As I come to the end of another great adventure I want to thank you so much for all your reviews. I hope you have enjoyed reading this one as much as i enjoyed writing it.

And to the conclusion.

Warnings and Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Enjoy.

"I think we might have some good news," Janet said, reentering the room several hours later. Sam had another seizure, this time causing her temperature to rise. Nurses had surrounded Sam with ice packs while Jacob bathed her forehead with cool water, but so far nothing was working. This left Sam feeling more miserable than ever, with little easing her suffering. "The labs finally came through. They finally found something that might help." She approached Sam's IV and injected the medication. "A small dose now to ensure there are no adverse side effects. If all goes well we'll increase in an hour."

"Just like before," Jack said. She nodded. They waited a few minutes to see if there would be any immediate effects. After a few minutes Sam started shaking uncontrollably. "Something's wrong. She's seizing again."

"No Sir," Sam said, weakly. She had enough experience by now to tell the difference. "It's not a seizure. I just can't stop shaking."

"You sure Sam?" Janet asked, studying the monitors as she grabbed Sam's wrist. She felt her pulse stay strong and steady, even though Sam's hand continued to shake. Sam nodded. All her vitals stayed steady. She turned to her nurse. "Continue to monitor her condition. If there's any changes notify me immediately. I'll be in my office."

"Yes Doctor," her nurse replied before taking position at her desk. Forty-five minutes later the nurse knocked on Janet's door. "Ma'am? Major Carter's condition has changed."

"What else can happen?" Janet complained, tiredly getting to her feet. The nurse smiled.

"Major Carter is sleeping." It took a few minutes for Janet to comprehend what she was told, but when she did a big smile erupted on her face.

"Finally," she whispered as she raced out the door. The men grouped around her bed had similar smiles. Janet nudged them out of the way. The bandages around her eyes had been removed and Janet could see her eyes moving back and forth under her lids.

"Janet?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"She's sleeping," she confirmed. An elated, but quiet cry sounded around her. She thought about scolding them, worried that they'd wake up Sam when she finally found some rest, but then thought better about it. "It doesn't look like very peaceful sleep, but its sleep." That was true. Sam continued to shake even while asleep, and she was muttering soft words under her breath. Her pale face thrashed on the pillow every few minutes and her eyes were racing back and forth.

"Shall I prepare the full dosage Doctor?" Alice asked. Janet nodded before turning back to the men of SG-1.

"Now that she's sleeping I insist you do the same. You need to sleep in a real bed in your quarters." She would have suggested sleeping in their beds at home but knew that was never going to happen. "One visitor at a time. No exceptions."

"I'll stay first," Jacob said quickly. Nobody challenged him.

"Power monger," Jack said a few minutes later as they followed Janet out of the room. "You gonna follow your own orders Doc?" he asked as they approached the door to the infirmary.

"Absolutely," she said, "just as soon as I brief the General. My bed is calling too." They hovered at the doorway. "Don't worry. If there's any change I'll make sure to let you know."

"Thanks Doc," Jack yawned, as he led his team to the elevators.

"Don't forget you're picking up Cassie later," Janet yelled after them. Daniel raised his hand to acknowledge as the elevator doors closed on the three men. Janet returned to her office, picked up the phone, and updated one very relieved General. She thought about getting up and going to her own quarters, then decided that was just too much work. Smiling, she stretched out on her couch and let herself fall into oblivion.

"Morning Carter," Jack said cheerfully as he stepped around the curtain separating her bed from the rest of the infirmary. Once Sam finally fell asleep, she had slept for three days, drifting from fevered delirium through nightmares and finally into peaceful sleep. When she finally woke up she looked much better, color returning to her skin with the dark circles finally disappearing. "I see they upgraded you to scrubs."

"I was even allowed to take a shower," she grinned. She was sitting on the bed, her legs swinging back and forth. Her condition had improved dramatically while she slept. Most of the serum had finally been flushed from her system. She had one seizure while she was sleeping, but Janet and her team were able to deal with it, and the sudden rise of her blood pressure it caused, without Sam even waking up. That was two days ago and she hadn't had a seizure since, although occasionally she would start shaking uncontrollably. Janet had finally decided Sam didn't need to stay in isolation rooms any longer.

"Nice," Jack said, leaning on the bed next to her. "I wasn't going to mention anything, but you know how sensitive Teal'c's nose is." She smiled before looking back down, her legs stilling. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," she said, clenching her hands together and turning her head away from the Colonel.

"Major?" he prompted.

"Dad came by earlier," she said, not looking at him. "He used the healing device. I knew I had some bad wounds, you can't feel as crappy as I was feeling without some serious damage, but he didn't stop at those. He used it all over my upper body. He was healing something I didn't even know was broken." Jack let his eyes drift to her bare arms. He had actively been avoiding looking, knowing the tattoos would only remind him of the horrors she faced. But when he looked the burns had faded slightly, her skin looked less raw. "I still can't remember. I keep trying to…"

"Don't," he said sharply, causing her to look at him once more. "You don't want to remember," he said gently.

