Supporting Rumors - Part 43

The hustle and bustle of the nursing staff as they tended to Jack's needs left him feeling exhausted. He loathed each and every second of it. And although he acknowledged that the staff tried to maintain his dignity the best they could, he still felt stripped and demeaned.

He'd been cleaned, fed and watered, taken his meds, given that certain look from the staff when they tut tutted about his temperature – it was only two degrees for cryin' out loud and no doubt the doc would be in soon waving her specially pre-frozen stethoscope about - and his lower limbs manipulated and then maneuvered gently into a new position. He always felt oddly unbalanced as he was repositioned and hated the feeling of inadequacy and insecurity it brought to the surface.

He lay back wearily. The single yellow rose had been placed without comment in the vase at his bedside and he grimaced at it. Thinking of the escapades of its deliverer brought an impromptu smile to his lips. He shook his head and shut his eyes, relishing the quiet moment.

The door opened and he kept his eyes closed, firmly believing that the staff had ratted him out to the doctor. "Oh, for crying out loud, what's a man to do to get some rest around here?"

"You don't stay in hospital to get rest, Jack."

Jack's eyes shot open and he stiffened a little, involuntarily trying to come to attention as he recognized the voice.

"John!"

General John Jumper wore quite a grin as he stepped into the room. He swept a bouquet of flowers from behind his back with a flourish that made Jack break into an equally large grin. It wasn't every day that the Air Force Chief of Staff actually brought flowers – to anyone.

"Whatyaup to, John?"

Jumper gave Jack a wide smile, obviously pleased to see him. "You're looking better than I had hoped for Jack, considering ..."

"Is this a social call?" interrupted Jack, his suspicion worn openly.

"Well, yes and no." General Jumper strolled casually across the room and laid the flowers on the trolley at the bedside. Grabbing a chair, he dragged it a little nearer the bed.

Jack eyed the man steadily. Waiting. He was very familiar with Jumper since his move to Washington, and they got on surprisingly well. John had a sense of humor, and although not as dark as Jack's could be at times, it was frighteningly similar. When Jack ruffled things with his outspokenness John was always willing to try and soothe things and had backed Jack up on several occasions. That it always had, so far, turned out to be the right thing, hadn't hurt Jack's career at all.

"Okay, spit it out. You're up to date with Minucos's statement, and I gather there are feathers blowing in the wind, huh?"

John Jumper grinned. "Direct, as usual, Jack." He nodded his head and leaned back in the chair. "How's things?" He redirected the glare that Jack gave him, back.

"Fine. How are you? Now cut to the chase, sir, please?"

John folded his arms across his chest, regarding Jack steadily. "Hayes sends his love."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oy, another comedian. Yes, he's told me that already, now can we move on?"

Jumper grinned, obviously enjoying winding Jack up, it wasn't often he got the chance.

Jack suddenly choked off a spluttered cough, his arm crossing his chest protectively. Trying to hold off the coughing fit just wasn't an option, the more he tried, the worse it got...

Jumper watched in concern, rising from his chair and hovering over the other man with an expression that under other circumstances, Jack just might have thought funny, but at this moment in time caused him to feel nothing but the livid embarrassment of his predicament.

As Jumper wavered towards the call button, Jack frantically signaled him with his other hand to leave it. He sat back down, reluctantly, but stayed on the edge of his seat, watching intently. It was several minutes before Jack's choking cough died down and with his wheezed breath tried to offer the obviously discomforted general something constructive...

"It only shuts ... me up for a short time ..."

The other man shook his head, the small tug of a smile at his lips, but his concern still expressed in his eyes.

"You okay there, Jack? Are you sure I shouldn't ..."

Jack shook his head. He took a few small breaths, "Good to go," he urged dismissively.

General John Jumper didn't get to his exulted position without being able to take a hint and changed the subject again, to give Jack a little more time to gather his breath.

"Love your guard dog by the way."

At Jack's puzzled expression, he continued to enlighten.

"Uh, Teal'c, isn't it? He kicked off with security. Still going at it hammer and tongs, I think I was lucky to get in here ..."

Jack grinned. "He's faced down major league out there, John, no way is anything on Earth gonna faze that guy."

John Jumper seemed to consider this and nodded enthusiastically. "So have you, Jack. I am sure glad you're both on our side."

Jack nodded in agreement. "I'm sure you are going to tell me just why you are here, soon huh?"

Jumper sat back a little in the chair. "Today is just a social call, Jack."

"Bull."

Jack's blurted response raised both eyebrows on Jumper's face.

For a fraction of a second, Jack wondered whether Jumper would call him on it. He let out a breath when the man settled back further into the seat.

"Look Jack, I admit we thought you were much fitter than this at the moment. You agreed to the Minucos interview and we thought ... should have known, huh? George said you were never one to take things lying ..."

