"So what exactly are we dealing with here doctor?" General Hammond asked Dr Janet Fraiser. "How many infected so far?"
"I'm not quite sure yet, General," Janet told him. She was stumped; this was one of the strangest things she had ever seen. "Seven infected so far. As far as I can tell, it starts with an itchy neck, then loss of control and, well, sexual aggression, for want of a better description. This is accompanied initially by a pounding headache and a high fever. So far the evidence suggests that the headache and fever dissipate in, er.." she checked her watch, "on average about 7 hours. But then the Neanderthal-like features develop, and the patient seems to regress to a primitive state."
"So what can we do about it?" Hammond was concerned that soon the whole base would be infected. He was also none too pleased at the thought of his airmen rampaging around out of control.
"I wish I knew, Sir," Janet said. "We've had a small 'breakthrough' of sorts, which is helping to manage the situation. The sexual aggression seems to be an entirely primitive instinct; the patient seemingly targets a member of the opposite sex who he or she deems most likely to provide strong offspring. This, as far as we can tell, has nothing to do with normal attraction. In one case," Janet chose not to reveal names, "a female airman set her sights on a man who, in her normal state, I happen to know she can't stand. But on paper, Sir," Janet shifted, this conversation was so far out of her comfort zone, "he is a strong alpha-male. So I can only conclude that procreation is the reason behind these 'attacks', if you follow me."
"Does that help us to find a cure?" Hammond asked. "How can we stop this?"
"We're no nearer to a cure, Sir," Janet told him. "But we have determined that, by segregating the patients and ensuring there is no contact with the opposite sex, the aggression is greatly reduced, though the primitive-like state remains. So we've set up two nursing teams. The male nurses and Dr Warner are treating the men, and the female nurses and I are treating the female patients."
"Good idea, doctor," Hammond agreed. "Well keep me apprised of any progress, and of any increases in patient numbers."
"Will do Sir," Janet agreed. "And we're running all the tests we can think of. We'll fix this Sir, I'm sure of it."
"If anybody can do it, it's you, Dr Fraiser," Hammond had great confidence in his CMO.
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At that moment, unbeknownst to the small CMO, or the general, O'Neill was in the locker room, when he was surprised by Captain Samantha Carter.
"Sorry, didn't know you were in here," he said, surprised; he had thought that the locker room didn't become the women's locker room for another 20 minutes. Suddenly, Sam reached up and grabbed him, kissing him passionately. This was such a breakaway from her usual obedient military self that O'Neill was temporarily startled into inaction.
"I want you," Sam told him huskily.
"Carter!" O'Neill was shocked. "This is a little out of line, don't you think?"
Sam pushed him desprately on to the bench, determined on her task of seducing her superior officer. "You want me?" she asked him.
"No!" he told her sharply. "Not like this. Carter! What's gotten into you?" he then realized what was happening; she was sick, like the others. "I think it's about time you saw a doctor, Doctor," he told her. "Teal'c!" he called out. "Help me out here, we've gotta get her to the infirmary. You hold her arms, I'll take her legs. Try not to let her hurt herself." And between them they carted the struggling and furious captain to the infirmary.
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"She's infected, isn't she doc?" O'Neill asked Janet after she had had time to examine her.
"Oh yeah," Janet agreed, "and she's not the only one; they're dropping like flies here. I've called in medical reinforcements; two doctors are on their way from the Academy Hospital, as well as six more nurses. The gender isolation seems to be working well, but we can't seem to get to the root of the problem. You, Daniel and Teal'c are still unaffected, there must be some reason for that. Don't worry, Colonel," she laid a reassuring hand on his arm. "She's okay for the moment, and she'll feel a lot better in a few hours when the headache and fever subside. We'll find the answer."
O'Neill nodded. He knew his feelings for his 2IC were inappropriate, but she was the best damned soldier he'd ever worked with, and he was determined that no harm would come to her.
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Teal'c walked into the infirmary a few hours later, to be greeted by bedlam. He started when he saw Sam in the corner of the infirmary, struggling against her restraints, and clearly injured.
"It's okay, Teal'c," Janet saw his look of concern. "She was stabbed by her roommate. Don't worry, it's superficial, she's going to be okay. We've run out of space. We've had to start doubling up on the ISO rooms. We're putting her back in on her own for the moment. She's generally responding well to the segregation, and is much less aggressive than some. You'd better keep out of her way, Teal'c, I don't want her in contact with any males for the moment."
