TITLE: Hey Danny boy where are you off to?
AUTHOR: Sanny
STATUS: Debatable
RATING: PG-15
SPOILERS: None
DISCLAMER: I do not own SG-1, though I wish I had, this story is for
enjoyment purposes only, no money was exchanged, the Stargate characters
are owned by MGM, GEKKO and ShowTime, any other characters and the story
belong to the author.
AUTHOR NOTES: Please read and review
Chapter 5: Life goes on.
He woke up before he even opened his eyes so he tried to listen. his head hurt and he couldn't remember where he was, no noise, no traffic sounds, so he must be at the SGC, it smelled musty, another clue to being at Cheyenne Mountain Complex, he was lying on something not at all comfortable, my cot in my quarters at SGC? He thought maybe it's time to open my eyes? Are they open? It was completely dark there, he tried to rise from the bed but two things prevented him from rising. One, his head started pounding fiercely making him dizzy and nauseous, the other thing was, his hands, they were restrained to the bed frame, he couldn't move an inch, it was now obvious even to him that he wasn't at Cheyenne Mountain so where am I he thought as a door on the opposite side of the room opened and a bright light shimmered in from end to end, and even through closed eyelids he could sense the light as it burrowed throughout his brain.
"Good morning Jack" a voice said to him, I know that voice he thought
"How are you feeling Jack?" the voice asked again as Jack finally placed the voice and the name his brain was screaming out.
"Simmons" he said in a cracked voice, his face hurt, he could now feel the swollen lip and cheek and probably a black eye, maybe both eyes, not to mention the splitting headache and the sore ribs that protested as he tried to fight the restraints.
"What do you want?" he asked trying to hide the pain he was feeling throughout his body "you know I'll never tell you anything".
"Oh, don't worry you already gave me everything I wanted"
"Bullshit, if I had I'd be dead now"
"You're not far from it Jack, you where buried this morning,"
"What?"
"Oh it was a beautiful service you should have been there, but wait a minute you were there, you were the guest of honor" he burst out laughing an evil malice laughter as he retreated through the door and locked it behind him, leaving Jack alone in utter darkness, immobile and shocked.
Simmons kept smiling all the way out as he thought of Jack trying to figure out what he had just told him.
***
Jack's funeral was two days ago, Chey went back to the university, even though she didn't feel like studying and the cast on her arm was beginning to scratch like crazy, General Hammond called SG-1 to debrief.
"I know it's hard on you all, Col. O'Neill was a good man and a great commander" he began "but we have to get back to work, I've decided ."
"Wait" Daniel interrupted. "You are going to give us our forth aren't you?" George nodded, Daniel continued "I don't care who'll be the forth but I think Sam should get command, and I just wanted to say being the only non military person, that Sam is the only leader I will listen too"
"If you had let me finish Dr. Jackson you wouldn't have had to say anything, let alone threat, I am giving command to Major Carter and your forth member is lieutenant Harris, there's a file on her in front of you, she will join the SGC in three days, till then you are on down time, they all nodded and George waved his hand dismissing them.
"I wish I could say congratulations Sam but I can't I'm sorry" Daniel apologized when they stepped out
"I understand Daniel, I would rather he'd be here too" tears appeared in her eyes and Daniel embraced her
"You loved him didn't you?" he whispered the question in her ear
"More then you could ever imagine" she whispered back "I am, I was in love with him" only Daniel and Teal'c heard her say the words as she hugged both men.
They agreed to meet back at Daniel's lab in an hour after freshening up a bit. Sam knocked on the door as she heard Daniel calling her to come in, Teal'c was already there, Daniel turned on the coffee machine as Sam added the turkey and egg sandwiches she brought, they sat there silent for a while, each holding a sandwich in one hand and opening the files in front of them with the other.
"Okay let's see, lieutenant Harris finished 2nd in her class at the academy, scored very high on both intelligence and physical exams, passed all the SG training and was approved by Col. Jack O'Neill" the name sent shivers down their backs, Jack approved this woman, that already said something about her, they all knew how strict Jack was in his training.
***
With his body as sore as it was he was trying to free himself from the restraints, it proved to be futile since the straps where double layer thick leather, he still tried, he couldn't just give up, it was not within him especially not to a worm like Simmons.
"Think of the devil" he thought as the door opened like so many times before he lost count, he has been beaten systematically several times a day, he wasn't given any food and very little water for over a week now and his body was getting weak. As strong as he tried to be, thinking of the people he cared about, Cheyenne his daughter, Sam the woman he loved, Daniel and Teal'c his best friends, he didn't think he would last much longer. He had multiple fractures to his ribs now and breathing became a very hard task, Simmons looked down at him and laughed
"Want to go home?" he asked, Jack paid no attention to him, Simmons couldn't help himself and punched Jack as hard as he could to his stomach, the reflex was to fold forward but it wasn't possible with broken ribs and the restraints, all he could do was cough, spitting blood right into Simmons' face and 300$ suit sweet revenge Jack thought a small smile curved to the edges of his lips.
Simmons was really getting sick of this man, he wouldn't give any information and he endured anything he threw his way, it was time to cut his loses; it was time to get rid of Col. Jack O'Neill once and for all.
He drew his handgun and pointed at Jack's chest, Jack smiled making Simmons boil mad, his hand started shaking as he smiled an evil smile and pulled the firing-pin back, his eyes sparkled with pleasure, he was going to savor this moment of pulling the trigger and killing Jack O'Neill.
The shot resonated throughout the empty room as silence fell all around.
"Thank god I found you in time" Jack opened his eyes, instead of Simmons he met with Maybourn's bearded face as he was undoing the restraints and supporting the injured surprised man out of bed
"I knew Simmons was up to something" he said "sorry it took so long, you are dead and buried, or so everybody thinks"
***
The phone rang in Hammond's office
"Yes?"
"General Hammond, how are you?"
"Maybourn? What are you doing calling me?"
"Just listen to me General, I have something of yours and if you want it back be at your base's main gate NOW!, oh and you might want to bring Dr. Fraiser with you" the line was disconnected. For a few seconds George just set in his chair in a daze, then he finally decided to act, on his way he stopped at the infirmary and collected Janet as they proceeded topside.
