Thanks to Total Randomness for pointing out I had forgotten to allow anonymous reviews when I set up Jackie's account - it's fixed now, so all those anonymous reviews can flow in. LOL. Jackie wanted me to tell you how much she appreciates the reviews she is getting. She's stunned by your response to her fic. Flatkatsi (Remember to read her other fic 'The Coldest of Hearts' posted under my name)
Life In the Shadows – Part Ten
The pain and the panic Jack had felt when he first awoke began to calm. At first he'd thought he was back at the whipping post before his awareness kicked in. He regarded the woman sitting in front of him with curiosity as he realised it wasn't the young girl from …. well before ….
"I am Reema," the woman informed him.
Jack closed his eyes for a moment, trying to place what Sam had told him. As Sam resumed applying the balm, his eyes screwed tight with pain, his body tensing.
"I'm sorry Sir." Sam's voice came from behind again.
"S'okay." He breathed out.
He felt the sensation of a cool cloth on his face and felt one of his hands being cradled. He flinched at the touch, realising it was the stranger, but then the pain came more fiercely and he grasped the hand holding it tightly. It was a couple of minutes before he was able to speak.
"Dan … T…?" he asked, wondering just when his voice had ever sounded so distant and weak before.
"They are sleeping," Reena told him.
"Oh …" His brain took that much in. "Night?" he asked, his eyes still closed.
"It is evening. Their labours have worn them out."
Jack digested that. He felt badly that his friends were toiling to keep them alive. He realised it would be some time before he could be of use, and that cut him deeply, that and the fact there would be no chance of escape for a while … unless …
Reena's voice cut into his thoughts again. "If you can stay awake for a little while it would be better for you."
The burning on his back began to ease, replaced by a slight tingling sensation. He guessed the balm was beginning to work, but he wished the burning in his chest would ease too. He heard Sam wiping her hands and was aware of her coming around to his front, so he opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile. Her response warmed his heart, making him forget everything else for a moment, but his training was already kicking in – plus, he was curious.
"How long?" he asked.
"Two days," said Sam, not questioning what he meant. She knew. So often they didn't really need words at all.
"We haven't yet had a chance to …" Sam broke off and cast a quick glance to Reena. Jack understood she didn't want to say anything else in front of the woman. As helpful as Reena might be, she just might report any notion of escape.
"Everyone's okay," continued Sam, somewhat lamely, but she gave him another smile.
"Not got the decorators in yet, then?" he gave her a grin as his eyes took in what he could see of their quarters.
Sam smiled again, her eyes flashing with amusement.
Reena favoured Jack with a puzzled look and put a hand quickly to his forehead.
"There is no fever," she said as though she expected it.
That tickled Jack's sense of humour, and he gave a choked laugh, unfortunately, it turned into a coughing fit. Sam held him as best she could, supporting him gently. Shards of pain shot through his chest as he coughed. "Crap," he gasped as the coughing subsided, leaving him breathless and in even more pain.
Sam helped Jack to settle down, giving him a few sips of water. She brushed his forehead gently, her voice soothing his senses. "Okay?" she asked.
The touch of her hand felt magic, and the pain became a not too distant memory. "Fine," he mumbled, trying to savour the moment.
Jack heard Reena snort, "Humph!"
He opened his eyes and gave Reena a pained look. "Not another doc!" he moaned.
Reena looked from Jack to Sam, confused.
Sam grinned. "He means a healer," she explained, laughing.
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Sam was so glad to see the Colonel responding, his humour showing he was in more control, despite the pain. She realised that was what she had badly missed the last couple of days.
As Jack grinned again, she saw how Reena returned the smile, her eyes lighting up as she regarded the man before her.
"Men!" said Reena with a laugh.
"Oh, yeah, we're the same all over," he agreed.
