"'Til Death Do Us Part" by Elise Hudson

Title: 'Til Death Do Us Part

Author: Elise Hudson

Category: Angst, Sam and Jack romance.

Summary: The sequel to "If I Let You Go". Daniel's ill and the others may be affected.

Warning: Possible character deaths.

Rating: PG

Archive: SJRA and Heliopolis

Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me, I'm just borrowing them. Any previously unrecognised characters or situations are property of the author. The song belongs to BMG entertainment International UK and Ireland LTD.

Dedication: To Sarah, for helping out with Teal'c, and for Claire, not everything has a happy ending. Also thanks to Vanessa J. for being co-creator and Vanessa N. for reminding me of my promise to write this :) Enjoy! And Tanya for beta-ing.

Copyright (c) Elise and Vanessa

************************ 'Til Death Do Us Part ************************

Colonel Jack O'Neill was pacing the floor. He was waiting for the doctor to finish with his friend and team-mate Doctor Daniel Jackson. This had definitely been an event filled day. That morning he had still been confined to a wheelchair, the woman he loved had been about to leave with their unborn child. And now, just a few hours later, he was walking, Samantha Carter had agreed to not only stay, but to also marry him and Daniel was seriously ill in the room next to them. He hated waiting, he was not a patient man and so he paced the corridor in the hope that time would pass faster.

"Will you sit down!" a feminine voice said irritably. Jack turned to look at Samantha Carter who sat near by. She was seven months pregnant and she looked tired. Jack did not want her to be here. She should not be in the hospital in her condition, unless it was for her health. She should be at home resting.

"Why? What good's sitting? What's that going to do to help Daniel?" Jack snapped. He immediately looked at her apologetically. He did not mean to snap at her it had just been a long day.

"It'll make me feel better." She said softly and Jack moved to take the seat next to her. He took hold of her hand.

"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about Daniel." Jack apologised and Sam smiled at him.

"As are we all." Teal'c said from the chair on the other side of Jack. Jack glanced at Teal'c and saw that even his Jaffa friend seemed tired. Jack nodded before leaning back in his chair and resuming their quiet wait for news.

*****

The door to Daniel's room opened and a doctor walked out. Immediately Jack, Sam and Teal'c rose to their feet and crowded around the doctor. Jack asked the doctor the question that was on everyone's mind.

"How is he, doc?"

"I'm afraid," the doctor began, "That it isn't good news. Perhaps you should each take a seat." He gestured towards the seats after noting the concern on Jack's face.

They each sat down, Jack last after helping lower Sam back into the seat. The doctor remained standing as he introduced himself. "I'm Doctor Kirk, the emergency physician. Daniel is still unconscious and at the moment we do not know why so I have ordered some more tests to be run."

"We should get our doctor to see him." Jack said referring to the base's doctor, Janet Fraiser.

"That would be advisable. I've never seen anything like this before. What is his doctor a specialist for?" Kirk said, but before anyone could say anything else the door to Daniel's room burst open and a nurse exited.

"Doctor, come quick." She said before disappearing back into the room as quickly as she had appeared. Kirk turned to the others and excused himself before running into the room.

Jack stood, stepped towards the door and then turned back to look at Sam and Teal'c. Sam was looking at him concern and fear etched on her face and even Teal'c did not look as impassive as usual. Seeing the pain on Sam's face, Jack moved towards her and kneeled in front of her. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her closer and she buried her face in his neck. He glanced at Teal'c and gestured with his head for him to phone the base. Teal'c nodded before walking off, leaving Jack alone to comfort Sam.

*****

Jack's eyes opened and he slightly shifted the weight that he felt on him. Looking around him he remembered where he was and what was going on. They had been moved to a more comfortable room soon after Janet had arrived. Sam had fallen asleep leaning on Jack and he must have fallen asleep soon after, he realised. Across the room sat Teal'c, still wide-awake.

"Good Morning. Do you ever sleep?" Jack whispered so he did not wake Sam up.

"Only when needed and it is not yet morning. It is currently 23:59." Teal'c said in his usual tone.

Jack rolled his eyes and they fell into a comfortable silence. A while later Sam stirred and sat up. She rubbed her eyes and said; "Good Morning."

"Good morning, Major Carter." Teal'c replied.

"Hey, I thought it wasn't morning yet?" Jack asked sitting up fully and stretching from where Sam had been leaning on him.

"It is presently 00:07." Teal'c replied a slight smile forming on his lips at the annoyance on Jack's face.

Sam did not smile at this as she simply asked, "Any news on Daniel?"

"None." Teal'c said with a small inclination of his head.

Sam's stomach rumbled loudly and Jack turned to look at her. "Hungry?" He asked and she nodded. Jack stood and walked over to the door. "I'll bring you back something. Do you want anything in particular?"

"Peanut butter and ice-cream. Preferably mint choc-chip." Sam answered. Jack paused at the door briefly and regarded his fiancée oddly. He shrugged his shoulders deciding not to question a pregnant woman and her cravings. Opening the door he found Janet stood there.

"Colonel." She said somewhat surprised. "I was just coming to see you."

"Glad you cleared that up for me, I thought you were just standing there." Jack said sarcastically as he moved to allow Janet into the room.

"Good morning to you too, Colonel." Janet said as she moved to the center of the room where she could see all three of them at once.

"How's Daniel?" Sam asked, her hunger momentarily forgotten.

"I'm having him moved to the local air force hospital because I don't believe this hospital has the technology with which to help him."

"What kind of technology you talking about?" Jack asked stepping towards Janet.

"Alien." She said quietly.

"Why? What do you think's wrong with him?" Jack asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think it may have something to do with the Nox weapon." Janet said avoiding their eyes after being the bearer of bad news.

"Hang on a minute." Sam said standing. "Jack and Teal'c were also attacked by the same weapon." Sam finished. The others could clearly read the fear that was on her face; it was on theirs too.

"That's why I'm recommending that you three all be escorted to the hospital so that I can run tests on you two." Janet said indicating Jack and Teal'c. "The escort will be here in ten minutes. Until then I want you under supervision at all times." Janet said turning back to the door and opening it. "I'm going back to see Daniel."

With that she left the room and closed the door behind her. Sam sat back down on her seat and stared into space a vacant look on her face. Jack looked at the door for a while before turning to look at Sam. He did not like seeing her in pain, so he decided to leave.

"I'm going to go get that ice-cream and peanut butter." He said walking to the door.

"Jack, Janet said that we should wait here." Sam said, but Jack had already left. "Jack!"

*****

Jack sat down in the cafeteria. He could not stay in that other room with Sam while she was that upset. He did not do well when it came to feelings. He had only managed to get Sam to stay because Daniel had forced him to confront his feelings. If it had not been for Daniel, Sam would have left on that train and Jack would not care that he may be about to fall into a coma. She was the only reason that he had awoken from the original coma and she was the only reason that he had found the strength with which to use his legs. She was the only reason he had persevered through all the bad days over the past three and a half years. They had only just found happiness and someone was taking that away from him.

