The Tegan Chronicles 1

The New Kid Series 4

Kelnar

It had been almost two months SG1 had run several off world missions and only once had they run into a Goa'uld who had heard of Nirrti's ransom for Major Kiser. Teal'c took care of him and held his army at bay until they could gate home.

During this time, Tegan seemed to be doing a hundred and ten percent better. She was maintaining her weight, and had had no further medical problems. At least none that Janet could see. Of course Tegan wasn't forthcoming with any medical issues or injuries that might slow her team down, or heaven forbid ground them for anytime.

It was the latest mission that had Dr. Janet Fraiser worried. She'd just heard the Klaxons warning, "unscheduled off world activation." She was standing in the control room talking with a female Airman when the gate started to activate, and the Master Sergeant at the computer terminal announced it was SG1's code coming through.


Several hours earlier, Majors Carter and Kiser stepped through the star gate at the same time, bringing up the rear of SG1. They had been on the planet two days earlier gathering fauna. Today was a simple vegetation retrieval mission, and nothing more. They would be on the planet for six to eight hours and be home in time for Colonel O'Neill to catch the latest basketball game on the tube. Sam would be able to disappear in her lab to work on some naquadah reactor or another. Daniel could get back to cataloguing relics brought back from PX-something or other. Teal'c could do his kelno'reem and Tegan Kiser could do what ever it was she did, locked away in her research lab for hours on end. Sam looked at her wondering exactly what the young Major did in her spare time?

Sam realized that as quickly as Tegan had been accepted into the SGC, and SG1, she really didn't know a whole lot about the redhead. Even though they'd spent a great deal of time with each other, there was little any of them knew about Tegan's personal life. Even helping her unpack when she first arrived had done little to unravel the mystery that was Tegan. She had few personal effects. No family pictures, no collections, unless you considered all her athletic equipment a collection. The only real thing Sam had managed to figure out about the younger woman was she was an adrenalin junkie. Custom built bike, fresh and salt water kayaks, a jet ski, two snowboards, in line skates, surf board, among other things, tons of rock climbing and camping equipment as if she didn't get enough of the camping life going off world.

Yesterday Jack had come in the lab to talk to her about what a great asset she was to SG1. Tegan reflected on the odd conversation as she started over toward a long abandoned building to check out the flora there. She was needed; for once in her life people appreciated her. She almost laughed out loud at the thought. Her self-depreciating smirk earning her a strange look from Samantha Carter. Blue eyes locked on green for a split second before movement caught the younger Major's eye. She motioned quietly for Sam to find cover. "Sir, there are…"

"We know," Jack sounded a little testy as he responded over the two-way. "Our position has been compromised. There are Goa'uld on the planet. You and Carter go back through the gate, get reinforcements."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm shutting my radio off. Over."

They watched as O'Neill, Jackson, and Teal'c were marched passed them by about ten Jaffa. Tegan crept after them. She had traveled about fifty yards before she felt Sam's hand on her shoulder. "You heard the Colonel."

"I think we should check out the situation, so we have something to report to Hammond."

Sam had a bad feeling about this, but she assented and followed quietly. Arguing with the hardheaded Tegan would only draw unwanted attention to them.

They were led down a path through the thick over growth of the forest. As the fauna grew denser and denser they realized why they had assumed there were no intelligent life forms on the planet. Of course, Major Kiser was mentally reminded what assuming did.

Eventually they came across a large building that was out of place for the surroundings. The interesting blue-gray metal pulsated with a strange energetic glow. Tegan waved for Sam to follow her down a long eerily lit green corridor, which eventually emptied, into a great hall. Luckily there were several out croppings in the wall that allowed for cover.

Tegan thought she heard Sam whisper the name Nirrti. It sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't need to be reminded of the stories of the Goa'uld whose main goal in life seemed to be to torture the Tau'ri, or any life form she could get her hands on. Nor of the fact that this particular Goa'uld had placed a price on her head.

Tegan's green eyes were immediately drawn to the tall brunette. Had she not already heard how evil this woman was, she would have found her attractive. She was sure many people did, however evil seemly dripped from her very being. Something that didn't go unnoticed by the young Major.

"Where is she?" Nirrti demanded of the large Jaffa to the right of O'Neill.

"I do not know of whom you refer." Teal'c replied, raising his eyebrow slightly.

"The red head. The one who kills symbiotes. Major Kiser." She spit the name out with disgust, her voice carrying the coarseness of the Goa'uld who possessed her.

"Oh, that one." Jack rocked on his heels. "We thought she was one of yours."

Tegan glanced at Sam who shook her head. Some days Sam just couldn't believe Jack's humor.

"She is one of you, tell me where she is." Nirrti cocked her head to the side. "Or I will kill you."

"Jack?" Daniel looked to his side, his eyes imploring.

"Even if I knew where she was, I wouldn't tell you." Jack responded.

"Where is Sam?" Nirrti inquired.

"I didn't know you two were on a first name basis?"

"You know I have the power to take your life." Nirrti held her hand up revealing the ribbon device she was wearing.

"Yep." Jack smiled nervously. "And you're going to have to do just that, because like I said…"

Before he could finish a blinding ribbon of light struck his head, Nirrti held it there until his body fell over.

"I hate that thing." O'Neill shook his head, as he tried unsuccessfully to find his feet.

"Next time, you will not be so lucky." She smiled and turned the device to Daniel. "I will take out your Daniel Jackson first. Then maybe you will talk."

Even after Daniel's body had fallen to a heap on the ground, she continued to train the ribbon of light on his head.

"Stop!" Tegan yelled from the back of the room, having stepped out from her hiding place. She knew if Nirrti was allowed to continue Daniel would soon die.

"I've got what you want, let them go." Tegan held her military issue glock to her head.

Nirrti closed her hand, as Sam stepped out from behind another out cropping where she was previously hidden from sight. "We meet at last."

"Nirrti let them go." She slid the safety off.

"Kiser get the hell out of here, I told you to go back through the Gate."

"We don't leave our own, sir."

"I tried to stop her, sir."

"Samantha Carter," Nirrti smiled. "It's good to see you."

"I can't say the same for you." Sam didn't hide the distaste in her tone.

Nirrti gave a small nod. "You can't escape."

