Doctors and nurses were in and out all afternoon and evening. They were both taken in the ambulance straight to the ER. Separated from each other as soon as Sam was wheeled in on the gurney and he was placed in a wheelchair. He was anxious. Nervous even. It'd been at least two hours and he had yet to see Carter. The only thing keeping him somewhat satisfied with that problem was that he ordered Teal'c to stay with her at all times. None of the doctors or nurses would be brave enough to kick him out of the room. Daniel on the other hand, he would cave under their pressure in a second. Leaving Daniel with him instead.
All the pain meds, the fluids they were pushing through him, and the sling after sewing up the hole in his shoulder after being shot, were helping a lot more than he assumed they would. He never thought he'd see the day he was thankful to be inside a hospital getting treatment for injuries and problems.
There's always a first time for everything.
"I-uh-I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Daniel's voice had him frowning as he looked up from the IV in his hand.
"Uh what?" Propping the pillow up behind his head a little better as he sat up, Jack had to make sure he heard Daniel correctly.
Daniel was fidgeting. Standing in the window looking out over the small town, Daniel was wringing his hands meticulously. The younger man turned to him sharply brushing a hand through his short strands of hair and readjusting his glasses. "I should have believed you that something was wrong the first time you called. I didn't Jack."
"Daniel-"
"No, you and Sam were almost killed today. Good old fashioned homicide Jack. No question about it, and you knew somehow someway that something was wrong. And I just pushed it off like it was nothing. We should have been here earlier; I should have taken your gut feeling seriously. And for that, I'm sorry."
Shaking his head, Jack couldn't help but scoff. "Look Daniel, what happened today was out of anyone's control. None of us could have seen that coming. It wasn't anyone's fault. Not yours, not mine, not Teal'cs, and most definitely not Carters." Daniel just nodded in agreement. "Now, today was rough. Today was bad. Carter…Sam, they almost killed her Daniel. She's going to need us to hold it together. She's still mourning her own dad for god's sake. We're all she has right now."
"What about her brother? His family?" Daniel questioned.
"If she wants us to contact them, we will. If she chooses to do that herself, that's fine too. But we will not do that without her giving us the okay."
Daniel's throat clearing had him frowning. "You know, they almost killed you too."
"But they didn't. We got them. And I'm going to be just fine." Swallowing the dry mouth, Jack leaned back into the bed. This wasn't a conversation he wanted to have right now. He needed to focus on supporting Carter. Helping Carter. Not worrying about the gunshot to his shoulder or the crap he went through today. She went through worse. She needed him to be strong.
"Jack-" Giving the younger man a pointed look, Jack urged him to drop it.
"Daniel, I-" Thankfully their conversation was cut short when another bed was wheeled into the room.
"Good to see you awake General." Carter. "Can't say the same for Colonel Carter. Gave her a pretty heavy dosage of morphine to help her relax and heal."
Jack frowned at the bruises and marks covering Sam's face. Cringing at his own thoughts, she looked almost worse clean than what she did covered in dirt, blood, and soot. He could see the bold diamond print bruising around her temple now. The bruises around her throat and along her cheekbone. The scabbing split lip and small bruise on the swelling skin just below her lip. The doctors had wrapped both of her wrists but that didn't hide the bruises crawling out from under the bandages. The light blanket they had her wrapped up in from the waist down hid all her other injuries.
"Samantha Carter will experience a full recovery." Teal'c followed just behind the hospital bed and the doctor. Staying at Carter's side just as he had ordered him. "Doctor Thomas was most careful and confident." He bowed his head slightly in the Doctor's direction.
"Well thank you Mister Murray. I uh-I appreciate that." Jack watched as the Doctor smiled back at Teal'c, meanwhile locking Carter's hospital bed wheels in place a few feet away from him. "But he is correct General. Colonel Carter will be sore for a while and will need to take it easy, rest. It may take a few weeks for all of her wounds to heal, but there isn't any permanent damage. A few scars here and there to be anticipated at the most. Now, Mr. Murray and Doctor Jackson." The man nodded at both Teal'c and Daniel. "Colonel Carter is going to be unconscious for quite a while and I fully expect the General here to get some rest himself. If not, you can expect a dose of morphine yourself."
"Doc-"
"Ten minutes gentleman. They'll both be here in the morning, and I believe the police are asking for the both of you in the lobby. Now if you'll excuse me." And then he was gone.
