-- Chapter 4 --
"Sam, thank God," exclaimed Janet.
"What's wrong?"
"We were trying to take another sample of blood from the Colonel and Daniel to compare with earlier results and he totally flipped out on us. I swear; I'm this close to getting a tranquilizer gun." The doctor held her thumb and forefinger about an inch apart and held it up for Sam to see. "He's screaming for you and I thought that you might be able to calm him down."
"Who is?"
"Colonel O'Neill. Daniel was actually pleasant, which the nurses who took his blood earlier said was quite a change, but Colonel O'Neill..." The doctor broke off, apparently not wanting to speak ill of a superior officer, even one that was chemically impaired.
"I'll go see him."
"I don't think you should go in there, Sam. I don't know if it's safe. Come with me."
Sam followed Janet into the observation room above where Colonel O'Neill was being held. She took in the scene below the window in shock. Nothing was where it should be. It looked like everything had been thrown around. The Colonel himself was beating frantically on the door, screaming.
Sam flipped a switch to turn on the intercom system. Her ears were assaulted by her commanding officer's shouts.
"—out of here! Where's Sam?!"
"I'm here, Colonel."
He looked madly around for the source of her voice and saw her through the window.
"Sam! Where have you been? Were you with Daniel? I'll tear him to shreds!"
"Col—Jack. Please calm down."
He visibly relaxed when she used his first name. "Sam, come down here."
"I can't, si—Jack. They're afraid that you'll hurt me."
"I would never—" Colonel O'Neill broke off as he noticed the bandage on her neck. "Did I do that?"
Sam didn't respond.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I just—I just want you so badly."
Sam closed her eyes and sighed. When this was all over, there was going to be some major fallout to deal with. "Jack, I want you to listen to me, okay?"
He nodded.
"I'd like you to sit down on the bed and let the nurses draw some more blood."
Colonel O'Neill looked over at the bed, lying on its side in the corner of the room, and then looked back up at Sam. "You come in here with them," he ordered.
"Janet and her team are doing everything they can to help you. As soon as you are feeling better, we'll talk about all of this."
"I'm ordering you to come in here right now, Major."
Sam glanced at Janet and the doctor stepped forward. "Colonel O'Neill, you are in isolation, only my staff can go in there with you."
"Does that mean Sam isn't allowed to see Daniel either?"
"That's right Colonel," Janet answered. "You are both to remain in isolation until everything is sorted out. But if you don't calm down and let my people do their job, then I'll have to sedate you again."
Sam had an idea, but she wasn't sure if it would make matters better or worse. "Jack, listen. I'd really like it if you would stay calm and not cause trouble. I asked Daniel to do so and he has been very good to the nurses since then...can you do the same for me?"
"I'm ten times the man he is. I can do anything he can do, only better!"
Sam bit her lip; this would be funny if it wasn't so insane. "That's good, Jack. So will you stay calm or are you going to force Janet to tranquilize you?"
"I'm calm! Who says I'm not calm?" Colonel O'Neill leaned over and set the bed properly on the floor, then sat down. "See? I'm calm!"
Sam smiled at him and the Colonel's face lit up. "Can you come in here now?"
"As soon as Janet gives you a clean bill of health, okay?"
"But I feel fine!" He jumped off the bed.
"Jack," Sam warned.
He sighed. "Alright, fine." He held his hands up in defeat, and sat down again. "I'm calm."
"Thank you, Jack. That makes me very happy."
"I could make you the happiest woman in the world, Sam."
Sam managed a weak smile and looked over at Janet, who nodded and picked up the telephone. "The nurses are on their way in now. Please just let them do their job."
"No problem, Sam. I'm calm." He seemed to have adopted a new mantra.
She watched as two nurses nervously entered the room. They surveyed the area and cautiously approached Colonel O'Neill. His eyes never left Sam's as they took their blood samples and left the room.
"I have to get back to my work now, Jack, but I'll be back to talk to you again in a few hours, okay?"
"I'll be waiting."
Sam flicked the switch to turn off the sound equipment in the observation room and followed Janet back into the infirmary.
"Thanks for your help, Sam. No one could even get him to stop screaming."
"Let me know if you need to get another set of samples, and I'll do what I can. How's Daniel?"
"He's fine. Would you like to talk to him as well?"
"That might be a good idea. They seem to be really jealous of each other and I wouldn't want him to somehow find out I spoke to the Colonel but not to him."
"Good point."
They entered the observation area above Daniel's room. He was lying serenely on the bed, his hands folded on his chest and a wistful look on his face.
"How are you feeling Daniel?" asked Sam over the intercom.
He sat up and smiled at her. "Sam! I was just thinking about you. I've missed you."
"How are you feeling?"
"I've never felt better." He grinned. "I haven't broken my promise."
"I know. Janet told me. Thank you."
"No, my darling Samantha, thank you," he said, blowing her a kiss.
To be continued…
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