Amanda woke up slowly and couldn't make head nor tail of the strange dream she had had. When she was fully awake and felt the pain in her shoulder she realized it hadn't been a dream. Shaken by that realization she let her head drop back into the pillow. Dr. Fraiser bowed down.

"Amanda? You're safe. How bad is the pain?"

Amanda briefly closed her eyes.

"I've been better."

Janet smiled.

"I'll give you something."

Amanda gave her a grateful nod and looked around the infirmary. She wasn't alone. In the bed next to hers lay colonel O'Neill. He was on his side with his face towards her, but he wasn't awake.

"Doctor?"

Janet followed Amanda's gaze.

"Colonel O'Neill isn't conscious yet."

"How bad is he?", Amanda asked softly.

Janet let out a sigh, added the pain killer to Amanda's IV and said:

"He was hit in the back twice."

"In the back? What happened?"

"You don't remember? According to major Carter's report you were hit first. You lost consciousness and he got you out. That's why he couldn't defend himself. "

"Will he be alright?"

Janet squared her shoulders. She looked tired.

"He's tough. It's not the first time I've had to patch him back up."

...

Amanda turned her head when she heard the colonel groan.

"Don't move, the doc is worried about your back."

"Oh great, that makes two of us. Hurts like hell."

She swallowed.

"I guess I owe you. Without you I'd be dead. Thank you."

"Just did my job. Guess you were right not wanting to go there."

"Seriously. You could have saved yourself, or at least defended yourself. Instead you saved me."

"We don't leave our people behind."

"I'm not one of your people. I'm a civilian."

"You were out there against your own better judgment, because we asked you to. I was responsible for you as well as for any other member of my team, military or not. And I don't leave people behind."

He groaned again, half suppressed and barely audible.

"You need the doc."

Amanda sat up, careful not to hurt her shoulder. The colonel looked at her.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea? Shouldn't you keep still?"

"It's not that bad, just a flesh wound."

She couldn't help laughing at that.

"Didn't think I'd ever say something like that. I hate guns and soldiers and all that damn bravery."

She bit her lip.

"Present company excepted."

Jack laughed softly.

"You certainly don't mince your words."

"My dad taught me to love truth. Unfortunately he didn't teach me diplomacy."

Jack grinned, even if it was a painful grin.

"I underestimated how well you fit into my team."

Just as Amanda reached for the call button Dr. Fraiser was back.

"Colonel, you're awake! How do you feel?"

He rolled his eyes.

"OK fine, the pain killers will kick in within a minute. You're in a serious state. At the moment I can't perform surgery."

Upon seeing his inquiring look she added:

"The bullets are still in."

"What? Why? I wanna get rid of them five minutes ago!"

"Unfortunately the wounds are very close in proximity. I don't think it's a good idea to extract the bullets because the tissue between the wounds looks bad. I think it has to heal before I can get them out." *

The colonel blew out a sigh.

"How long?"

"A week at least. And yes, you've got to stay in bed!"

…

It had become a routine for Amanda to come by the infirmary. Today she brought cake. The colonel was more than happy about that.

"Any news?"

„Mm," he swallowed the last bite, "doc says my back is healed enough."

"Surgery?"

Jack nodded not overly enthusiastic.

"That's great!"

"Sure I'm glad to get the damn things out, but I'm not such a big fan of being cut open."

"I'll be here when you wake up."

Jack set down the plate and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"You don't even like me."

"Yeah, right, that's why I spend all my free time in the infirmary."

"Amanda, I know you feel like you owe me something, but I told you before that's not necessary. I just did my job. Not a very good one by the way, or else you wouldn't have been shot. You don't have to feel obliged to take care of me."

Amanda looked at him for a long moment.

"Obligation doesn't have anything to do with it."

…

While Jack was in surgery Amanda had to distract herself, so she went to the mess hall. Only to run into Lt. Lissy Miller, a young officer she had befriended. Lissy instantly noticed that something was wrong.

