While You Were Sleeping
(Part 2)
*Oh God! What did I have to drink last night? Feels like I bashed my head on a brick wall all night!* Jack's train of thought stopped while he took note of his surroundings without opening his eyes. *Feels like I'm being carried. By who? Last thing I remember is a rough ride through the gate, and a thump.* Cautiously, he opened his eyes a fraction. He was being carried on the back of a large man, across some big grass plain. It looked like the MALP images of P6Z-281. One of the men turned around and saw that their burden was awake. Setting him down gently, Gonash approached. Speaking in his native tongue, he said, "Welcome stranger. I am Gonash, leader of my people." To Jack, it sounded like Swahili, or some other strange language that only Daniel would understand.
*Great! OK, O'Neill, how would Daniel handle this? How about pictures on the ground? It worked with Nem.* He picked up a stick and drew a circle on the ground. Roughly, he sketched in the chevrons on the gate, and the DHD. Drawing a crude stick figure coning out of the circle, he was rewarded by Gonash with a grin of understanding. Gonash immediately pulled the stick from jack's hands and drew a figure coming horizontally out of the gate and hitting the DHD. He pointed to the figure at the base of the DHD and then to Jack. Jack raised his eyebrows. He placed his hand on his chest and said, "Jack. My name is Jack. Jack" Gonash repeated the gesture, saying his own name.
*Well, this isn't so hard now is it Jack? * He looked at Gonash who was now drawing something else in the dirt. Gonash drew what looked like some tents, or Indian Tee-Pee's, and pointed off in the direction that they were headed in. In the middle distance, Jack could see a small tendril of smoke. Then Gonash raised one hand to the sky with his fingers splayed out. He pointed at the sun, which lay above his thumb, and then touched his little finger. Looking at Jack, he repeated the gesture. Jack judged the time that it would take the sun to travel the distance indicated by Gonash's hand. *About two and a half hours, maybe a bit more. I can live with that.* He nodded his head and stood up unsteadily. One of the men moved to catch Jack as he stumbled. Looking back frequently at their companion, the Eldaak set out once more for camp.
They reached the camp amid excited shouts from the other people, jabbering in their tongue and pointing at Jack. Gonash led the way into the central clearing and sat Jack down. He disappeared inside his tent and returned shortly, carrying a bowl of nuts, some cooked meat, and a gourd of water. Handing them to jack, he motioned for him to eat. Jack gladly accepted the food. Before he started, he looked at Gonash, saying, "Thank you." even though he knew that Gonash didn't understand English. Gonash, being quick to learn, knew what the foreigner was trying to say and nodded his understanding. Jack was just finishing off the water when he winced. Shifting his weight, he saw his field radio was digging into his hip. Cursing himself for a fool, he reached for it and flipped the 'on' switch. Raising it to his mouth, he pressed the com button and spoke into the receiver, "This is Jack O'Neill, SG-1. Is there anyone receiving me?"
Sam jumped as her portable radio crackled with static. She mush have forgotten to turn it off
*Why would it be working now?* She wondered. *Daniel and Teal'c are here, and they are the only ones with this frequency except for the Colonel...* She listened carefully to the static, and was rewarded when a very faint voice came over.
"This is Jack O'Neill, SG-1. Is there anyone receiving me?" It was less than a second before Teal'c and Daniel were at her side, looking at the radio expectantly. Sam was trembling as she pressed the com button.
"Jack! It's Sam! Is that you? Where are you?" They held their breath as they waited for a reply.
Gonash jumped back as the radio crackled to life in Jack's hands.
"Jack! It's Sam! Is that you? Where are you?" He restrained a whoop of joy at the sound of Sam's voice. Steadying himself, he pressed the button again.
"Sam! I'm in a camp with some natives. Keep heading East. I don't know how long it will take you to get here. If you hurry, you should be here by dark."
Sam couldn't help but grin for ear to ear at hearing Jack's voice, and knowing the he was alive and well. By now, all the team was crowded around her, listening to Jack's directions. Teal'c raised his arm and pointed to a point maybe twenty miles away. He didn't need to explain, since all of them could quite plainly see the white spire of smoke rising from the plain. Sam spoke into the radio, jumping up as she did so.