"I'm the only one you need, let them go."
"How can I guarantee you won't try to leave with them? Or better yet, blow your brains out when they leave?"

"I'm rather fond of my brain, at the moment." Tegan grinned at Jack who couldn't believe she was playing hero yet again. "You have only my word. And I promise if you don't let them go, I will blow my brains out right here. Then where will you be? I'm only good to you alive."

"Fine." Nirrti motioned for her guards to back off, as Teal'c hefted Daniel over his shoulder, and Sam moved forward to steady Jack on his feet.

"We'll come back for you." Sam promised as she passed.

"Don't worry about me." Tegan gave her a reassuring smile. At least she hoped it was reassuring. "She can't do anything to me."

"Except kill you." Jack's eyes narrowed.

"It will save you the trouble, sir." Tegan grimaced at the thought of having so blatantly disobeyed orders. Truth be told, it seemed easier and easier each time. "Take care, sir."

At this point Sam and Jack had stopped. "I'm not leaving you behind Major."

"You don't have a choice, sir." Tegan motioned to the gun she pressed firmly against her forehead. "I'm not going to let you die for me."

"I can't let you do this." Jack reached for the gun, but Tegan was quicker, more than likely a result of him being zapped by the ribbon device. She pulled her zat, and fired once.

"Get him out of here." She commanded, although technically Sam was the second in command. "When he comes to, tell him I'm sorry, and I don't think Nirrti plans to kill me; at least not anytime soon. Now go."


She wasn't sure what happened after that, except it felt like she had been hit by a rather large zat. When she came around, her arms were suspended from shackles extended from the ceiling, her feet were free, but there was a large metal ring around her waist, which was secured by heavy chains to the floor in three separate areas. Tegan quickly learned they were to keep her as immobile as possible.

Her wrists hurt from the pull of her unconscious body and she stood to relieve the pressure. She realized with some embarrassment she had been stripped of everything from the waist up, aside from her dog tags and black sports bra.

Nirrti stood in front of her. "Sorry to have had to use the zat on you, but I could not be sure you would not kill yourself."

Tegan doubted the Goa'uld was the slightest bit remorseful, though the thought of killing herself had crossed her mind. "Colonel O'Neill?"

"I kept my part of the bargain. They left through the star gate."

Although she didn't trust Nirrti any further than she could currently move her own body, she did believe this was the truth.

"How is it that you kill symbiotes?"

"I don't know." Tegan answered truthfully. "I don't even know that I do."

"Well, I guess we are both about to learn something then." Nirrti reached into a homeostasis chamber and pulled out a mature Tok'ra symbiote. It flared back and writhed in her grasp.

Had Tegan actually eaten anything in the last twelve hours it would have come up in that one moment. Having had one snake like creature invade and then die in her body was bad enough. The thought of it happening again, was enough to make her wish she had pulled the trigger. Before she could get anymore introspective on the thought, she felt Nirrti's grasp on her neck. With in seconds the symbiote was slithering down her throat, the action enough to cause her to gag.

Nirrti watched as the tail slithered out of sight. Once the searing pain began to subside, Tegan was bombarded by several lifetimes of memories that did not belong to her, very few of which could be considered happy memories. Then came the pain, as the symbiote tried desperately to fully blend. Tossing more memories into her mind. It was dying, and she couldn't imagine that anything could feel worse, although memories implanted by Kalma'Kipu told her otherwise.

Nirrti watched as Kiser's eyes lit up, and then died, and lit up again. After the eighth time, the light died and Tegan's body hung limply in the restraints. Nirrti felt her neck, satisfied that there was indeed a pulse there, and she wasn't dead. She sat down to wait for her to regain consciousness.


"What do you mean you left her behind?" General Hammond demanded. Janet had left with the medical teams attending Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson.

"She didn't give us a choice, sir." Sam responded. They'd already told him what had happened, why did he have to make them feel worse about it. It wasn't like Sam wanted to go back through the gate without her entire team.

General Hammond put together a rescue team. Jack and Daniel were in no shape to return with them, and Teal'c and Sam refused to stay behind. General Hammond briefed SG4 and 7. Despite her protests, Janet was not granted permission to join them. The teams returned two hours later to report the building was gone.


Tegan coughed several times, tasting the familiar metallic warmth in her mouth that indicated blood. Kelnar, the Tok'ra symbiote who had just died in her, had done his best to repair any damage his infiltration through her tissues had caused. Although he was only able to repair those things that were immediately life threatening. He was well aware that this was not her doing, and did not want her to suffer death at his hand.

Nirrti's smile faded as she saw blood foaming past the Major's lips. "You will not die on me Major."

Tegan watched wearily as the Goa'uld picked up something and placed it on her hand. With in minutes the darkness had enveloped her again.


SG1 contacted the Tok'ra and with in the hour Jacob and Anise were in the briefing room. Jacob informed them that the building was more than likely cloaked. He also let them know that they had not heard from Kelnar in quite sometime as to Nirrti's whereabouts, and they feared the worst.


When Tegan came to for the third time, it was the searing pain in her arms that pulled her back to the land of the conscious. She found her feet and stood relieving some of the growing discomfort, all too aware that this was nothing compared to what Nirrti could do to her.

As if on cue, Nirrti stepped into the large chamber. "I see you are doing better Major. Now, how is it you are able to kill both Goa'uld and Tok'ra symbiotes."

"I'm not going to tell you." Tegan wasn't about to tell Nirrti she still wasn't sure herself, knowing that would ensure her death.

"We have ways of making you talk." Nirrti's eyes glowed.

"Give it your best shot." Tegan challenged.

"You'll be singing a different tune very soon Major." Nirrti sneered, pulling out a staff that Tegan could only describe as a very powerful stun gun. She laid it against the bare flesh above Tegan's right breast, and a white light shot out from her eyes, nose, and mouth. She pulled the staff away. "I can bring you to the brink of death a thousand times over, and bring you right back to your agony. When I am done with you, you will give me the information I seek and beg for me to kill you."

"Hell will have to freeze over first." Tegan growled as another wave of pain coursed through her. She wasn't sure what device Nirrti had just used on her, but it was by far the worst so far. Her body would start to drift into unconsciousness, and somehow the device would keep her from the luxury.

