Christine
Jack pulled into Sam's driveway, "Home sweet home." Sam looked blankly out the window at her house. "Hey, you okay?" Sam slowly nodded. "You sure?"
Sam looked over at him, "I'm sorry, I'm just a little nervous."
"You wanna hang here a bit? I could unload the truck and come back to get you."
"No. Let's just go in." She stopped him as he opened his car door, "Jack?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Thanks for being here." She smiled at him.
Jack flashed her a big grin. "No problem."
"You're sure there isn't anywhere else you need to be? Washington's ok with you not being there and all..."
Jack stopped her by placing a finger over her mouth, "Ah ah ah. No more talking about it. I've taken care of all of that already. I'm right where I need to be, got it?" She nodded. He playfully pointed his finger at her, "One more word about Washington and it's more sleepy drugs for you."
She smiled, "Okay, okay, no more Washington talk. I get it. Let's get into the house. I don't suppose you could cook me something edible could you? I'm starving."
He flashed her a look of mock horror, "I'm wounded by that comment Colonel. Just because I tend to burn steaks does not mean I can't cook." She arched an eyebrow at him, and he shook his finger at her, "Hey, hey, remember I'm the one taking care of you. Watch how you treat me." He had her giggling now, "But...since this is your first night home, and I haven't gone "shopping" I figured we'd order in, maybe Italian, and watch a movie. How's that sound?"
Sam smiled, "That sounds great. Now let's get in the house."
As Jack got her out of the truck and helped her get settled in the wheelchair, Sam couldn't help but enjoy the attention she was getting. He got her in the house and on the couch before going out to the truck to bring in their bags. She was touched by all of the balloons, flowers and cards strategically placed around the house so she could see them all.
Jack put the bags down on the table and opened the fridge, expecting it to be pretty bare, or at the very least to have things growing in there. But when he opened it, he got a big surprise. "Jackpot!" he exclaimed.
"What?" asked Sam, "What Jackpot?"
Jack walked out into the living room, juggling apples, "Well well, it seems I don't have to go shopping. Lookey here. I found fruit."
Sam smiled, "Teal'c and Daniel?" Jack stopped juggling and handed Sam an apple, "Yup. There's a note." He handed her a card.
"Sam, just wanted to make sure you were well fed, since we know Jack is taking care of you." She looked up at him and he shook his head.
"I wouldn't let you starve. Geez." He said going back into the kitchen.
Sam continued, "We'll call later to see if you'd like some company. I'm sure Jack won't be cooking so if you're up for it, we thought we'd bring pizza and a movie. Love Daniel and Teal'c. Boy, they don't have a lot of confidence in your cooking abilities."
Jack came back out of the kitchen, "I don't see why not. I'm not that bad."
Sam cleared her throat and took a bite of the apple. "If you say so." She said taking another bite and settling into the couch. She tried shifting her position so she was laying down but was stopped by a sudden pain in her back, "Ow."
"What?" he said as he knelt down next to her. Her face was scrunched up in pain and she was trying to breathe through it. She dropped the apple and grabbed his hand. "Sam?"
"I...moved...the...wrong...way...oh god this hurts." She was trying to regain control of her breathing, while trying to mask just how bad the pain was.
"Janet sent something for the pain. You want me to get the pills...?"
"No," she shot back, dropping his hand, "I mean, it's not that bad. It's subsiding."
Jack looked at her doubtfully, "You sure? It looks like you were in a lot of pain."
"I'm fine. I can handle it." She said, again adjusting herself on the couch so she was laying down.
Jack was shaking his head, " I know you can handle it. I'm just sayin you don't have to handle it. Janet sent stuff for that."
"I don't need it, Jack. Really." She quickly changed the subject, "Now, why don't you call Daniel and tell him and Teal'c to come on over with the pizza. And, one other thing, tell Teal'c no more Star Wars. Let Daniel pick this time."
Jack just stared at her. "What?" she asked.
"You're sure you're ok?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Look, stop worrying, ok? Just go call the guys. I promise I'll stay right here and not move until you come back."