"Not able to hitch a ride to the mountain?" Wishful thinking. Daniel even frowned at his words.
"As much as we would all rather have you both home, Doctor Lam and I are trying to make that happen. Can't just up and disappear after everything that happened today. Doctor Lam is trying to convince them to release you both so we can get back to the mountain." Jack could feel Daniel's uneasiness rolling off him.
"Daniel, it's okay." Nodding his reassurance to him Jack gave him a one corner lifted smile. "We'll be alright here for a day or two."
"Hoping we'll be on our way back by morning. Or that a friend can get us a faster ride." Daniel added.
"Should we not speak with the authorities Daniel Jackson." Teal'c piped up.
"Yeah, should probably get down there before they send someone up here."
"Feel free to stay out at the cabin." Cringing at his own words, Jack frowned. "Or maybe get a hotel." He could only imagine what his cabin looked like right now. Busted out windows, his truck tires flat in the driveway, Carter's blood on the floor of the living room. And that was just what he could remember seeing.
"We'll see you in the morning. Get some sleep." Daniel gave him a half wave before heading out the door in front of Teal'c.
"If you wish me to stand guard O'Neill-"
Waving him off, Jack shook his head. "Nah, head on out with Daniel. We'll be fine. Buffalo Bill and Bowie are dead right, plus they got doctors and nurses all over the place. And drugs, lots of drugs."
"Do not hesitate to contact Daniel Jackson or I if you or Colonel Carter are in distress." And with that Teal'c was bowing his own head and following in Daniel's footsteps into the hall.
Leaning back heavily into the pillow, Jack let out a puff of air before scrubbing his hands over his face. The sun was almost down outside, just shy of completely setting. Thankful the day was over, Jack glanced over at Carter. This was the first time he'd seen a look of peace on her face since last night when she had been sleeping next to him on the living room floor. The steady rise and fall of her chest was mesmerizing. Comforting.
He had been more than happy to hear she was going to be okay after everything she endured today. But it still didn't make him feel any better that she had gone through any of it to begin with. He was sure the events of today had taken at least fourteen years off his life. And listening to the doctor go over all her injuries, he was surprised at how well she carried herself all afternoon. Granted the few moments he knew she was completely out of it and on the brink of passing out if she wasn't already unconscious. Yet she still held strong when she needed to and he was sure that was just the adrenaline and fear coursing through her, powering her through her combat trainings. Self-preservation. The will to survive.
He owed her a real vacation after this, just like he had mentioned earlier today. He hadn't been kidding. He already knew he was going to need a vacation from the vacation when they get back to Colorado. Without a doubt. Hell, Carter needed a vacation from her entire life. The everyday pressure and responsibility of the mountain, regrouping from the shitshow of this day, and still processing the fact her father was gone and never coming back this time. Life liked to play a sick twisted game against some people. And Sam Carter was one of those people. Throwing all the odds against her.
Yet she always came out the successor. And he hoped that trend would continue after today. But only time would tell.
-x-x-x-
Hot waves of air were hitting her face. Her ears were ringing, and her head felt fuzzy. Like someone had left the television on and all service dropped leaving those black and white speckles dancing across the screen and the never fading noise of static in the background. That was exactly how her head felt. Meanwhile, her chest started feeling tight, her breaths coming in and out erratically. Her eyes refused to open. Everything smelt different. Something tight was wrapped around one of her hands, she couldn't move it. She could barely feel her upper lip twitching as she tried to move something, anything. Was she having a panic attack?
She could hear a voice breaking through the static in her head. But she couldn't make out the words or what they were saying. It sounded like her name. The weight on her heavy hand was suddenly gone. Instead she felt pressure on the side of her face.
"Carter!" The static and spots disappeared as her eyes shot open. Her hands shot up from her sides out of reflex as they wrapped around the forearm of the hand on the side of her face. "Hey, you with me?" Jack. His hand was warm on her cheek.
Unable to find her voice, she just nodded with wide doe eyes as her heart raced in her chest. "We're at the hospital. The doc knocked you out with some morphine hours ago. You alright?"
The room was dark, the only light seeping into the room coming from the hall through the cracked door and moonlight from the outside window. "Hos-hospital?" Looking around she realized she was indeed in a hospital bed, an empty one beside her; presumably Jacks. Who stood in front of her.
