Dog Heaven: Dog Days (Parts 5&6 of 9)
Title: Dog Heaven: Dog Days
Summary: Jack and Sam get more than they bargained for after an enlightening trip back to P2G-764 that will change their lives forever.
Timeframe: Six months after ‘Dog Heaven: Pack Mates.’
Characters/Pairing: Established Sam/Jack, Team, Janet
Genre: Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Whump
Rating: T
Part Five
Janet and her staff had been quite a bit shocked when SG-1 entered the infirmary, Teal’c carrying an unconscious Colonel O’Neill, and a golden-brown wolf trotting alongside them. Her eyes widened as she stared at the wolf, then she smartly ushered them all into a private isolation room before exclaiming, “Sam?!”
“It’s her,” Daniel confirmed with a nod just as the wolf gave a single loud ruff.
Blinking away her shock at the situation, and reminding herself she’d been expecting Sam to change at some point, Janet turned her attention to the limp, unconscious man in Teal’c’s strong arms. She quickly gestured toward the only bed in the iso room. “Put him there, Teal’c,” she ordered softly. “Do any of you know what happened?”
Sam barked a few times as Daniel and Teal’c shook their heads. She then started whining and nudging Janet’s leg with her head, looking up at her with big, soulful blue eyes.
“Sam does, but she can’t tell us,” Daniel said with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. “And the only one that can communicate with her like this is Jack.” He waved a hand at his unconscious friend and sighed again.
Janet frowned and swiftly began moving around the bed, pushing at the blanket wrapped around the Colonel so she could start checking his vitals. She took a blank chart from the end of the bed and made note of his condition; checked heart-rate, pupils, respiration, and temperature. His pulse was a little fast, his pupils equal and reactive, respirations a little shallow, and temperature slightly elevated.
Explaining her findings to the worried people (and wolf) hovering close by, Janet took his chart and moved toward the door. “I’m going to get a kit so I can take a blood sample,” Janet looked down at the beautiful, yet worried-looking, wolf. “From you, too, Sam.”
Sam gave her one short nod before Janet swiftly left the isolation room.
.
Once Janet had taken a blood sample from her and Jack, Sam hadn’t wanted to leave Jack’s side. Her wolf instincts were screaming at her to stay close and protect her mate. She hopped up on the bed and snuggled closely against him, nudging her head under his hand. Janet had been about to protest her lying there, but Sam just gave a warning growl and the doctor left her alone, probably unsure of her friend’s current mental state. Sam wasn’t too sure of her mental state herself.
Teal’c moved to a chair by the wall while Daniel snuck out, saying he was going to inform General Hammond about their situation.
Sam closed her eyes, concentrating on drowning out the heaviness of the white noise surrounding her to focus on Jack’s breathing and heartbeat, ignoring the sounds from the monitors. Jack, please wake up. Please, you’re scaring me and I want you to wake up, she thought to him, trying to get across her sense of urgency. She wasn’t sure if it was working, but Sam kept on trying anyway, keeping up a steady mantra of his name in her head. Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack…
Rrnn… What? she heard eventually, his mental voice soft and weak, even sounding annoyed.
Jack! Sam lifted her head, her eyes opening so she could see Jack’s face, but he was still unconscious. Jack, can you hear me?
‘Course I can. Wha’chu want?
Sam’s brows knit together as she stared at his face; not a twitch. And he still sounded strange in her head-sleepy and distant; almost drugged. He was only on monitors and Janet hadn’t given him anything, not even an IV. She’d said he didn’t need it, and Sam trusted her judgment. Jack, you need to wake up. You’re in the infirmary at the SGC. Teal’c and Daniel helped get us here. You’re unconscious and you need to wake up.
Why? M’tired.
Jack, please. Wake up! Sam licked at his hand, then nudged his side with her head before resting her chin on his stomach over the blanket. Jack!
“Hn?” He jerked slightly, and this time the grunt was actually audible.
Sam made a few sharp whining sounds and sat up. Jack! Open your eyes!
“Whut?” he mumbled, his eyelids fluttering.
Sam turned her head slightly as she heard Teal’c rising from his chair against the wall.
Jack blinked blearily at her. “Sam?” he murmured, his raspy voice barely audible.
She nodded vigorously.
“Wha’appened?”
Before she got the chance to answer him, Janet entered the isolation room with Daniel on her heels. The two of them, along with Teal’c, all gathered around the bed.
.
“Colonel, how are you feeling?”
Jack ignored the doc, Daniel, and Teal’c all hovering around him, focusing only on the wolf that sat by his hip. “Sam,” he mumbled, blinking sluggishly in an attempt to clear his fuzzy vision.
You were trying to transform back to human form this morning, remember? You were having a hard time and kept reverting back to a wolf. When you finally managed you passed out. You’ve been unconscious since.
“Oh,” Jack murmured aloud, noticing he was getting strange looks from the three humans around his bed. His brows furrowed as he struggled to sit up, and Janet swiftly moved beside his bed to adjust the controls for him. He was still exhausted, his limbs feeling shaky and not really wanting to cooperate with him.
“Colonel?” Janet pressed, moving to his right side, her hand automatically searching out his wrist to check his radial pulse. “Can you tell me what happened?”
He frowned for a moment, then Sam nudged his hand, urging, Tell her.
Jack sighed. “Fine,” he murmured under his breath. He explained what happened, and then the doc began fluttering around him, waving at Daniel and Teal’c to give her space as she checked him and the readouts from the monitors.
“Your vitals are all pretty much back to normal, but you’re still showing signs of overexertion so I want you to take it easy today. How are you feeling?”
“Hungry.” He wasn’t lying, but he didn’t need to tell her that he was struggling to keep his head up and his eyes open as well.
Sam barked by his hip. Me, too.
“Sam’s hungry, too,” Jack explained when Janet, Teal’c, and Daniel gave him expectant looks.
“I’m interested in your ability to communicate telepathically with one another in your wolf forms,” Daniel murmured contemplatively, standing at the foot of the bed.
Jack made a face at him. “Stop staring at us like we’re your next science experiment.”
WOOF! Sam barked in agreement, and Jack grinned. Then she turned to Jack and placed her paw on his leg, even though she was already touching by leaning against him. I’m not eating dog food, by the way. I want real food.
“Ha. Not like that you’re not gettin’ any real food. You’ll be sick. Isn’t that what you told me last time?” He smirked at her, remembering the first time he was stuck as a wolf for a few days and had to eat dog food. Truthfully, though, when he’d been a wolf it hadn’t mattered and had actually been a suitable meal. “It won’t make a difference to you in that form,” Jack assured her.