"But I need to know." Jack sighed, jumping up on the bed beside her.

"We were captured by slavers, Carter," he started gently, "whose only goal was to get enough sacrifices for a high body count for their Goa'uld master. Slavers who experimented on you and countless others for years like you were nothing more than lab rats. Nothing good can come from remembering."

"I'll get weird flashes," she told him quietly. "Sometimes I'm just running, but sometimes I'm fighting. I think I stabbed someone in the heart. I think I even ripped out someone's throat. Tell me I didn't do that."

"You did," he confirmed, "but every time it was you or them. I'm glad you chose you."

"Please Sir. I need to know." Tears were streaming down her face as she begged. He gently told her everything. He glossed over the more gruesome parts but had a sneaking suspicion her mind was filling in everything for her. She had begun rubbing a hand over the faint scars on her arms as he spoke. Her face looked less haunted. Understanding and acceptance now filled her features. "Thank you," she said when he was done.

"Anytime," he told her, taking a minute to compose himself. "Now the Doc mentioned something about some exercise before your next MRI?" Sam nodded and jumped off the bed. She let Jack guide her by the arm. "I was thinking a quick stroll around the lower levels before rounding up Daniel and Teal'c for some lunch."

"Sounds good," she agreed as he led her out of the infirmary. "I'll be so happy when I get my eyes back." Jack couldn't agree more. Selmak had healed the incisions they made to remove the implants without any problems. She went to heal her eyes next, but a sudden scream of pain that Sam couldn't contain made her stop. Janet and Dr. Carmicheal thought the mass was still interfering with the healing device. They were tracking its decline steadily. "I was able to make out a little bit of light when Dr. Carmicheal checked my eyes this morning," she reported.

"Hence the cool shades?" Jack asked. She nodded. "And here I though the mummy look just clashed too much with the scrubs." They arrived at Daniel's office. Jack knocked quickly before opening the door. "Daniel. Lunch."

"Jack," he whined, not bothering to look up. "I have too much to do today."

"Now now Daniel," he chastised, "We don't want to keep a lady waiting."

"Sam?" Daniel looked up. She gave a casual wave. Grinning he walked over and gave her a big hug. "I didn't know Janet released you for lunch."

"I don't think she did," Sam told him. Daniel turned an accusatory look on Jack.

"What?" he asked defensively. "Fraiser said take her for some exercise. It's quite a walk down to the commissary and back. It qualifies." Daniel rolled his eyes as helped escort Sam down the hall. Teal'c joined them near the commissary doors.

"You know she's going to be pissed when she find out," Daniel said as they approached the doors.

"She'll never even find out," Jack countered. He pulled the doors open in time to come face to face with Janet.

"She's there isn't she?" Sam asked as everyone tensed and went suddenly silent.

"Morning," Janet eventually said, breaking the tense silence. She glared at the Colonel.

"They have cake," he explained, knowing he would be paying for his unauthorized field trip later.

"Not too much," Janet cautioned, "and no coffee." Sam's shoulders slumped but the others quickly agreed and led her away. Janet was smiling as she left.

"That was close," Jack said after they found a table and got their food.

"You were busted," Daniel countered while Sam and Teal'c quietly ate their food.

"Was not."

"Was too." Their conversation was interrupted by Sam.

"I'm blind and even I could tell you were busted Sir," she said.

"Insubordination," he said in mock hurt. He turned to Daniel. "This is all your fault."

"Good. We all know she shouldn't take after you."

"Hey," Jack said as they gathered their dishes. "I resemble that remark."

"Indeed," Teal'c intoned, causing Sam to burst out giggling.

"Watch it Major," Jack warned. She quieted down abruptly but couldn't help the smirk on her face. "I believe you have another scan. Shall we?" They left Daniel and Teal'c in the commissary and made their way back to the infirmary and to the MRI room.

"Welcome back Major," Tony greeted as he once again helped her get settled. "You know we give free lollipops with every ten scans."

"Really?" Jack perked up. "How many more does she need?"

Tony laughed. "She's the closest any of our repeat customers have ever come." He turned back to Sam. "Remember stay still and…"

"You'll be able to hear me if there's any problems," Sam finished for him. Tony nodded, motioning Jack to follow him into the control room.

"Nice," Jack said, as Tony started the machine. A few minutes later the first images started showing up. "Wow," he said when he got his first look at the mass.

"Yeah," Tony agreed, "but it's getting better." Jack looked again at the image. It looked pretty big to him, but he knew it was only a fraction of the size it had been. "Good news Carter," he said grabbing the microphone. "You're brain is still there."

"Good to know," Sam replied as Tony shut off the machine.

"Tell Dr. Fraiser I'll have the results for her within the hour," he told them as Jack went to Sam's side. Jack nodded and helped Sam back to the infirmary. Jack relayed the message as Sam reluctantly climbed back onto her bed.

"Do I really have to stay here?" Sam asked when Janet came over.

"Until I'm completely sure that drug has totally left your system yes." Janet was taking no chances and Sam knew better than to argue yet. "Selmak is ready for another session." Sam nodded, laying down. Selmak stepped up to the bed.