He looked up when something blocked the light. "Hey, Teal'c." Jack muttered before looking back at his hands. He also did not want to talk about any of what was going on.

"O'Neill." Teal'c greeted before sitting down opposite Jack. "I left Major Carter with a nurse." He said to reassure Jack, but Jack did not acknowledge him. Teal'c paused before trying to speak with Jack again. "Would you like to talk?" He asked in his usual un-emotional tone.

Jack looked up with a skeptical look on his face. "You're kidding, right?"

"I am not." Teal'c said and Jack smiled slightly before returning his attention to the table. "It is obvious that you are in need of verbal communication, I am offering my services."

Jack looked up and regarded his Jaffa friend seriously. "Thanks for offering, Teal'c, but I don't want to talk about it."

"I believe that you should because you are upsetting Major Carter."

Jack looked down again in shame. "I don't mean to, I just..." He trailed off.

"Do you wish to upset the Major?" Teal'c asked.

"No, I just... I just don't like talking about my feelings and I guess it causes me to alienate the people I care about." Jack mumbled and continued looking down at the table, this time in embarrassment.

"You should not be embarrassed about expressing the emotions which you usually hide inside. Everyone has feelings." Teal'c said.

"Who'd have figured you for the sensitive type?" Jack joked a smile forming briefly.

"I have my moments." Teal'c said with an inclination of the head and a slight smile crossing his face. "I suggest that you talk to Major Carter."

Jack considered this for a moment before nodding and standing. "Maybe I will, Teal'c, maybe I will." And with that he left Teal'c alone in the cafeteria.

*****

Jack knocked on the door to the room that Sam was supposed to be in and entered. He had been on the receiving end of her anger before and he knew that as she was pregnant her temper had increased ten-fold. He entered the room warily and he saw Sam sat at the table. He walked over to her and sat on the chair next to her. He placed the tray he had taken from the cafeteria on the table in front of her and excused the nurse who was sat nearby.

"What's this?" Sam asked looking at the tray and the bowl on it.

"A peace offering." Jack said simply smiling at her as she pulled the tray towards her. She picked up the spoon and dipped it into the ice cream before her. She raised the spoon to her mouth and chewed the crunchy peanut butter.

"It's not mint choc-chip." She complained. "And I wanted smooth peanut butter."

"Well, I like both so I'll eat it if you don't want it." Jack said moving his hand to pull the bowl towards him.

She raised her hand to stop him and ate another mouthful. "I think I can manage."

"So," Jack said after a pause, "Am I forgiven?"

Sam paused in her eating to look at him. "What is it I'm forgiving you for?"

Jack rolled his eyes in mild annoyance. "Come on, Sam, you know what I'm apologising for." She turned back to her bowl refusing to look at Jack until he began to answer her. "Okay," he sighed, "I'm asking for forgiveness because I'm a pig-ignorant male, who walked out of this room just when you needed to talk to me. For that I'm sorry."

With her free hand, Sam reached over and took hold of Jack's hand. "You're forgiven." He looked up and matched her smile. Both turned away from each other as the door opened. They saw Teal'c standing there.

"The escort has arrived." Teal'c said before leaving the room, but keeping the door open.

"We'd better go." Jack said offering his hand to her. She accepted his hand and they walked to the door.

"As long as I can get more ice cream at the next hospital." She said and before he could answer they both stopped in their tracks and stared as Janet walked passed them. Janet was walking next to a gurney, guiding it from the top end as a nurse guided it at the bottom. Laying on the gurney was Daniel. He was hooked up to a drip and an EEG, a brain wave monitor. Sam winced at the memory the brain wave monitor brought back to her. The last time she had seen one of those it had been hooked up to Jack when he had been in the weapon induced coma. She did not want to ever see that device hooked up to him, or any other person.

The three of them watched in silence as their friend and team-mate was wheeled out of the hospital. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Jack led Sam out of the hospital and Teal'c followed closely behind.

*****

Sam leaned back in the comfy chair. She was waiting in the corridor of the air force hospital waiting for news on either one of her friends. Daniel was in one room having tests performed on him, while Jack and Teal'c were in another room also being tested. Daniel had yet to regain consciousness and Janet wanted to try and prevent anything from happening to the others.

The door to the room on the left of Sam opened and out walked Janet. Sam stood to face her friend. "What's happening?"

"I've compared the brain patterns for Daniel now and when he was last in a coma."

"And?" Sam prodded.

"There is slightly more brain activity now than there was last time, but I'm afraid that his activity is decreasing."

"What happens when it diminishes totally?" Sam whispered almost afraid of the answer.

"The more it diminishes the more reliant Daniel will become on machinery until it gets to a level where he would be clinically brain dead. From there on there would be nothing more we could do for him."

Sam nodded solemnly as two questions formed in her mind. "What about Jack and Teal'c?"

"I'm not sure," Janet admitted honestly. "But I'm afraid that they were also affected by the same weapon so there is a strong probability that they too will fall into a coma. I'm going to keep a close eye on them both." Janet said in an attempt to reassure her friend.

"Is there anything you can do for them?" Sam whispered as tears began to well in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I had no idea last time and I have even less of an idea this time. I'm going to run some more tests and try contacting the Tok'ra or the central Nox themselves. Apart from that..." Janet trailed off, unable to hurt her friend any further.

Sam nodded. "How long before Jack and Teal'c get ill?"

"I'm sorry, Sam, I can't estimate a time. I'm going to have to monitor their brain activity and hopefully I can see when the activity starts to decrease. I also can't say how long it will take for Daniel's activity to diminish totally." Janet paused before adding, "Would you like to see him?"

"Which one?" Sam asked as her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Daniel. I still need to run some more tests on the others." Janet answered and Sam nodded. Janet opened the door to Daniel's room and gestured for Sam to enter. "Talk to him. Jack could hear you last time."

Sam nodded and looked at the door until Janet closed it. Sam then turned to look at Daniel. She breathed in deeply and sharply at the sight that beheld her. Daniel was lying motionless on the bed; many machines hooked up to him. He was connected to an EEG, a drip and there was an ECG and ventilator on stand-by, while a nurse was at a desk in the corner.

Sam could not bear to see Daniel like this. She had seen Jack lying as Daniel was now, for nearly a month. She had never wanted to leave his side, but this time she would have to divide her time between the three men and she would need to rest. She also had to prepare for the moment when Jack started to get ill. It was not because Sam did not care for Daniel and Teal'c, but she was pregnant with Jack's child. She did not want any of them to die, but she wanted her child to see its father.

She walked closer to Daniel glancing up at the nurse as she did. The nurse smiled an encouragement for Sam to talk to him. Sam felt nervous. She wanted to talk to Daniel, but she did not want someone else in the room as she did so. The nurse was there for Daniel's safety, though, Sam knew.

