Chapter 2: Difficult Debriefing
General George Hammond was sitting at his desk, reviewing several reports that indicated the missions and status of all of the SG teams that were currently off world, when a knock on his office door drew his attention.
"Come in." He stated, barely looking up.
"General, we need to brief you about our recent mission." Sam said grimly as they entered the large office.
"Of course. Come in and sit down, SG-1. Wait a moment. Where's Colonel O'Neill?"
"Well, that's kind of what we needed to talk to you about, sir."
"What do you mean, Major?" General Hammond demanded.
"You see, sir. Colonel O'Neill was injured when we were off world on our last mission. Dr. Fraser is working on him in the infirmary now." Sam informed him.
"What's Janet saying about Jack's condition? Have you heard anything?" Hammond dropped all traces of formality when he heard this news.
"O'Neill is in a deep coma and in very serious condition. Dr. Fraser is doing all that can be done." Teal'c explained.
"How did this happen?"
"Well, sir, it started when we were trying to contact one of the Russian teams on PS3-97K. We had just reached the rendezvous point and contacted the allied team when we were ambushed by a band of Goa'uld. They were heavily armed and we were extremely outnumbered. The entire Russian team was completely wiped out. We believed we had defeated all of the Goa'uld but they had two spies hiding out near the Stargate. They shot the base out from under a ceremonial statue that was near the gate and caused it to fall right in the general area that Daniel was standing. Jack saw this and knocked him clear but wasn't able to get clear himself. Jack was injured in order to save Daniel." Sam explained with a difficult composure. Daniel Jackson, on the other hand, just stared straight ahead with a blank, haunted look in his eyes.
"Is something the matter, Dr. Jackson?" General Hammond asked as soon as the shock wore off. When the younger man didn't look up or attempt to respond, Hammond shook his head before continuing reassuringly. "It's okay, Daniel. You don't need to talk if you're not ready. I understand. When you feel you can do it, I'm going to need you give me your point of view on what happened."
"What are we going to do now, sir?" Sam asked.
"There really isn't any other choice, Major. I'm hereby placing SG-1 on indefinite hold pending the status of Colonel O'Neill. All of your upcoming missions will be delegated among the remaining SG teams. Now lets see if we can lend Jack some support. Dismissed." Hammond said.
"Yes, sir." Sam acknowledged and Teal'c nodded his head as General Hammond followed the three out the door toward the infirmary. They were all concerned as well about Daniel's emotional condition as he continued to stare blankly at nothing and hadn't spoken in nearly an hour.
When SG-1 and General Hammond arrived in the infirmary, Janet was waiting on them to return. They were anxious to hear what she had to say.
"What can you tell us, Janet?" Hammond asked solemnly.
"Jack is still in critical condition but I've managed to get him stabilized. His brain isn't permanently damaged from what I can tell but until his body is able to heal what damage there is, I'm afraid he'll remain in a coma. He's lucky not to have received any other internal injuries. Other than the trauma to his head, the only other injury Jack has is a fractured leg. I'd definitely say that Jack O'Neill is an extremely lucky man."
"O'Neill is very strong. If anyone can overcome something like this, it is him." Teal'c proclaimed.
"I believe Teal'c may be right. An injury of this sort may have killed a weaker man. Jack has a fighting chance."
"Now that we have some positive news, I suggest that we try to eat something or at least get a cup of coffee."
"I think we could all benefit from that idea, Major Carter." Teal'c agreed, shooting a worried glance in Daniel's direction.
* * * * *
A few minutes later, the four worried SGC members were sitting in the cafeteria having a cup of coffee and attempting to eat something. There wasn't a whole lot of conversation going on. Everyone present were just drawing whatever strength and comfort they could in each other's company. After about twenty minutes of silence, Daniel spoke up for the first time in two hours.
"Hey, guys. I'm really kind of beat. I think I'm going to head home for a few hours and try to catch a little rest. You know how to reach me if you need me." Daniel said distantly.
"But, Daniel. You haven't eaten anything since we came back through the Stargate hours ago. You need to have some food first." Sam protested protectively.
"I'm really not that hungry right now. Just make sure to call me if anything changes with Jack."
"Of course, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c acknowledged.
"Go on home and try to get some sleep, Daniel. You look like you need it. We'll keep you posted on things here, I promise."
"Yes, sir." Daniel nodded weakly as he left the SGC and headed toward home, hoping that once he was away from the situation he could come to terms with the memories flashing through his mind and the storm of emotion that was raging within his breaking heart.
