Re: Shadows in the Forest
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:46 pm
hey everybody, here is the next part. Have fun and leave a comment if you like. Would make me happy
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“Mum,” with that she was focused on the Colonel’s chest and she tried to get the attention of her mum who was talking to another doctor. “Mum, is that normal?” She was getting inpatient.
“Hold on a second Cassie, you see I am in a conversation with another person. It is rude to interfere.” Janet explained and turned around to her conversation when all the attention shifted by one sentence.
“Mum, his chest is rising, he is breathing on his own!” She was losing herself out of her mother’s grip and was already next to the side of the bed. Taking the large hand in hers, she started to stroke it and was speaking softly to him.
“Cassie, this is probably just the rest of air pressing out of his body. I wish it would be true though.” Janet explained but the other Doctor agreed with the Girl.
“She is right, his chest is going up and down. He is breathing on his own. Very shallow I may add and slow, but he is breathing on his own.” Already attaching the monitors back on to see the hard data on the screen he smiled at Janet and turned his face to the figure he was just astonished by.
“And you Sir, better get back on track now. You’ve been a hell of a fighter and I want to see you winning the race at the end.” With that he left happy that he had to phone the mortuary to let them know what had happened.
Janet struggled to grasp the scenery in front of her. Now she clearly could see his chest falling and rising again. It seemed to get stronger by the minute. As she watched his face, the realisation hit her. His face had changed.
His peaceful pale face had now the grimace as if someone were in pain. She rang his bell and immediately the Doctor came back.
“He needs some more pain medication. He is stressed. His body has to work harder now to support him.” Janet advised and pointed out the deep stress lines which where all written over the Colonel’s face.
“Cassie, are you ok here or would you like to leave?” she addressed her daughter after a while.
“I am fine mum; I will stay with Uncle Jack. He needs to know that someone is here. Someone who loves him.” She smiled and turned back to him
“Ok, I need to make a phone call. I will pick you up after.” With that she left the Colonel`s room and took her mobile phone out.
She had to notify the General and after that she would phone Sam. She knew that both held their breath the whole time and she also knew that the Major would tell Daniel and Teal`c the good news.
As she told the General what had happened, she was sure that he referred to Jack as a son of a b… in a very soft voice. She could literally hear the rocks fall from his heart.
Going back to the hospital room she had a very large smile on her face. From far away she could see Cass standing outside. With a questionable look she greeted her daughter.
“Doctors are in with him and checking him over. You know with his pneumonia stuff going on and all.” She explained in a manner as she knew it all.
“Sure, I was expecting something like this. What do you say, are you feeling like a little celebration tonight? We could have a takeaway and if you like we could invite Daniel and Sam. I believe Teal’c is still on Chulak with his son.” The Doctor smiled and waited patiently for the answer she was sure would come.
“Sounds good! Shall I asked them, or will you do it? What kind of take away would you like mum?” Cassie’s voice was almost flipping over itself.
“You can tell them Cass. I would say we eat Pizza. The Colonel loves Pizza and I think he would be happy for us if we celebrate a bit in his honour.” She stated and unlocked the car they had reached by now.
Cassie texted Sam and told her to come at a specific time for dinner to her mum’s house and that she should not forget Daniel.
Xxx
Fraiser`s House
The doorbell rang and as Cassie opened the front door, her best friends had been standing there grinning in competition.
“Come on in, food should arrive in a few minutes. Mum is in the living room. Make yourself comfortable. Daniel? Sam? What would you guys like to drink?” Cassie was trying very hard to be the perfect host. She was so young and still, this team of human explorers had been there for her when she had needed them the most.
“Just a coke for me, thanks.” Daniel replied and walked over to Janet.
“What you got Cass?” Sam challenged the girl with a smug smile.
“Beer, Jacks favourite brand if I may add; coke, water, white and red wine.” She beamed with excitement.
“I’ll take a beer then. How come you have the Colonel’s beer here?” Sam wondered.
“Mum said we should celebrate his will to live and who doesn’t know that he loves beer and pizza? He always has the same Lager bottles at home when I visit him. Ergo, it must be his favourite beer. I think as a Colonel you earn enough money to buy the stuff you like.” She stated.
“True, I like the idea of having the Colonel’s food here, like he would celebrate with us.” Sam agreed.
Cassie gave her a bottle and got herself a lemonade. The Food arrived shortly afterward and all four sat around the big table laughing and joking all evening. The time was filled with memories of their mutual friend: his innocent behaviour he would have from time to time and his stubbornness; his shy looks sometimes where he looked like a little boy who had done something wrong; his comments he would throw around and his bravery. Everybody had some stories to tell and nobody realised how the time went flying by. They talked till deep into the night and Cassie was ever so happy that her mum not said one word about staying up that late.
Xxx
Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, 5 weeks later
Cassie was sitting next to her friend. She had talked to him over the last few weeks; had decorated his room and read stories to him. Every spare minute she was with him. Over time she had learned how to stimulate his muscles with gentle exercises. The nurses had been very nice and friendly to her and had taken the time to educate her a bit in that field.
