Cold truths
And when it seems as if your end is drawing near
Don't you dare give up the fight
Just put your trust beyond the sky...
*Jack*
A sample of the eerily similar black blood now escaping from Sam's neck is taken before she is rushed off for more tests. I go with her as they take her to the hospital designed only for top secret programmes such as the Stargate. The ride there is short, especially in the speeding ambulance. Despite warnings from Janet that the substance could be toxic, I don't hesitate in holding on to Sam's hand. I can see fear in her eyes, and I'm not going to scar her more by treating her like some kind of freak. However, I am forced to wear a protective mask.
As soon as we arrive, Jacob and I are left standing in the corridor as she is taken straight into x-ray. I can do nothing but wait now.
"You stupid son of a bitch!"
"What?" out of no where I am suddenly nursing a pain in the back of my head as it collides with a wall, Jacobs hands at my throat. A look occupies his face, one of utter disgust and desperation.
"Do you realise what you have done? DO YOU? My daughter is in there, and something unnatural is happening to her, and you know what I think. I think its your fault."
"Jac." Before I can finish he slams me into the wall again. I could push him away, but the worry and sleepless nights have caused the strength to ebb from my body and I am left frozen by the blow.
"You had better pray that she makes it, or. I can't be held responsible for my actions, is that clear?"
"Crystal." I choke. He releases his hold on me and I rub my sore neck. I think about responding but the man is still racked with rage, so I head for the coffee machine at the other end of the corridor.
*
Looking at my watch for the tenth time in five minutes, I begin to pace. How longs it take to run a few tests anyway?
"Colonel's" Janet emerges out of a near by room, carrying a clip broad.
"What's going on Doc?" I ask
"Well, Sam has had several tests done, which have taken their toll on her somewhat. She's resting now and I want it to stay that way, so no visiting for at least a couple of hours."
"Any news on what that stuff was?" Jacob asks
"From what we can tell, it is slightly acidic to humans, having a PH of around 9. It appears to carry the characteristics of blood, which would make sense, Colonel; you said something similar came out of the creatures that bit Sam."
"So when it bit her, it somehow transferred some of its blood into her?" I question
"That's the interesting bit. Come with me." Leading us down the corridor into a near by vacant office, she places her clip board on the desk and activated the lighted panel, placing Sam's X-ray on it. Immediately I can see the dark object in her neck.
"What is it?" Jacob asks
"A tooth. But it's not a normal tooth. Where is disengaged with the creature, the nerve cells came with it. It's in her neck, and has sunk into her CNS."
I throw a questioning look.
"Central nervous system. It's where all your nervous impulses and reactions are controlled and activates. The lower part of the spin deals with involuntary responses, like the knee jerk reflex; when someone hits the right spot on the knee and your leg kicks up, but the part this has affected is higher up, and therefore in the part that deals with controlled responses, like breaking if a child runs out in front of your car."
"Doc!" I grow inpatient with her long explainations.
"Basically, the signals going to her brain are being interrupted by this tooth. And that's not all. The tooth was starting to decay, bacteria residue shows that, but I believe the ritual those pagans preformed not only 'healed' Sam, but healed the nerves on the tooth. It appears to be 'bleeding' for want of a better term. The blood is mixing with Sam's and her white blood cells are picking up on it and trying to fight it, but the acid is poisoning the cells."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning her white blood cell count is very low. She has no feeling is her body because of the location of the tooth, but she does still have lower reflexes. Her voice is gone because the area is swollen and putting pressure on her larynx."
"So what happens now? Can you remove it?" Jacob asks, standing incredibly still while I fidget.
"I have talked to the General and he has given me permission to bring in anyone I need. I have called a Dr. Murphy, a throat specialist, Dr. James, a leading brain surgeon and Dr. Perkins, who specialises in the nervous system. They're the best in what they do. The operation is going to be long and complex and given the symptoms I can't grantee that she'll make a full recovery, or even survive the operation. I'll do my best for her, you know that."
"Yeah, Thanks Doctor."
No one knows what to say, so we just stand in silence. Awoken by the harsh beeping of Jacob Tok'ra communications device concealed in his civvies, he steps to one side and takes the 'call'.
"Colonel, can I have a quick word?" Janet almost whispers.
"Sure" we step outside into the busy corridor once again.
"Jack, I heard that you and Sam were..are getting married."
