Disclaimer: It's not mine. But if Thor could just beam them into my account…. That would be greatly appreciated. LOL!
Category: Romance, (S/J), Angst and no character Death. Loads of Humour….so I am told
A/N: Thanks to everyone for their wonderful reviews! Just out of curiosity. Is anyone ready to kill me yet? LOL. Truth be told, I was a bit apprehensive about putting the part about the 'S/J Shippers' in the last chapter, wasn't sure how people would react, but it's all good!
To Sunstorm2: Remember to find a PROPER chair before reading this and put pillows around it! I'm not sure I want to responsible for any accidents! Thanks for letting me know about the typos, but maybe one of the reasons is that I'm Aussie and that I'm using an Australian spell-checker.
To Bekki: Yes…the Storm hath indeed struck again! : D
To Oneillroxmyworld: Here it is. Next chapter, go on….laugh!
To Stargate-1fan: Patience is a virtue…. Or it was something like that. Anyway, thanks for reminding me, seems I thought I had uploaded up to chapter 3, and I was writing chapter 4.
To Debbie: Thanks Heaps for ALL of your help, love ya!
To Everyone Else: Merry Belated Christmas and Happy belated New Year! I'm sorry I didn't update sooner. Promise the next chapter will be longer, much longer.
Enjoy!
O o o o o
After they'd all had their coffees, they all hung around Janet's infirmary not doing much. Even Janet had nothing to do, as save for Sam she had no patients (mostly because SG-1 had not been on any missions).
They routinely checked on Sam, but they didn't really need to, as Jack was sitting vigil at her side, willing her to wake up. Occasionally, he would feel Sam's hand flinch and respond to his touch, but he didn't get his hopes up as Janet had informed him early on that it was common in comatose patients.
He sat by her side for hours on end reading her 'light reading' books to her until either Daniel, Teal'c or Janet would persuade him to go out to eat or to rest. He'd read so much to her that he found he was actually starting to be able to understand her technobabble and found he was enjoying the texts vastly. Odd.
When Hammond had come down to see the four friends (not including Sam), he'd been more generous with downtime and any support that they desired. All they had to do was call, he told them, after all, not only was she the daughter of one of their closest allies, but Sam was like a daughter to him and he would do anything in his power to bring her back, as would anyone else on the base.
Carter was an excellent and well-respected officer on the base, and it clearly showed in her room. It was transformed from boring, stark white hospital room, to what looked like halfway between the Hallmark Factory and the Royal Botanic Gardens. But Janet made no objection, she thought that if anything, it would help and give Sam something to come back to.
---
SAM POV- while in comatose state (A/N: It's a bit random. Use your imaginations.)
Who ever is listening, please respond. Is anyone getting this transmission from my head? This is Samantha Carter.
Damn.
You know, I really think that I could get comatose more often. If Jack's by my side the whole time! We hardly spend this much time together, hell; I can't even remember the last time we did.
I've know this man, Jack O' Neill for over seven years now, and I swear that he is the hardest man to decipher, that I have ever met. Hell my so-called 'doo-hickeys' are easier to figure out, but that's usually because there's usually a manual of some description in a language only Daniel can't read properly.
Contrary to common belief, when people are in a comatose, they don't just shut up and playdead. You are really tempted to drift asleep. Only this asleep is the eternal type, and if you drift asleep, well you may wake up dead. (Did I just make sense?) You can still hear everything, and sense everything.
I can feel Jack's hand holding mine gently, is this what it takes for him to do this! I'd like to know what it'd take him to kiss me. No, I don't mean that peck on the forehead, I mean a proper KISS. K-I-S-S!
Whoa Sam! Calm down girl…. Oh look! My heart rate is going up… great. Now he can probably guess what I'm thinking. And that is NOT a good thing! Crap.
Have I ever mentioned I hate these pesky regs? They suck! They really, really, really SUCK! Are you getting the picture now? 'Cos if you're not, I could probably provide you with a very accurate picture. I cannot imagine the sort of person who would make up this sort of thing! The Kinsey/Goa'uld type I'll bet.
