Reciprocation
I said I couldn’t stay, and I meant it. I really should be going.
Not that I have other things to do. That’s rarely an issue for me now. It’s just that this is really, really hard for me. I thought I would be ok helping you just one time. I thought I could go back to just watching afterwards…but now I’m not so sure I can.
It would be so much easier to just leave, to just shut this part of myself off and move on.
But I can’t. You mean too much to me.
I don’t care what the others think. I don’t think I care what they might do.
There is no way I can let you go through this alone.
I know Sam and Janet and Teal’c will be there for you, but it’s just not the same.
I have to do this.
You did it for me, and I have to repay that debt, however I can.
You wouldn’t even be in this situation if I had thought faster. If somehow I could have gotten you out of there faster. If Ba’al hadn’t gotten to play his sick little game for quite so long.
So how can I leave now?
I watched, in secret, as long as I could, but when Sam stepped out for a minute just before these last seizures started…I couldn’t just stand by. I can’t do much, but I can do this.
I draw myself in enough to enter your world, and offer the only thing I can.
“Jack…I’m here.”
My fingers enclose yours, and I will the tremors to stop. My hand holds yours tightly, and I try to put every bit of positive energy I have into my grip. If my sheer force of will could fix this, it would be over by now, but this is all I can do. I only hope it’s enough. Please-just know I’m here. I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I won’t leave you to fight this battle alone.
Even now, we’re in this together…as always.
The End
