PART 8: fallen Hero
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood" -Marie Curie
"So, how did your first mission go?" Janet makes idle conversation whilst running various tests on me.
"Not bad. It was nice to get back into things, even though it was a bit slow. I missed Jake, as well." She gives a knowing smile and nods.
"Ow! Jeez, do you people lessons in conducting painful tests?" I look around Janet to see Jack, acting like a baby, all because of a little blood test.
"Yes, Colonel! 'How to torture Jack O'Neill with a needle and other sharp objects, 101'.
"Way to go, Janet!" I congratulate her on putting him in his place, as a confused look creeps over his face.
Turning her attention back on me, with a delighted look on her face, she examines my chart. That's when her face changes, and that's when every person in this base knows that you should be worried.
"Sam, while you were on that planet, did you eat, or take anything.unusual?" She asks, not looking up from the clipboard in her hands.
"No, I don't think so. Oh! I did drink this tea-like stuff. It had some kind of stimulant in it. I was told it was no stronger or harmful than coffee. Why?"
Finally looking at me, she replies, "These blood test results aren't looking to good. They're showing the presence of an abnormal substance, and in large quantities."
My head spins as I struggle to get to grips to with what she is saying.
"What kind of abnormal substance, Doc?" Jack asks, hopping off the bed and crossing the short distance between us.
"I'm not sure. I'm gonna have to run a few more tests." Great! Tests. "Sam, do you feel at all unwell? Any dizziness or headaches? Anything at all?"
"No, I feel fine."
"Well, I'd still like to run more tests."
**
40 Minutes later
I sit in my lab, painfully trying to remove the plaster Janet had stuck on my arm after she took yet more of my blood, along with other bodily fluids, which shall remain nameless. (Use your imagination!) Why the hell do they insist on sticking these things on anyway? It's a tiny hole and barely bleeds at all, plus, I swear that pulling them of hurts more than the actual test!
"Ow! Jeez."
"Baby!" Jack mocks as he turns the corner and enters my lab.
"Oh, I'm the baby! Who was it who was complaining about a little needle less an hour ago?" An innocent, and slightly dumfounded look crosses his face, whilst he tries to think of a comeback, but in the end settles for, "I love you" accompanied by the biggest smile he can manage. I reply with a tut and role my eyes.
He walks around the bench and places a kiss on my forehead. A feeling of satisfaction passes over me and I take his hand, resting my head on his stomach briefly before looking up and meeting his eyes.
"Jack, I..."
Woh! What the hell? Everything suddenly gets blurry, and I feel incredibly dizzy.
"Sam?" His voice comes from a distance. Suddenly I cant breath. Why cant I breath? My chest is tight, really tight! I cant... breath?
"Jack." my voice uses all the air I have left as I plead for help. A darkness covers me. A darkness I have seen before, but never like this. Unable to draw air into my starving, burning lungs, my body shuts down and I fall.
**
"Get me some. stat!"
"What's.her?"
The voices enter my head rapidly and leave it just as quickly. I can't make out what is being said, it all just merges into one. All I have is darkness all around me, and loud sounds filling my head every now and then.
Something is pressed against my mouth, shoving heavy air in to my empty lungs, again and again, almost rhythmically. I feel the oxygen course though my veins and into every finger and every toe, as the feeling returns and the numbness release's its grip. I chock as my body fights to take back control and I am left to breath on my own.
"She's back." Janet. That's Janet's voice. I must be in the infirmary.
"Sam, can you hear me?"
"Jack?" I ask, not sure if I'm really hearing his voice over the constant beeping of the near by machines and monitors.
"I'm here." He laces his fingers around my 'dripped' hand.
"What happened?" Opening my eyes I find him leaning over me, which I am grateful for, as it blocks my eyes from the intolerably bright lights above me.
"You stopped breathing. Just for future reference, that's not a very good idea, so don't do it again, that's an order!" He meant it as a joke, but I could hear the tremor in his voice and see the fear in his eyes, only just starting to be replaced with relief. I scared him.
