Infirmary Visit

Jack sat quietly next the hospital bed next Sam Carter. He just couldn't bring himself to leave her side. He stopped talking aloud to her a while ago instead he opted to continued in silent prayer. From the corner of his down cast eyes he saw movement. Could it be? He looked up fully carefully watching.

There! She moved her hand! He studied her face she was fighting to open her eye against the harsh lighting of the infirmary, "Doc…somebody she's waking up!"

He could see she was starting to panic and fight the tube helping her breath. He remembered the disturbing sensation of being intubated. He vacated his chair and stepped forward placing a gentle hand on her head, "Sam. Sam its Jack, don't fight the tube. It's helping you breath. The doc will be here in a minute to look you over, okay?"

She calmed down with his touch and soothed by his gentle voice. She gave a small nod acknowledging she understood. He was here. He was her protector. She was going to be okay just by his mere presence.

He couldn't take his eye off her. She was trying to keep her eyes open for him. She was trying to look at him with very little success. She was still weak from all that had happened. He was unnerved by the fact she could not do much more than squeeze his hand and give a little nod. She was going to drop off once again into oblivion with him seeing her eyes open. He was desperate to see her eyes. If he could only see her eyes then he would know for sure all will be right with the world.

Two nurses rushed to his position. He answered their questioning looks, "she woke up fought the tube then drifted off again."

They attended to her checking Sam's vitals. One of the nurses stepped to his side to speaking softly to him, "Sir, she is getting stronger. Her pulse is strong and temperature is down. Her lungs sound good she maybe ready for the tube to come out. We'll contact Dr. Lam but I think the next time the Colonel here wakes we'll able to relieve her of the mechanical ventilator."

He let a breath he didn't realize he was holding then said, "Thanks, nurse."

He sat back down to wait. He held her hand willing her to open her eye. He wanted to see her breathing easy. It was nearly unbearable to see the unnatural evenness of the rise and fall of her chest.

An hour passed. Jack had not moved nor had he removed is hand from hers. She were to wake up he wanted to be there. He wanted to be the first to know. A light squeeze on his brought him back to reality, "Sam? Doc!"

He watched intently as her eyes opened ever so slightly. He was hovering in her line of sight smiling down at her. She looked at him recognition registering. She wasn't fighting him nor was she fighting the mechanical ventilator but he knew it had to be damned uncomfortable, "hi, welcome back Colonel. You had us pretty scared here. Just hold on a couple more minutes. The Doc will take you off the ventilator."

She nodded sleepily. Dr. Warner came around the corner to see Jack speaking to a conscious Sam. When he got close enough if spoke as he prepared to take out the tube, "it's good to see you awake, Colonel. We have been at a bit of a loss to her to figure out what happened. Okay take now want you to cough lightly on the next exhale."

She did as you was instructed but continued to cough. The doctor quickly placed nasal tube around Sam's face leaving her to breathe and speak freely.

At first her voice crack from disuse, "Gen-eral…"

Jack was instantly there with a paper cup and straw, "here try this. Take it slow."

She sipped gratefully and tried to speak again, "Sir, what…what happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"Not much. I remember the air being heavy…I was suffocating…it was hot…my blood felt like it was boiling…After that nothing."

"I guess you don't remember breaking Mitchell's nose then."

"I did what?" she exclaimed with surprise. Her eyes were growing heavy again but she fought against falling asleep again. She wanted all the answers now but she was betrayed by her own body.

"Unauthorized offworld activation!"

"Well that's my cue, Carter. I have a feeling that's SG1 coming back a little earlier than scheduled. Get some rest. I'll be back, okay?"

"I look forward to it, Sir," she said quietly not able to fight her heavy eye lids any longer. He stood there long enough to watch her loose this particular battle and couldn't help the small smile from forming across his hard features. She was going to okay.

Jack rushed his way through the halls of the SGC with everyone standing at attention as he past. It was one of the hardest things about being in charge to get used to. All conversation ceased when he neared and everyone popped to attention when he entered a room. "Carry on, Airman," was always on the tip of his tongue.

Jack stood in front of the control room window as SG1 returned much as they had left. Not one at a time but side by side with no bid from any of them to be in the lead. Jack breathed a sigh of relief to see his team all returning upright and moving of their own accord. However, there was something about Teal'c. The big Jaffa didn't seem to be standing as erect as he usual did. His proud stance was some how diminished. This put worry squarely on General Jack O'Neill's shoulders. Something was wrong and now he feared that that planet had once again claimed a victim. With this thought to the forefront of his mind he ran out of the control room nearly falling down steps in his haste.