There was but a brief moment of utter silence before all three men of SG1 stood up simultaneously and looked at each other with the same exact thought going through their minds: the infirmary! That was where Sam and JJ were right now!
"General," Jack stated with a note of urgency in his voice.
"Go," answered the General. "I'll call down to the infirmary and warn Dr. Frasier not to let anyone go near JJ or Major Carter until you get there."
With those words, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c raced out of the briefing room and to the elevators that would take them to the infirmary. The members of SG3 were not far behind.
Chapter 18 – Impeccable Timing
The man in the white lab coat walked to the women's locker room as unobtrusively as possible. Stealing a glance in all directions, he swiftly swiped his identification card through the lock, entered a code in the keypad located next to the door, and resumed his walk down the corridor. The particular code he had entered would buy him at least 30 minutes; it was the code for a medical lockdown. All infirmary personnel had the ability to use the code to lock down areas on this level in case of a medical emergency such as an airborne contagion. He never thought he would use it for an entirely different reason!
He made his quickly back to the infirmary; certain that he would not be given another opportunity to complete his assignment regarding one Jonathon Jacob Carter-O'Neill.
He nodded to the two members of SG-7 as he entered the infirmary. As a respected member of Dr. Frasier's medical team, they would have no suspicions about him whatsoever. Now to distract Dr. Frasier from the child long enough to carry out the rest of his plan.
-----
Sam finished showering and got dressed in record time. She didn't want to leave JJ any longer than necessary. She quickly rubbed a towel through her damp hair, brushed it out and locked her locker. When she got to the door, she moved to pull it open but was stopped short; the door wouldn't budge! Puzzled, Sam put a little more effort into getting the door open; pulling, pushing, pounding and yelling but all to no avail. There was no communication system inside the locker room and her cell phone was in the infirmary. What now?
Sam's mind began to race through all the possible scenarios. There could be a foothold situation, a contagion could have been released, any number of things. But certainly she would have heard the alarms that are automatically sounded in most of those situations. Her eyes widened as she recalled the information she had been given by Captain Williams. Maybe there was more than one inside informant! And she had left JJ in the infirmary! With renewed effort, Sam began to pound on the door and yell even louder; she had to get out of here and make sure JJ was safe!
Sam stopped in mid pound – this was ridiculous! She didn't need to wait for a rescue like some weak and helpless female! For God's sake, she was the premier technician in the Stargate program! She went quickly back to her locker, opened it up, and took out the small tool kit that was always stored on the top shelf. She never knew when she might need an extra small screwdriver or a wire cutter.
Sam moved back to the door, set down the tool kit, and took out a straight edge screwdriver. She proceeded to pry the panel off of the mechanized lock. With a loud grunt, the panel finally gave way under the force and Sam had access to the wires beneath. She set down the screwdriver and looked over the wires carefully. This looked pretty straight forward, she thought. It wasn't like she was working with Goa'uld crystals! Sam uncapped the red wire, loosened a yellow one, crossed that with the red one, and hooked the new connection back into the main circuit. Sparks shot out momentarily but she didn't hear the unlocking of the door. Shit! Maybe it wasn't going to be quite as easy as she thought! She undid her connections and stood back.
Sam regarded the wires again; ah, she had completely missed the blue wire tucked behind the others. That one was of utmost importance; it was the main connection used for a medical lockdown and couldn't be overridden except by the special code given only to medical personnel. It could, however, be cut. And that is just what Sam did. She took out her wire cutters, cut the blue wire with a snip, reconnected her previous work and turned away as once again sparks shot out from the panel. This time, however, there was the unmistakable sound of a lock slipping out of place. Sam turned back to the door and pulled. This time, the door opened without delay and Sam was off to the infirmary without a backwards glance.
-----
He straightened out his white lab coat, picked up the clipboard containing medical information for one Lt. Harkins, who was in the infirmary due to a run in with a poisonous plant on her last mission, and made his way to the curtained off area where he knew the child was. Peering around the curtain, he saw Dr. Frasier sitting next to the bed. She was working on some reports while she watched JJ sleep, pausing every so often to brush a hand over his forehead or adjust the blankets around him. Clearing his throat, he stepped around the curtain.
