See Disclaimer and rating info in part one
After they left the cabin Daniel and Teal'c took the folder and tapes back to the SGC, Jack took Maybourne into town and dropped him off. When he parked the car Jack got out and walked up to Maybourne.
"Look Harry, I just wanted to say thanks for the help."
"No problem Jack. When you bring Kinsey down be sure to tell I said hi" he replied with a smile. "I really am sorry about Carter and I hope she makes a full recovery. She is good for you Jack."
Looking at him in a confused manor Jack simply replied, "thanks" and got back in his truck and headed back to SGC. When he arrived back at the SGC he immediately went to the infirmary see how Carter was doing. It had been a long day and he was tired but he still had to talk with Hammond but the first thing he wanted to do, even before a shower was see Sam.
"Hey Doc how is she?"
"Colonel I heard you were back. Sam is still in a coma. After the second surgery to remove the clot-"
"Wait. Second surgery?" he asked confused
"Oh that's right Daniel said he couldn't get a hold of you. About 3 hours after the initial surgery Sam went into v-vib and we had to operate to removed a blood clot. Her vitals are a little better and the swelling had started to go down around her spine but I still won't know if there is any permanent brain damage until she wakes up."
"Ok. Can I sit with her for a little while?" Janet nodded and he made his way over to the chair next to her bed. Sitting down next to her bed he felt a little guilty that had turned off his phone but he needed to be alone when he met Harry and he just wanted to be alone for a while. "Hey Carter how ya doing?" not really expecting her to answer he simply looked at her and heard Kinsey's words from the tape over and over again.
"Because I want him to hurt and I want him to see that I can destroy the one thing that means more to him than his own life." Jack was broken out of his thoughts by the petite doctor.
"Colonel the General wants to see you."
"Ok. Thanks." He took one more look at Sam, then stood up and made his way to the General's office. While in the elevator Jack began to think about what his life would be like if Sam doesn't make it. Actually he couldn't see a life without Sam in it that is how much of an integral part of it she is. She had entered his life at a time when he was in a dark place, granted Daniel had helped him come out into the light, but it was Sam that kept him there. He loved the way her face lit up when she made a new discovery or how her brow scrunched when she was thinking, in fact he loved everything about her no matter what it was she made him want to come into work every day and now some bureaucrat might have taken that away because he had pissed him off.
Entering the General's office Jack was a little nervous. He knew that most likely Daniel had played the tapes for the General already and had heard what Kinsey had said to Bragg and that made him a little anxious. "Reporting as ordered sir."
"Sit down Jack." Hammond could tell that Jack was nervous and he wanted to assure that what was said on the tape didn't matter to him as far as his relationship with Major Carter was concerned. "Dr. Jackson and Teal'c briefed me on the information you received from Colonel Bragg. I wanted you to know that I intend to hand the evidence over to Major Davis at the pentagon, he will then take it personally to the president."
"What will happen to Kinsey sir?"
"That will up to the president but most likely he will go to prison for a long time."
"That's good to know sir, if that's all" he started to rise from the chair
"Is there anything you want to tell me Jack? Concerning Major Carter that is?"
Jack immediately sat back down in the chair and looked at the General "sir?"
"I am well aware of what went on during the Za'tarc testing and so is the president, I simply want to know if there is anything I should be made aware of"
" I can assure you sir that the relationship between me and Major Carter has been nothing but professional."
"You don't need to prove anything to me Jack. I know that the Major and you are close but what I want to know is how are you dealing with what was said on the tape?"
Jack had hoped that no one, especially the General, would bring that up. "I am fine sir"
"Very well then dismissed."
The general knew that Jack wasn't ok but he didn't really want to press the issue. Right now the only person who could help was lying in the infirmary in a coma. He could only hope that Major Carter would a full recovery because if she didn't he would lose two good soldiers that day.
(0)
After finally taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes Jack made his way back to the infirmary to sit with Sam. When he got there Daniel and Teal'c were talking to each other by Sam's bed.
"Jack did you see the general?" asked Daniel
"Yeah he said Davis is taking the evidence to the president himself and Kinsey will most likely be going away for a long time."
"That is good news O'Neill."
"Yes it is Teal'c. Any change?"
"No none" replied Daniel casting a glance at Sam.
"Why don't you guys go get some rest, I'll sit with Carter for now."
"Actually Jack you look like you could use sleep more than the rest of us" started Daniel "Teal'c and I will stay why don't you go get some sleep and relieve us later?"
