Holding On
by jackwabbit

Her touch is as soft as she can make it, but my wound needs pressure.

She applies it, and it hurts.

I bite back most of my groan, but a gasp escapes.

Her eyes flick to mine.  She conceals her concern quickly, but I know I’m in deep shit.

It takes a lot to worry Samantha Carter.

Her hand burns through me, and a thought I can’t stop zips across my mind as I try to distract myself from the pain.

God, she’s gorgeous.

I’d like to… well, never mind what I’d like to do.  I must be delirious.  This isn’t the time to be thinking about that.

Besides, she’s taken.

That thought releases an internal, ironic laugh as she sends a one word warning to her CO.

“Sir…”

My chuckle turns into a cough, and the intensity of Jack O’Neill’s gaze meets mine.

“Hang in there, Reynolds.”

I look at him for a half second and different, sadder thoughts of his Major overwhelm me.

Yes, his Major.  In every way that counts.

I answer him bravely, but my words mean more than they think.

“As long as it takes.”

I’ll hold on.  I can only hope they will, too.

The End