Supporting Rumors - Part 44

Teal'c was indeed with security ... right outside the double doors leading to Jack's room. Two uniformed guards and two plain clothes security men were barring his way.

As they approached, Daniel could see by the rigid way Teal'c was standing that his hackles were certainly up by the latest turn of events.

"I state again that I do not wish to enter, but it is of great importance that you let General O'Neill's doctor in."

The Jaffa's voice sounded careful and relatively calm to anyone who didn't know him, but to someone like Daniel, dangerously angry would be the term that should be applied. As Sam and Daniel came to a halt on one side of him and Doctor Hill on the other, Teal'c acknowledged their presence with a slight incline of his head.

"I am yet to procure your entrance." Teal'c addressed the doctor, his regret broadcast in his eyes.

Doctor Hill bristled with anger and addressed the security herself. "Young man, General O'Neill requires the utmost attention in his care. I should have been to see him some time ago, this is ..."

"I'm sorry ma'am, as soon as we have clearance, but until then no-one is to enter," cut in one of the guards.

Daniel could see Teal'c drawing himself up to his full height, his chest expanding, and he put a warning hand onto his friend's shoulder. "This is General O'Neill's wife and this," he leaned forward to indicate Hill, "is his doctor. The General is not a well man and I am sure that by keeping his doctor out you are ..."

"Daniel," began Sam.

Daniel cleared his throat and shook his head at her before continuing. "The press would obviously find it of huge interest that a sick man is denied ..."

The sound of raised voices behind the double doors silenced him as, within seconds, they were pulled open, the guards turning to see what was happening. "Get the general's doctor ... get any doctor!"

Before the guards could react Teal'c took advantage of their distraction and plowed a path through them, Doctor Hill hanging onto his jacket and going with him. He pushed past the two uniformed figures who partially blocked the doorway into Jack's room. Doctor Hill uttered an expletive and dashed forwards. "Get everyone out," she called, not sparing a glance to anyone.

The guards recovered a little and made to block Sam and Daniel as they went to follow, before the man who had shouted for a doctor called out. "Let them through!"

Daniel uttered a tight, "thank you," as he motioned Sam to go first. He managed to step neatly to one side once inside the room, pulling a somewhat dazed Sam with him. As much as he wanted to see what was going on, commonsense held him out of the way.

It was only a couple more minutes before two nurses joined them, wheeling in a cart. For a few minutes every eye in the room was fixed on the bed as Doctor Hill quickly began to check Jack over. The raw hacking cough seemed worse than ever and the Doctor's voice dropped to a low murmuring, offering words of advice and comfort to the sick man as she placed an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.

Daniel winced as he saw Jack's arm cradle his chest, his fingers clenched into a fist, obviously in pain as the prolonged hacking bled the much needed air from his already depleted lungs.

It was Jumper who broke the silence. "I'm sorry …" he began.

"Indeed you should be." Teal'c advanced on the General, his eyes dark and his expression reminding Daniel so much of when the Jaffa had served under Apophis that it alarmed him.

Vidrine stepped into the fray. "You ..."

Teal'c lifted his hand, barring any further progress by pressing against Vidrine's chest in an aggressive manner. "O'Neill requires much healing. He should not be subjected to your presence."

"Now hold on ..." Maynard spoke up.

"I will not hold, nor do I have anything to hold onto, unless it should be my hands around your neck."

Daniel did a double take. He'd rarely seen his friend so worked up, and certainly not against one of their own. He glanced over at Sam, seeing she was intent on what was happening with Jack, and he realized with a jolt that it was up to him to step in - and quickly.

"Teal'c." Daniel moved closer to him, his voice quietly demanding attention.

"They have caused much upset and O'Neill is not well enough for their jackass activities."

'Oh, boy. Jackass?' Daniel silently berated the injured man for passing on the vast wealth of colloquiums he had collected.

The generals were bristling at Teal'c's demeanor but it was clear that discretion was a better part of valor in this situation, and Daniel certainly couldn't blame them ... they had obviously been reading the mission reports and knew that an angry Jaffa was not to be messed with!

"Teal'c, ease up, I'm sure they don't wish to cause any further distress to Jack, or his family." Daniel indicated Sam with a quick flick of his head and he raised his brows, giving Teal'c a meaningful stare.

The Jaffa visibly deflated ... and the anger seemed to dissipate dramatically "O'Neill's physician wishes you to depart and I suggest you do so without further delay." Teal'c's massive arms folded behind his back and he fixed a glare on the three generals that could stop a truck.

Jumper seemed to be the first one to recover. "I had no idea Jack wasn't ... up to this." Jumper turned, more than a little distracted as he watched the activity at the bedside. With an obvious effort, he returned his attention to his colleagues. "I'll – we'll wait for further news down the hall." He looked to Maynard for approval and received a nod of confirmation.

