OVERALL OPINION At a first glance, this episode appears to have only a couple of mild SJ moments... but this, in my opinion, is a gross understatement. If nothing else, the fact that Sam *kills* Jack in this episode gives it 3.5 of its 4 points! In general, this episode is all about Sam's reactions to Jack: her smile in the beginning as he quips a joke, her disgust at his good-morning when she has yet to sleep, her visible angst over his 'impalement' and subsequent infection, her decision to kill him and the mental torture that must have caused her, and finally her relief that he's not dead. Some might argue that the only thing even resembling a romance in this episode is Lt. Simmons' obvious crush and Sam's compassion when she visits him in the infirmary... and they would be wrong. When you examine the episode, Sam barely thinks of Simmons throughout the show... it's Jack (and his 'injuries') that are foremost on her mind, not the Lieutenant's. A great "first time" experience for any would-be shipper in my opinion. :)

1) Moonwalking: SG1 are exploring a planet that looks, by all accounts, like the moon. They are in full 'space' suits, searching out an EM (electro-magnetic) source that the probe picked up. As they enter a building and approach the object/artifact, Sam and Jack discuss it.

Sam: Well the probe picked up a EM source coming from something.
Jack: My guess... that thing.
Sam: Yep--the same EM frequencies we picked up from the probe. Sir, this artifact or whatever it is, is definitely the source.
Jack: Are we in danger?
Sam: No Sir, I don't think so, not at the moment. But... I mean, this is incredible. If Daniel's right this artifact has been doing this since Neanderthal's were still a dominant species on Earth!
Jack: Ah... that takes me back.

Of course, this engineers a grin from Sam, and a moment later, they continue they're conversation: Sam wonderfully scientific, and Jack... well, wonderfully 'Jack'. :)

Jack: What does it do?
Sam: Well, it's maintaining an interior temperature of 33 degrees Fahrenheit, it's generating an electro-magnetic field and emitting small amounts of alpha, gamma and delta radiation.
Jack: Well I knew that. (Pause.) Why does it do that? (Sam looks at him.) I'm trying to make a threat assessment here Captain.
Sam: Well I don't know what it is Sir, but it's got a power source more advanced then anything we've ever come across... including the Goa'uld.

By no means a shippy scene, but some nice interaction between the two. :)

2) Enter Simmons: Now this scene is in no way a shippy scene--for a start, Jack isn't even in it! However, it does have Sam, Daniel... and Graham Simmons, the young Lieutenant with a crush on our Sam. :) When Daniel tries to point out to Sam about Graham's obvious affection for her, Sam finds it a surprise, but then it dawns on her that Daniel may be right. Daniel seems to be acting rather Jack-like in mannerism and speech during this brief scene, making it a favourite. :)

3) Good Morning: Sam and Daniel are hard at work, still trying to decipher the artifact's purpose. At this point, Jack comes all but skipping into the room, full of life as he cheerfully asks them if they slept well, 'cause he sure did! When Daniel groans "oh it can't be morning" (obviously, he and Sam haven't slept yet), Jack is more than happy to reply that yes, it is. He comments that they need to ship out at 1300 hours, grinning at Sam who sends him a dirty look in response. He wants them well rested and ready to go to the primordial world. Sam reluctantly agrees. At this point, just as Jack is leaving, the orb/artifact 'awakens', causing Sam to recommend that the artifact be returned to its 'home planet' immediately. Jack agrees, sending Daniel to order the dialing. Sam and Jack discuss the orb's continued activity briefly as Teal'c joins them and they struggle to remove the object from the lab.

