Chapter Nine
"How is he?"
"He woke up during the night for a minute."
"Ok, Sam," when they saw her sleeping.
"She's been up all night; she just laid down a couple of hours ago."
"When is the surgeon due here?"
Then door opened and five men walked in. John and Jackie were shocked to see the President walking into the room.
"Jacob, good to see you."
"Henry, thanks for coming," they both shook hands.
"Henry, this is John and Jackie O'Neill, Jack parents."
"Nice to meet you both, your son is a hero and we are going to do everything possible to get him back on his feet," he shook their hands.
"Nice to meet you to Mr. President."
"How is he?"
"Sleeping, at least he's not complaining," Jacob said smiling.
"I know all about the General and hospitals, George told me all about them," then he saw Sam sleeping.
"How long has she been asleep for?"
"Couple of hours; she's been up all night with him."
"Ok, Dr. Jordan is talking to Dr. Williams about the surgery."
"Ok, we hope that he can remove the bullet," Jackie said.
"Dr. Jordan is the best; all we can do is wait." They talked for ten minutes when the two doctors walk in.
"Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill, General Carter, I'm Dr. Jordan." There were 'hi's all round and they all shook hands.
"I've spoken to Dr. Williams and Dr. Green about General O'Neill's condition, the surgery, I'm afraid is too risky, I'm sorry, though he is paralysed, he still can lead a normal life."
"Jack would rather be dead than in a wheelchair, the Air Force is his life." John said.
"I understand; I'm truly sorry."
"I want you to operate on him." Everyone jumped and then turned around to see Sam looking at them; she sat up and swung her legs over to the side of the bed.
"Dr. Jordan, my daughter and close personal friend of Jack, Colonel Samantha Carter."
"Hi, nice to meet you, Colonel, as I was saying, it's too risky."
"And I said operate, you don't know Jack like I do, he will never give up a fight and John is right, he would rather be dead than live in a wheelchair, trust me on this."
"Colonel, where the bullet is, I'm sorry, even if I do remove it, he still will be paralysed."
"That is a chance I know Jack is willing to take, he takes hundreds of risks all the time and he's always come out on top, I say operate."
"John, Jackie, what do you think?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know." Jackie said.
"Jackie, you told me that Jack was always full of surprises when he was little?"
"Yes."
"Why not once more, after all he is a stubborn American Irishman and we both know he will do anything so he can walk again."
"That is true; I say operate, at least when the bullet is out, he won't set any metal detectors off in the future."
"I agree with both Sam and Jackie, operate, please. After that, all we can do is wait, but at least he won't have to worry about having a bullet in him." John said.
"Well ok, but I warn you, he still won't be able to walk."
"You don't know Jack," Sam said.
"I'll go and get the theatre prepped. Dr Jordan, I'll show you where everything is that you will need," then the two doctors walked out of the room. Sam got up and staggered over to Jack's side of the bed. They all could see how tired she looked.
"Do you think he can walk again, Colonel?" the President asked. Sam turned and looked at them all before looking back at Jack and stroking his head.
"Yes, Jack is different, he's special, he's one of a kind." They were all quiet for a few minutes.
"Sam, you should be resting." Jacob said walking over to her.
"I will as soon as I know everything is going to be ok with Jack."
"Don't worry, he will be, you know what he will say when he finds out that you haven't had much rest."
"Yes, I know," then the doors opened and the nursing staff walked in and over to the bed.
"We are taking Mr. O'Neill into the theatre now."
Sam nodded and stepped back as they removed the oxygen mask and wires from Jack, then they started to move the bed.
"Stop," they looked at Sam. She walked over to the bed an bent over and whispered in his ear,
"Don't give up on me Jack, I love you."
Then she moved her head and kissed him on the lips before standing up and stepping back with tears in her eyes. She then nodded and they pushed the bed out of the room. Jacob walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, then she fainted, which shocked every one. Jacob lifted her up and carried her over to the bed, while the President got one of his men to go and get the doctor. Jacob checked her pulse as soon as she was laid down on the bed.
"Her pulse is normal," then a doctor and nurse ran in to the room and over to Sam.
