The Longest Day

by Kaelcee

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/ask/kaelcee/longest.php
Summary: Sam is critically wounded on a mission and Janet must try to save her

Part 1

Major Samantha Carter knew she was dying. She knew, with great certainty, that this was the end of all things for her. The realization didn't frighten her at all; in fact it was strangely calming. She felt like she was outside of herself, detached. Maybe she was in shock. That was probably it.

Her combat jacket felt like it was soaked with some sort of horrible sticky fluid and she had an awful metallic taste in her mouth. She had tasted it before; it was blood. She was lying on her back but was aware that her body was uncomfortably bent over, probably over her backpack. Strangely, she didn't feel much pain, only a dull sensation down the left-hand side of her chest. Her mind began to fully process the information and the fact that she wasn't sure how she got into this situation suddenly became very annoying to her.

'Son of a bitch,' she thought to herself. 'What the hell happened to me?! This shouldn't be happening.' She tried to get up but found she couldn't move. As she slowly opened her eyes her first instinct was to look for her weapon, she may need it, but she saw her P90 just out of reach above her head.

She tried to make out her surroundings but she found it difficult to focus as penetrating sunlight now shone directly into her eyes. And worse still, the position of her body meant that her head was upside down, leaving her view of the world contorted at a very strange angle. Despite this, she could just make out trees and bushes a few metres away; the whole area seemed green with leaves. She must be very near a forest or wood of some kind. The problem being she didn't recognize any of it. Allowing her other senses to compensate for her poor vision she became aware of a strange grey-blue smoke drifting across the ground, it smelled like weapons discharge. And vaguely she also noticed noise around her, very faintly, as if it were in the distance. 'What was that?' It sounded like a gun battle but she couldn't be sure, she couldn't quite make it out.

Suddenly a loud bang echoed around her and she was sprayed with debris. Dirt and leaves now covered her face making it difficult to breathe. She choked back a mouthful of grit and gasped for air. Another blast sounded, closer this time, covering her with even more dirt. It felt like it had just missed her position.

The explosions shook her back to reality, as the soldier in her took over. 'I have got to get out of here now,' she resolved, 'this is no training exercise.'

'SG-1...I need SG-1. Where are they?' She remembered the team always stayed close together, so they had to be nearby. She tried to speak but blood started to ooze from the side of her mouth. 'This is not good.'

Then she saw blurry feet running toward her just in her field of vision. 'Who was that, friend or foe? Damn, why is everything upside down?'

"Carter! Damn it, Carter! Don't you do this to me!"

'Hey I know that voice. It's the Colonel.' She was suddenly very relieved to hear her commanding officer. It meant she was not alone after all.

"Sir, I seem to...be having a problem...getting up," she gasped at him through a mouthful of blood. It didn't sound like her voice, but she knew she had just spoken so it had to have been hers.

"No shit, Carter! You've been hit pretty bad," Colonel O'Neill was yelling at her.

"Yes sir...Colonel...what hit me?"

"Carter, talk later. We have to move now!"

Abruptly Sam felt hands grasping at her shoulders and she realized someone was dragging her backwards across the ground. Then the pain hit her. She had never felt pain like it. It seemed to envelop her entire body. 'Oh my god! Stop it, please!' She almost slipped into unconsciousness.

Sam was unceremoniously dragged several feet toward the denser brush; her arms and legs limp and useless. Colonel O'Neill kept low, but moved fast, trying to cover as much ground as possible before they could be hit by the multiple blasts that rained down around them. He managed to haul Sam's helpless body behind a large tree before weapons fire drove him to the ground. When the barrage eased, the Colonel rose to his knees and returned fire above Sam's head.

Looking to her right a few metres away Sam saw the welcome sight of Teal'c. He was firing his staff weapon in the same direction as where the Colonel was aiming. The concerned expression on his face was almost undetectable, but Sam could tell from the slight frown on his forehead that they were defending themselves against a very powerful force. Immediately to her left she saw Daniel crouching next to her. The archaeologist looked surprisingly worried as he examined her injury.

"Daniel?" Sam whispered. "Am I okay?"

Daniel conspicuously ignored her as he produced a large compress from his pack and placed it on Sam's bloody chest, pressing down to try to control the bleeding.

"Jack, we have got to get her out of here," he yelled up at O'Neill.

"Just a minute, Daniel!"

The Colonel stopped firing his weapon and grabbed a grenade from his front pocket. He pulled out the pin and hurled the grenade towards their attackers. Instinctively he leaned down over Sam and Daniel to protect them from the blast. There was a huge explosion and then silence, as the dust settled.

O'Neill wasted no time. "Teal'c, let's go, now!"

Instantly, he got to his feet and began pulling Sam upright. When she was standing on her feet he leaned over and let her body drop down onto his shoulders. As he stood he scooped up her legs. Turning he began running through the trees, closely followed by Daniel then Teal'c.

"Daniel, dial us up," he yelled as they sprinted on, avoiding the staff weapon explosions that now followed them.

