Gravity, By splash_the_cat (PG)

[sam_gardener]

Title: Gravity
Author's LJ/DWJ: splash_the_cat  /  splash_the_cat
Categories: AU, Jacob, Cassie, Team, Drama, Angst, Season 7
Warnings: snakes
Author's Webpage/Fic list: Moments of Adoration
Link to story: Gravity or text version: Gravity

Why this should be read: This fic was written as the second "episode" for Chrysalis, a Stargate virtual mini-season (7.5) which begins with the assumption that Janet Fraiser was badly wounded in Heroes II, but is alive. That's all you need to know to read this story, which worked well for me as a stand alone AU. It's a tense exploration of what SG-1, Jacob, Hammond and Cassie might be willing to do to save Janet's life. And because I knew that this story was an AU, I really couldn't guess how it would be resolved.

Episode 2 for Chrysalis (go to Chrysalis page for Episode 1); To save one life, how much would you sacrifice?

"This is insane. She's insane!" Jack slammed his office door, almost catching Daniel, who was right behind him, in the face. Blocking the door with the flat of his palm and wincing at the sting of the impact, Daniel followed Jack into the room and gently pulled the door shut behind him.

A small uncharitable part of him wished Jacob hadn't used the healing device on Jack after General Hammond had ordered Sam into his office. At least Jack was a little easier to contain when he was only able to hobble.

"Jack," Daniel said, staying near the door as Jack prowled around the desk. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to be cut off from a convenient escape route. "You're not helping the situation."

"And why, Daniel, would I want to help the situation?" Jack stopped suddenly and fell into his desk chair, scrubbing his hands through his hair and covering his face. "What the hell is she thinking?!"

"That she can save her best friend." When that only earned him a dirty look and not another outburst, Daniel left the relative safety of the door and pulled up another chair and straddled it, leaning his arms on the back. "We really should have seen it coming."

"How the hell could we have guessed Carter'd suddenly up and volunteer to get herself snaked?"

"Because it's Sam. Because Janet's important to her. Because you know she'd do the same thing for any of us, under the circumstances." He paused. "You should understand that, Jack. You'd do it too, if it were me, or Teal'c... or Sam."