“Uncle Jack, I need a break. I will get something to drink and be back in a minute. Just do not go anywhere. Otherwise I must activate a search party for you." She chuckled over her own joke and turned toward the door. Out of the corner of her eye she was sure that she saw his right index finger moving.
Turning around she looked at him in disbelief. “Uncle Jack?” she called him and stepped back towards the bed again. She was watching his fingers.
“Uncle Jack? Are you awake?” She called him again and was not sure if she was happy and full of joy or if it scared her. There was his body laying motionless for over a month and suddenly he wakes up? Did his body heal himself enough to allow his owner to regain consciousness?
Cassie had so many questions but first she needed to make sure that what she believed she saw was real and not an image of what she wished to happen.
“Uncle Jack? Can you open your eyes?” she looked at his closed lids and stepped back a bit as those started to flicker. Nearly falling over herself, she tried to grab the bell to notify a nurse. She would know what is happening here.
It did not take long for a nurse to show her face. “Hey Cassie, what is your need?” she asked as she stood in the door
“Not me. It’s him. I think he is waking up! His finger twitched and his eyelids flickered.” She bubbled in excitement.
The nurse came in and stepped closer to the officer’s bed. “Colonel O’Neill?” She took his wrist and checked the pulse. It was correspondent with the heartbeat the monitor showed.
“Colonel O`Neill, can you hear me?” she tried again, looking over to the waiting Girl, who was so full of hope. She did not see any differences in his behaviour…till the heartbeat went faster. She looked at the screen and then at her patient again. It looked like he had more colour in his face than just a minute ago.
“Colonel, it is time to wake up. You’ve slept long enough.” She tried to encourage him to take the final steps.
His eyes begun to flicker again and opened for a split second before the lids shut again. His heartbeat came down and all was back to normal.
Cassie looked at the nurse with a questioned look. “What was that?”
“He is trying to wake up. You were right when you called me for help. It will still take a bit for him to come around and break through the fog around his brain. His body seemed to be ready now after the trauma and ordeal he had to take. Press the bell again when he is awake and has opened his eyes. This might take another hour or even longer. That’s up to him.” She smiled and left the room.
Cassie sat herself down again, forgotten was her thirst and she was determined to help the Colonel to wake up. She watched him like a hawk and every time he was stirring a bit, she was there to tell him that he was not alone, that he had friends he could count on and after a while, which seemed for Cassie a very long time, his brown eyes showed themselves.
He was staring at the ceiling and when Cassie talked to him, he was not taking any notice of her. Cassie pressed the bell again as she was told and took his hand in hers.
“It’s good that you are awake now Uncle Jack.” She bit herself as she wanted to tell him how worried everyone was but was sure that this was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Now my one-sided conversation is not as boring anymore.” She smiled.
As a Nurse came in with a Doctor she left. She knew every time someone came, she had to leave due to privacy reasons. But now she was happy to leave as she would phone her mum and Sam and they both would notify the rest.
“Mum, mum he is awake. He opened his eyes and his finger moved. He seems that he is not really responding when I spoke to him, but he is awake. You coming to the hospital?” She spoke so fast that Janet hat trouble following her.
“Slow down. This is very good news and I am glad that he is awake. I will come to you in a short while. If possible, I will bring Sam with me. That should encourage him further. Take care my darling.” After giving her daughter a kiss through the phone she hung up. Far too important had been the news she had just received.
Cassie walked back to Jack’s room and waited. By the time she was allowed back in he had his eyes closed again and appeared to be sleeping.
The girl sat herself next to his bed and watched the sleeping man. The feeling she had now was far more positive than it was before, and she was sure he would beat the odds.
Xxx
SGC, Infirmary
Janet Fraiser just received the news she was waiting for so long. She cheered in her office after she ended the call and was dancing. Her favourite patient managed to tick off another milestone on the long road to full recovery.
Her staff smiled and smiled even more as everybody received the good news. Janet hat realised on the behaviour of the staff, the SGC was not the same without the Colonel. He made this place so much more alive. It was time for him to come back.
Like walking on air, it did not take her long for her to make it to the General’s office. Apart from her medical staff no one so far knew the news. She could hardly wait to tell him.
She knew how close this both men where. Like father and son. She knocked on the door and waited patiently till the call came.
“General, Sir.”
“What can I do for you Doctor?”
“Permission to leave the base early and go to the hospital to visit Colonel O`Neill.” Janet struggled to keep a straight face.
“Why? Has anything happened to the Colonel?” for the first time he looked up from his paperwork.
“Well, one can say that. He is on the way to coming around and waking up. Sir, he is coming out of his coma!” Janet smiled and waited till the news reached the Generals braincells.
“Permission granted but under one condition.” He smiled at her from one ear to the next.
“Sir?”
“Tell him greetings from me. I will see if I can visit him in the next few days. Dismissed.” With that he bowed his head again and started on his last file on his desk. The paperwork seemed never to get less. So many permits for everything, it was just getting ridiculous.
“With pleasure, Sir.” Janet left the office and made her way to Major Carters Lab. Knocking on the door, she walked right in and told her friend the news as well.
