Part 70
Jack sat beside the empty hospital bed, drinking weak coffee from the small white foam cup. Philip was okay apparently, according to all the tests the Doc had been running on him for the past few hours. When they came to take Philip for this last bout of scans Jack's legs literally refused to work, his knees buckled under his weight and he stumbled against the cabinet beside Phil's bed. If Graham hadn’t have caught him he might have actually fallen over. Janet instantly ordered him to stay and rest and Graham assured him he'd stay with Philip as much as possible, to be there for him - should he wake up. Only after that reassurance did Jack agree to stay and await Phil's return in the hospital room.
Philip hadn't woken again since he collapsed in Teal'c's arms as they left the house, but Janet didn't seem too concerned, saying it was his brain's way of coping with the stress of the whole event. Unless.. maybe she wasn't telling him everything? Maybe...
Jack's stomach lurched again, the knot within it tightened even more, forcing the rancid bile up the back of his throat, singeing the soft tissue there.
If Philip was okay why did he feel like shit himself? His stomach was contorting, his head thumped like jack-hammers were going off in there and his throat was tight, barely allowing the unpalatable coffee to slip down. Least it was warm, albeit barely, Jack thought to himself. He needed warmth. For some reason he felt cold. His cheeks were hot, flushed, but his body kept giving off odd little shivers for no apparent reason that Jack could fathom.
Perhaps the Doc was right. Perhaps it was the many shocks his system had received that day that had set all his nerves on edge and reduced him to something not quite human right now. It was sure to be that. Lack of sleep over the past few days, coupled with meeting Ma and Pa from Hell, not to mention the bedside confession...... Shit! Jack rubbed his face. What the hell were they going to tell Phil's parents now? He put the tepid coffee down and leaned onto his thighs. For the first time he'd missed Daniel's sage company and wondered where he was right now, somewhere within the labyrinth of the hospital, probably with Graham.
His thoughts drifted onto the Lieutenant. How shocked he'd been when all this came down as well. How was he holding up under all this strain? The strain of the day had them all in knots, and trying hard not to step all over each other's toes. Jack closed his eyes as his thoughts moved to dangerous territory - to the moment when he thought he'd lost Philip. His breath caught in ragged gasps as he sat back. Where the hell was Philip now? What was taking so long?
He got to his feet, his legs really not strong enough to carry his weight but he pushed himself towards the door regardless of that. Dammit, surely the tests were done now?
Jack exited the closeted room and found himself alone in the long, stark corridor. He turned, first one way then the other, unsure what was the right way to go. A chill traveled down his spine, causing his skin to lift all over in gooseflesh. He stared at the sterile walls, down the endless tunnel that felt like it was closing in on him. He closed his eyes - trying to squeeze out all thought from his mind as another chill rippled through him and his head began to spin.
*
Daniel rounded the corner on the hospital corridor when he saw Graham sitting in a chair, bent forward with his face in his hands.
"Any news?"
"Oh, God, Daniel.. thank God you're here!" Graham said with unabashed relief as he reached out to ensure that his partner was not just wishful thinking anymore. He squeezed his forearm, so tightly Daniel wondered if he'd leave an indent against his flesh.
As he sat in the chair beside him, Daniel covered the straining hand with his own and brushed his other hand, the fingertips really, over the warm cheek and into the short, black hair. "Has something gone wrong?" His thoughts whirred in his mind. Did Sam not get all of the disease?
"Nothing - that I'm aware of. I just.." Graham nudged the hand within his hair as he looked into the blue eyes and said, "I just .. I'm glad you're here."
With an uncertain smile, Daniel took comfort in that declaration. "Took a while to settle Sam into the room," he said, as explanation for where he'd been for the past hours. When the group had arrived at the hospital he remained with Sam, leaving the others to concentrate on Philip. Janet had immediately gone with her patient, though the looks she gave her lover as she walked away from her left Daniel in no two-minds where she'd rather have been concentrating her efforts. Half way down the corridor though he saw her throw off that longing and concentrate on Philip's needs, ensuring, as always, that her patient got her undivided attention.
