Chapter 2
Back in the gate room Sam and I declared that the inhabitants were viable trading partners and Sam made it through her physical without too much fussing from the medical staff.
"So, what kinds of stuff can we get folks?" Jack asked
"Sir, they have weapons that appear to be a cross between a zat and an EM pulse, would love to take a look at some of those. Plus some of the construction materials they use could be useful. They however don't have planes or advanced medicines, and their treatment of women is reminiscent of the Shavadai." Sam said, rolling her eyes.
"The who?" Jack couldn't place the people.
"You remember the people who tried to sell Sam don't you, Jack?" I said with a smirk. "Mongolian type world, Sam in blue dress, that one."
"Ah, now I remember, you mean I missed a classic Carter I'm-gonna-kill-you look?"
"They apparently have a polygamous society but only for the men, they actually control the number of males born. It seems that after a woman gives birth to a son she is given a device that acts like a contraceptive and also symbolizes that she is higher in their society. As a matter of fact that is when she gets a name. Could you imagine growing up never knowing who you are? One of them, he couldn't have been more then sixteen, tried to steal Sam from me. Can you believe that?"
"Steal Sam, really? Wait a minute, why from you? You didn't..."
"Actually, I did, I though that since she was kidnapped in the last incident she might be safer if she was owned. How was I to foresee that patch thing?"
"I'm fine really. I think Daniel did a good thing thinking fast and saying that I was already taken. I don't even think the patch did anything to me. Medical cleared me for the moment though they are still waiting on the blood work. But I feel fine, really," Sam stated with a matter-of-fact attitude.
"Ok, the lab work should come back soon so until then you are free to go, but if you feel anything, headache, a cramp, twinge in the back, anything, you will say something or I WILL have a doctor watch over you."
"Yes, Sir."
"Wow, and I though Janet was bad," I smirked as we both walked out the door.
"Yeah, I miss her," Sam said as she headed off to her lab. As I looked back she was itching her hand.
"Your lab results show some sort of drug is definitely in your system and it doesn't seem to be dissipating. I'm not sure what it is exactly but it seems to be affecting your hypothalamus and pituitary. The second test from before the briefing came back with more FSH than when you first came through the gate so it appears as if this drug is a fertility agent and ovulation accelerant. Now if that is the extent of what the drug does then all it seems to be doing is suppressing your depo shot and accelerating your normal cycle so hopefully the levels will return and I can re-administer your BC. Other than that I don't see anything else wrong with you, Colonel Carter," The doctor stated to Sam after she told me I could stay to listen to the news. "Any symptoms: headaches, backaches, cramps, bloating," the doctor looked at me before continuing "Change in discharge, libido?"
"Yeah actually, I've been feeling like I'm a teenager again. I'm not sure but my hand got a bit irritated five minutes ago and then I started to get a bit edgy, that lasted about two minutes but Daniel popped in to offer a cup of coffee while we waited for you and it went away. You sure the chemical is no longer concentrated in my hand?"
"Your hand should be fine, the chemical was absorbed fairly quickly, anymore questions," the doctor left when Sam shook her head no.
"So, I guess they steal women by getting them pregnant. I guess that would lower their price. What I don't get is he would still have to have sex with you. How was he going to accomplish that especially thinking I named you because we were devoted to each other? I mean," I began to babble and Sam just shook her head and shrugged.
"Maybe he was hoping we would camp near by or stay in one of their inns," Sam said. "I guess the Eros petals may also loosen inhibitions or self control like the date rape drugs here."
"That's it. Eros. Greek god or gods depending on which one is being referred to, be it classic boy Cupid/Eros or adult Eros. I mean adult Eros was the Protogenos or Primal deity of love who emerged at the very creation of the universe and was considered the driving force behind all procreation in nature. He was also called Phanes or Protogonos to distinguish him from the young Eros, who most people recognize as the son of Aphrodite, cupid. Maybe the Greek gods were another alien species that visited that world as well. I wonder which one," I paused to glance at Sam to make sure I wasn't boring her and she had her head buried in her hands.
"You all right?" I asked and placed my hands on her shoulder.
She glanced up at me and I could see she was upset. "It is like my hormones are on overdrive. This must be how you felt when Hathor infected the base. I know you will think this is way out there but I have this incredible urge to kiss you right now, Daniel. I mean it is clouding my thoughts and even giving me some very interesting visions that would make even the General blush."
"What kind of visions?" I asked, teasing her.
"Daniel, please just," she was on the verge of begging, I could hear it in her voice, and so I quickly retreated.
As I walked down to my lab I started to contemplate what Sam was going through and one image of her looking into my eyes for a split second ran though my mind. Was the chemical like cupid's arrow and now she was in love with me? At first I had to laugh at that thought but my mind had other ideas. I began to flash to moments of her listening to my endless rambling, of the times she would comfort me after Shau're died or even before when she was just missing, of all the times I would hold her as she cried over Nareem, Martouf, Janet, and Jack when she thought she'd lost him, yet again.
