Jack hopped in the truck and closed the door. He turned to Sam, seated next to him in the truck. "You all ready to go?" He asked.
Sam flashed him her megawatt smile, "More than ready."
"Ok, then, let's get you to rehab." He started the truck and headed for the base.
Lt. Donna Simms, a short slender brunette, met them at the door, "You must be Colonel Carter." She said, extending her hand to Sam.
"That's me," answered Sam, "This is General Jack O'Neill. He's helping me out until I'm back to fighting form."
Jack shook her hand, "Pleasure to meet you. I trust my friend is in good hands." He released her handshake, "My, my, that's quite a firm handshake you got there." He turned to Sam, "I think you're in excellent hands."
Lt. Simms smiled, "I may be small, but I pack a wallop." Sam and Jack laughed. "Now, why don't you both come in and we'll get started. She motioned for them to follow her into the rehab room.
"Ok, I know I'm sometimes a little slow but I thought Sam was the one in rehab, not me." Said Jack, looking a little puzzled.
Lt. Simms smiled, "You're living with Sam now, though correct? That's what it says on the paperwork."
"Right." Said Jack.
"Ok then. You also need to be here for at least the first session." She motioned for him to sit, as she sat down at her desk. Jack wheeled Sam over next to him. "You see, General, the Colonel's rehab doesn't stop when she leaves these four walls. There are some things I want you to help her with at home. The more we can get the limb moving, the faster her recovery will be."
"Okay," said Jack, "Whatever you need me to do." He looked over at Sam and smiled. She smiled back.
"So, what's the first step Lt.?" Asked Sam. "I'm kind of anxious to get things moving."
"I know," said the Lt.. "Janet warned me. Something about an overachiever." She smiled, "Look Colonel.."
"Sam. Call me Sam."
"Okay Sam, then call me Donna."
"Donna it is. Now what else did Janet say?"
"Janet just said that you were very anxious to get started and to get back to your routine. Now, that's fine, for now. It's a good attitude to have at the beginning. But you need to be realistic here Sam. Your body has been through an incredible amount of damage and it isn't going to be 100 overnight."
"I..I know," said Sam, "What kind of timeframe do you think I'm looking at ?"
Donna closed Sam's medical file, "We won't know what your prognosis is until I'm done with this first session. I need you to understand Sam, and you too Jack, that this is not going to be easy, on either one of you." She focused on Sam, "You may have all the intentions in the world of coming in here and making huge strides faster than anyone ever has, but it isn't realistic, and I don't want you to set yourself up for a fall, physically or psychologically."
"I don't understand," said Sam, "Isn't that kind of attitude and approach to this rehab what you guys like to see?"
"Don't get me wrong, Sam, right now that attitude is wonderful, but you need to accept that you have no control over how your body is going to react to the rehab work. For all we know you might just fly through it. But the very real possibility is that majority of rehab work is not only slow, but also painful. I need you to understand that what I tell you to do is ALL you can do, until I say otherwise."
"Absolutely," said Sam, "Whatever you say."
"Good, then here's what I'd like to do for today. I'm going to go through a series of flexibility exercises to see where you're at since the surgery. The muscles in your leg haven't been idle for too long, so they should be fairly flexible. The we'll work on trying to isolate one particular movement until you've got it down."
"That's it?" asked Sam.
"That's a lot, Sam," said Donna, "You'll see. It won't be as easy as it sounds, nor will it be painless." She turned to Jack, "Could you stay for this session? I mean if you can't that's all right. I totally forgot to tell Janet to pass that along to you the other day."
"No, that's fine, I can stay." He looked at his watch, "Just let me make one phone call and I'm all yours. Might I use your phone?"
"By all means, General."
"Jack," he said picking up the receiver.
Donna smiled, "Jack it is." She turned to Sam, "So, let's get started shall we."
Sam nodded. "See ya in a bit," said Jack.
Donna evaluated Sam's condition from every possible angle. She was extremely thorough, checking everything from the sensations Sam had in her leg to the range of motion of her hip since the surgery on her back. Jack watched intently, seeing the amount of pain Sam was in while Donna stretched her muscles. She was sweating a lot and her shirt was soaking wet. At the end of the hour, Sam looked exhausted.
Donna sat down on the corner of her desk. Jack handed Sam some water and a towel. She looked wiped out, and he could sense something was wrong. Something she wasn't going to be telling the Lt. He would have to find out later, when they got home.
"So," asked Donna, "How do you feel?"
Sam looked over at her and looked down at her hands, "Honestly?"
"Always, Sam," said Donna, "We can't do this if you keep how you're feeling from me."
Sam looked over at Jack, sitting next to her, "I'm exhausted. Physically and mentally, just like you'd said I would be. And this is only the first session. We didn't really do anything here today. I mean, I didn't move anything."
Donna reached over and touched her arm, "I told you this was an extremely slow process. And I know it doesn't seem like you did anything, but from my point of view you did. When we first started, remember how I couldn't flex that leg any higher than 6 inches off the floor." Sam nodded, "Well, with all of your hard work, we got that up to 10 inches when we finished the exercise. Now I know that doesn't seem like much, but in my world that's like getting a first down on 4th and 2. You need to measure progress in terms of baby steps here. It isn't going to work any other way." She turned to Jack, "You're all set as far as the stretches I want you to do with her?" He nodded, "Okay, once in the morning and once before bed, got it?"
"Got it. Anything else we need to know. I mean for after the rehab sessions? Sam's exhausted, does she go home and rest, do we ice anything? Does she need to stay still?" he asked.
"Sam, you're weakest time is probably going to be in the beginning, as your body gets into the groove as far as the exercising goes. I wouldn't do the shower when you get home. I'd stay with the tub for now. I've had you on your feet for a good hour, and those muscles we flexed haven't been flexed for a good while. If you push too far you risk them failing and that will make you fall. We don't want to take a step back, you know. So use and abuse Jack here once you get home after a session. Once you get some mobility back, and you're stronger, you won't be as beat after a session. Oh, and the ice on the back is good too. So rest and ice and continue to do the exercises. And I'll see you in two days, same time, Okay?"
"Okay," said Sam, "Thanks Donna."
"My pleasure. You worked very hard today Sam, you should be proud of yourself." She said.
"I agree," said Jack, "So why don't we get you home and resting." Sam nodded, "Okay Lt., we'll see you in two." And Jack wheeled Sam out to the truck.