As always, thank you all so much for reading and commenting on my story!

Previously...

The LearJet landed smoothly at O'Hare, and taxied to a remote hanger where a limousine was waiting for them with an escort, a Major Johnston from Evanston Air Base. The Major met them at the aircraft and walked with them to the car.

The ride to Chicago General Hospital took forty-five minutes from the airport. It was 1530 hours when they exited the car at the hospital entrance. Two additional Air Force officers, a captain and a lieutenant, met them there, and escorted them to the hospital's cardiac wing, where they took the elevator to the sixth floor.

XXXXXXXXXX

Chicago General Hospital, April 11, 2009, 1540 hours

The sign on the door read Cardiac ICU, and the Air Force Captain held the door open for General O'Neill and his party. The two junior officers stationed themselves on either side of the door. Major Johnston followed O'Neill, and held himself at a discreet distance from the General, far enough to allow privacy, but nearby if he was needed.

Jack, Sam and Daniel found themselves in a waiting area, where a number of people were gathered, seated on chairs or couches, or pacing the open space. Eyes turned toward them, and a tall, slender woman with pale red hair was first to hurry in their direction.

"Jacky," she said, holding out her arms.

Jack took several swift steps toward her, and swept her up in a hug, burying his face in her neck. "Bets!" he managed after a moment. "Is she...?"

"She's waiting for you, Jack." A silver-haired man of about sixty was only two steps behind his sister and reached out for Jack's hand.

"David," Jack said, thinking how much David had grown to look like his father. He shook the hand, keeping his arm around Betsy's shoulders, and then the three of them were hugging one another tight.

"Jon." A woman perhaps fifteen years older than Jack approached more sedately. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you, too, Molly." Jack gave her a hug and released her in time to be clapped on the back by a heavy-set, balding man with a genial face.

"Jack! So glad you're here!" The man had a booming voice to match his girth.

"Dylan! You're looking good." The two men shook hands.

Jack greeted Dylan's wife Annie and David's wife Jo with hugs also, and shook hands with Molly's husband John Standley. Several of the brothers' and sisters' children gathered around to greet their Uncle Jack.

In the meantime, Sam had been welcomed by Betsy, followed by Dylan and David, and she had introduced Daniel Jackson to the group. It was clear to Daniel that they were all very fond of Sam.

~x~

"When did you first meet Jack's family?" Daniel asked Sam a bit later, as they stood to the side watching Jack interact with the McNamaras.

"A couple of months before he and I got married," she replied. "We came to Chicago so he could introduce me."

"But they didn't come to the wedding."

She grinned. "You remember how that was, Daniel. We decided to do it in Vegas on the spur of the moment—just before I had to take up my assignment on the Hammond. We only had twelve hours until I needed to report to the ship. We barely managed to get you and Teal'c out there with us. "

"Yeah, that's true. I guess that was too short notice for any of them to make it." He thought about that for a few moments. "So have you met all the McNamaras?"

"Well, not all of them. There are a dozen or so nieces and nephews—or cousins, however you want to think of them. After all, Jack was never technically a member of the family, but he mostly regards them as siblings. Even though Ellen is like a mother to him—it's confusing." She shrugged wryly. "I've only been up here twice in the year since we got married."

"Big family," Daniel commented, watching the group around Jack.

"Yes. And they're very close. Jack stays in touch."

"I still can't believe I never knew about any of this." There was a trace of hurt in his voice.

"He didn't mean to leave you out, Daniel," she said gently. "We just haven't seen much of you for these past months. Every time I got leave from the Hammond, I was in D.C. And this isn't something he wanted to put into an email or talk about over the phone."

"Yeah. I suppose." He knew this was not the time or place to bring up his hurt feelings. "It's fine, Sam. The important thing is that we be here for Jack when he needs us."

"Thanks, Daniel." She reached up and kissed his cheek.

~x~

"Susan?" Jack asked David during a lull in the conversation.

"She won't leave the convent," David replied. "She's completely reclusive now. Won't even receive visitors."

Jack nodded his understanding.

Susan McNamara had been deeply traumatized by the death from polio of her twin sister, Sally, when the girls were six, and had barely spoken to anyone for a long time afterward. She remained largely silent and withdrawn throughout her childhood and adolescence. When she was of age, she took vows in a cloistered order in Michigan, where she had lived now for over forty years.

Betsy had gone to find the nurse, and brought her back to introduce Jack. "This is my sister's son, Jack O'Neill. He's just arrived and would like to see her."

The nurse took in Jack's dress blues and the stars on his shoulders with some surprise, but quickly recovered. "Yes, of course. Come with me." Jack's relationship to the family had obviously been explained to her. She had a kind face and her name tag identified her as Sylvia Keene, RN. "She's been unconscious ever since she was found—nearly nine hours. Don't be surprised if she doesn't respond to you."

"I understand." He glanced back to where Sam and Daniel were standing across the room. Sam's eyes met his, asking silently if she should come. He smiled slightly and shook his head.

Jack walked with the nurse to Ellen's room. Sylvia seemed slightly surprised when Major Johnston followed them and stationed himself outside the door.

Jack's first sight of the woman in the bed was far more shocking than he'd expected it to be. There were wires and tubes connecting her to monitors beside the bed. An oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose. She seemed very small and frail lying there. And so very still. Never in his life had he ever seen Ellen be still. She was always in motion, always smiling.

Two young women who were sitting beside the bed, talking quietly, stood up when Jack entered. The taller, redheaded one came forward immediately. "Uncle Jack." she put her arms around him and hugged him. "I'm glad you're here."

"Karen," he said, returning the hug. She looked so much like her mother, Betsy, had at her age. He looked over her shoulder at her dark-haired younger sister. "Sandy."

"Hi, Uncle Jack." Betsy's youngest waved shyly.

"Get over here, girl," he commanded gently, holding one arm out to her. She came quickly and buried her face in his shoulder. He could feel her shoulders shaking. "Shh... I know, Baby." Sandy was the youngest of his nieces and nephews and she'd been away at school the last time he visited. He had been her favorite uncle when she was a little girl, but he hadn't seen her very often in the past few years. He had to stop and think how old she'd be—nineteen or twenty; where did the time go?

They stood in the embrace for several moments. Finally Jack released both of the young women, kissing their cheeks softly. "Sam's here with me. Why don't you two go out and say hello to her... okay? I'd like to spend some time with your Aunt Ellen."

The girls nodded. Sandy reached out for another brief hug, and kissed his cheek. "Love you, Uncle Jack."

"I love you both," he replied. He turned to watch as each of them went to the bed and bent down to kiss Ellen's forehead, then left the room.

It was quiet, except for the soft sounds of the monitors and oxygen pump. Jack studied the monitors for a few moments. Ellen's heart rate was fast, and somewhat erratic. He took off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair, pulled the chair closer, and sat down where he could reach over and take hold of her hand. "I'm here, Ellen," he said softly. "It's me, Jon. I hope you can hear me somehow, and know that I'm with you. I won't leave as long as you need me. You never failed me when I needed you, and I...I..." He stopped, knowing that if he continued he would break down. And he didn't want her to hear him cry.

Reaching into his jacket pocket, he took out the rosary, and sat for several long minutes with it in his hands. At last he leaned over and put it in Ellen's hand and closed her fingers around it, resting it on her chest. Then he picked up her other hand and held it in his.

He was still and quiet for a while then, and his thoughts began to drift back into childhood memories...

TBC. Upcoming: a few of Jack's memories...