Chapter 6

Summary:  A doctor is needed when Jack's emotions get the best of him.

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            "Now, why are your knuckles like this?"  Dr. Janet Fraiser held Jack's left hand as she examined his wound.

            A snarky tone took over his voice as he replied, "I was too close and got burned."

            As she looked up at him, he realized what he said.  He looked down and made a quick excuse.  "I mean, I was in Sam's lab while she was doing an experiment.  My hand got too close to the burner she was using, hence the wound."  He held up his hand. 

            "Colonel, this isn't a burn wound.  What happened and why does it involve Sam?"  Janet started to wrap his knuckles.

            Jack sighed, "It all started when I was walking down to Sam's lab to tell her that the briefing had been moved up to 1100 hours.  I heard laughter as I walked closer to her lab.  I could tell she was talking on the phone.  I only heard one side of the conversation.  Her side of the conversation gave it away.  She talked about getting together tonight.  The words 'Love you too, Chris' made it evident that this was no relative, but a boyfriend.  She hung up the phone as I appeared in the doorway.  I gave her the message and I walked off.  I told her to leave me alone.  I went to my office and thought it over.  My anger reached a high point and I punched the wall."

            "The cement wall?"  Janet stopped bandaging and shown worry in her face as she looked up and him.

            "Yeah."  By her reaction, he knew he was in for it.

            "You're gonna have to have a few X-rays on your arm.  I wanna make sure there are no stress fractures in your hand or arm."

            Janet heard the phone ring across the room and walked over to answer it.

            "Hello?"

            "Janet?"  She heard a sniffle through the receiver and slipped around the corner, out of the sight of Jack.

            "Sam?"

            "He knows."

            "He's in here right now.  His skin is split at his knuckles.  I'm treating him, but I need to do some x-rays to see if there's any internal damage."

            "Oh god, what'd he do?"

            "He says he punched a wall.  What'd you say to him?"

            "I didn't say anything.  I didn't have the chance."

            "I gotta go back and tend to Jack."

            Sam whined, "But Janet, what should I do?"

            "I'd suggest, when you get the chance, and the time is right, talk to him, and tell him how you feel."

            "I'll do that."

            "Okay, Sam, I gotta go, Jack's waiting."

            "See ya."

            As Janet walked around the corner to hang up the phone, she met Jack standing there.

            "Colonel, you gotta stop eavesdropping on phone conversations.  Haven't you learned already?"

            "It's the only ways I can learn."

            They walked back to the bed Jack was previously seated on.  Jack sat down and Janet faced him with her arms crossed, putting more pressure on one foot.

            "How long have you known?" Jack asked.

            "Since Saturday.  She met him Friday night."

            "Why didn't you tell me?"

            "I believe it was her job to tell you.  Sam is responsible for her actions.  At least, she needs to be.  I kept on asking her what she was going to do about telling you, and she kept on saying 'I don't know how.'  I wasn't the one that was going to tell you.  It's not my job.  The problem is between you and her.  Now, let take some x-rays of that arm.  Follow me."

            They left the infirmary and went into the x-ray lab.  There they would find out the damage that had been caused.

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TBC…