"Yes, Sir." I reply, my voice thick.
**
"Your test results all concur. The abnormal substance in your system is a form of poison."
"Poison?" Jack questions.
"Yes, Colonel. It's nothing I've ever seen before. But I do know that it caused your lungs to spasm earlier, and that's why you couldn't breath. The bottom line is, we need to find a way to get this thing out of you." She says, turning her gaze on me.
My blood runs cold. What the hell is this thing gonna do to me? And why, why was I so stupid? It most have been that drink. I should have said no as soon as he offered it to me.
Jack asks the question that no my lips; "What if we can't?"
Janets look is one I know well. I've seen it many times, usually when she is giving bad news.
"I can't say for definite, but form what I've seen so far, it's like a . cancer. It's taking over Sam's organs and causing them to . malfunction. I can't say if that malfunction can be permanent, I'll have to do some more scans and tests, but the good news is that it wasn't permanent with your lungs." Thank god, but the look on her face tells me there's a 'but' coming, " but." There it is! " If it takes over a vital organ, like the brain, and shuts it down."
That's it. I can't hear the rest of that sentence. No longer hocked up to any machines I get up and just walk away. Basically, my best friend just told me I could die at anytime that poison decides to play games.
I round the corner and place my back against the wall, running my fingers though my hair, and try to regain the focus in my eyes, which has gone a skew because of the rapid build up of water, threatening to fall.
Before I know it, I can feel his arms around me, holding me tightly, as if, if he let go I would disappear.
"What am I going to do?" I ask, finally giving up and letting the tears fall.
"We'll get through this. We will! Your gonna be fine." I wish I could believe that. I really do.
**
Having my stomach pumped is something that I never want to go through again. Janet decided it best to make sure that all of the poison was out of my stomach, if there was any left there, that is.
Jack stayed with me though out, and I'm glad he did, because I needed him.
It's well after midnight, and I feel like shit (and that doesn't even fully cover it). My body has been filled with chemicals, more than once. I've thrown up more times than I care to remember and I have some poison screwing with my insides.
The spasm that shook my body whilst the medics were setting up has left me weak and scared. The mere prospect that I could be anywhere, at anytime, when I loose it is a frightening one. I could be driving; I could have Jake in the car! I have to get this thing out of me, now. Before I hurt anyone. Before my body 'malfunctions' and can't be fixed.
Lost in my thoughts I don't hear him come in to the room they have me put aside in, but instead smell the strong aroma of the coffee he has been drinking as he places a kiss on my cheek.
"How you doing?" He sits down in the chair next to my bed and places one hand on my arm and the other he tucks between his chest and the arm resting on mine.
"I've been better" I answer, shocked at just how rough my voice sounds. It's then that I look at Jack. I mean really look at him. Dark shadows silhouette his eyes, a light dusting of stubble rests on his chin, and he looks pale and weary. I can't do this to him. As much as I need him, he needs to rest.
"Jack, go home." I'm saying it before I even think it, but I know that that's what he needs to do right now.
"What? I can't. You need me!" he says casually
"As much as that's true, I think these guys have got it under control," I tilt my head indicating the starf in the infirmary, "besides, Teal'c has been spending way to much time with our son lately! I'm worried he'll teach him how to Kal'na'reem and speak goa'uld before he's even learnt to sit up by himself! Then there's the star wars issue!"
I could have gone down the 'you need to rest too' root, but that one never works on him. unless he falls flat on his face, and Teal'c has to pick him up.
" Enough said! Are you sure your gonna be ok?" He asks, standing up. I nod and give a small smile. "Ok. Do you need anything from home?"
"Toothbrush would be nice. Oh, and some real pyjamas!"
"Ok, I'll bring them in tomorrow." He looks at me with a concerned look, and then kisses me, and gives my hand a finale squeeze, whispering a goodbye and take care under his breath before heading for the exit.
