Thanks to everyone who reviewed – Revvie-S; debcole; StargateFan; Froggy0319; Gwil; janissima; Natters; and jaka. You're the best guys!

Here's that fluff to make up for the previous chapter's strife!

None but the Brave Deserve the Fair.

By Lingren.

Previously:

"Those are my orders Damnit!" he snapped. He wasn't really angry with her, just the situation. Time was of the essence and he couldn't spare any just to argue with her.

Chapter 4

He looked at her then; really looked. Catching a glimpse of her wide eyes full of apprehension for him, and saw something spark behind the blue orbs, and sighed resignedly.

"I'm going after the kids Carter," he repeated softly, placing his hands gently onto her shoulders, and giving them a little squeeze. "As second in command, you will take over here, and make sure you get yourself back too. Don't wait around for me. It may take a while. I'll not have you exposed to any more risk than necessary. Please...Sam...don't make this any harder for me," he pleaded, suddenly feeling weary. He really didn't feel like arguing with her any more.

Teal'c arrived along with some of the last survivors on their way to the gate to meet up with the rest of the refugees waiting patiently. Apparently all it needed was to see the team from Earth helping them to escape and to know they were actually willing to re-house them, and it had spurred them into action.

Now Teal'c and the last townsfolk had caught up with them. Daniel came to join them, and heard the startling news that Jack was volunteering to hunt the children down by himself. Daniel was about to object, but Teal'c on seeing the look that had passed between the couple, held him back. However one look from Jack was enough to silence Daniel's unspoken questions and for the linguist to realise his good friend was going no matter what it cost him. Silently Jack bid his team-members goodbye.

Sam kept her eyes fixed on his face and she waited until he turned back towards her again, wanting to say something, but unable to put voice to her jumbled thoughts.

Jack's concentration centred on her now, pointedly ignoring the rest of his team, though it hurt him to appear so callous. Stepping closer to her, almost invading her personal space, his face softened as he gazed down into her bright blue eyes, already awash with unshed tears.

Sam's breath hitched in her throat from the tension crackling between them, knowing he was about to say something personal. She thought she knew what the words might be and she was already losing herself in the dark pools of his eyes.

"Look Sam..." he began hesitantly, "...there's...a distinct possibility that I may not make it back, so I just wanted to say this, just to get it off my chest and whether or not you wanna hear it... I have to let you know..." he paused wanting to tell her the truth, yet reluctant to reveal his innermost feelings for fear of being rejected. "...that I...that is...I still love you," he blurted quickly. "Despite all that's happened, and all that we've said and done lately, an' I'm sorry for that, but I really needed to tell you how I felt before..."

Sam never took her eyes from his deeply shadowed hazel ones, so full of self doubt, and yet his abiding love still shone through, and she at once capitulated knowing that she'd made the right choice. Pete wasn't for her; Jack was.

He stepped even closer and wrapped his arms around her; it was his way of saying goodbye in case anything happened to him and he didn't make it back. At first he felt her breath hitch at his touch, misunderstanding the sign, but then his heart soared when she latched fiercely onto him, clinging to him like she didn't want to let go. He buried his face in her neck and kissed the soft skin there, while her tears of saddened joy finally fell relentlessly. They clung to each other for what seemed a long time, both reluctant to let the other go.

A few yards away Teal'c and Daniel looked on in awed surprise.

"Oh boy!" Daniel stated, turning away from the scene playing in front of him to allow the couple some privacy. Teal'c however remained where he was. A small smile tugging at his lips as he watched them. "Well, that was...unexpected!" Daniel muttered to his friend.

"Is it not pleasing Daniel Jackson to see them at long last acknowledge their affection?" Teal'c asked, raising a puzzled eyebrow at Daniel's strange behaviour.

"Yes...yes it is. And it's about time too, I say. But this is hardly the time or place..." Daniel began before Teal'c put him straight.

"On the contrary Daniel Jackson. It is exactly the right situation for them to seek out each other's feelings. It will be more of an incentive for O'Neill to ensure he succeeds."

"Teal'c, if I didn't know you any better, I'd say you were a hopeless romantic at heart."

"Indeed!" he grinned, bowing slightly in acknowledgement before turning away to resume helping the refugees on their way to the Stargate and urging Daniel to hurry up and dial the DHD.

She didn't want Jack to go. It was much too dangerous. There was too great a risk, but she knew him well enough that he would go regardless of what it might cost him. She mouthed at his ear, then planted small kisses along his jaw line to reach his mouth.

The meeting of their lips was everything they'd dreamed about. Sweet and demanding; punishing and yet surprisingly gentle. They were oblivious to all around them as they got swept along on the tide of their emotions. After a lifetime of shared bliss they broke apart gasping for breath, content just to remain in the embrace.

"Oh God, Jack. I love you so much."

"Sam," he sighed, hugging her closer if that was possible.

"I wish you didn't have to go," she cried.

"I have to Sam. I can't...not go. I can't leave them up there. I'd never be able to live with myself if I didn't at least try."

"I know. But... Please, be careful. I'll be waiting for you, so you'd damn well better make it back flyboy! You hear me Jack? You come back to me!" she pleaded, caressing his cheek one last time with her gentle touch.

"I promise Sam; I promise I'll do my utmost to get back to you," he vowed as he held onto her palm and tenderly kissed it before he reluctantly allowed it to drop from his face.

He stepped away from her grudgingly, out of the loving circle of her arms. His fingers lingering on hers before he turned abruptly and took off at a run for the hillside. He had a date with destiny and five kids who needed him, and time was a wasting.

Sam watched him as he hurried away, her heart torn in two, a part of which went with him to meet whatever befell him. The rest of it was tied in knots with anxiety.

He disappeared among the trees and Sam was pulled back into reality when Teal'c stepped up to her and slid a comforting hand onto her shoulder.

"O'Neill be fine Major Carter. You know he would do his utmost to fulfil his mission. I believe he will return safely to you."

"I don't know, I'm not so sure Teal'c, thanks anyway. But I feel like I just said goodbye," she whispered sadly, her voice breaking on the last word.

Teal'c stopped and turned her to face him, pulling her chin upwards. Tears had began to trickle down her cheeks again, and he wiped them away gently.

"Samantha Carter. I cannot say what will happen to O'Neill. I wish him to survive just as surely as do you. He will always place the needs of children before his own; you know this to be true. It is something which he cannot deny. It would destroy him if anything happened to those children up there, especially knowing there was something that perhaps he could have done to help them, and he at least did not try to rescue them."

"I know Teal'c, but I can't help the way I feel," she sobbed.

"Come, we have the others to think about Major Carter. We have to focus our efforts on helping those in need, else O'Neill's selfless act of courage will be for nought. You are now in command of the evacuation and we need your direction."

Sam sucked in a deep breath and nodded, bringing her wayward emotions under control, then turned to the task at hand. Slipping into her role as officer in charge was easy. For years she had practiced at burying her feelings, now it posed the biggest challenge of all.

Teal'c returned to his task again and hustled any last stragglers towards the gate. Lending a hand to the very old and carrying the infirm.

The ground beneath their feet rumbled ominously, causing everyone to teeter on the brink of actually falling down and Sam cast a searching look up at the hillside where Jack was heading, wondering if he was okay...if the dam would hold for a little longer.

They forded the swollen stream without too much difficulty but it would become a raging torrent of mud as soon as the lake spilled it's contents down the mountain. It would cut off any escape route if that happened before Jack got back.

The earthquakes were growing stronger and more numerous as time went by, and with it, Sam's level of concern rose.

TBC