Jack sat in a ubiquitous hard plastic chair, staring at the cold concrete
floor of the infirmary, Daniel had taken up pacing the floor, shooting
nervous looks at the door whenever he heard anyone walking passed, and
Teal'c was standing guard at the door. Not one of them was talking, all
preferred to remain quiet with only their thoughts to keep them company.
Since Doctor Fraiser had decided that Major Carter needed immediate surgery to repair internal bleeding they had been sitting anxiously waiting for any news on their friend. The medical personnel were so used to SG-1's presence in the infirmary, whenever one of their group was injured, that they paid little attention to them.
As Janet walked in to the infirmary she ran her fingers through her hair, in a half hearted attempt to undo the damage that the surgical cap did to it, and she was immediately met by three pairs of emotion-filled eyes, all looking for answers.
"She's going to be fine, but it's going to take some time." Janet could hear all three of them exhale audibly.
"What's the damage?" Daniel asked nervously.
"Badly broken arm, which we've set, lacerated spleen, bruised kidneys, fractured cheekbone, four broken ribs, one of which punctured her lung resulting in a haemo-pnuemothorax for which we've fitted a chest drain, a concussion and multiple contusions and abrasions. I want to keep an eye on her for a while but she's gonna be just fine."
"Can we see her?" Jack asked, putting on his innocent pleading face. Janet knew she would not get any peace from the men until they have gotten to see Sam with their own eyes therefore she considered the matter for a few seconds and eventually decided to allow them in even if it was just for a little while.
"Okay, but only for five minutes. She's still not over the anaesthetic."
The tone of her voice made it very clear that she was not going to be bullied into letting them stay any longer than that. She led them to one of the isolation rooms, the decision had been made to keep Sam out of the regular infirmary for now. It was easier for Fraiser to monitor her there but there was also the fact that there was no sign of the creature that had attacked her therefore it was easier to guard her there away from the rest of the infirmary.
Jack was the first one of the group to enter the room. Upon resting his eyes on Sam laying on the bed he could not help but to stop in his tracks out of shock at her appearance and the severity of her injuries.
Her face was so badly bruised and her left eye was swollen shut, a mass a purple and blue. A small white bandage covered a spot just above her right eyebrow; black stitches pinched her bottom lip, the surrounding redness a contrast to the paleness of the rest of her lips. Her right arm was cast in pristine white plaster from her knuckles to half way up her upper arm. A clear plastic tube snaked from under the blanket and it was attached to a plastic container with a small amount of blood in the bottom. Jack knew from experience that this tubing was removing the blood from the interior of her damaged lung.
Daniel stepped passed Jack, who was still taking in the sight of his second- in-command, his friend, that was laying badly injured because of some 'thing' they have not been able to find at all. The Archaeologist took Sam's hand that was not cast in plaster in both of his which caused her to turn her head around and she was met by an ever so slight smile. Sam returned the smile but stopped immediately since the action caused a painful pulling of the stitches on her lip.
"How are you feeling Sam?" Daniel asked quietly.
"Sore", she replied in a husked voice.
"What happened", Jack's voice appeared calm but Daniel knew it was laced with anger and frustration.
"I woke up.I went to get some water, as I was heading back to bed I was.I was grabbed from behind. I tried to fight it but it was too strong.I managed to get my gun and I shot it.it screamed and ran."
It was painfully obviously that it was difficult for Sam to talk about what had happened, her voice was wavering and a few tears escaped from one of her eyes.
"What did it look like?"
"Grey."
"What, like Thor?" Daniel was obviously confused by this statement and when he glanced at Jack and Janet he knew he was not the only one.
"No, it was human, in shape at least but it was grey, it had no facial features.no nothing, just grey", Sam was getting agitated as she tried to convey her description and Janet decided that it was time to step in and allow her patient to get some well needed rest.
"Okay, time's up. Sam needs to rest."
The Colonel locked Janet in his gaze, she knew that they wanted to stay, as a friend she would not have hesitated to let them stay as long as they wanted, but as a doctor she knew she could not allow it. It was Jack that gave in first and he nodded his head slightly to indicate his acceptance.
