Sam's POV

She'd grown up so much since she came home. She'd been home for almost two years and she was finally loosening up. She was now 4'3" and weighed 60lbs. She'd started her period about three months ago and that scared the hell out of her. But, Janet and I sat down and told her what it meant. Not too long after that, we'd gone shopping for her first bra. Let me tell you. I don't know who was more embarrassed – Jack or Jessie. That was funny. We had some interesting pictures from that day. I don't think I've ever seen Jack that red before.

I really hated asking Jessie about Landon. But, we needed to know what he was to her. I knew she'd known him and his brothers in the orphanage and in the first home. I knew he'd protected her. But, I didn't know how he'd protected her. Now we knew how.

Jack and I showered and crawled into bed. "What're you thinking?" he asked, pulling me into his arms.

I chuckled. "More like praying."

"Ah…for what?"

"That Jessie won't dream tonight," I said with a sigh. He was doing some interesting things to my neck with his teeth and tongue.

"Yeah. Do you know how much I really want to kill that little Assgard?" he said, stopping his ministrations on my neck. "The one who took her from us in the beginning?"

"Yeah. Me too," I said softly.

"Honey, the only thing we can do is let her know how much we love her and that we're going to be here for her…no matter what happens," he said, loosening his grip and allowing me to turn over and face him.

"I know…I know," I said leaning in to him and placing my head on his chest.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I just realized something," he said, surprise evident in his voice.

"What?"

"Charlie never called me 'daddy'. He always called me 'dad' or 'dada', when he was smaller. When Jessie calls me 'daddy', it melts my heart in ways I can't explain."

"I know, Jack," I said, stroking his cheek. "And you say you're not good with words." I leaned up and kissed him gently.

What started out as a soft kiss – a goodnight kiss – quickly escalated out of control. We made love until, exhausted, we collapsed in each others' arms. We slept for a few hours – perfect, uninterrupted sleep. Then around 0300, Jessie's cries woke us.

Quickly dressing, we ran into her room. She'd screamed herself hoarse and was in the fetal position on the floor beside her bed. She was shaking so bad that it seemed she would shake herself apart.

She wasn't making any more sounds and seemed to be in shock. We couldn't wake her up. Jack picked her up and laid her on her bed. She was soaked with sweat and tears. Jack turned his back as I put her in some dry clothes.

"Jessie…baby, open your eyes," I said, stroking her sweat-dampened hair out of her eyes. "Wake up, Jessie. It's just a dream."

She continued to shake, but nothing would wake her up.

"Come on, Sunshine. Open your eyes," said Jack. "Shit! She's burning up! Sam, call Janet. Something's wrong."

I reached for the phone by Jessie's bed and dialed Janet's number.

"Fraiser residence," said an extremely sleepy Daniel.

"Daniel?"

"Uh…Sam?"

"Yeah."

"Umm…I can explain," he stammered.

"Look, let me talk to Janet," I said hurriedly. Jessie's shaking was getting worse and she still hadn't opened her eyes.

I heard him say, "It's Sam."

I heard her say, "We are sooo busted."

"Sam?"

"Janet, something's wrong with Jessie. She's hot to the touch. She woke us up screaming and we can't wake her up and now she's having convulsions."

"I'll be right there."

"She's on her way," I said hanging up the phone.

"Good," said Jack.

Jessie was still shaking very badly. She was locked in a nightmare and couldn't find her way out. Jack went to get a cold washrag because she was still burning up.

"No, no, no, no, no, no," she kept repeating over and over again. I shook her gently, but she still didn't wake up. I shook her a little harder and got the same results.

"Here," said Jack, handing me the washrag.

I took it from him and dabbed at her forehead with it. "Please baby. Please wake up," I begged her.

Whatever she was dreaming about had her fully locked inside her own mind. I could tell from the look on her face that she was deathly afraid of something.

Daniel and Janet arrived minutes later, using the key that Daniel had. We were still sitting on Jessie's bed, both of us holding her hands, trying to keep her from shaking herself apart.

"What happened?" asked Daniel.