"What's your problem?"

"The Colonel."

"Which one?"

"O'Neill."

"Well – I know he's not exactly fond of scientists, but is he treating you that badly?"

Amanda just looked at her.

"Wait a minute. You LIKE him! You're not in trouble because you hate working with him, you like him and don't know what to do about it!"

"What do you suggest?"

"Tell him?"

"Yeah sure, great."

"OK, what is it that you like about him? Besides the obvious I mean?"

"The obvious?"

"Oh come on, he's an attractive man. If you like older men. But I'm sure there's more to it."

"I don't know. I guess I feel – comfortable around him. I feel like I can trust him. With my life, if it came to it...and it has! I feel safe, relaxed. Well, not relaxed. When I'm with him I don't know what to say."

"Jeez, you really do have a crush on him, don't you?"

Another pointed look.

"OK, tell him. Tell him what you've just told me."

"I can't. He'll just say it's his job."

"And what's wrong about telling him you appreciate how he does his job? Wouldn't you like hearing that?"

…

A few days later Amanda was sitting in the mess hall again, well aware of SG1 being present as well. Jack had been released from the infirmary the day before and was catching up with his team. After a while one by one the members of SG1 left their table, leaving the colonel to the second portion of his pie. Amanda took a deep breath, pushed back her chair and approached him. When he looked up at her she immediately knew this had been a bad idea. He didn't say anything, just waited. She swallowed once and cleared her throat.

"Am I disturbing you? I wondered if I might have a word with you."

"Sure." He gestured to the chair Daniel had been sitting in across the table from him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted..."

Jack looked at her for a second. Then he put his spoon aside, straightened and got up.

"How about we take a walk."

She felt incredibly grateful and got up as well.

"I think that's a good idea."

They left the mess hall with Jack taking the lead. She couldn't help but notice how naturally it came to him and how gladly she followed him. She smiled without knowing it, but he noticed.

"What?" He returned the smile and it struck her how handsome he was. That smile made him ten years younger, at least.

"Where are we going?"

"Up. I need some air. Real air. Not that..."

"...recycled stuff?"

"Yeah." He smiled at her again. "Let's go topside."

In the elevator they were trying not to look at each other. Strange thing that elevator rides always felt awkward, no matter where you were. The thought made her smile again.

"Now what? You keep smiling that smile and refuse to tell me what it's about. That's highly unfair."

They reached the top level and she was spared from answering as they stepped out into the sun of a clear spring afternoon. Both took a deep breath and sat down on a flat rock.

"Now, what? You had something to tell me?"

All of a sudden she was lacking words. Quite embarrassing for someone so skilled in languages.

"I wanted to tell you that I think you're doing a fine job." Oh great. Try again?

He just raised his eyebrows and waited.

She let out a breath and hung her head. "I'm sorry."

When he didn't answer, she looked up to find him slightly amused.

"I've been practicing this, you know? I'm afraid I wasted my time."

Jack turned and locked eyes with her. "What's this about?" he asked in a tone she had never heard from him before. In a way it encouraged her.

"I meant to say that I'm glad you're there. That I trust you. I'd trust you with my life, have trusted you with my life, and I've never experienced that before. There's some...confidence that you radiate. It makes me feel safe and comfortable, and again that isn't something I've experienced before. And now I feel stupid about telling you." She blushed. Anyway...she'd finally said it and was kind of proud that she'd managed to hold off the blushing until the end of her little speech.

Jack broke the eye contact and leaned back. For a moment he seemed to ponder her words, then he snapped back into action mode.

"I think I've had enough oxygen for today. There's paperwork to be done." He got up and made his way back, not bothering to check if she followed him.

...

TBC

* probably medical bullshit, but I wanted Jack in bed for a while ;-)

And yes, in a way it's a cliffhanger - again! Can't help it. No wait, that's not true. I could. I just choose not to. :-D