Jumper's expression as he paused showed Jack he'd caught himself in time and was rephrasing it in his mind.

Jumper coughed to clear his throat. "… take the easy way on anything. Let's leave it at a social call for today."

"Don't. You are here now, sir, you might as well get it over with."

"Jack, I really don't think ..."

Jack sighed. "Look, the more you have to buzz in and out of here and upset the hospital, it isn't fair on neither the staff nor the other patients."

The general's expression showed he hadn't even considered that aspect.

Jumper seemed reluctant to continue and he hesitated a little before continuing. "Well, you can at least listen to us, doesn't mean you have to do anything right now."

"Us?"

Jumper nodded and went to the door. He opened it a little and spoke quietly to the guard outside.

"Just the three of us, Jack."

Jack gave him a quirk of his eyebrows. He didn't need to think too hard about who his other visitors were.

In a remarkably short time the door opened and two more uniformed bodies entered.

The first one wore a wide grin, obviously pleased to see Jack.

"Francis," greeted Jack cheerfully.

The second figure was much more formal. "General O'Neill."

"General Vidrine, what a pleasure, sir." Jack could do formal quite well when he chose.

General Francis Maynard offered his hand and shook hands warmly with Jack.

Vidrine contented himself with a nod, obviously wanting to proceed with the briefing. There was no love lost between Jack and Vidrine, although there was perhaps a little grudging respect.

Vidrine opened the folder he carried and rested it on the trolley at the foot of Jack's bed.

"You are probably aware that the press has released some eye catching headlines. We do not want the State Office, or Homeworld Security to come under any further scrutiny, not to mention the Stargate Project itself. Given the attention focused on you at the moment, we think it would be best that Teal'c is returned to the SGC."

Jack's frown deepened. "Returned? He's not lost luggage for cryin' out loud!"

Jumper coughed.

Jack threw him a glare and took a breath, as deep as he could manage, which wasn't much.

Vidrine calmly ignored the issue. "We simply feel it would be for the best and I am sure if you explain it to him ..."

"You explain it to him," said Jack with a sardonic grin. "But, I think it would be better if you just had both Teal'c and Daniel recalled"

"Doctor Jackson is not ..."

"Don't alienate Teal'c. You have them both recalled, or not at all, unless it's genuine."

"General O'Neill, I think you are forgetting ..."

"I think Jack has had enough for the time being," interrupted Maynard, but Jack ignored him.

"Just what is it you want of me?" Jack sighed. He was really tired and the beginnings of a headache were building. He had been glad to see Jumper, but Vidrine just rubbed him entirely the wrong way, and he had yet to find out just what warranted two of the Joint Chiefs and a three star general visiting him.

Jumper gave Vidrine a pointed glare and Vidrine had the grace to look a little discomforted. "Getting straight to the point, we need you to speak to the press."

"Just a written statement?" asked Jack hopefully, knowing at heart that he had no such luck.

Maynard jumped in to the rescue – not. "Just a small conference. Four, perhaps five of the main stream press representatives."

"In my pajamas?" snorted Jack sarcastically.

"Personally, I don't care if you do it butt naked, Jack," said Jumper with a smile. "but, we are trying to downplay the whole alien theme and maintain a low profile."

"We just need you to point the finger at an emotionally disturbed person and show them the result of his actions. We don't want them to sympathize with Minucos," explained Vidrine.

Jack's expression froze. He knew exactly what was being inferred. "Would you like me to perhaps roll around on the floor helplessly?" His voice was barely controlled, teeth clenched tightly as he spoke. His anger betrayed itself as his voice rose. "Maybe give them the whole works huh? General's career shot to pieces! Medical discharge for crippled General!"

Jumper stood quickly, giving Vidrine another glare. "Jack, no ..."

Jack's temper was rising as fast as his temperature. His headache was beyond throbbing, the intense pain sent shooting needles through his skull. Beads of perspiration began to gather on his face and throat and he clenched his trembling hands together.

Vidrine's emotionless voice continued to wash over him. "The papers have put not only Homeworld Security firmly on the map, but have highlighted several points in your career. We need to put a cap on their prying. They've raised a lot of speculation and put you under the spotlight. They've dragged up everything they can, the death of your son, your divorce, your recent marriage ..."

"What?" Jack closed his eyes tightly for a few seconds. He'd had a suspicion that Daniel hadn't told him everything, but he hadn't realized it was so bad. In truth he had felt too tired to call him on it at the time. When his eyes opened again he found the three men were regarding him silently.

The room and its occupants began to fade out a little from his vision and the buzzing in his ears rose in volume.

"Jack?" he could hear the concern in the voice, but for the life of him he couldn't respond.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC