Unspoken
Standard disclaimer from Day One.
Day two:
"Hey," Sam said coming up beside Daniel's bed. "You're not eating?"
"Can't. Just the sight and smell of food makes my stomach lurch. I wish Janet would take it away," he added pushing at the bed table with his left hand.
Sam rolled the table to the foot of the next bed.
"Thanks."
"How's the shoulder?"
"Hurts a little. Not as much as my stomach. Or my head. Yours?"
"Hurts a little. You know, you've been unconscious for almost twenty-four hours, maybe your stomach hurts because you're hungry."
"That's what Janet said."
"If you don't eat she'll put another IV in you."
"I know." He closed his eyes. He was so tired. "I don't think I have much of a choice."
"I'll make you a deal. You try to eat a few bites, and I'll try to distract you by catching you up on the current events of P4X-548"
Daniel sighed. He managed to eat a few teeny bites as Sam told him how they got off the planet and about the teams Hammond had assembled.
"We finished setting up this afternoon, and by the time I get back they should know if the Colonel and Teal'c are alive. I'm spending the night on the planet, but I'll come visit you tomorrow. With any luck, you'll be able to go back with me. I'm sure Dr. Porter wouldn't mind your help. I think he's a little nervous."
Daniel swallowed several times hoping to quell his nausea. "Yeah, he gets nervous easily." Suddenly, he doubled over and reached for the barf basin Janet had left for him. More red globs.
"Nurse, get the doctor," Sam shouted.
Dr. Fraiser came running from her lab as Daniel threw up again. The red globs were bigger this time.
"Well, Daniel for once I agree with you," Janet said a few minutes later.
"Oh?"
"You can't eat."
"I guess that means another IV," he said resignedly.
"Actually, no. I can't put anything else into your body. In fact, I'm going to have to take this one out. Whatever's causing this is going to have to run it's course for now."
"What about the blood?" Sam asked.
"He's not in any grave danger at the moment"
"Nice choice of words, Janet." Daniel groaned and grabbed the fresh basin
Sam grimaced at a large red glob.
"This isn't blood. It has blood in it yes, but the majority of it is that foreign substance. I need to know more about it. Daniel, I'll send a nurse to get that IV. Try to get some rest, ok." She patted his arm as he nodded and lay back closing his eyes.
Janet gestured for Sam to follow her. When they were in the corridor, she said, "I want to show you something." They turned into a lab. Janet led Sam to a table with a containment case on it. Globs of various sizes and colors were inside the case.
"What is it?" Sam asked.
"I wish I knew. I've run every test I know. Everything that comes in contact with that substance forms those globs. The color of the glob is determined by what the substance reacts to."
"That's how you can tell Daniel's globs have blood in them."
"Yes."
"But, you said he's not in grave danger."
"He's not. Yet. But, every time he throws up, the globs get bigger. Which means this substance is getting further into his blood stream. Now, the tests show that the globs form only when this substance comes in contact with another substance. Blood for example. But, all they do at that point is combine. Further tests showed as long as nothing else was introduced into their environment they remained relatively harmless. Based on this limited knowledge, I believe if nothing else is introduced into Daniel's system, he should stop throwing up."
"But the globs will still be in him."
"Yes. And that's the extent of my knowledge so far."
"Was I snoring?" Jack asked.
"No. However, you did speak of fishing."
"Yeah?" He yawned and stretched out on the soft pillows. He was still a little stiff, but his wound was healing nicely thanks to his new medical plan. Someone came in every few hours to check his bandages. "I sure hope we don't have to pick up the room service tab," he said looking at all the stuff in the room.
The room was filled with soft blankets and pillows, sweets, fruit, wine. One table was piled high with what looked like games and toys. Jack had managed to convince Teal'c to try playing what he thought was a board game with him. But it wasn't much fun because they had no idea what they were doing. Sweet and relaxing scents emanated from warm pots along the walls.
Earlier, some women had come in with a huge tub, soaps and fresh clothing. After their bath, Jack and Teal'c were tucked under warm blankets and fed a hot meal.
Jack had enjoyed everything immensely, although the bath was a little embarrassing. He had even allowed the women to place a few strands of flowers around his neck. He laughed so hard at Teal'c sitting amongst the pillows, blankets and women with flowers around his neck until tears ran down his cheeks and he couldn't breathe.
"Ah, Major Carter. How's Dr. Jackson?" Colonel Mitchell said as Sam arrived.
"He's conscious, but he doesn't look too good, sir."
"Well, we have good news. Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c are alive. Approximately two hours ago four women left a building near the edge of the village. Two were carrying a large tub. The other two held SGC gear. And, half an hour ago, one of the women returned with food."
"Colonel Mitchell," Captain Cooley called. "There's something you should see."
Mitchell and Carter walked over to where most of the surveillance equipment was set up. Colonel Mitchell looked through the binoculars Cooley handed him. "They've got two guards posted at the hole in the wall Teal'c's diversion created."
"Do you think that means they've spotted us?" Dr. Porter asked.
"Maybe," Colonel Mitchell replied. "It could just mean they want to guard the village until they repair the damage to the wall. We'll have to wait and see. Maintain the low profile. That includes minimal gate travel, Major. I know you want to check on Dr. Jackson, but you'll have to wait for scheduled contacts for now."
"I understand, sir."