I'd like to make it clear that although this story involves incidents in Iraq, I have no affiliations with any political group or any other concerned in that country whatsoever and anything contained in these pages is purely fictional, coming entirely from my imagination. I mean no disrespect to any organisation or people herein.

I'd like to thank you all for your generous reviews...I'm flattered, thanks. I hope I can continue to hold your interest in this and that it lives up to your expectations.

Title: Unity.

Author: LetitiaRichards.

Previously:

Jack lay there, subdued now, even passive, but Sam couldn't stop the tears from falling when she saw that he was shedding silent tears too. She moved her hand up, gently placing it on his cheek, tenderly brushing the moisture away with her thumb and she was inordinately pleased when he leaned into her touch and closed his eyes; drifting off to sleep again.

Chapter 16

Dr. Sanders watched in amazement as Jack settled down and fell asleep almost as soon as the Major touched him.

"How did you do that?" he asked quietly, even before he could think about it.

Sam turned her head and glared at him in disgust.

"Because we're family. Somewhere deep down in his subconscious Jack knows us; he trusts us with his life," Daniel sighed tiredly, keeping his voice down and pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He felt thick-headed, heavy, and with a sudden realisation he turned his anger onto the Doctor. "You drugged me?" he gasped, aghast.

"You were exhausted and you're still weak. You needed the sleep," the medic replied defensively.

"No wonder I never woke up until your goons were actually fighting him, trying to tie him to the bed!"

"You should indeed have woken one of us. We would have been able to calm O'Neill before he became too distressed," Teal'c berated Sanders. He moved to assist a decidedly wobbly, sleepy Daniel back into his bed. He lay propped up on his elbows listening to the exchange, reluctant to give in to sleep while they were talking.

Sanders sighed with regret. He'd never met a group of people so, well, almost intimate before. He'd heard of close knit teams, just never witnessed one as devoted to each other as they seemed to be. The intensity of the team's concern for their CO, surprised him. He'd not seen such dedication between a group of soldiers, especially including civilians. He realised now his mistake in not allowing them to care for O'Neill round the clock.

"I'm sorry Dr. Jackson," he sighed with regret, "I had no idea that he would react so strongly. I should have listened to you and the Colonel, knowing his earlier warning about restraints on former prisoners. I do apologise. And I'm sorry I slipped you a tranquiliser while you slept. It won't happen again..."

"Damn right it won't!" Sam snapped, rounding on him, after moving away from Jack's bed so she wouldn't disturb him. "I want a plane ready to take us home tomorrow. And if you won't take notice of my orders I can always get the President to make it happen. I think you will find General Kelly perfectly willing to accede to our wishes."

"The...the President?" Sanders stuttered and Sam was sure he turned very pale at this news.

"O'Neill has often been invited to the Whitehouse on official and unofficial business. He is a favourite of the President," Teal'c informed him with a raised eyebrow, and what the others could see was the hint of a smug grin, though only they could interpret it as such.

Sanders gulped but nodded in agreement. "Ah. I'll go make the arrangements Major. Em...like now."

He hurried from the room and Daniel snorted with amusement at the way she'd managed to scare the Doctor off, though opening his eyes was difficult right now. He really had to go to sleep; he didn't have a choice with the drug still circulating through his system.

Sam moved over to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.

"Go back to sleep Daniel. Teal'c will remain here to keep an eye on the Colonel. You need to rest too before the journey."

Teal'c nodded solemnly, understanding her hidden message that no-one would attempt to disturb them. He was more than happy to comply with her wishes.

"Sure..." Daniel sighed round another yawn and snuggled as best he could into the comfort of his bed and was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Sam smiled down at him then nodded a good-night to Teal'c and checked on Jack one more time. She didn't really want to leave him, but, a: she knew that Teal'c would take good care of him and Daniel, and b: she was tired and needed some sleep too if she was going to look after Jack on the long flight home.

OoOoOoOoO

Jack was sedated with a mild tranquiliser for the journey; it would be a long and gruelling one for him otherwise with his injuries. Sam was just happy that they could take him home at last. It was comforting to know that Janet would be waiting for them as soon as they touched down on US soil, and would take over his care until they reached Cheyenne Mountain, and even then he would still be under her care until he recovered.

She knew one thing though, and that this time there would be no shutting it away for him. He was going to talk about it, whether he wanted to or not; and Teal'c, Daniel, Janet and herself, and maybe even General Hammond were not going to sit back and let him bluff his way through this by burying it in the back of his mind; he had to know they were there to help him through it; and through it they would get him.

They'd decided against strapping him to a gurney for the journey because it might set him off again, so they wheeled him to the plane using a wheelchair, though he was still hooked up to a drip. Sam had been instructed how to replace it should it be necessary and they had plenty of spare dressings in case any should become loose or soiled.

Teal'c pushed the wheelchair up the ramp at the back of the plane and manoeuvred it into position. Jack allowed them to manhandle him gently into one of the comfortable chairs but they had trouble buckling him in; he baulked at the feel of being restrained again, but with gentle coaxing from Sam, he bowed his head in defeat and gave in.

Sam was reduced to tears at his submissiveness, it was so unlike him, but put on a brave face, seeing to his needs. Daniel felt guilty all over again and Teal'c actually looked worried by his warrior friend's defeated attitude. All throughout the preparations, and his short drive to the airplane, Jack hadn't moved a muscle to help or acknowledge anyone; his eyes fixed on nothing, stared straight ahead, never deviating once to watch what was going on. This was the only reaction he'd made to their presence, and they all knew he wasn't seeing them only his captors.

It was more than a little disconcerting to see him like it, but the others tried to carry on as if it was a normal everyday occurrence. Sam reached up to remove his sunglasses, folded them and popped them in his top pocket, then, taking the seat next to him, she fastened her own seat belt. As soon as they were airborne she would tilt the seat back so that he could sleep. Her hand closed over his and squeezed it lightly, thanking god that his broken fingers were on his other hand, nearest the window.

Daniel and Teal'c took the seats opposite and before long the doors closed and they were off.

The military aircraft was filled with cargo and there were several other passengers heading back home too, and once they had levelled off, they undid their seat belts and relaxed. Sam and Teal'c managed to tilt Jack's seat and he lay back, unmoved by anything they did to him. He closed his eyes and they talked softly together, all of them watching him for any signs of improvement or distress.

OoOoOoOoO

They were several hours into the flight and somewhere over the Atlantic ocean when it happened. The first thing they noticed was the soft flow of denial in Arabic, rising with anger and fear. Sam looked to Daniel to interpret and he reddened, dropping his chin to his chest in embarrassment.

"Ah...he's just denying he knows anything Sam. You don't really want to know the details, believe me."

"Oh...okay." She watched Jack grow more restless, his hands clenching until the knuckles on his were white. At this point in time her touch was rejected as Jack jerked away from her with a shout.

"Colonel. Jack. It's okay. It's just a dream. We're on our way home," she pleaded with him, trying to ground him in reality, but it wasn't working. "Jack, please listen. It's me, Sam."

His shouts grew louder and his movements more recognisable as a full blown flashback. Teal'c made her give up her seat as he moved in to catch the flying fists, but that didn't help any.

A young man, of what Sam took to be of Mexican origin, his black hair shining with that natural blue lustre and his pale bronzed face scarred by a recent injury, suddenly appeared at Teal'c's shoulder and Sam was incensed that he should come closer for a ring side seat to see what was going on. She was about to order the junior officer back to his seat when she noticed that he was looking intently at Jack. She could see shock yet recognition in his face. He spoke only one word, stilling Jack instantly as he repeated it back softly.

"Mariposa."

She was now amazed and looked to Daniel to enlighten her as the young officer never dropped his eyes from Jack who was now relaxing again.

"Butterfly?" Daniel questioned the stranger.

"It was our safe word," he explained with a sad smile, his eyes still riveted to Jack's now quietened form. "Jack helped me cope with the flashbacks and instead of attempting to hold me down, he would say it is Spanish. A word that the enemy would never even think of using or have a reason to say. 'Butterfly.' It meant that I was safe and that the vivid flashes of memory were just that. Memory. Unreal. That I was home. Safe among my own people again. And it was usually enough to bring me back. I just thought it might work for him too."

"Well it certainly did work on Jack!" Daniel gasped in pure astonishment. "We're gonna have to remember that. Thank you."

The young man smiled and stuck out a hand towards Daniel.

"Lieutenant Miguel Sanchez, US Marines," he said introducing himself in his Texan drawl, sounding like a true native of that state.

"Ah. Daniel Jackson," he replied, shaking the proffered hand. "This is Major Sam Carter USAF, and that's Teal'c."

"Jack?" queried Sam, wondering why a mere Lieutenant was referring to Jack with his given name instead of his title.

"It was on his insistence," he said, shrugging. "No titles he said, just to call him Jack. It was easier than having to salute all the time, and helped me to relax."

Sam smiled. It was just like Jack to make them feel at ease, and not for the first time did she wonder exactly what went on between him and his so called 'patients'.

"He's Colonel Jack O'Neill, USAF and currently 2IC of Cheyenne Mountain. We're his team. Sam...em...Major Carter, is his second in command," Daniel explained.

TBC