Thank you for all the lovely reviews! The good news, is that I've already written 6 chapters of this story, so I'll be posting daily. As always - reviews help me keep going. I promise to also regularly update my other two stories. I just have to keep them organized!

Stay safe and well. Vini

Much to the surprise of his doctors, Jack survived the stroke. Seven days had passed since he'd been found and he was starting to improve. Daniel and Sam – and after the second day – Teal'c, all took turns sitting with him whenever they were allowed. Once it appeared as if he was out of immediate danger, they'd been able to stay with him around the clock.

The bad news was that the results of the stroke looked bad. He had not as yet woken up and based on tests, a good portion of his brain had been affected.

Of them all, Teal'c had been the most horrified. It was not seeing his friend that had caused that reaction, but rather the idea of Jack living with such a disability.

"He would not wish to live this way," Teal'c had declared.

"They'll be able to help him, Teal'c," Sam had told him. "It may take a while, but with good occupational therapy, he'll be up and running around in no time."

Both Daniel and Teal'c had looked skeptical, but neither had argued with her. Down deep she knew that therapy alone wasn't going to help O'Neill, but she refused to give up hope.

Sam had had to contact the Pentagon to arrange to have someone take over command of the SGC while she stayed at the hospital. She knew they'd eventually want her to go back – but she was willing to quit rather than leave Jack's side. She'd left him once – she was never going to leave him again.

"Sam," Daniel touched her arm, speaking to her softly. "Teal'c is going to sit with him for a while. Come with me to get some dinner."

She just nodded, and stood, knowing she needed a break. Sitting here watching him – not moving, his mouth distorted and hanging open, his eye drooping – machines keeping him alive – were all enough to make her want to cry and never stop.

"I spoke to the doctor," he said gently, after they sat down – a tray of food in front of each of them.

"What did he say?"

"That they'll keep him here another few days, but then they're going to have to transfer him to a long-term care facility."

"How long will he be there?"

Daniel didn't speak for a few seconds. Instead, he stared at his coffee as he slowly stirred it. Finally he looked up – compassion and pain in his eyes. "Sam – it could be permanently."

"Permanently! What do you mean?"

"I mean the doctor thinks there was a lot of brain damage. He may be paralyzed and unable to speak or even eat. He may have to be fed by tubes."

"No! There's no way. Daniel you know him. He's a stubborn son of a bitch. He's not going to let this destroy him."

"He may have no choice," he said. "Look, you know that I believe in him – I want him to be okay – but we have to face reality. A good portion of his brain was without oxygen for a long time and we don't have anything that can heal that."

She didn't respond, but instead stared at her own plate for a long time. Finally she looked up. "Well then – I'll just have to find someone who can."

"And how are you going to do that?" he asked gently.

"I'll travel to every planet in the solar system and beyond until I find someone," she answered. "With all the wonders out there, there has to be something that can help him."

"They're not going to let you, Sam," he told her.

"They?"

"The Pentagon – the President. And even if they did – where would you go? What would you look for? We've been travelling through the gate for almost twenty-five years and we haven't found anything."

"Other than the sarcophagus."

"And look what it does," he reminded her.

"It could save him."

"His body, yes – but his soul?"

"Once isn't going to hurt him," she argued. "You've experienced it many times, and your soul is just fine. And Jack was in it probably more than you, and he's – or he was fine."

"Sam – even if once was enough – we don't have one and I wouldn't have the first clue where to find one."

"I'm not going to give up, Daniel," she told him. "I'll find something if it's the last thing I do!"

Daniel let out a long breath, and then nodded. "I'll do what I can to help," he told her. "Damn it! Jack doesn't deserve this! He's given everything to this world – to us. It's so goddamned unfair!"

"It is – but we're going to fix this. I am not ready for a world without the Jack O'Neill we know – and love," she said, her voice breaking.

"Neither am I Sam – neither am I!"

Teal'c watched his friend and despaired. He knew that there would be nothing O'Neill would hate more than to be like this for the rest of his life. He was a warrior – a valiant man, who deserved to go out like he had lived – strong and courageous, with a sarcastic quip and a "damn your eyes" attitude. Lying here, weak – unable to speak or move – this he would hate.

He knew that as O'Neill's brother it was his responsibility to ensure his friend died a dignified death. He was not afraid of the task – he did not shy from it. But, his friends, Samantha Carter and Daniel Jackson, had made him swear that the would not harm O'Neill – he would not help him move on to the next world – at least not now.

He would wait. He would give O'Neill, and the Earth doctors, a chance. He would wait and see if his friend would get better and once again be the warrior Teal'c had known. If he did, Teal'c would rejoice. If he did not – then Teal'c would act.

"Get well, my brother," he murmured softly. "Get well, so we may have many more adventures together."

Teal'c left the next day, to return to Chulak. He had not wanted to leave his friend, but, like Sam, he wanted to see if he could find any help for his brother.

"I shall return soon," he told Daniel. "If O'Neill should awaken, tell him I am with him in spirit, but that I look for those who may offer him healing."

"We'll tell him, Teal'c, don't worry. Good luck with your hunt. I hope you find something."

"I too hope to find that which will help O'Neill. In the meantime – look after yourself, Daniel Jackson – and look after Samantha Carter. I fear she has taken this very much to heart."

"She still loves him, Teal'c."

"She does," he nodded. "I fear she regrets that they did not have a life together."

"Yeah," Daniel sighed. "I think so too. I could never figure out what went wrong. They were both a pair of stubborn asses. Maybe if we had knocked their heads together!"

"I too wished to do so on many occasions," Teal'c agreed, "however there is no purpose in thinking of the past. We must do what we can to help O'Neill now."

"Good luck, buddy. I hope you find something."

It had been hard for Daniel to see Teal'c leave. The big guy always offered a quiet strength that had often helped Daniel get through hard times. Now, with him gone, it was on Daniel to be the strong one, since Sam was barely coping.

"He doesn't seem to be getting better, Daniel," she said, the next day. Both of them were looking tired and worn – but Sam especially looked bad. She had huge circles under her eyes, her skin was sallow, and she'd lost over ten pounds – pounds she could ill afford to lose.

Daniel was worried about her, but didn't know what to do. He knew there was no way she would leave Jack, but he was afraid she would make herself ill.

"He's stabilized," he reminded her. "The doctor says we just have to be patient. He may come around soon."

"It's been two weeks and he's showing no signs of waking up."

"His body is healing. Just be patient."

"I don't want to be patient," she cried. "I want him back Daniel."

"I know Sam, so do I."

Sam continued to spend hours by his bedside. Daniel had taken time off of work, but soon had to start back. He was working for the National Academy of Sciences and they'd given him a lot of leeway, but he'd already used all his vacation time and they wouldn't allow him much more time off.

Sam was finally called back to the SGC, as well, after being told they couldn't give her more leave. General O'Neill was not a relative, they told her, and although they knew she was close to him, she couldn't be derelict in her duty.

She'd laughed bitterly when they told her that. She'd given up everything for duty, as had Jack – and now, when he needed her, they pulled that line out of their collective ass.

She was so angry she'd instantly handed in her retirement papers. She had more than enough years in the Air Force for a good pension and knew she'd have no trouble finding a civilian job. That had caused shock and mayhem at the Pentagon and the White House – and she hadn't given a damn.

They then told her that even if she was to retire, she had to give them adequate notice. They were going to insist on 6 months and she then told General Radcliffe to go jump in a lake. She knew she could easily be up on charges, but didn't care. They needed her – even if she was to retire. There was no one out there who knew the Gate like she did, and if they forced her to stay on, she would make damn sure they regretted it.

In the end they had bowed to her and told her she could take an indefinite leave – "until there was nothing more she could do for the General."

She shrugged when they told her and simply returned to his bedside.

The one bit of relief she had, was when Cassie came and stayed a few days, relieving her of her constant vigil. When she'd seen her almost daughter, she'd finally burst into tears. Cassie had held her for a long, long time.

The problem was Cassie couldn't stay too long. She had a job and a husband and three kids, one in middle school, one in elementary, and one still home with her. She was also a doctor with a thriving practice. But for the week she was there, she offered real comfort to Sam.

It was now over three weeks since the stroke, and the hospital was releasing Jack to a long-term care facility. Sam hated the idea, but knew there was no other option. The General still hadn't woken up and the doctors had no idea when – or even if – he would.

She helped set up his new room, trying to make it as homey and comfortable as possible. At least he was put in a good place and provided top notch care. The President made sure that a national hero like General O'Neill would get the best care possible. But it was still not what he deserved.

"Sir, you have to wake up," she told him. She reached out and took his hand and held it tightly. She had this same conversation with him every day. She prayed that one day he'd hear her and suddenly open his eyes. She longed to hear his "Carter, what's up?" She wanted to hear about him trying to escape the hospital and head home for beer and pizza. She wanted to hear him tease Daniel and Teal'c, and make her giggle.

She wanted her Jack back.

"Come on Sir. Open those beautiful eyes of yours and give me a smile. You can do it, I know you can!"

She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes. She wasn't a religious person – at least not any kind of formal religion – but she'd seen too much in the universe not to believe in something beyond what they could see. She prayed to whichever god or being would listen. She prayed for Jack to get better. She prayed for another chance.

She felt a strange buzz, and opened her eyes, to see everything blink out.