Disclaimer: This book has Warriors tags, but as you can see, this is not a Warriors-related part. So, if you've never seen Stargate, feel free to turn back now. Also, I feel that this little teaser chapter is far from complete. I had this little random idea a while ago, but no matter how I imagine it, I can't put it to words.

  Jack O'Neill bent down beside Carter's frail body. Kneeling beside him was a girl of sixteen, with long, blonde hair, and gray, tear-filled eyes. Teal'c also stood nearby, watching with great pensiveness, as the life was sucked out of SG-1's female team member. It grew hard for them to concentrate on their surroundings, and they soon forgot that they were inside a Goa'uld fortress. For the only thing that mattered now was that they had each said all that they needed to say.

  "Carter, don't do this," he begged, in a voice that was almost a whisper.

  Colonel Samantha Carter could hardly respond, and the three that stayed beside her feared her mind had already gone. But she gagged, and choked, and through the blood that stained her body, was able to reply:

  "We don't have time to talk, Sir. They're coming back-" She sputtered, and Jack's eyes were directed to the gaping, bloody wound that covered her stomach area.

  "Please, don't go-" The girl's words were cut off by racking sobs, until Carter's hand met her's. A tear fell down her face, but her expression remained sober, her eyes slowly becoming lifeless and dull with every growing second.

  "I love you." She replied, gripping onto the hand as tightly as she could, although the tiniest tug could've pulled it off.

  The girl was only able to cry harder in response. She turned to Jack, who also had a sadden, serious look on his face. Carter looked deep into his deep, muddy-brown eyes. They had seen so much hurt, so much pain, like her own.

  "You have to take care of her, Jack-" She choked, coughing violently.

  The man's eyes blazed with fury. "No!" He yelled, "No, you listen to me, we've always gotten out of situations like this. Teal'c, I need you to-"

  "Stop, Jack!"

  The General's eyes snapped back to his teammate. It was as if her shout had brought him back to reality. There was no 'getting out' this time. This wasn't any quick fix, this was death. Even Doctor Landry couldn't fix this one. Samantha Carter was dying. And there was nothing Jack could do to fix it either. No shooting their way out, no talking their way out. All that could've been done had been done.

  Carter winced as the last pain overtook her. She grasped her chest, heaving. "You have to go...you have to make sure the Goa'uld can't touch Earth..."

  Jack felt for Carter's other hand, and found it. He wanted to pick her up, and wrap her up, and lay her down to rest himself. But it was impossible now. The Goa'uld had found them out, and were on their way for the rest of the team. The First Prime was the one to leave the hole in Carter's body, and Jack knew that if he found them here when he came back, they would all die.

  For Carter's sake, he couldn't let that happen. She had just given her life for the girl that was nearly crying in his lap, wishing that her dearest mother could be beside her. He had to protect her, for Carter's sake. They would get back at the Goa'uld, but today wasn't the day.

  It wasn't the day of saving the world, and going home to party afterwards. It was a day of defeat, of sadness and grief. But he had to protect his team. His family. He had to protect them, and let them know that everything would be alright.

  "I promise." He vowed, and a tear threatened to fall from his eye. He couldn't tell if it was from the searing pain, or if it was the realization of the moment, but Carter also began to cry. She raised a hand to the wound in her stomach, wincing through the tears.

  "I love you, Grace."

  "I love you, Momma."

  "Jack-"

  "Yes?"

  "I care about you...more than I should...I love you."

  With those words, so many memories came flooding back to the three teammate's minds. When Sam had been taken over by Jolinar, and healing was hard. When they'd become allies with the Tok'ra, and those blasted armbands were stuck to everyone's arms. When that very incident led to the biggest confession, that really wasn't a confession at all. Everyone knew. But the words had never been spoken.

    They both agreed to get on with their lives. They decided that love wasn't nearly as important than saving the world, or obtaining some new technology. However, times had changed. The SGC wasn't needed. People failed other people. The team ceased to be SG-1.

  But now, when it was least expected. When everyone thought that there would be a joyous reunion. Who were they kidding? Their lives were spotted with death and grief. They all knew that eventually, death would take one of them.

  Once again, death had reared its ugly head, and taken perhaps the most beautiful part of a broken man's life. His teammate. His friend. His companion.

  These thoughts raced through their minds quicker than a flash of lightning. Then, she was gone.