"Yeah. Daniel and Teal'c found us, remember?"
Just then it all came rushing back. The back of the truck, the fire pit, the smoke, someone firing a gun. Jack's shoulder, he was shot. Seeing the sling around his shoulder, keeping his arm tight to his body just below his chest, she frowned. "Your shoulder."
"Is just fine. Doctor Thomas sewed me up and found me this fancy sling. He was even nice enough to give me some drugs, help with the pain." His hand dropped from the side of her face, and she immediately felt cold. "How'ya feelin? Need me to call the doc?"
Shaking her head, she settled her hands back in her lap. Her wrists feeling tight and a pulling sensation, she looked down to see bandages taped around the skin there. Taking in a few shaky breaths, she evened them out. Feeling her heart slowing back to its normal pace. "Daniel and Teal'c?"
"They went to a hotel to get some sleep. They'll be back in the morning. Hopefully with our way out of here."
"Is-are they…" Not quite sure how to ask, she cut herself off. Her hands gripping the blanket tightly.
"Yeah, both of them." But Jack knew exactly what she was asking, and relief flowed through her at his words. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and looking up to find Jack staring at her. She didn't see worry, she didn't see pain, she didn't see fear. What she did see was patience, relief of his own, and the need for sleep. Something she felt down to her core. Exhaustion. "How about we talk in the morning. You need all the rest you can get and if I stay on my feet much longer, I'm going to fall asleep standing here." His lips quirked in a smirk. "Plus, so far we're on good terms with this doctor, let's not screw that up, shall we?"
Unable to stop the giggle that shook her vocal cords, she smiled back with a nod of her own. Her eyes were surprisingly feeling heavy again and she knew if she shut them, she'd be asleep in seconds. But sleep was the last thing she wanted to do. Everything was still a muddled mess in her head and as relieved as she felt knowing she was in a hospital, there was still a lingering uneasiness in the pit of her stomach.
"Alright, scoot over." And that uneasiness clearly didn't pass Jack's radar.
"What? No, no I'm fine. You don't-" But his hands were shooing her over on the small mattress.
"Move it Carter. I haven't slept more than twenty minutes in the last five hours, it's the middle of the night. And quite honestly, I don't know if I'm going to be able to hobble my happy ass over here another time if I try to." A small smile braced her lips as she caved and slid over to the right as far as she could, while he climbed in beside her. Adjusting the blanket, she covered both their legs and brought it up around them.
Feeling uncomfortable, she pressed her body against the side of the hospital bed as much as the limited space would allow her. Both of them shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, leg to leg, it was a tight squeeze.
"Alright, come on." His right arm wound behind her shoulders and pulled her in against him. Cringing as his right leg bumped her left, she couldn't squash the hiss that escaped as she shot upright. Her hands going to her bandaged thigh. "Shit, sorry."
"S'okay." Calling for the doctor for another round of morphine wasn't sounding like a bad idea.
"Lay on your side." His voice was kind, not demanding as he spoke.
Listening to his suggestion, she maneuvered herself around, so she was lying on her right side. Delicately resting her left leg on top of her right. The small mattress moved under her as he did the same, his body warm as he curled up behind her. Balancing precariously next to the edge, Sam scooted back a little into him. Pausing sharply as he gave out his own surprised noise of pain as she bumped his arm in the sling.
"Easy, easy." A pillow suddenly came out of nowhere from him as he moved behind her, plopped right in front of her middle. He hovered over her from behind as he adjusted it closer to her legs just before he lay back down and curled his arm up under her neck cradling her head. Realizing he put the pillow in front of her for extra support to her injured thigh she thanked him softly. "Get some sleep Sam."
His nose buried in the back of her head as she settled back against him, careful of his tender arm and shoulder. "Good night." Sleep was already weighing her eyelids down. She could tell the same affect was happening to Jack when he only grunted in agreement as his breathing started slowing.
Without hesitation Sam curled her right hand up under her chin while her left went further up to wrap around Jack's forearm just curled above and in front of her head. His head nudged down into the back of hers as soon as her hand wrapped around his arm. His lips muttering his own good night as he nuzzled his face in her hair.
At this point, Sam wasn't sure if she needed this moment more than him right now. Or if it was the other way around? Or if they just needed it equally. But she wasn't going to complain.
