Wow, I certainly stirred up a few comments with that last chapter! Thanks for all you comments once again. It's nice to know if I'm getting this right.

I hope this chapter will explain things in a little more detail. Enjoy!

NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:

"Ellie," he whispered softly, looking up into her eyes. "Get me out of here! Please. Tell them I need to go somewhere, far away!"

Chapter 7 - Frustration

Sam had discussed the problem with General Hammond. She and Major Davis hadn't been allowed in to see the Colonel yet, and they were growing frustrated with the hospital. They really needed to reassure Jack that he would be transferred to the SGC where she would work the healing device on him. She needed him to hold on to that thought. It might take several goes, but she would not stop until he was completely healed.

The General had expressed his anger and frustration with the hospital authorities and decided he would just have to pull a few strings.

Armed with this knowledge Sam and Davis were joined by Daniel and Teal'c for moral support. They headed for the hospital a few days later with orders from the Pentagon to permit them entrance to see the Colonel and arrange for his move.

"We're here to see Colonel O'Neill," Sam said with determination. Teal'c stood at her shoulder, glaring down at the diminutive receptionist. Sam hadn't seen her before, but that meant nothing in a big hospital.

"Do you know what room he's in?" she asked. Her voice was a little timid under Teal'c's dark intimidating scrutiny.

"That's why we're asking you."

"Of course. Just one minute, I'll look it up for you."

She flipped through the records on her screen, her face screwed up in puzzlement.

"Are you sure he's in this hospital?" she asked tentatively when Teal'c pulled himself up to his impressive height.

"What? Of course he is. He's been here for several weeks," Sam sighed in despair. What the hell were they playing at.

She spotted the doctor that had fobbed them off in the past.

"Hey!" she yelled, causing everyone in the vicinity to turn round.

They all hurried after him to catch him before he disappeared.

"Doctor Andrews. We demand to see Colonel O'Neill!"

The doctor stood perfectly still looking them all up and down. He looked belligerent and arrogant, and dropped his eyes to meet with Sam's.

"Demand?" he asked with a sneer. "I'm sorry, you can demand all you like you cannot see Colonel O'Neill, He has asked that all visitors be sent away."

"Teal'c, Daniel," Sam threatened.

They needed no other instructions. Teal'c pulled himself up to his full height to face the doctor and Daniel slipped by him, followed by Sam. While Davis read the riot act the doctor.

Sam and Daniel hurried down the corridors towards Jack's room. They wouldn't be fobbed off any longer, even if the doctor called in the security guards.

Daniel found the room and threw the door open to confront his friend, and to tell him not to be so pig headed stubborn.

He stood on the threshold and stared at the empty bed. Sam couldn't see over his shoulder, so she pushed him to one side, only to gape at the empty room.

Daniel ran back out into the corridor where he spotted Ellie.

"Ellie! Ellie," he cried, catching up to her, Sam hard on his heels.

"Where's Jack? Please tell us where he is!" he asked breathlessly, his fear for his friend growing.

Ellie looked down with embarrassment, unable to meet his eyes, then glanced around nervously to see who was watching them.

"I'm sorry Dr. Jackson. I can't tell you that," she said, looking over his shoulder; her eyes widening, deeply troubled.

"What? Why not?" Daniel persisted, confused by her strange attitude.

"Patient confidentiality Dr. Jackson!" came Dr. Andrews' voice as he was escorted by Teal'c and Davis and two hospital security guards.

Ellie excused herself and hurried away, desperate to escape.

"Where is Jack?" Daniel demanded, looking as if he would personally like to string this guy up.

"I can't tell you that. My patient wished to be transferred to another hospital, but I cannot and will not tell you where. Unlike you, I respect my patient's wishes Doctor," he sneered, emphasising Daniel's title.

"Wrong doctor!" Daniel snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I am Jack's executor of his will and the terms and conditions have not been adhered to."

"I know nothing of Colonel O'Neill's will. He merely expressed his desire to move on and not be encumbered with any ties from his past. He does not wish to see you again. Any of you. Those were his explicit instructions."

Sam couldn't help feeling a little hurt by this statement, although she should have known something like this was going on when she couldn't gain admission to see him earlier.

"When was he transferred? Can you tell us that at least?" Sam asked.

"Last Thursday morning." He replied, remaining calm and aloof. "It won't do you any good to go nosing round the ambulance personnel either. They won't tell you a thing."

Daniel sighed in frustration, and Sam felt as if the wind had been taken out of her sails. Jack was gone and didn't want to be found. It was all her stupid fault too. If only she hadn't pushed him, by kissing him like that, none of this would be happening.

"If it's any consolation, Colonel O'Neill is in good hands. He will be well cared for."

Daniel let out a protracted breath and nodded.

"Thank you for that at least," he said. There was nothing else they could do, but perhaps General Hammond could pull a few more strings?

Sam had obviously thought so too, because she pulled at Daniel's sleeve, encouraging him to leave. She headed down the corridor, her team following curiously behind her, the guards following them to make sure they left the building and didn't cause any more disruption to the staff or the patients.

Sam kept her thoughts to herself until they were all sitting in the Air Force limo.

"Come on Sam what is it? Something's up?" Daniel said as soon as the door shut and the driver pulled away from the parking lot.

"That's just it Daniel. We don't need him, we can look up the Colonel's insurance. He has to pay for his treatment and care somehow. Andrews said that the Air Force were taking care of the details, so they must have the details, though I'd like to know why weren't we informed? They have to know where he is, to forward his pension."

Major Davis nodded and instructed the driver to take them to the airport where their transport still waited.

Sam was on the phone to General Hammond the next minute, telling him of the developments. Hammond assured her that he could deal with the personnel records from his end and to head home to base.

Hammond had done his best, but the insurance company refused to release any details of the Colonel's whereabouts, only that his care was being paid for through the proper channels and the Pentagon weren't giving any details saying that the Colonel didn't want anyone visiting him; that he didn't need their pity.

OoOoOoOoO

Over the next four weeks they had tried to find their stubborn friend. And neither was there any word from Thor in all this time so they could only assume that the Asgard were still having problems with the replicators.

Another two weeks had passed when the phone rang in Daniel's office. They had all but given up hope of finding him and their resolve in confronting him on this issue of what constituted their friendship had begun to wane. It had seemed like Jack had disappeared from the face of the Earth.

"Jackson!" he barked, his nose still in the reference book he was reading.

"Dr. Daniel Jackson?"

"Yeah." Daniel paused, listening, suspicious of the stranger's voice.

"Colonel O'Neill's friend?"

"Yeah. Um...who is this?" Daniel was mystified. The person on the other ended sounded frightened.

"Ellie."

"Ellie?" he queried.

"Yes. Ellie Mansfield. I was a nurse at the hospital in Sioux City. I looked after Jack."

"Oh! That Ellie!" Daniel cried, recalling the pretty young nurse. "What can I do for you...wait... worked? You don't work there any more?"

"No. please. I'm scared. I need to talk to you. It's important."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the airport in Cincinnati," she whispered, afraid that she would be overheard.

"Cincinnati? Why there?"

"It's my family's home. I flew here so they would think I was going home."

"Ellie, what's going on?"

"Please Daniel. Help me."

"Of course. What's going on?"

"Please, it's about Jack"

"You know where he is?" Daniel gasped, hope surging in his heart.

"Yes. No! Not really, but I can help you find him."

"Okay. Um...look...can you go home?"

"I could..."

"Ellie, just go home. Give me your address and I'll get there as soon as I can. Just act like you have been doing and enjoying seeing your family again. Well be as quick as we can. I promise."

TBC