I love Jack…. And I don't know if he loves me. I know he cares, but he always says enough to get your curiosity going, but not enough to confirm your suspicions.
I don't know why I'm not returning to the conscious world. If I'm not in a little while I swear I will just shrivel up and die. I just want Jack by my side, is that too much to ask? Come to think of it, he is by my side, and that's not all I want.
I hate this! I hate being trapped in a watery world, being able to talk (to yourself), breathe and all that, but you can't actually talk. I can people mumbling, but not always the actual words.
So far, Teal'c has been by and talking to me about what's going on in the SGC. Daniel has been by a few times to whine about a broken coffee machine and same artifact he couldn't un- confuse himself with, poor boy. Hammond's been by to order me back on the team, and insisting that SG-1 and Stargate Program will not be without its resident expert on the Stargate.
Janet's been complaining about Cassie's latest boyfriend, who apparently rides a motorbike. So do I, so frankly, I don't know what the hell she's complaining about!
There's been loads of Jack, mostly some kind of babbling, which I'm not sure he's even aware of. I don't mind Jack around me 24-7, if there's one other thing that rivals his eyes, it's got to be his voice. It's distinguished and authoritive but somehow manages to have a hint of childish impudence seep in. I've heard him hum, talk, yell, laugh, sarcasm-laced even had the chance to listen to him sing. It's a beautiful thing.
Here's where it gets interesting. So far he's confessed that his lake has no 'fish'. He liked to watch 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' more than 'the Simpson's'. That was a stretch. Jack, into crime shows? Who woulda guessed?
Two particular titbits of information came up that interested me greatly. Something about him liking someone on the base and him having a tattoo somewhere on his body. Which was a bit of a surprise to me.
Believe me, SG-1 change together like every mission, I often sneak into the men's lockeroom to change before the missions. We spend the whole time joking and horsing around since there's usually no-one in there, and if anyone feels particularly uncomfortable changing in the presence of a female military officer, than they could either wait it out, or use the other men's locker room, or the women's one, if they were that desperate.
Anyway, I grab my stuff, change in there. After missions we all herd ourselves in there, on the rare occasion that none of us are hurt. We're always kidding around about perving and stuff, it's team time and even Teal'c joins in. And over the years, I've noticed several things.
Daniel has the best-embarrassed look by far! (well, after Jack, on the rare occasion that he IS embarrassed). Teal'c has the best arms, man has the guy got 'powerful' and 'authority' written all over him!
But (taking my bias opinion into consideration of course,) Jack has undoubtly got the best butt and chest I've seen. There was this one time, that I tripped over, and he only had the bottom half of his BDU's on, anyway, he caught me before I hit the ground, I didn't get over that for AGES! If he looks like this now, I'd like to see him when he was younger. Still I like him the way he is…
The point is, in the oh-I-dunno seven or eight years that I've known Jack; I have never seen the tattoo. I mean it's obviously not on his Arms, because I see plenty of those, it's probably not on his chest, because I spend a fair amount of time looking that too. Which leads me to wonder, why would he have a tattoo on his leg? So now it doesn't leave you with much of an answer left, save for the…. you know. For cryin' out loud, get your mind out of the gutter, girl!
Crap. Did I just sound like Jack? I'm tired with all this discussion… anyway it was nice ranting to you.
Carter Out.
--
It was now four days after the fateful incident, and most of the SGC were doubtful that Sam would ever resurface to her old self, even though it had only been two days. But the extended SG-1, Davis, Feretti and Siler remained confident that she would pull through, none of them wanting to imagine the SGC without Carter. Her heart and brain activity had not decreased, but it hadn't improved much.
Jacob Carter and the Tok'ra had been informed, as had the Asguard and Jonas. They were all assisting in the researching of ways to bring Carter back. Had it been another friend other than SG-1, Earth's allies would have been sorry to say that wouldn't have done nearly as much. Hell they wouldn't have even known, but this was Major Carter lying motionless on a bed, and she might die at any minute.