At this point Sam could only see the Colonel's legs as the ground rushed by beneath her. She was having the most uncomfortable journey of her life as the pain shot through her every time Colonel O'Neill took a step. 'Pass out please brain, I can't stand it!'

The team ran together for a short distance through the undergrowth until they came to a clearing of sorts where the light from the sky shone down exceptionally brightly in the dark forest. In the centre, on top of a large platform, stood the imposing structure of the stargate. The large metal ring so familiar to them that would get them home to Earth. The platform itself was almost as impressive as the stargate, it was nearly six feet high with about twelve well-worn steps leading up to the device on top of it.

"Daniel, come on," O'Neill screamed behind him.

"I'm coming."

Daniel sped forward towards the DHD near the bottom of the steps, so fast he almost fell over it. He began pushing symbols and each in turn lit up as the inner ring of the stargate spun around locking the corresponding symbols into the chevrons. He pressed down the centre dome of the DHD and a huge whoosh sounded as a great funnel of water-like energy shot out from the giant circle. As the wormhole stabilised Daniel lifted his arm and began punching numbers into the GDO that was strapped there.

"Clear," Daniel shouted as he ran up the steps two at a time. When he got to the top he turned back to anxiously beckon the others forward. "Come on." He flinched as the explosions got closer.

The Colonel was already running for the open wormhole, although Sam's weight was making his progress difficult. "Go now," he said to Daniel. "Teal'c help me!"

Daniel paused for an instant then nodded and reluctantly stepped into the shimmering liquid.

Teal'c, who had been watching their backs, now ran forward and just caught Sam's legs as O'Neill stumbled on the first step, launching the three of them onto the ground.

"Damn it! We have got to go!" O'Neill was disgusted with himself. 'Nice one Jack, can't even climb a flight of stairs.'

From behind them through the trees they could hear their pursuers gaining on their position, and both Teal'c and O'Neill knew they were running out of time. Standing up together they each took one of Sam's arms and hoisted her torso up off the ground. Moving quickly, they ran with the injured Major, her legs dragging between them, up the steps and through the awaiting wormhole.

With the momentum they now had, it was a very abrupt arrival on Earth as the stargate spit them out in a heap onto the ramp.

"Close the iris," they heard General Hammond shout over the loud speakers. Immediately the massive metal shield closed behind them and the blue light from the wormhole disappeared. Something large impacted the iris a half-second later, the noise reverberating throughout the gate room, before the stargate shut itself off.

"We need a medical team now," O'Neill yelled up at the command centre as he lifted himself off Carter and Teal'c. In one swift movement Teal'c quickly rolled out of the way as well.

"They're already on their way, Colonel," the General replied. It seemed that Daniel had warned them when he had arrived through the stargate a few moments before the rest of the team.

O'Neill removed Carter's pack, then turned her over so that she lay on her back. She was barely conscious now and looked extremely pale. Her whole upper body seemed to be covered with blood; the compress Daniel had put on earlier was now soaked through.

"Major Carter is very badly injured O'Neill," Teal'c said as he stood up.

"I know, Teal'c, I know."

The door on the right-hand side of the gate room slid back as three medics in white uniforms ran through wheeling a gurney. Running in with them was the petite Chief Medical Officer Doctor Janet Fraiser.

"Okay, what have we got?" she asked as she ran up the ramp. But as she neared the casualty a horrible dread overcame her as she noticed that it was Sam, her best friend. She fell to her knees next to her patient as her legs gave way. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she fought back the urge to throw up all over the ramp.

"She was hit by a staff weapon blast, close range. They ambushed us, we never saw it coming," O'Neill told the doctor, as Daniel and Teal'c stood close by.

"Sam, can you hear me?" The tremor in Janet's voice was barely perceptible. She got no response.

Janet lifted the compress to examine Sam's injury. There was a gaping hole in her clothing near her left shoulder, her greatest fear was confirmed as she saw massive damage beneath. Although a lot of the wound had been cauterised by the staff weapon's energy, there was still severe haemorrhaging at the trauma site. Several blood vessels had to have been damaged and god knows how many other internal complications there were.

'This can't be happening, it can't be Sam,' thought Janet as she replaced the compress, 'anyone but Sam, please.' Her hands began to shake.

"Doc?" O'Neill was looking at her.

"Sir?" she said, barely focusing on his face.

O'Neill grabbed the doctor's arm. "Doctor Fraiser," he said with some urgency.

"Yes sir," she replied, her professionalism finally taking control.

The sick feeling in her stomach remained as she turned to the medics by her side. "Let's get her to the infirmary."

Janet turned back to her patient just in time to see Sam looking at her. "Hey Janet..." Sam began to say before she gurgled and coughed, then stopped breathing...

Part 2

Janet had been in her office finishing up some reports when the alarm sounded. She had just started her shift and was catching up on some paperwork she had left from the previous day.