"Can you all please wait outside?" They all left except for Jacob.
"Sir, please?"
"I'm her father, I'm staying."
They checked her PB and pulse.
"Sir, is your daughter on any medication?"
"Yes," Jacob went to get her bag and got the two bottles of pills out and passed them to the doctor. He looked at them and then at Jacob.
"These are painkillers."
"Yes, she was shot a couple of weeks ago; she only takes them if she is in pain."
"Where was she shot, sir?"
"Chest and stomach, one of her lungs collapsed."
"Ok, which hospital was she in?"
"Colorado Spring Air Force Academy Hospital, Dr. Warner is her doctor."
"Ok, thanks, the reason why your daughter collapsed is shock and exhaustion, we are going to give her one hundred percent oxygen and she should come around after we put the mask on her."
"Ok, thanks."
Then the doctor got the nurse to help him put the oxygen mask on Sam, then the oxygen was turned on. They all waited for Sam to come to, which she did a few minutes later. When she opened her eyes, she started to freak out and try to get up.
"Miss Carter, please lie still, you're in the hospital."
"Who are you? Get away from me; you're trying to kill me!" She started kicking and punching the doctor and nurses, and Jacob stepped forward.
"Sam, please?"
"Dad," she calmed down when she saw him.
"Yes, just do as the doctors tell you, ok, you're going to be fine."
"Jack?"
"Still in surgery, just close your eyes and get some rest, I'll be here when you wake up."
Then Sam remembered what happened before she collapsed. As she closed her eyes, the picture was of Jack in his dress blues. Jacob turned to the staff.
"Sorry, are you ok?"
"Yes, boy she is a fighter!" Jacob smiled.
"Yes she is."
"Why did she attack us, I am a doctor?"
"I know; it's just that three years ago she was kidnapped and every time she woke up, there was a doctor there but the doctor was planing on killing her. General O'Neill, who was colonel back then, was able to get to her before the doctor killed her. That's why she freaked out like she did, because you are someone she doesn't know and recognise, like the doctor that almost killed her."
"Ok, God, so what happened to the doctor?"
"He's serving time and lost his licence." They checked on Sam to make sure she was ok.
"She will be resting for the next few hours."
"Ok, thanks."
"We will move her to another room."
"No, please, leave her here. She will want to be close to Jack for when she wakes up."
"Are they close?"
"Very, they've been through a lot together over the years, being together will heal them more quickly."
"Ok, I'll come back and check on her in a few hours."
"Ok, thanks." Then the doctor and nurse walked out and let the others know that they could go in. When they walked into the room,
"How is she Jacob?"
"She's going to be fine, it was shock and exhaustion that caused her to collapse; after all, she is still healing from the shooting."
"At least she's going to be fine."
"Yeah."
"Jacob, sorry, but Frances and I have to head back to Washington for an important meeting." Jacob walked over to them and shook their hands.
"Thanks for your help."
"We own the General big time, this is just a small pay back for what he and his team have done."
"I understand." Then he turned to Jack parents.
"It is an honour to meet you both; sorry I can't stay any longer."
"Thank you, Mr. President, for coming; we don't know why you are here, but thank you."
"One day you will find out what your son does, and you will be proud of him."
"We are already." They all smiled and shook hands.
"Look after him, we all need him."
"We know, thank you for coming," then he turned back to Jacob.
"You know how to contact me if you need anything else?"
"I know, Henry, and will keep you up-to-date on Jack's and Sam's conditions."
"Ok, bye all." They all said their good byes, and he and the Chief of Staff walked out of the room.
"You know John; the kids are going to be shocked when they find out who was here."
"Yeah."
"How long have you known the President for Jacob?"
"Since the sixties, we were in Nam together with George Hammond."
"Really, wow."
They sat down and talked about their families for the next four hours. Jacob went to the cafeteria for twenty minutes for some breakfast while John and Jackie stayed with Sam. When he returned, they talked some more.
Then they heard the door open, and they all turned and saw the back of a nurse, then a bed, so they stood up and moved out of the way as they saw Jack being returned. Then they hooked him up on to an IV and other monitors in the room, and then the two doctors walked in.