"I don't know," said Jack. "She woke us up screaming and we can't wake her up."

"Why can't we wake her up?" I said, choking on a sob.

Jack pulled me into his arms as Janet worked on our daughter. Minutes passed without a sound other than Jessie's cries. Finally, Janet looked up.

"Janet?" I asked, fearing the worse.

She shook her head. "I don't know, Sam. I can't find any physical reason for the convulsions or the fever. We need to get her to the infirmary and possibly contact the Asgard or the Tok'ra."

Jack picked her limp body up and ran downstairs. I grabbed his keys, wallet, and my purse before running out after them. Daniel was driving and Jack, Jessie, and I were in the back. Her body was burning up and she was still whimpering.

Her breathing was becoming labored. "Daniel, speed up. Something's wrong. We've got to get there now!" said Jack.

I felt the truck accelerate suddenly. Within minutes, we were at the SGC main entrance. The airman on guard realized something was wrong and actually let us go in without signing in.

We got to the infirmary and Jessie's fever was getting worse. Jack laid her on the bed as General Hammond walked in.

"What's going on, Colonel?"

"Jessie's sick, sir."

"She woke us up screaming and we've been unable to wake her. She's terrified of something and we don't know how to help her," I said, frightened.

"Dr. Fraiser?"

"Sir, I suggest we contact the Tok'ra. Maybe they know how to reach Jessie," she said.

"Understood," he said quickly leaving the room.

Janet hooked up her to several machines, one of which was monitoring her heart rate.

"We've got to get her temperature under control," said Janet. "Prepare an ice bath."

A couple of nurses did that and we sat Jessie inside. Her body temperature was close to 106°. If it stayed that high much longer, it would literally fry her brain. That was probably why we couldn't reach her mind.

We finally got her temperature down to 104°, but it wouldn't go any lower. I don't know how long we were in there, but General Hammond came looking for us.

"Jack…Sam."

"Sir?" said Jack.

"We contacted the Tok'ra. Jacob's on his way. There's been no answer to our calls to the Asgard."

"Thank you, sir," I said.

I couldn't move. Although her body temperature was lower, she was still extremely sick. It had something to do with her dreaming…her nightmares. It was almost as if she was being attacked in her dreams.

We got her out of the ice bath and dressed her in shorts and a tank top and laid her back on the bed. Suddenly, she arched her back trying to get away from the bed.

"NOOOOOO!" she screamed. Jack and I tried to hold her down, to no avail.

That's when I realized what she was dreaming about. The beatings, the rapes…everything that had ever happened to her was returning in her dreams.

"Jack?"

"She's dreaming about what happened to her, isn't she?"

"I think so," I said.

"Shit," said Jack as she collapsed to the bed and stopped breathing.

"Janet!" I screamed as the heart monitor flatlined.

She ran back in and pushed us out of the way, beginning CPR immediately. Long, agonizing minutes later, Jessie began to breathe again, but she'd been hooked up to a breathing machine. Our daughter was on life-support.

Jack's POV

Three days. Three freaking days Jessie's been on life-support and there doesn't seem to be any chance of her coming out of it. The Tok'ra are on their way, but by the time they get here, it may be too late.

General Hammond contacted the school and told them Jessie had a severe case of the flu and was in the hospital at the base. Her friend Landon called the house and Cassie told him she was sick. He wanted to come see her, but we didn't know him and General Hammond wouldn't authorize it. In a way I was glad. I didn't want anyone but me and Sam with her.

Incoming traveler.

Those two words and my heart stopped. Hopefully, it was the Tok'ra…preferably Jacob Carter. I looked at Sam. I knew she looked like me. Her eyes were red-rimmed from all the tears we've both cried for the last three days. Neither one of us had slept for more than a few hours each night. We were exhausted, both physically and mentally. We slept more last night only because Janet had been ordered by General Hammond to slip something in our dinner.

"I'll go," I said.

"Ok," she said softly. I reached over and stroked my wife's cheek before kissing her gently.

"She'll be ok," I said. "She's got to be ok."

Tears welled up in her blue eyes, but she held them back. "I know," she said shakily.

