CHAPTER EIGHT: SHRUNKEN HEADS
Three days later Teal'c entered the base gym and spotted Victoria O'Neill running on the treadmill. He frowned as he watched her for a few minutes. She seemed to have over exerted herself. He grabbed a passing airman who was on his way out.
"How long has VictoriaO'Neill been exerting herself?"
"So that is her, the Colonel's wife." He looked back at the Jaffa to see a deep frown on his face. "Right, she was here when I got here about and hour and a half ago."
"You may leave."
The airman almost tripped over himself to get away.
Vicky was oblivious to her surroundings until she caught a dark hand turn the treadmill to the cool down setting.
"Do you mind..." she looked at Teal'c, "oh, hi, Teal'c. What can I do for you?"
"You have been exersizing for to long VictoriaO'Neill."
"I'm OK."
"You will desist immediately."
She went through the cool down cycle and got off and felt her legs shake. "Maybe you are right."
He saw her distress and helped her to a nearby bench. "You cannot solve your problems this way."
"I noticed, no matter how fast I ran I was still there."
"Indeed."
"Teal'c there's something missing. I just noticed that I can't sense you. You don't have a symbiote, do you?"
"Indeed I do not, VictoriaO'Neill. How is it that you know this? When you were given a medical exam no symbiote was detected within you."
"A number of years I carried a To'kra for 192 days. We were both injured and she did not survive. They do not understand how I lived with the injuries that I had. As long as it took to recover, there were times that I almost wish I hadn't. How can you survive without one? I didn't think it was possible."
"The Tau'ri have invented a medication that makes one unnecessary."
"That's great! It will make your people less dependent on the Go'ould."
"Indeed. You now require nourishment. I will accompany you as I to am in need of partaking of a meal."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they were seated with their food, and Teal'c had an incredible amount, Vicky thought this was a good time to talk about things that were bothering her.
"Part of the reason that I was exercising so hard that the doctor had given me something to make me sleep. I really did need it but it made my thinking foggy. The other night I talked to Dr. Jackson, actually I kind of yelled at him. I said that he had no right to interfere with other people's lives. I said a lot of things that I shouldn't have and I should apologize. I hope he will listen to me."
"I am sure he will, VictoriaO'Neill. DanielJackson did not mean to cause anyone harm. Perhaps when he discovered that you might be alive it caused him to think of his own wife who has died."
"I didn't know he had a wife, much less one he lost. Damn, now I really feel bad."
"I did not wish to cause you further distress, VictoriaO'Neill."
"That's Ok, Teal'c, I'm glad that you told me."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After they had eaten Vicky when to Carter's lad. The door was open and she stood just outside and knocked on the doorframe. Sam looked up and smiled at her.
"Come in. I was beginning to wonder what happened to you."
"The doctor gave me something to sleep and I did, for about two days."
"You do look a lot better. I have been going through the manuals and, boy, do you have some great stuff in there."
"Sam, I want to apologize for my mood since I arrived here."
"That's Ok, I know it has been very stressful and you haven't slept much."
"It's not OK. I shouldn't have taken things out on you or anyone else. Did you need any help on that?"
"No, I'm OK."
"Then I'll start translating the stuff in the manuals that's not in English for you."
"That would be great."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
They had been working quietly for several hours when the phone rang.
"Carter."
She listened for a minute. "Yes, she's here, we'll be right up, Sir. That was the Colonel. We have to go to the briefing room."
"Did he say what it's about?"
"No, I guess that we'll find out when we get there."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got there jack and Teal'c were sitting on opposite sides of the table. Vicky went and set next to Teal'c and Sam sat on the same side as Jack but leaving a seat between them. Just then Daniel rushed in and sat between Jack and Sam.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Actually you aren't, we're waiting for Hammond."
"Any idea what it's about, Sir?"
"He's bringing in some one to shrink our heads, thinks we all need it."
"Mackenzie's an idiot," Daniel said, very pissed off.
"I couldn't agree more, Danny. That's why he brought someone in from Walter Wonderful."
"Walter Wonderful?"
"Walter Reed Army hospital to you civilians. Seems he's an expert in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."
"O'Neill, is such a thing possible? And why would GeneralHammond wish us to have small heads?"