"Daniel?" Sam whispered as she sat down in the seat adjacent to the bed. "Daniel, I'm not sure if you can hear me, but you have to fight this. Daniel, you have to fight this!" Sam ordered pleadingly as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Daniel, please. You can't go." She turned as she heard the door open and saw General George Hammond standing in the doorway.

He closed the door and nodded at the nurse before walking over to Sam. "Janet brought me up to speed," he said as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "How are you doing?"

"You know." She answered dodging the question, but Hammond was undeterred.

"Sam, last thing I knew you were leaving town and Jack was still paralyzed. Now, you're still here, Jack is walking, but he's also ill. You must be under considerable stress and that isn't good in your condition."

"It's not important." She answered looking away from him.

"Sam," He warned.

"I just remembered," Sam said in fake astonishment, "Someone has to feed Daniel's fish."

"I'll deal with that, now can you tell me what's going on? Or will I have to make it an order?" He said sternly.

"To cut a long story short," She began her tone annoyed; "Jack came to the train station to stop me from leaving. He made himself walk to try and stop me and then he, uh, he proposed to me." Sam said feeling embarrassed at telling this to her commanding officer, even though he had known about the relationship for a long time. "Then Daniel collapsed and we came here."

"How are you though?" Hammond asked again, this time in a more sincere tone.

Sam looked up at Hammond and smiled in sorrow before she began to weep. "Oh, sir. Everything's gone wrong. I mean, this was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life, but instead... but instead I find out my best friends may die and that Jack may, too." Sam said and Hammond rubbed her back as comfort.

"When was the last time that you ate?"

"I had a bit of some ice cream a couple of hours ago."

"You go get something to eat and I'll sit here with Daniel." Hammond said and when she did not move from her seat he added. "I can make it an order."

She nodded and left the room.

*****

Sam made her way back along the corridor to Daniel's room. She had had a full meal and had even managed to get some sardines with chocolate to satisfy her latest craving. As she approached Daniel's room she saw Janet leave the room opposite it.

"Janet," Sam said and Janet looked up at her a hesitant smile crossing her face. "How are they?"

"Actually, at the moment they're fine. There are no signs of diminishing brain activity in either of them. You can go in and see them if you'd like."

"Thanks. Can you tell the General where I am?" Sam asked as she opened the door.

"Where is the General?" Janet asked.

"In with Daniel." Sam said and after Janet nodded Sam went into the room. She looked around and saw Jack and Teal'c sitting on their respective beds seemingly bored out of their brains. They were hooked up to only the EEG to monitor their brain activity and alert the nurse who sat in the corner at her desk, waiting to react to any problems that may arise.

"Hey," Jack said when he noticed that she was in the room. He smiled as he noticed the troubled look on her face. "C'mere." He said as he beckoned for her.

Hesitantly she moved towards him. He stretched out his arms to welcome her into them as she approached. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, minding her bump. She squeezed him back as tightly as possible without causing any injury.

"It's going to be okay, honey." He whispered close to her neck.

"How? How can you know that?" Sam whispered sharply.

"Because I... I do."

"Jack," Sam said exasperatedly. She pulled away slightly so that she could look at him. "You don't know that, not for sure."

He cupped her chin in his hands to make her look at him, to see the truth in his eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to me, you or our daughter. I promise that. Sam, do you believe me?"

"Yes, but..." She started, but he cut her off.

"Do you trust me?" He repeated sternly.

"You don't control everything." Sam objected, "But I do trust you." She admitted.

"Then trust me when I say that nothing will happen to you." Sam closed her eyes and nodded. "You tired?" Jack asked as Sam stifled a yawn.

"Actually, yes." Sam nodded as she moved to sit next to him on the bed.

"You have to go home and get some rest." Jack ordered.

"I can stay here. Janet can find me somewhere." Sam protested.

"Sam, I don't want you staying here. You have to stay somewhere comfortable in your condition, somewhere familiar. A hospital is no place to be spending the night unless you're ill."

Sam looked directly at Jack, her voice a whisper, "What if something happens to you?"

"It won't, Sam, I'm going to be fine. You're going to go home, have a good nights rest, come back tomorrow and I'll be here just like I always am."

Reluctantly, Sam nodded. "Fine, I'll go home."

"On second thought," Jack whispered turning to look at her. "I don't want you to stay on your own and I don't want you driving."

"Yes, sir." She said sarcastically. "Anymore orders?" He shook his head, no. "Where exactly do you propose I stay? Janet's going to be working here all night and there isn't exactly anyone else I can stay with."

Jack exhaled in thought. "What about on the base? I mean, you won't be on your own, you'll be nearer here, and you'll be able to find someone to drive you here easily."

"Are you serious?" Sam asked and then realised that he was. "You are! You said you wanted me going somewhere comfortable, well I'm going to get bored out of my skull staying at the base."

"Where's Cassie going?" Jack asked.

"I'm not sure." She paused. "Why?"

"Get her to stay on the base with you."

"Have you lost your mind?" Sam asked and then realised that he could soon. "Sorry. I'll get an airman to drive me to the base and I'll go ask Janet about Cassie."

"Thank you." He said and Sam stood. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye. Love you." Sam added placing a kiss on Jack's lips. Turning to Teal'c she bid him a farewell. As she opened the door she turned back briefly to look at Jack.

"Love you, too." He said with his usual boyish smile and she could not help but smile back. She closed the door behind her and went off in search of Janet or an airman, whichever she found first.

*****

Sam sighed as she watched Cassie drift off to sleep on a put up bed in her quarters. Janet had agreed that Sam could look after the younger girl, she had said something about practice for the real thing. Yawning, Sam moved her feet under the covers of her bed and settled back against the pillows.

She reached to turn off the bedside light and she saw the presents Cassie had given her to give to Daniel, Jack and Teal'c. Janet had not wanted Cassie to see Daniel nor had she wanted the fourteen-year-old to miss too much school, so Cassie had given the presents to Sam to pass on. Cassie would then try and make it to see Jack and Teal'c after school, but only while they were still conscious. Janet believed that for her age, Cassie had seen too much that she should not have and she did not want to add seeing Uncle Daniel hooked up to machine, after machine, after machine.

Sam smiled at the three teddy bears all in a row. They were just the right size to fit into the palm of her hand and each was unique to the receiver.

Daniel's wore a pair of glasses and carried a small pile of books, Jack's wore a military uniform and black shades and Teal'c's had a gold emblem on its forehead and an X sewn onto the stomach.

Sam turned off the light and prepared to sleep, although she knew that it would be troubled.

*****

Sam walked along the SGC corridors making her way out of the building. Cassie had already gone to school and Lieutenant Graham Simmons had agreed to be Sam's personal chauffeur. As she turned a corner she came face to face with Major Ferretti, one of Jack's best friends.

