Jacob brought both Teal'c and General Hammond with him to the infirmary the next morning, and his decision to call in the big guns made Janet's face pinch. She was the chief medical officer at the SGC; the decision was ultimately hers, and she didn't appreciate the attempt to pressure her.
Besides, it was completely unnecessary. "I've finished looking over Anise's research, sir, and it's fairly solid. The Tok'ra subjects were exposed through the epidermis, much like the Tok'ra who originally encountered the base plant. I'm comfortable testing that on Teal'c. However -"
"The goal is to see if this can be aerosolized – to dose an army without close contact," Jacob interrupted.
"I'm aware." Yes, Colonel O'Neill and Sam's father were two peas in a pod. "But that hasn't been tested – on anyone or anything. And I'm not willing to make Teal'c the guinea pig on that yet. Even if the goal is dermal exposure, an aerosol will be absorbed through the lungs, get into the mucus membranes, et cetera, and we don't know what sort of effects that will have. I've set up four mice in the research bay for preliminary testing." When Jacob opened his mouth, she added, "And that's the best you're going to get for now."
Teal'c bowed his head in a deep – appreciative? - nod as General Hammond said, "I think that's a perfectly reasonable precaution to take."
"Thank you, sir. Now, Mister Teal'c."
As he'd done the day before, the Jaffa rolled up his sleeve and held out an arm.
"Mm," she told him. "Thank you. But since this is supposed to knock you flat, maybe we should start out that way. Why don't you lie down?"
With a nod of acknowledgment, he took his place on a cot – he didn't even have to hop up to get on it, which always irritated Janet – and settled neatly back, his arms at his sides.
"In prior testing, the drug was applied to the forearm in roughly a two- by four-inch area. We'll do the same." Janet pulled the cap from the vial she'd been given – and recoiled. "Well, they'll know they're being gassed, for sure," she managed, breathing carefully through her mouth to avoid the noxious odor wafting her way. Jacob and Hammond stepped back, as well, but Teal'c looked unaffected. Like usual. "Don't tell me you can't smell this."
"I can," Teal'c confirmed.
Shaking her head at the man's utter staunchness, Janet dipped a cotton swab into the vial, carefully applied it to a section of the Jaffa's lower arm, then tossed the swab into a lidded waste container and quickly recapped the vial. She made a mental note to ask someone to take out the trash bag, but the smell was going to linger awhile, regardless. "How do you feel?"
"I am fine."
Of course he was. "Anise's notes said it could take a few minutes."
"Or it could have no effect at all," General Hammond put in.
"That's a distinct possibility."
"Well. I have other matters to attend to," Hammond said. "Keep me updated."
"Of course, sir." And then it was just the three of them – Teal'c on a cot with Janet on one side and Jacob on the other. "What are Anise's plans for the aerosolization? I'm assuming she's not hoping to use the same formulation."
"No," Jacob agreed. "We have quite a bit of this version to share already, but its use is obviously limited. She has several formulations in development for gas delivery; I'll have some of the options brought through for you to look at."
"Excellent. Is that why she didn't come herself?"
The Tok'ra's head tilted a bit. "I asked that question, as well. Anise said she's more comfortable working in her own lab."
"Hmm," Janet said simply. No, the crazy scientist was probably a little afraid to come back.
"What happened last time she was here?" he asked flatly.
"The armbands had severe medical complications, and since Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were rendered unconscious for a bit, there was also suspicion that one of them had been turned into a za'tarc. They hadn't, but others had. It was ugly. People died."
"I get the distinct impression there's far more to it than that," Jacob pressed.
Janet shrugged. "As you're well aware, medical records are privileged information, and you don't qualify. Mister Teal'c, how are you feeling?"
"I do not believe the drug is working. I am unaffected." To prove his point, Teal'c swung to sitting and got to his feet on the doctor's side of the bed. He managed to stay upright for at least another two seconds before his knees gave out and he plummeted to the floor. The good doctor grabbed for him, desperately trying to break his fall… and ended up in a puddle herself. Beneath a lump of dead weight three times her size.
Jacob's head appeared over the gurney as he craned his neck to see them both. "Seemed like a good plan at the time, huh?"
Scowling, she turned her head toward the rest of the infirmary. "A little help in here!"
