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VID Z: The answer to your question, "Are you sure you did the funeral part correctly?" Yep, I'm sure.

Previously –

Sam took one long, last look at the two of them laying side by side, both severely injured. Daniel was obviously getting better, but Jack…Jack hadn't moved and she was worried. She took a step towards Daniel and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead, pushing back a few stray bits of hair from his face. He turned towards her slightly and she allowed herself to smile.

Then she turned towards Jack and lifted his hand to her lips. "Sweet dreams, Jack and thank you." Then she leaned over him and placed a kiss on his cheek. She returned his hand to rest by his side and finally forcing her feet into motion, left the ICU. She walked slowly down the hallway to her room and crawled into bed, exhausted. In the final hour before dawn, her eyes closed in sleep.

…and now on with the story.

Tangled Web 19 Waking

Sam heard Jack's truck crunching the gravel on the driveway and her heart rate noticeably quickened. She felt panic rising in her as she looked into Pete's eyes. Her mind searched frantically for a way to stop Jack, to keep him from walking into an unsuspected ambush. If she yelled, he'd come running in blindly; if she didn't, he'd just walk in slowly. Either way, Pete would be waiting. She jerked her eyes back to him, staring him down in desperation…there was nothing she could do to stop him. He was going to win and they were all going to die. She shook her head against the realization but still almost smiled as Jack's voice filled the house. "Hey, guys! I'm home! Where is everybody?"

She watched Pete, obviously consumed by the demons inside him, his eyes wild with madness and she was absolutely sure that the moment Jack appeared he would fire. Her heart made the decision that her mind couldn't…she had to warn him and as Pete looked towards the door, she screamed his name.

Her eyes flew open and she moved suddenly to sit upright, Jack's name dying in a whisper on her lips. The instant pain in her left shoulder and Teal'c's soft touch brought her back to reality. "Colonel Carter! Do not be concerned. All is well and you are safe!"

"Teal'c? What…" She rubbed her hand against her face and sat still for a moment, feeling the adrenalin still rushing into her system, her hands shaking and her heart racing as she became fully awake.

"You are experiencing the same dream?"

Sam glanced up and shook her head. "I thought they'd go away after the funeral."

"Do not be concerned. They are merely shadows that fade away in the light of day."

Sam smiled at him, squeezing his hand and hoping that her smile conveyed the words he didn't want to her to speak. She lay back against the pillow, trying to relax through the throbbing pain in her shoulder. "Have you been to check on the General and Daniel?"

"Approximately one hour ago, but they were both sleeping. Dr. Summers has advised me that you may return home today. She will be returning as soon as she has finished with O'Neill and Daniel Jackson."

Sam turned her face towards him, a strange, distant look permeating her eyes. "Home." A sad smile crossed her face briefly but she didn't speak again. How could she find the words to express the feelings coursing through her; she didn't want to go home. She didn't want to face the memories waiting there. Home was sanctuary, a comfortable place where you could be yourself, where you felt safe and loved, the house where she lived didn't represent that to her anymore, so where was home. Suddenly she realized that home was where it had always been. Home was Jack. The phone on the bedside table rang and Sam picked it up quickly.

"Carter."

"Colonel, it's Dr. Summers. Are you feeling up to coming to ICU?"

"Is everything all right?" Her voice was filled with apprehension wondering what had changed.

"Yeah, they're ok, just thought you might like to visit. The General seems to be coming around."

Sam looked at Teal'c and a warm smile blossomed in her eyes, "We'll be right there, Doctor." She placed the phone on the hook and swung her legs onto the floor. "Teal'c help me with my robe?"

Teal'c held the robe as she quickly shoved her right arm in and then waited as he draped the other side around her and tied it. "Is there news, Colonel Carter?"

"General O'Neill's awake, T, let's go!"

The sudden lightness of Sam's heart seemed to pull Teal'c along the corridor behind her as they hurried to ICU. Sam pushed opened the door, her eyes immediately scanning the room for Dr. Summers. She was standing at the desk in the center of the room and smiled broadly as they entered, moving forward to meet them. "Colonel Carter, the General is asking for you." She watched as Sam's eyes moved to the cubicle that currently contained both Jack and Daniel. "Just a few minutes, though, I don't want him too tired out, ok? I'll be at the desk if you need me."