"Major." Sam said about to walk passed him.

"Carter, wait." Ferretti stopped her and she looked at him questioningly. "Tell Jack I'll be in to see him as soon as I get back from this mission. I shouldn't be gone long - I'm only going to see the Tok'ra."

"You're the team going to get my Dad?" Sam asked and Ferretti nodded. "Thanks, try not to let my Dad worry, eh?" Sam asked.

"I'll try." Sam turned to walk off again. "Major Carter?" Ferretti shouted after she had walked off a few paces. She turned to face him. "We will find a cure, some way to reverse what's happened."

Sam smiled and turned to walk away again. Once her back was turned she muttered under her breath. "Will it be soon enough, though?"

*****

Jack lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He had counted the ceiling tiles three times already this morning and now had nothing else to do. He sighed in annoyance and glanced over at Teal'c. Teal'c was sitting on the edge of his bed, facing Jack, reading a book.

"That interesting, Teal'c?" Jack asked.

"It is 'Little Women'. I am finding it most enjoyable." Teal'c said without looking up from the book that had captivated him so much.

"Never read it myself." Jack said hoping to engage Teal'c into conversation. It did not work as Teal'c nodded his head absently, not even looking up from the book.

Jack sighed again. Sometimes he did not know who was worse: Teal'c and his not talking or Daniel and his incessant ramblings. Jack wanted to see Daniel, but he had been told that he could not yet. He would be allowed to move out of the room for short periods of time later on, but not yet. He hated this situation. Not only did he feel helpless and useless just lying on this bed all day long, but he had a fiancée and soon to be born baby out there and he could not be with both of them twenty-four hours a day. He had only just proposed to Sam, then this happened and now they would probably never see their wedding day. There were two things that Jack wanted before he died, or fell into a coma and that was to marry Sam and see his daughter.

As there was a knock on the door and Sam entered, Jack realised that he could make one of them come true.

"Hi." Sam smiled, but Jack knew that it was not genuine. "I come bearing gifts." She said picking two things out of the bag she carried. Teal'c looked up from his book long enough to accept the present and then thank Sam before he turned back to the book leaving the teddy on the bed. Sam handed the other one to Jack and he looked it over before looking back up at her, a smile crossing his face.

"Cassie?" He asked and she nodded as she smiled a genuine smile. "I love you, Sam." He blurted out without thinking about what he was going to say.

"I love you, too, Jack." She said kissing him on the lips. He pulled away.

"You don't understand. I love you, Sam, and I want you to be my wife."

"I do understand, Jack, we went through this yesterday."

"Marry me?"

"I've already said yes. What else do you want from me?"

"Doc says I'm allowed out of here for short times and under supervision."

"That's... nice." Sam said unsure of what to say.

"There's a wedding chapel on the floor above us."

Sam stared at him in shock as she realised what he was getting at. "You want us to get married, *now*?"

Jack nodded enthusiastically. "Just me, you and two witnesses." Looking her in the eye he saw that she was still confused. "I love you, Sam, and let's face reality I could die tomorrow. If this hadn't have happened we'd still have got married, just not this soon and I want our daughter to be born in wedlock."

She swallowed. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Sam," he said his voice thick with emotion, "Will you do me the honour of marrying me, here, now, today? Will you?"

"How long are you allowed out for?" Sam asked as tears welled in her eyes.

Jack smiled and pulled her towards him in a giant hug. "I can't promise any honeymoon."

"That's okay. We'll have our honeymoon when you're better because you will get better. You are not going to die, Jack, because too many people need you. I need you and your daughter needs you."

"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered. "Except to ask the nurse if we can get out of here." He joked and she smiled as a tear fell down her cheek.

*****

General George Hammond breathed deeply in anticipation as the wormhole stabilised and the technician told him that it was Major Ferretti's team coming back a lot earlier than expected. He had expected that, though, because he knew General Jacob Carter. He knew that no matter what else he had to do, Jacob would be back here for his daughter at the drop of a hat. Also as expected Jacob was the first through the gate. He did not wait for any instructions to be given to him and he did not wait to be cleared from the gate room as he walked straight up to the control room. George turned to the door that Jacob would soon walk through and, on cue, Jacob did.

"Where's Sam?" He asked in a no nonsense tone.

"She's at the hospital..."

Jacob cut off his friend due to fear of the worst. "What's the matter? Is Sammie okay? Is it the baby? Is Jack with her?"

"Major Carter is fine. Her child is fine. It is Colonel O'Neill however, that is not fine."

Jacob once again cut in. "What's he done this time? He's not... dead, is he?" Jacob asked just as concerned for Jack as he would have been for Sam.

George took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We need your help, Jacob, otherwise I'm afraid your grand-daughter may never see her father."

Jacob bristled at this. It was obvious how much he cared for his family and Jack was family. It was also obvious that Jacob would do anything in his power to help. George just hoped that the combined power of Jacob and Selmac was enough to keep the nuclear family at the SGC together.

*****

"Where are you going?" Sam asked as she realised that Jack was no longer at her side as they made their way to the wedding chapel.

"I've just got to get something." Jack said and without further explanation he disappeared around a corner with the male nurse who was acting as best man.

Sam stared after him for a while curious as to where he had gone. With a shrug of her shoulders Sam turned back to face her maid of honour and they continued on to the chapel.

*****

Jack ran into the chapel and paused when he saw Sam standing at the altar. She had turned to look at him and now a large, wide and beautiful smile was on her face. He paused briefly to catch his breath and he glanced at his 'best-man'. He had always thought that Daniel would be his best man not some nurse who kept giving him dark glances for not taking it easy. He began to walk down the aisle. Okay so it was meant to be him watching her walk down the aisle, but these were not exactly normal circumstances. She was pregnant, they were in a hospital, and he was almost certainly going to die unless the Tok'ra came up with something. He had had this day planned in his mind for longer than he could remember. He had pictured himself standing at the altar with Daniel and Teal'c beside him, Sam walking down the aisle in some long, beautiful, white flowing dress. He had pictured all of their friends sitting around them, some of them crying out of happiness while others, like lieutenant Simmons from sadness.

He had wanted this day to be the best of her life, but now it was marred with the echo of death. He had not wanted that, but as she smiled at him again he forgot all that was wrong and could see only her. He made it to the altar and turned to face Sam. He then realised that she was holding a bouquet of flowers. Where had she got them? He wondered and then saw the 'Get Well' card sticking out the top.

She smiled, slightly embarrassed, as he rolled his eyes and they turned to the vicar. The vicar smiled and said. "We will forgo the usual ceremony involving the rings as..."

"Actually," Jack interjected and Sam looked at him curiously, "We do have rings." Sam looked at him in complete shock as Jack's best man handed the vicar two rings. Jack turned to Sam, "That's why I was late." He whispered and she smiled at his sweetness. They had not had rings due to the haste of the situation, but Jack had gone and found some.