The torture continued for over an hour, each individual muscle fiber screaming in the white heat. Tegan wasn't sure how much more her body could physically handle when the onslaught ended. She heard the jingle of keys followed by the cracking of bone. Fortunately for her, the rest of her body was in sensory overload, and she never felt the snapping of her left humerous, or the tearing of flesh as the compound fracture ruptured through layers of muscle and skin, when Nirrti twisted her arm in an un-humanly way.

Nirrti afforded her little rest, growing tired of the game. She realized that physical pain alone was not going to get her to break, and she was certain SG1 would be back soon. She skipped ahead to plan B, pulling from the knowledge she had.

Nirrti growled and thought of Samantha Carter. "Cassandra."

Tegan's eyes jerked fully open and she scanned the room.

"If you don't tell me what I want to know," Nirrti smiled, keenly aware she'd hit a nerve. "I will kill Cassandra."

"You don't have the ability."

"Don't I?" Nirrti responded. "I've come so close before. I have complete control over whether she lives or dies."

"I don't believe you." Tegan pulled her head away as Nirrti reached for her.

Nirrti placed the open palm of the hand device against her skull, and transferred her own visions through a glowing blue light. Tegan saw Cassie in her place, being tortured and in the end her body hung limply from the shackles. "Do you believe me now?"

Tegan nodded, and whispered. "I'll tell you what you want to know."

Nirrti stepped forward to hear her better.

Tegan used what strength remained and pulled her legs up swiftly, ignoring the pain from her fractured arm. "Go to hell!"

Tegan's feet connected with Nirrti's stomach and sent her reeling backwards. She was able to gain her footing and returned to Tegan's side. She grabbed her jaw jerking Tegan's face around to stare into her eyes. "You are going to wish you were in hell."

Nirrti wrenched Tegan's head to the side, before stepping back. Her anger was so overwhelming that she decided to use the negative energy to punish her captive in primitive ways. She jerked a sleek leather whip from its resting place on a low half wall. She cracked it expertly against Tegan's bare back. The second hit was with such precision and speed it cut through the material of Tegan's sports bra like a razor. The Major bit down on her lower lip, drawing blood as the assault continued. She refused to scream out even as the sharp leather tore through several layers of flesh leaving whelps and bleeding gashes in its wake. Tegan lost count after about the tenth lash to her back.

When Nirrti ran out of un-mangled flesh on her backside, she continued the flogging across Tegan's abdomen and chest. When Tegan finally succumbed to the pain and let the threat of unconsciousness crash down on her, there were little more then threads left of her black Lycra bra.

Nirrti hissed when she saw her body fall limply in her restraints. One more vicious slicing with the whip, and Tegan's body didn't respond. Enraged that her anger had not yet been displaced, Nirrti turned the machine back on that would keep Tegan in a constant state of pain. Abruptly she was pulled back into awareness, the machine fastidious in its duty of keeping its detainee completely attentive to the assault on her senses.

At this point Nirrti didn't care if she ever got the answers she was in search of. Her pride had been wounded when Tegan succeeded in luring her forward to try and attack her. Considering the weakened state of Tegan, it was about all the blow did to the Goa'uld enhanced body, but it was enough to evoke her unbridled wrath.


Sam had to swallow against the bile that burned at the back of her throat when she first stepped into the cavernous room where Tegan hung, suspended from the ceiling. She scanned the area with her MP5, convinced the area was clear before yelling to the other teams. "She's in here!"

She advanced on the center of the room, where Tegan's form dangled precariously from the shackles holding her upright. A bright glow illuminated from her entire being and Sam wasn't even sure the other woman was still alive. She heard a whimper seconds before Tegan's body convulsed violently. After the episode passed, there was only the shallow intermittent rise of her chest to indicate any sign of life. Sam was all too aware that even that sign was diminishing quickly. "We've got to get her down."

"I do not understand why this place is deserted." Teal'c observed, as he double-checked behind the thorough Major for the security of their surroundings.

"Nirrti either got the information she needed, or she knew she could not hold out against us." Jacob answered, looking for any signs of the fleeing Goa'uld.

Freya stepped up beside Sam who was cautiously eyeing the controls to the machine currently entrapping Tegan. It was the first time since this whole thing had happened that Sam was actually relieved to have the pompous Tok'ra along. "I can disconnect the machine without causing further damage."

Sam sighed in relief as Teal'c stepped up beside her. "How can I be of assistance, Major Carter?"

Sam assessed the open wounds on Tegan's upper body, knowing there was no easy way to transport her back to the SGC. Even if they had a stretcher along the task would not be easy. "Keys?"

"I did not see any keys." Teal'c responded, scanning the room one last time.

Sam stripped her Alice vest and took her field jacket off, as the light encapsulating Tegan flickered into nothingness. She draped her jacket as best she could over Tegan's nakedness, as much to protect her wounds as her modesty. Teal'c wasted no time artfully picking the various locks keeping her suspended. When this task was completed he hefted her like a sack of flour effortlessly over his shoulder.

Sam reported to the other teams that they had secured Major Kiser, who had life threatening injuries. Colonel Richardson of SG4 told her his team would meet her at the gate. Neither team had encountered Nirrti or any of her Jaffa. SG7 was currently gating home, and they would have medical standing by in the gate room.


Janet stood at the foot of the ramp anxiously awaiting the arrival of the injured Tegan. She was unable to get any information regarding Tegan's injuries from either SG4 or 7, other than the injuries had been reported as severe. Somehow when Janet saw Tegan she was sure that had been the understatement of the century.

Janet gasped as she looked up to see Sam step through the gate immediately followed by Teal'c and Tegan, before her professional mask slipped back into place. It was the only way she would be able to properly take care of the woman who was fast becoming a very close friend. Janet couldn't help but notice the awkward angle from which Tegan's left arm dangled out of Sam's field jacket. While the medics helped Teal'c load her on a gurney, Sam gave Janet a brief overview of how they found her body. She also informed her of what she had learned of the machine Tegan was connected to when they found her. Another thing she could thank Freya for.

When Janet was in the confines of the infirmary she pulled Sam's jacket back. She was horrified that any person or thing could inflict such massive trauma to one body.

"Dr. Fraiser, are you ok?" Airman Copley asked noticing Janet's pallor.

