I'm sooo sorry to keep everyone waiting on this chapter. I've been so busy I was too tired to concentrate on writing. I hope it's alright now though, and that you enjoy it.
Big, huge thanks to all of you who sent in reviews. Thanks guys. I need all the encouragement I can get here.
Title: Unity.
Author: LetitiaRichards.
Previously:
"So Doc...when can I get outta here?"
Chapter 29
"Not so fast Colonel! You have a lot of healing to do first."
Sam smirked, seeing the look of disappointment on Jack's face. It was so typical of him that she had to laugh because otherwise she would have cried; he sounded so normal.
"For a start Colonel, you have a lot of injuries that preclude you from managing at home on your own. There's your feet to begin with, they sustained a little more damage when you took a walk on them when you shouldn't have done. Your thigh is still recovering from those infected bullet wounds. There's no way you can use crutches with that hand at the moment. If you go anywhere it will be in a wheelchair. Then there's..."
"Okay, okay! Jeez. I get the picture Doc!" Jack grumbled, feeling deflated under the weight of his catalogue of injuries. "So I'm a mess." He knew he wasn't up to the task anyway but did she have to rub it in?
"I'll let the General know you're awake sir," Janet grinned, giving Sam a sly look as she left them alone.
"I'm glad you're okay Jack," Sam smiled, taking his hand in hers.
Jack squeezed it and smiled up at her.
"Me too. So what's the news. Everyone okay? How's Daniel?"
"I'm fine thanks Jack!" Daniel said as he stood in the doorway. He'd been asked to report to the infirmary where Janet wanted to check on his healing injuries, though he was in a far better condition than Jack was. He was practically fit again and hoped Janet was about to give him the all clear. "I see you're looking a little better. That's good."
Sam had started at the sound of his voice, and swung round to see him.
The young man sauntered in casually with his hands in his pockets, wearing a big smile. Daniel took in the carefully schooled features and overly cheerful manner of his friend and wasn't fooled in the least. Jack was hiding his true feelings as usual. No-one, no matter who, could recover from that depth of trauma and come out smelling of roses at the drop of a hat or the shock from a zat gun in Jack's case. He cast him a thoroughly scrutinizing gaze and Jack met it, but after a moment, Jack had to look away, turning to say something to Sam to cover up his shortcomings.
Jack knew he couldn't hide anything from Daniel. The man might look like he was always lost in his own little world, but he was nothing if not astute when it suited him.
Daniel sucked in a deep breath, holding it for a second or two before letting it out with a deep sigh.
"Jack," Daniel cried with exasperation.
"Daniel," Jack warned, knowing his friend knew the truth but unwilling to let him share it; especially with Sam. But Daniel was Daniel and wouldn't take the hint. Always worrying, like a dog with a bone.
"Why don't you cut all the crap Jack and tell us how you really are?" Daniel demanded, coming to a halt beside Sam.
Sam looked from Daniel to Jack and scowled.
"What aren't you telling me Jack?" Sam pleaded.
"It's nothing. I'm FINE!" he growled, annoyed with Daniel for bringing it up now.
"No you're not!" Daniel insisted.
"Yes I am!"
"Jack! Would you quit with that. Just admit it for once. I thought we'd gone through all this in Iraq!" Daniel sighed heavily, glaring at Jack who folded; weighed down by Daniel's forthright honesty and concern. "You can't hide this. It's too...big, and it'll do more harm than good."
They had gone through enough and they deserved the truth, reluctant though Jack was to admit it.
Jack sighed and lay back against the pillows, moisture settling in the creases around his eyes.
"Okay. If you want the brutal truth. I'm not alright..." he admitted reluctantly.
There was an audible gasp from Sam, but he clung to her hand to keep her nearby. He needed her now more than any time in the past. Would she be strong enough to help him or would she make her excuses and leave him to nurse a broken heart among other things?
He was rewarded by a tightening of her fingers round his and her hand reached out to brush away his tears.
"I'm scared!" The statement came as a total surprise to them; Jack included. He wasn't so sure he meant to have said that out loud, and yet he felt liberated. It was make or break time. Now the truth was out he couldn't take it back and it frightened him more.
Jack's breath hitched and Sam's heart broke with sympathy, though she knew Jack wouldn't want or need that from them. He needed them all to be strong for him. He needed to lean on his team-mates for a change and all of them would never turn their backs on him. Not now, not ever.
Jack turned his head away, embarrassed about showing his weakness, but Sam gently cupped his cheek and brought it back so that she could look into his dark haunted eyes. She sat herself on the edge of the bed, and brought his hand up to her lips, brushing a light kiss over his knuckles while keeping the other hand on his face.
"Jack, listen to me. We want you to know it doesn't matter. We will always be here for you, no matter what you are going through. We are a team. One hell of a team and we stand by our leader through thick and thin. Do you understand that Jack? We're not leaving you and we're not letting you brush your own needs aside."
Sam leaned forward and swept a chaste kiss over his lips, eliciting a startled gasp from him which turned into a hesitant smile.
"I love you Jack. Never forget that."
"I..."
"What? What is it you want Jack? Tell me!"
"I love you too Sam, but I just...I need to go home," he sighed. He needed to be out of this place. He'd seen the inside of too many military base infirmaries lately to last a life time. He knew he would only heal completely away from here. Home. Where he could fully unwind and relax and with his friends around him to help chase the nightmares away. "With you," he added pensively.
"Okay, I'll have a word with Janet and General Hammond. If...and it's a big 'IF', they agree, then we'll all take time off to look after you. Is that what you want?"
Jack sighed a little, looking undecided, but eventually he nodded, because he knew it was going to be the best offer he was likely to get.
"So how do you really feel?" Daniel asked, joining in once again having stood back to give Sam centre stage.
"You really wanna know?" Jack asked, lifting his hand to rub over his brow and tired eyes. He was sooo tired again he could barely keep awake.
Daniel nodded, "Yeah Jack. I wouldn't be here if I didn't care," he sighed.
"To be truthful…like crap! I feel like I got zatted," he complained.
"You did Jack. Uh...Teal'c had to use a zat gun on you," Daniel said, not really wanting to say anything, but he really wanted to be honest with Jack.
"Why?" Jack insisted, frowning up at them both.
"Because you were about to make another attempt to take your own life again O'Neill," Teal'c informed him from the doorway as he entered the room. "It is good to see you awake O'Neill."
"I'll get back to you on that T. Now, why would I do that?" Jack asked, full of disbelief.
"It was another deliberate attempt to induce you to end your life. I was able to stop you before it was too late." Teal'c stood calmly before him and Jack knew he'd spoken the truth.
"Ah...Janet said that there was something in your blood that made you... It was a chemical that they injected into you so that they could brainwash you."
"I thought that was all over?" Jack stated, wondering if it really was.
"According to Dr. Fraiser, the effects from the Zat'nikatel dissipated the anomalous chemical in your blood."
"So, what? I'm okay now?" Jack needed to know.
"We can only assume so. Ah...there's only one way to find out, but I think we should wait until you've rested a bit more Jack. See how things go," Daniel shrugged.
Jack wasn't going to argue with that. He was tired. His eyelids felt extraordinarily heavy and drooped, so Daniel shepherded Teal'c from the room, leaving Sam with a message for Janet about coming by later and to sit with Jack for a while longer. She held his hand while he drifted off in the quiet of the room.
TBC
