Title: Five Times Jack Held Sam's Hand
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, General Hammond
Pairings: None, but Jack/Sam if you squint
Rating: T
Genre: Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Romance
A/N: I adore the 'five times' trope.
I am also a huge fan of Sam being in trouble/danger and Jack coming to rescue her. I mean, we all know she can rescue herself, but it just warms my fluffy heart when she allows him to.
Just a fairly quickish one shot as I prepare for more chapters of 'The Cure of Saorsa' story. I'm hoping to publish those soon – as early as the middle of December, I have over half the story written already! 😊 Feel free to check out 'The Tree of Freedom' if you haven't already, that's the first part of the story! Or you can read it again, if you've seen it already ^.^
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, be it complimentary or critical. As always, mistakes are mine.
Summary: Five times Jack was able to hold Sam's hand. It was mostly because he felt it was his duty but despite his sense of duty, he definitely wanted to encase her smaller and delicate but deadly hands in his larger, rough, calloused ones.
1. Cakewalk, my ass!
When Jack was informed he would be leading SG-1 on a mission to P27-011, he only had one word to describe his feelings.
Cakewalk.
General Hammond had assigned the flagship team to a mission that involved exploring the terrain and meeting and greeting the locals in the hopes that they could add another ally to their growing list. The UAV and MALP readings had suggested great weather, a small sandy beach and a small settlement about five klicks from the gate.
The UAV had picked up the hustle and bustle of everyday life for the small group of settlers and that their technology was around two hundred years behind Earth's own. Perfect for negotiation, as long as they had minerals or natural medicines Earth could use.
At first, Jack was resistant. Such a mission should go to another group, like SG-9 or SG-11, his insubordinate streak reared its ugly head as Hammond handed him the file, his mouth primed to spit the words already floating around his head.
Sensing an oncoming argument, Hammond merely raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Colonel?"
"I mean, really, General?" Jack scoffed indignantly. His team were incredibly talented people. Incredibly talented people that could be used elsewhere.
Hammond chuckled and lowered himself into his chair. "Tell me about SG-1's last three missions."
Jack's brow furrowed in confusion. "You've read the reports, Sir."
"Humour me."
Jack cast his mind's eye back over the last three weeks. "We helped the Tok'ra with their espionage against Heru'ur, mediated a hundred year war between two groups and we freed a world from Apophis' rule."
Hammond nodded. "Right. And SG-1 returned from all three completely unharmed?"
Jack shook his head. "Well, Carter got hit over the head pretty hard, Daniel got cracked in the mouth – though that was his own fault and I pulled a muscle, Sir. Don't get me started on the zat blasts." And like that, the penny dropped, Jack raised his eyes to Hammond to see a knowing grin on his face. Jack waved the file. "So, P27-011, huh? Sounds nice this time of year."
"You leave at 0900, Colonel." chuckled Hammond as Jack saluted before moving to leave the office.
At precisely 0857, SG-1 were geared up at the base of the ramp, waiting as they watched the gate dial to the world they were going to explore. Jack observed his team quietly as the whirring of the gate filled the silence.
Daniel was cleaning his glasses, Teal'c was staring impassively at the gate as the different chevrons lit up and Sam was fiddling with a doo-dad-doo-hickey. Jack looked at Hammond, maybe they really did need a cakewalk for a change.
The whoosh of the gate bursting into life brought everyone's attention back and Hammond's voice sounded through the intercom.
"SG-1, you have a go. We'll check in with you in six hours."
Jack pulled his cap down. "Alright, kids. Let's go!" He extended his arm, allowing his team to go first, a growing spark of enthusiasm for an "easier" ride than their previous missions evident in their steps as they traipsed up the ramp.
So, you could imagine Jack's disbelief when he woke up three hours later tied to one of his teammates in a pitch black cell.
He stretched his arm out, his hand trailing on the floor. The floor he was laying on was wood, with a layer of hay to provide insulation. Hmm, how generous. Goa'uld, take note.
His eyes were open, but he could see nothing, not even a slither of light filtering through the cracks. All he could hear was his own breathing and that of the person he was tied to. He was surprised at how he was tied up. His right hand was free, while his left arm had been tied to someone else's. Jack gave an experimental wiggle of his feet and almost laughed when he found he was able to move them freely. Clearly, their captors didn't have much experience in keeping prisoners.
With his free hand, he brought it up to his chest and was relieved to find that he still had his vest, though his P90 was gone. Ah, not so inexperienced after all.
Once he gave himself the once over, his attention turned to the person he was tied to. He used his left hand to reach around and feel whose arm he was tied to. He managed to grasp at a small, delicate hand and for a moment, he allowed himself to hold it. It was warm and soft and it sent a jolt through him, like a pulse of electricity once he realised who the hand belonged to.
"Carter?" He whispered. When he didn't receive a response, he manoeuvred himself to rest on his side. He moved his head to where he thought her ear was and tried again.
"Carter?"