"Is she staying for observations?" Graham asked as he idly caressed the golden-haired forearm now, soothing the reddened flesh below the pulled up cuff of Daniel's sweater.
"Yeah. Janet's with her at the moment - it seems she'll be all right, they just want to keep an eye on her. Of course, when no one's looking Janet's cursing up a storm and declaring that Sam's never going to be allowed near the healing device again!"
As he spoke Daniel noticed how Graham's eyes had drifted past his right shoulder. He turned to look there, but saw nothing. "Grae?"
"Can we find the bathroom?"
The anthropologist frowned then jutted his thumb over his shoulder as he said, "I saw one just down the corridor. Aren't you feeling well?"
A calm smile came over Graham's ragged expression. "I'm fine.. I just.."
"What?"
"I want to kiss you.." he whispered, his voice quivered as he shivered slightly. Daniel got to his feet then helped him up. They walked shoulder to shoulder towards the male bathroom a few doors down the corridor then he pushed on the door and let Graham go in first. The younger man opted for the handicapped toilet, knowing that it would allow them more room. Daniel locked the door behind them and turned to be captured in his lover's strong arms.
"You're all right though? You're not feeling sick or anything?" He asked as the concern he had for Graham in the store flooded through him again once more. He smoothed his hands through the short hair and then lightly gripped the back with his fingertips.
Graham smiled as he shook his head. "I just needed to be alone with you..."
Daniel smiled as he tilted his head down to meet the awaiting lips. They kissed for what seemed an eternity and then they surrendered their passion with small, noisy kisses. Graham sighed as he leaned to rest his chin on Daniel's collarbone. He kissed him through the clothing then he tilted his face and laid it against the firm shoulder.
"Shouldn't we be getting back?" Daniel asked as he trailed his parted lips over the coarse hair on Graham's cheek.
"The guy who took him in there said it would take about fifteen minutes.." The younger man's breath was warm against Daniel's throat. He pressed a kiss to the soft skin before he added, "I'm not sure I understood everything he was saying, but something about a scan and some slicing?"
Daniel brushed his lips over the smooth temple. "How is he though?"
"Don't know. He fell asleep before we got here and hasn't woken up."
Daniel frowned. "What did Janet say?"
"That he's probably trying to rest. She's not calling it a coma, because he's healthy, he just won't wake up."
As he stepped back, Daniel looked into the tired eyes. "And that doesn't concern her?"
"She's concerned, but there's not a lot she can do - his tests are all coming back normal."
Daniel rolled his eyes then pulled Graham closer again. "Well, she's his doctor."
"Yeah, and considering all he's been through this past few days... I don't blame him for wanting to shut down." The cuddled man gave a loud sigh then he lifted his face and looked into Daniel's eyes. "Once I know he's totally safe.. you know.. I just want to hole up in my apartment, shut out the rest of the world, play loud music and eat chocolate...."
Daniel's eyes traced across the handsome face as he said, "Care for some company when you do all that?"
With a smile Graham bit his lover's chin gently. "I'd love it."
Daniel lifted his eyes to the ceiling as he wrapped his arms around Graham's neck and pulled him closer once more, molding the younger man's face to the curve of his throat.
*
Sam sat up in her bed as the door to her room opened hesitantly. Jack peered across the dim room and she smiled instantly.
"Colonel," she said. He stepped into the room and allowed the door to shut behind him.
As he came to the bed, he explained himself. "Wasn't sure I had the right room. Saw your name on the board by the nurse's station.."
"Janet's keeping me in for observations.. Just one night."
Jack nodded as he tapped the white bedding absently with the tips of his fingers. "Probably for the best."
