AN: A speedy update for y'all, sort of an apology for that midstory hiatus. And two chapters to boot. Just seems to be coming out that way. Now back to our regularly scheduled program...
"Jesus..."
"What did they do?"
"How the hell should I know? Hurry up and get that stuff off of her."
"Get moving, people, we don't have all day."
"Zip it and watch our six, lieutenant," Jack said. Her brain finally started to identify the voices, and comprehend the words.
"She's burning up, Jack," Daniel's voice was heavy with distress.
"Major Carter's pulse is extremely high as well," Teal'c added.
Sam's head pounded violently with each heartbeat. The cloying scent of vomit hung in the air, bringing her dangerously close to throwing up yet again. Even her very muscles ached deeply, as though hse had tried to run several marathons in rapid succession. All this she observed with detachment, not yet conscious enough to truly feel the sensations in her body.
She listened to them move frantically about her. A brief groan issued from a throat too dry to continue the sound. She hadn't tried to do it, so Sam didn't understand how the sound could have come from her.
"Sam?" Daniel responded immediately.
"The distraction isn't going to last forever." It took a moment for her to place the other voice, Lieutenant Manning. He was growing impatient.
She was pulled to a sitting position, the change in altitude making her dizzy even with her eyes still closed. It also proved to be the final straw, her stomach spasming. Nothing came up, but she still heaved until she passed out yet again.
While nothing was distinct, Sam remembered anxious voices. There was yelling. Even exchanges of gunfire. She couldn't even be more specific with who was talking or who was shooting at who. The brief moments of consciousness never lasted more than a few seconds.
The pain grew as she started to wake up again. Blossoming in her head, arcing through the rest of her body. She was curled up tightly on her side. Sobbing. It made the pain even worse, but she couldn't stop herself. Sam stopped trying, for the effort only made her cry harder.
A hand rested on her shoulder. The gesture meant to comfort, but it didn't alleviate her suffering in the slightest.
"They're going to hear her!" Manning said in a sharp whisper.
Daniel sighed. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"I have a field kit, can't we sedate her?"
"Oh yeah," heavy sarcasm that even she couldn't miss, "more drugs is exactly what she needs. Sam's vitals are all over the place."
"The others have been gone too long now. Major Carter may have already compromised our position."
Sam opened her eyes. The tears blurred everything. All she could make out was that it was twilight, and that they were outside. She tried to muffle her sobs, and was at least partially successful. The pain hadn't eased in the slightest, so she still didn't dare to move.
"She's awake," Manning said.
"Sam? Hold on a little longer ok? We'll be out of here soon."
She just laid there, too exhausted to even try to react or respond. The only thing she did was to pray for unconsciousness again, to get away from the hammering in her skull.
There was a distant hiss in the air, a sound she was very familiar with. A flare.
"That's our cue. Ok, Sam, it's time to move again," Daniel said.
Two sets of hands lifted her up. Her arms were slung across their shoulders and they dragged her along. The world spun wildly around her. Sam shut her eyes and went along for the ride.
By the time they made it to the valley with the stargate she was barely conscious. Several SG teams flanked the gate in defensive formations. She fought to keep her eyes open, but they spent more and more time shut.
"Doctor Jackson, where are the others?"
"The patrols got ahead of us, they went off to divert them. They'll be here soon!"
"Ok. Take Major Carter back to the SGC now, we'll hold the gate for them."
Sam tried to protest, but she didn't manage to form words. She wasn't completely certain that she had even made sounds as consciousness slipped away yet again.