This is it, people. Yes, that's right, the final chapter - the 'cheezy' bit that a couple of you have already figured out. Remember to tell Jackie what you thought of the story, and if you want another one of her fics. She has several more - all S/J Jack whumping hurt/comfort. If you want another one I'll check with Jackie & start posting it straight away. Or maybe you're all tired of the angst? Let us know and, once again, thanks for all the great reviews. I only have one problem - I'm jealous. I started a new story of my own & I don't think any of you are reading it. Okay, it isn't S/J, but... Oh well, guess I'll just go off and cry. Flatkatsi

Life In the Shadows – Part Twenty-three

Teal'c flicked his gaze down onto his friends before turning away from the sheer poignancy that the scene portrayed. He touched Daniel on the arm lightly, to draw him away, his vision straying outwards and upwards.

That the end was finally here for his friend, O'Neill, flashed briefly into his mind … before his attention was caught by the Goa'uld ship.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Drawing the dazed archaeologist with him, Teal'c moved purposely in the direction of the Goa'uld ship. Daniel gave a whispered protest, but the Jaffa silenced him.

"O'Neill has one last hope, and it might be within our power to provide that, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel opened and closed his mouth, words for once failing him as he realised just what the Jaffa had in mind.

They moved silently through the trees, with Daniel keeping close to Teal'c, following every direction the Jaffa offered, until they reached the collection point for the ore. They quickly realised that the guards were few, and obviously not expecting any trouble, and it didn't take them long to overpower the men who were waiting for the ore to be transported up to the ship. They were just in time, the ring transport activating almost the second they jumped into its circle

The moment they were aboard, Daniel and Teal'c struck out at the two Jaffa in the cargo hold, surprise lending them an easy victory. Armed with one zat and a staff weapon, they moved cautiously through the ship, seeking their goal.

At one point Daniel thought it was just too easy; seconds later the Jaffa that ambushed them disproved that. Daniel struck out blindly, making sickening contact with the throat of the Jaffa that tried to hold him, before he took out two more with his zat. He caught sight of Teal'c fighting like a man possessed, his strength seeming to far outweigh that of his opponents and once more victory was theirs. The dead Jaffa gave Daniel a moment's concern, but the vision of his dying friend steeled him onwards.

Teal'c led the way. His hurried explanation was to seal most of the chambers on the ship to prevent any further confrontation.

Daniel stood guard at the doorway of the Teltac, while Teal'c performed the necessary adjustments in the ship's security.

"Are you sure there is a sarcophagus here, Teal'c?"

"No self respecting Goa'uld would travel far without one, Daniel Jackson. It would appear the Goa'uld is at the mine with most of his guards, otherwise we could not have succeeded thus far. I have sealed most of the corridors, but we must proceed with caution."

Daniel found himself gathering strength in the hope that their actions would succeed in saving Jack.

As they moved quickly through the ship Daniel's heart was thumping madly in the dread that they wouldn't find what they needed, he knew time was running out fast, for all of them now.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sam rocked Jack gently in her arms, her thumb sweeping the trickle of blood from his lips. She was vaguely and gratefully aware of her friends retreating from them.

How long she sat just touching his face, the tears silently tracking down her cheeks, falling on to his face as she wept, she didn't know. His breathing faltered and in vain she waited for the next breath to be drawn.

The silence seemed to signify the end of her life … the end of him … and she gently pressed her lips to his.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The sight of a sarcophagus had never before wrought such emotion from Daniel - the relief he felt was beyond words. Teal'c's face seemed to register an emotion he had never seen before from the Jaffa either.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Bright light surrounded them and it only just registered in Sam's distraught mind that they were being captured by a ring device before she found herself suddenly looking up as a pair of strong arms tried to separate Jack from her. In a daze she fought to hold on to him, desperate to retain him for as long as she could, but it was not to be and she found herself drawn up into another's arms, held firmly as she struggled away from the grip of a determined, but gentle hold.

Words failed her momentarily as she found it was Daniel who was holding on to her. Her mind finally registered that it was Teal'c who had taken Jack from her and was now striding purposefully away from her bearing the Colonel's weight over his shoulder.

