I'd like to give a huge thank you to everyone, for not only the feedback, but your interest in the story and continued support. You are a great bunch of people. True Jack fans. - Jackie
Supporting Rumors - Part 48
"I'll get Doctor Hill."
The nurse had answered Daniel's summons and made a quick appraisal of the patient before hurrying from the room, leaving Daniel hunched over, still holding onto Jack's hand.
"Jack, please, take it easy. It'll be okay." Daniel caught his breath. The press had ripped apart Jack's life with just a few sentences, tearing open old wounds that had never been cauterized fully with the years, casting dark aspersions where there should be none over his new life with Sam. God only knew what Sam would feel like when she heard.
"Sara," whispered Jack, his breath so rasping that Daniel had to struggle to hear.
"She'll be fine, I can call her. I bet she'll think they're off their heads - hiring a hit man – it's ridiculous."
Jack shook his head. "Charlie." The name caught on a sob.
Daniel bowed his head, tightly closing his eyes. The raw pain his friend was suffering drove a stake through his heart. He knew what Jack was saying. Dragging up their dead son wouldn't just be crucifying Jack, but his ex wife as well.
"Jack, please calm down. We can get Sara, talk to her and see she's okay. We should have anticipated this, I'm sorry."
Jack's face seemed to whiten further, the faint blush of blue that had been disappearing made a darker appearance, and the beep from the monitor seemed to be tripping over itself as it sped up.
Daniel didn't hear the doctor enter. She seemed to just suddenly appear at Jack's other side. After making a quick examination, she lowered the head of the bed and prepared a syringe, swiftly injecting it into the IV tube.
It seemed forever, but gradually the beeping slowed and Jack started to relax slightly, his breathing slowing, steadying.
"Sam ..." he slurred.
"Sam won't be long. Promise." Daniel gripped his hand tighter as he spoke, watching his friend finally drift to sleep.
"He'll rest a while. I certainly didn't expect a relapse of this nature," whispered Hill.
Daniel nodded towards the television. "It was my fault. I didn't realize he was listening."
Hill followed his direction and swore softly. "He mustn't be upset like that. I'll get that moved. Damn press, don't they think he'd had enough!"
Daniel raised an eyebrow at the vehemence in the doctor's voice.
"Sorry, I saw the broadcast ... it's bad enough to lose a child under any circumstance. The poor mother and Mrs O'Neill as well ..." Doctor Hill shook her head, clicking her tongue softly. "Minucos was obviously psychotic, surely they appreciated that from what he claimed?"
Doctor Hill watched until she was completely satisfied that Jack was settled. "I'll call Mrs O'Neill. Are you okay to stay here?"
"Yes certainly, thank you." Daniel couldn't help feeling relieved that the Doctor would speak to Sam. Right now he felt that he wasn't much use to anyone.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Doctor Hill wasted no time in keeping her word and Daniel was glad to see the TV being wheeled out. As an afterthought he also removed the headphones from the radio and hid them in the closet. He had never been a fan of the press, but right now he hated them with a vengeance
He picked up a brightly colored DVD from the cabinet top, wondering who on Earth had brought that in. He didn't think Starsky and Hutch was Jack's style ... still, he supposed, it made a change from grapes or flowers. He went back to settle himself in the chair next to his friend, watching him as he slept.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
As the minutes past Daniel rose occasionally to snag a fresh wipe which he used to bathe Jack's face. He was becoming agitated again and Daniel knew it was far too soon for another tranquilizer.
He was greatly relieved when Sam came in. Her eyes were puffy and red when she entered, a false smile pinned to her face. "How's he doing?"
"He's very restless." Daniel felt so awkward, the guilt was building and building.
Sam wasted no time in taking a seat at the other side of the bed. She grasped Jack's free hand quickly, her other hand going to his face, stroking it gently.
She looked up and met Daniel's eyes before he could look away. "It wasn't your fault Daniel," she whispered. "I saw the broadcast ... if anyone's to blame it's the press."
"I should have known better ... God, I could ..."
A groan from the bed stopped him in mid sentence. Jack shuddered violently and twisted his upper body, his head thrashed to one side. "Ch ... Ch ..."
Sam looked distraught. "Jack, it's okay, hush honey, it's okay." She raised his hand to her lips, holding it tightly between both of hers.
Jack struggled slightly, pulling at his hand. The hand Daniel held flexed into a fist and Daniel grabbed hold tightly. "Sam," he cried in warning as Jack twisted, his strength taking them by surprise.
Sam moved back a little, but maintained her grip on his hand. "Jack, it's me Sam, please honey ..."
"Char ... Char ..." Jack's lips silently mouthed the completion of his dead son's name.
"Jack." Daniel called more loudly this time, trying to get the semi conscious man's attention, trying to bring him from whatever horrors he was dreaming.
"No, no, no." Jack twisted, his shoulders bucking as he tried to withdraw his hands from their grip. His face was bathed in sweat, his eyes clenched shut.
Daniel gave Sam an anguished look, the mirror of his expression borne by hers. He reached for the call button with one hand to summon assistance.
Jack's eyes opened just a flicker, gasping for air as he twisted, trying desperately to rise.
"Jack, you're in hospital, please honey, stay still, it's okay." Sam tried again to get his attention.
His eyes opened a little more and his gaze flickered over her, his eyes clouded with pain. They lit briefly with recognition. "Sam?" he gasped.
"Yes, I'm here."
Jack's eyes began to close again, the trembling in his upper body building. He groaned and shifted his head, his eyes finding Daniel's, before they rolled back up in his head and he slumped.
"Jack?" Daniel held his breath, watching and listening to the monitor as it supported the evidence to allay their fears.
Doctor Hill entered, closely followed by a nurse, and Sam and Daniel moved back to allow them better access. Sam explained what had occurred as the doctor checked her patient.
"I can't give him anything stronger. His temperature is up a little. Other than staying with him and talking to him, until he's more coherent there's nothing more we can do."
More trembles racked through Jack's upper body and he groaned. Fresh tears began to track down his face as he threshed his head.
"Help me raise him," Hill ordered the nurse after checking the monitors, "His blood pressure has improved and this thrashing around isn't helping his injuries or his breathing."
The doctor snagged a fresh wipe and gently mopped his face, waiting patiently as he unconsciously tried to avoid the touch.
"Charlie?" Jack's eyes flew open, the frown on his face turning to anguish as the memories swamped him.
"Jack." Hill spoke gently. "Do you know where you are?"
Jack's eyes seemed darker than ever as he stared at her. The husky breaths he drew seemed ominously loud in the quiet room. Finally he broke her gaze, his eyes searching and not resting until they settled on Sam.
Sam straight away moved closer, gently reaching for his hand, which changed the grip to hold hers tightly.
His eyes began to droop again, exhaustion winning the battle as he drifted once more.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
