What Fate Decrees - Part Sixteen
The day passed quietly. Daniel even persuaded Jack to eat some lunch. Evening soon arrived and Jack was having a sleep on the couch when Sam and Janet arrived together. Daniel put his finger to his lips to keep them quiet and led them outside, past the sleeping Colonel.
"Is he okay?" asked Janet, puzzled by Daniel's action.
"Fine, I think. I just wanted a quiet word really," he hesitated a little.
"Do you want me to go?" asked Sam.
"No, no, its erm, look have a seat," he waved them towards the chairs on the patio and sat himself. "Jack's thinking of retiring," he blurted, not knowing how else to start.
"What?" cried Sam, caught by surprise.
"Well, thinking is the key word here. He's agreed to not do anything about it yet, but you know Jack."
"If he makes his mind up we'll never budge him," responded Sam, nodding and looking worried.
"Janet, I'm pretty sure it's because he thinks they won't pass him for active duty and he wants to beat them to the punch, so to speak," Daniel continued.
Janet looked down, suddenly not able to meet his gaze.
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"Janet?" asked Sam and the doctor knew her friend had seen her discomfort at the direction in which the conversation was heading.
Janet wasn't sure how to answer; she licked her lips and pushed her hands deeper into her pockets. "You know I can't say much, but there is a strong possibility that he is right you know." She looked up to face them both and found them staring at her in alarm. Sam's face was a picture of horror; she clearly hadn't expected anything like this.
"You know men of the Colonel's age are usually behind a desk, well even younger than him really. He's only escaped it so far because of the uniqueness of the SGC and of course because he's been passing the medicals, which I hasten to add, the powers that be have asked for more frequently and are making tougher."
"But that's not fair!" cried Daniel.
Janet frowned at him and shook her head. "Daniel, you know how tough it is out there, how many people we lose. It's not a case of being fair. How long do you think the Colonel would last, or his team, if he were unfit?"
Daniel had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm sorry Janet, but Jack's no slouch in fitness."
"You don't have to tell me that. He could still run rings around men ten years younger, but the powers that be won't take another serious injury lightly. He's already been flagged for a complete medical assessment before returning to light duty."
"Before you pass him fit for light duty?" asked Sam incredulously, "Why?"
Janet flinched slightly, realising she'd already said too much, but it was too late to back out now.
"They're questioning the injury being so severe and his putting a civilian at risk. They're questioning his reactions."
"They're what?" exploded Daniel "For God's sake, haven't they read the report …"
"Sssh, keep it down," hushed Janet, looking towards the house.
Daniel took a deep breath to calm himself. "Jack got injured because I didn't listen. I broke a direct order. In fact I don't know how he got to me so quickly. I wouldn't call his reflexes slow, anything but slow - they've saved my life too many times."
"Janet, Colonel O'Neill's fast. You know he's beaten me to things time and time again. He doesn't hesitate or think if there's danger – he goes for it," added Sam.
Janet heard the sincerity in their voices and saw it on their faces, but she had to make her point. She put a hand up to stop them, and spoke firmly. "Look, I'm not the one needing convincing. I know how capable an officer he is, but the point is they'll decide on his fitness at the time of the medical."
"Have they set a date?" asked Sam, her face reflecting the worry they all felt.
Janet nodded "Eight weeks."
"Eight? Just eight weeks?" Daniel gasped. "How the hell do they expect him to be fit in …. Oh." Daniel tailed off as the penny dropped. "Does Jack know?"
Janet nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.
"But won't they do a reassessment later?" asked Sam.
Janet shrugged "I think the system is being worked to someone's advantage other than the SGC's or Colonel O'Neill."
"They don't want the Colonel to resume active duty, do they?" asked Sam in a whisper.
Janet saw Daniel's face fall as Sam's words sunk in. "There's no way he'll pass a medical in eight weeks, is there?"
Janet shook her head sadly. "Hell, someone half his age would need longer."
"Does the General know?" asked Sam.
"Yes, in fact I spoke to him today. He's still making enquiries and pulling markers in to try and get it delayed."
"Is there anything we can do?" offered Daniel.
"Keep the Colonel going. If he gives up and retires we can't even make an appeal, can we?" said Janet as brightly as she could. "Now if you don't mind, I'll go wake sleeping beauty and check him out."
Janet entered the house, picking her bag up on the way from the doorway, knowing her friends needed a few minutes to absorb the information she had just given them.
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"Sam, we can't let them do this."
Sam looked at Daniel, trying hard not to show how affected she was by Janet's revelations. "You heard Janet – we've got to keep him from retiring."
"For what though? So they throw him a desk? He won't do that Sam, you know that!"
"We could start him on a mile run in the morning," Sam choked out, trying to smile through the tears that began to fall.
Daniel didn't answer her; he just gathered her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
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