General George Hammond was sitting at his desk, reviewing several reports that indicated the missions and status of all of the SG teams that were currently off world, when a knock on his office door drew his attention.
"Come in." He stated, barely looking up.
"General, we need to brief you about our recent mission." Sam said grimly as they entered the large office.
"Of course. Come in and sit down, SG-1. Wait a moment. Where's Colonel O'Neill?"
"Well, that's kind of what we needed to talk to you about, sir."
"What do you mean, Major?" General Hammond demanded.
"You see, sir. Colonel O'Neill was injured when we were off world on our last mission. Dr. Fraser is working on him in the infirmary now." Sam informed him.
"What's Janet saying about Jack's condition? Have you heard anything?" Hammond dropped all traces of formality when he heard this news.
"O'Neill is in a deep coma and in very serious condition. Dr. Fraser is doing all that can be done." Teal'c explained.
"How did this happen?"
"Well, sir, it started when we were trying to contact one of the Russian teams on PS3-97K. We had just reached the rendezvous point and contacted the allied team when we were ambushed by a band of Goa'uld. They were heavily armed and we were extremely outnumbered. The entire Russian team was completely wiped out. We believed we had defeated all of the Goa'uld but they had two spies hiding out near the Stargate. They shot the base out from under a ceremonial statue that was near the gate and caused it to fall right in the general area that Daniel was standing. Jack saw this and knocked him clear but wasn't able to get clear himself. Jack was injured in order to save Daniel." Sam explained with a difficult composure. Daniel Jackson, on the other hand, just stared straight ahead with a blank, haunted look in his eyes.
"Is something the matter, Dr. Jackson?" General Hammond asked as soon as the shock wore off. When the younger man didn't look up or attempt to respond, Hammond shook his head before continuing reassuringly. "It's okay, Daniel. You don't need to talk if you're not ready. I understand. When you feel you can do it, I'm going to need you give me your point of view on what happened."
"What are we going to do now, sir?" Sam asked.
"There really isn't any other choice, Major. I'm hereby placing SG-1 on indefinite hold pending the status of Colonel O'Neill. All of your upcoming missions will be delegated among the remaining SG teams. Now lets see if we can lend Jack some support. Dismissed." Hammond said.
"Yes, sir." Sam acknowledged and Teal'c nodded his head as General Hammond followed the three out the door toward the infirmary. They were all concerned as well about Daniel's emotional condition as he continued to stare blankly at nothing and hadn't spoken in nearly an hour.
When SG-1 and General Hammond arrived in the infirmary, Janet was waiting on them to return. They were anxious to hear what she had to say.
"What can you tell us, Janet?" Hammond asked solemnly.
"Jack is still in critical condition but I've managed to get him stabilized. His brain isn't permanently damaged from what I can tell but until his body is able to heal what damage there is, I'm afraid he'll remain in a coma. He's lucky not to have received any other internal injuries. Other than the trauma to his head, the only other injury Jack has is a fractured leg. I'd definitely say that Jack O'Neill is an extremely lucky man."
"O'Neill is very strong. If anyone can overcome something like this, it is him." Teal'c proclaimed.
"I believe Teal'c may be right. An injury of this sort may have killed a weaker man. Jack has a fighting chance."
"Now that we have some positive news, I suggest that we try to eat something or at least get a cup of coffee."
"I think we could all benefit from that idea, Major Carter." Teal'c agreed, shooting a worried glance in Daniel's direction.
* * * * *
A few minutes later, the four worried SGC members were sitting in the cafeteria having a cup of coffee and attempting to eat something. There wasn't a whole lot of conversation going on. Everyone present were just drawing whatever strength and comfort they could in each other's company. After about twenty minutes of silence, Daniel spoke up for the first time in two hours.
"Hey, guys. I'm really kind of beat. I think I'm going to head home for a few hours and try to catch a little rest. You know how to reach me if you need me." Daniel said distantly.
"But, Daniel. You haven't eaten anything since we came back through the Stargate hours ago. You need to have some food first." Sam protested protectively.
"I'm really not that hungry right now. Just make sure to call me if anything changes with Jack."
"Of course, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c acknowledged.
"Go on home and try to get some sleep, Daniel. You look like you need it. We'll keep you posted on things here, I promise."
"Yes, sir." Daniel nodded weakly as he left the SGC and headed toward home, hoping that once he was away from the situation he could come to terms with the memories flashing through his mind and the storm of emotion that was raging within his breaking heart.