NOTE: Class got out a few hours early today! There is some slight shippiness here, but nothing worse than on the original show...so cope.
Chapter Twenty-five
"Dr. Frasier, I am afraid that I do not understand."
"I want you to try and make me laugh. We think you've been affected by this 'phenomenon' as well."
"You have already heard the one joke I have to offer...if I recall you did not find it amusing in the past. I do not know what to say."
"Actually, I'd rather you not say anything."
"Shall I tickle you then?"
"Okay, that's funny." Janet smiled. "However, still not what I'm looking for. I just want you to will me to laugh and touch my hand."
"Very well."
Teal'c still didn't look very sure of what Janet was asking of him. However he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before slowly opening them again. Janet was a little unnerved by the intense look in the Jaffa's dark eyes. Janet held her hand out for Teal'c to take, but he instinctively reached out and brushed her cheek instead.
At first Janet didn't think that it had worked and then it hit her. Despite the long hours, the stress, the worry, and all the frustration Janet's heavy heart suddenly lifted. At first she just chuckled, but as Teal'c continued to watch her she burst into a full fit of laughter. Tears streamed down her face as she crossed her arms over her stomach from the ache the giggling was causing.
"St...Teal'c stop..." Janet gasped. "I can't...breath."
"I apologize."
"It's okay." Janet panted as she brushed away the last of the tears.
"What does this prove?"
"I think it proves that you are truly infected as well."
"I shall report to quarantine."
"No, I don't think that's needed." Janet shook her head. "Unlike the others you have mental control over it and it doesn't affect you personally."
"Is this because I am Jaffa?"
"Could be. However, I have another theory." Janet pulled out the medical files she had been combing through. "I went back to your last mission, I had to bandage up Colonel O'Neill's hand for a deep cut, Major Carter needed similar treatment for a laceration in her foot, and I pulled a sizable piece of glass out of Daniel's shoulder."
"I had no such injuries."
"That's right. I think you only came in skin contact with these 'Dragon Tears'. I think the rest of SG-1 had it mixed with their blood. Can you tell me anything about Dragon Tears?"
"I can not, I had never heard of them before Daniel Jackson mentioned them."
"How did he know what they were?"
"I must assume that the Goa'uld told him while we were separated."
"Right." Janet said before becoming lost in thought.
"Dr. Frasier? Are you ill?"
"No. No, Teal'c, just thinking."
"Do you believe that you may have an answer?"
"Not exactly. However, I think I see now how these Dragon Tears are supposed to work. I think that the person is meant to rub it on their skin and it gives them the ability to impose an emotion on another. A kind of reverse empath."
"For what purpose?"
"Control. When I was under Sam's influence I would have done anything for her. If she had told me to slit my wrists for her I would have without a second worth of thought. I think in her case the Dragon Tears being directly in her blood is causing the reaction to rage out of control and affect her directly as well, she has no control over it the way you do."
"The Goa'uld must have known that high exposure was dangerous." Teal'c added. "When Daniel Jackson and Colonel O'Neill broke the cabinet she fled."
"I hope that doesn't mean there isn't a cure."
"If there is one the Goa'uld Ryūjin knows of it." Teal'c growled. "I will ask General Hammond for permission to return to the planet and retrieve the information from her."
"Hold on, Teal'c, before we send you off on a hopeless suicide mission let's look into this new data for a bit and see if we can't come up with a cure of our own." Janet suggested. "Besides the General has his hands full at the moment with the President."
"Do you know what that is about?"
"No, but I have my theories."
"Do you require my assistance any longer?" Teal'c asked.
"No, you can go back downstairs."
"I have actually promised Captain Turner that I would break for lunch with her today."
"Even better." Janet smiled. "I'll keep an eye on what is left of SG-1 for you."
Teal'c graced Janet with a shallow bow and left her office. Janet got up from her desk and was forced to sit back down again from a dizzy spell. She knew she was pushing herself too hard, but that wasn't going to keep her from continuing. Getting up more slowly this time she made it to the hallway.
Janet felt that General Hammond really needed to know about this new development, however his office was all but sealed off at the moment. Heading off to the only other logical place Janet made her way to the elevator.
Stepping into Jack's room she found him sitting on the floor in the corner. It was a step up from cowering under the bed. His short cropped hair was wet making Janet wonder if Teal'c had run down her quickly and forced him into the shower before heading off to lunch. It seemed likely. Janet cleared her throat to make herself known, but Jack still didn't acknowledge her.
