As soon as Jack entered the infirmary, he knew something was wrong. He had spent the whole day on the phone, in meetings with Washington. The President was becoming increasingly demanding about his return to his post now that Sam was back on Earth and recovering, but he kept delaying. He didn't know until when.
"Hey," he said as he entered.
Sam remained quiet, looking at him. Jack was about to sit on the chair when he noticed the Sudoku book on the table. So, Cameron had been here before.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting on the chair.
"What happened to me on that planet, Jack? When you beamed down from the Apollo? And please have the decency to tell me the truth," she said, her eyes like ice blocks.
Jack swallowed. So, the secret was out. Cameron Mitchell was a dead man.
"Who told you?" Jack asked, buying time.
Sam took the wire that was attached to her heart, and Jack paled. The machine's alarm started to beep.
"Sam, what are you doing?!" he asked concerned.
"Tell me the truth," she demanded, her voice raising.
Jack looked around for Doctor Lam.
"Okay, just calm down," he said.
"Why? Why do you have to calm down, Jack?" she asked, her eyes piercing his face.
Jack's eyes desperately searched the empty infirmary. Where the hell was Lam?
"You died, okay? Your heart stopped," he said, tremblingly holding her shoulders.
Sam stood motionless in his hands as Doctor Lam quickly entered the infirmary, followed by a nurse.
"What's this? Why is your heart monitor disconnected, Colonel?" she asked, seeing the wire loose.
Still shaking, Jack let her go, and Sam slowly lay back on the bed, their eyes never leaving each other. Doctor Lam quickly reconnected the wire and adjusted the monitor. The nurse stood silently a little behind.
"Okay, all set. Are you feeling okay?" she asked, looking at Sam.
"Fine for someone dead," she said icily.
Carolyn Lam swallowed.
"I see. Do you have any questions, Colonel?" she asked in her doctor mode.
Sam stopped looking at Jack and started to look at her. Maybe the answers she sought were in another place that wasn't her husband.
"Yes, several," she said.
"I'll answer them the best I know," Carolyn said.
Sam continued to look at her.
"Thank you. In that case, please, I want to talk to you alone," she said, dismissing her husband.
Jack clenched his jaw and silently left the infirmary after a final long stare at his wife. The nurse followed him.
The doctor quickly glanced at her heart rate.
"Colonel Carter, I'll answer all your questions, but first, you must calm down. Do you want a sedative?" she asked slowly.
Sam shook her head.
"I just need a minute, Doctor," she asked, discreetly wiping the fallen tear.
Carolyn sat on the edge of her bed.
"Take all the time you need. It must have been a shock. That is why they were all so afraid to tell you," she explained gently.
Sam bit her lip and tried to slow her breathing.
"Of course," she said.
"You are a remarkable woman, Colonel. What you put your body through to survive, very few men or women could have done that. Unfortunately, the result was that your heart was taken to its maximum effort, and you suffered a cardiac arrest probably after sending the distress signal. They found you without a pulse and heart when they beamed down but managed to revive you. However, clinically, you were dead for some seconds," she explained.
Sam was silently absorbing all the information that no one had the guts to tell her so far.
"I see. Will I have heart problems forever?" she asked, knowing it would end her career in the Air Force.
"You do not have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. The exams and procedures performed aboard the Apollo using Asgard technology didn't detect any potential damage. But your body is still at 40% at best. You are extremely weak, so your heart is obviously in effort, like all your organs," she said. "But I advise that you consult a cardiologist when you fully recover. Honestly, I believe you'll be fine with just proper rest."
Sam nodded.
"Any more questions? Doubts?" Lam asked.
Sam took a deep breath.
"I imagine you won't release me anytime soon?" she asked with an innocent smile.
Carolyn Lam had to smile.
"Nice try, but no. You have to stay here or be transferred to another medical facility. You have a long recovery ahead, Colonel," she warned.
Sam nodded again.
"Thank you for telling me," she said.
Carolyn Lam got up and headed to her office when she suddenly turned back.
"Don't be too hard on the General. He has been in a hard place since you were found on that planet and refuses to leave it," she said.
