A/N: Okay...this wasn't supposed to continue, but since you all asked. Now it's become a multiple-chapter story. I've held off posting until I had the whole story written and I'll be posting a chapter a day until it's complete. Thank you for your kind response to Chapter 1 and for your continued support. I really am humbled by what you have written to me. Thank you.

Set on a planet of my choosing, early in Season 4 of the show.

Chapter 2

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Jack O'Neill bit back a groan as he rolled onto his back. Or tried to. Something was blocking him, he almost felt like he had one of those huge body-pillows tucked up behind him. A heated body pillow. A heated...breathing...body pillow. Uh oh. He reached back tentatively, carefully patting the lump and trying, through the heavy fog that seemed to have enveloped his brain, to identify just who the lump was.

He opened his eyes, wincing as even the faint light of the early dawn sent a piercing pain through his skull. Tent. He was in a tent. Tents most likely meant off-world. Off-world always meant with SG-1; therefore, he was in a tent with...Why the hell can't I think? Patting along the bulky lump behind him, Jack tried to take a mental inventory. He didn't remember meeting any natives with potent fermented drinks. He remembered...he remembered.... The lump moved. And made a sound. A low, quiet sound that came complete with a warm puff of air on the back of his neck. Then the lump's arms slid around his waist, pulling him closer.

Whoa. A lump that hugs.

Unbelievably groggy, Jack slipped his hands inside of the sleeping bag and lifted the lump's arms from his waist before they could wander anywhere else. Making a supreme effort he rolled onto his stomach and crawled out of his sleeping bag. Once free he wearily rubbed at his face and then turned to identify the lump. Yup. The lump is Carter. Okay.

Okay?

A small part of his brain was screaming at him. No, there's nothing 'okay' about being snuggled up to your Second, O'Neill! Unable to clearly identify the problem, Jack shrugged. He couldn't seem to get his eyes to open properly and he was so incredibly thirsty he'd have cuddled up to Teal'c for a cool glass of water. He didn't bother with his boot, putting them on seemed to require far more energy than he had to spare. He simply untied the tent flaps and rolled himself out of his tent.

The pearly light of predawn was just kissing the sky above their little clearing. Above them the first rays of the rising sun illuminated the ridgeline that had so enticed Daniel. Any other time Jack might have stopped to admire the view. Now, however, it was all he could do to lift himself to his feet and stay there. Using the unstable poles of the tent for support, Jack glanced around, looking for Teal'c or Daniel. He spotted the Jaffa hunched over the small firepit and began to move toward him.

Teal'c turned at his approach and rose, a small smile on his face. "O'Neill. It is a beautiful morning, is it not?"

"Mhm hmm. Hi Teal'c." Jack staggered the last few steps and simply collapsed next to his friend. Spying a canteen laying nearby he reached for it, fumbling until he got the cover off. Several long, deep swallows later the parched dryness of his throat eased somewhat.

"How is Major Carter this morning?"

"Hmm? Carter? She's snuggly. Warm, too. Nice." Canteen forgotten, Jack slumped sideways against a low rock. Why did Teal'c want to know if Carter was snuggly? Jack knew she was but that was really nobody's business but his. Not even his, really, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to care about that.

Teal'c bent low, his eyes on O'Neill's face. He took in the flushed features and glassy eyes, then, without a word, spun and strode toward the tent he and Daniel shared. "Daniel Jackson. You must join us. I believe O'Neill is ill as well."

Jack didn't hear Daniel's reply, he was too busy considering just how far it was to the small latrine area they'd identified last night. God, why the hell was he so damned tired? All he wanted to do was lay down by this nice fire and go back to sleep. In fact...

"Jack."

"Hmm?"

Daniel reached out and turned Jack to face him. He lifted a hand to O'Neill's face and frowned. Jack's skin was hot to the touch. Really hot. Great. "Teal'c? How's Sam?"

"I do not know, I have not yet seen her this morning."

"Okay. Keep an eye on Jack for a second, okay? Don't let him fall into the fire."

