Title: Outside the Lines: Falling
Author: Annerb
Rating: Teens
Summary: How far would you go to make your world right again?
Classifications: Action/Adventure, Drama, Angst, S/J
Season: 4 (Alternative storyline for 'Chain Reaction')
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the Goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MGM-UA Worldwide Television, Gekko Film Corp, Glassner/Wright Double Secret Productions and Stargate SG-I Prod. Ltd. Partnership. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

Author's Note: Sorry this is so long coming. I got sucked into Harry Potter 6. It pretty much short-circuited my brain and I wasn't sure my muse would ever recover. Seriously lost the thread of this little fic, but I think I'm back on! The next bits should be pretty quick. Thanks for all the lovely feedback! So glad to know you are enjoying it.

Falling

She was falling, crashing towards the floor, knocking a tray as she went. Her body curled as softly to the ground as she could manage, keeping her head from smacking into the concrete. She kept her eyes tightly closed.

There were voices all around her and hands touching her skin. Someone called for a medic. In complete stillness she waited, listening for the brisk clip of Janet's approach and her capable voice giving orders.

Sam didn't want to involve her. She couldn't risk her or Cassie, but she had reached a wall. It was only a matter of hours, or days if she was really lucky, until Wash's disappearance became suspicious. She needed an exit strategy. One that wouldn't leave Daniel in danger.

"Janet," she said softly. "I need you to do something for me."

Janet automatically opened her mouth, but Sam smoothly spoke over her. "Absolutely no questions asked."

Janet shut her mouth, but her eyes continued to burn into Sam's skin. She could feel her taking in every dark shadow, her expression letting Sam know what she wasn't as ignorant of events as Sam would like to believe.

"Please, Janet. I wouldn't ask if there wasn't something vital at stake."

Janet's curiosity was obviously warring with her sense of duty to her friends. She eventually nodded, though, placing one hand on Sam's. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

Sam silently met her friend's concerned gaze, strangely unable to let the lie fall from her lips.

They were lifting her carefully onto a gurney. Fingers pressed to her pulse points and hovered over her lips, feeling for her breath. She remained impassive.

Through her lids she could she the flicker of passing lights overhead as they sped through the corridors. They did little to dispel the memories that chose this moment to attack her as she lay alone in the darkness of her own mind.

Daniel sat across a small table from her, but the distance between them seemed even greater. The brown bag that contained Daniel's new life sat near their feet again.

He played with his drink, making abstract patterns in the condensation. Sam couldn't quite remember the last time she'd felt the full impact of his gaze. Not so long ago she had clung to him seeking comfort, his body curling around hers.

"I won't run," he said softly.

"I have to leave, Daniel. I need answers. I need proof."

"I understand that."

"There won't be anyone left to watch your back."

"I'll just have to hope that they think I'm more valuable to the program than I am a threat to them," he observed.

Sam wondered when exactly Daniel had become a tactician. Then again, he had always been a student of human behavior.

Sam pushed the bag back towards him. "Keep it," she said. "Just in case."

Daniel looked intently at the bag for a while before lifting his gaze to finally meet hers. "Okay," he whispered.

They stared at each other for long moments.

Saying goodbye.

A hefting jerk brought Sam back to her surroundings. Monitors began to beep and there was the prick of needles in her flesh.

Janet's cool fingers trailed over the back of Sam's hand and she registered the barest whisper. "Rest."

Sam's thoughts began to slow and just before the darkness claimed her she realized that Janet had drugged her. But there was no more time to protest.

Janet pressed a mug of coffee into Sam's hands. "You working through the night again?"

Sam smiled gratefully up at her, taking the cup. "Yeah. Lots of work to do. Thank you."

"Look, Sam, there's no doubt you're going to solve this, but you have to accept the fact it's going to take time."

"Yeah, well if I think that way, it could take months."

"Daniel says the Tollan could have a ship in the vicinity of Edora some time next year."

Sam sighed and put the coffee cup down, willing the numbers to make sense. "He shouldn't have to wait that long," she replied, not bothering to look up from the screen in front of her.

"You miss him."

It was a casual, gentle comment, but Sam could hear the warning beneath it. "Yeah," Sam admitted before she was even aware of the answer.

"Is this a problem?"

"No. No, of course not," Sam quickly said, forcing herself to meet Janet's eyes.

"Okay," she softly replied after a long pause, but Sam could tell she didn't really believe her.

But Sam knew the truth. She would never let her emotions get in the way of her duty. When she looked back down at her keyboard, though, it was to find her fingers smeared with blood and Teal'c's voice whispering in her ear.

"What is right cannot be measured by strength…"

Sam started awake to the sound of nearby voices. Janet, Bauer and Mathers were discussing her.

"Any idea why she fainted, Doctor?" Mathers was asking. Sam wasn't sure if she was imaging things or not, but he sounded suspicious.

"I can't say I'm surprised that this has happened, sir," Janet replied calmly. "She's been working herself to death these last few weeks. From her tests it's also clear that she hasn't been eating well or getting enough sleep. Add to that everything that's happened…"

"But she'll be alright?" Bauer chimed in.

"Yes, sir. She just needs rest. I would suggest at least a week off duty, but good luck convincing her of that."

Sam chose that moment to stir awake. Time to see if this little gamble worked. She pried open her eyes, grimacing against the hard glare of the room's lighting. Raising one hand to her eyes she groaned, displeased to find that she didn't have to fake it. Her head really was spinning a little bit.

They were immediately all by her side. "Sam? How are you feeling?" Janet asked kindly.

Sam looked up at Janet. "What happened?"

"You fainted," she replied, but it was accompanied by a hard glare that told Sam she hadn't had to adjust her levels all that much. Sam was close enough to exhaustion and malnutrition without doctoring her chart. Janet was not pleased. "You've been skipping meals and not getting enough sleep, Major."

Sam resisted rolling her eyes and pushed up from the bed instead. "I'm fine, really."

"Obviously not, Major," Bauer jumped in. "I'm going to have to insist that you take some time off."

Sam put up a good show of protest until Bauer was forced to make it a direct order. Sam crossed her arms mutinously but acquiesced, not letting her sense of victory show. A week off to find the answers she needed.

Mathers stood behind Bauer the whole time, silently watching Sam closely. After a while he seemed satisfied and wandered off over to Janet, taking Sam's chart and examining it.

When he was out of earshot, Sam was surprised to feel Bauer's hand hesitantly cover hers.

Her eyes flew to his face, but she didn't say anything.

Bauer glanced back at Mathers and then stared intently at the monitor by Sam's bed. "Take a few days, Major," he said quietly. "Do what you need to do."

Sam remained still in complete shock. Bauer gently squeezed her hand, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment. There was something there she couldn't quite name. Something she couldn't believe she had seen. Understanding? Permission?

Before she could gather an appropriate response, Bauer walked away. "I'll leave her to your capable hands, Dr. Fraiser," he said as he passed out the doorway.

Sam closed her eyes, not wanting Mathers' shrewd gaze to take in her confusion. Was Bauer trying to tell her that he was on her side? Or was he trying to get her to trust him so he could figure out what she was doing? Then why help her escape the SGC for a few days?

The questions swirled endlessly, serving only to bring on a migraine. She pushed Bauer's questionably loyalties into the same box she kept her probably misguided hopes for Jack and locked it tightly. Fairytales had no place in the game she was playing.

She would rest. Just for a couple of hours. Then she would board a plane and finish this. Once and for all.

Her eyes drifted shut with the hum of machinery and the click of Janet's heels as her lullaby.

Just a little longer.