Ch. 24 Twilight

Only one more episode had occurred during the night, but it hadn't been as bad and they'd reigned it in quickly. Sam slept out of pure exhaustion, curled into Daniel's side. She was beginning to wheeze slightly, and the noise completely unnerved the men.

Jack's stinging back was the last thing on his mind as he paced the room. He wished there was a way to convince Tisiphone to use her healing device on Sam. He'd even willingly become a host if he knew he could save Sam. He stared down the hallway, his face resting against the bars. They'd have to make their move soon.

o-O-o

"Daniel?"

"Yeah, Sam?" Daniel wondered, his voice soft.

"I just wanted to say…thank you," Sam rasped, finding the simple task of communicating with her teammate tiring.

"For what?"

"For everything. You've been one of the best…friends I've ever had."

Daniel's eyes widened. "No, Sam. No. Do not talk like that." He shifted them both so he could look into her eyes.

"I just… You need to know." Her blue eyes searched his. They were devoid of their usual luster; they had been for days.

The corners of Daniel's lips threatened to pull into a grimace. It hurt him to hear her speaking like this, but he kept his expression neutral. "I know, Sam. And you're welcome."

She leaned heavily against her friend, and Daniel took her back into his arms to make her more comfortable.

"You're not giving up on me, on us, okay?"

Sam shook her head. She coughed and the effort rattled her body violently. Once the spasm passed, she laid her head against Daniel's chest, sighing.

"And thank you, Sam," Daniel whispered. A lump was forming in his throat, but he spoke around it. "I never had a sister…but you're better than what I ever imagined it to be." Sam didn't respond and he leaned down and laid a kiss atop her head.

Then, it was so faint that for a second he wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly, or even heard anything at all. But as he comprehended, Daniel replied with a sad smile. "I love you too, Sam."

o-O-o

"Is this satisfactory, Major Carter?" Teal'c asked as he zipped Sam's jacket.

The woman nodded, shivering slightly. She rested on Teal'c and the large man held her close.

"Teal'c?"

"Yes, Major Carter?"

"Don't stop me…just let me talk." Sam's plea was soft, but determined. She had something to say, words she needed to speak.

Teal'c bowed his head, signaling her to continue. "I am listening."

There was a pause before Sam began. "Thanks for being there for me…for being a friend. I've…I've learned so much from you."

"And I from you. You have proven yourself a true warrior. I am proud to have served by your side."

Sam glanced up at her comrade. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Do not be sorry for things you cannot change. You must hold on as long as you can. Do not give in, no matter what the inevitable is," Teal'c told her. "If this is indeed the end, you have fought valiantly and there is nothing to apologize for."

"Thank you," Sam replied earnestly. Leave it to Teal'c to be direct. At least he was being honest with her.

"I believe if anyone can survive the Kek, it is you, Samantha." Sam started at the use of her given name. "You are strong and have resolve I have not seen in many others. You have much to live for." Teal'c broke off, stopping to control his own emotions. "Samantha, know that I care deeply for you, and that I have nothing but the utmost respect and honor for you."

Sam nodded against his chest, tears pooling in her eyes and not the strength to fight them. He was saying what he needed to say, and Sam was comforted by this. A light smile played on her lips as she slipped into unconsciousness.

o-O-o

Sam woke and squeezed her eyes shut at the pain that almost immediately assaulted her senses. With every breath she took, her chest ached. Sam felt listless and barely had the will to stay awake. Actually, she barely had the will to do anything. But there was something she had to do.

"Sir…"

Immediately Jack was there. He must have been the whole time and she'd just not realized it. Sam struggled to keep her eyes open.

"Yeah?"

"I need you…to tell my…dad…" Sam trailed off.

"I'm not going to have to tell him anything, Carter. Except what a great job you did here and how proud he should be."

Sam's stomach did involuntary flip-flops at his compliment. She smiled softly, but she still had to give him a message. "Tell him I…love him…and I'm sorry…"

"Shhh…" Jack whispered. "No apologizing. And you'll tell Jacob you love him yourself."

Sam shook her head. "As much…as I wanna…go home..." She paused, gathering strength to continue. "I don't think so…not this time."

"Carter…"

She heard the conflict in his voice, but it didn't stop her from going on. "You get the chance…go…leave me," Sam wheezed.

"No. No one gets left behind. You know that," Jack reminded her, gently but firmly. His face contorted at the rise and fall of Sam's chest. She was struggling.

"Not afraid…to die…just don't want…" Sam had known, since the first time she'd stepped through the gate, that death was always a very real possibility. It could happen in an instant. In fact, it had. She'd already had more chances at life than most people ever would. And even if there were a chance at escape, she didn't know if Janet could help her. Sam could feel it in every fiber of her body. She wouldn't last another night.

"You're not going to die. Okay? You can't," Jack said. His hand finally crept towards hers and their fingers intertwined. The coolness of her skin troubled him.

Sam's gaze fell questionably on Jack.

"I haven't taken you fishing yet," he told her lightly. Then he grew serious again. "It's not your time yet, Carter." Sam's eyes closed and Jack rubbed his thumb along hers, bringing her back around.

She blinked wearily at Jack. "Fishing…sounds nice…"

Jack stared at Sam, unable to tear his eyes away. Words that had been etched into his memory now played like a broken record in his head. I'd rather die myself than lose Carter. Those words were truer now than they had been then.

Even in the most desperate of times, they couldn't admit their feelings. Deep down, though he'd never say it, he didn't think they were going to make it out this time. He was watching Sam slip away before his very eyes and was unable to do a thing.

Sam's hand gently pulled away from his and she reached around her neck, pulling her dog tags into view. Her fingers shook, but she was able to unhook the smaller of the two chains. One set of tags fell limply to her chest and she grasped the metal into her hand. Without a word, Sam placed it in Jack's palm.

His chest constricted as he stared blankly at the chain and tag. It became a blur of silver as he felt his emotions bubble to the surface.

"Sir…I'm dying…"

Jack shook his head. He wasn't prepared to hear this. "Don't give up on me."

The blonde looked at him sorrowfully. "I don't…want to…"

"Then don't!" Jack stressed. God, he couldn't lose her. "Sam, I ne-"

"Don't," she interrupted. "Please. No more…regrets." Sam's eyes begged him to understand. The last thing she needed to hear was a confession from him. No matter that it would be exactly what she'd always wanted to hear. But it would only add to her regrets, knowing what could have been…what should have been. This ambiguity they had, even though in their hearts they knew the truth, that's what had to be kept up.

"Sam…"

Just to hear him use her name with such raw emotion and desperation, an admission would surely break her heart. All the missed opportunities, the chances they'd let slip by, and now here they were. They would never get to discover what it would have been like. And it was better not to know, even in what she knew were the last hours of her life. If Sam should die, she would do so with the status quo firmly in place.

TBC in 'Darkness Falls'