"I shall keep both­–"

"I know. You'll keep both eyes on him." Daniel shook his head and rose, already considering what sort of problems they were going to have getting both Air Force officers back to the stargate if they were too sick to walk. Damn it. The gate was a good day's walk from here, and that was if everyone was in the best shape. He shook his head. This was going to be a really long day. Daniel squatted at the entrance to the tent Sam and Jack shared. "Sam?" He listened for a moment but only heard quiet breathing coming from inside. "Sam, are you okay?" Still nothing. Daniel slipped his head inside and his eyebrows rose as he found Sam, still deeply asleep, and very obviously curled up inside of Jack's sleeping bag. He saw that she was still in her own, but she was nonetheless also tucked into O'Neill's bag. Interesting.

"Sam. Sam!" Daniel ran his hand across his friend's face, a worried frown creasing his features as he discovered her to be as warm as Jack. Warmer, even. He backed out and rejoined Teal'c at the fire. "We have a problem, they're both really sick. Even if Jack was up to it I don't think we could get them both back to the gate in any reasonable time."

"What would you like to do, Daniel Jackson?"

"Gotta pee, th'n b'ck t'bed." Jack stirred, awkwardly trying to get up.

"Shush, Jack. Just hang on a sec."

Jack struggled to wake, forcing his eyes open and turning blearily toward the two men. "T...help me pee. Then get me back to Sss'm."

Daniel rolled his eyes and helped Teal'c assist Jack to his feet. "You have a one-track mind, Jack."

"I believe this would count as two tracks, would it not? He wishes to relieve himself and also to return to Major Carter."

"Whatever, Teal'c. Just...help him, would you?" Daniel made sure Jack was completely supported by Teal'c before returning to his tent. He was pretty sure the bigger first aid kit was in his pack and he was absolutely certain that nothing in there would help either of his friends.

SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ• SJ

"T?"

"Yes, O'Neill."

"'M good here, just lean me up against the tree, 'kay?"

"If you are certain, O'Neill."

"Mhm hm. Yeah." Jack fumbled a bit with the front of his trousers but managed to acquit himself fairly well at his self-appointed task. It took everything he had to remain upright and not leave any...evidence...of his efforts on the front of his uniform, however. Despite the instant relief he was feeling, he was beginning to think it wasn't worth it when he considered the return trip. Suddenly the fifty feet between this tree and his tent seemed far to great a distance to cross. With everything back in place again, Jack felt his eyes slide shut again and he gave up trying to remain upright. Just as his legs gave way, two strong hands gripped his elbows, forcing him to stand.

"Come, O'Neill. Let us return to your tent."

"Not 'nuff room fer you, T. My sleep'n bag's pretty full."

"Indeed."

The walking cleared Jack's head slightly and he lifted his burning eyes to Teal'c. "Hey, T? I think I'm in trouble."

"You are simply ill, O'Neill."

Jack shook his head. He knew he was sick, but that wasn't what he meant. "No...I mean..." He leaned more heavily against the big Jaffa. "Sam's in there too," he whispered.

Teal'c merely nodded his head as he carefully helped his companion across the clearing.

"She...I...we..." The mist that surrounded his brain had turned to cotton and was now wrapped around his tongue.

"We are here, O'Neill. Do you require further assistance?"

Jack slipped from Teal's supporting arms to thump down onto his knees at the tent's entrance. It was a measure of just how sick he was that he didn't even register the pain as he landed. Fingers trembling with exhaustion, he pushed aside the flap and then just sat there. He'd used up all of his reserves getting to the fire and then to the latrine and now had nothing left.

Before him, wrapped tightly in her sleeping bag still tucked inside of his, was Carter. She was buried so deeply in the down bags that only her tousled blonde hair was showing. Jack slowly reached out and brushed aside the hair covering her forehead, his fingers lingering on her skin. He sighed and leaned back, bumping into Teal'c's legs. "Christ, she's amazing, isn't she?"

"Indeed." Teal'c knelt, one hand on Jack's shoulder. "Come. Return to your bed, O'Neill. Daniel Jackson and I will decide upon a course of action.

Jack, the very last of his strength going quickly, nodded. With Teal'c's help he slid back into his bag, barely aware of the big man pulling the edges of the sleeping gear up and tucking it closely around both officers.

"Rest well, my friends."

Teal'c's words were lost on Jack as he, giving way at last to the overwhelming need for sleep that insisted on blanketing him, blindly reached out and pulled Sam closer. His last conscious thought was that as hugging lumps went, Sam Carter was definitely a keeper.

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