Okay … you know the shows have their guest stars? well, I got me a guest writer.This and the next part were written by Flatkatsi - she pinged the idea at me ... so I ponged it back - she wanted the 'dripping' so I said she had better damn well write it ... and no I don't mean bodily fluids for a change ... uh, on second thoughts perhaps I do ... oh well ... you will know what I mean when you have read them. Put your eyes to the screen and read on !

Supporting Rumors – Part 81

"Aww, come on Sam, wouldn't you like to stay here?"

Jack smiled winningly up from his position on the bed as his wife bent to step into her dress. It was a sky blue that perfectly matched her eyes and Jack knew she'd only bought it a week ago – especially with this trip in mind. Inwardly he sighed with resignation, knowing he was fighting a losing battle, but he couldn't help trying ... Sam just looked so damn sexy in those stockings and stilettos...

"Wouldn't you rather get to bed early? We have a big day tomorrow. "

"You're whining, Jack." Turning as she spoke, Sam sat on the edge of the bed and presented her back to him. "Zip me up."

"I'd much rather it stayed unzipped." But his fingers were already tugging at the tiny piece of metal and he felt a momentary pang of regret as her bare back gradually disappeared under the soft fabric.

Sam just laughed as she stood, adjusting the sling on her left arm as she did so, before going to his wheelchair and awkwardly pushing it closer to the bed. "We didn't come to Washington just so we could stay in the hotel room. The reservation is for seven thirty and it's fifteen after now. Get a move on, General."

Giving up the fight, Jack took her outstretched hand and pulled himself up and over, easily maneuvering into the chair. Once he was settled, Sam knelt to slip on his shoes, then rose, waiting until he had put his suit jacket on, before giving him a long, and for Jack very frustrating, kiss.

"I'm not that hungry. Are you sure you wouldn't like to skip dinner?" One last try only got him a light whack on the arm as a reward and they were soon out the door.

They had decided to eat in a nearby restaurant the hotel had recommended, only a few doors away. Sam had checked it out earlier in the day, making sure it was wheelchair accessible, and was pleased to find it was. She had taken the chance to peruse the menu and found several of their favorites listed.

Despite his protests that he wasn't hungry, Jack's mouth was already watering at the prospect of good food and even better company. Sam hadn't had a chance to get dressed up and go out for months – not since – no, he wasn't going to think about that now. He was going to enjoy himself.

Sam held the restaurant door open and Jack wheeled himself in, taking a look around as Sam entered behind him. The interior was modern, crisp and clean, yet welcoming, with none of the ornate features far too often found in expensive establishments. The tables were dressed with simple white linen cloths, a single slender red candle burning in the center of each, echoing the red and white color scheme of the rest of the room.

Jack smiled in satisfaction.

"Good evening, Madam, Sir. Do you have a reservation?" The man who greeted them fixed his attention on Sam.

"We have a reservation for two. O'Neill."

He checked the list, then, his eyes flickering over Jack, he nodded, glancing around the room. "Yes, of course. If you would follow me?"

Jack turned the chair and with some difficulty followed the maitre d' down the narrow space between the tables until they reached an area by the door to the washrooms where a lone table sat in solitary splendor.

"But ..." Jack looked up at the expression in Sam's voice, seeing her frown. "I asked to be seated by the window."

"I'm afraid those tables were already reserved, madam."

Jack looked around the almost empty room and raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't look ..."

The other man interrupted, and speaking without looking at them, turned away to gesture to a server who was placing elaborately folded napkins on a nearby table. "We have more diners expected later. Fran will be your server for this evening. If there is anything you require, just let her know." And with that, he hurried off.

Jack watched him leave, only half his attention on the young woman's rapid explanation of the specials.

"Jack ..."

Feeling Sam's warm hand on his arm, Jack swung back, moving the chair to better position it at the table. As he did so he bumped against the leg, making it shake and spilling a little of the water the server had placed near Sam.

"Damn – sorr ..."

"It's okay, sir, not a problem. I'll just get a fresh cloth." The young woman beamed down at him before addressing Sam. "It'll give you time to help the gentleman choose his meal. I'll be right back."

"Choose his meal?" Jack just restrained himself from giving her an audible growl as she walked away. "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

Sam couldn't seem to meet his eyes. "I think I'll have the lamb, with garlic prawns to start."

"Sam ..." Jack stopped, deciding not to press the point, not wanting to spoil the evening. He picked up the menu and began flipping the pages. There were several dishes he liked the look of, but it would be better not to choose something too rich – his system didn't seem to cope with it as well as it use to.

