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Chapter 13

"Alright, turn him on his side just like that!" Janet called from across the infirmary to one of her staff members.

Those possessed by the parasites had spontaneously gone into convulsive shock. She had called for an increase in personnel to treat the victims, while using anyone she could grab for assistance.

"What can I do?" Sam asked, her eyes wide as she stared at the seizing bodies.

"Sam, come here by Lieutenant Menard and hold him down. Make sure his airways are open and that he doesn't bite his tongue." Janet pointed to the man, moving away from him as Sam took her place. Then, she hurried across the room to check on another patient's monitor. "Nurse, I need you to prep the machines, stat!"

"What's going on?" Colonel O'Neill asked, appearing in the doorway.

Janet glanced up, catching General Hammond, along with the two Tok'ra by O'Neill's side.

"They are seizing, Colonel. All of them." Janet grabbed a chart and rushed to the side of Captain Mueller, who appeared to be reacting the worst out of all of them. "If we can't temper the neurological activity—"

"Anything we can do to help, Doctor?" General Hammond asked, his eyes jumping from patient to patient.

"Take my assistants' places in holding them down," Janet stated. "This way, we can work on administering any drugs and equipment to stop this."

"Sir," Sam added, as she leaned over Lieutenant Menard. "I left Dan--Thoth's notebook in my lab. There might be something in there that can help."

O'Neill glanced over at the general who gave a quick nod. Nodding in return, Colonel O'Neill dashed for the door.

"I'm on it, Major," he called from the hallway.

Teal'c did not enjoy holding a zatnikatel to his friend's back, but if they were to find a way to overcome the parasites' control, he had to exercise extreme caution.

However, Teal'c was not convinced that Thoth had the means to overcome the toxins that endangered the lives of his friends and colleagues.

Eyeing Thoth carefully, Teal'c slid his card through the key slot, revealing Daniel's office. The room remained much as it always did, cluttered with artifacts from various cultures, but Teal'c felt the room lacked the distinct sense of life that Daniel Jackson often brought to it.

Without him, the room seemed hollow and distant.

"Over here," Thoth called, moving towards Daniel Jackson's desk. Even with his hands bound, Thoth appeared to be quite capable of rummaging through the belongings of Daniel Jackson. "Here."

Teal'c frowned, watching as Thoth opened one of the desk drawers, his fingers nimbly sifting through unseen objects. As Teal'c stepped closer to look, Thoth jumped, and raised his hands, revealing a small sealed vial. Teal'c stiffened, watching the man carefully.

Grinning, Thoth stepped forward and offered the vial to Teal'c. "This is the substance. It will cure our people."

Teal'c raised his eyebrow at Thoth's choice of wording, but accepted the vial nonetheless. Still aiming the zatnikatel directly at Thoth, Teal'c took a moment to eye the vial carefully, disgusted at the parasite's cunning and its very nature.

"We will bring this to Doctor Fraiser immediately," Teal'c instructed, cocking his head slightly to the door. "Come."

"Just-just one moment, Teal'c," Thoth said, hesitant as he hovered near Daniel Jackson's desk. "I would like to stay here just a few moments longer."

"You cannot," Teal'c ordered sternly.

"Give the chemical to the soldier and remain with me, then." Thoth brought his gaze to Teal'c, his expression teetering on pleading. "I have something to show you."

Teal'c considered Thoth's words, uncertainty weighing heavily on his mind. While part of him understood the importance of completing this assignment, and to head back to the infirmary with Thoth and the airman, another part of him wished to discover what other secrets Thoth could be hiding. The more that Teal'c could understand, the better his position if he were to find a way to save Daniel Jackson.

Though, it occurred to Teal'c this could all be a ploy.

Teal'c stared at the man that once was his friend and forced himself to decide.

"Very well," Teal'c said, handing the vial to the airman and motioning him leave. "What it is that you have to show me?"

Jack ran down the hallway, fumbling in his pocket, trying to find his key card to get into Carter's lab.

Dammit, just get moving, butterfingers.

Finding the card, he exhaled, and swiped it through the slot, rushing inside as soon as the door opened. With a cursory glance, he almost immediately found what he was looking for.

"Alright."

He applauded himself, stretching forward to grab Daniel's notebook. As he went to reach for it, he accidentally knocked over a couple of the journals Teal'c had been studying.

Jack paused, hesitating, when he realized one journal lay open on the floor after its fall. Cautiously, as if it would bite him, he reached down to finger it, surprised when a small piece of paper slipped out of the side of the journal.

"What's this?" he asked aloud, taking the paper into his hands.

A picture. Or a sketch. On some old kind of paper. What was it called? Right, papris. He shook his head. No, didn't sound right, but he was close.

Really, the kind of paper didn't mean much at the moment. Jack was stunned by what he found on the paper.

A drawing of a woman. Beautiful—exotic is how he would describe her—with jewelry and makeup and a single ostrich feather poking out of some elaborate headdress.

Funny thing is, she really reminded him of Sha're.

Jack paled, staring at the picture.

No, I mean, that would be stupid to think that Thoth and Daniel would…

But Jack couldn't help but feel his unease raise a notch as he stared at the picture, recalling the Tok'ra's little lecture.

Thoth takes the emotions and memories of his host and makes them his own.

His own.

"Dammit!"

Jack grabbed the picture, the journals, and Daniel's notebook, sprinting out of Carter's lab.

Sam felt lost, watching the buzz of activity flutter all around her. While she had some experience as the team field medic, she wasn't a doctor, or a nurse, and could not participate with the level of confidence that the trained medical staff could. All she could do was wait, help when ordered to do so, and hope for the best.

She hated it. Everything was falling apart.

Originally, she had joined the Tok'ra with their study of the toxin. She had kept telling herself that they were making headway and that soon, they would have the breakthrough they needed to save Daniel, SG-11, and SG-17. She ignored the persistence doubts that were nagging her, prickling the back of her mind. She wouldn't fail like she had done in the past.

But when Janet had announced that those in the infirmary had taken a turn for the worst, Sam's hopes had come crashing down. She had volunteered to assist Janet in attending to the victims. It was the best she could do. It was the best she could offer right now.

And she hated herself for it.

She held Major Tyrell, soothing him gently, as he was consumed by another fit of spasms. She doubted he could even hear her.

"Stand back, Major Carter," Akana ordered gently, taking her place.

Sam nodded, stepping back, allowing the Tok'ra to do her job. Exhaling, Sam watched on apprehensively, only stopping for a moment to gaze at Hammond. He appeared as lost and concerned as she was.

Then, Sam heard shuffling at the door, and watched as one of the base's airmen entered, carrying a small vial.

Where were Daniel and Teal'c?

"Doctor Fraiser," the airman called, stepping into the room. "From Teal'c. He informed us to give this to you immediately."

Janet ran over to them, swiftly followed by Dalmar. She looked it over carefully, and handed him the vial.

"I would like to review this substance before use," Dalmar stated, eyeing the vial carefully.

"Do it," General Hammond called from the other side of the room.

"Let's get that tested right away in conjunction with the sample of toxin we have," Janet said quickly, hurrying over to her makeshift lab she had set up within the infirmary.

Sam rubbed her hands on her pants, starting to feel as if she would explode. She had to be able to do something.

"Janet, I'd like—"

"Carter!"

Sam snapped to attention upon hearing her commanding officer's voice.

"Sir?" she asked.

Colonel O'Neill stopped short at the door, inhaling and exhaling sharply as he attempted to catch his breath. "Here," he said, tossing the notebooks and journals over to Beltesh. The Tok'ra fumbled for them, nearly missing them. "Read those and figure something out."

"Sir, I can—"

"You're not an expert in Goa'uld, and I need you now, Carter," O'Neill said sternly.

"Colonel?" General Hammond questioned, still standing by one of the patient's side.

"Sir, I think we might have a situation," O'Neill said steadily. He motioned to one of the SF's, grabbing his sidearm and radio. Quickly, he checked to see if the gun was loaded, and brought his gaze back to Sam. "Carter, get to the armory and grab a zat and meet me at Daniel's office."

With wide eyes, Sam nodded, not sure she completely understood. Not sure she wanted to understand. "Sir?"

"I think Thoth is going to get revenge on Teal'c for killing Sha're, on Daniel's behalf."