Set immediately after Jack and Teal'c arrive to help Sam kill Anubis's super soldier.

'C'mere' Jack opened his arm to Sam, she didn't hesitate to accept the comfort. The exhaustion seeped through her body as the adrenaline wore off. Resting her head against Jack, she slowly curled towards him his strong arm holding her against his body, he gently squeezed her shoulder wordlessly conveying that she was finally safe.

Jack glanced over at Teal'c, his posture indicated that he was alert to any further signs of life from the super solider. Although there was none, Teal'c didn't step away. 'Just give us a few minutes T' Jack carefully shifted his weight to make Sam more comfortable. The Jaffa silently dipped his head in acknowledgement.

Jack took in the resting form of his 2IC, his eyes skirted over her making a field assessment of her critical injuries. Sam's left leg was badly injured, the dressing around the wound was soaked in blood, the signs of infection already appearing. She had gashes on her face and forehead, concussion and an unknown number of hidden injuries. Her eyes were closed and her body barely holding resistance against his... she needed Frasier.

Just as he thought it, Sam's body became limp against his, her head rolled forward towards his lap, she'd passed out.

'No no no, Carter' Jack lifted Sam's limp body so she was flat on the ground. He ran his hands down her form checking for missed injuries 'nothing' He placed his hand at her neck checking for a pulse, it was there but weak. The slight rise and fall of her chest indicated shallow breathing.

'T, we need to get her back to the gate' he yelled, panic rising through his body.

Teal'c holstered his weapons and sprinted towards his friends - 'I shall carry her' he began to crouch down by Sam when Jack placed a hand on his arm. 'No, T - i need you to run ahead, get in radio contact with SG-3 at the gate, have a medical team standing by for when we arrive. I'll bring Carter'

'As you wish, O'Neill' The Jaffa paused for a split second, O'Neill was strong and capable but Sam was a dead weight in her current state and trying to carry her down the uneven mountainous terrain would have challenged any warrior.

Teal'c didn't dwell on it further, he knew O'Neill would find the strength for her, with one final glance at his blonde haired friend he set off at a sprint towards the Stargate.

Jack placed his hand on Sam's forehead, she was burning up. Concussion, internal bleeding, infection, fatigue... he didn't know, probably a combination of all symptoms caused her to pass out, his mission now was to get her home.

'Don't leave me now Sam, hold on' he whispered.

Jack put his arms around her, hooking one under her legs and pulling her towards him as he rose from the ground. Her head rested against his chest, he gripped her tightly and started at a careful jog after Teal'c towards the Stargate. His knees wouldn't thank him for this later but he didn't care, getting Sam home was all that mattered.

It took 30 minutes at a steady run for Jack to reach the Stargate, Teal'c had met him halfway back up the mountain having alerted SG-3 and the SGC to prepare a medical team.

'Let me assist you O'Neill' Teal'c had asked, stretching his arms out to take Sam the rest of the way.

'No' breathed Jack, 'i've got her T'

As they reached the clearing, SG-3 glanced towards the two men, Jack running hard with the unconscious Major in his arms. Major Castleman was already positioned at the event horizon radio in hand passing information through to the SGC. Jack barely stopped to acknowledge them, striding up over the rubble and into the wormhole. Teal'c half a step behind him.

As soon as his feet landed on the ramp Jack continued his momentum towards Frasier and her waiting medical team. 'Colonel, put her on the gurney' she instructed, her arms out ready to receive her patient.

'No, i've got her Doc' He replied, pushing through and running on towards the infirmary. Teal'c, Janet and her team jogged on behind - it would be no use to try and stop him now.

Jack reached the double doors of the infirmary, he swivelled 180 degrees so his back rather than Sam's injured body would press them open. Once through he laid Sam out on the nearest gurney, Janet just seconds behind him immediately took control, instructing her staff to begin working through Sam's immediate needs. Jack watched as they cut through her fatigues, revealing more of her pale damaged skin and growing list of injuries.