Teal'c nodded his assent, and withdrew.
In truth, Janet was more upset than she had admitted that Sam was infected. She had swiftly developed a close friendship with the brilliant young captain, and hated to see her in pain or distress. Sam was one of the few people that she felt completely comfortable with, though she hadn't admitted to her that she was gay. So she had settled for a friendship with her, and the two women enjoyed each other's company greatly. They both had serious jobs, so it was a huge relief when they were off base to be able to goof off and show their more frivolous sides. Few people, for example, knew that Sam Carter was a pool shark, a poker genius, or that she had run naked through her college for a dare when she was 17. Not many knew either that she was kind, and funny and could be impulsive. Janet knew all this about her, and prayed that she could find a cure to bring her friend back to the person she was.
"Sharon!" Janet called. "Can you open up ISO 10 for me? We're going to put Captain Carter in there." Janet was exhausted, and her head was pounding. She reached up to scratch the back of her neck.
Sharon, her head nurse, opened up the isolation room, and helped Janet guide the gurney to the bed in the far corner of the room. Sam seemed much calmer, and they carefully maneuvered her onto the bed. "I think we can lose the restraints now," Janet said softly, pushing a strand of hair back from the captain's forehead. "She looks real peaceful now, doesn't she?"
Sam had in fact finally fallen to sleep, but Sharon was still surprised to hear the soft, almost wistful tone to the usually forthright doctor's voice.
"She's so beautiful, isn't she?" Janet asked, running her hand down Sam's arm in a tender motion. Sharon's fears were confirmed when Janet's hand slid under Sam's scrubs and she could clearly see her caressing one of Sam's breasts.
"Dr Fraiser," Sharon asked, her voice measured and careful. She didn't want to startle the medic. "Are you okay?"
Janet just looked up, confused. She wasn't really quite sure where she was, or what was happening.
"How's your head?" Sharon asked, already knowing the answer.
"Hurts," Janet's voice was small, and she wavered on her feet, putting her hand against the wall for support.
"Okay," Sharon soothed. "We'll fix that. Why don't you come over here and sit awhile?"
Janet nodded, and allowed Sharon to lead her to the bed opposite Sam's. Sharon put her hand to her forehead, and frowned. "Lie down there for a bit," she told her gently. "I'll be right back."
In under two minutes, Sharon had returned with Dr Michaels, who went immediately to her colleague's bedside. "She's infected," she said, "no real surprise, she's been in the middle of this right from the beginning."
Janet sat up suddenly, confused and frightened. "Let me go," she said sharply, trying to shake off the other doctor's hand. "M'fine. Just need to find a cure." Her words were slurred.
"Sure we do," Michaels soothed. "And we will. Right now, though, you need to lie down. Sharon," she turned to ask her for a sedative, but the nurse was ahead of her, and passed her the prepared syringe. "Thanks," she smiled, and injected Janet on her upper arm, before she realized what was happening. Janet growled with anger, and lashed out, fortunately just missing Michaels' jaw. Janet was stronger than she looked, so Michaels was grateful for her poor aim. "I think we should restrain her," Michaels said, a little sadly. She hated using the restraints, but knew this was the best thing for Janet, and was the only way to stop her hurting herself.
So Sharon called in another nurse, and between the three of them, they managed to change Janet into scrubs and strapped her into restraints on the bed. Michaels gave her an analgesic for the headache and fever.
"Well she's gonna have a rough few hours," Michaels said. "But then she'll start to feel better. We've got to find a cure, before the whole base is infected."
"D'you think it's safe to leave her in here?" Sharon asked the medic. "Should we restrain Captain Carter again?"
"I don't think we need to," she replied. "She's calm now; we'll watch on the CCTV, just to make sure."
And the two women withdrew, with Michaels switching on the monitor in her office so she could keep a watch on the ISO room.
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For the first three hours, Sam slept soundly, while Janet tossed and turned, sometimes shouting out angrily, other times whimpering as the fever and the headache overwhelmed her. When Sam woke up, she was confused. She hardly knew who she was, her usually overactive brain refusing to enlighten her. She just knew that she was tired and frightened.