I kissed her again and left for the gateroom at a run. Entering the control room, I saw General Hammond, Daniel, and Teal'c already there. The wormhole activated.

"Close the iris," ordered General Hammond.

Walter closed the iris. Several seconds later he said, "Receiving Tok'ra IDC, sir."

"Open the iris."

We all went to the gateroom just as Jacob stepped through the event horizon…along with Martouf and Anise. Shit. I could've gone the rest of my life without seeing those two again.

"Jack, what's going on?" asked Jacob.

"What in the hell are they doing here, Jacob?" I asked.

"The council wanted them here," said Jacob. "I had no choice. Otherwise, they wouldn't let me come." I could tell he was pissed about this. It made me feel a little better…not a lot.

"Now, what's going on?"

"It's Jessie. She's…," I said. I was interrupted by…

Colonel O'Neill to the infirmary. I repeat, Colonel O'Neill to the infirmary.

I took off at a run, not waiting to see if Jacob was following. Running through the hall, I saw Sam slumped against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sam! What happened?"

"She's dying, Jack," she said with a sob. I slid down the wall and took her into my arms. Jacob and the others found us there a few minutes later.

"What's going on?" asked Jacob as they ran up.

I couldn't say anything and neither could Sam. I just shook my head and buried my face in her hair, my tears falling silently. Janet appeared with tears in her eyes.

"Doc?" I croaked out.

She took a deep breath. "I managed to stabilize her, sir. But…"

"She's dying," said Sam sobbing.

"I don't know what else to do," said Janet as Daniel pulled her into his arms.

"Dad, you have to do something," I said. "We can't lose her."

He pushed his way into the infirmary. We managed to get on our feet and stumble our way into the infirmary. Jessie was so pale. The only thing that was keeping her body alive were the machines.

"Martouf, give me the healing device," demanded Jacob.

"Jacob, you cannot…"

"Give me the damned healing device!"

"No. The council did not approve of this," said Anise.

"I don't care! This is my granddaughter! I'm not gonna let her die when I can help her!"

"Jacob…be calm," said Martouf.

"Give me the God damned healing device!"

"No."

I lost it. I let go of Sam and pulled my nine-mil. I grabbed Martouf from behind and pressed the barrel of the gun to his head. "Give him the fucking device or I'll kill you where you stand!"

"Colonel O'Neill…" began Anise. "The Tok'ra high council has forbidden Jacob to heal her like this. They believe this is something that she needs to do herself. I happen to agree with their decision."

Jessie stopped breathing and flatlined again. Anise reached out to Jacob who stepped away from her.

"You bitch!" exclaimed Sam. She drew back her arm and punched Anise in the face, rendering her unconscious.

I reached into Martouf's jacket and took out the healing device. I tossed it to Jacob. "Do it," I said.

Jacob began to maneuver the healing device over Jessie's body. Several minutes later, Jessie began to breathe again and she opened her eyes, looking at me with fear.

I released Martouf and stepped towards Jessie's bed. "Jessie?" I whispered.

She tried to speak, but the breathing tube was preventing it. "Don't try to speak, Jessie. Let Janet remove the tube first," said Sam, tears still streaming down her face as were mine.

She nodded slightly and let Janet remove the breathing tube. She coughed roughly, blood staining her lips. "Janet?"

"It's nomal, guys," she said, wiping the blood from Jessie's lips. "This thing's been her lungs for the last three days. She has to start breathing on her own."

Once Janet was out of the way, both Sam and I took Jessie's hands in our own. "Mama," she said weakly, hoarsely.

"What's the last thing you remember, Jessica?" asked Martouf.

"Get the hell out!" I said, trying to get to him. I was going to beat the shit out of him.

"Dad!" coughed Jessie. That was enough for me to stop trying to get to him.

"I'm here, Sunshine."

"Why are they here?" she gasped out.

"I don't know," said Sam. "Just ignore them."

She nodded slightly…weakly. "How're you feeling, honey?" asked Sam.

"Thirsty," she said softly.

