CH 21: The Cabot Factor
Melinda was pacing the corridor in front of the suite that held Olivia's and Sam's rooms when the reasons for her pacing stepped out of the elevator. Olivia unsuccessfully tried to hide the fact that she was limping and Sam looked anywhere but at her friend. Melinda shot them both a dark glare though Olivia could see that she was more exasperated than angry. She opened the door and ushered them in the common room that connected the two hospital rooms. Melinda sent Sam to the room she shared with Cassandra with strict orders to sit on the bed and wait.
Then the M.E. practically pulled Olivia in the other room, "Bed, now. You did enough running around for one day or you'll end up undoing all of Sam's hard work. Here take these."
"I'm fine, Melinda. The pain will go away on its own. Those things will knock me out."
"Take them or I'll give them to you intravenously. It has only been a few days since you almost died, Liv. You have to be more careful, if not for yourself than for Alex' sake."
"You don't fight fair," Olivia grumbled under her breath, but accepted the two pills. "Where is Alex?"
"I sent her and Cassandra to get something to eat outside of the hospital. Mrs. Cabot and Professor Wolf are with them and will take care of them."
Olivia swallowed the combination of pain relieve and muscle relaxant with some water, "Harry will have a cow when he finds out about Alex' ribs."
"I don't think Alex is liable to volunteer that little tidbit of information. Thanks to Cassandra she is healed."
"By the way, I told Sam, about our talk, but I doubt she will take us up on it. I got the impression that she really wants to tell us the truth. And I want to hear it, if only to know what my sister's life really is about, but I don't want to get her into more trouble with her brass than she already…."
Olivia had fallen asleep and Melinda asked herself if she even had been aware that she had called Sam her sister, "Sleep well, my friend. And now for the next mule head."
-x-x-x-
Sam had already taken off her clothes and was busy pulling up a pair of scrub pants when Melinda came in, "What part of: 'Sit on the bed and don't move' did you not understand, Samantha Carter?"
"Hey, Mel, I just thought that I would make it easier for you to poke and prod me." Sam gave her a disarming smile, at least it was meant to be disarming.
"Don't even try it, Sam. You can't charm your way out of that."
"It was worth a try, Mel. You don't need to worry. I will be fine. My shoulder will heal, though it probably will take longer than I'd like. I will need a few more days to really get over the blood loss but I have a history of being anemic and I know what to do. It's unlikely that I will go for my morning run tomorrow or the day after that, but I will heal. I know my body," Sam said.
"Sam, you almost died. You arrested twice in the OR and from everything Doctor Lam told me you should still be in a coma or whatever that kelnorem thing does. Do you have any idea what could have happened if you had become dizzy or lost your balance during your little trip to the roof? You can't afford to reinjure that shoulder, especially since there's only one bag of your blood left," Melinda berated her old friend.
And Sam looked a bit like a scolded schoolgirl, "I'm sorry, Mel. I just needed to get out of the room and if I had called for help there would have been no chance for that happening any time soon with everyone fussing over me. I needed to be alone."
"I can understand that, Sam. You had quite the bombshell to digest, about your father, but it still was dangerous given your condition and you had a lot of people worried. Promise me, Sam, the next time you need some space, ask for some help. We'll all understand and it won't put the whole hospital in an uproar," Melinda said while she checked Sam's vitals.
"I'm sorry, Mel."
"It's alright, Sam. Your vitals look good. Now, let me call Doctor Richter. She's the surgeon who put your shoulder back together. After that I'll give you something to help you sleep," Melinda said.
"I just spent more than the last twenty-four hours sleeping, Mel," Sam whined.
"And your body just went through a massive, life threatening trauma. You need food and you need rest and I will make sure that you get both."
"Gods, you're as stubborn as Janet," Sam said.
"I take that as a compliment. Now, let me call Doctor Richter."
Melinda used the phone on the nightstand to call the nurse station and was told that Doctor Richter had just come out of surgery and would be there in about twenty minutes. Melinda also made sure that some dinner would be brought up.
"Where is Cassie?" Sam asked.
"Mrs. Cabot took Alex and Cassandra to dinner outside of the hospital. Your daughter is alright. She's a very strong young woman."
"Does she know about my father?" Sam asked.
"Yes, she knows. Sam, I'm sorry that you had to find out on your own. I wanted to tell you myself."
"It's alright, Melinda. I guess there's no good way to tell someone that their father was a rapist. How did Cassie take it?" Sam asked again.
