22?

Finishing faster then he expected, Jack went to find Sam. He found her hammering some pictures of planets on the baby's wall. Deciding to do a celestial theme, Sam had already put up a border of the solar system. Jack watched as she measured where to put the nail, then she carefully hammered the nail in. Gently placing the picture of Jupiter on top of the nail, Sam stood back to admire her handy work. She was so intent on her work that she hadn't noticed Jack leaning against the doorframe. He had his arms crossed and was just staring at her, complete admiration clear on his face.

He was able to watch for two full minutes before Rooster, who had been eating, came bursting into the room, barking like a wild dog. Sam jumped, dropped the hammer she was holding, and, as if in slow motion, both she and Jack watched it as it fell straight down, landing hard on Rooster's back, then plopping to the floor.

Rooster let out a loud yelp as he fell to the floor. Jack was by his side on the floor in an instant. Rooster was looking at him with big, sad eyes, whining loudly. "Oh my God!" Sam cried, unsure of what to do. "I'm so sorry!"

"Get the truck started!" Jack ordered. Sam rushed to the hallway and grabbed his keys from the table by her door, then ran to his truck and turned on the ignition. Jack gingerly picked up the injured dog, ignoring the strain he was putting on his knee. He walked as quickly as he could to the truck and placed Rooster in the seat next to a frantic Sam. She had scooted over to the passenger side, and when she saw Rooster, his eyes closed and deathly still, she burst into tears. Jack, not trusting his voice, didn't say anything to her as he sped his way to his veterinarian.

After parking the truck Sam hopped out with amazing speed considering her size. She rushed into the office and explained as quickly as possible what had happened. Moments later Jack came bursting through the doors and was led to an emergency room. Though he insisted on staying with Rooster, Jack was denied and was forced to wait in the waiting room with Sam. She still looked extremely upset, but Jack did not know how to comfort her. He knew it wasn't her fault, and he didn't hold one ounce of blame towards her, but he couldn't tell her. He was afraid if he talked to her, and reassured her, that he'd certainly lose it. And Colonel's in the Air Force did not lose it. Not over a dog.

So they sat in the waiting room silently for an hour and a half. Sam, whose baby would not let her miss a meal, had gone to get some hamburgers half way through the wait. When she returned she found Jack hassling the receptionist. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything. Dr. Finn will update you as soon as he can."

Jack scowled at the lady. "That's my dog in there. He was my Seeing Eye dog for a year. I need to know it he's okay."

Katy, the receptionist, felt pity for Jack. She remembered seeing him when he came in with the dog for its shots. He always had a warm smile for her, but now, his smile was replaced with fear. She quietly stood up from the desk, asked another lady to answer the phones for her, and then disappeared behind the door Jack had gone through when he carried Rooster in. Katy emerged and gave Jack a smile. "Dr. Finn's nurse says Rooster is doing fine. They had to sew up an open gash, but I'm sure you knew that." Katy pointed to Jack's shirt, which was covered in blood. Jack hadn't even noticed it. "Right now they are taking x-rays. We'll know the results soon."

"Thanks Katy." Jack sat back down next to Sam. "Did you hear her?"

Sam nodded. After another ten minutes of silence, Sam looked over at Jack. His face had relaxed a little, but his body was still stiff. "Sir, I didn't mean to-" Sam started, reverting back to their formalities.

Jack looked up at her, holding a hand up to stop her. "I know Sam." He said, emphasizing her name. He was not about to go back to calling her Carter. "It was an accident." He watched her face, still worried. "Sam, he's going to be all right."

Sam nodded, trying to hold back the onslaught of tears that threatened to come forth. Jack pulled her into a hug, finally able to comfort her now that he'd been comforted. She began to cry, and Jack patted her back. She had been worried that Jack had blamed her, and she knew she would not survive without him. After she had calmed down Jack held her quietly, her head resting against his shoulder. Just as she was about to doze off, Dr. Finn came into the waiting room and Jack jumped up to his feet. Sam quickly followed.

"He's in recovery." Dr. Finn told them. "I had to give him 23 stitches, but there's no broken bones. He'll be out for at least another half hour, but you can see him when he wakes up."

"Thank you Doc." Jack said, shaking the man's hand.

Dr. Finn smiled at them. "He'll have to wear a cone around his neck Jack."

Jack grimaced. "I hate those things."

"We do too, but they are necessary in preventing him from taking the stitches out. And he'll have to be watched when he goes outside. To make sure he doesn't roll around in the grass."

"I have to work tomorrow." Jack stated.

"I'll watch him Jack." Sam said.

Dr. Finn nodded. "He'll get the stitches out in a week. He wears the cone until then. And yes, he even wears it when he sleeps." He told them he'd have a nurse come get them when Rooster woke up.