Upstairs in pediatrics, a grieving forty-nine year old mother arrived to care for her grandson.
CHAPTER 7: "FAMILY"
The next morning dawned overcast and drear, a good match for Major General Jonathan O'Neill's mood. He'd undergone angioplasty last night and was awaiting surgery to properly set and pin his broken leg later today. He was not a happy camper.
To the best of his knowledge, Daniel was on his way to Pegasus, carrying a light and cheerful letter to Sam. Jack was sure the simple missive would ease her mind some; truth be told that was the point. Still, he'd hoped for something more. Lying at the bottom of that ravine, Jack had dared to hope their time had come. He'd been ready to throw caution to the wind and go for it, to risk having his heart broken with a "no". But not now, not knowing his "condition". Now there would be regret and pity thrown into the equation and he wouldn't have it. He had to face it; he'd finally waited too long.
Where, oh where, was that pesky nurse? She'd threatened to come in with his pre-medication within the hour. Now she was nowhere to be found and he was so ready to be put out of his misery. Even he couldn't stand the self pity much longer.
Just when he'd thought she'd forgotten him altogether, a stylishly dressed woman in her late forties entered the room, carrying something in her arms. No, she definitely wasn't Nurse Rachett. This woman was cradling a baby in her arms. Jack hadn't the slightest idea who she was, yet her revelations would change everything.
"Excuse me, General O'Neill," the woman began hesitantly. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I wanted to thank you."
"And you are?" Jack asked, perplexed.
"Again, I'm sorry. I'm Christina Gilmore. My daughter Jessica died in the accident Monday night," the woman said her tone sad and distant. "And this," she added, brightening considerably as she walked toward Jack's bed, "this is my grandson, Charlie, the baby you saved."
Jack sat up as straight as he was able under the circumstances. "Charlie … of course," he said softly, marveling at the humor of fate. "Is he okay?"
"Absolutely, thanks to you," Christina answered. She pulled back the blanket that wrapped the small child as if to prove his good health to his savior. "They wanted to keep Charlie overnight for observation. Seems he had a touch of hypothermia. But he's doing well and he's coming home with me today."
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss, Ma'am," Jack said, remembering the reason this infant was now in the care of his grandmother. "I regret there was nothing I could do for your daughter."
"From the heroics I'm told you did perform, I'm certain you would have saved her too if you could have done so, General," Christina assured him. "They tell me there was nothing that could have been done. Most likely, Jessica died on impact."
Jack nodded solemnly.
"What about Charlie's father? Isn't he coming to get his son?" Jack asked, knowing that if it were his place he'd be there for the child in a heartbeat.
"Father?" Christina snorted. "That man will never be a father; a poorly chosen sperm donor perhaps, but not a father," she added, her deep resentment of the unnamed man overpowering the strength of her grief and adding fire to her voice. "It's a long sad story, General. Perhaps someday you'll need to hear it, but now I'm told you're awaiting surgery. I've disturbed you enough for one day I'm afraid."
"Not at all, Ms. Gilmore. It was good of you to come by," Jack said sincerely, a warm smile directed at the baby, sleeping securely in his grandmother's arms. "Seeing little Charlie looking so well is the best thing likely to happen to me today."
Christina reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. She placed it on the bedside table. "General, when you're strong enough, I believe the two of us may have some business to pursue," she began. "My daughter was enlisted Air Force, an aide to General Francis. I believe you know him."
"Yes, I do, but …"
"Enough, General," she said, her smile belying the tears that threatened. "If you want to know more, rest, get well and then come see us. Goodbye and thank you again." With that, Charlie and Christina Gilmore were gone.
OoOoOo
On Atlantis, it was business as usual. Of course, the term "usual" covered a great deal of ground on this, the first and only Earth outpost in another galaxy. Be that as it may, Colonel Samantha Carter was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Daedalus and her good friend, Daniel Jackson.
Weeks ago, an expedition to an unexplored section of the city had unearthed Ancient documents referencing both the Wraith and Replicators. The tantalizating words "destruction", "final answer" and "salvation" had jumped out at Sam as snippets she readily recognized. Unfortunately, no one available to her on Atlantis had the needed fluency in this particular Ancient dialect to complete a translation that made any sense. So, before the last ZPM was depleted, she'd asked for help from a trusted and much missed colleague. Daniel, of course, had been happy to oblige.
Now, days after her premonition about Jack, she was counting on this visit as an opportunity to know what had really happened to the man she loved. Yes, at least she was admitting that inconvenient fact to herself. Samantha Carter, the leader of Atlantis base, was in love. And he was light years away. But soon she'd have news. Moreover, since her anxiety had decreased markedly in the past forty-eight hours or so, she expected the news to be good.