He walked over and stood behind Daniel, "Hey Carter, Doc's throwing us out but we'll come back later."
As Jack spoke he noticed something akin to fear appearing in Sam's eyes. This shocked him since he was not used to Sam being afraid, he had seen her stare down Goa'uld system lords and here she was afraid to sleep in a room by herself. He was not the only one to notice this.
"I will remain outside the room while you sleep Major Carter."
"Thanks Teal'c", Sam said quietly and relieve washed over her face. Daniel gave her hand a quick squeeze as they left the room.
"There's nothing you can do now, go and get some sleep", Janet ordered. She knew her order would probably fall on deaf ears but what kind of doctor would she be if she did not at least try. She gave the group one last sympathetic glance before heading back in to check on her patient.
As he had promised Teal'c took guard outside the room and Daniel and Jack headed off down to corridor.
"So what now?" Daniel asked as they reached the elevator.
"What do you reckon of the description Sam gave?"
"I dunno Daniel, seems weird. I mean, you think someone would notice a human shaped grey blob walking round."
"True, but something did this to her and I don't doubt Sam's description - too much anyway. We've got to find it Jack."
"I know Daniel, I know. I'm off to see General Hammond. I said I'll see him after we'd seen Carter. What's your plan?"
"I'm going to try and translate what was written on the ruins on P4Y 379, maybe there's something there, some clue as to what could have done this."
As the elevator stopped at level 18, he made to exit but stopped for a few seconds and turned around to his friend.
"She's gonna be ok Jack."
"Yeah, so the Doc said."
"I don't mean that, you saw the look in her eyes too, but I know she'll be alright."
Jack just smiled weakly, he knew what Daniel meant, they will help her to deal with what happened to her. Dr Jackson walked off towards his office as the elevator headed further down into the mountain.
***
"How's she doing, Jack?" Major-General George Hammond asked Jack as he entered his office.
"Doc Fraiser says she going to be alright, given time. Is there any news on what did this to her Sir?"
"No, the sweep of her house found nothing and there's nothing out the ordinary on any of the security tapes or the computer logs. Did Major Carter give a description of her attacker?"
"Yes Sir, she said it was human in shape but just. grey."
He shook his head at the seemingly implausibility of the description. The fact that he doubted Carter was making him feel even worse. It was so unlike him to ever doubt her because frankly she was hardly ever wrong. General Hammond nodded slightly. He could see O'Neill was having a hard time.
Jack, you said that you broke Major Carter's door down."
"Yes Sir."
"And you didn't see anything out of the ordinary inside?"
"Just Carter laying unconscious on the floor. Why?"
"Because the house was locked tight apart from the front door, which you broke down, that means."
"That means that I let it out", Jack said quietly. Hammond could see the guilt playing on the younger man's face.
"Jack.we don't know that."
"We don't know anything."
"Go get some sleep, you look done in."
"Yes Sir." Jack said resignedly, turned and left the General's office. He headed back to the elevator and to Daniel's office via the commissary for a cup of much needed coffee.
"Hey Daniel, you got anything?" Jack asked. As Daniel turned around to look at him he anticipated the answer, the frustration on the young man's face was evident.
"Nothing, there's nothing here Jack, it basically says 'We were here' and not a lot more, it's all rubbish!"
He threw a couple of the open books on his desk to the floor in exasperation. "Sam's hurt, she was attacked at home, one place where we're supposed to be safe and we don't even know what did it, let alone where that thing is or how to find it."
Daniel was seething with anger. Jack was not used to this kind of outburst from Daniel, it was normally more his style and as a result he just raised his eyebrow which made Daniel look away sheepishly.
Allowing himself a few minutes to compose himself he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"So what did General Hammond say?" Daniel asked calmed after his initial outburst.
"I let it out of Sam's house, it's out there somewhere and I am the one responsible for having let it escaped into the outside world."
Daniel read the dark expression on his friend's face, "Jack, it's not your fault; none of this is your fault."
"An officer under my command was attacked by an unknown alien hostile, which was probably brought back from another planet and who I let out of her home and now you're trying to tell me that somehow I'm not to blame?"
