Content warning: Yucky, nasty stuff. Ewwww!
Soldiers of Misfortune – part 10
The quietness of the night was broken by the sounds coming from the Colonel. He was muttering and trying to shift on the makeshift bed. Sam moved closer. In the faint light she could see him struggling, his groan of pain as he tried to move seeming loud in the silence. Sam put a gentle hand out to his brow and with mounting dismay she felt the burn of fever. He seemed to be getting worse.
Teal'c rose and brought the lantern they'd found earlier, turning the flame higher. He placed it closer to them and Sam gave him a grateful nod before fetching the bowl of water. She once more began to bathe the Colonel's face, trying to settle him down.
A flicker of brown alerted her that he was waking. He regarded her blearily but didn't speak. She gave him a little water and he sipped it slowly.
His hand went up to his neck, but she forestalled him, touching the skin there gently with her hand. "It's gone Sir, it's okay."
Jack nodded slightly with a sigh. "Good," he muttered hoarsely. His eyes began to slide shut again, as he lost the battle to stay awake.
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Sam had just begun to doze again when she felt tremors from the sleeping man. Alarmed, she called softly to him before touching his face. His body was shaking with chills, and he was clutching fiercely at the blanket that covered him. Disgusted with the fact that she'd fallen asleep instead of watching over him, she quickly pulled the blanket from around her own shoulders and added it to the one that already covered him. He was still soaked with sweat, but shaking, his teeth almost chattering.
She watched as he ground his teeth with the pain, obviously made worse by his trembling limbs.
"So cccold," he whispered.
Sam found another blanket being handed to her. She murmured her thanks and pressed it around the Colonel.
The night was long. The Colonel was wracked between chills and fever, hovering between pained awareness and restless sleep.
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Dawn found him hot and sweating still, but more awake and Sam made the decision to move on. She knew they had to get some help for him - his condition was only going to get worse.
Daniel hovered with concern. He didn't ask any questions, his blue eyes taking in all he needed to know.
Teal'c, with the help of Alenor, fashioned a stretcher and quietly they moved out, Daniel guiding them across the streets with the help of the map. They kept to the small back streets and alleyways, seeing no one for a while, but as they moved further in towards the center of the city the streets became busier and it was harder to remain out of sight. They heard gunfire and the sound of lasers in close by. The battles never lasted long and they couldn't tell who was winning.
Sam drew them to a halt. "We need to find somewhere to stop and reconnoiter. We'll never get anywhere like this."
"I agree," said Teal'c, "I shall endeavor to find us a place of safety."
The Colonel had begun to stir again, his body wracked once more with chills. Sam squatted beside him as they placed the stretcher down, pulling more blankets from his feet where they'd piled them, cocooning them over him.
Teal'c finally returned with the news of an empty house. It had no close neighbors; the other buildings seemed to be deserted shops and businesses. They cautiously followed Teal'c, inwardly heaving a sigh of relief as they reached it and closed the door behind them.
"The activity seems to be closer to the center at the moment. It seems a good place to rest for now," said Teal'c quietly.
Sam nodded. "Let's get the Colonel settled then we'll see where we stand."
The house was quite large, and still in surprisingly good order. Teal'c carried the Colonel upstairs to one of the bedrooms, helping Sam to settle him into a comfortable bed.
Daniel came in a few minutes later with an armful of clothing. "We should get out of our uniforms - make ourselves look like the locals."
"Good idea. See what supplies you can scare up … food … anything," said Sam as she began to hunt for something to put water in.
Eventually everyone except the Colonel had a change of clothes and Daniel had the others checking through the house. Teal'c had gone out to check out the other nearby buildings for food and supplies and to be sure they were indeed unoccupied.
The Colonel was awake and struggling to stay that way. The pain he was in was obvious, even though he tried hard not to show it.
Daniel patiently helped Jack to change his clothes. Just the small slow movements were obviously distressing to the man as well as the embarrassment of being unable to help himself – being helpless was something Jack O'Neill didn't do well.
"Ugh, okay Daniel … enough," he said wearily. He was breathing hard from the exertion and pain.
"Sorry Jack, I know …" Daniel's words tailed off helplessly as he finally covered the exhausted man with the blankets.
Sam returned with more water. She'd been sitting on the stairs waiting and listening, knowing that if she entered the Colonel would be even more uncomfortable with her seeing him like that.
