It was several hours before any of them had any word on the condition of either Daniel or Melony. Several hours in which Jack paced the corridor outside the infirmary, thinking the worst even as he tried to reassure the others that they were probably fine. Melony had Talon, after all, and Daniel was tough. They'd be fine.

Of course, he didn't believe it, and he was pretty sure that the others didn't, either. Jack had seen how hard Daniel had crashed into the ground – not to mention how badly hurt he'd been by whatever had happened on the ship before he'd come through the escape thing. Melony had Talon, yes, but a symbiote didn't automatically make you immortal. Lots of Tok'ra had died from wounds that were too serious for their symbiote to heal. Jack had seen Melony's injuries, and he knew they were bad without Janet Fraiser telling him.

Of course, Janet wasn't telling them anything. The doctor – and several other doctors and countless corpsmen – were all too busy to tell them anything, and for once Jack was staying out of the way, too afraid to interrupt them and maybe distract them. The people they were working on meant too much to Jack for him to risk them with childish behavior.

Brad wasn't pacing. He was sitting on the floor of the corridor, leaning against the cool concrete wall, with his head down and his eyes closed. Jack was certain that Brad had given up on Melony. He'd seen the blood, and how still she'd been when she'd been brought in, and he knew as well as Jack did that the symbiote could only heal so much. Sam was sitting next to him, her hand resting on his shoulder but her eyes closed as well, and no matter how much Jack wished it was him she was soothing, he knew Brad needed her more just then.

Teal'c and the other members of SG-2 were seated on the only bench outside the infirmary, and all of them were silent as well. Teal'c was worried, but only someone who knew him well could tell just how worried he was. Jack and Sam, of course, knew very well, and had he been there, Daniel would have been able to tell, also.

Jacob Carter was in Hammond's office with the General, both men would be notified as soon as there was word, but Hammond couldn't hang out by the infirmary all day, no matter how much he wanted to, and he'd pulled Jacob away as well, leaving SG-1 and SG-2 alone with their thoughts.

............

Finally, well into the night, Janet Fraiser made an appearance at the door, looking exhausted and pale and wearing blood smeared surgical scrubs. Jack stopped pacing immediately, and the people on the bench scrambled to their feet. Sam and Brad didn't notice immediately, but the moment Sam heard everyone standing, she opened her eyes and she and Brad were on their feet instantly, both of them ignoring the protests from muscles that had been in the same position for so long.

"How are they?" Jack asked.

Fraiser sighed.

"Daniel will probably recover. He's broken several ribs, his right leg, his right wrist and he has a concussion – probably from hitting the concrete. There are a few nasty burns on his back from whatever explosion he was caught in, but barring an infection they should heal without too much trouble. It's touch and go, but it could have been much worse."

"And Colonel Mitchell?"

Janet shrugged, looking over at Brad with sympathy in her expressive eyes.

"I don't know yet. Whatever explosion Daniel caught the edge of; Colonel Mitchell must have been in the middle of. Talon's still there, and I'm sure he's working on it, but she's broken both legs and both arms, and has a list of internal injuries as long as my arm."

"Is she going to make it?"

Again Jack had asked the question that Brad couldn't. Sam had put her arm around Anderson's waist, and it was obvious he needed the support. He was pale, and looked ready to buckle any minute. Jack knew exactly how he felt. It was the same way he felt.

"I don't know, Colonel. We've got her on a respirator and we're keeping her heart going. The rest is really up to Talon. I just don't know if there's too much damage to heal."

"Can I see her?" Brad asked.

They could all tell Janet was about to say no, but abruptly she changed her mind and nodded.

"Just you. And only for a moment."

"But-"

"You can see her when he's done, Colonel," Janet said, before Jack could argue with her. "Only one at a time, and you absolutely have to be quiet."

Brad nodded, and so did Jack.

"Can I see Daniel?" Jack asked.

"Not until he wakes up."

Meaning that Melony was so badly hurt, Fraiser was giving them a chance to say goodbye – just in case. Daniel wasn't going to die, so they'd have to wait to see him. Brad nodded, and stepped out of Sam's supportive embrace. He'd do whatever Fraiser wanted him to.

