Cassie hurried into the infirmary, only one thing running through her head: Liam.

"Cassie!" Her mother said, catching her before she got to Liam's room.

"Mom, I need to see him…"

"Cassie, I don't think this is a good time."

"What the hell do you mean? He needs me!"

"I'm not saying that he doesn't, but he's not himself right now."

"Mom, the last time he had an attack of claustrophobia, he was in the hospital after his father and brother died. He needs to know that no matter what, I'm here for him." She said, wrenching out of her mother's grasp.

"Cassie, he will probably hurt you if you go in there!"

Cassie stopped, then turned to face her mother again. "So be it."

"Cassie, I think he's suffering from some pretty severe flashbacks. Claustrophobia…any type of mental illness…it's grounds for unnatural behavior. What you saw in there was a man who was desperate, not only to get out of a small place, but also a man who would do anything to save the ones he loves."

"What?" Cassie asked, still understandably confused by the whole ordeal.

"When General O'Neill and Lt. Harris were in that cave, part of the cave collapsed. It would have landed on General O'Neill, killing him, but Liam shoved him out of the way. I'm sure you noticed that Liam had one arm bandaged in gauze and another in a cast…"

Cassie nodded, remotely, silently horrified by the details that her mother was able to give her.

"The rocks that fell landed on Liam's arm and Jack's leg. They were both broken. It was with this broken and unset arm that Liam carried General O'Neill after he had passed out. He tried to claw himself to the surface."

She sat, stunned by the reality of the situation.

"Cassie, he may have called your name, but I believe that he was recreating those images in his mind. In his mind, he was in a cave and you were going to die. He saved your life."

"Why would he do that?" The young woman asked, not entirely sure that she wanted to hear the reason.

"Because his mind wants to conquer this experience. Children stick their fingers in light sockets and keep doing it just so that they can say that they conquered it. They keep this painful memory recurring because they feel like they have to make it as though it never happened."

"That's not going to happen!" She interrupted.

"I know that, and you know that, but…Liam's sick. Mental illness is just that…an illness. Just like your immune system is unable to prevent disease when you are sick already, your mind has a hard time processing information when it's already trying to process such a large piece of data…"

"I can't allow you to…"

Cassie walked into the isolation room and was stunned to see Liam sitting perfectly in the middle of the room, cowering.

"Liam!"

He looked over at her. "Bella?"

"Yes, Love, it's me." She said, hurrying over to him and putting her arms around him.

He tensed, and she pulled away. "Liam, what's wrong?"

"Go." He whispered.

"Liam…"

"Cassandra, GO!" He said, shoving her out of the way.

She landed on the floor a few feet away. She looked at him, her eyes full of understanding. However, Janet could see a look of hurt and disbelief in them as well.

The airmen guarding the door split between restraining Liam and escorting Cassie from the premises.

"NO!" She protested. "I won't go!"

She fought the airmen, but as she did so, her wrist hit the wall, and there was a crack in her wrist. Janet, who had been watching from the observation room, hurried to the hallway. As Cassie finally relented to the pain, allowing the airmen to take her from the room, Liam, who had just regained a sense of reality, allowed his sight to follow her. "I'm sorry, Bella…I really am…"

--

While everyone else was dealing with the fallout of the mission, Kinsah had taken Nik'las to his quarters and gotten the boy cleaned up. "I miss Mama." The boy said softly as they walked up to the commissary together.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Kinsah pushed down the raw emotion that threatened to erupt out of him. "I know, Nik'las...I know." He murmured comfortingly as he pulled his fingers through his son's hair. The boy pressed closer to him and he rested a protective hand on Nik'las's shoulder. "You hungry?"

Nik'las nodded as they approached the line. Leaning down to hear the boy's whisper, Kinsah got a plate and gathered a variety of things his son wanted to try.

Sitting down, Kinsah helped Nik'las up onto a chair and showed him how to use silverware. The boy was fascinated with the food and even gave his father a couple of small smiles. Kinsah watched, eating very little himself. He didn't know where he was going to live and how he was going to provide for his son. He couldn't go back to Hanor-that much he knew for certain. Perhaps he would be able to stay on earth and learn the ways of the Earthers.

A flurry of motion whirled through the commissary and he was surprised to be pulled into a fierce embrace by Rihana. "You okay!" She said happily.

He pulled away and her smile faded as she saw the pain in his eyes. "Sauna not make it." He whispered, trying to keep his voice low enough so that young Nik'las would be spared further pain.

As Alan introduced himself to the boy and got him to talk, Kinsah took Rihana by the arm and pulled her away. Continuing his story in low, hushed tones, he revealed the story of what had happened to Sauna. His sister was rightly horrified but she surprised him by hugging him tightly.

"I know you hurt." She said quietly.

Clinging to her, Kinsah allowed himself to cry a few tears for the wife who had given him the marvelous gift of his son. She hadn't deserved to die like that and he would never forget, even if he tried.

