The Colour of Pain Chapter 12
**
Sam hadn't seen the Colonel since that night. When she woke up, she had no idea what to say to him, so, when he didn't wake as she extricated herself from his arms, she took the easy way out.
Now she was worried about what he'd say when he saw her in the facility. It was not a foregone conclusion that they would meet, they rarely had any "official" business but she wondered if they still had that stupid extra PT time scheduled together. Or was he going on a mission today? She'd find out this afternoon, she supposed, but until then, she'd be preoccupied with it. With him.
Coffee. She'd go and get some coffee in the mess, maybe something sweet too. She could read while absorbing the life-giving caffeine and sugar.
**
"Going somewhere, Carter?"
Jack tried to keep his tone light and remember she was probably still feeling quite vulnerable. Still, she hadn't so much as stuck a note on the fridge door and if he recalled correctly, he wouldn't even have any damn magnets if she hadn't given him them. He was at a loss at to what their messages were or even when and why she'd given them to him. Birthday? Christmas?
So not the point! Focus!
"Um… I was just stepping out for a moment, Sir."
Ok, later he realised that this was where his recall went a little fuzzy. He couldn't quite work out how they'd ended up arguing but he didn't doubt it was his fault, if for no other reason than it was always his fault. Well, 90% of the time, anyway. Maybe 98%, if he was honest.
He'd made some sort of quip or comment about her sleeping with him and it degenerated from there. He hadn't meant anything by it, surely she ought to know that? But before he could say, "Oh fer cryin' out loud!" she was almost at his throat before running, crying, from her lab.
Hell. There was nothing he could do. He and the rest of SG-1 were heading out in less than 20 minutes. He'd only come to check up on her and say goodbye before he left. He hoped that if he'd done any good at all the other night, he hadn't just undone it. He'd try and make it up to her when he got back, tomorrow.
"Sensitive, Jack. Very sensitive…"
**
With the better part of three days to think about it, Sam realised she'd grossly over-reacted. Yes, the joke had undoubtedly been inappropriate but her reaction had been completely out of proportion. It had probably been the suggestive wink that had acted as the metaphorical straw though.
"By the way, next time we sleep together, could we try it without the clothes?"
He'd only been trying to lighten the mood, though Sam wondered if she'd feel so generous toward him if SG-1 were not already over 30 hours overdue. 30 hours was a long time and while the Colonel acted like a bit of a maverick sometimes, if he didn't report on time, it was because something, or someone, was stopping him. He acted like the class-clown, but that was all it was, Sam knew, an act.
More like the Complex-Clown really… Where the Hell are Search and Rescue?
Sam took a deep breath to try and calm herself. Just because she'd had a fight with him, it didn't mean his mission was somehow jinxed. She didn't believe in such nonsense.
"UNAUTHORISED INCOMING WORMHOLE"
She ran to the control room, praying, to a God she wasn't even sure she believed in, that it would be good news.
"It's the Tok'ra, Sir," Technician Davies told General Hammond.
"Open the iris," the older Texan man responded.
However, instead of the expected Tok'ra, out of the open wormhole stepped SG-1. A rather bedraggled looking SG-1, Sam noted. And weaponless, too. The relief she felt on hearing the Colonel's voice was felt by everyone else in the room, though not to the same degree.
"Sir, recommend SG-1's GDO's are immediately locked out and any and all Search and Rescue teams are recalled from P8X-438. The natives are not all friendly."
Sam realised he was cradling one arm in the other while Daniel and Teal'c, both sporting cuts and bruises, were actually supporting Adams between them, the scientist who had replaced her.
"What the Hell happened to your team, Colonel, and how did you end up with a Tok'ra GDO signal?"
"It's a long story, General, but if you can't wait for the movie, I'll write you the book."
**
Sam had been incensed when Janet had told her SG-1 were not allowed visitors. She was also evasive when questioned about when they'd be released. Even after several hours had passed, she still gave no word, though she at least confirmed they would all be ok. Sam found herself sneaking into the Infirmary that night, her excuse already prepared.
Her jaw hurt.
Perfect. She had a pre-existing injury she could blame and no-one could prove otherwise! Certainly no-one could claim she didn't have a good excuse to be there. Even better, she wouldn't have to try and sneak past the nurse's station, as it was empty. If anyone asked, she was looking for a nurse to help her.
