Supporting Rumors - Part 88
Doctor Hill sighed and turned the page. She hated doing her bit for the journal. She never knew what to write. She hated to write about disappointments ... but there were never enough miracles about either. Well, not that she knew of ... unless...
xoxoxoxoxoxo
She had to shake herself to close her mouth from its drop jaw position at the vision that presented herself at her door at precisely 11.15 am – right on time.
"General O'Neill?" she gasped, standing up.
"Yes Ma'am." Fortunately the General stepped right in and closed the door behind him.
"Good grief, you are a sight for sore eyes, young man."
The General snorted. "Young?"
Hill couldn't get over the vision, splendid in his uniform, literally dripping with medals - an absolutely resplendent example of raw masculinity ... as her nurses would have said ... boy – was he hot!
Hill wished herself ten years younger. No, make that twenty, maybe she could have given Samantha O'Neill a run for her money...
Ahem... She pulled her mind out of the gutter and back to work.
"Certainly younger than me... Please sit down, General. I must say how marvelous you are looking. I simply can't tell you how absolutely delighted I am at the progress you have made."
The General carefully placed his cane against the desk and perched his hat on his knee. "Sorry about this, I just came from a meeting ..." He indicated the uniform with his free hand.
"Please don't apologize. It's nice to see such a splendid uniform, makes one proud to be an American. Even though I live in DC, I never tire of seeing such finery." 'And if they all looked like you DC would be over-run by females pretty damn quick!'
The General shifted in his seat a little as Hill perched on her desk, scanning through her files and notes, as well as the ones she had received from the Springs re-hab center.
The Doctor quickly checked through the latest test results and then gave the General a thorough medical, questioning him about his daily routine now he was back in DC.
She lectured him on the importance of keeping up with his strict fitness schedule, but from her examination, she knew he was certainly adhering to it.
All in all, his progress was quite remarkable. She thought back over the last couple of years - how close he had come to dying and what he had gone through. The man had quite literally been to Hell and back.
Finally finished with her examination, Hill glanced up at him, seeing the start of a small frown, She knew the General had reached the 'wanna get out of here' stage quite a while back, but he had remained quiet and biddable, much to her surprise.
"All done."
The General smiled at her announcement and she moved to her desk from behind the screens to allow him to finish dressing as she made some notes in his files.
"Do I get to throw the cane away anytime, Doc?" He came out from behind the screen, finishing up buttoning his jacket, his limp far more pronounced without the aid of his cane.
Hill shook her head regretfully. "I don't think so. You've beaten huge odds on getting this far. You've regained a great percentage, much more than I would have even dared to speculate on, but you now have to accept that you need some assistance with walking. Your right knee isn't in the best of health either. Treat it with respect, or you'll find yourself back in surgery quicker than you would like."
He grimaced, but nodded. "Point taken, Doc."
Susan Hill finished up her notes quickly, sensing the man's building impatience.
"Are you back in DC permanently?"
"For the foreseeable future, unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?"
"Sam's still in Colorado."
"Oh dear. You must miss her greatly. I must say I was surprised that you weren't retired."
"Not as surprised as me. It seems that for the time being, my services are indispensable." The General rose, obviously wanting to be going.
Hill stood and moved around the desk, standing closer to him. "Well, I can't say that surprises me, General. I would like to see you again in a couple of months. However in the meantime, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call."
General O'Neill stood a little straighter, bringing the cane in closer to support himself. "Thanks Doc, for everything. I really mean that." He held his hand out.
Doctor Susan Hill stared up at him. He was one of the miracles. Ignoring the hand, she enveloped him in a hug before she realized what she was doing. She pulled back quickly, two bright spots of color staining her cheeks and looked up expecting him to be ... well, anything but amused.
He grinned down at her, his amusement quite apparent.
"Sorry, General."
"Jack. The name is Jack, Doc."
She blushed even harder when he returned the hug.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
Author's Note (Jackie's comments) – There have been a lot of comments about Sam's expected reaction to Jack's new orders ... that was not going to happen. She would never never question his orders and really wants him to continue his career, even more so than her own. She would be disappointed they couldn't be together on a daily basis, very ... but she would never tackle Jack on that ... never put that guilt on him. Orders are orders.
Author's fic poster's (Flatkatsi's comments) - I do think Jack would be expected to follow orders - especially the President's - and not go running to his wife for her opinion/approval. Following orders is part and parcel of being an AF officer. If Hayes says he's needed, then he's needed. He might argue and question, but not say 'Can I think it over and talk to my wife?' Jackie decided not to include a chapter with Sam and Jack talking over his decision, and I agreed with her reasoning. As Sam said to Jack in Part 85 - "Whatever you decide will be fine by me, I want you to know that."
You will find Jackie has left several things open to the reader's imagination. What Sam intended to talk to Jack about at the end of the last part is a case in point. The part I just posted is set some time after the previous one, as you have probably guessed by some of Jack's comments to Doctor Hill. Sam has talked to him and the result is yet to be seen. But don't worry – it will be.
Ilovesg1 – Yes, Jackie is on vacation, but remember, I'm the one posting the story, and unfortunately I'm not on vacation. She has left me lots and lots (well, actually not that many) completed parts – right up to the very very end of the story. I'm just being mean and nasty and not posting them all at once. After all, Jackie is off enjoying herself, so I have to get my kicks somehow!
