So sorry it has taken so long for an update. im extreamly stretched for time lately. Im only able to find time in the evening for a short while. it feels like it has taken forever to write this chapter. my muse seems to dissapear when i finally manage to scrape a few moments time.

hope i will be forgiven.

note a few spoilers in this chapter, for those that havent seen all seasons as of yet.

As always thank you for reading, and i hope you enjoy this chapter.

Ck x

"Carter can you hear me, Carter" Jack repeated until he got a response.

"Jaaa-ack?" Sam's voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm here Carter, I'm here, your safe, ive got you" Jack spoke louder this time.

"Water" Carter's voice sketchy.

"No Carter! we're on land, i got us of the ship. You have been unconscious for 5 hours."

"No sir, i-i need water." Opening her eyes a little more, becoming more alert.

"Oh sorry" Jack turned over away from Carter and reached for the canteen. Opening the cap he carefully slid his hand under her head, careful not to pull her hair, slightly raising Carter's head slowly pouring water into her mouth. Stopping when Carter pulled away, indicating she had enough.

Looking down at her, he could see that she still didn't have any colour in her face. She was struggling to keep her eyes open she was clearly in pain.

"Are you in any pain Carter" Jack tried to hide the concern in his voice,

"No sir, i don't feel any pain, i feel numb and cold, and confused, what happened?"

"We were on board the Hammond when the wraith fired. There wasn't any more escape pods, we hit the sea, you got thrown backwards and you hit your head pretty hard. But it's ok now because we are alive and i got us both out, do you remember?"

"No, Sir"

"What do you remember?"

"I remember coming out of hyperspace and i remember, er, you giving me orders to leave... But i didn't obey! After that i don't remember."

"Carter, you refused to leave, we were the last on board and i asked you to take the last escape pod and you disobeyed me and ejected an empty pod..."

"Well Sir, i guess i wanted to see the planet...argh" Carter winces in pain.

"Carter"

"My leg Sir i can't feel it... why can't i feel my leg?" Carter cried out her anguish.

"You suffered a really nasty blow, you might have bruised your back, im sure you will have feeling when the bruising goes down."

"I don't think i can wait that long!"

"Carter?" O'Neill raised his eyebrow just in that quizzed confused look, just like Teal'c has used so often.

"Er i really need to use the ladies room...Sir i think I'll need help."

"Er no problem Carter, i think we need to get you dressed first."

Sam's face looking very confused! She thought she was dressed, looking at O'Neill, she could see his face was starting to blush. The immediate area started to go up a few degrees, with the sure awkwardness between them.

"Er, dressed sir?" Carter finally got round to speaking.

"Ahem, Er i, er had to get you out of the wet clothes. You were in the water for a very long time, and i didn't want our sleeping bags getting soaked too. I didn't look i swear!"

"Well Sir it's nothing you haven't already seen before... Sir i really need to go!"

Jack got up and walked over to a nearby tree where he put Carters clothes to hang, giving them a quick shake in case there's such a thing as creepy crawlies on this planet...

"Sir, forget the clothes, i can't hold it any longer"

Dropping the clothes on the make shift bed, he freed Carter from the blankets, picked her up in his arms, his bare arms touching her bare skin. He forgot how soft it was.

Walking a bit away from camp, not far just enough. Going as fast as he could as even he was cold, and he was in more clothing than Carter. Realizing that Carter would need further help he looked down at her. Trying to keep his flushed cheeks at bay he added his usual humour.

"Need a hand Carter?" Jack coughed.

"Er Sir, im fine I'll be ok, if you could just hold me up? So i don't get wet again!"

"Sure you bet'cha"

Jack held Carter up slightly to make her bum level with the floor he managed rather painfully and very uncomfortably, to part his legs so he too did not get wet. Reminding him of the countless times he had to do this with Charlie, whenever he needed to go when he was a small boy, while mastering the potty. After a few seconds but what seemed a lifetime to Jack, Carter had finished and he felt her moving repositioning her pants back, shuddering slightly when a breeze swept through.

