Warnings and Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
Enjoy.
"Doctor?" Janet asked, glancing at her colleague and the SGC's anesthesiologist, Dr. Collins. He only looked back at her helplessly.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. Dr. Van Densen had come down from the Academy Hospital to perform the surgery. They had prepped Sam for her surgery, waited for her last seizure to happen, and were now ready to begin. Dr. Van Densen looked uncertainly at Janet. Dr. Collins had begun administering the anesthetic, but still Sam's vacant eyes stared at the ceiling. "It's the only anesthetic that passed the screening. Not one we usually use due to the tendency of Major Carter to have nightmares immediately following its use, but it has been successfully used in the past. I've already reached her recommended dosage."
Janet nodded. "Sam?" she asked, leaning down and studying her friend intently. She dug her knuckles into Sam's sternum before snagging one of the instruments on the nearby tray. She gently poked Sam's fingers and hands several times with the sharp instrument, each time with negative results. "Still unresponsive."
"I could administer more," Collins offered, "but we're already past the typical overdose level. You know her unique medical needs best Dr. Fraiser." Janet sighed. So far nothing they had tried had broken through Sam's enforced stoicism. She hoped the anesthetic would at least give her friend some peace for the next few hours. Janet shook her head, glancing at the monitors that showed the same readings since the team had returned. Then she glanced up at the observation room, where the rest of SG-1 waited with Sam's father.
"I just don't know Sir," she told them, speaking primarily to Jacob. "It's possible she will be completely oblivious. It's also possible she will remember everything clearly and feel everything. There's just no way to know."
"Go ahead," Jacob instructed after a few minutes. "She endured worse at Chang's hands." Janet nodded before looking back at the group assembled.
"Let's get started." They nodded, the nurses assisting them took their positions. "Left or right?" Janet asked.
"Let's start with the left," Dr. Van Densen said. She was slightly unnerved at Sam's stare, but reminded herself that this was the SGC and strange and unusual things happened every day. The nurses quickly positioned Sam so that the left implant was clearly visible. Steeling her courage she carefully began her incisions, being as quick as she dared with the delicate operation. No one wanted Sam to have a seizure while the operation was underway. She carefully pulled back the skin around the implant until her skull was visible. Janet passed the small drill and in a few minutes they had reopened the original hole Chang had drilled. "Gently," she whispered to herself as she attached a small clamp to the protruding metallic shard and carefully began pulling out the implant. As they hoped there was little resistance. "How is she doing?" she asked.
"Vitals are steady," Dr. Collins answered, "and so are her hands."
"Perfect," she replied, "because we are one step closer to finishing." With a triumphant smile she pulled the first implant free. Janet quickly passed over a small tray to put the object in. Together they began closing the incision.
"Doc?" Jack cut in from his position in the observation booth. "I thought I saw her hands move." They froze, quickly moving all sharp objects away from her. Everyone was looking intently at her hands.
"I don't see anything," Collins said after a few minutes.
"Okay. Let's finish closing," Janet decided. Sandy nodded, picking up her discarded tools and cautiously lifting them towards her head. "Keep a careful watch." The nurses nodded, but thankfully Sam remained quiet the last few minutes it took to close the first incision.
"Do we continue?" Sandy asked. Janet repeated her earlier actions, again with negative results. Then she nodded. They carefully shifted her onto her other side so the right implant was visible.
"Whoa!" Collins suddenly shouted. "I just saw her hand move too." Movement ceased as once again all focus was on the cataleptic Major.
"How long between her last seizures?" Janet asked.
"One hour and fifty-three minutes," Daniel answered. Janet glanced at her vitals before deciding to continue. It took twenty minutes to remove the first implant. With luck they could remove the second one before she started seizing.
"Let's continue before she has another episode. Everybody keep a sharp eye out." They all nodded as Dr. Van Densen repeated the first incision. Five minutes later she reached for the drill. This would be the most delicate part.
"Any movement?" she asked. If she seized during drilling the results could be catastrophic. Janet shook her head. "Okay. Gently." Everyone tensed while she was drilling, not letting out their breaths until she smiled and handed the drill to Janet. "I'm glad that's over," she said.
"You're not the only one," Janet replied as she carefully attached the clamp to the implant. "Vitals?" she asked.
"Stable," Collins replied, "and her hands are still steady."