"How's Philip?" Sam asked in a soft, hushed voice, sensing that something wasn't right. Jack should be over-the-moon right about now, not standing in her room, head hung low, hands nervously flicking at the bedspread.
"Um-" The colonel turned and pointed at the door as he muttered, "he's having more tests.." He returned to looking at her as he gave a shrug.
"Everything alright, Sir?" She asked, more concerned than she had been a few moments ago.
As he sucked in a deep breath through his nose Jack shrugged again. "Hasn't woken up.. yet.."
"Oh.." The pretty major grimaced. "What's Janet saying about that?"
"That he's just shutting down, letting his mind absorb what's happened.." He didn't sound convinced.
Sam nibbled her bottom lip as she watched her concerned friend. He now seemed to be carefully choosing words before he said anything. Finally he flung his hand around his temple as he said, "Listen, Carter.. I just wanted to tell you that. well... even if things don't.. you know.. thanks.. anyway.." He grimaced then shrugged. "For stealing the healing device and... trying.."
Sam was frowning as she tried to keep up with his stilted conversation. He didn't think Philip was going to pull through - that much was obvious.
"Sir, he's clean. He *should* be okay.." She said, trying to reassure him. Jack clamped his teeth together as he shrugged once more. "Sir, believe me," she said, more urgently than before. "By the time I finished with him, his lungs were clear. You saw the stuff that came out of them..."
The worry was etched in the older man's face though, and not even her words of reassurance, as genuine as they seemed to be, relieved his tension. Finally he asked the question that had been dogging him for hours, and making him sick at the same time; "So why isn't he awake?"
Sam watched him closely, making sure she didn't disregard his concern in her effort to hearten him. "Just as Janet said, his mind's closed down to work through what's happened. He's been through hell the past few days.."
Jack's look told her everything she needed to know. So had he. And for him the end wasn't in sight, as he couldn't let himself believe the truth - not yet at least. She reached out and stilled his hand that had been unconsciously tapping her leg the whole conversation.
"Sir..." She hesitated a second and tried a different tact. "Jack... Trust me! When I started working on him it was like walking thigh-deep in thick mud. I was practically dragging the device across his chest and back. But by the end of it - after he'd coughed all that stuff up - it was so easy. I can't explain it any other way - it was 'easy' to use on him. I'm sure that meant his lungs are clear and he's okay again."
He stared at her, his bottom jaw moved but no sound came from his mouth.
Sam was concerned that the information might be too much for him. She changed the subject. "And as for stealing the healing device.." she said, picking up his earlier comment, "I didn't.."
His brown eyes flickered slightly then he shrugged and said, "Okay, borrowed it without permission then..."
Sam's smile widened as she said, "Cute, but not right either." As he met her gaze again she quirked her brow confidently. "I had permission.. in fact.. I had rather High permission to take it.."
"High?" Jack's brows furrowed.
Time to come clean, Sam thought, and let him know exactly what had been going on behind his back - in order to help save 'his' world.
"Hammond pulled me into his office two days ago. Daniel had threatened a walk out if he wasn't given time off to be with you during all this..."
Jack rolled his eyes at that comment. Odd, considering Daniel had been so scarce the past 24 hours.
Sam was continuing on, "And he accused the General of just blowing wind when he claimed he wanted to help you as much as he could.."
"He did?" When she nodded Jack said, "Way to go, Danny!"
"He can get a little righteous.."
"For the right cause," Jack added. Sam smiled.
"So Hammond came back at him with the news that he did intend to help you out, he just wasn't sure how.."
"That when you thought about the healing device?"
"No, I actually didn't come up with that idea, that was Daniel. We argued back and forth. As you know, since Cronos I've never been able to make the damn thing work on anyone else. Teal'c thought it was because Cronos' symbiot helped out a little. He was probably right, of course. But all that came later. We were sitting in the General's office, he'd called me and Daniel in to ask us what we thought we could do. The General was adamant that we couldn't take Philip through the gate because he was a civilian and that meant breaking way too many rules!"
