Just a short one today, then I'm back to work tomorrow, so it may be a couple of days. Sorry about that. - Flatkatsi
Soldiers of Misfortune – part 12
Sam discussed her worries with Daniel in the morning as they were getting ready to move on. She was heating some of the broth in an attempt to get the Colonel to eat something.
"It's probably just taking its time getting out of his system," said Daniel.
"Maybe, but you know the Colonel's pretty good at beating the clock coming out of anesthetics at home."
"Perhaps it's the combination of his injuries as well as the strength of the medication," said Daniel. "He's lost a heck of a lot of blood and it takes time and rest. Being on the move can't be good for him either."
"We don't have a lot of choice about that, in case you haven't noticed," snapped Sam.
"Hey, I know - look, he's getting better, just give him time. All things considered it's a miracle he's still with us."
Sam nodded and gave him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I snapped. I know."
Daniel gave Sam's shoulder a comforting squeeze before going up to check on Jack for himself. Maybe Sam was over-reacting just a little. He sat on the bed. "Jack?" he called softly as he put his hand on the older man's shoulder.
Jack stirred slightly, turning his head towards the voice, his eyes beginning to open.
"Jack?" repeated Daniel.
Jack's eyes opened a little more fully this time. "Dan …" he slurred, his eyes regarding Daniel blearily.
Daniel nodded and smiled. "Yes Jack, it's me. Feeling a little better?"
Jack managed a slight nod. "Where … we?" he whispered.
Daniel explained very briefly, aware that Sam had not long since explained the very same thing to him, but the state the man was in it was unlikely he'd remember it anyway. He let him know they were preparing to move out.
Sam came in with the cup of broth and a spoon. She moved around Daniel and sat on the other side.
"I warmed you some broth, Colonel. You've got to try and eat some."
Jack eyed the spoon she held to his mouth, his reluctance clear, but Sam wouldn't take no for an answer. He tasted the broth and made a face as he attempted to swallow the liquid.
"It's good, honestly," chided Sam.
Jack made a valiant effort to please her. He eventually managed over half and Sam, although not happy, let it ride and pressed a hot drink on him. He managed just a little of the drink before his eyes began closing.
They made the transition from bed to stretcher as gently as possible and once more they moved on.
The roads were getting more populated, but it was only Karmine patrols they had to avoid. Where the landscape permitted they left the roads to travel across country, trying to emulate the crows. A cautious enquiry at odd farmhouses found them a warm barn for the night on more than one occasion.
Jack was still in the hazy world of a drugged existence. He woke for short spells but for the most part he was out of it, despite Sam's best endeavor to wean the drug down.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
The days groaned by … each of them exhausted, the seemingly never ending trudge drawing them into a miserable silence as they proceeded.
Jack was beginning to wake more, grumbling at being carried on the stretcher, but unable to do anything other than protest. Sam had taken the painkiller down to an extremely low dose and each new day saw an improvement in the Colonel's awareness.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Their journey was not three quarters complete and Jack was compos mentis enough to see how jaded and exhausted they all were. His guilt at weighing them down was eating into him more each day. Quietly he asked Sam to find a village for them to stay for a little while. They were all in serious need of proper rest and nourishment and hopefully he could recover enough strength to be less of a burden.
The village they made a slight detour to was welcoming and once more they were offered an empty home. Food and a change of clothes were freely given to them. News, that Daniel carefully edited, of the situation was greedily listened to, but he couldn't offer them false hope and instead gave them what he could, trying not to dash their hopes too severely.
The people eventually left them to rest and they gratefully dropped after a hot meal and a good clean up.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
The first rays of sunshine were shining through the bedroom window when Jack awoke. He was spooned up against Sam's back, his arm over her. He lay still, trying to think where they were through the hazy memories that stalked his tired and fuzzy mind. Giving up thinking, he turned his attention to the warm soft body lying beside him. The neck that lay almost within touching distance looked inviting and in serious need of attention. Forbidden thoughts echoed in his mind and he was almost in despair of resisting the temptation to nuzzle it when Sam began to stir.
