A Single Man of Courage – part eighteen
Sam did double time to her lab. She was hurt yes, but she was angry as well.
'Did he think I was going to jump him, there and then? Arrogant bastard. Well obviously he could switch his feelings on and off. But what were his feelings? Was it just sex he wanted? WELL tough luck Colonel, I am not going to be at your beck and call!'
Sam glared around her lab and kicked at an offending wall before trying to resume the pretence of work.
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Daniel had been waiting for the right time to apologize to Jack and he entered the infirmary just after Sam had left. At first he thought Jack was sleeping until he opened his eyes to look at Daniel hovering in the doorway
"You coming or going?" Jack asked briefly, sensing that Daniel wanted to talk, but that was the last thing he wanted at the moment.
"Um, err, how are you feeling?" Daniel came in hesitantly. He was feeling far from comfortable and Jack's manner was saying 'go away'.
"Oh, just peachy," said Jack, leaning back again and closing his eyes. His vision was swimming again and he felt hot.
He heard the scraping of the chair next to the bed but resolutely kept his eyes closed.
"Jack?"
"Daniel," he responded.
"Jack?"
"Daniel, for cryin' out loud!" spat Jack. "Look I'm SO not in the mood for this!" He dearly hoped Daniel would take the very large hint and go.
"Please Jack, I need to talk."
"What about? My paranoia?" He spat the words out before he could stop himself.
He hadn't meant to throw anything back at Daniel, he really hadn't, it was just easier to try and push him away at the moment than to deal with it. He hurt too damn much, hot, too hot as well. Didn't the infirmary have a thermostat?
Daniel regarded the older man quietly, his brows drawn down in troubled thought
"I'm sorry for what I said."
"Daniel," said Jack, sighing heavily. His body hurt, his chest felt on fire and his head was pounding. "Just leave, okay."
Daniel hovered. He knew that there were big fences to mend. He hadn't trusted in Jack and to make it even worse he felt it was his fault Jack had been captured. If he'd been paying attention on the stairs …
"Daniel, for cryin' out loud, just get out of here. I don't want to hear it."
"Jack ..."
"For Christ's sake Jackson, just get out!"
Jack was close to losing it now. He was thankful when he heard the scrape of the chair and the sounds of Daniel leaving.
He lay still, trying to breathe through the pain and get some control.
'Way to go Jack,' he chided himself, 'Just piss off two thirds of your team, your friends.'
Eventually the pain subsided to a slightly more manageable level, but he lay exhausted. It was still way too warm. The perspiration shone on his face and throat. He was too tired to fight anymore, way too tired. His eyes closed and he was dragged into a sleep full of torment.
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Nurse McPhee informed Janet of the Colonel's increased temperature and as Janet checked him personally she became worried. She injected a painkiller into his IV and changed the antibiotics. She was hoping to stave off the secondary infection that seemed to be mounting. She listened to his chest and realizing another complication could be setting in, ordered full blood works.
She thought it odd he was left alone by the rest of his team for so long, but her concern mounted, as did his temperature and she didn't have time to ponder it further. His fever soared and Janet ordered a cooling blanket along with ice packs to be put on his groin and under arm. Eventually she sat back, straightening the blanket, and put her head down into her hands.
'Damn, they couldn't lose him, not now.'
Infections were always a serious contender in her war to save life. The off world bacteria that could turn a common Earth virus into something more deadly was a constant enemy.
"Doctor Fraiser, is O'Neill worse?"
The deep voice broke into her thoughts giving her a start.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you."
"Oh, Teal'c, no that's okay. I didn't hear you come in."
Janet stood and turned to face the Jaffa who stood at the foot of the bed regarding the Colonel.
"Is O'Neill worse?" he asked again.
"It looks like another infection has set in. He's running a very high fever."
Teal'c's gaze left the Colonel and settled on Janet's face as if searching for more information. He did not know how one 'ran' a fever.
"We're trying to get it down, hence this." She pointed at the mesh blanket.
Teal'c nodded. He had seen these 'cool' blankets, as O'Neill called them, before.
"Is there anything I can do?" he enquired. "I regret I was not here sooner, but O'Neill once more expressed his wish to be free of company."
Janet raised her eyebrows at Teal'c's last remark. Teal'c would take his commander's wishes seriously, but for Sam and Daniel to keep away? She'd have to think about that later, for now she had other things on her mind.
"Not at the moment. All we can do is wait."
They settled back in silence to continue their watch.
As Jack's temperature continued to mount Janet became even more concerned. "We can't cool him fast enough this way." She'd started to bathe him with iced water as well, but it wasn't helping. "I need to do this the old fashioned way."
"Sometimes it is that which is most effective," agreed Teal'c. He took over from Janet and continued to bathe the Colonel whilst she left to get everything she needed ready.
Presently she returned with two more staff to help.
"We've got an ice bath prepared. We need to leave the bandages in place; he'll need the support on his ribs."
She quickly disconnected the various tubes and wires as she spoke and the staff placed Jack on the gurney to wheel him to the bath.
Teal'c went with them and viewed the massive physiotherapy bath, now filled with ice and water.
Janet looked troubled for a moment as she stripped the Colonel down.
"It will be easier for me to support O'Neill in the water," offered the Jaffa, sensing the Doctor's difficulty.
"It's freezing Teal'c. He'll need to be in a while."
"My symbiote will protect me to a great extent."