"Excuse me Dr. Frasier, but I need your help with something."
Janet looked up. "What is it Sergeant Sunderson?"
"Lt. Harkins is having an adverse reaction to the medication you gave her. I think you need to recheck her meds and maybe try something else."
Janet frowned. Lt. Harkins did have some rather unusual reactions to various medications. It wasn't something Janet could take lightly or pass off to one of her medical staff. She glanced down at the baby still sleeping peacefully on the bed, indecision written all over her face.
Sunderson stepped closer and helpfully added, "I'd be happy to stay and watch the baby, Dr. Frasier."
Janet glanced over at him. Sam should be back any minute, she thought to herself. Surely JJ would be fine for a few minutes. "Thank you Tim. Major Carter should return soon. I'll just check on the Lieutenant, try a different round of medication, and be right back. If he wakes up, there's a bottle ready on the cart."
Sunderson nodded and sat down, appearing to relax back into the chair and watch the little boy as he slept. Once Janet was out of sight however, he jumped up and pulled the wheeled cart over to the table. He placed some pillows from the next bed on the bottom of the medical cart, pulled off a blanket and put that on top of the pillows, then picked up JJ, blanket and all, and nestled him carefully in the pile he had made. Sunderson then took the top sheet off the bed JJ had been lying in and draped in completely over the medical cart, effectively hiding JJ from view. To all outward appearances, it would look as if he were just wheeling a medical cart to the lab; which was his cover story should anyone stop him. Hopefully the kid wouldn't wake up, he thought to himself as he pushed the cart over to the edge of the curtain.
Peering around the edge, he saw Dr. Frasier on the other side of the infirmary. Damn! She would certainly hear him should he start to wheel the cart toward the door! Now what?
Sunderson didn't have to wonder long as the phone in Dr. Frasier's office began to ring. Janet glanced over to where she had left JJ and Sunderson, but didn't see him as he quickly drew back. Then she turned and went into her office to answer the phone.
Sunderson saw his opportunity and didn't hesitate. He wheeled the cart as quickly and quietly as he could toward the infirmary door, nodding once he reached the door at the two officers who stood guard. He slowed his exit as he passed them, not wanting them to become suspicious. When he passed them without incident, he breathed a huge sigh of relief and then proceeded down the corridor.
-----
"General, are you sure?" Janet demanded in disbelief. She had just been informed of the possibility that one of her staff members was an informant and might try to take JJ. When she heard the affirmation to her question by the general, Janet turned quickly to look at the curtain behind which JJ resided. "Oh my God!" she yelled as she dropped the phone on the desk, not in the least bit concerned that she had in essence just cut off the commander of the SGC.
Janet ran over to the curtain and flung it aside. Her eyes widened as she took in the empty bed and the missing pillows and blankets. She whirled around and ran to the door, "Did anyone leave in the last 2 minutes?" she asked Captain Williams.
Williams nodded. "Just Sergeant Sunderson, Ma'am. He was wheeling a cart. I assume he was heading to one of the medical labs. Why?"
"I think he's just taken JJ. Go after him Captain! I have to let the General know what happened."
Williams didn't need to be told twice as he and Jamison took off in the direction Sunderson had gone, radioing in and letting the CO of SG1 know their position.
-----
Sunderson thought he was home free as he turned another corner. He was almost to one of the shafts that would take him up to the surface. Climbing the shaft with a baby in tow would not be easy, but he could do it.
-----
Jack and company were almost to the infirmary level when his radio kicked in. "Colonel O'Neill, this is Captain Williams. We believe Sergeant Sunderson has the baby. He's pushing a cart covered with a white sheet. He was heading down the north corridor away from the infirmary when we last saw him. Over."
Jack looked at Teal'c and Daniel, "Roger that Williams. We're almost on level 19. I've got seven men here. We'll spread out. You and Jamieson stick together and cover the corridors in a 100 yard radius of the infirmary."
"Yes, sir. Williams out."
His heart racing, Jack quickly split up the members of SG 3 with his team and gave them their orders. Before they came to a complete stop, all seven men had weapons drawn and were ready to go. There had been no mention by Captain Williams of the whereabouts of Carter. Jack closed his eyes for the briefest of moments and prayed that she was safe.