"Unscheduled incoming traveller," echoed through the loud speakers, while the warning lights flashed in the infirmary. Janet looked up from her desk, she knew this could mean anything from an enemy attack to an emergency off-world evacuation. She didn't know which one she would have preferred at this moment. Most likely she would be needed in either case.

The phone on her desk rang and she picked up the receiver. "Fraiser."

"We need a medical team in the gate room immediately," the voice on the other end said.

"On my way." She was already on her feet before she put the phone down.

Now, less than three minutes later, she was kneeling over the critically wounded body of her best friend, trying to keep her from dying right in front of her.

Janet noticed at once that Sam had stopped breathing. "Sam, can you hear me? Open your eyes." She got no response so she quickly reached down to her carotid artery to feel for a pulse. She couldn't feel one.

"I've got no pulse, she's arrested! Let's move her," she shouted to her medics.

Daniel and Teal'c both took a step back quickly as the medics hurried up the ramp. Aided by O'Neill, they picked up Sam's lifeless body and carried her back down to the awaiting gurney. Janet rushed down the ramp after her patient. Her head was spinning. 'Don't panic, don't panic,' she kept telling herself, 'Sam's life depends on you keeping it together.'

"I'll start chest compressions. Bag her," she ordered her team as she started compressing Sam's ribcage. One of the medics used a mask and bag to pump air into her lungs.

Janet saw the left-hand door slide back as General Hammond entered the gate room. "We need to move her to the infirmary, sir, we can't do anything here," she told her CO. The General nodded.

Janet climbed onto the gurney on top of Sam's legs so she could continue chest compressions as the medics wheeled them backward out of the door. As they sped off down the corridor the rest of SG-1 followed closely behind. Before long they were all in the infirmary, Janet still working furiously to keep Sam's blood pumping around her body. Sam was moved from the gurney onto the resuscitation bed, then hooked up to a cardiac monitor. Janet was not surprised to see an irregular heartbeat on the screen.

"She's in V-Fib. Okay, charge the defibrillator to 200 joules," she told a nurse. Janet lifted the paddles. "Clear," she shouted.

The medical staff all lifted their hands in unison as she placed the paddles onto the conducting pads that had been put on Sam's exposed skin. Janet paused then activated the paddles, sending a huge shock of electricity into Sam. Her body involuntarily arched off the bed then collapsed down again. Janet looked up at the monitor; it still showed an irregular heart rhythm. Her worst fears were being realized.

"Come on Sam..." she said, then turned to the nurse, "charge to 360. Clear." Again Sam's body lurched upwards as Janet applied the electrical current to her heart.

The entire room collectively held their breaths.

This time the monitor began beeping the familiar sound of a normal heartbeat. Janet's own heart skipped a beat. "Checking for a pulse," she said as felt the artery in Sam's neck. "Yes, I can feel a pulse." A relieved sigh escaped her lips.

Looking up at the monitor again she confirmed it. "Normal sinus rhythm. We've got her back." She couldn't hide the overwhelming joy in her voice. Her eyes were brimmed with tears. She was also grateful to see Sam take a breath for the first time since she arrested in the gate room. 'That's it Sam, take as many breaths as you need.'

From the sidelines, Daniel, Teal'c and O'Neill suddenly became very vocal as they cheered for Sam.

"Yes! Way to go, Doc," O'Neill congratulated Janet. Daniel was cheerily patting Teal'c on the back as the Jaffa stood stoically with his right eyebrow raised. Only people who knew Teal'c well could detect the very slight smile on his lips.

Janet absently put her hand on the defibrillator; she couldn't believe how grateful she was for this one simple piece of medical technology. Thankfully, it had just saved Sam's life.

Reality returned as the doctor in her remembered the situation. Of course there was still the little problem of the gaping hole in Sam's chest and shoulder. She re-examined the wound. It was going to need surgery to repair the damaged tissue. At least the blood had begun to clot now; the haemorrhaging had slowed. She carefully applied a new compress. Sam was still unconscious but at least she was stable and, better than that, at least she was still alive.

Hammond arrived in the infirmary. "Report, Doctor."

"We've managed to stabilize her, sir, but she's going to need surgery on her shoulder immediately. There is still some internal bleeding that has to be stopped. And we need to check for other damage to her internal organs."

"Thank you, Doctor, carry on," Hammond said, sensing the urgency in the situation.

"Yes sir," Janet replied before she turned to her medical staff. "Prep her for surgery. Let's move." Various staff bustled around as they readied for the operation.

Hammond watched as Sam was wheeled out of the infirmary to the operating room. Janet followed close behind. He turned back to see the rest of SG-1 attempting to follow on, seemingly on autopilot.

Hammond quickly moved in front of the exit, stopping the team in their tracks. "Stand down, people. You're exhausted, I want you all to go get checked out by Doctor Warner, then get cleaned up."

"Sir, that's not really necessary," O'Neill tried to persuade the General.

"I believe it is, Colonel, that's an order," Hammond said firmly. The blood on O'Neill's shoulder distracted him. "Colonel, are you injured?" he asked.

