Sorry to keep everyone waiting for this chapter. I was a little under the weather yesterday and couldn't put my mind to anything, but I'm fine now, thank goodness.
Thanks to everyone who sent in reviews. It's good to know you're still with me and enjoying it too.
JessieC – I'm glad you decided to bite the bullet and give this a try. Thank you, and it's good to know you are enjoying it after all. Frankly, I'm amazed at the response I've gotten from it.
Title: Unity.
Author: LetitiaRichards.
Previously:
"Okay kids. Wagon's roll!" he cried in a poor imitation of Ward Bond in his roll as wagon master from the TV series 'Wagon Train.'
Chapter 32
Daniel rolled his eyes and Sam giggled, but Teal'c looked completely perplexed.
"Don't worry Teal'c," Sam whispered conspiratorially in his ear, "The Colonel's just showing his age!" she laughed, bringing her a narrow-eyed glare and pursed lips from her CO.
"Carter!" he warned.
"Yes sir?" she asked innocently.
"No giggling at the back there Major. Take point!" Jack ordered, making Sam giggle even more. It was good to hear him making jokes again. She skipped forward to swipe her card through the reader to call the elevator.
OoOoOoOoO
The fresh mountain air was wonderful and Jack couldn't breath in enough of the scent of pine trees. They couldn't push him very far along the trail as it became too rugged for the wheelchair, but they parked him next to the bench overlooking the city below. It was a popular spot for the crew that worked below, when they needed a break from the artificial atmosphere of Cheyenne Mountain.
Jack drank in the sight of green trees and fields; red roof tops mingled with green or grey ones among the houses down below on the fringes of the city. He closed his eyes savouring the feeling of being back in the USA, among his own people; safe, surrounded by his friends.
"Jack?" Sam asked, concern lacing her soft voice, seeing his eyes close.
Jack opened them again to look round at her.
"What?"
"Are you okay? Do you need to go back?" she inquired, worried that it was too much too soon, and this too tiring for him.
"Yes. No. I'm fine, just… well, this is nice," he said, smiling shyly. How did they know that this was what he needed?
Sam's beam of relief and warmth cast the sun into the shade and his spirits lifted further.
They sat there in silence mostly, allowing Jack to talk if he wanted; but mostly he just sat there, quietly enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the place.
After several minutes had passed, the peace was shattered by a loud metallic rustling and the next thing Jack knew he was handed something wrapped in silver food foil.
He looked at the others, all of whom were wearing big grins. He frowned.
"What?"
"Open it up Jack, then you'll find out!" Daniel sighed, his grin belying his gruff words.
Jack shrugged.
"Okay," he sighed, pealing back the thin metal wrapper. He smirked, more than pleased with the item sitting in his lap.
"Nice!" he exclaimed, grinning like there was no tomorrow.
Sam handed him a fork from...well, he didn't want know where she'd hidden them, but they all seemed to have one.
He accepted the fork and tucked into his portion of chocolate cake covered in gooey chocolate frosting.
"Hmmm!" he sighed with relish. "Thish ish goog! Thanksh!" he said round a mouthful of his favourite food. Janet didn't have anything like this on her list of foods he was allowed. He'd had to endure endless days of soup and rice and bland chicken dishes, with Jell-O to follow. He'd longed for his favourite foods, like pizza or steak and a nice cool beer as well as cake.
"Yes, well, just don't let on to Janet, okay?"
"No way," Jack stated with feeling after he'd swallowed the mouthful. "What do you take me for Daniel? I'm not that dumb!"
They sat there for a while longer, finishing the cake and letting it digest. It was followed by a soda, which much to Jack's chagrin wasn't beer, but it would have to suffice.
Sam's mobile phone rang and she looked on the caller display.
"It's Janet," she sighed, answering the call. "Janet? What's wrong?"
There was a pause followed by a big sigh, while Sam listened to her friend on the other end.
"Yeah. Actually he's fine. Already? Okay then, bye."
Jack looked over at her and she gave him a wry smile.
"Time to go back Jack. Janet says we shouldn't tire you out. We've been up here well over the allotted hour."
"I'm fine, for cryin' out loud!" he answered grumpily. Roll on tomorrow when he could go home and be free of the Napoleonic Powermonger's clutches. Well, mostly anyway.
"I know. But if we don't take you back I wouldn't put it past her to call out the guards to come fetch us."
Jack sighed heavily, his shoulders drooping, knowing Janet, she would too.
"Fine! Take me back into the lion's den why don't you!"
"She's not that bad Jack?"
Jack looked up at each of his team-mates and slumped forward in his chair.
"I guess not, but she's already threatened me ya know!" he whined.
"Now, I wonder why that is Jack? Maybe she knows you too well," Daniel snorted, making Sam giggle again.
Teal'c moved forward to remove the brake, but Jack's hand stalled him.
