Vigil
By: siggy – www.ofnoconsequence.com
Rating: All ages
Category: Angst. Teal'c/Sam friendship
Disclaimer: Not mine and no money is being made
Written for The Gateships Wednesday Shorts 
'Nightwalkers' Challenge
Notes: This is not beta'd, so read at your own risk.
  
The infirmary lights were dimmed to give the patients at 
least some semblance of nightime.  As it was there was only 
one patient at the moment for which Janet Fraiser was 
grateful.  She made her way to the only occupied bed. Sam 
Carter was lying curled up on her side clutching the thin 
sheet up to her neck and shivering.

"Hey Sam, how're you feeling?" Janet said, gently putting a 
hand on Sam's shoulder

"I'm just so cold" Sam's voice was small 

"You've developed a high fever, Sam. I think that it's a 
combination of that antibiotic and your body's attempts to 
absorb the symbiote." Janet's hand smoothed over Sam's 
forehead feeling the heat coming through the skin.

"Can I have another blanket?"  

"No, honey, that would just make you feel worse, we're 
trying to keep your temperature down, I'm sorry."  

"I was feeling fine earlier, it just came on so quickly… can I 
have another blanket Janet? I'm so cold."

Janet sighed; Sam had been like this for several hours now, 
semi lucid and slipping in and out of delirium.

No, Sam, I'm sorry, you have a fever and you need to keep 
cool." 

"'kay" Sam curled up even tighter.

"Try to sleep for a while." Janet said. She watched as Sam's 
eyes slipped closed and she drifted off.  The soft tread of 
someone approaching the bed made her look up and she was 
not surprised to see Teal'c standing there. "Hi Teal'c, have 
you come to see how the patient is doing?"

"Yes, I will sit with Major Carter if you will permit it?" 

Janet smiled as he inclined his head in his usual formal 
manner. "Sure, I think she would like that." She put a chair 
by the bed and gestured for Teal'c to sit. "I'm afraid that 
Sam is not very coherent at the moment, but with the IV 
fluids and antipyretics, I'm hoping to see an improvement 
soon."

"What if you do not?" 

"I'll be honest with you Tea'lc, I'm pretty much winging it 
here. Sam is the only person we know whose body has had 
to absorb two symbiotes. Plus she has to deal with an 
unknown drug in her system. I'm doing all I know what to 
do and I'm hoping for the best."

Teal'c could see the worry in the Doctor's face. "I have 
every confidence in your abilities, Doctor Fraiser, as does 
Major Carter."  

"Janet's eyes closed and she sighed tiredly, she opened them 
and patted the big Jaffa on the shoulder. " Thanks, Teal'c. 
I'll just be in my office if you need me."

Teal'c nodded and watched as she walked away and 
disappeared into the small office. He turned his attention to 
the sleeping Major.  He was feeling adrift; too many 
changes, too quickly, had caused him to find rest in Kel no 
reem difficult. The knowledge that all his companions were 
leaving him made his chest ache. As a First Prime and even 
before, as he worked his way through the ranks, he had been 
used to change, to the impermanence of relationships His 
men were his brothers in arms but also the means of his 
destruction, there was always someone waiting to help him 
lose favour with his god and then there was the added 
burden of leading a double life, outwardly faithful inwardly 
traitorous. It was a situation that made close friendships very 
nearly impossible. Since his allegiance with the Tau'ri he 
had found immense comfort in the close companionship that 
had developed between the members of SG-1. It had been as 
though a long rusted door had been flung open and the fresh, 
sweet air had been let in. His heart had been eased and he 
was more grateful than he could ever tell. Now, with Daniel 
gone and O'Neill's future uncertain Major Carter seemed 
like the only beacon of light in stormy seas. He suspected 
that she felt the same way about him, although such things 
were never discussed, both of them being guarded people, 
but there had been a deeper bonding between them of late 
and he felt tied to her in a way that was nothing short of 
familial. To lose her now and in this way would be very hard 
to bear.  

Sam suddenly shifted in her sleep rolling onto her back 
Teal'c could hear her mumbling something but he couldn't 
make out her words. Even from his position by her bed, he 
could feel the heat coming of her body and he though of 
calling for Doctor Fraiser as Sam began to toss, restlessly, in 
her fevered dreams. Worried that she would dislodge her IV 
line, he stood and bent over her, holding her arms down by 
her sides. .

"Major Carter, it is I, Teal'c, you must calm yourself. There 
is no danger." 

Sam struggled briefly then her body slumped and her eyes 
fluttered open. She gazed glassily up at him.

"Teal'c?"

"Yes Major Carter, I am here." He let go of her arms and 
cupped her cheek in his big hand, gently stroking his thumb 
along the line of her jaw.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice quiet and almost child-
like

"I am well." 

"S'good." Her eyes started to droop but suddenly she came 
to with a jolt. "Colonel O'Neill and Daniel, where are they? 
Did they get out? I tried to get to them but they were so far 
away. Did they get through the gate?"

"Teal'c sighed and tried to stop her thrashing. Realising that 
she was lost to the grip of delirium he decided that, just this 
once, speaking a falsehood to his friend was the kindest 
option. "O'Neill and Doctor Jackson are also well, they are 
sleeping now as must you." 

"They're okay?"

"Yes, sleep now, Samantha."

"Will you stay with me?"

"I will stay."

"I thought I'd lost you guys."

"You have not lost us, we are here with you."

"Good, that's good."

"Sleep now."

"Yeah…so tired."

Sam 's eyes closed and her breathing relaxed into the rhythm 
of deep sleep. Teal'c sat back down in the chair hoping he 
had not done the wrong thing by allaying her fears with an 
untruth.  If only in her dreams they were all still together and 
that seemed worth it, at least for now.  

The end