I reached for a glass of ice water and Sam helped her sit up. "Jacob hand me that straw."

Jessie sipped the water slowly before collapsing against Sam. "What happened to me?"

"Jessica…" began a now-conscious Anise.

"General Hammond?"

"Please come with me," said General Hammond, motioning for Martouf and Anise, to follow him.

"General Hammond…" began Anise.

"Now!" he growled.

Once they had left the room, Jessie lay against Sam, her eyes heavy with sleep. "What's the last thing you remember Sunshine?" I asked.

"Falling asleep at home," she said. "Then…" her eyes widened.

"Then what?"

"I dreamed," she said, beginning to tremble.

"Dreamed of what, honey?" asked Sam, pushing Jessie's hair out of her eyes.

"Him," she said with tears beginning to fall from her blue eyes.

She started to sob and Sam wrapped her arms around Jessie's small body, rocking her slowly. "Shh…baby. You're safe."

"It…it…it was so real," she cried out.

"I know baby. But, it was just a dream," I said.

"Jessie, your powers are becoming stronger," said Jacob. "I guess this is why the Tok'ra did not want me to try to heal her."

"Why couldn't we wake her up?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I'm not sure, Jack."

With Sam slowly rocking her, Jessie's eyes started to close but she jerked herself awake. "It's ok, baby. We're here. Go to sleep," I said.

She shook her head weakly. "No!" she said, trembling violently.

"It's ok, honey," said Sam.

"No! It'll happen again!" she said as she started to cry again. "I know it will!"

Sam rubbed the back of her head and kissed her forehead. "Shh…mama's here. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."

"I…I'm scared, mama," cried Jessie, burying her head in Sam's shoulder and holding on to Sam's shirt for dear life.

Sam continued to rock as she said, "I know, baby. I know."

She looked so helpless…they both did…mother and daughter. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't help either one of them. I didn't know how to help them.

I did the only thing I could think of. I wrapped my arms around them and held them both. I could feel Jessie trembling uncontrollably. It was like being on a vibrating bed.

"Janet, can we take her home?" asked Sam.

"I'm not sure you should move her just yet."

"Please Aunt Janet. I just wanna go home," begged Jessie, trying to move away from Sam's arms, but she was still so weak she couldn't sit up on her own.

Janet shook her head. "Jessie…you've been unconscious for three days. You're so weak you can't even sit up straight."

Jessie stiffened with embarrassment. She was like both me and Sam in that aspect. We both hated being weak and it was worse to remind us. She buried her head in Sam's shoulder.

"Janet…please. Let us take her home. If something happens, we'll bring her back…I promise," I said.

"Alright. But, at the first sign of distress, I want her back here ASAP," said Janet, giving in.

"Dad, you coming?"

"I'll be there in a little bit. I've got to change clothes and I have something to take care of." We all knew he was talking about Martouf and Anise.

I stood and took Jessie from Sam, carrying her out of the room. She laid her head on my shoulder and, by the time we reached General Hammond's office, she was asleep.

Sam knocked on the door and we heard, "Come," from the inside.

Opening the door, we saw that Anise and Martouf were still here. "Jack, is she ok?" asked General Hammond. Everyone present could hear the worry in his voice.

"She's just sleeping, sir. Janet said we could take her home."

"Colonel O'Neill…" began Martouf.

"Don't even talk to us," I said vehemently. "Because of the two of you, my daughter almost died."

"Samantha…"

"Don't Martouf…just don't," said Sam, reaching over and stroking Jessie's long blonde hair.

Freya spoke up. "Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter. We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused."

"Inconvenience? You call letting my daughter almost die an 'inconvenience'? Go to hell," I said angrily. "And when you address my wife, you should call her 'Major O'Neill'," I added just to see the looks on their faces. Priceless…definitely priceless.

Jessie whimpered and shivered in fright. Even in her unconscious state, she could feel the animosity emanating from both Martouf and Anise. "Shh…baby. I'm here," I whispered, holding her tighter.

"Your 'what'?" asked Anise with shock and jealousy very evident in her voice.