"Sir?" O'Neill followed the General's gaze down to his shoulder and suddenly flashed back to their escape through the forest, the mad dash as he carried Sam's limp body. Looking back up at the General he said, "oh, no sir, it's not my blood."

"Okay," Hammond understood. "Look, Jack, she's in safe hands, Doctor Fraiser is a very good surgeon. You can't do anything more here while she's in surgery. Follow my orders then we'll debrief in the morning."

"Yes sir," O'Neill said, as SG-1 reluctantly filed back into the infirmary.

~~~

Janet led the surgical team in the operation to patch up Sam's open wound. The elation that Janet had felt before when Sam's heart had begun to beat again was dampened when she saw clearly for the first time the extent of the damage to Sam's chest and shoulder. She knew right from the start that it was going to be a fairly complicated procedure.

The brachial artery had been damaged, this had been the cause of the massive blood loss, but thankfully, there was no permanent trauma and Janet managed to repair the slight tear. The force of the impact had fractured Sam's left clavicle, and a shard of bone had grazed the top of her lung. Although Janet was able to reset the bone, the lung graze would have to heal on its own. The minor blood vessels had been cauterised so didn't create a problem and there was good news when Janet saw that the brachial nerve had survived intact. There would be no loss of function in Sam's arm. And the other major vessels in her chest--heart, aorta--were unharmed. The skin surrounding the wound should heal completely but there would be a scar. She was lucky to have survived with only the injuries she had. Had the blast hit her even a fraction to her right, Sam would have died instantly.

The surgery finished ahead of schedule, four hours later. "Inform General Hammond that Major Carter is now in recovery, lieutenant," Janet ordered one of her subordinates as she rechecked Sam's vitals. "Oh, and inform the rest of SG-1 as well."

"Yes, ma'am." The lieutenant left the room and returned about a minute or so later to report to the doctor. "General Hammond is coming to speak to you himself, Doctor."

"Thank you, lieutenant."

Hammond arrived about five minutes later. As he entered the infirmary he saw Sam first, lying on one of the infirmary beds. He was very happy to see her alive, although she was still unconscious and she looked very weak and pale behind the oxygen mask.

He looked over and saw that the rest of SG-1 was there too; as close to Sam as they could be without getting in the way of the medical staff. O'Neill was pacing along the back of the room, he appeared slightly anxious. 'Just as worried as ever about every member of his team,' Hammond noted. Daniel was seated on a chair a couple of feet away from Sam's bed, Hammond could see he was exhausted as his eyes betrayed his fatigue. And Teal'c, well, he was standing back from it all, just keeping his eye on the injured Major. Hammond knew Teal'c was just as concerned as the other two.

Finally, he saw Doctor Fraiser as she walked into the room from her office. "So how is your patient doing now, Doctor?" he asked his CMO.

"Sir, all I can tell you is that the surgery to close the wound was successful. She lost a lot of blood so we've got her on intravenous fluids and also antibiotics to control any infection. Her collarbone was fractured, so we've strapped the arm. She's still unconscious, sir, but that's to be expected after the shock she has suffered. Basically she's not out of the woods yet, but all the signs point to a good recovery."

"Thank you, Doctor Fraiser, good job." Hammond smiled at the doctor.

Janet returned his smile. "Sir, there is nothing more that can be done now," she told him. "We just have to wait until Major Carter wakes up. Which could be a while yet."

"Right, Doctor." Hammond looked at her closely; he could see the concern in her face. He knew that Doctor Fraiser would not rest until Major Carter was back on her feet and well again. He also noticed something else as he looked into the doctor's eyes, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Deep inside he knew that the Doctor cared for her friend quite a bit. His conscious self shrugged the thought off.

"Doctor, I'd like you to attend the debriefing tomorrow morning at 0700hrs. I'll expect an update of Major Carter's condition then. Keep me informed if anything changes before that time."

"Yes sir."

He placed a hand on Janet's arm. "Major Carter is a strong woman, Doctor. I'm sure she'll pull through."

"Yes sir. I know she is a fighter. Thank you sir." The General smiled again then headed towards the door.

Janet watched the General leave, then turned to Sam's three anxious teammates. "I'll say to you what I've said to the General. You can't do anything more until she wakes up. It's probably best if you leave now, I'll inform you as soon as she opens her eyes. Besides you're beginning to clutter up my infirmary."

"Okay," O'Neill said as he tapped Daniel on the shoulder and motioned his team to the door. "Let's go guys, you heard the Doc."

Daniel got up off his chair and smiled at Janet. Then he followed the Colonel out of the infirmary.

Teal'c slowed as he passed her. "You are to be congratulated, Doctor Fraiser, for saving Major Carter's life," he said as he bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you, Teal'c." She knew it was high praise indeed for the Jaffa to lower his head to anyone. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

"Indeed. Of that I am certain."

After they had gone, Janet let out a sigh; she was utterly exhausted. All in all it had been a very long and very stressful day, and still it wasn't over. Janet was still slightly worried that Sam hadn't regained consciousness yet.

This was definitely one of the longest days of her life. It had started off okay, pretty routine in fact. Just a quiet shift at the SGC. But events couldn't have deteriorated more. 'I suppose it could have been much worse,' she thought, 'Sam could have died.' She shuddered as the thought sent a chill right through her. The realization replayed in her head; 'Sam could have died.'

