Chapter 3 - Hyperbaric Chamber

Three Days Later…

USC Hyperbaric Chamber - Catalina Island

Sam Carter and Paul Davis had been put into separate hyperbaric chambers, and had both seemed to be doing better. Paul had been taken off the ventilator, and Sam was no longer on life support. But since their body temperatures were so low Janet had them both put into thermal gel suits that looked much like body suits for scuba diving. The suits allowed Janet to slowly increase the temperature and she had managed to raise both of their temperatures up fifteen degrees, which was major progress. "She's still unconscious?" Jacob asked as he entered the room in which Sam was located in, in the chamber. Jacob and Jack had taken shifts staying with Sam. Janet had made sure that the sections that contained the two chambers were isolated and that only certain personnel were allowed near them in case they were to come to and start talking about the stargate.

"Jacob, I'm not sure that she'll ever regain consciousness," Janet told him.

"But you're not sure?"

"No, but it is a possibility."

"She'll be fine," Jack said entering the room.

"Colonel…"

"Doctor, why don't you go check on Major Davis? It looked like he was trying to move around."

"Yes, sir," Janet said and then left.

"She's going to be okay, Jacob…" Colonel O'Neill tried to reassure him.

Jacob looked into the chamber that Sam was in, "she's so pale…and she's still on the ventilator…just not on full life support…Jack, about her living will…"

"Jacob, I don't want to hear it!"

"Jack!"

"You can't just kill her!"

"I would be letting her go!" Jacob said and started to breakdown. "This isn't easy for me, Jack. I don't want to lose Sam either…I've lost so much already…"

"Then don't do it…give Janet and Sam some more time. Look at Davis, he's doing better…I bet he'll be out of here or at least out of full medical care in a few weeks…give Sam time."

"She was hurt worse than Davis."

"Then we need to give her more time!"


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Two Weeks Later…
Hammond's Office - Stargate Command

Colonel O'Neill, Major Davis, and Teal'c stood in front of General Hammond's desk. It was Davis' first day back, by first day it meant that it was the day he was released from the hospital and able to stand. "We're glad to have you back, Major, even if you're not officially back yet," Hammond told him.

"Yes, sir, thank you, Sir," Davis responded.

"How is Major Carter doing?" Hammond asked, opening the question to all three.

"She's still unconscious, Sir," O'Neill told him semi uncomfortable trying to use 'selective' words.

"She's still in a coma, Sir," Davis corrected.

"I see…" Hammond said trying to take it all in.

"She just needs time to heal, Sir. She's off of life support…she doesn't have the respirator…" O'Neill told him, he didn't want anyone to give up on Sam.

"You all know that we can't keep this up for long, there is a possibility that she will never wake up let alone recover. The fact that she has made progress is promising, but Doctor Frasier informed me when this all happened that the longer she was in a coma the less likely she was to wake up."

"We can't just give up on her!"

"We're not, Colonel, but I am pulling you and Teal'c back onto active duty and Major Davis when Doctor Frasier clears him."

"That's giving up!" Jack told him, he was getting upset. It wasn't his fault; Carter had been his 2IC for several years. He and his team had a bond and he wasn't about to let one of them go without a fight. Daniel was gone, and he was no way in hell going to let Sam go. It wasn't just that Sam was is 2IC and scientist, she was also so much more. More than they were allowed.

"Colonel, you WILL obey my orders, am I understood?"

"She needs us there! We can't just abandon her! If we give up then what if she gives up?" Jack told him.

Teal'c remained his same calm standing statue self.

Davis was just as concerned and worried about Sam as Jack was, but he knew that arguing with the general wasn't going to solve anything. "Colonel, she won't be alone. They're flying her back here in a few days. I can go back and fly out with her. She'll either be placed here or in the Air Force Hospital."

"Major Davis is correct, O'Neill."

"Look, Jack, I know you don't want anyone to give up on Sam…and we're not, but life has to go on. You and Teal'c will be deployed tomorrow with SG-8; they have a village they're suppose to check on. You'll all still have plenty of time to stay with her and try to get her conscious."

"So, we have to baby-sit the medics?" Jack said not liking his and Teal'c's assignment.

"It's either that or SG-9," Hammond told him.

"Great, medics or diplomats…that's not a choice!"

Hammond smiled, "you leave at 0900 tomorrow."


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Two Weeks Later…

Embarkation Room - SGC

Colonel O'Neill had been assigned a replacement for Carter, not a 2IC; Davis was to do that until Sam was back. He had been assigned a new scientist. He hated scientists, well all except Sam and Daniel, but even they had some getting used to. Jack didn't want a new member let alone a scientist. Jack, Paul, and Teal'c all waited for the replacement. He was taking way too long, and Jack was hoping he had gotten lost and they'd have to leave without him.

"Sorry I'm late," Doctor Fredrick Mulvain apologized. "I was having trouble figuring out this thing," motioning to his vest. "I didn't know we needed so much stuff." Fredrick was an aerospace engineer and like Sam had been he wanted to be on the astronaut list, but since that was miles long he was temporarily assigned to the SGC.

Jack shook his head in disgust, "for crying out loud." He gave Davis a 'he's your responsibility' look.

Davis smiled, he knew that look.

The gate began to dial.

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Later that Day…

Sam's Room - Air Force Hospital

Jack, Paul, and Teal'c had arrived at the hospital after completing their mission. "You should have seen it, Carter! Freddy, that's his name, the poor excuse for a new team member," Jack told her.

"Actually I believe it was Doctor Fredrick Mulvain," Teal'c stated.

"But I call him Freddy," Jack told Teal'c, "he's just a computer geek anyways. He doesn't belong on the team. He just about tripped and killed himself on the mission for crying out loud! He was all like let me go dangerously close to this cliff even though Colonel O'Neill said to stay away! Oh! And look! Something shiny! I better jump off the cliff to get it!"

Davis laughed, "he tripped over a tree root and he wasn't looking at anything shiny, he was trying to figure out what the carving on the tree was…"

"I said that!" Jack said.

Davis just laughed more.

"I'm telling ya Carter, the longer you're on vacation the longer I get to torture Freddy…or whoever takes his place when he jumps off a cliff next time."

"We should depart, O'Neill, it is getting late," Teal'c told him.

Jack looked down at his watch, "you're right." Jack looked over at Sam, she still looked pale.

"Night Sam," Paul said before walking out the door.

"Pleasant dreams, Samantha Carter," Teal'c said following Paul out.

Jack brushed some strands of hair back in place, he missed her. "We all love you and miss you Sam," he said before kissing her forehead gently. "I miss you."

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TBC...