Janet nodded. Her hand on the Colonel's burning head drove any further argument from her.
Teal'c stripped himself down to just his trousers. He gently lifted the Colonel as though he was a sleeping child and with the utmost care climbed into the massive bath and lay submerged in the water gently holding the unconscious man on top of him in the water.
More ice was added as the water temperature rose with the heat from the two bodies. The Colonel moaned and moved restlessly in the Jaffa's strong arms.
Janet dismissed her two staff and sat down to wait, keeping a regular check on the Colonel's temperature. She watched Teal'c's face as he looked down on his commander's with such devotion written there, that it brought a lump to her throat.
"You care for him a great deal don't you, Teal'c?" she asked suddenly, voicing what was in her head.
"Do we not all?" was the matter of fact response.
"Yes Teal'c, we all do, but there are different depths to feelings." She sighed deeply.
"Of that I am aware. I hold O'Neill in great regard and respect him as a warrior …" He paused as if deliberating whether to speak more, "and as a brother."
"He's very lucky to have someone like that." Janet spoke softly as she reached out to check the Colonel's temperature once more.
"It's not increasing," she commented and reached for more ice. "Are you okay, Teal'c? We've a way to go yet."
"Do not concern yourself with me. I am fine."
Occasionally Teal'c washed the water over Jack's face and hair to promote more cooling.
"Were Major Carter and Daniel Jackson not aware of O'Neill's decline?" he asked suddenly.
"I haven't seen them for a while and things were getting too hot too quickly to think about anything else," admitted Janet.
Teal'c gave an incline of his head to show he understood.
"I regret I acquiesced to O'Neill's wishes to be left alone. He was clearly troubled."
"You couldn't foresee this. I didn't and I'm a doctor."
"Major Carter will be most disturbed." Janet's ears pricked up at that and she gave the Jaffa an enquiring look. "As you said, there are depths of feeling and Major Carter's are of the deepest."
Janet regarded Teal'c steadily. "Oh, I don't doubt that at all."
"The problem is," continued the Jaffa, "they need to admit that to each other and not hide behind their ranks."
"Unfortunately I can't see that happening. It's the regulations that are causing the problem."
"Is it? To admit what they feel would not change anything within SG-1. Neither has failed to act in the most appropriate manner on a mission."
"Oh Teal'c, I'm sure they haven't. I'm sure the General would have split the team by now if he thought there was anything inappropriate going on."
"It is good he hasn't."
"I'll say … we all owe SG-1 a lot."
Janet checked Jack's temperature again.
"It's coming down. Just a little while longer now. Are you okay?"
Teal'c inclined his head. "Indeed."
Janet had the idea that the Jaffa's legs could fall off and provided it helped the Colonel, he would say nothing.
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Jack stirred, his eyes fighting to open. 'Where was he? Cold? So cold? Antarctica again?'
"Sam," he called out faintly.
"O'Neill, it is I," said Teal'c, trying to soothe the slight struggle Jack had began.
"Teal'c?" Jack's voice was a mere whisper, his eyes still fighting to open.
"Do not struggle, you are safe."
Jack stilled. His trust in the Jaffa was implicit even though he felt weird - floating, everything hurt and he was cold!
"Sam? Daniel?" he whispered forlornly.
"They are safe. Everyone is safe. Rest, O'Neill," Teal'c urged.
Jack gave in and slipped into unconsciousness.
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Janet left it a little while longer and then announced she was satisfied the Colonel's temperature had come down enough for the moment to stave off the convulsions she had feared might happen.
"Though we may have to do this again," she admitted.
"Should you be required to do so, I am here."
"I need to get him back on the meds and fluids and get those bandages changed," she commented as Teal'c climbed out and placed the wet Colonel on the gurney.
Together they wheeled him the short distance back to his room, and once he was there she cut off the sodden bandages before Teal'c placed him on his bed.
"You'd better go get a hot shower and a change of clothing."
"Indeed," smiled the Jaffa as he looked down at his sodden fatigues and bare feet then left to comply with the Doctor's orders.
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Janet finally had all the dressings removed and once the IV fluids were underway she began to dry the Colonel off thoroughly, pausing only to check his temperature
Once that was done, she began to check his wounds and gently probed along his chest checking for signs of any further damage.
She sighed heavily at the damage on the Colonel's body, the old scars disguised with new bruising. The bruises were still black due to the depth of them and his body was full of them. The scar from the surgery was still livid and stood out starkly from the black surrounding it.
"Janet?" called a strangled voice from the doorway.
Janet quickly covered the Colonel's body with a sheet, cursing that she hadn't thought to close the curtains.
She turned to face the woman in the doorway. "Sam?"
"What's happened?" Sam asked, moving nearer, her face showing her alarm.
Janet quickly explained. "I need to re-do his dressings."
Sam's face was a picture of misery.
"His temperature is falling Sam," Janet said comfortingly. She purposely left out her other fears.
Jack stirred slightly.
"Damn, I thought the meds would keep him out a bit longer. I need to get those ribs bound now."
Sam moved in close. "I can help."
Janet nodded and began.
Sam helped support the semi conscious Colonel, talking to him soothingly and stroking his face and hair while Janet worked as quickly as she could. As the pressure was applied he moaned softly and struggled slightly, but held still when Sam spoke to him.
Eventually Janet was happy and stood back trying to smooth her bedraggled hair into place.
Sam looked up from Jack's face.
"I need him Janet, God help me but I do." she confessed.
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