"You're not Jack and maybe one day you'll realise that you're not to blame for everything bad that happens to us."
Sensing the doubt still plaguing the Colonel's soul Daniel tagged on for good measure, "You should get some sleep Jack."
"That bad, huh?"
"I take the fifth", Daniel smirked.
Jack smiled at him slight "You're a good one to talk."
"I'm going to get some sleep too Jack, just need tidy around here first."
Jack looked round Daniels office, normally it was tidy but there were books and papers scattered over most of the surfaces and there were even books on the floor. "Yeahsureyoubetcha" Jack sniggered as he left Daniel behind to clean his office.
Jack headed off to his quarters and could not help but notice that he was getting a lot of strange looks as he walked around the base. He was beginning to wonder if he had sprouted horns but as he looked into the mirror in his quarters he understood the strange looks, he had large dark smudges under his eyes, he was unshaven and his hair was a total mess.
He headed to his bed and was asleep within minutes. He awoke a few hours later, feeling much more rested. He showered and shaved and changed into a clean set of BDU's and decided to head back to the infirmary. Janet probably would not let them back in to see Carter until the following morning but he had nothing else to do and so would take up 'guard' outside her room. It was not much but at least it was something her could do for her.
"Hey T. Anything happened?"
"Nothing has transpired O'Neill. Major Carter remains asleep."
"I'll take over here, you go sleep or Kel'no'reem or whatever."
"I will go and continue my Kel'no'reem, if you will remain here."
"Sure thing." Jack took up Teal'c position outside the door. A few hours later, a greatly refreshed looking Dr Jackson joined Jack baring two cups of coffee. He offered to take over but Jack refused to leave. Together they remained like that, standing guard, for hours, neither speaking much.
The night passed without incident and the following morning Janet moved Sam into the regular infirmary. There was no medical reason to keep her in the isolation room and it made it easier for SG-1 to stay with Sam that way.
Janet had noticed how spooked her friend was by what happened and the fact that she became agitated whenever she was left alone. She had been sitting with Sam since she sent all of SG-1 off to get some food about an hour ago, none of them had bothered to eat properly since their friend's attack and that had been over 24 hours ago. She looked at her watch and realised that they should be back from the commissary very soon. Her timing was pretty good since Colonel O'Neill decided to walk trough the door at that moment and he gave the doctor an inquisitive look.
"She's doing fine Colonel, nothing's changed. Where's Daniel and Teal'c?" Janet said, anticipating his question.
"Daniel's off checking the video he took of those rocks on P4Y something-or- other and Teal'c is helping the SF's sweep the base with the TER's."
Jack went and sat in the plastic chair next to Sam's bed and his eyes browsed over her face. Despite the bruising she looked at peace while asleep, when she was awake there was an indefinable something missing from her eyes, a sparkle which he had always seen in her except, maybe after the whole incident with Jolinar.
An hour later, Jack was still at Carter's side, trying to get involved in his paperwork while she slept. He noticed her hand moving slightly before she opened her right eye, looking around the infirmary, trying to gain her bearings.
"Hey Carter, how you feelin' today?"
"Not bad, I guess."
Jack did not believe her statement, he knew her well enough to know when she was lying. It was painfully obviously to him that she was anything but fine.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"What's there to say?"
"Anything you noticed, saw, heard that could help us find it."
"I dunno, everything's a bit of a blur."
"There's gotta be something though?"
Sam was getting agitated, she tried to sit up, momentarily forgetting the broken ribs and recent surgery and gasped in pain before laying back immediately.
"Steady Carter or the Doc will have my arse."
"It just, I hate not knowing what did this, or why!"
"I know me too."
Jack was determined to find the creature and quickly. The idea that he brought it back and let it passed him at Sam's house was eating him up from the inside.
"Why don't you tell me exactly what happened from the time that you got home."
Sam took as deep a breath as she could. Jack took her free hand and squeezed it gently, she squeezed back, feeling reassured by his presence.
"When I got home, I sorted my mail and checked my messages. I realised I was really tired so I got my keys out of my purse and I found a lipstick of Janet's so I took that out and locked the door and went to bed. I woke up at about four from the nightmare I had, I guess."
