Life's Problems – Part 7
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Sam had been sitting in the small waiting room outside the Surgical suite, staring at the gray concrete walls, every since they took Jacob into surgery. She hadn't gone through her post-mission exam or changed clothes since they returned from PXR-277.
Daniel and Teal'c sat with her earlier before they had to report the details of their mission to Jack. Luckily, Jack had sent word that she could remain in the infirmary and they would contact her if they needed her.
This is where Daniel and Teal'c found her still sitting three hours later. They came in and sat down on either side of her.
"Have you heard any news about your Dad?" Daniel asked.
"No. Not yet." Sam's voice was shaky. She was beyond worried. Selmak should be healing her dad, but she wasn't. Did that mean her father's condition was too severe? Were Selmak's injuries so bad she couldn't heal her dad? Sam continued to think of possible reasons why her dad was still in surgery.
Daniel feeling uncomfortable with the silence spoke up. "We filed the mission report, Jack said when you got time you could write your version of the events. He said there was no rush to take your time." Sam just nodded; her mind was consumed with other thoughts.
Teal'c remained quiet knowing Sam didn't want to talk, but would take comfort in their presences.
Dr. Brightman entered the waiting room, still wearing her scrubs. Sam jumped up to meet her. "Doctor, how's my dad?"
"Well ... I have done everything that I can at the moment. The next 24 hours are critical."
"Does that mean he could die?" Sam's eyes were wide and glistened with unshed tears.
"I won't lie to you. It's a possibility, but I'm not giving up hope on him. He had a lacerated liver that resulted in hemorrhaging. We have finally stopped the bleeding, but we will need to monitor him closely the next 24 to 48 hours. He has three broken ribs and one of them punctured his lung. We have repaired the lung. His other injuries are minor and will heal over time."
"I'm also concerned about the symbiote. This is the first time that I've dealt with such a case. I have been treating the symbiote based on what I have read in Dr. Frasier's notes."
"Selmak." Came a voice interrupting them from the doorway. All four turned to see who had spoken. "That's the symbiotes name." Jack had been standing in the doorway listening to Jacob's condition.
"Of course ... I'm sorry General." Dr. Brightman turned to face Sam to continue. Sam was a little surprised to see Jack, but she was glad he was there.
"Selmak's heart rate has slowed considerably. I'm not sure how to heal her or what's wrong with her. Her heart rate hasn't dropped anymore, I'm not sure if this is normal with this much damage or not."
"That's must be why she hasn't healed Jacob." Daniel said thinking out loud.
"Indeed. It must heal itself before it can heal Jacob Carter." Teal'c said.
"What about the hand device. I can try the hand device again to see if I can get it to activate this time." Sam said desperately.
"Carter I have sent a message to the Tok'ra that we have found Jacob and need their assistance. I'm sure they will be here any minute." Jack didn't want Carter to try the hand device again and it not work. She would blame herself if Jacob didn't make it.
Sam opened her mouth to protest when Jack stopped her. "They'll be here soon Carter. IF and I stress IF he gets into any trouble before then we'll try the hand device. He's stable right now."
"Yes Sir." She said quietly. She wished she could have gotten the healing device to work earlier and her father wouldn't be going through all of this.
"We'll move your dad to the isolation room after post-op. It'll be quieter in there. You'll be able to stay with him in the room. He'll be in post-op for another hour." Dr. Brightman said.
Jack looked over at Sam covered in dirt, scrapes, and her hair was a mess due to SG-1's tumble down the cave. "Carter why don't you get your post-mission exam and a change of clothes, while you wait for dad to get out of post-op?"
She didn't protest there wasn't anything she could do. Her dad was stable right now and she welcomed the idea of a shower and clean clothes. She wanted to be there when they brought her dad out of post-op. She quickly left the group standing there and headed towards the locker room.
Sam was still sitting beside Jacob's bed where she had been for the last ten hours. His condition hadn't changed. Daniel and Teal'c had spent most of that time with her. She hadn't seen the General since her father had gotten out of surgery. Teal'c and Daniel brought her dinner and kept a supply of coffee coming. They tried to persuade her to sleep a couple of hours in her quarters while they sat with Jacob. She politely refused and said she would stay there for the night.