Janet gave the others another glance, and then led Brad into the infirmary and into one of the critical care rooms that were off of the main room. It was the same room they'd put Melony in after the first ambush the system lords had set.

"Just for a couple of minutes," Janet repeated softly, reaching out and squeezing his hand for a moment. Brad nodded, and turned to Melony, and Janet let him go so he could. She left the room so he could have some privacy.

She looked terrible. Bruised and mangled, and swathed in bandages. Both legs were in air casts, and both arms were splinted and bandaged tightly. Brad didn't ask why they weren't in regular casts, figuring that there was a reason. He couldn't reach out and hold her hand – he was too afraid that he'd hurt her. Instead, he bent over and brushed his lips against one of the few areas of her face that wasn't covered with a bandage. He didn't even realize he was crying until his eyes blurred and he saw a tear fall on her unbandaged cheek.

Sniffing as silently as he could, he wiped his eyes and then carefully wiped the teardrop off her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Melony." He whispered. "I should have made you take me."

He'd rather be dead than sitting here, waiting for her to die. His eyes blurred again, and Brad couldn't regain control. He turned away from her, and sat down in the chair that was against the wall, burying his head in his hands and sobbing silently. He was going to lose her. She was leaving him, and there wasn't anything he could do to stop her. It wasn't fair, and it wasn't worth it. He didn't care how many Goa'uld she'd managed to kill – if any. He wanted her back.

He felt the hand rest on his shoulder, but he didn't look up. He was so buried in his grief that he couldn't bear to face anyone just then.

"You're giving up on her, Brad."

He nodded.

Jack knelt in front of him, forcing the young major to make eye contact, and Anderson looked at him, wiping his eyes. He wasn't really surprised to see an echo of his own sorrow and grief in Jack's eyes, but there was something else there, as well. Something that wasn't in Brad's. Hope.

"Did she ever tell you about the time Michael and I took her camping?"

Brad nodded.

"The time you got her lost, you mean?"

"I didn't get her lost," Jack said. "Michael did."

Brad sniffed.

"She said it was you."

"Yeah… well, I might have helped get her lost. But it was an accident." Jack smiled, despite his concern. "We must have looked for her for thirty straight hours, calling her name, and yelling at her, and we didn't find her. Mike was out of his mind with worry, certain that some wild animal had killed her and eaten her."

"And she was fine."

"Yeah. She was fine. But we were worried, and Michael had pretty much given up on her. She was only ten, and it was so cold, and she wasn't wearing the proper clothing to be out at night in Minnesota. We were sure she was going to freeze to death, but she showed us she was made of sterner stuff than we thought she was."

"This is a lot different than a night out in the cold, Colonel…" Brad said, softly.

Jack nodded.

"It is, but it isn't." He put his hand on the back of Brad's neck. "You don't know what she's capable of surviving, Brad. And until you know for sure, don't you dare give up on her."

"She's-"

"Alive."

"Hurt."

"Alive."

"Pale…"

"Talon's still with her. That little snake has some serious healing ability, Major. Don't give up on her."

He was quiet for a moment, but Brad nodded.

"Yes, Sir."

"Good man."

Brad looked over at the bed, and Jack followed his gaze.

"Doctor Frasier says we have to let her sleep. Why don't you and I gather up Sam, Teal'c and the rest of your team and go get some coffee while we wait for them wake up?"

"I'd rather wait here…"

"But you won't be allowed to wait here, so you might as well have some coffee." Jack told him, standing up.

"But-"

"Anderson? Haven't you learned anything from Melony, yet? Coffee is the only reason the sun comes up in the morning, to help grow the beans. A cup of coffee will fix any problem."

He smiled. It was a pitiful smile, but it was a smile, and Jack slapped his shoulder with true affection.

"Come on. We need to let her rest so Talon can do what he needs to do."

Brad nodded, stood up and allowed Jack to lead him out of the room. He wouldn't give up on her just yet. Maybe O'Neill knew what he was talking about.