A bit of a shorter chapter tonight - sorry - but because you guys are such amazing reviewers I am determined to give you a chapter a night until I'm finished with this story. Thank you!
"Hi Jack! How're you feeling today?" Daniel approached his friend's bed and tried to keep his expression from calling out his concern. The bleary face of the injured man turned to him, but there was little other reaction. Daniel could feel his headache grow.
A few seconds passed and then Jack licked his lips and opened his mouth. He attempted to speak, but what came out barely sounded like words. He frowned and shook his head, clearly frustrated and angry and, if Daniel knew him - embarrassed.
"Take it easy", Daniel put his hand on the agitated man's arm. "It's okay. The doctor said you still have a lot of drugs in your system so it might be hard to talk. And remember, you had that ventilator in for a long time – your throat has got to be sore!"
Jack simply looked at him and then closed his eyes and Daniel grew really worried when he saw a lone tear escape and trail down the older man's face. "Jack – it's okay, really!" He sat on the bed beside his friend, while continuing to touch his arm. "Hey, guess what! I just spoke with the nurse – she's kind of cute, did you notice", he bent over and whispered. "Anyway, she said that you're going to be moved out of the ICU and into a regular room. An orderly is coming to get you in a little while. It'll be way better – more room and you won't be bothered every few minutes. Mind you", he mused, "you won't get as much a chance to flirt with the nurses." He hoped that something would get through to the Colonel but so far nothing really had.
When Jack didn't respond Daniel sighed. None of them knew what to do. Since he'd woken up the day before he hadn't said anything except for asking for water. The doctor had said it could be the medication, although the concerned look in his eyes indicated it could be something more serious. It was still too early, he'd told them.
"Until he's stronger, and we've reduced the painkillers, any tests we could do won't tell us the true story", Dr. Benjamin had explained. "The good news is his kidney function is improving and the puncture wound is healing. And he's also very very lucky to have escaped a major infection. It can be a real danger with stab wounds."
So, they'd decided to take what they could get for now and try and be positive. Still, it was hard to see the Colonel like this. He usually bounced back quickly after injuries and they all wondered at how slowly he seemed to be improving.
"It's not that slowly", Janet had tried to say to them. "It was a major injury with extreme blood loss – and the Colonel isn't as young as he used to be. It's not surprising that it's taking him longer to get better. But don't give up hope!"
So, Daniel and Sam and even General Hammond tried to put on an optimistic face any time they visited. If they left – and let their true emotions show – at least Jack didn't see it.
"Here he is Jack", Daniel stood up as the orderly entered, bringing with him a bed. "They're going to move you to the executive suite now!"
That didn't get any reaction either so again Daniel sighed and watched as the orderly wheeled a bed up beside Jack's.
"Hi Colonel O'Neill. I'm going to take you to your new room." He turned and smiled as the ICU nurse walked in and began to sort out all the wires and tubes.
"You'll be glad to know we can get rid of some of these Colonel", she told him as she unhooked some of the monitors. "You're doing so much better that we don't need to have you plugged in to so many machines. I'm afraid some of it will have to stay", she told him as she carefully unhooked the bag from under his bed which led from the catheter. "But Dr. Benjamin says that this can probably go in a day or so. I'm sure you'll be glad to get rid of it." She continued to talk, explaining everything to her patient as she worked. He continued to lie there, with little or no reaction.
Finally he was moved, with the assistance of both the orderly and the nurse, to the new bed and soon was being wheeled down the hallway. Daniel followed with the small bag of things he'd collected from the Colonel's house.
Once Jack was situated in his new room, it took him only a couple of minutes for him to fall asleep. The short trip had exhausted him.
Daniel continued to watch his friend, feeling helpless. He wanted to do something to help – he just didn't know what.
"Daniel Jackson?"
