A/N: Once again, I must remind you I am not a doctor, so please forgive any medical faux pas'. Also, I intended for this chapter to be longer, but I also know a lot of you are waiting patiently for an update; so I decided to end it quicker and add the rest to the next chapter. Thanks again for the reviews, and please keep them coming.

Chapter 24

Hammond, Daniel and Mac were anxiously watching the security camera in the briefing room. No one taking their eyes from the screen, watching and hoping as the rescue scene unravelled. They saw Jack take his place in front of everyone else and grab onto the rope. What they saw next was almost too quick to comprehend, they saw the men pulling on the rope…and what they thought was a body come flying through the air before the picture on the screen was nothing more than static.

"Holy Crap!" Hammond said as he heard and felt the effects of the blast. No one waited to be dismissed before running out of the room towards the blast site. They made their way to the smoke filled end of the corridor encountering an anxious Dr. Fraiser and her medical team. They were being held back by a couple of SF's awaiting an all clear from the engineers.

An airman came running down the hall towards them, "it's safe to pass, doctor I think you'd better get down there quick." He said through coughs.

Janet led her team to the fallout area, the smoke was thick and there was rubble blocking the corridor floor. They had to abandon the gurney, one medic grabbing a backboard as he followed the rest.

When Janet approached, she could hear moans and coughing. Following the noises, she made her way to the bodies strewn across the floor. "Sam! Sam where are you?" She shouted almost frantically, not being able to see her friend anywhere.

"Ah, she's over here Doc." Janet heard O'Neill call out between coughing.

Janet came upon O'Neill she could see he was face down on a very dirty mattress but she couldn't see Sam. "Where Sir, I don't see her anywhere?"

"That's because she's under me." Jack said almost yelling.

Then Janet noticed the entwined legs, she thought it might be funny joking with Sam about the Colonel liking to be on top, but now was not the time to think about such things.

"Ah Sir, can you move off of her?"

"I'm ah having a little problem with my leg, and I'm afraid if I try to get up I might hurt her." Jack said through gritted teeth. Jack was very worried about Sam, after that blast he wasn't sure what shape she would be in, he worried if he moved the wrong way he might cause her more damage.

"Okay Sir, let me take a look." Janet said as she assessed the colonel's leg noting a deep gash and a piece of shrapnel sticking out of the back of his upper leg. She also did a quick assessment of his neck and back.

"It doesn't look to serious Sir. I need a couple of medics down here!" Janet yelled, she knew she had to move the colonel quickly in order to get to Sam

"Can I give you a hand doctor?" Harm asked after getting his bearings and being able to stand up.

"Just stand by in case we need you." Janet said as she saw her medics come to crouch down by the colonel. "We have to get to Major Carter, she's underneath the colonel. Be very careful moving him."

Once everyone was in place they carefully lifted Jack up and off of Sam, laying him down on the mattress next to her.

"Sam, can you hear me?" Janet said as she lifted her eye lid, then felt Sam move slightly.

"Janet?" Sam said softly.

"Yea Sam it's me." Janet said with concern in her voice.

"Hurts…bad." Sam said before passing out.

"Doc, how is she?" Jack asked shifting onto his side to get a better view of Sam and Janet.

"I'm not sure yet Sir." Janet said feeling Sam's abdomen and ribs. "Get that back board over here." Janet ordered to her team.

Hammond, Daniel and Mac made their way through the debris trying to stay out of the medics' way. They saw most of the men involved with the rescue slowly getting to their feet and waving off the medics trying to help them. Then they watched as O'Neill was lifted, uncovering an unmoving Sam Carter.

"Excuse me Sir." One of the medics said as he carried a backboard over towards Sam.

"Okay on three, one, two, three." Janet said as they carefully manoeuvred Sam on the backboard. "Okay let's get her to the infirmary, Colonel O'Neill is next; then I want you to triage the others. Anyone in this area when the explosion went off has to be checked out." Janet ordered her people as she followed the stretcher carrying Sam to the infirmary.

"Colonel, how are you doing?" Hammond asked looking down at Jack as the medic took care of him.

"I'm alright Sir, just a little scratch." Jack said pointing out the dressing being put on his leg.

"We tried watching from the security cameras, but the blast took out the camera." Daniel said hurriedly.

"Ah what happened? How did you end up in that position?" Mac asked.

"Sorry Ma'am, but we have to get the Colonel to the infirmary." The medic treating Jack said. He motioned the other medic and together they got Jack on a stretcher.

"We'll debrief when you're up to it Colonel." Hammond told Jack as they carried him away.

