Something to Fight For
By Bren Ren
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Summary: An alternate take on a Sam/Jack proposal. 'Cause, you know, these two can't do anything without a little Angst.
Disclaimer: Once more… PTB, take notes. This is what the Shippers want to see!
A/N: This one's for Shannon. Because I know her and fluff.
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Sam moaned as her eyes fluttered open. "Hey there, sleepyhead. Was wonderin' if you were ever gonna wake up." It took a few blinks for her eyes to focus on the form of Jack O'Neill at her bedside, formally attired in his dress blues, as had become customary ever since his transfer to Washington. "Hi, sir," she murmured.
"Hi," he answered with a gentle smile.
Another moan slipped passed her lips. "I don't feel so great," she told him.
"Well, that's bound to happen when you expose yourself to potentially lethal toxic fumes." He reached over to a nearby table to pick up a small plastic tumbler of water. He passed it to her, but her shaking hands couldn't manage to grasp the cup, so he lifted the cup to her mouth and helped her take a few sips.
"Thanks," she said as he set the cup back down. Another moan was followed by a weary sigh. "Not sure I'm gonna make it this time," she told him, sounding distinctly defeated.
"Uh-uh," he answered quickly. "No giving up. Not now. You've got too much to live for."
"This is bad," she informed him before groaning harshly. "Really bad."
"You're gonna be fine," he assured her.
"I don't know if I can do this." There was no fight in her eyes, and that scared him more than the call alerting him to her precarious condition had.
"You can and you will. You've just gotta fight." Her eyes dropped closed as she moaned again. "That's an order."
She managed to drag her eyelids open once more, and to her surprise, his calm smile sparked the tiniest bit of hope in her heart. "Yes, sir," she finally answered him.
"That's more like it," Jack said firmly. "And now that you're nice and agreeable, I've got a question for you."
"42." Jack smiled, her ability to joke reassuring him as nothing else could that she would indeed pull through this.
"I was going to wait until our rendezvous next week, but I think you could use the extra incentive now." He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box. Sam gasped as she instantly recognized its significance. Without any further preamble, he asked simply, "Marry me?"
Tears began to well up in her eyes and it took a good long moment before she nodded her head slowly. "Okay."
Jack beamed as he opened the box and extracted the simple diamond solitaire. He took her hand and slid the ring onto the proper finger, then lowered his head to drop a soft kiss on the back of her hand just above the sparkling symbol of their new commitment. "Love you," he told her quietly.
"I know," she answered softly. "Love you, too," she returned as her lids fell closed once more.
"Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she murmured something that vaguely sounded like an agreement. "Always."
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