomach as she saw the ashen-faced servants and aides coming from the direction of the King’s room, telling herself he was going to be okay. He *had* to be. She was counting on him to help her deal with her marriage to Prince Taylin.

 

“ Samantha, my love.” Prince Taylin was there to meet her at the doors to his father’s room, his expression one of sadness though his eyes revealed his true feelings. “ It appears Father is ill. We will not be able to leave Velenthia for one of the other cities until he is well. I could send you on without me..?”

 

“ No,” she shook her head, refusing the offer. “ I’m not leaving him.”

 

“ Very well,” Prince Taylin nodded, having been expecting the answer. “ He is asking for you, but don’t stay too long. We don’t want to wear him out now, do we?”

 

Clenching her jaw at the tone he used that seemed to suggest otherwise, Sam pushed by him and into the room, barely managing to suppress a gasp at the sight of the frail, old man lying on the bed. The King had aged decades over night, all signs of his deceptively youthful appearance having been devoured by grief.

 

“ Samantha,” he croaked, his voice dry and raw. He held out his hand for her to take, the action taking up a lot of strength. “ Thank you.. for joining.. me.”

 

Taking his hand, Sam sat on the bed beside him, taking over the task of wiping the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead with a damp cloth from the woman who had been doing it. “ What’s wrong with you?” She asked him softly, fighting to keep the tears at bay at seeing him like this. “ What happened?”

 

The King didn’t answer, he shook his head weakly and coughed, clutching her hand as though it were his lifeline.

 

“ What happened?” Sam asked again, raising her voice as she looked to Lord Akima, the King’s constant advisor and one of his oldest friends. “ What’s wrong with him?”

 

“ We do not know, Samantha,” Lord Akima answered sadly, his voice pained. “ It started last night and he has been deteriorating since then.”

 

“ Has he been to the facility? Have the doctors down there taken a look at him?” Sam demanded, not wanting to believe there was nothing they could do.

 

Akima nodded, his expression sympathetic. “ They said his illness is not caused by a physical ailment therefore they can’t treat him.”

 

She frowned as the King tightened his grip on her hand. “ If it’s not physical, what is it?” 

 

“ Forgive me, Samantha,” the King gasped, diverting her attention from her current line of thought. “ Please forgive me.. for being a selfish.. fool.. For being.. a coward.”

 

“ There’s nothing to forgive,” she murmured, dropping the cloth so she could use her other hand to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. “ You haven’t done anything I need to forgive you for.”

 

The King shook his head in protest. “ I.. I let you.. I let you marry him. I.. should have.. stopped.. Should have.. Let you go.” He closed his eyes, his breathing laboured. “ Samantha.. Please. Say you.. Say you forgive.. me.”

 

“ I forgive you,” she whispered brokenly. “ There was never anything to forgive.”

 

Able to find peace at her words, the King allowed himself to be swept away. With a hand she couldn’t keep steady, Sam reached out and touched his neck, feeling for a pulse. Nothing could compare to the relief she felt at finding one, no matter how weak it was. At least he was still alive.

 

Moving from the bed, Sam settled herself into one of the chairs, resolute that she would be there when he woke up, ready to give him whatever he needed, prepared to tell him whatever he wanted to hear.

 

~*~

 

He felt put out by his father’s illness. Prince Taylin sat on one of the benches in the garden, the letter he’d received that morning in his hand. His mind wasn’t on his meeting, however, it was on his father’s weak state and the anger and resentment he felt towards him for it.

 

Prince Taylin had been married for just over a day and yet he hadn’t spent a moment alone with his wife – not one he could remember. Instead, the attention she should have been lashing on him from spent on his father, on the invalid with the illness no one could identify. Someone had suggested it was grief, that the King was ill because he was greatly distressed about something but Prince Taylin scoffed at that idea. There was nothing his father could be distressed about. His son was married and the woman he loved like a daughter now was his daughter. There was nothing distressing about that, not that the Prince could see anyway.

 

Sighing deeply, Prince Taylin shook his head. “ Sometimes,” he told the air around him. “ I wish he’d just die so Samantha would stop fussing over him and be with me.”