"Yes Sir." Jack said saluting as he was carried down the hall.

"So Teal'c are you okay?" Daniel asked patting Teal'c who was covered in a grey coloured dust, coughing when the dust came up into the air.

"I am well Daniel Jackson."

"Weren't you affected by the blast?" Hammond asked.

"When the blast occurred I as well as the others was thrown back, but not injured." He told the general nodding his head.

"What about everyone else?" Hammond asked the group of men.

The highest-ranking man answered the general. "We're shaken up a little Sir, but everyone is fine. We just hope it was enough Sir. I mean I know we got Major Carter out, but I don't know if we got her out in time." He said shaking his head and looking down.

"We all hope that too son. So why don't you and your men get cleaned up before heading to the infirmary." Hammond said in a gentle voice.

"Yes Sir." He answered and then saluted before talking to his men.

"So Harm, are you sure you're alright?" Mac asked putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Yea Mac, I'm fine." Harm said looking down.

"Harm, what is it?" Mac asked, feeling there was something Harm was holding back.

"It's just that I've never felt that kind of force before, and I have all this protective gear on. Sam didn't have anything."

"No she didn't but they couldn't risk moving her too much…just remember she's still with us and it's thanks to you and the others." Mac told him while squeezing his shoulder.

"Yea, I guess you're right." Harm said making eye contact with Mac.

"So why don't you go get cleaned up and then head to the infirmary like the general said." Mac said.

"Yea, ok." Harm said then slowly made his way down the corridor away from all the rubble and debris.

Mac turned and could see and hear Hammond talking to an Airman. "So what do think Captain?"

"Well Sir most of the damage was concentrated in the Major's room. With most of the force from the blast going upwards. Luckily, this base was built to withstand much larger forces. Although it looks bad Sir, most of the damage is from the wall that held the doorway. I have my men checking the floors above and below the area but as I suspect I don't think they'll find any damage." The base's engineer explained to the general.

"Well that's good to know, now all we have to do is get this mess cleaned up." Hammond said looking at the hallway, and the large hole in the wall that was once Major Carter's quarters. He didn't have to look inside to know there would be nothing left of what used to be inside the room.

"Well get a clean up crew going when you're ready and keep me apprised of the situation." Hammond ordered.

"Yes Sir." The captain said then saluted before going on with his work.

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"How long does it take to get the freakin infirmary!" Jack growled with anger and impatience.

"Relax Jack; they had to use the elevator to get Sam to the infirmary." Daniel explained trying to calm his friend down; knowing his anger was really from worrying about Sam.

"Yeah, you're right Daniel; I must just be a little edgy."

The elevator doors opened and Jack was carried in by the medics with Daniel following. The ride down to the infirmary seemed to take forever, no one spoke, they just waited anxiously wondering what they'd find out.

When the doors opened Jack's was settled from the stretcher onto a gurney and then wheeled into the treatment room, where he was placed next to a curtained off area.

"Breath sounds are equal but shallow, I want her on O2 by mask and I want X-rays chest, head and C-spine." Jack heard Janet call out the orders and he could see the curtains moving from those working on the other side.

The curtains were drawn back Jack could see Sam laying on the gurney with a large oxygen mask covering her face and an IV bag hanging next to her. What he noticed the most was the stillness, he could barely see the rise and fall of her chest, which made him worry even more. Then he watched as she was wheeled out of the room, the pallor of her skin almost matching the white of the gown she was wearing.

"Colonel?"

Jack's attention was brought to the nurse who was talking to him and gently shaking his arm. "Oh ah sorry." Jack said watching as Sam's gurney disappeared out the door. "So how's Carter doing?"

"I'll let Dr. Fraiser tell you Sir, but for now I need to get at your wound." The nurse said brandishing a pair of scissors.

Jack took a gulp, "Ah I could just slip my pants off."

"I'm afraid not Sir, from the placement of the wound I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut your pants off."

Jack could hear Daniel stifle a laugh with a cough he gave him a look that would make most marines cringe. "Just ah be careful with those things eh."

"Yes Sir." She said as she drew the curtain around his bed.

"You know these were my favourite pair of pants, I had them worked in just right."

"Sorry Sir, but I'm sure the air force will supply you with a new pair."

Jack could feel the cold air on his bare skin; he took another gulp as he hoped she wouldn't have to go for the underwear next. He saw her drop the discarded material on the floor landing next to the pile of clothing Sam had been wearing earlier that day.

"Can you roll over onto your stomach Sir?" The nurse asked.

"Yea, sure no problem." Jack said relieved to still have his shorts on.