"His wife," said Sam. "Now, if you don't mind, we've got to get our daughter home."

She tucked her arm through mine and together we left the mountain. We knew they'd follow but at the moment, we really didn't care. All we cared about was getting Jessie home where she belonged.

Sam drove as I held Jessie. We knew it was against the law, but like I said, we really didn't care. I dreaded the conflict that would come when they showed up…and they would show up. Unfortunately, it was inevitable.

Sam's POV

I couldn't believe Martouf and Anise were willing to let Jessie die just because the Tok'ra high council refused to let dad heal her. I don't know what their problems were, but I knew they were going to show up at home…and there would be a fight. I just hoped I could keep Jack out of jail and keep him from killing them.

Once we got home, Jack laid Jessie in her bed. She automatically rolled over on her stomach with her head facing me. She whimpered in her sleep and Jack began to rub her back softly. It stopped her whimpering. Her phone rang and I picked it up on the first ring so it wouldn't wake her up.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. O'Neill? It's Landon. I was just calling to see if Jessie's ok."

I could hear the worry in his voice and couldn't help but smile. "She's home now, but she's still not feeling well." Jack gave me a strange look. I covered the mouth piece and whispered, "It's Landon."

Jack just smiled and continued to rub Jessie's back. "Is she gonna be ok?" asked Landon.

"We think so," I said. "Her doctor said she needs to stay home and rest a few more days, but she'll be fine."

"Can I see her? Please? I just found her again. I…I don't think I could stand to lose her again," he said softly, his voice thick with tears.

"She's sleeping right now. But, let me talk to my husband and we'll see," I said. "Give me your phone number and after I talk with Jack, I'll give you a call."

He did and then said something I'll never forget. "Tell her I love her," he said softly. "Bye Mrs. O'Neill."

"Bye Landon," I said. I smiled when I hung up the phone.

"What?" asked Jack.

"He said to tell her that he loves her," I said with a grin.

"She's only twelve!" said Jack loudly, causing Jessie to whimper again. "Sorry, honey," he whispered, rubbing her back again.

We laid down beside her and fell asleep. For the first time in three days, we slept peacefully. A few hours later, we were awakened by a car pulling into the driveway. We made sure Jessie was comfortable before going downstairs to see who'd shown up. Shit. It was my dad, but it was also Martouf and Anise.

"Dad, what in the hell are they doing here?" I asked angrily. I didn't want them anywhere near my daughter, much less in my home.

"They need to speak with Jessie," said dad.

"Why?" asked Jack, not letting them in the house.

"It's something that the Tok'ra high council needs Jessie to do," said Anise.

I looked at dad. "Don't look at me like that Sam. I'm out of the loop on this one."

"Until we know what's going on, you're going nowhere near my daughter," said Jack.

"Dad?"

We turned and saw Jessie trying to make her way down the stairs. She was gripping the railing and could barely stand. We quickly made our way to her, just as she collapsed. Jack picked her up and cuddled her against his chest before sitting down on the couch.

"You should've stayed in bed, Sunshine," he said.

"I was alone," she said with a shiver. "I don't wanna be alone." I reached over and felt her forehead.

"You've got fever," I said. I pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and handed it to Jack. I went to the kitchen and got her some medicine and water. When I returned, I handed her some Tylenol and a glass of water. I helped her sit up while he held the water for her.

"Better baby?"

"Mmm hmm," she said sleepily. Then she noticed we had visitors and tensed in Jack's arms.

"Easy baby," he said. "You're safe.

As she looked at Martouf and Anise, her eyes widened and she tensed even more.

(They're not Tok'ra anymore.)

(What?)

(They're not Tok'ra. They're working for the Goa'uld)

(How do you know?)

(They feel different dad. They're not Lantesh and Anise anymore)

(Oh shit)

"Dad, we need to talk to you alone," said Jack.

"Colonel O'Neill, we must question Jessie before we leave," said Martouf.

"Not until we talk to my dad," I said. "Please wait outside."

They both gave Jessie strange looks and reluctantly left the house. "What's going on Sam?" asked dad.

