Supporting Rumors - Part 33
The next few days had Sam alternating between laughter and mortification … and sometimes just not a little dread.
Jack was determined he was not going to 'go quietly' so to speak, and although he appeared to be doing his best to follow doctor's orders, Sam knew he damn well wasn't.
Sam almost wept with him as she saw the misery on his face as he tried to order his long limbs to give even just a twitch. Sometimes, and he wasn't even aware he was doing it, he seemed to space out, gazing longingly down at his legs, the yoyo gripped tightly as he thumbed the string.
Tears of laughter, tears of pain ... She swiped angrily at her eyes as she groped her pockets for yet another tissue, wondering if she had yet used a forest up.
"Here," said Jack as her search turned fruitless.
He held up a corner of the sheet covering him. "I haven't used this edge. You can have it." The grin on his face reached his eyes and Sam felt a fresh trickle from her eyes.
She leaned forward and used the offering. She laughed when he did, their sanity seemingly sometimes so close to that fine line they had all trod at one time or another.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
"You heard anything from Maybourne?" asked Jack suddenly, breaking off from gazing at his legs.
Sam shook her head. "Nothing. Are you worried?"
"Nope. I would get a delivery if things go south."
"A delivery?" Sam echoed.
The knock at the door interrupted whatever Jack had been going to say.
Two men in dark suits stood respectfully just inside the doorway.
"General O'Neill, I don't know if you ..."
"Yes, I know who you are."
They exchanged looks. "Sir, with due respect, if Mrs O'Neill wouldn't mind ..."
"Mrs O'Neill wouldn't, but I would. Gentlemen, Mrs O'Neill is Lieutenant Colonel Carter, USAF and she has the same security clearance as me. You can speak quite freely."
"Sir, what we have to discuss is a little ... unusual."
"These are ... unusual times officer, pray continue." Jack picked at an imaginary thread on the sheets.
Sam watched as the men exchanged nervous glances and came closer.
"Several interviews with Minucos have left us with very little. He's ..." The officer paused, obviously uncomfortable with what he had to say. "Well, he isn't admitting to the shooting, but he is insisting that ..." The officer coughed and cleared his throat. "Sorry, erm, he's insisting, General O'Neill, that you are an alien."
"Alien?" Jack could do surprised when he wanted, and he turned his amazed wide eyed expression on the officers. "Alien as in immigrant or little green men alien?"
"I think he means 'alien', sir, another planet." The officer pointed a finger up towards the ceiling.
Jack's unexpected bark of laughter turned into a coughing fit and he gave a gasp of pain as he held onto his chest.
The officers waited patiently, obviously a little embarrassed at having to broach the matter.
Sam passed him some water and he sipped it slowly. It took a few minutes before he was able to speak.
"Well gentlemen, that's a turn up for the books. He shot me because I'm an alien?"
The two officers exchanged a quick look.
"He's not admitted to the shooting sir. We do have some forensic evidence and it would possibly be enough to convict, but he is insisting that he has proof."
Jack's eyebrows would have done Teal'c justice. "Proof of what? Proof I'm an alien?"
The younger officer pinked slightly and nodded. "Yes, sir, however, he will not reveal his proof to us, but is threatening to take it public."
"He shot the General. It was attempted murder. You have enough evidence to lock him up and throw away the key," stated Sam.
"Yes ma'am, possibly. However, he is insisting that he has evidence to support his claim and that he will only speak to the General or he will speak to the newspapers."
"No!" spat Sam, making to get up, only the hand of Jack on her arm forestalling her.
"I would love to know just what he thinks his proof is, plus the fact we don't know if he was working alone or not," said Jack.
"We've been instructed that any publicity, adverse or otherwise, on this matter could be detrimental to Homeworld Security. We could have you wired, sir, he may admit to the shooting."
Jack sighed. He closed his eyes, his head heavy against the pillow and Sam gave his arm a comforting squeeze. She flicked a look of concern to the officers, a frown marring her face.
"We can leave this until later General, if you wish?"
Jack shook his head. "Let's get it over with. Tomorrow?" He barely opened his eyes.
"That would give us time to arrange it for then. Does late afternoon suit you sir?"
"Here?" asked Jack.
"You're not fit to go anywhere else, Jack," said Sam.
"Okay, but not in this room. Can you make the arrangements?"
"Yes, sir. He doesn't want anyone else present, but we'll be right outside and listening."
Jack frowned. "Tell him it will be me and my aide. If he doesn't like that he can call a press conference."
"Sir ..."
"Relay that message to him and nothing else."
"Very good sir. Can I contact your aide through your office?"
Jack smiled. "Nope, leave that to me."
xoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
Here is something Jackie just sent me in an email. I thought you might like to see it –
"The feedback from the fanfiction site has been very supportive. It cheered me up and spurned me on. It is harder to be motivated on what you feel is right when it seems people want the easier option, boring, but certainly easier."
See – your reviews help writers to write well. So, how about you spur her on even more?
Flatkatsi