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Jack drank a little of the water and then sank down on the pillow exhausted. Having his body alternating between burning and the chills was debilitating. His skin felt sore all over, the least touch painful, and he found he couldn't stay awake for long … but his dreams weren't restful, full of agonies and long lost faces and thoughts. When his body was in the throes of the fever he longed for the chills … and when the chills came he ached with a fierceness that made him long for the heat … wondering when it was all going to end. The fierce nausea that threatened constantly and the violent headaches compounded his misery.
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Teal'c returned with food supplies and the news that the situation was heating up in the surrounding streets.
"It would seem to be safer to remain indoors. We should not travel yet, Major Carter."
Sam's face showed her dismay, her fears of being unable to get her CO help looming large.
"It would be better if I went alone to the hospital," said Daniel.
As much as Sam wanted to get help, she knew it wasn't safe enough at the moment. She'd never forgive herself if Daniel got hurt - or worse - as well.
"No Daniel, we'll stay put until it quietens down. We've got food and shelter. We're safe enough for now." Her own words mocked her - food and shelter. There was just one thing they didn't have an abundance of, or rather the Colonel didn't – time.
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The fighting seemed to be getting nearer from the sounds of it and they kept a close watch, taking care to avoid being seen from the street, keeping watch from behind closed curtains. They'd even stretched thick blankets over the windows of the rooms they occupied so the lamplight wouldn't be seen by anyone passing.
Daniel and Teal'c helped Sam tend the Colonel. His condition was deteriorating rapidly, and he was growing weaker as the chills and fever wrought their havoc.
Sam kept a close eye on the wound. Even to her eyes she knew the infection was getting worse, but the wound showed no signs of weeping … if anything it seemed to be healing nicely.
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By the third night in the house everyone was restless. The fighting had quietened down and Sam had risked Teal'c leaving the house to check around. He was soon back with news that the fighting seemed to concentrating further away, moving across the city.
Before she retired to bed, she'd taken the sutures out of the Colonel's wound. The wound, though livid in color, had seemed to be healing well and she'd managed to remove them without fuss, thankful that the Colonel seemed to be a little more settled that evening.
She lay on the big double bed, as was her nightly routine now, staying close to the Colonel, putting the blankets back patiently when his restlessness shifted them.
The night was quiet, nothing stirring except the soft sounds of someone on watch moving around the house, checking … staying alert, the sounds comforting in their routine as she felt herself drifting …
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Jack found himself awaking suddenly. The uncomfortable feeling of a hot wetness on his body brought him from the horrors of the dream world with a jerk. He lay still, the burning embarrassment that he'd 'wet' himself flooding through him. He was very aware of Carter lying beside him and the thought of waking her mortified him.
He brought one leg up and pushed to roll himself, biting back a gasp of agony as the flames of pain leapt through him. His head roared with disgust, the pain reeling through him like shockwaves as he pushed weakly at the blankets and found the edge of the bed closer than he thought.
The resounding thump as he hit the floor made the sleeping Major wake with a start. She fumbled for the lantern and she turned it up from the night setting and found the Colonel gone. She gasped when she saw the blood on the bed beside her and the blankets mostly hanging off the side of the bed to the floor. She scrambled over, heedless of the blood on the sheets and found the Colonel writhing in a heap on the floor.
For a few seconds she was stunned, until the groan of pain he emitted brought life to her frozen body and she slid off the bed to kneel beside him.
"Colonel … oh God, are you okay?"
Jack drew his knees higher … he didn't want Carter to see that her CO had pissed himself. His hand clasped over the wound. The wetness he felt all over his front was beginning to cool.
"Sir … oh shit!" Sam's eyes widened as she took in the amount of blood all over him. "God, you're bleeding … let me see."
Jack groaned and resisted her efforts to pull his hand away. "Don't," he murmured.
"Colonel, you're bleeding … there's blood everywhere … let me help," urged Sam.
The door opened and another lamp brought forward Teal'c and Daniel.
"Sam?"
"Help me get him up. He's bleeding badly," called Sam.
"Blood?" said Jack, forcing his eyes open as he lifted his hand up to his face. There was indeed blood, a lot, now cold and dark and the smell was horrendous. His sigh of relief would have been comical if they'd known what he was sighing for. The fact that it looked like he was bleeding to death was not something that concerned his befuddled brain for now.