The two guards on duty saluted as they saw their commanding officer approach
"At ease soldiers" he nodded and saluted as he and Janet continued with a hurry pace out side the gate, several yards away they saw a black pickup truck, they approached cautiously as the driver side door opened and out came Maybourn, he didn't say anything, he nodded at the two and gestured for them to go with him, he opened the back door, George and Janet stepped closer curious to know what was there, they saw a beat up bundle lying on the back seat, Janet leaned into the car to see who it was.
"Jack?" Janet said, her voice trembling, he looked like hell but he was alive "then who was the other.?" she stopped deciding it didn't matter.
"Simmons did this" Maybourn said, "Fortunately he wont give you any more trouble"
"Can you walk son?" Hammond asked Jack as both he and Janet supported him out of the back seat, and each taking a side nearly carried him into the base, by the time they entered the main gate, Harry in the black pickup was already gone.
Janet has her work cut out for her George thought as he sneaked a pick at the man he was supporting; they reached the infirmary, gently lowering Jack into a bed.
George left; he had a very important planet-to-planet call to make.
"Major Carter what is your status?"
"We've traveled roughly 15 miles Sir, we came across some ruins but even Daniel says they're too destroyed to figure who the people were, we are following a light trail that might lead us to a settlement of ."
"Major Carter please, forget the mission and return to the SGC as soon as you can"
"Is something wrong Sir?"
"No Major, I think something is right, just get back here"
"Yes Sir" the transmission was terminated.
"Okay guy's let's go home" they turned on their heals and started the long trek home.
4 hours and 30 minutes later Sam, Daniel, Teal'c and Harris where back on base, as they stepped off the ramp their acquiring looks fell on Lieutenant Davis, he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders
"Where is General Hammond?" Sam asked
"In the infirmary Major" Davis answered Sam took off for the infirmary in a light jog, the others following her.
As they stepped inside they saw General Hammond pacing back and forth, a worried look on his face.
"General? What is going on?" Daniel was the first to ask, that was the first he noticed that people where looking at him, as he looked at their anticipating faces he heaved a sigh. As he opened his mouth to talk Janet pushed through the doors pulling down on her cap, Hammond's attention went immediately to her
"Well?" he asked
"Well!" she sighed "a lot of internal damage, I'm afraid to admit it but he was moments away from complete organ failure, still is actually, I removed his spleen, he had a ruptured liver causing a lot of internal bleeding, his kidney's are on the brink of failure as well, he was denied fluids for days, we are re-hydrating him as much as possible at the moment, and put him on a dialysis machine, we gave him all the blood we have here, we need more. He has too many rib fractures to count, right now he's not breathing on his own, I ."
Sam was getting impatient listening to such a grim picture of a patient she didn't know
"Stop it" she almost shouted interrupting Janet "who the hell are you talking about?"
"Jack! Sam, he's alive, barely but he's alive" Sam's eyes widened as did the rest of SG-1's.
"He's sedated right now; you can go in to see him, but just for a few minutes".
George, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c went inside, Harris stayed outside, feeling out of place.
There he was, he looked so thin, over a week with no water or food, being tortured, he's eyes were closed, his face was white pale, he had an I.V. line in his arm and another one coming out from under his hospital gown
"What's that?" Daniel noticed the odd line first
"It's a central line, we had trouble finding a vein at first" Janet explained.
They could see the colorful electrodes running under his gown too, exiting at the neck and connected to the cardiac monitor.
"I hate to say it" Sam whispered "but he looks horrible"
"I know, he's very anemic and he needs more blood transfusions. Unfortunately we used all the compatible blood we had here, it's a problem you see, Jack has AB negative blood, it's the rarest there is. We gave him all the O neg. we had and his own donated blood but it's all gone, I sent out for more but it's gonna take time to get here".
"I have AB negative blood" a soft voice was heard; they all turned to see Harris standing half way out the door and half way hiding by the lintel.
Janet smiled at her and motioned for her to enter, she stepped inside, a shy look on her face, both Sam and Daniel were smiling at her, they knew she was a good person who would do anything to help a fellow soldier, they knew she wanted to help and that she thought the world of Col. O'Neill, but they also knew she knew that him coming back would mean her stepping out of SG-1, but still she was going to do it.
Janet motioned for her again, this time to lie down on the bed next to Col. O'Neill, Janet inserted a line into her arm, her blood started to fill the test tube, Janet sent it for type and cross and took an immediate hemoglobin level, Harris had 13.6 hemoglobin so Janet hooked her to the donating bag.
2 hours later Jack's I.V. line was red with blood, it was getting very late and Janet threw everyone out, Harris remained over night for observation so as Janet left for her office she whispered to SG-1
"If anything changes I'll call you" they all smiled at her, they really liked her.
"Good night Joe" Daniel said as they stepped out into the corridor and Daniel looked at Sam "We have to tell Chey" Sam nodded
"General Hammond dismissed us, so go home and tell her, but don't let her come tonight, bring her with you in the morning okay?" he nodded agreeing with Sam as they parted ways in the parking lot.
Daniel reached the dorms and parked the car by the entrance; he dialed Chey's number. She answered two rings later sounding extremely sleepy.
"Hello?"
"Chey? It's Daniel" the smile came to her face even though she was half asleep
"Hey sweetie, you came back early? Where are you?"
"Waiting for you down stairs" he said
"Oh Daniel that is so sweet, but I have classes tomorrow, make that today, I can't go with you, as much as I want to"
"You wont be going to classes today Chey, there is something very important I need to tell you, please just get dressed and come down will you?" she sighed, she knew she couldn't say no to Daniel
"Okay, I'll be down in a few minutes" she hung up, Daniel glanced at his watch, it was 03:46, he'll take her to their place, the mountain overlooking the entire city, that will take about 30 minutes, when they get there he will tell her about Jack, she will demand to go see him right away, to get to Cheyenne Mountain from their location will take a little more then an hour, that will place them at the base at around 06:00am. That morning that will be enough, he thought to himself as he saw her coming down the last few steps and walking to his car, she opened the passenger side and got in, smiling at him and leaning forward to kiss him gently on the lips. His eyes remained open as she drew back and looked at him intently.
