See Chapter One for full disclaimer and author's notes.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Teal'c, Daniel and Jack had spent the last thirty minutes pacing and worrying in the waiting area just outside the infirmary. Jack squirmed for the umpteenth time, trying to get comfortable in the hard plastic chair.

"Remind me to requisition some better chairs for down here. My ass wasn't meant for this damned thing. Christ, if I never spend another minute in these chairs again it'll be too goddamned soon," Jack groused loudly, his apprehension getting the better of him.

Teal'c remained silent, his gaze rarely straying from the infirmary doors. He chose to stand just to one side of the entryway where he could see through the narrow windows. He had done the best he was able, and still it felt as though he had come up short. He had vowed to bring his team home alive; somehow bringing them home alive but injured still felt like a failure.

"She was in the room when they set that weapon off? How the hell does that work? Why isn't she…?" Jack trailed off, unwilling to complete the thought.

"I don't know, Jack," Daniel said softly, pulling the hand device he'd taken from Sam's gear out of his pocket. "She had this on and the personal shield activated. Apparently they were able to modify it to protect against the weapon. Probably meant for Ba'al to use himself."

"Speaking of, anyone see 'ol Bocce Ba'al himself?"

"Ah, no. Not that I know of. Doesn't mean he wasn't there somewhere, but I don't think so. Not his style to hang around a backwater planet like that one when there are people to intimidate."

"Yeah. Probably," Jack replied. He'd held out a small measure of hope that the bastard had actually been there and had been blown to hell along with his new toy. But then again, that'd deprive O'Neill of the pleasure of wiping that smug smile off Ba'al's face himself. Something he'd dreamed of more than once, in many bloody and brutal ways.

"And what was with the Jaffa setting that thing off while they were inside the room anyway? I didn't think they were really that stupid."

"Sam detonated some of the C-4. Those guys weren't going to make it back out of that room. She figured they wanted to be sure she didn't make it out either."

"So they set it off. I suppose that makes as much sense as anything else those boys do."

"Do you believe Colonel Carter's exposure to the weapon's energy wave has anything to do with her current condition, O'Neill?" Teal'c queried, his own thoughts running along those same lines.

"I don't know, you tell me. You're the Goa'uld weapon's expert," Jack retorted sarcastically, then immediately winced, regretting his tone, but didn't take back his words. He was too angry right now, mainly at himself, to give a kind word to anyone, even when it was deserved.

"You are correct, O'Neill. But I do not believe this weapon was of Goa'uld design. The controls were in Goa'uld, but it appeared as though they were installed later. The material they were installed on did not match the rest of the weapon's housing."

Daniel finally spoke up, unwilling to listen to Jack snipe at them any longer. "We won't know anything until Doctor Brightman finishes up with her, so why don't you come with me down to the commissary. I'll buy you a cup of bad coffee."

"Maybe later. I've had enough bad coffee today to last me a lifetime."

"Jack…" Daniel began, but was cut off when Teal'c held up his hand.

"Doctor Brightman is on her way."

Daniel and Jack both stood as the doors to the infirmary swung open and the Doctor stepped out, pulling surgical gloves from her hands. She took in the tense looks on the faces in front of her and wasted no time getting to the point.

"Colonel Carter has a moderate concussion and some first and second degree burns on the back of her hands and forearms. Cuts and bruises, most likely from flying debris from the explosion she was caught in.

"As for the effects of the energy weapon she was exposed to, right now I can't see any lingering effects, but I'd like to keep her in the infirmary for at least twenty-four hours to monitor her condition."

Daniel was the first to speak up. "Is she awake? Can we see her?"

"She's still unconscious and aside from the head injury, I don't see any medical reason for it. Right now I'm chalking it up to exhaustion, unless something else presents itself."

"So what're you going to do for her?"

"Well, we're giving her some IV fluids and allowing her to get some rest. I believe for now, its what's best for her."

Jack had been unusually quiet during the exchange and now stood, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, studying his boots. When he did speak it was in a subdued voice quite uncommon for the normally outspoken General. "Did we screw up by allowing her to go on this mission?"

Doctor Brightman pursed her lips as she considered the question. "At this point, I can't say for sure. But from what I was able to gather about her mental state, I'm not sure that keeping her from it would have been any better for her."

Jack looked up, nodded. "If it's okay, I'll go in for a while."

"Of course, Sir. If you'll excuse me, I have other patients I need to see."

Jack could've slapped himself. He'd nearly forgotten about the other two men who'd been wounded during the operation. "Yeah, how are they?"

"Lieutenants Parker and Ketchum both sustained third degree staff weapon burns. They'll need to be kept in the infirmary for treatment for a few days, but I expect them both to make a full recovery."

"Good, good. I'll expect your report later today, Doc."

"Yes, Sir," she replied before pushing back through the doors into the infirmary.

Daniel wasn't sure what surprised him more, that Jack was actually going to take some time to stay with Sam or that he'd been caught off guard by the action. He couldn't help commenting on it. "So, you're not going back to your office?"

"Daniel, save it for later. I'm sure I'll do something later to piss you off and you can give me crap for it then. Right now, I'm just not in the mood."

The younger man raised his arms in surrender. "Okay, okay. Sorry." They were all on edge, but Doctor Brightman hadn't seemed overly concerned and he could feel the tension beginning to ebb from his body. "Do you need anything?"

"Yeah, come spell me in a couple of hours. I still have to handle the debrief for Reynolds and the rest of the team. Teal'c should be able to handle that on his own. You can give this one a miss."

"I can do that," Daniel said, giving Jack a hopeful smile. "Don't worry about Sam. She'll probably outlive all of us."

Jack cracked a tiny smile. "One can only hope. Go on. Get a hot shower and something to eat."

Daniel departed, leaving Jack and Teal'c alone. Teal'c stood, almost rigidly, waiting for O'Neill's attention to turn on him.

"Something you wanted, T.?"

"I wish to express my regret at the condition of the team upon our return, O'Neill."

"What the hell're you talkin' about? Condition? For cryin' out loud, we were expecting fifteen percent casualties, you came back with none and only three injuries, none life threatening. What more do you want?"

"I had hoped to do better."

"T. you know better than most that we're not exactly in a business where everyone gets to come home safe and sound every night. I'm a bit surprised that you even thought you could on this one."

"Indeed. But as time has passed, I have felt more and more as though I've seen enough good warriors die under my command. I didn't want this to be another such occasion. For many reasons."

"You can't put that kind of pressure on yourself and survive it. I've seen good men try and it nearly destroyed them."

"Perhaps. But do you not feel the same, O'Neill?"

Jack scrubbed a hand up through his hair in a frustrated gesture. "Yeah, I do. But at the end of the day, I have to accept that things are never going to work out the way I want all the time. It's shitty, but there's not much I can do about it."

Teal'c inclined his head. He knew that he would have to accept his own limitations and that people under his command would die. Perhaps even people he considered friends. Maybe that's what made this so hard. As First Prime, he didn't have the luxury of friends. He would order men into combat and while he respected them, they were not family in the way the SGC and SG-1 had become. He acknowledged that one day he would need to find a way to deal with his dilemma. For today he simply needed to be satisfied with the fact that they all made it home alive.

"Forgive me, I should not have kept you from Colonel Carter."

Jack waved him off. "S'alright. Go on, get some chow and a hot shower. I'll see you at the debrief."

Teal'c clasped his hands behind his back and strode off down the hallway in a familiar manner that brought a small smile to Jack's face. Shaking his head, he walked through the medical ward and pulled up a chair next to Sam's bed. Sighing, Jack reached out and traced a finger along Sam's arm before pulling her hand into his.

"Ya know, we really need to stop meeting like this Carter. People really are gonna talk." Squinting against the uncomfortable emotion of being back in this position, sitting in a hospital ward waiting for Sam to awaken, Jack leaned back in his chair and propped up his feet and attempted to get comfortable. He had a feeling he was going to be here awhile.

SG1-SG1-SG1-SG1-SG1

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Sam was aware she was dreaming, but couldn't muster the energy to care. It was soft and warm where she was, surrounded by fluffy white clouds and a nearly overwhelming sense of security. Feeling more content than she had in years, Sam was willing to simply drift, weightless, through the dreamscape.

Time didn't seem to mean much in this place of serenity. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there, only that she didn't really much want to leave. Here there was peace and freedom from nightmares and pain. Here she was free from the problems and pressures of the waking world. Here she was safe.

She could hear voices every now and then. Voices that were as familiar as her own. Voices that spoke in calming tones words that she couldn't quite make out. The voices came and went, and in the silence that ensued she wasn't sure if they left or she simply couldn't hear them any longer.

But one seemed to call to her in a way different from the others, one soul to another. It was to that voice she was drawn inexorably. Gliding closer, the voice reached out and surrounded her, so close now that she could nearly make out the words. But it wasn't the words themselves that drew her in, but the emotion behind them. Emotion, raw and powerful, a palpable wave that passed over her ephemeral form and wrapped her in a heart stopping sensation of love that stole her breath and sent her heart pounding.