Jack turned back to the vicar as he began the ceremony. "Repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed," He said to Jack and Jack repeated him word for word.

The ceremony continued with all of those present smiling at the events, until Jack got to the end of saying his vows.

"'Til death do us part." The vicar said.

Sam looked at Jack, nothing but concern and love on her face. He looked down at his hand that held hers. "'Til..." He broke off and looked up at Sam. Their eyes met and she gave him strength, love and reassurance with just a glance. "'Til death do us," he paused again knowing full well that this part of the vows should be the farthest from his mind on his wedding day, but it was not. "Part." He finished as he slipped the ring all the way onto her finger.

After she repeated the exact same vows, also finding trouble on the last line, the vicar said the final words: "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Jack leaned forward slightly and placed his lips on hers with the slightest of pressure. She responded to his kiss by moving in closer. The kiss was gentle and loving. It was their first kiss. It was their last kiss. It was their everything.

*****

Sam and Jack walked back to his room, arm in arm. As they turned the corner they saw a massive commotion in the hallway outside of his room and Daniel's. They exchanged worried glances with each other and then with their escorts.

"Daniel!" Sam whispered fearing the worst, as anyone would do in the situation.

Jack rubbed her arm to calm her as they continued to walk along to the large group of people. Someone in the crowd turned and saw Jack and Sam.

"Hey, there they are!" He shouted and everyone turned.

"Where have...?"

"What did you...?"

"Are you...?"

Everyone started talking at once and Jack shouted for them to stop. "One at a time." He ordered, but Sam spoke.

"Dad!" She moved forward and hugged her father. "I didn't expect you here so soon."

"I came as soon as I heard. What, you think I'd let anything happen to my baby girl or anyone she cared about?"

"Of course not." She said smiling as she stepped away from him.

"I'd love to ask how everything's going, but we don't have the time at the moment." Jacob said gesturing for everyone to follow them into Jack's room.

Jack and Sam sat on his bed, while Janet hopped up onto the bed next to Teal'c, who was still engrossed in his book. Jacob and George remained standing, while Martouf remained outside to try and calm down the large crowd of nurses and doctors that had not been informed of Jack's whereabouts.

"What's wrong with Daniel, Dad?" Jack asked. Neither Jacob nor Sam looked puzzled at his familiarity to the elder General as they had heard him say it before, but Janet and George looked puzzled. "What?" Jack asked innocently. "It *is* official now."

"What?" All of the other three said at the same time.

"That's where we were." Sam explained. "Getting married. Sorry that we didn't tell you, but we wanted to do it then before..." She trailed off unable to admit what she knew to be truth.

"Before anything happened to me." Jack finished for her. "Now, what's up with Daniel?" Jack repeated ignoring the looks that everyone was giving him.

Jacob's mild surprise soon became a look of happiness and just as quickly it became one of regret as he began explaining. "We got into contact with the Nox and, I'm afraid, the news is not good." He paused before continuing. "They say that this weapon the renegade Nox use works in many stages. The first is immediate neurological breakdown, which everyone recovers from. The second stage is a slow degradation in all mental facilities leading to a form of dementia. The third stage can occur at any time after stage two begins and it is the complete shut down of the brain. I spoke with someone who lived through it and he said that the dementia was unbearable and that he had often wanted to..." Realising that he wasn't helping matters he stopped. "Well, that's not really important."

"People have survived this thing?" Jack said smiling slightly.

Jacob nodded. "It's not that simple though. I spoke to a Nox who had survived, we have no idea how it will affect a human."

"I agree." Janet said. "For one thing there have been no signs of dementia."

"I'd say that there is no *cure* for humans as there is for Nox. I've brought a sample of the cure with me, but I doubt your biochemistry is the same. And I'd say that without a cure the effects will be fatal." Jacob said looking at Sam and Jack as he said all of this. He could see how much all this was hurting his daughter and as a father he had taken the compulsory oath to keep one's children safe at all times. He was failing now.

"What then?" Jack asked bitterly as he squeezed Sam's hand as if saying that everything would be okay.

"There are two ways we know that should definitely work." Jacob said and he saw hope suddenly light up Sam's eyes as she looked at him. "One is a Goa'uld sarcophagus. Used on rare occasion it has no harmful side effects regarding one's kalesh." Jacob explained.

"That's all well and good," Jack said, "But we don't have a sarcophagus."

"Neither do the Tok'ra." Jacob paused. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for everyone's reactions to what he was going to say next. "The only viable method that the Tok'ra know will work is," he paused unable to say three simple words, "A Tok'ra blending."

*****

George stared at him in shock. He had not liked the idea of Jacob becoming a host a few years back, but to allow his best air man, archaeologist and alien to *all* become hosts was going a bit too far. He knew that they would be alive if they went through with the blending, but what kind of a life would it be? They would not be allowed to live on Earth or visit for extended periods of time unless the symbiote was willing to sleep for a long time. And if they went to live with the Tok'ra that would take them away from the life that they had wanted.

But, George reasoned, they would be alive and Jack would definitely be able to see his daughter being born and growing up. Jack would have to live off world, though, and would probably never see his daughter unless Sam agreed to live off world. George did not really want to lose his entire best team and what kind of a life would the family of three lead constantly on the run from the Goa'uld system lords? That was definitely not the sort of life for a child.

*****

Janet glanced first at Jacob and then at Sam and Jack. She knew that Jacob was telling the truth, not even Jack would make one of his awful, out of place jokes in this situation. She also knew that Sam was not taking this well. She either had the choice of watching her friends and husband die or forever have them as two people each. Could her relationship with Jack survive if it became a threesome? And then there was the fact that a human joined with a Tok'ra could live in excess of two hundred years. How would the relationship handle that? How would Sam feel as she aged and her husband did not? How would she feel when she came too old to live, but her husband still looked as he had the day they had married? How would their daughter cope with knowing all of this? They were not just making this decision between themselves, they had a child to think about and the child had to come first.

Then Janet's attention turned to Teal'c. What about him? Could he become a host? Would he want to? And what about Daniel? Would Daniel want to? At least Teal'c and Jack were still conscious and able to answer the question.

Janet watched as Jack squeezed Sam's hand again as if in reassurance. Sam closed her eyes and Janet knew as well as her best friend did that that hand squeeze had signified Jack's answer and it hurt Sam. It hurt her like hell.

*****

Jacob watched as Sam's eyes closed and a tear ran down her already tear soaked cheek. That one tear held more significance then all the others put together and Jacob hated himself for causing it. He had been the one to give them the choice of death or near eternal life, sharing that life with another unknown soul. He had been fortunate that he had been joined with Selmak because they got along. Sam had joked that Jacob would be able to crack himself up laughing once joined with Selmak and she had not been wrong. What if they each became joined with someone that they could not stand? They could not take it back and have the symbiote removed without signing their own death certificates and leaving the symbiote homeless.