"Fine. We need to get an orthopedic surgeon from the base hospital here ASAP. I need a full body CT, x-ray of the left arm, full blood work up including a tox screen…" Janet continued to tick off orders as she manually checked Tegan's pulse and respirations.


"Unscheduled off world activation." The klaxons blared as Janet headed toward the General's office to update him on Tegan's condition. She quickly made a detour to the control room.

"It's the Tok'ra's code."

"Open the Iris." General Hammond looked up to Janet before he made his way to the gate room. "Meet me in the debriefing room in five minutes, SG1 is already there."

"Yes sir." Janet headed to the debriefing room as ordered.

"How is she?" Jack asked expectantly, already feeling better from his encounter with Nirrti, minus one colossal headache.

"Stable for now."

Sam stared at her hands, which were clasped and resting on the table in front of her. She'd had plenty of time to shower while Janet had been tending Tegan's injuries. "Hopefully that's Dad and Anise coming back with the healing device."

"It was the Tok'ra's code." Janet confirmed, trying to hide her distaste at the mention of Freya's host. She had heard that Jacob and Anise had gated home from planet P9R-210 in hopes of being able to return to the SGC sooner with the healing device to help Tegan along. The look on General Hammond's face when he entered the debriefing room was not promising.

"Please have a seat." Hammond offered Jacob and Anise before taking his own.

Sam looked expectantly at Jacob, who shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry Sam, under the circumstances the council will not agree to let us try and heal Major Kiser."

"She could die." Sam was passionate, even if she didn't have all the current facts.

"The high council has made their decision." Freya spoke, and for a moment Sam thought she heard a resounding triumph in the Tok'ra's voice. But when it came to the Tok'ra and Goa'uld one could never be sure.

"Is there a reason they won't let you use your technology to heal her?" Daniel asked, ignoring Janet's glare reminding him he should still be in bed.

"It is complicated." Freya answered sharply, and immediately Sam was sure she had something to do with the withholding of the healing device.

"We should be heading back." Jacob announced as he stood up, eyeing his daughter. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer Sam. I do hope Major Kiser pulls through this."

They all knew Jacob was sincere in his statements. Sam wonder briefly if he knew more than he could let on, and she was certain that was one of the reasons he was rushing to get back.

General Hammond requested that security escort them back to the Gate room. He shut the door to the briefing room and addressed Janet. "How is Major Kiser doing, Doctor?"

"She's currently stable. Dr. Anderson one of the orthopedic surgeons from the base hospital had to put in a plate to hold her humorous together. That break in it's self is going to set her back quite a bit, sir. She's got extensive wounds to her upper torso where she was beaten, and I am sure she has several torn muscles from the assault she received from the device she was connected to when Major Carter and Teal'c found her."

"Do you expect her to be able to return to active duty?"

Janet looked at the eager looks from SG1. "Physically, yes sir, once her body heals."

"How long do you think that will be Doctor?"

"At this point it would only be speculation. I'll know more in a week or two." Janet didn't want him trying to pin her down to a time line, especially when she wasn't sure she would return physically or mentally. "I really need to get back to check on her."

Janet wanted to be there when Tegan regained consciousness. She could read the expressions of Kiser's teammates. "I'll let you know as soon as she can have visitors, but it will be a while. In fact she's being kept in observation one under isolation procedures to hopefully cut down on the risk of contamination to her open wounds."

"Very well Doctor. Keep me apprised of the situation."

"Yes, sir." Janet removed herself from the room.

A few hours later Airman Copley entered the observation room. "Dr. Fraiser, I've come to relieve you."

"I'm fine." Janet had two fingers placed on the pulse point on Tegan's right wrist, despite the raw skin there. Her other hand merely waved the Airman away.

"You need to at least take a walk in the halls, stretch your legs out, and get some fresh air." As if fresh air were an option inside the mountain's complex. "I'll stay with Major Kiser."

"I was under the impression you didn't like Major Kiser." Janet glanced up to see Copley decked out in an isolation gown, surgical cap and mask.

"Water under the bridge, Doctor." Copley looked over at Tegan with something akin to sympathy in her eyes. "Major Kiser doesn't want it spread around, but she apologized for her behavior and for threatening to write me up for insubordination. She even bought pizza for my entire family as a peace offering."

Janet nodded knowing Tegan had a softer side, which she often tried not to show. "Just be sure you don't let it get around the SGC."

"Not a problem." Copley trusted Janet for some reason, and knew she wouldn't tell anyone. "Now you need to take a break."

"And who's the ranking officer here?"

"You are, but if you continue to be so bull headed I'll see if I can find someone who outranks even the CMO to get you out of here."

Fraiser had no doubt the Airman would follow through with the threat if she felt Janet were in need of a break. "Since you feel so strongly about it, I'll just head down to the mess and grab a coffee."

"Might as well take time to eat while you are there." Copley suggested.

Janet stepped out side of the room pulling off her garb. She looked up to find Major Carter leaning against the opposite wall. "I see her threat worked."

"You?"

Sam held her hands up. "Copley found me, wanted me to pull you out kicking and screaming if her threats didn't work. Besides I've got an hour before we head back to P9R-210."

"We? And while we're at it, WHY?" Janet started to follow Sam in the direction of elevators.

"SG1, to see if we left anything behind. Nirrti seems to have an affinity for taping her tortures. And considering she was trying to learn something from Tegan, I would suspect she recorded that as well."

"I haven't released Daniel for duty." She hesitantly stepped into the awaiting car.

"He's staying behind, Jack pulled Makepeace to jump with us." Sam leaned casually against the wall of the elevator.

"What makes you think she left anything behind?"

Sam shrugged. "Just hoping."

Janet decided to change the subject, not wanting to think about the risk they were running heading back to the planet. "Why do you think the Tok'ra wouldn't allow the healing device to be used on Tegan?"

"Anise, or more likely Freya. She's jealous of the wealth of information it is rumored Tegan possesses and she's mad that Tegan wouldn't allow them to do the testing. I am sure she told the high council that Tegan could have prevented Kelnar's demise if she'd only let them do the testing. She may have even gone so far to insist that Tegan killed Kelnar because she could, and not because she has no control over it."

"Do we know that she doesn't?" Janet couldn't believe she was asking such a stupid question as she stepped out of the elevator and led the way towards the mess.

