Supporting Rumors - Part 4
The nurses had ushered her out despite her protests when Doctor Hill arrived. Jack had soundly succumbed once more to the tug of the drugs, although it still took a heart wrenching moment to unravel his hand from hers.
She paced the corridor, oblivious to the sympathetic glances from the two plain clothes men who were stationed outside his room. She became aware of voices just beyond the double doors to the corridor which provided a 'security check point' for any person needing to see the General and she waited for someone to enter.
It was George Hammond who greeted her as the door opened and she moved towards him quickly, relieved to have someone to speak to.
"Sam?" asked the General, the frown on his face immediately demonstrating his concern.
"He woke up a little while ago, the doctor is in with him now," she explained quickly.
George let out a heavy sigh of relief. To say he'd feared the worse when he saw her standing there was a jolt he could well do without. His heart was heavy with concern for the younger man he considered part of his family and since the news of the shooting had reached him, every one of his years had made itself felt and not in a good way.
"You okay sir?" asked Sam.
"I'm fine. How are you holding up? Have you eaten yet today?"
Sam shook her head.
George wasn't sure which question she was responding to, and probably thought it applied to both...
"Come on." He took her arm and gently steered her through the doors, ignoring her protest.
Within a remarkably short period of time she was ensconced in the room she'd been shown to earlier and was sitting down with a coffee and a plate of sandwiches placed in front of her.
George sat wearily beside her and began to pour coffee.
Sam turned to face him, the worry clouding her eyes, a heavy frown marring her face.
"He's in the best of hands here Sam, don't let Doctor Hill's appearance or manner fool you, she's the best."
"I..." A large tear trickled down her cheeks and she swiped at it, a little embarrassed to be crying in front of a General, yet again. She cleared her throat, "Sorry..." she grimaced.
"Nothing to be sorry for," said George. "Hey, make the most of it...I don't pour coffee for just anyone you know."
Sam gaped at him, tears forgotten as she heard the definite rub off of working with her husband for any length of time...
George gave her a smile and a shrug, the twinkling in his eyes showing he knew just what she was thinking. Sam couldn't help the giggle that escaped. She smiled gratefully at the General and took a sip of the coffee he'd poured.
The hot, slightly bitter taste did her good and warmed up what she hadn't realized was cold until just now. She relaxed back into the couch a little more and the General placed a plate on her lap with a sandwich and instructed her to eat. She took a few bites, mainly to try and please him, but her masticating was purely reactive.
The coffee was finished and she had chewed her way part way through another 'piece of cardboard' when the doctor entered.
Sam felt the urge to stand to attention, ridiculous she knew, but it felt like that was the only way she might actually stop herself bursting into tears. As she moved her position on the couch, it was the large warm hand that gripped hers comfortingly that stopped her.
The doctor gave them both a brief acknowledging smile and then perched on the edge of the table again, scrubbing a hand through her tousled blond hair in a manner so like the injured General that Sam's heart gave a lurch.
The sandwiches she'd forced down threatened to make an appearance and she swallowed harshly, fighting the nausea that was massing.
xoxoxoxoxo
TBC