Chapter 32 by Abbot & Natters
And just when you thought it couldn't get any more tense…
Janet's POV – 1 hour 50 minutes later.
The Colonel's led us at a punishing pace for almost two hours. I can see the small village in the distance now. Sam and Daniel are in the SG-1's base camp in a clearing 50 meters into the forest which sprawls in the background. Out of direct line of sight, but close enough to be 'friendly'.
The closer we've gotten the more I think I can here a keening wail every few minutes. Teal'c comes hurrying up from behind us, and I don't think I've ever seen him look so… worried. The strange sound comes again and this time we're close enough to make it out.
The Colonel snaps into his radio. "Daniel!"
"Jack? Thank God. I hope you're close." I can see the Colonel pale at those words and interrupt.
"We're about five minutes away from you."
"Step on it will you Janet? Sa-"
Daniel is cut off and we hear the keening wail. In stereo. It's Sam. The Colonel's running before I even notice he's gone, Teal'c at his heels.
"I'm going on ahead. I'll start examining her while you three set up the equipment we need."
I barely hear the chorus of acknowledgments as I follow the Colonel and Jaffa as fast as I can.
"We're hurrying Daniel. The Colonel's inbound. Whatever you do, don't let him in there," I warn as I pick up the pace. I need to start running again.
"I've got bigger problems than Jack right now Janet."
"Daniel?" I question, not having the breath for more.
"She's trying to scratch her own skin off. I've had to put gloves on her and use binders to restrain-"
I wince as the screech comes over the airwaves. It sounds more like an animal than my best friend.
"Teal'c, keep the Colonel out of that tent!" I order over the radio. The curse of being short. It takes me longer to get there than the two men ahead of me. Colonel O'Neill is almost at the tent now.
I can see Teal'c catch up with the Colonel and stop him at my words. He literally picks him up and stops him in mid air.
"Teal'c let me go. That's a damn order!"
"I shall not release you until you agree not to enter the tent O'Neill."
As I pass them I can see the calculating look he's giving one of his best friends. I don't have time to worry about that as the wail has increased to a defiant scream. I brace myself as I go into the tent, passing a few natives on my way. They are all stood outside of the small temporary structure, hovering helplessly.
As my eyes adjust to the relative dark inside the tent I can make out two figures holding down a third as it… she writhes on the floor. One of the figures is Daniel. The other is a pretty native woman. And Sam…
My God. She looks like she should be in a straight jacket. She's bleeding from numerous abrasions, obviously self inflicted. And as I use my penlight to check her eyes she turns her head and tries to bite me. "Whoa! How long has she been like this?"
"It started five minutes before you contacted us." He replies shakily and I notice a small gash on his forehead. Sam hit him, I guess. "I couldn't release her long enough to call for backup. I was afraid she'd…"
"You did the right thing Daniel."
"Olmas has been helping me to restrain her. I could really use Teal'c strength right now."
That must be the native woman helping us. She looks afraid but determined to help. I take in Sam's symptoms.
"Teal'c got his hands full with the Colonel. Sam? Can you hear me? It's Janet."
Suddenly Sam stills beneath us, as though she's listening to us. We all take a deep breath of relief as recognition shines in her eyes. The next second she throws all three of us off and breaks for the door, with a determined if insane look in her eye.
She makes it out into the sunlight, and the natives all step back from the Mad Woman who is bleeding from every inch of exposed skin. The sea of people parts, and I'm reminded of Moses and the Red Sea. Except at the other end is the Colonel arguing with Teal'c. She doesn't hesitate but throws herself at the two men, her arms wrapping around the Colonel and her face hiding in his neck, even as Teal'c releases him and steps back.
We are all amazed at the sudden transformation as she achieves her goal. Gone is the wild woman who was clawing and biting and wailing. Instead she is perfectly still, almost nestled against the Colonel.
"Hey Carter." I hear the softness in his voice he reserves for only her. "Breathing is getting to be an issue here." He quips softly, but her only response is to snuggle closer.
I move towards the pair. "Colone-"
"MINE!" yells Sam at the top of her lungs, already scratchy from overuse. If looks could kill, I'd be a goner.
"It's alright Carter. The Doc's here to help you," he whispers gently. She looks up into his eyes like a frightened child. "No one's gonna hurt you Sam. I promise."
"Mine?" she asks.
He adopts that teasing smirk for a moment.
"I'm all yours Sam." As her eyes search his for the truth I can see the facade fade for a moment. "Always."
She smiles softly and rests her head on his shoulder, muttering quietly, but whether it's to herself or to the Colonel is anyone's guess.
The rest of my team arrives and stops at the sight of Sam and her Colonel hugging in plain view. One quick glare from Teal'c is enough to get them going again. The Yamyrians are talking quietly in the background, and Olmas comes up beside me holding out a vial.
"Daniel said you would need a sample of the N'Tinevale."
"Yes. Thank you."
"It does no harm to us. It prepares the body for the ritual of Life. No one has ever denied the N'Tinevale's effects before. It is unprecedented. We did not know she would resist."
"I understand. Do you have a way to counteract the effects of the N'Tinevale?"