-x-x-x-
The next morning, Jack woke before Sam and moved back to his bed before anyone could question them. Although, he knew by the look the young brunette nurse was giving him when she came in with more pain medication for them both that she clearly knew they had been sleeping in the same bed last night. Thankfully she didn't say anything to anyone and kept their little secret. Especially when Daniel and Teal'c came back.
"Good news!" Daniel chimed out as he walked into the room with Teal'c just behind him.
"If it doesn't involve getting us home-" Jack grumbled rolling his eyes.
"As a matter of fact, it does! Dr. Lam has a jet waiting for us in Saint Cloud, the hospital is going to fly us by helicopter when we're ready."
"Really?" His eyebrows rose with hope at Daniel's words.
"Yes Jack. Really."
"Sweet." Glancing over at Carter he saw a relieved look on her face. If she was feeling anything like himself, she couldn't wait to get back home either.
"I uh-I wasn't sure if you'd want to go back out to the cabin before we left?" Frowning, Jack wasn't sure what he was getting at. "Get some of your guys' stuff maybe? Set up arrangements for your truck? Lock it up." Daniel shrugged at him.
Damn it. He was right too. All of their things were still at the cabin. Their wallets, cash, cards, cell phones, everything. There was no way he was going to let Carter go back to the cabin. Hell, he didn't even want to go back out to his own cabin.
"Got a car?" The last thing he wanted to do was hitch a ride out there, but he was honestly not sure how Daniel and Teal'c had been getting around themselves.
"A rental was provided from the Saint Cloud Regional Airport when Daniel Jackson and I arrived." Teal'c spoke up for the first time since arriving back.
"Perfect. Danny why don't you stay here with Carter, get what we need to fly out of here while Teal'c and I run up to the cabin."
"Yeah sure, of course. We uh forgot to grab you guys some clothes to change into, so all you have is what you came in with." Daniel's face scrunched knowing he wasn't going to like being told that. But Jack gave him the benefit of the doubt, yesterday was a shitshow. He could manage wearing worn bloody clothes to the cabin for twenty minutes.
"Well, somebody better find me those clothes cause I'm not walking out of here with my ass hanging out." Carter giggling next to him warmed his heart. But he wasn't particularly kidding, he wasn't wearing the hospital gown out of the hospital.
It wasn't long before they brought him the zip lock bag of yesterday's outfit when he excused himself to the bathroom to change into them. Within a few minutes he was changed and found himself and Teal'c walking out of the hospital on their way to the cabin.
A drive that felt longer than the twenty minutes from Monticello. But when his truck came into view just before the cabin Jack suddenly felt nervous. Why he was nervous he had no idea. He knew both men were dead. But he also didn't know what was behind the front door. Was Carl still laying in his living room? Did Carter's blood still smear his living room floor?
Yellow tape stood out sharply in contrast to the browns and greens of his property. His cabin was currently a crime scene.
"We have been given temporary access to your cabin O'Neill." Teal'c shifted the SUV into park right in front of his cabin. "The authorities have taken what they need, and you are allowed to take anything you need from within. I must warn you that they have mentioned they have not fully cleaned and sanitized the area."
"Thanks T." Cautiously opening the door, Jack slid out of the SUV. Looking over at his truck he cringed at the flat tires and bullets in the front of it. Without question, his truck was now evidence. Lifting up the yellow caution tape he ducked under it to get to the front door.
Pushing it open, he was relieved to find Carl's body gone from the living room. But Teal'c was right, there was still a blood stain on the floor where Carl had been laying. Looking to the left, he found blood streaks from Carter's thigh still smeared on the floor as well as the glass from the blown-out window. Heading for his bedroom he felt nauseas as he stepped into the room.
The sheets were ruffled, small patches of blood stained them. Carter's black leggings were torn, half hanging on the edge of the bed, the other half draping down to the carpeted floor. One of her running shoes were at end of the bed on the floor upside down while the other had been tossed in the corner. Closing his eyes as Rick hovering over Carter on the bed flashed before him, Jack gagged at the thought of what that man had been capable of and almost got away with.
Pushing through it, Jack went straight for the two duffle bags in the corner. Swiping them both up without a second thought, he went to the bathroom, shutting the door behind himself. Dropping his on the countertop and Carter's on the floor, he unzipped it and rummaged around for a new pair of boxers, jeans, a shirt, and socks. Very carefully exchanging his dirty, bloodied clothes from yesterday for a clean set, he tossed his dirtied clothes into the tub. Trying his best to avoid aggravating his shoulder and arm.