Jack tapped his fingers on the couch cushions and regarded her closely, "Ok, but no more moving around til I'm back, deal?"
"Deal." She said, "Now go call, I'm hungry."
Jack went back into the kitchen. Sam could hear him on the phone with Daniel. She lay her head down on the couch and closed her eyes. She tentatively touched the bandage on her back, willing the tears not to fall, but it was no use. The pain that shot through her back was excruciating and it was still with her, albeit not as strong. And although she tried, she could see that Jack didn't buy her 'I can handle it' act. If the pain persisted, it wouldn't be long before she would have no choice but to let him see that she really couldn't handle it. That she needed his help.
Somehow, admitting to him that she needed help, that she couldn't handle the pain was worse than the pain itself. Even though he wasn't her CO anymore, she still felt like she had to come through for him, and overcoming this pain was coming through for him. Not being able to handle it was not. She was a soldier, and soldiers sucked it up and forged ahead. To not do so was to let him down. She had never let him down before, and she wasn't going to start now. To make matters worse, she knew he was carrying a lot of guilt for not being there when she got hurt, and she didn't want him to feel worse if she was in a lot of pain. 'I've got to stick this out. This pain can't last forever.' She thought to herself.
"Sam?" called Jack from the kitchen, "Sausage or pepperoni?"
She quickly wiped the tears away and cleared her throat, "Um, pepperoni is fine."
Jack came back from the kitchen, "Ok, the boys will be here in half an hour with pizzas in hand. I have no control over the movie." He studied her closely, "How's the back?"
"Better, thanks. Hey, did Janet say anything about ice or heat for my back?" asked Sam.
"Um, ice. Shrinking the swelling I believe. And help in pain relief. Aha! See, I can follow direct orders...when they're important." He smiled at her and was rewarded with a smile back, "You want some ice?" She nodded, "Ok, I'll be right back."
The night went well. The four friends talked and laughed and ate until they were stuffed. It was a night they all needed. Sam needed to socialize and take her mind off of her injury, and the guys needed to see her awake and talking. They needed to see they hadn't lost their friend.
After Daniel and Teal'c left, Jack cleaned up while Sam wheeled around the kitchen, "Hey, what are you doing?" asked Jack.
"Helping clean up, what did you think I was doing?" said Sam, handing Jack a few dishes.
"You're supposed to be resting." Said Jack, hands full of dishwashing liquid.
"Look, I'm going to be in this contraption for awhile, I might as well get used to maneuvering and doing tasks. I can't rely on someone else for everything." She was looking at him, big blue eyes clear and focused. "Now, I'm off to the bathroom to change for bed and brush my teeth, and I don't need your help for that."
"Damn," he said, a sly smile spreading across his face, "Foiled again."
Sam laughed. "I'm going to attempt to do this myself, but I'll know where you are in case I get frustrated."
"Always here to help m'lady," he said, bowing in front of her. "Let me know when you're done and I'll help you up into that bed."
"What does that mean? You don't like my bed?" she said in mock anger.
"No I mean you're bed is huge. Like you need a ladder to get up there. So I'll be there to help you climb that bed when you're done, ok?"
She was laughing, "I never thought of that. I guess it is kinda huge if you've got a bum leg and are recovering from surgery. I'll call you when I need a lift."
Fifteen minutes later, Sam wheeled into the living room. Jack was sitting on the couch reading the paper, "Done?" he asked. She nodded, "Okay then, let's get you into bed"
He followed her down the hall and helped her swing her legs into bed as she gingerly moved herself into a position that didn't bother her back.
"Okay, there sleeping beauty, all tucked in." Sam smiled, "You know where I am if you need me." He turned to look at her one more time before he left her room, "You sure you don't want the pain killer?"
She shook her head, "Nope, I think I'll be ok tonight, I shouldn't be moving around a lot." He nodded and turned to leave, "Oh and Jack?" He nodded, "Thanks for tonight. I really needed that. See ya in the morning." Jack smiled and left Sam's room, shutting the door.