Jack had drifted off to sleep again, but was awakened by a soft touch on his shoulder. It was Doctor Compton.

"I understand you have a few questions for me?" he said.

Sam jumped slightly at the man's voice, having been asleep herself.

"I do," Jack said.

"Can we take the catheter out yet?"

"No, the less you move around, the better for your legs and hip."

"Why is that?" Jack asked, not quite understanding the point. "I just would rather use a urinal."

"I understand, but--"

"Doc, please. Give me some dignity here. I can't walk, I can't even sit up. Let me at least pee in a plastic jug," he said with Jack O'Neill style.

"Is he always this stubborn?" The doctor asked Sam.

"This?" she laughed, "This is mild. He gets worse."

The doctor sighed, "We can try it, but you do realize that if it doesn't work the catheter goes back in?"

"It'll work, trust me. I'll make it work."

"Now, how long am I on a liquid diet?"

"Till we set your hip in place, which we will do in about ten more days."

"The casts?"

" At least four weeks if x-rays show your bones are knitting well. Mister O'Neill, you need to understand something. I can't put you in traction because off your hip, normally that is what I would do, but your case is a bit difficult. You must have the luck of the Irish because you could have easily lost both your legs. Do you know the other driver was brought here as well? He wasn't as lucky."

"What happened to him?" Jack asked.

"He's down in the morgue," Doctor Compton replied.

Jack was silent for a few long heartbeats.

"Thank you for answering my questions" he finally said quietly.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," the doctor said as he left.

Alone with Sam, Jack was very quiet.

"Was it my fault?"

"No Jack," she answered, "he crossed the double yellow line into your lane. You didn't veer into his."

"Yeah, but I was speeding."

"Maybe, but the police aren't holding you at fault."

Jack didn't say anything for a long time and Sam was starting to get concerned.

"Hey?" she said, rubbing his forearm "you ok?"

"Yeah, I've killed men before Sam, it's part of our job. But I've never been in an accident like this and I can't help but wonder about the other guy. Did he have a wife? Kids? Why did he cross that line, had he been drinking?"

"You can ask yourself these questions forever, Jack, but it won't change anything. They call them accidents for a reason."

The nurse came in just then to remove his catheter. It was the older nurse who had bathed him earlier. A few minutes later Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

"Better?" the nurse asked.

"Much."

"You know you may end up regretting it," she told him.

"I'll take my chances."

"I know you will," the nurse said, "I know your type. You stand alone, you don't accept help unless you have absolutely no choice. You are a leader, not a follower, or am I wrong?"

Jack said nothing, but Sam spoke up.

"I think she's got your number, Jack"

He remained silent to the amusement of both women.

"If you need anything just call," the nurse said before she left.

"What's your name?" Jack asked before she could leave.

"Deleores," the nurse answeed, "I got off shift at eleven."

"Thanks Deleores," Jack said.

She simply nodded then was gone.

"Feel like watching a DVD, or, what do you want to do?"

"This pain medication keeps putting me to sleep, but we can try."

"They want you pretty sedated and still, hon," Sam said.

An hour later he was dozing again but in better spirits at least. A couple of episodes of 'the Simpsons' had improved his mood greatly. He slept for several hours and it was after three am when he woke next. Sam slept on the cot and Jack wanted to do nothing to wake her. He used his urinal then hit the call button for the nurse. She appeared in his doorway a minute later.

"What can I do for you?" She asked. He hushed her and pointed to Sam then pointed to the urinal hanging on the side of his bed. She nodded and took it away, bringing it back a moment later, clean and empty.

"Anything else?" she whispered.

Jack just shook his head no. She left the room and he stared into the darkness pondering what would become of his life now.