The events of the morning, along with the pain medication she had been given, were beginning to take their toll, and so Sam nodded her agreement. She shifted more fully onto her left side, put her right arm more securely around JJ, and closed her eyes. That her right hand rested directly on top of Jack's didn't cause her to worry. In fact, it made it all the easier for her to drop into a restful, healing sleep.
Chapter 36 –One More Night
Jack entered the infirmary to hear the muffled voices at Sam's bedside start to increase in volume. He frowned to himself as he drew closer and shifted JJ to his right side. He had just returned from their quarters where he got JJ into a fresh outfit after his nap. He had been dusty, dirty and wet from this morning's events and in dire need of a change.
Jack stopped beside the curtain around Sam's bed and listened, curious as to why his 2IC was arguing with the doctor. Usually, she was very accommodating as far as the Doctor's orders went.
"Janet, there is no reason I should stay in the infirmary today! I'm not feeling any ill effects from using the hand device. Heck, I slept for over an hour! And my shoulder has been treated and bandaged. I'm not about to do anything taxing for the rest of the day!"
"I realize that, Sam," Janet tried using a more placating tone of voice. "But I'd really like to keep you here for observation. You haven't used that device in a long time. There's no telling if you'll experience any side effects later on today."
"Janet, I …will… be …fine!" Sam enunciated each word forcefully, her eyes flashing her anger at the idea of being kept in here the rest of the day. Just as quickly though, her anger dissipated as she heard JJ babbling from the other side of the curtain. Sam turned pleading eyes toward her friend. "Please Janet. I don't want to spend my last day with JJ lying in this bed. I just want…" she turned distressed eyes toward the curtain as Jack pushed it aside and stepped closer.
"If you release her Doc, I promise I'll make sure she rests and doesn't do anything more strenuous that click the TV remote," Jack stated lightly, trying to dispel the tense atmosphere.
Janet looked between Jack, Sam and JJ, who was straining forward to be returned to Sam's arms. Knowing she was fighting a losing battle, Janet sighed before agreeing. She took JJ from Jack and handed him over to Sam, who took him with a smile and cuddled him close. "All right, Sam. You win. I will release you, to the VIP suite only! If I hear one single hint from anyone that you have gone to your lab to check on things…"
"She won't, Doc. I'll make sure of it," Jack promised with a look of determination.
Sam rolled her eyes at both of them. "I'm not going to go to my lab. I have more important things to do, don't I little man?" she directed at JJ. She was rewarded by the first smile they had seen from him since early that morning. Sam turned an answering smile on Jack and Janet as well. Seeing JJ happy again was better medicine than anything Janet could have done for her.
Janet shook her head. "I didn't stand a chance, did I? Between the three of you, Sam would have gotten out of here somehow."
From the other side of the curtain, came the slightly whining voice of Daniel. "What about me? Who is going to vouch for me? I don't want to be stuck in here all day either!"
Janet walked over and pulled the curtain all the way back. "Daniel, you're still too unsteady on your feet to be released."
Daniel turned pleading eyes to Jack. "Sorry Danny, I'm going to have my hands full with Carter and JJ." He shrugged apologetically but with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
A deep voice came from the other side of the room. "I will escort Daniel Jackson to his quarters and make sure he refrains from engaging in any strenuous activity for the rest of the day, Doctor Frasier."
A look of relief and gratitude washed over Daniel's face. "Please Janet? I promise, I won't do anything other than read or watch a movie with Teal'c."
Janet threw up her hands. "Fine, Daniel. Fine. But I am going to give strict instructions to Teal'c to sit on you if he has to in order to keep you quiet!"
Daniel stood up quickly and gave Janet a brief hug, before moving back to sit down, a sheepish expression stealing across his face. "Uh, thanks Janet. Thanks a lot!" When Janet walked off, after giving them both strict instructions and Sam more pain medication, Daniel gave Sam a quick wink. He stood up, just a bit shakily, and left the infirmary with Teal'c standing close by in case he needed extra support.
Jack looked at Daniel's retreating form, then back at Sam. "What was that all about?" he asked, the suspicion evident in his tone.
Sam gave him a small smile, "That would be a classified information between infirmary patients. Here," she handed JJ to him, trying to change the subject. "Can you take him so I can change? I'll be right out."
"You're not fooling me one bit Carter, you know that right?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.
She just smiled in return and pulled the curtain around the bed. Janet was right about one thing, Sam thought to herself. She never stood a chance against SG-1!