Jack's held jolted back as Sam tried to sit up, knocking her forehead into his mouth. His free hand came up to cup his mouth as the salty metallic tang of blood reached his tongue.
"Ow. Sir? Is that you?"
"Yeah, you think Carter?"
"Sorry, Sir."
"It's alright. You okay?"
"Apart from a sore head, yeah." Jack listened as Sam shuffled next to him, doing the same that he had done when he had woken up. Her free hand brushed against the ground, reaching the same conclusions he had. "Sir, where are we?"
"I was hoping you could tell me, Major. I just about remember stepping through the gate."
"I don't remember, Sir. I still have my vest though." Sam went quiet. "Is my arm tied to yours?"
"That would appear to be the case, Carter." Deadpanned Jack. He could just about imagine the eyeroll and grin on his 2iC's face at his response. "So, next question."
"Where are Daniel and Teal'c?"
"Bingo, Major."
Sam shuffled and sighed. "I don't know, Sir." At that, their radios crackled into life and both reached up to turn them down.
"Sam? Jack? Are you there?"
"Daniel! Where are you?"
"Oh thank God, we've been trying to get a hold of you for ages!" exclaimed Daniel, the worry evident in his voice. "Long story, but the short of it is, Teal'c and I managed to not get captured. We're outside the village settlement."
"What did we do to get captured?"
There was a silence before the radio came to life again. "O'Neill, it is I."
"Hey Teal'c, what happened?"
"The leader of the tribe and his men came out to meet us. He did not take kindly to you."
Sam let out a long sigh, prompting Jack to mutter under his breath. "Great."
"I believe he felt threatened, O'Neill."
"It wasn't completely your fault, Jack, the culture is similar to-"
"Funnily enough, Daniel, I don't care about the culture right now. What happened?"
"One of his men blew a powder in your face. As Major Carter tried to step in, she met the same fate. Daniel tried to negotiate with them, but he narrowly avoided being severely injured." Teal'c's voice lowered. "We had no choice but to flee, O'Neill."
"Would have done the same thing, T. No hard feelings."
"We followed them back to their village, keeping our distance. We are here now, I believe we can see the structure you are in."
"That's good, Teal'c. Are there any guards?" prompted Jack, adrenaline beginning to course through his veins.
"No, O'Neill. I believe them to be asleep."
Jack looked to where he thought Sam was. "This has to be the easiest capture and escape I've ever been in."
"We have to find a way out first, Sir."
"Ever the optimist, Carter."
Sam snorted softly. "Yes, Sir."
"Jack?"
"Daniel."
"I picked up some of their language and I really think we need to get you out of there."
Ice coursed through Jack's body and he felt Sam tense up beside him. "Yeah?"
"Teal'c and I have been looking around and we found human remains."
"Right?"
"I'm not sure how to tell you this, but they had teeth marks on them, Jack. Human teeth marks."
Jack cursed under his breath. "Cakewalk, my ass."
"Jack?"
"Daniel, can you and Teal'c come to us? We just need you to give us a clue as to where we are. We're in the dark here."
"Night has fallen, O'Neill. We will be with you momentarily."
"Great, let's maintain radio silence, okay? Last thing we want to do is keep these guys a clue about what we're up to."
"Understood, O'Neill."
Jack sighed and turned his head towards Sam's. "You okay, Carter?"
"Yes Sir. Just want to get out of here before dinner is started."
"Yeah, you and me both. Let's get up, take stock of where we're at and get out bearings before the cavalry arrive."
"Yes Sir." Replied Sam, straining on the 'sir' as she moved herself to sit upright.
Jack tensed as Sam groaned. "Carter?"
"I'm okay, Sir. I'm a little nauseous, it's probably from whatever drug we were given."
Jack steeled himself to do sit up and as he sat on his knees, he felt a wave wash over him as his stomach fought to retain its contents. He reached over and clumsily clapped Sam on the shoulder before righting himself and giving it a squeeze. "That explains why they're so lax on restraints."
"Yes Sir." Offered Sam quietly.
Jack winced as he heard Sam heave as quietly as she could. With his free hand still on her shoulder, he felt his way down her back and rubbed in between her shoulder blades, ignoring the stench of this morning's meal wafting towards him.
"Sorry, Sir." Whispered the blonde weakly, her voice scratchy and raw.
"Nothing to be sorry about, Carter." He said, still rubbing between her shoulder blades. "Want to try standing next?"
They froze as they heard footsteps approaching them from the east, unable to tell if it was Teal'c and Daniel or their captors.
The footsteps came closer, until it sounded like they were in the room with them and then they stopped. Jack strained his ears, listening for any indication as to who the footsteps belonged to. He could feel Sam tense beneath his hand and he could swear he could feel her heartbeat pounding away.
There was a slight scratching noise on the walls of their confines and then a soft, rhythmic tapping.
Jack let go of the breath he didn't realise he was holding and he moved to stand, bracing himself against the wall in front of him as his arm remained pulled tight behind him, connecting him to Sam sitting on the floor.
