Something Found

Cam had no idea how much time had passed before he heard the glorious sounds of P-90 fire. As it was, he was only vaguely aware of what it meant. It was just too difficult to keep himself conscious for any length of time. His captors, the damn Lucian Alliance again, had just put him through another round of torture and now he wanted nothing more than to fall into a deep sleep. But the part of his brain that was still functioning told him that the weapons-fire meant something good, that his pain and suffering would soon be over. He just had to stay awake a little while longer. Vala's face floated through his mind, centring him. She was what kept him fighting, kept him alive, kept him sane. She'd already lost so much in her life, he wasn't going to add himself to that list if he could help it. Besides, he had something important to tell her when he got out of this.

The weapons-fire drew nearer and he could hear shouting, though he couldn't really make out any actual words. His muddled brain told him the voices were familiar but, before he could figure it out, the door to his cell burst open. Looking up through half-closed lids, his face broke into a painful smile.

"Vala," he murmured at the vision before him. She was breathing heavily, her hair was a mess, and the P-90 in her hands never left its ready position. He'd never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

"Well, if it isn't the hide-and-go-peek champion himself," she quipped as she made her way toward him, her smile never reaching her eyes.

"Seek," he corrected with a grunt.

"What have they done to you?" She knelt before him, taking his face gently into her hands.

"Nothing that won't heal." He let out a painful cough and hoped he was right.

"Perhaps I can help a little." Vala grinned as she pulled out a Goa'uld healing device from her pack. "Now, relax and I promise to make you feel at least a little better."

Cam watched as her face took on an expression of extreme concentration, feeling a warmth spread through his body. The aches and pains he'd grown accustomed to started to fade little by little. He could see it was taking its toll on her, though. After a few moments, he grabbed her wrist, stopping her ministrations. Her face went from concentration to confusion and he rubbed her hand in reassurance.

"Thank you, but I think that's good enough for now."

"But-"

"I'm fine," he told her, standing slowly to prove it. Yeah, he still had some pain but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

She studied him suspiciously for a few moments before nodding and placing his arm over her shoulders without another word.

"I assume we have a ride waiting for us?"

"Yes, the Odyssey is in orbit but there's a shield around the complex. Samantha went to-"

"Guys, I've dropped the shield." Sam's voice came over Vala's radio and they grinned at one another. "Get ready for immediate beam-out."

"Gotta love her." Vala told him, holding on tightly.

"I love you." Cam told her and watched as her eyes widened just as the white light engulfed them.

The End