What if Sam did not get on with any of the symbiotes and it affected her friendships and marriage? Jacob knew that on the last account he had nothing to worry about. Jack would never willingly become a Tok'ra host and he would not agree with becoming one under any conditions, not even to see his child born. Jack was a stubborn old man, he had disliked the Goa'uld since day one and that extended to becoming one, even if it was one of the 'good-guys'. Jacob came close to shouting at Jack to stop being an idiot and let himself live, to stop hurting Sam, but Jacob could not. Jack's mind was made up and Sam would agree with him out of respect and love. She would then watch as he suddenly slipped away and slowly lost more and more brainwaves.

Selmak tried to reassure Jacob that she would one day get over this inevitable loss, but Jacob disagreed. He still silently mourned for his wife and she had been gone over fifteen years now.

*****

Jack knew that she knew what he had decided. Since near the beginning of their time working together they had been able to almost read each other's minds. A shared look, a quick glance, the simplest of touches and they knew what the other had planned. Then it had evolved into being able to finish off each other's sentences and prediction of exact movements. This time however their closeness had told her what he had decided.

He did not need to turn and look at her to see how he had upset her. He did not need to look to know that the small pressure his hand had applied had sent a new batch of tears to begin their slow descent down her cheeks. He knew exactly what she was feeling and thinking as he was thinking and feeling the exact same thing, only he also felt guilt.

It was he who had made the decision, it was he who had made her upset. He could not have decided anything different though, he could not become a host. He could not. He had nearly become a host once before to a Goa'uld and he could not go through that again. He wanted to live, but not with someone else in his mind and no matter how upset he saw her he could not change his mind.

*****

Sam opened her eyes and focused them on nothing in front of her. This was supposed to be one of the best days of her life. Her wedding day. A wedding to the man she loved more than anything, more than life itself. It would also be the day that she would remember as the day that Jack gave his own life away. He would never become a Tok'ra host, Sam knew that and Sam also suspected that he would not allow any of the others to become hosts.

She did not agree with his decision, but she would respect it. She had always respected his decisions, whether they be for work or life she respected them and she would point out when they were wrong. He may be a stubborn man, but if she disagreed with him he would listen to her side and then either change his mind or keep it the same. That tactic would not work in this situation, though and Sam knew that. She knew that even if she were to get down on her knees and beg Jack to take the symbiote so that he could live, he would not.

She thought it unfair. The whole situation was unfair. All of the things that had been in their way, or that had tried to destroy them and it would be this, this stupid illness, that would be the death of them. And she was not just talking about work. Their lives had endured through Goa'uld attacks, alien illness, hostiles taking the base, or taking one of them. Their love had endured the 'no-fraternization' rule, through stressful missions, through Jack's stupidity and through near death, but this would be real death with no going back, no resurrection, no second chances.

Suddenly a machine began to bleep a warning signal. Sam looked up at Jack, fearing the worst. He was looking at Teal'c. Sam turned to Teal'c just in time to see the book he had been so intently reading fall to the floor with a thud. Slowly, Teal'c followed the book's movement and fell to the floor. Jacob and George ran forward in an attempt to catch the larger man and all they were successful in doing was lowering him to the floor and trying to make him comfortable.

Janet dashed down to the floor to kneel by the Jaffa's side. She felt for a pulse and then for any signs of breathing. Looking over her shoulder she glanced at the EEG monitor and nodded to herself as if confirming suspicions or thoughts.

"What? Doc?" Jack asked as he stood, but he still held Sam's hand tightly and she was holding on for her life.

"He's still breathing and he has a pulse, but his brain activity levels have dropped to a low level. We need to get him into another room and prepare him for any further complications." Janet said directing for George or Jacob to get a nurse. Both men left the room as Jack stepped closer to Teal'c.

"What kind of 'complications'?" Jack asked.

"We have to be ready for every possibility, including his respiratory or cardiovascular system shutting down." She paused as some nurses ran in and she backed off to allow them to get Teal'c up onto the bed. "I'd say that you two are the only next of kin."

Jack glanced at Sam both knowing what that meant. "How long have we got to decide?" Sam whispered.

"I'm not sure, but don't take too long." Janet said moving to the door with the nurses and Teal'c. "And don't forget that you have to decide for yourself as well." She said the last bit without looking back at either of them. It was up to them to make their choice and she was not going to offer any remark that may change their decision. She could handle changing people's lives when they were her patient, but not when they were her best-friends and not when knowing there was not a damn thing she could do about it.

*****

Jack watched as Teal'c was taken out of the room. He had felt like there was a clock ticking down the minutes left of his life before, but now that he was the only one still left standing that clock was counting seconds and moving just as fast. With his free hand he grabbed his EEG and pulled it along with him as he moved Sam towards the comfy seat in the corner of the room. He sat down first and Sam sat next to him. He put his arm over her shoulder and she rested her head on his chest. He had to tell her what he had decided, what fate awaited him and them both. He opened his mouth to talk, but she beat him to it.

Sam had to start talking. She knew if she did not then, Jack would and he would tell her what he had decided. She knew the answer, but did not want to hear him say it. So she started talking to prevent him from telling her. "We have to make the decision," She started, "We have to decide what should happen to Teal'c and Daniel. We have to decide if we end their lives or prolong them in a way that they may not like. They may hate us forever if they wake up and hate the idea of being a Tok'ra. Can we really be the ones to decide their fate? What if this is the time that they're meant to go? Can we really play with fate?"

She paused waiting for him to say something. When he did not, Sam got worried and moved to look at him. "Jack?" She asked quietly not wanting to learn that he had already gone.

"I told you, Sam, I'm not going anywhere." He replied when he saw her looking at him and knew that she had feared the worse. "I don't think it's a matter of fate. If we followed fate then all the times we thought someone else was dead we would have left them. Every time one of us got injured or killed we wouldn't have used the sarcophagus to restore everything. By all rights we should all be dead by now, if we listened to fate." He said in reassurance.

She nodded and returned to leaning her head against his chest. She closed her eyes and matched her breathing with his as she listened to the thud of his heart in his chest. She sighed deeply before she began to argue the other side of the argument. "What if we say no to being a Tok'ra and we turn off their life support just as they were about to make a recovery? What would we do then? It'd be like we had killed them."

"Sam," Jack said moving Sam slightly so he could look her in the face. "There's no way any of them, nor me, can make a recovery. You heard your Dad. It's either blending or death and unfortunately it is up to us to make that choice."

"What about you?" Sam whispered. "What's your decision?" She had to hear it at some point and it may as well be now.

Jack opened his mouth to answer, but the door burst open. "Have you seen Doctor Fraiser?" The female nurse asked with a hint of panic in her eyes.