Jack, Sam and JJ spent the rest of the day quietly in their quarters, watching movies, playing on the floor, and talking about everything and nothing. And though they tried to keep the conversation light, a dark cloud seemed to hang over both of them. For they knew that this would most likely be their last night with JJ; and with each other, in this particular situation. Neither one of them would admit it to the other, but they would both miss spending this precious time alone together..
Sam moved gingerly from the floor to the couch, making sure not to bump her shoulder. Jack watched her carefully, making Sam take a pain pill and lie down when he noticed the lines of strain around her mouth. She threw him a look, not particularly enjoying his over protectiveness, but didn't argue with him. She didn't want anything to ruin their last day together with JJ.
After eating a late lunch, Sam and JJ both fell asleep on the couch. When Jack attempted to take the sleeping baby from her arms, Sam instinctively tightened her hold on him. Jack grinned to himself and backed away. He wasn't worried about JJ falling from her arms; not with the hold she had on him! He settled back into the cushions on the chair and turned his attention to the movie currently playing on the television.
Around 1830, Daniel and Teal'c joined them, bringing several trays loaded down with food from the commissary. Among the many healthy dinner choices, they had both added sundry desserts for the team to choose from. Jack and Sam expressed their gratitude to their friends before tucking into the meal, JJ seated between them and partaking of him share of the food as well.
Sensing an undercurrent of melancholy from both of his friends, Daniel did his best to lighten their moods with tales of his afternoon spent with Teal'c. He had spent the better part of the afternoon explaining and playing the game of Risk with his alien friend; only to be totally annihilated once Teal'c caught onto the game.
Sam laughed outright at this image. "Maybe you have some innate desire to rule the world, Teal'c," she teased him lightly.
Teal'c quirked an eyebrow at her. "I do not believe this is so Major Carter. I only wished to show Daniel Jackson the importance of military strategy. He is very lacking at this skill, I am sorry to say."
"Hey!" Daniel retorted when everyone else burst into laughter.
JJ, as if sensing that this was a special evening, practiced his new found skill of walking and tottered between adults, happy with the attention he was receiving. He patted Teal'c's knee with a grin before stumbling his way over to Daniel. He still tended to be more clingy towards Sam than he had been previously, but they all understood and didn't attempt to coerce him away from her when he showed his preference for her.
At 2000 hours, Sam excused herself from the group and went to change JJ one more time before getting him into his sleeper. Once she was out of earshot, Jack turned to his friends. "Daniel, Teal'c, I need you to do something for me. Well, actually, ask Davis for that favor he promised. Tell him it's for Sam; he'll do just about anything for her at this point."
Looking puzzled, Daniel raised his eyebrows in question. "Uh, Ok, Jack. What do you want me to ask him?"
Jack bent close and quietly told them what he had in mind. Teal'c raised an eyebrow but refrained from saying anything against Jack's plan. Daniel, however, was not so reticent. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Jack? If the General finds out…"
"He won't find out Daniel, not unless someone tells him." He shot a meaningful glare at the younger man. "Davis is more than capable of pulling this off without anyone finding out. So…will you do it?"
Daniel exchanged a look with Teal'c before reluctantly nodding in agreement. "You're really sure about this?"
"Positive," Jack affirmed. "Call my cell when we have a go," Jack instructed them, then put his finger to his lips when Sam walked out into the room, holding JJ who had Bart clutched tightly in his arms. JJ was wearing the space themed sleeper and looking warm and cozy.
"Did I miss anything?" Sam asked as she set JJ on the floor to play with his blocks for a while. She wanted to make sure he was good and tired before he went down for the night. Sam was worried that JJ wouldn't sleep well tonight due to the events of the day.
"No, Sam, nothing at all," Daniel answered her. At a look from Jack, he and Teal'c stood up. "Well, we'd best be leaving. I think JJ has the right idea; going to bed sounds very appealing right now." Daniel stifled a yawn that didn't look all that real to Sam.
She shot a look at Jack who just raised his shoulders in innocence. Shaking her head at him, Sam stood up and walked over to the door with Daniel and Teal'c. Jack followed them, holding JJ in his arms. The little boy went willing to Daniel for a good-night hug, then to Teal'c before being reclaimed by Jack.
"Um, what time did you guys want us back in the morning?" Daniel asked quietly. He hated to bring it up, but they should have some type of plan for the return to the storage room where the mirror was being closely guarded.
