Disclaimer: Don't own Buffy or Stargate. I am changing season 7 for my purposes! (boring chapter sorry)
Jack had sat by Buffy's bed for the better part of a month. Buffy had been struck by an energy surge and feedback that caused the entire Stargate system to shut down for 5 days. Since that time Buffy had been in a coma.
Jack sat watching her pale face, wishing. He hated that disasters made you realize your true feelings. He shook his head wearily and lay down on the hospital bed beside Buffy and fell into a deep sleep. Janet came in a nodded in satisfaction, the sedative she snuck into his coffee had done its work.
Buffy gave Dawn one last hug, "Remember, I'll always love you. I'm not abandoning you but letting you fly." She said and Dawn smiled. "Tell your Jack that he better treat you right." And Buffy nodded. Dawn turned and went to her first class, Buffy watching her until she could no longer see her. Sighing, she looked at Giles and they walked to his car and drove home. (yes yes, I know Buffy would never leave Dawn, but this is fiction!)
Buffy stood in the middle of the circle that Tara and Willow had drawn, hoping that this would work. Magic gave her the wiggins. Buffy gave Giles and Xander a small wave. Spike had stayed away, not wanting to see Buffy disappear from his life again.
Willow closed her eyes and chanted, "Goddess, give Buffy back her life. Let her follow that path that you set her on without diversion. Send her back." And there was a tremendous flash of light and Buffy was gone.
Buffy still had the flash of light into her eyes, and suddenly gasped for air then groaned. "Damn, I think I have a hangover." She moaned then jumped when she heard a quiet sob. Opening her eyes she looked to her left and saw Jack. Jack! Wonderingly she touched his haggard face with her fingertips and started to cry with him.
Jack had just woken up when he heard a gasp then a moan. He rolled off his bed so quickly that he landed on the floor and scrambled up to sit beside Buffy. His eyes filled with tears of relief when she moaned, "Damn, I think I have a hangover." When she opened those wonderful eyes he knew his nightmare was over.
Buffy wept as Jack pulled her to him, holding her tightly. Her arms were wrapped around him and she shuddered in relief. She was back, 'Thank You God'. Doc Frasier came in like a whirlwind, "Damn it Jack, you should have told me the moment that she woke up!" she scolded and pried them apart to check Buffy's vitals. Buffy's and Jack eyes never left each other, needing to reassure themselves that the other was still there. Finally Janet was done and she left to go inform the General. Jack came back over and crawled into the narrow bed beside her and held her closely. When he started shaking she tightened her arms on him and whispered, "It's ok, I'm here, I'll never leave you again."
Jack was sleeping when Daniel and Sam came into the cubicle to check on Buffy. Her eyes smiled at her friends and Daniel came over and kissed her. Without opening his eyes Jack spoke, "Touch her again and die." Buffy laughed and said, "Go back to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up." Sam touched her hand and Buffy gave her hand a squeeze.
Later on Janet removed all of the tubes and things and let Buffy take a shower. As she stood there in the refreshing water she thought about what had happened and smiled wryly, "Must have been the Powers that Be. Sheesh, did they have to put me in a coma?" she said exasperated. Buffy nearly fell when she got out of the shower, "Janet?" she called, the world spinning around her. Suddenly Jack rushed in and grabbed her before she fell.
Buffy looked into Jack's concerned eyes and smiled, "Great catch Ace." She shook with weakness and Jack wrapped a towel around her and carried her to a chair. He slowly began to dry her off, eyes darkening with barely banked desire. His hand was unsteady as he dried her breasts and went lower. Stopping him, Buffy took her hand and cupped his face, feeling the scratchiness of his not having shaved. "Hey, if I hadn't just got out of a coma I'd jump you." She smiled and he laughed, "Sweet." And kissed her gently. "Get me something to wear please." He nodded and left. Buffy sat there with a smile on her face, wanting nothing more to be in Jack's arms.
Janet later chased Jack out to get some rest and the steady stream of visitors started. Her eyes were closed when she heard a bashful throat clearing. Opening her eyes she smiled at Major Maxwell. He came in, giving her a stuffed snake that was blue and green and about 6 feet long. "Oh Max, I love it!" She reached over and pulled him down for a kiss. He smiled and sat down, "So, when are they springing you?" Then laughed at her pouting face, "I don't know. The red headed dictator that rules the kingdom won't tell me."
"I heard that." came Janet's voice.
Maxwell laughed and turned when he heard Ferretti's voice. "Oh, I am so out of here. I'll see you later beautiful." And Major Maxwell ran for his life, away from Ferretti.
Colonel Ferretti, came in and gave Buffy a kiss on the cheek. "How ya feeling?" he said and sat in the chair vacated by the Marine. "Can't complain. YET." she shouted toward Janet and was rewarded by a snort. She turned to him, "How are you cowboy? Do I detect a limp in your walk?" she asked lightly and he grimaced. "Well, if you hadn't been lying down on the job I would have been in shape and moved faster." He complained, then realized he wasn't supposed to be talking about the missions. He gulped when Buffy grabbed his wrist and made him look at her. "What happened?" she demanded. "Ah Buffy." He hemmed and hawed but she narrowed her eyes. "Ferretti. I will kick your ass 6 ways to Sunday if you do not tell me." She threatened quietly, trying to keep Janet from hearing.
"I can't, I'm more afraid of Jack than you." he said miserably and Buffy knew it had been bad. Closing her eyes she went through the faces that were dear to her. She heard Ferretti leave quietly and meet Teal'c in the hallway. There was sound of a muffled conversation and then Teal'c came in with flowers. Buffy smiled and took the flowers with delight, "Teal'c, these are beautiful." She buried her face in the blossoms to smell them, enjoying the sunny yellows and oranges of the flowers. She placed them on the table and looked Teal'c directly in the eye.
"As a fellow warrior, you will tell me what happened while I was gone." She demanded. Teal'c raised an eyebrow, and noticed there was much more color in Buffy's face. "You are looking well Buffy Summers." Buffy grimaced, "You're not going to tell me either, are you?" and Teal'c shook his head, "Indeed I am not." Buffy stuck her tongue out at him just in time for Daniel to come in and see.
"Childish. Very childish." Daniel said reprovingly but with a huge smile. He was happy to see Buffy awake, not lying there helpless. Buffy threw up her hands and screamed in frustration, causing Janet to come in and frown, "Hey, what's going on." Both Daniel and Teal'c were intimidated but Buffy scowled ferociously. "Dr. Janet Frasier, Tell me what happened since I was in my coma." She demanded, and Jack's voice came from the doorway.
"Buffy." He said quietly, and she looked at him defiantly. "I know these people, they're my friends! I'm not going to stop until I know." She replied and he sighed in defeat. He dragged a metal chair over on the other side of Teal'c and Daniel. Taking her hand he played with her fingers, stalling a bit.
"We lost 5 and 6." He looked up to see Buffy's shocked eyes fill with tears. "All of them?" she whispered. He nodded. "Damn it, I should have.." and she shook her head, steadying herself. "What happened?"
Jack looked past her, "They went together to a planet with unknown hostiles." He looked at her and smiled, "You'll be happy to know that your training helped them go down swinging. When we finally got to them, they had taken out more than twice as many as the enemy. A lot of it in hand to hand combat."
Buffy nodded, eyes dry but hard with determination. "That is all that I can ask."
Daniel shook his head in admiration, "You are my hero."
Jack protested, "I thought I was!" and Buffy laughed at them both, the ache around her heart easing a bit.