Sam barked, narrowing her eyes at him. No dog food!
“Then change back,” Jack answered simply.
“Colonel, what is she saying?” Janet wanted to know.
Too tired to go back and forth with them, Jack just waved a hand dismissively and focused on Sam. “You might be able to, ya know,” he said, continuing with his former train of thought. “They said the females have an easier time turning. Right, Danny-boy?”
“Uh, yeah,” Daniel stuttered out after a moment, not having been prepared to be involved in the conversation again. “Yade-wan-“ at Jack’s confused look he clarified, “The Spiritual Leader-mentioned that the females have an easier time with the change and they also are able to control it more quickly.”
“Hmph.” Jack snorted and glanced at Sam. “That’s not fair.”
Sam turned a fiery blue-eyed gaze on him. What’s not fair is that the males can turn us into shape-shifters by having sex with us!
Jack ducked his head, having the good sense to look contrite, his jaw clenching. He heaved a sigh and whispered, “Sam, I’m sorry.”
She whined softly and bent to lick his hand. I know. I didn’t mean it like that, Jack. I’m just frustrated. She turned to their friends who were still staring at the two of them. If I’m going to try and change then Teal’c and Daniel have to leave.
Jack nodded with understanding. He didn’t want the two of them to see her naked, either. Clearing his throat, he tiredly waved a hand at the two men. “Sam’s gonna try and change, so Danny and T, get lost.”
Daniel blushed and ducked his head, while Teal’c merely nodded.
“I have to agree, guys,” Janet added. “Sorry.” She ushered them toward the door. “Now, out.”
The two men slunk out of the room, and Janet swiftly made for a shelf stacked with blankets and scrubs. She grabbed one of each and returned to the bed.
.
Janet watched as Sam hopped down from the bed, Colonel O’Neill swinging his legs over the side as she did so, keeping an eye on her. He started to remove all of his monitors, ignoring the look Janet gave him.
A strange noise came from Sam, and Janet looked down at the wolf as she reared back on her hind legs, stretching and morphing almost fluidly as she became human again, sinking to her knees seconds after. “Sam?” Janet asked, immediately draping the blanket across her faintly-trembling shoulders.
“I’m okay,” she responded shakily, breathing hard.
“Sam.” The Colonel slid off the bed, still clothed only in his boxers, and sunk to his knees beside Sam.
“I’m a little tired, but I’m alright,” Sam insisted, her voice already sounding stronger.
Janet could see that the Colonel, however, looked like he’d reached the end of his endurance at this point. He was shakier than Sam was, and she doubted he’d even be able to get up off the floor without help.
Offering Sam the scrubs, Janet helped her dress, then got her to sit on the edge of the bed. The Colonel had already stubbornly managed to pull himself up to sit beside her, but by now he was visibly sweating and shaking from the effort.
“Okay, you two, I’m sending you both to one of the VIP rooms to rest. Wait here a minute while I go get a pair of wheelchairs.”
“I’m fine, Janet,” and “I can walk, doc!” were the immediate protests she received from her patients at the suggestion.
Janet was already at the door, though, ignoring their complaints and fetching Teal’c and Daniel to assist.
.
Teal’c and Janet took them to a room while Daniel went to get them something to eat from the commissary. Sam was just relieved that she didn’t have to eat dog food.
As soon as they were inside the suite, Sam got up from the wheelchair Teal’c had been pushing and automatically moved to help Janet get Jack on the bed.
“I can do it; m’fine,” he muttered stubbornly, but his shaky legs betrayed him.
“Colonel,” Janet practically growled at him as he shoved off the comforter that had still been wrapped around him.
Jack reluctantly allowed them to help him, practically collapsing onto the bed once they had him out of the wheelchair. He groaned softly, shifting to get comfortable as Teal’c took the blanket and draped it over him again.
Sam got on the bed beside Jack, but suddenly felt self-conscious about cuddling up to him in front of Teal’c and Janet while she wasn’t a wolf. Somehow it was easier to be closer to Jack as a wolf. At least in front of other people, despite their known relationship.
“Both of you get some rest,” Janet suggested in a manner that made it more of an order. She headed for the door, waving Teal’c along with her. “I’m going to review your blood tests and then I’ll check up on you in a while.”
Sam nodded, looking down at Jack, but his eyes were closed and though she could tell he wasn’t yet asleep, he soon would be. “Thanks, Janet.”
Once they were gone, Sam snuggled up to Jack, lifting the comforter to slide in beside him, lying against his chest. “Are you okay?” she questioned softly.
“Mm.” He grunted. “You?” Jack lifted his right arm to put it around her, tugging her even closer.
“Yup. Just hungry.” Her stomach rumbled as if to make the point. Sam smiled into Jack’s chest when she heard his rough chuckle.
“Mm.” Jack sighed; he was almost out. “Wake me when the food comes.”
Sam nodded against him, but she wasn’t about to wake him up. When Daniel brought the food it would keep until he got some rest. She was tired herself, but not as exhausted as Jack always seemed after returning to human form. She considered herself very lucky in that aspect. Feeling more hungry than anything, Sam could stay awake until she’d eaten, and then she’d take a little nap.
.
Despite her efforts not to wake Jack when Daniel came in, he roused anyway as she pulled away from him.
“Sam?” he murmured groggily as she sat up next to him.
“I brought you guys some sandwiches,” Daniel announced softly, carrying a tray over and setting it down on the side table.
“Daniel’s got our lunch,” Sam explained, noticing Jack still looked a little confused and quite sleepy. “Do you want to rest a while longer before you eat?”
He shook his head. “No. Hungry.” Jack struggled to sit up with a grunt, and Sam jammed a few pillows behind him.
“Roast beef or turkey, Jack?” Daniel asked, sorting through the food and carefully unwrapping each sandwich before placing them on paper plates.
Sam glanced sideways at Jack as they both leaned against the headboard, so close that their shoulders, hips, and legs were all touching.
“Beef,” he grunted in response, and Daniel passed off their respective meals.
Sam couldn’t help noticing Jack’s hand trembling slightly as he took the plate before setting it down in his lap.
Daniel gave them a couple of water bottles as well and then took a step back. “Want me to stay a little while? Do you need anything else?”
She smiled back at him, warmly. “No, we’re fine, Daniel. Thank you.”
“Alright. I’ll see you guys later?” Daniel edged toward the door. When Sam nodded, he waved and left, closing the door behind him.