 

“ Talking to yourself, old friend?” Lord Jalen seemingly appeared out of nowhere, grinning at the startled expression on the Prince’s face. “ They say it is the first sign of madness.”

 

“ Jalen!” Prince Taylin stood and embraced his friend, clapping him on the back. “ It has been a while, my friend. I did not see you yesterday at the ceremony. I assume you’ve heard the good news?”

 

Jalen smiled and sat down on the bench next to the Prince. “ Who in all of Velenthia is unaware our Prince has found himself a wife? And a very beautiful one at that.” Jalen grinned deviously. “ Have you had a chance to teach her some manners yet? I hear Samantha is more outspoken than a lady should be, let alone a future Queen.”

 

“ Ah, she is fierce,” Prince Taylin agreed with a wink. “ As of yet, she has gone untaught. That will all change when Father recovers or dies and I have her to myself.”

 

“ Which would you prefer?” Jalen’s question took him by surprise. “ Between death or recovery?” Jalen clarified. He gave the Prince a reassuring grin. “ Just between us old friends. I swear to you no one else will learn of what we say.”

 

Set at ease by Jalen’s promise, Prince Taylin matched the grin with a sly one of his own. “ I would prefer death, of course, Jalen. What more could a man want than a beautiful woman to serve at his side throughout his life and a kingdom to rule over? Samantha cares greatly for my father, and he for her. Until he is gone.. I will never truly have her to myself.”

 

“ Then I will pray for you,” Jalen stated decisively. “ You will need her to yourself if you are to properly teach her the ways of a Velenthian wife.”

 

“ That I will.” Prince Taylin agreed wholeheartedly. He turned to Jalen with a curious expression arranging his features. “ So what brings you here at this late hour, Jalen?”

 

“ I was going to ask you the same thing, Taylin,” Jalen responded good-naturedly. “ I would have expected you to be spending the evening with your new bride, acquainting yourselves with one another.”

 

“ If it weren’t for my father, we would be,” Taylin admitted with a sigh. “ So, you have not yet answered my question. What brings you to the palace? I know I am here because I have plans to meet someone.”

 

“ I needed some air,” Jalen answered simply. “ But I must be leaving now, my wife will worry if I do not return to her soon.” Jalen stood and bowed politely. Prince Taylin watched his friend depart and sighed heavily, the cold chill of the evening windings its way around him.

 

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up on end as he sensed someone’s presence. He stood and walked in a circle, searching the darkness around him for any signs of someone else.

 

“ Hello? Colonel O’Neill? Is that you?” He stared, unable to see anything but he felt it. He could sense someone there, watching him.

 

Unexpectedly, he was attacked from behind, the assault leaving him breathless. He was caught in a strong vice around his throat as he struggled to breathe. He clawed at the gloved hands on his neck, his eyes bulging from their sockets as his lungs strained to catch enough air to sustain him.

 

His attacker tightened his hold around his neck and Prince Taylin saw the world dim, darkness devouring what little light the stars and moon gave him. Abruptly, his attacker let go and he fell to his knees, gasping. Light slowly started to filter back into his world as the air made its way back into his lungs..

 

A scream of agony escaped his lips, a wild animalistic howl of pain. Slumping forward, dizziness set in as he felt the blood leave his body through the deep gash created by the knife in his back.

 

The attacker stood emotionlessly over the Prince as he breathed his last breath and died an excruciating death. A gloved hand reached down and picked up the note the Prince had dropped in the hectic struggle, leaving a bloody fingerprint next to the name hastily scrawled on the piece of paper. Smirking, the attacker strategically placed the note in the Prince’s clenched fists, backing away slowly.

 

His words were carried on the wind, an apology to the man who’s life he had taken.

 

“ I’m sorry, old friend. You had something I want.”

 

Slinking back into the shadows, there was no sign anyone had been there minutes later when the guards arrived to investigate the reports of a wild animal roaming the grounds of the palace. They didn’t find the animal but they found the person responsible for making the noise the courtesans had mistaken as being an animal.

 

Lying at an awkward angle, a frozen expression of disbelief on his face, was Prince Taylin, clutching a note that was soaked with his own blood, a note that held the only evidence the guards had to use against the murderer.