Sam felt the prickle of jealousy, and it was only slightly assuaged when the Colonel turned his attention to her with another smile. She returned the smile wholeheartedly. She wondered yet again how on earth … how in the universe … this man … this one man … could make her feel … so … so like jello inside, make her heart race and her senses sing with just a look. 'God, you are pathetic, major,' she chastised herself.
She offered him more water, her attention firmly on the Colonel as he sipped. She heard Reena's voice as the other woman rose.
"I will leave you to rest. I will see you tomorrow, unless you have need of me."
Sam thanked Reena warmly, the jealousy taking a back seat once more and returned her attention to the Colonel as soon as the woman left.
"Do you think you could eat something?" she asked.
"Ugh, no thanks." His eyes were drooping again, "uh …"
"Sir?" she asked, puzzled.
"Uh, um, need to pee," he said, somewhat pink about the ears.
"Ah, oh, okay." Sam looked around for the jar Teal'c had located and set aside for just such a purpose.
Jack rolled slightly, bringing a leg up. "Uh, Carter, where's my pants?"
"Safe and clean for now, sir. They were a bit bloody. Reena washed them, along with my stuff." Sam found the jar and returned to him, holding it out. "Erm, can you manage?" she asked, flushing herself.
"If you help me up first."
"That's not a good idea, sir." She frowned, holding the jar closer to him.
"Trust me, Carter, the only way I can pee lying down is when I have no control whatsoever, or Doc sticks a couple of feet of tubing in."
"Couple of feet?" grinned Sam, the idea tickling her sense of mischief.
"That's what it feels like," said Jack with a grimace, "Now help me up, my bladder feels like a basketball."
Teal'c rose from the shadows. "I will assist you, O'Neill."
"Hey, T, buddy. Thanks."
"It is good to see you awake," said Teal'c as he moved closer.
Sam gave in to being out numbered. She really didn't want the Colonel to be moving around yet, but then again she didn't fancy cleaning up any accidents either and that dyla was a strong sedative.
Between them they got Jack to a standing position. She saw the way he bit down to stop any sound coming from him. Fresh blood trickled once more from the re-opened wounds on his lips, but he only uttered the odd low grunt. She felt his hand gripping her shoulder painfully. She tried not to flinch, and purposely kept her eyes averted from his almost naked body. 'Too close, much too close.'
A little devil inside sparked the mischief again. "Want me to hold it, sir?" she managed to ask with a straight face. She heard the slight gasp from Jack and he turned his head to her, mouth agape. "The jar, Colonel, shall I hold the jar?" She was bursting to grin, but held it in.
The Colonel looked her in the eyes; colour suffusing his face and neck. "Make yourself useful over there, Major," he blustered at last. "T can do the heavy lifting," he quipped, seeming to recover.
"I will only hold the jar, O'Neill, unless you require further assistance with the heavy lifting," responded the Jaffa, dead pan.
Sam hurriedly cut short a snort of laughter as she moved away. She watched Jack fix the Jaffa with a glare that would have withered many a lesser man, but Teal'c didn't even blink.
"Is it pick on the Colonel day today?" spluttered Jack. "Just hold the god-damned jar, Teal'c, before I bust."
Sam coughed to hide her choked laugh and busied herself at the far side of their room. The sound of passing water seemed to last forever, but at last she heard the sigh of relief from the Colonel.
"Okay, Carter, its safe."
Sam carefully took the smirk off her face and went to assist Teal'c to lie him down again.
She could see the pain he was in and it quickly sobered her. He groaned, his fresh agony obvious, and she quickly retrieved the cup with the dyla in it and gave him a few sips.
Teal'c left to dispose of the contents of the jar, returning quickly. He sat down close to Sam, both watching silently as Jack's breathing evened out as he drifted into sleep.
"There was the presence of blood in O'Neill's water," Teal'c informed her quietly.
Sam bit her lip anxiously. "A lot?" she questioned. Teal'c shook his head. "Let's hope it's nothing that won't sort itself out. His kidneys are bound to be bruised, with the blows he's taken. We can only keep a close watch."
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