There were several snickers around the table.
"It's a figure of speech, T. I think the General thinks my head is small enough. What I mean to say is that we will be talking to a psychiatrist about the stress we are under."
"A wise precaution, O'Neill."
"Glad you agree."
"So, Jack, where are they?"
"The General is briefing him about the Stargate and...stuff."
They were quite for a moment when Jack heard a feminine snicker. His head whipped up and he stared at Carter, who met his look with a wide-eyed "not me" look. They both turned to Vicky who was laughing.
"Something funny, O'Neill?" He frowned at her.
"Yeah."
"Care to share with the other children?"
"Well, I was picturing the General talking about the Stargate, Asguard, Go'ould, and his niece the clone...to a psychiatrist."
Carter put her hand over her mouth in an effort to suppress her laughter. Teal'c had a huge smile.
"It is indeed an amusing thought."
They all then lost it. Soon they were all laughing so hard their sides hurt.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
General Hammond and an Army Colonel were in the hallway going toward the briefing when they her Jack shout, "For crying out loud! Let's get serious here."
They heard some giggling and a couple of snorts. They looked at each other and the General frowned. When he got to the door he whipped it open. The sudden entrance caused the three military personal to spring to attention, followed closely by Teal'c. The momentum even caused Daniel to stand awkwardly. Hammond glared at them and could see they had their jaws clenched in effort not to laugh.
"Something amusing, Colonel?"
Jack put on his best mildly confused face, "no straitjacket, General?"
Hammond glared at him for a minute.
//Oh, shit, I'm gonna get court-martialed\\
The general's face then broke into a grin, "well, it was touch and go there for a while. This is Colonel Alexander Schmidt. He will be having sessions with all of you. These sessions are NOT optional, ALL of you will attend and you Will co-operate. Am I understood?"
There was general grumbling and nodding of heads. The General introduced everyone to Schmidt, who then addressed them.
"I want you to know that I am here to help you. I am not the enemy. Everything that is said in sessions will be one hundred percent confidential, unless I think anyone is a danger to themselves, others or is a matter of National Security.. I am still not convinced that the General isn't crazy even after viewing the security tapes."
That had worked pretty as an icebreaker, though Vicky raised her hand.
"I can prove it if you want."
"How?"
Vicky looked at him and keyed a devise on her wrist and there was a flash of light and Schmidt was looking down at the Earth from the EMPTINESS...crap! he jumped back with a gasp.
"Don't' worry, that's a force field, kind of like a window, it's perfectly safe."
"What if the power failed?"
'We'd probably never know what hit us."
Somehow that didn't make him feel better. "Where are we?"
"We are in my ship in orbit above Earth."
"Can't the Air Force or someone detect it, and shoot it down?"
"No, it's cloaked. Until now no one knew it was here, except me." She put her hand to her wrist again and there was another flash of light and they were back in the briefing room.
"Umm, Asguard in town?"
"No, we went to my ship. I made Odin bring it here in case I needed it."
"What kind of ship?"
"It's a Zippy."
"Zippy, what the hell is that?"
"I designed a transport along the lines of a Tel'tak using Asguard technology."
"Zippy?"
"I use it to zip around the universe. The Asguard like it so much they are added it to their fleet. You have no idea how hysterical it is to hear and Asguard say "we have added 50 Zippies to the fleet"." Carter giggled again, drawing a glare from Jack.
"So, Vicky, do you have any other ships?"
"Actually, I have a couple of Tel'taks, a Mothership...that's a good idea." Vicky got a serious look on her face and looked at Daniel, "Dr. Jackson, the other night I was way out of line in the things I said to you. Would you except a Tel'tak as a token of my apology?"
"Um, I guess, but that's not necessary."
"I want you to have it."
"Hey, I want a Tel'tak!"
Everyone turned and looked at Jack. "Jack, you just sounded like a three- year-old."
"Did not!"
"DID, TOO!" Chorused the rest of the room, including the General. Jack slid down in his chair and sulked like a two-year-old.
Schmidt spoke again, "I will want to talk to each of you by tomorrow and I will want a joint session with Colonel and Captain O'Neill. I'll start with you Captain in two hours after lunch."