"Daniel? What's wrong?" he turned the key and started the car driving away
"Where are we going?" she asked again
"Our place" was all he said as they rode in silence.
When they arrived Daniel parked the car and stepped out, Chey was astonished at his odd behavior but as she opened her mouth to question him he spoke, very softly .
"Chey? Jack is alive, we found him" Chey's mouth dropped open "he was being held, we think by the same people who took you" she still said nothing, but her body started to shake, Daniel didn't know if it was because of what he was saying or because of the chill that crapped through the air as the day started to make it's way through the night. "He's in bad shape" Daniel's voice trembled as he said the words. He didn't know what else to say so he wrapped her into his arms and held her tight.
"Can I see him, Daniel? Please?" she asked her voice soft and trembling as well, Daniel said nothing simply escorted her back to the car and drove away.
At 06:30 they were descending the elevator to the infirmary level, as they walked in the doors Daniel saw Janet leaving Jack's room, taking her gloves off and throwing them into the hazardous materials bin, they were covered with blood.
"Janet? What's going on?" he asked frantic as he closed the gap between them, Chey right on his heels.
Janet sighed heavily
"No don't tell me he."
"No Daniel, he's still hanging in there, but we had a close call, his liver hemorrhaged again, we had to take him to surgery"
"Can we go in to see him?" Janet pulled on Daniel to open a distance between them and Chey
"Daniel, he looks really bad, are you sure she should see him like that?"
"Are you sure he'll make it through Janet? The truth"
"No I'm not sure" she answered truthfully
"Then she needs to be with her father, they might not have a long time, but as much as they can they deserve to have," with that he turned giving Janet's arm a squeeze and escorting Chey into the next room.
"Oh my god" she said trembling all over as they went inside, she stepped closer to the bed, her steps hesitant, he looks even worse then Janet says, he looks like he's dying Daniel thought to himself, wondering what Chey was thinking.
She stepped to his side and dragged the metal chair under her, she sat, taking Jack's hand in her own and started whispering to him, her voice so low that standing by the door, Daniel could not hear a word
"Don't die please? . I know we don't know each other very well, we haven't had the chance to get to know each other, but, I love you daddy, and I want to get to know you, and I want to talk with you and I want to tell you what goes on in my life and ask your advice and to tell you my secrets, I got a huge one, I think I'm in love with Daniel" her last sentence was whispered into his ear in her lowest voice "I want you to stick-around, please daddy, just be okay" the tears where streaming down her face as she held his hand between her two hands even with the cast.
He was so pale, and he looked so thin and fragile, when only a week ago he looked so formidable.
"I love you dad," she whispered placing tender warm lips to his bruised cheek, and then she felt it, the light movement beneath her hand, the fingers moving slightly.
She turned back to see Daniel still standing by the door, leaning against the wall
"Daniel" she called to him in a low voice, he opened his eyes and stared at her, her huge eyes beckoned to him and he stepped closer
"He squeezed my hand, he can hear me" Daniel crouched down and looked at the face of his best friend, his eyes closed, his breathing controlled by a machine.
"Jack? Can you hear me? It's Daniel" they saw two of his fingers wiggle slightly yeah but that can be reflex right? Daniel thought to himself
"Jack please open your eyes" he ordered, they could see his eyelids flutter but they didn't open.
"How is he?" they heard the question and turned to see the rest of SG-1
"Joe? Are you feeling okay?" Daniel saw how pale she was and being slightly supported by Teal'c
"I'm fine Daniel, thanks" Sam intervened then
"She gave more blood last night" Daniel looked at her and then
"Oh forgive me, Lieutenant Joanna Harris this is Cheyenne Walker, Jack's daughter"
"Thank you" Cheyenne said holding her good hand to shake, knowing that her donated blood went to her father, Joanna smiled and reclined her head slightly. That's when Janet came in and threw everyone out.
"SG-1 report to debriefing" the speakers came to life
"Can I stay here?" Chey asked Janet as she nodded, the rest went to debriefing.
"He stopped bleeding; his electrolytes are a little better, kidney's are beginning to function"
"When will he wake up?"
"I don't know, the sedatives have already worn off, the rest is up to him, I am giving him something for the pain but it shouldn't get in the way of him waking up"
"Very good, now SG-1 your next mission to P3V562 ." an hour later Daniel returned to the infirmary.
"Chey honey, I have to go on another mission, I don't know for how long"
"Can I stay here? She asked with a pleading look in her eyes both knowing that she'll never be able to go back to school as long as Jack was so badly hurt, Daniel opened his mouth to talk when a different voice answered.
"You can stay here as long as you like, we have a room ready for you, all we ask is for you to follow some ground rules" it was General Hammond, he stepped closer reaching his hand to place on Chey's shoulder, his eyes fixed on his second in command, Chey smiled
"What are the rules?" she asked
"Don't wonder around the base, you are only cleared to be in your assigned quarters and to the infirmary, I'm sorry Chey but this facility is ."
"I understand General"
"When Daniel isn't here you can come to me or to Dr. Fraiser for anything you need okay?" she nodded again, they all knew she will not leave Jack's bedside.
They were right. Apart from when Janet or any of the other medical staff threw her out so they could treat Jack, she was there by his side. She used the treatments for bathroom breaks and always found a tray of lunch in the infirmary's main hall with her name on it. Janet always remembered to take an extra tray for her; she knew otherwise she wouldn't eat. As soon as they would leave his room she would be right back in there, sitting next to him, caressing his hand and cheek tenderly and always talking to him.
It was her chance to tell him her life story
"It wasn't all bad you know. I do have some fond memories, unfortunately not a lot" she smiled a little and felt his fingers lightly squeeze her own.
"I love talking to you, do you think it's because you can't answer me back at the moment or because you are such a good listener? I'll take the second if you don't mind" his fingers squeezed hers once more.
