Stargate SG1 Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Life of a Major General ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11

Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, DC
May 23, 2005
Late Morning

Awareness returned with a persistent throbbing headache and a dull ache of his ribcage as he slowly inhaled and exhaled. As mental clarity returned, the noises and smells of his environment cued him to his current location, the clinical scents of a medical practice.

Slowly assembling the pieces of his hospital memories together in his mind he worked from his oldest memories forward. From his first hospital trip as teen breaking both arms in separate accidents three weeks apart, to trips after FUBAR missions with highlights in Iran and Iraq, and in the past eight years countless stays in SGC infirmary.

But this room did not have the familiar feel, nor did the air have the taste of being recycled to indicate that he was in the SGC infirmary. So what had happened and where was he—

Memories returned in a torrent rush and he jackknifed upright. Attached hospital paraphernalia going wild as his heart rate surged thorough the roof. A nurse rushed into the room just as wail of an electrocardiogram flat lining sounded. Hard on her heels at that dreaded sound were more nurses and a doctor.

Swaying slightly in his upright position in the hospital bed was a furious looking major general. Discarded on the bed sheets was the finger clamp for the heart monitor, which explained the reaction of the machine. Before Major Doctor Hill could begin reprimanding his patient he was lambasted by the man roaring furiously.

“Where are Tyler and Emily!?”

Surprised, not only at the quick recovery of a patient that until less than half an hour ago had been in a medicine-induced coma, but by the man’s clarity of mind, Hill schooled his features, well used to dealing with surly military patients and responded, “I’m sure your family will be arriving at any moment Sir.”

Dark brown eyes bore unforgiving into his as the hospitalised general responded distinctively, “Tyler and Emily are my two-year-old children. They were in the car with me. Where. Are. They!?”

Flummoxed by the development—Hill had been under the impression that General O’Neill had been the only occupant of his vehicle—he opened his mouth to respond and was halted by the arrival of the Air Force Chief of Staff General John Jumper and staff. Within moments after permitting a cursory exam, which O’Neill gurgling submitted to, hospital staff was ushered from the room and a guard posted prohibiting entrance.

“Sir,” Jack greeted his superior a little more respectfully though the glower was slow to leave his face.

Jumper returned the greeting as he pulled up a chair and gestured to the three men wearing three civilian suits accompanying him. Jack recognised Burke and Barrett but did not know the identity of the third one. Quickly setting up the equipment they had brought with them on the nearest flat surfaces, which soon meant Jack’s bed was crowded, Jumper regarded the Homeworld Security director grimly.

“Jack, I’d like you to remain calm while I tell you what’s happened since your accident two days ago.”

Jack’s expression flattened to learn that two days had passed and barely restrained himself from demanding again where his children were.

Seeing that Jack was going to comply, Jumper methodically laid out all that the investigation had uncovered. Either he or the children, or the three of them together, had been the target of a kidnapping attempt with the perpetrator succeeding in kidnapping the twins. While the AF had monitored his phone, computer, and mail while he had been in hospital no overt ransom demands had been made but might be once they learn of his return to consciousness. It was also highly suspected that the perpetrators were interested in information that could be procured by his current position due to the violent method of kidnapping.

Nothing surprising for Jack, just enraging to learn that they had successfully taken his children and no one had yet been able to link the kidnapping to any one perpetrator.

“I think there’s something you should know Jack,” Burke began as he exchanged looks with Jumper, had already told the four-star about what he knew upon learning of Jack’s accident and the twins kidnapping. “As you requested, I’ve been monitoring all official and unofficial inquires into the twins.”

Jack gave a curt nod and then regretted it as his head violently protested the abrupt movement.

“Most of the inquiries occurred in March shortly after you gained full custody. However…” Burke hesitated unsure of what reaction Jack would have to what he had to say next. “However twelve days ago Kerry Johnson did a background search herself.”

Jack seemed to grow unnaturally still at the news.

“Is Agent Johnson here?” Jack asked coldly after a long uncomfortable silence.

“She is,” the third civilian said. Finding himself the full focus of O’Neill’s hard eyes, the man straightened his shoulders and introduced himself, “I’m Special Agent Brad Cruise, Agent Johnson’s superior.”

“What is her reason for her investigation?” Jack questioned his voice still icy.

“Agent Johnson has not been questioned,” Cruise responded and nearly quailed under the hard gaze of O’Neill that changed from frost displeasure to outright disdain. Cruise had met plenty of hard nosed and aggressive people in his line of work that he had been able to stand against with ease but this two-star general gave a whole new meaning to the personality of ‘badass general.’

Jack shifted his steely gaze to Jumper and stated, “Request permission to question Agent Johnson now Sir.”

Cruise opened his mouth to protest the violation of procedure and found himself cut off by Jumper granting his permission and ordering everyone from the room. Leaving the equipment, though Burke unobtrusively turned off the recording deceives, the four men exited the room and sent in Kerry who had been waiting impatiently in the hospital’s visitor area while General Jumper, NID Agent Barrett, and CIA agents Burke and Cruise, had informed Jack about the situation.

Kerry was specifically assigned to assist HWS, and by extension SGC, with uncovering goa’ulds still at large on Earth after their infiltration of the Trust. As the kidnapping of the twins could very well be a Trust operation, she assumed because of her relationship with the general that Cruise had brought in Agent Burke to act as an unbiased liaison.

Entering the hospital room Kerry was relieved to find Jack sitting up without support, but the euphoria from the emotional sensation slowly faded under her lover’s hostile eyes. She had never seen that look in his eyes or on his face before and knew that this was the soldier not the man that was evaluating her as if she was a potential threat.

“Jack?” Kerry inquired apprehensively as she moved to his side and sat in one of chairs already dragged into position beside the hospital bed.

“Agent Johnson,” Jack responded flatly. “I have some questions for you.”