Jackie isn't back from holiday, but she has sent this part to keep you going until she gets home. - Flatkatsi

Supporting Rumors - Part 31

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For Rosie J

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Jack cursed as he slid sideways and one of the nurses made a grab to help balance him. He winced as the motion pulled on his ribs.

"Sorry, General. Look, you need to let us maneuver you. It'll take a while 'til you get the hang of balancing."

"For cryin out loud! And it's Jack okay!"

The nurses exchanged a smile over his head.

"When do I get something to haul myself up with, huh? There's nothing to grab onto," he complained.

"Gen ... Jack," corrected the younger nurse, "you're still healing. You can't go pulling on the injuries. As soon as the doctor says you're well enough you can start therapy and …"

"The sooner I can get out of here," finished Jack.

She sighed and shook her head. "It's going to take time, sir. You've got to be patient."

"Are you kidding? Me patient? I don't do patient – I want OUT!" he raised his voice to a yell and then bit down as the effort caused pain and took his breath away.

Breathing had become an effort again and he lay helplessly just trying to catch his breath.

"That's better, now don't forget your breathing exercises," commented the older nurse as they finished up.

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He was still struggling a little when Sam returned. She sat down after kissing him on the forehead. He caught at her hand as she did so and gave her a grin.

"Breathing lessons!" he groused. "Can't even breathe ..." He stopped for breath.

"Take it easy, Jack. What have you been up to?"

"Chased the nurses ... round the room – wadda you think ..." He coughed and struggled with another breath.

"Huh? I've got to watch you then!" she returned good naturedly

It took a few minutes before he'd got his breathing under control.

"That better?" asked Sam as she passed him some water.

Jack's hands trembled a little, a fact he tried to hide, but Sam was quick to notice the least thing, although she didn't comment on it.

His head sank against the pillows. He tired quickly, but that was nothing unexpected. His injuries alone would take a while to heal, not to mention other things . . .

"Sam, I've been thinking ..."

She rolled her eyes, putting a mock worried look on her face. "Oh God, are we ready for this?"

He cast a scathing look in her direction, but continued. "When I get out of here, which is going to be real soon, I want to go to back to Colorado." He held his hand up to stop her interrupting. "Ah, back home, do therapy, work on the legs, while you go to work."

Sam patted his hand soothingly.

He frowned and pulled his hand away slightly. "Ah, don't. My legs are a bit numb, not my brain. I want us to go home. Hey, in a few months I could be up and at it."

Sam's face clouded. "A bit numb? Jack ..."

"I won't think of it any other way," he stated resolutely.

Sam hated to pour water on him. But she couldn't and wouldn't let him set himself up for another fall. "Okay, we could move back, just until you get yourself adapted. There's no rush, President Hayes will keep ..."

"I'm not going to go back to Washington."

That took the wind out of Sam's sails. She'd fully expected him to be adamant he would soon be walking back into his old job …

"There's no reason we can't start a family when I'm better, and you can go back to work ..."

Sam's face dropped. "Taking care of a baby while in a wheelchair ..."

"Plenty of folk do it. Besides, I am not going to be in a wheelchair."

"Jack ..."

"Sam ..."

"Jack, you're setting yourself up for a fall."

He pushed with one arm as he struggled to sit up and the world titled as he slid sideways again.

He cursed. "Crap."

"Here." Sam rose to help.

He batted at her hand and continued to struggle and curse. "Damn legs. Jesus, why the hell ... Don't ..."

"Jack, you'll fall."

"You'll fall, that's all I hear ... you'll fall," he bitched.

"I'll fall you out of bed if you don't stop!"

Jack stopped struggling and gazed at her, open mouthed.

"That's better," quipped Sam at his silence as she helped him to balance.

"You'll fall me out of bed?" he echoed, casting her an enquiring look.

Sam blushed. "It's just an expression."

"It's not even English," he berated.

"I used to say it to Mom when I got into her bed on a Sunday morning and she complained that I wiggled so much I'd fall." Sam was surprised the words didn't hurt, the memory in fact was a good one.

Jack clasped Sam's hand gently. "Wish there was more damn room in this bed, Sam, you can fall me out of it any day."

Sam smiled.

"You think you can wrangle me a bigger bed?" He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Idiot," she murmured affectionately.

"But I'm your idiot," he teased.

She rolled her eyes in mock horror, leaning in close, bringing her lips close to his. "Oh, don't I know it, don't I know it."

She shut him up, the best way she knew ... in fact, it was the only way she knew …

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TBC