"What about?"
"I was back on P4Y 379, by the fire and then it all went quiet. Then.I heard the whispering again but louder and I'm sure I heard my name. It kept getting louder and closer and I felt something grab my arms and that's when I woke up. I went and got some water and was heading back to bed when.you know."
"Yeah. Do you reckon they're connected? The whispering, the nightmares and the um.attack?"
"They could be I suppose."
"Did you see where it went after you shot it?"
"No, I guess it ran out the front door."
"No, the house was sealed when I got there. I must have let it out."
The guilt was all over Jack's face and this time Sam squeezed his hand to reassure him that there was nothing for him to feel guilty about.
"So how long are you stuck in here for?"
"At least a week."
"Tough."
"Tell me about it."
"We'll try to spring you early" he whispered conspiratorially.
"I heard that!" Janet said walking over, she glared at O'Neill with her best doctor-knows-best look and for a second he wondered if the look was a prerequisite for entrance to medical school or if they taught it while you were working at the Stargate Program.
"Janet, could you stop by my place and get a few bits for me?" Sam said, changing the subject.
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Some books, a couple of other bits and my plants need watering. Oh and I found one of your lipsticks in my purse, before. it's on the kitchen counter next to the mail."
"Uh, sure thing. I'll stop by on my way home."
"Thanks."
"I'd better come with you." Jack said and when Janet gave him a confused frown he continued, "We still don't know what did this or where it is, so until then it's not wise to go to Sam's house alone. It might still be there." He fixed the doctor with his very best colonel-knows-best look until she relented.
***
As the Colonel opened Sam's repaired front door, this time using Janet's spare key, he felt a slight uneasy feeling in his stomach. As he entered he once again checked for threats. He was not sure exactly what he was looking for, he had done the same thing the other night and have seen nothing but according to all the information they had, the creature, whatever it was, was most properly still in the house when he arrived.
Janet followed him into the house and headed straight for Sam's bedroom to get the few bits of clothing that Sam had requested. Jack instead headed to the study, his eyes trailed along the book shelves, and although he did not even understand most of the titles he grabbed all of the books that Sam had indicated on her list.
After having ensured that he got all of the books he headed back into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the side and began watering the plants. He knew Sam liked her plants, even admitted that she talked to them, an admission which had lead to much ribbing from him.
When Janet entered the kitchen after a while, she found Colonel O'Neill introducing himself to Sam's cyclamen, she smiled and cleared her throat which resulted in Colonel snapping upright and spinning around.
"You ready Sir?"
"Yep, you got everything?" Janet nodded her head in reply.
"Didn't Carter mention something about a lipstick?"
"Yeah, I didn't really get that, I don't see how she got one of my lipsticks. She said it was on the kitchen counter."
"Uh, don't see it Doc", Jack said scanning the area.
"Never mind, Sam was probably mistaken."
"I guess so, you ready to go?"
Janet headed out of the house and was followed by Jack after he had ensured that the house was locked tight.
"I might as well give this to you Sir, because you'll probably be back in the infirmary before I am", Janet said smiling handing the duffel bag to Jack, who did not even bother to deny it. He was planning to head back up the mountain after a few hours sleep; he had debated staying in his quarters on base but was looking forward to a night's rest in a bed that was not property of the US Air Force.
"Night Doc. Say hi to Cassie for me and tell her we're still on for the hockey game on Saturday."
"Will do, night Sir."
He watched Janet get in her car and drive off before climbing into his truck and heading home himself.
In the woodland that overlooked the Cheyenne Mountain base, a moth landed on a branch. Suddenly it changed colour, the muted browns becoming grey. It began to grow, slowly at first but then faster as it adopted a human physique. As soon as it stopped growing, it felt down to the ground where it rested for the time being.
It was tired, it had been unable to rest for too long before and the injuries it suffered was taking a long time to heal as a result. It decided to recuperate for a few hours and could feel its strength returning and as dawn came it stood up and walked to a place where it could see the entrance to the military base, its knew instinctively it had to get back in there at all costs.
