I know this is only a short chapter, but I couldn't let you stew any longer, thinking the worst. Hope it puts your minds at rest until the next update!

Danger Zone.

By Lingren.

Previously:-

Sam yelped in disbelief, ducking down and curling her body over his. Offering him some protection. Seconds later the area was swarming with security guards searching for the hidden sniper.

Chapter 22

A groan soon had Sam sighing in relief.

"Ouch!"

"Sir?"

"Ow! My head," Jack moaned, bring a hand up to rub the back of his head. "What the hell happened?" he asked, trying to sit up. He was more than a little surprised to find his face in Sam's lap and that her shirt was covered in blood.

"Carter?"

"Take it easy sir. Janet's on her way up."

"What?" he felt dopey, his head ached fit to burst. He pulled his hand down to see it covered in blood too.

"It looks like the bulled just grazed your skull sir. I think you're okay," Sam said, releasing a huge sigh, thanking god.

"If you hadn't moved when you did sir..." she left the rest unsaid. He didn't need to be reminded that he was still a target. It seemed like he wasn't safe wherever he went.

"Yes, well, let's not dwell Carter," he sighed.

A ring of guards surrounded the couple and moments later Janet pushed her way through the cordon.

"Colonel?"

"I'm fine Doc. A little headache, but what the heck? I've had worse."

Janet pushed him back down into Sam's lap and Jack was quite happy to stay there in the warm spot on her thighs. It wasn't every day he would be able to get away with this kind of move. And if his head didn't hurt so much then he'd actually be enjoying it.

"Let me be the judge of that Colonel. Did you lose consciousness?"

"Just for a few minutes, yes, he did," Sam said, speaking up before Jack could deny it.

"I was stunned!" he argued, shooting Sam a glare.

"I disagree sir," She countered, ignoring his look.

Janet harrumphed and proceeded to prod and probe, muttering about stubborn Colonels and slapped a dressing over the bleeding wound as a temporary measure.

"Let's get you back to the infirmary sir, then I'll clean this up properly. I'm afraid it means that you will be confined to the infirmary overnight again."

"Oh joy!" Jack snarked with a snort. Just the thing he needed. "I can't wait!"

Between them, they sat him upright where he wavered slightly. Teal'c and Daniel appeared as if from nowhere, startling Jack who hadn't known they were there. They pulled him to his feet and the guard closed around them as they headed slowly for the entrance to the complex.

Once they had entered the elevator, the guards fell back and continued to stand at the ready.

Jack closed his eyes as the car dropped to the infirmary level, still leaning heavily on his friends who were suspiciously quiet.

"What?" he asked, feeling the strained tension in the confined space.

"Jack..."

"I know Daniel!" he snapped. "I'm fine! They missed!"

"Only just!" Daniel retorted. When he'd heard the news that Jack had been shot, he'd feared the worst. He and Teal'c had dashed into the elevator along with Janet, eager to see what state Jack was in.

The relief of seeing him alive, and hearing Jack's sarcasm was like music to his ears and succour to his soul. Jack had survived yet another attempt on his life. It seemed like the tighter the noose around the people responsible, the more they stepped up their efforts to try and kill him. They were obviously close to finding the real culprits. Things were getting too hot for them.

They reached the infirmary and Janet shooed the rest of the team away while she cleaned and dressed the graze on the back of Jack's head, giving him something to kill the pain. Jack then slipped into a healing sleep in no time at all.

Sam, went to the locker room to shower and change while Daniel and Teal'c popped in to see Jack for a few minutes before heading back to work, relieved to know that he was okay.

TBC