"How are you feeling, Sir?"
"Fine." Jack muttered unconvincingly.
"How is your shoulder?"
"Fine." Jack replied again.
Jack shifted his weight and finally looked up at Janet. It was clear that he'd been crying which was probably why he'd refused to look up at her at first. Jack locked his dark gaze on Janet and held her like a snake hypnotizing a bird. When Janet didn't say anything Jack's eyes narrowed into irate slits.
"Sir?" Janet asked concerned.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" Jack demanded in a venomous tone.
"Tell you what?"
"I'll take that as a 'no'."
"Colonel?"
Jack wasn't in the mood for further conversation. He curled up in the corner and stared blankly at the wall. Janet watched him for a moment. There was a guilty feeling in her stomach that told her that Jack knew that Daniel was gone. She briefly thought about telling him the truth, but when she couldn't find the courage she simply left.
Next door Sam was also fresh out of the shower. She however didn't seem to be acting like herself. She was standing at the wall that used to separate her from Daniel. With her hands held at chest height she delicately touched the wall with her fingertips. Eyes closed she took a few deep breaths and knit her brow together.
To Janet it looked like Sam was pouring her full concentration into something. What that something might be was beyond Janet's imagination. Seemingly unaware of Janet's arrival Sam continued to run her fingertips over the wall. She suddenly stopped and turned to Janet.
"Where is he?"
"Sam..."
"Janet, is Daniel dead?" Sam asked point blank.
"No."
"But he's no longer here." Sam stated rather than asked.
"H...how do you know?"
"The same way I know that Colonel O'Neill is sitting in the far left corner of his room rather than hiding under the bed."
"Sam?" Janet took a concerned step closer to the glass. "What's going on? How do you know that?"
"I can feel it. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can feel someone's heart beating if they are near by. That and I haven't heard Daniel throwing himself at the glass all day."
Janet was at a loss for words for a moment, stunned by this new ability of Sam's.
"Janet, please, where's Daniel? Is he alright?"
"I don't know." Janet admitted sadly. "I don't know the answer to either one of those questions."
"What happened?"
"It would appear that the Army took possession of him, although I really can't confirm that with a hundred percent certainly. All I really know is 'someone' took him."
"Janet this is one of the most secure locations on Earth, how could anyone just come in here and 'take' Daniel?"
"In the end it came down to following orders." Janet said sadly.
Sam took a breath to protest however she just released it in a frustrated sigh. She knew how deeply ingrained following orders could be, even when they didn't make one hundred percent sense. If a solider thought about every order before acting, the whole system would fail.
"You know, Janet, sometimes I have a real Love/Hate relationship with the Armed Forces."
"Wha...what did you just say?" Janet stuttered.
"Nothing." Sam shook her head slowly.
"No, I think you might have something there. Wait here."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Sam furrowed her brow in concern as Janet suddenly dashed away. Even just out of the shower it hurt to have her leave in a hurry. It was like it physically tore at her heart every time she was left alone. Sighing sadly Sam walked over to her bed and picked up the teddy bear that Janet had brought her.
Hugging the bear tightly to her chest Sam wandered over to the far corner of the room. Sitting down facing the wall Sam reached out and placed her palm on the wall that separated her from Jack. If she closed her eyes she could sense his steady heartbeat. It was like the wall was thumping in rhythm with him.
Feeling him there was a blessing and a curse. It was comforting to know exactly where he was. At the same time it was unnerving to have this new talent. Plus it wasn't going to help her in ten to fifteen minutes when she slipped into her lonely depression. Even now the isolation was starting to crush in on her.
Before Sam could over think her situation Janet returned. She had hastily pulled her hair back into a ponytail this morning, but several loosely curled locks had escaped and were framing her delicate face perfectly. Sam shook her head, knowing that these thoughts were not her own.
Janet had a sealed thermos in her hand which she placed inside the first door and then punched in her code so that Sam could open the other door. Sam retrieved the odd gift. Opening the container she gave it a hesitant sniff. It didn't smell like anything.
"Just drink it." Janet instructed.
"What is it?"
"You...uh....you don't want to know." Janet replied with a nervous smile.
