Jack lay back on the bed and groaned. After two months of being stuck in the infirmary he was finally going home, but Janet had insisted on doing an EKG before he left. She'd taken those torturous sticky things off of his chest twenty minutes ago, yet here still lay and wait. She'd be back in a few minutes she said, bullshit. He made a mental note to buy her an updated dictionary so she could look up what that really meant. It would have been nice if Sam would have been here with him, but she had a meeting with Hammond about some doohickey that SG-12 had brought back their mission last week. Twenty- five minutes. Okay, he was so tired of waiting. Just as he was about to try and get out of the bed, Janet came through the curtain that surrounded his bed.
"Okay, Jack, I got-"
"It's about damn time!"
"I'm sorry, Jack. I- uh- had to sign off on a chart for another patient after I got your test results back."
"That's nice. Can I go now?"
Janet rolled her eyes and grinned, "Yes, you can go now. Your EKG and blood work came back normal. The substance from the worm is totally out of your system now."
"Yeah? Too bad it didn't take the damage with it," Jack's voice was low and solemn, his trembling hand picked at a non-existent fuzz ball on the leg of his sweatpants.
"Me, too. Why don't you go ahead and put your shirt on while I pull your wheelchair over?"
Jack picked up his shirt and leaned forward to tug it on, "Is Sam coming?"
"Yeah, she called the lab just before I left and said that she'd be in here in fifteen minutes. So by the time we get you in your chair she should be here."
Janet grabbed a hold of the curtain and paused, turning to make sure that Jack was watching. She cleared her throat and a few seconds later she heard the sound repeated on the other side of the curtain. With a big smile on her face she yanked the curtain back to reveal Sam, Cassie, Daniel, Teal'c, and Hammond standing around a new, red electric wheelchair.
"Surprise!" They called out in unison.
Jack's mouth and eyes hung wide open with shock. He was touched by the action and left totally speechless. They'd all stood by him the past two months since he'd suffered the heart attack and now this. He didn't deserve to have such good friends. It took a few minutes before he could speak.
"Thanks," Jack choked out quietly.
Cassie smiled, "You've earned it, Uncle Jack. We wanted to do something to show you how much you mean to us and to thank you for everything that you have done for us over the years. And this is just a part of it."
"She's right, Jack. I know that you're sitting there wondering what makes you so special and to be honest it's sort of irritating so stop. Just know that you are special to us and that we are honored to have you as a friend," Daniel told as he laid a hand on Cassie's shoulder.
Usually Jack wasn't an emotional person, but right now he was finding it very difficult to contain them. It felt good to have such great and caring friends.
"Would you like some assistance in getting into your new wheelchair, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked with a smile.
"Yes, Teal'c thanks," Jack replied quietly.
Teal'c and Daniel stepped forward to help their friend into the wheelchair. Jack trembled slightly as he clung to them for support, making every effort that he could to help make the few steps. They lowered him gently into the seat and stood back with smiles on their faces. The seat was soft and formed just right to help support him. He looked down to see that there were safety straps attached to the seat and he assumed that this was for when the tremors were bad enough to make it hard for him to sit up on his own. Thankfully that was an occasion that so far hadn't happened that many times, but he was comforted with the precaution. He took a hold of the control stick and turned the wheelchair around in a circle.
"Try not to get any speeding tickets with it, Jack," Hammond teased him.
"I'll try not to, Sir."
SG1SG1SG1
The white moonlight illuminated the bedroom creating a warm glow over the two lovers as they lay cuddled in bed. Jack ran his fingers up and down Sam's bare arm while he relished in the feel of her. Making love to her was an emotional joy as well as a physical one for him. He was worried that his heart or the disease from the worm's secretion would somehow prevent it, but thankfully that wasn't the case. At first they had planned to wait until they were married, but the memory of his near death changed their minds. Neither of them wanted to wait for anything and so right after Sam had given him the grand tour of the modifications to his house, Jack proposed to her. It had taken some deception, but he managed to get Daniel to buy an engagement ring for Sam last week. As soon as she stopped screaming they decided to get married the following week.
Sam lifted her head slightly, "Jack?"