Jack was reluctant to leave, it's not that he wasn't tired because he was he just didn't was to leave Sam and he feared that sleeping would only bring nightmares of what happened earlier in the day. "Yeah ok. You be sure to come and get me if there is any change?"
"You'll be the first person, other than Janet, that I call" replied Daniel knowing full well why his friend didn't want to leave but he was no good to Sam if he didn't get some sleep.
With that said Jack reluctantly left the infirmary and made his way to his quarters on base. He couldn't count the many times that he almost turned around and went back to the infirmary but the fatigue his body was facing won out and he continued to his quarters. He opened the door to his quarters, took off his boots sat down on the bed and for the first time, probably since Charlie, he cried himself to sleep.
(0)
It had now been a week since the shooting and there was still no change in Sam's condition. Janet was worried that the longer Sam stayed in the coma the more chance she would never come out of it and if she did there could be permanent damage. Janet was also worried that some of the swelling near Sam's spine had not gone down and it was more than likely do to the fact that Sam hadn't moved in a week.
Janet was also becoming increasingly concerned about the Colonel. In the last week he had become very quiet and introverted. Of course if anyone managed to make him mad they were greeted by a very angry O'Neill. Janet could of sworn that she saw Graham Simmons duck into a storage closet when he saw the Colonel coming down the hall and on any other day it might have been funny but now it only raised concern. Janet was broken from her thoughts by a knock on her office door. She looked up to come face to face with what was quickly becoming the shell of Colonel O'Neill. "Speak of the devil she thought" she thought
"Colonel what can I do for you?"
"Maybe you can tell me why Sam is being transferred to the Academy hospital?" he was angry and he was doing a piss poor job of hiding it.
"We don't have the resources hear for this type of situation Colonel. Sam needs constant care that we can't give her here. I wouldn't have made the decision if I wasn't concerned with the swelling around her spine."
"Yeah what about that?" he asked feeling slightly guilty that he didn't have all the facts before jumping down Janet's throat. Although he seemed to be jumping down everyone's throat lately.
"The academy hospital has specialists that will work Sam's muscles to keep them from atrophying. I'm that this movement will help increase the blood flow and make the swelling lessen." She wasn't trying to sound smart and she hoped he understood that but he also had to understand he wasn't the only one becoming steadily frustrated at the lack of change in Sam's condition. "It was hard decision to decide to send her away Colonel but we have teams constantly coming in with injuries and I can't give Sam's condition the attention it needs right now. It's for the best."
"Maybe." He replied leaving her office to take his usual seat by Sam's bedside. As he sat down he could have sworn that she looked better today or that could have been him hoping so that Janet wouldn't have to send her away. "Come on Sam. You gotta wake up I'm losing it here." It was the first time in a week that he admitted to anyone, including himself, that he was slowing losing control of his emotions. Taking her hand in his he began kneading her palm with his thumb. It had always helped Charlie when he had woken up from a nightmare and the simple touch had always lulled him back to sleep. Now he was hoping that it would bring Sam back to him.
He was just about to pull his hand away when he felt her fingers curl around his thumb. At first he thought it was nothing maybe a reflex but when the pressure became more eve he realized Sam was squeezing his thumb. "Sam? Come on baby wake up" it was the first time he had ever called her baby out loud and he had to admit he liked the sound of it. Anxiously he wanted for anymore movement and then he saw her eye lids begin to flutter, "that's it Sam come on you can do it open those baby blues."
Sam could have sworn she heard someone with the Colonel's voice call her baby. "Did he just call me baby?" she thought as she struggled to lift the fog that was clouding her consciousness. When she finally managed to open her eyes the first thing she saw were the pair of chocolate brown eyes that belonged to her CO. She was about to try and speak when she realized there was something blocking her throat.
By now Janet had come over and was trying to calm her. "Easy Sam you a have tube in your throat." This made Sam relax. "When I count to three I want you to exhale while I pull out the tube, ok?" Sam nodded. "Ok one, two, three"
As Janet pulled the tube out Sam's throat felt like it was on fire but she was relieved to have it out. "Colonel" she said weakly.
"I'm right here" he said leaning in and grasping her hand tighter.
"Thirsty."
"You can have some ice chips but that's all for now" replied Janet as she scooped some ice chips and placed them on Sam's lips. "Is that better?" Sam nodded "Ok Colonel you need to leave so I can examine Sam." She said motioning for the Colonel to leave and just as he was going to protest Sam spoke up
"Janet why can't I feel my legs?"
TBC
After they left the cabin Daniel and Teal'c took the folder and tapes back to the SGC, Jack took Maybourne into town and dropped him off. When he parked the car Jack got out and walked up to Maybourne.
"Look Harry, I just wanted to say thanks for the help."
"No problem Jack. When you bring Kinsey down be sure to tell I said hi" he replied with a smile. "I really am sorry about Carter and I hope she makes a full recovery. She is good for you Jack."
Looking at him in a confused manor Jack simply replied, "thanks" and got back in his truck and headed back to SGC. When he arrived back at the SGC he immediately went to the infirmary see how Carter was doing. It had been a long day and he was tired but he still had to talk with Hammond but the first thing he wanted to do, even before a shower was see Sam.
"Hey Doc how is she?"
"Colonel I heard you were back. Sam is still in a coma. After the second surgery to remove the clot-"
"Wait. Second surgery?" he asked confused
"Oh that's right Daniel said he couldn't get a hold of you. About 3 hours after the initial surgery Sam went into v-vib and we had to operate to removed a blood clot. Her vitals are a little better and the swelling had started to go down around her spine but I still won't know if there is any permanent brain damage until she wakes up."
"Ok. Can I sit with her for a little while?" Janet nodded and he made his way over to the chair next to her bed. Sitting down next to her bed he felt a little guilty that had turned off his phone but he needed to be alone when he met Harry and he just wanted to be alone for a while. "Hey Carter how ya doing?" not really expecting her to answer he simply looked at her and heard Kinsey's words from the tape over and over again.
"Because I want him to hurt and I want him to see that I can destroy the one thing that means more to him than his own life." Jack was broken out of his thoughts by the petite doctor.
"Colonel the General wants to see you."
"Ok. Thanks." He took one more look at Sam, then stood up and made his way to the General's office. While in the elevator Jack began to think about what his life would be like if Sam doesn't make it. Actually he couldn't see a life without Sam in it that is how much of an integral part of it she is. She had entered his life at a time when he was in a dark place, granted Daniel had helped him come out into the light, but it was Sam that kept him there. He loved the way her face lit up when she made a new discovery or how her brow scrunched when she was thinking, in fact he loved everything about her no matter what it was she made him want to come into work every day and now some bureaucrat might have taken that away because he had pissed him off.
Entering the General's office Jack was a little nervous. He knew that most likely Daniel had played the tapes for the General already and had heard what Kinsey had said to Bragg and that made him a little anxious. "Reporting as ordered sir."
"Sit down Jack." Hammond could tell that Jack was nervous and he wanted to assure that what was said on the tape didn't matter to him as far as his relationship with Major Carter was concerned. "Dr. Jackson and Teal'c briefed me on the information you received from Colonel Bragg. I wanted you to know that I intend to hand the evidence over to Major Davis at the pentagon, he will then take it personally to the president."
"What will happen to Kinsey sir?"
"That will up to the president but most likely he will go to prison for a long time."
"That's good to know sir, if that's all" he started to rise from the chair
"Is there anything you want to tell me Jack? Concerning Major Carter that is?"
Jack immediately sat back down in the chair and looked at the General "sir?"
"I am well aware of what went on during the Za'tarc testing and so is the president, I simply want to know if there is anything I should be made aware of"
" I can assure you sir that the relationship between me and Major Carter has been nothing but professional."
"You don't need to prove anything to me Jack. I know that the Major and you are close but what I want to know is how are you dealing with what was said on the tape?"
Jack had hoped that no one, especially the General, would bring that up. "I am fine sir"
"Very well then dismissed."
The general knew that Jack wasn't ok but he didn't really want to press the issue. Right now the only person who could help was lying in the infirmary in a coma. He could only hope that Major Carter would a full recovery because if she didn't he would lose two good soldiers that day.
(0)
After finally taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes Jack made his way back to the infirmary to sit with Sam. When he got there Daniel and Teal'c were talking to each other by Sam's bed.
"Jack did you see the general?" asked Daniel
"Yeah he said Davis is taking the evidence to the president himself and Kinsey will most likely be going away for a long time."
"That is good news O'Neill."
"Yes it is Teal'c. Any change?"
"No none" replied Daniel casting a glance at Sam.
"Why don't you guys go get some rest, I'll sit with Carter for now."
"Actually Jack you look like you could use sleep more than the rest of us" started Daniel "Teal'c and I will stay why don't you go get some sleep and relieve us later?"
