Part 2 - United We Stand

Chapter 1 - Return From Hell

Janet lifted Jack's hand. "Can you wiggle your fingers for me, Colonel?" she asked, keeping her tone light and gentle.

Jack's fingers shook slightly, but he moved them. "That's great, Sir," Fraiser smiled, pleased. "Now can you describe for me how you're feeling?"

Still his eyes were empty. Staring lifelessly at nothing. He didn't respond. "Colonel? Sir, can you explain to me how you feel?" Dr. Fraiser pursued a reply, but received nothing from the inert Colonel.

"What is it, doctor?" General Hammond queried as he, Teal'c and Sam stared back and forth, from Colonel to doctor, searching for an answer.

"I really have no idea, General," Janet replied, equally as puzzled and worried.

"Colonel? Can you hear me, Sir?"

"I'm.fine," Jack murmured, and then lost the strength to hold himself upright. Teal'c assisted Dr. Fraiser in holding him up.

"Colonel, we're going to go down to the Infirmary now, ok? Do you think you can stand up on your own?" the doctor asked gently, looking up into the taller man's vacant eyes. Teal'c helped O'Neill to stand, but that was as far as the Colonel managed to get. As soon as Jack was on his feet, he slumped over to one side, almost hitting the ramp before Teal'c grabbed him.

"It's ok, Colonel," Janet said in a soothing voice, "we've got a gurney here."

On the gurney, Jack fell unconscious.

@

"What were you thinking, Major?" General Hammond demanded, pacing irately about the briefing room. His office had proven far too small for his march.

"You were deliberately disobeying a direct order. I cannot believe that you - either of you - could be so irresponsible. I understand that Colonel O'Neill is a part of SG-1, commander of your team, but that gives you no authority to disregard my decision. This is something I never thought I would be doing, especially for either of you. It's very disappointing." The Major and Jaffa looked to the floor, minding it consciously with their eyes. Perhaps it might try to move if they weren't watching.

"General," Sam broke the silence, looking up, "can I just say that Teal'c really had no involvement here. I know that might sound like a lie, or a cover-up, but I think you know us both well enough to know that we wouldn't be stupid enough to protect the other. I think Teal'c would agree, wouldn't you Teal'c?"

"I am in agreement with Major Carter," Teal'c confirmed.

"I'd like to agree with you both on that," Hammond said, "but I thought I knew both of you better than attempting something like this. I think personal opinions are irrelevant, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, Sir," Sam answered quietly, again allowing her eyes to find the floor. She felt small. Very small.

"Now, I don't know what sort of a punishment to enforce here," the General went on, "if any at all. I'm not sure if punishment is the right way to go about it. I know you were both trying to do a good thing. I know your intentions were all good, but that's not the point. You were disobeying a direct order. Something you knew you shouldn't have done, before even contemplating it. Now I also know that concern for a friend, a good friend, can distort people's minds - perception. Change your way of thinking, because you're not thinking at all. I do know that, it has happened to me before. Taking that into consideration, and the condition Colonel O'Neill has returned in, I do seen reason for your actions. Major, you knew of the danger he was facing because you faced it yourself, and for that alone I drop any punishment that I may have considered otherwise. Don't think you're getting off just because I feel sorry for you, though. That would be a misconception. I'm just understanding the situation and taking appropriate action. Now get out, before I change my mind." Sam was almost sure she could see a tiny smile on Hammond's face as he told them to leave, and she returned it. He'd been lenient on them both; in fact, he'd been more than that, and they were grateful. Sam smiled broadly on the inside as she nearly jogged down to the Infirmary. Her CO's condition was worrying her. More than she dared to show.

@

"Janet."

Fraiser heard her name and turned to see Sam approaching. She knew what her friend had come to ask about, but it would be difficult for the doctor to explain it. Even she wasn't sure she understood.

"Sam," Fraiser acknowledged, "what did General Ha - "

"How's Colonel O'Neill?" Sam interrupted to ask.

Janet looked down for a moment and licked her lips. How could she explain what she didn't understand? "Physically? He'll be fine," Fraiser began. "It'll take some time, but in that time he'll heal and be fine."

"That's great," Sam smiled. "Can I see him now?"

"Sam," Janet stopped. She wasn't sure how to say what she needed to. She drew eye contact from her friend and locked it.

Sam could see in the doctor's eyes that there was something she needed to say. Something that wasn't good news. The doctor's silence made Sam uneasy, desperate to know what her friend kept from her. "Janet? What is it?"

"I think Colonel O'Neill may have had a nervous breakdown."