"Yes, dear."
"I want to ask you something. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"You can ask me anything. What do you want to know?"
"What's it like? The- you know?"
Oh, yeah, he knew what she meant and it saddened him a bit that she was afraid to ask him about it. After all he had made a promise to her to be totally honest with her and never hold anything back, including his emotions.
"It's kind of hard to explain. I'm just really weak all of the time. Like ya know how ya feel after you've been really sick and you start to get over it. And as far as the tremors, it just feels like I got the chills."
"Sorry. I just wanted to try and understand what it's like for you."
"Why be sorry? It's all part of the bargain."
"I love you, Jack."
"I love you too, Sam."
The two lovers cuddled closer until they both drifted off into a deep and contented sleep with smiles on their faces.
SG1SG1SG1
Jack sat in the den staring out over the back yard, picturing in his mind what it would look like all decorated up for the wedding. Five days seemed like an eternity to have to wait to make Sam his wife, but it would be well worth it. A big smile formed on his lips as he heard the preacher pronounce them Mr. And Mrs. Jack O'Neill.
"What are you smiling about?" Sam asked, nearly causing him to jump from his skin.
"Just thinkin',"Jack replied.
"Oh God! I'd better hurry up and open the windows to let the smoke out," Sam teased him as she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Hey!" Jack said with mocked anger then let out a laugh.
"I'm going to run over to my place to grab a few things. Do you need anything before I go?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Jack, I don't want you to be doing anything while I'm gone. Just sit here and relax," she told him then kissed him on the lips. "I mean it, Jack."
"Yes, mother."
Sam gave him one last kiss then headed for the door. He kept his eyes on her until the door closed behind her. He couldn't wait until she had all of her stuff here and they were living together as man and wife. At least he didn't have to worry about her getting hurt off-world since Hammond was gracious enough to give her a year's leave for the wedding and honeymoon and to help him until he was ready to go back to work. He'd been offered a post at the SGC teaching classes and giving seminars. It wasn't the same as going off-world, but it was something he could do to feel useful and pass on what knowledge he had to others. He sat there for a few more minutes before he reached down to get a drink and realized that he didn't have one. He turned his wheelchair around to go out into the kitchen for a drink. Siler had done a great job on the ramp going up into the kitchen area and he glided up it easily.
When he got to the kitchen he went over to get a glass from the dish drainer, but there wasn't. Sam was so going to kill him, but he was going to have to stand up to get one from the cupboard. He tried to keep from shaking as he gripped the counter for support as he slowly pulled himself into a standing position. So far, so good he thought as he reached up to get the glass. But just as he got his hand around it, he began to shake and shake hard. Before he could start to lower himself back into his chair, his legs gave out. The glass crashed to the floor as Jack lost his hold on the counter. He went to grab the counter again, but he missed and grabbed a towel that was hanging from the handle of the drawer. The drawer slid open just as his legs totally gave out. The side of his head smashed into the edge of the drawer as he fell face first into the broken glass on the floor. The drawer slipped from its nook in the counter and hit Jack's back as he lapsed into unconsciousness.
SG1SG1SG1
Sam sang along to the tune on the radio as she pulled her car into Jack's driveway. She continued singing as she turned off the ignition and got out of the car. There was a little skip to step when she opened the back door to get her duffle bag out then bumped the door closed with her hip. Her mind was on the wedding as she made her way to the front door and put the key in the lock. She couldn't wait to get inside and wrap her arms around Jack. A bad feeling swept through her when she opened the door and stepped in, something felt off. Kicking the door closed with her foot she sat the duffle bag down in the hallway. She took two steps forward and froze in her tracks when she saw Jack's empty wheelchair sitting in the kitchen. A tightness formed in her chest and her feet felt like they turned into lead when she slowly walked toward the wheelchair.
"Jack!" Sam screamed when she saw Jack lying face down on the tiled floor with a pool of blood under his head.