“I am in the middle of a very important thing. I will ask the General if I can come with you. Otherwise my shift is finished around 6 tonight.” Sam stated
“That’s fine, you can come later.” The doctor smiled and left for the elevator which would bring her to the top of the mountain
Xxx
Colorado Springs, Fort Carson
Cassie was dozing off herself as the door opened and her mother stepped into the room.
“Hey darling. How is the Colonel doing?”
“Hey mum, he is sleeping again. The Doctor said that it is normal when a coma patient wakes up but his moments to be awake will be longer each day and he will start to respond as well to his surroundings. I hope the Doctor is right.” Cassie beamed.
Janet looked at the peaceful figure in his bed. The white bandage from his head came off last week and a nurse had given him every day a shave, so he always looked presentable.
The heard monitor painted the line in a near perfect innuendo as Janet saw the right index finger twitching.
“Mum, look. It happened again. That was what I saw earlier and then his eyes flickered. Eventually he had opened them but did not react to my voice whatsoever. I asked the Doctor about it and he said it is normal, that he needs time to come around. He also said that it is too early to make any predictions about his wellbeing.” It just gushed out of her.
“That is right, he can have all the time he needs so long as he comes around and his health improves to normal or near normal. So, it will take time and patience, love, and friendship to get through this.
“Hello Colonel” Janet greeted him after he had managed to open his eyes again.
This time he was moving them, and it seemed he wanted to know where he was. Janet stepped into his vision field and smiled at him. Putting a hand on his arm she started to explain where he was. Following her voice, Jacks eyes locked with hers and stayed there.
Jack managed to stay awake for a few minutes this time before he fell asleep again. For Janet it was the most wonderful joyful moment in the last few weeks.
“You will see, Cassie. Tomorrow he will manage to stay awake even longer. It is important to give him time. His brain needs to adjust to the new environment and get around what had happened.” She smiled at her daughter and sat on the other chair in the room.
Xxx
SGC, Carters Lab
Sam was not able to concentrate anymore after her friend paid her a visit. The news about her CO gave her butterflies in her stomach area like a teenager fresh in love. She checked the time and realised that only ten minuets had passed since she was gone. Packing everything up she decided to go to the General and ask for early leave today so she could get to the hospital herself.
She knocked on the door and waited, tip toeing around till the call came for her to enter the room.
“Major, what can I do for you?” the General asked her innocently.
“General, I am sure you have heard the news about Colonel O`Neill. I came to ask for permission to take some early leave today to visit him.” She smiled shyly.
“What took you so long?”
“Sir?”
“What took you so long Major?”
“I don’t follow”
“Doctor Fraiser was here about 15 minutes ago. I was sure you would come with that question immediately after. So, what took you so long?” His face twisted into a broad grin.
“Sir, I was trying to finish work on an artifact, one that an SG team had brought back last week but I realised that my concentration was off after I heard the news. I was trying to stay professional, but I had no success in that matter,” she stated.
“Permission granted. Get yourself out of here and take whoever wants to go with you. This is great news and I do not want to be disturbed by a certain archaeologist in the next few minutes with the same question. Dismissed.” He smiled understandingly knowing how close his flagship team were.
“Thank you, Sir.” With that, she left his office and went directly to her teammate.
Xxx
“Daniel, you want to come?” Sam did not even say hello. She did not want to lose more time than she already did and waited impatiently for her friend to get his nose out of his books.
“Huh?”
“Daniel, I am going to the hospital. You want to join? The General had already given permission for you to tag along. So no more disturbing the man.” She smiled and explained the obvious.
“Yeah, give me a minute. I need to finish something first.” He did not even check with Sam if this was ok but realised the nervous impatience as soon as he heard her foot tapping.
“Sam, you are not helping.”
“Do not want to. Hurry up or I go without you.”
“Jeez, you’re already like Jack.”
“Meaning?”
“Never mind, let’s go.”
He grabbed his jacket which was hanging on the door and locked his office behind him. Sam was already on the way to the lift. It would take a while for the car to come and by the time Daniel arrived, the lift was there as well.
Xxx
Arriving at the Hospital carpark, Sam had found a parking space straight away. She knew from previous visits that this was highly unusual.
They went directly to the room of their friend and knocked softly on the door before entering. Janet sat with Cassie next to the bed and both had a nice conversation. Turning their heads to see who was coming, Janet waved her hand to signal them both to come in.
“Hey, did not realise you were coming so soon. What happened to the worktime till 6 pm?” she smiled good knowing the answer already.
“Did not work. How is he doing?” Sam confessed,
“He was awake a few minutes ago. Still trouble to stay focused but he was longer awake than the time before according to Cass. I am sure he will wake up again, just stick around. We can organize another two chairs. Should not be that hard.” The Doctor smiled at her friends.
“So, he is definitely coming around? Meaning out of the coma? Back to land of the living?” Daniel wanted to have this cleared up before he got himself all excited.
“Now who sounds like Jack, huh?” Sam questioned him in a mock state of indignance. “But Yes Daniel, exactly that’s what it means. It took him long enough.”
While there had been chatting, Cassie watched her friend in bed closely and as his eyes opened again, she notified the chatterboxes behind her.