It also knew it would not be difficult to get back inside since all that was required was someone to unwittingly carry it in. As the creature watched he saw a perfect opportunity, a Ford truck pulled up in the lot and Colonel Jack O'Neill stepped out into the morning light.
Since Doctor Fraiser had decided that Major Carter needed immediate surgery to repair internal bleeding they had been sitting anxiously waiting for any news on their friend. The medical personnel were so used to SG-1's presence in the infirmary, whenever one of their group was injured, that they paid little attention to them.
As Janet walked in to the infirmary she ran her fingers through her hair, in a half hearted attempt to undo the damage that the surgical cap did to it, and she was immediately met by three pairs of emotion-filled eyes, all looking for answers.
"She's going to be fine, but it's going to take some time." Janet could hear all three of them exhale audibly.
"What's the damage?" Daniel asked nervously.
"Badly broken arm, which we've set, lacerated spleen, bruised kidneys, fractured cheekbone, four broken ribs, one of which punctured her lung resulting in a haemo-pnuemothorax for which we've fitted a chest drain, a concussion and multiple contusions and abrasions. I want to keep an eye on her for a while but she's gonna be just fine."
"Can we see her?" Jack asked, putting on his innocent pleading face. Janet knew she would not get any peace from the men until they have gotten to see Sam with their own eyes therefore she considered the matter for a few seconds and eventually decided to allow them in even if it was just for a little while.
"Okay, but only for five minutes. She's still not over the anaesthetic."
The tone of her voice made it very clear that she was not going to be bullied into letting them stay any longer than that. She led them to one of the isolation rooms, the decision had been made to keep Sam out of the regular infirmary for now. It was easier for Fraiser to monitor her there but there was also the fact that there was no sign of the creature that had attacked her therefore it was easier to guard her there away from the rest of the infirmary.
Jack was the first one of the group to enter the room. Upon resting his eyes on Sam laying on the bed he could not help but to stop in his tracks out of shock at her appearance and the severity of her injuries.
Her face was so badly bruised and her left eye was swollen shut, a mass a purple and blue. A small white bandage covered a spot just above her right eyebrow; black stitches pinched her bottom lip, the surrounding redness a contrast to the paleness of the rest of her lips. Her right arm was cast in pristine white plaster from her knuckles to half way up her upper arm. A clear plastic tube snaked from under the blanket and it was attached to a plastic container with a small amount of blood in the bottom. Jack knew from experience that this tubing was removing the blood from the interior of her damaged lung.
Daniel stepped passed Jack, who was still taking in the sight of his second- in-command, his friend, that was laying badly injured because of some 'thing' they have not been able to find at all. The Archaeologist took Sam's hand that was not cast in plaster in both of his which caused her to turn her head around and she was met by an ever so slight smile. Sam returned the smile but stopped immediately since the action caused a painful pulling of the stitches on her lip.
"How are you feeling Sam?" Daniel asked quietly.
"Sore", she replied in a husked voice.
"What happened", Jack's voice appeared calm but Daniel knew it was laced with anger and frustration.
"I woke up.I went to get some water, as I was heading back to bed I was.I was grabbed from behind. I tried to fight it but it was too strong.I managed to get my gun and I shot it.it screamed and ran."
It was painfully obviously that it was difficult for Sam to talk about what had happened, her voice was wavering and a few tears escaped from one of her eyes.
"What did it look like?"
"Grey."
"What, like Thor?" Daniel was obviously confused by this statement and when he glanced at Jack and Janet he knew he was not the only one.
"No, it was human, in shape at least but it was grey, it had no facial features.no nothing, just grey", Sam was getting agitated as she tried to convey her description and Janet decided that it was time to step in and allow her patient to get some well needed rest.
"Okay, time's up. Sam needs to rest."
The Colonel locked Janet in his gaze, she knew that they wanted to stay, as a friend she would not have hesitated to let them stay as long as they wanted, but as a doctor she knew she could not allow it. It was Jack that gave in first and he nodded his head slightly to indicate his acceptance.
He walked over and stood behind Daniel, "Hey Carter, Doc's throwing us out but we'll come back later."