 

~*~

 

Before dawn the following morning, the guards knocked loudly on one of the palace’s doors. They didn’t wait to be invited in. Breaking the door, they stormed the room, grasping the sleepy occupant and placing him under arrest, dragging him from his room, muffling his protests with their gloved hands.

 

Hearing the disturbance, Daniel and Teal’c opened their doors, only to find there were more guards standing at attention outside their rooms. Down the corridor, Janet did the same.

 

“ What’s going on?” She asked sleepily, alarmed to find a guard standing outside her door. She looked down the hallway into Daniel and Teal’c quizzical faces and noticed one of them was missing. “ Daniel, where’s Colonel O’Neill?”

 

“ I don’t..” Daniel started to answer but was cut off by a guard roughly shoving him back into his room at the same time as Janet and Teal’c were ‘escorted’ back into their rooms. “ What did I do? Where’s Jack?”

 

“ Your leader has been arrested,” the guard told him bluntly, his expression one of disgust. “ Be careful what you say or you will be charged as an accomplice.”

 

“ Charged with what?” Daniel wanted to know, worried for his friend.

 

“ Murder.” The Guard started to leave the room, preparing to lock in behind him when Daniel stopped him with another question.

 

“ Whose murder?”

 

The guard cast him a pitiful look. “ Prince Taylin.” He started to close the door, a sickening smile arranging his lips as he looked at Daniel. “ The punishment for such a crime is death. Your leader will be executed at first light tomorrow. Then you will be set free.”

 

With a cold laugh, the guard slammed the door, joining his colleagues out in the hallway where they stood at attention, waiting for news that the King had been told of his son’s death and that the Prince’s bride had been told she was a widow.

 

~*~

 

“ Samantha.” Akima softly shook the young woman in her chair, his face grave and pale. “ Samantha, please. Wake up.”

 

Snapping awake, Sam took in the pallor of his skin, her eyes automatically travelling to the King as she feared the worst, reaching for his wrist and searching for a pulse. Finding one, she felt a moment of relief, only to remember the expression on Akima’s face and feel her alarm growing once more. “ What is it?

 

“ I am sorry I have to be the one to tell you this, Samantha,” Akima bowed his head out of respect. “ Prince Taylin was attacked in the grounds of the palace last night. I am sorry to tell you your husband is dead.” He raised his eyes and gazed solemnly into hers. “ He was murdered.”

 

Opening her mouth, Sam found she had nothing to say. Closing it, she brought a hand to her mouth, stifling a gasp as she tried to get her still half-asleep mind to process what he was telling her. “ Prince Taylin.. Dead?”

 

“ I’m afraid so, Samantha,” Akima nodded. “ The guilty suspect has been arrested. His execution will take place at dawn tomorrow.”

 

Sensing there was something more, that something was wrong, Sam unwittingly tightened her grasp on the King’s hand , her eyes fearful. “ Who is it?”

 

“ One of the travellers,” Akima answered quietly. “ I believe you know him as Colonel O’Neill.”

 

“ I am sorry, Samantha,” it was the King, squeezing her hand. “ It will be hard for you to accept your friend is capable..”

 

“ No!” Sam shook her head and dropped his hand, disbelief ruling her features and voice. “ Colonel O’Neill couldn’t have.. He wouldn’t have killed Prince Taylin. He wouldn’t murder anyone in cold blood unless it was in self-defence.”

 

“ There was a letter found at the scene, Samantha,” Akima informed her softly, not wanting to cause her further distress. “ It was from Colonel O’Neill, asking Prince Taylin to meet him in the gardens.” He shifted uneasily. “ It has been suggested your Colonel killed the Prince out of jealousy, in an attempt at freeing you from your marriage. It has escaped no one’s notice that he is infatuated with you.”

 

Her eyes grew impossibly wide. “ Colonel O’Neill is *not* infatuated with me and he would *never* kill someone for those reasons! Please,” she turned to the king, her gaze imploring. “ You *have* to do something! Give him a trial so we can prove he didn’t do it, put off the execution for a few days. Please. I *know* him, he couldn’t do something like this.”