Daniel returned the next day and dropped to see Jack and Cheyenne, it was 09:00 and he found Chey sitting by Jack as she has been for days. He no longer needed dialysis, Janet told them that he was very lucky that his kidney's returned to their normal function almost completely, or else he would have needed a transplant, he was still on a respirator but Janet cut down on the breaths, allowing him to take some of the breathing work, she also cut down on the pain medication, he did develop post op. infection but she was able to fight it with some antibiotics.
"He's doing much better Sir, he's breathing some on his own and both his liver and kidney functions are back to normal, no internal bleeding and the infection is under control" the General nodded and Janet left the room leaving SG-1 to go over their last mission report.
***
"You know dad, I have to tell you something. I kinda came on to Daniel first. I mean he asked me out, but, I came to him with that disc thing. You know till just now I completely forgot about it, I wonder if he even remembered to test it, I'm sure he did, it was probably like he said, nothing right? Anyway I just wanted you to know I thought he was cute I just couldn't help myself; I look at this like a miracle since he is a wonderful man and through him we found each other. And you don't have to worry about me, my arm is almost completely healed, the cast comes off in a week and the cuts on my stomach . Janet thought I'd have scars left but. their all gone, no trace" little did she know that Sam used the healing device on her while she was sleeping. "all you need to worry about is getting better, you know I keep hearing all these stories about you, you just have to wake up and disprove them and Daniel keeps telling me how funny and sarcastic you are, sarcastic huh?" she smiled "Oh and I'm sorry I made you remember a sad time in your life, like my brother's death, but, when you can I'd love for you to tell me about him."
Daniel came in and placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up as he bent to her and kissed her lips gently, she closed her eyes savoring his taste.
"He looks better, a lot better" he told her
"Yeah, I think he wants to wake up soon so he could tell me to shut up, I'm babbling and talking his ears off"
"Maybe he wants to wake up to tell you he loves to hear your so called babbles?"
"Actually I don't care what he thinks as long as it gets him to wake up" she smiled.
"You know Daniel, I love calling him dad, it feels so natural calling him that, like the 23 years I never knew him, never existed" Daniel smiled and pulled her closer to him for a kiss that turned very passionate, though in the infirmary and anyone could walk in, it kinda made it more exciting, he parted his lips and with his tongue probed her mouth thoroughly.
When they finally parted breathlessly, Chey took a look at her father and turned cherry red when she saw his eyes wide open staring at the two of them.
Daniel quickly left babbling something about calling Janet but Chey thought he was just too embarrassed being caught like that with his best friend's daughter. Chey crouched down taking Jack's hand in her own once again.
"Hi daddy?" her eyes sparkled but she was still blushing red "how are you feeling?" he tried with his free hand to remove the breathing tube but Chey franticly stopped him, she was lucky he still had no strength to fight her.
"Daniel went to call Janet, just hang in there" several minutes later Janet was there looking over his vital signs.
"You want the tube out?" Janet asked and Jack nodded "Okay, when I tell you, take a deep breath and blow out" he nodded again "One.Two.Three" he coughed
"Thanks" his voice was cracked and hoarse
"Shhh, don't try to talk yet, just breath" Janet said, the love she felt for him sipping through her voice, the love to ones family, one that literally returned from the dead.
Jack looked into Chey's eyes, all bright with happiness, she was holding a glass of water and looking at Janet, the doctor nodded
"Not too much though, and then you have to leave so I can examine Jack okay?" Chey nodded affirmative as she first wet the tips of her fingers and placed on Jack's lips to wet them, tiny drops sipping through his parted lips, he sucked on her fingers hungrily. Then she supported him to a slight sitting position and gave him a drink.
Two hours later, Janet allowed everyone to re-enter, Jack was in his bed, his head elevated, his eyes wide open, he was thinner and weaker but somehow he looked younger, his hair seemed to be more brownish then gray, his eyes sparkled deep brown and the crow's feet were gone, his skin looked tighter.
They where all there, standing around and no one knew what to say
"It is very good to see you well Col. O'Neill" Teal'c sounded as restraint as ever but his shining face gave his happiness away, he actually had a wide toothy smile on his face.
Sam's blue eyes sparkled as her smile lit up the entire room, she couldn't talk at that moment for fear tears will start flowing, besides there was only one thing she wanted to tell him and she couldn't do that with the General there.
Daniel was standing several inches away from Chey but a closer inspection revealed their interlaced fingers.
Then Jack saw Joanna standing by the door, as tired as he was he gestured for her to step closer.
"Thanks! Lt. Harris? Joe?" He said sounding better but still cracked voiced, she smiled
"Chey told me you saved my life, thank you"
"When did I tell you that dad?"
"Yesterday, I think" they where all shocked
"You heard me?"
"Every word." he smiled "you saved me too".
Three weeks later Jack was walking around, and at the week's end Janet released her tight grip on him and the extended SG-1 went into town for a celebration dinner, with Janet keeping a close eye on her Patient warning him not to over do it.
From what Maybourn told General Hammond and some quiet investigation the General conducted in Washington D.C. they figured Simmons was on his own, trying to extricate as much information and trying to get back at Jack in every way he could. The official story in D.C. was that Simmons died in the line of duty, the SGC knew he died by Maybourn's hand, seconds before he was about to do the same to Jack. They left it at that hoping Simmons' replacement won't be as bad as he was.
Eventually things went back to normal, Chey went back to finish her year at the university, she and Daniel continued to see each other whenever he was on Earth, though she didn't know that now did she, Jack's health improved miraculously and he resumed active duty on SG-1 asking that Lt. Harris remain with SG-1.
General Hammond looked at Sam
"Major Carter, it is your choice"
"What is Sir?"
"Re-assign to another SG unit as commander or remain second in command to Col. O'Neill on SG-1"
"SG-1 Sir" she did not hesitate for a second with her answer, George smiled he figured that's what she'll say
"Very well Major"
Their next mission was to P8C7GR known to be a peaceful plant with a medieval culture.
