A/N: I did some research into what Hebephrenic schizophrenia actually is (thank you Wikipedia, however did I survive without you). It's more commonly know as disorganized schizophrenia and its symptoms include disorganized thinking and speech (speech patterns will seem unconnected and illogical), unpredictable and irrational behavior, and flat or inappropriate emotional responses (showing no emotion or smiling and laughing at things that are serious).
I have found this extremely hard to write but I hope I've at least been true to some of these criteria (I've mostly been able to get around it by having Daniel sedated most of the time).
Thank you all so much for being patient with me. I know I don't deserve such devoted readers.
Enjoy.
"So what you're saying is we're gonna trick the little mind slug that's been giving Daniel schizophrenia for the last three years by feeding it a protein marker left in Carter's bloodstream from when Jolinar died and was absorbed by her body?" Jack finished in silence and seemed to be looking for conformation.
Sam raised her eyebrows in mild astonishment.
"You know sir, that's actually pretty accurate nut-shelling."
Jack's mouth twitched in an inward smile and he sat a little straighter in his chair. "Really?" he said, sounding quite pleased with himself.
Everyone around the large conference table allowed themselves a little smirk before remembering the important and sober reason they were all there.
Sam cleared her throat and turned to General Hammond.
"Like Jack said sir, the organism seems to respond to the protein marker as a sort of…confirmation that the goua'uld it is meant to be killing is actually dead. Then, theoretically, it should leave Daniel."
"Theoretically." Hammond said catching on to the key word in her statement.
"Yes sir, theoretically…but it's all we've got."
Hammond nodded.
"Well, if it's our best bet, then I say go for it." Sam nodded thankfully, Hammond turned to Janet, "How soon will Doctor Jackson be ready?"
"Daniel still has a few hours to go before his system is free of any medication. If we remove the thing now, the drug that's still in his system could cause him further psychological damage. Dr Peterson from Area-51 should be ready in about a half hour I was going to try this on him then."
"Sounds good Dr. Frasier. Oh by the way, how is Dr. Gregars doing?"
Janet sighed.
"She's…alright. There haven't been any ill effects from the drugs, which gives me hope for Daniel. However, she described the experience as being the most frightened she's ever felt. She said it was like being trapped in a nightmare. Aware but unable to escape."
A hushed silence fell over the room as everyone there prayed that Daniel would emerge from this three year long nightmare mentally unscathed.
Sam sat idly by Daniel's bedside as he slept. His hand lay at the edge of the mattress and she reached for it, slipping her fingers around his palm and down to the thick white scar that ran down his wrist and disappeared up his sleeve.
"It wasn't your fault. You know that."
Sam jumped at the sound of Jack's voice and she sat up straighter in her chair to turn to him.
"I know." She said softly and thickly, flat out refusing the tears that begged to fall.
Jack came up beside her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. They both looked down on their sleeping teammate.
"I just hope he comes out of this in one piece." She whispered.
Jack squeezed her shoulder gently – Proving once and for all that he knew when to keep his mouth shut.
"Janet's going to give the area-51 doc his injection in a few minuets." He said and left her alone.
Daniel stirred and opened his eyes.
"Hey." Sam smiled at the slivers of blue she could see beneath thick eyelashes and heavy lids.
Daniel blinked his face emotionless as always and sat up slowly.
"Hi." He said quietly, looking furtively around, distrust in his eyes.
Sam moved the dinner tray around.
"Janet wants you to eat something." She said, pushing a plate of food toward him.
He pushed the plate off the tray and onto the floor with a resounding crash of breaking ceramic.
"It's poisoned." He said in a flat voice, eyes staring forward at nothing.
"It's not poi-"
"Yes it is."
Sam took in a deep breath.
"How are you feeling?"
He turned too look at her and nothing she saw in his endless blue depths reminded her of the friend she once knew.
"They're coming for me." He said matter-of-factly, as though he were commenting on the weather. His hands clenched and unclenched as he continued, "Always coming…" his eyes wandered "Sometimes I don't hear them in time and they…" he turned his gaze back to Sam's "They come for you in the night." He earnest now, his lips turned up in a maniacal parody of a smile showing too much teeth and not reaching his eyes, "You can't always see them or…" he trailed off and dissolved into a bout of laughter. Sam put hands over her mouth to keep from crying.
"Major Carter." Teal'c said, coming around from behind the curtain and stopping when he saw Daniel was awake. "Daniel Jackson. I am pleased to see you are awake."
Daniel continued his deranged laughter, showing no signs he had even heard Teal'c. Teal'c did not seem bothered.
He turned to Sam, "Major Carter. Doctor Frasier asked me to inform you that Doctor Peterson is ready."
"Thank you Teal'c." Sam said as Daniel's laughter died down. "Daniel, I will be right back I just have to see to something."
Daniel gave no indication he had heard anything. He brought his knees up to his chest and was rubbing his forehead against them, fingers tangling in his dark hair.
Sam walked to the other end of the infirmary, trying to hold herself together until they could get that damn mind leech out of his head. She rubbed her tired eyes and stopped at the foot of Carl Peterson's bed. He was quickly becoming agitated by the growing number of people surrounding his bed, and several orderlies were standing by to hold him down if necessary.
It became necessary when Janet pulled out the needle.
"NO!" He screamed and scrambled off the bed, flailing as the orderlies grabbed him and held him tightly, "NO!" he yelled again, kicking his legs and sending a tray of medical supplies crashing to the ground.
Without warning Daniel came bolting round from behind his curtain with an intent look on his face.
Teal'c, being the closest, grabbed him before he could do any damage and Daniel immediately calmed down, an odd look crossing his face.
Before their eyes, an iridescent, worm-like being slithered it's way out of his ear, down his arm in burrowed into Teal'c's exposed forearm.
Teal'c's grip on Daniel slackened and Sam heard him say one word before he collapsed to the floor.
"Machello."