She looked over at her best friend. 'To think I came that close to losing you.' An even bigger fear overcame her as she realized what that would have meant. Janet crossed the room and sat down on the edge of Sam's bed.

"I couldn't stand it if I lost you, Sam. To not have you around any more," she whispered. She gently brushed back a strand of hair from Sam's face. "My world would be empty without you." She moved to the chair next to the bed and took Sam's hand in her own.

They'd been through a lot together since they'd known each other. When they first met, three years ago, a virus that changed everyone who was infected into stone age-like humans had overrun the SGC. While Janet was looking for a cure, Sam's roommate had stabbed Sam in the stomach. It had been a superficial wound but Janet was the one who stitched up her injury. After that incident they became instant friends and years later they still laughed together about Sam's attempted seduction of the Colonel while she was under the influence of the virus. Janet was unaware of the slight smile that now crossed her lips as she remembered the look of embarrassment on Sam's face when she first told her the story.

Later that year, Cassandra came into their lives. Sam had befriended the young girl on a planet whose inhabitants had all been wiped out by the Goa'uld, Nirrti. She had been orphaned and there was no one left on her world to take care of her so she was brought back to Earth. During the first few days Sam spent at lot of time with Cassandra and they became very close. When Cassandra was given clearance to live on Earth permanently, Sam wanted to look after the girl but realized she couldn't because of the nature of her job; she just wasn't able to give the time to be a proper parent to her. Janet offered to foster her instead, as she too had come to care for the child quite a bit. This had been the best solution as, since then, they had spent quite a few weekends together, just the three of them, rowing on the lake, doing kid stuff, or just hanging out. They had become almost like a family.

Her thoughts turned to her adopted daughter. How was she going to explain this to Cassandra? The young girl would be heartbroken if Sam wasn't in her life any more. Thankfully, Lieutenant Cameron was looking after Cassandra at home. She knew Sam had been injured but she wasn't told of the critical nature of the situation. It was better that she wasn't here to see Sam like this. Janet would have to tell her when she got home, an ordeal she was dreading. She had hoped at least to be able to tell her that Sam was awake and recovering but at the moment that would be a lie.

Cassandra had been there when Sam was possessed by a Tok'ra against her will. Although the Tok'ra are now allied with the SGC, at the time, no one knew of their existence. Janet remembered thinking then that she had lost her friend to the Goa'uld forever. It had been a nightmarish time and when it was all over, Sam had needed a lot of support to get over the trauma. She had nearly died and went into a deep depression over the violation she felt to her body. It was almost as if she had been raped. Janet had been there for her then, first watching over her while she recovered from the physical scars in the infirmary, then making sure she recovered from her emotional scars when she was on leave. It had taken a while but with Janet's help, together with Cassandra, Sam had pulled through.

'You came back to me that time,' she thought as she brought Sam's hand up to her cheek and felt the warmth of her skin on her face.

Not long after that Sam's father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and as a result Sam suffered a set back. She had felt as though her whole world were going to collapse. Janet knew that Sam had lost her mother when she was young and that her brother, at the time, was not on speaking terms with her, so the thought of losing her father as well was almost too much for her to bear. Sam had turned to Janet again for support and advice, and Janet took care of her friend, helping her to come to terms with her father's illness.

As it turned out, Sam's father was cured by the tok'ra and he now let one share his body. Which is quite ironic considering the ordeal Sam had gone through a couple of months before.

Above all, Janet enjoyed Sam's company very much. They had similar interests; they both loved science. And they spent a lot of their down time together having countless discussions on the stargate and the planets the SG teams explored.

They had even recently gone on a mission to Egypt together. A Goa'uld named Osiris had been discovered on Earth, and it was up to herself, Sam and Daniel to catch him. Despite the mission taking a wrong turn and the Goa'uld escaping, it had been a good experience to finally get out of the base on a mission, especially with Sam.

Basically they had fun together. They were best friends and Janet realized that she came to rely on this woman quite a bit. She cared for Sam deeply.

Finally succumbing to the exhaustion she felt she rested her head on the edge of the bed, still clutching her friend's hand. "Oh, please wake up, Sam. For me. I can't lose you now," she whispered. She closed her eyes for a moment; she was so tired.

It didn't take long for Janet to fall into a restless sleep. Suddenly, she noticed a gentle movement beside her, interrupting her sleep. Sam's hand was returning her grasp.

Janet looked up to see her best friend, awake at last, and smiling at her...

Part 3

Sam had woken up disorientated by her surroundings and quickly became aware of the pain in her shoulder and down her left arm. But it was the discomfort in her chest that bothered her the most. She felt as though a great weight was sitting on her, threatening to crush her.

Looking down she noticed the sleeping doctor by her side, gently holding her hand. 'She's always there for me when I need her,' she thought.

Janet was roused from her sleep when Sam squeezed her hand. The doctor was now looking her, with a huge grin on her face.

"Hey there, welcome back," Janet said softly as she removed the oxygen mask from Sam's face.

"I didn't know I had gone," Sam croaked.