 

The King lifted a hand to her shoulder, the simple action using a lot of energy. “ I am sorry, my child. There is nothing I can do. Colonel O’Neill is the only suspect in my son’s murder and it is my duty to do what is just in memory of my son. There is nothing I can do, Samantha. Colonel O’Neill must die for what he has done. His companions will be confined to their rooms until justice has been served. Then they will be escorted home.”

 

Shaking her head, Sam refused to believe it. She got up from her chair and ran from the room, her eyes stinging with tears. Seeking comfort in her room, Sam threw herself down onto the bed, her body trembling as she continued to disbelieve what everyone was telling her.

 

Jack had said he would do whatever necessary to take her home. Surely he hadn’t meant murder? No, she told herself firmly. He would never resort to murder, it wasn’t something the Colonel Jack O’Neill she had served under for over four years could do.

 

Then again, she was the first to admit eight months was a long time. She’d changed dramatically from the person she once was. Was it possible Jack had changed, too?

 

Her head told her it was possible but offered her no reason to believe it. Her heart told her it wasn’t feasible; he might have been through a lot during his time with the military but he wasn’t a cold-blooded killer. That was something she could never see him as.

 

But if he didn’t kill Prince Taylin, then who did? Who else had a motive, who else would gain something from his death?

 

Sam didn’t know but as she pushed herself up off her bed, wiping the tears from her face, she was determined to find out.

 

~*~

 

Confused, Jack sat alone in the cold, damp, smelly cell. He had been taken to a part of the palace he hadn't been shown on their tour. Somewhere dark and dank; it reminded him like the dungeons in fairytales of all palaces and castles. He guessed he was in a part of the palace basement away from the medical facility, the place where murderers and thieves were kept away from the rest of the Velenthian people.

 

Why he was there, however, he wasn't sure.

 

He had been sleeping restlessly, tossing and turning, reliving the nightmares that had haunted him during the last eight months, the ones about Sam being out of reach no matter how hard he tried to get to her. She always proved to be illusive, right there in front of him but continuously too far away.

 

“ You!” A guard appeared, holding out a bowl of something unidentifiable. Jack assumed it was for him since he was the only one there, the other cells being unoccupied.

 

Warily, Jack walked the best he could with the heavy metal shackles around his ankles. He took the bowl from the guard, stopping himself from saying thank you at seeing the icy glare he got as he approached.

 

Moving back to the uncomfortable bench he'd been sitting on, Jack stared down at the contents of the bowl for a few seconds before putting it to one side, his stomach churning in protest at the thought of having to digest it. He glanced up and found the guard was still there, staring, studying him.

 

“ What did I do to deserve the special treatment?” He called out, his curiosity fully aroused by the guard’s cold demeanour.

 

“ All murderers get this treatment,” the guard stated unkindly. “ All murderers receive no mercy, and die for their crimes.”

 

“ Whoa, hold on.” Jack held his hand up, frowning deeply. “ You're calling *me* a murderer? Who'd I supposedly murder?”

 

The guard glared at him again as he turned to walk away. “ You murdered Prince Taylin. Your execution will be held tomorrow at dawn at bequest of the King and the Prince's widow.” Storming off, Jack found himself alone.

 

Prince's widow? His eyes widened as he realised that was Sam. Prince Taylin was dead? He was the suspect? Scrambling to his feet, he made his way back over to the bars of the cell, hitting them repeatedly with his fist. “ Hey! Come back here! Someone! Anyone! I didn't do anything! I'm innocent! I didn't kill anyone!”

 

“ That's what they all say,” the guard who'd brought him his food muttered as he continued walking away. “ It never changes anything. The penalty for murder is death, and no one ever escapes it.”

 

Jack continued to strike the bars confining him in his cell, protesting his innocence until he wore himself out, slumping to the damp ground with a groan. Burying his head in his hands, he prayed that wherever she was, Sam believed him.

 

That was all that mattered.

 

~*~

“ The hours pass so slowly

The life's slipping out of me

Is there a way out for me?

There must be a way out for me..”

~ ‘Out of the Shadows’, Sarah McLachlan.

 

Continued in Part Five

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