“Eyes open again.”
The same second it was quiet in the room. Sam had stopped speaking the word itself and now the so to speak pin could have dropped.
“Colonel, hello again. You remember me?” Janet gone into his vison field again and waited till his eyes locked on her face. This time she did not have to wait as long as she had before which she took as a good sign. He was well on the way to recovering.
“Sir, I’ve got someone who would like to see you.” She smiled and pushed Sam into his vision field.
“But only for a short time. He is not fully aware now and we don’t want his brain to overreact and shut down the body again.” She whispered to Sam; a nod signalled her that the Major had understood.
“Hello, sleepy head. It’s me Carter. I am glad that you finally decided to join our little group again. It was kinda lonely without you. But for now, it is enough to know that you are awake again. I hope you get better over the next few days.
She could have sworn that the Colonel gave her a smile while listening to her words. Those brown eyes looked at her and spread a nice fluffy feeling through her body.
“Have another good rest. Sir. I will pop in tomorrow and see how you are doing.” She lightly squeezed his arm and gave him one of her lovely smiles she only had reserved for him.
Turning around she announced that she would wait outside, giving Daniel the opportunity to have a quick say to his friend.
“Hey Jack, I am glad that you are awake now. You should have seen Sam. She was so worried about you. But anyway, just get back to your normal self and all is fine.” He waved a quick goodbye to his friend and left like Sam leaving only the Doctor and Cassie in the room.
Sam was waiting in the hallway outside her CO`s room. Looking out the window at some birds who were chasing each other and wiping a single tear away she turned around as she heard the door open. Daniel was standing in front of her and spread out his arms.
“Come here Sam,” he said softly and took her in a tight embrace as she took his offer.
“He looks so fragile in there. That is not the strong Colonel we know. That scares me.” She sobbed into his shoulder.
“Sam, look. He is strong as ever and he will get back on track. When he is back, he will annoy the hell out of us again, break stuff in our labs and tell crappy jokes. So, my advice is, enjoy the time you have right now and make the most out of it. He will be back sooner than you think. All he needs is a spark to light his spirit again. When he has that spark, there is no stopping him. He is way too stubborn. Give him that spark Sam. You will see what happens after that.” Daniel rubbed his hand in circles on Sam`s back and tried to soothe her as much as he could.
Janet left the room now as well with her daughter in tow. “Hey, it’s overwhelming isn’t it?” she stepped closer to her friends.
“Yes, I have seen him before in a hospital and many times in the infirmary, but he looks different today. His eyes are sunken in and his cheekbones protrude more than usual. I think the interesting part will be, how will he cope with the recovery and therapy. Was it not said his vertebras has been bruised? I am sure they are not right yet, and he will need some help. That will be frustrating for him and we need to be there for him. He needs to gain weight.” Sam realised that she had lost herself and stopped, took a deep breath and wiped her face.
“He will be ok. It’s Jack we are talking about. The devil does not even want him because he is too much trouble. He is still here. We will all help him,” Daniel stated and continued with an idea he had. “Who wants ice cream?”
He looked around at the small group, but no reaction came from the three pair of eyes. “I know a very good one. Called Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and I am buying.” He tried to lure them out.
“Ok, me then,” Sam smiled.
“Count me in as well,” Janet stated and Cassie nodded too fast with her head that Daniel was scared it would fall off in the next second or so.
All four of them laughed and started to walk out of the hospital. Tomorrow they would be back and the day after and the day after.
Xxx
Border between Montana and Wyoming
An old rusty car was driving along on highway 89 and for the drivers the sign for the state border was already in sight. Some country music was playing out of the radio.
“Another five miles and we are in Montana.”
“Sounds good, but we need to take a break as well soon. I need to go for a little Joe`s,” the man on the passenger seat declared.
“Hold it till we are over the border.” The driver looked grim out of the windscreen window.
He could hear a siren behind him and looked in the back mirror. Three black cars with the red and blue lights came closer fast. With this old car, there would be no escape. He did the only thing that would make sense to him. He pulled over and waited.
Not ten seconds later and both men had been surrounded by the state troopers. One of them had told them to present their driver’s license and the registration papers of the car. The others had been standing by with guns ready to draw.
The speaker took the papers and had gone back to his car to get it checked over. As he came back, he signalled his colleagues that they had found what they had been looking for.
“Step out of the car with your hands so I can see them. Driver first.” He shouted and all six weapons were trained on the driver. If he would play stupid, he would be dead in the same second. Nobody wanted that and everybody tried to stay as calm as possible. Luke opened the door and stepped out with his hands held up high.
“On your knees, hands behind the head,” came the next command which he complied with in an instant.
Another Officer stepped out and laid handcuffs on the driver, helped him up and guided him to one of the trooper cars. Then the same procedure happened to the man in the passenger seat. He was taken to a different trooper car.
The state trooper in charge of this little mission radioed to his head office that they had taken the two men sought with vigilance.
The convoy of four cars turned around and made their way back to the head office in Cheyenne. By the time they would reach the destination, the state troopers of Colorado would be already informed of the catch they had made.