Jack was reluctant to leave, it's not that he wasn't tired because he was he just didn't was to leave Sam and he feared that sleeping would only bring nightmares of what happened earlier in the day. "Yeah ok. You be sure to come and get me if there is any change?"
"You'll be the first person, other than Janet, that I call" replied Daniel knowing full well why his friend didn't want to leave but he was no good to Sam if he didn't get some sleep.
With that said Jack reluctantly left the infirmary and made his way to his quarters on base. He couldn't count the many times that he almost turned around and went back to the infirmary but the fatigue his body was facing won out and he continued to his quarters. He opened the door to his quarters, took off his boots sat down on the bed and for the first time, probably since Charlie, he cried himself to sleep.
(0)
It had now been a week since the shooting and there was still no change in Sam's condition. Janet was worried that the longer Sam stayed in the coma the more chance she would never come out of it and if she did there could be permanent damage. Janet was also worried that some of the swelling near Sam's spine had not gone down and it was more than likely do to the fact that Sam hadn't moved in a week.
Janet was also becoming increasingly concerned about the Colonel. In the last week he had become very quiet and introverted. Of course if anyone managed to make him mad they were greeted by a very angry O'Neill. Janet could of sworn that she saw Graham Simmons duck into a storage closet when he saw the Colonel coming down the hall and on any other day it might have been funny but now it only raised concern. Janet was broken from her thoughts by a knock on her office door. She looked up to come face to face with what was quickly becoming the shell of Colonel O'Neill. "Speak of the devil she thought" she thought
"Colonel what can I do for you?"
"Maybe you can tell me why Sam is being transferred to the Academy hospital?" he was angry and he was doing a piss poor job of hiding it.
"We don't have the resources hear for this type of situation Colonel. Sam needs constant care that we can't give her here. I wouldn't have made the decision if I wasn't concerned with the swelling around her spine."
"Yeah what about that?" he asked feeling slightly guilty that he didn't have all the facts before jumping down Janet's throat. Although he seemed to be jumping down everyone's throat lately.
"The academy hospital has specialists that will work Sam's muscles to keep them from atrophying. I'm that this movement will help increase the blood flow and make the swelling lessen." She wasn't trying to sound smart and she hoped he understood that but he also had to understand he wasn't the only one becoming steadily frustrated at the lack of change in Sam's condition. "It was hard decision to decide to send her away Colonel but we have teams constantly coming in with injuries and I can't give Sam's condition the attention it needs right now. It's for the best."
"Maybe." He replied leaving her office to take his usual seat by Sam's bedside. As he sat down he could have sworn that she looked better today or that could have been him hoping so that Janet wouldn't have to send her away. "Come on Sam. You gotta wake up I'm losing it here." It was the first time in a week that he admitted to anyone, including himself, that he was slowing losing control of his emotions. Taking her hand in his he began kneading her palm with his thumb. It had always helped Charlie when he had woken up from a nightmare and the simple touch had always lulled him back to sleep. Now he was hoping that it would bring Sam back to him.
He was just about to pull his hand away when he felt her fingers curl around his thumb. At first he thought it was nothing maybe a reflex but when the pressure became more eve he realized Sam was squeezing his thumb. "Sam? Come on baby wake up" it was the first time he had ever called her baby out loud and he had to admit he liked the sound of it. Anxiously he wanted for anymore movement and then he saw her eye lids begin to flutter, "that's it Sam come on you can do it open those baby blues."
Sam could have sworn she heard someone with the Colonel's voice call her baby. "Did he just call me baby?" she thought as she struggled to lift the fog that was clouding her consciousness. When she finally managed to open her eyes the first thing she saw were the pair of chocolate brown eyes that belonged to her CO. She was about to try and speak when she realized there was something blocking her throat.
By now Janet had come over and was trying to calm her. "Easy Sam you a have tube in your throat." This made Sam relax. "When I count to three I want you to exhale while I pull out the tube, ok?" Sam nodded. "Ok one, two, three"
As Janet pulled the tube out Sam's throat felt like it was on fire but she was relieved to have it out. "Colonel" she said weakly.
"I'm right here" he said leaning in and grasping her hand tighter.
"Thirsty."
"You can have some ice chips but that's all for now" replied Janet as she scooped some ice chips and placed them on Sam's lips. "Is that better?" Sam nodded "Ok Colonel you need to leave so I can examine Sam." She said motioning for the Colonel to leave and just as he was going to protest Sam spoke up
"Janet why can't I feel my legs?"
TBC