Title: Smokescreen
Part: 10/10
Fandom: SG-1/Atlantis cross-over.
Pairing: Sam/Jack
Genre: Sci-fi, adventure, some hurt/comfort
Season: Four of Atlantis (between Trio and Midway)

Chapter Summary: Teyla's fate lies in the hands of an alien, and all that's left to do is trust.

PART TEN

In the observation room overlooking Teyla's bed in the infirmary, McKay was jigging nervously up and down. The Diamantine alien (which Sheppard had finally dubbed 'Spongebob' since it still had not given them its name) was setting up a piece of equipment near Teyla's bedside; Colonel Carter and Dr. Keller stood by, monitoring the alien's progress.

"Why can't I be in there?" Rodney complained, unsuccessfully trying to peer over Ronon's shoulder.

"Because Carter said so," Sheppard replied irritably. McKay's behaviour was doing little to alleviate his fears that Teyla might never wake up. He fixed his gaze on her uncommonly beautiful face, earnestly willing her not to give up the fight.

"But I don't understand," Rodney whined. "That's a very advanced piece of technology. Why doesn't Sam want me in there?"

Ronon looked at him. "You really have to ask?"

At this, Rodney fell silent. Sheppard tried to feel relieved at finally having some quiet, but in truth the incessant bleeping of the infirmary machines was setting him just as much on edge as Rodney's grumbling. He watched as Keller began to check Teyla's vital signs and Carter escorted their alien guest out of the door. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he reached for the microphone.

"Doc?"

Keller glanced up at him through the window and acknowledged him with a nod. Then, after completing her checks, she joined them in the observation room.

"How is she?" Ronon asked. Keller hesitated before replying:

"According to our guest the first stage of the procedure has been completed successfully. He's agreed to stay around until he's finished her treatment, but it'll take some time before we know exactly what to expect."

"Can we see her?" Rodney asked. Keller smiled at the three of them sympathetically and replied,

"Go ahead."

She watched them file into the isolation room, sullen-faced, to take up watchful positions at Teyla's bedside. Sighting softly to herself, Jennifer stepped out onto the ward.

"Nurse," she called. "Has Colonel Carter checked herself in yet?"

The male nurse shook his head. "No, ma'am. I think she may be visiting General O'Neill. I can bring her in for treatment, if you like."

"No need – I'll get her. Thanks, Jason."

"Doctor, before you go..." Jason crossed the room to retrieve a file from the nurse's station. He handed it to Keller and explained: "General O'Neill's test results."

Flipping open the file, Jennifer thanked him and cast an eye over the report. Nodding to herself, she closed it again and made her way across the ward to where O'Neill lay, obscured by a curtain that had been drawn around his infirmary bed. Slipping through the gap, Jennifer discovered Colonel Carter sitting at his bedside, just as the nurse had said.

Sam hastily stood from her chair. Keller offered a reassuring smile and attached O'Neill's notes to the clipboard at the foot of his bed. He was asleep, snoring softly. Jennifer slipped an arm around Sam's shoulders and guided her back out through the curtain.

"You were supposed to report to the nurse's station," she reminded Sam gently, releasing her shoulders. Sam grimaced apologetically but only said:

"How is he?"

Keller looked at her knowingly for a moment before replying: "Absolutely fine. He has a minor concussion which he is currently sleeping off, and a light flesh wound to the back of the head." At Carter's unconvinced expression, Jennifer added, "Scalp wounds tend to look worse than they really are, but you were right to be cautious. It could have been a lot worse."

Sam nodded. "I thought it was," she admitted, glancing back towards O'Neill even though the curtains still hid him from view.

"Let's get those hands seen to," Jennifer said. "You should've let someone take a look at you as soon as you got back."

"Teyla was more important," Sam answered dismissively, but did not object as Jennifer steered her towards a nearby bed. Hoisting herself up onto the side of it, Sam watched as Keller fetched a tray of implements from a nearby trolley.

"Did you apply these bandages yourself?" Jennifer asked conversationally as she began to untie them. Sam tried not to wince as the hastily-applied dressings were peeled from her shredded flesh.

