DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters who have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

A Snake In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush

Part thirty-one

Following the departure of SG1 the next day, Dr Fraiser carried out a barrage of tests in order to fully establish Clare's medical status. Clare, already stressed and belligerent, became even more so until Janet had had enough.

'Clare, I know you've been through a difficult time and I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like,' Janet spoke firmly but kindly, 'but if I'm going to help you I need to do these tests. They are going to be done one way or another and we'll be through a lot sooner if you co-operate. I'll sedate you if I have to, but I really don't want to do that.' She would have said a few more well-chosen words but Clare's scowling face crumpled as her eyes filled with tears, looking away from Janet, trying to brush the tears away but they fell even faster.

Janet sat on the edge of the bed, an arm around Clare's shoulders as she spoke more gently. 'I know something has been bothering you and I'd like to help - will you let me?' In response, Clare clung to Janet as though to a lifeline, crying until she felt there could be no moisture left in her body. At last, after a few hiccups, Janet handed Clare a bowl of water and a cloth to wash her face. Clare looked up at Janet, her eyes still puffy and red and began to talk in a low, defeated voice.

'You have the results, Dr Fraiser?'

It was several hours later and Janet tapped on General Hammond's door, obeying his hand waving her to a seat.

'Yes sir. The areas of Clare's brain previously stimulated are now dormant and the only thing going on in her brain now is normal activity. It looks like she has lost all the additional memories she held and is back to normal. Well, as normal as she can be after everything she's been through.'

'So you're saying she is no longer a security risk?'

'It looks that way sir, yes. She needs time to adjust and get used to the way things are now, but she should be able to resume whatever life she wants without the danger of revealing information she isn't aware of.' Janet paused, then moved on to the next item on her agenda. 'General, Clare is experiencing a lot of problems trying to adjust to the change in her situation. She's been under a tremendous strain since she first arrived here and she's reacting badly to this latest incident.' Janet looked at Hammond to make sure he was receptive, seeing him nod to her to continue.

'She's essentially lost a part of herself, one of her senses in a way, and she's going to need time to adjust to that, time away from here. If she could spend a few days in familiar surroundings, away from everything that will remind her of what has happened to her, it would go a long way to restoring her both physically and psychologically. I'm afraid that if we don't try something then she could suffer irreparable emotional damage.'

'Are you certain this is the best option?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Very well. Does she need to be accompanied home?'

'No, sir. She's exhausted and under a lot of pressure and being here is not helping at the moment, but I believe there is a neighbour who can keep an eye on her and there is no medical reason to keep her here after today. I'll arrange for someone to take her home and pick her up again tomorrow.'

Jack was bored. This was their third and final day with the Tok'ra and each day seemed to be worse than the last. Daniel had spent time with their scientists, helping with the translation of the information that had been downloaded from Clare's mind. Unfortunately the information appeared to be completely disorganised and just as Daniel thought they were getting somewhere they would find an additional piece of data that contradicted everything they had achieved so far.

Carter was studying the technology they had used in the download process, completely in her element, talking nineteen to the dozen with the Tok'ra. When Jack, on one of his frequent tours to see what his people were up to, came across them in one of the labs, he stood in the doorway completely overwhelmed by the detail these people were talking. They didn't appear to use words of less than four syllables at any one time, and when he'd asked how they were progressing, Sam had tried to explain it to him but could tell by the glazed look in his eyes that he had stopped listening after the first sentence had even been finished.

It was slightly better when he found Daniel, Daniel would give him one of his excited smiles, indicating that he was thoroughly enjoying himself in spite of the frustration at their slow progress but he too would try to press explanations on Jack.

Teal'c - well he was around somewhere, being Teal'c and taking the opportunity to study Tok'ra defensive techniques, practising kel'noreem and generally taking it all in his stride.

Jack was relieved that they could go home today - at least he'd be able to do something normal once he got home. Watch a game, eat pizza, drink beer. Enjoy himself.

Doing one last round of checking up, he came upon Daniel and his group who appeared to be even more excited than normal.

'Hey kids - got something?'

'I think so, Jack,' Daniel replied, his attention still focussed on his work. 'I think we've got it cracked at last. It'll take some time to finish the translation, but at least we've got a grip on the language. I think what made it so hard was that this sequence here,' he indicated a series of symbols, 'seemed to belong here,' indicating another part of the writings, 'and it made sense. However, it also appeared to fit in equally well in a dozen or more places, completely changing its meaning with each location. Then we tried it in some more unlikely combinations and that's when we realised…'

'Daniel - spare me the details please,' Jack pleaded. 'I've been bored out of my mind since we got here, if you carry on with this I'm gonna be asleep on my feet.'

'Sorry,' Daniel apologised. 'Anyway, now we've gotten this far, it shouldn't take us…'

'Not a chance,' Jack butted in, knowing exactly where Daniel was going.

'But…'

'No. We've given these guys three days and you've got them started, now they get to do the rest of the hard work. I need you back with the rest of the team.'

Daniel knew when he was defeated and Jack was going to dig his heels in, so he gave in, making the most of the precious time left to him, barely paying heed to Jack's final words, 'We leave in two hours, don't be late.'

Jack's next visit was to Carter. Sam, more aware that time was running out was working frantically to complete her notes. The Tok'ra were not able to provide her with the technology to be able to retro fit it back at the SGC but were willing to allow her to study it and make notes which would help her in her own work.

'Sir,' Sam glanced up briefly as Jack entered the lab, then her attention went back to the laptop where she was frantically keying in information before time was up.

'You're having fun too, I see,' Jack remarked sourly.

'Yes sir,' Sam enthused, 'I think this information will enable me to…' Jack raised his eyebrows at Sam, halting her in full flow, and she altered what she had been about to say, '…make good use of it when we get back.' Jack smiled at her, and she felt a little like a schoolgirl being given a pat on the head for doing what was expected of her.

'Don't forget, two hours,' Jack reminded her.

His final port of call was to find Teal'c, who he discovered talking to Jacob.

'So, I hope this visit has been worthwhile,' Jacob commented.

'Just peachy,' was all Jack said, the look in his eyes telling Jacob everything. Jacob chuckled and continued speaking.

'Well, I do know that without Daniel's assistance we would never have got through that translation as quickly. Once we've got anything useful to report, we'll be in touch.'

Jack raised his eyebrows at this, but kept his mouth shut for once and led the way back to the Stargate.