The First Cut Is the Deepest
Part 2
Author: Mac
Disclaimer in Part 1

Note from the author: In case you don't already know, I am not a medical expert. :)

Janet was glad she wasn't the one on duty because she was being a pesk by looking over Dr. Warner's shoulder and making certain everything humanly possible was being done for Daniel. She didn't need to, though. Dr. Warner wouldn't miss a thing.

"Janet," he said. "I've just finished assessing the damage. Dr. Jackson has a few cracked ribs and some internal bleeding, which we were able to take care of. A broken nose and swollen eye to add to that..."

"That's not all," she asked in a hushed whisper.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The second blow to the head thatyou told me was caused by the man's foot caused some swelling."

Janet closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "He's in a coma," she realized.

"Yes," Dr. Warner replied. "I'm sorry, I wish I had better news. You can go in to see him if you'd like. I'll be monitoring his progress from my office. The nurses will call me if anything changes."

"Thank you, Mark." The doctor nodded and left. She couldn't bear to see him just yet. Janet was so lost in thought that she nearly ran into Cassie. For a moment she forgot her daughter had been at school. "Cassie, how did you...?"

"Jack picked me up. He told me what happened, Mom. Are you okay?"

Janet's tears finally burst forth and she clung to tightly to her daughter. "Oh God, Cass, I thought he was going to kill Daniel!"

Cassie didn't know what to say. This was the second time today she had to comfort her mother, and although she had always known it would happen one day, it kind of scared her. She glanced up to see Sam heading over.

"Hey, Cass, I think Teal'c needs someone to sit with. He's out in the hall." Sam took Cassie's place as comforter and led her friend to her office. "How are you doing?"

"I'm such an idiot!" Janet exclaimed.

"What? Did I miss something?" sam wanted to know.

Janet ignored her. "How could I do that to Cassie! She doesn't need her mother sobbing all over her shoulder!"

Sam watched as Janet straightened up her office and slamming objects (expensive, no doubt) with each syllable. She grabbed Janet's hand as she was about to through a vase. It was still holding the roses Daniel had given her for her birthday.

"JANET!"

"I'm sorry," she whispered, sinking to the floor. Sam had just enough time to grab the vase and set back on her desk. "I'm so sorry..."

"For what?"

"Everything. My behavior, Daniel being hurt, not telling you about my past. What kind of friend am I?"

"Janet, look at me." She did so, and Sam saw a lost little girl instead of the strong Air Force doctor. "Your behavior is understandable, you didn't hurt Daniel, and it's your choice to tell me about your past. If you were comfortable with it, I'm sure we would have talked about it."

She looked up at Sam. "I'd like to tell you about it now. Maybe it would be good to get it off my chest."

"If you're sure, but don't you want to see Daniel?"

"No," Janet replied. "I think I should tell you this first."

Janet went on to tell Sam how they had met through a mutual friend. They hit it off immediately, finding they had so much in common. At first he didn't seem to mind that she wanted to go into the Air Force.

"That is," she continued, "until he met some guys at a local bar after we came home from our honeymoon. I don't know what they said to him, but he was convinced women didn't belong in the Air Force. I explained to him that I had already been accepted, but it wasn't working.

"Every other weekened he'd go to that bar and every other weekend he'd come home drunk and in some kind of rage. He never hurt me that I would need to go the hospital until the day I decided I had enough of his bullshit. I told him either he got used to the fact that I was in the Air Force, or I'd leave him." She laughed bitterly. "Well, you can imagine his response to that."

Sam listened with wide eyes. Looking at Janet, one never would have guessed. But then again, maybe that's what made her such a fine officer. "So you ended up in the hospital?"

"Yeah, and there were witnesses. My parents and his had planned a surprise anniversary dinner. They ordered some of our favorite foods and brought it over to our house. They came inside just as he shoved me into the wall. Of course, I was pretty bruised up prior to that."

"I take it that weren't at all pleased."

"From what my Mom said, no. I was out of it for awhile..." She trailed off, lost in thought. She shuddered to think what would have happened if her parents hadn't arrived.

Sam knelt next to her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder. "That's over now. He's in jail, he's not going anywhere. What you need to concentrate on is helping Daniel get better."

"I-I don't know if I can see him like that, Sam."

"You should really be there. He needs you to be there, Janet. He loves you."

Janet shook her head. "I thought I did too, but I don't think I can anymore," she said.

"Yes, you can! You think Daniel is going to hurt you so you want to avoid him, right?" She stared at Sam. How could she know? "Well, knowing Daniel he wouldn't hurt you on purpose. Janet, so many things have gone wrong in his life, don't you think he needs something to go right?"

With that, Sam hugged her friend and left her to her thoughts. Janet knew she was right.