AN1: Hey…. er… Hi. Ahem. Remember me? Popping in for a brief bit. Thanks for staying with this and for the patience. I'm glad folks took care of themselves last time. This one isn't as hard to read… I think. The first section probably should have been on the previous chapter, but… you have it here. :) enjoy
***SG1***SG1***
Resting his head on Sam's, Jack tightened his arms. Her tears had stopped at least he noted as he trailed his fingers in lazy circles against her back. "Daniel said you were thinking about staying in."
A movement of her shoulders told him she was unsure. "Don't want to regret walking away," she confessed, her voice rough. "Feels like they beat me."
Urging her back so he could see her face, Jack nodded. Noting the physical and emotional fatigue etched into her face, he swallowed what he was going to say. "You're tired," he uttered softly. "Let's go," he added, pulling them both upright.
Staying silent until they had reached Sam's room, Jack eased the door shut behind them and leaned against it as he watched Sam sink to her bed. "You gonna be able to get some sleep?"
A grimace passed over her features answered him. Looking up, she tipped her head toward him. "From the looks of it, you haven't had a lot of luck lately either."
An ironic smile pulled on his lips at getting caught at his own game. "Noisy there," he quipped, his eyes not matching the humor of his words.
Biting her lip for a minute, she released it as she held her hand out to him. After a moment, he took a couple steps forward and took it. Retaining her grip, she scooted back in the bed pulling him with her.
"Sam..."
"Please?"
A breath escaped him as he surrendered. "Need to set an alarm," he uttered, pulling on his hand for her to release it. Setting his watch, he laid on his side beside her. "Go to sleep," he said softly.
***SG1***SG1***
The sound of his rank being called snapped Jack's eyes open. Orientating himself that he was in Sam's hospital room, he checked to see if she was still asleep before lifting his head toward the speaker.
Seeing Jack's eyes focus on her, Doctor Rodgers tipped her head toward the open door. "There are a couple SFs looking for you."
A sigh escaped him as he nodded. Focusing back on Sam, he tried to ease the hand she had captured earlier from her grip. The movement started her awake. "Easy," Jack murmured. "Time for me to go," he added, giving her hand a squeeze before he pulled away.
Rolling off the bed, he stretched before moving to the bathroom. When he came back out, he noted that Sam was sitting up, her eyes locked on the personnel standing At Ease outside the door.
Accepting the coat and hat in Rogers' hand, he stepped into Sam's line of sight. "Hey." Waiting until her eyes met his, he tilted his head, assessing her body language. "Okay?"
Locking eyes with him, Sam nodded. "You?" she asked her eyes flitting to the soldiers and then to him.
A humorless smile pulled on Jack's face as he slipped on his jacket. "As said earlier, maybe they'll figure it out now," he repeated. Moving closer to the bed, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her brow until she shifted and raised her face toward him, pressing her lips to his. Reluctantly, he pulled back after a few seconds. Brushing his fingers down her cheek, he said softy, "I'll have someone call you later."
Settling his cover under his arm, Jack squared his shoulders and stepped into the hallway. Snapping back the salute the two men gave him after coming to full Attention, he raised an eyebrow. "Airmen?"
"Sir," one of the SF's stated. "General Hammond has ordered you to return to Cheyenne Mountain ASAP." Stepping to one side, he added, "Plane is waiting at Andrews, Sir."
"Then we better go," Jack drawled, glancing back at Sam as he took his first step.
***SG1***SG1***
Feeling the plane begin his descent, Jack shifted to sit up. Yawning and looking at this watch, he was surprised he had slept for the three-hour flight. Flexing his back and neck, he glanced at the SF sitting across from him on the plane. The very fact that he was being escorted told him how mad the General was at him.
A part of him knew he had screwed up. A part of him didn't care. A wince passed through him as the thought of how he had let one of the men he respected most in the galaxy down. It truly had not been deliberate in that respect. Perhaps the best he could do now was not fight whatever was to come.
Striding down the hallways of the SGC, Jack ignored the curious looks of passing personnel wondering why the former second in command was being escorted by two SFs. Coming to a halt outside the General's office he heard the yelled 'come' answering the knock the SF had performed. Moving in tandem with the other two, Jack noted Hammond's clenched jaw and hard eyes, confirming that the next several minutes were not going to be pleasant.
"Airmen, you're dismissed," George snapped, deliberately laying down the pen he had been using. Pausing only long enough to allow the other two men to exit, he raised his eyes toward his former second. "Attention!" he barked, his voice harsh, cold.
Snapping his heels together, Jack pulled his shoulders back, raised his chin, focused his eyes on the wall beyond the General, and waited.
***SG1***SG1***
"You're feeling better," Rogers stated, running eyes over Sam's pale features. When blue eyes came up, she added, "Than you were earlier today. Calmer."
"Slept some. He helped to ground me, get out of my head." The words were softly spoken, telling. Eyes flickered down. "Push the memories back."