4) Getting Pinned: As the artifact starts shooting spikes into the ground and walls in the gate room, Sam must realise what's happening because she immediately screams to Jack (and Teal'c) "to get out of there!". Unfortunately, her call is too late and one of the spikes shoots straight through Jack's shoulder, the momentum carrying him backwards to a nearby wall and pinning him them. The pain hits him immediately, causing him to cry out. In the control room, General Hammond is calling for security as the camera cuts to Sam, her face shocked to all hell: "we... we need a medical team" she stumbles out eventually. Moments pass as Teal'c runs to fetch his Staff Weapon. In the control room, Sam stares silently and horrified out the window towards Jack. A moment later, the General obviously having given permission off-screen, Sam comes running into the gate room, immediately dashing towards Jack as she calls out to him: "Colonel!" As she reaches him, she tries to examine his 'wound', hands gently touching his legs as she stares up at him, commenting on the fact that the spike goes straight through his shoulder and into the wall/concrete. Activity continues around them, Sam obviously at a loss as to what she should do as she stands beneath him, holding his legs. Doctor Fraiser arrives and starts questioning Jack as to what happened, but it's Sam who's answering her. Jack's in extreme pain by this stage, asking where Teal'c is and, when Teal'c arrives, demanding that he "shoot" the object. Sam tries to object at this but Jack is adamant, repeatedly shouting "shoot it!". Teal'c recommends that everyone leave the room and Sam is the last to leave, reluctant to leave Jack's side. Back in the control room, Sam is telling the General that this is mistake--they don't know how much energy from the staff weapon will pass through the orb and into Jack. When the General simply replies that her objection is noted, Sam stares at him almost unbelievingly. As she watches the energy indeed run through the orb and into Jack from the control room, Sam winces in sympathy pain with Jack. After two shots, Teal'c pauses, Jack in obvious agony. Sam comments that the energy is just being absorbed, and when Teal'c offers to try another weapon, Sam immediately gets on the PA, shouting "no!" without waiting for the General's consent, before then explaining her theory--they may be feeding it what it wants. The General finally concedes to her, stating that he wants a blow-torch team down there. Unfortunately Sam points out the strength of the metal, and the implication is obvious. Beside him, Doctor Fraiser is finally given permission to go back down and treat Jack, whilst Sam stays with the General as he sadly tells Jack that this may take some time. Jack doesn't seem to have heard him... he's in too much pain. As the General leaves, Sam stares down at Jack, obviously distressed.

5) Doc's Report: As Daniel and Sam brief their 'crew' as to how to work out what the orb wants and how to get rid of it, Doctor Fraiser enters the room. Concluding the briefing, Sam makes her way towards the Doctor, immediately asking her: "how is he?" Janet Fraiser's news is good and bad... Jack has an infection, but the antibiotic's seem to be slowing down the progress of the infection... amazingly. When Sam asks why it's amazing, Janet requests that Sam comes with her so that she can see the results herself. They discuss Jack's condition before bringing out the UV lights to monitor some radiation readings. At this point, they realise that the problem is bigger than they thought... the orb's infection is more like a virus and it's visible on the walls, wiring, flesh, clothing--you name it--of the Base. Also... it's affecting other people. Lieutenant Simmons, the young man with a crush on our Sam Carter, is visibly infected.

6) Hammond, Sam & Janet: After Janet explains the preventative measures she's taking against the orb-infection, General Hammond unfortunately reminds her that she cannot get outside help... despite the fact that this will seriously endanger Lt. Simmons who is already suffering from the infection more than Jack. Sam's face drops at this, no doubt in response to a fellow scientist/co-worker being ill, and her Colonel being infected. After Janet leaves, General Hammond stops Sam, asking her: "I need your honest assessment--can we beat this thing?" Sam looks down briefly before glancing up, a wry (and forced) smile on her face as she quips: "Well, like the Colonel always says, never give up, right?" Hammond simply stares at her (immediately seeing through her false bravado) and Sam sighs, continuing with: "I'm not sure Sir." Sam and the General both discuss the possibility of sending survivors through the Stargate, a plan that Sam is against. After explaining her case, the General is forced to agree and they decide to make their stand where they are.

7) Computers: As Sam is working on the computers, she finds that the initial staff weapon blast did feed the orb more energy, something it wanted, and that has increased its spread. Obviously kicking herself, despite the fact that she *had* tried to stop it, she comments: "damn, why did I let them do that!".

