Thanks to Naliza and great beta and a very talented author in her own right!!
Don't think I've said this before but this is set somewhere before 'Divide and Conquer' but not that much before!
I've got nothing else to say at the moment, so here's chapter 10
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"Carter?" Jack said with surprise in his voice.
"Yes Sir."
"You okay?" He asked with concern.
"Been better."
"I'm sure, uh…you kinda died, you know?"
"Yeah, so I heard," she replied weakly.
"I'd better let Daniel, Teal'c and your dad know you're back with us. I'm sure the doc will want to turn you into a pin cushion."
Jack stood and crossed the room to dial the infirmary. A smile appeared on his lips as he told Jacob that Sam was now awake. Right through the conversation he kept his eyes on Sam, he was so surprised to have her back with them. As soon as he had hung up he called Daniel and Teal'c to let them know the news, they both promised to be there as soon as they could.
Minutes later Jacob came flying into the room, Jack realised that the only way that he could have arrived so quickly was if he was running from the infirmary all the way.
"Sam," her father said, with a wide grin on his face.
"Hey dad," Sam said, her voice strained with exhaustion.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"The doctor's on the way."
"How long was I, um…dead?" Sam asked awkwardly.
"We don't really know, it was about eight hours until Jack noticed that your hand was moving," Jacob told Sam, she looked shocked at the news. She had not realised that it had been that long.
Daniel rushed in, followed by Teal'c at a much more sedate pace.
"Sam, how are you feeling?"
"Not too bad Daniel."
"It's good to see you back with us."
"It is indeed good to see you well Major Carter," Teal'c added.
"Thanks, it's kind of a weird thing to get my head around, I've died before but it's still really strange."
"I don't think it's something you can exactly get used to," Daniel offered.
Once the doctor arrived they were shooed out of the room. They stood out in the hall once again but this time around the mood was very different from before.
*~*
After almost a half-hour they were allowed back into the room. Sam was sitting up slightly which everyone was pleased to see. She looked tired though, her eyelids were drooping and large dark circles were evident under her eyes.
Jacob crossed to Sam's side and took hold of her hand; she squeezed his hand in return.
"According to the latest test results Major Carter seems to be fighting off the organism."
"Way to go Carter," Jack interjected.
"As I was saying," the doctor continued with some annoyance in his voice, Jack pretended not to notice his tone.
"The organism appears to be destroying itself. Some of them have mutated further and are destroying those which don't have this mutation."
"So why has this happened to Sam and not anyone else?"
"There are a number of possible explanations, the naquadah in her blood, the protein marker left by the Tok'ra, some other factor from the planet, the treatment we gave or a combination of any number of things. To be honest we may never know."
So is she going to be okay?"
"As far as I can tell General, she is okay. Her pulse and breathing are almost back to within normal ranges. There appears to be no brain damage, her temperature is almost back to normal, as is her kidney function.
"Don't you hate it when people talk like you're not in the room," Sam muttered.
Everyone turned to look at her before turning back to the doctor. In exasperation Sam sighed and sunk into the pillows behind her.
"Is there any way to use this mutated organism to help the other infected people?" Daniel asked.
"We're working on it, it might be our best shot. We are trying to isolate the mutated organism and see if it will still function outside of Major Carter's body."
"Is that a possibility?"
"We've got the best people we have working on it. I really think that Major Carter needs to rest."
"Right. Selmak might be able to offer some advice, if you could use the help," Jacob offered. The doctor nodded appreciatively at the suggestion.
Jacob leant over his daughter; he took her hand and gently kissed her forehead. Sam smiled slightly and squeezed his hand before he left the room with the doctor.
Jack, Daniel and Teal'c shared a look before making a move towards the door.
"It's great to have you back Sam," Daniel said sincerely.
"Indeed," Teal'c agreed.
Jack stayed quiet; he met Carter's eyes, saying more than he ever could with words.
Daniel and Teal'c left the room, as Jack was walking through the door Sam suddenly spoke up.
"Sir?"
"Yeah."
"Can we, uh, talk for a minute?"
"Sure, I'll catch up with you," he said to Daniel before re-entering the room and shutting the door behind him.
"So?"
"When…" she paused and suddenly changed what she was saying, this did not go unnoticed by Jack.
"Will you keep an eye on my dad? He looks pretty tired."
"Sure," Jack said slowly, with some confusion.
"Anything else?" He asked, not really expecting her to admit to anything.
"No, nothing," Sam replied quickly.
"Okay. We'll I'd better let you rest. I guess dying takes it out of you."
"Something like that," she confirmed, her voice slightly husky, both from the tube that had been in her throat and tiredness.
"I'll be back later but if you need anything call, okay?"
"Yes Sir."
Jack closed the door on his way out and went in search of Daniel and Teal'c, he was wondering what Sam had started to say but was not going to force her to say anything.
Sam sighed deeply and sank further into the pillows. She had almost confessed that she had heard him admit that he had feelings for her but she had backed down at the last second.
She had realised that she had feelings for him long ago but this was the first time she truly knew that he cared about her too. She had strong suspicions that the feelings were reciprocated before but hearing him say it out loud only served to solidify her feelings for him.
His acknowledgement of his feelings had only happened when he had thought that she was dead, it was never meant for her to hear. That fact and the complications of military regulations had leaded her to the decision to keep quiet.
She turned on her side to get more comfortable, thinking of Jack as she fell asleep.
*~*
Jacob watched as the medics worked on a cure, he offered whatever knowledge he could but he was beginning to think that he was not offering anything significant.
He was distracted again, not through grief this time but delight at knowing that Sam was not only alive but also conscious and apparently back to full health.
Jacob looked up as the doctor who was in charge of the research called another of the researchers over. They shared a hurried whispered conversation.
Jacob stood slowly from his chair and crossed the room with some apprehension, he could see that both the researchers were smiling, something that he had rarely seen since his arrival.
"What is it?" He asked with trepidation and hope.
"We think we have a cure."
*~*~*
Okay, we are nearing an ending!! Stay with for just a little bit longer!!
Please, please let me know what you think, feedback keeps me writing!! :-)