Clearing up a Few Things

Part I

Wait! Did she call me General? No, she called me Gener. Good start on the way to general. Yeah, we came through to the wrong reality here. Something's definitely not right!

"Jack, whoa, be careful there!" Crap! It's Danny boy.

"What's going on around here?" I know it's a little harsh, but Dammit, I want answers and I want them now!

"I'll… go get Sam and Janet." He left just as quickly as my eyes had opened. He's definitely nervous, and I'm pretty sure I know why, but I mean, c'mon.

Why is everybody acting so strange? They all seem jumpy around me. I mean, I know I'm not the best patient and all, but man. Right now I'm to tired to give them the run around.

That's it! They don't know I heard them. Sam and Janet haven't returned from their meeting with Hammond yet. I guess everyone's afraid I'll be all healed up soon and in their hair. Nope, not gonna do it. I'll try to get out of here, but then I'm done. I have a chance and I'm not gonna let it go.

"Hi, Sir." Great, Doc's staring straight at me. "How do you feel?"

How do I feel? Do I really need to answer that?

"Like I slammed head first into the Iris."

"Close. You were shot by Jaffa and then blacked out as we made it through the Gate. If you hadn't landed on me, you would be here now," Sam jumped in to explain. I quickly interrupted her.

"So you're the reason I'm stuck in this bed?" I can't help but smile.

"Well, Sir, I meant you'd be dead, Sir," she stammered. Obviously, she's too worried about me to see the expression on my face.

"Sam, calm down. I know what you meant, I was just joking." I laid by head back and closed my eyes.

"Jack, you okay?" Daniel's a little annoying at the moment. I waved my hand a little, just to let him know I'd heard.

"Can I talk to Sam, alone, for a minute?" I opened my eyes and quickly glanced at the group surrounding my bed.

"If you start getting tired, let yourself fall asleep!" Janet ordered. I waved her off and turned to Sam.

"Okay, I heard you 'n' Napoleon talking about the future of my career, so I know all about my knee, but what's with all the 'Gener' crap?" She was there when the Doc said it. Unless she'd known already, she would have asked about it.

She gave me a shy smile and sat on the edge of my bed. "While we were off world, your promotion finally came through. I wanted to tell you while we were in that alternate universe, but I'd been ordered to keep quiet. You are now officially Brigadier General Jonathan O'Neill. The ceremony won't be held until you're feeling better." She grabbed my hand and smiled, just a little, just for me. Unfortunately, she didn't know that her promotion had come in the day before we'd gone off world. Now's the best chance to tell her.

"Well, Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter, I'm glad I'm finally in the loop." I grinned at the shock on her face. For once, she was speechless.

"I know I have two options in my current condition, and I don't like either of them, but I am willing to accept one of them."

She looked at me, concerned for my mental stability I can tell. It was her "oh great, Jack's gone nuts" look.

"According to Janet, your only option is to retire." I could see the sadness in her eyes, and knew she was thinking of everything the Doc had told her.

I don't want to retire, or be discharged. Hell, I know more about this entire base than anybody but Hammond. I'm still useful. Who'll Thor beam up at his every whim if I'm not here?

"Yeah, well, you know we never agree on anything." Good, that made her smile. "Sam, you're my best friend. I'll be fine as long as all of you are here to help me."

Part II

WHAT? Colonel – I mean, General O'Neill was actually asking for our help? We brought the wrong one back. That's all there is to it. Usually he yells, throws things, refuses to eat. Now he's smiling, and laughing, and… asking for help?

I don't know what's going on, but I'm not sure I like it. It almost seems like he's giving up. If he works hard for this, and is still discharged, at least he tried. If he's just discharged, well, I don't know. This man just isn't my Jack. If he's crippled because he doesn't try, he's not the same person I fell in love with.

"Well, Sir, I have some things I need to take care of, so I'll just let you sleep."

A/N: Okay, i know it's short and i'm sorry, i'm trying to get these out as soon as i can, but i've decided to fix a lot of them, because this originally was sooooo totally messed up i have no clue what i even wrote. i think this was one of those chapters i wrote while watching my brothers while they played outside, making sure they didn't kill each other or themselves while playing in our driveway.

tell me what you think, please i'd really love to know, i hope y'all like it, i'm not sure i really do.