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TBC
hope you all liked it next part will come some day early next week. stay safe every one
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“Mum,” with that she was focused on the Colonel’s chest and she tried to get the attention of her mum who was talking to another doctor. “Mum, is that normal?” She was getting inpatient.
“Hold on a second Cassie, you see I am in a conversation with another person. It is rude to interfere.” Janet explained and turned around to her conversation when all the attention shifted by one sentence.
“Mum, his chest is rising, he is breathing on his own!” She was losing herself out of her mother’s grip and was already next to the side of the bed. Taking the large hand in hers, she started to stroke it and was speaking softly to him.
“Cassie, this is probably just the rest of air pressing out of his body. I wish it would be true though.” Janet explained but the other Doctor agreed with the Girl.
“She is right, his chest is going up and down. He is breathing on his own. Very shallow I may add and slow, but he is breathing on his own.” Already attaching the monitors back on to see the hard data on the screen he smiled at Janet and turned his face to the figure he was just astonished by.
“And you Sir, better get back on track now. You’ve been a hell of a fighter and I want to see you winning the race at the end.” With that he left happy that he had to phone the mortuary to let them know what had happened.
Janet struggled to grasp the scenery in front of her. Now she clearly could see his chest falling and rising again. It seemed to get stronger by the minute. As she watched his face, the realisation hit her. His face had changed.
His peaceful pale face had now the grimace as if someone were in pain. She rang his bell and immediately the Doctor came back.
“He needs some more pain medication. He is stressed. His body has to work harder now to support him.” Janet advised and pointed out the deep stress lines which where all written over the Colonel’s face.
“Cassie, are you ok here or would you like to leave?” she addressed her daughter after a while.
“I am fine mum; I will stay with Uncle Jack. He needs to know that someone is here. Someone who loves him.” She smiled and turned back to him
“Ok, I need to make a phone call. I will pick you up after.” With that she left the Colonel`s room and took her mobile phone out.
She had to notify the General and after that she would phone Sam. She knew that both held their breath the whole time and she also knew that the Major would tell Daniel and Teal`c the good news.
As she told the General what had happened, she was sure that he referred to Jack as a son of a b… in a very soft voice. She could literally hear the rocks fall from his heart.
Going back to the hospital room she had a very large smile on her face. From far away she could see Cass standing outside. With a questionable look she greeted her daughter.
“Doctors are in with him and checking him over. You know with his pneumonia stuff going on and all.” She explained in a manner as she knew it all.
“Sure, I was expecting something like this. What do you say, are you feeling like a little celebration tonight? We could have a takeaway and if you like we could invite Daniel and Sam. I believe Teal’c is still on Chulak with his son.” The Doctor smiled and waited patiently for the answer she was sure would come.
“Sounds good! Shall I asked them, or will you do it? What kind of take away would you like mum?” Cassie’s voice was almost flipping over itself.
“You can tell them Cass. I would say we eat Pizza. The Colonel loves Pizza and I think he would be happy for us if we celebrate a bit in his honour.” She stated and unlocked the car they had reached by now.
Cassie texted Sam and told her to come at a specific time for dinner to her mum’s house and that she should not forget Daniel.
Xxx
Fraiser`s House
The doorbell rang and as Cassie opened the front door, her best friends had been standing there grinning in competition.
“Come on in, food should arrive in a few minutes. Mum is in the living room. Make yourself comfortable. Daniel? Sam? What would you guys like to drink?” Cassie was trying very hard to be the perfect host. She was so young and still, this team of human explorers had been there for her when she had needed them the most.
“Just a coke for me, thanks.” Daniel replied and walked over to Janet.
“What you got Cass?” Sam challenged the girl with a smug smile.
“Beer, Jacks favourite brand if I may add; coke, water, white and red wine.” She beamed with excitement.
“I’ll take a beer then. How come you have the Colonel’s beer here?” Sam wondered.
“Mum said we should celebrate his will to live and who doesn’t know that he loves beer and pizza? He always has the same Lager bottles at home when I visit him. Ergo, it must be his favourite beer. I think as a Colonel you earn enough money to buy the stuff you like.” She stated.
“True, I like the idea of having the Colonel’s food here, like he would celebrate with us.” Sam agreed.
Cassie gave her a bottle and got herself a lemonade. The Food arrived shortly afterward and all four sat around the big table laughing and joking all evening. The time was filled with memories of their mutual friend: his innocent behaviour he would have from time to time and his stubbornness; his shy looks sometimes where he looked like a little boy who had done something wrong; his comments he would throw around and his bravery. Everybody had some stories to tell and nobody realised how the time went flying by. They talked till deep into the night and Cassie was ever so happy that her mum not said one word about staying up that late.
Xxx
Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, 5 weeks later
Cassie was sitting next to her friend. She had talked to him over the last few weeks; had decorated his room and read stories to him. Every spare minute she was with him. Over time she had learned how to stimulate his muscles with gentle exercises. The nurses had been very nice and friendly to her and had taken the time to educate her a bit in that field.
“Uncle Jack, I need a break. I will get something to drink and be back in a minute. Just do not go anywhere. Otherwise I must activate a search party for you." She chuckled over her own joke and turned toward the door. Out of the corner of her eye she was sure that she saw his right index finger moving.
