Tangled Web 18 - Recovery
Three days later -Hammond stopped outside the door and knocked softly, waiting for permission to enter.
"Come in."
Her voice was still a bit weak, even though she was trying to hide it. He pushed open the door and stepped through. "Colonel?"
"General." She made an attempt to stand and salute but he waived it off with an uplifted hand as he saw the grimace at the sudden movement.
"How are you, Colonel?"
"I'm…ok, Sir."
"Are you sure you're up to this, Colonel? You still want to go through with it…because believe me…no one would blame you if you didn't."
"No, Sir. I need to do this. I…I just need to be there."
Hammond pressed his lips together and dropped his eyes to the floor in understanding. He knew this was going to be hard on her, really hard and he found himself wishing he could spare her this pain. "Well, if you're sure…then we should go."
Sam was wearing her dress uniform, except for the jacket, the nurses having helped her into it earlier. She rose shakily to her feet. Her face was still badly bruised and her right eye was still barely open but her uniform hid the rest of the bruises. She released the clasp on her sling and allowed it to fall into her hand, then reached for her jacket.
"Let me help you, Colonel." Hammond took the few steps to reach her and held her jacket up for her to slip on.
"Um, left arm first I think, Sir." She smiled slightly as she slowly stretched out her left arm, her broken collarbone protesting loudly as she moved her arm into the sleeve of the jacket. Hammond lifted the other side so that it slipped easily over her shoulder and then helped to re-adjust her sling, binding her arm to her body. "Thank you, Sir."
He answered with a weak smile as they heard a knock at the door. Teal'c entered the room, dressed in a suit and pushing an empty wheel chair.
"Colonel Carter, are you well?"
"Yeah, I'm ok, Teal'c. What's with the chair?"
"Hospital policy, Colonel," the General answered. "They won't allow you to leave unless you're in the chair." He didn't bother to tell her there was also one in the car, just in case she needed it.
"Ah! Okay, then. I guess we should go."
Teal'c held the chair steady as she seated herself and they proceeded into the hallway and exited the hospital.
A few minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home. General Hammond and Teal'c exited first, with Teal'c assisting Sam. She straightened her uniform and stood momentarily at the side of the car, taking a deep breath and exchanging a brief look with Teal'c. He raised a gentle hand to her arm in concern. "Colonel Carter, this is not required. O'Neill would not wish you to put yourself at risk."
"I'm fine. I need to do this, Teal'c. It's just…difficult."
"I understand." His dipped his head in an exaggerated bow.
As they approached the building, Sam unconsciously moved nearer to the huge man and slipped her arm around his, seeking comfort from his closeness. He turned slightly toward her touch, covering her hand with his own and then continued without comment as General Hammond fell in step beside them.
They stepped inside and were met immediately with soft, calming music and dimmed lights. The fragrance of fresh flowers permeated the room and in the background was the muffled sound of someone weeping.
Teal'c stopped a few steps inside the room, unsure of how to proceed; he spoke quietly to the General. "General Hammond, I am unfamiliar with this ritual. Perhaps you should…"
Hammond met the Jaffa's eyes and interrupted his sentence, "Ah, yes of course, Teal'c, this way." He pointed towards a door at the far side of the room, where a uniformed officer stood in silent vigil, and they began to walk towards it.
As they stepped into the room, Teal'c felt Sam tense beside him, the pressure of her fingers increasing on his arm and he glanced at her quickly. He could see that she was struggling a bit, her earlier resolve dissipating as she was confronted with cold reality. He stood immobile, as did Hammond, waiting for her response to guide his actions.
She seemed to be totally unaware of his pause, her eyes drawn to the bronze casket against the far wall. Slowly she began to register the details of the scene; a mound of red roses; crossed hands; closed eyes; his features relaxed as if in sleep. Her eyes paused for a few silent moments and then slowly strayed to the gleaming gold handles of the coffin that reflected the soft lighting and appeared somehow warmer with the identical sprays of white gladiolas standing silent guard at each side. Teal'c felt the small shiver as it traveled through her body and again raised his hand to cover hers as she focused on the man before her, lying in silent repose.
For a time she stood motionless, finally letting go of Teal'c and taking a single step forward and then another, until she stood beside the coffin looking down into his face. Tears welled up in her eyes but she would not allow them to fall. She struggled silently until the military mask fell into place and then she allowed herself to think…to remember, trying to hold on to the happy memories, the good days they had known...but in the end, it was no use. The memories of the last few days overwhelmed her. Her eyes closed and her jaw clenched as she fiercely fought back the emotions. Slowly she reached into her skirt pocket and for a moment held a small item trapped in her hand. She studied his face a moment longer then leaned over and with shaking fingers, slipped the item into the breast pocket of his jacket.
Teal'c and Hammond exchanged a brief glance, but neither spoke or disturbed her. They just waited.
An hour later they stood at the cemetery, watching as the casket slowly descended into the earth. Sam flinched as the honor guard fired off the final salute and felt General Hammond's light, comforting touch on her back. She had refused to sit, choosing to stand silently as the ceremony proceeded. She didn't speak and there were no tears, just a far off look in her eyes. She glanced up at Teal'c then turned and started walking back to the car, her two escorts falling in protectively on each side of her.