Teal'c thrust the lantern at Daniel and proceeded to scoop the Colonel off the floor. Jack couldn't help the groan of pain, despite how gentle the Jaffa was. The wound was throbbing and burning unmercifully.
"Uh … um Sam … there's a hell of a lot of blood …" croaked Daniel as he moved closer with the lantern, trying to avoid the slippery pools on the floor.
'Better than piss any day …' thought Jack. He gave his team a weak grin of relief, that, if they had seen it, would have had them thinking he'd really lost it now.
Sam was busily pulling at his wet shirt and removed the completely soaked dressing. The smell made her gag slightly and she bit down a retort as she revealed the injury. Part of the wound had burst open, not a large opening, and the rest of the scar was intact, but blood and pus was splattered everywhere, welling out of the small hole.
Daniel's eyes widened in horror, and he took a step back from the bed, gulping
"The infection's been building up inside," said Sam, grabbing at the cloth Teal'c offered her calmly, as she began to wipe it as best she could.
"Shouldn't you be trying to stop the bleeding?" asked Daniel.
"The infection needs to drain, Daniel Jackson," said Teal'c. "You will need to get out what you can, Major Carter," he added.
Sam chewed her lower lip and pressed around the wound. Jack flinched and groaned and her hand involuntarily shifted away.
Teal'c quickly changed places with Sam. She sent him a silent look of gratitude as the Jaffa began to apply the necessary pressure to try and clean out the wound.
Jack groaned and shifted. Throwing his still bloody hand up, he covered his face with his arm.
"I am sorry O'Neill, but the wound needs cleansing."
"S'okay," murmured the injured man from behind his arm.
The blood and pus seemed never ending and Jack felt his ears beginning to buzz alarmingly. The sweat seemed to be pumping furiously from every pore and the nauseating smell overwhelmed him. He shuddered with pain and then passed out.
Teal'c took full advantage of his unconscious state and began to push harder around the wound, until the blood was diminishing and only the yellowy brownish fluid was seeping.
"That is all we can do for now," said Teal'c as he changed the cloth for a clean one and began to wash his commander's body down before applying a clean dressing. "It needs to continue to drain, but we must seek help quickly. This is but a sign of how bad the infection is."
Sam helped to clean up the bed as best they could and finally had the Colonel settled down. The smell made her want to gag, but she bit down and got on with it. Daniel wasn't so lucky. He lost the battle and retired to the bathroom rather urgently.
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The bouts of shakes and fever alternated with the chills, and by the following night, after another two bouts of the wound erupting, Sam despaired. She knew he needed help before it was too late.
Daniel and Teal'c cornered her late that night. Daniel was adamant he was going to find the hospital and get some sort of help. Sam was torn between heeding her commander's warning and the hideous reality of losing him.
Daniel however, had no such qualms. He was going and that was final.
Teal'c offered to accompany the man, assuring Sam that they should be fine. "The fighting has calmed down and we shall be less obvious with just two people traveling."
In the end Sam gave her consent and Daniel and Teal'c set off early the next day.
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It took them a few hours to locate the hospital. Dodging the few people that were out and about ate into their valuable time. The delay had Daniel almost cursing with impatience and if it wasn't for Teal'c, he would have been in very real danger more than once.
They scouted around the hospital building carefully, but found no signs of any military – from either side.
Teal'c gave in to Daniel's wish to go in alone, knowing they would be much less conspicuous that way, and he settled himself down to wait out of sight.
Daniel was more than a little nervous as he approached the main doors. He took a few deep breaths, reminding himself of exactly why he was here.
The main entrance opened up into a large waiting room, packed with people, the lighting dim, only what was provided by a few lanterns placed around the room. The smell of sickness hung on the air and Daniel found himself standing, staring. He gave himself a quick dressing down before walking through the people. Some sat on the few chairs available, but mostly people were huddled on the floor. He walked slowly, trying not to draw any unnecessary attention to himself.
The weariness and desolation Daniel saw ate into him and once more he reminded himself of why he was here. He began to get his bearings and watched as people dressed in a uniform moved between the patients, giving quick examinations and writing things down. He assumed these were nursing staff and he checked for anyone resembling a doctor … 'just what did a doctor look like? … okaaay no Janets here … losing it Jackson … think of Jack … come on!'