It was now 03:00 and she finally convinced Daniel and Teal'c, a couple of hours ago that she would be O.K., and they needed to go get some rest. Understanding that she probably wanted some time alone with her dad they left. The nurses came in every hour on the dot to check his vitals. A nurse assured Sam that her dad's condition had not gotten any worse before she left.
Sam was left alone with only the sounds of the beeping machines that were somehow soothing. She knew as long as those machines continued the same rhythm then her father wasn't getting any worse. If he could just hold on long enough for the Tok'ra to get here, then they would be able to heal him.
She began talking to her dad. She didn't know if he could hear her, but she felt closer to him. She started with Mark and the kids and the latest sports news she could recall. Then she started talking about the events in her life.
"Well Dad you know the last time you and I talked, I told you about Pete, the cop that Mark introduced me to. He proposed to me. It wasn't some grand romantic gesture, that's not really me anyways. He proposed to me in the park. It actually took me a couple of weeks to say yes." She gave a small laugh. "You know me I have to look at something from every angle, but now I'm not sure I thought it all the way through."
She didn't realize that someone was standing behind her in the doorway.
"You told me on the Prometheus, O.K. maybe it wasn't really you" she said with a smile. "But, you said it was time to let go of the things that were preventing me from finding happiness. I did that ... I gave up on the possibility ... I let him go. I thought our job and the fight against the Goa'uld were too important. Now he has moved on with someone here at the SGC. Someone he works with granted she's a civilian, but still! I don't really blame him, he's been through a lot and he deserves some happiness. I just wish it didn't hurt so much. I was already having second thoughts about marring Pete, and now all of this. It's not fair to Pete; he deserves to be with someone that loves him as much as he loves them. I realize now that I don't love him as much as I should." She finally voiced part of the fears she had kept bottled up for a while, and she had made a decision about her future.
The person in the doorway couldn't hear everything she was saying, but they had heard enough. Shock was preventing them from moving.
"Excuse me sir, I need to get into the room." A voice said behind Sam. She whipped her head around to see who had been listening to her.
Her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes as she recognized the shocked look on his face. Her heart sank. He stepped into the room to allow the nurse to do her job.
Sam got up from the chair and walked over to him, hoping he hadn't heard everything she had said. She wanted to talk to him about everything, but this wasn't how she wanted to tell him.
The pain in his eyes was evidence that he had heard enough.
The nurse left them alone after checking on Jacob.
"The General called me to let me know what had happened to your dad. He thought you might..." he chocked on the words. He cleared his throat to continue. "He thought you might need me. I got here as soon as I got off of work. Funny, huh?" He tried to laugh.
"Pete..." He put his hand up to stop her words.
"I knew you weren't as committed to this relationship as I was at first. I knew you had doubts. I had hoped we had worked through them. I thought we had, especially when you accepted my marriage proposal. That was the happiest day of my life." He said quietly
"I do love you, but ..." she decided she needed to be honest with him. "I'm not sure that we should get married."
"What are you saying?" He said in shock. "You just admitted that you DO love me, can't we have a lifetime to build on that?" He said hopefully.
'That was part of the problem; I can't see spending a lifetime with you.' She thought to herself.
"Pete..." she said with a heavy sigh. "I do love you, but not as much as you deserve to be loved."
"No! We're great together. I just bought us a house!" He yelled.
Oh yeah she had forgotten about the house. "Pete I never even saw the house ... Look I'm sorry, but I can't marry you." She raised her voice.
Pete grabbed her arm. "Who is he?" He yelled.
"Pete you're hurting me. Let me go." She could easily get out his hold, but she would hurt him, and she had done that enough.
He ignored her. "It's your precious General isn't it?! I've seen the way the two of you look at each other."
She was getting aggravated. "Pete you don't know what you're talking about. Now let go of me."
Pete realizing he still had a death grip on her arm, he let her go. "I ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean too." Pete took a step away from her.
"Does he even know?" Pete said trying to calm down.
"Pete, nothing is going on with the General and me."
"You're forgetting that I just heard you talking to your dad." He never heard his name, but he knew how to interrogate a person, to get the information he wanted.
