Life In the Shadows – Part Twenty-one
Reena came by later in the day. She and Sam were sitting quietly talking when the appearance of Masa at the doorway caused them to jump up in surprise, and not just a little fear.
He strode in boldly, his eyes roving over Sam in such a way that it sent shivers down her spine. He smiled and stood next to the Colonel, looking down in contempt at the unconscious man.
"Still alive then?" he spat. Neither Reena nor Sam answered, but Reena took Sam's arm when she made as if to step towards him. He gave Jack a non-too gentle nudge with his foot, his look contemptuous. "It seems he's surprisingly hard to kill off. Doesn't look too good though."
"Please, leave him alone," begged Sam.
"Don't worry, he's not worth the trouble. Doesn't look like he's going to live much longer." Masa strode towards Sam. He grasped her cruelly by the chin and licked at his lips. "But I promise you, when he dies, you are mine." He laughed at the expression of horror she was unable to keep from showing, her heart thumping madly, fear uncurling itself in the pit of her stomach. He pushed her away roughly and spat on the floor. "I hope I won't have to wait too long. I am not a patient man."
Both women heaved a sigh of relief when he turned and left. Sam quickly knelt to check the Colonel. He didn't seem to have been hurt further and was still out for the count.
The other woman's concerned words nearly undid Sam's intentions to keep calm. "What are you going to do?"
"Do? What can I do?" asked Sam, anxiously biting her lower lip.
"Masa means what he says, when Jack …"
'When … when … it was when … No hope from any quarter.' Sam shrugged her shoulders, turning her attention back to the Colonel. "There's nothing I can do, absolutely nothing."
Reena hovered around, not leaving like she normally did and it was beginning to grate on Sam's nerves a little. If she had known the woman's intentions she would have thrown her out immediately …
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Daniel and Teal'c had barely got into their quarters when Reena launched herself at them, quickly telling them of Masa's threat without pulling any punches. Daniel saw Sam rising and glaring at them all, her face showing her displeasure at Reena's presumption that they should know about it.
"And, of course, Sam, you were going to tell us this?" demanded Daniel, throwing himself down into a chair.
Reena quickly glanced at each of them and, after a single word of farewell, left, Sam's disappointment at her actions clear even to Daniel
Sam's face told Daniel all he needed to know and he felt the anger rising in him. "For God's sake, you can't defend yourself against Masa, none of us can, we …"
Sam shook her head defiantly. "I am not leaving Jack alone to die, Daniel. Not – you got that!"
"Then I will stay. You and Teal'c get out," he shouted in response.
Sam almost screamed her answer. "No, I won't leave him." She stormed to the far side of their quarters, signalling the end of the discussion.
Daniel made to rise, but Teal'c forestalled him.
"Major Carter, we need more supplies. Will you accompany me?"
Sam shrugged, but moved to pick up one of the buckets and stood waiting for Teal'c to join her. Teal'c just nodded to Daniel and left, with Sam following.
Daniel returned the nod wearily. 'God, this place …' He knew Sam wasn't going to listen to him; no way … There was only one person who could …
"Jack, come on, hey, it's me, Daniel, please …" he begged his friend to wake up, bathing the man's face and neck with cool water to try and bring him around a little.
It took a while and Daniel felt awful pushing Jack to awaken, but he steeled himself for Sam's sake … for all their sakes. He saw Jack's eyes flicker, but the moan of pain from the man almost took away any resolve he had left.
"Jack, hey, I've got talk to you. Can you hear me?" Jack's eyes flickered over to him, a bare acknowledgement that he understood. Daniel helped the breathless man take a sip or two of water, hating himself for what he was about to do. "Jack, I … I … what I've got to say … well, it isn't easy, you've got to, oh, God." Daniel looked down at the floor. Jack's hand strayed to his arm, pulling weakly on the cloth.
"Dan …l, out with … it," he ordered.
"I don't know what Sam told you, but there is a way out … but Sam won't go, she won't leave."
Daniel saw that Jack understood what he was saying. He hated every second of this, to even think of abandoning Jack … especially when he knew the man would not abandon any of them, under any circumstance.
"Sam won't leave because of you," said Daniel taking a deep breath. "And Masa came earlier. Sam wasn't going to say anything, but thank God, Reena was here. Masa is going to claim Sam when …" Daniel couldn't say 'When you die.' His voice broke, his gaze slipping from the older man's face.
Jack's grasp tightened on his arm again, forcing Daniel to look back at him.
"You all … gotta … go," said Jack, the words almost a whisper, the effort telling on him. "I'm not … it won't …" He ran out of breath and began to pant badly.
"How the hell do I make Sam go?" asked Daniel, his eyes pleading with the man to understand. "I'll be here for you, but Sam has got to get out quick."
Jack shook his head. "You all … go."
"No way, Jack, I won't …" Daniel paused, realising he was doing exactly what Sam was doing.
Jack squeezed his arm again, "K … then we ... all go."
Daniel's eyes widened. "It'll kill you … it's underwater. There is no way you'll make it to the gate."
"Doesn't … mat … ter, all go."
Daniel felt his eyes prickling; he couldn't tear his gaze away from his friend. He understood what Jack was thinking. He knew the man didn't care how or when he died, just so long as his team were safe … but if anything, that knowledge made it harder for them to do what they must.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam returned a little while later when her anger had dissipated. She'd stormed off through the tunnels, quite a way, with Teal'c quietly accompanying her. Teal'c's presence didn't annoy her further; it even offered a little comfort. She was angry Reena had taken the situation out of her hands, and was hurt they could even think of her leaving Jack alone to face death. There was so much regret. Maybe they could have just a little time together to put some of it right, to say the things she had so badly wanted to say for so long.
As soon as she entered their quarters, she knew, just knew, that Daniel had told Jack. Daniel was sitting beside the Colonel, just looking down at him. Her heart began pounding madly, the bile rising in her throat to choke her.
She heard the whispered words "Tell her" from Jack.
Daniel coughed a little, clearing his throat to speak. She came further in, aware of Teal'c entering quietly behind her.
"Tell me what, Daniel?" she said softly, moving closer still to kneel beside them.
"We're all getting out," blurted Daniel, clearly uncomfortable.
"Order," added Jack.
Sam looked from one to the other. "In a few days," she said firmly.
"No," said Jack. The force behind his voice cost him greatly and he began to cough painfully.
They could do nothing but try and support him gently until, after what seemed an age, his rapid shallow breaths returned to what were considered normal for him. They winced as he shook with pain as each spasm racked his already weakened body.
Daniel looked at Jack first, then to Sam. "We go in the morning," he said as firmly as he could and Sam watched as Jack's hand squeezed his arm in confirmation.
She panicked slightly. The morning was too soon. She could lose him before they made it out of the water … probably would … When was she going to be able to make peace with him? Just when was she going to be able to say what she needed to?
Jack must have picked up on her qualms. His hand left Daniel's arm and sought out her hand. Trying to stem her tears, she grasped it.
"S'ok," he whispered.
Daniel moved out of the way to join Teal'c, and Sam scooted closer.
"Jack … there's so much I want to say …"
"Don't … I … it's okay," he whispered again, his grip tightening on her hand, his eyes burning into hers, the message in them clear. The love he had held for her for so long was unleashed, and it was that which broke Sam's heart. She laid her head on his shoulder and wept …
xoxoxoxoxoxo