-----
Sam jogged down the corridors, closing in on the infirmary, when she passed a medical officer pushing a cart down the corridor. Something caused her to slow down once he had passed and look back at him. She stopped in her tracks as she spotted the edge of a blue baby blanket peeking out from under a long white sheet. Sam gasped out loud, then turned on her heel and followed.
When they had traveled several yards and Sam was certain that was JJ's baby blanket, she called out, "Sergeant, stop." Instead of stopping, he picked up his pace until he was almost running down the corridor, Sam close on his heels.
When Sunderson had first seen her coming down the hall, he had almost stopped breathing. How the hell had she gotten out of the locker room already? When he passed her, keeping his eyes firmly averted from her face, he thought everything would be fine; that is until she called out to him. Then he picked up his pace, cursing under his breath at his bad luck.
After trying to outrun her and realizing that was fruitless, Sunderson stopped abruptly, reached into his lab coat and pulled out a gun, then turned and faced her. He held the gun in front of him, aimed directly at Major Carter's chest.
"Stop right there, Major Carter. I don't want to hurt you, but I will shot if necessary," Sunderson stated in a shaky voice. He wasn't a violent man; he was a medical officer for heaven's sake! But he was getting paid money that he desperately needed and he thought that this child might actually be the answer to all of the alien threats that were out there.
Sam's gaze never left the man's face. "You don't want to do this Sergeant. I know you have the baby under there. There's no way out for you now. Just push the cart gently over to me, and no one will get hurt." As she talked, she moved ever so slowly closer to him. Hoping she could get close enough to grab his gun without it going off.
From beneath the covered cart, they both heard the small noise of a baby waking up. Sunderson, his nerves already frayed with this unexpected meeting with Major Carter, looked at the cart with panic. If the baby woke up and started crying, there was no way he would get out of here in one piece.
In the second that it took for Sunderson to look over at the cart, Sam made her move. She quickly stepped up to him, grabbed his wrist and twisted it upward and away from both her and JJ. She pushed him back against the wall and slammed his wrist against it, effectively dislodging the gun from his grasp. With a grunt of pain, his eyes narrowed and he began to fight back.
Even though he was a medical officer, he had been fully trained in combat tactics so was no slouch when it came to fighting. Unfortunately, he was up against one of the best trained and most experienced officers in the USAF. Sam quickly got the upper hand, but not before she received a blow to her temple that reopened some of her stitches. In the midst of their struggle, Sunderson inadvertently kicked at the cart, causing it to lurch forward and begin to roll down the corridor, picking up speed as it went.
Jack and Daniel picked up their pace when they heard the unmistakable sounds of a struggle. They turned a corner and saw a few things that momentarily froze them. First was the sight of Samantha Carter subduing what appeared to be a medical officer. She presently had him on the ground face down, with his arms wrenched painfully behind him. Jack's relief at seeing her was palpable. The second thing that kept them firmly rooted in place was the cart that came barreling down the corridor straight at them.
Sam heard the sound of approaching footsteps and looked up once she had Sunderson secured. Her heart beat picked up as she saw the cart containing JJ head straight for the wall at the end of the corridor. "Colonel! Stop the cart! JJ is under there!" she barked out, not caring that she was essentially giving her CO orders.
Jack sprung to action. He stepped forward with his arms outstretched and braced himself to stop the momentum of the cart. It impacted his arms with jolt, sending him back a few steps into Daniel. Daniel reached around Jack and steadied the cart as well. They looked at each other as they heard a gurgle come from underneath the sheet.
Jack quickly threw off the sheet and peered under the metal cart. Bright blue eyes blinked up at him in momentary confusion before a grin broke through. "DaDa!" came a clear baby voice, accompanied by upraised arms.
Jack smiled his second true smile in many hours as he reached down and scooped the baby into his arms. "Hey there, little man. You had quite a ride, didn't you?" Jack pressed the baby into his shoulder, his large hand cradling the back of the small head. Once again, he closed his eyes in silent prayer, this time one of thanks.
