Hunger

Sam turned back to where O'Neill lay and as she turned he was starting to sit up.

"Hey, Sir. How are you feeling?"

Jack looked up somewhat surprised to see her.

"Oh I'm fine. Thor's pod is great and all but I could really stand a shower." O'Neill said as he pulled at his black t-shirt.

Sam grinned.

Jack lifted the half of the turkey sandwich and offered it to her. "Hungry?"

"Not really Sir."

"Good thing. I think these are a little off. I kinda remember a transport of supplies from your cargo ship but there was refrigeration problem... I think I was too late on that."

"I'm more tired than hungry."

O'Neill scrabbled to find something to keep the conversation going "Speaking of refrigeration, do you remember the first time Thor hauled us off to visit the Replicators. He raided the base of weapons and food. By the way Hammond was not happy. Thor neglected to refrigerate anything, I guess they have no need, well anyway I went looking for a snack and came across Teal'c and Jonas chowing down on the melting ice cream."

"They never brought me any." Sam sounded put out.

"Sorry about that. I did help them but the best part was when First took his hand out of my head, something I never want to experience again, he probably had Chunky Monkey all over his shoes. Do you need something to eat, Carter?"

That story did nothing to aid Sam's appetite. "Not to worry Sir, Fifth made me some imaginary pancakes that were quite delicious."

"You may have to see Mackenzie when we get back."

"I know there is some Asgard food aboard somewhere."

"Yes, very funny, you told us how tasty you found that, especially the little yellow ones."

"I think the Asgard may have increased the size of their brains at the expense of their taste buds."

"That's not the only thing their missing, Carter."

Sam suppressed a laugh while extending her hand to help the colonel from the floor.

"I wanted to say, Sir, that I'm so happy that Thor could help you."

"Me too."

"Do you remember anything?"

O'Neill inhaled looking off into the distance, his face reflects the pain of slowly losing himself, the terrors of barely making it to the Ancient weapon in time, giving it his all until he was near death and the darkness of the tomb of ice and then awakening to the sharp stab of pain at the thought of her loss. He pushed the pain away. His face brightened as he looked back at her and he asks "We won, right?"

"Yes Sir, you did."

"Where are you off to Major?"

"Thor said there were state rooms."

"I knew that...why didn't I remember"

"It's been quite an eventful ...days...weeks?"

"I've kinda lost track of time myself, and a few other things as well." Jack said as he looked down the hall toward the state rooms. "I was in his computer you'd think I'd remember that."

"Talk about your computer viruses." Sam muttered under her breathe.

Jack took a serious turn. "Look, Carter, it's not that I'm not grateful, I am, but I would not have approved this mission. I would have refused you."

"If I could have asked you, Sir, I wouldn't have needed to ask."

"Don't go confusing me with logic."

They arrive at a state room door and O'Neill about to take his leave. "I do want to thank you for this but you nearly were lost to Fifth. That, sure as hell, wouldn't have been worth it."

"But Sir, we now have the way to eradicate the Replicators."

O'Neill nodded agreement, wished Sam a good night and turned toward another of the rooms, hoping Thor had included showers. He must know but it seemed all of these things he knew were fading away.

This he did know and it was burned deeply into his mind. She had risked all to save him. He had risked her to save all. The Fifth and some of the Replicators had escaped and somehow she had survived, she had survived. Jack felt an overwhelming exhaustion and a deep gnawing hunger but not for food.