Thanks to everyone who sent in a review, I'm glad you're enjoying this.
I know I promised no more whumping, and I meant it; but I couldn't leave it at that. I hope this will form the missing link. Don't panic though! Read on and all will be well, I assure you. Sorry, no fluff in this chapter, but definitely in the next and from then on.
NOTHING IS EVER THAT SIMPLE
By LetitiaRichards
Previously:-
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.
Chapter 21 –
Jack wasn't at all happy to know that those people had gotten to him again, the only relief he found in it was the fact that he'd survived the fall. He knew they could possibly make another attempt, that much was obvious; they were determined to get him out of the way somehow. How they would chose was the main problem now. He wasn't going to stay hidden away for the rest of his life; forever to look over his shoulder wondering if his time was up. No way!
They all looked at the numerous possibilities in which they could take him out; a pistol, a bomb, a sniper, a knife in the back, in fact any number of ways.
For now though he was safe inside the mountain. They had transferred him to the infirmary after he had revealed that Mark had pushed him. General Hammond felt it was the safest option now he was recovering, rather than post a guard or two at the hospital. Hammond would be breathing a lot easier if Jack were at the SGC where he could still post a guard, if it was necessary, without any questions being asked.
So Jack was now ensconced in a private side ward next to the infirmary until Janet was happy with his progress enough to allow him to return to his quarters. He still had his physical therapy sessions with Cindy who had been horrified by the attack on Jack. She concentrated on his left arm and his legs, keeping them supple and moving. The right arm would have to wait until the bone had healed; and gentle treatment on his sore knee.
The following week saw Jack back in Cindy's room walking but with help. His legs still shook from fatigue and the strain, but Jack pushed the sensations away and forced himself to use his screaming muscles. Cindy tried to make him rest but he was determined to prove to everyone that he would make a fast recovery as well as a full one, despite the set backs.
His damaged knee was sending sharp stabs of pain into the rest of his leg, but he tolerated it up to a point. When it became clear that it would no longer support his weight, only then did he relent and give in.
Both Cindy and Janet had warned him that he could be causing more damage by pushing the envelope too soon and too much and he could eventually set himself back weeks. He refused to listen and it was only by using Sam's persuasive voice adding weight to theirs, that he finally listened to reason and conceded the point.
OoOoOoOoO
Cindy conceded that her mission was scrubbed for now. She had conferred with the General on several occasions and the decision had been deferred until further notice.
She smiled secretly, looking at the man as he was helped into his newest wheelchair; Jack O'Neill would never know what had hit him.
OoOoOoOoO
Several day later, Jack was allowed back into his own room, and Teal'c now helped ease Jack onto the bed; he was exhausted after another tiring session in the physical lab. He'd pushed it again, despite his promise not to. He just hated to be in this position, relying on everyone else. This wasn't him; he was a man of action not inaction. He just couldn't sit still and do nothing. He'd made up his mind to go and talk with General Hammond to see if there was something he could do; anything, knowing it could only be something behind a desk was beside the point. He was even willing to tackle paperwork if only to stop himself from going stir crazy.
As soon as he was settled, Teal'c draped a blanket over his legs and Mac leapt up onto the bed to take his usual place beside his master. The young dog curled up against him as close as possible, tucking his head under Jack's hand.
Teal'c left them, making sure the call buzzer was placed within easy reach. He dipped his head to Jack in deference and patted Mac on the head before he left them to sleep, knowing that the dog would defend his master no matter what.
"I shall return for Mac's exercise in one hour O'Neill," Teal'c informed his friend, then closed the door behind him.
Jack didn't answer, for one it wasn't necessary and two, he just didn't have the energy to speak. He lay there for a while just gently fondling Mac's ears before he dropped into a light doze.
OoOoOoOoO
Mac had grown used to seeing the guards and other airmen or marines milling around the halls of the SGC. In fact most of them would give him a friendly pat in passing as well as a cheerful greeting. He was quite popular among the crew manning the base, though he still didn't know everyone yet.
So when the door opened and a young airman entered the room, Mac didn't react.
It was only when the airman stalked closer, pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Jack, did Mac decide to act on his instincts.
He snarled a quiet warning but the figure ignored him, getting closer to Jack. Through his light sleep, Jack heard the soft noise, and felt the hackles along Mac's neck bristle. He opened his eyes to mere slits and saw the man highlighted from behind by the corridor's lights. He readied his body to move quickly, seeing the pistol in the hand pointing at him.
