Here's chapter 7..."Feeling...nothing more than feeling..." finally!
The next week went by fairly quickly. Sam had asked Daniel to bring her laptop and some notes to her. She had decided that if she had to stay off her feet, or for now, foot, that she would catch up on another book idea she had. She'd been itching to start writing, and she figured this was a good a time as any.
Jack spent his mornings getting her settled and making sure she had everything she needed before heading over to Cheyenne Mountain. He'd check in with Washington and put out any fires there. Then he went for an update on any SGC happenings that Sam needed to know about. He was constantly stopped as he roamed the halls of the SGC, everyone wanting an update on Sam. Seems she was extremely popular with just about everyone, and they all made a point to have Jack tell Sam they said "Hi". As Jack finished with one of Sam's many admirers, he ran into Daniel.
"Of course, Walter, I'll tell her you said 'Hi'". Daniel walked up to Jack just as he was finishing with Walter. "Hey Daniel."
"Hey Jack, how's Sam doing today?" he asked, falling into step besides his friend.
"Pretty good, I think. Now that she's taking the pain meds, of course."
Daniel smiled and shook his head, "Let me guess, 'it's not so bad, I can handle it'." Jack nodded, "She really put on the whole 'brave front thing' didn't she."
Jack shook his head, "Yup. And then some. Wouldn't take anything before bed." Daniel winced, "and you can guess what happened then."
"She was in a huge amount of pain, right?" Jack nodded, "She is so stubborn sometimes."
"You're telling me, try reasoning with an extremely stubborn, extremely intelligent blonde who thinks she has to hide how much pain she's in. Even to her friends." They entered the commissary and got in line, "I'm telling you Daniel, sometimes she drives me crazy."
"In a good way, of course," said Daniel smiling.
"Of course," said Jack. "Hey, don't let me forget, I promised I'd bring her some blue jello." Daniel nodded, "Personally I don't get why the blue one is any better than any of the other slimy googly jellos there, but, it's her favorite."
Daniel nodded, "Hey, how are things going there?"
"What do you mean," asked Jack, handing Daniel a tray and a plate.
"Well, isn't it strange to be in the same house with her all the time?" he asked taking a slice of pie.
"Ya know, I thought it would be, but it's not really weird at all. It's kinda comfortable." He put two pieces of pie on his tray and shooed Daniel down the line.
"Then it's working out well all around." Said Daniel taking his tray to a table. Jack followed and sat opposite Daniel.
He nodded, "Pretty much." He ate a forkful of pie, "You know," he said in between bites, "I never realized how much I missed having someone else around the house. I've been alone for so many years that I almost forgot how nice it is to not have the house totally quiet."
"Maybe you should get a roommate." Said Daniel, "Although, he or she would have to have the proper clearance."
Jack laughed, "I don't think so Daniel. I'm not saying I want a roommate, I'm just saying 'living' with Sam has been nice. It's been nice to spend some time with each other that didn't involve being shot at or dealing with aliens. Just some normal human stuff." Jack ate another bite of pie, "It's just been...nice." He looked at his watch, "Oh, gotta go. Got one call to make and then I'm outta here." Jack got up to leave when Daniel spoke up.
"Jack? The jello, don't forget the jello."
Jack shook his finger at Daniel, "See, that's why I told you. I knew you wouldn't forget." He went to get the jello, "Hey, you comin' for dinner tonight. Sam mentioned people coming over to eat. Somethin' about Chinese food and cake."
"Yup. I'm bringing Vala. And I believe Mitchell's hitching a ride with Teal'c. And Cassie's coming with Janet. Oh, and I'm bringing the cake." He glanced at his watch, "That reminds me, I should go pick it up. See you later, Jack." Daniel got up and quickly made his exit.
Jack looked down at the bag containing the famous blue jello that Sam loved so much, "Ok Jello, home we go."
Sam heard the key in the door and looked up from her laptop. The door opened and Jack stepped through, bag in hand.
Sam's face lit up, "That wouldn't happen to be...?"
"Blue jello? I dunno? Let's see here," he opened the bag and spoke into it, "Is there any blue jello in here." He put his ear to the bag and waited for an answer, "Hm, no answer, guess not." He moved to go into the kitchen.
"Hey," she said in mock anger, "I want my blue jello. You promised."
He came back into the living room with a huge bowl of blue jello and handed it to her, "C'mon, did you really think I'd forget?"
She took the bowl from him, a huge smile on her face, "Actually, I figured you would ask Daniel to remind you, knowing he'd remember."
Jack flashed a mock look of hurt on his face, "I'm wounded you would think I'd forget." She looked at him, cocking her head and raising her eyebrows, "Alright," he said, "Daniel remembered for me." She smiled, "But it was my idea to tell him to remind me."
He sat on the couch next to her and looked over at her laptop, "Watcha doin'?" he asked.
"I'm working on another book idea. I finished the first book when we had those bracelets on. So, I went to book idea number two." She popped a spoonful of jello into her mouth.
"Ok, while I'm sure it's extremely interesting stuff to you, I'm not even gonna ask what it's about, cause you know I'll totally be confused." He put his head back into the cushions, "You'd think after all these years, I'd be able to follow what you're saying, but most things you say...well they just go in one ear and out the other." She glared at him, "Technical things...I meant technical things go in one ear and out the other. I totally hear everything else you say...really. How's the jello?" He asked smiling, quickly changing the subject.
She shook her head, and reached for the spoon, knocking it right out of the bowl. It landed on her leg...her right leg.
As she went to pick it up she suddenly realized something. It fell on her leg...her right leg...and she FELT it! She looked up at Jack and realized he'd been staring at her.
"You felt that land on your leg, didn't you?" he asked tentatively.
She felt her eyes well up with tears, and she nodded, "Uh huh."
"You're sure?" he asked. He didn't want her to get her hopes up if she was wrong.
She picked up the spoon and held it about a foot from her thigh, took a deep breath and then dropped it. It bounced off her thigh and onto the floor. She smiled, a single tear falling down her cheek, "I felt it. My god, I felt it!" She looked over at him and he smiled back at her.
"Congratulations, Colonel," he said pulling her into a hug, "You've just made progress. Looks like tonight's little shindig just became a party."