--

Janet carefully bandaged her daughter's broken wrist. "I told you that this would happen."

"I really don't want to get the supreme lecture right now, Mom."

"I'm not lecturing…"

"Right."

"Sedate him, Mom."

"I've tried."

"I have to talk to him."

"Cassandra, I don't think that would be…"

"I'm going back in there. I'd prefer not to get hurt again, so…sedate him."

"Cassie…"

"Mom." She said, meeting her mother's condescending tone with her own steely gaze. "I love him. And just like you wouldn't leave Daniel when he had all those different consciousnesses in his body, I'm not going to leave him like this."

"Cassie, you may not have a choice." Janet said, trying to reason with her. "He may never return to normal."

"That doesn't matter, Mom." She said, hopping off the exam table.

Janet took a deep breath. "Okay…wait here…I'll get you when he's ready."

--

Sam found Lena sitting in the temporary quarters she and Nick had shared the first time they'd come to the SGC. "Can I come in?" She asked, knocking on the door gently.

"Sure." Lena replied listlessly.

Sam walked in and sat on the bed beside her friend. "So..."

"So..." Lena returned.

"How do you feel about this whole...Nick thing?"

Lena shrugged. "I'm not sure what to think..." she answered honestly.

"I know..." Sam said, supportively. "But maybe it would help if you just start talking...get it off your chest, even if you don't really know what 'it' is..."

"How did this happen?!"

"The goa'uld are a ruthless race." She said, seriously. "They inflict pain and suffering on their hosts without any regard for anything but the sick pleasure they derive from it..."

Lena looked sick at that thought before Sam continued. "I guess we should be grateful that Nick got a Tok'ra instead."

"I guess it's better than the alternative." she shuddered.

Sam swallowed as she looked at her hands, folded around her pregnant belly. "Do you have any questions about this? I mean, I have a unique perspective on this whole thing..."

"What do you mean?" Lena asked, surprised.

"I've been in Nick's position before."

Her eyes widened in shock.

"We were visiting a planet called Nassiya, and the goa'uld attacked. At first, we thought it was because of us, so we took the Nassiyans through the Gate with us. Before we got there, however, there was a man who needed CPR. I administered mouth-to-mouth and got a Tok'ra symbiote."

Lena took this information in slowly. "So...Nick's still in there?"

"Very much so..." Sam said, thinking back on the darkness she'd felt as Jolinar's host. When Jack had left her...

"He needs you." She said, quietly.

Lena sighed. "Give me a minute..."

"Take all the time you need." She said, standing. "But I have to get back to my husband..."

"I understand."

Sam stood at the door and looked over to Lena. "Things will get better...I promise..."

Then, she walked out of the room, heading toward the infirmary. With a sigh, she sat down beside her husband's bedside as he opened his eyes. "Hey there, gorgeous..." He managed.

"Hey yourself...how are you feeling?"

"Got a headache from Netu." He said, closing his eyes to ward off the bright lights of the infirmary.

Just then, there came the sound of someone screaming his lungs out.

Sam flinched and Jack turned a questioning eye to her. "Liam Harris came back suffering from severe claustrophobia..."

Jack closed his eyes as another scream came floating through the air. "LET ME GO!" The young man howled.

Cassie walked out of the room, holding her bandaged wrist as tears of anguish ran down her face.

"Cass..."

She looked over. "Oh...hi, Jack...Sam..." She said, clumsily trying to hide her injured limb, wincing as she placed it at her side.

"What happened?" Jack asked in a voice still raspy from the dust in the tunnel.

"Nothing."

There was a loud "thunk!" as something hit the door. "What was that?" Jack asked sharply.

Cassie paled as she turned and fled back to the room. "LIAM!" She cried hurrying back into the isolation room as Jack and Sam held their breath, hoping she wouldn't get hurt.

"Cassandra!" He yelled, flinging himself against the door again. "GET ME OUT! It's too small!"

"I wish I could." She answered, desperately. "But I can't."

"Please!" He begged.

Her heart broke as she looked at her mother whose stern shaking of her head reaffirmed her worst fear. "I'll do what I can..." She said touching the glass separating them.

Bowing his head, Liam let his bandaged hands slide down the glass. His breathing was becoming faster and more irregular.

"MOM!" She called. "Open the door."

Janet nodded quickly.

"Can't...breathe..." He wheezed, falling onto his hands and knees.

Cassie hurried over to him, placing her hands on his face. "Liam...look at me...you're okay...everything's going to fine...inhale...exhale..."

He lifted his eyes to hers and tried to focus only on her.

"That's it...now, inhale...exhale..." She said, exaggerating her own breathing to show him that there was air to be had.

Gradually, he was able to slow down until he matched her.

"See...you're okay..." She said, staring him in the eyes. "Everything's okay..."