As Jack spoke he noticed something akin to fear appearing in Sam's eyes. This shocked him since he was not used to Sam being afraid, he had seen her stare down Goa'uld system lords and here she was afraid to sleep in a room by herself. He was not the only one to notice this.
"I will remain outside the room while you sleep Major Carter."
"Thanks Teal'c", Sam said quietly and relieve washed over her face. Daniel gave her hand a quick squeeze as they left the room.
"There's nothing you can do now, go and get some sleep", Janet ordered. She knew her order would probably fall on deaf ears but what kind of doctor would she be if she did not at least try. She gave the group one last sympathetic glance before heading back in to check on her patient.
As he had promised Teal'c took guard outside the room and Daniel and Jack headed off down to corridor.
"So what now?" Daniel asked as they reached the elevator.
"What do you reckon of the description Sam gave?"
"I dunno Daniel, seems weird. I mean, you think someone would notice a human shaped grey blob walking round."
"True, but something did this to her and I don't doubt Sam's description - too much anyway. We've got to find it Jack."
"I know Daniel, I know. I'm off to see General Hammond. I said I'll see him after we'd seen Carter. What's your plan?"
"I'm going to try and translate what was written on the ruins on P4Y 379, maybe there's something there, some clue as to what could have done this."
As the elevator stopped at level 18, he made to exit but stopped for a few seconds and turned around to his friend.
"She's gonna be ok Jack."
"Yeah, so the Doc said."
"I don't mean that, you saw the look in her eyes too, but I know she'll be alright."
Jack just smiled weakly, he knew what Daniel meant, they will help her to deal with what happened to her. Dr Jackson walked off towards his office as the elevator headed further down into the mountain.
***
"How's she doing, Jack?" Major-General George Hammond asked Jack as he entered his office.
"Doc Fraiser says she going to be alright, given time. Is there any news on what did this to her Sir?"
"No, the sweep of her house found nothing and there's nothing out the ordinary on any of the security tapes or the computer logs. Did Major Carter give a description of her attacker?"
"Yes Sir, she said it was human in shape but just. grey."
He shook his head at the seemingly implausibility of the description. The fact that he doubted Carter was making him feel even worse. It was so unlike him to ever doubt her because frankly she was hardly ever wrong. General Hammond nodded slightly. He could see O'Neill was having a hard time.
Jack, you said that you broke Major Carter's door down."
"Yes Sir."
"And you didn't see anything out of the ordinary inside?"
"Just Carter laying unconscious on the floor. Why?"
"Because the house was locked tight apart from the front door, which you broke down, that means."
"That means that I let it out", Jack said quietly. Hammond could see the guilt playing on the younger man's face.
"Jack.we don't know that."
"We don't know anything."
"Go get some sleep, you look done in."
"Yes Sir." Jack said resignedly, turned and left the General's office. He headed back to the elevator and to Daniel's office via the commissary for a cup of much needed coffee.
"Hey Daniel, you got anything?" Jack asked. As Daniel turned around to look at him he anticipated the answer, the frustration on the young man's face was evident.
"Nothing, there's nothing here Jack, it basically says 'We were here' and not a lot more, it's all rubbish!"
He threw a couple of the open books on his desk to the floor in exasperation. "Sam's hurt, she was attacked at home, one place where we're supposed to be safe and we don't even know what did it, let alone where that thing is or how to find it."
Daniel was seething with anger. Jack was not used to this kind of outburst from Daniel, it was normally more his style and as a result he just raised his eyebrow which made Daniel look away sheepishly.
Allowing himself a few minutes to compose himself he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"So what did General Hammond say?" Daniel asked calmed after his initial outburst.
"I let it out of Sam's house, it's out there somewhere and I am the one responsible for having let it escaped into the outside world."
Daniel read the dark expression on his friend's face, "Jack, it's not your fault; none of this is your fault."
"An officer under my command was attacked by an unknown alien hostile, which was probably brought back from another planet and who I let out of her home and now you're trying to tell me that somehow I'm not to blame?"
"You're not Jack and maybe one day you'll realise that you're not to blame for everything bad that happens to us."
Sensing the doubt still plaguing the Colonel's soul Daniel tagged on for good measure, "You should get some sleep Jack."