"Yeah, as soon as she better." Janet nods and smiles slightly.
"I just wanted to warn you, if she makes it through this, her voice wont come back straight away, she'll have to have couching, and she'll need physiotherapy to regain her strength and confidence in her muscles. She'll need to live with someone 24/7."
"Yeah, she'll move into to my place."
"Ok, well then you'll need to make some arrangements. I don't want to jump the gun to much here, so I think we'll talk more about those after the surgery providing everything goes to plan."
"Which it will." I add, forcing the hope not to be stunted by Janet's use of past tense a moment a go. Sam will make it. She's strong. She can beat this.
The sound of the door opening causes us both to look up. Jacob appears in the frame, an annoyed and resigned look playing on his features.
"The Tok'ra high council need me back on a matter of urgent business. I have to go. Look, Doctor, can I just see Sam for five minutes, say goodb. see ya later?"
Sighing Janet nods, "But don't wake her up!" Jacob says his thanks and heads down the hall towards Sam's room.
"When's she booked in for the opp?"
"We are flying the surgeons out tonight, but I don't want them jet lagged when they are in that room, so we will operate tomorrow afternoon. Until then I want to keep her as rested as possible. I will give her some pain killers and other meds to help her white blood cells. This is going to be a bumpy ride Jack, for both of you. Let's just hope the big guy upstairs is looking out for her." She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder and walks past me, adding as an after thought, "Get some rest, you're going to need it."
I am left standing in the hall away alone as nurses and doctors rush past me. I rub a tired hand over my even more weary face and unabashedly yawn. It's been a long couple of days; in fact, it's been a long few months. Looking in the window as I pass, I see my sleeping fiancé and am satisfied that she is being looked after. I leave the hospital and grab a taxi home, climbing into a hot bath and having a good shave before hitting the sac at 2:30am. Sleep isn't as hard to find as I thought it would be, washing over me and over powering my mind, taking me into a much needed deep rest.
TBC
More coming soon, and I know exactly where I am taking this now. I will try and post the next piece tomorrow, but I have school so I will see, if I have too much homework I probably won't be able to get to the computer. Don't blame me though, blame my teachers!
And when it seems as if your end is drawing near
Don't you dare give up the fight
Just put your trust beyond the sky...
*Jack*
A sample of the eerily similar black blood now escaping from Sam's neck is taken before she is rushed off for more tests. I go with her as they take her to the hospital designed only for top secret programmes such as the Stargate. The ride there is short, especially in the speeding ambulance. Despite warnings from Janet that the substance could be toxic, I don't hesitate in holding on to Sam's hand. I can see fear in her eyes, and I'm not going to scar her more by treating her like some kind of freak. However, I am forced to wear a protective mask.
As soon as we arrive, Jacob and I are left standing in the corridor as she is taken straight into x-ray. I can do nothing but wait now.
"You stupid son of a bitch!"
"What?" out of no where I am suddenly nursing a pain in the back of my head as it collides with a wall, Jacobs hands at my throat. A look occupies his face, one of utter disgust and desperation.
"Do you realise what you have done? DO YOU? My daughter is in there, and something unnatural is happening to her, and you know what I think. I think its your fault."
"Jac." Before I can finish he slams me into the wall again. I could push him away, but the worry and sleepless nights have caused the strength to ebb from my body and I am left frozen by the blow.
"You had better pray that she makes it, or. I can't be held responsible for my actions, is that clear?"
"Crystal." I choke. He releases his hold on me and I rub my sore neck. I think about responding but the man is still racked with rage, so I head for the coffee machine at the other end of the corridor.
*
Looking at my watch for the tenth time in five minutes, I begin to pace. How longs it take to run a few tests anyway?
"Colonel's" Janet emerges out of a near by room, carrying a clip broad.
"What's going on Doc?" I ask
"Well, Sam has had several tests done, which have taken their toll on her somewhat. She's resting now and I want it to stay that way, so no visiting for at least a couple of hours."
"Any news on what that stuff was?" Jacob asks
"From what we can tell, it is slightly acidic to humans, having a PH of around 9. It appears to carry the characteristics of blood, which would make sense, Colonel; you said something similar came out of the creatures that bit Sam."