"She didn't say much, murmured something I couldn't understand. Now that I think about it, it was rather strange. There should have been more of a reaction. Maybe she's in denial."
"No, that's implausible. My father was a soldier, career military to the core and in the third generation. He strongly disapproved of my relationship with Janet and Cassie more than once got caught in the crossfire as the daughter of the degenerate who had bewitched his little girl – to quote one of his more harmless sayings. He never had a smile for Cassie and she couldn't help but witness that he hurt her Mom and me with his words every chance he got. I guess for Cass it was just the confirmation of what she always thought about Jacob Carter. General Carter was not an easy man to know, less be related to."
"George Huang would say that you're disassociating by calling him by his rank instead of calling him 'father'," Melinda said and immediately regretted her words when she saw the hurt in Sam's eyes.
"And he would be right. It was easier to think of him that way," Sam admitted.
"I'm sorry, Sam."
"What for, Melinda? It's not your fault that my father was a better soldier than father."
"And it's not your fault that he also was a rapist, Sam."
"That's what Olivia insists on making me believe," Sam said flatly.
"Then believe it, Sam. You could have done worse than gain Olivia as a sister. She comes with a built-in instant family, namely the guys of the one-six. And you have a great advantage over most other people, Sam: they already adore you. They only left the hospital after Doctor Lam had assured them that you would survive. They called to get your news, and Elliot even sat with you for a while. He even got Cassie to smile. And Carolyn made it a point to emphasize that you have created a rather unusual family of your own over the years. It might be fun to bring them together one day, for a BBQ or something," Melinda said to lighten the mood.
"That sounds like a real challenge, considering the distances involved," Sam answered with a tentative smile.
Before Melinda had a chance to get Sam to clarify that statement there was a knock on the door and Doctor Richter came in. Proverbially surgeons are not known for their exemplary bedside manners. SGC's Doctor Warner was a prime example of that. His Long Island counterpart, however, was surprisingly gentle when she manipulated Sam's arm to determine the extent of her mobility. Sam still couldn't hold back the occasional moan or yelp of pain.
"You have a surprisingly high pain threshold, Colonel Carter, but you still shouldn't make any sudden movement. I'll put your arm in a sling to relieve the pressure on the shoulder and we can start with PT tomorrow. I had to repair extensive damage to your muscles, tendons and even nerves, but judging from your reaction now I'm very optimistic that you'll get your full range of motion and complete fine motor control back," the woman said.
"Thank you, Doctor Richter. I'm sorry if I gave you any trouble on the OR table," Sam said softly. Her body had already told her that she would heal, but it still felt good to have it confirmed by a medical professional.
"You're welcome, Colonel Carter. I only did my job, just as you do yours, and if we're both lucky we're saving lives. Have a good night and get as much rest as you can. I'll have dinner send up to you in a few minutes. Good night, Doctor Warner."
The woman was gone before either of the other could return her wishes, "Tell me, Doc, when was last time you were home? When was the last time you spoke with your daughter?"
"Chill, Sam. We talked a couple of hours ago when she came home from school. She's looking forward to another night of take-out dinner spend with her Daddy. He's spoiling her rotten. But you do have a point. I should go home to get a full night of sleep, now that you obviously are no longer at death's door."
"Wow!, a doctor who listens to advice. Color me impressed," Sam teased.
-x-x-x-
A sharp knock on the door cut off Melinda's answer. A nurse bustled in without waiting for a reply. She put a food tray on the collapsible table at the side of the mobile nightstand and pushed it in front of Sam.
"Here we go, pre-cut dinner for our handicapped heroine."
Sam shot up from her reclining position, "What are you talking about?"
"It's all over the evening news, the heroic rescue of ADA Alexandra Cabot from the clutches of the mob. You and Detective Benson are heroes, Colonel Carter," the nurse answered. "I think it's so cool, real heroes on my floor."
"Please, tell me that the press does not know where we are or this could turn into a nightmare of epic proportions, not only for us but also for the hospital. With news vans parked outside and reporters wanting in, it would disrupt your whole routine," Sam said.
"A patient called, so I didn't see the whole news clip, but there were photos of all of you, and I think I recognized the entrance of a hospital in Manhattan," the nurse answered.
