Chapter 4
Fraiser and a couple of line-backer-type orderlies were waiting for them when Jack led Teal'c across the infirmary's threshold. Their journey from the briefing room had been remarkably… unremarkable. Walk down the cleared corridors, wait for the elevator, tap his fingers during the interminably long ride up six stinking levels with two twitchy SFs and an oblivious Jaffa, all the time waiting for said Jaffa to either knock his head off or start chewing on the controls. Jack lifted one hand to warn the doctor to move back when Teal'c came to a sudden and complete halt just inside the doorway, his face a mask of indifference.
Before any of the armed help could overreact, Jack turned, effectively shielding Fraiser with his body. "Teal'c?" The guy was the original immovable object.
"O'Neill." The large man eyed the burly orderlies with obvious disdain before shifting his attention to Jack's face. "Did we not come here to ensure Daniel Jackson's health?"
Like they were gonna let him anywhere near Daniel in his condition. "Uh, you see, we thought it might be a good idea for the good doc here to check you out first." Especially since you nearly squeezed Makepeace's head off just a couple of minutes ago. He narrowed his eyes at his teammate's stoic immobility and reached out to grasp his shoulder. "You with me?"
One eyebrow jolted towards the sky and Teal'c deliberately tilted his head to stare at Jack's intruding hand. "Do you not see me here, O'Neill?"
"Figure of speech, big guy," Jack replied. "It means," he leaned closer, "do you understand, and are you going to cooperate?"
"Why is this medical examination necessary?"
Jack felt movement at his back and gritted his teeth as the petite doctor sidestepped him into Teal'c's line of sight. No sense of her own mortality – she sure reminded him of someone.
"Mister – ah – Teal'c," she corrected herself. "I'd like to determine if your symbiote has completely cleared your blood of the alien virus after your recent prolonged exposure."
While it sounded good, Jack wasn't sure if logical reasoning was going to cut it under the circumstances. Daniel's harmless suggestion of visiting Carter in the infirmary had been met with a right cross to the jaw, and Makepeace's similar comment had earned him a Jaffa choker. If Teal'c decided to make a target of Fraiser he could probably break her in half before any one of them could react.
"Very well."
Yeah, that might have been the sigh of relief that was heard 'round the world there. Jack smiled and began to turn towards the indicated bed when he noticed that the stubborn Jaffa still hadn't moved.
"But first I require that you take me to Daniel Jackson."
The SFs reached for their sidearms and Jack's focus tightened down; steady gaze flicking to take in positioning, cover, lines of fire, and potential escape routes. He took hold of the doctor's arm and dragged her with him as he took three steps to his left, angling his body to provide the best protection for her if Teal'c targeted her.
Teal'c stood placidly, eyes front, but Jack knew the former First Prime hadn't missed any of the strategic positioning that had gone on in the last few minutes. Fraiser had stopped fighting him and stood quietly between two empty beds, so he released her. Jack waited, crooking one finger towards himself as he kept his eyes on Teal'c, not wanting any mistakes here. This was his responsibility, and nobody was going to shoot his teammate if he could do anything about it.
"Colonel, I don't think this behavior is being caused by the virus – he's too calm, reasoning too clearly." The doctor's voice was loud enough to reach past Jack and into the hallway.
"No offense, Doc, but we've never seen a Jaffa under the influence of this Touched thing." He held out one arm in case she had the crazy idea to try to get around him again. "Teal'c," Jack raised his voice, "let the doc run her tests."
The large man finally turned to face him. "I am not under the influence of the Touched disease, O'Neill."
"That's what they all say," Jack retorted grimly. "Listen, I'm ordering you-"
"Jack?"
The slap of bare feet against the concrete floor and the swish of air at his back telling him that Fraiser was on the move almost distracted him, but it was the look in Teal'c's eyes that had Jack taking an unintended step forward. He'd turned, and catching sight of Daniel's limping form as he stepped out from a curtained space beyond the two hulking orderlies, all of the previous tension shot back into the Jaffa's large frame.
"Daniel Jackson."
"Daniel! Stay where you are!" Jack shouted. Dammit, dammit, dammit.
Fraiser's voice was quiet but insistent. "Daniel. Let's get you back to bed…"
"Jack. Let Teal'c through. It's okay."
God, the kid did not know when to quit. "Daniel – shut up and do what the Doc tells you. Teal'c's not quite himself, if you know what I mean." Hopefully the familiar phrase would get through to him.