"How many more?" Sam asked tiredly twenty minutes later when Selmak put down the device. She lowered her head and let Jacob take over again.

"Selmak thinks one more session and you should be as good as new," he told her. "Janet just wants to take it slow." She nodded. "Want to try your eyes again?" Sam nodded and Selmac raised the device again. She managed to last a few minutes before whimpering in pain.

"We'll let you get some sleep," Janet said to everyone. Sam nodded as her eyes were closing already.

"I'll need to leave soon," Jacob said as he quietly walked out of the infirmary. "I didn't exactly ask permission to come."

"I'm glad you did," Janet said. Jack nodded.

"Are you gonna leave without saying goodbye?" Jack asked cautiously.

"No," Jacob shook his head. "And we'll do one more session to remove those marks completely. Is that serum out of her blood yet?"

"Nearly," Janet said, "and we think that mass will completely disappear in the next few days. She hasn't had any episode in the last few days. I think we've seen the worst of it."

"That's good," he said as they approached the door. "I better go get some sleep. Selmak's not as young as she used to be and using the healing device is really taking it out of her." He waved and walked toward the elevator.

"I better get back to work too," Jack said.

"Colonel?" Janet spoke up quickly. "Did Sam really cause all of Teal'c's injuries?" She couldn't imagine her friend ever causing pain to her teammate.

"Yep," Jack glowed in pride. "You might want to keep that in mind when she wants to leave."

"I will Sir," Janet replied as she walked back into her infirmary. Jack smirked and walked off.

"Are you sure you have to leave?" Sam asked, as they slowly walked toward the gate room. Selmak had just finished the last session with the healing device, and Janet finally gave Sam permission to return to her quarters. The rest of SG-1 was ecstatic, joining in Sam's celebration. Even Sam's eyes were celebrating. When Dr. Carmicheal did his last check before leaving Sam was able to distinguish light and dark, as well as see certain blurry objects. The scratches Dr. Carmicheal was worried about had healed without incident, and he was confident her eyesight would return as the naquadah lodged in her head broke down. Even Jacob's imminent departure couldn't dampen their spirits.

"I've been gone too long," he apologized.

"What do you think will happen to the city?" Daniel asked.

"I don't know," Jack said bluntly, "and I don't really care."

"Sir?" Sam protested. Jack shook his head.

"You weren't there Carter." Sam raised her eyebrows. "Well you were but you weren't."

"I was," Jacob interrupted, "and I really don't care what happens to them either. I won't be relaying any of this to Yu."

"Not even their raiding?" Daniel asked.

"We discussed it with Ling Shou," he told them. "They've agreed to stop raiding for victims. As long as they keep their end of the agreement I don't see the need to mention it to Yu." They entered the gate room. "As much as it kills me too say this, it's their world and their decision to keep doing the Contest or not. As long as they keep their traditions to themselves it's really none of our business." Everyone was quite for a few minutes as they thought about this.

"Jacob," Jack shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. "I just want to say thank you. For everything."

"As would I," Teal'c agreed.

"Me too," Daniel piped up.

"Me three," Sam added, giving her dad a quick hug. Jack coughed discretely drawing their attention back to him.

"I may have said some things I regret," he continued, "and things you definitely didn't deserve. The truth is if you hadn't been there we all would have been thrown into that stadium and none of us would have made it out."

"I don't know about that," Jacob said, breaking the suddenly somber mood. "One of you is the current Champion." He ruffled Sam's hair affectionately.

"Dad," she grumbled, pulling away slightly.

"Yeah," Jack said, "but she would have had to go through me. And we all know who would have won that fight."

"Major Carter." Teal'c said abruptly. Jack looked affronted before admitting the Jaffa was probably right. Jacob chuckled before turning back to his daughter.

"Take care Sam," he said tenderly. "Let me know if there's any further complications."

"I will dad," she promised, hugging him tightly. A few tears escaped. Jacob pulled back reluctantly and nodded toward Hammond, who was watching quietly in the control room. The Stargate began to spin.

"Take care of my little girl," Jacob told the three men. They each nodded solemnly. The wormhole bloomed into existence and Jacob nodded and started up the ramp.

"Hey Selmak?" Jack called just before Jacob reached the wormhole. Jacob's head dipped as Selmak took control.

"Yes Colonel?" she asked, the dual tones resonating around the room.

"It was nice working with you," he said.

"Coming from you Colonel O'Neill, that is a great honor." Jack smirked.

"See ya around the galaxy." Selmak nodded and stepped through. The wormhole shut down and the room suddenly seemed a whole lot emptier.

"So," he said, looking at Sam's downfallen face. "Who's up for cake? This is still a party after all." He looked up to the control room and nodded to Hammond, who returned the nod before retreating to his office. They left the room and made their way to the commissary. "And just so you know Carter. I could totally have taken you."

"Whatever you say Sir," she replied, the smile back on her face. It might take awhile to get over this mission, but for the moment everything was right.

The End.