Supporting Rumors - Part 49

The buzzing in Jack's ears was a constant that didn't seem to want to go away. Occasionally the buzzing became a higher pitch or changed into murmurings that he didn't understand, didn't want to.

He could feel the touches on his face, his hands and arms, and he shuddered, remembering other touches, hands that weren't gentle. He felt the pain and disgust from the memories the touching aroused, pain that made his guts recoil in horror, and it hurt so much to remember ... it hurt to breathe. To breathe meant he was still alive, alive to feel, but there was nothing, nothing but pain and hurt ... and dark, dark memories.

Time, like the dry desert sands, moved forward, eroding the horrors, casting back the darkness, throwing shadows. The smile that lit the small face as he walked towards him lightened his heart, lifted the pain, eased the sadness of his soul...

The bang made his heart jump and he watched as the face he loved changed, quickly disappearing beneath a cloud of blood red haze. His soul screamed out, his heart screamed out ... his voice joining them in terror…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The bang awoke Sam with a jolt. The nurse grimaced an apology and moved to pick up the DVD box she'd knocked off the cabinet, its hard plastic casing having made quite a noise as it hit the tiled floor.

The nurse frowned, moving closer as the monitor attached to Jack began to speed up alarmingly, alerting Sam, who sat up and leaned forwards.

Her heart nearly stopped as her husband's scream rent the air, the machine's bleeping joining in the crescendo.

"Oh God, Jack, Jack!" cried Sam. "No, please, honey, come on!" She took hold of the hand nearest to her and squeezed it tightly, shaking it a little, trying to penetrate whatever or wherever her husband's nightmare was taking him.

His scream died. His breathing became ominously loud, almost panting and Sam found hers matched it. Her heart was thumping so loudly, pounding so hard in her chest that she thought it would burst and for several minutes she could do nothing but sit still, holding on tightly.

The nurse's eyes crept to Sam's and even she looked a little shaken. "Nightmare?" she whispered, her face full of sympathy.

Sam nodded. "I ... he ..." Just what could she answer?

"It's okay. He's having hell thrown at him, I don't wonder at it. He seems to be settling again. I'm so sorry, I must have startled him when I ..." The nurse gestured to the DVD case she still held in her hand.

Sam seemed to be seeing it for the first time and reached out for it. "Starsky and Hutch?" she queried. She let out a breath nosily. Where the heck did that come from?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The day pressed onto into evening and although Daniel had been persuaded to go and rest a while, it wasn't that long before he was back.

Teal'c returned also and Sam quickly briefed their friend as to Jack's distress. Daniel winced at the flash of raw emotion he caught on Teal'c's face, but the Jaffa didn't speak, merely placing himself on guard beside Jack.

Sam pressed a tender kiss to Jack's forehead and grabbed Daniel by his arm to get him out of the room.

"I need to talk." She gave Teal'c a quick look that he answered with a nod of understanding, then she pressed Daniel into action, leading the way to the relatives' room.

"Sam, I'm really sorry ... oh God, it's my fault he's ..."

Sam shook her head. "No it's not. Damn press! It could have happened any time. We can't block it all out. At least you were there with him. What I want to talk about is Sara."

Daniel grimaced. "Does she ... I mean did Jack ..."

"Yes, she knows we're married. Jack keeps in touch a little, the odd card, the odd call."

"Oh. That's all right then. Was it before or after?" Daniel stressed the after. He knew it wasn't really the time nor the place, but it was there ... hanging between them.

Sam sighed. "After. I ... we're both sorry we didn't get hold of you and Teal'c. We didn't plan it at all really, it was a spur of the moment thing, and you were both off world before and during and then ... well, it just didn't seem appropriate to just call you up and ..." Sam tailed off.

"And when you returned?"

"We were a bit busy for a while there ... I know, I know." She shook her head apologetically. "We were going to arrange a get together and break the news to you both ... then ..."

Daniel couldn't stand the guilt written on her face. "Okay, you're off the hook ... for now – but not Jack. When he's okay he and I are going to have words."

Sam smiled and leaned toward him, giving him a hug, which he returned wholeheartedly.

Sam straightened. "We need to contact Sara. I did try calling her as soon as the broadcast aired. I used Jack's cell, so she could ID the caller, but I only got voice mail and I didn't like leaving a message."

There was a brisk tap on the door just before it opened and George Hammond leaned in. He looked around the room as if checking they were alone, gave them a tight smile and then stepped in fully, closing the door behind him.

"Did you see the press conference?"

Daniel had seen a lot of expressions, mostly very carefully schooled expressions, on the old General's face over the years, but he had not seen such a look of self disgust before.

"Damned fiasco. Hell bent on stirring it."

Daniel took a deep breath. It was better Hammond knew the worse part.

"Jack heard it, well, some of it at least."

"What?" Hammond's face paled dramatically. "Oh sweet Jesus. I knew this was a mistake ... right from the go get – damn!" He sank down onto the couch and Sam was right there beside him, taking one of his large hands into both of hers.

"It wasn't your fault sir, please don't feel ..."

"I should have told Maynard it was a no go. Oh God, imagine if Jack had given that conference ..."

Each of them knew just what might have happened. There was no way Jack would have sat and taken that kind of abuse. The fall out emotionally and the damage it would have done all around, simply did not bear thinking about.

Hammond shook his head ruefully. "I never thought I'd be thankful for pneumonia. I wouldn't have wished it on him but at least it kept Jack out of the clutches of those vultures

The somber thought had them sitting in silence for a few minutes, before Sam finally broke it. "I was telling Daniel about trying to contact Sara. If she caught the broadcast then ..."

Hammond nodded. ""I've asked the local police department to contact …"

"Thank goodness." Sam let out a sigh of relief.

"How is Jack taking it?" asked Hammond finally, his eyes revealing his trepidation.

Daniel explained what had happened and poor old George looked very shaken at his revelation.

George Hammond swept a hand over his head, his fingers kneading the bare skin. His pale face and the slight gathering of moisture beneath his eyes showed just how much he was upset by this news.

Sam's grip tightened on his other hand. George had been such a huge comfort to her, to them all in fact, that it was time to repay some of it.

They sat together talking quietly, each one giving the others as much comfort as they could give, each of them showing their feelings for not just a comrade …

after all, no matter how dysfunctional they were at times

- they were family!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC