Chapter 9

George Hammond studied the appearance of his unconscious 2IC, his eyes scanning the livid bruises and scratches that covered his face and body. There were no lines of pain, no movement, only an eerie calm. Calm and still were not usually in one's list of adjectives when describing Jack O' Neill, a man who couldn't sit still for any length of time. He leaned over the bed and took Jack's limp hand in his own, placing gentle pressure on it as if giving Jack strength to recover.

"Everything is going good at the SGC. Well, as good as usual. Though, I must say that it's too quiet around there without you." George's voice was quiet. Heavy emotion gripped at him as he leaned over the thick plastic rail of Jack's bed, after a steadying breath he continued with a shaky voice, "Jack, you' re like a son to me. I've been extremely honored to have served with you. You need to wake up, son. No matter what happens we just want you back with us."

A small tear crept from George's eye and slowly tracked its way down his face. He didn't care whether or not this was conduct unbecoming a general. His only care was that Jack would live, disabled or not. He sat in silence, rubbing the back of Jack's hand in comfort.

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Jack's Journal: Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Well, Jack, you made it through the critical forty-eight hour period. Not that we doubted that you could do it, but you did have us worried. You were hurt pretty badly.

Sam is sitting by your bed sleeping with her hand resting on your arm. She hasn't gone to bed since the first night you were admitted and Janet forced her. None of us have really slept. I know that I'm afraid that if I fall asleep we'll lose you. I'm pretty sure that everyone else thinks that way.

Cassie finally got Andy to go home with her today. Janet told him that you needed to rest so you would get better and that you'd want him to be a good boy and go to school. Cassie said that she would take him to the store to get you a present and some art supplies to make you pictures for your room. That seemed to make him happy. So, after saying goodbye to you for twenty minutes straight, he gave you a kiss and let Cassie take him home.

Keep fighting, Jack.

Daniel

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Sargeant Yesnik nervously poked his head in the doorway of Jack's room, his eyes falling upon the still form on the bed. Sam was at Jack's side with her head resting on the safety rail in sleep. Quietly, he made his way in and put the basket of flowers that he had brought on the windowsill. He tried hard not to disturb the Major, but when he approached Jack's bed his foot bumped the trashcan and she woke with a start. "I'm sorry, Major. I tried not to wake you," Yesnik apologized timidly.

"It's okay, Sergeant," Sam replied before a big yawn cracked her face. "Hmm. Sorry."

"No problem, Ma'am. So-uh, how's he doing?"

"He's holding on. Dr. Fraiser said that she'll take the chest tube out later," she told him as she caressed the back of Jack's hand.

"That's good. So then he's improving?" Yesnik asked with his eyes glued to Jack's pale form.

"He has a very long way to go, but yes. He's well on his way," she replied wondering who she was trying to convince more, Yesnik or herself.

"Colonel O'Neill is a fighter, Ma'am."

"Yes, he is, but, Jack's a General now. His promotion came in while we were on the planet and the President decided to let it stand", Sam told him with a hint of pride, well okay it was more than a hint.

"Oh. Uh-th-that's great!" Yesnik stammered. "Well, I-I'd better be going. I'm on duty in the control room today."

"Thanks for stopping by. Jack would appreciate it."

"Get better soon, Sir," Yesnik said as he placed a hand on Jack's shoulder. With a nod of respect he made his way from the room.

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Jack's Journal: Wednesday, May 22 , 2002

Janet took your chest tube out and put a hospital gown on you. Daniel said that he could just hear you complaining about having to wear a dress that left your bare ass hanging out. It was a good laugh that we all desperately needed. I must admit that it's a pretty colored dress. It's light blue with smears of dark blue and pink. The seams are deep blue. There are a row of snaps that run from your neck to the edge of the sleeve on both sides. Janet said that its to make it easier to get it off in case something happens. Please, Jack, don't let anything happen.

Your fever has finally started to go down. Janet was worried that the antibiotic wasn't taking care of all the infection quick enough, but, as usual, you showed her differently. She ordered breathing treatments for you too because you are sounding a bit congested. So, the nurses are coming in here more often. Dr. Ward was here a while ago to check on you. They did another MRI of your brain. The swelling is still bad, but it did go down a little. He said that it'll be a few more days until he can even think about taking the drain out.

General Hammond came this morning. He said that Major Davis found evidence that the mission to Tritaria was a set up. After we told them about what happened, Davis came up with the theory that someone using a mimic device posed as you and made the check-ins while we on the planet. So, Hammond ordered Sergeant Harriman to run a diagnostic on the dialing computer to see where the signal came from when they did the check-ins. That's why no one came to rescue us. So, now there is a full investigation going on.

Andy made enough pictures for you to cover a whole wall. He's been such a trooper. Janet and Cassie have been taking care of him at their house and he likes it there. George has next weekend off and he asked if Andy could spend that weekend with him. He said that he's going to visit his daughter and take Tessa and Kayla to the zoo. Andy is all excited about going with Grandpa George and the girls. He's been doing good in school. It's hard to believe that summer vacation starts in two weeks.

Oh, Jack, I wish that you would wake up. I love you and I miss talking to you. We have been taking turns writing in this journal for you, even Andy. One of the nurses took a picture of all us of around your bed. I can't wait until you see it. I just wished that it would been taken at home instead of here, like this.

I love you my darling. Please wake up!

Sam

SG-1 SG-1 SG-1

Jack's Journal: Thursday, May 23, 2002

You gave us quite a scare today, Jack. You had a pretty bad seizure and pulled some of your wires loose. Janet said that she is going to try another anti-seizure medicine and see if it works better. She put bumper pads like the one in a baby's crib over the safety rails so when you hit them during a seizure, you won't hurt yourself. Thankfully, you didn't re-hurt yourself with this one.

Your temperature is going back up a little, not much, but enough to make us worry. Janet thinks that you may have a minor lung infection. I hope not. Enough bad has happened to you.

With love,

Sam