Part Five

"Come in, Major."

"Thank you, sir." Sam moved into the General's office, taking a stand in front of his desk.

"You asked to see me?" Hammond gestured at a chair. "Please sit down."

She shook her head. "No, thank you, sir. I'd rather stand." Standing straighter, her black rimmed eyes held him. "I would like to request permission to contact my father."

"I already have. Major." Hammond was just as tired as the woman in front of him, and for a moment he let it show in the slump of his shoulders. He nodded to the chair once more. "Sam, please sit down."

He gave a small, tight smile as the Major perched herself on the edge of the seat, every line of her body screaming with barely concealed tension.

"I sent messages both to the Tok'ra and the Asgard as soon as I received Doctor Fraiser's report on the Colonel's deteriorating condition. So far no reply has been received."

She nodded, her eyes on her clasped hands held in her lap. "I have another request, sir."

"Yes?"

"Under the circumstances, SG-1 would like permission to visit Colonel O'Neill?"

He nodded. "I'll arrange it with Doctor Fraiser." After a brief hesitation he continued. "There may still be hope, Major. They are still analysing the toxin. They may yet come up with a solution."

Sam raised her head and smiled a grim smile. "Yes, sir. They may."

They both heard the lie in the other's voice.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"You understand you can only stay for a few minutes and you have to go in one at a time?"

Daniel gave an irritated nod.

"Yes Janet. We know. You've told us. We'll try not to upset Jack. After all he is comatose. We wouldn't want to wake him."

"That is enough, Daniel Jackson. Doctor Fraiser is only concerned for her patient." Teal'c turned from the window of the ICU and frowned at his colleague. "You may enter first."

"Does the nurse have to be there?"

"I'll stay myself, Daniel, but there has to be one of us in the room. I'm sorry."

With a curt nod, Daniel accepted Janet's words, waiting impatiently for the nurse to leave and the doctor to take her place. He was inside the room the second Janet nodded. His rage drained from him as soon as he was beside his friend's bed.

"Oh god, Janet. He really is dying, isn't he?" Daniel wrapped his arms around himself, his hands gripping the folds of his jacket as he stared down at the still form. His expression flickered between anger at himself and pure anguish. "We should have gotten to him sooner. This should never have happened." He shook his head and suddenly started to back away, his retreat only halted by the solidity of a wall. His mouth opened to speak, his eyes glued to the form on the bed, but for a moment nothing came out but a choked sound, and when he did finally get the words out, his voice was only a whisper. "He wouldn't have waited if it had been one of us. He always looks out for his team. I ... can't...I can't do this."

Daniel spun around, pressing down the nearby handle and throwing the door open. He lurched out and kept going, his footsteps retreating rapidly.

"Janet?" Sam tentatively took a step into the room. "May I come in?"

"Sure, Sam. Is Daniel alright?"

Sam shut the door quietly behind herself. "No, he isn't." Her voice was quiet, edged with sadness. "But then none of us are." She approached the bed, and sunk into the chair. "How's he doing?"

Janet instinctively looked up at the monitors in response to the other woman's question, noting the erratic beat of the heart monitor. When she looked away, her eyes caught her friend's, and both knew the answer to the question. She chose to answer it anyway.

"He hasn't long, Sam. If we don't find an answer it will only be a matter of days, maybe even hours. I really don't know, the effects of the chemical are so unpredictable."

As she spoke, the monitor emitted a warning shriek, and she reached over, adjusting the IV above the bed.

"I'm trying out a new combination of drugs the lab suggested. As you can see, it helps to slow the fall in the Colonel's blood pressure. Unfortunately, each time it is administered the period it is effective is shorter."

"I wish I could help."

"It isn't really your field, Sam. No one expects you to come up with the answer." Janet put her arm around her friend. For a second Sam sat rigidly still, then she dropped her head onto Janet's shoulder, and raised one hand to cover her mouth, muffling the soft sobs.

They stayed that way for several minutes until Sam's tears subsided and she raised her head, giving Janet and apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologise, Sam." Janet stood, pulling her blouse straight. "It's time Teal'c visited the Colonel. Are you ready?"

"Just give me a second." Sam stood as well, coming to attention. She raised her hand and snapped off a quick salute. "It's been an honour serving with you, sir."

For a long moment she waited, as if expecting a reaction from her CO, then she turned back to the doctor.

"I'll tell Teal'c he can come in."

Teal'c was already at the door when she opened it.

"Your turn, Teal'c."

He inclined his head. "Thank you, Major Carter." He nodded to Janet as he entered the room, paused and then pulled the chair nearer the bed. He sat in it and bent forward, taking Jack's hand in a firm grip.

"I am here with you, O'Neill." He spoke softly and yet forcefully, as if determined to make the other man understand. "I have not come to say goodbye. I have come to tell you that your friends are waiting for you. You are safe now." He lowered his voice still more.

Janet sat watching as the Colonel's heartbeat slowed and steadied as Teal'c continued to whisper into his ear, holding his hand tightly. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but the effects were obvious. She felt a sob catch in her throat, and she swallowed painfully.

After about ten minutes she coughed, gaining Teal'c attention immediately.

"I understand, Doctor Fraiser. It is time I left. O'Neill knows now that he is home."

The door shut behind him.

Janet sat alone, reluctant to call the nurse to take her place just yet. She was surprised by a soft knock on the door.

"May I come in, Doctor?" General Hammond's voice called quietly.

"Of course, sir." She stood as he came in, resuming her seat at his gesture.

"How is he?"

She had a different answer this time to when Sam had asked the same question.

"He seems to have rallied slightly, sir, but don't I expect to see any significant improvement."

"We are still waiting to hear from our allies."

"They'll have to hurry, General. At this rate I would give him thirty six hours at the most."

The General nodded, his face grave. After a minute, he spoke again, keeping his eyes on the Colonel. "Despite all the trouble he's given me, he's a damn fine officer. I couldn't have asked for a better 2IC." He paused again, before continuing. "Or a better friend." He moved away, speaking as he did so. "Thank you, Doctor. Please inform me if there is any change." With that he left Janet alone with her patient once more.

"Damn it, Colonel. You can't do this." Her angry voice hissed into his ear as she lowered her face to within an inch of his. "There are people here that care for you. Don't you dare leave them. Don't you dare!"

She jumped up, calling for the nurse, and walked rapidly towards the lab, her face set into a mask of determination.