Opening the cupboard in front of him, he pulled out his toothbrush along with Carter's and his toothpaste. Tossing Sam's toothbrush in his bag out of convenience of it being open already, he spread some paste along his brush before cleaning his teeth throwing the toothpaste in there as well. Once he was done brushing his teeth, he threw his toothbrush in the trash on the floor next to the toilet. Anything and everything in this cabin for all he cared could burn. Two men had come in and taken his safe place. His happy place. Everything in here would just remind him of yesterday and that was the last thing he wanted.
Feeling anger take over, Jack swiped up the bags and went back outside where Teal'c waited by the SUV. Heading for his truck, he walked around the already left open drivers side door. Reaching in he pulled his keys out of the ignition. Taking the truck key off, he tossed that on the seat and pocketed the rest on his key chain. His eye caught the half empty container of rubbing alcohol now laying on the floor of the passenger side. Blood stained the passenger's seat where Carter had been sitting. The anger he felt was taking over as he swiped up his cellphone that lay discarded on the driver's seat. Right where it had fallen out of his pocket when he had been dragging Sam out of the truck and back into the cabin. Shaking his head, he realized he'd have to go back into the cabin for Carter's phone. Something he had completely forgotten about.
Slamming the door, he stalked to the SUV. Teal'c was already climbing inside as soon as he saw him coming. And this is exactly why he brought Teal'c instead of Daniel. He knew this wasn't going to be easy and he knew Teal'c would let him deal with it on his own. Not play twenty questions. Tossing both bags, one after the other towards Teal'c, Jack went back into the cabin. Stepping into the living room, he went towards the opposite end of the couch. Swiping Carter's phone up off the end table, he pulled the cord out of the wall a little harshly. With a heavy exhale of breath, Jack hastily walked out of the uncomfortable room and jogged towards the SUV where Teal'c wait patiently. Jumping into the passenger's seat, he could only cringe as Teal'c backed out onto the road and he lost sight of the cabin completely. Thankfully, Teal'c was silent the entire ride. Again, no questions. No comments.
As soon as they pulled into the hospital parking lot, he was jumping out before Teal'c even put it in park. Grabbing both his duffle bag and Carter's from the backseat he was heading inside without Teal'c. He was even on the elevator, the doors shutting behind him without Teal'c. That's when his rage took over. Unable to hold back any longer, Jack found the bags slipping from his hand before he threw a punch at the wall. As soon as his knuckles hit the siding of the elevator, he was pulling back for a second hit.
A third hit was lingering in the back of his manic mind, but he knew the elevator would be stopping soon and opening. Wiping his hand down his face, he picked the bags back up just as the door slid open. Shuffling down the hall, avoiding running into doctors, nurses, other visitors, Jack finally found the room. Daniel was currently occupying the edge of his bed while a nurse was rebandaging and wrapping Carter's thigh. A tight grimace was on her face as the nurse delicately worked.
Without a word, he dropped her duffle bag on the end of her bed. He ignored the frown that grew on Daniel's face as well as the concern and wide eyes on Carter's. Setting his own duffle bag on hers, he unzipped it just enough to pull out the toothpaste and her toothbrush laying it next to her bag before he zipped his up and tossed it in a chair in the corner of the room.
"Jack?" Ignoring Daniel's voice, he gave Sam a onceover to make sure she was okay. Satisfied to see that she wasn't in pain as the nurse finished with her leg and moved onto her wrists, he mumbled something about grabbing something to drink and walked back out of the room.
The rage and emotions that just surfaced from going back to the cabin was something he needed to sort out on his own. He didn't need an audience for that. Hitting the elevator button to go back down to the main floor where he knew the food was, he shoved his hand in his pockets impatiently. Without looking up as the door slid open, he stepped inside only to find himself face to face with Teal'c who remained passive.
"T, stay with Carter and Daniel. Help her." Stepping around him, he leaned back against the far wall of the elevator after hitting the main floor button. Teal'c merely bowed his head in understanding before stepping off the elevator going in the same way he came from.
Letting his head fall back against the siding of the elevator, Jack closed his eyes. He needed silence and a few minutes of peace. And if searching for some crappy cake and a bottle of water was that silence and few minutes of peace, so be it.
