"Teal'c, it's taking them an awful long time; do you think they are alright?"
"Major Carter and Col. O'Neill will be fine Jonas. They need time to work things out." Teal'c said raising an eyebrow. He too thought that they had spent a long time in the room, but since he didn't hear anything, he was not overly concerned.
Jonas and Teal'c heard the door open then saw Sam come out closing the door behind her. "Sam are you okay?"
"Yea Jonas I'm fine." Sam said as she slowly walked to the island and sat down.
"What about Col. O'Neill?" Jonas asked
"He'll be okay; he just needed more time…alone." Sam said, but was thinking he needed the time to pull himself together. She had pushed him to the edge finally allowing him to breakdown and release his pent up fears and anger. Something she never thought she would ever witness from Jack and she had given him her word that what happened would never leave that room.
"Major Carter, would you like something to eat?" Teal'c asked knowing that the food that was put in front of her went pretty well untouched.
"Ah, thanks Teal'c but I still have the sandwich the colonel made me." Sam said sliding the plate closer to her.
"Could I make you some hot tea then?"
Sam knew Teal'c was just trying to be helpful so she conceded to his request. "Sure Teal'c a tea would be nice."
"Sam I hate to bring this up, but we didn't find out everything that happened today, like how that chair ended up broken?"
Sam picked up her tea and too a sip, she wished Jonas would drop the subject. Especially since, she just got Jack to open up and talk.
She was about to answer when Teal'c spoke up. "I believe Major Carter broke the chair in her escape Jonas."
Jonas looked at Sam then turned and looked at the broken chair; he shook his head then turned back to Sam. "I'm sorry Sam." he said putting his hand on her upper arm and was surprised when she pulled away. "I'm sorry Sam; I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's okay Jonas; it's just a little tender." Sam said holding her left arm.
"Yes I did notice the bruise forming earlier this evening, are you sure your arm is other wise uninjured?"
"Yea Teal'c it's just a bruise, I'm sure." Sam said, then turned when she heard Jack come into the room.
"Everything alright?" Jack asked looking at Sam as she held her arm.
"Yes Sir, everything's fine, just a little sore that's all." Sam knew she wouldn't get away with lying to him so she didn't bother with her patented 'I'm fine' line.
Jack came up beside her looking at her arm, then took her hand in his. "How bad is it…really?"
"Really Sir, it's just bruised from when I fell on it." Sam said seeing the concern and guilt in his eyes.
"Do you mind if I check?" He asked in a quiet voice. Sam just sighed and acquiesced then began to push her sleeve up.
Jack saw the damage he had caused first with the bandage around her wrist then he saw her reddened and swollen elbow and the bruise that extended up the side of her arm. He carefully felt her arm for anything that might be out of the ordinary noticing her wince as he did so.
"Sorry Carter…well it doesn't look like anything's broken."
"I could have told you that Sir." Sam said putting a slight grin on her face instead of showing the pain.
"I do however think your elbow may be sprained. Normally I'd put ice on it, but given the current situation that may not be such a good idea. We'll just have to elevate it later when you're resting."
Jack helped Sam pull down her sleeve, then turned and looked at the living room. "Hey guys why don't we get that mattress back to the room, since the couch is also a sofa bed."
"It is?" Teal'c said tilting his head to the side and looking at Jack.
"Yea, I would have thought you knew, from our little fishing trip."
"No, O'Neill, you never stated that the couch also served as a bed,"
"Oh sorry, I guess it never came up; anyway we can move this mattress back to the bedroom and unfold this one." Jack said looking at Jonas.
Sam started to get up from her seat when Jack placed a hand on her shoulder halting her movement. "You get to sit this one out Carter. I'm sure Jonas and Teal'c can handle it."
"That is quite correct O'Neill." Teal'c said as he went to retrieve the mattress with Jonas right behind him.
"So." Sam said looking at Jack.
"So…I think tomorrow we need to get out of here and get you some medical assistance." Jack said looking at Sam then lowering his eyes.
