Summary: Jack is well taken care of.

Timeframe: Following "Handle With Care." (Post "Message in a Bottle")

Characters/Pairing: Sam/Jack, Team, Janet

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Rating:G.

Handled Carefully

He breathes slowly and closes his eyes, concentrating on the cool, wet cloth bathing his face.

He remembers Sam's voice, telling him he's going to be okay. He remembers Janet, too, making him drink some awful-tasting stuff and then sticking a needle in his hip. Jack even realizes he must still be pretty sick, because in his head he just called Carter, Sam.

The only thing that Jack really doesn't remember, is how he got to the SGC infirmary. And he knows that's where he is, because the antiseptic smell mixed with the distinct aroma of concrete is unmistakable.

"His body is still trying to expel the alien infection," he faintly hears Janet say.

"But I thought the organism restored him to full health?" That's Carter. He'd recognize her voice anywhere.

"It did, but his body must be picking up traces of the foreign entity. The fever is the Colonel's body's way of dealing with what it perceives as an infection."

That doesn't sound very pleasant, but explains why he still feels like crap.

"So what can we do to help him?" Carter's voice is troubled, and that worries him. Jack feels the cloth on his face again, the same time a muted groan reaches his ears.

"Easy now, sir." Janet makes him realize that the groan came from him, and he shifts slightly under the comforting hand he knows is Carter's. "All we can do is try to keep him cool and comfortable until the fever runs it's course."

A gentle, probing hand touches his left shoulder, high on his chest, just below the collarbone, and he flinches at the reminder of the sharp, constant agony.

Jack's eyes are still closed, but he is pretty aware now, and he can hear everything clearly. Doc Fraiser is moving around his bed now, probably fiddling with the stethoscope slung around her neck, and checking monitor wires, tubes, and fluids, as well as his vitals. Carter is suspiciously still. He can't hear her moving around, and he wonders what she's thinking.

"Janet, I think he's in pain." Carter's voice; an unsettled whisper.

"It's probably just remembered nerve pain, but I'll give him a little something anyway."

Jack is grateful for the relief when the warm rush of medication floods his veins. The piercing ache subsides, and he thinks he ought to make an effort and open his eyes.

The wet cloth swipes across his forehead again, and his eyes open. Carter's telling the doc that he's coming around, and he can't even work up a smile. He feels weak, and he vaguely remembers waking up on his bedroom floor, who knew how long ago. "C'rrt'r?" Is that garbled sound really his voice?

"Yes, sir. Right here, Colonel." A warm hand squeezes his, and his hazy eyes shift sluggishly to the kind, caring face hovering over him. This is familiar.

Jack tries to squeeze back, feels his fingers give a pathetic twitch in response to his mental commands. His eyelids are fluttering again, and a flash of heat creeps up his neck. Crap.

"Colonel?" Janet appears at his other side. The cool, wet cloth returns, bathing his face, and he slips off into oblivion.

-

When he wakes again, there are voices surrounding him, but different than the two distinct voices from before. It's not Carter and the doc. Jack thinks he feels quite a bit better than before, but still weak as a kitten. At least he's not so hot, and he doesn't feel sweaty, either.

"Doctor Fraiser believes that O'Neill will be well again, within a short time."

"Yeah, she said his fever broke, and his body is slowly returning to a normal state. God, Jack looks awful, though."

"Indeed."

There's no mistaking those voices. Daniel and Teal'c. But where is Carter? It bothers Jack a little how acutely aware he is of her absense. He wonders why he feels like he needs her so much, but then he knows the answer and doesn't want to acknowledge it, so he quickly slams down those thoughts. Jack's eyes open marginally, the same time his mouth does. "I can hear you, ya know." He's mildly amazed that his words aren't craggy and slurred, but doesn't let it show.

"Jack!" Daniel exclaims with surprise, and Jack quirks a smile at his friend's enthusiasm at seeing him awake.

He wants to ask where Carter is, but he knows he'll be revealing far too much if he does. Instead, he just lays there, quirking a weak smile for the two friends that are there. "How's things?" he asks nonchalantly, like he hasn't been fighting for his life for the past couple days or so.

Daniel smiles, laughing softly and shaking his head. Teal'c hovers beside him, an impassive rock, offering solid comfort. "Oh, not too bad, we-"

Jack wonders why Daniel's stopped talking, but his eyes shift focus, his attention on the door and the woman that strides through it. Now he knows why. It's Carter. She looks unbelievably relieved as she quickly comes to the side of his bed. Her fingers rest lightly on his arm, and he feels the calm radiating through her fingertips.

"It's good to see you awake again, sir," Sam says, sounding like she's holding back more emotion that she's showing.

His limbs are heavy and weak, but he reaches over with his left hand to grasp the fingers on his right arm. Jack doesn't know what to say, hoping that the look in his eyes conveys the gratitude he feels for what she's done for him. He figures he'd still be lying on the floor of his bedroom if it wasn't for Carter.

She smiles, and as he briefly glances past her, Jack realizes that Teal'c and Daniel have left them alone. He's mildly amazed at how well his team is able to read each other most times. They know Carter is the one he needs right now, and Jack's a little embarrassed that it's so obvious, but hopefully not to anyone outside SG-1's immediate circle. And possibly Janet. Jack has a sneaking suspicion that she knows something.

His eyelids are fluttering, and sleep threatens to claim him once more. He feels Carter's hand slip away from his arm and grasps weakly for her with a feeble, "No."

Her brows twitch slightly as she gazes at him, several different emotions flashing in her sharp blue eyes. "I should let you rest, Colonel."

"Stay," he whispers, his eyelids feeling entirely too heavy right now. Jack knows he sounds pathetic, but he doesn't care. No one else is around anyway. "Please."

"Okay. Okay, I'll stay for a while." She smiles at him tightly with concern, and her hand slips away again as she pulls up a chair and sits.

"Good," he breathes, relaxing and allowing his eyes to fully close when he feels her hand lightly resting on his arm again. He knows this closeness will have to go away once he's better, but at the moment, he doesn't care. Having Sam by his side right now, when he needs her most, is all that matters.

-The End-