Hi guys! I just wanted to apologize for the lame attempt at techno-babble, but this week's issue of 'Bio-Mechanical Engineering' must have gotten lost in the mail and the local Wal Mart was sold out of 'Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Brain for Dummies'. I only had my PhD in B.S. to rely on for this. :o)
*~*~*~*
Late the next day found Sam still confined to the infirmary being subjected to as many tests as Dr. Fraiser could think of. Unsure of the magnetic properties of the disc and its wires, the possibility of an MRI was quickly overruled.
Sam had kept a mental tally. During the long hours of the night and the evening before - with the exception of the six hours she had managed to sleep - she had had two full-body CAT scans, five CAT scans of her head and neck, 25 x-rays of various parts of her skeletal system, three urine analysis, and a barrage of other tests she didn't even know the names for. She was not positive that the doctor hadn't snuck in a few more tests during the hours she had been sleeping.
Janet had also insisted on a blood sample. After a long and heated debate, Sam had finally agreed to allow one, and only one, needle stick. She'd informed the doctor that she had better make sure she found a vein on the first try and get enough blood to run all of the necessary tests.
Sam knew that Daniel wasn't a pain wimp and that a little stick of a needle wouldn't come anywhere near harming him, but she still didn't like the idea of being responsible for causing him pain or discomfort of any kind.
Just as Sam was sure that Janet was beginning to invent new tests to perform on her, Colonel O'Neill strolled into the infirmary followed closely by Teal'c.
"Major Carter," Teal'c began as he came up beside the bed she was currently sitting upon. "I apologize for not being available to accompany you and Daniel Jackson to Kolea. Had I been there..."
"Don't start feeling guilty over this, Teal'c," she cut him off. "We don't know what might have happened had you, or anyone else, been with us. Perhaps we wouldn't have been attacked, but perhaps they simply would have killed you and taken us anyway. No one can predict the future. We can only deal with what we currently have."
Teal'c bowed deeply at the waist, seemingly accepting the Major's words.
"Hammond's given his approval for a rescue operation. We can depart at 0600 tomorrow," O'Neill informed Carter. "According to Ambassador Crile, this guy's been on the run from the Kolean government for years, but he hasn't been heard from in quite a while. He's your typical psycho head case with illusions of grandeur."
"What's the plan, sir?"
"Well, we figure that OshKosh will assume that you've told us everything and he'll be prepared for us to try something. The only problem is that we don't know where he is. We're going to head for the temple, wait for him to make contact, and wing it from there."
"What about the Naquadah?" Sam questioned.
"We will employ the ruse I have seen in many of your old west movies," Teal'c answered.
Seeing the confusion on Carter's face, O'Neill clarified. "Lead bars, Major. In the movies, the bad guys would paint them to disguise them as gold. We'll put a thin coating of Naquadah on a few lead bars. We'll still try to avoid giving them to him, but should that become impossible, he won't get enough Naquadah to do any real damage."
That part of the plan sounded so simple that she thought it might actually work. It looked as if the only real problem might be escaping with Daniel and then getting the discs removed.
"Now," said the Colonel, seeing the obvious approval in the Major's eyes. "If we can just get that Napoleonic Power Monger to release you..."
"I heard that, Colonel." Janet's voice sounded from behind him, causing him jump. She didn't bother to chastise him for the comment, instead addressing her guinea pig...uh...patient. "Considering the circumstances, Sam, I don't have much choice but to release you. Before you go, though, I want to show you what I've found."
The petite doctor led the three members of SG-1 to a wall containing several x-ray view boxes that were covered with Sam's films.
"This," Janet pointed to the first film, "is one of the x-rays that were taken when you were first brought back from Kolea. It clearly shows the tiny fibers," she pointed to an erratic white line, "that exit the disc and travel into the spinal column, interfacing directly with the nerve bundles.
"This film," Janet pointed to the last picture, "is a more recent one. In it, you can see that new fibers are now extending into different areas of the brain. It's my belief that as these new fibers formed, your connection with Dr. Jackson evolved. There's a particularly large concentration of the fibers in the Limbic System. It's a part of the brain that controls emotions."
"That would explain some things," Sam intoned earning her surprised and questioning looks form those around her. "Let's just say that I'm not normally prone to the kinds of mood swings I've been experiencing."
