I do not own anything. If you recognize it, it is not mine.
Has anyone read a Stargate fanfic where Sam gets injured and Jack resigns, but Daniel convinces Jack not to tell Sam until her health is better? I wanted to read it again, but cannot find it. Thank you for suggestions!
Thank you for your reviews.
The journey to the gym was eerily quiet, which prompted Sam to miss the General's presence. He always saved her from the sad silence that in combination with the dark she was living in horrified her. She herself had no idea what to say, her brain was too preoccupied with the near future exercise.
To the best of her knowledge it was Teal'c who commanded the wheelchair and Laura was walking somewhere close. It felt like forever till they arrived to their destination.
"Hey, campers. Everything alright?"
Sam recognized O'Neill's voice almost immediately and reflexively turned in his direction. The she realized she wouldn't see him. It must have shown on her face, because next thing she knew, there was a hand lightly squeezing hers.
"Carter, if you're not feeling up to it, we can do it another time, right?"
"Of course, Sam. There's no point in pushing yourself too hard. In fact that's dangerous." Laura reminded.
"I'm fine, really. I was just thinking about something." Sam said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. She succeeded.
Then she felt someone removing the blanket that was draped around her. She held her breath, expecting to feel cold air hitting her body, but it didn't. She still felt pretty warm.
"Okay, Sam. Now I will remove the footplate." Laura leaned in to make sure Sam heard her.
"I'll do it." O'Neill offered his assistance, kneeling in front of the wheelchair.
As he started working on the wheelchair, Sam felt vibrations traveling through the metal frame. Expectations filled her as she imagined herself walking through the corridor of an Asgard ship.
"There's a safety underneath, in the middle of…" Laura began, but O'Neill cut her off.
"I already unlocked it, Laura. Calm down."
"Just wanted to help. Jeez." Laura held her hands up in a general 'I give up' gesture and rolled her eyes.
"Are you ready, Carter? I am taking the footrest away now."
"Yes, sir."
He folded the plate away, locking the hooks that were supposed to keep it in the undeployed position. Carter's legs brushed against his arms as they fell to the ground.
"Oh." Carter's mouth made a little 'o' in surprise as her bare feet hit the cold floor.
"You okay?" There was a lot of half-hidden emotions in O'Neill voice.
"Yeah. It just… It feels odd somehow. I can't explain it." Carter wiggled her toes to make sure she had control of the whole length of her legs. When she achieved it, she exhaled deeply and turned her attention to what Laura was saying.
"That is going to be the issue mainly. We've determined there is nothing wrong physically, but you need to get used to the mechanics of walking again. To the feeling of walking and for now without sight."
Carter nodded quietly.
"Try to put some weight on your legs, but stay sitting down." Laura said, making sure the wheelchair was locked in place and wouldn't move.
The muscles of Carter's legs tensed as she carefully pressed her feet to the ground. It wasn't a confident movement, but she kept steady.
"All good, Sam?" Laura wanted to know.
"Yes. It's fine. Let's get the show on the road." Carter was impatient, O'Neill could see how ready she was to get out of the wheelchair. She kept drumming her fingers on her legs.
After telling Sam to keep her feet up, Laura moved the wheelchair with Sam closer to the parallel bars that were installed to help Sam relearn to walk again. She had told Sam they'd be using them and she seemed okay with that. Apparently every member of the SG-1 had gathered some experience with the parallel therapy bars over the years.
"Hello, everyone. I wondered where you all were." Daniel came rushing in. "Laura, I am all ready."
"What's going on, Space Monkey?" O'Neill turned to the newcomer, annoyed at the distraction the archeologist was posing.
"You should remember. You're the one who's kicking me out." Daniel raised an eyebrow at the General, his lips pouted in thinly veiled anger.
"Not this again…" O'Neill started, but was interrupted by another voice.
"Stop it, boys!" Laura said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, knowing this wouldn't help Sam's mood. "I'll be right with you, Daniel. Just have to help Sam start her therapy."