Their server returned and replaced the cloth, but retreated again when Sam told her they needed more time. Jack had finally made up his mind, deciding on a simple steak with mushroom sauce, when the sommelier approached.

"Would you like to order drinks?"

Jack nodded at the man and exchanged his menu for the wine list. He only needed a quick glance to spot a red they both particularly liked and give the order. He was still engrossed in his meal selection when the sommelier returned with the bottle.

"Madam?"

Looking up, Jack found the sommelier had poured a small amount of wine into his wife's glass and was watching her with an enquiring expression.

"Excuse me?" Despite his best intentions, Jack found himself raising his voice a little. It wasn't that he felt he was any more qualified to taste the wine than Sam, but he had chosen it, he had ordered it, he was going to pay for it, and he was damned well entitled to be the one to taste it! "My legs might not be too good, but my taste buds are fine."

The sommelier turned, his dismay obvious, and Jack could see the moment he realized his mistake. His face flushed a slight red as he hurried to put wine into the glass Jack extended. To his credit, he appeared genuinely embarrassed.

"I'm very sorry, sir." He stood back as Jack took a sip and smiled when Jack nodded. Filling the two glasses, he then retreated, his place taken by their server.

After ordering their meals, Jack and Sam sipped at their wine in silence. Jack was still on edge, his good mood shattered by the treatment he had received. It didn't help that other diners were constantly brushing past him in an effort to reach the bathrooms and that every time the door opened a wave of cool air, smelling strongly of cleaning fluids, hit them.

"What time does it start tomorrow?"

Jack was pulled from his brooding by Sam's question. "At nine." He paused as the server placed their meals in front of them, before continuing in a low voice. "I really don't have a choice, you know. I need to be there."

"Yes, you do." Sam gestured at her plate. "Would you?"

"Pass it over." Moving his plate aside, Jack made room for hers and proceeded to cut the meat into bite size pieces. "At least you've got an excuse to be there with me for part of the day." He glanced up, pausing in his task. "I'm pleased that you were asked."

"Any idea who will be there? Other than the obvious, of course."

"General Jumper for sure. Probably some other brass, seeing the President's attending." He passed the plate back.

"Including you." Sam smiled at his grunt of disagreement. "You're brass, General Sir."

"More like tin, Colonel." Jack hid his smile by taking a mouthful of steak. "Umm, this is good. Tender."

"It's barely cooked." Holding a forkful of the juicy red meat up, Jack waved it in Sam's direction and grinned as she pulled back. "Eww – keep that away from me."

The minor annoyances of the beginning of the evening were forgotten as the couple began to enjoy themselves, laughing and finally relaxing. For just a brief time Jack could almost imagine he was just a normal average guy out to dinner with his gorgeous wife. They finished the wine while taking their time over the dessert menu, and ended the meal with a liqueur with their coffee.

Having had just enough alcohol to feel mellow, Jack was inclined to be forgiving of the restaurant staffs' earlier behavior. The food had been superb, and he appreciated the gesture of the complimentary liqueurs the maitre d' sent over with their coffee. The room had filled up as the night wore on, and the tables by the windows were filled with diners, so perhaps they had been placed in the only available space. He had to concede that his wheelchair did take up rather more room than a normal chair.

"We should be getting back to the hotel."

Jack heard the wistful note in his wife's voice, but had to reluctantly nod in agreement. "Yes, we have an early start. Anyway," he added, keeping a completely serious expression on his face, "we need to burn off all the calories we've just eaten. It's a scientifically proven fact that if you engage in strenuous exercise straight after a rich meal the fat molecules don't have time to bond with your hips or stomach."

"The fat molecules don't bond?" Sam raised an eyebrow and smirked in his direction. "You sure of that?" When he nodded, she reached over and took his hand. "Did the article recommend any exercise in particular?"

"Uh huh." Turning her hand over, his fingers began to trace light patterns on her palm. "And I really feel I need far more practice in that area. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He grinned and cocked his head to one side. "Think you can help me overcome that?"

"Oh yeah!"

Sam's low, throaty answer sent his senses into overdrive. He kept his eyes fixed on hers as he beckoned to the server, gesturing for the bill.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

The night air was chill, and Sam was grateful they only had a few yards to go before reaching the warmth of their hotel once more. She pulled her light wrap more tightly across her shoulders and smiled to herself as she thought of one way she could warm up, with her husband as a willing participant.

She knew Jack had only been partially joking when he made that crack back in the restaurant about the flesh being weak. Although he had regained a lot of sensation, it was erratic and unpredictable and despite her efforts to reassure him, she knew Jack felt he had failed her. She struggled to convince him that the emotional side of their lovemaking was just as important to her as the physical.