"We were worried about you there for a while. We thought we'd lost you."

"No chance, you can't keep me down for long," Sam whispered. She tried to move into a more comfortable position when the pain shook her again.

"Take it easy, Sam. Try not to move."

"What the hell did you do to me? I feel like my chest has imploded."

"You were hit by a staff weapon blast on the mission. We had to do surgery on your chest to repair the damage," Janet told her as she settled Sam back again.

"Yeah, well it still hurts, Janet."

"You'll feel some discomfort for a little while, Sam. Try not to move too much, it was a bad hit."

"How bad?" Sam looked worried.

"It's okay," Janet smiled at her patient, reassuring her. "The artery leading to your arm was ruptured and you lost a lot of blood but there's no permanent damage. You were lucky, it could have been much worse. You stopped breathing in the gate room and we had to restart your heart, but that was as a result of the loss of blood and we fixed that in surgery," Janet informed her. "You've broken your collarbone, so we've immobilised your arm by strapping it to your side. It'll heal in a few weeks. You're going to be fine now. With a lot of rest and relaxation, you should make a full recovery."

Sam was very grateful that her best friend was also her doctor. "I guess I should say thanks for saving my life...again." She smiled.

Janet laughed. "Well, I couldn't let my best friend die on my shift, it would leave a bad mark on my record." She winked at Sam.

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Sam noticed that Janet's light brown hair was slightly out of place and a stray wisp hung down over her eye. 'Janet has such beautiful brown eyes,' thought Sam. 'I don't know why I didn't notice that before.' She began to stare at the doctor's face intently. Janet was a really beautiful woman. She could look into her eyes for a lifetime and not be bored. She unconsciously licked her lips as she felt a wonderful feeling of affection towards the woman sitting next to her. Over the years, Sam had suffered numerous injuries on missions, and it had always been Janet that was there to take care of her. 'I keep doing this to you, don't I?' she thought. 'And you keep patching me up.'

Janet's heart began to beat slightly faster as she returned her friend's intense gaze. She couldn't hide the joy she felt for Sam's recovery after the nightmare of her nearly dying. A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth as she thought how wonderful it was to have this woman here with her now. She still looked quite weak and withdrawn from her ordeal but at least she was talking again. She suddenly became aware that she was still holding Sam's hand and she broke eye contact as she abruptly let go. She could feel her face begin to flush with embarrassment.

Sam tried to hide her disappointment at the loss of her friend's touch, she liked the comfort it gave her, but she could see the redness begin to creep over the doctor's face, so quickly changed the subject.

"How long have I been out of it?" she asked.

"Oh, em, about six hours, not long considering the surgery an' all," Janet said, aware of Sam's change of tack.

'You are so cute when you're flustered.' The thought surprised Sam.

Janet decided she had to leave, quickly, as she felt her face getting redder. She stood up. "I'm going to go now, I've got other patients to see," she lied. "You need to get some rest, it's been a tough day." She moved to the chart at the end of the bed and scribbled down some notes. "I'll come back to check on you tomorrow, and no doubt the rest of SG-1 will want to see you then as well."

"Oh, how are the guys?" The last thing Sam remembered with any clarity was the mission turning bad on P4X 929. Events after that were pretty fuzzy. She suspected that Janet would have told her by now if anything had happened to them. She felt a bit ashamed that she hadn't asked about them earlier.

"They're fine, no one else was injured, they all made it back in one piece."

Sam sighed with relief. "That's good news."

Janet returned to the side of the bed and placed a hand on Sam's good shoulder. "You get some sleep, okay. I've got to get home to Cassandra, let her know what's going on."

"Give her my love, tell her I'll come to see her as soon as I'm up and about," Sam said as she tried to stifle a yawn.

Janet felt her heart miss a beat as she watched Sam try to stay awake. She looked so vulnerable. "Right, Major, I'm ordering you to go to sleep now."

"Yes ma'am," Sam said in mock seriousness.

Janet tried to smile but she could feel tears well up in her eyes. Sam had made it. She was alive. A bit worse for wear but alive. She couldn't believe how fortunate she was to have this woman back with her.

Sam saw a tear begin to fall down Janet's face. "Why so sad?" she asked.

"I thought I'd lost you, Sam. When you came in earlier, I was so worried. You almost died."

Sam lifted her hand and with her finger wiped away the tear that had settled on Janet's cheek. "You don't need to worry now, I'm okay. I couldn't leave you and Cassandra."

Unexpectedly for both women, Janet leaned down and lightly kissed Sam on the forehead. As Janet pulled back she looked again into Sam's gorgeous blue eyes. There was a pause as Janet held her position inches from Sam's face.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Sam." Janet leaned in again, this time to kiss Sam's lips.

The kiss lingered forever, each woman experiencing a most wonderful feeling of love, neither wanting the moment to end. Janet let her hand drift to the side of Sam's face, gently holding her cheek. The pain Sam felt earlier was gone in an instant.

Abruptly, Janet pulled back. "Oh, em, I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that. I'm sorry, Sam. That was really unprofessional. I'm going to go now." Janet didn't know which way to turn next, until she felt a hand clasp her hand.

"It's okay, Janet. I wanted it too."

Janet allowed her gaze to drift up to Sam's face. She was smiling at her. Janet couldn't help but smile too.

"Get some rest now, I'll see you tomorrow," she said as she brought Sam's hand up to her lips and kissed the back of her hand gently.