Janet didn't care for the abbreviated explanation but she decided to continue with her findings. She pulled out a new x-ray and placed it on the view box. "This is the most recent film. It appears that the fibers are still forming, but apparently at a much slower rate. I honestly don't know how or to what extent this link between the two of you will evolve.
"I've also been able to determine that the fibers are bio-mechanical. Ochsner mentioned that the procedure to remove the discs was relatively simple?" Sam nodded. "I still want you to try to bring back any information you're able to find on them, but it looks as if we should be able to simply cut the fibers away from the disc. Your bodies will then be able to absorb the remaining fibers. Dr. Warner and I can operate simultaneously to remove them."
"That's great!" Sam exclaimed through a long sigh of relief. "Does that also mean that you're done with the tests for now?"
The hopefulness in her friend's voice was too much for the doctor to resist. "Yes, the Napoleonic Power Monger is finished with you." She cast a reproachful look towards the Colonel who had suddenly found his boots the most interesting thing in the room. "I'm sure I don't have to warn you to stay on base, but you also need to stick to the other usual lectures: eat properly and get plenty of rest." Janet handed Sam a small pill bottle. "Antibiotics. Take them four times a day. If you don't want to cause yourself, and subsequently Daniel, any undue pain, then the last thing you want is to get that burn infected. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." Sam unconsciously stood straighter and had to fight the impulse to salute. When Janet was in 'full doctor mode' rank was completely thrown out of the equation. Everyone on base, military and civilian alike, suddenly began to act like cadets fresh out of the academy, intimidated into obedience.
Sam had even caught General Hammond calling the tiny woman 'ma'am' on one occasion. He had been suffering from the flu last winter, but due to an off-world crisis (SG-11 had been missing for two days) he had refused to take the time needed to allow his body to fight the virus. After the situation had been resolved and the General still refused to take the necessary time off, Janet had finally been forced, as CMO, to pull medical rank. By that time, his simple flu had transformed into severe pneumonia.
Sam still fought hard to wipe the grin from her face each time she remembered walking into the infirmary several days later and catching the tail end of Janet's lecture. The severity of her voice as she had listed all of the possible complications that could have arisen from letting pneumonia go unattended for too long was a stark contrast to the meek, congested, nasally, and nearly inaudible squeak that was the General's voice as he had simply repeated 'yes ma'am' over and over again.
*~*~*~*
The remainder of the evening and night was filled with a flurry of activity. The lead bars were prepared. If Ochsner should happen to get his hands on them, he would have no more explosive power than several sticks of dynamite. Destructive, yes, but it was no more destructive than the bombs that were currently made on Kolea.
Extra SG teams were called in, briefed on the situation, and placed on high alert. SG-1 had 24 hours after gating to Kolea to either return to Earth or report in. After that time, the other teams would be sent in with orders to retrieve SG-1 by any means necessary.
A UAV was launched to search for the red stone building. Unfortunately, that color of stone was not uncommon. Not only were there several buildings in Ambassador Crile's city that were made of the material, but most of the rural structures were comprised of it as well. The plan to head straight to the temple remained unchanged.
Their briefing having taken place an hour earlier, Sam and Teal'c walked along the hallway on their way to the embarkation room after picking up their gear from Supply. Colonel O'Neill had sent them on ahead claiming that Supply had forgotten to pack his sunglasses.
They were nearly to the gate room door when Sam felt a powerful blow to her jaw. Her head whipped painfully to the side and her body slammed against the wall.
"Dammit!" Sam was only able to vocalize the single word before another blow, this time to the solar plexus, stole the breath from her lungs and caused her to collapse to the floor.
"Major Carter!" Teal'c was kneeling at her side in an instant.
"I'm...fine...Teal'c," the Major managed between gasps for breath.
"You are not fine, Major Carter. I will assist you to the infirmary."
Irrational anger flared through her and Sam pushed out against the large Jaffa, causing him to take a few stumbling steps backwards. "Dammit, Teal'c! I said I was fine!"
She just sat there for a few moments, glaring daggers at Teal'c before she realized what had happened. "Oh my God, Teal'c. I'm so sorry."
Colonel O'Neill, having seen Carter push Teal'c, jogged to catch up. "Carter, Teal'c, what's going on?" he questioned, concern clearly showing in his eyes.