Sam devoured her turkey sandwich with single-minded focus, having been overcome with hunger as soon as the food was in her hands. She hadn’t even noticed if Jack had eaten beside her until she was done. That was when she realized how heavily he was leaning against her, and looked to see the half-eaten sandwich in his lap. Jack had fallen asleep while eating, his head tipped back and mouth slightly open. Sam couldn’t help giggling softly at the adorable sight.
Gently taking the plate off his lap, Sam put everything over on the tray Daniel had left on the night table, keeping her movements slow so she didn’t wake Jack. She didn’t think he could be very comfortable like that, and hunched down in bed before gently pulling him against her until he’d curled up on his side with his head on her chest.
Now that she’d satisfied her hunger, Sam thought it time to give in to her other need: sleep. She tugged the comforter up higher and smiled when Jack sleepily draped an arm over her, cuddling her like a giant teddy bear and burying his face in the side of her neck.
.
Part Six
Jack and Sam were to be confined to the mountain for two weeks on General Hammond’s orders, and were forced to undergo hours of testing between practicing controlling their newfound abilities. Sam was quickly learning to shift at will, while Jack struggled a bit more, always winding up pretty exhausted when he was back in human form. When his attempts to shift fluidly sometimes resulted in him half-changing and then reverting back a few times, Jack learned not to push it, otherwise he’d end up passing out like he had a week and a half ago. Sam could tell it frustrated him greatly that she would shift so easily when he couldn’t, but she encouraged him to stick with it and tried to keep him from getting too discouraged when things didn’t exactly go his way.
They were mid-way through their second week of base confinement when Sam convinced Jack to go for a walk with her topside, making use of NORAD’s mountain paths. He’d been a little reluctant, but Sam had pleaded, wanting to feel that small amount of freedom. At least they were allowed that luxury without needing to be watched 24/7.
About a quarter mile into a steep, five mile trail, Sam noticed that Jack was hanging farther back, slowing down. She was a little out of breath herself, but she could tell that exhaustion wasn’t what bothered him. He had better stamina than men ten years his junior. By the way he tried to hide his limp she knew Jack’s knees were starting to protest the climb.
Jogging back over to him, Sam smiled and playfully thumped his shoulder. “How ‘bout a run?”
“Saaaaaam,” he groaned, shaking his head. “Do you want me to blow out my knee?”
“No.” She shook her head and just smiled at him, smugly. “And you won’t. Our wolf forms would really make the best use of these trails. C’mon, it’ll be fun. And good practice.”
He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “How do you know my wolf knees aren’t just as bad as my human ones?”
“I just do,” Sam insisted. She looked around them, sure that they were alone. “Come on, Jack. We’re supposed to be practicing on controlling our abilities anyway.”
“Like you need the practice,” he muttered under his breath with a roll of his eyes. She stared him down until he finally heaved a sigh and bent to start unlacing his boots. “Fine, fine. But if we forget where our clothes are and have to go back to base naked, you’re explaining it to the General.”
Sam laughed, smiling widely. “Deal.” She stripped out of her clothes, piling them neatly beside a fallen tree and then shifting to wolf form with fluid grace. She turned to face Jack, waiting for him eagerly and silently encouraging him, tail swishing behind her.
.
For the first time since this thing started, Jack barely struggled to shift. He would’ve been smiling if he could, nearly standing wolf nose to wolf nose with Sam. Jaw open, tongue hanging out, Jack felt a jolt of energy surge through him, every nerve humming, every muscle charged for a mad dash through the woods.
Let’s go.
At Sam’s excited voice in his head, she took off, and he bolted after her. His knees were no longer sore, and the ease in which he ran reminded him of the first time he’d been a wolf, dashing happily through Sam’s neighborhood at top speed. It was exhilarating, darting up the dirt mountain path, climbing steep inclines that suddenly felt effortless.
When Sam stopped far ahead for a quick drink at a stream where the path leveled out, Jack joined her and bent his head to lap at the cool, refreshing water beside her.
How are the knees? Sam asked, turning to him.
He projected an image of himself grinning. Excellent. Taking a look around, Jack got an idea. What do you say we head off the path and do a little testing of our telepathic link?
Sam tilted her head at him curiously. You mean see if there’s a distance limit?
He nodded. Yeah. That way when we get back we can convince Hammond, the guys, and Doc that we were actually out doing research and not just having fun. In his head, Sam was laughing.
Good idea, Jack.
He snorted, proud of himself. It happens.
Okay, we’ll head off in separate directions and try to keep a steady stream of conversation. Then if we can’t hear each other anymore we’ll know there’s a distance limit, and we’ll both turn around and meet back here.
Jack nodded. Got it. His tail swished and he eagerly began hurtling through the woods off the path. Marco.
Sam’s laughter reverberated inside his head, but she played along. Polo.
Marco.
Polo.
Marco.
Polo.
Jack figured he’d gotten barely a quarter of a mile before he could no longer hear Sam in his head. Stopping his run, Jack whipped around and began trotting back to the stream at a more leisurely, loping pace.
When he got there he looked around, surprised that Sam hadn’t reached the stream yet. He took a drink, then sat back on his haunches, waiting patiently. A few minutes passed by and he was getting anxious. Sam should’ve been there by now.
Sam! He called in his head as loudly as he could, unsure if it would make a difference the volume in which he tried to project his thoughts. She should’ve at least been at a distance where he could hear her.
Now bordering on extremely anxious, Jack put his nose to the ground and took advantage of his enhanced wolfy sense of smell to figure out which direction she’d gone in. Once he got the scent, that was it. Jack sped off, leaping over fallen trees and darting beneath branches and around thorny bushes. Sam! Sam, can you hear me!
JACK!
The scream in his head made him pick up the pace. Something was wrong. They were in the middle of the mountains, and he feared she had fallen over a cliff or something worse. His heart thudded in his chest as he made a mad dash through the brush. I’m coming!
The scent of blood was in the air, and as he sensed himself getting closer to his mate, Jack could hear her whimpering. He knew he wasn’t hearing her in his head and strived to move even faster. Make some noise, I’m almost there!
Sam’s howling prompted a fractional direction shift to his left, and Jack had just ducked beneath a low slung branch when he saw her. Sam! he cried out in alarm, rushing to her side. Her left hind leg was caught between the rusted teeth of an animal trap.
Jack, it hurts! She whimpered as he hurried over and nuzzled her neck, trying to soothe her.
It’s okay, it’s okay, he tried to assure her, still affectionately nuzzling his head against her. Hang on a sec. I’m gonna change back so I can get your foot outta there, okay? I can’t help like this.
She nodded, panting slightly. Okay.
