I need to pause to send a big thank you to the guest reviewers who have commented on this story! There have been several of these over the course of the story, and I feel bad that I can't respond directly. It's great to hear from you, and I'm glad you are enjoying it! Hope you keep reading.
77
"I regret to have to tell you that the healing process was incomplete," Sina says.
"How do you mean?" Sam's stomach tightens with anxiety and she is suddenly nauseated. "He seems much better."
Jacob has brought Sina to Sam's room, and they have been joined by Daniel and Teal'c.
"The Colonel's injuries were grave, and numerous," Sina explains. "I could sense each one as the healing device focused there. When we use the device we are able to direct the energy where it is needed the most. I am also able to sense when the healing is complete. I did as Dr. Fraiser asked and concentrated first upon the spinal injury. Nerve tissue is more delicate and difficult to regenerate than muscle or bone. It requires a longer period of time. Most of the time I spent with Colonel O'Neill was centered on his spinal cord. When that was completed, I moved on to the other wounds..."
"Wait," Daniel stops her. "Sorry to interrupt. You're saying that Jack's spinal cord is completely healed?"
"Yes, of course," Sina replies, as if that is self-evident. "Did you not know?"
Sam closes her eyes and breathes out with relief. "Thank you."
Daniel breaks into a wide grin. "We thought so—we hoped so! But we would have to wait for Dr. Fraiser's scans to confirm it."
"I see. Then, yes, let me assure you that Colonel O'Neill's spinal cord injury is indeed completely healed. The bruising to the vertebrae themselves has been alleviated as well. It should give him no more trouble." She sees the relief and joy on the faces around her. "I should have made this clear at the beginning."
"We didn't think to ask," Sam says, blinking back tears. "Thank you, so much!"
Sina cants her head slightly to the side. The Tau'ri penchant for repeatedly expressing gratitude is puzzling. Major Carter and Dr. Jackson have already thanked her profusely when she first entered the room. "As I said, after the spinal cord was healed I moved on to the remaining damage. At that time I sensed one injury in particular which was nearly as serious as the spine. My energy and focus were considerably depleted by then, however. I feared that I would be unable to complete the healing of this injury in that session, so instead I focused on the many small wounds that I perceived. Colonel O'Neill awoke before I finished this. After I have rested for a while—approximately six of your hours—I will be able to return and complete both of these tasks."
"You... you want to try again?" Sam says.
"I believe I can do more," Sina replies.
"That other serious injury," Daniel ventures. "Is it the wound where Janet had to remove his damaged kidney? There would have been a lot of trauma to the surrounding tissue—lots of vessels and arteries to tie off."
"An organ was removed?" Sina asks. "Yes, that is likely what I sensed. It was very deeply traumatized, and there has been much internal bleeding. The device can heal that."
"You're not saying..." Daniel begins. "You can't replace his kidney, can you?"
"No. That it cannot do. It can aid the body in replacing an organ only if that is a natural ability."
"I see," Daniel says.
"I shall speak to Dr. Fraiser about another session with the device," Sina says.
"Thank you," Sam says, trying to rein in her emotions. "Thank you so much for what you did for... the Colonel. If there is anything I can do for you..."
"Colonel O'Neill sustained his injuries rescuing Jacob and Leara from Apophis," Sina points out. "It is a fair exchange."
"I mean for you personally," Sam says earnestly. "You came. You did this. Please let me repay you somehow."
The Tok'ra closes her eyes for a moment, and when she speaks again, it is the voice of her host, Ha'mara. "Jacob and Selmak are friends. We are grateful to you and your team for their lives."
"Still..." Sam insists, "If there's ever anything..."
"I will remember." Ha'mara smiles at her, and then Sina is again in control. "Major Carter, I can also heal your shoulder if you like?"
"No." Sam shakes her head. She had not even thought of this possibility. "Save your energy for helping the Colonel. Thank you."
"Very well. I shall return to my room. Jacob, may I speak with you?"
"Of course. I'll be back," Jacob says to Sam as he follows Sina from the room.
Sam's eyes tear up as she and Daniel and Teal'c exchange smiles. "I'm beginning to feel like a leaky faucet," she says, wiping the dampness away.
"It has been a stressful few days," Teal'c comments.
Sam laughs. A master of understatement!
78
Janet's visit to Sam's room a little while later is only slightly anticlimactic.
"I hear that Sina talked with you earlier," the doctor says. "So you already know most of what I have to report."