"I see, that might buy us some time. Unfortunately New York journalists are like bloodhounds, tenacious and not stupid. Thank you for letting us know, Nurse Novelli," Melinda said. When the woman was gone she added, "Well, so much for going home. I'll call the captain, you should warn Alex to be on the look-out for cameras. I don't get it. When I spoke to Captain Cragen earlier this day he said that the powers that be had decided to play it close to the vest and avoid a public statement or press release."
Sam fished her Blackberry out of her bag and called Alex' cell phone. It was picked up after the second ring, "Hey, Alex, it's Sam. One of the nurses told us that our little rescue mission made the news."
"I know. We were just waiting for the check when it was broadcasted. Luckily the diner we were in has a back entrance. My mother recognized one of the local journalists at a neighboring table and the woman also recognized us. She's usually writing about social events in the Hamptons. It won't take her long to track us down to East Hampton Memorial. I already tried to reach Captain Cragen but his line is busy," Alex said.
"Melinda is talking to him at the moment. Wait a minute, I'll fill them in." A minute later Sam was back, "Captain Cragen wants you and Cassie to return to the hospital. He will alert hospital security to block the entrances to the press. He wants us to stay here until he can arrange for a safe house until the first press frenzy has passed."
"I see."
There was a long moment of silence at the other end and Sam heard whispering voices in the background.
"Sam, my mother just invited us all to her house. It's big enough, fenced in and has security guards at the perimeter to keep unwanted guests out. Uncle Harry will make sure that all of our medical needs are met. What do you think?"
"I think it sounds much better than an anonymous safe house or some non-descript hotel room, but would your mother's house not be the first place journalists would check out?" Sam asked.
"Yes, but as far as I'm concerned they can wait all they want outside of the fence. They won't get through without our permission, and at least the local press won't even try. They wouldn't dare to alienate Caroline Cabot."
"And your mother really doesn't mind to have her house full of strangers?"
"No," Alex answered after a bit more whispering. "She says that it will be a breath of fresh air."
"Alright, that sounds like a plan. Let me pass it by the captain. He has at least to know where to find us."
"Of course. You deal with Don and I'll call Arthur Branch. He also needs to know, especially since he wanted to send Casey over tomorrow to speak strategy. See you in about ten minutes."
Melinda handed Sam her cell phone to talk to the captain who had already heard the gist of the conversation, "Did you hear, Sir? Mrs. Cabot invited us to stay at her house here in the Hamptons."
"Yes, I heard. It sounds like a good idea. Stashing you all away in a safe house would give the impression that we have something to hide. If Alex and her friends go to her mother's estate after her ordeal it would only seem natural. Our press office can even get a positive spin on that," Cragen said.
"Why would we need a positive spin, Don?" Sam asked.
"Because there also are rumors that the military was somehow involved."
"Do they only know about me or also about Nick and Marty?"
"I don't know. Your name was in the news, with an older photo with really short hair. I'll keep you posted. So, the 'house' in the Hamptons… I guess we'll have to accept that the Cabot factor is back in our lives."
"The Cabot factor?"
"Oh, yes, Sam. They come in, take over and all you can do to keep your sanity is to go along with it. Cabot women are a force of nature," Don said with a smile in his voice.
"Then I'm looking forward to the next couple of days, Don. Oh, Alex said she would call the DA, something about redirecting Casey Novak to the house when she comes by tomorrow."
"Branch is in a closed conference with the US Attorney General and some other bigwigs. I'm not even sure that he already knows about the media storm that's going to hit our fan. I couldn't get past his secretary. But if someone can do it, it will be Alex or her mother."
"The Cabot factor, Don?" Sam asked.
"The Cabot factor and tons of personal history. I'll let you go now. I'll keep you posted if there's anything new to tell."
"Thank you, Don, and don't spend the whole night at the precinct. You need a good night's sleep to deal with the vultures," Sam said.
"What are you, Sam, psychic?"
"Just observant. I saw the fold-out cot in your office with the storing cover lying on the filing cabinet. That tells me that you use it often enough not to bother with putting the cover back on."
Don laughed, "I guess I'll have to add the Carter factor in my repertoire."
Now, it was Sam's turn to laugh, "I'm not a force of nature, Don. I'm just a simple soldier."
"Sam, if you are a simple soldier than the pope is just a catholic. Let me put it that way. Should you ever tire of the military there will always be a place for you at the one-six," Don said earnestly.
"Thank you, Don, the sentiment means a lot to me, though at the moment it seems as if the Air Force is going to tire of me."
"That's all the same to me. Good night, Sam."