Sam raised one of her eyebrows, but Janet just broadened her smile. Shaking her head sadly Sam knocked back the liquid. It tasted like water, however as it was hitting her stomach she suddenly felt herself flashing to anger. She threw the thermos at the glass as hard as she could, but after her brief brush with temper she settled down once again.
"Please tell me that wasn't what I think it was." Sam said ruefully.
"A cup of bathwater isn't going to kill you."
"Janet, Daniel and I really aren't that close...I'm not sure any two people on this planet are."
"Disgusting yes, but how do you feel."
"A little queezy."
"Let's give it ten minutes."
"You don't really think Daniel's anger can cure my love, do you?"
"I don't know. It probably isn't a permanent solution, but it might help. Right now I'm desperate for any treatment. I haven't told you this yet, but your blood pressure had been getting dangerously low."
"And Daniel's was getting dangerously high."
"Exactly."
"Janet...what are they going to do to him?" Sam asked sadly. "Please tell me something is being done to get Daniel back."
"General Hammond is meeting with the President himself right now."
"The President?"
"If you ask me Daniel's abduction is the sign of a major security breach."
"You don't think Army has him at all, do you?"
"No. It doesn't make any sense, if the army wanted a bioweapon Colonel O'Neill would have been the intelligent choice."
"Yes, but Daniel's a civilian...easier to erase from the records."
"That might be why he was taken, I really don't know. Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to help the patients that I have left."
"And we appreciate it." Sam smiled.
"You have to ride the horse in the direction it's going." Janet teased. "So that's what I'm trying to do, just move forward."
"How is Colonel O'Neill doing?"
"He suspects Daniel is gone as well."
"You really need to tell him, he deserves to know."
"I know."
"Do you think if Daniel's anger helps me that it could help the Colonel as well?"
"I don't think so." Janet shook her head. "What you need is to despise people a little, if we added anger to Colonel O'Neill's fear I think we'd just make him dangerous."
"Good point."
"How are you feeling?"
"Normal. How long has it been?"
"Almost ten minutes since I first came down here. Usually by this time you're telling me how lovely my eyes are."
Sam chuckled and Janet found herself smiling as well. Having a thought Sam stepped up to the glass. Pressing her palm against it she closed her eyes. Janet watched in fascination as Sam attempted to sense her heartbeat. Sam snapped her eyes open and smiled brightly.
"I think you might be onto something, Janet. I can't tell you're there."
"I'm going to leave for a few minutes and see how it affects you."
"Okay."
Sam watched Janet leave, only this time it wasn't the painful separation that it usually was. She could easily tell herself that Janet was going to be right back and it wasn't a big deal. Sam started pacing back and forth at the glass in excitement of letting Janet know that she hadn't been missed.
However after five minutes Sam's elation turned once more to despair. Disappointed as well as painfully heartbroken Sam sat on the floor and began crying once more. For some reason this time it was harder to take. Sam fought her tears and screamed with frustration when she couldn't rein in her emotions. Hearing the anguished cry Janet rushed back into the room.
"Sam?"
"Janet!" Sam cried and jumped up to put her hands on the glass. "Janet, help me, please...I can't do this anymore."
"The balancing affect wore off too quickly." Janet said in defeat. "I can't risk introducing it into your blood, I'm sorry, Sam."
"Janet, don't make me go through this again." Sam whimpered through her tears. "I'm in such pain, I can barely breath, physical pain I can bear, but this emotion is tearing my very soul apart. Don't let it happen again, please, please!"
"Sa..."
"If you step away from this glass...I'm going to kill myself."
"Sam, don't talk like that."
"I tried to drown myself in the sink last night." Sam admitted. "The water snapped me out of it, but I'm coming to a point where that's not going to save me. Drug me, kill me, whatever, I don't care...just end this, please, please..."
Janet reached up and brushed away tears of her own as she watched Sam beg for release. Sam kept her tear reddened aqua eyes locked on Janet's face, searching for mercy. Janet searched her own mind for options and sighed in defeat. Although Sam kept her attention on Janet she began crying harder. The bathwater was keeping her more lucid during her episode, but it wasn't taking away any of the pain.
"I only have one more thing that I know to try...if that doesn't work I promise I'll place you in an induced coma."
"Thank you, Janet, thank you." Sam panted in relief. "What else can we do?"
"It might be disastrous, but I think we should try putting you and Colonel O'Neill together."
"Yes, I would do anything for company."
