Part 41
Jack was lying on the sofa, one hand tucked behind his head, a beer resting on his chest. Philip had gone out earlier to collect a few things from the Library but he’d just called to tell him that he was staying to have dinner with Todd, in an attempt to repair their failing friendship.
That left Jack alone in the house for the first time in while and he realized he had complete control of the remote. As he flicked through all the channels on his cable, however, he started to grumble about how there was never anything good on television. With all this idle time to himself, he’d really began to miss work too and laid there, wondering what the others might be up to at this hour of the late afternoon.
As he cursed the programmers of each cable network once more as he flicked past their channel at lightening speed, the doorbell rang. Now he grumbled about having to get up off the sofa in order to answer the damn door. He reached out and set his beer onto the coffee table then jogged up the steps to answer the call. Swinging the door open wide he was surprised to see two men in USAF uniforms on his step.
“Oh?” He asked, tilting his head slightly and squinting against the glare of the first snow fall outside.
“Colonel O’Neill?” One officer said, pushing the hood of his coat from his head.
“Retired.”
“Sir, we’re here to tell you that you’ve been reinstated.”
“Really?” Jack said, oozing sarcasm. “By whom?”
“General Hammond himself, Sir.” The other officer said.
Jack looked between the two men then said, “You can tell the good General that I don’t care to be reinstated. In fact, you can tell him to go to hell.” Jack started pushing the door closed when one officer put his hand out to stop him. “I might not be an officer anymore, Captain, but as a homeowner I can order you off my property, which I’m doing. Go!”
“Sir, General Hammond told us to not take No as an answer.”
“Oh really?” Jack said, turning and heading over to his phone. The two officers remained on the front porch until Jack returned with the cordless phone pressed against his ear. “Put me through to General Hammond,” he barked down the line then looked at the two men watching him. “George!” He said flamboyantly as he heard the other man come on the end of the line. “Yes! They’re standing on my front porch as we speak.” He rolled his eyes and pursed his lips then said, “Well I’ll tell you what I told them, shall I?”
The two soldiers exchanged nervous glances.
“I told them to tell you to go to … What?” Jack's expression instantly changed to one of concern. “When?” He bowed his head then muttered, “The sonsofbitches!” Nodding frantically he said, “Okay, I’ll be right in. No, I understand that, General!” He hung the phone up and tossed it into his house as he grabbed his leather bomber jacket from the back of the door. “Go!” He told the soldiers and they instantly turned around and trotted down the path ahead of him.
Climbing into the back of the vehicle Jack wondered if he’d remembered to bring his house keys, and worried about not leaving Philip a note to tell him he’d gone out for a while.
*
On the base Jack jogged from the elevator to the Debriefing room. Completely out of breath by the time he got there he collapsed into a chair and laid his head on his folded arms as he gasped for breath.
The general left his office when he saw Jack arrive.
“Colonel?” He asked, hearing the rattling breathing. Holding his hand up, Jack gesticulated that he needed a few minutes to catch his breath then he looked up. The pale face, moist with perspiration, surprised Hammond and he sat in his chair trying to keep the horror from his eyes.
“I look worse than I feel,” Jack assured him, breathlessly.
“You could use a touch of sun,” the older man said.
A slow smile came to Jack's face and he nodded. “No doubt!”
Lowering his voice to one of concern, Hammond looked squarely at Jack as he told him, “I’m sorry to do this to you, Jack, but you know the Asgards.”
“That’s okay,” Jack said, swallowing to wet his parched throat. “When did Daniel go missing?”
“A little under two hours ago.”
Jack nodded sharply. “Sam? I mean, Carter?”
“She was with him, but they left her behind.”
Jack nodded again. “What about Teal’c?”
“He was knocked out. By the time he came to Dr Jackson was no where to be seen.”
Jack tried to swallow again then he flinched when he felt someone lean across him, placing a glass of water down. He looked up and saw the concerned gaze of Lieutenant Simmons.
“Graham?”
“Colonel.” The young officer nodded sharply. Jack blinked and noted how alike he was to Philip around the eyes – he’d noticed that last night as they sat talking together but even here in this setting, he resembled Philip a lot.
Realizing his place he corrected himself with, “Lieutenant!” - then he took the glass and gulped down the contents. Hammond looked between the two men then back at Jack. Simmons turned and went back to his place behind the desk in the corner.
“The Asgards have agreed to help. They have a ship that can take you to the world where we believe Dr. Jackson is being held.”
“The old gray guys are back?” Jack asked, almost flippantly.
Hammond gave him a hard stare then said, “And Thor wanted you personally.”
