Content warning: Language
Soldiers of Misfortune – part 22
The next twenty four hours were calmer. The Colonel lay quietly at first, seeming to put up with the bustle of staff, but as the hours passed he grew more restless. Despite several attempts from Janet, he refused to listen further to anything she had to say. He refused to do more than answer specific questions pertaining to his medical condition. He practically ignored all the other visitors, only Teal'c was steadfast in staying. Sitting quietly, the warrior watched and listened.
O'Neill's behavior puzzled the Jaffa. He had seen the Colonel becoming ruder with the nursing staff as well, most of them scurrying quickly about their tasks without speaking. He hadn't as yet tried to draw O'Neill out, but having witnessed the latest verbal assault on Daniel Jackson as the archaeologist stormed out of the infirmary, both angry and upset; he could hold his tongue no longer.
The glare the Colonel gave him would have quelled many a lesser man; indeed, even Teal'c was beginning to think twice about confronting him as he received the sharp side of his commander's tongue.
"I do not understand, O'Neill. Why are you so desperate to alienate your friends?"
"Alienate … well that sums it up … maybe 'cause you're just a damn alien, huh? Maybe you should just go let Jackson cry on your shoulder and take yourself out of here. Quit bothering me."
"O'Neill, Daniel Jackson is …"
"For fuck's sake ... go to hell with the rest of the bastard Jaffa!"
Teal'c rose and if the Colonel had been looking, he would have seen the barest glimmer of hurt on the Jaffa's face, before his carefully stoic mask was back in place.
"O'Neill, I know you do not mean these words, but I will try and console Daniel Jackson. He is your friend, not your enemy and neither am I."
Teal'c strode from the infirmary and Janet had to step back quickly to prevent herself from being run over by the mountain …
"Teal'c?" she queried, the look on his face alarming her.
"I am sorry Doctor Fraiser. I must go and find Daniel Jackson."
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"Colonel?" Janet asked, puzzled, as she came closer to the bed. She was wondering just what the hell had got up Teal'c's nose … but one look at the Colonel's face stopped her from asking anything further and she quietly went about her business …
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The days seemed endless to Jack. His stomach was coiled as tightly as the rest of him and every mouthful he tried to swallow of the bland food threatened to choke him. His skin felt like it was crawling; the tight feeling in his guts growing overwhelmingly. The latest fling of temper he'd flung seemed to have had the desired result … he'd not seen hide nor hair of Daniel or Teal'c. Even the Doc kept her questions to a minimal and left him well alone. Alone with his thoughts … and it was driving him crazy. He missed Sam so badly that he even wished she would come in just to pick a fight. His guts churned and tightened even more …
The food he was pushing around his plate was irritating him and the nurse picked entirely the wrong moment to enquire if he was going to finish it … Her shocked face as the tray bounced off the wall near the door did nothing to bring him to his senses and he began snatching the lines out as he rolled to get out of bed.
The nurse had more smarts than to stay and try and prevent him … she vanished quickly and he soon heard the tapping of Fraiser's heels hurrying towards his room.
"Colonel, just what the hell are you …"
"Stow it Doc!" he snapped. "I'm out of here."
"Colonel, get back into bed this instant."
The Colonel ignored her words and stood, albeit unsteadily, but he stood.
"Where's my pants?" he growled.
"Colonel, you are not in a fit state to go anywhere," said Janet, her voice quietening as she realized just how worked up the Colonel was. She cursed the fact that he'd obviously been winding himself tighter than a spring … and she'd avoided the issue.
"I'm discharging myself," said the Colonel as he took a few unsteady steps from the bed towards the closet.
"You cannot discharge yourself, Sir."
"Why the hell not?"
"If you won't listen to me, then I'll have to go inform the General," she threatened.
"Fine, whatever, just get me my fuckin' pants first!" he bellowed, losing it completely now.
Janet stared at him speechlessly for a brief moment, before turning on her heels and leaving the room. She used the nurses' station, warning the staff to stay out of the Colonel's room, as she contacted the General, knowing that she had no choice now. She quickly filled the General in and he told her he would be down directly.