"Tell me anyway," Sam says. "I want to hear it from you. Call it confirmation."
Janet smiles. "All right. I ran the scans on the Colonel's spine. It appears to be entirely healed. No swelling, no deep bruising. All the vertebrae and disks are in perfect condition. All of the bruising near the spine has disappeared. Even the evidence of mild arthritis which had begun in his lower back is gone. Most of the shrapnel wounds have been healed. Sina explained that the Colonel woke up before she was done there. But what's left is comparatively minor."
"That's wonderful," Sam breathes.
"Yes. And amazing."
"How is he feeling?" Sam asks.
"He's still sedated. He should sleep for another hour or so. I've removed the restraints, so when he wakes up, he should be able to sit up, carefully. His lower back will still be quite sore, and the nephrectomy wound will be a problem for a while. There's a great deal of damage done when a kidney is removed, especially after trauma. It's very painful and will take some time to heal. Unless, of course, he takes Sina up on her offer to finish the job."
"Why wouldn't he take her up on it?" Sam asks.
"Well, the Colonel has had some unique perspectives on these things in the past."
"That's true," Sam concedes. "Can I see him?"
"As soon as he wakes up. I'll let you know."
"Maybe I could get a shower in the meantime. Lt. Meyer offered to help me."
"Good. I will send her down to you," Janet promises. "Then you can go see the Colonel."
The shower is very refreshing, and Sam feels much better afterward. It takes longer than usual, because her bandaged shoulder and collarbone are awkward. Meyer brings her a waterproof covering that they drape around the bandage, and keep it mostly dry. The nurse also washes Sam's hair for her in the sink. After she is done, Meyer re-bandages the shoulder wound and fits Sam with a brace to support the collarbone break, then helps her to dress in clean clothes.
"That feels so much better," Sam sighs happily. "I'd like to go see Colonel O'Neill now. Janet said it was all right."
"He's still in the isolation room, Major. I'll walk you over there."
They hear him long before they see him.
"I'm not using a god-damned bedpan! I'm perfectly capable of walking ten feet to the bathroom!" His voice is loud and edgy as they come down the hall.
Sam and Meyer exchange a look.
"Colonel," Dr. Fraiser's tone is blunt, and brooks no argument. "You are not walking anywhere. You can use the bedpan, or I will have the catheter re-inserted. Your choice."
Jack's next string of words is unintelligible except for 'tyrant' somewhere in the middle. A few moments later, Janet emerges from the room and closes the door. She smiles at Sam.
"We'll just give the Colonel a little privacy. Josh is in with him right now." Airman Joshua Porter is one of the infirmary orderlies.
"He sounds upset," Sam comments.
"He's in quite a bit of pain because of the nephrectomy wound. I've just increased his pain meds. It should help, and make him calmer," Janet explains. "He's moving around too much, trying to find relief, and I'm afraid he'll make matters worse. I hope he'll allow Sina to finish the healing."
"Have you mentioned it to him?" Sam asks.
"Not yet."
"Would you like me to do it?"
"Good idea." Janet nods. "See if you can get him to settle down some, too. He'll feel better. Maybe he'll be more cooperative for you. I don't want to have to sedate him again, but I don't want him to hurt himself either."
Jack's door opens and Airman Porter emerges. "He didn't like it, Doctor. But he did it."
"Good," Fraiser says. "Thanks, Josh. Go on in, Sam. I'll check back in a little while."
Sam opens the door quietly and steps into the room. The head of Jack's bed is raised so he is in a semi-sitting position. He is lying back against the pillows, eyes closed. The frown between his brows and the tension around his mouth tell Sam he is hurting.
"Sir?" she says, surprising herself at the automatic form of address.
His eyes pop open at the sound of her voice. "Carter."
She crosses quickly to the side of the bed and touches his arm. "I'm here."
He looks up at her, and she can see by his lack of focus that the meds are kicking in. He fumbles to find her hand, and when she slips her fingers into his he grasps them tightly. "Shot me in the back. Hurts like hell."
"I know. Try to relax and let the painkillers work."
"Tell me what happened," he says.
"But, I told you..." she begins, then pauses when he frowns at her. Perhaps he doesn't remember the dreams—perhaps they were only her dreams, after all. She sits gingerly on the side of the bed facing him, and pulls his hand into her lap, clasping it with both of hers. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"The planet... Teal'c dialed the gate. I saw you go through. Teal'c and I were last—" He shakes his head. "That's it."