To the Tok'ra, she was the daughter of one of their most powerful ambassadors' host. To the Asgard, she was a powerful and knowledgeable ally; to Thor it would be friend. Jonas would potentially be loosing a friend who had saved his six many a time and he was doing everything in his power to find to about the mysterious creature that had envenomed Sam. A lot was at stake, even for races across the Galaxy. Except for the Goa'uld, they were celebrating… damn snakeheads.
Life at Stargate Command now seemed very quiet and dull. People carried on doing their job, SG teams 2-9 continued to go on missions, but as part of their objective was to obtain advanced technology, it only reminded them of Carter who had been the ultimate brain on the base.
As for Jack, well, he had not been off base, home, or to the surface for over a week now. Spending time on the base by Sam's side with only the occasionally toilet break or food consuming. He would have eaten in the room, but Janet had put her foot down, and privately, she was glad she did because it gave her an excuse to kick him out of Sam's room, at least for a while.
Which was what she had done. He'd been in Sam's room for 15 hours now, no food, no water, no coffee, and no sleep, not even a toilet break. Men and their notoriously big bladders when they need them. Janet huffed to herself quietly.
He hadn't said a word to her either, except to talk in a soft voice to Sam; it was almost as if he were focusing all of his energy into helping Sam in regaining her strength. Janet had observed over the course of the last 15 minutes, that their patient's heart rate had normalized considerably and her brain activity indicated that she was responding well to Jack's presence.
Still, even though it might be helping Sam a little bit, she wasn't about to let the Colonel burn out. Then she would have two patients, and one was going to be most likely about to whine all day, and neither one of the three would be better off.
The doctor was sure how much longer that Sam would be able to hold on. Given Carter's improving condition, she generously added two days, another five for her spirit and will power. The Carter she knew would not give up without a fight. And then a final two more to her excellence in health prior to the incident. She had estimated that they'd had less had a week before, now, if they were lucky, they would get a possible week and a bit extra.
What about the Naquada? Janet had triple checked all the vaccines, anti-venoms and other medications she'd given Sam. The Naquadria in her blood not only improved her health and had its benefits; it also reacted violently with some drugs and their chemical makeups. Taking that into consideration, Janet made the safe suggestion that after a week and a half, Carter's chances of survival and regaining consciousness would steadily decrease.
Venom from an alien creature and Naquadria was something that Janet had NEVER dealt with before. But considering that this was a top-secret government facility, and she was one of the few who even knew of the existences of these creatures, the doctor figured that her guess was probably better than any other doctor.
She sighed and went to go complete some lab work. She had something she needed to prod before Jack got back.
A piece of alien creature, pried away from a piece of paper.
-
Jack wandered around the base. Most of the personnel knew about his 2IC and offered their support. Many on the base observed and understood on a regular basis that Jack and Sam shared more between them than the fraternization regulations allowed. But no- one said anything of it, because they were it was so darn obvious and well respected, even as people without their ranks.
The other reason was that SG-1 probably stuck together more than any other team on the base, and while they're family and personal lives were largely unknown (thus the gossiping), they were like an actual family itself. If any trouble regarding one of their own was stirred up, you could be sure that they would get to the bottom of it.
With Teal'c powerful physique, the O' Neill's black ops training, you weren't likely to want to get on the bad side of them. If that wasn't enough to scare you, Carter was probably the smartest person in the universe (no kidding, I'm serious) and could cover her tracks on whatever she did, effortlessly.
And Daniel… He wasn't a good person to have pissed at you because he would vent his anger at you not only with a very extensive vocabulary in the English and Latin languages, but he would probably be able to do it about twenty-six different times, each time using a different language. Being yelled at in Go'auld, or Abydosian or what ever was definitely NOT good.
Even Hammond picked up on these things and chose not to comment. He was pissed at the regs, and spent half his days trying to find a loophole. There wasn't as much paperwork at in the Stargate Program as one might think, in a top-secret facility, which was going to read it anyway? Surely the President and the Joint chiefs didn't read them ALL over. The General had once filed his phone bill for a trial, and so far he'd gotten no response, and that was over two years ago. He should probably stop lecturing Jack about doing his paperwork.