Sam felt another rush of excitement as Janet's lips touched her skin. "Okay, Janet. I'll be here," were the only words she could force from her mouth.

A movement behind the doctor suddenly distracted Sam.

"Em, Janet..." Sam said as she nodded her head slightly toward the figure standing behind her.

Janet spun around to see Teal'c standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been there, Teal'c?"

"Long enough, Doctor Fraiser," he replied...

Part 4

Teal'c hadn't meant to intrude.

When he was ordered out of the infirmary earlier, he figured that meant only out of the room. So he decided to wait silently in the corridor outside of the doors of the infirmary, standing by in case Major Carter needed him. He would wait for as long as it took.

He had heard faint voices from inside, and thought that Major Carter was now conscious after her operation so came in to have a look. He wasn't entirely surprised by the sight that greeted him as he saw Doctor Fraiser kissing Major Carter's hand. He had tried to back out without disturbing them but was spotted by the Major.

He now stood apologetically with his arms clasped behind his back.

"I am sorry, Doctor Fraiser, Major Carter. I did not mean to interrupt," Teal'c tried to explain. "I heard Major Carter's voice and came in to check that she was indeed awake."

Janet returned to full doctor mode, trying to move the subject away from the obvious violation of the regulations that herself and Sam had just committed. "Teal'c, your concern is appreciated, but Major Carter needs rest now. So it's best if we leave her to sleep. You can see her again tomorrow," she said as she walked toward the Jaffa ushering him back out the door.

Teal'c turned his gaze toward the Major. "I am very pleased to see you conscious, Major Carter."

"Thank you, Teal'c. It's good to see you too," replied Sam.

Janet turned the huge man about and guided him out through the door.

"Could you wait outside again for a moment, Teal'c? I would like to speak to you before you leave," she asked him quietly out of Sam's earshot.

"Yes, Doctor Fraiser, I will wait at the end of the corridor."

"Thanks."

Janet watched him this time, making sure he got to the end of the corridor before she returned to Sam's bedside. Sam's eyelids were heavy now and Janet could see she was almost asleep.

"Go to sleep," Janet said as she placed the oxygen mask back on Sam's weary face.

"What about Teal'c, Janet? He must have seen us," mumbled Sam through the mask.

"Don't worry, I'll speak to him." Janet began to stroke her face soothingly.

Sam gave up her protest as she finally closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Janet took one last look at Sam. She looked so peaceful and calm. She could sit here for hours just watching her, but she had things to do, people to speak to. She made her final checks of Sam's vitals, jotted down some notes on Sam's chart, and finally left the infirmary herself.

Janet met up with Teal'c at the end of the corridor. They walked down the corridor together for a short distance before Janet put a hand on Teal'c's arm stopping him from going any further. She quickly checked around for any other personnel. Satisfied that no one would interrupt she turned to the Jaffa, craning her neck back as she looked up at the huge man.

"Teal'c, I have to ask you a question," she began. "What did you see when you came in to the infirmary earlier?"

"I saw you kiss Major Carter's hand, Doctor," he said bluntly.

Janet felt her face flush with embarrassment. "Do you know the regulations regarding relationships in the Air Force?"

"I am aware of the regulations, yes, Doctor," replied Teal'c.

"Both Major Carter and myself could be discharged from the Air Force for this."

"Do not worry, Doctor Fraiser. For some time now I have been aware of your feelings for Major Carter. I do not see a problem in keeping your relationship a secret. The SGC would be greatly diminished if it lost two of its finest officers."

Janet was shocked by Teal'c's matter of fact statement. She began to panic. "It's that obvious? I only just now realized my feelings for Sam. How did you know?"

"It is not obvious, Doctor. Let me explain. Since I came to Earth I have tried to study human behaviour so that I might better understand it. I have watched the SGC personnel very closely, so that I can fit in with your customs. Lately, I have begun to notice the way you look at Major Carter. The way you talk with her when we come back from missions. The closeness you share. It was not difficult to deduce from my observations that you are in fact in love her. And that Major Carter shares your feelings."

Janet was speechless at Teal'c's revelations. She had no idea that Teal'c was so sensitive to the people around him.

"I am very pleased that you and Major Carter have finally discovered the feelings you share for each other," Teal'c continued. "And know you will be happy in one another's company."

"Thanks, Teal'c, that means a lot to me and I know it will mean a lot to Sam too," Janet said, finally able to find her voice.

"I believe it best for everyone involved if we discuss it no more. Your secret will remain with me." For the second time that day, Teal'c bowed his head to the doctor. "Goodnight, Doctor Fraiser."

"Goodnight, Teal'c," said Janet, quite emotional now at his gesture of respect to her. "And thanks again."

"You are welcome."

Janet watched as Teal'c walked off down the corridor and got into the elevator, this day hadn't turned out too bad after all.

There was a sudden commotion behind her, as various nurses appeared abruptly and began bustling around. Distantly she heard an infirmary alarm sounding.

"Doctor Fraiser? Doctor Fraiser?"

A great heaviness instantly weighing on her heart, Janet briefly closed her eyes when she heard her name being called. The familiar nauseating feeling of dread back with a vengeance. She opened her eyes again to see one of the nurses running up the corridor toward her but Janet knew what she would say before she said it.

"It's Major Carter, she gone into full arrest," the nurse yelled.

Janet was already sprinting back to the infirmary...