Walking back through the shrubs back to camp, he kept feeling Carter shiver, although she was trying to hide it. Placing her in a sitting position he passed over her BDU's and helped her to dress. She was still shivering and her teeth where starting to clatter between yawns.

Realizing how cold she really was he picked her up and placed her next to the fire, covered her over and zipped up her bag. Getting into the other side, not zipping up his bag, so he could put an extra blanket over Carter's, snuggling up next to her, putting his arm around her waist to keep her close.

"Sir not that it matters, but what are you doing." Sam said in-between her clattering teeth.

"Im keeping you warm, Carter your freezing. If you want me to move, i will!"

"I don't want you to move you are warm, but given our past..."

"CARTER, ah, ah you have been unconscious for a long time and suffered a massive knock to your head, and most likely your back too. Stop using your brain, stop worrying, don't make me make it an order Carter" Using his Colonels voice.

"Yes sir, sorry sir, and goodnight"

"Goodnight Carter"

Holding Carter in his arms reminded him of everything that he missed, working with her for all the years, he missed walking through the gate with her. The countless missions, her techno' babble, sneakily watching her six as she strides in front of him, during those nightmarish hikes. Jack rubbing his knees at that particular thought. Still he misses being with her every day, he tried once he retired, he spent some time with Carter and those days were among the happiest days of his life, but being pulled out of retirement to work at home world security again, after the destiny expedition.

He hoped working with her would reignite something, as it did before, when she was running Atlantis, his hopes soon got squashed like a bug, she was most defiantly still angry with him. Not that he could blame her.

Time to sleep he said to himself. No doubt there's a big day tomorrow, but at least Carter is alive and acting somewhat herself, a huge relief.

Jack awoke his arm still tightly around Carter's, the grip still as strong as it was before he fell asleep. He hadn't really planned to sleep, despite protests from his mind and body. But eventually he gave out to nagging voices; looking over to Carter he checked if she was still breathing, after awhile being satisfied that she's fine.

Stretching he climbed out of his cover and headed to the snares he set yesterday, hoping that at least there was something on the menu. If there wasn't he had his food packs. He thought it best to only use the food packs when there was no other source available, as they were limited after all. Looking at a snare there was some sort of animal attached nothing that would be founds on earth but meat at least.

"Ok breakfast is ready i think" jack smiled.

"Oh yeah jack, i think that it is defiantly ready, look at it!" Sam giggled.

"Yeah well, i guess i can't blame it on the beer this time huh. Well better be safe than sorry as it is un-tested alien meat. I thought this monster grasshopper, rabbit thing would be better well roasted!" he smirked.

"That's a very smart response to burnt food."

He brought the stick over to her with some of the well charred meat. Sitting next to her giving her the first chance to try it, well just in case she doesn't like it, then he'll settle for the paste. After all one heavy duty survival pack will only last so long and so will he with only paste to eat, no extra charred steak on the grill smothered with beer. Well at least he still has company instead of the few fish in his pond.

Sniffing the meat and only smelling burnt charcoal, isn't going to help decide if it's safe to eat, or even if it's tasty. Deciding not to wait any longer, clearly waiting for O'Neill to try it first would be a life time wait. she took a bite.

"Er chewy, very chewy" in between mouthfuls.

Still starring at Carter, Jack couldn't decide if she was being honest or not. But he too had to listen to the grumbles below.

"Yeah, chewy indeed" Jack huffed.

Satisfied that it tasted like chicken, he brought some comfort to that, a bit of earth flavours. Maybe being stuck here forever with Sam isn't a bad thing. He could live on charred chicken instead.

After they had breakfast a bit of strength had returned to them, enough for them to assess the situation. As always Jack just doing the listening, occasionally zoning out at the techno babble. Although he missed it not working with her every day, not having daily briefings, listening to her babbling on about one doodad to the other.