"I believe that Major Carter has just reacted to an injury sustained by Daniel Jackson." Teal'c raised an eyebrow as if daring the Major to deny the statement.
"Alright, Carter, let's get you to the infirmary and let Janet take a look at you." O'Neill reached out a hand to help her stand.
"No, sir!" Sam slapped the hand away.
Surprised by the venom in the Major's voice, O'Neill took a step back. "Excuse me, but do the words Colonel or superior officer mean anything to you?"
Sam clasped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles began to turn white. 'Calm down, Daniel. Just relax. Take it easy,' she repeated to herself. "I'm sorry, sir," she finally said. "It's just..." she trailed off.
The Colonel knelt down before her. "What is it, Carter? I need to know what we're dealing with here."
"It's this damn link, sir," Sam answered while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Does this have something to do with what Fraiser was saying about those fibers growing into the Limbic System of your brain?"
Sam tried to hide her surprise at both the fact that the Colonel had been paying attention to Janet as well as the fact that he had used the correct pronunciation. "I can feel that Daniel's a bit, uh, agitated right now. Do you remember what he was like when we met up with Apophis on Netu?"
Jack nodded, remembering all too well how Daniel's anger at the Goa'uld had overridden his common sense. He had been quick to inform the false god of Amonet's death, hoping to return some of the pain Apophis had caused him over the years. That had been one of the few times that Jack had feared what would come out of the young man's mouth next. It was almost as if he had a death wish.
"Well, sir," Carter continued. "I wish he were only that angry now. It's bad enough to see him in that kind of mood, but I can feel it now. It's...distracting, to say the least."
Jack winced then helped his 2IC to her feet. "Okay, I understand," he said as he took an excessive amount of time to straighten the Major's collar. "Are you both alright?"
"Yes, sir. It's just another couple of bruises to add to Daniel's list."
"Fine, then. Let's just get to the planet, defeat the bad guys, and bring Daniel back to the loving embrace of our own Dr. Fraiser." The sarcasm in his voice when speaking of Fraiser's 'loving embrace' earned him a smile from Sam and a raised eyebrow from Teal'c.
"Yes, sir." Sam wiped a hand across her mouth and followed her two teammates into the embarkation room, completely ignoring the taste of copper in her mouth and the streak of red across her palm.
*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*
Late the next day found Sam still confined to the infirmary being subjected to as many tests as Dr. Fraiser could think of. Unsure of the magnetic properties of the disc and its wires, the possibility of an MRI was quickly overruled.
Sam had kept a mental tally. During the long hours of the night and the evening before - with the exception of the six hours she had managed to sleep - she had had two full-body CAT scans, five CAT scans of her head and neck, 25 x-rays of various parts of her skeletal system, three urine analysis, and a barrage of other tests she didn't even know the names for. She was not positive that the doctor hadn't snuck in a few more tests during the hours she had been sleeping.
Janet had also insisted on a blood sample. After a long and heated debate, Sam had finally agreed to allow one, and only one, needle stick. She'd informed the doctor that she had better make sure she found a vein on the first try and get enough blood to run all of the necessary tests.
Sam knew that Daniel wasn't a pain wimp and that a little stick of a needle wouldn't come anywhere near harming him, but she still didn't like the idea of being responsible for causing him pain or discomfort of any kind.
Just as Sam was sure that Janet was beginning to invent new tests to perform on her, Colonel O'Neill strolled into the infirmary followed closely by Teal'c.
"Major Carter," Teal'c began as he came up beside the bed she was currently sitting upon. "I apologize for not being available to accompany you and Daniel Jackson to Kolea. Had I been there..."
"Don't start feeling guilty over this, Teal'c," she cut him off. "We don't know what might have happened had you, or anyone else, been with us. Perhaps we wouldn't have been attacked, but perhaps they simply would have killed you and taken us anyway. No one can predict the future. We can only deal with what we currently have."
Teal'c bowed deeply at the waist, seemingly accepting the Major's words.
"Hammond's given his approval for a rescue operation. We can depart at 0600 tomorrow," O'Neill informed Carter. "According to Ambassador Crile, this guy's been on the run from the Kolean government for years, but he hasn't been heard from in quite a while. He's your typical psycho head case with illusions of grandeur."
"What's the plan, sir?"
