Chapter 5 - Recollections

Sam had been sitting by Jack's bedside for hours again now. She had not slept for half an eternity and slowly it was becoming more and more difficult for her to stay awake.

Her hands were resting on Jack's blanket and now without really realizing she rested her head on them and drifted off to sleep.

Jack had gone through the Stargate and now he and the others were standing in front of it getting ready explore the foreign planet they had landed on this time. Not far away from the gate there was a huge cave to be seen with various entrances to it.

"Let's go", Jack started toward it followed by his team. They walked up to the bottom of the imposing stone formation.

For a moment Jack thought that he had seen it all before and that something dangerous was going out from this place, but then all this insecurity seemed to be blown away as he entered the cave the others close behind him.

Inside the tunnels it was dark and the water dripping from the ceiling turned into steam by the warmth provided by some volcanic activity caused a humid atmosphere.

Jack switched on his flashlight and so did Sam and the others.

"So, Carter, what do we have here?" Jack inquired being as usually bored by all this scientific stuff.

"Well, sir: Most of the stone in this cave is sulfuric, but according to my readings there appears to be a naquadah lode deeper inside. It might be useful to have a look at that", Sam said.

"Fine", Jack sighed, "so we're gonna go further inside or is anybody out for a picnic right here? Daniel, something?"

"No, Jack", Daniel retorted.

The four of them went further inside until Sam got a clear reading of the naquadah.

"Here we are", she stated, "give me twenty minutes to get what I need, sir."

"Okay, Carter", her CO agreed. He, Daniel and Teal'C stayed close to her position looking around the tunnel a bit more.

Suddenly Teal'C seemed to remark something, "O'Neill."

"What is it?" Jack walked over to the Jaffa's side.

"Do you hear that as well?"

Jack listened for a moment and heard a sharp crackling from further behind in the tunnel. At once the crackling started to become louder and louder, then a loud bang followed shaking the walls of the cave.

After it there was a burning, stinging smell in the air. Jack knew it from somewhere; he thought for a moment until he realized the danger:

"A gas explosion", he turned to the others, "and I don't think it was the last one. The whole stuff is running into our direction, we need to get outta here."

Once again the crackling returned much louder than before. The whole air around seemed to tense and another bang followed causing a vacuum for the blink of an eye.

"Move", Jack yelled against the immense loudness urging his team to get out of the cave before it was too late.

A huge wave of fire was rolling toward them through the tunnel closing in very quickly.

"Carter, run", Jack ran toward her pulling the still stunned Sam away from the immediate danger. Finally she did as she was told and ran away.

Jack followed her, but shortly before he reached the exit a third wave of explosion hit him and he was thrown to the ground. His body was paralyzed with pain and he could no longer see clearly. The only thing he still noticed was Sam calling his name.

"Jack, no, Jack !" she returned to his side, "Teal'C we need to get him out of here."

Jack felt how he was lifted up and carried away. Sam was still with him talking to him.

"Don't pass out now. Please Jack, don't leave us alone", her words were full of worry and sorrow. It was the first time since very long that she clearly showed such feelings for him. Short before he completely lost his consciousness Jack came to realize that he felt just the same for her.

A short moment later Jack woke up in some other place, it was a beach on a tropical island. He crawled up and leaned against the trunk of a near palm tree. He was apparently back in the fairy's world.

"Serena?"

In a light breeze of sea wind raising some of the fine sand the fairy appeared, dressed into a long, cream colored dress decorated with some tropical flowers that were red, purple, blue and yellow.

"Do you remember enough now?" she questioned with a bright smile.

"Yes, I think so", he replied, "thanks to your help."

"Try to reach your friends now. You won't have much problems doing that now", the fairy assured him.

"Okay", Jack smiled back at her, "thank you again."

Suddenly Serena disappeared again in a cloud of beach sand as fast she had come.

Jack took a deep breath and thought of home, but mostly he was thinking of returning to Sam...

Somebody seemed to shake Sam wanting her to wake up. As she opened her eyes she realized that Jack had started moving under her.

She shot up with a start. All of a sudden Jack woke up.

"Misusing me as your pillow, Sam?" he exquired weakly, but as cynical as usual.

"No, I don't", she returned with a slight grin, "Glad to have you back."

She walked around the bed about to notify Janet, but she was already approaching them so Sam stayed where she was, quickly kissing Jack's cheek before the two of them were no longer alone and undisturbed.

(AN: Why the heck didn't she do that in the last scene of Abyss ?)

Jack ran his hands through her hair whispering, "Glad to have you by my side, little fairy."

Sam shot him a searching glance, but Jack merely raised an eyebrow to tell her that he would explain everything later since Janet and the others had now all arrived and were standing behind the two of them.

The End