"Teal'c and I can help Carter, we're quite familiar with the process." O'Neill proposed, with Teal'c adding his usual 'Indeed'.
"Ehm…" Laura hesitated, contemplating the best course of action.
"We'll be fine, Laura. Don't worry." Carter agreed, extending her arm. "Daniel, where are you?"
"Here." Daniel gripped the hand she offered and leaned down to hug her. "Goodbye, Sam. I'll miss you, but we'll see each other soon. Take care."
"You too." Carter said, frowning a little.
"You got everything you need?" O'Neill inquired, giving Daniel a strict look. "Reports, Captain Ginger's and Major Laurie's personal possessions, our planned course and gate addresses coming up…"
"Yes, Dad. I have it all prepared." Daniel answered, fed up with the third degree.
"I look forward to meeting you again, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c gave a small bow towards his colleague.
"Me too, Teal'c." Daniel concurred, obviously wrapped up deeply in his thoughts.
"Alright, let's do it. And you two? Take good care of Sam. Don't forget to be careful. There's no need to overdo it." Laura said, walking slowly towards the door with Daniel.
"We will keep that in mind." Teal'c said before O'Neill retorted with a snarky comment. Then the Jaffa took a step forward. "I will now proceed to help Colonel Carter stand up."
He waited until she gave him the go-ahead and then took her under the arms, hoisting her up on her feet. Sam then grabbed the bars, propping herself up with her arms with Teal'c still supporting her.
"Jesus, Carter. Let's start slow." O'Neill stood between the bars, in front of Sam, prepared to catch her if she fell or swayed.
Her face was full of determination with her brow knitted hard with concentration. There was nothing visible in those big blue orbs that normally were so expressive. She was hyperventilating as Teal'c removed his hands and her legs lightly touched the floor. Still relying mostly on her arms, she put more weight on her legs.
"Alright. Nice and easy now, Carter." O'Neill said as encouragement, worried she'd want to do too much too fast. He had troubles determining where preciously her mind was at, but he could tell she was agitated. "Teal'c, we got this. You can go exercise."
"Of course I will be here if you need me." Teal'c said, moving the wheelchair a little out of the way and then retreated.
"Thanks, big guy." O'Neill said in appreciation.
Carter still held on without relenting, her legs touching the floor without supporting her whole weight. Glancing at her tense shoulders beginning to shake, he stepped to her and put his hands on her waist.
"I'm here. Let's try this walking thing, okay?" He said in a reassuring tone, trying to lighten up her hardship.
After taking a deep breath, she stood up entirely. Her heart was suddenly in her throat as she lifted her right leg an inch above the ground and took the first shaky step. It was obviously difficult to her and her stability was questionable, but she still stood in front of O'Neill without any help. His hands were only there as a safety net.
She took a minute to steel herself before taking another the step. This time she did wobble a little. Her hands gripped the parallel bars even more firmly and she grunted with the exertion necessary to hold herself upright. Doubts were attacking her brain and she had hard time pushing them back. Could she take more than handful of steps without collapsing? She started blinking furiously.
"Carter, you're doing great." O'Neill said, then saw her shoulders slump at the comment. "What's going on with you?"
"Nothing, sir."
"Carter?" He reiterated, more curtly, seeing her self-control fading. It suddenly became clear to him while she was blinking so much.
"I can't stand this." Saying that, she didn't move an inch. Her cheeks reddened as the embarrassment permeated through her whole body. "I can't see, I can't walk and I don't remember so much of my life. It feels like I'm falling and there's nothing to hold onto." She took another step and then another. It was the fourth one when her leg slipped sideways and she stumbled forward right into O'Neill's embrace.
He reacted swiftly, grabbing her tightly as she bumped into his chest. A surprised shriek escaped her lips that he heard clear since her lips were right next to his ear. He stopped hugging her so tightly because he was worried he'd smother her. His brain went into overdrive, the only thought he could concentrate on was how soft her skin felt. They stayed like that for about a minute before he got rid of those intrusive thoughts and pulled himself together enough to speak.
"I'm here. Hold onto me." He whispered.