"Good," Sandy said as she slowly began extracting the device. A few seconds later Sam started convulsing. "Shit!" she yelled, quickly undoing the clamp as soon as she started to move. This was not a good time to have a seizure. Janet and her staff had already thrown themselves onto Sam, desperately trying to keep her safely on the gurney, but this was turning out to be one of the worst seizures yet. It was almost as bad as the one in the gate room. Janet heard yelling from the observation room, but didn't have the time or energy to try and make out what they were saying. One voice did register though.
"Doctor Fraiser!" Collins sounded petrified. It was the fear in his voice that managed to break through her concentration.
"What?" she asked as she still struggled with Sam.
"Her pulse and blood pressure have risen dramatically," he said, almost as white as a ghost. Janet turned her head to the monitor, not quite able to understand what he meant by that. The monitor was screeching, showing the first changes in her condition for a very long time.
"What?" she mumbled under her breath as her subconscious realized something else. Sam wasn't convulsing uncontrollably like she had in the past. Rather she was struggling to escape the hands that held her down. "Oh God!" she shouted, releasing her grip on the woman. Another nurse just as quickly took her place, but Janet didn't notice. Instead she was focused on her friend's eyes. Eyes that were previously blank and unmoving were suddenly racing around the room. She quickly ducked under Dr. Van Densen's arms, which were trying to keep her head steady and protect the latest incision. She put her hand on Sam's cheek and spoke as loudly as she could. "Sam? Sam can you hear me?"
"Janet?" The voice was weak after not being used for so long and forced out over a tongue that had turned to sandpaper, but it was the most beautiful thing Janet had heard. The nurses gasped in astonishment, only their training keeping them from stepping back. They did, however, release Sam slightly. She calmed down a bit and Janet wasted no time sneaking her other hand down to grab the confused woman's hand.
"It's me. You're okay but I need you to calm down. You're okay." Janet kept repeating those words over and over again, squeezing Sam's hand reassuringly while never letting her other hand leave the blonde's cheek. Sam's eyes flew in her direction, the panic all too clear to see in the sightless eyes. She continued her mantra as Sam started to calm down. Slowly her heartbeat started calming down, though Janet didn't dare take her eyes off Sam to check the monitor. She just kept repeating the mantra. Eventually Sam stopped struggling. The nurses stepped back, their shocked eyes the only visible sign that showed how truly scared they were.
"She's stabling," Collins spoke out, his voice unnaturally high. "Her vitals are returning to normal."
"What?" Sam instinctively tried turning her head towards his voice, but Sandy's hands joined Janet's to keep her still.
"You were injured," Janet spoke calmly. Sam's eyes quickly tried to find her again.
"I can't see."
"I know. We're trying to help. It's okay." Janet repeated this over and over again until Sam blinked some sort of understanding. She tried to calm down, but small tremors coursed through her body. Janet reached out and grabbed Sam's hand again, wincing as the blonde returned the grip fiercely.
"What now?" Sandy asked shakily. She still gripped Sam's head protectively.
"What?" Sam asked again.
"We're trying to help you," Janet repeated firmly. "You're in the middle of an operation. One we hope will help eventually restore your sight." Sam closed her eyes tightly, her grip tightening on Janet's hand. Janet returned the grasp and turned to Sandy. "Can we stop right here?"
"I don't know. We've definitely loosened the implant. There's no telling the damage it could do if it's allowed to move about freely inside her head. On the other hand there's no way I would have ever suggested the operation on a conscious patient." Janet nodded in agreement.
"Can we secure the implant somehow?"
"Doubtful. Not without opening up additional access points. Plus we don't know exactly how it was secured in the first place."
"Finish." The weak voice interrupted their conversation. Janet looked back at Sam.
"We're talking brain surgery Sam," she explained gently. "You don't want to be awake for that."
"Finish." Janet took one last look at Sam before glancing up at the observation room. Everyone was pale and shaky, but Jacob nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay," Janet agreed, turning to Dr. Collins. "Give her another dose." He nodded and deftly prepared the medicine. "You should be feeling better soon," Janet told her friend, but after a few minutes Sam's hand hadn't released any of her tension. She looked questioningly at Dr. Collins.
