"Well, I don't believe it!" Cam declared as he and the rest of the team stood around Sam's hospital bed. "If anybody was gonna break their leg, I sure didn't think it'd be you!"

"Me neither," Sam smirked, her gaze flicking significantly to Daniel, who smiled as if to say that he had no idea what she meant. They had finally gotten back to the slopes that morning, but it would have been better if they'd remained stuck in the lodge. By noon, Cam, Daniel, Teal'c, and Vala were following an ambulance as it took Sam from the resort to a local hospital. With her leg in traction, the doctor said that he couldn't even be sure that she would make it out by Thanksgiving.

Daniel turned to glance at the door and frowned. "Y'know, Vala's taking way too long getting those sandwiches."

"You want me to go find her?" Cam offered.

"No, I'll go," Daniel shook his head. He walked out into the hall and disappeared in the direction of the cafeteria.

"Y'know, guys, I am kinda tired," Sam confessed as he left.

Teal'c inclined his head respectfully. "Perhaps we should accompany DanielJackson to the cafeteria and then return to the lodge."

"Hey, at least this'll give us time to finish the grudge match," agreed Cam.

"You still haven't given up?" Sam asked incredulously.

"I ain't givin' up 'till I beat him," Cam shook his head.

"This is going to be a long grudge match," Sam sighed.

"Indeed," the Jaffa spoke up.

------

"General O'Neill?" his secretary's voice came over the intercom.

Jack turned, stabbing the button in annoyance. "Yeah, Nancie, what's up?"

"Vala Mal Doran's on the phone, sir. She says it's important," came the reply.

"Okay, put her through," he said. A moment later, the phone rang and he snatched the handset. "O'Neill."

"Jack, it's--its Vala," she began tearfully. He raised a hand to his brow and fought a sigh, wondering what it was that she and Daniel were arguing about now and how exactly he'd been dragged into it. Then he felt himself go cold as she continued, "There's been an accident."

"Carter?" he asked hoarsely.

"She fell skiing, Jack. The doctor isn't sure she'll make it…" Vala sniffled, trailing off.

"Where is she?" he forced out as he pushed back his chair and grabbed his uniform jacket.

"The hospital here in town," Vala said. "Room 207. We're all here."

"Okay. I'm on the way," he said, letting the phone drop from his hand. He rushed out of his office, sliding into the jacket as he moved.

"General?" Nancie looked up from her desk in surprise.

"Cancel all my appointments," he told her without looking back.

"What? General, the only appointment you have is with the Presi…"

Slam!

"…dent," she finished as the door banged shut behind him.

------

The team found Vala coming back from the phones. Daniel halted, crossing his arms over his chest, but she hurried over to them, ignoring his suspicious glare. "You're supposed to be in the cafeteria getting lunch," he reminded her.

"I know, darling, I just thought someone should call Jack," she smiled, giving him a light kiss on the cheek. "Come on, I'm hungry."

She slid between him and Cam, scampering back the way she'd come. Daniel's eyebrows rose, and he looked toward Cam and Teal'c. The CO shrugged and the Jaffa's eyebrow moved slightly to indicate his own uncertainty. With a shake of his head, Daniel turned and started after Vala.

"Um…?" he called.

She glanced innocently over her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Why exactly did someone have to call Jack?" he wanted to know.

"Oh. Well, I thought he might want to send flowers or something," she grinned.

------

Jack halted in the doorway of the hospital room. Having expected to find all of SG-1 gathered around the bed, he frowned at the sight of Carter alone. He took a tentative step in, slowly registering the lack of life support equipment. If she'd been taken off of life support already, there couldn't be much time. Swallowing hard, he stepped inside and pressed his eyes closed.

Where the hell is everyone? he thought irrationally. She'd be here for them!

She didn't move as he approached, and he found himself forcing back tears as he knelt by the bed. "Damn it, Carter," he muttered, raising his hand to brush back the hair from her forehead.

She stirred at the touch, and her eyes popped open, going wide with surprise. "Sir?"

"Carter!" Jack exclaimed.

"Sir, what are you--" Sam began.

Jack's arms slid around her before she could finish the question, and he pulled her into an ardent kiss. She gave a sharp gasp, but her moved instinctively around his neck. Jack forced his mouth away, frowning down at her. "You okay?"

"Um…" Sam blinked. "Are you?"

"I am now," he nodded firmly. Then he took a breath and started to speak again, unsure what he planned to say until the words came out. "Carter, marry me."

"Marry you?" she swallowed. "Isn't this a little sudden, sir?"

Jack's eyebrows rose. "Ten years is sudden?"