"You have a go SG-1, be careful" the team looked up at the General from their position at the embarkation room; they all nodded in unison and stepped up the ramp, vanishing through the event horizon.
***
What happened on that planet? did anything happen there or was the mission simple as they thought .
TBC Maybe???
Chapter 5: Life goes on.
He woke up before he even opened his eyes so he tried to listen. his head hurt and he couldn't remember where he was, no noise, no traffic sounds, so he must be at the SGC, it smelled musty, another clue to being at Cheyenne Mountain Complex, he was lying on something not at all comfortable, my cot in my quarters at SGC? He thought maybe it's time to open my eyes? Are they open? It was completely dark there, he tried to rise from the bed but two things prevented him from rising. One, his head started pounding fiercely making him dizzy and nauseous, the other thing was, his hands, they were restrained to the bed frame, he couldn't move an inch, it was now obvious even to him that he wasn't at Cheyenne Mountain so where am I he thought as a door on the opposite side of the room opened and a bright light shimmered in from end to end, and even through closed eyelids he could sense the light as it burrowed throughout his brain.
"Good morning Jack" a voice said to him, I know that voice he thought
"How are you feeling Jack?" the voice asked again as Jack finally placed the voice and the name his brain was screaming out.
"Simmons" he said in a cracked voice, his face hurt, he could now feel the swollen lip and cheek and probably a black eye, maybe both eyes, not to mention the splitting headache and the sore ribs that protested as he tried to fight the restraints.
"What do you want?" he asked trying to hide the pain he was feeling throughout his body "you know I'll never tell you anything".
"Oh, don't worry you already gave me everything I wanted"
"Bullshit, if I had I'd be dead now"
"You're not far from it Jack, you where buried this morning,"
"What?"
"Oh it was a beautiful service you should have been there, but wait a minute you were there, you were the guest of honor" he burst out laughing an evil malice laughter as he retreated through the door and locked it behind him, leaving Jack alone in utter darkness, immobile and shocked.
Simmons kept smiling all the way out as he thought of Jack trying to figure out what he had just told him.
***
Jack's funeral was two days ago, Chey went back to the university, even though she didn't feel like studying and the cast on her arm was beginning to scratch like crazy, General Hammond called SG-1 to debrief.
"I know it's hard on you all, Col. O'Neill was a good man and a great commander" he began "but we have to get back to work, I've decided ."
"Wait" Daniel interrupted. "You are going to give us our forth aren't you?" George nodded, Daniel continued "I don't care who'll be the forth but I think Sam should get command, and I just wanted to say being the only non military person, that Sam is the only leader I will listen too"
"If you had let me finish Dr. Jackson you wouldn't have had to say anything, let alone threat, I am giving command to Major Carter and your forth member is lieutenant Harris, there's a file on her in front of you, she will join the SGC in three days, till then you are on down time, they all nodded and George waved his hand dismissing them.
"I wish I could say congratulations Sam but I can't I'm sorry" Daniel apologized when they stepped out
"I understand Daniel, I would rather he'd be here too" tears appeared in her eyes and Daniel embraced her
"You loved him didn't you?" he whispered the question in her ear
"More then you could ever imagine" she whispered back "I am, I was in love with him" only Daniel and Teal'c heard her say the words as she hugged both men.
They agreed to meet back at Daniel's lab in an hour after freshening up a bit. Sam knocked on the door as she heard Daniel calling her to come in, Teal'c was already there, Daniel turned on the coffee machine as Sam added the turkey and egg sandwiches she brought, they sat there silent for a while, each holding a sandwich in one hand and opening the files in front of them with the other.
"Okay let's see, lieutenant Harris finished 2nd in her class at the academy, scored very high on both intelligence and physical exams, passed all the SG training and was approved by Col. Jack O'Neill" the name sent shivers down their backs, Jack approved this woman, that already said something about her, they all knew how strict Jack was in his training.
***
With his body as sore as it was he was trying to free himself from the restraints, it proved to be futile since the straps where double layer thick leather, he still tried, he couldn't just give up, it was not within him especially not to a worm like Simmons.
"Think of the devil" he thought as the door opened like so many times before he lost count, he has been beaten systematically several times a day, he wasn't given any food and very little water for over a week now and his body was getting weak. As strong as he tried to be, thinking of the people he cared about, Cheyenne his daughter, Sam the woman he loved, Daniel and Teal'c his best friends, he didn't think he would last much longer. He had multiple fractures to his ribs now and breathing became a very hard task, Simmons looked down at him and laughed
"Want to go home?" he asked, Jack paid no attention to him, Simmons couldn't help himself and punched Jack as hard as he could to his stomach, the reflex was to fold forward but it wasn't possible with broken ribs and the restraints, all he could do was cough, spitting blood right into Simmons' face and 300$ suit sweet revenge Jack thought a small smile curved to the edges of his lips.
Simmons was really getting sick of this man, he wouldn't give any information and he endured anything he threw his way, it was time to cut his loses; it was time to get rid of Col. Jack O'Neill once and for all.
He drew his handgun and pointed at Jack's chest, Jack smiled making Simmons boil mad, his hand started shaking as he smiled an evil smile and pulled the firing-pin back, his eyes sparkled with pleasure, he was going to savor this moment of pulling the trigger and killing Jack O'Neill.
The shot resonated throughout the empty room as silence fell all around.
"Thank god I found you in time" Jack opened his eyes, instead of Simmons he met with Maybourn's bearded face as he was undoing the restraints and supporting the injured surprised man out of bed
"I knew Simmons was up to something" he said "sorry it took so long, you are dead and buried, or so everybody thinks"
***
The phone rang in Hammond's office
"Yes?"
"General Hammond, how are you?"
"Maybourn? What are you doing calling me?"
"Just listen to me General, I have something of yours and if you want it back be at your base's main gate NOW!, oh and you might want to bring Dr. Fraiser with you" the line was disconnected. For a few seconds George just set in his chair in a daze, then he finally decided to act, on his way he stopped at the infirmary and collected Janet as they proceeded topside.