"I'm fine, feeling better by the minute." Sam said putting her hand on his and squeezing it slightly.
"Well Carter, I hate to have to tell you this, but that wound on your back doesn't really look that good. It definitely needs to be looked at by a doctor, not to mention your concussion."
"What about you, I remember knocking you out, you probably have a concussion too." Sam said quietly.
"Well I got what I deserved, and I'm not showing any of the signs, no dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." Jack said with a slight smile.
"Which only goes to prove that O' Neill does have a hard head." Teal'c said as he and Jonas entered the room.
"Was that a joke Teal'c?" Jack asked with a smirk on his face.
"Indeed it was O'Neill." Teal'c said tilting his to the side.
"Well I think we should get some sleep tonight and try to head out tomorrow." Jack said.
"Uh what about the roads Colonel?" Jonas asked.
"We'll find out about them in the morning Jonas, but we have to try and get Carter some medical help."
"I'm sure I'll be alright, the bleeding has stopped and I am warming up." Sam said insistently.
"Major Carter, I believe O'Neill is correct, you should have your wounds looked at by a doctor." Teal'c said softly.
Sam just shook her head in reply and regretted it immediately. Jack put a steadying hand on Sam's shoulder. "You okay Carter?"
"Yea just moved my head too quickly." Sam said looking a little green.
"Well I think you should lie down." Jack said with concern.
"Yea Sam, I think it's probably from your concussion." Jonas added.
"Fine." Sam said slowly getting to her feet and turned towards the hallway.
"Ah Carter, I think it might be better if you slept out here by the fireplace, it will be much warmer." Jack said.
"Okay, fine what ever you say." Sam said a little annoyed.
Jack and Jonas went over to the couch and set up the sofa bed; Jonas was interested in seeing how this worked, since it was the first sofa bed he's seen. Jack just shook his head at the fact that something so mundane could intrigue Jonas. Soon after Teal'c appeared carrying sheets, pillows and blankets. Sam took in the sight of the three of them working together to fix up a bed and had to grin.
When finished, Jack went over to Sam, offered her a steadying hand, and helped her to the bed. Sam slowly manoeuvred into the bed, not realizing how much more she had started to hurt with the bruising on her back making it difficult to move. She wasn't sure what position to lie in, her back was too sore to lie on as was her left her arm. 'This is going to be one long night,' she thought to herself.
Jack saw Sam's predicament and tried to assist her with the pillows. "How are you doing?"
"Not so great, you wouldn't happen to have any pain killers would you?" Sam asked hopefully.
Jack thought about it for a moment, "Um, yeah I think I have some left around here somewhere." Jack said, then went to look for the meds.
"Teal'c do you think Sam's going to be okay." Jonas whispered from where he was sitting at the counter next to Teal'c.
"In time I believe Major Carter will be back to herself as well as O'Neill. However I believe that Major Carter will be most uncomfortable tonight." Teal'c answered quietly back to Jonas
"Here you go Carter; these are some of the good ones Fraiser gives out." Jack said holding out his hand containing two pills and holding a glass of water in the other.
"Thanks." Sam said taking the pills and water then settled back down in the bed, with Jack pulling the blankets over her.
"Well guys, you two must be tired." Jack said motioning with his head towards the hallway.
"Where are you going to sleep O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.
"I'll make myself comfortable on one of the chairs; I have to wake Carter up every two hours anyway." Jack said softly.
"O'Neill, you also were injured and need rest, allow me to wake both you and Major Carter when the time is necessary." Teal'c said also talking quietly.
"Okay, but I'll tell you what; I'll take the first shift, why don't you get some rest." Jack said patting Teal'c on the shoulder.
After Teal'c and Jonas left for their rooms, Jack moved over to one of the large chairs in the living room area and made himself comfortable.
"You know Sir, you don't have to sleep in that chair; the bed is pretty big." Sam said, her back was facing him, but she did hear the conversation.
"I don't know Carter, It doesn't seem right."
"Well we are both dressed this time." Sam said with a little levity in her voice.
