Thank you for all the feedback on the last two parts, keep it coming!
Disclaimer: see prologue
Spoilers for 'The Fifth Race'
Remembering Chapter Two
Daniel looked up anxiously as Doctor Frasier made her way over to them, and then glanced back down at his friend. Jack was perched on the edge of the bed, head in hands, but he looked up when he heard Janet's footsteps. Daniel swallowed. He had seen the look in Jack's eyes as he realised what he had done. More than anything, he knew that Jack O'Neil had to be in control, of himself and of his surroundings. Something happening to him that he didn't understand and couldn't control... Daniel looked hopefully at the Doctor, willing her to have some simple answer. One look at her expression, though, and Daniel knew that that particular prayer would not be answered.
"Well Doc," Jack tried to quip, "What's the verdict?" Janet sighed.
"Not good," she admitted. "The MRI shows increased brain activity. She looked 'round at them. "You recall when that alien artefact downloaded all the knowledge of the Ancients into the Colonel's brain?"
"Umm, yeah," Daniel said. "You said that Jack's brain was working at almost a hundred percent, instead of the usual thirty percent or so. Is that what's happening now?"
"Not exactly," Janet sighed. "Then the knowledge seemed to be taking over areas of the brain, as well as expanding. No one has noticed any other abnormal behaviour from the Colonel-"
"Umm, excuse me?" Jack interrupted. "Right here!" Janet ignored him and continued.
"And also the increased activity isn't anywhere near approaching a hundred per cent. Other than that, there really are no ill affects that I can see. However, I will recommend to the General that I think it best if Colonel O'Neil is kept off active duty, and reports to me regularly for check ups. I would also like for some of the other scientists on the base to examine his new abilities."
"Oh, right, so I'm a damn lab rat now?" Jack asked angrily. He stood and stormed out of the infirmary.
"Colonel," Sam called, starting after him. Daniel caught her arm.
"Let him go, Sam," he advised. "He needs to calm down a bit before he'll listen to reason from anyone." Still staring after the departed Colonel, Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly, nodding reluctantly as she did so.
********
Colonel O'Neil paced in front of the General's office, running his fingers through his greying hair and mentally reviewing his arguments.
'General, it's been over a week since Frasier advised I be taken off active duty,'
'General, there have been no more developments from my "condition"'
'General, I really think we need to get Sg1 back out into the field.'
"Oh for crying out loud, Jack, just do it," he muttered. He marched over to the door and lifted his hand to knock, then paused as he heard voices coming from inside.
"So, your putting Jack back onto active duty, then?" Daniel.
"No." The General and Jack felt a rush of disappointment.
"What?! Sir!" Carter, sounding extremely affronted.
"Major," The General sighed, "I will not risk my 2IC when we don't know what affects 'Gate travel will have on his condition."
"Then why are you sending us on a mission?" Daniel asked.
"Because I also cannot waste my best first contact team," Hammond said sharply
"We'll be one member short," Carter pointed out.
"You won't," General Hammond said. "You will be accompanied by Lieutenant Grimsby. It's his first time through the Gate, but-" the rest of his sentence was drowned out by the loud and incredulous;
"What?!" coming from Daniel and Sam.
"Your replacing Jack?" Daniel demanded. "And with a 'rookie'?"
"I confess, I would not feel comfortable entering battle without O'Neil by my side." Teal'c's deep bass rumble came.
Through his own anger and indignation, Jack felt a small surge of pride and pleasure at the defence his teammates, his friends, were putting up for him.
"Grimsby is a fine soldier," Hammond's sharp voice cut in, "And it is only a temporary assignment, besides."
"But," Carter began to protest.
"That is an order, Major," General Hammond's voice snapped. "You depart at 0900 hours."
"Yes, Sir," a rebellious mutter: Carter.
"As you wish," extremely monotonous: Teal'c
"Alright," a resigned sigh: Daniel.
"Dismissed." Hammond ordered.
Jack stepped back as the door opened and his team filed out, glancing at him as they past. He gave them a small grin and mouthed 'thanks.' Daniel gave him a slightly apologetic smile in return; Teal'c simply inclined his head and Sam, though looking a bit scandalised at what he had obviously been doing, gave him a smile as well and mouthed back, 'Your welcome.'
"Ah, Colonel," Hammond's voice drifted out. "Come in." Jack took a deep breath, girding himself up for the battle, and entered, already knowing it to be a lost cause.
