Fight For Freedom
Chapter 4
When Jack finally returned to the world of conscious, he was relieved to find that the pounding in his head had subsided slightly. He still felt hot, but it had changed from a burning to more of a simmer. He's mouth and throat were parched, he tried desperately to swallow, to moisten his throat, but it did little to help. Jack wiped a hand across his still sweaty face, and was surprised when it made contact with another hand and he felt something stir beneath him. It was then he realised his head was no longer resting on the hard uncomfortable floor. He struggled to sit up, and drew in a deep breath as his ribs reminded him of the damage that had been done to them. Carter! He thought to himself with a smile as he looked at the sleeping woman next to him. She looked so peaceful; he didn't want to wake her, not to bring her back in to the realism of the cell. Jack though he had imagined someone soothing his pain during his delirious fevered dreams, but know he knew it had been her. All night she had soothed him, like a mother does a young child, and all night she had let him use her as a pillow, probably at great discomfort to herself. Jack sat back against the wall wondering if it was because of Sam that he was feeling slightly better today, he promised himself there and then that he would make it up to her when they got home.
As if knowing Jack was thinking about her, Sam stirred, blinking a few times before finally opening, and stretching her cramped and slightly painful legs.
"Colonel?" she asked through a yawn, surprised that he was a wake and sitting up.
"Morning Major"
Carter sat up, "How are you feeling?" she asked, remembering the raging heat that had been emanating from his body the night before.
"Oh, I'm just peachy!"
Carter smiled; he sounded more like the Jack O'Neil she knew now. She lent forward and felt his forehead. He was still quite feverish, and his head felt hot, but Sam was sure the worse of it had past, at least for now. Satisfied, she drew her arm away, as she did so, Jack grabbed hold of it stopping her. She locked at him slightly startled,
"Carter?"
"Yes Sir" she replied
"Thank you"
"Thank you?" Sam was confused "For what?" she asked. Jack looked at her, a serious and sincere expression on his face that few people ever got to see,
"For taking care of me last night"
Sam blushed slightly and smiled. This type of heart to heart honesty always caught her slightly off guard,
"Any time Sir" she replied, placing a hand over the one Jack had on her arm.
"Heh! When did they bring Teal'c back?" Jack exclaimed, breaking the silence and slight uncomfortableness that had occurred in the cell.
"Oh, last night when you were asleep" She told him,
"Is he alright?" Jack asked concerned,
"Well, he says he'll be fine, but Teal'c's as stubborn as you when it comes to telling us how he's really feeling!"
"Major!" Said Jack, giving her one of his reprimanding looks. Sam had known Jack for too long now, and knew he was not actually been serious. She let out a small giggle, "Sorry Sir!" she replied.
"So what else have I missed?" asked Jack.
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Sam filled Jack in on everything that had happened since they'd been returned to the cells, and some of the things he was a bit hazy on due to his head injury. She explained about the people of the planet, and the way they had been imprisoned here.
"Heh, what's that?" asked Jack, spotting a small silver bowl at the entrance of their cell. Sam looked at it, having not noticed it when she first woke up. She got up and walked over to it,
"It must be some water" Sam explained, "the man in the cell opposite told us it would be brought round, I guess we must have been asleep when it arrived."
"You are correct" Came a voice from behind Sam. She jumped slightly and turned round. It was the man in the cell opposite; he had been listening to their conversation,
"But I advise you to drink fast for it will soon be taken away again!"
Jack's first instinct was to dive over and gulp the whole bowl down straight away. He was so thirsty, but he knew that his team-mates had to some first,
"Daniel, Teal'c, Guys, come on wake up!" jack who was sitting quite close to the sleeping form of Daniel, placed a hand on his shoulder and shock him slightly. The younger man stirred,
"Jack?" He asked through squinted eyes, "what's going on?"
"Nothing to worry about" he replied, "Just though you might like some water"
The very word "water" made Daniel sit up instantly, "Yes please" he exclaimed. After taking a couple of sips her, Sam past the bowl to Daniel
"There's not much there," she said, "…so make sure you leave enough for everyone." Daniel looked at her, but her attention was on Jack. Daniel knew instantly what she meant. Jack always put others before himself, and it was typical of him to go with less simply to help them. But Sam realised that only too well that he could not do it this time. He was sick, and the fever that he still had was probably already making him dehydrated. She had also seen the way in which his eyes had lit up when she mentioned water, a clear sign that he needed it more that he was letting on, or even realised.
"There you go Jack" Said Daniel, handing the bowl back to his friend, but Jack did not drink any,
"Teal'c, you awake over there?" he asked,
"Indeed" was Teal'c's simple reply as he sat up. As jack handed him the bowl, he nodded his head in thank you.
"So, how you feeling today Teal'c"
"I am fine" he replied,
"You sure don't look too good" smiled Jack,
"I could say the same for you O'Neil" Teal'c's face remained expressionless, but Jack was sure his eyes were smiling slightly.
At last the bowl of water reached Jack. Relief filled his body, it had been torture watching the others quench their thirst while he remained parched. He looked down into the bowl, at the menial amount of water in it. He did however gulp it down, wiping his hand across his mouth on finishing,
"So Teal'c, did you find out anything else about the goa'uld…erm…what's his name…Cryjac"
"Crytec" Daniel finished for him,
"What ever!"
"I did not" replied Teal'c, "he wished to know about earth and the iris codes, but it told him nothing."
"Good on you Teal'c!" Replied Jack, glad to see the strength of his team even during torture.
Just then, two Jaffa arrived at the door,
"Crytec wishes to continue his questionning"
"Tell him to come and get us himself" Jack answered coldly,
"But that is our job" said the smiling Jaffa on the right. They entered the cell, Zats at the ready and grabbed Jack by the arms, pulling him to his feet.
"Alright, alright!" Jack shouted, the sudden movement causing him great pain. Why did they have to keep doing that, didn't they realise how much it hurt? Jack thought to himself. Actually, that's probably why they keep doing it, he realised.
"No" shouted Carter, getting to her feet, knowing Jack was not well enough for further torture, both Jaffa instinctively raised their Zats,
"Do not let us have to kill one as pretty as yourself!" The Jaffa told her sniggering, doing little to settle her anger.
"Settle down Major" Jack told her, not wanting her to get killed or something because of him. This was a command she could not refuse. She sat back down, and let the Jaffa drag Jack out of the cell,
"We'll be back for you later," said one of the Jaffa with an evil grin to Sam before finally locking the cell door and dragging Jack outside.
To be Continued…
So that was Chapter four, I hoped you liked it. Sorry its taking me so long to post each chapter, but I'm about 2 months away from taking my A-Level exams and leaving college in England, so you can imagine that things are getting a bit hectic. I will try and post Chapter five ASAP, unfortunately, I've got to write it first though, as this story is a work in progress! (shouldn't take too long though I hope. I mean what's more important, my exams/future career or this story? I'll think you'll agree with me when I say that it's clearly my story!!!) Please R+R. Julia