Sam… The name was whispered on the wings of angels, reaching her ears as a caress. C'mon, wake up for me. Open your eyes, Dorothy.

She wanted to do as the voice said. She wanted nothing more than to open her eyes and see his warm brown eyes. Those eyes, that had witnessed so much and yet in them she had seen such tenderness and devotion; she knew that in them she could glimpse her future. The want suddenly became an intense need that couldn't be ignored.

Putting all her will into the effort, Sam forced herself to embrace the waking world. Forced herself back toward the pain she knew awaited her, but she no longer cared. He was there, waiting for her, calling to her. She couldn't deny him.

Jack wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep, sitting up in the torturous infirmary chair, Sam's hand loosely grasped in his, careful not to disturb the analgesic cream coating her burns. He'd left her long enough to attend Colonel Reynolds' debriefing and clear out his inbox before returning. Daniel had dutifully kept his vigil, then wordlessly relinquished his seat hours later when Jack had been able to return.

The archaeologist had returned with Teal'c around the dinner hour, carrying a tray laden with food from the dining hall. Jack hadn't felt much like eating, but was willing to at least make an effort after the two had gone to the trouble of putting a plate together for him.

Sometime after midnight Jack had sent the two men off to their quarters for some well deserved sleep, promising he'd call if there was anything to report. He squinted down at his watch, the dim light making it difficult to make out, but he thought it was somewhere around 0445.

Cutting his eyes over at the woman in the bed next to him, Sam was resting peacefully, her face and body free from the tenseness that had characterized her sleep in the days after her return from -035. For that alone, he was grateful. At least she was able to get a few hours of undisturbed slumber.

Shifting in his chair and stretching his free hand over his head, Jack could feel the twinges running up and down his back and knew he should at least stretch out in the next bed, but couldn't bring himself to let go of Sam's hand. He couldn't believe how sentimental he'd become in his old age.

At that moment, he'd give everything had, everything he was, just to see Sam open her eyes. See her smile at him. Hear her say his name.

"Sam…. C'mon, wake up for me. Open your eyes, Dorothy." Squeezing her hand gently in his, Jack attempted to throw off the heaviness that had settled over him. She needs the rest. Just give her some time already, he admonished himself.

The movement was so faint that at first he thought he'd imagined it. When Sam's grasp tightened ever so slightly, he knew it had been real.

"Hey there. C'mon Sam, open up those baby blues for me."

The first thing she was aware of was the pressure of a hand holding hers. Focusing on the sensation, Sam moved her fingers almost imperceptibly, the twitch sending an electric current of feeling up and down her arm. Then came the hot needles of pain, as though her arm had been asleep and was slowly awakening. She made a sound, somewhere between a sigh and a moan.

Jack was sure he'd never heard anything so beautiful. Sitting up and leaning closer, he watched her eyes flutter open, Sam's gaze wandering dazedly for a moment before settling on him.

"Hey. Nice of you to join us, Dorothy. I'm pretty sure you're back in Kansas again."

Sam's mouth quirked into a tiny smile, her gaze sharpened as she focused on the face hovering above hers. "Wow Scarecrow, thought I left you back in Oz," Sam murmured, her voice a rough whisper.

Jack's face creased into a smile at the endearment. "Never. I'm always gonna be right here."

Sam's brow furrowed in confusion as she attempted to put together what had happened and realized she honestly didn't remember much after coming through the 'gate. It was all a haze of pain and weariness.

Clearing her throat, Sam spoke again, stronger and sounding more like herself. "How long?"

"It's around 0500. You've been out of it for close to 18 hours."

"You were here. Talking to me. I heard you," Sam breathed, realizing her dream was only partly fantasy.

"You did? Really? Huh. Good thing I didn't say anything too mushy. Thought for sure you couldn't hear me," Jack replied sardonically, a wry smile twisting his mouth. "How ya feelin' now?"

The answer was swift and honest. "Like I got blown up. Feel like I could sleep for another 18."

"I'll bet. Head doin' okay?"

"Hmm. A bit sore. I'll live."

Jack's smile faded somewhat. "Yes, you will. Thank God." Leaning down he placed a feather light kiss on Sam's forehead before drawing back to focus on her face again. "Get some sleep. From what I hear, the mission was a total success. It's all over."

"Yeah, I think it is."

Jack nodded. "I know it is. Rest. I'll be back to see you later."

"You too, Jack."

"I will, I will. Just as soon as I pass along the good news to Danny and Teal'c."

"Good news?"

"Yeah, that Dorothy's back and there's no place like home."

To be continued….