What Fate Decrees - Part Fifteen
Sam shivered, as she felt as though a ghost had walked through her. 'For the package to be sent in the first place, the timing of the delivery, whatever caused Colonel O'Neill to put it in his pack … Someone up there was surely looking after the Colonel … they must be!'
She felt her eyes getting moist and she gave herself a mental shake. She ran a hand through her hair trying to dispel the prickles from her scalp.
The silence that had fallen was broken by a huge sigh from Daniel as he rose to start clearing up. The noise from the plates and silverware disturbed Jack. He stirred restlessly and tried to sit up, still half asleep. The movement caused him pain and he clutched at his chest, sinking back down with a moan.
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Janet was over in a shot "Take it slow, Colonel," she murmured, kneeling down in front of him.
Blearily he opened his eyes "Doc?" She nodded at him. "Thought I'd escaped the infirmary," he muttered.
Laughing, Janet gave the Colonel's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You did sir. You're home, but you can't escape your doctor."
Janet waited as he struggled to come around more. "That injection I gave you earlier was quite strong. I'm surprised you stayed awake as long as you did," she admitted. "Come on, I'll give you a hand to get upstairs while Daniel says goodbye to everyone."
Sam was hovering to one side, looking unsure of herself, as if she didn't quite know what to do to help. She reached a hand out, and suddenly pulled it back. "I'll just give Daniel a hand to clear before we go. Goodnight, sir," she said, before turning in the direction of the kitchen.
Jack seemed to suddenly remember the others were there, and spoke to Sam's retreating back. "'Uh, sorry I fell asleep, 'night," he murmured. Janet helped him to his feet and walked beside him, holding one arm to steady him as he made a slow journey towards his bedroom.
It took a little while to get Jack to his room, but eventually Janet got him to his bed. She quickly stripped him down to just his boxers and gently lowered him down. He was asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. She covered him with the blankets and turned off the light, but left the door ajar and made her way back to the lounge room.
The others had got everything ship-shape by the time she joined them. "I think he'll sleep the night out," she advised them.
"We better be going then. I'll drop Teal'c off," said Sam as she grabbed her things together.
Daniel walked everyone to the door. Janet paused to speak to him as they watched Sam and Teal'c get into Sam's' car.
"Keep him quiet, and make sure he does little as possible for now. I'll be back tomorrow."
Daniel gave her a smile "I'll do my best, but you know Jack."
Janet nodded, knowing he was right. Colonel O'Neill never played the part of an invalid well.
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Daylight filtered into Jack's room, waking him. His body clock had been set for years to wake early and today was no different. Lying stiff from sleeping in the same position all night, he gently stretched himself as he listened to the birds' chorus outside his window. Hearing nothing else stirring, he realised Daniel must still be sleeping so he quietly and very carefully dressed himself in the same bottoms Janet had discarded the previous evening. Not bothering to wear anything else, he slowly made his way downstairs. He grabbed some juice from the kitchen and walked stiffly to the deck overlooking the garden and woods behind his house. There, he sat quietly sipping the juice as the sun rose higher, piercing through the early morning chill and promising a nice day. He gave a contented sigh - he never lost the wonder of seeing the sun rise and set.
A yawn announced the presence of Daniel as he poked his head out of the doors to the house. "God, Jack, it's still the middle of the night." He rubbed his hands over his arms and then did a 'double-take' at Jack's apparel, or lack of it, almost making the man laugh.
"What are you doing? Janet'll kill me!"
"Relax Daniel, it's a beautiful morning. I couldn't stay in bed any longer."
"You could have called me," groused Daniel "I'll put the coffee on." He disappeared for a few minutes then reappeared, handed Jack a jacket to put on and disappeared again.
Jack left the jacket hanging loosely around his shoulders as he sat contemplating the morning.
A little while later Daniel came out dressed, bearing two mugs of coffee. Jack gratefully accepted the one his friend held out and the two men sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts as the sun climbed higher. Eventually Daniel stirred himself.
"Hungry?" he asked.
Jack shook his head.
"You've got to eat. You barely touched anything yesterday."
"Don't fuss. I'll let you know when I'm hungry."
"Okay, I'll let you off breakfast, but you will eat lunch or I'll report you to Janet," threatened Daniel as he went into the house. He returned a few minutes later with a tray bearing water and Jack's tablets along with fresh coffee and a toasted sandwich for himself.
"Mmm good," murmured Daniel between mouthfuls.
Jack sat lost in thought, gazing into the woods and mountains.
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Daniel drank in the last mouthfuls of his coffee with satisfaction, and finally replete, sat back to enjoy the sun. "Penny for them?" he asked, seeing the other man's unfocussed gaze.
Jack turned his head slowly to look at him, his eyes questioning Daniel.
"I said, penny for them?" repeated Daniel.
"Not worth that much," replied Jack quietly.
Daniel gave him a sharp look, remembering Janet's warning about depression.
"Sure I'd give you a penny – if you've got change," he joked.
Jack gave a small grin, but it was more of a reflex than a genuine show of pleasure. "It's a funny world or worlds," he began softly.
"Sure is," agreed Daniel.
"I'm thinking of retiring," blurted Jack suddenly.
For a moment Daniel was shocked speechless, then he collected his thoughts and answered. "What? Come on, you've been there and done that. More than once I might add."
"Yeah, I know, but this time I don't think I've much choice. I don't think they'll pass me for active duty this time."
"And you don't know they won't."
Jack frowned, looking down at his hands as he turned his mug around, the cold liquid swirling within it. "Look, putting it bluntly, I'm already on borrowed time. My files are marked for six monthly medical assessments while I'm on active duty. I've screwed with the regs for a long time and they were bound to catch me up sooner or later. I don't want to fly a desk and gather dust."
Daniel gave Jack a look; it was quite a speech for the man. "What, you don't fancy a nice cosy job – promotion perhaps? A pay rise?" he joked.
"Promotion!" scorned Jack, finally looking up. "Do me a favour! I've upset too many people, pissed-off the top brass once too often. I'll go to my grave a Colonel, if they don't court martial me first that is. I just don't want to die of boredom doing it."
Daniel tried to reason with his friend. "But if you retire, you'd die of boredom."
"Daniel, there's a lot of call out there for people with my talents if you know where to look. I just wouldn't be on the Air Force payroll, that's all."
Daniel's mind started to boggle with fleeting thoughts of jungle warfare, black ops and God alone knew what else. "Jack, you've just got to give it time yet. It's a bad injury, but it'll heal. You'll get fit," he pleaded.
At Daniel's tone Jack looked at him thoughtfully. "Okay," he said quietly, fi somewhat reluctantly. "I promise I won't do anything yet. I'll give it a bit longer."
Daniel knew that at the moment that was the best he could hope for. He hoped it was just the depression and pain talking, so he decided to keep off the subject, turning the conversation to other matters.
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