Here's chapter 3, woo hoo!!

Thanks to my wonderful beta, Naliza, I couldn't do this without you!! :)

Not exactly feeling very chatty today so I'm just going to get on with the story!

*~*

As he put her down on the waiting gurney the medics swarmed around her, a similar scene was being played out a short distance away as Daniel was being tended to. One of the nurses was trying in vain to treat Teal'c, in the end he accepted a dressing which he held against the cut on his head. Jack crossed to Teal'c's side as Sam and Daniel were wheeled away.

"Are you alright?" Jack asked, looking closely at the Jaffa.

"I am," he replied simply.

"What happened back there Teal'c?" Jack continued to inquire. They saw General Stone walk down the stairs, Teal'c waited until the General was in ear shot before he started talking.

"We were captured at the ruins, Lieutenant Harris was killed in the initial attack. Colonel Carter was injured but escaped and freed Daniel Jackson and myself. He was shot on our journey back to the Stargate," Teal'c added in order to explain the reason for the Archaeologist's injury.

"Okay, report to the infirmary Teal'c, we can debrief at a later date," Stone said kindly.

Teal'c nodded slightly before walking towards the elevators with Jack right beside him.

They reached the infirmary just in time to see Daniel being rushed past them. His jacket and t-shirt had been removed, a thick dressing was being held firmly on his right shoulder but Jack could already see crimson blood staining the white material. The brief glimpse of his face showed that it was incredibly pale and had an unnatural grey tinge to it. None of the medical team paid any attention to Jack and Teal'c as they hurried past them.

As soon as they entered the room Teal'c was taken away for treatment leaving Jack standing alone. Looking round he saw one bed in the far corner with the curtains drawn. As he approached he saw that the curtains had been pulled in a hurry and a large gap existed. He stood quietly and looked at Sam. She too was pale but the bruises that were evident, even from that distance, contrasted sharply against the colour of her skin to make them seem even more colourful.

Looking at the level of activity of the medics surrounding Sam he could tell that she was not seriously injured. He exhaled deeply which alerted the doctor to his presence. After giving some hushed orders to the nurse the doctor stepped away from Sam's bed and pulled the curtains closed behind him, cutting off Jack's view of her.

"I'm sorry, you are?" The doctor asked Jack, looking suspiciously at the man wearing civilian clothes.

"Jack O'Neill, I used to command the base. I take it you're new."

"Yes Sir. I'm Dr Cooper." He recognised the name and was aware of the relationship that existed between him and Colonel Carter. Their relationship was still a topic of gossip in the SGC.

"How's S…Colonel Carter?"

"Her left wrist is broken, she may have a couple of broken ribs, we'll need to run some x-rays to be sure. I want to run a CAT scan just to check on her head injury but so far it doesn't appear too serious. Also there are no signs of internal injuries just some bruising. She should be fine Sir."

"What about Dr Jackson?"

"I believe he received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder? He was taken to surgery just now. I'm sorry but I don't know anything more than that," Dr Cooper said apologetically.

"Can I see her?" Jack asked.

"For a minute, we're waiting for the scanner to be prepared."

Jack walked quickly to the curtains which he pulled back quietly. Seeing him enter the nurse left but kept the curtains open. That was she could grant Jack some privacy while still being able to keep a close eye on her patient.

Jack sat on the side of the bed and gently stroked Sam's cheek, oblivious to the medical staff who was watching this open show of affection.

"See what happens when I'm not around," he said lightly but his heart was not in it.

He sat holding her hand until the doctor came to take her to X-ray. He watched as she was taken away. Once again he was left alone and not knowing what else to do he sat on the bed next to the one Sam had just vacated and waited for her to return.

After ten minutes Teal'c joined him, a square piece of gauze on his forehead. After inquiring about Sam and Daniel's conditions he went to report to General Stone on the mission.

Jack thought about what had happened on the planet. It was the first time Sam had run into trouble since he left the SGC. He had found it hard as General to sit back and watch good people come back injured and dead but he was finding it even harder now that he was on the outside looking in.