"Pete ..." she had spent 8 years hiding her feelings toward her CO from the rest of the SGC. She knew she hadn't given any indication as to the identity of the man she was talking about.
"I heard you! Now just admit it. You're in love with O'Neill!" He didn't know why he was pushing so hard, but he had to know. He couldn't stand being left in the dark.
Now he had gone too far and her temper boiled over to match his. "That's enough Pete! I never said such a thing and you know it. I'm not some criminal you brought in for interrogation." She yelled back at him. She knew if she didn't shut him up soon, then the base would be buzzing about her and the General. "I think it's time you left!"
"But ..." he knew he'd lost control of the situation and had pushed too hard. He decided to try a different approach. He couldn't lose her. "I'm sorry you're right. I shouldn't have yelled at you."
He looked down at his watch it was after 4:00 a.m. "It's really early, neither of us have had any sleep...why don't I come back later and we can talk about it? I know we both said some things we regret."
"No, Pete. I don't think so." She couldn't get over how quickly his mood kept changing. He would be sweet and understanding one minute and yelling at her the next.
"I can't marry you, Pete. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I don't want to see you again." She knew she had to be very clear. It may be harsh, but she didn't want him to keep popping up everywhere trying to change her mind. She had made up her mind.
"Babe, come on ..." Pete started to protest. She held up her hand to stop him. "No Pete we're through, and it's time you left."
Pete turned and left Jacob's room in defeat. He had lost her for good. He allowed a few tears to fall, as he made his way to the elevators and out of the mountain.
Jack knew Pete was on base. The SF's had informed him Carter's guest had arrived. That was the last person Jack wanted to call, but after his little argument yesterday morning with Carter, he thought her fiancé would be able to help her through this in a way the rest of the team couldn't.
Jack was surprised when Captain Smith, the nurse taking care of Jacob, called to inform him that Carter and her guest were yelling at each other. She couldn't tell what they were arguing about, and she said it wasn't any of her business. She just wanted the hostile situation to end for Jacob's benefit. Jacob needed the rest and his subconscious mind may pick up on the argument and become agitated.
Jack decided to handle the situation himself instead of sending the SF's into a possible embarrassing situation for all parties. On his way to the infirmary he saw Pete walking towards the elevators. Jack wasn't sure, but it looked like he was crying. 'What in the world is going on?' He thought to himself.
Jack didn't say anything to him as he quickened his steps to Jacob's room. Nurse Smith was checking on Jacob and Sam was quietly sitting next to his bed. The same place she had been every time he came to check on Jacob's condition without Sam's knowledge.
When the nurse left, he cautiously entered. "Carter?"
"What?" she yelled as she turned to face the voice.
She was shocked to see the General. "Sir?"
"I'm sorry, Sir; Pete and I just had an argument. I didn't mean to take it out on you."
"It's O.K. Carter. Do you ... want to talk about it?" He didn't know if he was the best person for her to talk to, but she still looked upset.
"Everything just seems to be going so wrong." She mumbled.
"What's going wrong, Carter?"
She looked up into his warm caring brown eyes. 'I've pushed my feelings for him aside for so long, do I tell him now? Should I tell him that my engagement to Pete is off because of him?' Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the events over last 48 hours, but she was seriously considering telling him everything. She was tired of the dance. She finally knew what she wanted, but was she strong enough to handle his reply ... good or bad?
Jack thought he had a good idea of what was going wrong. 'She had been through a lot in the last 48 hours. She had found out her father was captured; Kerry and I are dating, which we argued about before her mission. She found her father on the brink of death at the hands of a Goa'uld, and now she and Pete had had an argument. How much more can she take?' He wondered as he looked into her exhausted eyes.
He wanted to comfort her. To let her know everything would be O.K., and he would always be there when life threw her its toughest challenges. However, he didn't know if he would always be there. They had taken different paths that lead to other people instead of each other. His heart sank. He was here now though, and he could comfort her today.
"So do you want to talk about why you and Pete were arguing?"
She stared at him trying to decide which road to take. "We were arguing about ... you." the last came out in a whisper. She looked away not wanting to see his reaction.
He wasn't sure he heard her correctly. "Uh ... What? You were arguing about me. Why?"