Wonder if there are any nurses in here? Oh, look, the Colonel's in this room! Fancy that!
**
"No… No, please… Stop… No…"
Jack was moaning in his sleep, writhing around in his hospital bed. He jerked awake suddenly, sitting bolt upright, covered in sweat. He forced himself to take long, slow, deep breaths, trying to bring his racing heart under control. When he spotted Carter, no more than a few feet away, he was glad the dim lighting would hide the colour in his face.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked, gruffly, lying back down.
She countered with a question of her own.
"Bad dreams?"
He simply nodded. The light was sufficient for that.
"Bad men?"
It was a moment before he nodded for a second time.
"From long ago or… more recently?"
He did not reply.
**
Sam could see the sweat glistening all over his body. She took a towel from the small hand basin and smoothed it over his upper body. He just lay there in the semi-darkness, thinking God only knew what, watching her. Once he appeared to be dry, she pulled the sheets up higher over his torso. He had to have lost body heat, she knew and just as she was about to release her grip, she felt him shiver under her fingers. Still he said nothing. Was he really that mad at her?
"I… wanted to apologise, Sir, for the other day. I over-reacted and I'm sorry."
"You're apologising to me? It was my fault, I'm the one who should be apologising. Do you know why you over-reacted though? And don't say it was because I'm an insensitive bastard, that's a given."
"Well…"
Sam paused a moment to think, to organise her thoughts.
"I think I was scared, Sir."
"Sorry, I should have added that to the "given" list. Why though?"
She couldn't see him rolling his eyes, but she knew without a doubt he just had.
"Because… Because you've seen me at my worst, I guess. Because I'm still vulnerable, around you especially and you know it. You could hurt me more than anyone else."
He next sentence was a whisper, so low as to be almost inaudible.
"Because of how the Regs say I'm not allowed to feel about you."
"Bravo, Sammie! I'd declare you officially cured but I'm willing to bet the Psych boys'd be a little put out at me stealing their thunder!"
"Cured?"
Confusion was evident in her voice.
"Yeah, well, if you can say that to me, albeit in the dark when I'm weak and injured and in no fit state to sweep you off your feet, you can say anything to anyone! Crisis of confidence, over!"
This time it was Sam's turn to roll her eyes. She would have bet a year's salary too, that his "prognosis" had been accompanied by another suggestive wink, thankfully lost to the dark. However, she couldn't help but grin.
"With respect, Colonel; A, you ever try to sweep me off my feet, I may accidentally permanently impair your ability to reproduce and B, where did you get your psychology degree? 'Cause you should ask for your money back."
"What? You don't think it was worth the $29.99 I paid online last week then?"
"Do you really want me to answer that, Sir? What was it? A BA? A BSc?"
"A PhD, actually."
"Shame. MA would have fitted better, Doctor O'Neill."
There was a pause.
"Oh ha ha, Carter," he replied, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
**
In the morning, Janet was only mildly irritated to find Sam asleep in the chair beside Colonel O'Neill's bed. She left the room and made some noise, stamping a bit and calling on the nurses to have some reports ready in 10 minutes time. When she reappeared they were both awake and the chair had been moved at least a foot back. Sam jumped to her feet.
"Uh… I'd better get back to work now, Colonel. Janet," she nodded.
As she reached the door, the Colonel called out to her.
"Sam?"
He smiled.
"Long time ago. Ancient history, even."
Janet didn't understand his comment, but she could see the relief on Sam's face as she smiled in return.
"By the way, Sir, how did you get a Tok'ra GDO signal?"
"Oh, Danny took us to their latest base after we escaped. We didn't exactly have time to go searching for the Marines who were searching for us, what with the nasty mob and their nasty dogs and their nasty stealing of all our cool gear."
Sam grinned as he pretended to pout at that.
"Then the Tok'ra dialled us home and signalled to let us through. Simple, really."
"I see, Sir."
"Oh, and Dad and Selmak send their love too!"
"Enough! Out, Sam! And you, Colonel, get back to sleep or next time you'll be getting more inoculations than strictly necessary!"
"Youbetcha, Doc! And Carter… I am sorry."
**
End of Chapter 12