Sam looked at the doctor, surprised. Why did everyone continue to speak in riddles? Sam lay her head on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Now that the secret was out, everyone seemed scared to visit Sam. First, Daniel claimed to be too busy with a translation, and then Vala mentioned an unexpected task she couldn't disclose to anyone but insisted it prevented her from visiting Sam. Cameron declared he wouldn't go there again after the ambush he had suffered. Jack was uncertain if he was even welcome to visit. Consequently, Sam spent an entire day without visitors, apart from the usual nurses and Carolyn Lam.
However, she found some solace in the company of the medical staff, particularly with Carolyn Lam. Their heartfelt talk made Sam appreciate honest and direct individuals, and Carolyn fit the bill perfectly. Despite the circumstances, the two women quickly formed a bond. It wasn't quite the same as Sam's connection with Janet, but they understood each other. Both daughters of Air Force Generals and in the service, they discovered they had several things in common.
After ending her shift, Doctor Lam casually dropped by the office General O'Neill was using now that he had transferred himself to SGC. She told him his wife had not been visited the entire day and felt lonely. Swallowing hard, Jack got up and headed to the infirmary.
Before heading to the infirmary, Jack stopped by the cafeteria and grabbed a blue Jello – one of the few things Sam was eating. Prepared to face his wife, he quietly entered the room, placed the blue Jello on the table next to her bed, and sat. Sam was still attached to several wires, but not as many as initially. Jack couldn't help but notice her hand resting on her chest, and he swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on her.
Dr. Jarvis had given him Sam's wedding ring after stabilizing her in the infirmary of the Apollo. In the chaos, Jack hadn't noticed that she still wore it. The doctor assured him it didn't interfere with her condition, so Jack asked him to put it back on her finger. And there it remained.
Sam stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
"Jack," she said sleepily.
"I'm here; go back to sleep," he whispered.
She extended her skinny hand, searching his.
"I miss you," she said, her eyes half-closed.
Jack's heart was heavier at her words. He missed her even more. Slowly, he got up and sat on the bed.
"I'm here," he reassured her again, holding and caressing her hand.
Sam shifted her body closer to him, and he swallowed hard. The infirmary was deserted at that hour. Carefully, he climbed onto her bed, navigating the wires. As he lay next to her, his arms encircled her, and finally, after so long, Jack could breathe. His face buried in her hair, the tears that fell were merely a reflex of his exhaustion, he told himself. With her in his arms, he fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.
When Carolyn went to check on Sam, she stopped before reaching her bed. Lying there, snugly intertwined, was General O'Neill with Colonel Carter in his arms, both sound asleep. Carolyn quickly looked at her monitors, confirming everything was fine, and quietly retreated to her office. They needed some alone time, even if it was in her infirmary. She was sure her father wouldn't mind. After all, he didn't have to know.
The following morning, Sam woke up with two arms securely around her and the familiar soft breathing she knew well against her neck.
"Jack, honey," she said slowly, gently caressing his arms.
He responded by snuggling his body closer to hers, and Sam had to suppress a moan. God, she missed him.
"Jack, you have to wake up," she tried again.
This time, only one of his hands moved, shifting from her belly to one of her breasts. Sam bit both lips and closed her eyes as his fingers started the familiar caress. His breathing grew heavier, indicating he was waking up.
"Jack," she managed to say, and his hand froze.
"Oh shit," he exclaimed, and she felt his legs moving from the bed, followed by a loud thud.
She turned quickly and found him on the floor, eyes wide open.
"Jesus Christ, Jack! Are you hurt?" she asked, trying not to laugh.
Jack slowly assessed the damages as he moved on the floor, and that's when the base's Chief Medical Officer decided to enter. Sam covered her mouth to hide her smile, as did Carolyn Lam. Jack got up from the floor as fast as his age and hurt limbs allowed him.
"Ladies," he said before limping out of the infirmary.
"Oh God," Sam said, closing her eyes.
Carolyn was looking at her, attempting to make a stern face but failing miserably.
"Do I have to put up a sign for conjugal visits?" she asked.
Sam pulled her pillow over her face and started to laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes. I'll talk with my father and try to move you to a private room. You are no longer at the critical stage; most monitors are unnecessary. You need rest and surveillance. Let me emphasize the word rest, Colonel," Carolyn said before leaving.
Sam peeked from below the pillow, her face several shades of red.
"Seriously?" she said aloud, then covered her face again, laughing.