Jack stepped back from her, rearing up on his hind legs as the change started. It took a bit of effort, his body straining, but he managed to return to human form, dropping to his hands and knees in the leaf litter on the ground. Breathing hard and feeling a little shaky, Jack crawled over to Sam and gently placed his hand on her head. “It’s okay, I’m gonna get this thing off you,” he told her breathlessly.
I know, she sent back, her impossibly blue wolf eyes staring back at him trustingly.
Sensing that she was in a lot of pain, Jack’s hand slid off her head and went to brush the dirt, leaves, and twigs away from the trap, fully exposing it. He examined the part of her leg caught between the rusty metal teeth. The trap must have been quite old, the springs not working as properly as they should, otherwise her foot would have likely been snapped completely off. The possibility startled him and Jack swallowed hard, his shaking hands finding the levers on either side of the metal teeth that should release the jaws of the trap. Luckily the sharp, jagged teeth hadn’t gone all the way through Sam’s leg.
Heaving a breath, Jack looked into Sam’s glistening blue eyes. “Okay, this is probably gonna hurt a bit worse before it feels better.”
She nodded, giving him a look that said “Just do it.”
Jack forced all his weight on his arms, pressing down on the rusted levers until the metal jaws squeaked open enough for Sam to pull her leg out and drag herself away with a whimper.
Crawling over to her, Jack stroked Sam’s head gently as she lay sprawled on the grass and dirt, exhausted and whimpering softly in pain. He examined her mangled and bloody left leg with a frown and swallowed the rising lump in his throat. “It looks broken,” he murmured regrettably, still stroking her fur. “Do you think you can change back?”
Yes. Sam nodded and Jack crawled backwards a few feet, giving her space to transform.
Jack was surprised at the look of pain on her face as she shifted. Apparently taking more effort than usual for her, Sam finally became human again, looking as exhausted as he often did when he changed. The sensation of being so spent after a shift was something fairly unusual for Sam, who often endured the process with relative ease. “Sam!” Jack exclaimed when he looked down at her left ankle.
Sam’s gaze slowly followed his own, her eyes widening in shock. Her ankle was still damaged and bleeding sluggishly, with quite a few mean-looking puncture wounds, but it didn’t look nearly as mangled as it did in her wolf form. “I…I don’t think it’s broken anymore,” she uttered, flexing her foot experimentally with a wince.
“Careful!” Jack barked, worried she’d do more damage.
“It still hurts a lot,” Sam clarified. “But it’s definitely not as bad as it was.”
“How is this possible?”
Sam shrugged at him, her expression changing to the look she usually got when she was pulling a brilliant idea out of her butt. “Wait, this makes sense.” At his dubious expression she continued. “When you first changed, you’d been shot. You had a pretty bad bullet hole in your thigh. But once you became human again the wound hadn’t been quite so ugly. You’d healed some.”
Catching on, Jack practically whispered, “So when we shift, we heal?”
“Yes.” Sam nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling. “But not fully, just some. I mean, but still, it’s significant. I mean, look!” She waved at her ankle.
Jack cocked his head thoughtfully. “So if you go wolf and then back again will you heal even more?” he wondered aloud.
“No, I don’t think so.” Sam shook her head. “I think it’s a once only kind of deal.”
“You feel up to trying anyway?”
“Alright.”
Jack watched with awe as Sam smoothly shifted to her wolf form and then back once more. He looked at her ankle, which still appeared to be in the same shape as before. He sighed. “No go?”
“No.” Sam shook her head, sitting up but leaning heavily on one arm, her other hand subtly moving to cover herself, her cheeks going slightly pink.
Jack suddenly became aware of how naked and exposed they both were. He shakily climbed to his feet and shielded his privates with both hands, feeling his own cheeks heating. He knew logically they shouldn’t be embarrassed. They’d been seeing each other and living together for a little over six months now, but there was just something about being so exposed in the middle of the woods like this. Especially on base property.
Deciding it was time to do something about their current situation and get Sam the medical treatment she needed, Jack said, “I need to get you back to base.”
Sam nodded in agreement, smiling tightly. “You should get our clothes, first.”
Jack grimaced, turning slightly to look through the thick woods in the direction where they’d come from. He grunted. “Right.” The thought of traipsing through the brush naked appealed to him even less than changing into a wolf again while he was still so shaky, so Jack had to make another decision he wasn’t entirely happy with.
He glanced back at Sam, knowing by her pallor that she was in quite a bit of pain and still losing some blood from the wounds. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Think you can hang in there?”
“Yeah.” Sam nodded determinedly, but weakly. “Be careful.”
Without telling her what he was about to do, Jack dropped to his hands and knees as he started to shift into wolf form. Once he’d done it he shook himself, feeling slightly energized again. With one last look at Sam, Jack dashed through the woods.
.
Sam pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped both hands around the bleeding holes in her ankle. It hurt, but she needed to keep pressure on the wounds and had no bandages or cloth at the moment to use, so her hands would have to do.
By Sam’s count it took around fifteen minutes for Jack to return. She was a little astonished to see him in wolf form with one of their t-shirts wrapped around his neck, and their pants bundled up and clamped between his teeth. He hurried over to her and dropped the clothing by her hip before resting his chin on her bare shoulder.
Sorry, this was all I could carry like this.
Sam just nodded, grateful to have any clothes at all. “That’s okay, Jack. Thank you.” She quickly pulled on the t-shirt after taking it from around his neck and tearing off a strip to tie around her lower leg. She then used a nearby tree to pull herself to her feet as Jack politely turned around while she struggled with her pants.
Still leaning against the tree now without putting her injured foot down, Sam watched worriedly as Jack shifted back to human form with obvious difficulty. Transforming so often in such short intervals had definitely taken a toll on him, and Sam gasped softly as he collapsed on the ground.
Hopping toward him, Sam knelt as gingerly as she could, biting her lower lip in pain as the movement jarred her ankle. Jack was lying on his side, still conscious but breathing heavily, his entire body looking boneless and limp. She reached out, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Jack?”
“I’m…fine. Just…gimme a minute,” he managed weakly.
“Can you move?” Sam asked worriedly.
He shook his head slightly. “Not...right now.”
Sam sat down at his back, grabbing for his pants that were still on the ground and using them to cover him. Being early fall in Colorado, and their location up on Cheyenne mountain, it was fairly cool out and the sun would be setting in just a few short hours. Feeling quite a bit chilled herself, in BDU pants and black t-shirt, Sam turned to lie down, carefully spooning herself up against Jack’s naked back and trying to keep them both warm as she waited for him to recover some of his strength.
.
Parts 7, 8 & 9
Summary: Jack and Sam get more than they bargained for after an enlightening trip back to P2G-764 that will change their lives forever.
Timeframe: Six months after ‘Dog Heaven: Pack Mates.’
Characters/Pairing: Established Sam/Jack, Team, Janet
Genre: Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Whump
Rating: T
Part Five
Janet and her staff had been quite a bit shocked when SG-1 entered the infirmary, Teal’c carrying an unconscious Colonel O’Neill, and a golden-brown wolf trotting alongside them. Her eyes widened as she stared at the wolf, then she smartly ushered them all into a private isolation room before exclaiming, “Sam?!”
“It’s her,” Daniel confirmed with a nod just as the wolf gave a single loud ruff.
Blinking away her shock at the situation, and reminding herself she’d been expecting Sam to change at some point, Janet turned her attention to the limp, unconscious man in Teal’c’s strong arms. She quickly gestured toward the only bed in the iso room. “Put him there, Teal’c,” she ordered softly. “Do any of you know what happened?”
Sam barked a few times as Daniel and Teal’c shook their heads. She then started whining and nudging Janet’s leg with her head, looking up at her with big, soulful blue eyes.
“Sam does, but she can’t tell us,” Daniel said with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. “And the only one that can communicate with her like this is Jack.” He waved a hand at his unconscious friend and sighed again.
Janet frowned and swiftly began moving around the bed, pushing at the blanket wrapped around the Colonel so she could start checking his vitals. She took a blank chart from the end of the bed and made note of his condition; checked heart-rate, pupils, respiration, and temperature. His pulse was a little fast, his pupils equal and reactive, respirations a little shallow, and temperature slightly elevated.
Explaining her findings to the worried people (and wolf) hovering close by, Janet took his chart and moved toward the door. “I’m going to get a kit so I can take a blood sample,” Janet looked down at the beautiful, yet worried-looking, wolf. “From you, too, Sam.”
Sam gave her one short nod before Janet swiftly left the isolation room.
.
Once Janet had taken a blood sample from her and Jack, Sam hadn’t wanted to leave Jack’s side. Her wolf instincts were screaming at her to stay close and protect her mate. She hopped up on the bed and snuggled closely against him, nudging her head under his hand. Janet had been about to protest her lying there, but Sam just gave a warning growl and the doctor left her alone, probably unsure of her friend’s current mental state. Sam wasn’t too sure of her mental state herself.
Teal’c moved to a chair by the wall while Daniel snuck out, saying he was going to inform General Hammond about their situation.
Sam closed her eyes, concentrating on drowning out the heaviness of the white noise surrounding her to focus on Jack’s breathing and heartbeat, ignoring the sounds from the monitors. Jack, please wake up. Please, you’re scaring me and I want you to wake up, she thought to him, trying to get across her sense of urgency. She wasn’t sure if it was working, but Sam kept on trying anyway, keeping up a steady mantra of his name in her head. Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack…
Rrnn… What? she heard eventually, his mental voice soft and weak, even sounding annoyed.
Jack! Sam lifted her head, her eyes opening so she could see Jack’s face, but he was still unconscious. Jack, can you hear me?
‘Course I can. Wha’chu want?
Sam’s brows knit together as she stared at his face; not a twitch. And he still sounded strange in her head-sleepy and distant; almost drugged. He was only on monitors and Janet hadn’t given him anything, not even an IV. She’d said he didn’t need it, and Sam trusted her judgment. Jack, you need to wake up. You’re in the infirmary at the SGC. Teal’c and Daniel helped get us here. You’re unconscious and you need to wake up.
Why? M’tired.
Jack, please. Wake up! Sam licked at his hand, then nudged his side with her head before resting her chin on his stomach over the blanket. Jack!
“Hn?” He jerked slightly, and this time the grunt was actually audible.
Sam made a few sharp whining sounds and sat up. Jack! Open your eyes!
“Whut?” he mumbled, his eyelids fluttering.
Sam turned her head slightly as she heard Teal’c rising from his chair against the wall.
Jack blinked blearily at her. “Sam?” he murmured, his raspy voice barely audible.
She nodded vigorously.
“Wha’appened?”
Before she got the chance to answer him, Janet entered the isolation room with Daniel on her heels. The two of them, along with Teal’c, all gathered around the bed.
.
“Colonel, how are you feeling?”
Jack ignored the doc, Daniel, and Teal’c all hovering around him, focusing only on the wolf that sat by his hip. “Sam,” he mumbled, blinking sluggishly in an attempt to clear his fuzzy vision.
You were trying to transform back to human form this morning, remember? You were having a hard time and kept reverting back to a wolf. When you finally managed you passed out. You’ve been unconscious since.
“Oh,” Jack murmured aloud, noticing he was getting strange looks from the three humans around his bed. His brows furrowed as he struggled to sit up, and Janet swiftly moved beside his bed to adjust the controls for him. He was still exhausted, his limbs feeling shaky and not really wanting to cooperate with him.
“Colonel?” Janet pressed, moving to his right side, her hand automatically searching out his wrist to check his radial pulse. “Can you tell me what happened?”
He frowned for a moment, then Sam nudged his hand, urging, Tell her.
Jack sighed. “Fine,” he murmured under his breath. He explained what happened, and then the doc began fluttering around him, waving at Daniel and Teal’c to give her space as she checked him and the readouts from the monitors.
“Your vitals are all pretty much back to normal, but you’re still showing signs of overexertion so I want you to take it easy today. How are you feeling?”
“Hungry.” He wasn’t lying, but he didn’t need to tell her that he was struggling to keep his head up and his eyes open as well.
Sam barked by his hip. Me, too.
“Sam’s hungry, too,” Jack explained when Janet, Teal’c, and Daniel gave him expectant looks.
“I’m interested in your ability to communicate telepathically with one another in your wolf forms,” Daniel murmured contemplatively, standing at the foot of the bed.
Jack made a face at him. “Stop staring at us like we’re your next science experiment.”
WOOF! Sam barked in agreement, and Jack grinned. Then she turned to Jack and placed her paw on his leg, even though she was already touching by leaning against him. I’m not eating dog food, by the way. I want real food.
“Ha. Not like that you’re not gettin’ any real food. You’ll be sick. Isn’t that what you told me last time?” He smirked at her, remembering the first time he was stuck as a wolf for a few days and had to eat dog food. Truthfully, though, when he’d been a wolf it hadn’t mattered and had actually been a suitable meal. “It won’t make a difference to you in that form,” Jack assured her.