Jack looked at his clasped hands then said, “Sir, can I talk to you in your office for a minute?”
“Sure!” Hammond got up and Jack followed him through, shutting the door and quickly glancing at Simmons through the glass map of the galaxy. “What did you want to talk about, Colonel?”
“I didn’t want to say this in front of the Lieutenant, but what about.. my condition?”
“Major Carter has agreed to enter the gate address to a world that she believes has a sarcophagus.”
“What?” Jack's jaw dropped open.
“Teal’c has agreed to accompany you on this mission. He tells us that the Goa’uld larvae he is carrying will protect him from any accidents should you encounter trouble along the way.” He looked at the stony faced colonel. “Jack, do you realize what I’m saying here?” He waited a beat then announced, “ You’re going to be healed.”
“Healed?” Jack said, slowly sinking to the seat.
Hammond’s little blue eyes shone happily as he looked across the desk at the stunned officer. Sounding bewildered but eager at the same time he confessed, “Colonel, I don’t know why none of us thought about this earlier..”
“I do,” Jack said quietly then took a moment before looking at the general. “I didn’t want to be healed.”
“But why?” Hammond asked, astounded.
“Because my … my..” Jack lowered his face then said, “My partner also has this. How am I meant to cope knowing I could heal myself but not him?”
The normally pink face went white. “Your partner?”
Jack gave a wry smirk. “George! Don’t tell me you never gave any thought to how I actually got this?”
“I .. I guess I thought you’d acquired it from somewhere. An accident?”
Jack wet his lips then nodded. “Well, an accident it was. But -” He sucked back a deep breath and sat forward, hanging his head as he admitted, “I’ve been seeing a .. guy …” He looked up and watched the gamut of emotions that raced across the older man’s face now.
“Jack!” Hammond said in an astounded whisper.
“Surprise!” Jack said with a weak laugh.
“I had no idea…”
“Why should you?’ He sat back in his seat now, his hands falling into his lap. “I mean, what’s it to do with anything? I’m still.. me.” He tapped his chest with his fingertips then gave another wry smile before shrugging and lowering his gaze to the missing chunk in the corner of the desk.
Hammond’s small blue eyes had narrowed even further. “Jack, I’ve known you for years. At least, I *thought* I knew you..”
Clenching his eyes Jack sighed and said, “Do we really have time for this? Aren’t I meant to be saving Daniel or something?” Then remembering whom he was talking to, he added, “Sir.”
Hammond nodded and got to his feet. “Of course!” He held his hand out towards the door. “Go and get changed and I’ll have Major Carter and Teal’c meet you in the gate room.”
Jack rose to his feet and uncurled slowly, really pulling his shoulders back as he stepped up alongside of the rotund man. “Does this mean I’m back, for good?” he asked.
“We’ll have to see what the test results say, but I’m sure you will be reinstated.”
“And my record?” Jack asked.
Hammond sighed and said, “I’m sure we’ll think of something.” He opened the door for Jack to leave then patted him on the shoulder as he passed by. “Colonel.”
Jack looked at him then nodded slowly. “General,” he said before going out into the Briefing room on his way to the Gear Up room.
“Lieutenant!” Hammond called for Graham’s attention. The young man looked up.
“Sir?”
“Step into my office for a moment, will you?”
“Yes, Sir!” He said, getting to his feet. As Hammond waited at the door his other door opened and Jack popped his head in.
“Psst!” He said and Hammond looked at him.
“What is it Colonel?”
“Not a word to the Lieutenant..” Jack said, pressing his finger to his lips. Hammond frowned then was about to ask something when Graham stepped up beside him.
“Sir?”
“Lieutenant!” The general said, then quickly looked back at the other door, but it was shut and Jack was nowhere to be seen. Graham frowned and followed his gaze before snapping his head back to attention when the older officer turned to look at him again.
“I .. Ugh.. will you get Major Carter for me. Then tell Teal’c to meet Colonel O’Neill in the Gateroom.”
Graham tried to hide his curiosity as he nodded then turned and left to carry out the orders immediately.
*
Jack adjusted his helmet then looked at the blue eyes on the officer beside him.
“Welcome Back, Sir,” Sam said with a small smile.
“Pity it couldn’t have been under better circumstances,” he mumbled.
She bit her top lip as she nodded. “I know, Sir.” The door behind her slid open and she turned to see Teal’c enter. “I should go,” she said, before giving Jack another quick look as she turned to leave.
“O’Neill,” Teal’c stepped up beside his friend, a small smile on his lips.
