Jack returned abruptly back to his original location outside the mountain. He blinked hard past the swirling emotions; tried to get his bearings.

'Jack?' Daniel's quiet question was filled with concern. Jack had just stopped talking mid-sentence.

Jack's head whipped round past Daniel to the entrance way to the passage and chamber where the bomb had exploded. 'Daniel, did anybody check the chamber after the fire went out?'

'No…' Daniel said slowly. 'I told you, Sam got out.'

Jack wasn't listening anymore. He headed towards the passage calling for Teal'c, Carolyn, Mitchell, the SG3 leader.

Daniel tried to catch up with him. 'Jack, this is madness.'

'Daniel.' Jack turned to the other man briefly. 'Trust me.' His brown eyes begged Daniel to understand and the archaeologist suddenly remembered the sensation he'd had just before Jack has stopped talking; the feeling that he'd heard Sam's voice. He snapped on his torch and followed Jack.

The group moved slowly through the passageway and into the dark, burned out chamber. There was dust everywhere and everybody covered their mouths and noses to breath in as little as possible.

Jack shone his torch at the far wall. 'There!'

They all saw the ragged opening and the dim light behind it. Teal'c grasped the broken door and shoved it back with an impressive show of strength. The light flooded in and Jack strode through to it. He ignored the upper level and ran down the stairs to the chair. His heart stopped at the sight of her.

The spiritual image had been perfect but Sam's real body was very broken. There was a bruise along one side of her face; a gash on her forehead. There were scrapes and bruises along both her arms and the one holding the laptop seemed to rest at an odd angle. Her whole body was twisted.

Carolyn pushed past him along with the other medics and Jack stood still watching them work as they gently lowered her from the chair onto the ground and examined her.

He felt Daniel and Teal'c stand beside him silently and was vaguely aware of Mitchell, SG3 and SG12 along with Bra'tac and the rest of the Jaffa taking other positions behind them and on the staircase, leaving only the medical team with Sam in the centre. All their eyes were pinned to the woman lying motionless on the ground.

'No pulse.' One of the medics shouted.

'Defib now!' Carolyn yelled. The paddles were charged and handed to her. 'Clear!'

The shock jerked Sam's body but there was no change.

'Again!' Carolyn yelled.

'It won't work.' Orlin said quietly.

The clatter of P90's and staff weapons being raised at the strange man, who had suddenly appeared on the empty side of the room opposite them, filled the air.

'Stand down.' Jack ordered loudly. His eyes held Orlin's. 'You can save her.'

'There is a balance…' Orlin began.

'I told you.' Jack said. 'Screw the balance.' He gestured at Sam. 'Save her, dammit!'

'Jack?' Daniel asked nervously. 'What's going on?'

'The Others have said there is a way,' Orlin said, 'but there is a price.'

Jack's jaw clenched. 'Name it.'

'A life for a life.' Orlin said.

'Take mine.' Jack said without hesitation. I would rather die myself than lose Carter. Jack remembered the words as though it was yesterday. It was still true.

Orlin stared at him. 'You would do that?'

'I said so didn't I?' Jack said roughly. 'What are we waiting for?'

Orlin nodded. 'Sit beside her.'

'Jack.' Daniel took a step forward to stop him; he wanted to save Sam too but not at the cost of another friend…

Jack put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him. This was his choice; what he wanted.

Daniel swallowed hard but let his friend go.

Teal'c bowed his head and Jack acknowledged it with a pat on his arm as he moved past him.

Jack motioned for Carolyn and the other medics to move aside and sat down beside Sam on one side as Orlin moved to sit beside her on the other.

'Now what?' Jack asked.

'Hold her hand.' Orlin instructed.

Jack clasped Sam's right hand in his; noticed Orlin took hold of her left.

'Now close your eyes.' Orlin said. He transformed into his energy form. There was a gasp from the Jaffa; a reverence as they bowed their heads at the bright white light and understood they were in the presence of an Ascended being. Even the more seasoned amongst the human soldiers gaped in awe.

'My God!' Mitchell muttered.

Daniel felt his chest tightening, a sob crawling up his throat that he forced back. He felt Teal'c's steadying hand on his shoulder.

The white energy ribbons of Orlin wrapped themselves around Jack and Sam, and covered them completely in the blinding light. Minutes passed before they started to retreat as Orlin solidified into his human form; his mortal human form.

Jack felt Sam's pulse at the wrist he held in his hand; it was steady and strong. He breathed out heavily in relief and opened his eyes. He hadn't expected to still be alive. He looked over at Orlin and immediately understood what the other man had done. Orlin had paid the price; he had given his life for Sam's.

Orlin looked down at Sam, the bruises already fading away from her skin, blooming on his. He had little of his own life left. Only one or two more breaths. 'You'll have to bring her the rest of the way.'

'Why?' Jack asked.

Orlin blinked heavily struggling to meet Jack's thankful eyes and understood the question wasn't in regards to what he had just said but rather why Orlin had made the sacrifice. 'Because she'll say yes.' Orlin said softly. He swayed and Jack moved, letting go of Sam's hand, to step across her and hold the other man. Orlin slumped against him. 'Tell her…' He gasped and was still.

Jack laid Orlin's body gently on the ground. 'Thank you.' He said quietly. He disengaged Sam's hand from Orlin's grasp and folded it into his own. His eyes sought Carolyn across the room and gestured for her.

She took one hesitant step but then her medical training kicked in and she was by Sam's side checking her vitals. Jack gently let go of Sam. He placed her hand by her side before he moved away as the doctor did her job; an IV line, oxygen mask, the transfer of Sam onto a portable stretcher. Daniel and Teal'c hovered close by.

Jack watched as SG3 moved in to help the medics lift the stretcher. She would be taken straight back to the gate, back home to the SGC. He watched her being carried away for a long moment before he took a deep breath and replaced his cap over his short grey hair. He had a job to do. 'Major Baildon,' Jack motioned at the leader of SG12. 'You'll stay with the scientists and help the Jaffa disconnect the power source here, clear up, make friends.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Everybody else, let's go home.' Jack ordered gruffly.