"So when it bit her, it somehow transferred some of its blood into her?" I question
"That's the interesting bit. Come with me." Leading us down the corridor into a near by vacant office, she places her clip board on the desk and activated the lighted panel, placing Sam's X-ray on it. Immediately I can see the dark object in her neck.
"What is it?" Jacob asks
"A tooth. But it's not a normal tooth. Where is disengaged with the creature, the nerve cells came with it. It's in her neck, and has sunk into her CNS."
I throw a questioning look.
"Central nervous system. It's where all your nervous impulses and reactions are controlled and activates. The lower part of the spin deals with involuntary responses, like the knee jerk reflex; when someone hits the right spot on the knee and your leg kicks up, but the part this has affected is higher up, and therefore in the part that deals with controlled responses, like breaking if a child runs out in front of your car."
"Doc!" I grow inpatient with her long explainations.
"Basically, the signals going to her brain are being interrupted by this tooth. And that's not all. The tooth was starting to decay, bacteria residue shows that, but I believe the ritual those pagans preformed not only 'healed' Sam, but healed the nerves on the tooth. It appears to be 'bleeding' for want of a better term. The blood is mixing with Sam's and her white blood cells are picking up on it and trying to fight it, but the acid is poisoning the cells."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning her white blood cell count is very low. She has no feeling is her body because of the location of the tooth, but she does still have lower reflexes. Her voice is gone because the area is swollen and putting pressure on her larynx."
"So what happens now? Can you remove it?" Jacob asks, standing incredibly still while I fidget.
"I have talked to the General and he has given me permission to bring in anyone I need. I have called a Dr. Murphy, a throat specialist, Dr. James, a leading brain surgeon and Dr. Perkins, who specialises in the nervous system. They're the best in what they do. The operation is going to be long and complex and given the symptoms I can't grantee that she'll make a full recovery, or even survive the operation. I'll do my best for her, you know that."
"Yeah, Thanks Doctor."
No one knows what to say, so we just stand in silence. Awoken by the harsh beeping of Jacob Tok'ra communications device concealed in his civvies, he steps to one side and takes the 'call'.
"Colonel, can I have a quick word?" Janet almost whispers.
"Sure" we step outside into the busy corridor once again.
"Jack, I heard that you and Sam were..are getting married."
"Yeah, as soon as she better." Janet nods and smiles slightly.
"I just wanted to warn you, if she makes it through this, her voice wont come back straight away, she'll have to have couching, and she'll need physiotherapy to regain her strength and confidence in her muscles. She'll need to live with someone 24/7."
"Yeah, she'll move into to my place."
"Ok, well then you'll need to make some arrangements. I don't want to jump the gun to much here, so I think we'll talk more about those after the surgery providing everything goes to plan."
"Which it will." I add, forcing the hope not to be stunted by Janet's use of past tense a moment a go. Sam will make it. She's strong. She can beat this.
The sound of the door opening causes us both to look up. Jacob appears in the frame, an annoyed and resigned look playing on his features.
"The Tok'ra high council need me back on a matter of urgent business. I have to go. Look, Doctor, can I just see Sam for five minutes, say goodb. see ya later?"
Sighing Janet nods, "But don't wake her up!" Jacob says his thanks and heads down the hall towards Sam's room.
"When's she booked in for the opp?"
"We are flying the surgeons out tonight, but I don't want them jet lagged when they are in that room, so we will operate tomorrow afternoon. Until then I want to keep her as rested as possible. I will give her some pain killers and other meds to help her white blood cells. This is going to be a bumpy ride Jack, for both of you. Let's just hope the big guy upstairs is looking out for her." She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder and walks past me, adding as an after thought, "Get some rest, you're going to need it."
I am left standing in the hall away alone as nurses and doctors rush past me. I rub a tired hand over my even more weary face and unabashedly yawn. It's been a long couple of days; in fact, it's been a long few months. Looking in the window as I pass, I see my sleeping fiancé and am satisfied that she is being looked after. I leave the hospital and grab a taxi home, climbing into a hot bath and having a good shave before hitting the sac at 2:30am. Sleep isn't as hard to find as I thought it would be, washing over me and over powering my mind, taking me into a much needed deep rest.
TBC
More coming soon, and I know exactly where I am taking this now. I will try and post the next piece tomorrow, but I have school so I will see, if I have too much homework I probably won't be able to get to the computer. Don't blame me though, blame my teachers!