A/N:Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Froggy0319 have I ever let you down and the sleeve is pretty full so whatch out. Ascifigirl ummmm don't remember lol, Sarah its coming missy hold your horses, glad you like revvie-s, natters,Romie, jane, kay.
Msjonyreb I hope I answered your quesitons and yes Feb04 pretending could be bad but just wait and see.
Okay on with the show.
Good Luck & Godspeed
PART 8
The doctor started her examination and took some blood to see how I was doing. Sam watched from the other bed. I insisted that the doc keep the curtain open so that she would not feel alone. After she took her sample Dr. Garrett said when she got the results back and if everything looked good I could be discharged and sent home to recuperate.
Doc looked over at Sam and said she might have to stay a couple of extra days for observation. The doc said she didn't like head injuries. That something always popped up days later and she'd rather be safe then sorry. She asked if she could do a CAT scan and Sam agreed.
I liked this doc more and more. She cared about her patients and seemed to have a good bedside manner not like the last doc. I looked over to Carter and she was biting her lip. That usually meant she was thinking and she was probably wondering how she was going to get herself out of the infirmary and home. I needed to step in and help spring her. She had spent enough time down here and needed to get back to the land of the living.
"Doc if Major Carter's scan is okay and she eats will you let her go home?"
She looked at me and back to Carter.
"She needs someone to keep an eye on her and it can't be you you're going to be on the mend yourself."
She turned to Carter and asked, "Major do you have anyone that can tend to you while you're off?"
Carter paled and started to fidget. She said no. I stared at her and wondered why she didn't say Pete would nurse her back to health. I was about too open my mouth when I thought better. I didn't know what had happened and maybe my luck was changing. Maybe she'd finally dump that stalker. I hid the happy thoughts that where dancing in my head and was interrupted by doc.
"I'm sorry I don't think it will be a good ideal for you to go home you might have a relapse and no one will be there to help you. So I'm going to have to insist that you stay till you're cleared and Mr. O'Neill's right you need to get some meat on those bones."
As much as I wanted to go home I wouldn't leave her. She whispered she understood but I could have sworn I saw relief cross her face.
The doctor went to call the interns to have Carter moved to the room with the CAT scan machine. I hopped out of bed and made my way over to Carter.
She took my hand and said she was happy to see that I was on my feet again.
"Not dancing a jig yet Sam but give me time."
She snorted and asked to be around when I wanted to try out the jig.
Daniel and Teal'c came back in to the room and were surprised to see me standing.
I explained to them what the doc had said about waiting to see what my test results were and about Sam getting a CAT scan to see if there was anything more to her injury. I told them that we would be here for a couple of more days since doc wouldn't release Carter as no one was there to tend to her and I was not able to watch her since I was in need of watching myself.
Teal'c and Daniel both blurted out that they were on downtime till we were both better and wouldn't mind watching us.
I looked to see Sam's face brighten and she squeezed my hand.
Teal'c asked why Sam could not go home and have Pete take care of her.
She blurted out that he was in Denver working on a case for the Colorado Springs Police and would be gone for a couple of weeks.
She didn't look us in the eye and I felt she was hiding something. Daniel looked at her and nodded and said that it was Pete's loss and to get use to ordering him and Teal'c around since she would not be lifting a finger to do anything till she gained the 20 lbs.
She gasped and said she had not lost that much weight and if she did gain 20 lbs she would have to be wheeled up the ramp when we went off world.
Daniel laughed and said he was kidding and Teal'c bowed his head and tried to suppress a smile. I squeezed her hand and she said she was happy we were all together again.
Doctor Garrett came in with the interns and saw us all smiling and laughing.
"Laughter is always the best medicine and I see its being given in large doses here. That's wonderful now what's so funny and if you're making fun of the new doctor then I might have to pull out my large needles."
We all burst out laughing and Daniel went on to tell the doc of what had happened. He explained that Janet used to threaten us with large needles when we would not cooperate and just hearing her now had reminded us of our friend. He volunteered Teal'c and himself to take care of both Sam and me. She was satisfied with that, but only after she got the results for the CAT scan and my blood work would she entertain any ideal of us going home.
Sam said she wanted to use the phone to retrieve her messages and to contact Cassie it had been two days since she last talked to her and since she was out of town she wanted to check to see if she had left any messages to inform them when she would be coming into town.
Teal'c helped her to the doc's office and I watched her from my bed. Daniel was asking Dr. Garrett about her background and Teal'c had come over to give Carter some privacy I still had my eye on her and saw her flinch and press the button on the phone. She closed her eyes again and pressed another button. She opened her eyes and I could see she was shaking. I started to get out of bed and Teal'c tried to hold me down but I pushed his hand aside.
I got up and with all my strength made my way to her. Something was wrong. Her whole body screamed it.
She did not hear me coming or the guys behind me when we heard her gasp and drop the phone.
Daniel came next to her and I got down to her level. She was crying. Had something happened to Cassie while we all this was happening?
I picked the phone and heard cursing and someone yelling her name. She grabbed the phone from my hand and hung it up.
I looked at her as she wiped the tears from her face. Daniel had his hand on her shoulder and I was confused. But it dawned on me who the caller was.
Pete.
Daniel had mentioned they where having problems but the anger in his voice spoke volumes.
Dr. Garrett came to my side and said it was time for Sam's scan she looked up and nodded okay and stood.
She was put on the gurney and I whispered I would be here when she got back. Teal'c said he would accompany her but she didn't respond.