"Yes," she answered. "I had to leave my fingers free so I could operate a P90."

"Alright. These cuts look quite deep, so we'll clean them up and do a few simple tests for nerve damage. After that we'll have you fixed up in no time."

Sam tried to smile at this, but she was too aware of the pain in her hands, which she held quivering and bloody in front of her. To keep the conversation going, Jennifer added: "You wanna tell me how you did this?"

"When the asteroid hit the atmosphere the shockwaves threw us off-balance," Sam explained, recalling the terror and confusion that had shattered one of the happiest moments of her life. "I skidded across the ground, over the edge of a crevasse. Jack saved me."

"Quite the hero," Jennifer remarked with a wry smile. "Okay, we're gonna need to get every last piece of grit out of there. This might hurt a bit."

She began to clean the wounds with some colourless liquid that caused Carter's hands to sting and burn. Sam inhaled sharply, trying not to submit to the pain; and then Jennifer asked her a question, and in her surprise Sam almost forgot about her hands altogether.

"So," the doctor said casually, "he's the one, right? General O'Neill. He's the guy you told me about, the guy from Washington."

"What makes you...?" Sam began, heat rising unexpectedly in her cheeks. Jennifer grinned.

"I saw it the moment you both came in here yesterday." She chuckled to herself. "So are things still 'complicated'?"

Sam glanced involuntarily back towards the curtains that surrounded Jack's bed and found herself admitting, "Things are always complicated with Jack O'Neill." She turned back to Jennifer and added: "But right now I think they're a little less complicated than they were."

They shared a smile, and Sam changed the subject to talk of other things.

*

True to its word, the Diamantine visitor did not leave Atlantis until Teyla's treatment was complete. Almost ten hours after returning to the city with Sam, Sheppard and the others, the alien finally announced that Teyla would soon wake – with no lasting damage to her or her child. And, sure enough, about an hour later Keller was able to report that Teyla had regained consciousness and her test results had come back clean.

"In that case," the alien told Carter and Sheppard when they came to share this news, "I shall take my leave."

"You're very welcome to stay," Sam answered. "I'm sure Dr. McKay and his team would benefit from your expertise. He informs me you added quite a volume of data into the city's mainframe."

"To help you combat the Derzai, should you face them again," the alien explained. "I wish very much that time would permit me to stay; but it will not be long until my ship leaves transportation range. I cannot afford to wait."

"That's a shame," remarked Sheppard. His attitude towards their alien guest had changed a great deal since Teyla's recovery. "You really should stay in touch."

"You still have our communication device, I believe?" the alien said. Sam nodded.

"McKay and Zelenka are studying it as we speak."

"I have left instructions as to its operation. I regret that we must use it sparingly, at risk of repeating recent events; but we will not hesitate to contact you, should we return to this region of space. You are welcome to contact us if you need to, though I regret it may take our ship some time to reach Atlantis again: we do not use hyperspace technology."

"We appreciate the thought," Sheppard answered with a grateful smile. Sam added:

"We also appreciate all you've done for us. I hope we can one day repay the debt."

"There is no repayment required," the alien told them. "The situation was of our own making. I am only sorry we put one of your own in so much danger."

"Don't underestimate how much we value you taking responsibility," Sheppard replied. "When you found out we weren't the Ancients, you could've just passed on by, but you didn't. You helped us out. We won't forget that."

The alien inclined his head. "Nor will we forget your efforts in our galaxy. Atlantis is alive once again, thanks to you – a fitting tribute to the allies my people once had."

And with those words, the alien – whose features had become strangely more human during its time in their company – returned to its asteroid-ship, vanishing in a display of swirling colours.

*

That night, the city of Atlantis slept soundly for the first time in days. Although Sam didn't turn in until midnight, she was at least able to enjoy a solid five hours' sleep – more than she'd had for what seemed like a very long time.

When morning came she woke with her alarm and pulled herself promptly out of bed, giving herself no time to fall back into the enticing arms of rest. She paused in front of the window, gazing out through the clear glass at the waves below. They surged strong and relentless around the edges of the city, and Sam was suddenly reminded of the scale and the beauty of what she was here to protect.