“Hey there, big guy,” Jack mumbled, listening to the sound of the gate starting up.
“It is good to see you once again.”
“Yeah, well. Had every intention to invite you over for dinner one night, you know,” Jack said as the gate roared to life, “but time just got away from us..”
“I understand,” Teal’c said with a slight nod. Jack looked at him then sighed. He bet he did.
“Shall we?” he said, not letting himself think about what was about to happen.
*
On the new world the wind whipped at them as they ran across towards the half buried chamber that housed the sarcophagus.
Stopping just on the inside of the chamber Jack fought to catch his breath as he shrugged the sand off his shoulders and flicked it from his collar. Grumbling, he said, “Some things never change!”
“This way,” Teal’c said, gripping his flashlight in his fist and lighting the way. The two of them went deep into the bowels of the stone building, soon the sound of the whipping wind was lost to them and the only light was the flashlight in Teal’c’s hand.
As they entered the antechamber of the sarcophagus’ room Jack's heart began to thud in his throat. His steps became hesitant and his breathing labored. Teal’c sensed the changes in his friend and turned towards him.
“Are you alright, O’Neill?”
“No,” Jack said honestly.
“Do you not wish to be healed?” Teal’c asked over his shoulder as he stepped into the room with the sarcophagus.
“Ugh, well, *this* close..” Jack commented with a shrug then he laid eyes on the gold crested sarcophagus. “Hoy boy!” He said, sucking back a deep breath.
“Is it because you feel it is cheating on your partner?”
One of Jack's eyes narrowed as he looked at him. “You’ve been talking to Danny?”
Teal’c swallowed then tilted his head slightly. “I have.”
The gray head bobbed in a nod then he ran his hands over the hieroglyphs etched into the top of the sarcophagus. “Well, yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Cheating. Cheating Philip. Cheating death.”
“Surely with the means to heal yourself you would not wish to suffer the fate of PhilipSimmons. Would he want you to do so?”
Jack bit his bottom lip, his eyes and hand still scanning over the gold top. “No. If Phil knew he’d be the first person pushing me out of the house.”
“Then why do you hesitate?”
Jack inhaled loudly through his nose. “Because I want this for him too,” he said quietly, still staring at the golden box.
“It is impossible for us to utilize the gate in such a manner.”
Jack looked at him again then gave a quirky smile as he wagged his finger at him. “You have definitely been talking to Daniel!”
“Indeed I have. I wish to understand, O’Neill.”
Jack looked at him a long moment then said, “Okay, sure, most people would jump at the chance to get better .. I guess maybe I just never really believed I’d get sick with it.” He felt a shiver run up his spine as he recalled how devastated Philip was last night after finding out that John had died. He realized then that there is a fine line between accepting that you’re going to die and fully comprehending it.
“Is that not a false assumption, considering what you know PhilipSimmons is going through?
Jack nodded. “I guess, deep down, a part of me just always knew I wasn’t destined to go that way. Now, painfully and slowly at the hands of a Systems Lord is probably more like it.. or a stray projectile through an opened gate…” Jack said with a shrug, then he returned his gaze to the gold lid. “But I never bought the ‘fading slowly’ thing. Just can’t see me doing that.” He pursed his lips now and gave a laconic arch of the brow.
“I believe you should get in now, my friend.” Teal’c held his hand out towards the opening lid. “We need to hurry in order to save Daniel.”
Jack paused then looked at Teal’c. “How’s he been?”
The Jaffa stared back at him without blinking. “I will confess, because you have asked me. He has not been easy to be around for the past week.”
Jack nodded then climbed in, slowly laying back. Teal’c watched as his friend’s eyes clamped shut tightly and saw tears glisten in the lashes seconds before the lid closed.
< End of part 41 >
I’d just like to put in a WARNING now for the next part please :
· WARNING: Chapter 42 involves some very graphic descriptions of a death involving a NON SGC person (not Philip either!). Also, it’s a Daniel Whumping part.. where he’s chained and being held against his will…
Stories on this page are the property of Nessessitee and Slida. Please do not copy these without the written permission of the Author. All Rights are acknowledged for MGM, Gekko and Stargate Productions as to the Copyrights of the characters within this story and no infringement on the copyrights are intended. For the Bombshells Series the character of Philip Simmons is entirely the creation and intellectual property of Nessessitee and Slida.
While the performances given by RDA and MS help to fuel the author's desire to write for their characters in a niche that she feels is present on the actual show, the portrayal of their characters in loving relationships in no way reflects the Author's opinion of the men's private life, nor should it be construed in that manner.