Three days later Teal'c entered the base gym and spotted Victoria O'Neill running on the treadmill. He frowned as he watched her for a few minutes. She seemed to have over exerted herself. He grabbed a passing airman who was on his way out.
"How long has VictoriaO'Neill been exerting herself?"
"So that is her, the Colonel's wife." He looked back at the Jaffa to see a deep frown on his face. "Right, she was here when I got here about and hour and a half ago."
"You may leave."
The airman almost tripped over himself to get away.
Vicky was oblivious to her surroundings until she caught a dark hand turn the treadmill to the cool down setting.
"Do you mind..." she looked at Teal'c, "oh, hi, Teal'c. What can I do for you?"
"You have been exersizing for to long VictoriaO'Neill."
"I'm OK."
"You will desist immediately."
She went through the cool down cycle and got off and felt her legs shake. "Maybe you are right."
He saw her distress and helped her to a nearby bench. "You cannot solve your problems this way."
"I noticed, no matter how fast I ran I was still there."
"Indeed."
"Teal'c there's something missing. I just noticed that I can't sense you. You don't have a symbiote, do you?"
"Indeed I do not, VictoriaO'Neill. How is it that you know this? When you were given a medical exam no symbiote was detected within you."
"A number of years I carried a To'kra for 192 days. We were both injured and she did not survive. They do not understand how I lived with the injuries that I had. As long as it took to recover, there were times that I almost wish I hadn't. How can you survive without one? I didn't think it was possible."
"The Tau'ri have invented a medication that makes one unnecessary."
"That's great! It will make your people less dependent on the Go'ould."
"Indeed. You now require nourishment. I will accompany you as I to am in need of partaking of a meal."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they were seated with their food, and Teal'c had an incredible amount, Vicky thought this was a good time to talk about things that were bothering her.
"Part of the reason that I was exercising so hard that the doctor had given me something to make me sleep. I really did need it but it made my thinking foggy. The other night I talked to Dr. Jackson, actually I kind of yelled at him. I said that he had no right to interfere with other people's lives. I said a lot of things that I shouldn't have and I should apologize. I hope he will listen to me."
"I am sure he will, VictoriaO'Neill. DanielJackson did not mean to cause anyone harm. Perhaps when he discovered that you might be alive it caused him to think of his own wife who has died."
"I didn't know he had a wife, much less one he lost. Damn, now I really feel bad."
"I did not wish to cause you further distress, VictoriaO'Neill."
"That's Ok, Teal'c, I'm glad that you told me."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After they had eaten Vicky when to Carter's lad. The door was open and she stood just outside and knocked on the doorframe. Sam looked up and smiled at her.
"Come in. I was beginning to wonder what happened to you."
"The doctor gave me something to sleep and I did, for about two days."
"You do look a lot better. I have been going through the manuals and, boy, do you have some great stuff in there."
"Sam, I want to apologize for my mood since I arrived here."
"That's Ok, I know it has been very stressful and you haven't slept much."
"It's not OK. I shouldn't have taken things out on you or anyone else. Did you need any help on that?"
"No, I'm OK."
"Then I'll start translating the stuff in the manuals that's not in English for you."
"That would be great."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
They had been working quietly for several hours when the phone rang.
"Carter."
She listened for a minute. "Yes, she's here, we'll be right up, Sir. That was the Colonel. We have to go to the briefing room."
"Did he say what it's about?"
"No, I guess that we'll find out when we get there."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got there jack and Teal'c were sitting on opposite sides of the table. Vicky went and set next to Teal'c and Sam sat on the same side as Jack but leaving a seat between them. Just then Daniel rushed in and sat between Jack and Sam.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Actually you aren't, we're waiting for Hammond."
"Any idea what it's about, Sir?"
"He's bringing in some one to shrink our heads, thinks we all need it."
"Mackenzie's an idiot," Daniel said, very pissed off.
"I couldn't agree more, Danny. That's why he brought someone in from Walter Wonderful."
"Walter Wonderful?"
"Walter Reed Army hospital to you civilians. Seems he's an expert in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."
"O'Neill, is such a thing possible? And why would GeneralHammond wish us to have small heads?"
