Time doesn't
Author: Jinup
Pairing Sheppard/O’Neill
Rating: PG - 13, maybe, shrug.
Warning: no beta, part thirteen in a loosely connected progression
It’s ironic that Carson had finally found working substitutes for most of Jacks medications just three weeks before Earth was able to open the stargate to Atlantis and ship them reinforcements and supplies.
Once Jack had leveled out and Atlantis had a stable connection to earth he had attempted to resign from his post. Luckily or not, depending on how you look at it, Weir refused. She had also used her before untapped creative writing skills to sanitize the reports shipped back to command.
Seems Jack was not only a medical wonder of Wraith destroying and resisting power but he was also invaluable to the moral of the mission. Didn’t you know that the troops and even the scientists looked up to him? Jack figured it was just the devil you know strategy; plus the guy that had shown up to reinforce them was an absolute tool. Jack can’t really say he is sad that the guy bought it, even if he should be able to feel-say that.
Jack feels slightly sick about Sheppard’s suicide run but besides the official commendation and a private warning about the chain of command and proper procedures Jack won’t say anything. Jack will let McKay shout his indignation and hurt for the both of them. Jack doesn’t figure he has any right to swan about spouting his internal drama to each and all. Sheppard has made it all too clear in the last few weeks that he was only trying to shore Jack up with his attentions; besides, Jack just doesn’t have the will to cry bullshit. Jack didn’t think that he would be the one to be less shy one about actual follow-through. Sheppard in retrospect was awfully closeted. Anyhow Jack doubts Sheppard would care about Jacks concerns.
Jack knows he should head to the infirmary. For all that he didn’t attempt to ram himself into a spaceship Jack is still in much worse shape then Sheppard. Jack just can’t seem to bring himself to care though; it doesn’t even hurt, although Jack knows it should. Jack is happy just sitting on the pier watching red swirl into blue. It’s not an artery so there is no danger of bleeding out anytime soon. The blood should attract the more predatory fish; too bad Jack doesn’t have a rod on him. Jack is still watching his blood drip off the pier into the water when Danny finds him hours later.
“Oh Jack”. Danny says sadly, he has bandages with him and wraps up Jacks shoulder as Jack kicks his feet into the water to watch the waves.
“McKay all right?” Jack can’t help but ask knowing Danny must have been worried for him.
“He’s fine…still yelling at Major Sheppard” Danny sighs as he continues to try to stop Jacks bleeding.
“It’s not fair” Jack says as he tucks his head into Danny. McKay should have been spending his worry on Danny not bugging Sheppard.
“No, it’s not…it never is”. Neither of them notices that Sheppard and McKay are watching them from the far end of the pier.