**
Next up, Part 9!
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood" -Marie Curie
"So, how did your first mission go?" Janet makes idle conversation whilst running various tests on me.
"Not bad. It was nice to get back into things, even though it was a bit slow. I missed Jake, as well." She gives a knowing smile and nods.
"Ow! Jeez, do you people lessons in conducting painful tests?" I look around Janet to see Jack, acting like a baby, all because of a little blood test.
"Yes, Colonel! 'How to torture Jack O'Neill with a needle and other sharp objects, 101'.
"Way to go, Janet!" I congratulate her on putting him in his place, as a confused look creeps over his face.
Turning her attention back on me, with a delighted look on her face, she examines my chart. That's when her face changes, and that's when every person in this base knows that you should be worried.
"Sam, while you were on that planet, did you eat, or take anything.unusual?" She asks, not looking up from the clipboard in her hands.
"No, I don't think so. Oh! I did drink this tea-like stuff. It had some kind of stimulant in it. I was told it was no stronger or harmful than coffee. Why?"
Finally looking at me, she replies, "These blood test results aren't looking to good. They're showing the presence of an abnormal substance, and in large quantities."
My head spins as I struggle to get to grips to with what she is saying.
"What kind of abnormal substance, Doc?" Jack asks, hopping off the bed and crossing the short distance between us.
"I'm not sure. I'm gonna have to run a few more tests." Great! Tests. "Sam, do you feel at all unwell? Any dizziness or headaches? Anything at all?"
"No, I feel fine."
"Well, I'd still like to run more tests."
**
40 Minutes later
I sit in my lab, painfully trying to remove the plaster Janet had stuck on my arm after she took yet more of my blood, along with other bodily fluids, which shall remain nameless. (Use your imagination!) Why the hell do they insist on sticking these things on anyway? It's a tiny hole and barely bleeds at all, plus, I swear that pulling them of hurts more than the actual test!
"Ow! Jeez."
"Baby!" Jack mocks as he turns the corner and enters my lab.
"Oh, I'm the baby! Who was it who was complaining about a little needle less an hour ago?" An innocent, and slightly dumfounded look crosses his face, whilst he tries to think of a comeback, but in the end settles for, "I love you" accompanied by the biggest smile he can manage. I reply with a tut and role my eyes.
He walks around the bench and places a kiss on my forehead. A feeling of satisfaction passes over me and I take his hand, resting my head on his stomach briefly before looking up and meeting his eyes.
"Jack, I..."
Woh! What the hell? Everything suddenly gets blurry, and I feel incredibly dizzy.
"Sam?" His voice comes from a distance. Suddenly I cant breath. Why cant I breath? My chest is tight, really tight! I cant... breath?
"Jack." my voice uses all the air I have left as I plead for help. A darkness covers me. A darkness I have seen before, but never like this. Unable to draw air into my starving, burning lungs, my body shuts down and I fall.
**
"Get me some. stat!"
"What's.her?"
The voices enter my head rapidly and leave it just as quickly. I can't make out what is being said, it all just merges into one. All I have is darkness all around me, and loud sounds filling my head every now and then.
Something is pressed against my mouth, shoving heavy air in to my empty lungs, again and again, almost rhythmically. I feel the oxygen course though my veins and into every finger and every toe, as the feeling returns and the numbness release's its grip. I chock as my body fights to take back control and I am left to breath on my own.
"She's back." Janet. That's Janet's voice. I must be in the infirmary.
"Sam, can you hear me?"
"Jack?" I ask, not sure if I'm really hearing his voice over the constant beeping of the near by machines and monitors.
"I'm here." He laces his fingers around my 'dripped' hand.
"What happened?" Opening my eyes I find him leaning over me, which I am grateful for, as it blocks my eyes from the intolerably bright lights above me.
"You stopped breathing. Just for future reference, that's not a very good idea, so don't do it again, that's an order!" He meant it as a joke, but I could hear the tremor in his voice and see the fear in his eyes, only just starting to be replaced with relief. I scared him.