He pressed his face against the wood. "Teal'c? Daniel?" he whispered softly.
"We are here, O'Neill."
"Thank God." With his free hand flat against the wooden wall, he turned to where he thought Sam was. "Carter? We need to make a move, you good?"
"Yes Sir." He felt the tension on his arm slacken as Sam pushed herself into a standing position. Jack felt her sway and he pulled her towards him, allowing her to lean on him as their joined arms remained between them. He listened to her breathing heavily, as if fighting the urge to vomit.
"Steady, Carter. We'll get some fresh air in a minute, okay?" Jack turned back towards the wall. "What's the hold up?"
"There's a lock on the door. Teal'c trying to break it without waking up the tribe." reported Daniel, his hurried whisper barely penetrating the wood separating them.
Jack exhaled through his nose. "Carter's not looking so hot. How long?"
"O'Neill, I believe the most successful method would be to shoot it."
Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. "Carter?"
"Sir." Responded Sam weakly.
"If we had to run for it, would you be able to?"
Jack was met with silence as Sam considered his question. Eventually, she hummed in the affirmative. "No choice, Sir. I don't want to be breakfast for these guys."
"No, I am very much best when blue, completely undercooked if possible." said Jack, making Sam chuckled softly.
"Teal'c, shoot it off. We can make it."
"Understood, O'Neill. Stand back."
Jack helped Sam walk back a few paces. A single gunshot sounded and they held their breath, surprised at the lack of movement and alarm from their captors. A metallic sound rattled against the door and they were met with Teal'c's silhouette in the doorway, lightened by the moon's feeble light behind him.
"Okay Carter, we gotta move." Said Jack urgently, new objective in mind.
Teal'c moved out of the way and Jack and Sam stepped out of their prison. The fresh air, tainted with fire, horse manure and what smelt like pine hit their senses.
In the moonlight, Jack looked at Sam and was alarmed to see how pale she was. "Okay, Teal'c, lead the way."
The team trooped quickly towards the treeline, just half a kilometre from the camp settlement and they stopped to look back. There still hadn't been any movement from the captors. Jack frowned. "It can't be that easy…"
"Teal'c and I saw them smoking something around the fire, maybe that explains it?"
"Well," Jack huffed as he manipulated himself to support Sam better, "I don't want to stick around to find out. We need to move quickly."
At that, Daniel took the lead, followed quickly by Jack and Sam, with the rear being brought up by Teal'c. They walked quickly, Sam's foot barely coming into contact with the floor before she had to lift it again.
Once they had reached the top of a hill, Jack could see the dark outline of the stargate in the distance, less than two klicks away. Sam followed his eyeline, breathing heavily. Jack felt a pang in his chest as he observed the condition of the woman he was tied to. In the moonlight, her skin had a light sheen to it and her breathing was laboured, through the effort of walking at the pace she had been or the effort it took to not puke again, he had no clue.
That question was semi answered when Sam doubled over and heaved again. Daniel and Teal'c looked on in sympathy as the contents of her stomach splattered onto the floor.
"What the hell did they give you?" winced Daniel, as Jack used his free hand to stroke the spot of her back he had done before.
"No clue, didn't think to ask. Teal'c, where's your knife?" asked Jack, his eyes landing on their joined arms. At least if he freed their bonds, he could carry Sam if he needed to.
As Teal'c reached for his knife, the sound of a horn reached their ears, along with the sound of baying dogs.
"Crap, forget it, Teal'c. We got to go!" Jack grabbed Sam's tied hand with his own. "Sorry, Carter." Daniel took off at a run, with Jack and Sam close behind him. Teal'c kept up the pace, his staff weapon ready to fire at a moment's notice.
SG-1 had managed to reach the bottom of the hill, still running as the sound of dogs got closer. While they were running, Jack get a tight hold on Sam's hand, feeling the strain of pulling her along as he kept up his own pace.
Daniel reached the DHD first, punching the chevrons in with such speed and accuracy that Jack wasn't sure he had done it until he saw the event horizon burst forward. As Jack and Sam reached the bottom step, Daniel had entered their code and waited until Teal'c had reached the bottom step before running through.
A loud metallic thud followed by a clatter sounded as Jack, Sam and Teal'c reached the stargate. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw an arrow on the floor before he and Sam ran through into the shimmering light.
By his next breath, he had come to a stop on the ramp at the SGC, Teal'c stepping behind him as the iris closed. Jack let out a breath and looked at Sam who, under the harsh lighting of the mountain complex, seemed even worse than what she had before.
His eyes were laced with silent concern as she met his gaze. She blinked slowly. I'm alright. Teal'c moved to stand in front of them, puzzling Jack until he felt a squeeze on his hand. He looked down to see his hand still wrapped around Sam's. He held it for a moment longer, as Hammond made his way into the gateroom, giving Sam's hand a quick squeeze before letting go.
"Told you we shouldn't have taken that mission, Sir." snorted Jack insolently, making Sam turn her head to hide the smile that threatened to break free.
Cakewalk, indeed!