"She should be feeling the effect by now," he said, as he studied the monitors again. They weren't showing the same readings as before, but none of the readings had decreased like he was expecting them too. Her pulse, blood pressure, and respirations were still high. He glanced back at Janet. "I don't dare give her anymore."
Janet nodded, turning her attention back to her friend. "Are you sure Sam?" Sam nodded as much as she could with Sandy still restraining her head. Janet nodded to the neurosurgeon.
"Okay. Major Carter, I'm Dr. Sandy Van Densen. I've consulted with Dr. Fraiser before and am trying to help you."
"Doc," Sam got out.
"I'm going to release you, but is extremely important you don't move your head. Just blink if you understand." Sam blinked. Dr. Van Densen smiled and gently released her firm grip, ready to latch on again if needed. She stood up straight as Sam stayed completely still, allowing herself to stretch his muscles before she rounded up the clamp again. "Let me explain what I am doing. During your last mission you were captured and experimented on. They inserted a pair of artificial implants into your brain. We have already successfully removed the first implant and have loosened the second. I was slowly extracting the implant when you decided to join us."
"So you just have to pull it out?" she asked, her voice getting stronger now that the fear had left.
"That is correct. But is very important that you do not move." Sam started to nod, but caught herself. Sam tried to keep herself still but couldn't stop trembling when Sandy put the instrument to her temple.
"Sam," Janet broke in. "You need to stay still. Is it alright if the nurses help keep you from moving?"
"Yeah," Sam agreed. She felt hand grab her again, around her legs, waist, shoulders, and head. She fought to control the blind panic the feeling brought.
"Just keep squeezing my hand," Janet instructed. "If it ever gets too much and you want to stop just say the word."
"Kay," Sam whispered, closing her eyes in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. Janet noticed and squeezed her hand sympathetically. She nodded toward Dr. Van Densen.
"Alright Major. I'm attaching the clamp to the implant." She explained every step she took. "Now I will begin slowly removing the implant. You may feel some discomfort. If you want me to stop just let me know." They all tensed with Sam as she began to withdraw the implant again. After what seemed like forever the implant was finally free.
"There you go Sam," Janet said as Dr. Collins grabbed the tray and Dr. Van Densen dropped the implant next to its twin. "It's all over. We'll just close the incision and we're done." She tried to squeeze Sam's hand reassuringly, but she lost feeling in her own hand a few minutes ago and wasn't sure how it came across. Sam seemed to understand though. Her own grip slackened somewhat. "Just a few more minutes and we'll be done."
"Tell me you still have that bottle in that bottom drawer," Jacob said as he barged into his friend's office. Hammond looked up at the unexpected intrusion. His irritation immediately faded when he saw the look on his friend's face.
"What happened?" he asked, grabbing the bottle of whiskey. He poured a generous amount then handed it to him. "Did something happen during the surgery?" He knew the surgery was risky, but he was sure if something happened Janet would inform him immediately. But there was no way Jacob would leave if Sam was still in danger. Jacob downed the shoot and held it out for more.
"The surgery went fine," he said as Hammond refilled his drink and grabbed a drink for himself. Jacob downed the shot again. "Before and after Sam woke up."
"What?" Hammond choked on his own drink, spilling most of the bottle down his shirt. He spluttered, suddenly thankful he was still on duty and grabbed water instead of sharing the whiskey. Jacob shrugged, helping himself to another drink. "Sam woke up?"
"It sounded better than saying she came back to life in that operating room. That's a little morbid, even for SG-1." He poured himself another drink, but simply stared at it for a moment. "You know. Back in that damn city I didn't think there would be anything harder than watching and cheering as some monster tried to kill your child. Now I'm not so sure."
"How's Sam?" Hammond asked, getting over his shock.
"Better than everyone else in that operating room," he said. "Janet is getting her settled. She is even letting Teal'c stay with her in post op." Hammond's eyes widened. Janet never allowed visitors in the small recovery ward. Visiting after a patient was returned to their beds was fine, even if that bed was in the ICU, but never during the time immediately after any surgery. That was strictly for Janet and her medical personnel. "She was still a little freaked out."
"She's still awake?" Hammond asked incredulously. "Didn't they put her out for the operation?"
"They tried. It didn't work too well." Jacob finally downed his last shot. Hammond rose to his feet, Jacob following him. He headed out of his office. A short trip later they arrived at the infirmary.