She paused briefly when Jack quirked his brow, but he said nothing so she continued on; "Daniel had told us you’d both discussed the Tok’Ra angle, but that you weren’t interested in it. The General worried about using a civilian for such things anyway. Dad, of course, had been a different issue altogether as he was already part of the Military..”
“Well, Daniel was right. I don’t think the Tok’Ra were the answer..”
Sam tightened her lisps as she nodded. “So we were discussing the feasibility of bringing the sarcophagus that saved you back to the base, under the guise of research, when the President called. He's just heard that you'd retired.. again.."
"Word travels fast," Jack said drolly. Sam's brow flickered.
"Bad news does, sir. And he obviously thought this was. The General explained that you were leaving because of personal reasons and the President told him to do what ever he could to make you happy and stay.."
"He did?' Jack's voice arched slightly. When Sam nodded he gave a sheepish smile and said, "Pays to have friends in high places, eh, Carter?"
"Wouldn't know, Sir," she said.
"Of course not, oh daughter-of-the-Head-Tok'Ra..."
"Selmak's hardly the head Tok'Ra.." She mumbled. Jack shrugged then gesticulated for her to go on with her story.
"You were saying?"
"Basically when he hung up the General told us what he'd said, and Daniel asked if that meant we could bring Philip to the base now? But Hammond said that to do that would just raise too many questions - alert the President to the real reason you left..." Her voice dropped suddenly as she said, "I gather he doesn't know.. about...?"
"The President of the United States? Hardly!"
Sam mumbled, "I wasn't sure. I mean, I didn't know how far back you and Airforce One went.. exactly.."
Jack quirked one brow. "Not *that* far back, Carter!"
Sam tried to hide her disappointment at having to give up the fantasy she'd had for the past few days that the Colonel was an illicit affair in the President's past.
"So anyway-" She quickly regained her train of thought, "We were all saying that we needed to get something to Philip off base.. when Daniel brought up the Healing Device."
"How did you feel about that?"
"Well, like I said, I hadn't used it since the Cronos' incident and those few failed attempts after that to make it work, so I really wasn't confident that I *could* make it work. I requested that if we did do this, neither you nor Lieutenant Simmons be told what I was doing. In case I failed.."
"Ye of little faith," Jack quipped dryly. Sam was happy to hear his lighter tone.
"Well, yeah sure. Why wouldn't I be? I couldn't get the thing to work before but Hammond pulled me off all other duties anyway and told me to get to work on it. He assigned Teal'c to help me and told Daniel to take off as much time as he needed - in order to help you out."
"The old guy really came through in the end, huh?"
"I think hearing the President tell him to do everything he could to keep you happy gave him the confidence he needed to bend a few more rules for you.."
"Not like I haven't bent enough rules in the past.."
"Exactly," Sam said with a smile when he looked at her. "And I seriously doubt General Hammond would have done this for anyone else.. including the rest of Sg-1, Sir.."
Jack stared at her a long moment then nodded. "I'll be sure to write him a nice Thank You note.."
"Coming back to work would probably make him happier!"
Jack grinned slyly. "Maybe.."
Sam smiled. "It would make me happy too. And Daniel.. and Teal'c."
"Speaking of... Where is he?"
"He had to go to Janet's office for his Kel'No'Reem. He's been working alongside me so much the past few days that he's not been devoting enough time to the symbiot, and I think he's starting to feel it."
"He's sick?"
"Just not his usual, happy-go-lucky self, I think, Sir," Sam said with a smile.
"So I guess I should hunt him up and thank him too."
"He really helped keep me focused. In fact, at one time we even tried to see if he could use the healing device.."
"No?"
Sam screwed up her nose as she shook her head. "No."
"Look," Jack said, sounding a lot less tired and a lot more like the man she knew, "I really appreciate everything you tried to do... Really.." He looked her in the eye as he said, "It can't have been easy.."