"Teal'c!" Daniel stood up quickly upon hearing the voice of his Jaffa friend. "When did you get back?" He was startled – but incredibly touched – when Teal'c walked over to him and gave him the Jaffa version of a hug. He had to blink rapidly so as not to disgrace himself by letting tears escape.
"I returned just a short while ago", he informed his friend. "General Hammond explained what had happened and I came as soon as I was cleared by Dr. Frasier. How is he?" Teal'c was regarding Jack carefully, a somber look on his face. Daniel would have sworn that the big man had become paler as he looked at the Colonel, although he knew that was pretty impossible.
"Uh – he's getting better – physically", Daniel told him quietly. "He's still -"
"Yes, Dr. Frasier explained. He shall improve, I am sure of it." Teal'c sounded so positive that Daniel could feel himself start to relax.
"God, I hope so. They think it might be the medicine but it's hard to see him like this. He just -"
Teal'c raised his eyebrows, silently asking Daniel to continue.
"He's just – not himself. He's barely spoken and he seems to have trouble even understanding us."
Teal'c nodded, but continued to watch his friend. "Have they found who did this thing to him?"
"No, at least not the last I heard. General Hammond didn't say anything?"
"He did not. He simply informed me that O'Neill had been badly injured due to an attack and was in the hospital."
"Yeah – well I know they're looking, but all I've heard is that there were no clues. Whoever did this might get away with it unless Jack can identify him – or her."
"Has he been asked?"
"No – and I don't think there's any point, not yet. Janet thinks it would be too stressful, even if he could answer."
Teal'c sat for another few moments until finally he focused his eyes on the archaeologist. "I am happy to stay with O'Neill if you wish to return home to rest. I understand that you have remained in the hospital for many days."
"Well – Sam and I have been kind of taking turns. The General and Janet have been here too, but they have responsibilities on base so it's harder for them. I'm totally fine to stay."
"Please Daniel Jackson – you must go and rest. Dr. Frasier is concerned and you look very tired. I do not mind staying. In fact, I look forward to the opportunity to remain with my brother."
It was then that Daniel realized that Teal'c needed to be there. Knowing him, he was feeling guilty for having been away when all this happened and probably needed to spend some 'alone time' with Jack. Upon that realization he stood up – slowly – Teal'c was right, he was tired. "Okay – thanks Teal'c. I'll head home for a while and get some sleep – and probably a shower! Uh – if they come with dinner, try and get him to eat. He refused to have anything for lunch and he's losing weight."
"I shall", he gave a single nod of the head and Daniel suddenly felt sorry for Jack. Teal'c was going to take him in hand.
As he walked down the hallway he let out a huge sigh of relief. Thank God Teal'c was here.
Teal'c felt terrible as he looked down at O'Neill – at the incredibly brave and honorable man who was his friend. He could not imagine what any of them would do if O'Neill didn't come back. Not only that, Teal'c knew his friend would hate to live this way. Teal'c swore, there and then, he'd do what he had to to ensure that his friend didn't have to live a half-life.
He'd been there, sitting quietly, for over an hour before the Colonel began to wake up. At first there was nothing more than a slight bit of movement. The next thing he was aware of were O'Neill's eyes beginning to move under his eyelids. Finally those eyelids opened – but the eyes, which looked bleary and out of focus, simply stared at the ceiling.
"O'Neill", he spoke in a soft, melodious voice so as not to startle the Colonel. "How are you my friend?"
Teal'c was surprised – no shocked was the better word – at how long it took O'Neill to respond. He simply blinked a few times, and then tried to track things with his eyes. It was only after several minutes, and another 'O'Neill?" uttered by Teal'c, that he managed to turn, first his eyes, and then his head to the side.
"Hello my friend", he spoke again, reaching out with his hand and putting over O'Neill's. "I am sorry not to have been here for you. How are you feeling?"
