Tortured Soul, by Amaranth Traces

-- Chapter 5 --

Pain. And...warmth? And the floor was...soft?

I cracked one eye open and looked around. Another simulation. The infirmary at the base. And I wasn’t alone. I opened my other eye and slowly turned my head.

‘Daniel’ was sleeping. Did simulations need sleep? This was a new tactic. Nice try, Cronus.

He was holding my left hand. I felt a pinch on the back of my right hand. I examined it. An IV. And I was wearing scrubs. Interesting attention to detail. You can’t trick me, Cronus.

I evaluated my condition. Strange. I felt more rested and stronger than I had since...

Looking around, I noticed that ‘Daniel’ was the only one present. Did a simulated Stargate still work?

I slid my hand out of his very slowly. He didn’t wake up. Cautiously, I sat up. Still sleeping. Good. I yanked the IV out of my hand and then out of the bag suspended above the bed.

Careful. Don’t wake him up. With the IV tubing, I tied his hand securely to the bedrail. I threw the blankets off and set my feet on the floor.

He groaned and woke up. I stepped back from him. Watching. Waiting to see what he would do. I could run my own little simulation, thank you very much.

“Sam?” He looked at my handiwork and then at me. His eyes took in the blood dripping from the back of my right hand onto the floor. “What are you doing?”

He reached out his free hand to me and I flinched. Damn. He lowered his hand. “Sam, it’s okay. It’s me.”

They always said that.

I took a slow step closer to him. He waited.

Another step. I was close to my target.

“That’s right, Sam. It’s okay. It’s me. Daniel.”

Right.

My hand darted out and snatched his security card from his breast pocket. I jumped back, watching him, my eyes wide.

“Sam, what are you–”

He was trying to get up. I took off for the door. A quick glance down the hallway. The coast was clear. I sprinted down the hall to a door. My shaking hand needed three tries to successfully swipe his card to unlock the door.

Finally.

I entered the weapons locker and threw the lid off of the first box I saw. Why would they store a zat with a handgun? So much for attention to detail. I grabbed both and loaded the gun.

The Stargate. If it worked, I’d go to Tollana. Narim could help me get home. Simulated Stargate. It couldn’t possibly work. I had to try.

Alarms sounded. Lights flashed. ‘Daniel’ had gotten himself free. He had alerted them. Why would he do that in a simulation? Maybe the Stargate would work.

My bare feet slapped against the concrete floor, and I fell into the elevator. I punched 28 with my thumb. It left a bloody print half-covering the numbers. The doors opened, and I stepped cautiously into the hallway.

No one around. I raced towards the gate room. Three figures emerged from the doorway, blocking my path. I skidded to a halt and fell backwards.

Ignoring the pain, I scrambled back to my feet. I turned to run the other way. Several more people were behind me.

Trapped.

Again.

Still.

I turned to the figures blocking my way to the gate room.

“Take it easy, Carter.”

I raised my zat to the one that looked like Colonel O’Neill.

“Alright, Major. Let’s calm down.” Shifting slightly, the zat focused on ‘General Hammond’.

“Sam! It’s okay, Sam.”

My head jerked around. ‘Daniel’ and ‘Janet’ were coming up behind me. I raised the gun and they stopped.

“Major Carter, you must lower your weapons.” My head turned back to the three impostors at the door to the gate room. ‘Teal’c’ was inching his hand toward the zat strapped to his leg. I aimed mine at him and cocked my head to one side. He froze.

“Sam.” Daniel’s soft voice from behind again. I turned. He was approaching, unarmed. His hands outstretched. I trained my gun on him. My hands were shaking.

“You can’t trick me!” Even to me, my voice sounded crazed.

Everyone was shouting. My ears were ringing. I couldn’t take it any more.

The gun went off.

A zat discharged.

Crackling white light. The floor rushed up to meet me. Then, blackness.

--

Pain. Warmth. Panic.

My eyes flew open. This was still the infirmary simulation. Why was he being so stubborn? I had figured it out already. I wouldn’t be tricked. I had seen through his games. The disorienting effect of The Table didn’t fool me any more. Just kill me.

I tried to get up, but failed. Restraints secured my ankles and wrists to the bed.

“Easy, Sam.”

The one that looked like Daniel was sitting beside the bed. His arm was in a sling. Why was Cronus still running this simulation?

‘Daniel’ was speaking quietly, but I refused to listen. Cronus always made the Daniel simulation be nice to me. It was too cruel. I’d rather they beat me than pretend to be nice.