There were several snickers around the table.
"It's a figure of speech, T. I think the General thinks my head is small enough. What I mean to say is that we will be talking to a psychiatrist about the stress we are under."
"A wise precaution, O'Neill."
"Glad you agree."
"So, Jack, where are they?"
"The General is briefing him about the Stargate and...stuff."
They were quite for a moment when Jack heard a feminine snicker. His head whipped up and he stared at Carter, who met his look with a wide-eyed "not me" look. They both turned to Vicky who was laughing.
"Something funny, O'Neill?" He frowned at her.
"Yeah."
"Care to share with the other children?"
"Well, I was picturing the General talking about the Stargate, Asguard, Go'ould, and his niece the clone...to a psychiatrist."
Carter put her hand over her mouth in an effort to suppress her laughter. Teal'c had a huge smile.
"It is indeed an amusing thought."
They all then lost it. Soon they were all laughing so hard their sides hurt.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
General Hammond and an Army Colonel were in the hallway going toward the briefing when they her Jack shout, "For crying out loud! Let's get serious here."
They heard some giggling and a couple of snorts. They looked at each other and the General frowned. When he got to the door he whipped it open. The sudden entrance caused the three military personal to spring to attention, followed closely by Teal'c. The momentum even caused Daniel to stand awkwardly. Hammond glared at them and could see they had their jaws clenched in effort not to laugh.
"Something amusing, Colonel?"
Jack put on his best mildly confused face, "no straitjacket, General?"
Hammond glared at him for a minute.
//Oh, shit, I'm gonna get court-martialed\\
The general's face then broke into a grin, "well, it was touch and go there for a while. This is Colonel Alexander Schmidt. He will be having sessions with all of you. These sessions are NOT optional, ALL of you will attend and you Will co-operate. Am I understood?"
There was general grumbling and nodding of heads. The General introduced everyone to Schmidt, who then addressed them.
"I want you to know that I am here to help you. I am not the enemy. Everything that is said in sessions will be one hundred percent confidential, unless I think anyone is a danger to themselves, others or is a matter of National Security.. I am still not convinced that the General isn't crazy even after viewing the security tapes."
That had worked pretty as an icebreaker, though Vicky raised her hand.
"I can prove it if you want."
"How?"
Vicky looked at him and keyed a devise on her wrist and there was a flash of light and Schmidt was looking down at the Earth from the EMPTINESS...crap! he jumped back with a gasp.
"Don't' worry, that's a force field, kind of like a window, it's perfectly safe."
"What if the power failed?"
'We'd probably never know what hit us."
Somehow that didn't make him feel better. "Where are we?"
"We are in my ship in orbit above Earth."
"Can't the Air Force or someone detect it, and shoot it down?"
"No, it's cloaked. Until now no one knew it was here, except me." She put her hand to her wrist again and there was another flash of light and they were back in the briefing room.
"Umm, Asguard in town?"
"No, we went to my ship. I made Odin bring it here in case I needed it."
"What kind of ship?"
"It's a Zippy."
"Zippy, what the hell is that?"
"I designed a transport along the lines of a Tel'tak using Asguard technology."
"Zippy?"
"I use it to zip around the universe. The Asguard like it so much they are added it to their fleet. You have no idea how hysterical it is to hear and Asguard say "we have added 50 Zippies to the fleet"." Carter giggled again, drawing a glare from Jack.
"So, Vicky, do you have any other ships?"
"Actually, I have a couple of Tel'taks, a Mothership...that's a good idea." Vicky got a serious look on her face and looked at Daniel, "Dr. Jackson, the other night I was way out of line in the things I said to you. Would you except a Tel'tak as a token of my apology?"
"Um, I guess, but that's not necessary."
"I want you to have it."
"Hey, I want a Tel'tak!"
Everyone turned and looked at Jack. "Jack, you just sounded like a three- year-old."
"Did not!"
"DID, TOO!" Chorused the rest of the room, including the General. Jack slid down in his chair and sulked like a two-year-old.
Schmidt spoke again, "I will want to talk to each of you by tomorrow and I will want a joint session with Colonel and Captain O'Neill. I'll start with you Captain in two hours after lunch."