Unfortunately though, regs are written so that there are no loopholes or trapdoors. They are designed so that JAG lawyers defending their client can't wiggle their way out of punishment, and the prosecution has the best chance at nailing someone's ass to a legal brief.
So far, all he'd found to be useful were 'General's privilege', which probably wouldn't work because O' Neill and Carter are officers and not lawyers. If they both worked at JAG, as his friend Admiral Chegwidden did (AJ was supplying the regulations books), things would have been a lot easier. He had a friend in the NCIS who once chased after someone to collect vomit… not that that would have helped.
Then of course, there was the one other way. To ask the President, maybe point out the fact that they are working under 'covert situations and it increases stress' or something along the lines of that. That or he'd try making him change the regs for ALL military personnel and solver problems all over the country. Or maybe tell the President that he owed it to them.
-
Jack stepped into the commissary where Daniel who looked half-dead, Teal'c (it was kinda hard to tell) were sitting at their usual table. They had some kind of apple pie or something in front of them, or it might have been if they hadn't picked it apart into a caramel coloured sludge.
"Hey Jack… how are you holding up?" Daniel asked genuinely concerned for his friend.
""How do you think am?" Jack snapped at him and Daniel immediately recoiled and shut up. It was brief but Jack caught the moment of hurt that flashed across his best friend's face, and immediately regretted what he said and tried to take back the words. " I'm sorry Daniel… I didn't mean to snap at you… I'm sorry… it's just that if Sam doesn't wake up soon…" He made a threatening gesture at the ceiling with his fists.
Daniel smiled and forgave him. He could understand that O' Neill was under a lot of stress, if he himself was already almost drowning, then Jack must been submerged. He was about to tell him so when….
"UNSCHEDULED OFF WORLD ACTIVATION" And with that, accompanied the flashing lights. The trio looked at each other and rushed off to follow the familiar route to the Gateroom.
-
They met on in the observation and looked through the bullet proof, (and hopefully alien) proof window. They stood behind the technician who was trying to identify who the incoming traveller was. Jack didn't even look up and snap to attention when Hammond entered the room. His superior officer noticed but thought nothing of it.
"Receiving Tok'ra IDC, sir."
"Open the iris."
At the word iris, Jack's head snapped up at looked at Hammond for a few moments before he returned his gaze to focus on the opening iris.
-- FLASHBACK
'What the hell's that, sir?"
"That's our insurance policy against anymore surprises. It's pure Titanium, hopefully impenetrable."
--END FLASHBACK
That was ages ago Jack thought. I used to really not like Carter then, now it's like I can't live without her. At the thought of Sam, he started to feel guilty for leaving her, when he heard voices call him back down to Earth.
"Colonel! Colonel!"
"JACK!"
"O' Neill."
"…Carter."
Jack snapped out of his reverie. "Huh? What did you say about Sam?"
Four odd glances were cast his way, before Jacob/Selmak spoke and shook his hand. "Hello Jack. Since when do you call my daughter Sam?"
"That's her name isn't it?" Jack asked, apparently still dazed and unaware of the danger he was in from his 2IC's father.
Jacob let out and 'humph' but wondered why Jack wasn't calling him 'Dad' as he so often did. Hammond suggested they all go down to the infirmary. Everyone agreed and they all trooped to the correct level.
Janet met them at the door, hearing all he commotion and scuffle of feet against linoleum.
"Hello Jacob." She offered a smile.
"Janet. How are you?" The Tok'ra man smiled at his daughter's best friend.
"I'm fine. You're here to see Sam?" She asked the obvious question.
"Yes. Where is she?"
"She's down here." She led them to Samantha's room. Hammond, Teal'c and Daniel all stayed by the window, but Jack, Jacob and the doctor entered the room. Jacob seemed a bit surprised when Jack had followed them in and quickly took his usual seat by his 2IC's side and took her hand, stroking the back of it softly. This was not the man that they usually saw.