She quickly knelt at his side and knocked the drawer off of his back. She held her breath and her hand shook as she felt for a pulse, releasing the breath when she felt the strong flutter under her fingertips. Assured that he was alive and breathing, she stood and hurried to the phone to call 911. After reporting the fall and being told the ambulance was on the way, Sam ended the call and hastily dialed Janet's cell phone number. Tears streamed from her eyes as she paced the floor as she waited for Janet to answer. Finally, after three rings she heard her friend's voice on the other end.
"Janet, Jack fell. I found him on the floor when I got home. I called 911 and the ambulance is coming. Where should we take him? Will you be there?"
"Sam, take a deep breath and calm down. I can't understand you."
Sam took a deep breath and repeated what she said slowly.
"Have them take him to the Academy Hospital. I'll turn around and meet you there."
"Thanks, Janet," Sam said between sobs. She hung up the phone and knelt back down beside Jack.
Sam sat there with her hand on his arm, talking quietly to him until the ambulance arrived. She knew that she should try to stop the bleeding, but without knowing what happened she felt it best not to move him. She watched helplessly as the paramedics tended to Jack, administering basic aid then lifting him onto a gurney. The neighbors gawked as Jack was loaded into the back of the ambulance and Sam climbed up in, taking a seat at his side. Her heart lurched at the sight of all the blood covering his face and oozing from the big gash that ran from his forehead to the edge of his cheekbone. The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever, but it was less than five minutes later that they backed into the ambulance bay at the Academy Hospital. Much to Sam's relief Janet was there waiting for Jack and quickly taking charge of his care as soon as he was wheeled into the trauma room. Sam protested when a nurse steered her out into the waiting room. She didn't want to be there, she wanted to be with Jack. With one last glance toward the room where Jack had been taken, Sam collapsed into the closest chair and let the tears fall. Twenty minutes later she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She jumped to her feet thinking that it was Janet and nearly knocked Daniel on the floor.
"Sorry, Daniel, I thought that you were Janet," Sam said through her sobs.
"It's okay, Sam. So, I take it there hasn't been any word?"
Fresh tears formed in Sam's eyes as she sat back down in her seat, "No and its got me really worried. What if something's wrong? What if he dies?"
"He's going to be fine, Sam," Daniel comforted her then pulling her into a hug.
They sat in silence for the next hour until a weary looking Janet walked into the small waiting area.
"Janet? How is he? Is he okay? Is he awake?" Sam spit the questions out in rapid fire as she hurried over to the doctor.
"Calm down. Jack's going to be fine. He has a mild concussion and a pretty good sized gash on his temple along with a few smaller ones along the side of his face from the glass. I stitched the gash up and removed the shards of glass. He woke up shortly after arrival, but I gave him some pain medication so he's asleep now," Janet told her in a comforting tone. "I want to keep him overnight for observation."
"Can I go see him?"
Janet gave her a reassuring smile, "Of course. They haven't taken him to a room yet, but you can walk up with him when they do."
Sam flung her arms around Janet and pulled her into a warm hug, "Thanks, Janet."
Janet gave Daniel a hug to before she led them back to the treatment area where Jack was. When they reached the curtained off where Jack's bed was, Janet paused and looked at Sam.
"I'm not expecting him to wake up for a while, but I wanted to tell you what he said when he woke up in the ER," Janet spoke in a whisper so that no one, especially Jack could hear. "He was worried that you'd be mad at him and not want to marry him. Then he kept saying that he was sorry."
Sam put her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob, "Why would I be mad at him?"
Janet glanced at Daniel then back to Sam, "He said because he didn't do what he was told."
Sam looked confused for a second before it dawned on her what Jack meant, "Oh, God! I told him before I left the house not to do anything. Just to sit there and relax until I got back."
Janet gave Sam a reassuring smile and pulled the curtain aside. Sam gasped when she saw Jack's still form lying on the bed. He lay on his back with his arms down at his sides, his head tilted slightly to the left. The entire right side of his face was cut up and covered with a deep purple bruise making his face look so pale. The sound of the heart monitor and the oxygen hissing from the nasal cannula filled the small cubicle. She kissed him on the forehead before sitting down in the chair at his bedside, taking his hand into hers.