"I don't think she does Janet." At least she hoped she didn't. The thought made her shiver. Sam was acutely aware that Kelnar and Jolinar had grown up together in much the same capacity as brother and sister. "Hopefully if Nirrti did record the sessions, she left in such a hurry that she didn't take them with her."

Sam was optimistic it would shed some light on the problem. She also knew from what General Hammond had said after Janet left, that the Tok'ra believed Tegan told Nirrti what she wanted to know. It was the only explanation they had for Nirrti leaving her there to die; and another nail in Tegan's coffin, so to speak regarding the healing device.

Sam managed to get Janet to eat something along the lines of Salisbury steak in the mess hall. She often wonder what happened to the good cook they'd had. The one that would make things like turkey and stuffing, and it wasn't the canned stuff. Homemade cornbread that was a long-standing family recipe. What ever happened to him?

Janet stepped back into the observation room so quietly Airman Copley didn't hear her. Of course Janet mused she was too enthralled with reading Homer's "The Odyssey" aloud to Tegan. The scene was touching, especially knowing how they'd gotten off on the wrong foot. Janet cleared her throat, hating to break the moment.

"You're back already?"

"I was gone twenty-five minutes." Janet pointed out with only a hint of self -satisfaction. Of course it would have only been five minutes, had she not run into the brilliant and beautiful Samantha Carter in the hallway. "How is she?"

"No changes." Copley looked down at the pale form that would have blended entirely with the sheets had it not been for the slightly gray hue to her pallor. "She's still out of it."

"Although I would feel better knowing she will regain consciousness, I think we should be thankful for small miracles." Janet was all too aware of what the levels of pain, Tegan would be dealing with when she did finally come around, could do to a human body.

"What are your options for pain control?" Airman Copley asked as if reading her mind.

"Anything I can find to keep her comfortable and alive." Janet shrugged. "Her tox screen is completely clear. Aside from a new strain of naquadah in her blood stream, there was nothing else out of the ordinary."

Another small blessing, Janet reminded herself. Checking her watch Janet glanced back up. "Isn't your shift about over?"

"It is. I need to take care of a few things and Black and I need to do a narc count before I sign out." Copley hesitated as she closed the book and crossed the room to leave. "I get the feeling you're going to be staying on base, do you want me to keep Cassie?"

"She's staying with Airman Phillips and her husband, but I am sure she'd be happier with you. I just don't want to inconvenience you."

"Who's inconvenienced? Gillian loves it when Cassie gets to spend the night."

"I often think Cassie is going to request new parents." Janet joked.

"The girl absolutely adores you Janet."

Janet rolled her eyes.

"I'll talk to Phillips and Cassie can stay with me."

"Thanks Julie." Janet used her first name to convey her sincerest feelings.

"Never a problem. Just don't work your self to death in here. You won't do your patient a bit of good from an adjacent bed."

"Understood." Janet offered a brief smile that went unseen behind her mask, before the young nurse took her leave.

Once the door settled back in it's frame Janet checked over all the machines and grazed her fingers over the reddened flesh surrounding Tegan's wrist. In light of it all, the raw areas left from the shackles were the least of her wounds. Janet knew it was a grim miracle Tegan was still alive. She hadn't reported to the General or SG1 that she had arrested on the operating table. Now Janet questioned her judgment in resuscitating her. Something she was sure she would struggle even more with once Tegan became aware of her more than painful predicament. It wasn't that she wasn't supposed to resuscitate her; Tegan didn't have a DNR order in place. Of course part of that was Janet's fault.

As if following Janet's train of thought a quiet moan rose from the bed. Janet looked up to see half opened green eyes peering precariously at her, before sliding shut.

Tegan wondered who had a party in her head and forgot to get her permission. It was the first conscious thought she'd had since… something about Nirrti and a whip. But that had to have just been a bad dream. Maybe a side effect of the massive amounts of alcohol someone had slipped into her body without her consent or knowledge, since her head currently hurt so bad it put a migraine the size of the Milky Way to shame. She started to move her left arm, only to realize it was too heavy. Next she decided her right hand would do just as well to try and ease some of the tension from the muscles lying across her temples.

Now it was just the simple of act of making her brain process the need to move. Concentrating entirely too hard on trying to get her hand and arm to move, Tegan felt the slightest movement followed by fire tearing through her muscles and unbelievable pain ripple across her torso. Bad idea. She moaned for all she was worth, realizing suddenly the Milk Way was the least of her problems.

Janet flinched as the almost animalistic sound escaped Tegan's throat, her eyes flying open again and frantically searching the room.

"You're back at the SGC, and you're safe." Janet's voice soothed even as her fingertips flitted across her forehead, pushing strands of titian hair damp with sweat off her forehead.

Tegan's eyes settled on Janet's face and she relaxed fractionally. Janet pulled away seeing the raw expanse of pain reflected in the green orbs.

"No." Tegan's voice cracked painfully on the word as Janet pulled away to draw up a dose of morphine.

"It's ok." Janet reassured as she inverted the vial. "I'm just going to give you something to ease the pain."

"No pain."

"Cassie's right, you are a terrible liar." Janet saw the change in expression, as fear won over the battle pain had on Tegan's face.

"Cass?"

"She's ok." Janet pulled the filled syringe back and sat the vial aside. "You need to rest."

"No." Tegan insisted even as Janet inserted the needle into the IV port and began to push the medication through. She hadn't even gotten half the dose in before Tegan's eyes drifted shut.

Janet called one of the nurses in to sit with Major Kiser; she left a medication schedule that would keep her heavily sedated for sometime to come. "If there is any change in her status, I want to be notified immediately. And she is not to be left alone."

"Yes ma'am."

"I'll be in my office."

Janet barely made it into the confines of her office before the tears started falling. She was relieved Tegan had regained consciousness, but the manifestation of pain had been almost more than Janet could bear. She found herself again questioning her actions in the operating room.

She was still contemplating her thoughts when she heard a knock at the doorway. "Come in."

"Hey." Sam poked her head in noticing how tired Janet looked.

"You're back already?"

"We've been gone eight hours." Sam gave Janet a puzzled look as she checked her watch.

That must be why Sam hadn't noticed she'd been crying. Janet realized she'd been lost in her musings longer than she'd thought.