"That bad, huh?"
"I take the fifth", Daniel smirked.
Jack smiled at him slight "You're a good one to talk."
"I'm going to get some sleep too Jack, just need tidy around here first."
Jack looked round Daniels office, normally it was tidy but there were books and papers scattered over most of the surfaces and there were even books on the floor. "Yeahsureyoubetcha" Jack sniggered as he left Daniel behind to clean his office.
Jack headed off to his quarters and could not help but notice that he was getting a lot of strange looks as he walked around the base. He was beginning to wonder if he had sprouted horns but as he looked into the mirror in his quarters he understood the strange looks, he had large dark smudges under his eyes, he was unshaven and his hair was a total mess.
He headed to his bed and was asleep within minutes. He awoke a few hours later, feeling much more rested. He showered and shaved and changed into a clean set of BDU's and decided to head back to the infirmary. Janet probably would not let them back in to see Carter until the following morning but he had nothing else to do and so would take up 'guard' outside her room. It was not much but at least it was something her could do for her.
"Hey T. Anything happened?"
"Nothing has transpired O'Neill. Major Carter remains asleep."
"I'll take over here, you go sleep or Kel'no'reem or whatever."
"I will go and continue my Kel'no'reem, if you will remain here."
"Sure thing." Jack took up Teal'c position outside the door. A few hours later, a greatly refreshed looking Dr Jackson joined Jack baring two cups of coffee. He offered to take over but Jack refused to leave. Together they remained like that, standing guard, for hours, neither speaking much.
The night passed without incident and the following morning Janet moved Sam into the regular infirmary. There was no medical reason to keep her in the isolation room and it made it easier for SG-1 to stay with Sam that way.
Janet had noticed how spooked her friend was by what happened and the fact that she became agitated whenever she was left alone. She had been sitting with Sam since she sent all of SG-1 off to get some food about an hour ago, none of them had bothered to eat properly since their friend's attack and that had been over 24 hours ago. She looked at her watch and realised that they should be back from the commissary very soon. Her timing was pretty good since Colonel O'Neill decided to walk trough the door at that moment and he gave the doctor an inquisitive look.
"She's doing fine Colonel, nothing's changed. Where's Daniel and Teal'c?" Janet said, anticipating his question.
"Daniel's off checking the video he took of those rocks on P4Y something-or- other and Teal'c is helping the SF's sweep the base with the TER's."
Jack went and sat in the plastic chair next to Sam's bed and his eyes browsed over her face. Despite the bruising she looked at peace while asleep, when she was awake there was an indefinable something missing from her eyes, a sparkle which he had always seen in her except, maybe after the whole incident with Jolinar.
An hour later, Jack was still at Carter's side, trying to get involved in his paperwork while she slept. He noticed her hand moving slightly before she opened her right eye, looking around the infirmary, trying to gain her bearings.
"Hey Carter, how you feelin' today?"
"Not bad, I guess."
Jack did not believe her statement, he knew her well enough to know when she was lying. It was painfully obviously to him that she was anything but fine.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
"What's there to say?"
"Anything you noticed, saw, heard that could help us find it."
"I dunno, everything's a bit of a blur."
"There's gotta be something though?"
Sam was getting agitated, she tried to sit up, momentarily forgetting the broken ribs and recent surgery and gasped in pain before laying back immediately.
"Steady Carter or the Doc will have my arse."
"It just, I hate not knowing what did this, or why!"
"I know me too."
Jack was determined to find the creature and quickly. The idea that he brought it back and let it passed him at Sam's house was eating him up from the inside.
"Why don't you tell me exactly what happened from the time that you got home."
Sam took as deep a breath as she could. Jack took her free hand and squeezed it gently, she squeezed back, feeling reassured by his presence.
"When I got home, I sorted my mail and checked my messages. I realised I was really tired so I got my keys out of my purse and I found a lipstick of Janet's so I took that out and locked the door and went to bed. I woke up at about four from the nightmare I had, I guess."
"What about?"