Sam murmured softly, still not awake properly and she turned over to face him, cuddling into him, her arm going over his chest possessively. Her head was stroking against him as she settled back into a deep sleep, her face turned up slightly so that he could gaze down onto her.
He lay perfectly still, savoring the feel of her, holding her gently. His body was beginning to respond to her close proximity, the scent of her drifting to him. He found himself suddenly being watched by a pair of bright blue eyes, the alarm in them quickly fading to embarrassment at being in such a position.
She looked about to protest, then she stopped, her eyes latching on to his with a fierceness that shook him. The electricity between them jarred through to his very core. The desire he saw and felt shocked him with its urgency and he didn't protest as her hand cupped his face and she eased herself closer.
Sam moved closer, moving over his long frame as her lips finally touched his. The initial touch was feather light, a fleeting taste until his arms tightened around her and she deepened the kiss. The sensations threatened to overwhelm him, her touch, her taste. His hands stroked at the bare flesh on her sides that he found and she surged against him, impossibly closer still, the heat from her fanning the flames of desire until it was almost painful.
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Neither of them heard the door opening until Daniel's voice called out softly as he entered the room.
"Hey, wakey wakey … Sa ... Sammm…" Daniel's voice trailed off in a squawk as a hush of deathly embarrassment overtook him and he stopped dead halfway into the room.
Jack and Sam both froze. Sam buried her head into Jack's neck. The fierce heat of embarrassment overtook the heat of passion and she wished the ground would open up and swallow her – quickly.
Daniel stood for a few seconds – it felt like a lifetime to Sam – doing a good impersonation of a goldfish, his mouth opening and closing quickly, but no sound coming from it … until Jack gave an impatient sigh.
"Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out Daniel."
"Oh! Err … um."
Sam heard Daniel's stuttered response before the door finally made the sound she had been praying for.
Sam lifted her head, groaning. How on earth would she manage to live this down? She settled her weight back down on the bed beside Jack. Funnily enough she felt no compunction to leap off the bed. She sighed deeply. Her body was still feeling the effects of Jack's touches, despite her embarrassment and she could plainly see that Jack was still aroused.
"What was it you said about his timing?" she growled.
Jack gave her a grin and rolled cautiously to drop a gently kiss on her head.
"We'll catch a break one day, but I think we have to make this a rain check."
Sam nodded. Reluctantly she got up and began straightening her clothing. "How are you feeling? You look a lot better this morning." She noted he was beginning to regain more color and seemed more like himself … or maybe it was just the heat of the moment … "How's the pain?"
Jack gave her a wicked grin, his eyes drifted down his body as he spoke. "Killing me, but the wound's okay."
Sam blushed at his implication and shook her head. "Fancy some food?" Her eyes were warning him to behave before he could answer that one.
He didn't feel up to ignoring her unspoken warning and he just nodded as he rose stiffly from the bed. He couldn't walk far, but determination won out and he made a slow journey to the bathroom.
Teal'c made a timely appearance once he had finished, assisting him back to bed, and checked the dressing quickly and efficiently.
"The fluids are almost clear now and the quantity is decreasing rapidly."
Jack hated it as the wound was manipulated. He wasn't a squeamish person by far, but it unnerved him to have his body 'squeezed' for lack of a better word, of its fluids … that type of fluids anyway!
It wasn't long before Sam made an appearance with some food and a hot drink which Jack gratefully imbibed.
Sam was pleased to see he was getting stronger each day, his appetite improving, but by no means as it should be.
"What?" he asked as he sipped his drink. "You gonna sit there and stare at me all day?"
"Uh sorry," she blushed, just noticing she was in fact staring at him. Although his color was certainly better the dark circles beneath his eyes and his pallor still screamed how sick he'd been. Sam gave him an apologetic smile and bid him be good before she left him to finish his food in peace and joined the others downstairs.
Jack finished his breakfast and settled down. Sleep was never a bad idea, and at the moment, whether he liked it or not – his body demanded it.
xoxoxoxoxoxo