8) Intelligent Life: Daniel and Sam have discovered the possibility that they're dealing not with a "plague" or "disease", but what may very well be an intelligent life-form. In discussing this with General Hammond, Sam states that she now wants to let the orb grow, to spread and reach critical mass where it can hopefully communicate with them. She then theorises that Jack was not accidentally impaled, but rather deliberately--an attempt for communication. She announces that she wants to cut off his medication whilst feeding the orb. General Hammond promptly asks her if she's out of her mind as Teal'c joins them, stating that if she stops his medication, Jack will die. Sam is adamant now, sure that she's on the right track and that everything will work out ok and responds with: "He'd want us to try this, I know it!" Daniel realises that her plan is to communicate with the organism through Jack... and Sam nods, stating yes. She then turns and stares at Jack as he 'sits' at the wall, his head bowed and apparently resting.

9) Killing Jack: As Sgt. Stiller reports that oxygen levels are rising Sam moves to Jack, one hand on his leg as the other gently grips his hand, her voice tinted with unhappiness as she talks to him.

Sam: Sir? (Pause.) Sir... I don't know if what we're about to try is a good idea or not... but you have a right to know... you might not survive it.

Jack doesn't answer her, his head still bowed, but as Sam glances down again, his hand squeezes hers. She returns the pressure and then brings her free hand up, removing the IV. Reluctantly stepping away, she gives Teal'c the ok and the Jaffa fires at the orb. Jack's body jerks and Teal'c looks to Sam, her face upset as she stares at Jack. "Again", she orders Teal'c and again, Teal'c fires, Jack's body jerking. Silence follows for a moment before Sam turns to Teal'c briefly: "we have to... again!", but is she trying to convince Teal'c or herself? Jack's body jerks and Sam darts to his side, one hand on his knee, the other reaching up to his neck. After a moment, she looks at the others: "no pulse". She's killed him. Eventually, her hand falls away from his neck and she simply stands there, no doubt trying to reassure herself that something good *will* come out of this... that she hasn't killed him for nothing. Slowly, Jack's head rises, and with a voice that echoes slightly mechanically, he speaks to Sam: "Good... morning... campers." This is how he had addressed Sam and Daniel earlier on before the orb had awakened. General Hammond moves towards Sam as Jack, still looking at Sam, tells her: "This... is truly... a strange... feeling." Sam, hoping for the best now, quietly and hopefully whispers: "Colonel?" He answers her: "Yes... he is here." A small smile appears on her lips now, her relief evident, but she still refuses to look away from him. Only when General Hammond asks a question, and 'Jack' answers it, does Sam looks back at the others. Finally moving away from him, she stands with the others, Jack's gaze now focused on them all. A conversation ensues. At the end of which, 'Jack's' head tilts back to hit the concrete, his body once again unmoving, no speech. A quick shot of Sam shows her suddenly concerned once again that she has still killed him.

10) The End: Back in the control room, Sam watches from the booth as Jack--walking around now but still under the orb's control--delivers the orb into the Stargate (it's going to a primordial world). He stands there a moment longer before his eyes close and he falls backwards onto the ramp, the Stargate disengaging. In the booth, Sam and the General are quickly cancelling the auto-self-destruct. Looking up at the General, Sam doesn't speak as she quickly stares at him. Turning to her, the General nods once and in a flash, Sam has left the control room as she joins Daniel, Teal'c and Jack on the ramp. As the men help Jack into a sitting position, Sam crouches at his feet, a hand on his leg. Congratulating them, Jack says: "nice work". Daniel and Teal'c both state something along the lines of: "good to have you back", but it's Sam who quietly states: "I thought you were gone for good, Sir." Looking at her, he half-smiles, quipping: "wild horses, Captain." which is in reference to a previous conversation between him and Teal'c. As SG1 help Jack to a standing position, General Hammond watches from the control booth. The final shot shows Daniel and Sam escorting Jack down the ramp, her arm repeatedly going to his back as she steadies him.

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