Supporting Rumors - Part 24
General Hammond dropped Sam off at the hospital's rear entrance to avoid any press encounters, promising to return later and she made her way up to Jack's room on her own.
Daniel and Teal'c were both standing in the corridor, deep in discussion. She hurried up to them, knowing something was wrong the instant she saw Daniel's face.
Her steps slowed and she faltered slightly, before gathering herself and moving forward with determination. "What is it?" she asked hesitantly.
Daniel was the first to speak. "Sam, hi ... uh, did you get some proper rest?"
"Daniel?"
He sighed and leaned back heavily against the wall. "He um, Jack woke a few minutes ago, but he was uh, a bit out of it."
Sam's heart thudded so loudly it hurt. "And?" She thrust her hand into her jacket pocket and gripped the yoyo hard.
"He was asking for you. He seemed to think you'd gone ... gone for good that is. Did ... ah, he, erm, he was a bit distressed Sam. I tried telling him you wouldn't be long, but ..."
"Why didn't someone call me?"
Teal'c shook his head. "We did not have time, Colonel Carter. It only just happened. The doctor is with him now.
Sam edged towards Jack's room and Daniel gently drew on her arm to stop her.
"Uh, Sam?"
"Spit it out, Daniel." Sam sighed. She was in no mood for guessing games and more than anxious to see Jack.
"He … I don't think he ..." Daniel cleared his throat. He was clearly upset, but Sam couldn't offer any comfort at the moment – she was all out.
"I don't think he could ..."
"You think he's paralyzed?" finished Sam.
Daniel nodded miserably.
Sam knew it was more than a possibility. However, until that moment she had had hope. She felt the world tilt a little. She was no saint, no martyr. She knew if the worst happened, the future would be more than tough, but the hardest thing to bear was what it would do to Jack. The rocky road of life had just become a treacherous journey into the unknown …
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Fortunately, for Sam's sake, it wasn't long before a doctor came out of Jack's room. He wasted no time explaining what had happened.
"General O'Neill is a bit calmer now. I've given him a very light sedative, just to take him down a notch or two, that's all. He's having a little difficulty breathing, but that's due to the injury."
"Has he … did he ..." Sam hesitated, loathe to voice the question.
The doctor gave her a sympathetic look and sighed. "I am sorry, Mrs O'Neill, but it at the moment it looks as though your husband is experiencing some loss of movement. However, it is early days and I would like to stress that at this stage there is no absolute diagnosis."
Sam felt Daniel's hand creep into hers and she squeezed it hard as she tried to stay focused on the doctor's words. She felt Teal'c's reassuring presence at her back and welcomed the strength he gave her.
"Your husband was very distressed when he woke, and was asking for you. If you feel up to it, he may settle a little more with your presence."
"Can I see him now?" she asked.
The doctor nodded and Daniel let go of her hand, and with a few quick words, said he and Teal'c would wait while she was in with Jack.
Sam didn't even bother answering, but followed the doctor into Jack's room.
The doctor's presence was almost forgotten as she moved quickly to the bed. She grasped Jack's hand gently and leaned over him to touch his forehead with a feather-like kiss. Her other hand automatically brushed at his hair and his eye lids fluttered slightly as she straightened up.
"Hey Jack, miss me? I'm back again." Sam's voice wavered as she swallowed at the lump in her throat. Those damn tears were never far away these days. She took a deep breath before continuing.
"Did you see Daniel and Teal'c? They've managed to get a break and come visit."
Sam felt the pressure of a chair against the back of her legs and spared the doctor a brief look of gratitude before returning her attention to her husband as she sat down. The closing of the door barely registered. She leaned over the bed, resting her elbows on it, and raised his hand to her face, clasping it with both of hers.
"I went home last night, Jack. It's not the same there without you. General Hammond came with me. He's been so great. I don't know what we'd do without him."
Jack's head shifted a little and his breathing sped up a little. The little clouds of vapor inside the mask seemed to grow bigger.
"Shush, take it easy, nice and easy. Doctor Hill said it'll be a bit strange for you. Nice and easy, shussssh." Sam continued to talk softly. She became aware of a fluttering movement of the fingers that were entwined with hers and his eyelids began to flicker more rapidly, sure signs that he was awaking.
The first glimpse of the dark velvet of his eyes quickened her heartbeat and the smile that came to her lips was genuine and beautiful.
"Hey."
The words were quiet, just a throaty gasp, but Sam heard and her smile widened. "Hey," she responded, kissing the back of his hand lovingly.
"You … here."
"Of course I'm here. Where else would I rather be?" Sam spoke firmly, determined to put any nonsense out of his head once and for all.
"I ..."
"Hush now. I don't want to hear another word from you, unless it's I love you."
Jack tried to smile under the mask. She saw the way the corners of his mouth crinkled.
"Love … you."
"Back at ya, flyboy," she whispered teasingly, gazing into his eyes.
She watched as he tried to fight sleep, but it was a battle he was doomed to lose. This was one round she was glad he didn't win.
She kept his hand gripped tightly in hers as he slept, needing to feel his presence as much as he obviously needed to feel hers.
She wasn't going to leave him alone again.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