"Yes. You and Teal'c were last. You were hit in the back with a staff shot just before you got to the gate." She explains carefully about his injuries. "Your spinal cord was injured, and Janet had to remove your kidney." He raises an eyebrow at that, and she goes on to tell him about Sina's visit, and the healing session, and how it ended before she competed the task. "She needed to rest in order to finish healing you. She'll come back in a few hours."
"She can fix this?" he asks.
"Yes."
"And she already fixed my back injury?"
"Yes, she did. You don't remember waking up before?"
"No..." He shakes his head and closes his eyes for a minute. "Head feels full of cotton."
"That's the sedative and painkillers Janet gave you. Don't worry about it. Just relax."
He is quiet for a while, and she thinks perhaps he's fallen asleep.
"What happened to you?" he asks suddenly, focusing on her brace.
"Staff burn on my shoulder and fractured collarbone. It's fine. I've barely thought about it."
"How's Jacob?"
"He's good. Leara, too. It's a bit of a story, I'll tell you about it later."
"Okay." He pauses a minute. "Anyone else hurt?"
"Captain Austin and To'kel. Austin's doing well and To'kel's symbiote has healed him."
"Good," he says closing his eyes again. "You aren't leaving are you, Sam?" he asks after a minute.
"Not if you want me to stay."
"Stay. Always." His breathing evens out after a few minutes.
He doesn't react when Sam releases his hand and lays it carefully on the bed. She pulls up a chair, one with cushions and arms, and gets more comfortable sitting beside the bed. She's just starting to relax, thinking he's out for a while, when he rouses suddenly, and looks around. She sits up and takes his hand again. He sees her and smiles. "I love you," he whispers.
She brings his hand to her cheek and kisses his palm. "I love you, too."
79
Nine hours later, after another hour with Sina and the healing device, Jack is driving everyone in the infirmary crazy. Janet is ready to throw him out, never mind discharge him! He is still here only because she is required to keep any patient under observation for at least forty-eight hours after surgery. He is completely healed, although his strength is not back to normal. Since the energy of the device spreads throughout the body, not just to the targeted areas, even his knees have improved. So at the moment he feels great, and is giving anyone a hard time who suggests he should stay in bed.
Jacob has used the healing device also, to fix both Sam's collarbone and Captain Austin's leg injury. Bones and staff burns are easy he claims, compared to spinal cords and deep wounds.
The Tok'ra are ready to return to their new headquarters, and help deal with the consequences of the information they have learned. A dozen or more operatives have already been recalled from their covert activities aboard Goa'uld ships and on occupied worlds. One of them has even managed to bring back a sample of the sedative used on Selmak and Kerlin, and Tok'ra scientists are busy analyzing the substance in hopes of finding an antidote.
80
Sam is with Jack when Jacob comes to his room to say good-bye. Jack is in bed with a yellow legal pad propped on his knees and is writing furiously.
"Writing your report already, Jack?" Jacob asks.
"Nope." Jack does not look up. "My resignation."
Jacob looks at Sam but she just shrugs.
"Shouldn't you hold off on that a little while, Colonel?" General Carter suggests.
"Don't see why. This kidney business means I can't stay on active duty anyway. I'd rather have a resignation than a medical discharge on my record." Jack signs what he'd written and finally looks up. "You look better than you did last time I saw you, Jacob."
"Thanks to you." He takes a step closer to the bed and extends his hand. "I'm in your debt, Jack. Thank you for the rescue."
Jack takes the hand and shakes it. "More than welcome, Jacob," he says sincerely.
Sam stands up and puts her arms around her father. "Hope we see you soon, Dad." She kisses his cheek. "Try to stay out of trouble."
"Ha! Look who's talking." He hugs her once more, then turns back to Jack. "Seriously, Jack. I'd hold off on that resignation if I were you."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "Jake, what do you know that I don't?—besides two thousand years of Tok'ra wisdom, of course."
Jacob chuckles. "I was just thinking—there are such things as waivers, you know."
Jack looks shocked. "The Air Force can't waive a missing kidney!" He looks over at Sam.
"Told you," she says.
Jacob just cocks his head to the side and raises his eyebrows.
"What?" Jack demands. "What have you heard?"
Jacob shrugs and squeezes his daughter's arm. "I'll try to see you soon, sweetie. Bye, Jack."
"Jacob!" Jack's shout follows him as he heads down the corridor.