"Only one… The other's believed she had chosen Teal'c for the eve. Keja was told the Colonel was already bonded."
"Keja?"
"A young unbonded female of our village who marked Daniel last eve."
WHAT! "Excuse me? Marked."
"A bite on the neck often symbolizes that a choice has been made. Teal'c had to 'rescue' Daniel from her. My father told me it was a most amusing sight. He did not recognize her intentions and made a sound of the TunDi when it has been startled," she laughs.
I laugh with her, but Daniel and I are going to have a little chat about this Keja woman later. Sam comes first.
"Sedative Doctor?" asks one of my nurses.
"No, let's do a blood work first. We don't want to add another potential problem into the equation. Colonel, could you explain to Sam that we're just going to take a blood sample? I don't think she'll listen to me."
"Sure Doc," He talks quietly, and Sam eyes me warily as I approach. I haven't seen her watch me with as much suspicion since… ever.
"Carter?" he questions softly as she growls a low warning in her throat and moves so she is between the Colonel and the rest of us.
"Easy Sam. I just want to take a blood sample. You can keep hold of Colonel O'Neill if you want. In fact, you're welcome to him. Can I have your arm for a moment?"
She looks at me for a moment and then looks up at the Colonel.
"It's alright Carter. Let her jab you with her big needles for a few minutes, so we can make you better."
I turn a quick glare at him at that jibe, but it's obviously the wrong move to make as she aims a punch at me in the next second. Thank God for the Colonel's reflexes or I'd have a broken nose and concussion. She claws the air, trying to reach me before the Colonel grasps her wrists and pins them to her sides.
"Teal'c, a little help here?" asks the Colonel as she snarls at me again. Teal'c steps forward and I wait for Sam to react to him the way she did to me, but instead she lets him close, her gaze fixed on me, with an occasional glance to check the position of… every woman nearby.
"Lieutenant Littlefield?" I call. He steps forward nervously. He was all over Sam two nights ago, but now he's not so eager to get close. On the other hand, neither am I.
"Lieutenant, I need you to take Major Carter's blood sample. She obviously not comfortable with another woman near her."
"Yes ma'am." He takes a deep breath and steps towards the trio. Sam suddenly turns from the quiet woman nestling in to Jack behind Teal'c, into the wild creature. I've never seen Littlefield move so fast as Teal'c helps Jack restrain her again.
Okay, time for Plan B. "Teal'c can you get a blood sample from Sam please?"
Teal'c nods his head and leaves Jack to deal with our hellcat as he approaches me for the needle.
As if somebody has flicked a switch, Sam is quiet and relaxed. She's worse than one of the Colonel's yo-yos.
"Doc? Can we get some bandages or something?" asks the Colonel, gesturing to her bloody skin.
"In a minute Colonel. You and Teal'c can clean her up while I and my nurses analyze her blood work."
Teal'c is preparing her arm now and she tenses but does not attack. As the needle pierces her skin she wails and buries her face into Jack's neck.
Sam, by her very nature, is a very tactile person. A casual contact on the arm or shoulder is a regular occurrence to me and Daniel from our friend. There are three people she doesn't touch like that. The General, because it wouldn't be appropriate; Teal'c, because he simply does not welcome that sort of casual handling; and Colonel O'Neill.
On the handful of times I can remember she and the Colonel actually sharing a hug like this, they always adopt the same position. Her arms slip under his and come up to his shoulders, while his wrap fully around her. Even Teal'c, who is slightly taller than the Colonel gets hugged with one arm above and one below, but not Jack. I never really noticed it until now.
Teal'c passes me the syringe, snapping me out of my thoughts. I give him the Medkit and he nods his head before turning back to Sam and Jack. The Colonel is gently prying her away but she's clinging to him like a limpet.
"Doc, can we get Carter something to drink?"
"Just a little water sir. Not too much," I reply, even as I start to analyze the blood that my nurses have set up a few meters away. Part of me is aware of Daniel still talking quietly to several of the natives.
Jack's POV
It sounds like a dog in pain. At first, I think some poor animal got it's foot stepped on. I try not to think about it. I go for my radio.
"Daniel!"
"Jack? Thank God. I hope you're close."
That isn't good, but this situations all gone to hell, and it's my fault. This was a god-awful idea. Shows me for letting my guard down.
"We're about five minutes away from you," I pant, pushing myself hard.
"Step on it will you Janet? Sa-"
Then, about the third time I hear it, I realize that the sound came from Carter. She's hurting, she's hurting bad, and suddenly my feet have wings. T's right behind me. Janet's giving out orders, but I can't hear them. My lungs are burning.
"We're hurrying Daniel. The Colonel's inbound. Whatever you do, don't let him in there."
Suddenly, Teal'c tackles me from behind. I go down hard, and the little, sadistic doctor is rushing past us. Bitch! Can't she see that Sam's in pain? I struggle to my feet, trying to catch up. Radio's still going.
"I've got bigger problems than Jack right now Janet."
"Daniel?"