"General Hammond has requested you come to the debriefing."

"Me?" Janet stood up.

"Yeah, we found a recording device in the main chamber where Tegan was being held." Sam explained before leading the way toward the briefing room. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Janet nodded.

"How is Major Kiser?" General Hammond addressed Janet the minute she stepped through the door.

"She's resting, sir." Janet pushed all her thoughts of self-loathing aside. It was something she rarely indulged in. "She regained consciousness about six hours ago, and was in a great deal of pain. We are keeping her sedated, so she can rest."

General Hammond nodded, then turned to Sam. "Major, if you're ready."

"Yes sir." Sam walked over to the device, which they had sitting in the middle of the room.

It didn't occur to Janet to ask where the conference table was, as the life size hologram flickered to life. She shuddered as she saw Tegan hanging limply in shackles. The entire room seemed to tense when an all too real hologram of Nirrti walked up and started questioning Major Kiser.

About half way through the flogging, which Daniel had turned away from at the beginning, Colonel O'Neill became physically ill. He retched into a nearby trashcan, bringing up what little remained of his lunch, followed by dry heaves. Janet and Sam looked on, as Teal'c glanced from the hologram to Jack. "Colonel O'Neill, are you alright?"

"I'm fine buddy." Jack settled on his knees refusing to look back at the life like hologram. He noticed even General Hammond cringed with each crack of the whip.

Sam cut the device off when she and Teal'c had arrived on the scene.

Teal'c was the first to speak. "I do not believe anyone can doubt Major Kiser's loyalty."

"I never doubted it in the first place." Colonel O'Neill announced, still seated on the floor.

Sam shook her head, knowing she had fully trusted Tegan before this incident. "I am not sure I could have gone through that."

"SG1 you are officially on down time for the next two weeks." General Hammond refused to even look in the direction where the hologram had been. "I am requesting that every one in this room attend counseling sessions, my self included."

"Sir?" Colonel O'Neill pushed to his feet, watching Janet nod in agreement with the General.

"That's an order Colonel."

"Yes sir."

"You're dismissed." General Hammond watched as SG1 filed silently out of the room. He noticed Janet made no such move. "Was there something you needed Doctor?"

"A minute of your time, sir?"

"Certainly." He waved her to take a seat as he closed the door. "What seems to be the problem?"

Janet hated when the General was so caring. She'd rather him be rattling off orders then acting like an over concerned father. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Of course."

"I wasn't completely honest when I came in and gave you my initial report on Major Kiser, sir." Janet paused, half hoping the General would start ranting and raving. Instead he sat perfectly still waiting for her to continue. "She arrested in the OR and we had to resuscitate her."

"I see."

"It was a relatively simple resuscitation." Janet had been surprised when she got a rhythm back after only one try.

"I don't see where the problem is Doctor."

"Major Kiser came to me several months ago, after finding out about Nirrti's ransom on her head. She wanted to change her living will, expressing she wanted absolutely no heroic measures taken. I told her to come back in a few weeks, once she had some time to think about things."

"So you feel you shouldn't have intervened in the operating room?"

"Yes sir."

"Let me ask you this, Doctor," General Hammond leaned forward his chair. "Did she ever come back to change her advance directive?"

"No sir."

"Then you did absolutely nothing wrong."

"What if I am only prolonging her suffering?"

"You told me you expected her to make a complete physical recovery?"

"Yes, sir. At this point if we can keep her pain under control I still believe she will."

"Do you believe any of the doctors under your command would have done any differently?"

"No sir."

"Major Fraiser," General Hammond intentionally used her rank. "I have complete confidence in your judgment and abilities as a doctor and as CMO of this facility. I believe you did what was necessary in the given situation and I have no doubt that Doctor Kiser would have done the same thing."

It wasn't the doctor in Tegan that Janet was worried about. "Thank you sir."


Tegan moaned quietly as the florescent lights in the room threatened to burn her retinas to a crisp. She looked out experimentally through slit lids to see Janet hovering beside the bed, a worried look pulling at her tired features. "Hey."

Janet frowned at the dry croak, and reached for a cup of ice chips offering a spoonful to Tegan.

A few minutes later Tegan opened her eyes further, realizing her retinas really wouldn't implode, as the photo sensitivity let up. "That's better."

Janet still hadn't said anything, which was beginning to bother Tegan. "How long have I been out?"

"We've had you heavily sedated for the past five days."

"Pay back's hell," Tegan deadpanned. She tried to sit up, immediately aware of what a bad idea that was. "Argh."

Janet reached over for something on a side table.

"If that's anything you are planning on pushing through my IV, I'm going to personally shoot you." Tegan warned.

Janet sat the vial back down, wondering if she was doing the right thing.

"It can't be that bad." Tegan again tried to move, another cry of pain escaping her lips. "Ok, maybe I could use some Advil."

"I don't think Advil is going to cut it." Janet pointed out.

"So doc, tell me how bad is it?" Tegan reworded her earlier question.

"You've got a compound fracture of your left humorous and thanks to Dr. Anderson an orthopedic surgeon, you've got a titanium plate holding the bone together."

"And all my pain's not coming from a broken arm." Tegan urged her to continue.

"The skin covering you're upper torso looks like ground beef."

"Raw or cooked?" Tegan raised her eyebrow, realizing even that simple movement was uncomfortable. She sighed, "I take it the rest of my injuries are invisible."

"To the naked eye, yes. And we can't do an MRI because of the metals in your body."

"Lucky me." Tegan stared at the ceiling. "So when can I roll over?"

"I can help you." Janet offered.

"No," Tegan licked her lip, and realized the majority of the damage she'd caused biting it during her flogging at the hands of Nirrti had just about healed. Her brain finally registered Janet's outfit. "Am I contagious?"

"Reverse isolation."

"Five days of healing and you're still worried about infection. It's must be bad."

Janet almost wished Tegan would stop with the lighthearted jokes. She knew the majority of it was an act to cover her discomfort.

"So when can I get out of here?" Tegan sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and braced herself to move.

"I don't know." Janet answered honestly, and put a hand over Tegan's to keep her from pulling herself up. "You need to relax, let me get an orderly in here to help me reposition you."

"Janet, I can do this myself." Tegan insisted.

