Beaming aboard the Asgard ship, Daniel's first instinct was to stay with Sam and wait for help to arrive. After several long seconds with no else in sight, he checked her pulse again, finding that it had returned back to normal and the tremors had stopped.
"Sam?" He asked, but she didn't respond. "I'm going to go get help. I'll be right back."
He stood to his feet and with a quick glance at her sleeping form, started down the expansive hallway of the ship, searching for other signs of life.
He heard noises up ahead in a room that resembled a laboratory. On a table in the middle of the room laid Jack O'Neill, his eyes open but unmoving. Daniel stepped into the room and over to his friend. Two Asgard approached the table, one he recognized as Loki, and the other he had never met.
"How is he?" Daniel asked the alien.
"His physical body is alive, yet he is unresponsive. We have run several analyses and scans yet have not detected a variable brain pattern. I am afraid there is nothing we can do." Loki stated flatly.
"I think I know why. He managed to transfer his consciousness into someone else. She's in the transporter room, asleep or in a coma, I'm not sure which."
The other Asgard nodded. "Step aside."
The blinding light of a transport beam flashed and Sam appeared on the floor at Daniel's feet.
"Sam, can you hear me? You need to wake up."
He tapped her face lightly, but with no response. He reached over and gingerly wrapped a hand around her left wrist.
"NO!" Sam started awake, sitting straight up and jerking her arm out of his grasp.
Her actions so startled the two aliens that they ducked under the exam table.
"Sam? Is it you?"
Daniel waited for the Asgard to retake their places before explaining to them what had happened in the ice cavern.
"Daniel?"
Sam blinked her eyes a few times, trying to focus her gaze. She saw a form lying at her side and when she realized whom it was, tears clouded her vision.
"Jack?"
"Yeah...uh Sam, we were hoping he told you how to fix this."
Nodding her head slowly, she stood to her feet and leaned forward to place her right hand over his heart. She could feel the strong beat through his shirt.
"Sit him up."
She waited for Daniel to do as she said and then slid her left hand over to his right hand.
o0o
Taking a deep breath, she entwined their fingers together. A strong surge of electricity pulsed through her palm and into Jack's. His body jerked violently and Daniel tightened his hold on his friend's shoulders.
After several tense moments, Sam began to waver and then slumped to her knees, her hand releasing Jack's.
"Sam?"
She nodded her head and sighed. "I'm fine."
Daniel stepped around the table to help her to her feet again. "Did it work?"
"I think so."
Both of them watched in fascination as the man before them began to blink slowly and then closed his eyes. Jack groaned softly, and leaned forward to drop his head in his hands.
"Ugh, my head."
"Jack, you okay?"
Daniel stood beside him, eyes examining him for signs of injury.
"Sure, just peachy. It's not everyday you download your brain into your own body."
He looked up to see Sam standing before him. "Hey."
His quiet utterance reminded her of their earlier encounter and she ducked her head shyly.
"Hey."
Stuffing her hands nervously in her pants pockets, she rocked back on her heels and asked nonchalantly, "You hungry?"
"Always." Jack said with a laugh, noticing her familiar pose.
Sam snorted quietly, glad to once again see her C.O. as himself.
"Hey, no giggling. You haven't eaten for two days, how's a guy supposed to live like that?"
He saw her posture change and realized he'd made her uncomfortable.
"Sorry, I guess I'm partly to blame for that."
"No sir, it was my fault."
She shifted nervously, turning her gaze to her boots.
Jack cleared his throat and asked, "Daniel, could you give us a minute?"
"Sure."
Motioning to the Asgard, Daniel led the aliens out of the room.
o0o
"So?"
"Sir?"
Sam glanced up, but didn't quite meet eyes.
"Sam—"
She rushed to cut him off.
"Sir please, we can just let it go. It was all in my head anyway."
"No, it wasn't. It was more than that, and we both know it."
He stood to his feet, but she backed away from him.
"Sam, just let me explain."
"No. No sir, I understand, really. You were just trying to survive. There is nothing wrong with that."
She started to turn on her heel to leave, but Jack reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Sir!"
She resisted as he pulled her to face him.
"Jack, my name is Jack and before you argue with me, you need to say it. I just want to hear you say it."
"Sir, I--, I can't. Not here. Not now."
Sam shivered as he brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.
"Sir, please don't."
She hated that she sounded so weak.
"Sam, just say it. Please."
He relaxed his grip on her arms and then sighed in resignation, as she shook her head no.
"Fine. We'll play this your way. Locked forever in a damn room with no door."
He turned abruptly and strode across the room and out of the door.
o0o