Unspoken

Same disclaimer

Day four:

"How is he?" Sam asked approaching Daniel's bed where Dr. Fraiser was drawing blood.

"A little dehydrated, and still in a coma, but other than that stable."  She put a band-aid on Daniel's arm then led Sam across the room.  "What about you?"

"I feel much better.  Thank you.  Still haven't found an antidote yet?"

"Not exactly.  But we have made progress. Come on, I'll show you."  Janet led Sam to a table in the lab holding three containers.  "We've concluded that one of these three samples is what we need.   Dr. Warner is synthesizing more for further testing because we have no idea what will happen when we introduce Daniel's blood to the mix."

"Mind if I stick around?"

"Not at all," Janet said smiling.

"This is our best bet, General," Dr. Fraiser said.  "It has a 95% probability of working."

"What are the risks?"

"As you're well aware, I'm working in unfamiliar territory, sir.  The only side effects I can predict with any certainty are fever and decrease of his white count and endorphin levels. I also recommend waiting at least twelve hours before giving him any medication since anything other than the antidote could make things worse."

"And, if the antidote doesn't work?"

"I don't know what else to do."

Hammond thought for a moment.  "Ok."

"Sir, we've got company," Captain Owens said.

"Get Dr. Porter," Colonel Mitchell ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"Introducing the antidote now," Dr. Fraiser said. 

"How long before we know something?" Hammond asked from the Observation Room.

"His body will either accept it or reject it within the first thirty seconds of contact," Carter answered.  She held her breath as she watched through the window.

"That's all of it," Janet said turning to the monitors.  

"What's going on?" Dr. Porter asked nervously

Colonel Mitchell gestured for Porter to step into the command tent. Porter did so and bumped into the village man coming out. 

"What's he doing?" Colonel Mitchell asked as he and Porter followed the man into the next tent.

"I'm not sure."

Daniel suddenly jerked, opened his eyes and moaned.

"What's happening, Dr.?" General Hammond asked.

"I'm not sure, sir.  His vital signs are returning to normal, but his endorphin level has plummeted.  He's in a lot of pain, but I think the antidote is working."

Daniel moaned again.

"I'm sorry, Daniel," Janet tried to soothe.  "I can't give you anything for the pain yet."

Daniel bit his lower lip and closed his eyes.

"I've done all I can for now, sir," Janet said as a nurse wiped blood from Daniel's lip.

The village man walked into the next tent, looked around and walked back out.  He went into the next tent, looked around and walked back out.

"I think he's looking for Dr. Jackson," Dr. Porter said as the man went into the next tent.

After exiting the last tent, the man looked at Dr. Porter and Colonel Mitchell, roared again and marched out of the camp.

"Sir, we'd better get Dr. Jackson or get out of here," Porter said in a shaky voice.

"They knew we were there all along," Colonel Mitchell said.

"If so, why haven't they done anything?" Hammond asked.

"Dr. Porter believes they won't resort to violence until a threat enters the village. However, he said the leader gave us a warning that if we don't either hand over Dr. Jackson or get out of there they will become violent."

"Has he learned the language or is this still speculation?"

"Speculation mostly. But, sir, I think he and Major Carter are right.  If we're going to get Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c out of there without using force, Dr. Jackson's the only key."

"Evacuate the surveillance team, but keep your team there.  I'll explain the situation to Dr. Jackson and have Major Carter report back to you."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm sorry, Daniel," Sam said.  "I didn't mean to put that much pressure on you."

"That's ok, Sam.  Actually, I think you might be right."

"What do you mean?"

"Those people seemed to think I was the leader.  I think that's why they only poisoned me.  And, I think they did it to get me out of the way."

"So they could…"

Daniel put his hands over his face and moaned.  "I don't know exactly," he said moving his hands to massage his temples.

"We've still got the village under surveillance, so-"
"Not any more," Hammond said entering Daniel's room.

"Sir?"

"How are you feeling, Dr. Jackson?"

"Eh. Major hangover is kind of an understatement."

"I'm afraid my news isn't going to make things any better, son."

An hour later, Sam said good night to Daniel and left the infirmary.

Hammond had scheduled a debriefing, a good night sleep for everyone, and a strategy meeting early tomorrow morning.

"I don't know, Daniel," Janet said.  "You're still very sick, and I'm not ready to try giving you any medication yet."

Daniel sighed.  "Please.  I can't work here."

"Why not?  I'll have someone bring you whatever you need."

"That's just it.  I don't know what I need.  I promise I'll check in every so often."

"You don't honestly expect me to believe that once you get caught up in trying to figure things out you're going to voluntarily stop and check in, do you?"

Daniel gave her a small smile. "Well, it was worth a try."

"On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being perfectly healthy, how do you feel?"

"Um, 4."

"Daniel."

"Ok, probably somewhere between negative one and positive two."

Janet sighed.  "Here's the deal.  I would prefer you stay here, but I'll let you leave the infirmary if," she held up a finger, " and only if, you go to the guest quarters rather than your office."

"But, all my books and notes are in my office."

"You'll be more comfortable in the guest quarters.  That's the deal."

Daniel sighed. "I'll have to take practically my entire bookshelf with me."

"And, I'll need to check on you every now and then, so don't go wandering off," she added wagging a finger at him.

"Hey, what happened to the gourmet meal?" Jack asked as a woman handed him a bowl of cold soup.  The woman just looked at him and frowned.  "And, do you have to take everything?  Can't you at least leave this one?"  He tried to hold onto one of the pillows, but the woman wrenched it away from him.

"Perhaps, they are punishing us for what they believe was our attempted escape."

"Ya think?  Oh, come on.  At least leave one of the games," Jack whined as the women left with the last of the items that had littered the room.

"Now what, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked.

"Now, we wait on Hammond, Carter and Daniel," Jack said bitterly.  Thrusting aside his bowl, he lay down on the ground with his back to Teal'c. "Get some rest, kel-no-reem or whatever.  We'll reevaluate the situation in the morning."