What Fate Decrees - Part Nineteen
Sam paused at the top of the stairs trying to compose herself. She looked down to find Janet standing at the foot of the flight staring up at her.
"I was just coming up to see if everything's okay."
"He's fine, but the bandages have taken a drowning." Sam managed to sound normal while she descended the short distance to where her friend waited.
Janet reached out to touch the other woman on the shoulder. "Sam, are you okay? You look upset. You two haven't been fighting, have you?"
Sam looked at Janet awkwardly, not knowing what to say. 'How can I tell her that I flung my CO on his bed and kissed him and now he's angry?' Although a friend, Janet was still an Air Force officer, so Sam opted for a quick shake of her head and averted her eyes. "I'll go get some drinks while you sort him out."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Janet sighed and picked up her medical bag to take upstairs. She couldn't help but wonder what had upset Sam so much, and promised herself that if the Colonel was the cause she'd make sure those bandages were tight!
She didn't stop to knock and went straight into the bedroom, to find the Colonel sitting on the edge of the bed looking flushed and tousled, but also clearly in discomfort. His hands were splayed around his ribs and he was breathing shallowly through gritted teeth. Janet walked straight up to him and almost threw her bag onto the bed beside her patient, causing him to jerk in surprise.
Jack wouldn't look her in the face. 'They have been fighting' thought Janet as she watched him flush more at her glare. 'Fighting or – no don't go there' she stopped herself and checked his bandages.
"Honestly sir, I think you'd get them less wet in a shower," she complained as she fished in her bag for her scissors and cut the bandages from him.
"Lie down while I check," she ordered and Jack slowly complied, wincing as he went flat. Janet felt around his ribs, noticing how bad the bruising still was considering the length of time since the injury, although in parts it was a distinct yellow. Stripping the dressing from the exit wound she checked it as well. "It seems to be healing normally. Is it still painful?" she asked.
"Uh, a little." confessed Jack.
Janet sighed, knowing full well what a little was from the Colonel's point of view.
"Don't go overdoing it. Those ribs are only just starting to knit. That spear did a lot of damage - it took chunks out of your bones you know."
"Put like that how can I argue," the Colonel answered dryly, obviously recovering some of his humour.
Janet laughed and then thinking 'now or never', continued, "Sam didn't look very happy just now."
"Sam?" He looked up quickly as a slight flush rose on his face. "What did Carter say?"
"She didn't say much really. Did you two have a fight or something?"
"Not exactly," he hedged.
Janet was now intrigued and didn't want to let it drop. "Not exactly what?" she asked.
"Sorry, not exactly ma'am," he mocked, purposely twisted her words.
"Sorry Colonel," she gave him a glare. "Sit up while I do your back, sir." She carried on with the formality, a little annoyed, but reminding herself that he was still a senior officer.
The Colonel managed to get up without much help from her and sat on the edge of the bed while she checked the entry wound the spear had caused on his back. She placed a fresh dressing on both entry and exit wounds. "Another couple of weeks and I think we can leave the heavy bandages off," she commented as she began to re-bandage him.
The Colonel sucked in a sharp breath as Janet pulled on the bandages. "Come on, Doc - I didn't hit her," he protested, "I think you're bending my ribs the wrong way."
"Oh sorry," squeaked Janet, a little alarmed that she'd got carried away. "I didn't mean to get them so tight." She adjusted the bandages. "There, is that better?"
Jack nodded, trying to catch his breath.
"I know you didn't hit her, sir, but there's more than one way to hurt someone, you know," said Janet as she finished off the bandages.
"Oh yeah, I know." Colonel O'Neill's voice was low and hesitant. "Look, I'm sorry, but you'll just have to talk to Carter. Maybe she'll tell you, but you have to know I really didn't mean to upset her. I didn't mean for …" He trailed off, looking down at his hands.
"Sorry… I.." and Janet trailed off herself, seeing he was hurting just as much as Sam was. "Anyway," she said more brightly, changing tack. "What about the good news? Have you taken it in yet?"
"Yeah, sorry Doc, and thanks." His eyes met hers and he was smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes - they were dark with hurt.
"What say we all go out and celebrate? A meal perhaps?" she suggested.
He nodded slightly, looking down again. "Do me a favour and ask Carter first before you announce it. She may not feel like … she may not be comfortable with me ... it."
"Okay, I'll do that. I'll see you downstairs." Janet finished putting the last of her equipment away and binned the old bandages before leaving the room.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Jack sat still for a few minutes, trying to understand what had happened, but ended up being none the wiser. With a sigh he forced himself up and slowly found an outsized football shirt, which he managed to get into before heading down.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Janet found Sam in the kitchen.
"Hey, I didn't pour till you were done," said Sam grabbing the coffee pot and a mug.
"I suggested we should go out and celebrate the good news with a meal, perhaps tonight," said Janet casually, watching Sam's face.
"Oh" Sam's face showed no emotion. "Does the Colonel feel up to it?" she asked, grabbing the cloth and wiping the clean counter yet again.
"He said to ask you first." Janet took a sip of her drink, still watching her friend closely. "Any reason we shouldn't go?"
"No …." Sam hesitated slightly "That would be nice. We haven't been out since before, well since way before the accident," she replied.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam held her emotions in check, but inside her mind was in turmoil with the implications of what had happened – or almost happened – in the Colonel's bedroom. She knew if she said no to going out Janet would be at her until she found out what the problem was.
"Great, I'll go tell the guys." Janet hurried away, and Sam relaxed in relief, leaning against the counter top. She heard voices and realised Colonel O'Neill had come downstairs – she would have to face him.
By the time Sam joined the others in the lounge the Colonel was sitting in his usual position on the sofa and Janet was arranging the time and place for the meal.
"Right, it's settled then, O'Malley's for eight." finalised Janet "You bring the Colonel," she nodded at Daniel "and I'll pick up Sam and Teal'c. Lord!" she exclaimed catching sight of her watch "I've got to run and pick Cassie up."
Sam stood too. "I'd better get going as well. I need to clean up and change. Can I drop you off, Teal'c?" she offered.
Teal'c acknowledged her with an incline of his head. "That would be most agreeable Major Carter."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo