Doting [for Sam]

[has_2ls]

Okay, so, keeping the pregnancy a secret hadn't really been a big deal but Jack was coming up with new and creative ways to say he needed to head home to check on Sam. People were going to think he'd started taking a sudden interest in astrophysics but it was not something he figured was anyone's business but his and hers. He had some really weak tea from up at the Compound, though, and a wet cloth to hold over her forehead, if she wanted it.

"Sam? Samantha? Doing okay or should I clear out for a little longer and give you some space?"

He was trying to be respectful of her this time around and not act like he knew everything, which he didn't, and just let them find the way naturally. Kinda hard, sure, but he'd never backed down from something just because it wasn't easy.

Comments

[has_2ls]

"William's at the Children's Office," Jack said, coming in and settling next to her on the bed. "I brought you some tea from up at the Compound, though. I thought it might settle your stomach a little bit, if you want to give it a shot?"

Much better than coffee for that, anyway.

[gate_expert]

"Mmm, that sounds good." She sat up a little, waiting to see if the queasiness would get worse, and when it didn't she slowly sat up the rest of the way. "Thanks." She took the steaming mug and wrapped her hands around itl inhaling the steam before carefully sipping a little.

[has_2ls]

"No problem."

It was automatic to put his hand in her hair, stroking it lightly, and Jack did, wanting to see if he could do anything to make her feel better. He hated seeing Sam sick because he knew it bothered her, bad, when she wasn't able to do a million things at once.

"It's got some ginger in it, I think."

[gate_expert]

She sipped it again and nodded. "It does," she said, "and it's good. That's supposed to help." She'd read a study (or two or three or possibly more) about the effects of ginger on pregnancy-related nausea and was about to describe them to him when she felt queasy again, so instead of describing the studies in great detail she sipped her tea and nodded slowly.

[has_2ls]

"I know it's not much but it drives me insane to see you hurting and not be able to fix it," Jack said, reaching out to touch her knee lightly. "Kind of part of that whole husband thing, and all, and I want to do the best job I can."

[gate_expert]

"The morning sickness is supposed to be a good thing," she said, when she thought she could open her mouth without something other than words coming out. Sam hadn't been this sick the first time, so she was hoping that this meant things would be better this time. "So maybe it's okay that you can't fix it, you know?"

[has_2ls]

"Yeah, I guess when you look at it that way, I'm happy you're sick," Jack teased. "Except I hate seeing you miserable. Is the tea helping any?"

Maybe he was being impatient, yeah, but seeing Sam hurt made him hurt.

[gate_expert]

She nodded a little. "Yeah, it's helping," she said. "I just have to take it slow. Anything too fast isn't a good idea." Maybe she'd feel up to food in a little bit, but she wasn't going to push it. Not yet.

[has_2ls]

"Baby steps," Jack said, grinning. "And yes, I'm aware of the irony. I thought it was witty commentary on the current state of things."

He tousled her hair lightly. "Doing okay other than being sick?"

[gate_expert]

Even trying to avoid doing anything that might make her nauseous, she couldn't help but giggle a little at that. Jack, at his corny, cheesy best. "I'm fine," she said. "If I'm not sick, I feel just fine." Tireder than usual, but she suspected that was normal when growing a whole other person.

[has_2ls]

"There's light at the end of the tunnel, then," Jack said, pleased about that. Yeah, he hated seeing her nauseated all the time but if everything else was doing okay, he'd take it.

"We'll get that uh...broken thermostat under control soon and you can continue to bake your bun. I think I just compared my wife to an oven."

[gate_expert]

"I think you did," she said, rolling her eyes a little and huffing, but she wasn't really irritated with him. "But I'll let it slide. This once." She finished her tea, still sipping slowly. "It'll pass. It's not supposed to last the whole nine months." That was what she'd read, at least.

[has_2ls]

"Let's hope not. Otherwise, I'm going to become an expert at tea brewing." Not that this would be a bad thing, necessarily, but it kind of reeked of a little too much posh and British for Jack's tastes.

"I just don't like it when you don't feel good, especially when there's nothing I can really do about it."