AN: SOOOO It's been a LONG time coming but I am FINALLY going to wrap this story up. It's got a few chapters to go, thinking about 4 or 5 more to finish it. I'll start back on my Two Weeks story once this is done. Forgive me if things seem a little off, trying to get back into it. It HAS been 7 years and I lost my computer that had my old stories on it, so unfortunately I have to rewrite what I had there.
Chapter 11
"We call it a Harmonizer, it's very similar to the Goa'uld healing device as Teal'c described amd I believe it was designed from it. This small dial on the back actually houses a small amount of Naquadah to power the crystal and allow anyone without Naquadah in their system the ability to use it." Nekah turned the hand sized round object and pointed to the dial that Daniel had noticed earlier.
"That's really interesting Nekah, who came up with this?" Daniel asked extending his hand as the young girl placed it on his palm.
"I'm not sure what her name was, all I know about it's origins is that it was developed by a scientist that had traveled to Haldore from another world. It's one of the things that spurred a trade with her people. She had a great many things to offer but after the initial trade she hadn't made contact again. We gained several Harmonizers and the blue prints to develop more but from what I understand we're not in a technological position to be able to reproduce them." The girl was quite wise for her age and especially coming from a community that placed so little value and merit on the lives of women.
Daniel thought quietly about who would be able to replicate a healing device in a way that one could use it without currently or previously being a host. He was about to ask Nekah if she had a description of the scientist when the sound of footsteps drew both of their attention.
The infirmary doors opened and a bed was wheeled in with Sam perched on top sporting a new temporary cast. She sighed as she was hooked up to an iv and given pain meds by one of the nurses before being left alone. Sam caught sight of Daniel and Nekah, both offering her a relieved smile.
"How're you doing Nekah?" She asked the girl seeing she had a fresh set of bandaids along her arm indicating she'd been given the standard protocol, pulling blood, vaccines etc.
"I'm so sorry Sam…." Nekah had slid to her feet from her seat on the bed a few feet away from her friend and closed the gap to take Sam's hand.
"For what Nekah? It's not your fault…" The blonde offered a reassuring smile and gave the girl's hand a soft squeeze as Daniel stepped up placing his hand gently on Nekah's shoulder.
"I feel like this is my fault…" indicating Sam's leg with her free hand, "if I had been just a little more vigilant…." her voice trailed off as she looked down.
Sam sighed and pulled the girl into a comforting hug. Truth be told Nekah had done incredibly well for never having been in such a situation, everything was hectic and she held herself together pretty well. She had even managed to go back and get the Colonel for help.
"You were outstanding Nekah! You kept an incredibly cool head in a horrendous situation. I'm just glad you're safe." Sam pulled back the smile now gracing her lips seemed somewhat tired.
Daniel caught it and gave Nekah's shoulder a light squeeze. He reached over grabbing Sam's upper arm in a supportive manner.
"Nekah, I think Sam needs some rest now, looks like her pain medicine is kicking in. You good Sam? Need anything?" he watched as the girl nodded and stepped to the side. Sam shook her head and placed her hand over Daniel's, ever the caring brother.
"Have you heard anything about the colonel, or Miller?" she raised her eyebrows curiously, glancing towards the doors she hadn't long entered herself.
"No; Teal'c is awaiting any news. I'm sure he's wearing a hole in the floor outside the OR now. Get some rest Sam, hopefully we'll have some answers when you're up. Also we've got this neat little doohickey to experiment with later!" Daniel held up his prize trying to lighten to mood a little. It worked nearly earning him one of those famous megawatt Sam smiles at the use of Jack's term but it didn't reach her eyes. He wasn't sure if it was worry or just exhaustion finally taking over. He offered another soft squeeze and then turned to escort Nekah down to the commissary.
Sam hadn't said anything after Daniel spoke and just nodded as he told her there was no news. Watching the two leave the infirmary she nestled back into her pillow and cast a disgusted look down at her leg. She would need surgery, Ren'tu's blow had been enough to break her fibula in two places and Dr Saad mentioned screws and a rod to stabilize it. She groaned just thinking about it and glanced at the clock 1840. Sam drapped an arm over her eyes she was slowly losing the battle with the morphine as her body suddenly felt heavier. Eventually she allowed sleep to claim her.
…
Beep..
Beep..
Beep..
That insipid noise roused her from her drug induced sleep. Blinking a few times to allow her vision to clear she noticed the lighting was dimmer and it registered in her brain that it must be past 2000 hours as that when the infirmary is generally dimmed for the night. Blinking a few more times she found the clock again and it confirmed her suspicions, 2221. At least she had gotten some good sleep.
