Thanks to everyone who sent in a review. I really do love them, thanks.
Here's another chapter, and I know you are all dying to know what the General had to say to Sam; sorry, but you will have to wait a little longer...next chapter, I promise. Got some fluff coming your way soon.
NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE
By LetitiaRichards
Previously:-
The General looked up and smiled sombrely, beckoning her into the room. He took notice of her weary features; the bags under her eyes through lack of sleep; the tiny lines of worry now creasing her forehead and the way her shoulders slumped now, where once she had always been alert and ready for action, she looked careworn and miserable.
"Take a seat Major. We have something important to discuss."
Chapter 12 – Improvement
Jack fought to open his eyes. His eyelids were so heavy and kept trying to close again. With a supreme effort he managed to force them open enough to see a blurred shape hovering over him.
"Jack?"
"C'mon, open up. Let's see those chocolate eyes of yours!" the person laughed.
He knew that laugh, but couldn't place from where. Confusion swamped him. He thought he was in the hospital...he'd been in a hospital, but the ceiling here was grey, like those of the infirmary at the SGC, and the voice didn't belong there.
He tried hard to focus.
"That's it Jack. You can do!" she encouraged.
With his coming awareness, his memory returned. He was at the SGC. He remembered that. The journey had been long and tiring. He recalled Janet fussing over him, but other than that, he couldn't really recall much since he'd arrived. Maybe it was the drugs?
"Ellie?" He was surprised to see her here.
Her grin was wide and lit her eyes with a sparkle.
"The very same!" she replied, adjusting his bedclothes.
She laid a hand on his brow and the smile deepened. Pressing the buzzer she couldn't help release a deep sigh of satisfaction.
Jack looked round; he was definitely at the SGC.
"You've been quite poorly Jack," Ellie stated, seeing his confusion. "Do you not remember anything?"
"Ah...No! Not really. It's all just a fuzz of mixed memories. What happened? What are you doing here?"
"Colonel!" Janet exclaimed happily as she entered the room, seeing him awake. "How are you feeling?"
Jack shrugged and both Janet and Ellie grinned widely.
"What?" he asked puzzled at their reaction.
Janet took his hand and asked him to squeeze it as hard as he could.
He did so without question when understanding sank in at last.
"I can move!" he cried. He lifted his other hand, though it still didn't feel like it wanted to do what he wanted it to, but it was a definite improvement. "How...?"
Janet released his hand and patted his shoulder.
"You weren't paralysed sir. You did hurt your neck in the accident, but it wasn't broken. I'm sure Sam or Daniel would explain it all to you in detail, but for now, just relax and regain your strength. You have a long way to go yet Colonel. We don't know why, but someone arranged for the accident and Dr. Andrews was paid to make you believe you were paralysed. They also arranged for you to go somewhere, far away, and with your help, being so stubborn and all," she added with a wry grin, "we weren't able to find you for some time. If it hadn't been for Ellie here, you would still be there believing you were no longer of any use."
She help up her hand to stop his flood of questions.
"Your vitals and movements are improving everyday, but as for your legs, well, they're going to take longer. They were badly broken and I've pinned them back as they should be as far as I can. Sam has been working on them every day with the healing device; it is slow going, but it is working sir. At the moment I've got you on some powerful pain meds to help with the pain. And I have some good news; the drugs they were giving you are now out of your system, and what we need to do now is to remove the breathing tube so that you can breathe on your own once more. Then we work on your muscle tone. You've lost a lot of weight and that needs building up too. You'll find it exhausting and wearing, but if you want to get back onto active duty, then it's the only way to go Colonel."
It was a lot to take in but he nodded in acknowledgement though he still didn't understand the 'Why', as yet, but Janet had said that his team would explain it to him. One good thing was getting rid of the damn tube; it was annoying and uncomfortable and he couldn't wait to see it go.
"So, just a little bit of work on me then?" he snarked, angry at whoever had done this to him. "When?" he asked, indicating the tube with his chin.
"I've scheduled it for tomorrow sir."
With a satisfied nod, he looked up at Ellie once more, a frown deepening his furrowed brow.
"So why are you here?"
Ellie beamed, and dropped her eyes shyly.
