Supporting Rumors - Part 51
"I know I didn't feel anything, but it moved." The firmness in Jack's voice belied the exhaustion they knew he must be feeling.
Doctor Hill replaced the sheets over his feet and straightened, her hand moving to massage the small of her back.
The test results were self evident and she gave the General a brief smile.
It was Sam however, that responded. "Yes, I know, honey, but you have to take things slow, it might not …" She tailed off, hating herself at that moment, and by the flash she saw in her husband's eyes ... She bit at her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears she felt brimming up. Although a tiny part of her was glad of the distraction for Jack, as it focused his attention away from the press fiasco, she didn't want him to have another set back if he raised his hopes too high.
"You said it was a sign that I'm beginning to regain some sensation." Jack folded his arms loosely across his chest, radiating stubbornness, the light wheezing sounds he made when breathing cutting across the silence.
"You still might, but it may also be just an involuntary spasm. I also explained that you may feel pain and no sensation or movement." Doctor Hill moved to the chair opposite Sam and sat down.
"You may be able to regain some feeling in your right foot Jack, please don't ..." The scowl on his face cut her short. Sam so badly wanted him to walk again, but she knew that the chances were crushingly small.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Jack's focus switched to the foot of the bed. They could see the effect of the strain as he attempted to force some movement into his frozen limbs. The beads of perspiration began to gather and his already pale face whitened further. The monitor gave a bleep as it began to record his raised heart rate. Pain and exhaustion lined his face.
He'd damn well show them ... the doc apparently seemed to believe him – more than his own wife – for cryin' out loud ... did she think he'd lost it? Was she trying to ... he couldn't figure out why she was so disbelieving in him ... had she had enough – was it her way of walking out?
The last thought sickened him and he slumped. Trying to draw breaths slow and deep enough to replenish the air in his lungs to stop the buzz that was beginning to sound in his ears drew all his energy. His head sank against the pillows.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
The deep despair in his dark eyes was agonizing to see.
"Jack," said Hill quietly. "Please, try and rest. You can't force it to happen and you're exhausted."
"Don't want to sleep," he whispered.
The fight clearly drained out of him.
"Just rest, you don't need to sleep, just try and relax," urged Hill as she rose. "If you don't …" She mimicked a plunging motion with her fingers and thumb, the threat hanging.
"No, not that." Jack closed his eyes and Hill watched as his breathing began to soften and the monitor's readings fall.
"You too Mrs O'Neill, please get some rest."
Jack's eyes flickered open briefly. "Yeah, I think you need to, just in case more than one of us starts imagining things huh?"
"Jack ..."
Jack silenced her with a glare. "I'll be good and put my imagination and hopes on hold. Go rest."
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam wavered. She knew he needed her, but she just couldn't give him what he wanted at this moment ... and her heart was heavy with the guilt she was feeling at trying to keep him grounded emotionally. His words had hurt but who could blame him?
It was with mixed feelings that she leaned over and tried to kiss him. He turned his face quickly away from her and, for the moment, she knew better than to push things. She knew her husband was hurting, and not just in the physical sense. Her jumbled thoughts and feelings were no good to either of them at the moment, but she also knew there would be some hard work ahead of them to sort things out. In the meantime, they both needed some space.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam was exhausted by the latest events. Her life at the moment seemed to be a constant rock and roll, swinging between continued despair and downright disaster. She acknowledged life had never been sane since taking that assignment to the SGC so many years ago, and she quite freely admitted the life she had with Jack O'Neill could not be compared to anything in her previous relationships, and for that she was continually amazed and grateful, but Lord, just what she wouldn't give for a vestige of normality at the moment.
After promising Doctor Hill that she would actually rest quite soon, she made her way to see Daniel and Teal'c ... determinedly sniffing back the tears that were rising rapidly.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