"Jack, we can see the smoke from the fires, we'll be there soon." She set out at a marathon runner's pace, somewhere between a jog and a sprint, her need to see Jack driving her on, the rest of the rescue team not far behind.
Back in the camp, Jack sat back with a huge grin on his face and began to try to explain it all to Gonash. Resorting once more to stick drawings, Jack sketched in the now-familiar Gate. He put in several figures coming from it, and mimed someone looking around for him. Then, when Gonash understood that, he circled his finger over the sketch of the people and moved his finger to the dirt under his feet. He pointed in the direction of the gate and repeated the sign. Gonash thought about what the stranger could mean.
*He draws many people coming from the Stone Ring and looking. Someone looking for him? He seems to be happy about this, so they must be his friends. * Turning to his people, he called out, "My friends! This man whom we have rescued is being looked for by his friends. They come here now to find him. Shall we make them welcome as well?" The meaning of what Gonash said quickly spread through the others. Raising their vices, they began to chant, "Feast! Feast!" When things had settle down, Gonash spoke again, "If we are agreed, prepare the fires, and start cooking the meat, for tonight, we celebrate with guests!" The tribe immediately jumped up and began lighting bonfires. All the while, Jack paced back and forth, anxiously awaiting his friend's arrival.
***
A few hours later...
***
Sam reached the edge of the camp and shouted Jack's name. Looking around, she saw many people preparing a large ox on a spit, and many more carrying firewood. She was jerked out of her observation by a familiar voice calling out her name. She spun around and came face to face with a grinning Jack. Sam threw hew arms around him and hugged him to her as tightly as she could, crushing the breath from him. Jack leant down and whispered into her hair, "Sam, I can't tell you how glad I am to see you again." Sam raised her face and was just about to give him a 'Welcome back Jack' kiss when the others came jogging in, winded and red-faced. Daniel looked at Sam and Jack, a knowing look in his eyes as he glanced at Sam. Jack stole a quick glance at Sam, silently asking what Daniel knew. Sam shook her head slightly in the negative and whispered, her voice too soft for the others to hear.
"I'll tell you later." Raising her voice slightly, she said, "Welcome back, Sir." Taking his cue, Jack disengaged his arms from his Captain and pulled Daniel and Teal'c into a bear hug.
"Boy am I ever glad to see you guys!" Looking at Daniel, he grinned as he continued.
"Daniel, It's not that hard talking to natives. Even I can get by with some basic art skills." Daniel almost fainted at the idea of Jack attempting to communicate with the natives. Daniel assumed a stern expression and spoke in his best, nasal, maternal voice.
"Johnothan O'Neill, if you get kidnapped by hostile aliens and end up tortured to death, don't you come crying to me!" Teal'c responded to Jack in his usual, unemotional faced way.
"It is good to see you again, O'Neill. We were most concerned." Looking a bit uncomfortable with all the emotional side of it all, Jack released Teal'c and Daniel and was immediately seized by Sam, who handed him over to the team's first aid officer for a full checkup.
***
Much later that night...
***
The party was slowly winding down. Daniel had gone to bed with a stagger in his step. He had, in the name of interstellar relations, sampled some of the local brew, which turned out to be about eighty percent alcohol. Teal'c had abstained from the alcohol, but still sought his bedroll, claiming that he needed to do some meditation for a while. That left Jack and Sam sitting around the dying embers of the fire. Sam yawned and stretched, snuggling up to Jack. A contented expression came across his face as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek against her hair. After a while, Sam stirred, looking up at Jack's face in the fire-light. Jack's memory stirred. A slight frown creased his brow as he said, "Sam, how did Daniel find out, and how much does he know?" Sam turned slightly, so that she was facing him, but still within the circle of his arms. Smiling softly, she said, "Last night, when I was asleep, I had some nightmares about you dying," A brief look of remembered pain flashed across her eyes before she returned to the present. She continued, "I must have been talking in my sleep. I think it woke Daniel. All he knows is how I feel about you, he doesn't know that you feel the same. He's promised not to tell the General, or you for that matter." Jack chucked quietly before leaning down and kissing Sam lingeringly on the lips. When they both needed some air, they broke off. Sam gave a contented sigh and snuggled down once more, falling asleep within minutes. Jack sat there for a long time, holding Sam in his arms, feeling happier than he had in ages. When his muscles began to cramp from the cold that was settling in now that the fire had died down, Jack stood carefully, so as not to disturb Sam. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her back to her tent and tucked her in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before seeking his own sleeping bag.
***
The Gate activated with its usual, spectacular 'whoosh'. The Technician glanced at General Hammond as the iris slammed shut. Hammond spoke up.
"Who is it, Lieutenant?" The Technician looked at the screen. It was a few seconds before an incoming signal was received.
"It's SG-1's remote code, sir!" Impatiently, the General responded, "Well open the iris NOW dammit!" The iris opened with a clang, as the teams returned from off-world. Quickly looking at the faces, he found the one he was searching for. He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Colonel O'Neill's familiar face, an atypical half-smile on his lips that was evident even from that distance. He picked up the intercom microphone and said, "Welcome back people. SG-1 debriefing in twenty minutes."
The debriefing went smoothly, with it's now usual editing by Jack and Sam. The General gave them all one week stand down time, to rest and recover. On the way out of the conference room, Jack turned to the others and said, "Well, kiddies, what are we all doing tonight?" Receiving a chorus of
"Not much" and
"Nothing", he spoke up.
"OK then! How about a little get together at my place? Just to say thanks?" " Glancing around, he saw no dissent.
"7:30 sound about right?" Daniel and Teal'c turned down the corridor, heading for Teal'c's quarters to get ready, but Sam placed a restraining hand on Jack's shoulder. Jack had a questioning look of his face as he turned to face her. Sam looked into his face lovingly. Speaking softly, she said, "Jack, do you mind if I stay the night?" She smiled, and her pupils widened as she leant in closer.
"I promise I won't be a problem. I'll behave." Jack grinned wickedly as he bent down to her face. Just before their lips met, he whispered, "That's fine by me Sam. You can sleep over whenever you want." His eyes flickered to either side, checking for wandering military personnel before he pressed Sam against the wall and kissed her thoroughly.
***
Jack and Sam stood on the front porch and waved goodbye to Daniel and Teal'c as they drove back to the base. Sam had offered to help clean up after the party, which was a good cover for why Sam was staying a bit later.
Once The other two were safely away, Sam dragged Jack back inside and locked the door. She quickly went into the kitchen and came back out with a can of instant whipped cream. She raised the can, and, with a voice heavy with desire, she said, "The hell with the diet." She was swept off her feet by an impatient Colonel O'Neill, and into his bedroom. The rest of the night passed without words, except for the occasional moan as the two new lovers spent the night in a heavenly passion that neither of them had imagined was possible.
Sam woke slowly, feeling like the happiest woman alive. She gradually became aware of sore leg muscles Grinning to herself in the half-light, she thought *Well, since my beloved Colonel is responsible for those, he might as well massage them better when he wakes up.* She lay for a while in his arms, studying his handsome profile before drifting once more into dreams that, for once, were as good as the real thing.
Jack rose slowly from his dream, wondering what had woken him. Listening carefully, he heard the crunch of gravel as someone parked a car in his driveway. Cursing to himself, he slipped silently out of bed so as not to disturb Sam. Pulling on a dressing gown, he stole a quick glance at the thinly clad Captain before heading downstairs. He reached the door just as Daniel pressed the doorbell. Daniel looked up, startled as Jack opened the door. Daniel's mind managed to think as he gasped, *God! How did he get down here so quickly?* As if reading his mind, Jack answered the unspoken question.
"I heard the car come up the drive, so I came down to see who it was." Daniel replied, "I left my beeper here last night." Sam, woken by the voices down stairs, and wondering where Jack was, came down the steps from Jack's room. rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she said, "Jack? What is it?" Jack winced and blushed as Daniel's mind registered who came down the stairs, his chin all but hitting the floor. It was all a bit much for his brain to deal with. His eyes, almost subconsciously, traveled down her body, noting absently the ruffled hair, the hickie just above the low neckline of the pink satin nightie, and the bottom of the nightie that stopped at mid-thigh. All he could do was gape like a fish at both of them. jack smiled to himself at the sight of Daniel struck speechless for once. Patting him comfortingly on the shoulder, he led Daniel inside to explain it all to him. Sam smiled also as she headed back upstairs to put on something more suitable for visitors. *You're MINE now Jack.* She thought as she began pulling on her jeans, planning what she was going to tell Janet.