"Yea about that, I hope you're not mad at me or embarrassed." Jack said uncomfortably.
"Well I know it was necessary and yes also a little embarrassing." Sam said quietly.
"Don't be Carter, I made sure you were covered the whole time and the others weren't around." Jack said seriously, then added with a little lightness," Besides from what I could tell you have nothing to be embarrassed about."
Sam couldn't help but grin at that comment and was thankful she wasn't facing Jack because she was sure she was turning red.
Jack walked over and sat on the edge of the bed facing Sam, "Seriously Carter, I'm really sorry for what happened today. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"Well Sir, I certainly understand why you did what you did," Sam said looking into his eyes, "and once you have understanding, the next step is forgiveness. So yes, I do think I can forgive you. Can you forgive yourself?"
Jack was taken aback by the question, he was relieved that Sam could forgive him, but didn't know if he was able to forgive himself. He looked away from Sam to the fire, he thought about Charlie and how he still carried the guilt over his death; how he could never forgive himself for that. The years he spent at the SGC and with SG1 had made it easier for him to put it to the back of his mind, but still not able to forgive or forget. Now he would have to add more guilt to the burden, even though Carter says she forgives him he doesn't know how he can make it up to her.
"Sir?" Sam said putting her hand on his arm trying to get his attention.
"Huh, oh yea, sorry I was just thinking."
"Yea, I guessed that." Sam said with a slight grin. "So, can you?"
"I don't know Carter." Jack said quietly.
"If it makes it easier, we can always blame Baal, after all I know you would never have done it if it wasn't for what happened with him."
Jack smiled slightly, "You think it can be that easy?"
"Well I know I don't have any problem laying all the blame on him." Sam told him dropping her hand back on to the bed.
Jack let out a long sigh, "I guess I can try, and see how it goes from there." Jack looked down at Sam and could tell she was still uncomfortable.
"You know Carter, you were supposed to elevate your arm, just a second I'll get something for you." Jack said heading to a storage closet by the kitchen. "Yea this should do it."
Sam could hear Jack ruffling around and was curious about what he was doing. She soon found out when he appeared in front of her.
"Here Carter this should help." Jack was holding a cushion that he used from his deck chair. Jack looked at Sam's position and realized she would have to move back a bit to fit the cushion on the bed.
"Um, do you think you can shift back a bit?" Jack asked, wondering if she would be able.
Sam tried to shift herself back, but was stopped by a sharp pain, 'on yea, bruised ribs' Sam thought to herself. "I don't think I can do it on my own right now."
"That's okay; I'll give you a hand." Jack said, then he pulled back the covers and got on the bed so he was kneeling on the bed behind Sam. He thought about how he was going to move her and more importantly, where he was going to put his hands.
"Okay Carter, let's try and do this quickly." Jack said then put one hand under Sam's shoulder and the other under her hip. He then started pulling her towards him, inching her away from the edge of the bed.
Jack noticed Sam had started shaking, 'Damn did I make her cry', "Carter are you alright, I didn't hurt you did I?"
Sam had to gasp, "No…no you didn't"
"Carter, are you laughing?"
Sam couldn't help but let out a snort, "Sorry Sir, I…can't help it." She said through her giggling.
"What's so funny?" Jack said looking down at Sam, still kneeling behind her and leaning slightly over her.
Sam took a deep breath, and managed to stop laughing. "I'm sorry Sir, it's just that we're both on the bed and…well the bed is making noises. I was just wondering what it must sound like to Teal'c and Jonas." Sam said and started giggling.
"Yea well stop it; I'm sure it doesn't sound like that." Jack said, then thought about it for a second, "Okay, okay I guess you have a point, it could sound like that, but they know you are in no condition for…well…that." Jack said sounding flustered. Jack quickly got off the bed, trying not to make noise; but failing miserably causing himself to snicker a little. Which of course started Sam giggling once again.
Jack just shook his head but couldn't wipe the grin off his face. He went to the edge of the bed and put the cushion in front of Sam for her to rest her arm on, then he pulled the covers over her.