What Fate Decrees - Part Nine
Several hours after she and Daniel had returned to the infirmary Sam was finally left alone with her Commanding Officer.
"Hey Colonel, you've got to get better, you know. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Her voice was soft, but it carried to the only other person who could hear – Janet. She didn't mean to listen, but the anguish in Sam's voice made her ears prick up. She came quietly around the curtain and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. Janet was well aware of her friend's feelings for her CO, perhaps better than Sam herself.
"Hey Sam, you feel like a chat?" she asked softly.
Sam shook her head, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. "I keep thinking what if…what if he doesn't make it… what will… Oh Janet" She couldn't finish for the tears and Janet quickly hugged her friend.
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'Voices again, God-damn voices.' He tried desperately to open his eyes, a dim blurred vision appeared, still voices, couldn't make out the words though, blinking, trying to clear his vision. 'Crap, can't move, can't speak, choking' – something in his throat!
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Janet turned her head, letting go of Sam and moving closer to the bed. Wondering what had attracted her friend's attention Sam looked towards the Colonel and saw his eyes were blinking.
Janet quickly leaned over her patient. "Colonel, can you hear me?" She took his hand, and Sam watched as he blinked several times before his eyes finally focussed. Janet spoke again. "Colonel, do you know where you are?" She smiled and Sam realized the Colonel had squeezed her friend's hand slightly to let her know he understood. "Colonel, I'm going to remove the tube, on three sir, blow."
The removal of the tube was accomplished quickly, and Janet raised the Colonel's head to give him sips of water to relieve the dryness the tube always left behind..
Sam stood looking at him. His eyes drifted to her face and once again fixed on her eyes as if mesmerized. Gradually, after several long seconds, his eyes closed.
"He's sleeping now," said Janet, checking his vitals again.
Sam let go a breath she wasn't even aware she was holding and sat down quickly.
Janet disappeared for a minute or two and came back bearing two mugs of steaming coffee. She handed one to Sam before sitting next to her. Sam sipped her coffee, looking down at the sleeping Colonel.
"Oh Sam, you've got it bad," Janet exclaimed softly.
"Huh?" asked Sam, lifting her face to Janet in surprise.
"Don't act the innocent with me Samantha Carter," chuckled Janet.
"Oh Janet, sssh," said Sam looking around quickly, but seeing no one she relaxed slightly. "Am I that obvious?"
"No, not really, just to someone who knows you well. Goodness you're as bad as each other."
"Each other? I don't think the Colonel feels the same as I do."
Janet grinned. "You're kidding? Is love blind or what?"
Sam blushed slightly. "Really Janet I don't think he thinks of me as other than a friend and his 2IC."
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Janet looked closely at Sam and realised she thought she spoke the truth. This was the perfect opportunity to tell her friend a few home truths. "Oh Sam, you watch each other constantly. You even seem to pick up each others thoughts without speaking sometimes. I've seen the way you look at him, and I've seen the way he looks at you. Neither of you do it obviously, only when you think it's safe. Honey, I think you've both got it bad." 'Just that I think the Colonel isn't fully aware of it yet,' she added to herself.
Sam's face changed as she looked down at her Commanding Officer. Janet sighed at the 'dippy' expression her friend wore. She squeezed her shoulder gently, and left her to her vigil.
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Sam became lost in her thoughts, and sat, free to gaze down at Colonel O'Neill without censure for once. She was dimly aware of Janet taking her empty mug and leaving, but her thoughts were with the Colonel, … with Jack. Seeing him lying there, pale and vulnerable, tugged at her heart. She leaned over, gently stroking her fingers through his greying hair. It was much softer than she imagined and her fingers strayed to his face. Asleep it was erased of the stress lines he normally wore and he looked so much younger.
He stirred slightly beneath her touch. A frown appeared and the slight movement his body made showed him to be in pain. Unsure whether to call for Janet or not, she stilled her movement, just keeping one hand clasped in hers. His eyes opened and Sam found herself yet again fastened to his dark chocolate eyes, eyes that appeared to lead to his soul.
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'Beautiful eyes,' he thought 'I could drown in those eyes. But she's your 2IC,' his conscience dictated, 'What a 2IC though, okay not proper thoughts Jack, don't go there, be quiet,' he told his conscience 'Way past it now Jack.'
He sighed deeply and gave Sam's hand a gently squeeze. "So Carter, how's things?" the words sounded hoarse and over forced to his ears, but it pulled them both back.
Sam's gaze flickered at the words, breaking the trance. "Oh just fine sir, you've given us all quite a scare though you know."
Still holding hands, neither of them seemed to want to break the contact and destroy the warmth and good feelings that it generated.
"Scare myself at times," Jack admitted hoarsely.
"I know the feeling well, sir," said Sam, looking down as she spoke and then up again and their eyes locked once more.
"Good to see you're awake, Colonel," called a voice from the foot of the bed.
Sam gave a start. She pulled her hand away from Jack's and stuffed them both in her trousers pockets. Turning to the voice she stood straighter "General," she acknowledged.
"At ease, Major" General Hammond moved around the bed and Sam stepped back to accommodate him. "Glad to see you're looking better than you were, Colonel."
"You mean I've looked worse than this?" said Jack with a slight smile, his voice still low and throaty.
"Yes son, I can say you've looked worse."
"I'll let Daniel and Teal'c know you're awake. Sir?" Sam asked the General's permission to leave.
"Carry on Major," he acknowledged as he sat down in the chair she had vacated. "Well son, another fine mess you've got yourself into. I've had the reports. Yours can wait a while." He held up his hand to discourage Jack from speaking. "I know you've saved Doctor Jackson's life in all probability, again I might add, but could you just not do it for once without getting yourself practically killed in the process?" His words were said softly, letting Jack know he wasn't censuring his actions.
"I'll give it a go next time," said Jack quietly, his eyes started to close once more, the effort of talking too much.
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Hammond saw Jack's eyes closing and stood up, clasping his officer's shoulder gently. "Get some rest. You did well son." He quietly left the Colonel to sleep.
The General shook his head ruefully as he moved down the corridors to his office. "One of these days son, you're not going to survive," he muttered to himself as he climbed the stairs to his office. Once there he settled himself down in his chair. "The Doc's going to need more file space than me if SG1 carry on like this," he said sadly, trying to deal with the paperwork the last mission had generated.
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