"Well, we figure that OshKosh will assume that you've told us everything and he'll be prepared for us to try something. The only problem is that we don't know where he is. We're going to head for the temple, wait for him to make contact, and wing it from there."
"What about the Naquadah?" Sam questioned.
"We will employ the ruse I have seen in many of your old west movies," Teal'c answered.
Seeing the confusion on Carter's face, O'Neill clarified. "Lead bars, Major. In the movies, the bad guys would paint them to disguise them as gold. We'll put a thin coating of Naquadah on a few lead bars. We'll still try to avoid giving them to him, but should that become impossible, he won't get enough Naquadah to do any real damage."
That part of the plan sounded so simple that she thought it might actually work. It looked as if the only real problem might be escaping with Daniel and then getting the discs removed.
"Now," said the Colonel, seeing the obvious approval in the Major's eyes. "If we can just get that Napoleonic Power Monger to release you..."
"I heard that, Colonel." Janet's voice sounded from behind him, causing him jump. She didn't bother to chastise him for the comment, instead addressing her guinea pig...uh...patient. "Considering the circumstances, Sam, I don't have much choice but to release you. Before you go, though, I want to show you what I've found."
The petite doctor led the three members of SG-1 to a wall containing several x-ray view boxes that were covered with Sam's films.
"This," Janet pointed to the first film, "is one of the x-rays that were taken when you were first brought back from Kolea. It clearly shows the tiny fibers," she pointed to an erratic white line, "that exit the disc and travel into the spinal column, interfacing directly with the nerve bundles.
"This film," Janet pointed to the last picture, "is a more recent one. In it, you can see that new fibers are now extending into different areas of the brain. It's my belief that as these new fibers formed, your connection with Dr. Jackson evolved. There's a particularly large concentration of the fibers in the Limbic System. It's a part of the brain that controls emotions."
"That would explain some things," Sam intoned earning her surprised and questioning looks form those around her. "Let's just say that I'm not normally prone to the kinds of mood swings I've been experiencing."
Janet didn't care for the abbreviated explanation but she decided to continue with her findings. She pulled out a new x-ray and placed it on the view box. "This is the most recent film. It appears that the fibers are still forming, but apparently at a much slower rate. I honestly don't know how or to what extent this link between the two of you will evolve.
"I've also been able to determine that the fibers are bio-mechanical. Ochsner mentioned that the procedure to remove the discs was relatively simple?" Sam nodded. "I still want you to try to bring back any information you're able to find on them, but it looks as if we should be able to simply cut the fibers away from the disc. Your bodies will then be able to absorb the remaining fibers. Dr. Warner and I can operate simultaneously to remove them."
"That's great!" Sam exclaimed through a long sigh of relief. "Does that also mean that you're done with the tests for now?"
The hopefulness in her friend's voice was too much for the doctor to resist. "Yes, the Napoleonic Power Monger is finished with you." She cast a reproachful look towards the Colonel who had suddenly found his boots the most interesting thing in the room. "I'm sure I don't have to warn you to stay on base, but you also need to stick to the other usual lectures: eat properly and get plenty of rest." Janet handed Sam a small pill bottle. "Antibiotics. Take them four times a day. If you don't want to cause yourself, and subsequently Daniel, any undue pain, then the last thing you want is to get that burn infected. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." Sam unconsciously stood straighter and had to fight the impulse to salute. When Janet was in 'full doctor mode' rank was completely thrown out of the equation. Everyone on base, military and civilian alike, suddenly began to act like cadets fresh out of the academy, intimidated into obedience.
Sam had even caught General Hammond calling the tiny woman 'ma'am' on one occasion. He had been suffering from the flu last winter, but due to an off-world crisis (SG-11 had been missing for two days) he had refused to take the time needed to allow his body to fight the virus. After the situation had been resolved and the General still refused to take the necessary time off, Janet had finally been forced, as CMO, to pull medical rank. By that time, his simple flu had transformed into severe pneumonia.
Sam still fought hard to wipe the grin from her face each time she remembered walking into the infirmary several days later and catching the tail end of Janet's lecture. The severity of her voice as she had listed all of the possible complications that could have arisen from letting pneumonia go unattended for too long was a stark contrast to the meek, congested, nasally, and nearly inaudible squeak that was the General's voice as he had simply repeated 'yes ma'am' over and over again.