Without a second's thought, Mac leapt at the man, chomping down his sharp teeth on the hand holding the gun. The pistol fired; the loud retort echoing in the room. Jack jerked away from the trajectory but groaned and fell backwards with a grunt of pain and a curse.
The man was trying to shake the tenacious grip of the dog from his wrist, but Mac was hanging on for dear life, being shaken viciously. The harder the man shook him, the deeper his teeth sank.
Suddenly there was a commotion and light flooded the room when Teal'c and several guards rushed in.
"Mac! Down!" Teal'c boomed, and Mac finally released the man who had tried to kill his master. He leapt onto the bed standing guard over Jack who lay there with his eyes closed, a grimace on his lips.
The man was cursing up a storm and holding his injured wrist to his chest. He was searched and then unceremoniously hustled from the room to the holding cell where there would be no escape.
Teal'c was at O'Neill's side seconds later.
"O'Neill?"
Jack grunted, opening his eyes and then struggled to sit up. Teal'c helped him, but kept his hand on Jack's back supporting him whilst searching his body for a bullet wound and the blood he'd expected to see.
"It's okay. I'm fine Teal'c. He missed!" Jack stated, none too pleased that someone else had made another attempt on his life. If it hadn't been for Mac then he could well be dead now.
"I assumed you had been hit from your exclamation of pain O'Neill." Teal'c was reluctant to leave Jack's side for the moment, needing to be sure his friend was indeed alright.
"Tried to move too damn fast is all. I jerked my damn knee and tried to use my arm," he grimaced. "It hurt!" he added with a whine.
"Are you still in pain O'Neill!"
"It's nothing Teal'c. I'm fine," he grumbled, still fuming over the attempt. Mac was whining a little and trying to lick him all over. He reached out and pulled the dog closer to him, burying his head in the soft golden hair; shaking a little from the close shave.
The door crashed open again and Janet, Sam, Daniel and General Hammond all rushed in.
"Colonel?" Hammond barked. His voice sterner than intended through fear for Jack's life. He'd dreaded what he might find here. He'd dropped everything as soon as the gunshot was reported. In a sort of sixth sense, he knew it was Jack that was in trouble. He'd met up with the others on the way.
"Jack?" cried Sam and Daniel together. Sam flew to his side, relieving Teal'c of his duty.
"I'm fine. He missed." Jack fobbed them off as soon as the words left the General's mouth, hoping to stop them all from worrying. "I think he killed my pillow though." Jack looked down at the pillow where his head had lain only moments before. A neat round hole through it's fibres.
Teal'c removed the pillow to find a hole in the mattress below too.
"Who the hell was he? And how did he get in here? There was supposed to be a guard outside!" Hammond fired off angrily at the security guards that he'd snagged on the way.
Janet, ignoring the General's outburst. She was already busy taking Jack's pulse, sitting on the bed beside him. It was a little fast, but that was hardly surprising considering he'd narrowly escaped certain death. Again!
"It seems to me, Colonel, that someone is obviously anxious to be rid of you. I suggest that we spread it around that he succeeded this time, but was caught trying to escape afterwards. We give them what they wanted and see who gloats in the aftermath." Hammond was determined to flush out the real culprit(s) behind the attempts on his officer, and friend. Maybe this was a game they could play and win.
There were nods of approval all round and Jack looked up at all of them, shrugging awkwardly, he could only agree to play dead for a while if he wanted this over and done with.
OoOoOoOoO
"Sir, I just intercepted this communiqué on the way to the White House."
He reached out a hand and read through the brief letter. It was on SGC paper and signed by General Hammond informing the President of the death of Colonel O'Neill. A huge smile that spread across his lips, turned into a deep guffaw.
"At last! He did it Tom. He nailed that sonovabitch at last!"
Tom smiled; it was obvious his boss was extremely pleased.
"That's one down sir."
"Yes, it is. Only one more to go!" He sat down heavily in his chair revelling in the news of O'Neill's death. "After all this time I'm finally rid of that annoying smug bastard. I can hardly believe it Tom. It's taken me years to get rid of him, and now he's gone." He moved across to the drinks cabinet and took a couple of glasses down, pouring out some scotch, then handed one to Tom who took it with a smile. "We must celebrate. A toast! Good riddance to O'Neill!" They chinked glasses and drank the strong amber liquid down in one gulp, each gasping as it hit the back of their throats with fire, burning as it went down.
"Tom. Call my wife, and make a reservation at Giovani's I feel like celebrating tonight."
"Yes sir!"
TBC