Tiffany nodded. "He's had a lot of experience doing that for himself. Makes sense he would know how to help you." The tone brought Sam's eyes back to her. When she didn't immediately speak, the doctor tilted her head. "What?"
"I need to go back," Sam stated, her shoulders squaring back.
A frown pulled on Tiffany's face. "To the SGC?"
A shrug met her question. "Colorado," Sam breathed. "Maybe Nevada."
"For what? To work?"
"Maybe." The word was soft, uncertainty tingeing each syllable. A wince passed her face. "I don't know," Sam breathed. "Not right away," she amended, her eyes darting down before coming back up. "Just leaving the possibility open for a bit."
Rogers tipped her head. "For you or for the Colonel?"
A humorless smile passed over Sam's face. "Is there a difference?"
The memory of Jack using the same words earlier in the day echoed in Tiffany's head. Reflexively, she answered the same. "You tell me." When Sam barely shook her head, Tiffany let a small smile settle on her face. "You're not sure are you?"
Sam licked her lips nervously. "The military has been my life. When I walk away from it, it has to be on my terms not because of what happened."
***SG1***SG1***
"What the hell were you thinking?" Hammond barked, shoving a copy of the travel authorization Jack signed into his face. "I could have your ass for this." Spinning away from the younger man, he tossed the paper on the desk and blew out a breath. Stilling a thought hit him. "Or is that what you want?" Turning back around, he ran assessing eyes over the Colonel. "It is, isn't it? You want me to bring charges so they'll kick you out." George watched as the subtle movement of Jack's throat as he swallowed told him he was at least partially correct. "Damn it, Jack," he growled, another surge of anger sweeping through him. "What the hell do you expect me to do with that?"
Brown eyes cut toward the General. "Your job, Sir."
The flatly spoken words stabbed at Hammond and added fueled to the edge of his anger. Moving around the desk, he yanked the phone from the cradle and ordered security personnel to report to his office.
***SG1***SG1***
"How much longer will I have to stay here?" Sam asked, looking back over her shoulder at the doctor. As she was waiting for an answer, her eyes drifted back out the window she was standing in front of.
"I was going to speak with you about that, but wasn't sure you were ready to hear it today," Tiffany replied. When Sam nodded slightly, she continued. "I think you're ready to go back home. Not to work," she added quickly, to clarify, "but home."
A subtle shifting of Sam's stance told her she was absorbing the news. A frown etched into her forehead. "Then what? If today happens again?"
"We'll continue to touch base by phone. You can come here occasionally, I'll fly out," Rogers offered. Seeing a slight nod, she added, "I can give you the name of someone in Colorado you could actually see if you prefer."
"Phone's fine," Sam said. Coming back to the chair, she paused. "There's still things," she began only to stop when the doctor nodded.
"Journey, remember," Tiffany said gently. "There is always going to be something, some situation we haven't talked about or days like today," referencing her earlier panic. "You have the tools, Sam. Use them. Let yourself lean on others when you need to and I'm just a phone call away."
***SG1***SG1***
A knock on his door brought Hammond's head up. "Come," he called, not really wanting visitors but knowing he had to do his job.
"Sir," Daniel said, stepping into the office followed by Teal'c.
"Doctor, Teal'c," Hammond said flatly, sitting back in his chair. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh, yeah," Daniel began, darting eyes toward Teal'c before returning to the General. Reading the flat affect of the older man, he swallowed. "We were wondering about Jack. Rumor has it he was brought here but then escorted off the base."
A slow nod answered the question. "Rumor would be correct."
"And?" Daniel asked taking a step closer. "Escorted where? Is he in trouble?"
"Colonel O'Neill was placed on a plane for Nellis," Hammond said sharply, picking up a pen. "Anything else?" he said, his tone telling them he was done with the conversation.
Swallowing, Daniel locked eyes with Teal'c. A subtle nod had him turning his attention back to the General. "And the...er..." his arm making a sweeping motion away from him.
"That matter is still under consideration."
Watching the General, Teal'c caught the subtle dropping of his shoulders with the words. "GeneralHammond, O'Neill respects you. He will understand whatever you need to do."
A sarcastic chuckle escaped the General. "That's the damn problem Teal'c. He wants me to do what the Pentagon couldn't." A slight tilt of the Jaffa's head had him adding, "Destroy his career. Send him packing with a scarlet letter so they can never call him back." Sorrow etched its way into his features. "I'm not sure I can do it."
Daniel licked his lips nervously. "You can't to that to him or they won't allow you to do that?"
A ironic snort met his words before a sigh escaped. "Maybe both."
***SG1***SG1***
AN2: Sorry but it was bound to happen that George was going to have to let some of his feelings out. The General has been there through all of this and he has worked so hard to protect Jack every step of the way. Now, Jack goes and does something like this. What's a commanding officer turned friend, mentor and father figure to do?! Thanks for sticking with it.