Slowly she dressed, unable to shake the pensive mood that had settled over her during the night. Usually, at the beginning of the day, she was all business; but as the pre-dawn light gradually strengthened on the horizon, she couldn't help but dwell on the countless unchangeable things that she normally tried to forget.

When she next looked through the window, a layer of cloud was setting in over the sea. She caught sight of a flock of birds flying ahead of it, soaring from high to low as though to guide the breaking sunlight over the tops of the clouds and down to the sea. Suddenly their formation split in two, and half of the birds veered left as the others veered right; they were swerving to avoid the city and would doubtless meet again on the other side.

Her mood inexplicably lighter, Sam zipped up her jacket and reached for her radio. She began to run through the day's schedule in her mind: first, she'd check in with the Control Room technicians and the night-time security officer. Then she would grab the latest batch of reports to read over breakfast. After that...

She heard a quiet cough from beyond the door and waited. When nobody made themselves known, she attached her radio to her ear and tried to remember if she had any appointments to keep today. She walked to the door and waved her hand in front of the sensor to open it; she was about to step outside when she realised that somebody was standing just in front of her.

"Jack," she said, intoning her surprise.

"Hey," he replied. "Bad time?"

"No. I was just off to the Control Room, but... by all means, interrupt." She offered a semi-hopeful smile. When he didn't answer straight away, she added: "When did you get out of the infirmary?"

"Oh, just now," Jack replied. "I tried persuading your medical officer – Keller – to let me out yesterday, but she wouldn't budge. What is it with doctors and prescribing me copious amounts of bed rest?"

Sam's smile turned amused. "Maybe they've all heard you're trying to retire."

Jack grunted. "It's clearly some kind of conspiracy."

They lapsed into a thoughtful silence. Eventually, Sam decided that the circumstances required a more direct approach.

"Is there something you wanted?" she asked. Jack raised his eyebrows questioningly, so she reminded him: "You were hovering outside my door."

"Ah." He grimaced involuntarily. "Well, now that you mention it, I was heading for my quarters and, you know, I couldn't quite figure out which hallway to go down, so..." He faltered; the amusement on Sam's face had long since vanished. He sighed. "Okay. Not true. I guess I thought we should talk about..." He trailed off.

"Us?" Sam supplied. He gave a slight jerk of the head which she took to be confirmation, and sighed at his ineptness in such situations; but his awkwardness also endeared him to her, and she couldn't resist the lost expression in his shrewd brown eyes.

"Come in," she said, and stepped back inside her quarters. Jack followed, the door hissing softly closed behind him. They came to a halt in the middle of the room; Sam didn't invite Jack to sit, nor did he ask.

The atmosphere between them was a far cry from the one Sam had allowed herself to hope for while Jack had been in the infirmary. She had thought that when they next spoke, their conversation would echo those brief, indulgent moments following their embrace aboard the asteroid-ship. Disappointment stole over her. She had been so looking forward to speaking with him in private; now she feared what he might say.

"So," he said.

"So," she replied, before adding: "What now?"

Jack gave the smallest of shrugs. "In the short term, I guess I go back to Washington."

"And in the long term?"

He met her gaze. She felt a nervous fluttering somewhere over her heart.

"I'll wait for you," he said. "If you want me to."

Mutely, Sam nodded, unable to voice just how much she had needed to hear him say that. Tears of emotion rose in her eyes and she gazed up at the ceiling, trying to blink them away – but then Jack moved forward to enfold her in his embrace, and she buried her head in his shoulder.

He held her until she could speak again.

"We've waited so long," she whispered.

"I know," he replied. "Just a little longer – I promise."

*

Jack left for Midway the following evening. Late that afternoon, they had shared their good bye on a secluded balcony in a vacant part of the city, talking freely, touching often. All that had formerly been forbidden to them now seemed alive with possibility, but as the sun began to set over the glassy sea their conversation become more subdued and their kisses more lasting. It was only a matter of time before they would be parting again. Yet these circumstances were so inexpressibly bizarre that Sam had to smile.