Don't jump to conclusions Jacob. Jack is probably under considerable stress. Selmak warned him.
-I'm not jumping anywhere. Jacob defended stubbornly.
Right. Besides you DID participate in the SGC pool… need I say more. In fact, I'd say your all for it.
- All for what? Jacob denied, but he knew that Selmak was right. He heard his symboite sigh and give up.
Jacob looked at his daughter, lying still on the bed. She was so pale and lifeless. Sometimes he hated himself for being in the Air force and encouraging Sam to take-up a career within it. She'd end up injured and he'd be helpless as to assist her. Even though this was not an Air Force matter, the fact that 'if she wasn't in the force then wouldn't even be here' still bothered him.
He moved a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, and noticed a stack of books beside her bed. He picked one up and almost dropped it, the thing was so heavy. Theoretical Astrophysics and Wormhole Technology, the latter having her name on the front listed as a reference book for the SGC that she herself had written as a guide. Only then did he realize the full impact of what his daughter had achieved in her career as a Captain and later as a Major.
She'd saved the world numerous times. Made allies with the Asguard, Tok'ra etc. Was the worlds foremost expert on the Stargate in addition to a skilled pilot who flew F-15 Eagles. Had it not been for her, not only would the world have been taken over by the Goa'uld, and god-knows-what-else, but he himself would not have been alive.
Jacob owed his daughter a lot, enough to let her make her own way in life, maybe even be a Colonel or General, and give Jack and George a run for their jobs. He was glad that the Tok'ra High Council had allowed him to visit Earth, as he hadn't been able to on the previous occasions that his daughter had been missing. Privately, he thought that it was largely due to the fact that this time, his daughter was not MIA on the Prometheus or any planet, but almost brain-dead, in a coma, yet some how still alive.
Then it occurred to him, that jut a short yank of a tube would terminate her life. All they had to do was take away the drip or something else (thank god they hadn't needed a ventilator) and she would have ceased to live any longer. Which brought him right back to his next though, one that he voiced out loud.
"What if I decided to terminate Life Support?" He asked Janet quietly, avoiding her gaze.
Janet's mouth opened up in surprise. She'd expected the question, but not so soon, and it probably wasn't a good idea to answer with Jack present. The doctor glanced at Jack, who for once in his life, got the message and left the room, fully aware that he'd probably just saved his hide from one potentially dangerous (ok, usually dangerous) Tok'ra.
"Well, Jacob. I'm afraid that that's not a decision you will get to make," She informed him in the same quiet voice that he had inquired in. "You're not listed as Power of Attorney, nor are you listed as next of Kin."
The man next to her whirled around in shock. "Then who is?" He asked as calmly as possible under the circumstances.
"It's the Colonel." The answer shocked Hammond, Teal'c and Daniel who had previously been unawares of this revelation, once the initial shock was over, they realised it was natural. Jacob, however was not surprised he was surprised at the fact that he was not listed as Power of Attorney, but a bit peeved that his daughter had bit mentioned this to her. He was her father, for crying out loud! Uh- oh! Too much time with Jack.
He wasn't at all happy that he'd been overridden as the person who would make the ultimate decision for his daughter when she could not. But there wasn't much that he was able to do but argue. First he had no legal standing. Two it had to be legitimate, because otherwise, Janet wouldn't have told him.
"JACK!?!" Any further words that were about to fly out of the former General's mouth were temporarily cut off when said General's eyes glowed and a calmer expression took over his face.
"It has been some time, Doctor Fraiser." Selmak addressed her as way of greeting.
"Yes it has." The doctor agreed.
"I apologise for Jacob Carter's reaction, but as Samantha's father, he is very protective, even overly so, one might say of his daughter. It is not that he does not believe that Colonel O'Neill will not make the right choice, but the fact that he is in no position to take it away from O' Neill. Nor does he have any legal standing or over-seeing jurisdiction over this matter, and I believe he knows this very well. But I believe that he only wants what is best for his child."