I was left in the infirmary with the urge to redial the phone to hear what the ass had left on her machine.
I whispered to Daniel how long had this been going on?
He said Cassie had told him a while. But had promised Sam she would not say anything.
I glared at him and he said he had just found out and if he had known he would have taken care of the problem.
I was about to speak when the General came in to see the doctor.
Daniel helped me back to my bed and I was trying really hard to keep my emotions in check. I didn't want Carter to be dragged into something that me and Teal'c could handle as soon as I got out of here and had gotten some answers from Carter I would take care of the problem.
I was distracted when I heard my name being called and Daniel nudging me to get my attention.
General Hammond asked what was wrong. I said nothing and Daniel blurted out that Sam had checked her machine and had been verbally assaulted by Pete.
I glared at him again. Did the man not know when to keep his mouth shut?
Hammond looked at me and I didn't flinch. He turned to Daniel who had placed his hands into his pockets.
"Gentleman would you two care to explain to me what is going on in Major Carter's life? She is not here and she will be returning soon so I need to know if this has anything to do with the incident that occurred a week ago."
We both looked up at General Hammond and asked what incident.
"We had an incident 1 week ago concerning a certain Detective Shanahan and our second check point. He got to the second checkpoint because of you Jack. You vouched for him and I gave him minimum access. He insisted on seeing Major Carter since she had failed to contact him and he claimed that we were holding her here against her will and that she would be coming home if she had a normal job instead of going through the gate to fight aliens."
I covered my hand with my face and saw how this decision to help Carter had backfired on me and how badly I wanted to hurt this guy.
What an idiot did he think they would let him waltz down and see his girlfriend? Something wasn't right and I was going to find out what was the root of the problem.
Daniel was not surprised. I tried to read him and he just rolled his eyes and muttered something in gou'ald that I understood. I nodded agreeing with what he had said.
Daniel asked what had happened to Pete.
"Mr. Shanahan was escorted to a holding cell and I went to talk to him to set him straight. He was uncooperative and I had to make him understand that I was more then Major Carter's Commanding Officer but a close friend to her father. He changed his tune and said that he was just worried about Sam and thought that you Jack were keeping her away from him since he is under the impression that you and Major Carter are seeing each other."
Daniel threw up his hands and started to rant that he was a jerk and to think Carter and I would cross the professional lines was ridiculous.
I was on the verge of breaking something to get the rage out of my system, but I kept my cool not wanting the General too see how much this was affecting me.
"Well Jack why would Mr. Shanahan have the idea that you and Major Carter are involved? I know you Jack you would not do anything to harm Major Carter's reputation or career but if this got out the NID or Kinsey would be more then happy to run with these assumptions."
I took a deep breath and said, "sir nothing I repeat nothing has happened between me and Major Carter. He is just making accusations that are not true. You're right I would not endanger her career so I hope you trust me when I say nothing as far as I remember has happened between Major Carter and I."
He smiled.
"I know son it's just something I needed to ask and I asked Mr. Shanahan if he had any proof of the allegation. He just stammered and said she would not have stayed away from him so long and blamed you again for keeping her away from him. I told him you were out of the country and that Major Carter was working on a special project so she was not with you. He demanded I let him see her and I told him she was not available. Needless to say he had no more accusations after that and I let him cool his heels in the room for a couple of hours. He left without incident."
Questions were swirling around my brain. Was this guy flipping out because of me? What had she had to endure while she was trying to save my hide?
If none of this would have happened Sam would have been home having a normal life not in a lab trying to figure out an ancient dialogue to help bring me home.
The jerk was taking his anger out on her for not being able to be there for him. Daniel spoke and said that Pete had never liked Sam working for the program and had tried to get her to quit. I looked at Daniel and wondered how he had known all of this and why he did nothing.
I was about to ask when Sam was wheeled back in with Teal'c beside her. I held my tongue and would wait to confront Daniel later.
She smiled and relaxed when she saw me. General Hammond said we would finish our discussion later and I nodded.
Dr. Garrett said the CAT scan was clear and that Sam just needed to get some much needed rest and to gain some weight, she was still weak and needed to have no stress put on her the next couple of weeks.
Daniel and I looked at each other and nodded. We would shield her from her Pete. She needed to recuperate and from her reaction to his phone call she could not handle him.
I wouldn't let him hurt her. She had been through enough and I would be damned if that jerk would ever make her cry again.
Daniel asked when we could leave the infirmary and Dr. Garrett said tomorrow if my test results were good.
Sam tried to suppress a yawn and everyone looked at her. She shrugged her shoulders and said she was sleepy after the big meal she had.
General Hammond said we were in capable hands and left. Daniel said he was going to go shower and take care of some loose ends and Teal'c asked Carter if she needed him any longer. She nodded no and he excused himself to get some sleep.
We were alone, she patted the spot next to her in bed and I walked over slowly.
I wanted to ask her about the phone call but knew it wasn't a good idea. I climbed into bed with her and she wrapped her arms around me and laid her head on my chest.
I closed my eyes and inhaled. Everything I ever wanted was in my arms but I couldn't remember what had happened to get me to this point. She whispered she loved me and I held her tighter and kissed the top her head. I closed my eyes and searched the depths of my mind to see if I could remember, knowing that was the key to everything. I wasn't pretending anymore, I was letting my heart take over and I would show her that I did truly care for her and would protect her with my life.