"What?" Jack asked, smiling slightly himself at the wicked glint in Sam's eye.

"Nothing," Sam replied innocently, then grinned. "I was just thinking how people like us re-define the term 'long-distance relationship.'"

He felt a rush of some pleasant feeling at her ready use of the word relationship.

"How far is it?" he asked.

"Between the Milky Way and Pegasus? Oh, only about 3.5 million light years," Sam replied. Then she laughed. "Or 1.2 seconds by Stargate."

"Plus twenty-four hours on the Midway Station," Jack reminded her. He pulled a face. "You sure you don't wanna keep me company?"

Sam gave him a sympathetic look. "Sorry, Jack."

"That's it?" he replied, disappointed. "You're not even going to try and make it up to me?"

Sam smiled and kissed him softly. He savoured the sensation, allowing her to fully define the moment; his fingers teased through her hair.

"Better," he croaked when they parted.

They lapsed once more into silence, and to Jack's dismay he saw the good humour slip from Sam's face. Softly, she sighed and said, "I don't know how I'm going to do this."

Jack tensed. "Do what?"

"Stay here, knowing what's waiting for me back on Earth," she said. "But even so, I don't think I can leave here yet. Soon, maybe, but not yet."

He nodded, relaxing again, and draped an arm around her shoulders. He remembered feeling exactly the same about leaving Stargate Command. They sat quietly together, watching the sun sink lower on the horizon. Neither of them spoke until it had vanished completely into the sea.

"Time to go," Jack murmured. Regretfully they stood up and made their way back through the city. Behind them, the sky was awash with flame in the wake of the departed sun.

*

When they reached the Gate Room, Colonel Sheppard's team had assembled to see Jack on his way. Sam was particularly pleased to see Teyla there, a smile on her face and colour restored to her cheeks. Jennifer Keller stood not far away at Rodney's left side.

"Well, folks," said Jack, apparently feeling a farewell speech was necessary, "it's been fun. Horrifying, life-threatening, but fun. You're doing a fantastic job here, every one of you. I'll be sure to let the IOA know how ridiculously talented you all are."

Sheppard smiled at the general's humour. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate that."

"Yes, we do," Sam agreed. She looked up at the Gate technician in the Control Room and ordered, "Dial Midway, please, Sergeant."

The sergeant replied, "Yes, ma'am," and the group gathered below paused to watch the Stargate activate with an almighty kawoosh. Jack bade them all farewell and gathered up the straps of his holdall, making eye-contact with Sam as she did so. She understood his silent request and walked with him towards the Gate.

They stopped just short of the event horizon. It had become an unspoken agreement between them that neither would mention that dreadful possibility that they might not see each other again; that Sam might never return from her excursion in the Pegasus Galaxy. It was a risk every member of the Atlantis expedition had chosen to take. Unwilling to say good bye for the finality of it, Jack simply said,

"See ya, Carter."

She smiled, recognising the humour in his use of her surname, and replied: "Good bye, Jack."

For a moment he simply held her gaze with his; then, without warning, he turned and stepped through the rippling event horizon. Sam watched him go. The Stargate shut down and a sense of emptiness immediately took hold of her. Determined not to betray her feelings to the others, she steeled herself and turned back to her team.

"Thank you," she said. "All of you."

They smiled back at her. Then Rodney said, "Dinner, anyone?" and the group dispersed, talking and joking amongst themselves. Only Jennifer remained behind, an understanding smile on her face.

"Come on," she said. "I've been stashing a box of chocolates away in my quarters for weeks. I need someone to help me eat them, and you're it."

Sam forced a smile. "There's no need," she said. "Really. I'm fine."

Keller looked at her knowingly. "You're not fine," she answered. "Besides, when was the last time you had a good night in? Come on, Sam," she added. "You need to talk about this. Let me help."

Sam half-turned back towards the empty ring of the Stargate, considering. Finally, she glanced again at Jennifer and asked, "Doctor-patient confidentiality?"

Jennifer grinned. "Absolutely."

Sam laughed, and the two women left the Gate Room arm-in-arm.

THE END.