"So let's see what we've got." Janet said as she came into the curtained off area. 'Hmm, not bad,' Janet thought to herself, but not thinking about the wound on the back of his leg.

"It's just a scratch Doc." Jack said grumpily.

"A scratch with some debris embedded in it." Janet answered as she probed the area.

"So how's…Ow…Carter?" Jack asked through gritted teeth.

"I'll know more when I get the X-rays, I'm worried about her chest and ribs, and from the force of the explosion I can't rule out head trauma. So what about you Sir, any dizziness or nausea?"

"No, my heads fine Doc." Jack said tensing his muscles as Janet worked on the back of his leg. He was thinking about asking for a painkiller, but then remembered how much Sam had done without the benefit of strong pain meds. If she could do it, then so could he.

"Okay Sir, I've stitched it up and put a dressing on it. There some damage to the muscle so you'll have to use crutches for a while, and try to stay off it as much as possible."

"What ever you say Doc."

"Now just for a tetanus shot."

"What? I don't need one of those." Jack said knowing how painful those shots were.

"Sorry Sir but its SOP." Janet said then injected the needle in Jack's butt. "Now could you turn over so I can check you for signs of a head trauma." .

Jack turned over slowly, "Like I said you won't find anything in my head." Jack said as Janet shone her trusty pen light in his eyes.

"No doubts there." Daniel said, stifling a laugh.

"Don't you have anything better to do Daniel?" Jack said annoyed, realizing that Daniel had been on the other side of the curtain the whole time.

"No, I'm waiting for word on Sam just like you are." Daniel said, then saw Janet open the curtain.

As if on cue Sam was wheeled back into the room, a medic came and handed Janet the envelope containing the X-rays. She took them from him then went to place them on the wall light.

"So?" Daniel asked before Jack had a chance to.

"There doesn't appear to be any major head trauma, most likely a minor concussion from the blast, or the original concussion didn't have a chance to heal yet before experiencing another trauma. The lungs look fine, but the broken ribs have shifted their position which is why her breathing is shallow."

"So ah, what can you do for her?" Jack asked concerned.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to manipulate the ribs back into position so they can heal properly and make her breathing easier." Janet said as she watched their faces pale.

"Damn! It's my fault." Jack said, "If I hadn't used that harness…"

"She wouldn't be here." Janet said cutting him off. "Look Sir, you know the alternative was worse, she's with us now and now we have the chance to treat her and get her better."

"Yea, I guess you're right Doc." Jack said quietly.

"Janis, would you get the sedative ready for Major Carter." Janet ordered one of her nurses.

"Why do you need a sedative Janet, isn't Sam already out?" Daniel asked.

"She may be unconscious right now, but there's no telling when she'll wake up."

"And you don't want her waking up during the procedure." Jack said sombrely.

"So Colonel you're free to go as soon as you're ready…"

"And as soon as I get a pair of pants." Jack said pulling the sheet a little tighter around his waist.

"Just make sure you wait until you get your crutches." Janet said, she didn't want to sound like she was rushing him out of the infirmary but she really didn't want him or Daniel around when she had to perform the procedure on Sam.

Janis came back into the room carrying the medications Janet had asked for. Janet moved over to Sam's bedside and injected the meds into the IV bag. "Now we just have to wait a few minutes."

"So Daniel would you mind getting me some pants." Jack asked in a gruff voice. He was stuck between wanting to stay close to Sam during the procedure and wanting to be as far away as possible when Janet was performing the procedure. He didn't want to be staring at the curtain knowing what Janet would be doing. He had to admit to himself that the thought made his skin crawl.

"Ah, yea sure Jack I'll be back in a few minutes." Daniel said figuring out why Jack was in such a hurry. He had to admit he didn't blame Jack for wanting to get out of there.

"Janis could you see to the Colonel, make sure he gets a pair of crutches." Janet ordered her nurse.

"Yes doctor." Janis answered then left to get the crutches.

Janet took a few moments to sit with her friend. "Well it looks like you've come through another one Sam, but I swear you've got to stop putting yourself through these things. I'm sorry for what I'm going to have to do, but I promise I won't let you suffer." Janet said quietly running her hand through Sam's hair.

Jack heard Janet quietly talking to Sam, he didn't want to interrupt her so he remained quiet, and silently got dressed He took his crutches and slowly left the infirmary looking back to see Sam's still form before leaving, meeting Daniel in the hall.

As Jack walked down the hallway, he noticed how easily people came and went, that there were no guards posted in the area. An idea came to his mind but he had to talk to the general to make it happen.