Ch. 8 Rescue Me

Sam's first instinct was to protect Daniel. She rushed over, practically throwing herself over his body. Hovering above him, she protected her head with laced fingers. Rocks fell around them.

Daniel couldn't see a thing. He could hear thuds and shouts from the surface. Sam's breath tickled his face, and he tensed as she grunted and leaned heavily into him. "Sam?" he asked, voice muffled.

Finally, when the noise subsided, she pulled herself away. Daniel sat up, his eyes raking over her body worriedly. Sam had her left hand cradled protectively against her chest.

Sam tried to shake off the pain. A hefty, jagged rock falling from 15 feet could do damage. At least she'd avoided another bump on the head. She focused as she heard Major Turner calling to them from above.

"Yeah! We're...we're okay," she shouted up to him. She turned to Daniel, noticing his concern. "I'm fine. It's not broken, I don't think."

He nodded. "Thanks, Sam."

She smiled at him, slightly laughing. "What, did you think I was going to let you be pummeled?"

"No, of course not. But I hate the fact you got hurt protecting me."

Sam shrugged. "I know you'd do the same for me." She glanced up uncertainly as a few more stones tumbled and rolled to a stop on the ground. Practically all that was left of the first story ceiling had fallen in, and the wall to the right of her looked precarious. If that went, the second story would go…and so would they.

"Dr. Jackson, Colonel, we know you need medical attention. We're going to send some personnel down."

"Negative, Major. I don't want to risk anymore lives." Sam moved back towards the opening the extraction team had made. Her eyes played across the gap and the Major looking down at her. While the hole wasn't level with Sam or Daniel, it wasn't too high for them to be pulled out if need be. In fact, the last little cave in had almost built a staircase for them. But there was no way she could get Daniel up there herself. "Hold there, Major," she ordered.

Sam returned to Daniel and knelt next to him. "Can you get up? I don't want them sending anyone down. It's too dangerous."

"Yeah," he replied. Sam helped Daniel up, wrapping her arm around his waist. They hobbled over to their escape route.

"Turner? Do you have a harness you can send down?"

"Coming right down, Colonel." Less than a minute later, one was sent through the opening. Craning her neck, Sam could see the Major and Teal'c, prepared to pull Daniel up. She sent a brief smile to her teammate before turning to help ready Daniel.

----

Jack listened intently to what was going on. A channel was being kept open so the two major generals could keep tabs on what was going on. Ever since he'd heard the temple further collapsing, he had been on edge. He wanted them out of there-now.

He'd heard Sam giving orders to Turner. He was proud she was taking control of the situation, just like he knew she would. Jack turned his attention back to the radio conversation.

----

"Are you ready, DanielJackson?" Teal'c inquired, testing the ropes.

"Just a sec," he replied. He adjusted himself in the harness. "Sam, you really should go up first."

Sam sighed and restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "Daniel Jackson, I will not have this conversation with you," she said, making sure he was secure.

"But Sam, you have a reason to get out of here."

"Don't go there, Daniel," she said, closing the gap between them. She didn't want anyone above to overhear. "Just because Jack and I are 'together' doesn't mean things change. SG-1 is my team. You are injured and it is my priority to see you get home safely. If I go up first, and the whole place tumbles down on you, don't you think Jack would be more than a little upset?"

"Yes, but-"

"No buts. Now get your butt up there."

Daniel laughed. "You have become Jack O'Neill!" he exclaimed. The smirk she sent him in return only made him laugh harder.

"DanielJackson!" came Teal'c's alarmed voice.

"Okay, I'm ready!" he shouted, tugging the rope. "See you topside, Sam."

----

"Watch the leg, watch the leg. We've got you, Dr. Jackson."

Jack let out the breath he'd been holding.

"One down, one to go," Jacob commented next to him.

"Yeah…"

"Jack, are you going to fret like this every time she goes off world?" Jacob wondered.

"No. I don't usually worry about her because I know she can handle herself. But when this sort of thing happens-"

"All the time. These things happen all the time to SG-1," Jacob reminded him. "And Sam won't have you giving yourself a heart attack every time a mission goes sour."

"I know, Jake. The hardest part is not being there. Being a general is hard enough, but for crying out loud, I'm leaving for D.C.! I feel like I'm abandoning them."

"From what you told me, you're doing this for them. If you don't go, who knows what bureaucrat will get the position. You are going to know everything that goes on at the SGC and have even more say than Landry. If anything, you're protecting them more than ever."

"I don't like pushing papers. I want to be out here with them. As crazy as it sounds, I want to be in there with Sam right now."

