Chapter 17: Unknown Causes
"Jonas?" Called Jack anxiously as he saw the young man's eyes slide shut and not open.
His calls gained no answer and he felt his heart thumping wildly against his ribs. He reached a hand out to place against Jonas's neck, checking for a pulse. By now, Jonas's skin had gone an ashy grey, and the wounds had become increasingly worse since the first inspection. Jack felt a pulse fluttering beneath his touch, slightly quick and irregular, but there was a pulse, and that was something that made him feel better.
At that moment, there was a chiming of bells coming from downstairs, followed by quick, light, footsteps that hurried up the staircase. Major Carter left Jonas, and greeted a concerned doctor Fraser at the apartment door.
"Janet, its Jonas." Sam replied.
"I know. Colonel O'Neill told me over the phone. Sam, I need you to tell me exactly what happened, what symptoms he's been experiencing, and anything that you would find helpful." Fraser replied and her dark eyes were worried.
Sam went on to explain what had happened to Jonas as Fraser checked the young man over.
"Lay him down." Janet instructed.
Her orders were followed without hesitation. Jonas was gently switched from his sitting position to lying on his back; head propped on a large pillow that Mary had gathered from her bedroom.
Fraser continued her medical examination in apprehensive silence. She saw a glimmer of movement in Jonas's face, and saw his eyes open slowly and look to her as though he were having difficulty placing her face. His look was one of vague recollection.
"Jonas? Jonas, can you hear me?" Janet asked gently.
Jonas nodded feebly. His ashy face hadn't gained any colour, and it had Fraser worried.
"What happened?" Jonas croaked weakly.
"I'm not really sure, but according to those who were present, you might have infection in those scratches, and that's what's making you sick." Janet replied quietly.
"You have us right worried!" Mary exclaimed, helping him to drink from a straw.
"What's the last thing you remember, Jonas?" Janet questioned.
"Um, feeling dizzy in the café. I remember being led to a chair, then not much else." Jonas replied, his voice sounding slightly stronger.
"That's everything? You're sure?" Jack asked him, and the Colonel's voice was clouded with concern.
Jonas nodded again, "Quite." He replied. He drew in another sharp breath, and an expression of pain passed clearly over his ashy complexion.
"Jonas? What is it?" Fraser asked, but she got no answer, because Jonas's eyes had closed once again.
Fraser checked his pulse and found it quick and thready under her fingertips. She cast an alarmed gaze to the two airmen who had come with her.
"We have to get him back to the infirmary." Janet instructed, her gaze fell on Sam.
"Of course." Sam replied with a nod.
The airmen moved in with a stretcher and gathered Jonas to place him gently onto it. They then carried the young man downstairs and out to the waiting vehicle.
"Thank you, Mary." Jack replied, and with a tight smile he led his team to the door. Fraser had already vanished with the airmen. Jack could hear the commotion downstairs as Jonas was taken outside.
"Let me know what happens will ya, Jack? I'll give you my number." Mary replied, stopping O'Neill's departure. She quickly scribbled a phone number down on a nearby receipt for a local grocery store and thrust the small paper toward him. He took it, stuffed it into his pocket and smiled tightly, in what he hoped would be encouraging, but from the look on Mary's face, he'd failed miserably in the attempt.
"I'll be sure to give you a call." O'Neill replied and quickly left, Mary following them down to the front door, and shooting scolding glances at all those who had gathered to see what was taking place.
Fraser was climbing into the back of the vehicle to set in next to Jonas, she shut the door with a resounding slam, and the tinted windows blocked all that was taking place inside the vehicle from prying eyes.
Colonel O'Neill spoke shortly to the driver, who nodded and watched Jack and the rest of SG-1 hurry to O'Neill's truck, where they climbed in quickly. The transport vehicle pulled out and O'Neill followed it. He watched the street ahead of him anxiously, but his gaze couldn't help but wander to the groups of people standing on the sidewalks and in front of the building, watching them go.
Doctor Fraser emerged from the infirmary, and was greeted with the stony faces of SG-1, as well as General Hammond seated haphazardly around the waiting room.
Upon seeing Fraser, Colonel O'Neill rose quickly from where he sat.
Before O'Neill got the chance to speak, Fraser held up a hand and smiled softly.
"He's stable, for now, but I don't know what I can do for him until I find out exactly what's causing his illness." Janet replied, her voice was strained and anxious.
"Isn't it that shadow thing?" Jack asked.
"I don't really know, Colonel. As far as I can tell, the wounds inflicted by the creature have become infected, but I can't locate the toxin in his system. Now, I ordered some tests, and the results should, hopefully, be in soon."
"Toxin?"
"Yes, whatever scratched him, must've injected some sort of venom or something into Jonas through the wounds."
"You said the cuts were infected."
"They are, but they shouldn't be. Everything was done properly, Sam treated him in the proper way, and he came to me when you came back through the gate. I cleaned the wounds again, and they looked perfectly fine."
"So, Jonas received some sort of toxin when he was scratched and it was dormant until he got back here?" Sam asked.
"As far as I can tell, yes. For all I know, the toxin could've been activated by the trip through the gate."
"But, you said you couldn't detect a toxin, Doc." Jack stated.
Janet nodded. "I know, Colonel. I can't, but it's the only explanation we have to go on right now. We'll know more when the test results come back. For now, I want everyone to get some rest. Jonas will be out for a few hours yet. I'll let you know as soon as he wakes up, Colonel." Fraser said quickly, after she saw O'Neill open his mouth to request such a thing.
Jack nodded and broke into a good-natured smile.
"Now go." Janet instructed.
SG-1 filed out of the infirmary, but Hammond remained behind.
"Doctor, what is your expert opinion on Jonas's condition?" Hammond questioned.
"Sir, he shows all of the signs of infection, yet I can't help but think there's something more. Something that I'm not picking up." Fraser stated, casting a look toward where Jonas lay.
"What do you mean?" Hammond wondered.
"To be truthful, I don't know, but there's nothing more that I can do for him until I get further information. So as of now, my theories are only theories. I'll know more later." Fraser told him.
"Very good, doctor. Let me know if there's any change in his condition." Hammond replied.
"I will, Sir."
With that, Hammond left the infirmary, and Fraser returned to her work.