Meanwhile, Teal'c and Reynolds had come alongside Sam and helped her restrain Sgt. Sunderson. She stood up and shakily ran a hand through her hair. Teal'c took her arm and looked at her in concern, noting the blood on her temple. "Are you injured Major Carter?"
"No Teal'c," she breathed out. "I'm fine." She turned to see Jack approaching, firmly holding on to JJ.
Sam met them half-way, her eyes full of worry and concern. "He's fine, Sam," Jack assured her quietly as he turned the baby around so she could see for herself.
The little boy's smile grew as he called out "Mama!' in greeting. Sam answered with a smile of her own, although hers was a little more watery. She took JJ from Jack's arms and nuzzled her face into the little boy's hair. "Thank God you're all right!" she whispered as she closed her eyes and held him tightly.
Daniel gave Sam a squeeze on her arm as he passed, wanting to give them a few minutes together. He walked over to where Teal'c and the rest of SG-3 now stood, Sunderson standing in their midst with his wrists locked together, head down.
Jack pulled Sam back down the corridor a bit before he turned to look down at her in concern. "Are you OK, Sam?" His gaze went to her head where he could see fresh blood spreading across the white bandage. He kept his hand on her arm as he waited for her reply.
She nodded as she continued to hold tightly to JJ. "I'll be fine." She paused, then looked up at him, a sparkle returning to her eyes. "Pretty good timing there, Sir."
"I know. Impeccable, as always!" He grinned at her, "I should have known I'd find you right in the middle of things."
The little boy, while glad to see his parents, was getting restless with being held so tightly and began to squirm. Sam loosened her grip and smiled down at the boy. "Quite an adventure we've had today, huh JJ?" she asked, the quiver in her voice not completely covered up.
"I'll say. And it's not over yet." Jack nodded to the group that stood in the center of the corridor. Janet had just run up, her heels clicking down the polished corridor. She was currently giving Sunderson the third degree, and doing it well. Jack and Sam looked at each other and smiled. Their doctor might be small, but she certainly was formidable!
Janet saw them out of the corner of her eye. With one more glare at Sunderson, she made her way over to Jack, Sam and JJ. "Oh God, Sam, I am so sorry! I never even suspected Sergeant Sunderson, or anyone on my staff, would be capable of something like this!" Her professional gaze roamed first over the baby, who she noticed with satisfaction was looking quite happy right now. She frowned when she directed her gaze to Sam. "You're going to have to come back to the infirmary with me Sam."
Sam groaned out loud. "I'm fine Janet. I've spent enough time in there today. Just let me take JJ back to my quarters. He needs to be changed and fed."
"Sam," Janet said firmly, "You've reopened your stitches and they're bleeding. I have to take care of it. It will only take a few minutes. Besides, JJ's things are still in the infirmary."
Sam frowned in puzzlement as she reached up to touch the bandage on her head. It was wet and her fingers came away sticky with red. "You're going back to the infirmary, Carter," Jack stated decisively before she had a chance to respond. "And I'm coming with you. I'm not letting you two out of my sight for a while," he added.
They walked back to the group. "Teal'c, Reynolds, take him down to the holding cells." Jack glared at Sunderson. "See what you can get out of him. The rest of you, head back to Hammond. Daniel, go with them and report to the General. We'll be up in 30 minutes," Jack said indicating himself, Sam and Janet. "Hopefully we can get some answers and start to clear things up."
Everyone nodded their agreement and moved to follow orders. Jack took JJ from Sam's arms and held him aloft. "OK, Little man, let's get your stand-in mommy fixed up, then change you. Then we'll have a little chat about staying out of trouble. I think you must have hung out a bit too much with Uncle Danny in that other reality."
JJ gurgled happily as he was carried down the hall, his daddy talking nonsense to him. His fears from earlier in the day had completely disappeared, to be replaced by the love and security he felt at this moment.
A/N: For those of you who read 'Eight', Sgt. Sunderson went to P5X-771 where Sam was changed back to her adult self. I couldn't recall any names of medical staff who didn't have larger roles. Same with Siler and Davis...I didn't want the other informant to have a big role in the show so I just used one of my own characters...hope I didn't disappoint some of you who were guessing! There are more questions to be answered, but no more heart-stopping suspense...at least for a little while!