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Hammond's face was a mask as he hurried along the corridor. Personnel stepped smartly out of his way, correctly judging his mood. The brief conversation with the Doctor had taken him only a little by surprise - the surprise was how long it had taken to get to this point. He'd been expecting the Colonel to blow much sooner.
He rounded the corridor to find a half naked, but still heavily bandaged Colonel in the corridor, the tiny Doctor trying to stop the man's progress, but without much success.
"So help me Doc!" raged the Colonel.
A fine sheen of perspiration stood out on his face and shoulders. The fact that his body was shaking slightly with the strain hadn't escaped the General either.
He wasn't surprised that the Colonel had blown, but the ferocity of it … "Colonel O'Neill!" barked Hammond as he drew closer. "Just what the hell do you think you're playing at? Get back in there!"
The Colonel's eyes narrowed as he regarded the General's face. "I'm discharging myself … Sir," he added, barely making the proper salutation.
"Like hell you are." said Hammond, as he moved right up to the swaying Colonel.
"Like hell I am … in fact, SIR … I can do what the hell I like. You can have my resignation. In fact it's already written out. Check my desk drawer, you just need to date it … put today's on it," growled the Colonel. He was panting with the effort of shouting and standing now.
Hammond's mouth dropped slightly open. He was prepared for a run in with his 2IC, but not of this magnitude … He'd expected the Colonel to calm down with just the sight of him …
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The General's face was blurring to him now, the nausea was rising and his vision graying, the words he was ranting were just a buzz in his ears … until it became a roar and the blackness loomed up at him at a frightening pace, overwhelming his senses …
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Janet watched the color drain from the Colonel's face and gave a warning cry as she lunged forward to catch him. Fortunately the General was just as quick and was in time to stop the diminutive doctor being buried under the Colonel.
Together they got the Colonel back into his room and the General retreated to allow Janet and her staff to get him settled.
It was some time before the Doctor reappeared. Her face was pale and anxious.
"I'm sorry about that, General … I really…"
"How is he?" asked Hammond, cutting into her apologies.
"He passed out. I'm surprised he even made it as far as he did to be honest, but then again, I should have learned with the Colonel - he never does things by half. He'll be out for a while. I've given him a large dose of that painkiller. It will keep him quiet for a time, but I'm not even sure if I'm compounding the problem."
The General walked with her as she spoke and they made their way into Janet's office.
"Any idea just what the problem is?" he asked as they sat down.
Janet hesitated slightly. There was no way she could tell the General what she thought was really bugging the Colonel, and in all honesty, she didn't think that it was indeed the whole problem.
"I'll run more tests, scans," she said quietly. "He's usually more co-operative for a while after a heavier dose of the medication."
The General nodded. "When he wakes I want to know."
Janet nodded, before rising to organize the next round of tests, most of which would be easier on herself and her staff if he was unconscious.
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Jack found the dreams more confusing than ever. He struggled to surface, pushing at the blackness, swimming hard against the massive web that threatened to keep him under.
The buzzing in his ears began to settle down and gradually he was able to open his eyes a little.
"Take it easy Colonel," said the blurry figure he tried to focus on, "here."
He struggled to drink the water, his lips felt numb, and a gentle hand mopped at the dribbles that started to run down his chin. His tongue felt too large for his mouth and he was having trouble keeping the figure in view, the darkness that hovered close by, threatening constantly.
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Janet looked down in concern. She knew Colonel O'Neill had been given a pretty hefty dose of the painkiller, on top of the smaller doses she'd already given him - in fact she'd used up all her reserves of the drug and hoped that the next dose would be synthesized by the time they needed it - but his responses were considerably worse than her expectations and she watched helplessly as he sank away into oblivion once more.
She kept the General closely informed, although she told his team very little. She didn't want the scene with the General to go beyond the room.
Daniel actually looked a little relieved when Janet told him the Colonel could not have visitors yet. Teal'c accepted it in his usual calm manner and said nothing.