Disclaimer: see prologue
Spoilers for 'The Fifth Race'
Remembering Chapter Two
Daniel looked up anxiously as Doctor Frasier made her way over to them, and then glanced back down at his friend. Jack was perched on the edge of the bed, head in hands, but he looked up when he heard Janet's footsteps. Daniel swallowed. He had seen the look in Jack's eyes as he realised what he had done. More than anything, he knew that Jack O'Neil had to be in control, of himself and of his surroundings. Something happening to him that he didn't understand and couldn't control... Daniel looked hopefully at the Doctor, willing her to have some simple answer. One look at her expression, though, and Daniel knew that that particular prayer would not be answered.
"Well Doc," Jack tried to quip, "What's the verdict?" Janet sighed.
"Not good," she admitted. "The MRI shows increased brain activity. She looked 'round at them. "You recall when that alien artefact downloaded all the knowledge of the Ancients into the Colonel's brain?"
"Umm, yeah," Daniel said. "You said that Jack's brain was working at almost a hundred percent, instead of the usual thirty percent or so. Is that what's happening now?"
"Not exactly," Janet sighed. "Then the knowledge seemed to be taking over areas of the brain, as well as expanding. No one has noticed any other abnormal behaviour from the Colonel-"
"Umm, excuse me?" Jack interrupted. "Right here!" Janet ignored him and continued.
"And also the increased activity isn't anywhere near approaching a hundred per cent. Other than that, there really are no ill affects that I can see. However, I will recommend to the General that I think it best if Colonel O'Neil is kept off active duty, and reports to me regularly for check ups. I would also like for some of the other scientists on the base to examine his new abilities."
"Oh, right, so I'm a damn lab rat now?" Jack asked angrily. He stood and stormed out of the infirmary.
"Colonel," Sam called, starting after him. Daniel caught her arm.
"Let him go, Sam," he advised. "He needs to calm down a bit before he'll listen to reason from anyone." Still staring after the departed Colonel, Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly, nodding reluctantly as she did so.
********
Colonel O'Neil paced in front of the General's office, running his fingers through his greying hair and mentally reviewing his arguments.
'General, it's been over a week since Frasier advised I be taken off active duty,'
'General, there have been no more developments from my "condition"'
'General, I really think we need to get Sg1 back out into the field.'
"Oh for crying out loud, Jack, just do it," he muttered. He marched over to the door and lifted his hand to knock, then paused as he heard voices coming from inside.
"So, your putting Jack back onto active duty, then?" Daniel.
"No." The General and Jack felt a rush of disappointment.
"What?! Sir!" Carter, sounding extremely affronted.
"Major," The General sighed, "I will not risk my 2IC when we don't know what affects 'Gate travel will have on his condition."
"Then why are you sending us on a mission?" Daniel asked.
"Because I also cannot waste my best first contact team," Hammond said sharply
"We'll be one member short," Carter pointed out.
"You won't," General Hammond said. "You will be accompanied by Lieutenant Grimsby. It's his first time through the Gate, but-" the rest of his sentence was drowned out by the loud and incredulous;
"What?!" coming from Daniel and Sam.
"Your replacing Jack?" Daniel demanded. "And with a 'rookie'?"
"I confess, I would not feel comfortable entering battle without O'Neil by my side." Teal'c's deep bass rumble came.
Through his own anger and indignation, Jack felt a small surge of pride and pleasure at the defence his teammates, his friends, were putting up for him.
"Grimsby is a fine soldier," Hammond's sharp voice cut in, "And it is only a temporary assignment, besides."
"But," Carter began to protest.
"That is an order, Major," General Hammond's voice snapped. "You depart at 0900 hours."
"Yes, Sir," a rebellious mutter: Carter.
"As you wish," extremely monotonous: Teal'c
"Alright," a resigned sigh: Daniel.
"Dismissed." Hammond ordered.
Jack stepped back as the door opened and his team filed out, glancing at him as they past. He gave them a small grin and mouthed 'thanks.' Daniel gave him a slightly apologetic smile in return; Teal'c simply inclined his head and Sam, though looking a bit scandalised at what he had obviously been doing, gave him a smile as well and mouthed back, 'Your welcome.'
"Ah, Colonel," Hammond's voice drifted out. "Come in." Jack took a deep breath, girding himself up for the battle, and entered, already knowing it to be a lost cause.