Heat Chapter 37

Carolyn Lam was waiting for Jack outside Sam's room. She wanted to tell him that the Aquilian doctors had given permission to reduce the drugs in Sam's IV line, thereby giving them a small window of opportunity to converse with her. The SGC anesthesiologist was already at her bedside, monitoring Sam's return to consciousness. Lam and he would watch her vitals as she awakened and became aware of the ventilator. If Sam was able to stay calm, without fighting the ventilator or becoming agitated, Jack could speak to her.

"Are you ready? She should be waking up in about another 10-15 minutes."

Jack nodded and they both entered the room. He was surprised to see so many others already in there with Sam. There was an Aquilian physician along with the SGC anesthesiologist and a nurse. All were hovering over Sam, speaking quietly while the nurse continued to adjust the IVs.

"Why the crowd?" Jack was becoming tense. He didn't think it would do Sam any good to wake up to a room full of white-clad strangers bustling around her.

"Not to worry. Based on Sam's SGC medical records, I brought our own meds to treat her, including narcotics and tranquilizers which should be better tolerated. We are making the transition now as we awaken her. It's good for both the Aquilians and us to monitor her during this critical time. We are going to try to keep her on the earth-based meds for the regeneration surgery and post-op."

"Can't you handle a lot of this by yourself? I thought we'd have more of a private moment with Sam, time to tell her what's going on."

"Jack, in a few minutes, if her vitals are steady, I'll ask the other doctors to leave. The Aquilians are taking notes of Sam's physiology and the influence of the protein marker in her blood. They want to see how we address this problem so they asked to observe while I serve as her primary physician. We're actually trading knowledge. Her surgical incision is being treated by the Aquilian energy beams; I'm learning just how they've developed this advanced technique in healing soft tissue. It's amazing. I can see that Sam's injury and operation will be just the beginning of our medical collaboration. I'll help Dad work out all the preliminary details once we're back at the SGC."

"Dad?"

Carolyn looked at Jack and suddenly realized that he was unaware of the family connection.

"Hank Landry is my father."

"Well, I'll be …" A rapid beep interrupted Jack's reply and sent Lam across the room to check on one of the monitors. She quickly asked for an additional drug to be injected into Sam's IV line. Once the beeping ceased, Lam looked back at Jack and reassuringly said, "It's okay. Waking her up may take a little longer than expected. Why don't you wait in the hall after all?"

Jack reluctantly left the room, wanting nothing else but to be at Sam's side. It sounded selfish but he really wanted to be alone with her when she woke up. He knew that couldn't happen but at least it would be Lam as the attending physician. So she was Hank's daughter. Well, good for Landry; he must be mighty proud.

Not far from Sam's room, another patient lay, bathed in a blue light, undergoing his own form of intensive care. Karnak's fever had raged for over 24 hours but now, as Alayna stood by his bedside, the nurse had a bit of good news. The fever was finally abating. A technician drew blood and quickly did a panel which revealed another hopeful sign: an increase in red blood cells and a decrease in the white blood count. The infection was beginning to respond to the massive doses of antibiotics being pumped into the stricken leader.

The medical staff allowed Alayna to come near enough to tell her husband what she wanted him to know.

"We have a new daughter. I've named her Kaya, the name you chose. She is healthy and has your appetite. She wants to meet her father. I told her that you will be delayed but don't keep us waiting too long. I miss you, my love. Come back to me; come back to us."

Alayna bent and kissed her husband's brow and then placed her hand on his forehead. She looked at the doctors and nurses and remarked, "His forehead does seem to be cooler. When will he regain consciousness?"

The main doctor led her aside and explained, "The President will be kept intubated and sedated for now. There is always the danger of a blood clot or other post-surgical complication. His left leg has been straightened and the fractured bones replaced with titanium. The energy beams will continue to heal the broken skin and the site of the amputation on his right leg. If his fever continues to drop, I am hopeful that we can begin to wean him from the ventilator and bring him around in another 24 to 48 hours."

"May I stay with him when I am not tending the baby?"

The doctor looked at the tired woman and knew that she needed rest. She barely had time to recover from her own labor and was now making a heroic effort to support her husband. He also knew how devoted she was to Karnak. He would have to be diplomatic about this …

"Madam, I think it best if you retire to your own room until the President can be moved to a larger recovery suite where we will make accommodations for both you and the baby. I am hoping that his condition will continue to improve and have already given directions for this next phase of recovery. It will be in Karnak's best interest if you regain your own strength the next day or two and will then be better able to assist him in his recuperation. We are constantly at his side and will notify you of any change in his condition. You may stop in for brief periods of observation but he will not be conscious and the staff will be busy around him."

Alayna wanted more than ever to stay with Karnak but had to agree with the doctor that she was, indeed, in need of rest. Just the short walk to his room, coupled by the stress of seeing him on the ventilator, hooked up to so many monitors and lines, had completely exhausted her. Karnak would want her to attend to the baby as her first priority. His fever was lower; he seemed to be making progress. She would rest and prepare for their being together in another day or two. He would need her more than ever in the weeks to come. She must be strong for him and for the baby.

With a final kiss, she started to leave his room.

"May I have a nurse assist you back to your room, Madam?"

"No, I have one additional stop to make. I will go slowly, thank you."

Alayna closed the door to Karnak's room and leaned back against the wall. She shut her eyes and gathered strength. She wanted to find her friends. She was hoping that Sam's condition was stable and that Jack could at least speak with her before the scheduled surgery. She would not intrude upon their time together but she did have one important favor to ask of Jack.