"I'd rather you not try." Janet was about to call for help when Sam came in.

"Hey!" She noticed Tegan's eyes were open. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I picked a fight with a Goa'uld and the Goa'uld won." Tegan smiled.

Sam ignored Janet's glare, knowing she really shouldn't be in the room. But she'd taken all the precautions and would never intentionally put Tegan at risk for infection. "Theoretically speaking you did. If it makes you feel any better, Teal'c has promised when we find Nirrti he will hold her, while the rest of SG1 beats the life out of her."

"As long a I get in on some of that action." Tegan moaned lightly.

"Feeling pretty rough huh?" Sam asked sympathetically noticing Janet wince at the sound.

"I'm fine." Tegan was sure the lie was less believable the more she told it.

"She's threatened to shoot me if I give her anything stronger than Advil." Janet responded dryly, before turning on Sam. "You're not supposed to be in here Major."

"Couldn't help it." Sam offered an apologetic shrug.

"Well, since you're here you can help me reposition her." Janet pointed to the sheet under Tegan that the medical staff had been using to turn her frequently.

The most difficult part of her care was the fact they couldn't completely relieve the pressure on her wounds. "On my count, we'll pull her up and turn her towards me."

With any luck they could accomplish the task in one fluid movement. "3-2-1"

That was a blood-curdling scream if Sam had ever heard one. Tegan tried desperately not to yell out, and even more desperately not to cry once the pain had hit. Neither of which was she successful in preventing. Even as Sam apologized, and the tears clouded her vision, Tegan could see Janet once again reaching for the vial on the side table. "No."

"I'm not giving you a choice, Major." Janet stated with all the authority she had.

It was enough to make Sam quake, even though it wasn't directed towards her. Still it had little effect on Tegan. "If you care about me at all, on any level, you won't…"

Tegan gasped unable to continue. The burning of her flesh beneath the dressings covering her torso tore deep into her chest. "Janet?"

"You're in pain."

"I know." Tegan choked out on a sob. "But, I don't…"

"Why?" Janet could already see the effects the pain was having on her patient's heart rate and respirations. She was certain it was doing no better for her blood pressure. Normally Janet would have been relieved, considering Tegan's body often did the opposite of what it should do. Only at the moment Tegan was causing undue stress on her body, stress that could lead to a full-blown myocardial infarction, if Janet didn't do something.

"I… need…" Tegan's eyes pleaded. "To feel."

"I don't understand." Janet looked from Tegan to Sam, who only offered a one-shouldered shrug and a head shake. "You can't put you're body through this."

"Please."

"Do you want to die?" Even as Janet asked the question she feared the answer. More than she feared the pain Tegan was experiencing, she was terrified Tegan would say yes.

Tegan closed her eyes and tried desperately to center her breathing, something that was becoming harder and harder with each passing moment.

Janet's stomach revolted as a full minute passed with out a response to her question. Sam was even on edge waiting for her teammate to say something, anything. Well, she thought anything, but in the back of her mind something threatened to bolt if Tegan's answer was in the affirmative.

"No." The answer was oddly devoid of emotion. There was no pain, no fear, and no anger. It was flat. Green eyes that slid open told an entirely different story. Janet saw it. Sam saw it. Even from the observation booth, where his presence had been undetected, General Hammond could see it. A look of pleading, but for what no one was sure.

"Do you trust me?" Janet placed a hand over Tegan's right hand.

"Yes." She croaked as another moan bubbled up through her chest.

"Then let me help you."

"Ok." She managed to get out before sharply inhaling.

Janet plunged the needle into the IV port and pushed the medication through. It wasn't long before Tegan's body relaxed, and the numbers on the monitors started to come back down into a normal range.

Sam looked up and noticed General Hammond standing on the other side of the glass window looking down into the room. Before she could say anything he spoke. "Doctor?"

"Sir?" Janet looked up to see her superior.

"How is she?"

Not sure how long he'd been there or how much he had witnessed, she answered simply. "She's alive, sir."

He gave a curt nod before leaving.

"Sam, I need you to leave so I can change her dressings." Janet decided to take advantage of the pain medications coursing through Tegan's system, and go ahead and get it over with.

"Do you need help?"

"I'll get one of the nurses to help." Janet wasn't sure how well Sam could handle what needed to be done. They had been irrigating the wounds as best they could with an antibiotic solution with each dressing change.

Seeming to sense that Janet didn't think she could stomach it, Sam made a graceful exit. "I'll stop by later."

"Use the observation booth next time." Janet warned.

Sam nodded before disappearing through the door.


The next five days passed in a hazy blur for Tegan, a luxury of the morphine, or a curse. She was finally able to forego any pain medications until it was time for them to do the dressing changes, and even then it did little to subdue the discomfort. They had to stop giving her morphine because she'd started violently vomiting, and considering she wasn't eating much it made for an even more painful experience.

"Hey, how's my hero doing?"

Tegan looked up knowing it could be none other then Colonel Jack O'Neill. She wasn't sure which was worse, the nickname "kid" or being called a hero.

"That's Major to you, sir." She gently chided.

"I told him you did not like the title." Teal'c stepped out of the shadows behind the Colonel, so he could be seen.

"Hello Teal'c."

"You didn't answer my question."

Tegan blushed. "I'm sorry sir. What was the question?"

"How are you doing?" He enunciated each word slowly.

"Fine, sir."

"Has anyone told you, you are a terrible liar when it comes to how you're doing?"

"Many times sir," Tegan let out a sigh. "But I am doing better."

"That's better." Colonel O'Neill wore his patented smug look. "Can I get you anything?"

"Some real clothes?" She asked hopefully looking at the metal frame that was keeping the sheets off her upper body.

"You planning on making a break?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I do not think Doctor Fraiser would approve." Teal'c stated blandly before she could answer.

"I'm going to see if I can talk the good Doctor into springing me from this joint."

"I do not believe you will have any such luck." Teal'c intoned, as he looked to a point past Kiser's bed.

Tegan turned, ever so slightly, to see Janet standing there in all her isolation garb glory shaking her head.

"And on that cue, we'll leave." Jack quickly hurried out of the booth, followed closely by the large Jaffa.

Janet held her hand up before Tegan could argue. "Let's give it another twenty-four hours, and then maybe you can go home with me."

