Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG1 or any of it's characters, I post this strictly for entertainment purposes.

Chapter 18

"I need a doctor here fast!" Daniel yelled to the first person he saw. The airman, shocked by their sudden appearance in the infirmary, hesitated.

"Now!" He ordered. Looking down on Sam, he cradled her close to him, her blood seeping into his clothes as he picked her up and brought her over to the nearest empty bed and laid her down on it.

"Hold on, Sam. Stay with me." He pleaded with here as he pushed her hair out of her face, her features pale and frightfully cold to his touch. Within moments, she was surrounded by Carolyn and a team of nurses. The headstrong doctor barked orders to her staff and they fought furiously to stabilize her with fluids and blood transfusions. Daniel found himself pushed to the side as they worked, watching helplessly from the sidelines, fear gripping his heart as the minutes flew by.

"Daniel?" Carolyn turned from her patient for a moment after they had her stabilized and went to his side, seeing the tension and worry etched on his face.

"She going to be okay?"

"We're going to take her into surgery. We've got most of the bleeding under control, but she's still losing a lot of blood and I'm worried that there may be arterial damage, but I'll know more after we get her in the OR."

"But she's going to live, right?" He asked, his throat tightening. She gave him a sympathetic squeeze on the arm.

"We're going to do all we can for her, okay?" He nodded, feeling lightheaded and fixed his eyes on Sam's still form as Carolyn walked back to her bed and they began to roll her away. He rushed to her side and took her limp hand.

"Be strong, Sam. I love you." He whispered to her and kissed her forehead as they took her behind the doors towards the operating room, leaving him behind. He turned and slumped against the wall, sliding down to sit with his knees to his chest, closing his eyes and burying his head into his knees.

"Jackson?" Daniel raised his weary head, opening his red eyes to see Cam standing over him. Mitchell joined him on the floor, grunting as he stooped to sit by the distraught archaeologist.

"Something wrong with the chairs?" He asked. Daniel was quiet, leaning his head back against the wall. "Sam's tough, she'll make it." Cam reassured him

Daniel just nodded, looking at his hands, they were red and stained with her blood. He clenched them tightly, rage welling up inside of him.

"Are they all dead?" He asked, clenching his teeth.

"We think so. We're sending teams out to all of the Alien ships, there hasn't been any life signs that we can detect, they seem to be just floating there."

Daniel didn't feel sorry for the aliens, he hated them and was glad they had all been destroyed. Years ago he might have felt some empathy for the destruction of an entire race of beings, but not now, not after all the Sorlish had done. For what they had done to the planet, to Vala and now to Sam, he just wished that he could have seen the faces of the aliens as they were cut off from their computer and died. He guiltily hoped that they had suffered.

"You need to go see Vala, Jackson." Mitchell told him after a moment of silence.

"How is she?" Daniel asked, turning to him. Cam's face grew somber and Daniel's stomach dropped.

"She's not doing so hot." The General started sadly. "Carolyn thinks the device did too much damage, her organs are shutting down and there isn't anything else she can do except make her comfortable until she..."

"No, Mitchell." Daniel cut him off. "She was fine when we left, she's going to make it."

"Dammit, Daniel." Cam sighed, grabbing his shoulder. "You're going to have to face this. Vala doesn't have long, she knows the end is getting close and you need to to go see her before it's too late. She's been hanging on for you, but you're going to have to let her go."

Daniel heard the words, but didn't want to believe them, he had to see for himself. With rubbery legs, he stood and made his way over to Vala's bed in a trance. She couldn't be dying. He just got her back. He wasn't sure what it would mean for him and Sam, but Vala had to survive this. He reached the curtain and pulled it back, she was sleeping, but even with her eyes closed, he could see the lines of pain on her face and he sat down in the chair next to her bed, reaching out a hand to smooth those lines away with his thumb.

She stirred under his touch and opened her grey eyes. Even that appeared to be a struggle and the sudden realization that she might actually be dying hit him like a ton of bricks. He attempted to give her a smile even though he felt like crying or punching a wall.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Hi." He answered quietly.

"I hear you killed the Sorlish...Thank-you." Her speech was slow and weak, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

"No, thank-you. We couldn't have done it if it hadn't been for you."

Her lips curled in to a slight smile and she reminded him of the years they had together. It had been too short and he wished they had more time.

"Vala, I..."

"I love you, too." She smiled.

"Don't go yet." He begged quietly, his voice choking in his throat and shaking his head.

"It's alright Daniel, I'm ready for this and I know you'll be okay." She smiled a little, eying him. "I couldn't help but see how you look at Sam." He looked at her guiltily, but she shook her head. "Don't be afraid to be happy with her. I'm glad that you two will have each other."

"I'm so sorry..." Daniel could hold back no more. He dropped his head onto her lap and sobbed. It was all too much for him. He was going to lose her all over again and if Sam didn't make it he didn't think he could survive. Her hand slipped up and down his back as it shook.

"Look at me.." She demanded softly. He lifted his teary eyes to her and she too had tears in her eyes, slipping down her face. She took his face between her hands and lifted him gently to her face, kissing him lightly on the lips. Their foreheads touched as she spoke quietly to him.

"I'm free now, thanks to you. don't be be sad about letting me go. I died long ago when the Sorlish first took me, but we've been given a second chance, even if it is to just say goodbye."

Daniel pulled her into a tight embrace, he didn't want to let her go, but he could see it in her face that she was at peace with it and was ready for her death, even if he wasn't.

"Hold me until I go." She whispered into his ear. He did little to stop the tears that fell down his face as he held her tighter.

"I've got you, Vala." He stroked her hair as he felt her body relax into his.

"Goodbye." She sighed.

"Bye.... I'll always love you." he whispered to her. He felt her breathe out contentedly and her body went limp. He held her tight until he could no longer feel her heart beat against his chest, then he gently laid her down and looked into her peaceful face, the pain was gone, she was free.

Sorry this was such a short chapter, but the last chapter is already halfway finished and I should be posting it soon. :)