"She's trying to scratch her own skin off. I've had to put gloves on her and use binders to restrain-"
Dear God. I was sprinting now. Sam needed me. Period. I had to help her. I could hear that screeching, that animal sound. She had to be in serious pain. It worse than when she got hit by one of those Goa'uld painsticks. I couldn't bear it. Every cell in my body was on fire, telling me to help her.
"Teal'c, keep the Colonel out of that tent!"
And down I go again. My ribs hurt like a bitch, and Janet's ahead again. Teal'c is apologizing as he puts me into a hammerlock. I'm kicking and yelling. I'm not taking this lying down! The woman I love is hurting!
"Teal'c let me go. That's a damn order!"
"I shall not release you until you agree not to enter the tent O'Neill."
I have to admit, I was the thought of shooting Teal'c crossed my mind. It was a momentary thing. Hell, I couldn't reach my sidearm anyways, and I felt guilty for even considering it. It was an instinct, right? The woman you love is hurting, you'll do anything -anything- to make it better. Janet dove into the tent ahead of us.
"Fine, Teal'c, fine. Whatever."
He lets me go, and we push back the crowd that's growing. Well, at least I could help like that. the wails were becoming screams. My nerves were shot. We kept them at a safe distance, but I couldn't stop thinking about Sam.
"T, I wasn't going to go in there."
"You were, O'Neill."
"Nuh-uh."
"Indeed."
"No, I wasn't! Christ, I just want to help Carter."
"I too wish to aid MajorCarter, but your presence would do little but serve to provoke her further."
Before I can reply, she's on me. I didn't even see her coming. She just tore out of the tent, and jumped on me. She looked pretty bad- lots of scratches and cuts. But those eyes, staring up at me, adoring...I was glad to see her. She jumped on me, wrapped her arms around my neck. She murmured my first name to herself over and over again as she nestled her head in my shoulder. I was relieved, I guess. The instant she touched me, no more wailing. Just...peace. She cuddled closer and closer, holding me tight until I started to feel uncomfortable- which was a little weird.
"Hey Carter, breathing is getting to be an issue here."
All she does is hold me tighter. I can't help but wrap my arms around her waist. I see Janet approaching out of the corner of my eye, needle in hand.
"Colone-"
"MINE!" yells Sam, rasping. She has her teeth bared like a dog with a favorite bone. I gotta smile at that. I never thought I'd see her so...possessive of me.
"It's alright Carter. The Doc's here to help you," I tell her quietly, trying to ignore that sappy sound my voice is making. One of my hands strokes her ruffled hair as gently as possible. She looks up at me, asking me a question with her eyes. Those beautiful, sapphire eyes. "No one's gonna hurt you Sam. I promise."
"Mine?" she asks.
I have to smile at that. Yes, Sam. Heart, body and soul.
"I'm all yours Sam."
I'm being perfectly honest, slipping. I forget there's a crowd.
"Always."
She smiles, a perfect radiant thing, and closes her eyes again. My body's going insane. It's saying Jack! Your mate is next to you! Hold her, take her!
And I'm struggling not to give in. My feelings are boiling desperately near the surface now. Her vision is fixated on me. I can feel little, exploratory hand movements from her. A tug, trying to pull our faces closer. Before she can reach up can kiss me, I hear Janet's voice. She had backed off, but she was getting closer again. She called out to me.
"Colonel, could you explain to Sam that we're just going to take a blood sample? I don't think she'll listen to me."
She's swung off of me, let go. Her knees are bent, and she's holding onto my vest with one hand. The other is a fist, and she's out and out SNARLING at her best friend.
"Carter?"
A low growl as Janet takes another step forward, her grip tightening.
"Easy Sam. I just want to take a blood sample. You can keep hold of Colonel O'Neill if you want. In fact, you're welcome to him. Can I have your arm for a moment?"
She's still staring down Janet. I unclip the P90, toss it to Teal'c and take her hand. Fingers unconsciously interlace with mine in a deathgrip. I start talking to her in that tone of voice again.
"It's alright Carter. Let her jab you with her big needles for a few minutes, so we can make you better."
Janet takes another step forward, and Carter comes out swinging. I heave her back as she claws at the air.
"Teal'c, a little help here?" I call out as Frasier backpedals as fast as her feet with carry her. She hands off the needle to a young lieutenant, one I vaguely remember hitting on Carter. He doesn't look so eager now. He advances, palms up, slowly. Hell, he doesn't even get a warning snarl. T and I heave Sam back again. The crowd gasps.
Frasier calls Teal'c over, because he's the only person besides me that can get close to her. Everyone takes a few steps back, unsure if I can control her. As soon as we have about fifteen feet of space, she's calm again. Cuddles up against me, gives me a little kiss on the nape of the neck.
Weird.
She's panting, arms wrapped under me, holding me tight. She keeps one eye on me, the other on everyone else. She relaxes a little.
"Doc, can we get Carter something to drink?" I call out. I'm thirsty too, but she's the main concern.
"Just a little water sir. Not too much."
Janet runs off to get a canteen, and I'm stuck. My lady love is acting like a wild animal, and who does she select as her mate? Me.
I'm touched, but this just isn't how things should be. I'm worried and heartbroken, but having her so close makes me feel a little better.