They waited to hear why he had prevented Teal'c from moving him.
"I just wanted to say...well, thanks kids." He paused, feeling slightly embarrassed at showing his inner feelings. "This was really nice. No-one talked about... geez..." he paused, hating to say anything that reminded him and them of his recent experience. "...Iraq or what happened there. Nobody pressured me to explain anything..." His voice faded to a whisper, but his friends knew what he meant. "It was good. Thank you!"
Daniel being the diplomat of the team, was the first one to speak.
"We're your friends Jack. You don't have to explain anything to us. Talk about it, how and when you want to, but don't shut us out. We're here to help you Jack." Daniel gripped Jack's shoulder to emphasise his words, while the others nodded in agreement.
"Indeed O'Neill. We will be there whenever you wish to tell us of those things," Teal'c confirmed.
Jack nodded sadly, knowing he would have to talk at some point, but maybe when he felt stronger.
"Give it a little time yet Jack," Daniel urged. "You still have a way to go with the healing, so there's plenty of time."
Teal'c sensed that enough had been said and this time when he pulled the brake off, Jack didn't stop him. The sombre party made their way back down the trail to the entrance of the complex in silence, deep in thought.
OoOoOoOoO
The fresh air had tired Jack out more than he thought possible and he fell asleep over a game of chess with Daniel, despite the early hour.
Sam, who had been watching them spar across the board as well as verbally which was music to her ears, helped Daniel to make Jack more comfortable then cleared everything away.
She took up her usual position beside the bed while he slept, ready for when he would succumb to the nightmares, but that night he slept soundly for the first time since his redeployment to Iraq.
It was in the early hours of the morning that Teal'c relieved her of her duty, insisting that she go and get some sleep in order to be sufficiently rested for when she would drive Jack home later that morning.
Sam nodded and smiled at her Jaffa friend, then left the room with a warm smile, confident that Jack wouldn't awaken until the morning now.
She took a quick shower and crashed out in her quarters, exhausted, but content with the way things were going for them now. Jack was on the mend and with a few more weeks of therapy, he should be back to his usual self; full of confidence – brash even, and driving them all to distraction with his jokes.
Her sleep was full of dreams, where the main player was a certain Air Force Officer that oozed charm from every pore; a ready smile playing on his lips, just for her.
OoOoOoOoO
Jack had just finished his breakfast when Janet Fraiser walked up to his bed.
"So, Colonel, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Actually," he sighed as if undecided, drawing the word out as long as he could, "pretty good," he grinned, watching Janet's face as she expected him to admit he wasn't feeling up to leaving her infirmary.
Well, no way would he admit to that. He could be dying and still he'd say he was okay with going home. What kind of a question was that?
Janet frowned down at him. She was pleased in more than one way that he was being sent home. Now he was feeling a lot better, his infirmary gripes were getting the better of her staff. Mind you, she reluctantly admitted, it was good to hear him complain after the way he had been.
"I've made an appointment for you to see Dr, MacKenzie next week Colonel. Just be sure you keep it. There's no excuse to miss it, not with your team looking after you."
Janet then proceeded to examine him for the last time; checking all his vitals before she would release him.
"Well, everything seems to be in order sir. I'll just check those feet of yours, then I can get Teal'c to bring your chariot along and you can go home."
"My chariot?" Jack snorted with amusement, "Getting fanciful Doc?"
"Were not warriors in ancient times driven into battle in chariots O'Neill?" Teal'c smiled serenely.
Jack jerked his head in the direction of the door to see the three members of his team standing there with amused smiles creasing their faces.
"So you think I'm heading into battle do you?" Jack asked, playing along.
"Possibly Jack. We all know how stubborn you can be!" Daniel grinned.
"Yes, well, let's not dwell, shall we. What are you waiting for then? C'mon, times a wastin'. Driver! My chariot if you please! Siler said there's a game on this afternoon, and I intend to watch it." Growled Jack, though this was said with a beaming smile and a rubbing together of hands.
"Oh this is sooo gonna be fun! I don't think," Daniel sighed, rolling his eyes in mock horror to Sam who giggled behind her hand. Jack sounded full of it already.
Jack lowered himself gingerly into his chariot...em...wheelchair and smirked at Janet, waving her a goodbye, then looked round at Teal'c.
"Home James and don't spare the horses!" he cried, leaving the Jaffa even more confused.
"He means hurry up and take him home Teal'c!" Daniel explained.
Teal'c raised his eyebrow in surprise, then added his own little byplay.
"I see. As you wish, Achilles!" Teal'c deadpanned as he rushed out of the door and down the corridor, leaving - 1, Jack confused this time and hanging on for dear life; 2, Sam and Daniel running to catch up; and 3, Janet to hold her breath in expectations of seeing them back any second now after a mishap.
TBC
