Chapter Eight

"Eat to live, don't live to eat."

Jack chuckled to himself as the pale blue alien stared at him through the bars and then purred. This particular young looking dragon had become a regular visitor, and always brought something new for Jack to try. After seeing that Sam was still alive, albeit not in great shape, Jack had decided that letting himself starve to death was no longer an option. Ever since they noticed his affinity for cooked foods they'd been getting more creative and Jack had the feeling that this was the local chef.

"Some famous guy said that...at least I think he was famous." Jack continued. "Anyway, I have to admit that you do have some culinary skill."

When the alien tilted his head to the side in confusion Jack rolled his eyes and just returned to his place in the corner. The alien reached through the bars and retrieved the empty plate once Jack was a safe distance away. He'd had gotten used to this treatment and it barely even bothered him any more.

Jack was just starting to contemplate getting up to do some good old fashion pacing for lack of anything else to do when the pink alien arrived. Jumping up to his feet and rushed over to the bars. Once he demonstrated that he was willing to eat on his own after seeing Sam they'd been allowing him to see her every couple of days for a few minutes. She had stopped fighting her restraints and had taken on a more meditative quality about her. He could only assume it was an improvement.

The pink dragon looked at him and forced a tight lipped smile. Jack couldn't believe it, but he'd actually grown slightly attached to her. She seemed to genuinely want to help him and his hope was that once Sam was healthy that they'd be released if they could prove they weren't dangerous.

"Tek ta."

"Good morning to you too, haven't seen you in a few days. I hope that means you've been busy with Carter and maybe we can get her out of that tank soon, she's is looking so much better." Jack said with a smile. "Although she kinda had that 'the next living thing I get my hands on is going to die' look about her last time. If I were you I'd let me be there when you let her out."

After looking around the pink alien returned nervous eyes to Jack and tapped on her chest.

"Ser'in."

"Is that your name?" Jack asked in shock. "Ser'in?"

"Ser'in." She repeated and tapped again.

"Ser'in." Jack smiled and tapped on his own chest. "Jack."

"Jaa'ck."

"Close enough. I don't understand. I've tried to tell you my name like a hundred times, what's with the sudden interest?"

Ser'in cast her eyes down at the floor. Following her line of sight Jack noticed her braced hand for the first time. He reached through the bars and gently touched her arm.

"What happened to your hand, Ser'in? Some untamed animal finally bite you?" Jack smiled at first, but then his mirth faded away. "Wait...did Carter do that to you? You didn't hurt her, did you? She would have only been trying to defend herself. Is she okay?"

"Jaa'ck..."

"No, I don't want to hear it, I don't understand you and you know that." Jack hissed in sudden anger. "You know we're intelligent beings! Why are we still being treated like animals? You are the only one who is even trying to communicate with me, why? What is your kind so afraid of?!"

Ser'in took a step back in fear of Jack's vocal outburst. Reaching up he gripped the bars and glared at her angrily.

"Take me to her or I swear I will give your race something to fear."

For a long moment Ser'in just returned his stare blankly. When she did move again she pulled a small device out of her pocket and started taking into it. Putting it away she waited for something. Eventually the green alien that had tried to kill Sam came down the hall. Even without knowing what he'd done Jack wasn't fond of this one, he always had air of superiority about him.

"Tell this guy who I am." Jack demanded. "Tell him I'm just as 'good' as he is. Tell him, Ser'in."

The green alien jolted in shock at hearing Jack use the name and Ser'in instantly cowered from him and launched into an explanation. They started to argue heatedly. It came to a point where they had actually began to draw a small crowd. As they continued the debate Ser'in pointed at Jack and she started to cry.

The passionate display seemed to affect the green alien more than her arguments. He sighed heavily and looked over at Jack with an unreadable expression. Not knowing what else to do Jack got down on his knees and laced his fingers together in front of his chest. The green alien furrowed his brow, but remained silent.

"Does this mean anything to your kind?" Jack asked desperately. "This is called 'begging' and I'll have you know that I am not a man who begs. But I am begging you to let me see Carter."

"Va'lo, fa'ris..." Ser'in pleaded.

"Yeah, what she said. 'Fa'ris'. Does that mean 'please'? Are you Va'lo? Va'lo, fa'ris."

Jack could see the sudden defeat in Va'lo's eyes. He pinched at the wide bridge of his nose and muttered something that caused Ser'in to wrap her arms around him and lick up the side of his face. He pushed her away and growled what sounded like a warning. Looking up at the others who had been watching the exchange he repeated the warning to them as well.