-x-x-x-
The jet was larger inside than they were expecting by just looking at it from the outside. Teal'c steady behind her, hands on her waist, helped her hop to the top of the stairs. Daniel was already inside making himself comfortable in the back. The cockpit to her left was just a single door open where she could see two men sitting. Waiting for them all to get settled so they could take off. There was a small bar area and mini fridge next to the open door where they could help themselves to anything they may want or need.
To her right, two chairs greeted her on each side of the walkway, both facing forwards. Behind the first one on her right sat two chairs side by side facing the back of the jet with two chairs also side by side across from those facing towards the front. The walkway veered to the left to go around the group seating before reverting to the middle of the jet, a small love seat couch cutting off the side path as it lined the left side of the jet wall interior. And last but not least, a single chair sat in the far-right corner facing the front of the jet with a small table in front of it. Daniel had already staked claim on that spot. Pulling his journals out and making himself at home.
Feeling Teal'c come up beside her, his hands shifted around her waist precariously to make sure she was balanced well enough on her own. "O'Neill, I will take your luggage as well as Samantha Carters and put them in the closet for safe keeping." And then he was walking away from her, her crutches in one hand and both bags in the other, heading straight for the back of the jet where a small hall led to the bathroom and apparently a small closet as well.
The arm that came around her back and hand that fell on her hip had her jumping out of her skin. "Easy Carter." Jack. She couldn't help it as her eyes shot down to his hand catching a brief glimpse of red before she looked up to find that he had taken Teal'cs spot next to her. "Come on, let's get you in a seat." And then he was shuffling her forward, wrapping her left arm around his shoulders, she did her best to avoid his wound as he helped her hobble to the two sets of chairs that faced each other in the middle of the jet.
He eased her into the set of chairs facing the front of the jet, the one closest to the aisle. "It'll be easier if you need to get up and move around or go to the bathroom than climbing over another chair." He explained before settling himself next to her in the seat next to the window.
"Thanks." She smiled softly.
"Do you require any sustenance O'Neill and Colonel Carter?" Teal'c appeared next to them out of thin air. Shaking her head no, Sam sat silently. She could use some sleep.
"I'm good, thanks T." And then Teal'c was bowing his head and walking past them the rest of the way to the first seat just behind the two they were facing. As if standing guard, in an enclosed jet. Frowning, Sam tilted her head to the side. "I don't ask." Turning to look at Jack she realized he was referring to exactly what she was curious about. Teal'c.
But her other curiosity got the best of her, looking down she couldn't help but stare at the raw and torn knuckles on his hand at the end of the arm rest. She knew she saw red skin when he was helping her to her seat. But the redness and irritation were too new to be from yesterday. "Sir-"
"Elevator won." His eyebrows rose nonchalantly as he reverted his eyes back to the front of the jet, watching as the pilot closed their door.
Knowing the last thing he would want is to be questioned, she chose to let it go. At least he had somewhat acknowledged the injury, without detail, but he hadn't lied, nor had he tried to hide it. Her left hand cleared the space between their hands and wrapped delicately around his fingers. She didn't miss the way he looked down at their hands almost instantly and stared. Ignoring his gaze, the same way he would ignore hers, she closed her eyes and leaned towards him. They would be back in Colorado before you know it and she was determined to fall asleep in a comfortable position before she passed out with her head lolling around.
Settling her head on his shoulder, her lips quirked into a smile as his fingers wiggled out of her grip and turned under her palm. His larger hand engulfed hers as he intertwined his fingers with hers. His lips were soft, almost ghost like against the top of her head. She could feel and hear him take a deep breath through his nose.
The jet started moving forward, the engine's soft lull filling the silence, along with Daniel's muttering behind them. "Thank you. For finding me." Not wanting Daniel or Teal'c to hear their conversation, she spoke softly.
"Always Carter." His lips muttered against her scalp, ruffling her hair. "Thanks for keeping me alive. Now get some sleep." He shot back shortly after.
Chuckling at his words, she couldn't help but shake her head. Thankfully the doctor had dosed her up with some pain meds again so all she felt was a dull ache throughout her body, but the concussion was making it extremely difficult to stay awake more than a couple hours at a time. At least on the jet she could get a short cat nap without someone waking her to check her injuries, take vitals, or give her more meds.
END CHAPTER 5