This is a repost of chapter 26.
A/N:and as promised, here's chapter 26. chapter 25 has been changed a bit so it might be best to reread that one first. this one is short but it has lots of explanation in it, since the audience generally figures out how and why things happened faster than the characters. i would like to apologize now to anyone who knows anything about genetics, i have only taken basic biology courses, and so there may be some mistakes in my understanding of genetics. anyway, read, enjoy and don't forget to review.
Chapter 26
As Kate remained unconscious in the infirmary, Janet, Daniel, Teal's, General Hammond, a nervous ad slightly distraught Hank Griff, and a now awake, but still shaky Sam, gathered in the briefing room.
"SG-1, I am glad to see you up and about. This is only an informal debriefing, to see if we can't narrow the search for the Colonel. And to begin to attempt to figure out what happened in the infirmary," Hammond began; as they all took their seats, Jack's seat was left untouched by anyone.
""Honestly General, I'm not sure what planet we were held on, Teal'c do you have any clue?" Daniel remarked, feeling as if his lack of knowledge was a failure in some way.
"Indeed I do not know. Ba'al's Jaffa are well trained and rarely have ever turned against their master."
"I….I also was never able to find out any indication of which planet we were held on. But Ba'al never seemed nervous or edgy, wherever we were, he was comfortable there," Sam offered. Although she was still a bit shaky, her physical wounds had been completely healed by the incident in the infirmary. And her mental wounds were quickly healing, as if the pain and doubts and horror of what had happened, while not erased, had been taken away enough for the healing to begin.
"So Hebron remains our best bet then," the General sighed. He missed his 2IC and wanted him back, most especially for Kate, now unconscious in the infirmary.
"The Tok'ra debriefers and psychiatrists are doing their best, but dealing with that kind of mental trauma takes time. We also haven't found anyone he's completely willing to open up to yet," Janet reported.
"I'll talk with him General," Sam volunteered, "I probably understand his situation better than anyone can, except the Colonel of course."
"Of course Major. I am sure he will be glad to speak to someone who actually understands his experience," Hammond agreed, smiling reassuringly at his goddaughter. "Now, who can tell me what happened earlier in the infirmary? And why is Dr. O'Neill unconscious?"
"Well, that would be the mystery of the day. It appears that she somehow healed Major carter, but what happened to cause that I honestly have no clue." Janet informed the group, watching as Hank's shoulders seemed to sag even more with the knowledge that even the normally indomitable CMO didn't know what had happened to Kate.
"Actually, Teal'c and I have a pretty good idea what happened," Daniel offered, and continued on as all eyes turned to the pair. "The last time SG-1, with Jonas at the time, was called to Antarctica, because of the discovery of a frozen Ancient in the ice, a virus attacked the field team and SG-1. Now the Ancient, who was not dead, but simply in a state of cryogenic hibernation, I believe her name was Ayiana, healed all the ill, except for Jack, because she had used up all her strength with the others by the time Jack became ill, and she died before he could be cured, which was why he had to be healed by the Tok'ra Kanan. But anyway, from the security footage from the Antarctica research station and from Jonas extensive notes from the time, it appears that in order to heal the infected, Ayiana only had to touch those infected in order to heal them. I think that's what happened here, Dr. O'Neill must have the Ancient gene, like Jack, and something caused it to activate, since she doesn't appear to be 'going Ancient' and since it doesn't appear that anything like this has ever happened to her before."
When Daniel finally paused to take a breath, Janet took over. "For the most part, that makes sense sir. Especially with what we know of Ancient healing abilities from Ayiana, but that doesn't explain why she's unconscious or even how the gene was activated in the first place."
"Assuming it needs to be activated," Sam spoke up, "We have no evidence that the gene has to be activated, for all we know a person merely has to possess the gene. We also know that mental concentration is the other key to working Ancient technology, besides having the requisite gene. So if Kate were simply concentrating on one thin, healing me, hard enough, and if her Ancient gene is dominant, or both her father and mother had it and passed it on to her, then it is possible that genetically she is closer to the Ancients than other carriers of the gene. And thus would be able to use more of the Ancient abilities than other carriers."
"I agree, and her unconscious state could be explained by the shock to her body and mind. Sam had extensive injuries, sir, all of those injuries are now healed. The sheer amount of energy it must have taken Kate could explain her current state. Her body is trying to replace the energy lost and conserve what is left. As for her mind, well, it was written all over her face. She had no clue what was happening, so it could be that her conscious mind shut down in order to deal with this incredible shock." Janet continued, putting the pieces together.
"But will she wake up?" Hank asked, the desperation in his eyes the only evidence of his feelings for her.
"Well Doctor? Will she?" the General asked as well.
Janet hesitated a moment before answering, "She's stable now, sir. From the EKG readings she's in a coma. She might wake up when her body and mind have adjusted and accepted this. The best thing we can do for her is keep this very quiet and find the Colonel."
"So it's a waiting game?" Hank asked.
"Yes Major. All we can do now is wait," Janet sighed wishing she could do more for her friend.