She felt herself being lightly shaken to awareness by Daniel, his insistent "Sam!" drawing her attention for a brief moment.

Ignoring his "Please," she took off after the disappearing Jaffa, desperate to keep sight of his precious burden.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sam ran as fast as she could, but as she entered the room just as a sarcophagus was already closing. She could only stand and stare at Teal'c, stunned at the sight. Teal'c stepped forward, pulling her into a fierce hug, and she wept unashamedly against him.

Time almost stood still in the room as the sobs racked her body, the emotion of the last hours finally catching up with her. After long minutes, she became aware of Teal'c turning her around and stepping away and she lifted her head to see the sarcophagus opening.

Barely able to trust her own eyes, she watched enthralled as a familiar form appeared slowly from the white interior.

"Whoa, what a trip." The flippancy of the comment communicated more efficiently than anything else that he was back.

Unable to support herself, Sam collapsed to her knees, unable to comprehend that he was there, safe and well. It was too much for her already over-taxed emotions to cope with.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack watched in surprise as Sam's face slid from his view. He became aware of the shuddering sobs emanating from his second and without further thought, vaulted from the confines of the device and, landing on knees that were sure to protest later, crawled the remaining distance with an urgency that stunned him. His only thought was to reach her. Tenderly drawing Sam into his arms, he wrapped her in the cocoon of his warmth as his larger frame absorbed the shuddering sobs that tore from her shockingly fragile form.

His hands smoothed across her back in a futile attempt to calm. As one of his hands made contact with the nape of her neck, memories flooded back and assailed his senses. She had been reduced to this because of him… because she had faced the terrifying almost reality of being without him, of losing him. And as he was more than aware, the prospect of living without the other was simply more than any one soul could endure.

The sudden awareness of the depth of her anguish translated to him through each harsh judder of her body, tearing a desperate "Oh, God," from deep within him as he buried his face in the crook of her neck and his arms tightened compulsively, in an attempt to infuse her with his strength, showing her that he knew, he understood and he needed her with the same soul-searing intensity.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

With the Colonel restored to health the four companions made short work of the Jaffa who had managed to escape their confines. They all knew they had to make sure no warning could be given to the Jaffa remaining on the planet below. The fighting was hard, fast and vicious, desperation giving it added urgency. Teal'c dispatched the last of their opposition with a well-aimed staff blast, allowing them to ring back to the surface.

It was by sheer luck that they avoided being caught by two guards, sent from the mine to search for their missing comrades. This time it was Jack who took them out, a zat blast leaving one unconscious, the other, shocked into immobility, had his life ended by a karate chop to the neck.

Jack stood, looking down at the unconscious guard. He remembered his treatment at the hands of this guard and others and was barely able to refrain from flinging himself on him and pounding until the breath left the man's body. With an abrupt movement he turned away and looked towards his companions.

Daniel cast a last forlorn look towards the mountains. "I wish there was something we could do to help these people."

"Maybe one day, Daniel, when Earth is no longer under threat from the Goa'uld, one day …" The Colonel turned away with a shake of his head. He knew they owed a debt of gratitude, a huge debt, he realised, to some of the people they had to leave behind maybe … maybe one day …

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Finally they stood together, the stargate open ready for them to return home.

Daniel turned at the top of the steps to face Sam and Jack with an expectant grin on his face.

Jack gave the archaeologist a pointed jerk of his head towards the wormhole, but Daniel seemed determined to wait, until he was propelled backwards through the open vortex by the scruff of the neck, by one very astute Jaffa.

Jack turned to Sam, his face unreadable. "What now, Major?" he asked, not willing to put anything into words she wouldn't want.

Sam tilted her head to look at him and shrugged.

"Not good enough. What now, Sam?" Jack watched as she looked away, knowing that endless permutations were flying through her brain at a frightening speed.

Suddenly she looked him right in the eyes.

"I don't know, Jack, but I want to find out."

She took his hand, smiling at him, her eyes flashing with sudden amusement and she chuckled. She laced her fingers through his and, suddenly, yanked him towards her, planting a lingering kiss on his stunned mouth, before repaying a long owed favour and shoving his ass through the gate.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

THE END

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it.