Beep… This time the noise clicked in her brain, it was a heart monitor. She looked to her left where a new bed had been placed and a figure lay quiet. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as the fog finally lifted and she was able to confirm it was indeed Jack laying next to her. His numbers looked good from what she could see of his monitor. Two iv bags were hung, one for fluids, the other a morphine drip.
She scanned the infirmary for Miller but could see they were the only two occupants. He must be in ICU, she thought to herself and allowed her eyes to fall back on the colonel. Sam turned on her side, tucking and arm under the pillow supporting her head as she got comfy. She was content to watch him breathe, the steady rise and fall of his chest reassuring her he was alive, safe.
How had things managed to go so wrong. One man with an overactive libido and no sense of self control had caused such a huge amount of damage. Not just physically but diplomatically as well. She huffed as she imagined the big wigs would likely push for an attempt at restoring relations. That was going to be pretty hard to do as she had killed the son of the High Councilman. The memory flooded her brain and for a moment she felt a pang of guilt. While he definitely deserved what he got, she still took a life in anger. She could still hear the colonel in her ear begging her to let go.
"Quiet Carter…" the familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts and she met the deep brown eyes that now peered over at her still groggy from a mixture of anesthesia and morphine.
"What, sir?" was all she could manage. He lifted a hand to his temple and tapped gently.
"You're thinking too loud." he waited for her impish smile and rested his hand on his chest.
"Sorry sir…" and there it was that sly smile that hinted at a grin.
"Miller's in ICU, doc said he was pretty bad off…" Jack's throat was dry and scratchy, almost hoarse. Talking caused him to cough and he winced his right hand falling to cover the bandaged wound on his abdomen.
"Sir, you should get some rest…" she couldn't hide the concern in her voice and she grimaced as he coughed.
"Heh that's my line Carter." his voice was softer but he didn't force a smile.
When the pain eased he opened his eyes once more and looked over at her. She looked good, albeit maybe a little tired but since when did Carter ever sleep anyways. He motioned to her leg with his fingers not really caring to move a whole lot right now.
"Surgery in the morning, rod, screws…" she wrinkled her nose as she spoke, really not wanting to think back on that again.
"Stop trying to catch up to me on the broken bone count, I've got you beat by a long shot." Oh his typical dry humor shining through but he at least got that beaming grin he was looking for even though it didn't reach her eyes. He reached for the small cup of water perched next to his bed and took a long sip. It soothed the scratch in his throat.
"Don't beat yourself up over it, if you hadn't killed him I would've…."
The words weren't lost to her and she picked idly at the corner of her pillow. How could he read her like a book, was it that obvious. His death didn't bother her, she had learned a long time ago how to atone for her sins and find peace with the things she had done in the line of duty. What bothered her was the anger, she had never wanted to take a life in anger. Self defense was one thing but all she had felt when she tightened the cord around his neck was a deep seething rage, that scared her. She must've taken too long to respond as she could feel the colonel's eyes on her.
"The rage, sir. I've never taken a life with that much…" she saw the understanding flash across his eyes.
"You could also call it adrenaline. You were injured, you were upset and yeah you were mad but you did what you had to do. There was no middle-ground in that situation." He paused for another sip of water, "You didn't know Nekah was going for help. Fight or flight Carter and you only had one option…"
She didn't need that confirmation, she knew it already of that he was certain. He had seen her take down a man almost three times her size in hand to hand combat she had the skills; but she had been caught in a situation that tested her. A broken leg and shackles aren't exactly easy to fight with and definitely harder to flee with. He took a moment to admire the warrior laying across from him, she would likely kick his ass later but for now he could blame it on the drugs.
"You're pretty amazing Carter, just thought you should know that. Blonde rage and all." He offered her a half grin as her eyes rolled back in her head and she tried not the laugh at him.
"You're pretty drunk right now colonel, you might not like me so much in the morning. Get some sleep." She watched as he mouthed something like 'yeah, you too' then closed his eyes.
She wasn't sure how long she stayed up watching him sleep. Long enough for those feelings of guilt to build back up and burn at the back of her throat. He was right though, she hadn't had a choice. The rage was likely the only thing that fueled her to push past the pain and get control of the situation. Her sight drifted around the infirmary before once again resting on the man laying across from her. He was her rock when she needed grounding and she was so happy he was going to be okay.
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AN: Next chapter will likely take us back to Haldore to tidy up the mess left there. Sam isn't over her internal struggle by any means but for now she at least find comfort in the things that are right in front of her…