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"Hey, you two pilgrims, how's it going?" Laura's voice sounded from the communication beacon fastened to the collar of his shirt.

It ripped Carter and him out of a pretty awkward conversation, because he didn't really take into consideration how much of her memories was Carter missing before they started on more personal topics. He tried to lighten the mood with few jokes that fell flat in the tense atmosphere. Carter seemed too deep in thought to even recognize they were jokes, so Laura's interruption was definitely welcomed.

"We're good. Should we head back or what's going on?"

"Get to infirmary, please." Laura requested firmly, but in a nice pleasant tone.

"On our way now." O'Neill replied, getting up from the wooden box he sat on. He looked at Carter, but her face was unreadable. He hated seeing her so closed off, but that was his way of dealing with bad situations as well, so it was not like he could say something. "You okay with that?"

"Sure, sir."

They weren't that far from the infirmary, but he took his time, driving the wheelchair carefully around each and every corner. She looked at ease, but he knew she tended to underreport pain and injury, always trying to suck it up. The constant need to prove herself disappeared after a while, but without her memories, maybe she felt like she needed to prove herself again. Nothing could be further from the truth. He wanted her to take it easy and get healthy, but he wasn't sure how to tell in a way she would believe. Her connection to the team still felt too new to her. There was a glimmer of hope, sometimes she let herself rely on them, but a moment later she retreated back into her shell, scared and confused.

Laura asked for help with getting Carter onto the operation table in the middle of the infirmary. When he lifted her up, Carter yelped in surprise and didn't relax until she could feel the smooth surface beneath her.

"You alright?" O'Neill whispered into her ear, watching her closely until she nodded.

Laura observed them from a distance, not sure what to think. But she knew better than to intrude.

"So… What's going to happen now?" O'Neill asked Laura when the silence went on for too long.

"First let me check how she's doing. Are you in any pain right now, Sam?"

"No."

"Good. Let's start with your arms. Stretch them in front of you and keep them there." Laura waited until Sam did just that and then ran her hands over Sam's. "You don't need to hold them so high."

Sam exhaled, letting her hands drop a few inches. It was a great relief when she finally could rest her arms. She was pretty confident her arms were in order, but still she tired very easily. When it was time to examine her legs, Sam grew more nervous. She could also tell the two people in the room noticed because of the way Laura tried to calm her, but to no avail. It only made her more anxious, though.

O'Neill held in a breath when Carter was asked to move her legs. It was only a few small moves, designed to confirm the muscles were functioning, but he could tell how upset the patient was about that. To her credit, Laura tried to make it as easy on Carter as possible, but it didn't take much stress away from the situation.

He didn't start breathing at normal pace until the exam was over and Carter was resting, lying on her back, gasping from the exertion. Her blond hair was flying all around her head, moving in sync with little puffs of air coming out of her lips.

"Good work, Colonel." He hoped Carter could decipher the pride in his voice. He experienced his fair share of similar exercises and it was nerve-racking each time. He received another nod, just a little one this time, meaning she probably needed more time to rest.

"Okay, so now I have to ask you to leave, General."

"Hey! What have I done?" Without being aware of it, he raised his voice to yelling volume.

"No, nothing like that. I just need to get Sam out of the restrictive clothing and get her into something more comfortable, so…"

"Oh. Of course." He grimaced, embarrassed at his previous reaction, but neither woman commented on it. Carter still focused on getting her breathing under control, hyperventilating at times and Laura was measuring Carter's vitals.

"You can wait for us in the gym." Laura offered, slowly unzipping Carter's clothing. There were many sets of zips and buttons, so it was going to take some time before anything inappropriate would be showing.

"Ok. Then I'll be waiting." O'Neill said, then added a question. "Do you kids need anything?"

"Maybe pick up a few water bottles from the kitchen on the way." Laura supposed the next couple hours would be rough for Sam, not just mentally, but also physically. She could at least make sure she stayed hydrated.

"Sure." O'Neill said and with that he left.

As they were alone, Laura undid the last of the trousers zips and slowly peeled the material off Sam's legs. Then she covered Sam's legs with a light cotton sheet and turned her attention to the shirt.

"You might feel a little cold in the ordinary clothes, but that is just because your body got used to the warmth inducing ones. It should pass quickly."

"Okay." Sam was apprehensive. Her body didn't hurt but still was phenomenally stiff and sore. Somehow she imagined her legs would be all good and ready to go from the beginning.

"Hey Teal'c, come in the infirmary to get your tretonin, please." Laura said into her bracelet and received a swift positive answer from the Jaffa.

"You comfortable in the clothes, Sam?"

"I am fine." Sam confirmed, when Teal'c entered, saying hello to them.

"Here's the tretonin, Teal'c. Will you help Sam into the wheelchair after you take it?"

"Of course I will, Laura."

"I also made more durable vials that you can carry around with you as emergency rations." Laura said to Teal'c as he effortlessly raised Sam in his hands and put her into the wheelchair. Then he accepted the new vials and clipped them to his belt.

Sam froze for a moment before fidgeting a little to get settled in the wheelchair. Laura covered her with a light blanket, talking to her as she was doing it, describing what was happening.

"Ready, Sam?"

"As I'll ever be." Sam said with a shrug.