Chapter 24: The File & Check Up
2031hrs: SGC Major Carter entered her lab to retrieve the file she was reading earlier. She remembered still having a cup of blue jello left. Sam smiled thinking of Jacks peace-offering. The jello could be left for another day so she locked up heading back to Jack. Once arriving Sam entered quietly so not to disturb Janet. She was giving the colonel another check up.
"Oh hello Sam. I've expected you." Janet said with a smile. "I had to drop by my lab and grab this." she responded holding up the file. "My nurse picked it up for you. You'll probably have to put the papers back in order. One of the nurses found them under the bed." Sam just nodded looking at Jack. His breathing was somewhat labored while his skin looked a bit pale.
Janet saw Sam's concern written on her face. Love wasn't the problem, their stubbornness was. Thankfully that wasn't going to be a problem anymore. "The colonel is doing better than he looks. The antidote is keeping the virus at bay. We do have to treat him every three hours though. The poison is very persistent." Janet explained trying to reassure her friend.
Sam sat in the chair she used earlier. She just wanted to hear his sarcastic voice again and his complaints about being in the infirmary. "Have you had any luck in creating a stronger antidote, one that will cure him." she asked grasping Jacks right hand. "Unfortunately not, hopefully once we do it'll overpower the poison." Janet said placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We'll win Sam, SG3 & 25 will bring back good news, I won't believe otherwise. God won't let us down, okay." Janet reassured Sam again.
"I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard to do." she answered fighting back tears. "Sam, I think you need to talk to a counselor. Inara Serra has helped many people on the base. She's not like Dr. MacKenzie at all." Janet said urging her to get some help. "If you think she can help I'll do it just not now. I need to talk to Jack and do some reading, okay." Sam replied softly. "I'll hold you to that. FYI, she's staying on base tonight because her boyfriend is out on a mission." Janet said dropping a juicy piece of gossip she heard.
Sam turned her head with a questioning look "and who might that be?" Janet smirked then answered in a hushed voice "it's Lt. Col. Malcolm Reynolds, Albert's brother. They constantly bicker but that's just a cover." she answered. Sam mulled it over in her head then smiled evilly. "That's interesting, almost as interesting as you and Daniel going out on a 'NON' date." Janet had already heard that the secret was out. They had wanted to keep it a secret as long as possible.
Daniel told her that Jack would buy the 'losing a bet" story, she disagreed. The colonel could always tell when someone was lying. "Took you long enough to say something about that. That was our first date miss smarty pants so don't get to excited. I'll give you all the details you want in exchange for your first official date." she said looking between Jack and Sam. "You got a Deal." Sam said with a smile. "Good, I have rounds to finish. Cassie and I are staying on base tonight so don't worry none." she said leaving the two alone once again.
"Alright… we come here in peace. We expect to go in one… piece!" Col. O'Neill
Janet let out the breath she was holding. She wiped her hand across her forehead. Janet hated lying to Sam. Jacks condition wasn't good as she said. They needed the Tok'ra or Thor's help bad. She just hoped that they could help. Thor was the best choice but they seemed to always come at the last-minute. Regaining her strength the base CMO finished the rounds before turning in for the night.
Janet's last stop was Daniel and Ron's room. She heard laughter coming from the room instantly knowing that her daughter was there. She entered the room smiling. Cassie was telling an animated story about Jack putting her liberal anti-military teacher in his place. The school had a career day so naturally her father went in full dress uniform. Cassie had both men rolling as she tried to imitate the colonels thousand yard stare.
Once her father started in on the teacher he didn't let up. Through humor and facts he had everyone in the class wanting to join some branch of the military. She was so proud that day and still is. Cassie was already on the fast track to becoming an Air Force medical doctor. Cassie was basking in the attention that her uncle's were giving her. Janet hated to end the moment but had to.
"Young lady, what have I told you about bragging?" she asked her child. Smiling sweetly she answered with a cocky grin. She defiantly picked up from Jack. "I'm not. Dad can do everything he said and more. Therefore I'm not bragging." Cassie answered as the two men howled in laughter. In between laughs Daniel spoke "She got you there dear!" Janet smiled laughing as well. She needed a good laugh after lying to Sam.
"They say laughter is the best medicine, right mom." Cassie asked. "Yes, it is Cassandra. Why don't you head to our quarters and finish reading your book. I'll be along after I give your uncles a check up." Janet told her lovely daughter. "Okay mom." she said then hugged Daniel and Ron before leaving.
Her mother watched Cassie leave knowing that she was putting on a strong front. Cassie had sat with Jack when Sam wasn't. Sheppard Book had been with her praying again for the colonels' recovery. "Hey doctor, you still with us?"Asked Sgt. Nantz a bit worried. "Ya, I'm still here. Just thinking is all." she replied looking over his charts. "Janet, I know you're worried. We all are. Albert and Teal'c won't fail us. There's too much on the line for them not too." Daniel told Janet seeing how the situation was wearing on her. She sighed softly grasping his hand seeking much-needed support. "I didn't tell Sam the truth about the colonel Daniel. I kind of sugar-coated it for her. I saw the pain in her eyes. She blames herself for what happened."
