Irrevocable Decision Part 16

"No more!"

Crap. Was that his voice?

Jack pushed the repulsive drink away from his lips and managed to scowl at the person holding it.

"No more," he reiterated just to make sure Jacob had got his message.

"Sorry, no can do. This stuff is …"

"Shit! And save the lecture, Jacob – not in the mood! What time is it?"

"Nearly 04:00 – you've had a rough night."

"Who wouldn't when they're being forced to drink – what the hell's in that stuff anyway?"

"Something the Tok'ra use for general healing."

"They use honey, too?"

"No, I had Sam add the garlic and honey, knowing how much you're partial to the stuff." And seeing the revulsion on Jack's face, the older man grinned and went on to explain, "It's good for the soul – anyway, didn't your mother tell you that if it tastes rotten it must be doing you good?"

Good naturedly, Jacob closed his ears to Jack's acerbic reply and held the mug once more to his lips, ignoring the stubborn light in the weary eyes and the tightly closed lips.

"You still having nightmares about the Gadmeer?"

Jacob made his move as Jack opened his mouth to protest and Jack spluttered in disgust that he'd fallen for such a ruse and, more so at being forced to drink more of the foul Tok'ra medicine. "Tell me Jack," Jacob continued, ignoring the furious glare scorching his skin, "why do you always scream for Sam to get off the ship when it was Daniel who was on it?"

Black tortured eyes closed down leaving Jacob staring at...nothing. He'd pulled the damned shutters down, but if he thought that was going to do the trick he had another thing coming Jacob promised silently.

"I always felt there was something more to the whole Gadmeer/Enkaran…."

"You're mistaken!" And going on the offensive as he always did when threatened, Jack spat savagely, "Anyway that was classified information." He was wheezing from the effort as he tried to ignore the alert blue eyes watching him. "Carter had no right opening her mouth."

Laying a restraining hand on his patient's chest to keep him down, Jacob shook his head in mild disapproval.

"I'm not mistaken AND before you say anything else, Jack, it isn't the first time you've had the nightmare, so don't waste your breath denying it and stop looking at me like that. It's not as if I'm accusing you of sleeping with my daughter."

Jacob stilled, frowning down at the patient. "You haven't, have you?" Then seeing Jack's appalled look the Tok'ra relented, grinning widely. "Relax Jack, I'm joking."

Walking to the window, Jacob allowed time for the patient to regain his composure, while he pulled back the drawn curtains. There was no hint of the coming dawn but the snow had stopped and he realized that Janet and her team should soon be on their way.

"No doubt you'll be looking forward to Doctor Fraiser's ministrations – I know Sam is – you gave her quite a scare back in those woods."

Blinking as if dazzled by a bright light that wasn't there, Jack replied brusquely, "She's seen worse."

He didn't meet Jacob's probing eyes.

"Do you take lessons in being deliberately thick-headed? Is there any wonder George hasn't got a hair on his head!"

And giving the injured man a level stare, he continued dryly, "You know, Jack, you should think yourself lucky you were never under my command. Now let's finish the damned drink."

Rolling his eyes, Jack groaned, "Don't you have anything better to do?" He shuddered as he heard Jacob chuckle maliciously.

"Other than hang around and wait until you're well enough for my daughter to kick your ass - no. But tell me, Jack," and now the Tok'ra's voice turned solemn, "If you have repeated nightmares about Sam, don't you think you should do something about it?"

And irritated now by the mutinous set to Jack's mouth and eyes, Jacob snapped, "For some reason Sam has lost that brilliant enthusiasm for her work – life no longer holds that spark it once did and God help us all, but the key factor in this whole mess is YOU!"

The injured man would have loved to ignore Jacob, to simply block him out and concentrate on coping with the pain, but that wasn't a luxury he could allow himself. "This has nothing to do with you, for crying out loud. Just stay out of this!"

"Too late, Jack, my little girl is involved so it has everything to do with me. Admit it, why don't you?"

Tired and in more discomfort than he'd care to admit, Jack ran a hand through his grey hair. "Admit what?"

"You want to return to the SGC – go on, say it." Jacob could have said a lot more but restrained himself.

Jack's eyes flashed. "Go to hell!"

"Dad, what are you doing?" Jacob span round and held the cup up aloft, putting on the innocent wide-eyed look. It might have worked on Sam if it had been Daniel doing it – but it wasn't. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Trying to get our cranky patient here to take his medicine like the good little boy he isn't."

"It looks to me like the two of you were having an argument." She locked stone-cold eyes with Jacob. "What about?"

"Nothing important."

Her eyes moved down to Jack. Already she could see an improvement in his colour though she wondered if his temper was the cause of that; his eyes were revealing nothing. Her silent censure had both men in defensive mode as she stood before them, her arms folded tightly.

"I suggest Dad, you try and keep the colonel as calm as possible. Raising his blood pressure isn't likely to improve the healing process and Janet may have a thing or two to say about it." She was pleased to see the flare of alarm in her father's eyes.

"As for you, Colonel," her eyes glared ominously, " no doubt Janet will deliver a lecture or two on the advantages and disadvantages of going walkabout on an injured leg - whether you're in the mood or not."

There! That told them both she'd heard their every word and knowing her as they did, they both knew this wasn't the end of it. Then giving them equally chilling looks she turned briskly on her heel and left them alone.

Jacob groaned. He knew he was in for it. Maybe now would be a good time to rally his allies. He moved back to Jack making sure to keep the medicine well away from the patient.

"You've done it now, Jack."

"What the hell do you mean?" Jack demanded witheringly. "You're her father – go and do those father things, for crying out loud. Put her in her place. Let her know who the boss is."

Jacob snorted incredulously. "And how do you suggest I go about that, eh, Jack? You might have noticed that the threat of a spanking wouldn't go down too well," he continued dryly.

Suddenly, a cunning smile cut across the Tok'ra's open features as he leaned in closer. "Anyway, you're the one who's," He stabbed the air with his finger to add force to his words, "who's in love with her – you go deal with her."

And seeing that Jack was about to argue, continued forcefully, "And don't disappoint me by giving me any bullshit, Jack. I know it! You know it! Sam would like to know it but, funny as it sounds," and here Jacob's sarcasm fell thick and heavy, "she's been getting these mixed messages that have thrown her out of synch. You're the one who has to fix it!"

He could see the infamous O'Neill obstinacy closing down all other feelings and decided, hurt or not, the man was in serious need of a metaphorical smack around the head to get his brains back in gear. "You know, Jack. She's an attractive woman, just like her mother."

"Good job you didn't have much to do with that side of things," Jack mumbled snidely.

'Jacob.' Selmac's warning tone conveyed that she too was aware of the growing frustration within her other half; that metaphorical slap could so easily be transferred to the physical kind...

"One of these days someone is going to come into Sam's life, and it's going to be one of those times when she's tired and probably had enough crap (giving Jack a very pointed look) for the day and that someone will make her see that she's missing out on the important things in life... I don't think that good-looking guy, Morgan, was thinking about wasting any time when he asked me for Sam's mobile number."

And apparently satisfied with the look on Jack's pale face, he brought the medication back into full view, and ordered, "Drink the damned stuff will you? You're going to need every bit of strength you've got to get out of this mess."

(Chapter 17 to follow soon)