"You're sure you don't want to come with?" Jacob asked a few days later as he stepped around the car at the airport.
"Nah." She said, shaking her head. "Colonel O'Neill could use the support right now, and quite frankly, I've been feeling a little...tired lately...a few days off to put my feet up and relax is probably all I need to get back on top of my game."
"Don't overdo it," he counseled gently.
"I won't." She chuckled. "I'll be fine." She hugged him gently. "Have fun with Mark."
"Did he ever return your call?"
"I'm sure he's busy." She said, shaking her head.
"I'll tell him what's going on, maybe it'll get him to see the urgency."
"It doesn't matter. He's going to be in the hospital for a while getting treatment and physical therapy himself."
"Still..."
"I'm sure we'll get a call from him in time to help Colonel O'Neill." She assured. "Now...you should probably go. You might miss your plane if you don't."
He nodded. "Okay, kid. Take care of yourself, okay."
"Yes, dad." She said with a small smile as she got back into her car. She waved at him before she slipped into the front seat and drove away.
Her phone rang as she drove home, and she picked it up. "Carter."
"Sam," her brother greeted. "Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you, but I've been swamped with work and the holidays..."
"I understand." She said with a small smile. "It's a little crazy around here too."
"Yeah? Still have to work Christmas eve?"
"Not...exactly..."
"But you're still not coming to dinner with us..."
"I can't." She said, seriously. "One of my teammates, uh, Colonel Jack O'Neill..."
"Yes?"
"Well, he was in an accident a few weeks ago. He's made a speedy recovery in most areas, but..." She sighed. "Well, the doctors just aren't sure he'll ever walk again."
"Paralysis?"
"From the waist down." She affirmed.
"Well, the Christopher and Dana Reeves foundation has some great resources on their website," he said, soberly. "When it comes to the actual lifestyle change, that will be invaluable. I assume he's started physical therapy."
"Yes." She said, nodding.
"Good. With physical therapy and some counseling to help transition into his new life, he should be fine." He said, matter-of-factly. He paused for a moment. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. I wasn't in the accident." She said, defensively.
"Maybe not, but it's still affecting you, right? Your team is different?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes." She said with a small sigh. "But truth be told, the team changed a few months ago."
"Oh?"
"Yeah." She said with a small smile. "I'm...pregnant."
"Really?" He asked, surprised. "I didn't realize you were seeing anyone."
"Well, it's...complicated. And I didn't want to jinx it by saying anything for a while..."
"Ah. But things are going well?"
"Not exactly." She said, biting her lip. "I...it's not working out."
"I'm sorry to hear that." He said, seriously.
"That's life, I guess." She said, somewhat lightheartedly.
"Yeah, I guess it is." He sighed.
"So...I should visit the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation website for my research?"
"Yep." He said, seriously. "And let me know if there's anything I can do to help."
"Will do," she said with a grateful smile.
"Hey, Sam?"
"Yes?"
"Your friend...Colonel O'Neill?"
"What about him?"
"He's going to be facing some...pretty dark days...even if the paralysis is only temporary..." He paused. "He's going to need your support."
She inhaled slowly. "And he's got it. If he needs or wants it."
"Trouble with the Colonel?"
She sighed. "He's not good with...vulnerable."
"Something you both have in common." He said, wryly.
She managed a small chuckle. "Yeah..."
"Hang in there. It'll be tough, but it's not impossible."
"Thanks, Mark."
"Love you, sis."
"Love you too."
"Bye."
"Bye."
She hung up the phone as she arrived at the Academy hospital. She sighed softly before she parked and got out of the car.
She walked slowly to his hospital room, almost nervous to see him. It was silly, she knew. They'd always been able to be there for one another in their physical ailments. Then again, she'd never been pregnant with the child he wasn't sure he wanted.
She pushed the door open as she heard Daniel's voice.
"Jack, would you put that thing down? I'm talking to you!"
"No, Danny. I'm not going to your place. I'll stay here for the extra few days."
"Janet said you could come home, but your house isn't ready for you, and Teal'c is off on a mission with the Jaffa, so whatever help we could have had is gone with him."
Sam appeared around the corner as Jack opened his mouth to respond. He closed it instantly as their eyes met. "I'll stay with him," she murmured.
"You?" Daniel asked, confused. "How are you going to be able to take care of him? I mean...you're..."
"Pregnant?" She asked, levelly.
"Yes. And, no offense, even if you weren't, you're not exactly Teal'c..."
"I have a few boards that will make some makeshift ramps, and I can get a carpenter in to make some more permanent ramps tomorrow." She looked at Jack, who was obviously surprised. "I called someone, sir. I figured you might want to have access in your own home ASAP."
"You were...right..."
"As for lifting..." She swallowed. "That...that could be a challenge, though there are some basic things we could do to make it easier. I can help slide his legs over onto the bed while he carries his body weight. Or if we find a wheelchair that extends at all, we could put a...a...sheet underneath him, and I could roll him over onto the bed and probably help him sit up from there..."
She looked at Jack for a moment. "I realize that it might not be the most comfortable thing in the world, sir, but...we could do it. At least until Teal'c comes back, you get strong enough to handle it on your own, or we get you the proper equipment."
Jack shared a look with Daniel for a moment. "I guess I'm going home then."