I shouted. I struggled. I moved as far away from him as my restraints would allow. Then I tried to move further. I could feel the restraints cutting into my skin, but I didn’t care. Maybe, if I made enough blood flow, I could slip out of them.

‘Janet’ appeared and injected something into the IV line that was back in my hand. I felt myself grow weaker. My struggles lessened. I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. Maybe this was death.

--

My mind was muddled.

I heard voices around me.

“I believe she is regaining consciousness,” said a deep voice from nearby.

I opened my eyes and screamed.

The Teal’c impostor straightened and leaned back from the bed. I struggled against my restraints. My eyes darted to the other two men around me.

“Carter, calm down.”

“Sam, please.”

“Just kill me! You can’t trick me! End this. Please. Let me die.” My throat was on fire and my screaming quickly turned to a hoarse plea. I strained to pull my arms free.

‘Janet’ arrived again and moved to my side. The world began to swim around me. Voices echoed in my head.

“I hate seeing her like this.” That was Colonel O’Neill’s voice. He sounded upset.

“We can’t keep her sedated forever.” That was Janet’s. Hers was worried.

“God. What did he do to her?” Daniel’s voice was ragged. He sounded truly concerned.

Once again, I succumbed to oblivion.

--

The pain had lessened. I was still warm. The bed was comfortable.

The infirmary again. This didn’t make any sense.

I was alone. And feeling strong. Strong enough, anyway.

I struggled silently with my restraints. I strained to bend my wrists at the impossible angle that was required to free myself.

“I thought you’d be waking up again soon.”

I jumped at Daniel’s voice. I froze, staring at him. Waiting for him to strike. He was standing a distance away, one arm still in a sling. He had two mugs balanced in his other hand.

“I brought you some coffee. My special blend.” He grinned good-naturedly.

Ah, yes. ‘Daniel’ always struck with kindness.

He approached the bed slowly. I watched, very wary.

He put one coffee down and sat on a chair next to the bed. “Would you like some?” He held the mug out for me to see.

My eyes flicked from his face to the mug and back again. His eyes were gentle and caring. Oh, I wanted to believe. I squeezed my eyes closed and reminded myself that it was just another simulation. I was in my cell, on The Table. None of this was real.

I opened my eyes and looked at the mug again. I was thirsty. Thirsty enough even to drink the swill that they offered.

My eyes must have lingered long enough on the mug for him to sense my thirst. He pressed a button and the head of the bed tilted so I was sitting upright. Then he stood up slowly and held the mug out in front of my face.

I sniffed it and frowned. It certainly smelled like Daniel’s coffee. I looked at him, suspicious.

“It’s good.” He lifted the mug and took a sip. “See?”

He held it out in front of me again as I narrowed my eyes at him. Finally making a decision, I leaned forward and placed my lips at the edge of the mug.

“Careful. It’s hot.”

He tipped the mug very slightly, and I took a sip. My eyes flickered over his face as I swallowed the liquid. Its strong, rich, sharp flavour surprised me. It tasted like Daniel’s special blend.

I watched him carefully as I again leaned toward the mug. He smiled slightly as I took another sip. I savoured it this time. Rolling the dark liquid around in my mouth, I tried to decide if it was real. Believing could be so easy...but it was so hard.

Tears burned my eyes.

“It’s real?”

“Of course it’s real. What do you mean?”

I looked around the infirmary. Oh God. If the coffee was real...

“It’s real...” I turned my eyes back to him, silently questioning. Begging for an answer.

Understanding washed over his face. “Yes, Sam. You’re home. It’s real. We’re all real.”

I looked down at his sling and shook my head. “I shot you.”

He smiled. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

I choked as sobs ripped through my body. I was home. I didn’t know how it happened, but I was home.

Daniel put the mug down and bent over me, releasing the restraints on my wrists. I flung my arms around his neck and hugged him close. I buried my face in the curve between his shoulder and his neck. My tears were flowing freely now.

“It’s okay, Sam. You’re alright. You’re safe. You’re home, now.” He uttered reassuring whispers as he stroked my hair.

A light touch on my feet caused me to scream. I pulled away from Daniel. Janet raised her hands and took a slow step backwards. “It’s okay, Sam. I just wanted to make you more comfortable.”

“Do you want me to...?” Daniel gazed at me and gestured at my feet.

I sniffed and nodded.

He removed my ankle restraints, and I immediately folded my legs up underneath me, curling into a ball. Daniel approached again from the foot of the bed, and I reached out to him.

He was real. I didn’t know about anyone else, but Daniel was real.

Daniel wrapped his good arm around my trembling body. He sat on the edge of the bed next to me, holding me gently.

I clung to him. He was real. I was home. It was finally over.

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