CHAPTER FIVE

After passing through the sealed entry, Jack ran right smack into a large, dark form. He was about to apologize when he realized just who it was he had collided with. "Teal'c! It's nice to see you here. How ya been?" O'Neil wasn't exactly bubbling with joy, but he was indeed happy to see his friend. Having spent the day with only Daniel for company, he appreciated someone else being there. Someone less prying. As much as he loved him, sometimes Jack really just wanted Daniel to shut the hell up and leave him alone. Teal'c, well, there wasn't usually a problem with chattiness there.

"O'Neill. It is indeed good to see you, as well, despite the regrettable circumstances which have caused your visit. How is Colonel Carter today?" There was a tiny undertone in the Jaffa's voice that Jack rightly interpreted as chastising for the length of time that had passed since he'd last come to Colorado to see his old teammates. It had been nearly a year since O'Neill had been out this way, and he hadn't really spent any time with them even then. Teal'c missed O'Neill, and was saddened that Jack's friendship with his former team seemed to be fading.

The big Jaffa especially wondered about both Colonel Carter and Daniel Jackson. The General had always had a special fondness for Dr. Jackson, and despite his tough exterior, Teal'c knew O'Neill really cared about the younger man. It surprised and saddened him to see Jack so distant now. And as for Colonel Carter, well, Teal'c had been in the room not so very long ago when she and the General had confessed their feelings for one another, and while things had changed a lot in recent years, he always thought there was substance there. As a warrior, Teal'c understood why things had to be the way they were for so long. But now, he wished his two friends happiness, and he wanted them to find each other if that was what was meant to be. For Teal'c, it was indeed meant to be for practical as well as personal reasons. O'Neill and Carter had the same security clearances, and at least they could be open about their lives with each other. It only made sense that if they could at all possibly make it work, that they should. Teal'c was tired of seeing them put up a brave façade but have no one to lean on when it counted. He would always be there for both of them, but he understood that his friendship was simply not the same. Sometimes you just need someone at home, so to speak. Even Teal'c had felt the sting of many nights alone at times. It bothered him that his friends were drifting further and further apart, making any chance of their happiness together smaller and smaller.

Daniel answered for Jack, as the older man seemed to be in a bit of a daze. "No real change from yesterday. She may have surgery on her legs tomorrow for stabilization of the broken bones. They're likely to do that in stages-first one leg and then the other, but they aren't sure of the exact plan yet, as apparently the pelvis is an issue. In order to get the bones to mend, Sam needs to put weight on them. However, with the broken pelvis and the nerve damage, she won't be able to do that for a while. So, they're going to just get the bones aligned right and hope for the best. They will be using some sort of motion machine to keep blood flowing and muscle strength in her legs. The pelvis will likely be a separate surgery, and they don't know if they will be fixing that or letting it heal on its own. It depends on what they find when they get in there. The nerves are the biggest issue. If this is a temporary thing, like swelling of the nerves or something, and it goes away, they are optimistic they can get Sam walking again. If not…"

"Understood, Jackson." A new voice came up from behind the archeologist, cutting him off.

Everyone knew what the 'if not' was, and no one wanted to hear it. Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell stood nearby now. With him was a dark haired woman who looked somber. Vala Maldoran, who usually was full of entirely too much bubbling personality to match her too wild hair, was quiet for once. And thank goodness for that. Jack was looking at Vala and the Colonel with murder in his eyes.

Jack didn't like the newcomers being there. He had no problem with Mitchell most days, although he would have preferred that Carter lead SG-1 in his absence. The Air Force had vetoed that, and since it was company policy, so to speak, to shift personnel around, Jack was happy that most of his team had remained intact. He knew he had Mitchell to thank for that in many ways, so the young man couldn't be all bad in his mind. The woman, though, was another story entirely. Vala annoyed Jack to no end, and there was no way he would have tolerated her anywhere near the SGC. He was glad he didn't have to actually spend any time with her since she had come aboard. He probably would have strangled her. She was Daniel's little project. His little way to try to make the universe a better place by helping someone. Let him have it. Jack wasn't interested. At least the woman had the good sense to stay quiet now. Maybe Daniel was rubbing off on her a bit. Even he occasionally knew when to shut up. Right now, though, Jack resented her, and Mitchell for that matter, being here with 'his' team. They were outsiders, and this was family business. Two years didn't equal eight, and it certainly didn't equal the bonds formed in these four people. Mitchell and Vala weren't family yet, and probably never would be. They seemed to know it, though, and so they stayed a bit away from the General, Teal'c, and Jackson. The group of five was really a trio and a pair. Jack at least had to give them that.

Daniel, ever the polite one, greeted the newcomers. "Colonel Mitchell, Vala. Get done over at the mountain? Sorry I couldn't help with that briefing but someone had to be here."

Mitchell responded. "Yeah, everything's squared away and General Landry has given SG-1 personal leave to see how this shakes out. No worries about your absence. We agreed to take shifts here. Not much we can do, but we can do that."

Daniel nodded. "Agreed. Well, I don't think they'll let me in again to see Sam if I don't shower and change, so I think I'll head home for a bit. 16 hours up here takes a toll on hygiene. I'll be back as soon as I can, though."

Mitchell responded with a little laugh. "Don't sweat it, Jackson. We can stay overnight and we'll go from there. Go home. You are a little ripe, if I do say so myself."

The quiet older man who had drifted out of the conversation suddenly spoke up. "I'll stay." Jack's voice didn't leave much room for argument, but he knew it was coming anyway.

"I also would like to sit with Major Carter tonight." Teal'c wasn't going to leave his friend at this turbulent time.

O'Neill gave the big Jaffa a look that said thanks in a million languages, and looked expectantly at Daniel, who he was sure was about to protest that Jack had been here nearly as long as he had and was jet-lagged, and who knows what else. But Daniel just looked Jack in the eye for a long second and nodded his head slightly. He knew Jack needed to stay right now for whatever reason. And Teal'c's presence eased his worries quite a bit. This was like the old days, before Jack's promotion to General, when SG-1 was still intact. No words were spoken. Daniel just took the cue and knew what to do. He addressed Mitchell and Vala now.

"You guys have had a long day, too. Why don't we all get out of here."

Mitchell and Vala knew they were being dismissed, but they seemed to take it in stride for now. There would be plenty of time left to watch over Carter, and they didn't want to argue with Jack. It would be pointless. They would eventually lose anyway.

As Daniel, Mitchell, and Vala left, Jack and Teal'c returned to the TICU waiting area for the beginning of their vigil. They didn't know how long they would be there, or what they could do. They only knew they weren't going to leave anytime soon.