Turning around she looked at him in disbelief. “Uncle Jack?” she called him and stepped back towards the bed again. She was watching his fingers.
“Uncle Jack? Are you awake?” She called him again and was not sure if she was happy and full of joy or if it scared her. There was his body laying motionless for over a month and suddenly he wakes up? Did his body heal himself enough to allow his owner to regain consciousness?
Cassie had so many questions but first she needed to make sure that what she believed she saw was real and not an image of what she wished to happen.
“Uncle Jack? Can you open your eyes?” she looked at his closed lids and stepped back a bit as those started to flicker. Nearly falling over herself, she tried to grab the bell to notify a nurse. She would know what is happening here.
It did not take long for a nurse to show her face. “Hey Cassie, what is your need?” she asked as she stood in the door
“Not me. It’s him. I think he is waking up! His finger twitched and his eyelids flickered.” She bubbled in excitement.
The nurse came in and stepped closer to the officer’s bed. “Colonel O’Neill?” She took his wrist and checked the pulse. It was correspondent with the heartbeat the monitor showed.
“Colonel O`Neill, can you hear me?” she tried again, looking over to the waiting Girl, who was so full of hope. She did not see any differences in his behaviour…till the heartbeat went faster. She looked at the screen and then at her patient again. It looked like he had more colour in his face than just a minute ago.
“Colonel, it is time to wake up. You’ve slept long enough.” She tried to encourage him to take the final steps.
His eyes begun to flicker again and opened for a split second before the lids shut again. His heartbeat came down and all was back to normal.
Cassie looked at the nurse with a questioned look. “What was that?”
“He is trying to wake up. You were right when you called me for help. It will still take a bit for him to come around and break through the fog around his brain. His body seemed to be ready now after the trauma and ordeal he had to take. Press the bell again when he is awake and has opened his eyes. This might take another hour or even longer. That’s up to him.” She smiled and left the room.
Cassie sat herself down again, forgotten was her thirst and she was determined to help the Colonel to wake up. She watched him like a hawk and every time he was stirring a bit, she was there to tell him that he was not alone, that he had friends he could count on and after a while, which seemed for Cassie a very long time, his brown eyes showed themselves.
He was staring at the ceiling and when Cassie talked to him, he was not taking any notice of her. Cassie pressed the bell again as she was told and took his hand in hers.
“It’s good that you are awake now Uncle Jack.” She bit herself as she wanted to tell him how worried everyone was but was sure that this was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Now my one-sided conversation is not as boring anymore.” She smiled.
As a Nurse came in with a Doctor she left. She knew every time someone came, she had to leave due to privacy reasons. But now she was happy to leave as she would phone her mum and Sam and they both would notify the rest.
“Mum, mum he is awake. He opened his eyes and his finger moved. He seems that he is not really responding when I spoke to him, but he is awake. You coming to the hospital?” She spoke so fast that Janet hat trouble following her.
“Slow down. This is very good news and I am glad that he is awake. I will come to you in a short while. If possible, I will bring Sam with me. That should encourage him further. Take care my darling.” After giving her daughter a kiss through the phone she hung up. Far too important had been the news she had just received.
Cassie walked back to Jack’s room and waited. By the time she was allowed back in he had his eyes closed again and appeared to be sleeping.
The girl sat herself next to his bed and watched the sleeping man. The feeling she had now was far more positive than it was before, and she was sure he would beat the odds.
Xxx
SGC, Infirmary
Janet Fraiser just received the news she was waiting for so long. She cheered in her office after she ended the call and was dancing. Her favourite patient managed to tick off another milestone on the long road to full recovery.
Her staff smiled and smiled even more as everybody received the good news. Janet hat realised on the behaviour of the staff, the SGC was not the same without the Colonel. He made this place so much more alive. It was time for him to come back.
Like walking on air, it did not take her long for her to make it to the General’s office. Apart from her medical staff no one so far knew the news. She could hardly wait to tell him.
She knew how close this both men where. Like father and son. She knocked on the door and waited patiently till the call came.
“General, Sir.”
“What can I do for you Doctor?”
“Permission to leave the base early and go to the hospital to visit Colonel O`Neill.” Janet struggled to keep a straight face.
“Why? Has anything happened to the Colonel?” for the first time he looked up from his paperwork.
“Well, one can say that. He is on the way to coming around and waking up. Sir, he is coming out of his coma!” Janet smiled and waited till the news reached the Generals braincells.
“Permission granted but under one condition.” He smiled at her from one ear to the next.
“Sir?”
“Tell him greetings from me. I will see if I can visit him in the next few days. Dismissed.” With that he bowed his head again and started on his last file on his desk. The paperwork seemed never to get less. So many permits for everything, it was just getting ridiculous.
“With pleasure, Sir.” Janet left the office and made her way to Major Carters Lab. Knocking on the door, she walked right in and told her friend the news as well.
