- - -

Jack finally agreed to further exploration, but he first demanded that she take another week off from anything physical. They both knew that she wasn't yet 100-percent recovered from the effects of healing his injuries.

She didn't argue. A week would give her time to think and plan.
No scientist could argue with that.

- - -

- - -

Ch 46: EXPERIMENTATION

- - -

Sam spent the week working on her laptop. Postulating ideas and scenarios. Jack watched with bemusement as she dove into the new project.

Jack also spent the week preparing. He rigged up a harness system so that he could yank her away from the 'Gate in a nanosecond. She hadn't seen it yet, but he was pretty sure what her reaction would be, so he decided to wait show it to her.

Sam was also very careful to ensure that she got plenty of sleep, ate plenty of food and got some exercise. She didn't want him to have any excuses to prevent them from moving forward with the experimentation. He watched her knowingly, but couldn't complain... she was taking better care of herself than normal – how could he complain about that?

- - -

They also spent time planning a sturdier shelter... something that would last longer than their present shelter. Something more... permanent. A small one-room structure. They had two small hatchets, one small handsaw and a hammer... although they only had a handful of loose nails in one of the small toolkits. They both planned and sketched, modifying and enhancing each other's ideas.

- - -

At the end of the week, she finally broached the idea of trying the 'Gate and he put her off for three more days... citing reasons from good fishing weather to a need to forage for vegetables. After the three days were up, however, he could stall no longer and he had to reluctantly agree that they would try again tomorrow.

She knew that he didn't want to do it. She knew he was worried that something was going to happen to her. Which it might, she admitted. But she couldn't help the excited thrill of anticipation that night as she looked forward to the discoveries they might make tomorrow.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The day dawned bright, clear and cloud free. No wind or rain in sight. No way for Jack to use the weather as an excuse to postpone the day's planned activities.

He lay quietly under the covers with her back spooned up against his chest. He still held her close at night while they slept and they both knew that it wasn't just for warmth. They both wanted the closeness and comfort. He tightened his hold on her slightly and sighed.

"Jack, most likely nothing is going to happen," she spoke softly and surprised him. He hadn't realized that she'd woken up... he'd been too preoccupied with his thoughts.

"But something might," he objected.

"Yes, something might. We might figure out a way to get home," she reminded him - and he couldn't help it, her enthusiasm was contagious.

"Maybe we will," he agreed and dropped a light kiss on her temple and then quickly slipped out of from under the covers and started pulling on some extra clothes for the outside. "I'll get the fire and breakfast going," he stated as he finished lacing up his boots and then exited the tent.

She lay there under the warmth of the covers. Her mind no longer on the upcoming experiments, but on that soft kiss he'd brushed on her temple.

She'd noticed a change in him since the accident.
He'd been... happier... was the best word she could come up with.
He'd had an extra bounce in his step...
He smiled more easily and more often...
She'd even heard him humming to himself...
And he'd just smile at her when he realized that she had been listening...

Her mind skipped over the evolution of their relationship over the past ten weeks. First they'd been colleagues... and comrades... Then they'd worked on – and achieved – a friendship... And now... where were they?

She knew that she loved him. In so many ways.
The past couple of months had taught her that she could love him... romantically.

But what did he want?
What would he want?
What would he want if they did return to Earth?

What did she want?
What did she want if they returned to Earth?

She tried to imagine herself with someone else.
Married and with children... with someone else.
And she couldn't.
Not now.
Not here.

Maybe things would change when they got back to Earth?
But she didn't think her feelings would.

Of course, if he didn't want to pursue... that kind of relationship for the two of them... then, she'd have to look for someone else... because she didn't want to just hole up in her lab for the rest of her life. Her lab work was fun... but it wasn't enough.

She wondered what he wanted.
How he felt?

He was still Jack O'Neill, superhero.
Would he want to settle down and have kids?
He'd already done the family thing... would he want another?
Would the world ever let a superhero have that life of peace?

She ran her fingertips over forehead... lingering where he'd dropped that simple kiss.

First things first.
Work on the 'Gate.
Figure out a way to get home.
Sighing, she reluctantly crawled out from under the warm covers.

First things first.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

She looked at him with bemusement when she saw his elaborate harness system. "And this is for...?" she asked, although she knew the answer.

"You," he answered firmly and began strapping the harness around her torso.

"It's not perhaps... just a bit much?" and she couldn't keep the amusement out of her tone.

"With all of the things that we've seen over the years?" he dared her to disagree.

Which of course, she couldn't... which was why she was grudgingly allowing him to truss her up.

"I can pull you off of there in a split second if I need to," he stated after he was finished checking everything twice.

"I can hardly breathe," she complained lightly.

"You're talking, so you're breathing just fine," he countered.

"If you yank on this thing, you'll pull me back flat on my ass," she assessed critically.

"I'll take a few bruises any day to a fried Sam," he sent back.

"You won't be the one with the bruises," she pointed out.

"I'll try and cushion your fall," he offered and tried to mug up some gallantry.

"Great, so we'll both have bruises," she returned.

"Best I can do," he shrugged and gave her a slightly apologetic smile.

She shook her head and turned back to the 'Gate, "Allright, you ready?" she asked.

"Not really," he returned. She looked back at him questioningly, so he capitulated, "But let's go ahead and give it a try," and he gestured at the stone panel.

She gave him one last look and then turned her attention back to the 'Gate. Jack readied the digital camera which was set so that the hourglass panel, Sam and as much of the 'Gate as possible were in the frame. The camera was also set on a self-timer that would automatically snap a picture every half-second.

"Here goes," she said and then reached for the panel. Jack hit the start button on the camera and then gripped the rope with both hands, ready to pull her off of the 'Gate at the first sign of trouble.

- - -

The camera began quietly snicking pictures as she pressed her hand against etching.

Sam felt the cool smooth stone against her palm.
The 'Gate lit up.
The inner ring start to move.
A little sluggishly, but it was moving.

And then she saw the event horizon appear.
A bright white-orange, just as ten days earlier.

She could feel the stone warm against her palm, and she started to speak to Jack, but her thoughts were interrupted by a blurry, dizzy image in her mind. She grimaced and squinted, trying to focus and get some clarity.

And then it was gone.
Pain slammed into her...
And her breath was knocked forcefully from her lungs.

- - -

TBC

- - -

- - -

Author's note: I referenced the Episode Guide & Synopses at the SciFi Channel's Stargate SG-1 website; in particular, for information on Episode 602, Redemption, part 2 (where they kick the SGC's Stargate off into hyperspace)

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