Cragen disconnected the call and Sam stared wide-eyed at the phone.
-x-x-x-
"Hey, Sam, you look as if you've seen a ghost," Olivia said as she entered the room. "Melinda filled me in on our celebrity status. Did anything else happen in the meantime? Little green men landing at Time Square?"
"That at least would relegate us to page six. No, Liv, nothing happened, except that your boss offered me a job."
"Well, Captain Cragen is a smart man. He knows with your skills and your heart you would be an asset for our unit. And I think it would be fun working with you, as far as the cases we have to deal with can be fun."
"I guess, but even someone as resourceful as your captain would have a hard time to get approval for me with a dishonorable discharge on my jacket," Sam answered.
"You're really worried about that. Is there anything I can do to help?" Olivia took a seat to Sam's right on the bed.
"No, it's out of my or your hands. Just don't tell Cassie. She already has enough to deal with."
"Did you hear anything new?" Olivia asked.
"I spoke with Daniel right after I woke up. He told me that President Hayes has called a meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and a few others for Monday afternoon, and I seem to be one of the topics," Sam said.
"But that's good news, Sam. With the President of the United States in your corner, what could go wrong? And as much as I don't like the press, as long as they're painting you as the hero you are the military can't just get rid of you."
"Who can't get rid of whom?" Alex asked from the doorway.
"You can't get rid of me, my Lexi."
"Somehow I doubt that I was the topic of your conversation, but since I reprociate the sentiment I'll let it go. Doctor Martin and Melinda are busy preparing the supplies we'll need and a therapy schedule for all of you. Liv, why don't you help me to pack our stuff?"
Olivia wanted to protest that it did not take two of them to pack their meager belongings, but then she understood that Alex wanted to give Sam and Cassandra a few minutes alone.
"Come here, kiddo, let me hold you," Sam said and stretched her left arm out invitingly.
Cassie hobbled over and asked, "Are you alright, Mum?"
"Not really, Cass, but I will be. You are alive, Olivia is alive, Alex is alive, and Olivia doesn't hate me for what the general did. That's a good start, don't you think?"
"Yes, it is," after a moment of silence Cassie asked, "Mum, why couldn't I heal you with the healing device? I could feel the naqadah in my blood rush in to fuel the healing device, but when I held it over your shoulder nothing happened. I tried again with Alex' ribs and it worked just fine."
"I don't know for sure, Cass." Sam told her about the DNA resequencer they had found on Atlantis and how it had changed her.
"So, you're a freak, just like me," Cassie said with a not really convincing smile.
"You're not a freak, Cassie, and neither am I. We're just different. By the way I didn't yet thank you for deflecting that dagger. You saved me."
"No, you saved me, Sam. You always will. When you go back to Atlantis, will you take me with you? I think I need a break from Earth."
"If that's what you want then I will, if I return to Atlantis. You will like the Athosians on the mainland. Their culture has many similarities with Hanka. And you will like Teyla. She's their leader and a member of A-1. Atlantis is a great city, Cass, and with Jennifer's help you'll even be able to continue your studies. On occasion she's a bit shy but she's a good doctor and I think you could learn a lot from her."
Before Cassandra had a chance to tell her that she already had the feeling to know all those people, including Colonel Shepard and Rodney McKay Doctor Martin told them that everyone was ready to go.
-x-x-x-
Doctor Martin and Melinda insisted that all three patients were put in wheelchairs with which they complied after some pointless glaring from Sam and Olivia. They left East Hampton Memorial Hospital through an emergency exit where two limousines were waiting, one black, one dark grey. Alex, Olivia, Sam and Cassie got into the black limousine while Caroline, Harry Wolf, Melinda and Doctor Martin took the grey one.
The drive out to Caroline's house took about half an hour. Sam spent most of the time trying to calculate how to share rooms and came to the conclusion that they needed at least three spare bedrooms to accommodate everyone, but who in Netu had a house with that much unused space? She only started to look out of the window when the tires no longer rolled on asphalt but on something that sounded like gravel. She saw a curving lane, well maintained lawn and sculpted bushes, and when the 'house' came into view she was completely taken aback.
That wasn't a house. It was not even a mansion. Sam had seen Goa'uld palaces smaller than that – and her astonishment showed.
Olivia bent over and whispered, "It's not as pretentious as it looks, Sam."
"At least now I know what Don meant with the 'Cabot factor'. That's impressive."
