"Can you bend it?"
Ian frowned, holding back the wince of pain as he bent his leg, the knee feeling stiff and painful but hardly crippled. Janet nodded, her hands pressing against either side of the injured knee as he moved it, feeling for the motion of the ligaments and the tendons to make sure there wasn't anything out of order.
Her hands were on his leg, but her eyes were on his, watching for any sign of serious pain. And she was satisfied with what she saw – and felt.
"Good. How does it feel?"
"Fine."
Well, she knew it wasn't fine. But she also knew it wasn't debilitating, so she let it slide. The bruises were yellowing a bit, now – as were the ones on his ribs – and she knew that he needed a chance to be up and on his feet to work out the stiffness of the leg in order to finish off the recovery. From what she could feel and see, she was pretty certain that he wasn't going to need any physical therapy. His own need for physical activity would give him all he needed.
"Keep the brace on for another few days – especially once you start jogging again – and use either a crutch or a cane if you feel you can't put too much weight on the leg, okay?"
Since he was more than willing to agree to anything in order for her to let him out of the infirmary, Ian nodded.
Satisfied, Janet smiled, and made a couple of notations on his chart.
"You're cleared to leave, Cadet."
His smile was mixed relief and cheerfulness.
"Thanks, Doctor Fraiser."
"You're welcome."
OOOOOOOOO
While Ian dressed for freedom, Janet walked over to the other side of the infirmary, smiling again when she saw the large form of Doctor Ali once more checking out young Jake O'Neill, under the watchful eye of both parents, and Jaffer – who was sitting on the bed beside Sam, his eyes on the baby in the doctor's large hands. The big doctor had come to give the preemie a last check up before allowing him to go home, as well, and he was being just as thorough as Janet had been with Ian.
When Janet approached, the doctor had Jacob in his hand, belly down and running his free hand gently along his little back and butt, nothing but smiles as he kept a running commentary going with Jack and Sam, telling them exactly what he was looking for as he examined their son.
"How are things going?" Janet asked when she came over.
"He's perfect," Ali answered, giving Janet a warm smile. "I honestly can't believe just how healthy he is – but he's already gained almost a pound, and there's nothing to make me think he won't keep gaining weight if he's allowed to go home."
"Clean bill of health?" she asked.
He nodded.
"I'll want to see him weekly, though, for the next month or so – just to make sure. But there's no reason you two can't bring him to me next time – he doesn't need house calls."
Jack nodded. Like Ian, he was eager to get out of the infirmary, and anxious to get his wife and their new son home where they could have a little time for just the four of them for a while.
"Thank you, Doctor."
Ali nodded, smiling as he handed Jacob over to Sam.
"You're welcome. I love giving good news."
OOOOOOOOOO
While Sam – with some help from Janet - readied Jacob for his first trip home, Jack and Ian were attending a meeting with Hammond, Daniel and Teal'c in the briefing room. Ian had walked there on his own – limped there, really – with Jack hovering anxiously close by as he did so.
"Jacob's been cleared to go home?" Hammond asked.
Jack nodded.
"Sam's getting him bundled up now."
Hammond turned to Ian.
"You're cleared as healthy?"
The Cadet nodded.
"I have to wear the brace a little while longer, but Doctor Fraiser didn't put any other restrictions on me."
"That's because for the next three weeks, SG-1 is on stand down while Colonel O'Neill takes some personal leave to get things settled at home," Hammond said. "This includes you, Ian." Hammond had already had a couple of conversations about Ian – with Janet, and with the Commandant at the Air Force Academy. "For the next three weeks, you're on vacation."
Ian wasn't surprised by this. He knew that Daniel was going to take advantage of the time off to take a long vacation with Sally to Egypt to work on an archeological dig with an old colleague of his, and that Teal'c was going to head offworld to spend time with his kid – who Ian hadn't met yet, but wanted to eventually. He just wasn't sure exactly what he was supposed to do while he was on vacation.
Hammond, however, wasn't finished.
"Doctor Fraiser has expressed some concern with the fact that you've lost some weight since joining the SGC, and truth be told, I agree with her that you're looking tired. In light of that, I want you to spend your vacation relaxing. Do whatever you want to do – as long as you keep your nose clean – but take some time to enjoy yourself. You're excused from your assignments with the Academy for the duration – your instructors tell me you're far enough ahead that it's not going to do you any harm at all to take time off from that as well – so relax and enjoy your free time. Who knows when you'll get more?"
Ian nodded.
"Yes, Sir."
He wasn't sure what he'd do with himself, but maybe he'd lounge around the apartment and veg – for a while at least.
Hammond looked at Jack, who looked more than satisfied with the assignment, and then at the others.
"Anything we need to talk about before you all go?"
"No, Sir."
Daniel and Teal'c both shook their heads as well.
"Dismissed, and I'll see you all in a few weeks."
Of course, he'd probably see Jack sooner than that, since he'd sneak over and see the baby at least once in that time.
Hammond got up and went into his office, and the rest of them stood up as well – Ian a little slower than the rest. Before he could wander off, though, Jack intercepted him.
"Hey… come with me, Ian. Sam and I want to have another talk with you before we let you go."
He nodded.
"Sure, Jack."