DISCLAIMER: "Stargate SG-1" and its characters are the property of MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Film Corp., Showtime/Viacom and USA Networks, Inc. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended.

Sheer Grit

Present

Sam gritted her teeth and tightened her arms further around her legs as she crouched in the undergrowth. The rain had started more like a fine mist, but it had gotten denser until large droplets had started to fall. The large drops had turned quickly into a pelting madness and she'd just managed to stow herself and Cameron under a dense bush as the heavy rain thundered through the branches of the trees. Looking down she un-wrapped a hand from around her knees and pressed her fingers to Cameron's forehead. He was still out cold, and the rain wasn't helping the situation they were in. Spying out through the branches she checked on Daniel through a blemished view of rain. He too gritted his teeth as he crouched under another bush not far away, holding tightly to his arm which was held by a temporary sling.

Sam hoped the rain would just be a passing shower, or they would be forced to continue on despite the weather conditions. She didn't rate Cameron's chances of being able to survive without medical attention much longer, and despite his determination, she knew Daniel couldn't take much more walking either. Sam merely hoped and prayed that they were on the right course, following the right direction and they would be back at the Stargate, in sight of home once more.

For the moment, she leaned back on the thick branch of a trunk, which snaked up through the bush and tried to rest. Ignoring the fatigue and hunger, the cold and tiredness threatening to envelop she forced her mind to consider her predicament and focus on getting themselves home. For the umpteenth time she wished Teal'c was there with them, she missed his quiet strength and encouragement. As she pondered on thoughts of the fourth member of the team, she felt a change in the rain, as it slowed slightly. Peering out from her shelter she also noticed a change in Daniel.

Wiping a hand over her face to ease the water as it poured down her face, she sat up suddenly and watched. With a glance down to Cameron, she forced herself up from her seat and climbed from her shelter and approached Daniel. His eyes were closed although he still gritted his teeth in pain and she watched as his fingers started losing their grip from where he had wrapped them as secondary support to his arm.

"Daniel" said Sam crouching by him.

Getting no response, she placed a hand on his shoulder softly.

"Daniel?" she said again urging him to open his eyes, gaining a little response as Daniel shrugged his shoulder softly, Sam knelt and lifted her hand to his jaw.

"Daniel open your eyes" she raised her voice and gave command as she would a fellow officer. She couldn't afford to have Daniel zoning out on her either. It was enough to drag Cameron on the makeshift stretcher without having to contend with Daniel being unable to walk. With a sigh of relief Sam watched as Daniel responded to her heed, his eyes barely opening.

"That's it...ok" muttered Sam to herself, her fingers lightly tapping his cheek "Come on Daniel, the rains easing off, we should start moving again"

Daniel responded by grunting slightly and opening his eyes fully, piercing her with a stare. Sam smiled and sat back her fingers running along the line of his jaw before she looked behind her back to where Cameron lay, half shielded by overgrowth. Standing she looked down at Daniel and offered him a hand as he made to stand slowly.

"Let's go"

She knew she was in full Colonel mode as she put forward the request more as an order to Daniel. Sam knew it would be the only thing to get her through this ordeal without losing anyone else. She thanked anyone who listened to her heart, for not putting anyone in pursuit of them. Enemies she could deal with, but not with two men down and no back up. Hopefully Daniel would understand that her barking out orders was the only way at the moment she could operate without losing her composure.

As Daniel stood and leaned back on a tree exhausted Sam made her way back to Mitchell and dragged the stretcher, made up of backpacks and logs slinged together, out from under the bushes. Cameron was still unconscious as Sam re positioned herself at the other side of the stretcher and lifted up the edge. She pushed away thoughts that this was the insanest idea for a rescue, and that the tilting of the stretcher as she dragged it, wouldn't be doing any good for whatever injuries Cameron had picked up in the rock fall.

Doggedly determined, she gritted her teeth as a mist settled about them once more, the rain finally ceasing, and eyed Daniel, who seemed to thrive on her determination and bent his head down starting to walk in front of her. There was a makeshift path already worn from years past, weaving through the trees and they'd made a joint decision to follow it as it led in the general direction they assumed they had to go.