The two guards on duty saluted as they saw their commanding officer approach
"At ease soldiers" he nodded and saluted as he and Janet continued with a hurry pace out side the gate, several yards away they saw a black pickup truck, they approached cautiously as the driver side door opened and out came Maybourn, he didn't say anything, he nodded at the two and gestured for them to go with him, he opened the back door, George and Janet stepped closer curious to know what was there, they saw a beat up bundle lying on the back seat, Janet leaned into the car to see who it was.
"Jack?" Janet said, her voice trembling, he looked like hell but he was alive "then who was the other.?" she stopped deciding it didn't matter.
"Simmons did this" Maybourn said, "Fortunately he wont give you any more trouble"
"Can you walk son?" Hammond asked Jack as both he and Janet supported him out of the back seat, and each taking a side nearly carried him into the base, by the time they entered the main gate, Harry in the black pickup was already gone.
Janet has her work cut out for her George thought as he sneaked a pick at the man he was supporting; they reached the infirmary, gently lowering Jack into a bed.
George left; he had a very important planet-to-planet call to make.
"Major Carter what is your status?"
"We've traveled roughly 15 miles Sir, we came across some ruins but even Daniel says they're too destroyed to figure who the people were, we are following a light trail that might lead us to a settlement of ."
"Major Carter please, forget the mission and return to the SGC as soon as you can"
"Is something wrong Sir?"
"No Major, I think something is right, just get back here"
"Yes Sir" the transmission was terminated.
"Okay guy's let's go home" they turned on their heals and started the long trek home.
4 hours and 30 minutes later Sam, Daniel, Teal'c and Harris where back on base, as they stepped off the ramp their acquiring looks fell on Lieutenant Davis, he shook his head and shrugged his shoulders
"Where is General Hammond?" Sam asked
"In the infirmary Major" Davis answered Sam took off for the infirmary in a light jog, the others following her.
As they stepped inside they saw General Hammond pacing back and forth, a worried look on his face.
"General? What is going on?" Daniel was the first to ask, that was the first he noticed that people where looking at him, as he looked at their anticipating faces he heaved a sigh. As he opened his mouth to talk Janet pushed through the doors pulling down on her cap, Hammond's attention went immediately to her
"Well?" he asked
"Well!" she sighed "a lot of internal damage, I'm afraid to admit it but he was moments away from complete organ failure, still is actually, I removed his spleen, he had a ruptured liver causing a lot of internal bleeding, his kidney's are on the brink of failure as well, he was denied fluids for days, we are re-hydrating him as much as possible at the moment, and put him on a dialysis machine, we gave him all the blood we have here, we need more. He has too many rib fractures to count, right now he's not breathing on his own, I ."
Sam was getting impatient listening to such a grim picture of a patient she didn't know
"Stop it" she almost shouted interrupting Janet "who the hell are you talking about?"
"Jack! Sam, he's alive, barely but he's alive" Sam's eyes widened as did the rest of SG-1's.
"He's sedated right now; you can go in to see him, but just for a few minutes".
George, Sam, Daniel and Teal'c went inside, Harris stayed outside, feeling out of place.
There he was, he looked so thin, over a week with no water or food, being tortured, he's eyes were closed, his face was white pale, he had an I.V. line in his arm and another one coming out from under his hospital gown
"What's that?" Daniel noticed the odd line first
"It's a central line, we had trouble finding a vein at first" Janet explained.
They could see the colorful electrodes running under his gown too, exiting at the neck and connected to the cardiac monitor.
"I hate to say it" Sam whispered "but he looks horrible"
"I know, he's very anemic and he needs more blood transfusions. Unfortunately we used all the compatible blood we had here, it's a problem you see, Jack has AB negative blood, it's the rarest there is. We gave him all the O neg. we had and his own donated blood but it's all gone, I sent out for more but it's gonna take time to get here".
"I have AB negative blood" a soft voice was heard; they all turned to see Harris standing half way out the door and half way hiding by the lintel.
Janet smiled at her and motioned for her to enter, she stepped inside, a shy look on her face, both Sam and Daniel were smiling at her, they knew she was a good person who would do anything to help a fellow soldier, they knew she wanted to help and that she thought the world of Col. O'Neill, but they also knew she knew that him coming back would mean her stepping out of SG-1, but still she was going to do it.
Janet motioned for her again, this time to lie down on the bed next to Col. O'Neill, Janet inserted a line into her arm, her blood started to fill the test tube, Janet sent it for type and cross and took an immediate hemoglobin level, Harris had 13.6 hemoglobin so Janet hooked her to the donating bag.
2 hours later Jack's I.V. line was red with blood, it was getting very late and Janet threw everyone out, Harris remained over night for observation so as Janet left for her office she whispered to SG-1
"If anything changes I'll call you" they all smiled at her, they really liked her.
"Good night Joe" Daniel said as they stepped out into the corridor and Daniel looked at Sam "We have to tell Chey" Sam nodded
"General Hammond dismissed us, so go home and tell her, but don't let her come tonight, bring her with you in the morning okay?" he nodded agreeing with Sam as they parted ways in the parking lot.
Daniel reached the dorms and parked the car by the entrance; he dialed Chey's number. She answered two rings later sounding extremely sleepy.
"Hello?"
"Chey? It's Daniel" the smile came to her face even though she was half asleep
"Hey sweetie, you came back early? Where are you?"
"Waiting for you down stairs" he said
"Oh Daniel that is so sweet, but I have classes tomorrow, make that today, I can't go with you, as much as I want to"
"You wont be going to classes today Chey, there is something very important I need to tell you, please just get dressed and come down will you?" she sighed, she knew she couldn't say no to Daniel
"Okay, I'll be down in a few minutes" she hung up, Daniel glanced at his watch, it was 03:46, he'll take her to their place, the mountain overlooking the entire city, that will take about 30 minutes, when they get there he will tell her about Jack, she will demand to go see him right away, to get to Cheyenne Mountain from their location will take a little more then an hour, that will place them at the base at around 06:00am. That morning that will be enough, he thought to himself as he saw her coming down the last few steps and walking to his car, she opened the passenger side and got in, smiling at him and leaning forward to kiss him gently on the lips. His eyes remained open as she drew back and looked at him intently.