"To be honest, Sir, it wasn't. I got frustrated - at myself - a lot and I haven't really slept much in the past few days.."
Jack nodded. "Well.. thanks. I can't think of any other way to say it.."
She smiled at him. "You're saying it very well."
"You came in the nick of time.. like always," he said with a warm smile.
"It was the nick of time, wasn't it? I'd kept checking my progress out on various SG team members who'd returned from missions banged up but each time it failed. Until tonight.. when Major Lewis was brought back from Px4561 with a broken arm."
"You fixed it?"
Sam smiled as she nodded. "We phoned Daniel straight away, he was out shopping with the Lieutenant. From what he told us, Philip still had a few hours..."
"He crashed really quickly," Jack said, his voice suddenly tight again. Sam reached for the fingers that had started drumming again.
"But he's okay now," she said and smiled gently at him. Jack stared into her blue eyes then nodded.
*
As Janet stepped into the corridor she saw Daniel and Graham, both asleep on the cruel plastic seats. She gave a sharp cough which startled the men awake and had them both sitting up straight, hands fell back into their own laps as the Orderly entered the corridor with Philip in on the gurney. Graham was rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he stumbled to his feet then tilted his face to look at his still-sleeping brother.
"How did it go?"
"Well, the lungs look very good," The Doctor told him. "We also took a scan of his brain while he was there and quiet, just to check that there wasn't anything sinister about all his sleeping."
"And?"
"Brain looks good. Functioning normally from the tests I've run so far."
"So, he's just sleeping?" Daniel asked as he joined them in the corridor. Janet shrugged.
"Seems that way."
"So you're confident it's nothing more?" Graham asked, the worry in his voice sharpened his words. She looked from Daniel to the concerned brother.
"I'm more confident about his condition now than I ever have been. All the tests as showing positive results and that's good." Her eyes scanned Graham's harrowed face. "Why don't you go home and get some rest. He'll sleep all night by the looks of things. If there's any changes I can call you. But come back in the morning if you want to."
"It is the morning," Daniel said through a yawn as he checked his watch.
Janet smiled at him. "Later morning then." She checked Graham and saw his worry etching his handsome features. In a low voice that immediately told both men that what she was about to say was not to be repeated as gospel. "The scans look very good. I think it's pretty safe to assume that the cancer is gone.."
"What about the HIV?" Graham asked nervously.
"I won't know that until I get the results of the test."
Rolling his eyes, Graham gave a loud sigh then nodded. "Sorry, I'm just.."
"Tired. I know. Go home! Sleep! He's not going anywhere!"
As the threesome talked they'd headed towards the hospital room. The orderly and Jack had placed Philip back into his bed by the time the others entered the room
As she crossed to Jack, Janet told him, "The scans were very promising. There was no sign of shadowing on the lungs at all, and the slices reveal healthy lungs again."
Jack closed his eyes as he gave into the good news. When he opened them once more he asked, "We'll know more in the morning?"
"A few of the tests will take a week to come back, but there are some things we'll know tomorrow.." She watched the visible sigh from Jack. "In the meantime, I'm prescribing rest for all of you, you included Jack!"
"Yeah sure ya betcha!" He muttered under his breath as he tucked in the sheet over Philip.
"I mean it, Colonel. Even if I have to give you a few sedatives to do that!"
He looked across the bed at the fiery woman and believed she would do that to him.
"Okay," he said as he held his hand up in defeat. "I'll sleep. I'll snore. I'll even sleep walk if you like.."
"Sleep will suffice," Janet said with a chuckle.
"Can I sleep here?" Jack asked.
"Well, as they won't allow me to bring wild horses into the hospital, Jack.." The Doctor said dryly as she arched her brow.
He smiled then winked at her. "How well you know me!"
She gave a grunt at that then said, "It's almost scary, isn't it, Colonel?"
<End of part 70>
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.