Daniel moved off through another set of doors. Here there were still plenty of people, but these seemed to be sicker. He squatted down by one elderly woman who was unconscious on a mattress laid directly onto the floor. From there he could observe the room inconspicuously. Jack would be proud - hide in plain sight he'd advised him in the past.
Daniel watched the staff moving between the patients and found himself studying two in particular, both behaving as the rest of the members of staff did, but dressed differently. He carefully watched the middle aged man nearest to him and decided that this must be a doctor. After a little while, the man left the room through another set of doors and Daniel quickly followed. He saw the back of the man just as he was disappearing into another room and hurried after him. He stood in the doorway and watched for a moment as the doctor opened a cabinet with a key and began checking through it.
"Excuse me, Sir?" called Daniel politely, moving further into the room.
The doctor looked up quickly, his tired face showed a flicker of annoyance.
"You are not allowed in here. You must wait in the waiting room."
Daniel cleared his throat a little. "I need your help."
"You don't look injured. Are you sick?"
"No." Daniel shook his head. "But my friend is hurt very badly and he needs help."
"Have you just come in? Your friend will be seen by the staff in the waiting room."
"My friend couldn't come."
"What are your friend's symptoms?" The doctor moved closer to Daniel, his face showing concern.
"He's been stabbed and the wound is infected," replied Daniel briefly.
"He needs help, bring him in …"
"He can't," said Daniel, rubbing at his eyes wearily. He was debating on how much to tell the doctor.
"Are you rebels? You need have no fear of me," said the Doctor kindly. Daniel wondered for a brief moment whether to tell the truth or not, but the doctor had obviously made his mind up. "The rebels are at least doing something. Perhaps it is hopeless, perhaps not, but at least they are trying - more than our governments are doing!"
Daniel decided it was best that the doctor knew as little about them as possible.
"We have to get out of the city and … and meet someone. We have important information to get out. We cannot leave our friend here."
The doctor nodded, understanding. "You will need to give me the details of his injuries."
Daniel launched into a full description, leaving nothing out.
The doctor listened quietly and then asked a few questions. He sighed heavily, "Your friend is lucky to be alive. Knife wounds can be bad enough, but they are notorious for infection. He should have medical attention urgently. Is he close by?" Daniel shook his head. "Then I won't be able to see him. I cannot leave the hospital for any length of time, things are too desperate here. I will give you what I can. Beating the infection down is the priority, but we have good medicines. He stands a chance, though it is a pity you had to wait so long before getting aid."
The buzz of relief made Daniel sway a little and the Doctor kindly pushed him down onto a chair in the room.
Daniel watched as the doctor moved around, gathering bottles and syringes and some other items. He left the room for a few moments before returning with a pillowcase and bundled the things into it, leaving three small bottles on the table.
"These drugs are very strong. Listen carefully."
Daniel perked up and listened attentively as the doctor spoke. The doctor repeated himself and made Daniel also repeat his instructions. He nodded eventually; satisfied at last that Daniel had been paying attention. The doctor then pushed the bottles into the pillowcase and, as an afterthought, added a few more dressings. "Remember it is important to palpate the wound regularly. Make sure that you get what fluid you can out. When the fluid begins to run clear, you'll know you are winning. We can only hope that there is no major damage inside though," he warned.
Daniel stood and shook the doctor's hand warmly, for once unable to say how grateful he really was. "My friend is a good man. Thank you."
"If there is a way to win our war I'm sure that you will help. Good luck to you and your companions."
Daniel inwardly squirmed at the doctor's well wishes. He truly did wish they could help these people, but their priority had to be to get home …
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Daniel clutched the pillowcase closely as he made his way out to Teal'c. He remembered to be cautious, but things were quiet as he met the Jaffa, who had obviously been watching closely for him.
Teal'c eyed the linen bag that Daniel Jackson carried. His face actually showed relief. "Did you manage to procure something to aid O'Neill?"
Daniel nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he saw the relieved look on the Jaffa's face. Teal'c wasn't known for showing emotions and to see the stoic Jaffa expressing something like that affected Daniel deeply.
"Then let us return quickly, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel needed no second urging and he happily moved off behind his teammate. They moved quickly, Daniel trusted Teal'c completely to lead them back safely. Teal'c's sense of direction was unerring as they made their way back through the city streets.
It was dark as they approached the house and they became more cautious, despite Daniel's excitement at finally being able to help Jack urging him to hurry inside.
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