Sam barked, narrowing her eyes at him. No dog food!
“Then change back,” Jack answered simply.
“Colonel, what is she saying?” Janet wanted to know.
Too tired to go back and forth with them, Jack just waved a hand dismissively and focused on Sam. “You might be able to, ya know,” he said, continuing with his former train of thought. “They said the females have an easier time turning. Right, Danny-boy?”
“Uh, yeah,” Daniel stuttered out after a moment, not having been prepared to be involved in the conversation again. “Yade-wan-“ at Jack’s confused look he clarified, “The Spiritual Leader-mentioned that the females have an easier time with the change and they also are able to control it more quickly.”
“Hmph.” Jack snorted and glanced at Sam. “That’s not fair.”
Sam turned a fiery blue-eyed gaze on him. What’s not fair is that the males can turn us into shape-shifters by having sex with us!
Jack ducked his head, having the good sense to look contrite, his jaw clenching. He heaved a sigh and whispered, “Sam, I’m sorry.”
She whined softly and bent to lick his hand. I know. I didn’t mean it like that, Jack. I’m just frustrated. She turned to their friends who were still staring at the two of them. If I’m going to try and change then Teal’c and Daniel have to leave.
Jack nodded with understanding. He didn’t want the two of them to see her naked, either. Clearing his throat, he tiredly waved a hand at the two men. “Sam’s gonna try and change, so Danny and T, get lost.”
Daniel blushed and ducked his head, while Teal’c merely nodded.
“I have to agree, guys,” Janet added. “Sorry.” She ushered them toward the door. “Now, out.”
The two men slunk out of the room, and Janet swiftly made for a shelf stacked with blankets and scrubs. She grabbed one of each and returned to the bed.
.
Janet watched as Sam hopped down from the bed, Colonel O’Neill swinging his legs over the side as she did so, keeping an eye on her. He started to remove all of his monitors, ignoring the look Janet gave him.
A strange noise came from Sam, and Janet looked down at the wolf as she reared back on her hind legs, stretching and morphing almost fluidly as she became human again, sinking to her knees seconds after. “Sam?” Janet asked, immediately draping the blanket across her faintly-trembling shoulders.
“I’m okay,” she responded shakily, breathing hard.
“Sam.” The Colonel slid off the bed, still clothed only in his boxers, and sunk to his knees beside Sam.
“I’m a little tired, but I’m alright,” Sam insisted, her voice already sounding stronger.
Janet could see that the Colonel, however, looked like he’d reached the end of his endurance at this point. He was shakier than Sam was, and she doubted he’d even be able to get up off the floor without help.
Offering Sam the scrubs, Janet helped her dress, then got her to sit on the edge of the bed. The Colonel had already stubbornly managed to pull himself up to sit beside her, but by now he was visibly sweating and shaking from the effort.
“Okay, you two, I’m sending you both to one of the VIP rooms to rest. Wait here a minute while I go get a pair of wheelchairs.”
“I’m fine, Janet,” and “I can walk, doc!” were the immediate protests she received from her patients at the suggestion.
Janet was already at the door, though, ignoring their complaints and fetching Teal’c and Daniel to assist.
.
Teal’c and Janet took them to a room while Daniel went to get them something to eat from the commissary. Sam was just relieved that she didn’t have to eat dog food.
As soon as they were inside the suite, Sam got up from the wheelchair Teal’c had been pushing and automatically moved to help Janet get Jack on the bed.
“I can do it; m’fine,” he muttered stubbornly, but his shaky legs betrayed him.
“Colonel,” Janet practically growled at him as he shoved off the comforter that had still been wrapped around him.
Jack reluctantly allowed them to help him, practically collapsing onto the bed once they had him out of the wheelchair. He groaned softly, shifting to get comfortable as Teal’c took the blanket and draped it over him again.
Sam got on the bed beside Jack, but suddenly felt self-conscious about cuddling up to him in front of Teal’c and Janet while she wasn’t a wolf. Somehow it was easier to be closer to Jack as a wolf. At least in front of other people, despite their known relationship.
“Both of you get some rest,” Janet suggested in a manner that made it more of an order. She headed for the door, waving Teal’c along with her. “I’m going to review your blood tests and then I’ll check up on you in a while.”
Sam nodded, looking down at Jack, but his eyes were closed and though she could tell he wasn’t yet asleep, he soon would be. “Thanks, Janet.”
Once they were gone, Sam snuggled up to Jack, lifting the comforter to slide in beside him, lying against his chest. “Are you okay?” she questioned softly.
“Mm.” He grunted. “You?” Jack lifted his right arm to put it around her, tugging her even closer.
“Yup. Just hungry.” Her stomach rumbled as if to make the point. Sam smiled into Jack’s chest when she heard his rough chuckle.
“Mm.” Jack sighed; he was almost out. “Wake me when the food comes.”
Sam nodded against him, but she wasn’t about to wake him up. When Daniel brought the food it would keep until he got some rest. She was tired herself, but not as exhausted as Jack always seemed after returning to human form. She considered herself very lucky in that aspect. Feeling more hungry than anything, Sam could stay awake until she’d eaten, and then she’d take a little nap.
.
Despite her efforts not to wake Jack when Daniel came in, he roused anyway as she pulled away from him.
“Sam?” he murmured groggily as she sat up next to him.
“I brought you guys some sandwiches,” Daniel announced softly, carrying a tray over and setting it down on the side table.
“Daniel’s got our lunch,” Sam explained, noticing Jack still looked a little confused and quite sleepy. “Do you want to rest a while longer before you eat?”
He shook his head. “No. Hungry.” Jack struggled to sit up with a grunt, and Sam jammed a few pillows behind him.
“Roast beef or turkey, Jack?” Daniel asked, sorting through the food and carefully unwrapping each sandwich before placing them on paper plates.
Sam glanced sideways at Jack as they both leaned against the headboard, so close that their shoulders, hips, and legs were all touching.
“Beef,” he grunted in response, and Daniel passed off their respective meals.
Sam couldn’t help noticing Jack’s hand trembling slightly as he took the plate before setting it down in his lap.
Daniel gave them a couple of water bottles as well and then took a step back. “Want me to stay a little while? Do you need anything else?”
She smiled back at him, warmly. “No, we’re fine, Daniel. Thank you.”
“Alright. I’ll see you guys later?” Daniel edged toward the door. When Sam nodded, he waved and left, closing the door behind him.
Sam devoured her turkey sandwich with single-minded focus, having been overcome with hunger as soon as the food was in her hands. She hadn’t even noticed if Jack had eaten beside her until she was done. That was when she realized how heavily he was leaning against her, and looked to see the half-eaten sandwich in his lap. Jack had fallen asleep while eating, his head tipped back and mouth slightly open. Sam couldn’t help giggling softly at the adorable sight.
Gently taking the plate off his lap, Sam put everything over on the tray Daniel had left on the night table, keeping her movements slow so she didn’t wake Jack. She didn’t think he could be very comfortable like that, and hunched down in bed before gently pulling him against her until he’d curled up on his side with his head on her chest.
Now that she’d satisfied her hunger, Sam thought it time to give in to her other need: sleep. She tugged the comforter up higher and smiled when Jack sleepily draped an arm over her, cuddling her like a giant teddy bear and burying his face in the side of her neck.
.
Part Six
Jack and Sam were to be confined to the mountain for two weeks on General Hammond’s orders, and were forced to undergo hours of testing between practicing controlling their newfound abilities. Sam was quickly learning to shift at will, while Jack struggled a bit more, always winding up pretty exhausted when he was back in human form. When his attempts to shift fluidly sometimes resulted in him half-changing and then reverting back a few times, Jack learned not to push it, otherwise he’d end up passing out like he had a week and a half ago. Sam could tell it frustrated him greatly that she would shift so easily when he couldn’t, but she encouraged him to stick with it and tried to keep him from getting too discouraged when things didn’t exactly go his way.
They were mid-way through their second week of base confinement when Sam convinced Jack to go for a walk with her topside, making use of NORAD’s mountain paths. He’d been a little reluctant, but Sam had pleaded, wanting to feel that small amount of freedom. At least they were allowed that luxury without needing to be watched 24/7.
About a quarter mile into a steep, five mile trail, Sam noticed that Jack was hanging farther back, slowing down. She was a little out of breath herself, but she could tell that exhaustion wasn’t what bothered him. He had better stamina than men ten years his junior. By the way he tried to hide his limp she knew Jack’s knees were starting to protest the climb.
Jogging back over to him, Sam smiled and playfully thumped his shoulder. “How ‘bout a run?”
“Saaaaaam,” he groaned, shaking his head. “Do you want me to blow out my knee?”
“No.” She shook her head and just smiled at him, smugly. “And you won’t. Our wolf forms would really make the best use of these trails. C’mon, it’ll be fun. And good practice.”
He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “How do you know my wolf knees aren’t just as bad as my human ones?”
“I just do,” Sam insisted. She looked around them, sure that they were alone. “Come on, Jack. We’re supposed to be practicing on controlling our abilities anyway.”
“Like you need the practice,” he muttered under his breath with a roll of his eyes. She stared him down until he finally heaved a sigh and bent to start unlacing his boots. “Fine, fine. But if we forget where our clothes are and have to go back to base naked, you’re explaining it to the General.”
Sam laughed, smiling widely. “Deal.” She stripped out of her clothes, piling them neatly beside a fallen tree and then shifting to wolf form with fluid grace. She turned to face Jack, waiting for him eagerly and silently encouraging him, tail swishing behind her.
.
For the first time since this thing started, Jack barely struggled to shift. He would’ve been smiling if he could, nearly standing wolf nose to wolf nose with Sam. Jaw open, tongue hanging out, Jack felt a jolt of energy surge through him, every nerve humming, every muscle charged for a mad dash through the woods.
Let’s go.
At Sam’s excited voice in his head, she took off, and he bolted after her. His knees were no longer sore, and the ease in which he ran reminded him of the first time he’d been a wolf, dashing happily through Sam’s neighborhood at top speed. It was exhilarating, darting up the dirt mountain path, climbing steep inclines that suddenly felt effortless.
When Sam stopped far ahead for a quick drink at a stream where the path leveled out, Jack joined her and bent his head to lap at the cool, refreshing water beside her.
How are the knees? Sam asked, turning to him.
He projected an image of himself grinning. Excellent. Taking a look around, Jack got an idea. What do you say we head off the path and do a little testing of our telepathic link?
Sam tilted her head at him curiously. You mean see if there’s a distance limit?
He nodded. Yeah. That way when we get back we can convince Hammond, the guys, and Doc that we were actually out doing research and not just having fun. In his head, Sam was laughing.
Good idea, Jack.
He snorted, proud of himself. It happens.
Okay, we’ll head off in separate directions and try to keep a steady stream of conversation. Then if we can’t hear each other anymore we’ll know there’s a distance limit, and we’ll both turn around and meet back here.
Jack nodded. Got it. His tail swished and he eagerly began hurtling through the woods off the path. Marco.
Sam’s laughter reverberated inside his head, but she played along. Polo.
Marco.
Polo.
Marco.
Polo.
Jack figured he’d gotten barely a quarter of a mile before he could no longer hear Sam in his head. Stopping his run, Jack whipped around and began trotting back to the stream at a more leisurely, loping pace.
When he got there he looked around, surprised that Sam hadn’t reached the stream yet. He took a drink, then sat back on his haunches, waiting patiently. A few minutes passed by and he was getting anxious. Sam should’ve been there by now.
Sam! He called in his head as loudly as he could, unsure if it would make a difference the volume in which he tried to project his thoughts. She should’ve at least been at a distance where he could hear her.
Now bordering on extremely anxious, Jack put his nose to the ground and took advantage of his enhanced wolfy sense of smell to figure out which direction she’d gone in. Once he got the scent, that was it. Jack sped off, leaping over fallen trees and darting beneath branches and around thorny bushes. Sam! Sam, can you hear me!
JACK!
The scream in his head made him pick up the pace. Something was wrong. They were in the middle of the mountains, and he feared she had fallen over a cliff or something worse. His heart thudded in his chest as he made a mad dash through the brush. I’m coming!
The scent of blood was in the air, and as he sensed himself getting closer to his mate, Jack could hear her whimpering. He knew he wasn’t hearing her in his head and strived to move even faster. Make some noise, I’m almost there!
Sam’s howling prompted a fractional direction shift to his left, and Jack had just ducked beneath a low slung branch when he saw her. Sam! he cried out in alarm, rushing to her side. Her left hind leg was caught between the rusted teeth of an animal trap.
Jack, it hurts! She whimpered as he hurried over and nuzzled her neck, trying to soothe her.
It’s okay, it’s okay, he tried to assure her, still affectionately nuzzling his head against her. Hang on a sec. I’m gonna change back so I can get your foot outta there, okay? I can’t help like this.
She nodded, panting slightly. Okay.
