Chapter 4

This time the darkness held a different quality.

The frozen imprint of his face etched into my vision slowly faded away into a dark red murkiness; I struggled in an attempt to keep the image from slipping away. A dull throbbing filled the air around me, gradually resolving into the aching thump of pain. But somehow I sensed that this pain was real, here and now, not something that was being relived.

The dark background lightened slightly and I could hear a faint noise, like a radio from the window three blocks down the street, fuzzy and annoying, on the edge of hearing. I frowned slightly. It was so frustrating... I stretched every fibre of my being to reach through the sticky air, trying to understand what it was. Suddenly I recognised one voice as the sounds became more focussed.

"Who...?"

I tried to speak, but my face wouldn't seem to move and it struck me that at last I was no longer in that eternally replaying nightmare. Was I awake?

"Janet?" the name of the person speaking sprang to my aching mind, and this time a faint sound escaped my lips.

"Sam?" The immediate reply was gentle, but eager. I worked out that the dark red surroundings were the familiar inside of my own eyelids; I struggled to open them, to let the light back into my world. Another voice, a recognisable one, floated down, the words as yet unintelligible. But surely that was Daniel?

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, I managed to open my eyes. Light and memory collapsed down on me in sudden recall, and I cried out involuntarily. The nightmare! That had happened! And where was he...where was Jack?

"Janet." I managed it better this time, fixing my gaze on her concerned face above me. "Where's Jack?"

The man beside Janet moved slightly, smiling, pointing to my right. Thank you, Daniel!

"Thanks, Daniel," I rasped out, trying to turn my head. If Jack was here as well... I guess his condition would not be much better than mine, but at least he was alive. Eventually I managed to fix my gaze on the white bed beside me. He's there. He's safe. And ignoring the steadily encroaching pain, I smiled, and drifted back towards a safer, dreamless sleep.

There was yet another rap at the door. Daniel yawned and got to his feet to answer it. The hospital door opened to admit Teal'c, who inclined his head politely to his friend before looking over towards the patients.

"Good morning, Daniel Jackson, Doctor Frasier," he said, stepping into the room fully with an acknowledgement to the tired Janet. "I come bearing coffee and doughnuts," the Jaffa's face held a slight smile as he proffered the tray. As Daniel greedily took it from him, he walked over to where Sam was sitting dozing in a chair at Jack's bedside. Her skin still looked dreadfully pale against the bandages, but overall she appeared peaceful with her hand resting lightly on the still brown arm beside her. Slipping into the adjacent chair, Teal'c cleared his throat.

"Major Carter," he said, tilting his head. She blinked slightly, then turned a weary smile to her big friend.

"Teal'c, I'm glad you could drop by again," she replied, her blue eyes smiling even if the rest of her was not. "Have they found Bra'tac's nephew – what's his name, Int'ran - and his people?"

"Indeed they have. I am however concerned of Ry'ac attentions on Int'ran's daughter," the Jaffa pretended to scowl before smiling minutely again. "But I am here to inquire after your own health, and that of O'Neill."

"I'll survive, I think," Sam replied sadly as she glanced over at the unconscious man beside her. As an afterthought she suddenly remembered her hand still lay protectively on his arm and she removed it surreptitiously. "However, the Colonel still hasn't woken up..."

"I see," Teal'c nodded impassively, his own eyes lingering on the man whom he felt was more than a brother. The thought that had been haunting him since they had returned hit him once more; he turned towards Sam with an unreadable expression.

"Major Carter – I have not had the opportunity to thank you, and to express my apologies." Before she could answer the Jaffa plunged on. "If you and O'Neill had not been defending my escape, the ring transporter would not have had time to take you to the destroyer, and you both would not be so gravely injured."

At the expression on his face, as close to miserable guilt as she had ever seen on him, Sam leant forward and placed her free hand on Teal'c's shoulder, her own face intense.

"Teal'c, listen. You've saved our lives countless times, we've saved yours. And Daniel's who knows how many," she added with a twisted grin. "But it's what we do. We will always come back and fight for each other – the team never leaves someone behind. You know you would have done the same for me." She squeezed his shoulder gently and Daniel came up silently behind them as well, to chime in his agreement.

"Sam's right, Teal'c. Don't beat yourself up over it," he said, clapping his friend on the back gently. "Think of all the times you guys have waited for me!"

"You do have a talent for finding unfortunate moments, Daniel Jackson," admitted Teal'c, a small smile on his face. "However I cannot – "

"Shush," Sam said firmly, well aware of how motherly that made her sound and making a small shooing gesture with her good hand. "Go eat doughnuts."

Teal'c inclined his head deeply to her, then pushed back his chair. Staring for a moment at the still form of O'Neill, he headed over to the tray with Daniel beside him companionably. Sam watched the pair for a moment before turning her eyes to the man beside her, her face settling into an accustomed frown of pain and worry. Jack still slept, his breathing faint and shallow. She replaced her hand on his arm, leant over and whispered something to his unresponsive ear.

In the corner, Janet silently watched.

TBC