"I was just coming to see you." Janet met them in the corridor outside the infirmary.
"I thought I'd save you the trouble," he said, immediately noticing her pale features. She turned and led them to her office. "I heard you had some excitement," he said as she opened the her office door and motioned them in. Several other nurses were looking as pale as Janet was, some of them sitting down and staring blankly at their hands.
"That's an understatement," she said, sinking heavily into her chair.
"What happened?" he asked. She briefly described what happened. Hammond frowned. "Any idea why the anesthetic didn't work?"
"None. It did clear the screening, and Sam didn't have any adverse reaction to it, but it was as if we didn't give her any meds at all. That's not all. She's been awake ever since."
"Is she in any pain?" Jacob spoke for the first time. Janet scowled at the smell of the alcohol on his breath, but didn't push the issue.
"Yeah, but she says it's not that bad. There's not much we can do at this point though. None of the painkillers have cleared the labs yet. Even if we clear some there's no guarantee they will have any more effect than the anesthetic." She sighed. "We still don't know why the medication had no effect."
"Was the surgery at least successful?" Hammond asked. Janet nodded.
"The implants have been removed. We'll take her for an MRI in a few hours, after she recuperates for a bit." The phone rang and she answered it silently. After a quick conversation she put it down. "No additional issues during her recovery were detected. They're ready to move her back here. I've decided to move her into one of the isolation rooms, given her unique situation."
"Are you still allowing visitors?" Jacob asked. Janet nodded.
"The isolation room will provide additional room for some beds, which I expect to be used." She looked over Jacob again. "You need to go clean yourself up before I'll let you in, Sir. I won't allow anything to upset Sam." Jacob nodded, feeling slightly ashamed.
"You're right. I'll be back in a minute." He was out of the office within seconds.
"Would you like me to inform Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson?" Hammond asked.
"If you wouldn't mind?" Janet nodded. "Give me five minutes to get her settled." Hammond nodded and followed Janet out of her office. They went their separate ways and he soon found the two men he was looking for.
"How are you holding up," he asked. Daniel was quietly crying in the corner, while Jack's eyes were moist but he refused to let the tears fall.
"I've been better," Daniel said. Jack simply refused to look at the General. Hammond sighed. He let the silence stretch for a few minutes. "Dr. Fraiser is moving Major Carter to one of the isolation rooms. Give her a few minutes to get her settled and you can visit." Jack nodded and Hammond couldn't stand the tension anymore. He nodded and quickly escaped back to his office.
"Let's go," Jack said, making his way to the isolation rooms. It didn't take them long to find the room Sam was now occupying. Teal'c was sitting quietly by her bedside. He was holding her hand while Janet was hooking up the last few monitors. She noticed them waiting in the doorway and motioned them in.
"You know Carter," Jack started, hoping his voice was as normal as possible, "most people would take a little nap after brain surgery." Despite the situation Sam gave him a smile.
"I guess I'm not most people," she said, turning towards him.
"Luckily for us," Daniel spoke up. He moved into the room and hoped on one of the spare cots Janet's team had moved in, his legs dangling slightly. "How are you doing Sam?"
"I'm fine," she said, shrugging slightly, but nobody could miss the death hold she had on Teal'c's hand.
"Alright Sam," Janet said, checking the monitors and making sure the IV lines weren't tangled. "We'll be taking you down for an MRI in a few hours, but until then I really want you to rest."
"I really want that too," she said, breaking her stoicism for a second. Janet patted her knee sympathetically.
"I want to check your eyes then we'll bandage them. The best thing you can do for them now is let them rest." Sam nodded, wincing when that small action caused her pain. Janet stepped forward and shone her penlight into Sam's eyes. She shook her head at Jack's questioning glance. "I'm going to get the bandages ready then I want you to rest."
"Kay," Sam mumbled, leaning back and closing her eyes. It was a few seconds before Teal'c noticed the faint trembling intensify in her hands.
"Major Carter?" He stood up and put his free hand on her shoulder. His voice alerted the others that something was wrong. Janet stepped up beside the Jaffa while Jack and Daniel formed ranks on the other side of her bed.
"Teal…" Her seizure hit her suddenly. Her eyes rolled back into her head, leaving only a sliver of her eyes visible. Her back arched and her limbs started flying everywhere. The guys sprang into action immediately while Janet focused on Sam's head. Alarms sent additional medical staff flying toward her room, but they could do little more than watch.
