Okay slave drivers, here's a longer chapter for you to enjoy. LOL! A little bit of fluff, with lots more to come later.

Thanks for all your lovely reviews. I did say they would make me write faster. Keep 'em coming, pretty please!

NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE

By LetitiaRichards

Previously:-

The Doctor had checked all of Jack's vitals then smiled reassuringly before leaving her to keep vigil.

Chapter 20 – Recovery

It was Daniel that was the one to see Jack's eyes open the next time. Mac had eaten at last and was a lot happier to know Jack was still there. He'd settled quite happily on the foot of the bed, much to the nurses disgust, but they didn't dare move him. Only Sam, Daniel and Teal'c could make him move from his adoring vigil.

Mac stirred once more and thumped his tail on the bed, before practically launching himself in a licking attack on his master. Daniel caught him just in time though.

"Oh no you don't!" Daniel chuckled, happy to see both of them improving.

Jack forced his eyelids to obey his command to open.

"Hey, Jack!"

"Dan'l," Jack slurred sleepily. "Ssam?"

"She'll be back in a minute. Janet ordered her to get some rest and to eat something. I'll get someone to call her."

"I'ssokay," Jack tried to fight against the pull of sleep; he needed to know Sam was okay.

"Mac says 'Hi' too!" Daniel lifted Jack's hand and placed it on Mac's head.

Jack smiled wearily, but patted the puppy.

"Mac," he sighed, warmth filling him from the connection.

The dog woofed back, and moved his head round to nuzzle and lick Jack's fingers.

"Wha...hapn'd?"

Daniel tensed, he'd rather not say anything about the accident, but he knew Jack wouldn't settle until he could recall it.

"You...ah...you fell down the stairs at the gym."

Daniel chewed on his bottom lip, waiting for Jack's reaction. When it came it hit him like a hammer blow, and he wasn't quite sure he'd heard right.

Jack shook his head then winced in pain; his head hurt.

"Pushed!" Jack sighed, barely able to stay awake any more.

"What?"

"Was pushed," Jack repeated slowly, making sure he articulated clearly but it was an effort to do so.

"Jack? Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Daniel gasped in realisation as the full horror of Jack's accusation hit home.

"Mark."

"Who?"

Jack sighed heavily fighting to stay awake; a battle he was rapidly losing.

"Tired."

"Jack?"

"Jack, c'mom, stay with me here!"

Daniel waited but there was no response to his urgent plea for Jack to stay awake. He put Mac back on the foot of the bed where he settled back down to sleep and hurried from the room.

He had an urgent phone call to make.

OoOoOoOoO

"Are you sure that's what he said? That's a serious accusation Dr. Jackson."

General Hammond was astounded to think that this Mark character from the gym was lying. If Jack said he was pushed, then he believed him. It was easier to understand that, than the theory of Jack trying to tackle the stairs, or unbelievably that he'd tried to commit suicide as the police suspected. It stood to reason of course that whoever was really behind all the problems Jack underwent before, would try another attempt on Jack's life. It was far more believable. Everything was much clearer now.

"I'm certain General. He definitely blamed this Mark."

"I'll inform the authorities and they can question him further. Thank you Doctor Jackson." He didn't add that he was glad to know Jack was improving. That went without saying, but it was important that they got hold of this Mark as soon as possible. He disconnected the call and dialled the officer who had been in charge of the investigation at the time.

OoOoOoOoO

Mark watched the three men enter the building suspiciously. He watched as they flashed their ID in front of the receptionist and she pointed to an office down the hallway. Mark had that creepy feeling that they were after him. Perhaps O'Neill had lived after all and had recovered sufficiently to start talking. Damn! His life would be a living hell now if they found out he'd messed up and O'Neill was still alive. The man must be tougher than he'd looked. He'd felt sure, that with the heaviness in his limbs from the pool still hampering his movements, O'Neill should have fallen like a ton of bricks and died.

He had to get out of here. The problem was where to run to? The real question was, who would find him first? The police or the boss?

Hurrying away and keeping his face hidden, he made his escape through a little used door on the west side of the building which opened onto a narrow pathway towards the back of the parking lot. He didn't think he would get away with using his car, but as he was miles from his home, walking there was out of the question. Besides, he reasoned, the cops were probably already there, going through his things.

Chancing his luck, he jumped into his car and tried to sneak past the patrol car.

A young rookie spotted him though and slammed the patrol car into reverse to block Mark's progress.

Mark put his foot down and smashed into the side of the police vehicle, but instead of being able to push it out of the way as he'd hoped, it remained firmly attached, going nowhere. Pushing open the door he ran.

Two uniformed officer gave chase, trying to cut him off.

Mark ran down a dark alley between the tenements, desperately looking for somewhere to hide. A warning shot rang out but he kept running, expecting a bullet in the back any minute.