They have a fresh spring which seems safe to drink. They have edible food and they have basic survival gear, rope, med kit, that sort of thing. But who knows how long they would be here for. They have no idea if the Odyssey is still out there. They have no idea about Atlantis and nothing about Earth, no communications what so ever for the first time ever they were completely alone. Except for that time they were stuck in that cavern in Antarctica except then it was O'Neill who was injured.

With Carter still unable to move much as she still can't feel her legs or her lower back. General O'Neill was still the one doing most of the work. Although fighting against his every action his blasted knee. He's walked a few times to the stream and filled up enough water to last, been down to the beech to salvage anything useful from the Hammond.

Jack started to make a shelter for them both, nothing much just something to offer a bit more protection. He has been working nonstop cutting down some pliable vines, to use as ties for the shelter. Some branches and so forth for some sort of hatching, a permanent area for a fire, a bit closer to the camp to keep them warm.

Luckily when he was down at the beach, there were some big enough chunks of insulation that he laid on the floor, a bit of added comfort, hopefully.

General O'Neill didn't realize that it was starting to get dark, he didn't feel hungry at all he was more tired than anything and all he wanted to do was fall asleep he looked over to sam a few times checking on her. She was always sleeping; she awoke occasionally for some water but went straight back to sleep again. Surprisingly his constant swears didn't wake her. He decided that he will reheat some of the meat earlier as had just gotten the fire started, he slowly walked over to sam and shock her gently to wake her up, a bit of an effort she must be exhausted.

"Hey Carter" Jack said seeing her stir. "you gotta have some food"

"Sir, wh-what's happened?"

"We are on that water planet, The Hammond is destroyed, were the only survivors do you remember Carter?"

"I, i thought that was a dream!"

Shocked back into reality she looked around, noticing the shelter and the campfire, being dark once more and eerily cold and damp.

"When did you make that shelter sir? How long have i been asleep?" she quizzed.

"Er most of the day, you woke up a few times for some water but you haven't eaten anything since breakfast. You should eat something and by the looks of it you should also drink something. You need to keep your strength up"

Taking the stick held out in front of her she started to nibble it, not getting much pleasure from over, over charred meat but still it was food, taking every mouthful just thinking about having a nice bowl of blue jello. Drinking a bit of water, as well still not getting much satisfaction from that, although that last gulp of water she regretted. As now her bladder was defiantly full, looking at her commanding officer, he wasn't fairing too well either she could tell he was trying to hide his limp, falling miserably.

"Sir, i hate to ask but do you mind helping me to the girls room please?" she almost whispered, feeling her cheeks starting to burn yet again.

"Sure Carter, no problem, still can't feel your legs huh?"

"Yeah i still can't feel my legs, im getting worried about it. I don't think ive broken anything, i-i don't understand why..."

"Well i don't know Carter! Im not a doctor, maybe it has something to do with that cre..."

Jack kicked himself mentally, for that slip he's trying desperately not to let her know what happened. He doesn't want her to worry her, right now. Not knowing what's out there, or if anything worse.

"Sir something to do with what" following with a stern look.

"Carter please just leave! It im tired, i got confused" Jack pleaded.

Picking her up and walking around some bushes, his knee in even more pain than before, with the extra strain, although she wasn't heavy at all.

He allowed her to do her business this time not even noticing that she had finished, not thinking of anything other than if she's going to be ok.

Walking back from the bushes in an awkward silence, you could hear a pin drop miles away. He carefully placed her down inside the warmth of the shelter; he knows that he has to tell her what happened eventually.

Shuffling his knees along the length of her body, drawing to a stop at the where the bandages are wrapped tightly around her thigh. He untied the knot, carefully. He knew he wouldn't cause Carter any pain, but in his mind, he didn't want her to think he didn't care, not caring enough about her, what she's having to go though. Showing his gentle side, just to remind her, how much he really cares for her.

Seeing the wound it didn't look worse than before, it was still an odd colour slightly greenish. He applied some rubbing alcohol over it, watching her face in case it caused her pain. It didn't, it might of well been water to Carter and be none the wiser.

"Carter listen, im sorry about earlier, i- i didn't want to tell you because. I didn't want you to worry" he sighed.

"What do you mean sir? Were on a planet stranded with no one knowing we survived! Or if there is anyone left on earth. I don't think im gunna get even more worried, than what i already am!" saying sarcastically.

"Carter listen to me i know all that. I mean i think i know why you can't feel your legs. It's just we were still on The Hammond, when it hit the ocean. The force threw you across the hull, i couldn't hold you, and there was so much water, it took me a long time to get us out. When we got out i headed to the surface, i pushed us onto a big chunk of metal, we were floating for hours, i hoped the current would take us here. I saw the island and had a lot of hope i started to try and get us there quicker and i must have attracted something..." Taking a breath not looking in her direction he continued.

"It was this like an octopus thing, it was massive, and it grabbed hold of your leg. There was so much blood it wouldn't let go, it was pushing you underwater. I shoot at it firing at water, trying to hold on to you, i managed to get the tentacle thing of your leg. I kept shooting at it, it eventually left, and the blood from your leg, there really was so much. The claw thing was still lodged in your leg, i pulled it out. i think it had some sort of venom or something because there was this yellow goo... I couldn't lose you Carter i had to do something"

He stared at her, silently begging her to say it wasn't his fault, wished her to say everything is going to be ok.

"Sir, you should have let me go"

"No Carter i could never leave you, I DONT CARE HOW LONG WERE STUCK HERE AS LONG AS YOUR SAFE AND OK, it –it should have been me that..."

"Sir its ok, I'll be fine if it was any sort of poisoning i wouldn't be here now! So i think it'll be ok, you did the right thing pulling it out. Thanks for saving my life. You need to rest sir, you didn't eat anything!"

Kneeling down beside her he asked if he could pull her trousers down to clean her wound properly. She nodded her head, going extremely flushed in the face.

Not noticing earlier, she was wearing tight training shorts, it hugged her shape perfectly. He got to her wound carefully moving the fabric away from the dried blood. Taking the bottle of rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth, he began to slowly clean the area, happy with his work, happy that the all the puss had been removed. Opening a clean bandage from the med pack, he carefully wrapped it around her thigh, tying it of he helped her to pull her trousers back on.

Helping Carter to get into her sleeping bag making sure that she was wrapped nice and warm, not being sure if he should but his arm around her again to help her get warm, he simply laid on his back. Being very thankful of finding that insulation, it wasn't as good as his bed back on earth, it was comfortable enough.

"Sir, are you awake?"

"No im sleeping!" faking snoring.

"Sir, i know my leg is bad, i saw it all over your face. There was a lot of puss on those bandages and blood too, you think it's infected?"

"Carter, it's not infected its starting- starting to heal! Don't worry ok. It'll be fine, you will be fine, and you always are"

"Sir i know you're lying, but i trust you, i always have, it was good to be working with you again i-i missed working with you."

"Carter, i never stopped working with you. All your mission reports get sent to me after all, although it did take me longer to read yours than the others mind you!"

"Sorry sir"

"It's ok Carter, it was always the highlight of my day!" Not knowing what to say to that without over stepping the line.

There's always been something between them, they both knew it, and she broke of her wedding with Pete Shanahan, because of those feelings, for the chance for something.

Made a move once after her father died, but he was with someone and again after he left to take George Hammond position. But their jobs kept them away, and then all the trouble with Atlantis meant they were literately galaxies apart. And then all the trouble with the research facility, with a stargate leading to god knows what kinda' galaxy. Her thoughts being trailed of hearing the sound of her own teeth shattering, she felt cold very cold, pulling up the covers up to her neck she let out a shiver.

"Come 'ere Carter your freezing"

Pulling her up close to him in a strong embrace they cuddled, for the first time in perhaps a long time. Filling their minds with all sort of confusing emotion's.

"Thank you sir"

"Carter less of the sir please, i haven't been your direct commanding officer for a very long time. And i don't plan on being that ever again, so it's Jack to you"

"Goodnight si-jack"

"Goodnight Carter".