The tired sigh from the archaeologist sent Jack's blood pressure into the red. "Jack, you don't understand."
"What I understand, Daniel," Jack enunciated sharply while watching Teal'c's fists clench and unclench repeatedly, "is that we have a situation here, and you're not making it any better."
"Oh, for crying…" He could almost hear Daniel's eyes rolling like a teenager. "Teal'c. I'm fine. Really."
The muscles in Teal'c's shoulders began to relax. Huh.
"You are sure you are well, Daniel Jackson?"
"Yeah, just a little sore. But Janet says I just need some rest which I can start getting when you all stop shouting." Indignant. Daniel did indignant damned well.
Teal'c turned back to face Jack. "Very well. I will submit to your tests, O'Neill."
"You will?" Jack jerked his head back. "Well… good. That's good." He watched as Teal'c strode towards the infirmary bed that the doctor had indicated before and sat down heavily, prompting the bedsprings to squeal in alarm. The orderlies stepped closer and Jack sent the SFs to sentry positions just inside the door with a gesture. "So, you'll stay here and let the doc take some of your blood?"
The dark gaze locked with his for a moment. "Indeed."
Positioning himself nearby, Jack shoved his hands into his pockets and watched Janet Fraiser bustle around with syringes, sample tubes, and paperwork while Teal'c sat quietly under her ministrations. She finally excused herself with a nod in his direction to take the blood samples to the lab and Jack let out a deep breath.
"Will you allow me to see Daniel Jackson now, O'Neill?"
The Jaffa's voice was even, low, with no trace of anger or desperation and Jack found himself considering the request. Nothing that Teal'c had done since they'd left the briefing room jived with the caveman behavior of the base personnel when they were sick – he hadn't so much as touched anyone. All of his violence had been reserved for Makepeace.
"O'Neill."
"Yeah, okay." He waved a hand to release the orderlies back to their duties and led his teammate towards the last infirmary bed.
Daniel was awake, frowning fiercely as if he'd been observing everything that had gone on, the bruises against his pale skin stood out along his jaw, and around both arms below the short sleeves of his white scrubs. Damp hair fell across his forehead and almost obscured a butterfly bandage at his hairline, another, larger, white square of gauze peeked out from the back of his neck. He moved restlessly against his pillows as if he couldn't get comfortable, and Jack reached automatically for the bed controls to raise his head.
"Thanks." The blue gaze lighted on Jack for a second before focusing on Teal'c who'd taken up a position at the end of the bed, legs braced, hands behind his back, as if he was standing guard duty. "You okay, Teal'c?"
"It is you who were injured, Daniel Jackson."
Jack chewed his lip as he looked back and forth, considering what was not being said. "Hey, weird thing, Danny." He jerked his thumb at the stoic figure. "Teal'c here attacked Colonel Makepeace after the briefing. Made us all figure maybe he wasn't so immune to the Touched thing after all."
Okay, that was fear. Jack's eyes narrowed at the beaten young man. "Anything you might want to share?"
Daniel ignored him completely. He leaned forward, every ounce of his energy intensely focused on the warrior that stood at the foot of his bed. "Teal'c – nothing happened," he breathed through clenched teeth, eyes flashing.
"Daniel Jackson-"
"No! I've already explained this." His voice came out in a hiss, eyes narrowing in a mixture of pain and pleading. Jack looked back at the Jaffa and saw the shutters close off over his obvious concern.
Jack exploded, startling them both out of their little staring contest. "What the hell is going on?"
Daniel fell back and closed his eyes, even paler than his bandages, shivers coursing along his exposed skin. "I need to talk to Teal'c alone."
"Yeah, that's likely," Jack sneered, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And I need to talk to Colonel Makepeace."
"You will not!"
The sound of the Jaffa's cry rattled Jack's teeth and he turned wide eyes towards the large, seething figure and suddenly knew he'd had it all wrong. Daniel kept his eyes closed, stubbornly refusing to say another word, until Fraiser's heels could be heard clicking across the floor.
"Gentlemen, you'll be relieved to know that Teal'c's blood work is completely clear of the alien virus." She looked up from her paperwork to take in the tension in all three men, and the tears standing in Daniel's eyes. "Now, please get out of my infirmary," she stated firmly, "and take your bodyguards with you."
That was fine with Jack – he had a Marine colonel to rip into small, bloody pieces. And he was pretty sure he knew where he could get some help with that.