Seeing the video of Sam in that situation, and at that time not knowing what had happened to her, must have been one of the hardest things he ever had to experience. He still did not really know what had occurred back on the planet. He had seen the look the man had given her but had no idea what happened once the video cut out. The very thought of another man touching her made him feel physically sick.

Sam was still unconscious when she was returned to the infirmary. The doctor spoke to Jack quickly. He informed him that apart from a broken wrist, which had been manipulated and set, and two broken ribs she was not seriously injured.

"When will she wake up?" Jack asked, looking over at her unconscious form.

"When she's ready. I'm sorry I can't give you a better answer. Try talking to her, it might help," the doctor offered. He could see how eager Jack was to sit with Carter.

"Thanks. Have you heard anything about Dr Jackson?"

"No sorry, he's still in surgery. I'll make sure you know as soon as he's out of theatre."

"Thank you Doctor," Jack said sincerely.

As he approached Sam he could see that the bruising on her face was becoming a deeper shade of purple. The cut on her cheek had been stitched and covered by a dressing and her left forearm was encased in plaster.

He sat beside her and tenderly stroked her hair, quietly talking to her about anything and nothing.

*~*

It was two hours before the surgeon entered the infirmary. Jack recognised him immediately and walked towards him.

"It's good to see you again Sir," the surgeon said in greeting.

"Thanks. What about Daniel?" Jack asked impatiently.

"He's going to be just fine Sir. He was lucky…"

"He got shot, how is that lucky?"

"As I was saying, the bullet missed the brachial nerve, which was lucky because it came pretty close. It nicked the brachial artery but we stopped the bleeding in time. We had to put a couple of pins in the collarbone. We're going to have to watch closely for infection but he should be just fine. The first aid he got probably saved his life."

"Thanks," Jack said with audible relief.

He went back to Sam's side. As he sat on the edge of the bed he took Sam's hand in both of his.

"Sam, Daniel's going to be fine. You brought them home," he whispered to her.

A few minutes later he noticed that Sam's eyelids starting to move slightly. He affectionately stroked her cheek as her eyes opened fully.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Jack," she replied with a distinct rasp in her voice.

"I'm here," he replied, his face breaking into a slight smile.

"Is Daniel okay? And Teal'c?" she asked weakly.

"He's going to be just fine, they're both fine" he said soothingly.

"I want to go home."

"Sam, you've been unconscious for hours. You need to stay here," Jack said as he looked down at her.

"I couldn't have said it better," Dr Cooper added as he approached, "I'm sorry Colonel but there's no way you're going home tonight. You've got a concussion, you're staying in at least overnight," he said firmly.

"Can I go home tomorrow then?" Sam asked hopefully.

"We'll see," the Doctor said, announcing the end of the discussion, "We can offer you quarters on the base Sir, if you want."

"I'm staying right here," Jack said just as firmly. The Doctor wisely decided not to question him.

"They called you," Sam said once the Doctor had left, after having given her a brief examination.

"Yeah. I saw the tape, I saw what he did to you," Jack said uncertainly, he was unsure how to address the issue.

"This, it's nothing. Give me a couple of weeks it'll be fine," Sam said slightly flippantly, raising her left arm slightly.

"I don't mean that. I saw the way he touched you. He didn't…" Jack started but he did not know where to go from here.

"No," Sam said quickly in a bid to alleviate his fears. She knew exactly what he was thinking.

"Thank God," Jack exhaled.

Sam shuffled slightly in a bid to get more comfortable in the bed, with her broken ribs that was not an easy task. Once she had found a comfortable position she quickly fell asleep, safe in the knowledge that Jack was there.

*~*

To those who are wondering just how SG-1 got back be patient and all will be revealed!! :)

And I am begging for feedback, rather unbecoming but I love it so and the more feedback I get, the sooner I will post the next chapter. I'm just seeing if blackmail works or not here. *Evil laughter*