"I know, and Colonel O'Neill fears for your safety constantly. Since you can't affect each other, maybe you can help one another."
"Please, I want to try that."
"Take a shower first."
Sam nodded and rushed into the bathroom. Still unsure of her decision Janet walked over to the intercom and switched it on.
"Teal'c?"
"Dr. Frasier" Teal'c answered a minute later.
"I hate to interrupt your break, but I need you to come down here and run Colonel O'Neill through the shower and then oversee an experiment."
"I am on my way."
"Thank you."
Sam came out of the shower, clean and changed. She had a concerned look on her face. Walking up the glass she looked Janet over for a minute. Sam started to say something and stopped before trying again.
"Janet, I have the distinct memory that you said you wanted to try putting Colonel O'Neill and I together."
"I did say that."
"Have you lost your mind?" Sam asked seriously.
"Maybe." Janet admitted. "Honestly I think it is worth trying. You trust each other so fully and you can't affect each other, he might be able to keep you from being lonely and you might ease his fears."
"What if I...uh..."
"We'll keep you two under twenty-four hour sharp eyed watch. We don't have to try it."
"My only other option is a coma, isn't it?"
"At this point, I'm afraid so."
"Let's try it."
Janet nodded and put her code in the door that allowed Sam to leave the glass prison. Going next door they discovered that Teal'c had already helped Jack into the shower. Deeply depressed even when wet Jack was once again sitting in the corner. Janet entered her code into the door once more and Sam hesitantly stepped inside.
Jack looked up at the intruder and gasped sharply. Jumping to his feet Jack rushed over and threw his arms around Sam and pulled her into a warm embrace. Sam smiled and returned the affection. Jack suddenly released her and backed away.
"I...uh...it's good to see you alive and well, Carter." Jack flushed.
"You too, Sir."
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked and then looked over at Janet. "What is she doing here? And I swear to God if you don't tell me what is happening with Daniel I'm going to..."
"Sir," Sam interrupted "Daniel was taken."
"Taken? As in kidnapped?"
"More or less." Janet said.
"How the hell does something like that happen?!" Jack snapped.
"It's a long story, Sir." Janet replied. "Please, just know we are doing everything we can to get him back."
"You'd better be." Jack hissed. "Now then, Carter, you need to get back to your box. Unless, Doc, has some miracle cure."
"No cure, Sir." Sam said sadly. "However, we want to try keeping us together to see if it can help mitigate our symptoms."
"Sounds dangerous."
"I am here to intervene." Teal'c assured.
Jack looked at everyone in turn, silently letting them all know that he thought they were all nuttier than a jar of peanut butter. However, he accepted the experiment. At first he just went over to his corner and sat back down alone.
As the minutes ticked by and Sam became once more affected she hesitantly moved closer to him. When she sat down next to Jack he instinctively jerked away. He stared at Sam for a moment before truly recognizing her. Sam smiled shyly and leaned against his shoulder with her own. They stayed like this for another ten minutes, seemingly unaware of Teal'c and Janet on the far side of the glass.
"Carter, we're not safe here." Jack said as his own paranoia mounted.
"You won't let anything happen to me."
"Never." Jack agreed.
"I'm so tired." Sam whispered.
"Sleep, I'll watch over you."
"Thank you, Sir."
Sam laid down and curled up next to Jack. He got up long enough to fetch the blanket off the bed. When he came back over he placed the blanket over Sam and sat down so that she could put her head in his lap. Sam nuzzled against him and soon she was sleeping deeply. Jack kept a sharp eye out, his fear now focused into a need to protect.
After about twenty minutes Jack started to nod off himself. It had been nearly a week since either of them had truly slept, before they had just been passing out from stress and in the end it wasn't the same. Jack adjusted so that his back was up against the corner. He gathered Sam up into his arms so that if anyone attempted to take her he'd instantly be awakened. He fought to keep watch for a few more minutes before nestling his head down. With Sam's head on his chest he settled with their cheeks touching and slipped into sleep himself. Janet smiled and turned to Teal'c.
"I think this is going to work." Janet said softly. "At least they'll be more comfortable together than alone."
"How did you come to this idea?"
"I don't know. Something told me nothing could make the Colonel fear Samantha."
"And what of Major Carter? What is to keep her from falling in love with O'Neill?"
"She's resisted that for years...it's second nature to her."
"Indeed."