~~~

Epilogue

Janet awoke from a horrible dream when she felt Lieutenant Stone shaking her gently.

"Doctor Fraiser?" The lieutenant shook her again. "Doctor?"

Janet raised her head wearily from her desk and looked around to orientate herself with her surroundings. She was still in her office next to the infirmary; her laptop was open on the desk, a medical report unfinished on the screen. She glanced at the source of her disturbance standing next to her.

"What time is it?" she asked absently.

"It's six am."

"Six?" Stone nodded in conformation. "The start of a new day," the doctor mumbled to herself. "Thank you, lieutenant. I think I best be going now." Janet slowly rose to her feet. "I'll just finish off here."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied. He turned to leave the office only to turn back again to scrutinise his commanding officer. "Doctor, are you going to be all right?"

"Sure, sure." She smiled at him as she nodded. "I'll be fine."

The nurse paused before he reluctantly left her alone.

A few minutes later Janet left her office, closed the door and was just beginning to lock it when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

"Rough night," Daniel said gently, more a statement than a question. He had noted her dishevelled appearance as he approached.

The doctor turned to greet her friend. "Yeah. I stayed with Sam as long as I could...just in case she needed me. I just wanted to be there, you know, I couldn't leave her...not again." She lowered her head suddenly and closed her eyes.

Daniel nodded, unable to say anything.

After a few moments, Janet lifted her head to look up at her friend. "When they moved her," she continued, "I came back to my office, tried to finish off those reports that I never got to finish yesterday. But it seems I fell asleep," she finished quietly.

"That's understandable." Daniel tenderly reached for Janet's shoulder but she pulled away.

"Anyway, I'm headed to the General's office." She held up the folder she clutched in her hand. "I've got to hand in my report."

"I'm sure the General wouldn't mind if you waited a few hours. You don't have to do this now. Come have a cup of coffee with me in the mess hall."

Janet abruptly shook her head. "No, I can't. It has to be now."

"Don't do anything rash, Janet. It wasn't your fault, take some time to absorb the situation..."

"Daniel," she interrupted him, "please. Just leave me alone. There is nothing you can say to make this any better. I've got to go." She walked off down the corridor without another word.

Daniel watched his friend helplessly as she disappeared around the corner.

A few minutes later, Janet knocked on the General's door, then entered his office after she heard her commanding officer acknowledge her arrival.

"My report, sir," she said without preamble as she walked up to his desk.

The General reached out and took the folder from the doctor's hand. "Thank you, Doctor."

Janet bit her lip and took a deep breath before she spoke again. "Major Carter was certified dead at twenty-three, fifty-six, sir."

Hammond watched his CMO for a moment then nodded sombrely before he opened the file and scanned the pages briefly. He couldn't quite bring himself to read the words. Over the years he'd had to endure the deaths of several officers under his command but this one was definitely one of the hardest to take.

"Her injures from the staff weapon blast were just too extensive," Janet continued, her tone of voice far too clinical to Hammond's ears. "The ultimate cause of death was pulmonary embolism. A blood clot in her lungs, sir."

"Understood, Doctor." Hammond fought hard to keep the tears from his eyes.

"One more thing, sir." She slowly reached into the pocket of her white lab coat and produced a neat, crisply sealed envelope. "This is my letter of resignation, effective immediately." She placed it on his desk.

The General looked at the doctor in complete surprise and shock. "Are you sure, Doctor? Maybe you should take some time off to think about this."

"No sir." Janet shook her head. "My mind's made up. I don't believe I can competently perform my duties," she paused as she looked down at her feet, "not anymore," she finished softly. After a long moment, she looked back at her CO. "Goodbye, sir."

Hammond watched in disbelief as his CMO turned for the door, then swiftly left his office without another word.

End