She gave a small snarl of frustration, mixed with not a little affection. Jack could be such a male at times – let's face it – all the time – but she wouldn't want him any other way.

She was pulled from her thoughts as the hotel's automatic door swished open and a bulky figure slammed into her, almost throwing her off her feet.

"Sam!" Jack's anxious cry had her turning as she grasped her still weak arm, the sudden pain making her groan.

"Hell! Sorry, lady. Are you okay?" A wave of beery breath engulfed her and she pulled back. The man who had collided with her, swayed and put a heavy arm around her shoulders, tugging her towards him. "No hard feelings?"

"Are you all right, miss?"

The weight of the arm suddenly lifted and the drunk was pushed back to reveal the concerned face of the hotel doorman.

"I'm fine." Blinking to clear the tears of pain that threatened to spill despite her words, Sam managed a reassuring smile. She searched the growing crowd of onlookers, beginning to panic when she realized Jack was nowhere in sight.

Then a very angry voice cut through the murmuring, "Move! Now!" and Jack appeared from the back of the crowd, his face thunderous. "Sam, are you okay? Your arm?"

"It was just a bump. Nothing to worry about." Sam took a few steps to meet him and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing tightly. She could feel the hard bunch of muscles twitching under her grip. "Forget it. Let's get inside, I'm cold."

Her words had the desired effect. Jack stopped glaring at the now quiet drunk and his face relaxed a little, the tight frown of worry still there, but lessening. He gazed at her with a searching look as if checking to see if she was telling the truth, then gave a curt nod. Without another word, he turned and entered the lobby, shepherding her protectively in front of him.

It was another few minutes before they managed to approach the elevator. The desk clerk had come out to see what the commotion was about and was anxious to make sure Sam wasn't hurt. It was only with some argument that she managed to persuade him not to call the hotel doctor to check her arm.

Giving a sigh of relief, Sam made an effort to regain some of the good humor she had felt when they left the restaurant. Ignoring the other couple waiting for the elevator with them, she looked down at her husband, seeing the tell-tale signs of a still simmering anger.

"Jack, I'm fine, really." She crouched down, balancing precariously on her high heels, to bring herself to his level. Once more he nodded, still not speaking, and Sam put out her hand to stroke a finger down his cheek. "What about you? Are you all right?"

To her dismay, he moved his head away. "Yeah, I'm okay – why wouldn't I be?"

Seeing how upset he was, Sam was reluctant to continue the conversation, especially with the interested stares of the other couple on them. A soft ding alerted her to the elevator's arrival and she stood.

"You're so good with him, dear. I don't know how you cope with your poor arm." Sam turned to find the middle-aged woman following them into the elevator and speaking in an obvious stage whisper. "I'm a martyr to my darling Kevin, with the way he suffers from his gout, so I know what it's like."

The older man with her grunted, his eyes fixed on the now closing doors.

"You have to have so much patience, don't you." Sam opened her mouth to answer, but was too late. To her profound horror, the woman patted Jack on the shoulder and, in the sort of slow, loud voice normally reserved for very young children, spoke. "You're very, very lucky to have such a devoted wife to look after you."

"Gwen – this is our floor."

"Oh, so it is!" She looked up and gave a start of surprise. "It was lovely talking to you dear. Now remember – patience is the key."

Sam couldn't bring herself to say anything as the couple exited the car. She heard the man speaking while they walked down the hotel corridor.

"I don't know why you always waste your time speaking to unfortunates."

His wife's reply was cut off by the closing doors.

Sam stood for a moment, almost too afraid to look at Jack, imagining how he must be feeling.

"Poor bastard." She spun, to find Jack looking up at her with a very sardonic smile. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like being married to someone like her – what with talking to people like us and all."

The man never failed to amaze her.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Jack lay with one hand behind his head and the other lightly resting on Sam's naked back. She was snoring ever so gently, in that very ladylike way she had that she hotly denied whenever he mentioned it, but for once the sound didn't make him smile. Over and over the events of the evening replayed themselves in his mind, from the table by the washrooms to the woman's comments in the elevator.

The worst moment had been when Sam had been hurt. Someone had pushed his chair to one side and he had found himself shoved away, unable to get to her as other people had rushed to her aid.

He had been useless. Worse than useless – nothing more than an annoyance that was in the way. An object, not a human being.

And although he had laughed off the woman's words, her dismissal of him as if he was an imbecile unable to think for himself had hurt, deeply.

He couldn't wait to get home and forget the whole trip.

But he had the terrible feeling the rest of his life would be strewn with evenings like this one.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC