Chapter 7 – Doctor's and General's Orders

Doctor Frazier pulled the curtain around Sam's bed and made her way over to the three men sitting by the door to the infirmary. It felt like déjà vu, this second incident with Sam. General Hammond entered just as she reached the chairs, having been summoned by one of her nurses. He had yet to see Major Carter since she had changed and was extremely concerned about this new medical crisis that had arisen.

"Doctor Frazier, how is Major Carter?" the General asked, getting right to the point.

"First of all, I want to assure you that Sam is going to be fine. However, we are going to have to take some steps to assure that she stays that way."

"What do you mean Doc?" Jack asked. He and Daniel were both relieved to hear that she would be all right. She had been so pale when they brought her in 30 minutes ago.

"Sam's blood pressure is incredibly high, which in turn brought on the dizziness, headache and nausea." Janet explained.

"Do you know why her blood pressure has increased so dramatically Dr. Frazier?" Teal'c inquired.

Looking from Daniel to Jack, she took a breath before answering. "Well, some of it may have been caused by the stress of her confrontation with Colonel O'Neill." Everyone looked at Jack, disapproval written all over their faces.

"Colonel, I'd like a more detailed explanation from you later," he ordered his second in command. "Please continue Dr, Frazier," stated the General.

"I'd like you to know that Colonel O'Neill is not entirely to blame for this," continued Janet. "Sam has always put herself under an extreme amount of pressure. This situation is no exception. However, with her in essence being a child, her body just can't handle all that stress. It's making her heart work harder than it should and affecting other areas of her physiology."

"So what do we do? Not allow her to work on figuring out the Triplexus? You know that's not going to go over very well," Daniel stated.

"Actually, that's exactly what I am suggesting. Sam needs to get away from the SGC for a few days. She needs to relax and let her body adjust to its new state. Otherwise, she could suffer serious side effects. Among them complete organ failure."

Jack was taken aback by this news, yet wasn't sure they would be able to get Sam to leave the SGC. "And how do you propose we do that? Carter doesn't leave this place when she has down-time, much less when she's got some major crisis to solve."

"That's where the General comes in. Sir, if you made it an order, Sam would have to leave the mountain and take a few days off."

General Hammond pondered this for a few moments. "All right Doctor, but we can't very well send her home on her own looking like an eight year old. One of her neighbors would call Social Services and then we'd really have a problem on our hands."

"I thought of that too sir. Someone will have to go with her. Probably take her to their place where they won't have trouble explaining Sam as a visiting niece."

The three remaining members of SG-1 looked at each other. Obviously, Teal'c couldn't take her as he lived here on base; that would defeat the purpose entirely. It would have to be either Jack or Daniel. Daniel wasn't so sure it should be Jack, considering what had recently transpired in her lab. Jack didn't think it should be Daniel as he couldn't stop thinking about work any more than Carter could. General Hammond decided for them.

"Dr. Jackson, I will need you to remain here and work with Teal'c on translating the Triplexus and hopefully figuring out a way to change Major Carter back. That means that you, Colonel, will take Major Carter home with you and take very good care of her. Do I make myself clear?" he asked sternly.

Jack nodded, "Yes, sir." Oh great, he was going to have one very upset little Major on his hands for the next few days. He would have to make amends, and quickly!

"I think it would be best if you and I explained things to Sam Sir," Janet directed this to the General. "I'd like to keep her here for a few more hours, just to make sure her blood pressure reading has come down and that she can keep some food in her."

"All right Doctor. Colonel, I would like you to try and contact the Tok'ra. If we can find him, Jacob needs to be apprised of the situation. Then wait for me in my office, we have some things to discuss." The General looked meaningfully at Jack before he followed the Doctor to Sam's bed.

Sam sat on the bed, still clad in the sweatpants from earlier but wearing a new shirt, as the other one had gotten a bit on the messy side. Her bare feet were gently swinging back and forth, keeping time to the respirator she heard on the other side of the room. She looked up as the curtains were moved, surprised to see General Hammond accompanying Janet. She moved to stand on the floor upon seeing him but the General waved at her to stay where she was, so she remained seated.

General Hammond was momentarily stunned speechless by the sight in front of him. Major Carter, arguably the smartest person on base, was sitting on the bed, swinging her feet back and forth. She reminded him so much of his two granddaughters. He had remembered seeing her like this 30 years ago, when he and Jacob were both young officers. She had the same look about her. Except for the eyes...they were much older than that of an eight year old child. Still, she looked fragile and tiny. He could almost forgive Jack for overreacting and being overly protective. Almost!

"Major Carter, how are you feeling?" he inquired of the diminutive Major.

"Much better, thank you General. May I ask what is happening Sir? I assume you have something to tell me."

"Yes Major, there is something we need to discuss. However, I would like to assure you that I had every intention of checking up on you once things slowed down a bit in the gate room," he smiled at her so she wouldn't think he had forgotten about her.

She smiled back at him and waited for him to continue.

"Doctor Frazier has informed us that your body is having some difficulty adjusting to its new state. The heavy load of work and pressure that you are under is causing your blood pressure to rise alarmingly high. Therefore, we have decided that it is in your best interest to have a few days off, so you can take things easy and give your body a rest."

Sam grew panicked at the thought of leaving the SGC as she currently was. She needed to help work on the Triplexus! How would she figure things out if she was sitting at home? How would she get home?? She couldn't very well drive her car!

Janet put her hand on Sam's arm reassuringly. The blood pressure reading she was currently taking was shooting up again as Sam was growing more agitated. She needed to calm down before she got sick again.

"Listen Sam. If you don't do this, you are bound to get even more sick, and then you will be of no use to anyone. You have to do this Sam," Janet gently ordered her.

"But, how will I get home? What will I do there?"

"We wouldn't dream of letting you go home on your own Major Carter. I know that you are very independent, but in your current situation, you need someone around. That is why Colonel O'Neill will be taking you to his house for a few days." As she opened her mouth to protest, General Hammond put up his hand to stop her. "I am making that an order Major. You will take three days. After that time, Colonel O'Neill will bring you back for a check-up. Once you are cleared, you can resume working with Dr. Jackson and Teal'c, provided they haven't solved the mystery yet. Is that understood Major?"

Sam looked down at the ground and mumbled "Yes Sir." The two other adults looked at each other and smiled slightly. She was almost behaving like a disappointed eight year old!

"Good. Colonel O'Neill will be by in a few hours to pick you up. Listen Major," the General sat on a chair and gentled his voice, "I know this must be very difficult for you and I know that you and the Colonel had words before. But he is doing what he thinks is best in this situation. He may not be right, but he does care about what happens to you... we all do. So please, give this a chance and try to let yourself rest for a while OK?"

Sam was touched by the General's kindness and caring. She nodded at him and gave him a genuine smile this time. "I will Sir. Thank you."

He smiled in return, then got up, ready to go and meet with the Colonel. "Oh, and Major, I am going to have you and Colonel O'Neill stop at the department store on your way home. It appears to me that you need some shoes and a few new articles of clothing!"

Sam looked down at her bare feet with some embarrassment. "Yes, sir. I suppose I do need a few things," she replied.

General Hammond chuckled softly as he left the room. He was relieved that Major Carter hadn't put up too much of a fuss over the arrangements. Now to meet with Jack and make sure he understood the importance of this new "mission"!

A/N: We'll go out of the SGC in the next chapter for some fun and adventure!