"Please make sure we are kept informed, Doctor Jackson." With those words General Maynard led the way from the room, Jumper and Vidrine closely behind him.

Vidrine turned back to face the room, his hand on the door handle. His attention was held by the activity around Jack's bed for a few seconds, before he muttered a quiet 'sorry' and closed the door softly behind himself.

Daniel let out a sigh of relief as the room suddenly seemed a whole lot emptier without the generals' presence. Teal'c positioned himself near the door, his back to it, and fixed his attention on the bed, pointedly ignoring Daniel's inquisitive stare.

Daniel shook his head, allowing himself to focus on Jack.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Doctor Hill began preparing some syringes while issuing instructions to her staff to set up fluids.

"Doctor?" asked Mrs O'Neill as she stepped closer to the bed.

Hill spared her a brief look of sympathy, but that was all, before she turned her full attention to her patient. "What is it about everybody out that no one seems to understand?" she muttered under her breath. However for the moment the General needed her full attention. A temperature that was rising rapidly and a drastic drop in blood pressure were ringing bells – alarm bells. The flicker of movement from his lids and the tightly fisted hand across his chest betrayed the fact that he was still conscious, if only just.

"General O'Neill, can you hear me?" She grasped his other hand and squeezed it, none too gently. "General, are you in pain? Can you tell me where it hurts?"

His fisted hand moved up to his face. "No you don't," chastised the doctor as she stopped him from grasping the mask. "General O'Neill ... Jack, come on, talk to me," she urged.

"Gwy …" he mumbled. His breathing was speeding up and he coughed and then retched.

The faint, but unmistakable, splatter of blood tainted the inside of the mask and Jack's right shoulder bucked as he twisted, trying to get up, his eyes widening, a panicked expression on his face as he struggled for breath while the warm blood choked his airway.

"Oh God," whispered Sam harshly, her feet automatically taking her closer to the bed.

The nurse closest to her shook her head warningly and waved her back.

"I need him raised," said Doctor Hill. Both nurses assumed the position, and gently but firmly, got Jack sitting up, holding him steady. He slumped forward against their hands, groaning in pain, his breath coming in short gasping heaves.

Hill used her stethoscope to listen to his chest and back. "Try a deeper breath Jack, please," she urged as she listened.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Daniel watched as Jack continued to gasp, his face plainly showing the effort he was making to do as the Doctor requested. Whether or not he was finally able to comply, Daniel couldn't tell, but it seemed an age before the Doctor gave a signal and he was released gently back onto his pillows.

"What's wrong?" asked Sam.

"I need to examine the General further," responded the Doctor and she gave them a pointed look. "If you would all wait outside?"

Daniel caught hold of Sam by her arm and gave her a gentle tug. She seemed quite dazed by the latest turn of events, and who could blame her?

"Come on," he urged quietly.

Sam allowed herself to be led out, Teal'c close on their heels.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Doctor Hill was very thorough in her examination and although she withdrew blood samples for testing, she knew exactly what the problem was . . .

xoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC

Author Note:

Thanks for pointing out the typo 'chocked' in Part 28, abcde. As you say I 'always' do it, and I can't find any other cases, although there are several 'choked', would you be kind enough to tell me where all the others are so that I can correct them.

I am not, nor do I profess to be a professional writer with paid staff to check and publish my work. I write what I write for pleasure and what I want to see - However, my poor unpaid and overworked beta, Flatkatsi does a fantastic job and without her you just wouldn't want to read it - I can assure you. I have read 'real books' and found more than one error on many occasions - and this is after being read through and edited many many times on a professionally paid level - no insult to my beta here - I rate her very professional and if I had the money, I would have no hesitation in employing her instantly!

I have difficulties with my eyesight and despite being on a computer all day at work - I grab a quick half hour/hour when I can - I write and send, Flatkatsi betas and returns, I amend, then usually forget to send it back to Flatkatsi to check again and upload and she has to yell at me - it's a miracle you get the fic in the first place.

So please, nit pick, whatever, because I do want to make sure the final product is the best it can be, but do it nicely and get your facts right before yelling. Microsoft believes there is an English/USA version or something like that and confuses the hell out of me and there is no such things as American lessons over here! We take pride in our work and want it to be right, but please, don't suck the fun out of it - AND join me in putting your hands together for Flatkatsi, who does this on a voluntary basis and fits her own writing in somehow as well. If she ever deserted me that would be the end of my writing other than strictly for my own pleasure.

Jackie

arrrgh could have written another half a chapter in the time to write that lol !