So, here we are at the penultimate chapter. I am glad you're enjoying this, Thanks to everyone who reviewed again. Always appreciate your comments.

UNITED WE STAND

By Lingren.

Previously:

Down the corridor they could hear Jacob and Janara giving everything they had to repel the Jaffa summoned by the earlier sounds of shots. Jonas joined in the fray, spraying the area with bullets and Sam plunged right in too. The fight was shortened considerably and ended when the last Jaffa folded onto the floor, blood running from his pouch. The extra help had swung the balance in their favour and soon they were running back to the gates, their most prized possession, one Colonel Jack O'Neill, safe and secure within their grasp.

Chapter 13

The last time he'd roused, Jack could well remember the feeling of constant pain, now though as he surfaced from the blackness all he could feel was an all consuming heat enveloping his whole being. It was as if a fire was raging through his veins instead of blood. As he struggled to escape the inferno, he was almost certain he could hear soft voices, but the effort to concentrate on the words was just too much of an effort. He let them wash over him as he drifted on the sea of lava, and unknown forces held him firm against the burning of his body. It was all too hot, and he was too weak to resist, so he relaxed against the inevitable and gave in to the darkness once more.

Janet once more wrung out the cloth of cool water and bathed the sweaty brow, hoping to bring some comfort to the fever ridden patient, who writhed in the hidden grip of another delirious struggle. She looked across the bed to catch sight of Sam, sitting anxiously beside her CO, holding his hand, trying to ground him to the present. His fever was high, and the antibiotics were slow to bring the infection under control. The Doctor knew it was going to be a long haul this time; he had been so close to death yet again. She didn't know how he'd survived, but he had; now here he was, fighting the odds and very slowly beginning to win through.

Janet once more checked his vital signs and grimaced across at her friend. Sam had been so worried for him, and who could blame her. They all had, including General Hammond in his own way. Teal'c had been reluctant to leave his warrior friend's side, but Janet had insisted only one person at a time could remain with him. Even Jonas had volunteered to watch over him, but Sam had taken on the guilty role of 2IC, and determined that she should bear the brunt of the duty, seeing as she'd let him down once all ready. For now though, there was no way she would leave his side while he needed help. The only time she reluctantly abandoned her post was when Teal'c came to relieve her so she could rest at Janet's insistence. He'd stood like a silent sentinel at the foot of the bed and watched the man he called, friend, battle to overcome the almost fatal injuries.

Hours merged into the longest day, and day after day passed before Jack managed to rouse sufficiently to understand he'd been pulled from the brink of endless torment and death, to the confines of the infirmary. His unfocussed eyes took in the swimming brightness of lights, and muted voices, but somehow he knew they were the sounds of concern, and not of demanding interrogation. He swam to the surface eagerly, relieved beyond reason that he was safe again. Home; where he belonged.

Janet loomed over him, a wide smile as she saw a dawning recognition in his eyes.

"Doc!" he croaked, barely audibly. The words difficult to utter through the thickness of unused vocal chords and arid throat.

Janet spooned a few ice chips into his mouth and he savoured the coolness as soothed away the dryness and stale taste, sliding down his throat to refresh him.

"It's good to see you back with us again Colonel," Janet crooned, whilst stroking his forehead gently.

"I'm back?" he mumbled, his voice sounding pathetically weak, even to his own ears.

Janet's beam widened and she nodded.

"Yes Sir, You're in the infirmary."

"Don't s'pose...I can go home yet?" he bemoaned, with an effort.

Janet's smile widened, and she shook her head at his audacity.

"Not just yet Colonel. I'm afraid it'll be a while before I can release you."

A snigger off to his right, made his head slowly turn, and he caught sight of Sam.

His slow smile was all the reward Sam needed for her endless vigil.

"Thanks," he whispered, tiring fast, before the pull of sleep overcame him yet again.

Sam watched as he closed his eyes, momentary panic that perhaps he wasn't doing so well almost overcame her, but Janet read the question on her face and was quick to reassure her.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine Sam, he's been through a lot, and it's a very tiring thing to fight off a fever, especially with everything he's endured this time around. It'll be some time before he can stay awake for very long."

Sam nodded without taking her eyes from his face, the smile still lingering on his lips as he slept, his obvious relief at being rescued showing in the relaxed features.

It seemed that Jack drifted on a warm sea. For the first time in an eon it felt like he was safe and was happy to let go and allow others to worry. He woke briefly but the weariness was still there, the pull of heeling sleep too strong to ignore, and each time he rose to wakefulness, Sam was still there, sitting patiently beside him. It reassured him and his mind floated away again, knowing it wasn't a dream.

OoOoOoOoO

A few more days had passed and he'd slept peacefully throughout the night, waking now with the first movements of the normal infirmary routine, feeling stronger than he had for a long time. From the corner of his eye he could make out a tousled blonde head resting across bare arms that was pillowed on the edge of his bed. He smiled down at the sleeping figure, and raised a shaky hand to brush lightly across the blonde strands.

Sam woke with a start, and couldn't help the grin that broke out when she realised who it was that had woken her.

"Hey!" she smiled.

"Don't you have a team waitin' on you Carter? You're always here whenever I wake up," he muttered, his brain still foggy from sleep.

"Yes Sir, but we're on stand down right now while our CO recovers."

"Huh? I don't think I heard that right, my head's still a little muzzy. Say that again?"

"You heard me correctly the first time Sir."

"Ack! Back up a bit. I thought you were the CO?" he blinked again, trying hard to dislodge the Doc's drugs from his mind.

"Not any more Sir."

"You...what d'ya mean...?"

"Yes Sir. Exactly!"

'I think I definitely musta died and gone to heaven,' Jack mused. "This is a dream right? Where's Daniel? He's messin' with my head again!"

"Ah...Sir? Daniel's...gone. He...died, or rather he ascended, Colonel!" she stumbled over the words, worried now about Jack's mental state.

"Ha! Don't let that fool ya! I know he's here somewhere!" Jack struggled to sit up, but Sam restrained him, yelling for Janet.

Janet came running at the urgent summons, in time to see Sam trying to keep Jack on the bed, and loosing.

"Colonel...lie still...please," Janet soothed, trying to subdue him as he struggled weakly, by pushing him back onto the bed more firmly, Sam holding him as still as possible whilst Janet injected a sedative into his IV line.

He gave up the fight and let his head fall back onto the pillows with a soft thud, his eyes already closing with the insistent pull of the drug, but he struggled to keep them open a little longer.

"I know you're here Daniel. You promised," he gasped, dragging the words from his now dopey brain. "You knew didn't you, you... You never said a word about it...you so..." The words finally died away on a sigh, when he fell into a deep sleep again.

"What was that all about?" Janet asked, checking his vital signs again.

"He was calling out for Daniel! Saying he was messing with his head," she gulped, as huge tears began sliding down her cheeks before she batted them away. "Janet? Do you think they finally...broke...him?" she whispered, gazing down at the sleeping man anxiously.

Janet looked down at the recumbent officer she had grown to admire, and didn't know what to think. Jack was strong, he was the toughest SOB she knew, but he was also the gentlest of men she'd ever known. No-one was above a tongue lashing that would stay with them for the rest of their lives, if they rightly deserved it while under his command, but, get him with Cassie or any other child come to that, and he was a different man. He loved kids, and if the truth were known, he was just like an overgrown kid himself in some respects. He had the trust and respect of the entire base, including the General's. There was no way of knowing just what went on in that mind of his, but if he'd lost it now, who knew what would happen to him.

The CMO shook her head, as they walked away.

"I don't Sam. We'll have to wait until he wakes up again and see where we go from there. He may have to submit himself to a few sessions with Dr. MacKenzie before..."

"He won't like that Janet. You know how much he hates all that 'psycho' stuff," Sam interrupted, hissing with indignation.

"I know, but I don't know what else I can do if he's..."

"No! Don't say it Janet, because he can't be. I think he was just dreaming it."

"I'm not so sure about that Sam. He looked pretty lucid to me."

Sam slapped her thighs in frustration, turning to look back at Jack, wondering if he really was going to be okay or if this figment of his imagination was the final nail in his coffin. Was he still same or had he lost it completely? Her head flopped downwards to rest her chin on her chest, her eyes firmly fixed on the Colonel, then she released a huge sigh, hoping against hope that things weren't that bad and he really would prove to be okay.

She stayed silently observing the man she loved before turning back to give her medical friend a piercing glare. A new resolve filling her spirit.

"You're wrong Janet. He'll be fine. He always is." With that defiant statement she stalked straight back to Jack's side and sat herself down, taking up her vigil once more. There was no way she was going to stand by and let him be anything less than he was. She'd abandoned him once, and because of that, she wasn't there for him when he needed her most, so now he was suffering the consequences. This time she was sticking to him like glue, no matter what the future held. She loved him, and there was no way she would ever leave his side again.

Janet watched her for a few moments and knew Sam was probably right. The Colonel always seemed to bounce back again, maybe he was just dreaming, she didn't know, but for her friend's sake she hoped he would return to them whole again. Turning away from the sight, she walked back to her office, deep in thought.

TBC