"We'll call you," Jack interjected before Sam could say anything. "General Hammond said he would call us down as soon as any activity is noticed. It could be anywhere from 0500 to God knows when."
"Ok," Daniel agreed, not missing the way Sam's eyes had strayed to JJ and she had become very subdued. "See you both in the morning then."
"Good-night O'Neill, Major Carter, and Jonathon Jacob. Rest well," Teal'c added.
"See you guys." "Bye," followed them out the door.
When it was just the three of them once more, Jack returned to the living room and placed JJ on the floor. Turning to Sam, he said, "Why don't you go and take a bath. Relax for a bit. JJ and I will do some manly bonding stuff."
Sam gave him a small grin, before looking indecisively toward the door. She really would like to relax in the bathtub for a while. Seeing the indecision clearly written on her face, Jack steered her toward the bathroom. "Go on, just for a while Sam. You're strung tighter than a guitar string. Go relax."
"Ok. But just for a while. You won't put him to bed will you?"
Knowing she would want to tuck him in, he assured her, "Of course not. Besides, I don't think the little bugger particularly likes it when I sing to him. In fact, I do believe he covered his ears the last time I tried."
Sam laughed outright at that before turning and entering the bathroom, already beginning to feel herself relax.
Thirty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom clean and refreshed. As she toweled the ends of her hair dry, she looked quizzically at Jack. "Did I hear a phone ring while I was in the bathroom?"
"Uh, yeah," Jack thought fast. "It was just the General, making sure we knew he'd call us in the morning as soon as he hears anything." He wasn't about to tell her it was Daniel, telling him that everything was in place as he had requested.
JJ crawled over to Sam as soon as she took a seat on the couch and she willing picked him up. It was getting past the little boy's bedtime and started to show in the way he rubbed his hand across his eyes and snuggled more deeply into her warmth. Jack passed over a bottle that he had gotten ready while she was in the bathroom. Sam accepted it with a smile and offered it to JJ, who took it and popped it into his mouth.
As JJ drifted further and further into sleep, Sam became more and more introspective. She knew this could very well be the last time she would hold this little boy as he fell asleep. Her chest began to tighten and she could feel the tears begin to burn the back of her throat. How could she ever go back to her old life, now that she knew what she was missing?
Jack saw the battle that Sam was having with her composure and blessed his brain for actually having come up with a good idea for once. He moved off the chair, sat close to her on the couch, and pulled both her and JJ up against his chest. Sam stiffened immediately upon the contact and tried to sit up.
"Jack?" she asked quietly, her eyes going to the camera. Unlike the night when she had laid her head on his legs, this time she was in full view of the camera.
Jack pulled her back and whispered in her ear, "It's OK, Sam. The camera isn't recording any of this."
"What? How do you know that?"
"I called in a little favor." When Sam turned her head to give him a questioning look, he continued, "Sgt. Davis?" he prompted. At her dawning look of comprehension, he smiled.
"You mean he turned off the camera for us tonight? Why would he do something like that?"
"Two things. First of all, the camera isn't turned off exactly; it's on a continuous feed with footage from the last evening. Second, I asked him to. Well, Danny asked, but it was my idea," he stated proudly.
Sam shifted ever so slightly so she could look him more fully in the eye. "And what exactly did you have in mind, Colonel?"
Jack relaxed at her teasing tone. He hadn't been all too certain how she might react. "Not what you're thinking, Carter. Although… I could be persuaded to go that route." He waggled his eyebrows at her, then chuckled as she lightly punched him on the thigh. Turning her back around so that she was once again resting against his chest, he continued, "I just thought it might be easier, this last night, if we could be… close… without worrying about the camera and General Hammond. But if it bothers you…" he left it hanging so the decision would be totally hers.
Sam let herself relax more fully against him before she answered quietly, "It doesn't bother me at all, Jack. In fact, it's rather nice. Thank you."
Jack smiled and reached across her to take the bottle from JJ's now limp lips. "You're welcome."
They lay in silence for a long time, Jack's arms wrapped securely around both Sam and JJ. When he heard Sam sniffle softly, he tightened his hold and brushed a kiss against the back of her head. There was no need for words. They both knew how the other felt on this final night with a child who had worked his way into their hearts in six short days. And for all the sorrow they might feel at the upcoming morning, there was gladness too. For they had both been given a precious gift; the gift of realizing what was truly important in life.