"You're not crazy, Jack. I know exactly what you mean."

"Put me down! Jack! Tell them to put me down!"

The two men swirled around to see Daniel being carried away from the ruins on a stretcher.

"Hold up!" Jack ordered, running to his friend's side. He paused a moment to take in Daniel's ragged appearance. He was covered in dirt and dust, his right leg was in a splint, and the material was bloody.

"I'm not leaving until Sam is extracted. I'm not dying here. Put me down!" Daniel complained.

"He can stay," Jack told the medics. They gently set him down, then returned the way they had come. Jack shook his head. The archaeologist could be as stubborn as a mule. "You alright?"

"Yeah, fine. They're getting Sam out now."

All three quieted down, listening attentively to the open radio channel.

----

Sam had watched as Daniel had been hauled up in the harness. Admittedly, it wasn't a very long trip, but they'd had to be watchful of his banged up leg. He'd disappeared when they'd pulled him over the edge, leaving her alone briefly. A moment later, Teal'c reappeared.

"Are you ready to ascend, ColonelCarter?"

Sam chuckled at his choice of words. "I rather like this plane of existence, Teal'c."

Teal'c raised his eyebrow. "Indeed," he replied with the smallest trace of a smile on his lips.

Sam swiveled around as she heard a creaking noise. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm her. She hated head injuries. Breathing deeply, she moved purposefully towards Teal'c. Rocks began to pelt her. There was no time for fancy rescues. He was just going to have to yank her right out of there. She made her way up the rubble so that she was within Teal'c's reach. She looked up at him with wide blue eyes, trusting him.

Teal'c reached down, his large hands grasping her extended forearms. Sam dug in, and with Teal'c's help, began the ascent.

She neared the top, and Sam thought she was in the clear. She placed one knee on the solid ground and pulled herself up. With one leg still dangling over the edge, she placed her right hand on Teal'c's arm, and cradled the other one to her chest. Teal'c retained his hold on her good arm.

Sam yelped as the edge beneath her gave out. She felt herself slipping and did the only thing she could think to-she reached out to grab something. Her right hand dug into Teal'c's biceps, while her left flung uselessly in the air. Teal'c, reacting, tightened his hold on her arm before she slipped too far, and grasped at her left hand. He caught her by the wrist, and Sam cried out in pain.

----

Jack's blood ran cold as he heard Sam's cries. He could also hear the sounds of a collapsing building. Major Turner was shouting for all non-essential personnel to leave the area. Jack closed his eyes. He trusted Teal'c. He did. He would make sure Sam was okay.

"Oh, no."

Jack's eyes popped open at the dread in Daniel's voice. The rear wall where the device had been had completely caved in. The roof was tumbling down along with it before his eyes. He stood, glued to his spot, trying to hear Sam through the din.

----

Teal'c had quickly relocated his hand. Sam had felt him grasp her by the belt, pulling her over the side. She'd fallen into Teal'c, almost sending the large man tumbling backwards. In one swift move, he'd flipped her and covered her body with his own as the opposite side of the building crashed down.

Sam choked on dust and tears. Her wrist was throbbing and she could barely breathe from all the dust that was being kicked up. She had a fist full of Teal'c's shirt in her hand. She was not letting go of his solid presence amidst all the confusion.

When the moment presented itself, Teal'c pulled Sam to her feet. "We must hurry, ColonelCarter, before this area loses integrity as well," he said urgently. He nodded to the young Major, who had stayed behind, then sent a reassuring look to Sam. Wrapping his arm around the injured woman, they headed away from the rubble.

----

Jacob rushed towards his daughter when she came into view. "Sam!"

It took a second for her to focus on him. She appeared to be quite dazed, blinking in the harsh sunlight and clinging to Teal'c for support.

"Dad…"

"Sam!" Jacob was practically pushed out of the way by Jack. With wide eyes, he took in her appearance. The excess amount of blood coating her face, the dirty and ripped clothing, the wounded hand.

"Sir." Jacob noticed the relief that passed between them. He watched the younger man ball his hands into fists and rock on his heels. He wanted to touch her, make sure she was all right.

"You okay?" he asked softly, brown eyes searching blue.

Sam nodded. Her gaze shifted to Daniel, who had cleared his throat.

With Sam's attention elsewhere, Jack turned to Teal'c, mouthing a silent thank you. Teal'c bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"Sam, are you okay? And hey, nice to know you guys care. Just leave the cripple on the stretcher!" he shouted.

Sam smiled, a real smile, and went to check up on her teammate.

Jacob laughed inwardly. Things were going to be okay.

TBC in 'Conversations in the Night'