"I was back on P4Y 379, by the fire and then it all went quiet. Then.I heard the whispering again but louder and I'm sure I heard my name. It kept getting louder and closer and I felt something grab my arms and that's when I woke up. I went and got some water and was heading back to bed when.you know."
"Yeah. Do you reckon they're connected? The whispering, the nightmares and the um.attack?"
"They could be I suppose."
"Did you see where it went after you shot it?"
"No, I guess it ran out the front door."
"No, the house was sealed when I got there. I must have let it out."
The guilt was all over Jack's face and this time Sam squeezed his hand to reassure him that there was nothing for him to feel guilty about.
"So how long are you stuck in here for?"
"At least a week."
"Tough."
"Tell me about it."
"We'll try to spring you early" he whispered conspiratorially.
"I heard that!" Janet said walking over, she glared at O'Neill with her best doctor-knows-best look and for a second he wondered if the look was a prerequisite for entrance to medical school or if they taught it while you were working at the Stargate Program.
"Janet, could you stop by my place and get a few bits for me?" Sam said, changing the subject.
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Some books, a couple of other bits and my plants need watering. Oh and I found one of your lipsticks in my purse, before. it's on the kitchen counter next to the mail."
"Uh, sure thing. I'll stop by on my way home."
"Thanks."
"I'd better come with you." Jack said and when Janet gave him a confused frown he continued, "We still don't know what did this or where it is, so until then it's not wise to go to Sam's house alone. It might still be there." He fixed the doctor with his very best colonel-knows-best look until she relented.
***
As the Colonel opened Sam's repaired front door, this time using Janet's spare key, he felt a slight uneasy feeling in his stomach. As he entered he once again checked for threats. He was not sure exactly what he was looking for, he had done the same thing the other night and have seen nothing but according to all the information they had, the creature, whatever it was, was most properly still in the house when he arrived.
Janet followed him into the house and headed straight for Sam's bedroom to get the few bits of clothing that Sam had requested. Jack instead headed to the study, his eyes trailed along the book shelves, and although he did not even understand most of the titles he grabbed all of the books that Sam had indicated on her list.
After having ensured that he got all of the books he headed back into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the side and began watering the plants. He knew Sam liked her plants, even admitted that she talked to them, an admission which had lead to much ribbing from him.
When Janet entered the kitchen after a while, she found Colonel O'Neill introducing himself to Sam's cyclamen, she smiled and cleared her throat which resulted in Colonel snapping upright and spinning around.
"You ready Sir?"
"Yep, you got everything?" Janet nodded her head in reply.
"Didn't Carter mention something about a lipstick?"
"Yeah, I didn't really get that, I don't see how she got one of my lipsticks. She said it was on the kitchen counter."
"Uh, don't see it Doc", Jack said scanning the area.
"Never mind, Sam was probably mistaken."
"I guess so, you ready to go?"
Janet headed out of the house and was followed by Jack after he had ensured that the house was locked tight.
"I might as well give this to you Sir, because you'll probably be back in the infirmary before I am", Janet said smiling handing the duffel bag to Jack, who did not even bother to deny it. He was planning to head back up the mountain after a few hours sleep; he had debated staying in his quarters on base but was looking forward to a night's rest in a bed that was not property of the US Air Force.
"Night Doc. Say hi to Cassie for me and tell her we're still on for the hockey game on Saturday."
"Will do, night Sir."
He watched Janet get in her car and drive off before climbing into his truck and heading home himself.
In the woodland that overlooked the Cheyenne Mountain base, a moth landed on a branch. Suddenly it changed colour, the muted browns becoming grey. It began to grow, slowly at first but then faster as it adopted a human physique. As soon as it stopped growing, it felt down to the ground where it rested for the time being.
It was tired, it had been unable to rest for too long before and the injuries it suffered was taking a long time to heal as a result. It decided to recuperate for a few hours and could feel its strength returning and as dawn came it stood up and walked to a place where it could see the entrance to the military base, its knew instinctively it had to get back in there at all costs.
It also knew it would not be difficult to get back inside since all that was required was someone to unwittingly carry it in. As the creature watched he saw a perfect opportunity, a Ford truck pulled up in the lot and Colonel Jack O'Neill stepped out into the morning light.