They returned to the hospital in silence, each of them trapped within their own thoughts. Teal'c helped her into the chair and returned her to her room while General Hammond let the nurses know that they had returned. One of them followed him to her room to assist her in undressing and to make sure that she was settled in.
She was sitting quietly in a chair when General Hammond entered the room, her somber mood filling the air around them.
"Colonel Carter? Is there anything I can do, anything you need?"
She raised her eyes up to meet his and he could see the deep sadness dulling the normally bright blue. "No, Sir…just thank you…thank you for coming with me."
"Of course, Colonel." He took one of her hands in both of his own and patting it in a fatherly gesture said, "You'll get past this, Sam. It's just going to take some time." Sam smiled warmly at his gentle tone and silently shook her head. "Get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow. Teal'c?"
Teal'c walked over to Sam and placed one hand on her shoulder. "Do you wish me to remain?"
"No. I'm ok. You need to rest, too, I'll see you tomorrow." She squeezed his hand and he bowed deeply in submission and then followed the General out of the room.
The nurse helped her out of her uniform and into a soft cotton gown. She made sure that Sam was comfortably back in bed and then administered an injection to allow her to rest for a few hours. She moved quietly about the room, returning Sam's uniform to its' hanger and before she had finished, Sam's had retreated into sleep.
She awoke, somewhat disoriented, in the middle of the night. The drugs had worn off and allowed her sleeping mind to recreate the nightmares that had haunted her for the past few days. She looked about the room and recognizing the bland hospital room was, for once, happy with her surroundings…thankful that she was alive. She lay still until her pounding heart had returned to normal then slowly rose from her bed and wrapped herself in the robe that was draped across the chair. Stepping into the corridor, she made her way to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
She walked into ICU and the nurse at the desk smiled at her, remembering her from the previous evening. "Any change?"
"Not really, he's stable. Still sleeping."
"I'd like to sit with him for a while." The nurse nodded her head and returned to her work. Sam moved slowly towards the cubicle and lowered herself into the chair.
Suddenly the nurse looked up again. "Did you let someone know you were coming here?" Sam ashamedly shook her head. "It does worry us when we find an empty bed, you know. I'll call them."
"Sorry." Sam muttered and then, "Thank you." She stood again and stared at his face. He was so peaceful but too still for her liking. It didn't seem to her that he'd moved at all since her last visit. She lowered the bed railing and sat down beside him, reaching for his hand and grasping it in her own. She sat there for a while, just watching him sleep but finally she began to tire and rested her head on the mattress beside him.
"Sam?"
"Daniel! Oh, God, be still, Daniel, you're hurt."
"Ow, yeah...I know. Are you all right? Where's Pete?"
"I'm ok. Just don't try to move around. You're in the ICU at Mercy Hospital."
"Mercy?"
"Yeah, they brought us here. It was…closer."
Daniel's eyebrows raised a bit in a questioning manner, then squinted in a frown as he tried to focus on Sam's face. "Sam, I'm sorry." He reached a hand out to her and she grabbed onto it, stopping him from touching her face.
"I'm the one who's sorry, Daniel. He almost killed you…I never wanted this to happen, I should have just gone…"
"No, Sam. He would have killed you. Sooner or later, he would have killed you." His voice was fading and Sam looked up into his face, fighting back tears as she spoke.
"You rest, Daniel. I'll be here."
"Ok, Sam." He smiled lightly, closed his eyes and instantly returned to sleep. Sam felt tears trailing down her cheeks and reached up to wipe them away. She suddenly realized the nurse was standing behind her and as she turned to face her, the woman laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, honey. He's ok; it's just the medication making him sleep. All his vital signs are good. He'll be out of here in a day or so but right now he needs all the rest he can get and I bet you could use some, too."
Sam smiled, "Yeah, I guess I am a bit tired."
"Why don't you sleep for a while? He'll wake up again later and you can visit him then. I can get you a wheel chair if you need it."
"No, I'm fine." Sam stood and felt the muscles in her legs pull against the movement, still painful, but better. She raised a hand absent-mindedly to her face and the nurse cocked her head, gesturing towards Daniel.
"He do that to you?"
Sam's eyes flew wide open in surprise. "What? No! It was…someone else. Daniel was trying to help me and it almost got him killed."
"Well, I'm glad it wasn't him…and I'm glad you're both going to be ok."
"What about him?" Sam indicated the still form in the bed next to Daniel's. "Is he going to be all right?"
"So, he's more than a friend?"
"A very good friend."
"Well, I hope so. It's hard to tell just yet. Give it a bit more time and we'll see. But it won't help either of them for you to make yourself worse, so let's get you back to your room, ok?"
Sam smiled at the kind woman, "Thanks for taking such good care of them."
"Oh, it's my pleasure, honey. Come on now, off you go."
Sam took one long, last look at the two of them laying side by side, both severely injured. Daniel was obviously getting better, but Jack…Jack hadn't moved and she was worried. She took a step towards Daniel and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead, pushing back a few stray bits of hair from his face. He turned towards her slightly and she allowed herself to smile.
Then she turned towards Jack and lifted his hand to her lips. "Sweet dreams, Jack and thank you." Then she leaned over him and placed a kiss on his cheek. She returned his hand to rest by his side and finally forcing her feet into motion, left the ICU. She walked slowly down the hallway to her room and crawled into bed, exhausted. In the final hour before dawn, her eyes closed in sleep.
TBC