Chapter 2
Jack stood facing the doors through which Daniel had disappeared, hardly even registering the presence of the nurse trying in a kind but firm voice to get him to take a seat in the waiting room. Moments before, he had been caught up in the blur of activity surrounding his friend. Now he stood alone in relative peace, staring at where everyone had disappeared.
"Sir!" someone shouted and a moment later Sam was skidding to a halt beside him. "Sir!" she repeated when he didn't turn to look at her, "I just heard. What happened?" He turned away from the doors at last, looking in her general direction.
"An accident," he whispered, "A stupid, friggin' accident."
"Sir?"
"He was up on a ladder. Trying to reach the top of his bookshelf I suppose. It broke."
"But…the blood? You're covered in…I thought…"
Jack swallowed hard. He knew he would never forget how he found Daniel. "He landed on his coffee table. Broke the glass top."
"Oh, God sir. Did he cut himself bad?" For the first time Jack turned and really looked at her, straight in the eyes. Her eyes were bright, her voice anxious with her need to know exactly what had happened to Daniel.
"He was impaled on two of the legs," Jack answered her at last, and then turned away again to look towards the doors. He didn't see them. He kept seeing Daniel as he found him, lying broken on the floor surrounded by glass. Two of the tall, thin legs had fallen to the ground with the broken glass and the other two were still standing, held upright by Daniel's body. One had gone through his stomach. The other went through his chest. Blood was everywhere.
Sam looked at Jack as he stared into space. The nurse was still hovering, trying to get him to sit down, or maybe to go and change his shirt and wash his hands. She kept mentioning filling out some forms. Jack didn't seem to even know the nurse was there.
"Sir…I'm sure it will be all right. Daniel will be fine," Sam tried, hoping to break through the distant stare. He turned towards her, still not really seeing.
"Have you ever tried to give CPR to someone with a friggin' metal rod through their chest?" he asked. Sam swallowed and shook her head. Jack turned away and spoke towards the doors. "He was just lying there, pouring out blood and I couldn't do a thing. I couldn't move him, couldn't…there was so much blood."
"Sir," the hovering nurse said, trying to gain his attention again, "I really think you should sit down now. Maybe I can get you a nice warm drink?"
"Sir…Jack," Sam said, taking his arm, "I'm here. Please."
"You know, I gave him that stupid coffee table?" Jack continued, as though no one had said anything, "Supposed to be some artistic crap. Tall thin legs glued to a glass top. No frame, nothing. Nothing to stop…and how is that art anyway?" Sam could feel him shaking beneath her hand.
"Excuse me sir, miss," the same nurse from before tried to get their attention, waving hospital forms at them. Jack didn't respond. Sam hesitated a moment, then turned to follow the nurse.
"I'll handle this," she said, "And I'll be right back, sir." He didn't respond and she frowned but finally took the papers. Jack was staring at his hands now. They were covered in Daniel's blood.
"Sir!"
"Colonel O'Neill!"
Sam and the nurse turned to see Janet and Teal'c running towards them. At least, Janet was running, Teal'c was striding with large, urgent steps. He seemed to have rushed off without even taking the time to grab a hat, only having a strip of cloth tied in place that looked suspiciously like it came from his ripped shirt.
"Samantha Carter," Teal'c greeted Sam when they finally reached them and then turned all his attention towards Jack.
"Oh, Jack," Janet said, seeing the blood and the lost look in his eyes. Quickly assessing the situation, she took action.
"T…Murray, you go with Jack and get him cleaned up," she said, "I'll handle the paperwork and see if I can't find out what's going on." Teal'c nodded his head in response, then turned towards a passing nurse.
"You will give us a shirt," he told her, indicating towards his bloodstained friend. The nurse glanced towards Jack and stopped abruptly.
"Sir, do you need help, I…" she began, raking him over with her eyes trying to find the wound.
"It's not my blood," Jack said, the first words he had spoken to anyone but Sam.
"He requires a change of clothing," Teal'c repeated, and the nurse glanced back towards him, a small frown of confusion on her face.
"Of course," she answered, "I think I can find something." She led the way and Teal'c followed, still guiding Jack by his arm. Sam hadn't let go of his other arm and started to follow as well.
"You must stay here, Samantha Carter," Teal'c said, "One of us must wait. We will be back soon." Sam obediently let go of Jack's arm, a small frown on her face. Suddenly she was alone, Janet gone with one nurse with the forms and Jack and Teal'c disappearing into a bathroom to get Jack cleaned up. Not wanting to wait by herself for news on Daniel, she decided to go after Janet. If anyone could get news fast, Janet could. And perhaps she could help her fill out some of the paperwork.