"She went to sort out a room for Teal'c. Why? What's wrong?" Jack asked as he and Sam got to their feet.

"Doctor Jackson has taken a turn for the worse." The nurse explained before excusing herself and running back into the room opposite. Sam and Jack followed her and as they walked in the door they saw Martouf as he left. Martouf explained that he was going to go look for Janet while the nurse remained to look after the young archeologist. Sam and Jack looked at each other, then at Daniel and then back at each other as they stood at the foot of the bed.

"What's happened?" Jack asked the nurse as she hurriedly dashed around the bed.

"His brain activity levels fell below the safety mark." She said somewhat irritably at being interrupted.

Jack turned to Sam his eyebrows raised in question and Sam nodded as she began to explain. "There are safe levels for everything. The trouble is we have no idea what happens to a person when their brain activity levels drop this low."

"Why?" Jack asked and winced as Sam explained.

"The safety mark is where the patient becomes clinically dead and life support machines are usually switched off. If the machines are left on levels don't drop further, but they may climb. Of course in Daniel's situation his may decrease, but won't increase."

Jack nodded. "I knew I shouldn't have asked." He muttered as Janet and Martouf ran into the room. Janet got straight down to work after excusing the nurse who did not have the security clearance, but was qualified to look after Daniel.

"I know that I said you had a while to decide for Daniel, but I'm afraid I need to know now." Janet said. "I was hoping to have had more time on the cure before anyone went this far." She added in regret.

Sam looked down at the floor. "I can't make this decision for him. I can't do something that he could possibly hate me forever for."

"I'll make the decision." Jack said and Sam looked up at him. "He can take it out on me then." He paused. "Get him a symbiote."

*****

Sam stared at Jack in shock. She had not thought that Jack would have agreed to this answer for anyone, but she knew why he had agreed. Daniel would live, and in life he could still do all of the stuff he needed to, like finding Sha're's child.

Janet turned to Martouf without pausing to consider why Jack had agreed. "How long will it take for you to get one?"

"There are symbiotes ready on our planet. We need only take them there." He said looking at Sam and then at Jack. Jack had a tight face, as if he would take back his decision at any time.

"Unacceptable." Janet said. "I'm not sure I can even get Daniel back to the SGC let alone to another planet."

Martouf nodded. "I will bring back the required amount of symbiotes. How many will I need?"

Martouf glanced at Sam as Jack answered and he saw the pained look on her face. "Two."

"Two?" Martouf inquired.

"Don't you have a deadline or something?" Jack snapped and Sam flinched at his harsh tone.

Martouf nodded. "I will get the two symbiotes and meet you at the SGC."

"I'll bring Teal'c and Daniel." Janet said and Martouf nodded before leaving the room. "I need to prepare Daniel for transport." Janet said hinting that Jack and Sam should leave her be.

Jack nodded before he held out his hand to Sam. Sam took it and they walked out of the room together.

*****

Jack and Sam walked into his, now, private room. The nurse looked up from where she was and smiled. She stood as Jack and Sam sat on the comfy chair next to her desk. "I just have to pop put." She said, "I'll be back soon, but while I'm gone don't go getting into any trouble." She smiled and headed to the door. Jack smiled at her as she turned and he mouthed the words 'thank-you' to her.

Jack looked at Sam. "Sam, you have to promise me something." He whispered although there was no one else in the room to hear his question.

"What?" She asked as the intrigue set on her face.

"When I get worse, because I inevitably will, you have to promise me something."

She looked down at her hands. She knew what he was going to say. She had known as soon as her Dad had said what the treatments were. She knew her husband too well to not know what he was thinking right now. She did not want to agree to what he wanted, but she respected him and his decisions. That was why she had not ventured into this subject earlier - she knew what he would want and it was something that she disagreed with. "Anything."

"When I get to the stage where machine's are doing everything for me and when you've exhausted all other possibilities I want to have the machines switched off. I know your Dad has offered me two solutions, but we'll never get to a sarcophagus and I can't and won't go through a Tok'ra blending. I basically have three choices if we exclude the sarcophagus." Jack said as Sam looked up only to find him staring at the wall. "I can either become a Tok'ra, or I can live as a vegetable for eternity, or I can die. And I'm sorry, Sam, I truly am, but the first two are unacceptable." He looked at her then tears welling in his eyes. "I hope you understand and that you'll follow it because I do not want to be dependent on machines. I do not want to return to my eternal hell where I can hear everything, but can't respond to anything. I've done that all once before and I can't do it again."

"Jack," she whispered moving his chin upwards so that he would meet her eyes again. "I promise that as soon as you can no longer breathe and contract your own heart I will have the machines turned off. I promise that I will not let you return to your former nightmare and I promise that I will not let you become a Tok'ra host. I promise with my heart and soul, just as I promised to love you and cherish you 'til death do us part." She said as tears ran freely down both their faces.

He smiled in relief that she would honour his final wish and he leant nearer her. She leant in, too and their foreheads rested against each other as the tears slowly stopped flowing. "I love you, Sam, and I love our child."

Fresh tears fell down her face as she managed to choke out, "I love you, too and I will tell our daughter all about you."

"This morning I had two wishes. I've fulfilled one of them, but I have another one now." Jack said quietly.

"What were the first two?" Sam asked and it came out as only slightly more than a breath.

"To marry you and see our daughter born. I doubt my chances of ever fulfilling the second wish, but I got the first."

"There was a third." She reminded him.

"To see a sunrise with you. Just the two of us. I picture us watching a sunrise on our honeymoon."

She moved away from him slightly so that she could see him without him blurring. "I think I can arrange it."

"Really?" Jack asked.

Sam glanced at her watch. "Yeah, it shouldn't have happened yet and a nurse will have to stay near by."

"And we'll have to wrap up warm. We can't risk you catching a cold."

Sam nodded as she got off of the bed. "You wait here, while I go ask a nurse."

Jack nodded and watched her leave. They had wasted so much time in getting together. They had hidden behind regulations for nearly three years and then he had mucked everything up. Finally, for the first time, they had both been happy, but then this had happened. It wasn't fair, Jack thought, it just was not fair.

*****

Janet waited patiently at the base of the gate as it engaged and the wormhole stabilised. Lying on a bed next to her was Daniel. He was still unconscious and if he had not worsened on the trip to the SGC she would have him waiting in the infirmary. She doubted that Daniel would last the few minutes that it took to get to the infirmary. She would much rather have preferred to do this operation in privacy, but that was not an option.

Someone emerged from the gate carrying a large ornamental bowl. Martouf walked down the ramp as the gate disengaged and he nodded a greeting to Janet.

"I brought the two symbiotes as was requested."

"What do I..?" Janet paused to cough. In her wildest dreams she had never thought that one day she would be stood here about to implant one of her best friends with a Tok'ra symbiote. "What do I do?"