“I am in the middle of a very important thing. I will ask the General if I can come with you. Otherwise my shift is finished around 6 tonight.” Sam stated
“That’s fine, you can come later.” The doctor smiled and left for the elevator which would bring her to the top of the mountain
Xxx
Colorado Springs, Fort Carson
Cassie was dozing off herself as the door opened and her mother stepped into the room.
“Hey darling. How is the Colonel doing?”
“Hey mum, he is sleeping again. The Doctor said that it is normal when a coma patient wakes up but his moments to be awake will be longer each day and he will start to respond as well to his surroundings. I hope the Doctor is right.” Cassie beamed.
Janet looked at the peaceful figure in his bed. The white bandage from his head came off last week and a nurse had given him every day a shave, so he always looked presentable.
The heard monitor painted the line in a near perfect innuendo as Janet saw the right index finger twitching.
“Mum, look. It happened again. That was what I saw earlier and then his eyes flickered. Eventually he had opened them but did not react to my voice whatsoever. I asked the Doctor about it and he said it is normal, that he needs time to come around. He also said that it is too early to make any predictions about his wellbeing.” It just gushed out of her.
“That is right, he can have all the time he needs so long as he comes around and his health improves to normal or near normal. So, it will take time and patience, love, and friendship to get through this.
“Hello Colonel” Janet greeted him after he had managed to open his eyes again.
This time he was moving them, and it seemed he wanted to know where he was. Janet stepped into his vision field and smiled at him. Putting a hand on his arm she started to explain where he was. Following her voice, Jacks eyes locked with hers and stayed there.
Jack managed to stay awake for a few minutes this time before he fell asleep again. For Janet it was the most wonderful joyful moment in the last few weeks.
“You will see, Cassie. Tomorrow he will manage to stay awake even longer. It is important to give him time. His brain needs to adjust to the new environment and get around what had happened.” She smiled at her daughter and sat on the other chair in the room.
Xxx
SGC, Carters Lab
Sam was not able to concentrate anymore after her friend paid her a visit. The news about her CO gave her butterflies in her stomach area like a teenager fresh in love. She checked the time and realised that only ten minuets had passed since she was gone. Packing everything up she decided to go to the General and ask for early leave today so she could get to the hospital herself.
She knocked on the door and waited, tip toeing around till the call came for her to enter the room.
“Major, what can I do for you?” the General asked her innocently.
“General, I am sure you have heard the news about Colonel O`Neill. I came to ask for permission to take some early leave today to visit him.” She smiled shyly.
“What took you so long?”
“Sir?”
“What took you so long Major?”
“I don’t follow”
“Doctor Fraiser was here about 15 minutes ago. I was sure you would come with that question immediately after. So, what took you so long?” His face twisted into a broad grin.
“Sir, I was trying to finish work on an artifact, one that an SG team had brought back last week but I realised that my concentration was off after I heard the news. I was trying to stay professional, but I had no success in that matter,” she stated.
“Permission granted. Get yourself out of here and take whoever wants to go with you. This is great news and I do not want to be disturbed by a certain archaeologist in the next few minutes with the same question. Dismissed.” He smiled understandingly knowing how close his flagship team were.
“Thank you, Sir.” With that, she left his office and went directly to her teammate.
Xxx
“Daniel, you want to come?” Sam did not even say hello. She did not want to lose more time than she already did and waited impatiently for her friend to get his nose out of his books.
“Huh?”
“Daniel, I am going to the hospital. You want to join? The General had already given permission for you to tag along. So no more disturbing the man.” She smiled and explained the obvious.
“Yeah, give me a minute. I need to finish something first.” He did not even check with Sam if this was ok but realised the nervous impatience as soon as he heard her foot tapping.
“Sam, you are not helping.”
“Do not want to. Hurry up or I go without you.”
“Jeez, you’re already like Jack.”
“Meaning?”
“Never mind, let’s go.”
He grabbed his jacket which was hanging on the door and locked his office behind him. Sam was already on the way to the lift. It would take a while for the car to come and by the time Daniel arrived, the lift was there as well.
Xxx
Arriving at the Hospital carpark, Sam had found a parking space straight away. She knew from previous visits that this was highly unusual.
They went directly to the room of their friend and knocked softly on the door before entering. Janet sat with Cassie next to the bed and both had a nice conversation. Turning their heads to see who was coming, Janet waved her hand to signal them both to come in.
“Hey, did not realise you were coming so soon. What happened to the worktime till 6 pm?” she smiled good knowing the answer already.
“Did not work. How is he doing?” Sam confessed,
“He was awake a few minutes ago. Still trouble to stay focused but he was longer awake than the time before according to Cass. I am sure he will wake up again, just stick around. We can organize another two chairs. Should not be that hard.” The Doctor smiled at her friends.
“So, he is definitely coming around? Meaning out of the coma? Back to land of the living?” Daniel wanted to have this cleared up before he got himself all excited.
“Now who sounds like Jack, huh?” Sam questioned him in a mock state of indignance. “But Yes Daniel, exactly that’s what it means. It took him long enough.”
While there had been chatting, Cassie watched her friend in bed closely and as his eyes opened again, she notified the chatterboxes behind her.
“Eyes open again.”