"General Hammond offered me a post here. I was dismissed from the hospital in Sioux city by Dr. Andrews, and to cut a long story short, I helped Dr. Jackson to find you. Dr. Fraiser had very kindly allowed me to stay and help nurse you and then the General offered me this post. I'm sorry Jack, for all that you had to endure. If only I'd..."
"Hey!" he said, reaching out for her hand, holding onto his patience when it was slow to react, but still happy he could actually do that. Ellie's hand met his half way and he gripped it as tight as he could. "I don't blame you Ellie. It's not your fault!"
"That's what they all said, but…"
"Ellie! Don't!" Jack ordered sternly."
The nurse stopped and looked into those deep dark eyes and blushed with a nod.
"Okay," she sighed. "Though that still doesn't stop me from feeling guilty."
"This isn't your fault. It's the guy who paid Andrews and those others to keep me under. Blame them, not yourself. It's you I have to thank for getting me outta there. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't know any better and I'd still be there. Thanks!" He lay back tired, but happier than he'd felt in many weeks. All he needed to do now was to talk to Sam and say sorry. His eyes closed and it was almost beyond him to open them again, but he did; only to see Ellie leave, and Janet smile down at him, telling him to rest for now.
"Carter?" he murmured. He needed to see Sam.
"She'll be along in a minute Colonel. You just get some rest. She'll be here when you wake."
He nodded wearily and then gave in to the pull of sleep.
He didn't hear Janet exchange a few words with Sam at the door, nor the quiet footsteps that entered and stopped near the bed. Neither did he hear the quiet creak of someone settling into the chair at his side or the slight jostle of his hand as it was gently cradled and a thumb that caressed the back of his knuckles tenderly. But, he did dream of one AF Major accepting his apology and also the hand he offered to her in marriage.
OoOoOoOoO
The next day the operation to remove the tube went okay. Jack was out of surgery and had roused for a few moments after the anaesthetic but was now merely sleeping it off.
Sam had once again taken her place at his bedside, pleased to see the end of the tube and the respirator.
"Sam!" Daniel exclaimed excitedly bursting in through the door."
"Shhh! Daniel. You'll wake him up!" she admonished.
Daniel's voice trailed off as he froze in his steps.
"Sorry!" he apologised in a whisper when he saw his friend was sleeping peacefully.
"What's wrong," she asked softly, keeping her voice low, not wanting to wake Jack up.
"Andrews has finally been arrested. They caught up with him trying to leave the country. He was boarding a plane to Lima."
"Lima?" Sam gasped in surprise a little louder than she'd intended. "What's there for him at Lima?"
"Anonymity," came a gravely voice, just roused from sleep.
"Sorry Jack. Ah...we didn't mean to wake you," Daniel sighed in apology.
"Anonymity?" Sam asked, not sure if Jack was talking about Andrews or if it was just a word he muttered in his sleep.
Jack forced open his bleary eyes and blinked a few times, trying to focus.
"Andrews. No-one would question his medical qualifications from the US. Someone down there'd just be grateful to hire anyone who professed to be a doctor in one of those 'off the beaten track' places." Jack mumbled his explanation a little sleepily. He yawned and smacked his lips thirstily.
"Water?"
"Sure!" Sam reached over and filled the glass, holding the straw for him to suck at it greedily.
"Thanks," he sighed, feeling better.
"Yes, well, now they have him, maybe we'll learn some answers as to who and why they did this to you Jack."
Jack grimaced, looking up at Daniel hovering over him.
"Yeah, maybe. But don't pin your hopes on it Danny-boy. He may not know anything, only a name at the other end of the phone."
"But then again, he might Jack!" Daniel said pointedly arguing. Jack could be such a pessimist sometimes.
Jack turned away and gazed at Sam, and she fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment before turning to Daniel, but sent him a wide smile.
"Um...Daniel? Do you think we could...I need to talk...to the Colonel, that is..."
"Oh...um. Sure Sam. I...er...need to go translate something with Teal'c. I'll see you guys later!"
He glanced from one to the other and turned away with a smile on his face, leaving them to talk together. 'At last!' he sighed when he shut the door behind him.
TBC