"I will perform the task. If you wish to leave the room..." He trailed off allowing her an escape.

She shook her head. "No. He's my patient and I have to keep an eye on him."

"Very well." Martouf nodded as he removed a symbiote from the bowl. Janet found herself breathing faster, partly from anticipation, partly from fear and slight disgust. Her chest tightened and her eyes shut involuntarily as she heard what sounded like ripping skin.

She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder and her eyes flew open. Martouf was stood in front of her.

"It has been done." He said simply and she wanted to cry. It was irrational and had come from out of nowhere, but she instantly regretted what she had allowed to happen. No, she reasoned with herself, this had been the only way to keep him alive.

"Did you, uh... Did it, uh..." Janet stuttered suddenly feeling very hot.

"It entered through the soft tissue at the back of the throat. There will be no scar, nor pain." Martouf reassured her, his voice soft and tender. Noticing the flush in her cheeks he asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thanks." Janet said trying to convince herself as well as him. "Will Daniel be okay?" She asked her voice shaking.

"He should be left to rest. The symbiote will try its best to heal him and until then," he paused, "We must wait."

Janet nodded and immediately wished she had not as the room began to spin. In the distance she could hear someone calling to her, asking if she was all right. The world went dark.

*****

George and Jacob waited for Janet to wake up. Jacob was sat on one side of the bed, while George was sat on the other and Jacob took this opportunity to quiz his long time friend on his daughter and her husband.

"So," Jacob said not knowing where to start.

"What do you want to know?" George said allowing himself a smile.

"Before all of this..." Jacob gestured with his hand as he referred to the illness caused by the Nox's neurological weapon, "... did he make her happy?"

George nodded as he chuckled. "Yes. They made each other very happy. They had their share of bad times, as any relationship does, and they got over it. They fought all of the obstacles that were in their way and their love grew."

Jacob smiled. "What about the regs that forbade their relationship?"

"They tried to hide their relationship at first, but it didn't last long. I gave them a trial period on SG-1 and they passed."

They both looked down at Janet as she groaned and opened her eyes. "What happened?" She asked quietly.

"You fainted after Daniel received the symbiote." Jacob explained. "Selmak has informed me that it's common for the experience to be somewhat overwhelming for spectators."

Janet nodded and closed her eyes to stop the room from spinning.

"Are you alright, Doctor?" George asked looking at Janet with nothing, but concern on his face.

"Fine." She lied pathetically, but George let it pass. "How's Daniel?"

"Not sure. He's alive, but not awake." Jacob informed her. "The symbiote has a lot of damage to repair, but I believe progress is being made."

"I want to see him the moment that he..." Janet was cut off by the door opening and Martouf entering.

"I believe you should come quickly." He said and was out the door with no further word of explanation.

Jacob, George and Janet exchanged worried glances before running off after Martouf.

*****

Janet ran into the room where Daniel was lying, still motionless, on the bed. He was connected to less machinery now, but Janet's attention was immediately drawn to the ECG displaying both the symbiote's and Daniel's heart beat. The symbiote's heartbeat was not as strong as Janet would have liked, but Daniel's was getting stronger bit by bit.

She carefully moved towards the bed, not rushing herself in her still weakened state. She could not believe that she had fainted. Of all the things she had been witness to, of all the operations she had been a part, and this made her faint. She felt like a medical student all over again.

Gently she stroked Daniel's forehead and moved some of the hair away from his face. He had recently let his hair begin to grow long again to the way he had had it when they had first met. He was one of her best friends and she had been witness to the event that he may hold against her for the rest of time. He would not though, Janet knew that he would not. He would forgive her and the others for their decision to save his life and he would get used to it, Janet was sure of that.

She sighed and looked down at the young man's face. His eyes opened and he looked up at her. A smile crossed her face at the sight of his eyes looking back at her and he opened his mouth to speak. Realisation set in as Janet's face showed discomfort because Daniel spoke, but his voice had an eerie thickness to it. It was not his voice, but the symbiote's.

*****

Sam leant against Jack who in turn leant against a tree trunk. He wrapped his arms around her placing his hands on her abdomen and feeling the baby kick. He had never felt this content before in his life, neither of them had. They both felt as if everything were right, except the fact Jack could fall into a coma at any time. The nurse that had to accompany Jack was only a slight distance away and she had been kind enough to allow the EEG monitor to be unhooked from Jack. In his last possible happy moment with his wife, it was too cumbersome an object to be taken out of the hospital.

They sat there watching as the sun began its ascent from beyond the horizon. Sunrises had been seen before, not always using the Earth's sun, but this one was different. This one was a wish being fulfilled, a dying man's dream coming true.

//If I die tonight, I'd go with no regrets,
If it's in your arms I know that I was blessed.
And if your eyes are the last thing that I see,
Then I know the beauty heaven holds for me.//

She snuggled backwards against her husband and he squeezed her tighter in response. She watched as the picturesque red-orange glow overwhelmed the calming pale blue of the morning sky.

//But if I make it through, if I live to see the day,
If I'm with you I'll know just what to say.
The truth be told girl you take my breath away,
Every minute, every hour, every day.//

Time slowed as only they existed. All they could sense was each other and the impending burst of light and warmth that would come when the sun broke free from its anchor.

//'Cause every moment we share together,
Is even better than the moment before.
If every day was as good as today was,
Then I can't wait until tomorrow comes.//

His chin rubbed against the top of her head as he lowered his lips to kiss her gently. He closed his eyes as he let himself become consumed by memories and thoughts of her.

//A moment in time is all that's given you and me,
A moment in time and it's something you should seize.
So I won't make the mistake of letting go,
Everyday you're here I'm gonna let you know.//

Sighing slightly, he whispered to her. "I love you, Samantha O'Neill." He moved one hand to her abdomen and their daughter kicked.

//Each morning that I get up,
I love you more than ever.
So, girl I'll never go away,
Never stray.//

As the first rays of the new day's light hit them, she whispered a reply. "I love you, too, Mister Carter." She felt him smile against her head as her hand rested on his. He moved his fingers to intertwine his with hers.

//I love, love, love the moments,
Moments we share together.
I love, love, love the moments,
I pray they'd last forever.//

She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer to whatever God was listening. Reveling in the warmth of the sun and from him, she moved her free hand up to cup his cheek. She expected him to lean into it, but he did not. "Jack?" She whispered slightly as if afraid to break the spell. He did not answer her and she gently disentangled herself from him. Kneeling in front of him, she felt for a pulse in his neck and found a faint one. She placed one hand near to his mouth and nose and felt a slight measure of air warming her hand every so often. The time had come. Soon, she would have to tell the others about his last dying wish.

"'Til death do us part, Jack." She whispered placing a feather light kiss on his lips. She stood and walked off to get the nurse who had been kind enough to keep her distance.

*****

The end. Don't forget to tell me what you thought!