Sam shook her head and immediately walked to the glass cubicle. She paused at the door momentarily and looked at each of them. They both appeared to be sleeping again, and she felt the pangs of disappointment as she crossed the small distance to Jack's bedside. She stood quietly beside him for a moment and then slipped her hand into his, rubbing it gently with her thumb.

"Sam?" His voice was raspy and weak as he struggled to open his eyes.

She looked up and met his barely open brown eyes and without a thought leaned into him, letting go his hand and surrounding him with her one free arm. She laid her cheek against his and squeezed him gently. "Jack! Oh, God, Jack!" She felt his hand barely touching her arm and pulled back to look at him. He was trying to smile and his effort caused tears to fill her eyes.

"Ok?"

"I'm fine, Jack, just worried about you."

"He…shot you. I…couldn't…"

"It's all right, I'm all right. You just focus on getting well, ok."

"Teal'c?"

"I am here, O'Neill and I am also well."

"Good to see you, I thought…" Sam looked quickly at Teal'c as Jack's voice faded away realizing that he must have assumed that she and Teal'c were dead or at the very least severely injured. She remembered the feeling the same panic regarding all of them when she'd first regained consciousness.

"Pete shot him, too, and knocked him unconscious with a taser but he's going to be all right."

Jack turned his head towards her slightly, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. "Dead?"

Sam held her gaze steadily locked with his, something unfamiliar stirring in their depth, as she nodded her head slightly. "Yes."

"Sure you're ok? Your face…."

"It will heal, they're releasing me today." Jack's face grimaced as he attempted to move and a guttural groan escaped his lips.

""Please lie still, Sir. You'll just cause yourself more pain if you don't." Dr. Summers was standing just behind them and crossed to the other side of the bed to check more closely on Jack. "I think that's probably enough visiting for now. He needs to rest."

Jack nodded slowly. "Right."

"I guess that means we have to leave." Jack's anxious eyes locked on hers and she could almost read his thoughts. "Unless…Dr. Summers says it's ok to stay," she continued.

Dr. Summers looked across the bed at Sam and Teal'c, remembering the way they always wanted to be together. Usually, if one of them was in the infirmary, one of them was in the chair beside the bed until they were sure all was well. General O'Neill had not been a patient in her infirmary since her arrival and she was a bit surprised to see that he was included in their ritual. Sam obviously did not want to leave. Dr. Summer's eyes met Teal'c's and he gave a slow, small nod and as she looked back to the General, she agreed. "All right, but he does need to rest, no matter what he thinks."

"Thank you, Doctor." Sam smiled warmly at the doctor for a moment and then returned her attention to Jack. Teal'c slipped a chair behind her and she sat down, still holding onto his hand. Dr. Summers emptied a syringe into Jack's IV and smiled back at her, then left the room with Teal'c following.

"I will remain outside, Colonel Carter." Sam nodded her head in acknowledgment but her eyes remained on Jack.

Jack's eyes followed them as they left and then he returned his gaze to Sam's face. She was looking at him with the same expression she'd had after awaking in his arms, both of them having fallen asleep after he'd chased away her nightmares. He wanted to hold her now, to feel her against him again, to kiss away the pain she must be feeling but the drugs were already dragging him towards darkness and although he fought to stay awake, he knew it was a hopeless battle.

"Stay with me." He whispered as his eyes blinked slowly, attempting to stay focused on Sam's face.

"As long as they'll let me." She stood up and placed a soft kiss on his lips, feeling his hand grasp her shoulder and gently pull her closer. "Try to get some rest. I won't be far away."

He smiled recognizing the words he had used to comfort her and let his eyes close in sleep as she gently brushed his lips with her own. "No, I meant…" But sleep claimed him before he finished the sentence.

She stayed beside him for hours, until she was assured he would not awaken again, and then she stood and turned to Daniel. She studied the monitors above him and then stared at his sleeping face. He seemed so calm and relaxed. His color was better, too and she knew he was really improving, maybe even enough to go into a regular room today. She brushed a caressing hand across his forehead and with one last look towards Jack left them to rest.

TBC

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