He leapt over trash littering his path, and kept his head down. He was panting hard, gasping for breath; the stitch in his side growing more painful. He knew he was fit, but were his pursuers? He could only hope they were tiring and dropping back. He darted across the street, dodging people and causing several cars to screech to a halt in order to avoid hitting him, but he didn't stop; he just kept on running.

He ducked into another alley, dodging several youths who jeered and called out derogatory comments to the police officers that were chasing him.

A squad car screeched to a halt at the end of the alley and he knew he was trapped. There was no way out now. Exhausted and gasping for breath, he stopped and held his hands aloft waiting for the inevitable. It was that or get shot for trying to resist arrest, and knowing that he couldn't run forever; he guessed giving up was the better option. For now.

Breathing heavily, the officers arrested him and read him his rights, before putting him in the back of the squad car and taking him away for questioning.

OoOoOoOoO

When Jack woke a little more cognitively this time, he smiled at the sight of Sam curled up at his side, her head cradled on her arms, asleep. She looked like an angel. He lifted his heavy hand awkwardly and gently touched the blond strands, loving the soft feel of it.

Mac perked up and walked up the bed to lick his face and Jack couldn't help the chuckle that rose up and erupted at having his face washed by his doggy friend.

Sam's head shot up and she grinned at the sight.

"Okay Mac, that's enough. C'mon, lie down."

Mac whuffed Jack one more time and lay down where he was, as close to Jack as possible.

"Hi," she said, grinning widely, "how're you feeling?"

"Peac..." he stopped looking up at Sam's stern face which he interpreted as 'don't fob me off with that expression', so he amended it. "Sore. Headache. Bad headache! Nail in the head type."

"I'm not surprised. You hit your head pretty hard. You've been unconscious for days, but it's a good job you have a hard head mister!"

Jack rolled his eyes then squinted up at her.

"Mark!" he remembered. "He pushed me down the damn stairs."

"It's okay, we know. The police have arrested him."

"They knew?"

"Not at first, no."

"What?" he wasn't sure he was quite with it yet. He felt as if he'd been asleep for months not days. He tried to shake off the cobwebs shrouding his brain.

"They, that is we, thought you had fallen, mainly because we believed you had tried to take on the stairs too soon."

"Sam, I may be a dumb ass, but I am not stupid. Why the hell would I do that if I can't even walk two feet without help?"

"Mark said that he'd done as you requested and taken you to the top of the stairs and then you told him to leave you there. What else were we to think? The cops thought it was an attempt at suicide, which we didn't believe for a minute."

"So how..." Jack tried to clear his head, but incredibly, he was still feeling tired.

"You woke up earlier, yesterday and told Daniel that Mark had pushed you."

"I did?" Jack sighed then yawned. "I don't remember."

"It doesn't matter, Jack. Mark's guilty. He proved that when he tried to run from the police, but they caught up with him and now he's in custody."

"My head hurts. Tired," he sighed. "Tell me how much damage did they do to me this time?"

Sam smiled, and ran her hand over his brow, soothing the headache. Jack leaned into the gentle touch. She was so glad to get Jack back again and given the conversation they were having, he appeared to be just fine.

"All things considered, not as much as we'd expected," Sam explained thankfully. "A few cracked ribs; you broke your right arm; a badly bruised knee, lots of bruising and a severe concussion. Janet couldn't believe you didn't fracture your skull."

"That all?"

"Isn't that enough for you?" she giggled.

"I didn't exactly chose to fall down the stairs ya know," he grumbled with a pout.

"I know, and I'm glad you're okay. Janet did say this will put your recovery back a little though, but you'll be fine. It'll just take a little longer than planned is all."

Jack harrumphed, but knowing he would be okay went a long way to making him feel better. Now if only he could damn well stay awake!

Jack closed his eyes against his earlier visions, when he fell, of damaging his legs again so badly that walking would be impossible. Cindy had told him that he might walk with a limp as it were, and that his career on the front line would be over, but he refused to go along with that thought.

"Will I...?

"Don't worry about that just yet Jack. Your legs were okay. You didn't break them this time. There's no reason to think you can't... walk in the near future. You will! I know you, you won't settle for anything less."

Jack smiled and gripped her hand, moisture welling in his eyes at Sam's confidence in his abilities. No wonder he loved her.

"I love you Sam."

"And I love you too." She leaned in for a kiss then, pulling away when Jack had to break for a gasp of breath. His ribs were still sore and it made him wince. Sam grimaced down at him. "Sorry Jack."

"'Sokay," he sighed, trying not to breathe too deeply. "Love you."

"Rest. I'll be here, and so will Mac."

At the sound of his name, Mac looked up and licked Jack's plaster cast, unsure afterwards if that was such a smart move. Sam giggled and reached over to stroke him.

Jack nodded and smiled sleepily, then let himself drift away knowing he would do his best not to disappoint her. He would walk once more, and without a damn cane.

TBC