Jack stepped back from her, rearing up on his hind legs as the change started. It took a bit of effort, his body straining, but he managed to return to human form, dropping to his hands and knees in the leaf litter on the ground. Breathing hard and feeling a little shaky, Jack crawled over to Sam and gently placed his hand on her head. “It’s okay, I’m gonna get this thing off you,” he told her breathlessly.
I know, she sent back, her impossibly blue wolf eyes staring back at him trustingly.
Sensing that she was in a lot of pain, Jack’s hand slid off her head and went to brush the dirt, leaves, and twigs away from the trap, fully exposing it. He examined the part of her leg caught between the rusty metal teeth. The trap must have been quite old, the springs not working as properly as they should, otherwise her foot would have likely been snapped completely off. The possibility startled him and Jack swallowed hard, his shaking hands finding the levers on either side of the metal teeth that should release the jaws of the trap. Luckily the sharp, jagged teeth hadn’t gone all the way through Sam’s leg.
Heaving a breath, Jack looked into Sam’s glistening blue eyes. “Okay, this is probably gonna hurt a bit worse before it feels better.”
She nodded, giving him a look that said “Just do it.”
Jack forced all his weight on his arms, pressing down on the rusted levers until the metal jaws squeaked open enough for Sam to pull her leg out and drag herself away with a whimper.
Crawling over to her, Jack stroked Sam’s head gently as she lay sprawled on the grass and dirt, exhausted and whimpering softly in pain. He examined her mangled and bloody left leg with a frown and swallowed the rising lump in his throat. “It looks broken,” he murmured regrettably, still stroking her fur. “Do you think you can change back?”
Yes. Sam nodded and Jack crawled backwards a few feet, giving her space to transform.
Jack was surprised at the look of pain on her face as she shifted. Apparently taking more effort than usual for her, Sam finally became human again, looking as exhausted as he often did when he changed. The sensation of being so spent after a shift was something fairly unusual for Sam, who often endured the process with relative ease. “Sam!” Jack exclaimed when he looked down at her left ankle.
Sam’s gaze slowly followed his own, her eyes widening in shock. Her ankle was still damaged and bleeding sluggishly, with quite a few mean-looking puncture wounds, but it didn’t look nearly as mangled as it did in her wolf form. “I…I don’t think it’s broken anymore,” she uttered, flexing her foot experimentally with a wince.
“Careful!” Jack barked, worried she’d do more damage.
“It still hurts a lot,” Sam clarified. “But it’s definitely not as bad as it was.”
“How is this possible?”
Sam shrugged at him, her expression changing to the look she usually got when she was pulling a brilliant idea out of her butt. “Wait, this makes sense.” At his dubious expression she continued. “When you first changed, you’d been shot. You had a pretty bad bullet hole in your thigh. But once you became human again the wound hadn’t been quite so ugly. You’d healed some.”
Catching on, Jack practically whispered, “So when we shift, we heal?”
“Yes.” Sam nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling. “But not fully, just some. I mean, but still, it’s significant. I mean, look!” She waved at her ankle.
Jack cocked his head thoughtfully. “So if you go wolf and then back again will you heal even more?” he wondered aloud.
“No, I don’t think so.” Sam shook her head. “I think it’s a once only kind of deal.”
“You feel up to trying anyway?”
“Alright.”
Jack watched with awe as Sam smoothly shifted to her wolf form and then back once more. He looked at her ankle, which still appeared to be in the same shape as before. He sighed. “No go?”
“No.” Sam shook her head, sitting up but leaning heavily on one arm, her other hand subtly moving to cover herself, her cheeks going slightly pink.
Jack suddenly became aware of how naked and exposed they both were. He shakily climbed to his feet and shielded his privates with both hands, feeling his own cheeks heating. He knew logically they shouldn’t be embarrassed. They’d been seeing each other and living together for a little over six months now, but there was just something about being so exposed in the middle of the woods like this. Especially on base property.
Deciding it was time to do something about their current situation and get Sam the medical treatment she needed, Jack said, “I need to get you back to base.”
Sam nodded in agreement, smiling tightly. “You should get our clothes, first.”
Jack grimaced, turning slightly to look through the thick woods in the direction where they’d come from. He grunted. “Right.” The thought of traipsing through the brush naked appealed to him even less than changing into a wolf again while he was still so shaky, so Jack had to make another decision he wasn’t entirely happy with.
He glanced back at Sam, knowing by her pallor that she was in quite a bit of pain and still losing some blood from the wounds. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Think you can hang in there?”
“Yeah.” Sam nodded determinedly, but weakly. “Be careful.”
Without telling her what he was about to do, Jack dropped to his hands and knees as he started to shift into wolf form. Once he’d done it he shook himself, feeling slightly energized again. With one last look at Sam, Jack dashed through the woods.
.
Sam pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped both hands around the bleeding holes in her ankle. It hurt, but she needed to keep pressure on the wounds and had no bandages or cloth at the moment to use, so her hands would have to do.
By Sam’s count it took around fifteen minutes for Jack to return. She was a little astonished to see him in wolf form with one of their t-shirts wrapped around his neck, and their pants bundled up and clamped between his teeth. He hurried over to her and dropped the clothing by her hip before resting his chin on her bare shoulder.
Sorry, this was all I could carry like this.
Sam just nodded, grateful to have any clothes at all. “That’s okay, Jack. Thank you.” She quickly pulled on the t-shirt after taking it from around his neck and tearing off a strip to tie around her lower leg. She then used a nearby tree to pull herself to her feet as Jack politely turned around while she struggled with her pants.
Still leaning against the tree now without putting her injured foot down, Sam watched worriedly as Jack shifted back to human form with obvious difficulty. Transforming so often in such short intervals had definitely taken a toll on him, and Sam gasped softly as he collapsed on the ground.
Hopping toward him, Sam knelt as gingerly as she could, biting her lower lip in pain as the movement jarred her ankle. Jack was lying on his side, still conscious but breathing heavily, his entire body looking boneless and limp. She reached out, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Jack?”
“I’m…fine. Just…gimme a minute,” he managed weakly.
“Can you move?” Sam asked worriedly.
He shook his head slightly. “Not...right now.”
Sam sat down at his back, grabbing for his pants that were still on the ground and using them to cover him. Being early fall in Colorado, and their location up on Cheyenne mountain, it was fairly cool out and the sun would be setting in just a few short hours. Feeling quite a bit chilled herself, in BDU pants and black t-shirt, Sam turned to lie down, carefully spooning herself up against Jack’s naked back and trying to keep them both warm as she waited for him to recover some of his strength.
.
Parts 7, 8 & 9