"Sam? Sam can you hear me?" Janet asked, firmly keeping Sam's head as still as possible. Janet was surprised when Sam answered.
"What... happening?" She could barely get the words out over the convulsing of her body.
"You're having a seizure Sam. It will pass in a few seconds, but I need you to calm down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Deep calming breaths. C'mon Sam. In. Out." Slowly Sam calmed down, her body stilling as she managed to calm herself. Janet reached out and grabbed an oxygen mask, holding it over her friend's mouth as she continued to coach her. "In. Out. That's it." Eventually the men were confident enough to release their strangle hold on her body.
Suddenly Sam jolted upright, her hands stretching out to where Teal'c last sat. "Teal'c?" she called out wildly, her eyes wide and tearful.
"I am here Major Carter." He put his hand in hers. She squeezed, but then continued to follow his hand up to his arm and eventually his chest. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt, pulling him forward slightly before lifting his shirt and running her fingers across his bare skin.
"I stabbed you," she whispered, her fingers finding the small scar his symbiote hadn't yet healed. He gently stilled her fingers with his own, while Janet looked between them in shock.
"I will be fine," he told her gently, removing her hand and letting his shirt drop back down. "I would gladly endure many more injuries to ensure your survival."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She whispered the words as she shakily brought her fingers back to her side. She suddenly turned pale. "I'm gonna be sick." Janet quickly turned her on her side while Teal'c grabbed an emesis basin and raised it to her chin.
"Was there anything else you forgot to mention?" Janet asked angrily as Sam dry heaved into the basin.
"Is this really the time?" Jack asked as Sam was violently sick again. "Can't you give her something?" Janet shook her head then suddenly motioned for Daniel to take her place.
"Sam, sweetie, I'm going to give you something to help with the nausea." Sam miserably nodded her head. Janet stepped over to the drug cabinet, rifled through the contents making lots of noise, and then stepped back around to where Sam's IV line was. She juggled the lines for a moment before lifting the main port. A few minutes later she let it drop again. "There. You should be feeling better in a few minutes." Sam nodded weakly. She leaned back slowly, the green tinge on her skin slowly evaporating.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Try to get some sleep," Janet instructed, giving her arm a quick squeeze. "I just need to have a talk with Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c. Call if you need anything." She directed that last comment more to Daniel than Sam, but Sam resignedly nodded her head. "Gentlemen," she said, stepping out into the hall. She waved her medical staff away as she moved a few feet down the corridor.
"Why did you deny Major Carter her medicine?" Teal'c asked calmly when they joined her.
"Nothing has cleared for nausea yet," she explained.
"Then why the façade?" he asked curiously.
"It's called the placebo effect. Dr. Warner and I discussed trying it until this situation is sorted out."
"Explain," he asked gently. Janet tiredly rubbed at her eyes.
"The mind is the most powerful drug we have. Sometimes if a patient believes they are getting a certain mediation, they're mind will react as if they did receive their medication. Their minds are essentially tricked into helping their bodies."
"So by pretending to give Major Carter anti nausea medicine, you tricked her mind into healing her body."
"Essentially yes." Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
"What was that Doc?" Jack asked.
"She had another seizure," Janet answered tiredly. "I had hoped they would stop with the implants being removed."
"Not that," Jack said impatiently. "I know she had a seizure. But why did she get sick. That's never happened before."
"I don't know," she admitted. "Nausea is a common side effect of infection as well as a common side effect from the anesthetic we administered."
"You're saying her body is just throwing out random side effects?" Jack asked, "Some of which could be days old?"
"I don't know," she said again, "but hopefully whatever is blocking her reactions is starting to break down." She rubbed her eyes before turning to glare at Jack. "Speaking of breaking down, why didn't you mention Sam was the one who stabbed Teal'c?"
"Oh she did much more than stab him," Jack said with pride. "She nearly took him down." Teal'c glared. "Hey Doc," Jack turned to Janet. "You look dead on your feet. You should get some sleep."
"I will if you will," she bargained.
"Deal." He turned and made his way back to Sam's room. "Those cots will get a workout." Teal'c bowed and followed. Janet yawned, heading to her office. A few hours sleep did sound great right about now.