Thanks to Lauriesf
Until death reunites us: Chapter 6
He took advantage of the fact she was sleeping to watch her more closely. He knew he was ill-treating himself but he couldn't help it.
She was lying on her back, her arms on each side of her body. Her golden hair was disheveled and falling on her forehead. Her face was dirty and yet, it kept its beauty, that wild, untamed beauty so characteric of hers.
His eyes shifted to those lips he'd desired for more than eight years and that the regs prevented him from touching. He lingered on her neck before moving his eyes to her bosom. Even with the bandage, she still looked gorgeous. He shook his head: what the hell was going on? He simply didn't have the right to even think about it.
He took off his jacket to cover her. He then went to sit at the mouth of the cave and waited. It was the only thing left to do. He only hoped the base could find them quickly because, in spite of what he was trying to convince himself of, Sam's state was worrying.
Hours went by without anything happening. Outside, everything was quiet and there was no sign of life.
A nice and familiar smell woke her up. She understood before even opening her eyes that she was wearing her CO's jacket. Its smell was tickling her nostrils and she smiled, burying her nose in the garment, breathing in slowly.
Where others would only smell perspiration and aftershave lotion, she smelled the most agreeable smell in the whole world, the one of manliness, courage, recklesness and life.
She shifted her gaze to the object of her affection. He was sitting on a rock at the mouth of the cave, holding his gun, looking alert. She was already feeling better thanks to him. She put one hand on her bandage and winced, not strong enough to get up by herself.
She left her thoughts drift and looked back on the past events. Once again, she'd found herself in an awkward situation with her CO. She hated those moments and yet loved them. The feelings and sensations she experienced in those moments were so strong, so heady! Resisting her impulse was nearly impossible. But the worse part of it was after, when she would think about all this. It hurt so much to accept it was not possible just because of rules and regulations... At least, that was the excuse they were happy to use...
Suddenly a shooting pain stabbed her, taking her breath away. She doubled up instantly and moaned. Jack, hearing his team mate, rushed to her side and knelt next to her.
Pain left her as suddenly as it had come and Sam could breathe again normally. The ache that had struck her didn't come from the wound; it was deeper, from deep inside her.
She had not noticed but Genral O'Neill had laid his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him, worried, unwilling to understand.
_Carter, are you ok? he asked.
_Yes, yes... I felt sudden, piercing pain.
She sat up, wincing.
_Just a stab, you sure?
She hesitated, refusing to look him in the eyes, before she added:
_You know the wolf's red fangs meant something.
_Like, he ate too much meat? Jack joked.
His bantering made her smile.
_On Earth, animals sport bright colors to warn potential predators they are venomous and that if they try to eat them, they'll get poisoned, she explained with her usual scientific babble.
_Well, it was him who tried to eat us alive, he mumbled.
She smiled a poor smile and kept silent. Jack went on more seriously:
_You think its fangs were poisoned?
She looked into his deep brown eyes and nodded slowly. He sighed deeply. He had guessed it wouldn't be that easy, that there'd be a problem, but hearing Sam saying it aloud made the thing much more real.
He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
_They're gonna come and get us, hold on to that. It's an order, he added.
She smiled at him before saying:
_Yes, Sir.
The day went by slowly for the two soldiers, nothing was in sight, the only signs of life coming from birds and small animals passing by.
They had enough supplies to last a week, but Sam needed to hold it until then. All through the day, she'd been through moments of pain and respite. The poison was slow but very efficient. Fever very soon struck her.
Night came rapidly, the days being very short there. Jack lit a fire at the mouth of the cave and glanced outside one last time. He was praying for Daniel and Teal'c to come and get them but the only thing in sight was the empty plain lit by the dreary light of the moon quite similar to the one on Earth.
_Tomorrow, surely..., he whispered, returning to Sam's side.
She was trying to sleep, in vain. She had all the blankets and clothes they had on her but in spite of them, her whole body was shivering.
Jack was heartbroken to see her like that, he could only watch her get weaker and didn't know what to do. He was revolted at the idea of him being powerless: if only he had killed the damn beast before! He couldn't bear losing her, not here, not now, not that way.
Not because of him.
He was getting ready to lie down and find comfort in sleep when Sam had a seizure, closing her eyes and fists, the poison being the worst pain she'd ever been through, her bones feeling like they were melting, her blood boiling in her veins, her muscles straining violently. She was trembling more and more and her breathing had become erratic. Searing pain flashed through her body, making her whimper, she felt as if she were burning from inside while her head was like in a vice.
She suddenly gave a start when she felt Jack's strong arms trapping her waist and arms. He drew her to him and hugged her tightly so she couldn't move. Slowly, her uncontrollable movements calmed down until they were no more. He loosened his embrace, not letting her go.
Long minutes went by before her breathing got quieter. Seeing she was still hurting, his mouth got nearer to her ear and he whispered:
_It's ok, Carter, I'm right here...
She felt his warm breath on the nape of her neck and her heart slowed down to normal. She swallowed hearing his words of comfort. The seizure was gone, thanks to him.
They stayed like this, huddled up against each other for a long time, saying nothing, just enjoying the moment. They had dreamed of being like that for so long... it might be Sam's last night, she didn't care as long as she was in his arms. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her senses. Feeling her CO's breath on her skin was the best remedy, she reveled in the heat from his body spreading over her like some sweet melody.
She opened her eyes and turned them to Jack. He was looking at her tenderly without hiding his worry. His dark eyes locked with hers and they remained like this, entranced.
After a long moment, turned her body so she could face him. She looked intensely at him, a tinge of pain and sadness in her blue eyes.
She looked away and said in a whisper:
_It's getting worse. I don't know if I'll hold on for long, so I wanted...
He shushed her, laying his forefinger on her lips. She raised her eyes, surprised and saw he was smiling carelessly.
_Hush
A soft smile played on his lips. She'd have to tell him later; right now, she just enjoyed being in his embrace.
She closed her eyes and let her head rest on Jack's chest who tightened his embrace, drawing her nearer in his arms. He nuzzled his face in her golden hair and breathed in slowly.
Clasped in each other's arms, choosing to ignore the world around them and the rules, they rapidly fell asleep. They had waited for so long for this embrace. Unfortunately, that would probably be their one and only chance.
To be continued