The going was tough, following an invisible trail through a jungle forest was no easy task, and dragging a stretcher along the way wasn't helping matters. Having gained some strength from rest and food, Cameron had become a Doctors worse nightmare, increasingly vocal about the whole affair. Taking back ever thinking O'Neill was the worst patient to grace a doctors infirmary, Sam merely ignored his comments such as they were and continued on, flashing Daniel a roll of the eyes when he paused to look back at the two.
"You know, after all the technology you've discovered over the years, you'd think handy fold-able stretchers would be available" muttered Cameron, after a particular jolt over a thick tree root, which jutted out under foot.
Sam merely gritted her teeth and jerked the stretcher harder over the tree root, receiving a cursory growl of pain from Cameron.
"I'm sorry we couldn't accommodate you better Mitchell" she muttered back to him, pausing as Daniel rested by a tree trunk, before they continued on
"Look I'm sorry for complaining but…god damn." Yelped Cameron, Sam heard a scuffling coming from behind her as Cameron fought with a rather large plant she had to drag him close by on their way "Damn plants, any idea why the hell these things are so big?"
Sam couldn't help but allow a small smile to play at the corners of her mouth. Cameron was becoming a mouthy patient and although she felt sorry for what he as going through, his continuous griping was starting to grate on her already fraying nerves.
"Cameron, you've been hurt in the field before, you always complain this loudly?" asked Sam
"Getting hurt in the field is a little different to getting caught in a rock fall. Ow…OK that hurt"
The soldier fell silent; save for hisses of breath and mumbling incoherently, words Sam would rather not hear in the first place. The day was getting on and they were all becoming irritated with the trek, but for now they could do nothing about it but keep going.
"How far we got to go?"
"I don't know"
"Take a guess"
Sam pursed her lips, and took a deep breath.
"Couple of hours" she replied
"Two or three?"
"Maybe"
"So it could turn into three or four" pressed Cameron
Sam considered turning and flipping the stretcher right there and then in the middle of the forest. She fought back the thought and started counting to ten slowly in her head.
"Sam?" Cameron was waiting for an answer
"Yes, perhaps three or four"
"So two to four hours, maybe?"
"Mitchell"
Sam halted in her steps and jerked the stretcher a moment, grabbing his attention, as he hissed a groan in response.
"I have been dragging your ass through this jungle the past, I don't know how many hours now. I'm tired, hungry, and my body is screaming at me to drop hold of this stretcher, which, against my better judgement, I'm ignoring for now. I will get us home, be it two hours, four hours, tonight or tomorrow if needs be, however be assured, I will get us home. So quit your moaning, or you can walk the rest of the way…do I make myself clear Colonel"
She eyed Daniel, who gave her a raised eyebrow look, before turning head down, continuing on. Sam merely stood there waiting for a reply.
"Yes Ma'am"
She sighed, gave herself a invisible pat on the back and continued forward.
(Yeah I know, a short little chapter this time, but I'm updating this as I go and this just suddenly came to me, before I decided to give this fic a rest for the night, having already updated once today. Just want to say, yet again, a big big big, huuuuge thank you for your reviews. They have been very kind, encouraging, and yes, I'm myself and the muse are trying our best to answer the imploring, More Please reviews peeps have been leaving! Hope this sates the appetite somewhat, I can't seem to get away from this fic, I've already written the end, just have to get the rest of the fic there! I won't spoil it for you, you'll just have to wait. thanks again, shan't keep you any longer, you'll just have to wait for the next chapter now..Sara Lou xx)