He placed a gentle hand on hers, forcing her to wince from the pressure on her injured limb.

"Bella?" He asked as he worriedly, and yet gently, pulled her arm down so that he could see the cast on her wrist. "Did I do that?" He asked, his eyes sad.

"Liam...it's ok."

He started to sob, leaning his head on her lap. "God, I'm so sorry!"

"It's not your fault, love." She said, running her hand through his hair.

"Why? Why this? Why now?" He asked, vulnerably.

"I don't know...but what I do know is I'm not leaving you..."

"You probably should..."

"Liam Mackenzie Harris, don't you ever say that again." Cassie said fiercely. "I'm not leaving you...end of story."

He looked up at her, eyes full of a cautious hope before he forced himself to a sitting position again, and looked at her with a sad tenderness in his eyes. He gently caressed her face with a soft "I don't deserve you..."

"I don't deserve you either...so let's split the difference." She replied gently.

Tears misted over his eyes again as she pulled him close, holding him in her arms, trying her best to comfort him.

"It's too small here..." He whispered.

She released her grip on him, thinking he meant the embrace, but he didn't release her, and soon her arms were around him again. She turned an imploring look to her mother. "Please?" She mouthed.

Janet shrugged helplessly. "It's out of my hands." She mouthed back.

She closed her eyes and held Liam closer to her. "I will ALWAYS be here..." She whispered.

He clung to her, not wanting to let go.

She kissed the top of his head as she held him, trying to hide the tears that were fighting their way to the forefront.

"When can I go?" He asked, attempting to keep the childlike hurt out of his voice.

"I don't know..." She admitted. "But we're doing everything we can..."

Snuggling up to her, Liam rested his head on her leg. "I thought I wouldn't get to see you again..."

"That thought crossed my mind once or twice..." She admitted as well.

He looked up at her. "I just hoped that you would know how much I love you."

She didn't even attempt to hide her tears anymore. "I love you too."

"Don't cry, mia bella..."

She tried to stop, but a moment later, she was in his arms as the comforter was comforted.

"I'm here..." He murmured. She tried to speak despite her heaving sobs, but accepted the fact that was unable to do so and merely clung to him.

"Shhh..."

She inhaled deeply, managing to quiet herself, calming her heaving muscles so that she could relax in Liam's embrace. "We're going to get through this." She whispered, partially for his benefit but also for her own.

"Yes, we will...together."

She nodded as she looked back into his eyes. "Yes, Liam...together."

Looking around the room, he shuddered slightly.

She placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's okay..."

"Reminds me of the room I woke up in after Dad and Robert died..."

"I wasn't there..." She said, with a tiny smile.

"White and empty..." Liam whispered.

"Liam..." She tried to get his attention back to her. His gaze was far away, and she felt fear well up within her.

Tears stung his eyes. "I want to go home..."

"I know."

Jack appeared in the doorway, Janet hastening after him. "Harris..."

Liam dragged his eyes upward with a great effort.

"I just...wanted to thank you...I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you..." He said with a tiny hitch in his voice as he looked at his wife, clearly supporting part of his weight so that he could keep off of his broken leg.

Closing his eyes against the memories of the small space, the darkness and the dust that he thought was going to choke him, Liam nodded quickly.

"I just...if you need anything...let me know. Even if it's a place to stay..."

"Ok."

"Jack, you need to be in bed!" Janet said, raising an eyebrow in his direction as a couple of the male nurses took over Sam's job of supporting him.

"I'm going, I'm going..." He said, yielding his will to the men supporting him. "Napoleonic power monger." He muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!" She called behind her before she looked back at Cassie and Liam. "I'll see what I can do about springing you...if you manage to stay calm..." She said, compassionately.

"I'll try..." He replied despondently.

"I have some sedatives I'm going to put you on...that should help."

"Yay...drugs..."

She turned to Ria and nodded, having discussed the options with her. "I'll get you some water and your medication." She said, giving Liam a warm smile.

Nodding soberly, he leaned against Cassie. "I hate drugs." He confided. "I had to take a lot of them after the accident."

She took his hand in her uninjured one, and caressed it, looking at it rather than in his eyes. "We'll get through this...but we need to get a head start on the recovery...the drugs will help you out..."

"I know." He sighed heavily.

Ria returned, a small cup of water coupled with another holding two small pills.

Taking them from her, Liam tossed them and the water back like a seasoned pro.

"Thanks." He said, hoarsely.

"I'll be back in a little while to see how you're doing." She said, taking the cups from him.

"Sounds like a plan."

Cassie looked at her boyfriend. "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

"No." He admitted.

She smiled, refusing to let go of his hand. "I didn't think so..."

Laying down, he subconsciously curled up into a little ball.

She sighed as she ran her hand through his hair, hearing and feeling his breathing start to even out as he fell asleep.