"Colonel Carter to the observation lounge … Colonel Carter to the observation lounge," the overhead pager called. It was what she'd been waiting for. They were here.
The problem with the overhead paging system was that messages Sam would rather have restricted were broadcast to the entire station. This particular, seemingly innocuous one was no exception.
As a result, when she arrived to meet the Daedalus team, she found Rodney McKay had beaten her to the lounge and to Daniel. He'd succeeded in engaging the archeologist in a heated debate over the usefulness of the scroll he'd come to examine. After the requisite greeting to the military members of the advance team, Sam decided it was time to rescue Daniel.
"Rodney, what do you say we give our guest a chance to settle in before we put him to work?" she suggested as pleasantly as possible.
"Colonel, I was just asking Dr. Jackson's opinion on the second statement of the scroll. I'm certain he can complete the discussion, can't you doctor?" Rodney said, not intending to wait for a reply.
"Rodney…" Sam cautioned patiently.
"Okay, after the briefing then," McKay gave in. "Colonel, Doctor," he said, trying his best to be deferential, as he reluctantly backed his way out of the room.
"Alone at last," Daniel said, coming over to give Sam a friendly hug. "It's good to see you."
"It's very good to see you Daniel," Sam said, pulling back from the embrace just enough to clearly see her good friend. "It's been a long six months. How are you, Daniel. Ready for the work we've got set up for you?"
"Ready for McKay and company? Hardly," he said smiling, "but then again, who is? Ready for a visit with my friend, Sam? Absolutely."
"True enough," Sam replied, basking in her friend's presence. Then, "Daniel, I'm wondering, any word from Jack?"
Daniel chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I happen to have a letter with your name on it."
Sam let out a deep breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. "He's okay, isn't he?"
"It was touch and go for awhile, Sam, but yes, Jack's going to be fine," Daniel said, taking in the incomplete relief on Sam's lovely features. "You know, I'll let you read what Jack has to say for himself; then I'll give you the rest of the story. Okay?"
Daniel handed Sam the letter with her given name written in Jack's familiar scrawl. She was surprised by her tender reaction to that simple gift.
"Thanks, Daniel," she said.
"No problem, Sam. I'm going to check out my quarters and get ready for the briefing," he said. "See you at 0900."
With the hint of a knowing smile, Sam watched Daniel leave the lounge. Thirty minutes. If fate should smile upon her she'd have a precious thirty minutes with Jack's letter. Given her experience of Atlantis she wasn't willing to trust fate and so she began to read without delay.
Dear Sam,
I got this funny feeling the other night that you were with me. Strange, you light years away and all. But it felt very real. And I was glad for it. Before you start, let me say, please, no technobabble to explain this, I like it just the way it is.
You see, I had this little car accident. Actually, I got myself stranded at the bottom of one of the foothills overnight. Seems I broke my leg in the process. You know how I love being helpless. Well, helpless and in pain is a bad combination. After all, there was no one to apply a famous Carter splint. Maybe that's why I conjured you up in my mind. What do you think?
Seriously, Sam, thinking about you was a comfort. Then I got to thinking, maybe you were thinking about me too. Seems we've had a connection like that the last few months, friends and all, you know. Anyway, I thought you might be worried. I want you to know I'm fine. The leg will heal and this old warhorse will be back on his way, miserable as ever.
I hear great things about you, Carter. Kicking lots of alien butt and all that. It's an honor to know you, Sam, always has been. You're a credit to the service; all that stuff I said awhile back about you being a national treasure, it was true.
Hey, Daniel and the guys on the Daedalus should be bringing you a recharged ZPM. With any luck, you and McKay can find a way to get the intergalactic bridge functioning again. I think it's about time for a visit home to debrief a few of the top brass at the Pentagon.
There's one particular old General who'd be very happy to see you, Colonel.
Until then,
Jack
He missed her. That was probably the closest Jack could come to admitting it. And he was okay. Thank God. Then again, Daniel suggested there might be more to the story than Jack was willing to admit. Well she'd have to get that information soon. For now, Jack was safe and he missed her. That would have to do. Hopefully, she would see him soon.
TBC
A/N: Your comments are much appreciated as always. I'm repeatedly struck by your dedication to these characters. After all these years, we really care what happens to them! In that, TPTB have done a great job!
Once again, any suggestions about the Atlantis characters from those of you more familiar with Atlantis, please feel free to help me out. Otherwise, just sit back, enjoy the ride and, of course, read and review!
