The Reason Part Four

By Jolinar at Carter

Thank you for all the feedback, please keep it coming! It helps me write faster!

Samantha Carter walked carefully down the hall and in to the infirmary, carrying two cups of coffee. She entered the room to see Jennifer Hailey sitting, holding Steven's hand. She was still crying.

"Hey," Sam said gently. Jen looked up and smiled, wiping her eyes.

"Oh god, I look horrible don't I?" Jen laughed, taking one of the coffees from her. "Thanks."

"No, you look fine. Besides, it's only me," Sam took a sip of her coffee. "How you holding up? Must be very hard..."

"Yeah, yeah it is. I'm okay, I mean, we were just friends, right?" Jen sniffed. "I missed him so much. But I thought for sure he was dead. I grieved for him, and I tried to move on. And I feel so...guilty. I moved on, and he was still alive being tortured by some snakehead."

"I know what you mean...the guilt. We left him...I left him there. I still can't believe he's there though. There was such a slim chance of him surviving. Yet he survived. It's incredible. It's a miracle. I can't think of any other word for it," Sam sighed. "Janet says she can help him, heal him. I'm not sure what she said was wrong with him...but she said he'll be okay."

"Besides the torture, besides the damage from that. What will it have done to him? Oh god, poor Steven," Jen exclaimed, and then lowered her voice, and sighed again.

"Elliott is a tough kid. He made it this far, he'll get through. And I know he'll have you there to help him."

"Yes, he will," Jen nodded. "I will be here."

"Try and get some rest. He might not wake up for a good while, we're not sure," Sam requested, before adding, "don't make me order you."

"One of the nurses said I can crash in here, as it's empty. I think I might do that. I lost him for so long, I don't want to leave him,"

"All right," Sam agreed. "I think I'd be the same."

"I doubt it, ma'am," Hailey frowned. "You're a lot stronger than me."

"Of that, I'm not so sure," Sam replied, before walking off.

Janet looked up at the clock, and closed her file. It was time for her to be leaving. She stood up, tidied up her desk and then headed for the door. She turned off the light, closed the door and then decided to check on her only patient.

She found him, still asleep. She looked over to the next bed, to see Hailey lying on top of the covers, eyes tightly shut. She smiled, and headed for the door.

She turned around as she reached the threshold, and blinked. She could have sworn he had just opened his eyes slightly. When he did it again, she grinned and jogged over to his bedside. She took his hand. "Hailey, Hailey, get up!" She called, before looking at Elliott again. "Lieutenant? Lieutenant Elliott?"

Hailey's eyes snapped open and she was at the Doctor's side in an instant. "Steven? Steven?" She called. Janet let go of his hand and Jennifer took it in hers.

His eyes opened half way, and he slowly looked up. The corners of his mouth moved slightly, as if he were trying to smile. "Hi," Jen smiled. "Oh, hi. Hey."