Grateful thanks as always to my brilliant beta, Nell - always an inspiration.

Irrevocable Decision Part 13 (n)

"You've got to get up, Colonel. Lean on me. You can do it, Sir, it's not broken."

He opened bloodshot eyes, a hard line of irritation creasing his forehead.

"Where are we? Where's the DHD. Daniel?"

Oh God! He was hallucinating. Sam's eyes widened in alarm and fear.

"No, Sir. We're near your cabin, remember? You got caught in some poacher's trap."

No time to lose, get him up. She took one arm, placed it over her shoulder, and then used her other arm to snake round his waist

"C'mon Colonel, help me out here. Up we go." She heaved, he cursed venomously, but after enormous effort on Sam's part they were standing, albeit swaying dangerously. Sam changed her position to gain a steadier hold and to bring under control the protest her trembling muscles were making. She could feel the sweat trickling down her face and back even in the freezing conditions. Releasing the hand hanging down over her shoulder, she wiped the sweat out of her eyes, pushing back her hair.

Oscar watched all this, alert and somehow aware that all was not right. He whined occasionally but waited patiently until Sam freed him, taking the chance of him running off; all her efforts were on keeping Jack up and moving.

Although the intensity of the snowfall had dramatically fallen, still it was proving to be a nightmare journey. Sheer tenacity and a stubborn trait within her not to fail Jack pushed Sam on beyond her limits. She coaxed and wheedled him to push on when all he wanted to do was lie down in the comforting snow. Eyes glazed with pain gazed at her with puzzled incomprehension as her cajoling turned to threats. Yet as a scientist, she was well aware of the law of gravity and finally a hidden stump sent them both crashing to the frozen ground.

Jack yelled as his wounded leg hit the ground, then moaning weakly he seemed to embrace the white blanket, his half conscious state more than content to be off his injured limb. And Sam accepted in her exhaustion that she was incapable of getting him up again.

Thinking fast, she shrugged out of her thick coat, laid it on the ground next to the still man, and then rolled him carefully onto it. Her jumper came off next and she wrapped this round Jack's neck and shoulders, tucking parts into his own clothing to prevent it working loose. Finally, she called to Oscar who had remained close.

"Here boy, here." He obeyed instantly and she sent up a silent prayer to the heavens in grateful thanks. "Lie down, lie down." Patting Jack's back, she encouraged the dog to settle against the injured man's body. "Stay Oscar, don't move boy. Stay with Jack – keep him warm."

She ran, or rather staggered back the short way to the cabin, having remembered something that would assist her with a semi-conscious form. She knew the futility of wasting time making a phone call, instead freeing the sledge which was fastened to the rear wall of the cabin, unhooking it and sighing in relief when it moved smoothly over the ever deepening snow.

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How she got him back was something Sam longed to erase from her memory. If she did think about the actual distance travelled she wanted to weep because it simply bore no relation to the effort and torment required to meet such a challenge.

When she had raced back to his side her heart had missed a beat, so still was he. Even the falling snow had not melted when it touched his face, and she brushed it away with a trembling hand as she checked the pulse in his neck. It was there, faint, too faint, but it was enough. The dog had not moved.

"Good boy, Oscar." She patted him ferociously then tried rousing Jack once more.

"Colonel? Colonel, you've got to wake up."

She noted a frown cross his brow as if her voice had reached some deep, inner part of him, but other than that he lay still.

Hauling on his jacket lapels, she pulled him up into a sitting position, and then using her foot manoeuvred the sledge behind him. Once his back was on, she heaved him further back so that his legs were partially on the wooden apparatus. She scowled to see his injured leg dragging in the snow, worried in case of frostbite. In the end she removed the jumper around his shoulders and wrapped his foot and lower leg in it, then taking up the rope of the sledge, she wrapped it around her shoulders and took up the tension.

Compared to half carrying him, this was much easier and her spirits began to rise. She watched each one of her booted feet as they took one more desperate step forward, straining her screaming back and shoulder muscles, feeling the enormous blisters pop on her abused hands. And just when she was thinking she'd got him home she spied the four steps up to the deck and she faltered, swearing profoundly as her head hung in exhaustion unable, for the moment, to do anymore than drag much needed oxygen into her protesting lungs.

"Y'r dad'll…warm your…butt…he hears you."

Her head jerked up, eyes wide with disbelief and relief as she heard the weak, gasping words.

"Colonel!" She dropped to his side, sobbing his name.

"An' if he…doesn't…I will!" he wheezed, his voice barely more than a painful whisper.

A brilliant smile lit up her face as a renewed burst of energy surged through her, mobilizing Sam into hauling Jack up the steps and into the warmth of the cabin.

But there he faltered.

"Down," he demanded feebly and he sagged in her arms, a dead weight.

"Noo, no, not here." She strained to keep him up. "Colonel, just a little further. Please!" she implored.

But he had nothing left to give and he sank down, pulling Sam with him.

In the end, she used her coat as an extension of the sledge principal, dragging her CO across the wooden floor and into his bedroom.

Casting a sharp glance at his injured leg which was already looking swollen, she knew her priority right now was to warm him up. Kneeling beside him she began the task of undoing zips, buttons and belts. He was soaked to the skin and needed to be divested of sodden clothing. Her hands moved swiftly and surely, pulling, pushing, rolling and turning, talking to him at all times, letting him know what she was doing. His trousers were an obstacle that almost had her searching for scissors and in exasperation Sam coaxed, "Come on, Colonel – help me out here."

At which a weary voice answered, "Much as I'm tempted, I'm gonna have to pass."

She froze, horrified that he was actually thinking…Hell!

Her objective attained, Sam grabbed at the large duvet covering his bed and dragged it off, wrapping it around him. Again she checked his pulse, unhappy it was so slow, then groaning aloud as she got to her feet, she started going through his drawers until she found what she was looking for.

She didn't make the mistake of requesting his help a second time to get him into the sweats, she did the job then lay beside him on the floor, her back against the bed, so tired that all she wanted was to sleep. The temptation was great but she knew she had more to do.

'Come on Sam, move your ass.' And sighing heavily, she rose stiffly to her feet. It was time to call in the cavalry.

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(Go to Chapter 14)