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The journey to their intended destination felt like the longest, most tense journey they’d ever made and not just because the three male members of SG-1 and Jacob had barely exchanged a word, except to go over the details of the mission again. Not that any of them needed a reminder. They all knew what was at stake. Sam’s life hung in the balance.
She had been missing for three weeks. Three long, hellish weeks since she’d gone to visit her dad, only to end up in the middle of a Goa’uld attack on the Tok’ra homeworld. The last time Jacob saw his daughter had been the moment one of Ba’al’s Jaffa had her trapped in one of the tunnels. He had been about to kill her when he appeared to realize who it was; he’d then forced her to go with him and back to the mothership which was above the planet. The yells of Jacob, pleading with Sam to stop, went unheard.
Those few seconds seemed to happen so quickly yet in slow-motion at the same time, although Jacob didn’t think it mattered in the grand scheme of things – regardless of the speed of how Sam’s capture unfolded, it had haunted every waking moment of his life since. He had tortured himself by replaying the day over and over in his mind; questioned if he could have done something different; wondered if he had missed the warning signs that an attack was coming.
But every time, the outcome finished in the same way: with Sam being taken away by the Goa’uld.
The only saving grace, Jacob told himself – although it didn’t bring him much comfort – was that he knew his daughter was still alive. She was too valuable for the enemy to kill, especially as Ba’al knew SG-1 and knew that they would come in search of their missing teammate. One of the problems with that scenario, however, was that Ba’al was not going to make Sam’s wait a comfortable one. It was a thought that filled Jacob with a fear a father shouldn’t have to feel.
He took a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes as he tried to focus on the current situation and continue to quietly cling onto the hope and belief that Sam would be okay.
The first break they’d received about her whereabouts had been almost a week ago when a Tok’ra operative at one of Ba’al’s strongholds had been able to send a message and confirm that was where she had been taken. They had also been able to share a short transmission which confirmed Sam was there, but she had been imprisoned and tortured a number of times already. The footage showed her chained to a wall; her neck, wrists and ankles all bound, while the bruises and markings on her arms and face told the stories that Jacob knew she would never share.
His anger surged and as he felt himself start to shake, he really had to focus on Selmak telling him to remain calm. For Samantha.
“For Samantha,” he muttered.
Despite the risks, Hammond had allowed Jacob and the rest of SG-1 to mount a rescue mission and it had taken less than forty-eight hours to get a plan together. Jacob and the team were now on a Tel’tak on their way to the planet while SG-2, SG-3 and SG-6, as well as Teams 13 and 19 had been given the coordinates of the stronghold and were ready to dial in and arrive with reinforcements at the designated time.
Jacob trusted those who worked at Stargate Command – none more so than the three men currently on board his ship but he was finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that he wouldn’t be going with them to rescue his daughter. He wanted to be on the ground but if they were to pull this mission off, they needed someone to stay on the ship and he was their best option.
It didn’t lessen his guilt though because it was his fault that Sam had been captured. She had decided to pay him a visit as he had been too busy with the Tok’ra to travel back to Earth for a couple of days. So, if Sam hadn’t decided to visit, she wouldn’t have been put in danger and they wouldn’t be in this position now. He sighed heavily, just as one of the consoles beeped.
“We're approaching the planet. The tel’tak’s shields and cloaking device have been activated,” he said.
He spoke to no-one in particular, but was surprised to discover Jack, as well as Daniel and Teal’c, standing close by.
“What’s our ETA?”
“Ten minutes.”
“All right. Daniel, Teal’c,” Jack ordered. “Get geared up.”
The three men turned and left to go to their supplies when Jacob got to his feet and followed. He could feel the nerves and tension radiating from them but there was something more with Jack; as if he was barely holding things together and it worried him. Jacob dipped his head slightly and when he reopened his eyes, it was Selmak who spoke.
“Daniel Jackson, Teal’c. May Colonel O’Neill and I have a moment?”
The two men exchanged a quick look before they silently left them alone, although Jacob knew they wouldn’t be far away.
“Jacob is worried – as am I.”
Jack continued to gear up, refusing to meet his eye. “We’ll get Carter back.”
“If anyone can, it will be you,” Selmak affirmed. There was a pause before they continued: “You feel guilt.”
Jacob saw Jack hesitate briefly before he secured his tac vest. “Samantha Carter’s capture is not your doing.”
The statement was met with silence.
“Neither is Jacob to blame.”
At this, Jack stopped and turned. Selmak offered him a sad smile.
“Jacob feels much guilt because his daughter came to visit him. If that hadn’t taken place –”
“I should have been with her,” Jack interrupted. “Always take back-up,” he added quietly, his gaze falling away.
“We weren’t to know Ba’al’s forces were going to attack.”
“Yeah, well,” he answered dismissively, “we’re about to return the favor.”
Selmak closed their eyes and Jacob returned.
“We need someone with a cool head going in there, Jack.”
“Nice of you to join us again, Jacob,” he quipped as he reached for his gun. “And for the record, I can be level-headed.”
“What if Ba’al’s there?”
“Then maybe this is the opportunity to kill the son-of-a-bitch once and for all.”
“Jack.”
“What?”
“As tempting as it is right now… this isn’t about vengeance.”
“If I get a chance, I’m taking it.”
“And how many lives are you going to put in danger as a result?”
“None.”
“You can’t know that, Jack.”
“Jacob,” he snapped. “Stop.”
The two men stared at each other, neither willing to back down first.
“You don’t need to tell me what’s at stake here,” Jack said quietly, “the priority is to get Carter out. I’m not going to risk Sam’s life.”
“What about your own?”
“What about it?” Jack asked distractedly, as he adjusted his vest.
“Jack.”
“What?!”
Jacob closed his eyes and sighed. “Sam won’t want you to lose your life for hers. I know that and you know that.”
He saw Jack’s jaw tighten.
“We will get Ba’al,” Jacob continued carefully. “Whether it’s today or another day – but if it isn’t today –” He held up a hand at Jack’s expression. “– if it isn’t today… our chances are going to be a lot better with both you and my daughter fighting side by side.”
He held Jack's gaze for a few moments until he saw him relent.
“OK.”
With a sharp nod, Jack signaled for his teammates to come back into the room before he turned and met Jacob’s eye.
“I will bring her back,” he murmured. “I promise.”