"You haven't seen half of it, Sam, but I promise you'll like it. And no, that's not what he calls the 'Cabot factor'. So, Sam, would you like to share a room with Cassandra or would you prefer one of your own?" Olivia said.
"Oh, I leave that up to Cassie," Sam said with an encouraging smile to her daughter.
"I know, it's childish, Sam, but I want you as close as possible. Last night I woke up from a dream and heard your snoring and I went right back to sleep," Cassie added the last part not to sound too needy and weak.
"Plausible story, except for the fact that I don't snore," Sam answered, happy for the banter.
"Of course, Sam, and Mom didn't snore either."
"Oh, your Mom did snore, she just never admitted to it. Besides if I did snore, do you really think Jack would have let me ever live that down with all the teasing he got for his own snoring."
"I'm not so sure about that, maybe Mom threatened him with extra large needles if he teased you," Cassie said with a twinkle in her eyes that reminded Sam of Janet. Cassie had so much of Janet, it sometimes was scary and it was wonderful, and it hurt like a dozen ribbon devices.
As soon as they had stepped through the glass paneled double doors a voice from the back of the entrance hall greeted them, "Welcome to the Cabot Estate."
Estate seemed an adequate name for the enormous dwelling, Sam thought, and moments later it was as if she had been sent to some sort of fairytale wonderland. The woman who hurried towards them looked just like the cook in one of her favorite illustrated childhood books: small with rosy cheeks, wearing an apron and a big wooden stirring spoon sticking out of a pocket.
She apparently considered the official greeting done with her first words and shot past Sam. Sam turned around and saw her pulling Olivia into a bear hug that would have taken the detective off her feet had the woman been just a few inches taller.
"Olivia Benson, it's good to have you back, but I should spank you for having abandoned us for the last three years."
"Antonia, it's good to be back, but I rather think that Alex would object to you abusing me," Olivia answered with a smile and kissed the other woman on the forehead.
"As if. That girl deserves a spanking of her own for not rushing back into your arms right after her return."
Alex gave them both an embrace and said, "Antonia, we all know that the only thing you'll ever do with that spoon is make us taste the dough of your chocolate cookies."
With a swift movement of her wrist Antonia had drawn her spoon from the apron pocket and smacked it against Alex' backside, "Never argue with your elders, Alexandra."
"That hurt, Toni," Alex said without letting go of the two women.
"No, it didn't. It just surprised you," Antonia answered, "and now mind your manners and introduce me to the rest of your friends."
And so Alex did, not without earning herself another smack on her behind when she introduced Antonia as 'cook, housekeeper, and over-all busybody'.
Sam grinned and finally asked Olivia, "So, the Cabot factor has less to do with genetics and more with attitude."
Sam had kept her voice low but Harry Wolf nonetheless had heard her, "If you'd ask Caroline she would tell you that it's the true blood of a Southern lady that fuels the attitude and overwhelms Yankees. And if you really want to get her going you'll just have to mention the Civil War and she'll tell you how it never would have happened if all of those officers had listened to their wives and daughters and mothers."
Harry caught Caroline's impatient stare and decided that caution, or in his case a strategic retreat was the better part of valor, "Ladies, Doctor Martin, I have to go now. There are still things I'll have to take care of."
"Professor Wolf, could you take me back to the city with you?" Melinda asked.
"There's no need for that Doctor Warner. We have more than enough room here, and with the weekend coming up, why don't you invite your family to come over tomorrow. It's not warm enough for a comfortable barbeque yet but we have an indoor pool. And to make sure that your daughter has someone to play with, Olivia, why don't you call your partner and invite him and his family for the weekend?"
It may have sounded like a question but everyone present knew that it had been an order. So, Olivia and Melinda dutifully pulled out their cell phones and called the city and shortly after Roger Warner and Kathy Stabler confirmed that they would be there around midday. Caroline had then extended the invitation to the rest of the squad to give them the opportunity to see with their own eyes that Alex, Olivia and Sam were really alright. Then Antonia and Caroline showed everyone to their rooms and told them to be ready for dinner in an hour.
While being escorted to the room she would share with Cassandra Sam thought that she really had been wrong. The Cabot factor was not about the Estate or the money or the social standing. It was all about presence, command presence – and that was something Caroline Cabot had in spades and Alex did too, she just seemed a bit more covert in using it. Antonia, well, Antonia was another bag of tricks altogether… maybe, Sam decided, it would be better not to dwell on that.
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