"So you're telling me Major Carter simply consumed an unknown drink on that planet!" Hammond's face was burning red.
"We don't exactly know what happened, sir. By the time we got there she was already sitting there numbly." Daniel explained
"What do you mean numbly?" the general asked looking at Carter
"I mean like this." Jack demonstrated by poking Carter on her side and she did nothing, she didn't even flinch. Then he waved his hand in front of her face, still nothing her eyes didn't even move. She just sat there, staring into the distance, with a dumb smile on her face. And Sam Carter was never one to smile dumbly!
"What's she staring at?" Hammond asked confusedly.
"At the. Space. sir." Jack motioned into the distance with his hands.
"Major Carter?" Hammond tried his luck "Major Carter!" he was now shouting.
"I do not believe she hears you, General Hammond." Teal'c noted
"I'm well aware of that thank you, son!"
"Sir from what I translated before…. this…"he said looking in Sam's direction " …. happened, this drink is somehow sacred. It's a ceremonial drink. I couldn't finish translating the section but it was only used by the elite of this planet. But there was no other reference to it, no other proof on what it did or why they used it. There was also no clue as to why this society has died out or…." Daniel was almost running not speaking, as always.
"Let's better find out, son. I just hope we're not looking at the reason for their extinction." Hammond was starting to get concerned, while he looked sadly at the stupefied Major sitting across the table.
"I don't think this is it General, this drink was merely a celebratory one, like wine if you like." Daniel argued
"More like heavy drugs! Look at her Daniel, she's out of it! She's like an ODed drug addict." Jack was angry.
"A heavy drink perhaps, but I don't think it's harmful!"
"We'll let Dr Fraiser be the judge of that. Head to the infirmary and take MAjor Carter with you. And let the doctor also test the sample of the drink."
…..
"So doc?" Jack asked while frowning with his brows.
"Well, as far as I can tell, whatever Sam has, hasn't affected you, so it's definitely the drink." Fraiser explained "So any idea on how she got hold of it?"
"Sam found the goblet containing the drink on the table in the lab we were checking out. Jack asked her to be careful and not to play around with anything. She put it down. We went to the other room so I can take a look at the writings on the wall, and before we knew it, we heard Teal'c calling for Sam to put the goblet down. It was too late though, she had already drunk it." Daniel rushed
"You mean Sam drank this after the Colonel…." Fraiser looked at the Colonel in shock
"Yes, doc, she….. Damn it! She should have listened!" Jack waved his fist through the air.
"Doctor Fraiser, you'll wanna see this!" a nurse with a concerned look handed Janet a file.
The General had already joined them in the infirmary.
Janet opened the file and studied it closely, her face changing color. Then she headed towards them to show them Sam's MRI
"How's it going?" General Hammond asked, concern noticeable in his voice.
"This is an MRI of Sam's brain, sir. The blue spots are the dormant parts of her brain."
"All the parts are blue!" Jack says still missing the analogy
"Exactly, sir! Except for these small red dots, Sam's brain is almost dormant."
"Damn it, Carter!" Jack could no longer restrain himself
"What are these red areas responsible for." Daniel asked trying to stay objective
"Well basically those here are for the basic needs, and this was there is for pleasure and elation." Janet herself was equally surprised at the words leaving her mouth.
"Elation?" Jack and Daniel asked in unison.
"It's as Doctor Jackson explained, this drink is somehow similar to alcohol, only hundred fold the effect. It renders the drinker literarily inert, except for feelings of pleasure."
"Betcha a drink like that would sell for gold here." Jack muttered ironically as he turned to face the wall.
"So what does this mean for Sam? Is she gonna be ok? Are the effects permanent?" Daniel asked knowing that Jack was in his own world of insecurities now and that it would probably be best to let him deal on his own.
"I can't say, yet. I'm gonna need to run more tests."
"You do that and you tell me as soon as you get something. Dr Daniel I suggest you try translating more from the text to ….."
"Already on it, sir." Daniel was gone in a blink of the eye.
"In the mean time I suggest you keep her company." Janet turned to Jack ad Teal'c before she too was gone.
"And also keep an eye on her!" Hammond ordered as he glanced once again worriedly at his Major.
Jack just sat there looking at her sadly.
He tried pulling face at her, scaring her, tickling her, pick-a-booing her, everything that came to his mind; but still nothing! Her reaction remained unchanged: a dumbfound look into the distance and a stupid elated smile on her face.
"She's going to be ok O'Neill. Major Carter is known to always prevail. She's a strong worrier" Teal'c tried to reassure his friend
"I bet she is, T. I bet she is." But Jack wasn't really paying very much attention. He was lost in his own guilt and worry.
Why does this always have to happen? Why her?