"They're working for the Goa'uld, Grandpa," said Jessie. "They're not Tok'ra anymore."

"What're you saying Jessie?"

She started to get agitated. "Grandpa…I know the difference between Tok'ra and Goa'uld. I can feel the difference." She tried to sit up and had to bite her lip to hold the tears in when she couldn't. "Please Grandpa. You have to believe me. They're working for the Goa'uld now…not the Tok'ra."

She started to sob as Jack began to rock her slowly. Dad took a deep breath. "How do you know this?" asked Selmak.

"I read their thoughts when I woke up. The reason they didn't want me to live was they knew my p-p-powers are g-growing. They knew that it was possible for me to be able to read the symbiote's mind. They're both working for Ba'al. He thought this would be her chance to take out the Tok'ra," said Jessie, sobbing and shuddering through the words.

"Easy. What're we gonna do?" asked Jack, clutching Jessie tighter.

"Jessie, are you strong enough to use your powers?" asked dad.

"Dad?"

"I need her to knock them out so we can get them back to the SGC."

"But…"

"Jessie, are you strong enough to use your powers?" he asked again.

"I think so," she said softly.

"Ok. When I call them in, I want you to knock both of them out. Then the four of us will take them back to the SGC."

Jessie was terrified. I could see that in her eyes. But, she was strong…maybe not physically right then, but mentally, she was strong. Whatever she thought she had to do, she would find a way.

"Dad?"

"Yeah baby?"

"I'm scared," she said softly.

"I know, baby. So am I. But, I promise you're gonna be fine. I'll kill both of those bastards before I let them touch you."

He kissed her forehead and I did the same. He moved so he could sit her on the couch. She slumped over so we propped her up against the pillows. We moved behind her just so we could be close to her. I hated having to put her through this.

Jack nodded at dad. "We're ready," he said. I noticed that he'd pulled his nine-mil and got it ready just in case.

We both gripped Jessie's shoulders, just for the contact and to reassure her that we were there and that we weren't going to let anyone hurt her. Dad went to get the two traitors.

When they walked in, they both immediately sensed something was wrong, but they didn't know what. I guess they just thought Jessie was still weak from her ordeal.

I felt the change in Jessie. She'd put herself in that place where nothing could touch her. Both Jack and I knew that either she did that or she would lose her sanity.

We both removed our hands as we felt the power growing within her weak body.

"Jessica, are you ready to be questioned?"

"No," she said.

"We must insist," said Martouf.

"Why? So you can turn me over to the system lords?"

"Why would we do that?" asked Anise.

"Because you are no longer Tok'ra. You are both working for the Goa'uld."

"Jessica, you know this is not true."

"Bullshit! I sense it in your mind! I read the mind of your symbiotes! You're working for Ba'al!"

They both pulled some kind of weapons. Jessie's power grew until it coalesced into the bright blue glowing orb. She automatically sent up a shield that covered me, Jack, and dad.

"Then you know the three of you must die," said Martouf.

"I don't think so," said Jessie, gasping for breath. I could tell she was weakening.

(Do it now, Jessie)

She let the orb fly and it grew to encompass both of them. As soon as they were unconscious, she collapsed.

"Jessie!"

"I'm sorry, mama," she said weakly, closing her eyes and ceasing to breathe. Jack immediately started CPR. We got all three of them into the truck and took off at a high speed towards the mountain. I don't think I've ever driven that fast. Jessie stopped breathing three times and all three times, Jack breathed for her.

We made it to the infirmary just as she quit breathing a fourth time. "What're you two doing back here?" asked Janet, coming out of her office, followed by Daniel. Then she noticed Jack was performing CPR on Jessie. "What in the hell happened?" she demanded, pushing Jack out of the way and putting Jessie back on the breathing machine.

"What happened?"

"She unmasked two Goa'uld spies and rendered them unconscious by using her powers," said Selmak pointing to the former Tok'ra sitting on the floor, glaring at us. It took two guards to bring them in and tie them using plastic cuffs.

"Dad, can you use the healing device again?"

"I can try, but I don't know…"

"Do it!" ordered Jack.