"I agree. Although even though they will admit it, both the Carters are very fond of Jack, albeit Sam than her father, but they trust him a whole lot more than they let on."
Janet was afraid to say more, as there was a very realistic possible that not only that Jack was standing in the observation room, but there was a very big likelihood of leading team and Hammond being there too. Not to mention, that Jacob and Sam definitely would not appreciate having their little secrets spilt so publicly, even if it was incredulously obviously to the few who had heard the doctor speak.
Selmak understood her silence and let Jacob take over again. Blue eyes glowed (I'm assuming that Jacob has blue eyes, otherwise Sam wouldn't be his daughter. It's in Mendel's
Law of Genes… I think) And a much stiffer and less controlled expression resumed its position.
"When was the change made?" The man asked.
Janet hesitated, trying to find a diplomatic way to answer the simple question without shedding negative issues on O'Neill. " About seven and a half years ago. It was made about a week after SG1 was made permanent."
Jacob's eyebrows shot up, but again, he was not really surprised. If he looked it as is her were a… marine… from another team on the base, it would have made perfect sense. It would have been okay for Sam to put down her Commanding Officer as her voice when she couldn't speak. Looking at it, it may have been a bit weird seeing 'Next of Kin: Her Commanding Officer' written just like that, but Jacob himself had no case.
This was changed prior to his agreement with the Tok'ra, she might not have known about his deal, and she couldn't have known about him living. It made sense that 'her Colonel' would be the one to make the decisions for her if they were off world, with dire consequences, but it didn't mean that Jacob was particularly happy about it.
Still, he was sure that Jack would to whatever was best, and a selfish part of him was glad that he would not be in a position to make such a choice. The relationship between himself and his daughter had been further damaged since he'd joined the Tok'ra. He knew that it was mostly fault on his part, him never being on Earth, missing Birthdays, Christmases and everything else, but it had served to improve her relationships with others. In more ways than one, Jack knew Sam far better than he did and he deserved to make the choice.
Jacob looked at his daughter for a moment and made a silent vow to himself to support Jack as much as he could. God knew he needed and deserved it without everyone breathing down
his neck while he still came to terms with the current situation.
Janet who had still been in Sam's room, up until then, left the room to allow him some time alone with his daughter, quite possible his last. To her surprise, as soon as she behind to one-way mirror, the lone man in the other room called out.
"Jack. Get your ass in here. I promise not to kill you."
Jack looked at the rest in the room with a pained expression, and left, as did the others soon after he left the room. They owed him the privacy that was needed for this next conversation.
"Jacob…."
"Jack… it's okay. I understand why Sam put you down to make the decisions for her. She trusted you more then anyone. Even me I suppose, but that's my fault." The older man didn't have a lot to say, he wasn't one for words. " I just want to let you know, I know you'll make the right decision, and that I'm here for you." Jack lifted his eyes to meet Jacob's, surprised that he was supporting and standing by him, and at the sympathy in his eyes.
The Colonel smiled his thanks and put his hand out for his companion to shake. After the firm handshake, Jacob turned to leave. He paused at the door, and told Jack quietly something that shocked even his own ears, "She loved you Jack. She still does, and probably always will, no matter what you do or choose."
With that, he brought his hand down upon the handle and left the room. Jacob stood just outside the now closed door, to let his mind catch up with the events. He heard Selmak mutter a quiet, 'Thankyou' before the two left to find Janet, to get the specific details.
--
Hey, at least Jake didn't kill Jack right? Right? I'm not really sure whether Selmak is femle or male, even after various discussions and debates regarding spelling and gender. So I kind of wrote it as an 'it' of 'them' (at least I think I did), so lets just leave it at that, shall we?
I'd really like to hear what you think of this, and hopefully draw ideas from them for the next chapter, so PLEASE review or email me!!! I've done about 8 pages for the next chapter, and I'm not quite done yet, so be prepared for heaps of reading in my next update! But…knowing me, it won't be up before Teal'c turns 180!! LOL!
Special Agent Black Storm