Chapter 7
Not wishing to have to deal with all the crap that ranks seems to create, Landry decided to get directly to the heart of the issue. "Carolyn, what is going on?"
Taken slightly off by her father's directness, Lam took a moment to gather her thoughts. "In a nutshell, Daniel is dying."
Hearing it put so bluntly, Sam gasped and starred at Carolyn with horror in her eyes. "You can't mean that, you must be able to do something to save him."
Shaking her head, Carolyn looked down at her feet to try and regain her failing composure…things were so much simpler when you could hide behind a professional mask. "I am afraid I can't. Daniel has been sick for a while and has known about it and hid it from everyone. He recently sought out medical consultation from a specialist in Denver, I just found out tonight. He was diagnosed with a rare neurological degenerative disorder, but in his case it was determined to be highly aggressive."
"But, a neurological disorder would not be causing him to cascade like he is." Sam stated obstinately.
Looking from Sam back to his daughter, Hank figured there was more going on with both women than was evident on the surface. Figuring Sam's to be personal; he turned to his daughter for the medical information. "You think there is something more to it than what he was diagnosed with, don't you Carolyn?"
"After reviewing some of our records that were collected from the Asgard database on the Odyssey, I think that Daniel has been suffering a form of what the Asgard had." Carolyn said in a lowered voice.
"You are telling me that Daniel is dying of what was killing off the Asgard? But how is that possible?" Hank asked becoming concerned with contagion.
"I think that, because of Daniel's somewhat altered genetics due to his ascensions and descensions…it was enough for the Asgard affliction to pass to him. It has just taken longer to gestate." Carolyn said attempting to blink back tears that were prickling her eyes. "I know that he has been complaining about headaches since that time, but it was chalked up to stress and long work hours."
"That doesn't make sense." Sam said growing agitated. "That was almost a year ago. He has had dozens of tests with all of the missions we went on since then."
"Nothing showed up in his blood till recently." Carolyn said taking a breath. "The symptoms that Daniel sought medical advice about did not start till about a month ago."
"What symptoms?" Hank asked growing more concerned.
"Muscle tremors, more severe headaches, blood seepage." Carolyn counted off trying to keep herself under control.
"Blood seepage? From where?" Hank asked.
"Mostly, his tear ducts and ears; some from his nose and mouth." Carolyn replied clenching and unclenching here fists.
"Have you witnessed any of this during the past month?" Hank asked addressing Sam.
"No sir, I...I haven't talked to or seen Daniel much in the past month." Sam said feeling like she wanted to feint.
Knowing the answer, Carolyn turned away so that her father would not see that she knew. Sometimes he could read her easier than one of his battle reports.
Having just stepped through the door, Cameron heard the question asked by Landry to Sam. "That would be because of me, sir."
Spinning around to the voice that just claimed to be the reason for Sam and Daniel not speaking, Hank was slightly surprised to see it belonged to Cameron Mitchell.