*~*~*~*
The remainder of the evening and night was filled with a flurry of activity. The lead bars were prepared. If Ochsner should happen to get his hands on them, he would have no more explosive power than several sticks of dynamite. Destructive, yes, but it was no more destructive than the bombs that were currently made on Kolea.
Extra SG teams were called in, briefed on the situation, and placed on high alert. SG-1 had 24 hours after gating to Kolea to either return to Earth or report in. After that time, the other teams would be sent in with orders to retrieve SG-1 by any means necessary.
A UAV was launched to search for the red stone building. Unfortunately, that color of stone was not uncommon. Not only were there several buildings in Ambassador Crile's city that were made of the material, but most of the rural structures were comprised of it as well. The plan to head straight to the temple remained unchanged.
Their briefing having taken place an hour earlier, Sam and Teal'c walked along the hallway on their way to the embarkation room after picking up their gear from Supply. Colonel O'Neill had sent them on ahead claiming that Supply had forgotten to pack his sunglasses.
They were nearly to the gate room door when Sam felt a powerful blow to her jaw. Her head whipped painfully to the side and her body slammed against the wall.
"Dammit!" Sam was only able to vocalize the single word before another blow, this time to the solar plexus, stole the breath from her lungs and caused her to collapse to the floor.
"Major Carter!" Teal'c was kneeling at her side in an instant.
"I'm...fine...Teal'c," the Major managed between gasps for breath.
"You are not fine, Major Carter. I will assist you to the infirmary."
Irrational anger flared through her and Sam pushed out against the large Jaffa, causing him to take a few stumbling steps backwards. "Dammit, Teal'c! I said I was fine!"
She just sat there for a few moments, glaring daggers at Teal'c before she realized what had happened. "Oh my God, Teal'c. I'm so sorry."
Colonel O'Neill, having seen Carter push Teal'c, jogged to catch up. "Carter, Teal'c, what's going on?" he questioned, concern clearly showing in his eyes.
"I believe that Major Carter has just reacted to an injury sustained by Daniel Jackson." Teal'c raised an eyebrow as if daring the Major to deny the statement.
"Alright, Carter, let's get you to the infirmary and let Janet take a look at you." O'Neill reached out a hand to help her stand.
"No, sir!" Sam slapped the hand away.
Surprised by the venom in the Major's voice, O'Neill took a step back. "Excuse me, but do the words Colonel or superior officer mean anything to you?"
Sam clasped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles began to turn white. 'Calm down, Daniel. Just relax. Take it easy,' she repeated to herself. "I'm sorry, sir," she finally said. "It's just..." she trailed off.
The Colonel knelt down before her. "What is it, Carter? I need to know what we're dealing with here."
"It's this damn link, sir," Sam answered while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Does this have something to do with what Fraiser was saying about those fibers growing into the Limbic System of your brain?"
Sam tried to hide her surprise at both the fact that the Colonel had been paying attention to Janet as well as the fact that he had used the correct pronunciation. "I can feel that Daniel's a bit, uh, agitated right now. Do you remember what he was like when we met up with Apophis on Netu?"
Jack nodded, remembering all too well how Daniel's anger at the Goa'uld had overridden his common sense. He had been quick to inform the false god of Amonet's death, hoping to return some of the pain Apophis had caused him over the years. That had been one of the few times that Jack had feared what would come out of the young man's mouth next. It was almost as if he had a death wish.
"Well, sir," Carter continued. "I wish he were only that angry now. It's bad enough to see him in that kind of mood, but I can feel it now. It's...distracting, to say the least."
Jack winced then helped his 2IC to her feet. "Okay, I understand," he said as he took an excessive amount of time to straighten the Major's collar. "Are you both alright?"
"Yes, sir. It's just another couple of bruises to add to Daniel's list."
"Fine, then. Let's just get to the planet, defeat the bad guys, and bring Daniel back to the loving embrace of our own Dr. Fraiser." The sarcasm in his voice when speaking of Fraiser's 'loving embrace' earned him a smile from Sam and a raised eyebrow from Teal'c.
"Yes, sir." Sam wiped a hand across her mouth and followed her two teammates into the embarkation room, completely ignoring the taste of copper in her mouth and the streak of red across her palm.
*~*~*~*