"Yes, Sir." I reply, my voice thick.
**
"Your test results all concur. The abnormal substance in your system is a form of poison."
"Poison?" Jack questions.
"Yes, Colonel. It's nothing I've ever seen before. But I do know that it caused your lungs to spasm earlier, and that's why you couldn't breath. The bottom line is, we need to find a way to get this thing out of you." She says, turning her gaze on me.
My blood runs cold. What the hell is this thing gonna do to me? And why, why was I so stupid? It most have been that drink. I should have said no as soon as he offered it to me.
Jack asks the question that no my lips; "What if we can't?"
Janets look is one I know well. I've seen it many times, usually when she is giving bad news.
"I can't say for definite, but form what I've seen so far, it's like a . cancer. It's taking over Sam's organs and causing them to . malfunction. I can't say if that malfunction can be permanent, I'll have to do some more scans and tests, but the good news is that it wasn't permanent with your lungs." Thank god, but the look on her face tells me there's a 'but' coming, " but." There it is! " If it takes over a vital organ, like the brain, and shuts it down."
That's it. I can't hear the rest of that sentence. No longer hocked up to any machines I get up and just walk away. Basically, my best friend just told me I could die at anytime that poison decides to play games.
I round the corner and place my back against the wall, running my fingers though my hair, and try to regain the focus in my eyes, which has gone a skew because of the rapid build up of water, threatening to fall.
Before I know it, I can feel his arms around me, holding me tightly, as if, if he let go I would disappear.
"What am I going to do?" I ask, finally giving up and letting the tears fall.
"We'll get through this. We will! Your gonna be fine." I wish I could believe that. I really do.
**
Having my stomach pumped is something that I never want to go through again. Janet decided it best to make sure that all of the poison was out of my stomach, if there was any left there, that is.
Jack stayed with me though out, and I'm glad he did, because I needed him.
It's well after midnight, and I feel like shit (and that doesn't even fully cover it). My body has been filled with chemicals, more than once. I've thrown up more times than I care to remember and I have some poison screwing with my insides.
The spasm that shook my body whilst the medics were setting up has left me weak and scared. The mere prospect that I could be anywhere, at anytime, when I loose it is a frightening one. I could be driving; I could have Jake in the car! I have to get this thing out of me, now. Before I hurt anyone. Before my body 'malfunctions' and can't be fixed.
Lost in my thoughts I don't hear him come in to the room they have me put aside in, but instead smell the strong aroma of the coffee he has been drinking as he places a kiss on my cheek.
"How you doing?" He sits down in the chair next to my bed and places one hand on my arm and the other he tucks between his chest and the arm resting on mine.
"I've been better" I answer, shocked at just how rough my voice sounds. It's then that I look at Jack. I mean really look at him. Dark shadows silhouette his eyes, a light dusting of stubble rests on his chin, and he looks pale and weary. I can't do this to him. As much as I need him, he needs to rest.
"Jack, go home." I'm saying it before I even think it, but I know that that's what he needs to do right now.
"What? I can't. You need me!" he says casually
"As much as that's true, I think these guys have got it under control," I tilt my head indicating the starf in the infirmary, "besides, Teal'c has been spending way to much time with our son lately! I'm worried he'll teach him how to Kal'na'reem and speak goa'uld before he's even learnt to sit up by himself! Then there's the star wars issue!"
I could have gone down the 'you need to rest too' root, but that one never works on him. unless he falls flat on his face, and Teal'c has to pick him up.
" Enough said! Are you sure your gonna be ok?" He asks, standing up. I nod and give a small smile. "Ok. Do you need anything from home?"
"Toothbrush would be nice. Oh, and some real pyjamas!"
"Ok, I'll bring them in tomorrow." He looks at me with a concerned look, and then kisses me, and gives my hand a finale squeeze, whispering a goodbye and take care under his breath before heading for the exit.
**
Next up, Part 9!