In that moment time slowed for Jack, his eyes fixed on Sam's face, the terror in his heart taking prominence above all other emotions. He felt helpless against the growing tide of anguish rising through his soul. Sam please...

Teal'c placed a strong hand on Jack's shoulder 'We must let Dr Frasier work, O'Neill'

Jack didn't move.

'Colonel please' Janet glanced the two men 'You'll be the first to know but for now i need to stabilise her, she's in a bad way, wait outside'

Jack reluctantly peeled his eyes from Sam's face, he moved away but not completely. Teal'c knew that arguing with the man would be pointless, instead choosing to stand by his friend as they watched Janet once again try to save Sam's life.

The infirmary door burst open, Jacob strode through anguish on his face as he caught a glimpse his daughter on the gurney surrounded by medical equipment and Dr Frasier's team. 'Sammie!' He cried out.

'Jacob...' Jack started towards the older man, his own fears reflected in the eyes of her father.

'Jack, what happened?' Jacob could barely absorb the scene in-front of him. Jack remembered that this was probably the first time he'd witnessed Sam in such a critical condition - usually it was only SG-1, Frasier and General Hammond who saw their friends in this way.

'Sir's please... i need you to go so my team and i can work. I'll be moving Sam into isolation 2 once she's stable, you can wait in the observation room there' Janet's insistence left little room to negotiate.

Jack and Jacob sat silently in the observation room lost in their thoughts, both men consumed with the fear that Sam wouldn't make it.

'She's tough Jacob, she evaded that thing for two days with severe injuries'

'She shouldn't have been alone. I should have been the one... !' Jacob spat back, hands swamping his face with anguish.

'You wouldn't have stopped her Jacob' Jack replied quietly. I should have been with her.

'Tell me what happened Jack' With Selmac silently calming him, Jacob turned in his seat to look at the younger man.

'We'd heard from the SGC that the C-UAV had been shot down near our position, we'd already heard the explosion but they gave us a bearing - we sprinted to it. I knew if Carter had seen it too she would have headed over to try and salvage some of it and make contact with the SGC, it turns out i was right' Jack explained 'By the time we arrived Carter had already managed to fire the remaining rocket at the super soldier - the goddamn thing wouldn't die. We had just made it to her position when it stood up again. It was firing on Carter, T and i managed to distract it long enough for Carter to get to cover. I made it to her and she gave me the power crystal - we managed to kill it. It was close but she never stopped fighting' Jack paused looking at the older man, his pride was palpable. 'I didn't get much out of her before she passed out Jacob, i'm sorry. I just had to get her home'

'Thank you Jack, again for saving my little girl's life' Jacob gazed at the younger man taking in his solemn appearance. 'I had no doubt you would find her but i was scared, these super soldiers are relentless. Their mission was clear from the start, Sam was just another target'

'We don't leave people behind' Jack replied holding Jacob's gaze.

'I know that Jack, but i also know that Sam isn't just anyone to you'

Jacob knew the feelings between the two officers ran deep, Anise had debriefed him after the zatarg screening but even then he hadn't been completely surprised.

He had picked up an invisible energy between his daughter and the older man the first time he'd met them at the award ceremony in Washington.

At the time it had made him highly suspicious of the black-ops Colonel. Sam was barely 29 years old, Jack had to be early forties but their ease and familiarity with each-other left him questioning Jack's motives. Jacob was well aware of Sam's beauty - she looked just like her mother, blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin. It wouldn't do for her fledgeling career if anything happened between them. Blame and scrutiny would lay solely at her feet no-matter what the truth was.

Since those fraught days in Washington Jacob had mellowed, mainly due Selmak's influences, his wider awareness of the Stargate programme and the risks they took. He had no doubt in his mind that his daughter and her CO had been nothing but professional with each-other. He knew it wasn't in Sam's nature to break the rules, particularly the frat regs, but it didn't stop Jacob and Selmak from from observing and inwardly discussing the invisible bonds they had with each other.

Jack dropped his eyes taking sudden interest in a loose thread on his fatigues. 'Jacob, i uh' Jack hesitated

'Even now it surprises me how careful this man is with his feelings for Samantha' Selmak observed inwardly

'You know she's seeing someone?' Jack said, grimacing as he realised that Sam would be angry that he had revealed something she probably hadn't yet mentioned to Jacob herself.

Jacob's eyebrows shot up to his forehead 'Sam is?...My Sam?' Doh! Thought Jack... he didn't know.

'Yeah' Jack replied quietly 'A cop'... 'Ah well, may as well dig myself a deeper hole, she's going to kick my ass anyway'

'No, i did not know' Jacob looked down to the observation room as a flurry of activity erupted below them. Sam was being wheeled through on the gurney, she looked stable though still unconscious. Her fatigues had been removed and replaced with a hospital gown, a white blanket covered her body to her waist and her bare arms lay flat against her sides, wires and cannulas extruding from her pale skin.

Both men sprang from their seats, Teal'c just behind them having moved from his post at the isolation room door.

'Just a minute!' Janet caught all three before they could crash through the door towards Sam. 'She's stable and needs to rest, you can visit her ONE at a time. She won't wake up anytime soon, she's heavily sedated to help reduce the swelling around her brain. She has a fractured femur and collar bone and multiple lacerations all over her body. You can hold her hand but that is all, i don't want her to move whilst she's healing'

'Thank you Doctor, now can i see my girl?' Jacob asked a small smile appearing on his face at the apparent lecture the petite woman had given them.

'Yes sir' she placed a comforting hand on Jacob's arm 'She's going to be okay, she's strong like her father' Jacob grinned.

He glanced at the two men over his shoulder. 'I just need a few minutes with her before i see George' Jack slumped against the wall nodding gently, Teal'c merely bowed his head in acknowledgement.

Jacob walked in towards his prone daughter, her determination and resolve had never surprised him as it was a trait that he recognised as his own, but he also acknowledged her beauty, kindness and compassion was truly that of her mother. Sam was the best of both of them. He sighed taking a seat at the side of her bed.

'Sammie, you scared us' He murmured to his daughter. He placed his hand over hers and squeezed gently 'But you're safe now, Jack and Teal'c found you and bought you home'

Sam didn't stir, her eyes were closed. The gashes and bruising on her face and neck stark now against her pale complexion.

'I'm so proud of you, not just for this but for everything you have achieved. I don't say it enough and i should - to Mark too, you're both incredible and a tribute to your mother. I see so much of her in you'

Jacob sat with her for 30 minutes before Selmak gently reminded him of his need to brief George. 'I'll be back Sammie, i hear you have a boyfriend i know nothing about!' he smiled knowing how uncomfortable that conversation would be for her, Jacob moved slowly from the seat and out of the room.

Jacob wasn't surprised to find Jack sat on the floor in the corridor, his back against the wall, his knees bent and elbows resting with his head in his hands, probably dozing but he was never entirely sure 'Jack?'

Jack looked up 'Yeah!?' he pushed his hands against the wall and stood up. 'How is she? his eyes flicked past Jacob to the outline of Sam on the gurney.

'No change' Jacob replied solemnly 'I'll be back soon, keep an eye on my girl for me?'

'Always' Jack replied. Jacob patted Jack's shoulder and limped off towards the elevator.

Jack walked slowly into the isolation room. His heart sank through the floor as he took in Sam's bruised appearance. Taking the seat that Jacob had left beside her, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bed and sinking his head down into the palms of his hands. He closed his eyes, the memory of her exhausted face buried into his shoulder as he gripped her flashed through his mind. She must have been in an incredible amount of pain. Her fortitude and resilience was far beyond some of the most seasoned special ops soldiers he had known.