Michaels watched as Sam sat up clumsily. As with the other patients, her movements were rougher and less refined, and it was with some difficulty that she got awkwardly to her feet. Michaels watched intently. She wasn't sure what Sam was going to do. The young captain still seemed calm, if confused, and Michaels was relieved to see her stumble to the bathroom. Shortly she heard the toilet flush and the running of water in the basin. Even in her semi-feral state, some instincts were kicking in.
As Sam returned to the room, Janet moaned in her sleep, fighting against her restraints, her movements becoming more panicky.
Sam looked over, seemingly noticing her for the first time. Her face darkened, as she realized her room-mate was distressed. She walked over unsteadily to Janet's bed. At this sight, Michaels was on her feet and sprinted toward the room, calling for Sharon as she went. She had no idea what Sam would do and didn't want to take any risks.
As the two women reached the room, however, they were surprised to see Sam standing by Janet's bed, her calloused hand on her arm, and her other hand stroking her hair. She was making inarticulate soothing noises - she seemed to have lost all language, but the sounds she emitted were clearly intended to calm the young doctor, and amazingly it seemed to be working. Michaels and Sharon stood by the door, as Sam pointed to Janet, miming a drinking action. Michaels was amazed to realize that Sam was instructing them to get some water for Janet, who was still running a fever.
"Sharon, can you get some water?" Michaels asked the nurse. "Is that's what you mean, Sam?" She wanted to know if Sam could still understand language, even if she could no longer speak it. Sam nodded, and went over to Michaels and took her hand, guiding it to Janet's forehead.
"Yes," Michaels told her. "She's running a fever. We know, and we've given her some medication. She'll feel better real soon, Sam, I promise."
Sam looked intently at her, and then nodded briefly. She was clearly taking in all that was being said.
Sharon returned, with a drinking cup with a spout to prevent spillage. She advanced to Janet, but Sam firmly - though with no aggression - took the cup from her. She mumbled something at Janet, and carefully lifted her head from the bed, as far as the restraints would allow. She held the cup to her lips, and Janet drank gratefully. Janet tried to reach out to touch Sam, but her restraints wouldn't allow it.
Sam pulled at the buckles, and again pulled Michaels toward the bed. She didn't seem to have the fine motor skills to unbuckle the restraints, but she clearly wanted her room mate freed.
"You want me to unbuckle her, Sam?" Michaels asked, and Sam nodded vehemently.
Michaels looked over at Sharon. "I think it would be okay. She seems calm, and Sam's showing no aggression toward her. In fact, it's quite the opposite, she looks to me like she's taking care of her. I think we can risk it, what do you think?"
Sharon nodded her assent. "We can always restrain them again if we need to."
And the two women swiftly unbuckled Janet who, as soon as she was free, flung herself sobbing into Sam's waiting arms. Sam rocked her gently, rubbing her hand soothingly up and down her back, murmuring softly to her.
After a few minutes, Janet's sobs subsided, though she still clung tight to her savior. She looked up at Sam's face, and reached up to cup her cheek. She pulled Sam toward her, until the taller woman was perched on the edge of the bed. Janet pulled her further on the bed, and climbed into her lap, clinging tight to one hand. With her other hand, Janet pushed Sam's scrubs top right up until she exposed her breast. She ran her fingers over it, and clasped it clumsily as she brought her mouth up to the nipple. Unexpectedly, Sam didn't start at this contact. Instead, she smiled softly, and cupped the back of Janet's head, cradling her to her chest. Carefully, she lay down next to Janet, keeping a tight hold on her.
Sharon and Francine Michaels watched in amazement as the two women in the bed, who now seemed oblivious to all around them, drifted off to sleep, intertwined in each others' arms.
The doctor and the nurse finally withdrew from the room, reassured that no harm would come to either of their patients.
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"Make sure the CCTV feeds only to my office," Michaels instructed a technician as she left Sam and Janet's room. "I don't want it showing anywhere else, you understand?" The technician nodded, and went to complete his task.
"So what the hell d'you think happened?" Sharon asked Michaels, once they were back in her office, away from the eyes and ears of the rest of the infirmary.
"Looks pretty clear to me," Michaels mused. "They're gay, and haven't been able to act on it up to now, military regulations and all that. But in their primitive states, they're letting their instincts take over. That's all, I guess. None of this is going in the notes, though. This is a private matter, and nobody else must know."
Sharon nodded her agreement. "It's kind of cute, though, isn't it, the way Captain Carter's tending to Janet?"
"It sure is," Michaels said. "Damned regulations. Those two are perfect for each other."