Dad retrieved the healing device and began working on Jessie, starting with her lungs. He had Janet remove the breathing tube so when she regained consciousness she wouldn't have to go through having it removed again.

Dad healed her. "They must have done something to her when you were at the base."

Jessie moaned and opened her eyes. "Mama?"

"I'm here baby," I said, taking her hand and kissing her forehead.

"They poisoned me," she said weakly.

"What?"

"They poisoned me," she said before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

"Dad?"

"I need a sample of her blood," he said.

Janet drew a vial of blood and handed it to my dad. "Sam, I'm gonna need your help."

"Dad…" I protested, not wanting to leave Jessie.

"It's ok, baby. Go on. I'll be here with her," said Jack, kissing me softly.

I wanted to stay. But, I knew that we'd get the answers we needed quicker with two working. "If…" I trailed off on a sob.

"I'll call you if something happens…I promise," he whispered, kissing me again. "Go."

Jack's POV

I watched Sam leave with Jacob. At the infirmary doors, she turned around and looked back at me and Jessie with such pain in her eyes, I wanted to take her in my arms and not let her go.

I sat down on Jessie's bed and watched her sleep for hours. Janet was keeping her sedated so she wouldn't be in any pain. I couldn't take staring at the two traitors any longer and had an SF remove them to a holding cell on level sixteen. We were waiting for the High Councilor to show up and do whatever it was he had to do.

I had just dozed off when Sam and Jacob ran into the infirmary. "We've got the cure!" said Sam, holding up a vial of something.

Jessie opened her eyes weakly. "Mama?"

"I'm here, baby. We've got the cure," said Sam, stroking her cheek as Janet injected her with the cure. Sam crawled in the bed with her and pulled her into her arms.

"Just relax, Jessie. You'll feel better in a little while," said Janet.

She nodded and closed her eyes again, relaxing in her mother's arms. "Daddy?"

"I'm right here, Jessie."

"Why'm I so sleepy?"

"My guess is it's the poison," I said, looking to Sam for confirmation.

"That's exactly why, Jessie," said Jacob.

"So the poison is what triggered the dream?" I asked.

"Yes, Jack."

I actually sighed in relief. I was glad that it wasn't us asking about Landon that started all of this. Jessie opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Why did they do this to me?"

"Because they knew you would be able to see through their façade. They thought that if you were out of the picture, they would be safe," said Jacob.

She closed her eyes again as her tears began to fall. I crawled into the bed with them and took them both in my arms. Jessie cried herself to sleep. Once we were sure she was completely asleep, we asked Janet if it was alright to take her back home now that the poison had been neutralized.

"Are you 100 sure the poison is gone?" she asked Jacob.

"Yes," said Selmak. "The cure was relatively simple. She should be completely well in a day or so."

"So, we should be able to take her home right?" asked Sam.

"Yes."

"Good. That's where we'll be if you need us," I said. For the second time that day, I picked up my daughter and carried her out of the mountain.

Once we got home, I laid her back in her bed and we sat there watching her sleep for a long time. Sam grabbed the phone when it rang.

"O'Neill residence," she said. She listened. "No, Landon. I haven't had a chance to talk to Jack about it. She had a relapse and we had to take her back to the infirmary." She listened some more. "She's fine now. Yes, I'll talk to him tonight and we'll call you tomorrow. I will…I promise. Goodnight Landon."

"What was that all about?" I whispered.

"He was worried when I didn't call him back. He wants to see her…to make sure she's ok."

"He really does care about her, doesn't he?" I asked.

"Yeah…I think he does."

I looked at my watch. 0200 hrs. Sheesh. "Why don't we head to bed?" I said softly.

"Why don't we sleep in here tonight?" said Sam.

I grinned. I'd had the same thought she did. After coming so close to losing her, we both wanted to be with her. I took her hand and led her to our room. We changed clothes and crawled into bed with Jessie. I wrapped my arms around Sam and she had her arms wrapped around Jessie. Who knew what would happen in the morning. All I knew was those two bastards were going to pay for what they'd done to my family.