In my lab I fingered a picture of us and thought Sam looked so happy in it standing there next to Jack and I felt a twinge of jealousy. Why should I feel this way, it wasn't as if I loved her. I never even was in contention for her affections; Jack would win her heart, period. Hell, he didn't even win her hand; Pete did that. So if I wasn't in love with her why was I acting like it?
After spending about an hour trying to translate a tablet and getting nowhere I decided to go back to Sam's office and see if she was okay. What I found was far from it.
"Sam, SAM! Damn it," I cursed under my breath and picked her up to take her to the infirmary.
"I found Sam on the floor unconscious. I don't know what happened," I started to pace and ramble on as the doctor took over. "I shouldn't have left her. I should have stayed until we knew she was alright," I mumbled as I paced.
"Daniel, you did the right thing. Don't beat yourself over this, she wouldn't have wanted you hovering anyways," Jack said as he entered.
Sam stirred a bit after only a minute and groaned. I felt guilty and stayed hovering despite Jack's comments that she wouldn't appreciate it.
The nurse drew some more blood after she fully came to and Sam started to get the light in the eye treatment from the doc. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Not much, I remember not being able to concentrate and after a while I started to get a bit edgy and shaky. That was about fifty minutes ago, and then I remember stumbling. That's it." I could hear the confusion and uncertainty in her voice as she grasped my hand for some comfort.
"Okay, lets take a look at what happened. The lab work should be back soon. I'm letting you go now as there is nothing I can do for you here but I want you with somebody at all times and a log of all your activities no matter how minor, say fifteen minute intervals and blood draws every hour. We will see what other surprises this potion has done. SG-14 should be back tomorrow with a sample of the drug and some information. Hopefully this will be over by then," the doctor said as Sam was released.
"Great what about Daniel taking first watch and Teal'c can take over in a few hours. Sound okay, Carter?" Jack asked Sam.
"Sure, I guess it will be okay," Sam nodded.
"'Kay, what you want to do, Sam? Want to get a bite to eat?" I asked to try to get her talking and her mind off of her problems, if only for a little while.
"That sounds great, I'm starving actually," Sam grinned.
We stopped by to grab a notepad for her diary and headed to the commissary. I told her to sit down and write an entry while I grabbed our food.
When I came back she had written: Walked to commissary with Daniel. I took one glance and told her that she needed to put more detail into it. What was she feeling? Thinking? Her emotions, not just action. Stuff like shaky hands, headaches, edginess. She just gave me an I'm-gonna-kill-you look and picked up her pen.
"Okay, I felt comfortable and happy, no negative side affects discernable, a few stray thoughts about kissing, nothing too embarrassing until I sat down. The physical affects still were dormant but the thoughts shifted gears to me and a naked man," She said as she wrote. "Happy now?" She said as she glanced up.
"Are you still having those thoughts?" I asked afraid to ask who the man was.
"No, actually they are just fragments now, kissing, caresses, nothing lewd," she continued to write. We ate and chatted about our next mission when Teal'c came in.
"DanielJackson, your skills are required by Balinsky, I will gladly take care of ColonelCarter in your absence," I glanced at Sam as I rose from the table.
"Oh goodie, shift change" She said sarcastically and even wrote it down.
I barely had time to get to work when Jack came running to find me. "I don't know what happened. Sam started to complain of headaches and being a bit edgy. Teal'c led her to the infirmary and the docs drew her blood and all that. She started to get worse though even with an IV. She started to shake and she collapsed. This happened in the span of ten minutes Daniel. Ten minutes," he sounded exasperated. "So I guess she will stay out of it for an hour like last time," he pondered as we approached her bedside.
"Sam, come on don't let this thing beat you," I whispered as I held her hand and stroked her hair.
"I won't," Sam said with a smile. I jerked my head to her face when I heard her.
"You're awake. It has only been," I glanced at the clock, "three minutes." I glanced at the doc and I received a nod.
"Hopefully it is the IV bringing her out of it," the doctor said then turned to Sam. "I want you to stay connected to it then. If that is the case then it should prevent any more lapses. We will keep you here this time and see if you are ok in an hour. Try to get some sleep, I know it is a bit early but sleep never hurts," the doctor grinned before walking away.
"Daniel, could you get my laptop and my notes. No way am I getting any sleep, not with my mind running around the way it is. Please," she asked.
"Sure Sam, I'll sneak it in," I grinned and headed off to her lab to retrieve her stuff.
When I walked back into the infirmary the doctor was once again fussing over Sam.
"What's happening Sam?"
"Damn symptoms again. I was getting edgy and shaky but I feel fine now. No passing out this time. Maybe the IV is working,"
"But why are they getting closer together. That doesn't make any sense; wait a minute. Oh crap," the gears in my head were turning and my mind was formulating a hypothesis as to what was happening.
"What crap? Daniel what are you thinking?"
"Be back in ten minutes. Just sit tight," I ran out. Can it be?
Ten minutes later I heard Jack getting upset and I entered to see Sam unconscious again. "Damn it!"
"Sam, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have tested that out. Come on, I'm here, you can wake up now," I said guilt ridden.
"So, did we just figure out I'm addicted to you?" Sam said playfully when she awoke.