The Colonel had been out for almost forty-eight hours now, surfacing a little before fading again, but each time for slightly longer periods.
When he showed a little more cognizance, Janet had informed the General and he had arrived to talk to his 2IC.
However, whatever the General had wanted to say looked like it would have to wait. Jack certainly wasn't taking anything in yet, in fact he looked spaced-out to the General's eyes and in the end Hammond just sat there quietly for a few minutes before leaving to go to a meeting he'd 'suddenly' remembered.
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Claire was busy making sure that both of her patients for the night were okay. She'd been in the infirmary and seen to Sergeant Peters. He'd taken a bullet in his arm in an incident, but was healing well. The only other patient was the Colonel and he was in his own room. She heard the muttered curse coming from the direction of the small private room and as she entered she saw him struggling to get to the edge of the bed as though to get up. She hurried over.
"Colonel, are you okay? Can I get you something?" she asked, concerned, and put a gentle hand out to his shoulder. She was more than a little surprised when he shook it off.
"Leave me the hell alone!" he snapped out angrily.
Claire stared at him, shocked by his outburst. She liked the Colonel - okay, she knew he could be a bit trying at times, and he'd certainly been through it lately, but even so …
"Colonel, please," she said quietly, and grasped his shoulder again with the thought of easing him back. She was totally unprepared for the force with which he pushed her. She grabbed the trolley table for support, causing the contents to scatter to the floor, the jug of water smashing as it landed.
Claire's eyes widened in alarm as the Colonel tried to get out of the bed. "Sir, please …"
He grabbed at the hand she held out to appease him, snatching her wrist cruelly, his grip strong and bruising as he twisted it, causing her to cry out in pain.
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Janet was standing at the nurses' station. She was finalizing her paperwork for the evening and was handing over to the night staff when the crash startled her. Without even thinking about it, she and her other staff flew towards the Colonel's room.
"STUPID BITCH!" bellowed the Colonel's voice.
Janet stopped dead in the doorway to find her nurse in the grasp of the Colonel, her face showing both fear and pain.
"Colonel O'Neill!" gasped out Janet.
The Colonel let go of the wrist with a twist, pushing at the nurse. "Get out … both of you … get out!" he snarled.
Janet stood and stared. O'Neill's face was contorted with anger. His eyes showed no remorse, no apology … no offering even of an explanation … She shook her head and signaled Claire to go, before turning smartly on her heels and ordering her staff to get security, as she locked the door behind her.
"Claire, let's get you looked at."
Claire shook her head, her eyes shone with tears as she cradled her left hand. "I'm okay," she whispered.
"Go and rest. I'll be with you presently." Janet motioned one of the other nurses to take Claire into another room, while she spoke with security.
Janet unlocked the door and both SF's entered immediately behind her, coming to stand at attention just inside the door. The Colonel was sitting on the edge of the bed, swaying, but he didn't bother to look at them. Janet was momentarily lost for words. She'd seen Jack O'Neill under all kinds of duress over the years, but frankly his behavior now was so out of character for him that it shocked her.
"Colonel, are you okay? Are you in pain?" she asked, finally finding her voice.
The Colonel drew into himself further, closing his eyes and refusing to answer.
She moved closer, her concern winning the wager against her caution. He flinched when she touched his shoulder.
"Get out and leave me alone," he growled.
Janet sighed, reluctant to touch him just in case it sparked physical retribution, even though the SF's were in the room. She had a healthy respect for the Colonel's capabilities. Even in his present condition he was quite capable of inflicting a lot of damage, even killing with his bare hands.
"Sir, you'll be more comfortable if you lie down, and try and rest. We'll have a talk later." Janet quietly began injecting the latest batch of the painkiller into his IV, which she noted thankfully was still attached. He seemed oblivious to her presence for the moment and he began to sink down onto his side as he eased his legs back on the bed. Janet nervously watched as his breathing deepened and his eyes flickered open briefly to regard her with a look … a look of something she couldn't quite fathom. Gone was the cold hateful stare and his dark eyes revealed a flash of puzzlement … before he succumbed to a deep sleep.
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