The same second it was quiet in the room. Sam had stopped speaking the word itself and now the so to speak pin could have dropped.
“Colonel, hello again. You remember me?” Janet gone into his vison field again and waited till his eyes locked on her face. This time she did not have to wait as long as she had before which she took as a good sign. He was well on the way to recovering.
“Sir, I’ve got someone who would like to see you.” She smiled and pushed Sam into his vision field.
“But only for a short time. He is not fully aware now and we don’t want his brain to overreact and shut down the body again.” She whispered to Sam; a nod signalled her that the Major had understood.
“Hello, sleepy head. It’s me Carter. I am glad that you finally decided to join our little group again. It was kinda lonely without you. But for now, it is enough to know that you are awake again. I hope you get better over the next few days.
She could have sworn that the Colonel gave her a smile while listening to her words. Those brown eyes looked at her and spread a nice fluffy feeling through her body.
“Have another good rest. Sir. I will pop in tomorrow and see how you are doing.” She lightly squeezed his arm and gave him one of her lovely smiles she only had reserved for him.
Turning around she announced that she would wait outside, giving Daniel the opportunity to have a quick say to his friend.
“Hey Jack, I am glad that you are awake now. You should have seen Sam. She was so worried about you. But anyway, just get back to your normal self and all is fine.” He waved a quick goodbye to his friend and left like Sam leaving only the Doctor and Cassie in the room.
Sam was waiting in the hallway outside her CO`s room. Looking out the window at some birds who were chasing each other and wiping a single tear away she turned around as she heard the door open. Daniel was standing in front of her and spread out his arms.
“Come here Sam,” he said softly and took her in a tight embrace as she took his offer.
“He looks so fragile in there. That is not the strong Colonel we know. That scares me.” She sobbed into his shoulder.
“Sam, look. He is strong as ever and he will get back on track. When he is back, he will annoy the hell out of us again, break stuff in our labs and tell crappy jokes. So, my advice is, enjoy the time you have right now and make the most out of it. He will be back sooner than you think. All he needs is a spark to light his spirit again. When he has that spark, there is no stopping him. He is way too stubborn. Give him that spark Sam. You will see what happens after that.” Daniel rubbed his hand in circles on Sam`s back and tried to soothe her as much as he could.
Janet left the room now as well with her daughter in tow. “Hey, it’s overwhelming isn’t it?” she stepped closer to her friends.
“Yes, I have seen him before in a hospital and many times in the infirmary, but he looks different today. His eyes are sunken in and his cheekbones protrude more than usual. I think the interesting part will be, how will he cope with the recovery and therapy. Was it not said his vertebras has been bruised? I am sure they are not right yet, and he will need some help. That will be frustrating for him and we need to be there for him. He needs to gain weight.” Sam realised that she had lost herself and stopped, took a deep breath and wiped her face.
“He will be ok. It’s Jack we are talking about. The devil does not even want him because he is too much trouble. He is still here. We will all help him,” Daniel stated and continued with an idea he had. “Who wants ice cream?”
He looked around at the small group, but no reaction came from the three pair of eyes. “I know a very good one. Called Baskin Robbins Ice Cream and I am buying.” He tried to lure them out.
“Ok, me then,” Sam smiled.
“Count me in as well,” Janet stated and Cassie nodded too fast with her head that Daniel was scared it would fall off in the next second or so.
All four of them laughed and started to walk out of the hospital. Tomorrow they would be back and the day after and the day after.
Xxx
Border between Montana and Wyoming
An old rusty car was driving along on highway 89 and for the drivers the sign for the state border was already in sight. Some country music was playing out of the radio.
“Another five miles and we are in Montana.”
“Sounds good, but we need to take a break as well soon. I need to go for a little Joe`s,” the man on the passenger seat declared.
“Hold it till we are over the border.” The driver looked grim out of the windscreen window.
He could hear a siren behind him and looked in the back mirror. Three black cars with the red and blue lights came closer fast. With this old car, there would be no escape. He did the only thing that would make sense to him. He pulled over and waited.
Not ten seconds later and both men had been surrounded by the state troopers. One of them had told them to present their driver’s license and the registration papers of the car. The others had been standing by with guns ready to draw.
The speaker took the papers and had gone back to his car to get it checked over. As he came back, he signalled his colleagues that they had found what they had been looking for.
“Step out of the car with your hands so I can see them. Driver first.” He shouted and all six weapons were trained on the driver. If he would play stupid, he would be dead in the same second. Nobody wanted that and everybody tried to stay as calm as possible. Luke opened the door and stepped out with his hands held up high.
“On your knees, hands behind the head,” came the next command which he complied with in an instant.
Another Officer stepped out and laid handcuffs on the driver, helped him up and guided him to one of the trooper cars. Then the same procedure happened to the man in the passenger seat. He was taken to a different trooper car.
The state trooper in charge of this little mission radioed to his head office that they had taken the two men sought with vigilance.
The convoy of four cars turned around and made their way back to the head office in Cheyenne. By the time they would reach the destination, the state troopers of Colorado would be already informed of the catch they had made.
------------------------
TBC
hope you all liked it next part will come some day early next week. stay safe every one