"I didn't love him enough, and he thought you were the reason for that." She said cautiously. She knew if his feelings had changed for her then she would have to transfer to another base after tonight.
He put his hand under her chin to raise her head so he could look her in the eyes. "Am I?" His heart soared at the possibility.
Her eyes filled with tears "Yes Jack, you are." She whispered.
His eyes filled with love. He ran his thumb along her bruised cheek to brush away the tears. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. He tilted his head down and kissed her softly at first and then the kiss deepened. They had waited so long for this moment. There was no misunderstanding, no dancing around the truth. They broke away to catch their breath, still holding on to one another and seeing the love and desire reflecting in the others eyes. They were scared if they let go then the moment would be broken.
They didn't know where they went from here, but at least they knew how the other felt. It was the first step. They reluctantly separated when they heard familiar voices in the hall.
Daniel and Teal'c walked in. "See Teal'c I told you she would be awake." Daniel was trying to balance a cup of coffee and a pastry for Sam with his good hand.
Teal'c observed Jack and Sam and smiled at what he saw in their eyes. "Indeed Daniel Jackson."
Jack looked at his watched and noticed it was 05:00. The nurse walked in as scheduled to check on Jacob.
Jack walked over to take the coffee from Daniel and handed it to Sam. She brushed her fingers over his as she took the cup he offered. They both smiled at the brief touch.
Daniel noticed the exchange and decided to ask them later if something had changed between them.
"Well Jack your up early."
"Yeah." He wasn't giving Daniel any details as to why he was alone with Sam at this time of morning.
"How is your father doing this morning Colonel Carter?"
"He's about the same Teal'c. He hasn't gotten any worse, but he hasn't woken up either. They still aren't sure what's wrong with Selmak."
The four friends kept vigil at Jacob's bedside until they heard the Klaxons sound several hours later. Jack, Daniel and Teal'c left to see if the Tok'ra had finally gotten their message.
As the three entered the control room Sergeant Harriman responded "It's the Tok'ra ID sir."
"Open the iris Sergeant."
"Yes, sir."
They made their way to the gateroom when Ian walked through the horizon.
"Ian, good to see you again. I'm glad you finally got our message." Jack smiled at him.
"My apologize General O'Neill. I came as quickly as I could. How are Jacob and Selmak?"
"I'm afraid Jacob isn't doing well. He is in the infirmary. Come on we'll show you where it is." Daniel said moving towards the door.
"Why isn't Selmak able to heal him?" Ian asked as he followed the group to the elevator.
"Selmak is also gravely ill. The Tau'ri doctors are not able to determine a course of treatment that will be helpful for Selmak." Teal'c said as they entered the elevators.
The group continued to give Ian all the details of Jacob and Selmak's condition. He was finally up to speed as they entered Jacob's room.
Sam turned to see the group enter and gave a relieved smile. She was talking to Dr. Brightman who came in to check on Jacob.
"Carter, you remember Ian. Dr. Brightman, this is Ian a member of the Tok'ra. He is here to assist you with Jacob and Selmak's treatment." Jack turned to Ian and introduced him to Dr. Brightman.
They discussed the extent of Jacob and Selmak's injuries which procedures, and medication they were on.
Jack rubbed Sam shoulders to give her reassurance as they discussed Jacob's condition. Sam gave him a warm smile in response, before Jack dropped his hand back to his side. Daniel and Teal'c smiled at their small display of affection, and knew something had transpired. Everyone else would see it as a friendly gesture between the two, especially under these circumstances.
Ian finally decided to start with the hand device and go from there. The soft glow spread over Jacob's face and chest as Ian activated the device. After 30 minutes Jacob's life signs began to improve. The strength it took for Ian to activate the hand device for such a long period of time caused him to collapse
They rushed Ian to an exam room to check is vital signs. Dr. Brightman was relived when she found two strong heartbeats. He passed out due to exhaustion. She asked a nurse to stay with him until he regained consciousness. She left to check on Jacob and was surprised to see him waking up.
Up Next: Honestly I'm still writing the next chapter, and I've changed it several times. I can say Jack will have to deal with his relationship with Kerry, now that he and Sam are being honest with one another about their feelings.