It was eerie, Teal'c discovered. Eerie to watch someone as normally vibrant and full of life as the Colonel simply lie there, as if there was very little left of him. He didn't show any reaction to Teal'c's presence, other than the initial movement. Teal'c hated how it made him feel – hated that his friend was – absent.
"They told me that you were injured", he started speaking, not sure what else to do. "I am sorry. You did not deserve this my friend. And do not worry – I will make sure that the one who did this shall pay for his actions."
That finally got a reaction from the Colonel, but not one Teal'c expected. At first his response was little more than a twitch of his forehead. A second later and he began to frown and finally he began to grow agitated. Teal'c wanted to hit himself. Why had he thought it would be a good idea to mention the Colonel's assault?
"I am sorry", he repeated again. "Do not worry about this now. You must concentrate on getting well."
Rather than help relax the Colonel, Teal'c's words seemed to make him increasingly upset. He began to try and vocalize, which made the friend watching over him look even more distressed. It was awful hearing someone try and speak, who could barely get one coherent word out.
"Relax my friend", he attempted to soothe the Colonel. "There is no purpose in getting upset. Everything is fine."
He was actually making whimpering noises when Major Carter walked in. The sounds coming from the Colonel – horrible sounding – caused her to stop dead as she entered. "Oh – Sir!" After a moment of shock she moved quickly over to the other side of the bed from Teal'c and reached out and took Jack's face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "Sir! Jack – come on, look at me. It's okay. You're okay. Please, relax."
It took a few minutes – although it seemed much longer to Teal'c – before the Colonel grew calm. There were tears running down his face, but he was no longer attempting to thrash about wildly.
"That's it Sir." Sam sat back, panting lightly after both the mental and physical strain of trying to calm the Colonel down. "You're doing just fine." She glanced over at Teal'c, the distress on both their faces extremely evident.
"Teal'c – it's good to see you."
"And it is good to see you as well, Major Carter." The alien who had become her friend lifted his head and it was only then that Sam could see how hard he was taking this. "I am sorry – I believe I caused this reaction in O'Neill."
"No – no you didn't. I think – he's just frustrated." She reached out and suddenly drew the big man to her and gave him a big hug. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Teal'c hugged her back, the two of them offering comfort to one another. It was only at a sound from the man in the bed that they let go of each other and returned their attention to him.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you Sir!" Sam gave a half laugh and rubbed the moisture from her cheeks. "Isn't it great to see Teal'c?"
There was a small movement from the Colonel and then suddenly he nodded.
"Oh Jack!" Sam saw it and her voice quavered. She returned to his bedside and took his hand.
"O'Neill?" Teal'c had caught the small movement and his face lit up in a smile. "It is very good to see you my friend", he repeated. He moved back to the other side of the bed and began to softly tell the Colonel about his visit home and about seeing his son.
Jack tried to listen, to understand, but he wanted to speak – desperately. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing would come out but awful noises. He was horribly frustrated and terribly frightened. He couldn't respond, couldn't talk – and even though his mind was slightly clearer than it had been, he still had trouble catching what everyone was saying – and it was driving him insane.
It had been good to see Teal'c though. There was something about his friend that made him feel like things could be okay. He knew that the Jaffa warrior didn't have any special powers – other than supreme confidence in those he called friend.
Maybe that was enough, Jack thought. Maybe he simply had to believe he was going to get better and he'd wake up one morning, back to his old self.
He felt Sam's hand and that of Teal'c both. They were on either side of him, offering him their strength and their hope. It meant the world to him, but he knew it wouldn't be enough – and that eventually they would grow weary of their vigil. They had lives to lead, and spending hours and days – and he was pretty sure it be weeks and months – at his side could not be allowed to happen. He was going to have to walk this journey alone – because he couldn't bear to see his friends pulled down by him.
His eyes began to close – he was so tired of being tired – but with his last waking thought he knew it was going to take more than confidence or belief, or even the presence of his friends to heal him. It was going to take a miracle – and he was pretty sure he'd run out of those.