Jack got to his feet as everyone left except Ser'in and two other that were armed with what Jack could only assume were guns. When she opened the bars he instantly put his wrists together, but she just reached out and took his hand with her uninjured one. Jack smiled.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

Fearing the worst, but still hopping for the best Jack followed Ser'in through the halls. They certainly weren't on their way to the room that held the tank. When they reached a room that was lined with various sized kennel like cages Jack's eyes instantly fell on the delicate arm that was dangling as if lifeless out of one the elevated barred doors.

"Carter!"

Pulling away from Ser'in Jack rushed across the room. Taking Sam's hand in his Jack instantly pressed his fingers against her wrist to check for a pulse. Her heartbeat was weak, but steady. The large cage she was laying in was up at about waist height. It was not high enough to allow her to stand up if she tried. However it was clear that she hadn't been trying, she was out cold.

Wrapped up in a mass of soft blankets she looked to Jack like he could just reach through the bars and wake her. He was about to try just when Ser'in came over and made an offer that sounded like she wanted to open the door for him. Jack carefully placed Sam's arm back into the cage so that the door could be opened.

Ser'in smiled and tapped a code into the small display panel. Jack watched her intently, memorizing the combination of lights she touched. When the bars slid away Jack opted to just join Sam, thinking it might make the aliens more comfortable about leaving him there. There was just enough room for him to sit up once inside.

Jack didn't even notice the bars being put back in place. He was kneeling on Sam's far side, suddenly afraid to wake her. She looked so peaceful, and after everything that had happed she certainly deserved that peace. Eventually he couldn't keep himself from touching her.

Reaching out Jack gently brushed her cheek and then jerked back in alarm. He put his hand down on her forehead. His blood turned to ice. Jack looked through the bars at Ser'in who was watching them with a look of sorrow.

"Why is her skin still so hot?"

"Dali."

Jack knew what the single word meant. 'Sorry'. From the look on the pink dragon's face he could see that clearly they felt like they had done everything they knew how to for her. The rest would be up to Sam. Ser'in went to unlock the cage again but Jack grabbed her slender wrist to stop her.

"No. I'm staying with her."

Ser'in thought about this for a moment and then simply backed away. Once the aliens were gone Jack turned his attention back to Sam. He ran his hands through her hair that was also heated from the persistent fever. She reacted to his touch with a quiet moan and a feeble attempt to get away from him.

"Easy, Samantha." Jack said softly.

Fighting for consciousness Sam clawed at the blankets and tried to open her eyes. Jack slipped his hand under her head to protect her as she arched her back. Sam managed to flutter her eye lids open for a moment, but her eyes were rolled back. Filling her lungs she cried out in a tired voice that held a sharp edge of fear.

"I know, this has been a rough ride," Jack agreed "but the worst is over."

Gathering Sam up in his arms, blankets and all, Jack leaned against the back wall and cradled her tightly to his chest. Instinctively seeking shelter Sam buried her face in Jack's shirt. He rested his chin lightly on her head to increase their contact. She was trembling, but it was imposable for him to tell if it was from fever or stress.

Sam seemed to be stuck in between sleep and the waking world. She responded to Jack's touch, pressing herself harder against him. However none of her motions seemed to be from true conscious effort. Her hand was suddenly on his waist and she dug her fingers into his skin. Jack allowed the painful grip, she could hold on to him to the point of blood for all he cared. All that mattered to him right now was the fact that she was back in his arms.

When Sam's breathing started getting shallow Jack closed his eyes and silently willed her to calm. Stroking her hair he kept his own breathing slow and exaggerated. Sam slowly began to match his rhythm and released the death grip she had on his flesh. Soon she began to settle into a more natural sleep.

Jack worried about the heat that was radiating off her skin and wondered if it would be best to remove the thick blanket. Deciding that breaking her fever was the most important thing he began to pull the blanket away. Laying her down for a moment he rearranged everything so that they could just lay down on the soft blankets.

It took some doing but eventually he was able to get her comfortable on her back on top of the thick blankets. He laid down on his side next to her and propped himself up on his elbow so he could watch her. Jack brushed her hair away from her forehead and leaned in to kiss her cheek gently.

Sam sighed and a smile flickered across her features. In an attempt to bring her closer to the surface Jack traced his fingertips over her face and the slender curve of her exposed throat. He furrowed his brow as he noticed the thin bruise that encircled her neck. He knew exactly what had caused it and he ground his teeth in a flash of anger.