Jack was pulled from his thoughts by a movement near his elbow... her hand, more specifically her fingers were moving ever so slightly against the sheets of her gurney. He glanced up at her face, her eyes were still closed, no other sign of wakefulness. Again, a small twitch of her fingers alerted Jack. He grasped her hand, squeezing gently. 'Carter, i'm here' he whispered.

Sam's fingers stilled in his hand, Jack didn't know if subconsciously she knew he was there but it was a comfort to know that she was calm.

Jack rested against his forearm on the small space between Sam's shoulder and the edge of her gurney, still holding her hand. Closing his eyes he took the opportunity to nap whilst he waited for her to come back to him.

Teal'c had observed the hidden dynamic between his two friends for many years now, they had been through it all. Seen death and come back from the brink of it. Major Carter was no exception. Despite this, it was still a mystery to the Jaffa how two people could blindly ignore their feelings for one another when their lives were so often placed on the line. The risks were huge and it seemed that in recent months as a team they were really taking the blows.

Teal'c watched his two friends silently, his self-appointed role was to make sure neither of them were disturbed. What was an open secret within their team should not and could not become an open secret across the SGC.

O'Neill had started snoring gently, Teal'c had learned that this was a good sign. O'Neill rarely slept fully off world. In fact none of them did, even on so called 'safe' planets, the risks were always there. Teal'c smiled and turned away.

An hour after he had departed the isolation room, Jacob had returned with George in tow - the two men raised their collective eyebrows at the scene in front of them as Teal'c stopped them at the door. 'General Hammond sir, i do not believe we should disturb O'Neill at this time, he did not sleep for many hours whilst Major Carter was missing'

'He's right George, let's leave him - he needs the sleep and it's unlikely we would be able to drag him away from Sam without the help of one of Dr Frasier's big needles' Jacob smiled

'Very well' George looked at the Colonel and sighed, Jack and Sam were the finest officers under his command. He had known for many years that there was more to their relationship than something of just a professional nature. Hell he could see it in numerous personnel across his command, they were by no means the exception. He knew they deserved to have more from life than the Air Force regulations could allow but he hoped that one day the universe would provide them the happiness that they so desperately craved from each other. 'Teal'c, please let me know when Colonel O'Neill wakes up, i need to see him'

'That is understood General Hammond' Teal'c bowed his head and returned to his watch.

'Now George, i need to return to the Tok'ra high council and brief them on the success of the new energy crystal so we can begin synthesising more' Jacob started 'Please let me know when my little girl wakes up'

'Without question Jacob' George replied.

Jack felt the ache in his neck as his consciousness took hold, blinking awake he paused to fully grasp his surroundings before moving. He was in the infirmary, that much was clear from the smell of disinfectant and constant beeping of machinery. He cracked an eye open, 'Sam' he quickly identified the prone form of his 2IC beside him - she was still unconscious. Jack moved slowly not wishing to disturb her, as he lifted his arm he finally noticed their hands. His long fingers were entwined around hers, he gazed at them as though they would answer all of his questions.

'O'Neill' Teal'c warm voice interrupted Jacks thoughts

'T!' Jack answered 'What time is it?'

'It is just past 4am' He replied quietly taking steps into the isolation room.

'And you've been here the whole time?' Jack asked incredulously

'Yes, i did not wish for anyone to disturb you' Teal'c bowed his head slightly 'How is Major Carter?'

'She's still unconscious'

'Will you allow me to take over your watch of Major Carter. You need sustenance, General Hammond also wishes to speak with you'

'Hammond was here?' Jack asked

'Yes, as was General Carter' Teal'c replied.

'Ah' Jack screwed his face up, knowing how he had woken up it was entirely likely they had seen him curled over against his subordinate. 'Guess i'd better get it over with then!'

Jack rose from the chair and placed a palm on the Jaffa's shoulder. 'Come and get me if there is any change with Carter, okay?'

'Indeed, O'Neill'