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SG-1 and its characters belong to MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double
Secret productions. No copyright
infringement is intended.
Summary: Episode coda to season 6
"Abyss"
Many thanks to Jerie for the beta.
In Spirit
By Rocky
Sam left the infirmary, lost in thought--and not pleasant ones. She
didn't notice Teal'c in the corridor until she almost bumped into him.
"Major Carter," he said, his deep voice startling her out of her
reverie. "You seem distraught. Has Colonel O'Neill's condition
deteriorated further?"
"No," said Sam, hastily dashing her hand over her eyes. "As a matter
fact, he seems to be doing a bit better. Janet says the next few hours
will be rough, but he's stable now."
"That is good to know. It has not been easy for him."
Sam smiled wryly at Teal'c's typical understatement. No, it hadn't been
easy for the Colonel, captured by a sadistic Goa'uld and tortured to
death, only to be revived by the sarcophagus to suffer once again. "Not
a fate I'd wish on my worst enemy," she muttered.
"On the contrary, that is exactly the fate we consigned Apophis to when
we returned his body to Sokar," Teal'c said.
Sam inclined her head, acknowledging his point. "We didn't exactly have
a choice; it didn't make sense to allow Sokar to destroy us rather than
give up Apophis's corpse. It was different, while he was still
alive--and yes, I suppose, deep down we all had the feeling Apophis
deserved whatever was going to happen to him at Sokar's hands."
Teal'c was silent for a moment. Sam hadn't been present while the Jaffa
sat by his fallen adversary's bedside, but she was under no illusions
Teal'c had offered him any sympathy, let alone forgiveness, for his
past crimes. Sam herself had felt a twinge or two of remorse--primarily
for the poor host who had suffered so long. And who was deprived of the
final release of death, even though Daniel had performed the ancient
Egyptian ritual, promising him he would at last cross beyond the River,
and be reunited with his loved ones…
Sam's mood plummeted further at the memory of Daniel's quiet voice,
murmuring assurances, offering comfort as he always did, and she
couldn't hold back a sob. Teal'c immediately drew her aside into a
small supply room, away from prying eyes.
"Major Carter, what is troubling you? If it has nothing to do with
Colonel O'Neill--"
Sam took a deep breath, trying to recapture some measure of calm. "It
doesn't, and yet--you know the Colonel is going through withdrawal now,
due to the effects of the sarcophagus. So I was sitting with him,
hoping my presence would calm him, maybe help him in some way."
"It undoubtedly did," Teal'c said. "Though it appears to have been most
difficult for you."
Sam shook her head. She'd seen the Colonel in pain before, had seen him
cry out when pushed beyond the limits of even his stoic endurance. In
that respect, this time was no different. And it wasn't as difficult as
after their recent return from Antarctica, fearing for his life as he
burned with fever. Even pleading with him to accept the Tok'ra
symbiote, and hearing his stubborn reply "Over my dead body" hadn't
shaken her quite this badly.
"I don't know if he was fully conscious," she said at last. "He was
muttering something under his breath. He seemed agitated. I told him I
was there, that he was back at the base, that he was safe now."
"Did he not recognize you?"
"I don't know. I didn't catch more than a few words, but…" Once again,
Sam tried to center herself. "He called out for Daniel."
"I can understand why you found this so upsetting. It is not easy to
deal with the loss of a close friend. Hearing Daniel Jackson's name
undoubtedly reminded you of his recent demise, and coming on the heels
of nearly losing Colonel O'Neill--"
"That's not it," Sam interrupted. "He was talking as if Daniel was
standing right next to him. He'd pause, as if he was listening and then
make a reply."
"Colonel O'Neill took the death of Daniel Jackson very hard," Teal'c
said. Sam heard the unspoken, "as did we all." Teal'c looked more
somber than usual as he continued, "Is it not common for humans who
have a near-death experience to imagine their friends or loved ones
wait for them in the great beyond, to act as guides in their journey?"
"Yes, but--" Sam shuddered involuntarily as she recalled the look on
Jack's face. "From what I overheard, the Colonel thought Daniel had
been with him in Ba'al's prison and had something to do with his
escape." She ran a weary hand through her hair. "I know, it was
probably just a hallucination caused by his torture and death." She
stumbled over the last word and went on hurriedly, "We also don't
really understand what other long-term psychological effects can be
caused by prolonged exposure to a sarcophagus--"
"Major Carter," Teal'c cut in sharply. "I do not believe the Colonel
was hallucinating."
"But you just said it's a common human reaction to dying…" Sam's voice
trailed off at the expression on Teal'c's face. "Then you believe
Daniel was somehow there with him, or helped save him?"
Teal'c was silent for a moment. "Do you recall how Colonel O'Neill was
able to escape?"
"Yu's forces were attacking Ba'al's stronghold and knocked out the
power generators," she said impatiently. "But what does that have to do
with--"
"Because we sent the location to the System Lord, knowing that only the
firepower of a Goa'uld mothership would be capable of penetrating such
a highly guarded and armored facility," Teal'c said, his dark eyes
intent on her face.
"You approached General Hammond with the idea," Sam said. "It's a good
thing you thought of it."
"I was in a deep state of kelnorim when the idea came to me," Teal'c
said meaningfully, and paused, obviously waiting for her to catch the
significance.
Sam was confused. "Do you think your symbiote somehow communicated the
idea--" She inhaled sharply. "Daniel. It was Daniel who suggested it,
wasn't it?"
"I do not know," Teal'c said. "But I do know the thought appeared
full-grown in my mind, as if I could see the events unfolding. I could
envision the attack, accompanied by the phrase, 'all he needs is a
fighting chance.'" Teal'c smiled. "You may choose to believe what you
will, Major Carter."
Sam did not answer. Teal'c bowed his head slightly, and slipped out the
door, leaving her alone.
"Daniel," she whispered. "Oh, Daniel."
A sudden breeze stirred the stale air around her and then subsided. Sam
closed her eyes for a moment, and then exited the room.
FINIS
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