Tegan frowned, but knew better then to argue remembering what happened last time. She definitely didn't want to go through that again. She noticed the syringe in Janet's hand, and raised an eyebrow. "Time for a dressing change?"

"I'm sorry." Janet offered sympathetically.

A retort was right on the tip of Tegan's tongue, but she knew from the look in Janet's eyes it was almost as painful for her to have to do the deed as it was for Tegan. "It's all part of the job."

"Yeah." Janet started cleaning the IV port.

"Think we could skip it?"

"The dressing change?"

"The pain medication. I want to be alert this time."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Even with the pain medication and Tegan more than half out of it, she would yell out in pain.

"Actually," Tegan hesitated. She really wanted to go home and what she was about to tell Janet would undoubtedly keep her there for another week in the least.

"Yes?"

"It's nothing." Tegan shrugged as a wave of uncontrollable coughing took over her body. Tears streamed down her face with the effort and pain it caused.

Janet frowned, she'd known Tegan had started coughing a few days earlier and from what she'd seen it was progressively getting worse. The monitor behind her alarmed, announcing Tegan's oxygen level was dropping. Janet automatically reached for the oxygen mask behind the bed, and thrust it into Tegan's face.

Tegan shook her head no, before choking harder as something slimy hit her hand. She carefully closed her hand hoping Janet wouldn't notice. Of course she had no such luck.

Janet saw Tegan pulling her fisted hand away from her mouth as the coughing subsided. She wrapped gentle fingers around the Major's wrist. "Let me see."

Tegan sighed and closed her eyes. It was the exact thing she was debating on telling Janet. She surely didn't want to see the woman's expression when she showed her.

Janet's face paled several degrees when Tegan finally opened her hand. There laying in her palm was a bloody mass of… "Is that lung tissue?"

Tegan opened her eyes, breaking out into a cold sweat. "No it's just…"

But it wasn't just mucous and blood, as it had been earlier. Tegan looked closer. "It can't be."

"I've seen odder things." Janet mused, and since working with the SGC she really had. She reached for a specimen cup out of one of the drawers. "I'll need to take a closer look to be sure."

"Janet, I just want to go home." Tegan hoped she didn't sound as whiny to the other woman as she did to herself.

"You know what the implications are, if this is lung tissue."

"Which is why I want to go home." Tegan's voice was stronger this time. "If I am going to die, I don't want it to be here."

"I'm not going to let you die, now hand it over."

Tegan surrendered the sample seconds before another spasm of coughing shook her body. This time when her oxygen levels dropped so did she. Janet pushed the oxygen mask over Tegan's mouth and nose, and held it in place until her sats started to rise.

"Head rush." She smiled sadly from behind the mask.

Janet nodded an acknowledgement, relieved the loss of consciousness had been brief, a good sign. "I'm going to get Julie to sit with you while I check this out."

"What about my torture session?" Tegan wished she could forestall any insight into her demise.

"It'll have to wait."

Janet looked into the microscope for the tenth time. It was as if she would look one more time, it wouldn't be true. Finally she threw her clipboard across the small lab. "Damn it!"

She looked up when she heard a silent thud, when there should have been a loud clatter of the clipboard hitting the wall. "Problem?"

"Yeah." Janet ran a hand through her short auburn hair. "Do you think we could barter with the Tok'ra to use their healing device?"

"That bad?" Sam stepped forward.

"It could be." Janet looked over at the microscope, tempted to look one more time. "I need to run some more tests. Think you could try and contact the Tok'ra in the meantime?"

"I'll see what I can do." Sam followed Janet out of the lab.


"Is it?" Tegan asked, pointing to a tissue on her beside table that contained a considerably larger chuck of tissue.

"I need to run some more conclusive tests." Janet offered.

"In other words, yes." Tegan shook her head, hating that Janet of all people was trying to shield her from the truth.

"I need to get a chest film, CT scan, run some blood work."

"Cancer?"

"It's possible, but I'm not ready to jump to that conclusion." Janet offered a hopeful smile.

"Let me take a look at it, help you out. Two brains are better than one." Tegan offered.

"I doubt you can even stand up right now."

"Sounds like a challenge to me." Tegan was pulling herself to the side of the bed before Janet could argue.

Janet put a hand up to stop her, and saw Tegan's eyes light up at the same time she yelled out in pain. Her eyes continued to glow for several seconds before her body started convulsing. "I need some help in here."

Janet stood bedside the bed, her body acting as a barrier to keep Tegan from falling out of the bed. She held her on her side to keep her airway open until two medics came in to help her.


"I'm no doctor, but that looks like Swiss cheese to me." Jack announced as he followed Sam into the lab.

Janet was standing with her back to the door frowning as she looked up at the light box.

"Tegan's still out of it." Sam offered.

"There's not a symbiote in her system." Janet turned to look at Sam. "The scan results are right there."

Sam walked over to the computer and scrolled through a series of CT images. "Is it possible one of the symbiotes still has a hold on her CNS? I mean we have seen it happen before."

"Her what?" Jack glanced sideways at Sam as if she was speaking alienese.

"Central nervous system." Janet shook her head. "From what I've seen of what happened, neither Kalma'Kipu nor Kelnar were able to successfully blend with her. They've given her their memories, and she has naquadah in her system, but beyond that. I don't think so."

"General Hammond's not taking any chances." Jack pointed out.

General Hammond had order that Janet put Major Kiser in five point restraints, and even posted two armed guards out side the room.

"I know." Janet hated that Tegan was being treated like the enemy; especially when by all rights she was on death's doormat.

"Janet?" Sam was still looking at the CT results.

"Swiss cheese." Jack looked over Sam's shoulder.

"What is it?" Sam looked over at Janet's worried expression.

"Tegan's lungs."

"I've never seen anything like it." Not that Sam went around looking at chest x-rays and CT scans in her spare time.

"I haven't either." Janet ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "She doesn't have much time. There's nothing I can do, if the Tok'ra don't come through…"

Janet couldn't bear to say it aloud.

Sam looked down at her watch. "We should have heard back from them by now."

"Well, let's go see what's taking them so long." Jack started for the door just as the klaxons sprang to life.

"Could we be so lucky?" Janet followed them down to the control room.