"Daniel? What's wrong?" he turned the key and started the car driving away
"Where are we going?" she asked again
"Our place" was all he said as they rode in silence.
When they arrived Daniel parked the car and stepped out, Chey was astonished at his odd behavior but as she opened her mouth to question him he spoke, very softly .
"Chey? Jack is alive, we found him" Chey's mouth dropped open "he was being held, we think by the same people who took you" she still said nothing, but her body started to shake, Daniel didn't know if it was because of what he was saying or because of the chill that crapped through the air as the day started to make it's way through the night. "He's in bad shape" Daniel's voice trembled as he said the words. He didn't know what else to say so he wrapped her into his arms and held her tight.
"Can I see him, Daniel? Please?" she asked her voice soft and trembling as well, Daniel said nothing simply escorted her back to the car and drove away.
At 06:30 they were descending the elevator to the infirmary level, as they walked in the doors Daniel saw Janet leaving Jack's room, taking her gloves off and throwing them into the hazardous materials bin, they were covered with blood.
"Janet? What's going on?" he asked frantic as he closed the gap between them, Chey right on his heels.
Janet sighed heavily
"No don't tell me he."
"No Daniel, he's still hanging in there, but we had a close call, his liver hemorrhaged again, we had to take him to surgery"
"Can we go in to see him?" Janet pulled on Daniel to open a distance between them and Chey
"Daniel, he looks really bad, are you sure she should see him like that?"
"Are you sure he'll make it through Janet? The truth"
"No I'm not sure" she answered truthfully
"Then she needs to be with her father, they might not have a long time, but as much as they can they deserve to have," with that he turned giving Janet's arm a squeeze and escorting Chey into the next room.
"Oh my god" she said trembling all over as they went inside, she stepped closer to the bed, her steps hesitant, he looks even worse then Janet says, he looks like he's dying Daniel thought to himself, wondering what Chey was thinking.
She stepped to his side and dragged the metal chair under her, she sat, taking Jack's hand in her own and started whispering to him, her voice so low that standing by the door, Daniel could not hear a word
"Don't die please? . I know we don't know each other very well, we haven't had the chance to get to know each other, but, I love you daddy, and I want to get to know you, and I want to talk with you and I want to tell you what goes on in my life and ask your advice and to tell you my secrets, I got a huge one, I think I'm in love with Daniel" her last sentence was whispered into his ear in her lowest voice "I want you to stick-around, please daddy, just be okay" the tears where streaming down her face as she held his hand between her two hands even with the cast.
He was so pale, and he looked so thin and fragile, when only a week ago he looked so formidable.
"I love you dad," she whispered placing tender warm lips to his bruised cheek, and then she felt it, the light movement beneath her hand, the fingers moving slightly.
She turned back to see Daniel still standing by the door, leaning against the wall
"Daniel" she called to him in a low voice, he opened his eyes and stared at her, her huge eyes beckoned to him and he stepped closer
"He squeezed my hand, he can hear me" Daniel crouched down and looked at the face of his best friend, his eyes closed, his breathing controlled by a machine.
"Jack? Can you hear me? It's Daniel" they saw two of his fingers wiggle slightly yeah but that can be reflex right? Daniel thought to himself
"Jack please open your eyes" he ordered, they could see his eyelids flutter but they didn't open.
"How is he?" they heard the question and turned to see the rest of SG-1
"Joe? Are you feeling okay?" Daniel saw how pale she was and being slightly supported by Teal'c
"I'm fine Daniel, thanks" Sam intervened then
"She gave more blood last night" Daniel looked at her and then
"Oh forgive me, Lieutenant Joanna Harris this is Cheyenne Walker, Jack's daughter"
"Thank you" Cheyenne said holding her good hand to shake, knowing that her donated blood went to her father, Joanna smiled and reclined her head slightly. That's when Janet came in and threw everyone out.
"SG-1 report to debriefing" the speakers came to life
"Can I stay here?" Chey asked Janet as she nodded, the rest went to debriefing.
"He stopped bleeding; his electrolytes are a little better, kidney's are beginning to function"
"When will he wake up?"
"I don't know, the sedatives have already worn off, the rest is up to him, I am giving him something for the pain but it shouldn't get in the way of him waking up"
"Very good, now SG-1 your next mission to P3V562 ." an hour later Daniel returned to the infirmary.
"Chey honey, I have to go on another mission, I don't know for how long"
"Can I stay here? She asked with a pleading look in her eyes both knowing that she'll never be able to go back to school as long as Jack was so badly hurt, Daniel opened his mouth to talk when a different voice answered.
"You can stay here as long as you like, we have a room ready for you, all we ask is for you to follow some ground rules" it was General Hammond, he stepped closer reaching his hand to place on Chey's shoulder, his eyes fixed on his second in command, Chey smiled
"What are the rules?" she asked
"Don't wonder around the base, you are only cleared to be in your assigned quarters and to the infirmary, I'm sorry Chey but this facility is ."
"I understand General"
"When Daniel isn't here you can come to me or to Dr. Fraiser for anything you need okay?" she nodded again, they all knew she will not leave Jack's bedside.
They were right. Apart from when Janet or any of the other medical staff threw her out so they could treat Jack, she was there by his side. She used the treatments for bathroom breaks and always found a tray of lunch in the infirmary's main hall with her name on it. Janet always remembered to take an extra tray for her; she knew otherwise she wouldn't eat. As soon as they would leave his room she would be right back in there, sitting next to him, caressing his hand and cheek tenderly and always talking to him.
It was her chance to tell him her life story
"It wasn't all bad you know. I do have some fond memories, unfortunately not a lot" she smiled a little and felt his fingers lightly squeeze her own.
"I love talking to you, do you think it's because you can't answer me back at the moment or because you are such a good listener? I'll take the second if you don't mind" his fingers squeezed hers once more.