Janet told him holding back tears. Daniel grasped her hand tightly "You need to rest, you had very little sleep. Go; spend time with your daughter. She needs you more now. Cassie is hiding her pain to well. Ron and me will be fine, go." he said kissing her hand lightly. "You sure, I can't just…." she said being cut off "we're sure Doc; we've been poked and prodded enough for one day." The SSgt Nantz kidded her. Janet smiled at his comment. "Just so you know a little white lie won't hurt. We do it all the time. If we reported half the things that happened on missions we'd never be allowed through the gate again." Ron explained with a touch of humor.
"Okay you two; I'll give you a break just for tonight." She bent over kissing Daniel on the cheek making him blush. Daniel gave her a hug then kissed her hair. Ron held back a snicker earning him a dirty look. "Thank you guys, I'll be back bright and early to poke and prod you." Janet said in a happier tone then left.
"You really love her don't you?" Ron asked his friend. "Yes I do. I still love Sha're but it's time I moved on. Janet's always been there waiting for me." Daniel said with happiness. "The funny thing is that Jack pointed it out then gave me the proverbial shove." Ron nodded in understanding. "I just hope he pulls through or else we'll lose Sam as well." Daniel added. "I agree. He'll pull through. Jack has too." the sergeant replied.
"And I'll tell you why. It's not his time to go. Plus the devil doesn't want the colonel because he'd take over." Ron finished smiling big. "There's no doubt about that at all. He's already been to hell and back during his black ops days." Daniel said as the two fell into silence.
Sam had finally gotten the file back in order. She was holding his hand caressing it lightly while reading it. Sam had found his personal file to her amazement. There were the basic things like name, rank, serial number and such. Jack had a code name just like a spy. It was Lone Wolf. Sam looked up at the man in front of her in shock. Jack graduated the Air Force Academy at the top of his class. His education back ground was astonishing. A Masters in Military History & Tactics (AFA), Major in Structural Engineering (MIT) and a Minor in Astronomy (AFA). The colonel was by no means dumb as he let on.
"How did you earn these degrees?" Sam asked with interest. Sighing when there was no answer she squeezed his hand reading on. Sam discovered that Jack earned extra degrees in between deployments or injuries. He was a part of the failed rescue attempt of the Iranian Embassy Hostages. "That's how you broke you leg the first time." Sam was starting to get a better picture of who Jack O'Neill was. The file also showed that Colonel O'Neill spent time off and on as a test pilot. He flew many if not all the current fighter aircraft in the use today.
One line caught her complete attention 'Captain O'Neill has an uncanny ability to fly anything he's put in. It doesn't matter what aircraft. whether it be fixed wing, rotor, foreign or captured enemy aircraft. Captain O'Neill is the best test Pilot to come along ever in my opinion.' Sam was in awe of Jacks ability. It's no wonder why Jack was the test pilot for the hybrid and F-302 Mongoose.
Reading further she came to his capture and later escape from the Iraqi prison. Not sure if she wanted to read about that Sam looked at Jack. She made her decision to read on. At the time he was a member of the élite flying group 'Night Stalkers'. He was also Army Ranger qualified attached to USSOCOM. Jack was part of a mission to capture an Iraqi general. The mission went to hell when his MH-60 Black Hawk was hit by a Iraqi RPG.
Jack and two others survived the crash. Colonel Cromwell left the area under heavy fire with a failed mission. Jack was a Lt. Colonel at the time in charge of the group of Nights stalkers. After almost 5 months of torture he exploited a weakness in the patrol schedule. With the help of his remaining flight crew they rescued 15 soldiers: 4 British, 3 French, 3 Kuwaiti and 5 Americans (them included).
The group commandeered a Russian built Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter. The colonel decided that some pay back was in order leveling the POW camp plus the reaming Iraqi soldiers. Jack did all this with two gunshot wombs passing out. His co-pilot took over landing safely on an allied base. The Colonel was in the hospital for months due to his injuries.
The United States government awarded him the CMA along with a promotion to full colonel. Brittain, France and Kuwaiti also gave him medals. Newly promoted Colonel O'Neill received the Grand Cross & was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth ll. France in their gratitude awarded him the Legion of Honor. Kuwait gave Jack the Order of Mubarak the Great for his courageous deeds. Others in the group received awards as well. Colonel Jack O'Neill received the highest awards at the behest of those he helped escape.
The colonel returned to being a test pilot until he was given command of 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force base in 94'. Sam was in complete awe of her CO's accomplishments. If there ever was a hero he was it. Jack would say otherwise but it was the truth. Jack was also fluent in 7 different languages, written included. They were Russian, German, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French and Farsi. Of course this wasn't including Ancient and Goa-uld.
Sam put down the file taking Jacks hand in hers. She started praying to God to spare him. He was a good man who deserved a second chance at happiness. She prayed for a second chance for herself as well. Sam's loss of her unborn child still weighted heavy on her soul. Over head in the observation room Colonel Maybourne smiled knowing that Major Carter had read his friends file. He felt that Major Carter deserved to know the reason Jack was Jack. He walked away giving her privacy as she prayed, something he should start doing himself.
A/N: I looked up the before mentioned awards on Wikipedia. I hope I understood and depicted them properly. Thanks to those that preserve freedom whether they be American or Foreign soldiers. May God bless you and your family!