Title: Hope
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairing: Lorne/Keller preship
Notes and summary: see part one

Evan awoke feeling worse than any case of flu he'd ever endured.
Everything ached from his dry throat, to the healing wound, every muscle, every nerve ending.
In short feeling like crap would be a great improvement.

A splitting headache forced his eyes closed and Evan relented. Darkness almost won once more but Evan pushed it back.
He fought to stay conscious.
Jen needed him.

Evan groaned as he made the bad decision to move. A hand rested on his right shoulder and he tensed.
Then he felt a damp cloth placed on his forehead and caught a familiar scent of roses and he relaxed.

"Ev?"Jennifer called as she continued to press the wet cloth on his face and neck "Can you hear me?"

It'd been just over an hour since the mercenaries had brought Evan back to their camp. Jennifer had been relieved at first to find that the fever hadn't increased but was still the same.
No matter what it still wasn't good, especially with her limited medical supplies. She'd gotten a few basics from her captors…..water, blankets, a few bandages and a bit of broth from the stew they were cooking for dinner.

Evan struggled to drag himself away from the comforting blackness. He heard Jennifer's voice but it was if she was far away. His mind felt like it was wrapped in cotton….very difficult to put two thoughts together.

Some how Evan pried his eyes open. He blinked to try to get the swimming images to blend into something recognizable.
The first thing he recognized was a familiar pair of hazel eyes.
Beautiful hazel eyes.

"Ev?"Jen asked once more worry creeping into her voice.

"Jen?"Evan replied his voice coming out hoarse and dry.

"Can you sit up for me?"Jennifer inquired as she scooted closer to him so he could lean against her lap if needed. "I have something for you to eat….need to get some nourishment into you."

"Think so."

Jennifer gripped Evan's good arm and helped him sit and lean against her legs. Not quite as upright as she wanted but it'd do.
She pressed a small, shallow gray metal cup into his hands.

"Drink, slowly."

As his mind registered the broth Evan's thoughts became more cohesive. He knew they hadn't had anything in their supplies to resemble real food.
The cup he was holding definitely wasn't SGC issued.
The fire crackling a few feet away wasn't the one in the clearing.

"There's more if you think you can keep it down."

Evan took another sip of the warm liquid that held a hint of some kind of beef and vegetables.
He felt the cobwebs going away from his brain but with the fogginess going the pain came back.

Right now though Evan welcomed the pain….it kept things clear. He felt Jen move away from him and come to sit in front. She snaked her arms through his to address the dressing on his collarbone and shoulder.

As she took off the old gauze and began to place new bandages on hazel eyes met blue.

"How are you?"Jennifer asked worriedly. "Really?"

Evan looked past her and realized they were in a small cave near the entrance. A fire crackled outside.

"Where are we?"Evan asked his voice a little stronger.

Jennifer avoided his gaze as she busied her hands with attending to his wound.

Intense fear worked its way up Evan's spine as he set the broth down on the ground and gripped her shoulders.
The move made him dizzy but he ignored it.

"You need to drink all of it."Jennifer ordered quietly as she felt the anger radiate off of him.

"Please tell me you didn't….."Evan whispered even though he already knew the answer.

Jennifer felt tears start to form and she didn't bother to blink them away. She'd rather have him angry at her forever….then regret not doing all she could to save him.
She crumpled against his chest to the left of his wound…..she felt his arms relax and encircle her.

"I couldn't lose you."Jennifer replied tearfully. "I just couldn't."

"How long was I out?"Evan asked.

"Couple hours….infection had set in."Jennifer moved back and placed a hand on his forehead….still warm but not as bad. "Your fever seems to have dropped a little."

"What did you promise them?"

Jennifer buried herself back in his arms not wanting to move. "Nothing."

"Jen…."

"They agreed to send you home."

Ugly scenarios of what these men wanted with Jennifer raced through Evan's mind.
Dark images of what she'd sacrificed….of what she'd be put through…..of what she might have already endured….

Evan grasped her arms once more and eased her forward. He quickly looked her over scanning for any injuries or bruises that hadn't been there before.
The thought of them touching her at all…..

"Have they hurt you?"Evan bit out.

Jennifer shook her head. "No….Evan we need a plan….you know more gate addresses than I do….need somewhere to give them where there'd be help to get you home…."

"No way in hell."Evan protested though his newfound strength was leaving him as rapidly as it had come.

"Ev…."

"You said so yourself I'm better."

"No, you're not."Jennifer countered. "Fever's gone down but not to where it needs to be. I don't have any supplies I need…"

Evan reached up and gently brushed a streak of dried mud off of her left cheek "I'm not leaving you here."

"If they have me….they may leave the crystal in once you gate….you can get John and Rodney….bring help…."

"We both go….or not at all."

Jennifer grasped his right hand in hers. "Evan, I don't have the medicine you need…neither do they…..if your fever spikes up again…."

"Well, isn't this sweet."A familiar voice stated from the cave entrance. "I see lover boy has chosen to join us."

Lighting flashed across the dark sky making Evan notice the fierce storm for the first time.
The wind picked up nearly dousing the fire. The flames bent but eventually held out.

With a glare Evan started to rise unsteadily to his feet but Jennifer's hand on his right arm caused him to pause. As he did the room spun and a feeling of lightheadness returned. He dropped to his knees and the room righted itself.

"I've been more than generous with you, luv."The mercenary commented as he stepped further into the cave. "Given you what you asked even though he killed two of my men."

Evan's grip on Jennifer's arm tightened as he tried to ignore the pet name the bastard had called her.
Tried and failed miserably.

"You killed one of ours….an unarmed civilian."Lorne replied struggling to keep his voice even.

The pirate's gaze never left Jennifer's as his smile widened. "The storm's almost passed, but some how I don't quite trust you not to double cross."

Jennifer started to move in front of Evan suddenly terrified that the pirates would retract the agreement.
If they did…..she didn't know if she could handle sitting and watching Evan die.
Correct that….she knew she couldn't….it'd kill her too.

"I've already promised…."

The leader reached forward and grabbed Jennifer's free arm snatching her away from Evan's protective grasp.

"Leave her alone!"Lorne demanded as he shot to his feet.
He took a step forward and the dizziness almost overwhelmed him…..black spots danced in front of his eyes.

"You're damn lucky I'm a man of my word or I'd leave you here to rot."The mercenary spat as Evan took another wobbly step forward.

"Evan."Jennifer pleaded not liking at all the paleness of his face.

Through the dizziness and the pain Evan struggled against his failing body.
His legs felt like lead and he knew at any minute they'd give out.
He had one shot….one chance to keep Jen with him.
Balling his left hand into a fist Evan took a desperate swing at the pirate leader.

He missed by a mile.
The over-rotation almost toppled him.

Evan heard Jennifer scream a second before a fist connected against his jaw sending him tumbling backwards into the rock wall.

Just before consciousness left Evan heard the smugness in the mercenary's voice.

"She's mine now."

Evan slipped once again into the comforting blackness.