Daniel returned the next day and dropped to see Jack and Cheyenne, it was 09:00 and he found Chey sitting by Jack as she has been for days. He no longer needed dialysis, Janet told them that he was very lucky that his kidney's returned to their normal function almost completely, or else he would have needed a transplant, he was still on a respirator but Janet cut down on the breaths, allowing him to take some of the breathing work, she also cut down on the pain medication, he did develop post op. infection but she was able to fight it with some antibiotics.
"He's doing much better Sir, he's breathing some on his own and both his liver and kidney functions are back to normal, no internal bleeding and the infection is under control" the General nodded and Janet left the room leaving SG-1 to go over their last mission report.
***
"You know dad, I have to tell you something. I kinda came on to Daniel first. I mean he asked me out, but, I came to him with that disc thing. You know till just now I completely forgot about it, I wonder if he even remembered to test it, I'm sure he did, it was probably like he said, nothing right? Anyway I just wanted you to know I thought he was cute I just couldn't help myself; I look at this like a miracle since he is a wonderful man and through him we found each other. And you don't have to worry about me, my arm is almost completely healed, the cast comes off in a week and the cuts on my stomach . Janet thought I'd have scars left but. their all gone, no trace" little did she know that Sam used the healing device on her while she was sleeping. "all you need to worry about is getting better, you know I keep hearing all these stories about you, you just have to wake up and disprove them and Daniel keeps telling me how funny and sarcastic you are, sarcastic huh?" she smiled "Oh and I'm sorry I made you remember a sad time in your life, like my brother's death, but, when you can I'd love for you to tell me about him."
Daniel came in and placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up as he bent to her and kissed her lips gently, she closed her eyes savoring his taste.
"He looks better, a lot better" he told her
"Yeah, I think he wants to wake up soon so he could tell me to shut up, I'm babbling and talking his ears off"
"Maybe he wants to wake up to tell you he loves to hear your so called babbles?"
"Actually I don't care what he thinks as long as it gets him to wake up" she smiled.
"You know Daniel, I love calling him dad, it feels so natural calling him that, like the 23 years I never knew him, never existed" Daniel smiled and pulled her closer to him for a kiss that turned very passionate, though in the infirmary and anyone could walk in, it kinda made it more exciting, he parted his lips and with his tongue probed her mouth thoroughly.
When they finally parted breathlessly, Chey took a look at her father and turned cherry red when she saw his eyes wide open staring at the two of them.
Daniel quickly left babbling something about calling Janet but Chey thought he was just too embarrassed being caught like that with his best friend's daughter. Chey crouched down taking Jack's hand in her own once again.
"Hi daddy?" her eyes sparkled but she was still blushing red "how are you feeling?" he tried with his free hand to remove the breathing tube but Chey franticly stopped him, she was lucky he still had no strength to fight her.
"Daniel went to call Janet, just hang in there" several minutes later Janet was there looking over his vital signs.
"You want the tube out?" Janet asked and Jack nodded "Okay, when I tell you, take a deep breath and blow out" he nodded again "One.Two.Three" he coughed
"Thanks" his voice was cracked and hoarse
"Shhh, don't try to talk yet, just breath" Janet said, the love she felt for him sipping through her voice, the love to ones family, one that literally returned from the dead.
Jack looked into Chey's eyes, all bright with happiness, she was holding a glass of water and looking at Janet, the doctor nodded
"Not too much though, and then you have to leave so I can examine Jack okay?" Chey nodded affirmative as she first wet the tips of her fingers and placed on Jack's lips to wet them, tiny drops sipping through his parted lips, he sucked on her fingers hungrily. Then she supported him to a slight sitting position and gave him a drink.
Two hours later, Janet allowed everyone to re-enter, Jack was in his bed, his head elevated, his eyes wide open, he was thinner and weaker but somehow he looked younger, his hair seemed to be more brownish then gray, his eyes sparkled deep brown and the crow's feet were gone, his skin looked tighter.
They where all there, standing around and no one knew what to say
"It is very good to see you well Col. O'Neill" Teal'c sounded as restraint as ever but his shining face gave his happiness away, he actually had a wide toothy smile on his face.
Sam's blue eyes sparkled as her smile lit up the entire room, she couldn't talk at that moment for fear tears will start flowing, besides there was only one thing she wanted to tell him and she couldn't do that with the General there.
Daniel was standing several inches away from Chey but a closer inspection revealed their interlaced fingers.
Then Jack saw Joanna standing by the door, as tired as he was he gestured for her to step closer.
"Thanks! Lt. Harris? Joe?" He said sounding better but still cracked voiced, she smiled
"Chey told me you saved my life, thank you"
"When did I tell you that dad?"
"Yesterday, I think" they where all shocked
"You heard me?"
"Every word." he smiled "you saved me too".
Three weeks later Jack was walking around, and at the week's end Janet released her tight grip on him and the extended SG-1 went into town for a celebration dinner, with Janet keeping a close eye on her Patient warning him not to over do it.
From what Maybourn told General Hammond and some quiet investigation the General conducted in Washington D.C. they figured Simmons was on his own, trying to extricate as much information and trying to get back at Jack in every way he could. The official story in D.C. was that Simmons died in the line of duty, the SGC knew he died by Maybourn's hand, seconds before he was about to do the same to Jack. They left it at that hoping Simmons' replacement won't be as bad as he was.
Eventually things went back to normal, Chey went back to finish her year at the university, she and Daniel continued to see each other whenever he was on Earth, though she didn't know that now did she, Jack's health improved miraculously and he resumed active duty on SG-1 asking that Lt. Harris remain with SG-1.
General Hammond looked at Sam
"Major Carter, it is your choice"
"What is Sir?"
"Re-assign to another SG unit as commander or remain second in command to Col. O'Neill on SG-1"
"SG-1 Sir" she did not hesitate for a second with her answer, George smiled he figured that's what she'll say
"Very well Major"
Their next mission was to P8C7GR known to be a peaceful plant with a medieval culture.
"You have a go SG-1, be careful" the team looked up at the General from their position at the embarkation room; they all nodded in unison and stepped up the ramp, vanishing through the event horizon.
***
What happened on that planet? did anything happen there or was the mission simple as they thought .
TBC Maybe???