SG1SG1SG1
Jack's butt was numb and his back was stiff from lying in the same position all night. He was still half asleep as he grabbed a hold of the safety rail of the bed and began the slow, shaky process of rolling onto his left side, grumbling when the bright morning sun shone in his eyes. His head thumped slightly as he dug it into the pillow to go back to sleep. Another groan escaped him when his butt went from numb to being cold, but the strong tug from Janet's happy juice overruled the discomfort and he drifted back into dreamland.
SG1SG1SG1
Jack's snoring and unintelligible soft mutterings woke Sam in the chair at his bedside. Her eyes opened slowly and she couldn't help the giggle that burst from her lips when she found herself face to face with Jack's bare assets. She quickly stood up and pulled his blanket back up over him, hoping that the nurses hadn't been in yet. The movement caused Jack to let out a loud groan then his eyes slid slowly open and he looked around. Sam walked around to the other side of his bed and he regarded her with sleepy eyes.
Sam smiled and put her hand on his arm, "Hey, sweetheart, how are ya feeling?"
"I'm okay," he replied quietly then looked down at the floor. "Sorry, Sam."
"What are you sorry for, Jack? You haven't done anything."
"You told me to sit there and relax until you came back. I didn't."
"Oh, hon, it's okay. You're fine and that's all that matters," Sam said sweetly and ran her hand gently through his hair. "Do you remember what happened?"
"I went out into the kitchen to get a drink. There weren't any glasses in the dish drainer so I stood up to get one out of the cupboard. I thought that I could do it since I wasn't shaking that bad and I had the counter to hold onto. But just as I got a hold of the glass my legs started to shake and then gave out on me. I dropped the glass on the floor then I fell on it."
Sam bent down and kissed him on the forehead, wrapping her arm around his back. She wanted to yell at him for trying such a thing on his own, but it seemed as though he'd been punishing himself. It was typical of Jack, worry about others than himself. And now he was more worried about whether or not she was mad at him than how badly he was hurt. She reached down and took hold of his chin and tilted his head up just a little until he finally opened his eyes.
"Jack, listen to me. I'm not mad at you, but please don't scare me like that again."
"I'll try not to."
"You'd better do more than try mister. I finally got you and I do not want to lose you," Sam told him firmly then leaned down to give him a deep passionate kiss.
"Sam, if ya keep that up I'll never get out of here," Jack said with a cheeky grin. A serious look overcame his features and he looked up at her with sad eyes, "I'm sorry that I scared you and that I'm going to look like Frankenstein's clone for the wedding."
"So long as I get to marry you, I don't care how you look."
The two lovers kissed once again before Sam went to the other side of the bed and relocated the chair so that she could sit in front of Jack. They talked about the wedding for a few minutes until the nurses came in to tend to Jack before his breakfast arrived.
SG1SG1SG1
Jack sat in his wheelchair and watched the back door of his house. Any minute now the love of his life will walk out of that door in a dress that in no way could compare to her beauty and walk down the white velveteen carpet to the gazebo where he was waiting for her. A bird chirped in a tree above his head, he looked up to see if he could see it and by the time his gaze went back to the door she was there. The sight of her took his breath away. He ached to hold her in his arms and every step she took toward him felt like an eternity. He watched breathlessly as she walked toward him, treading softly on the red rose petals that Cassie was dropping ahead of her. When she finally made it to his side, his heart was fluttering in his chest. He was so caught up in the sight of her that he jumped when he felt someone grab hold of his arms as Teal'c and Daniel helped him to his feet. It'd been arranged that they would help him stand during the ceremony because he wanted to be able to look her in the eyes when he promised to love her no matter what for the rest of their lives. Of course Sam, being her usual sweet self, had offered to sit in a chair but he refused. As he looked in to her deep blue eyes, he couldn't resist leaning in for a kiss.
They said their vows and exchanged their rings without taking their eyes off of each other. He was so lost in her that he almost missed the words that he'd been waiting to hear.
"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jack O'Neill."
The newlyweds kissed then Sam wrapped her arms around her husband and leaned in for a passion filled embrace.
"Congratulations, daddy," Sam whispered lovingly into Jack's ear.
The End
