XOXOXOX
This is the original episode that inspired me to start this little labor of love. Enjoy! XoXo
Chapter 4: "In the Line of Duty"
Jack O'Neill frowned heavily at the sleeping form of his second in command. He always sat vigil for wounded teammates, always. Something in him this time... something stirred in his gut, a wrenching which he couldn't explain. This pain, for lack of better term, had begun to twist in him from the moment he had found her lying in the brig. She had been nearly dead and for a moment, he had felt his heart stop. The Ashrak had done a real number on her and after she had drowsily explained that Jolinar had saved her had lapsed into a deep sleep. Doc Frasier had been by frequently to check on Sam, even though a nurse could have been delegated the responsibility. Jack felt better knowing the chief of medicine of the base was caring for his team member personally.
That moment though.
That single solitary moment.
Jack scowled as his mind drifted once more to that moment. He had gently reached out, fear weighing his limbs, and checked her pulse. Something awakened in him... Something which he didn't want to examine too closely at all. A strange new terror.
"Sir?" croaked a voice. Jack blinked. "Wuh-ssamatter?" Jack realized Sam was awake and staring at him with sleepy blue eyes and he was fully scowling at her. Well, not at her, at thinking. But his thinking had been about her. This line of thought had him frowning more. He blinked as he realized she was waiting for an actual answer.
"Nothing, Carter," he replied, forcing a quick, guarded, close-lipped smile. "That's just my face."
That elicited the desired smile from her and she quickly drifted riget back to sleep. Jack went right back to frowning; maybe it was safer if he only thought of her as 'Carter'. He definitely did not want to examine that strange feeling at all. His gaze traveled down her face though, and he watched her sleeping, far more peacefully since Cassie had left almost... twelve hours ago.
And Jack was still there, even though he knew she was okay now. Something kept him rooted to his chair at Carter's bedside.
No, no he did not want to examine that feeling at all.