To Jack's surprise his sudden loss of temper affected Sam. She tensed in fear as though she could sense a near by threat. Jack forced himself to calm down and after a long delay Sam relaxed once again. He brought his hand up and cupped her delicate jaw. Staring at her his vision blurred with tears.

"If you were awake I'd tell you how beautiful you are...court-martial be damned."

Jack leaned in again and kissed her cheek, his lips barely touching her skin. Sam's hand was laying across her stomach and sudden it started seeking as though it had a life of its own. Jack released her jaw and slipped his hand into her fingers. She closed her hand around his and held on firmly. When she started to try and break through her fever again Jack blew a cooling breath across her face.

Sam turned towards the source of the soft breath. Jack's heart raced as she fluttered her eyes open and stared up at him. A bright smile spread across his face as he saw recognition slowly light up her clear eyes. Sam brought her free hand up and touched Jack's cheek as if trying to determine if he was actually there.

"Colonel..."

"Not at the moment, just 'Jack'."

Sam actually laughed at this. It was an awkward and weak sound, but it was accompanied by the coy smile Jack loved so much. The moment of levity only lasted for a moment. Her hand against his face began to tremble and her laughter quickly turned to tears. At first she tried to stop, but the current of conflicting emotions of relief and lingering terror seized control. She turned her face away from him, even in the extreme conditions she didn't seem to want him seeing her cry.

Sitting back up Jack pulled her against his chest again and gave her a place to hide her tears. Jack rubbed up and down the length of her back to comfort her. Sam gripped his shirt and broke into cathartic weeping. Jack held her tighter and closed his eyes against his own tears. He couldn't even decide if he was crying because she was still so close to slipping away from him again, if it was for the joy of just being able to hold her at least one last time, or if it was simply pure relief at the fact that they had a chance of actually surviving this together.

Sam switched her grip from holding on to Jack's shirt to wrapping her arms around his waist in a tangled embrace. Anyone determined to separate the pair now would be forced to kill them both because it wasn't going to happen any other way. She kept her hold on him long after she'd shed her last tear.

Jack had spent days thinking of everything he would say to her if he was just given the chance. However, now that she was here it seemed like try to tell her anything with words would be counterproductive and futile. It wasn't needed anyway, their bond had been beyond words years ago, actually right from the very beginning when he thought about it.

Taking a deep breath Jack was just starting to feeling like he could sleep for days when Sam suddenly pushed herself away from him. She twisted around and pitched forward onto her hands before being thrown into a fit of violent dry heaving. Jack reached under her and put his palm against her stomach.

When she started to slowly collapse Jack was there to help her lay down once again. The strong contractions sapped Sam of all her strength, but only ended when she passed out. Jack moved her onto her back and checked her pulse. Her heart was strong, it was the spiking fever that was killing her.

Jack looked around desperately for anything that could help. Across the room was a set of cabinets. Reaching through the bars Jack closed his eyes and focused on his memory of Ser'in opening the door. He could feel the panel under his fingers, but had to rely on memory as to where the colours were.

It took three tries before the bars slid away. Jack had been supporting himself on them and suddenly caught off guard he fell out of the cage and hit the floor. Getting to his feet he didn't bother to wait and see if anyone had heard his fall. Rushing over to the cabinets he opened them and started riffling through the random stuff inside.

"There has to be something here." Jack growled.

Looking up on the top most shelf Jack spotted a couple of hand sized blue stones. He recalled Ser'in using something very similar against his skin. Pushing himself up on his tip toes he grabbed one. It had an odd constancy, like a fluffy gel. Grabbing a metal bowl he went over to the sink and spent a moment before realizing that it worked off a foot pedal. Once the sponge like substance was wet it instantly cooled.

Having what he felt was the best tool for the job Jack ran back over to the cage and crawled back in. He didn't touch the panel, but after he stepped inside the bars slowly slid back into place. Jack didn't care, it didn't matter, he wasn't leaving without Sam and she was in no condition to go anywhere.

Placing the bowl of water on the floor Jack started to rub the cold blue device over her super heated skin. Sam moaned and tried to pull away from the icy contact even though she remained locked in sleep. Jack spent an hour trying to remove the excess heat before he felt that her temperature was slowly normalizing.

Exhausted to the point of collapse Jack placed the cooling gel under Sam's neck and was forced to lay down. Fighting to keep his eyes open Jack laid on his side next to Sam and gently brushed at her cheek. Sam twitched in her unnatural sleep and fought several times to open her eyes. Jack smiled sadly and put his arm over her protectively.

"Come on, Carter. I know I told you before to just let go, but I didn't mean it. Fight this...come back to me."