The Fire Still Burns – Part 7
"I don't understand how I could have missed it!" Janet ran a hand though her hair as she bent over her desk, her eyes fixed on the damning evidence of her failure.
The small abnormality on the MRI scan seemed to leap out at her once she knew it was there. If only she had seen it before, when Colonel O'Neill's tests had first been returned, she could have dealt with it so easily. Now, too many hours had past and what should have been a minor set-back had become a major problem.
She remembered taking a quick look at the results of the various tests that had been completed and being interrupted by the emergency admissions to the infirmary. With the crisis in full swing she had meant to get back to them once things calmed down.
But by then it was too late.
She looked out through her open door, seeing the colonel in the bed nearest her office.
He was lying stiffly, his face turned toward her. It was clear he was worried – of course he was.
It was time she told him exactly what was wrong with him – and why.
Hesitating, she looked down once more at the MRI scan. Would it do more harm than good to show it to him? She decided to leave it where it was.
It was a short walk from her office to his bed, but guilt ate at her the whole way.
"Sir?" She didn't really need to attract his attention – his eyes had been tracking her every movement – but she didn't know how else to begin. Once she had spoken it became easier and she continued. "They're going to start prepping you for surgery in a moment. There's a foreign body lodged in your neck, just below the exit wound and we have to remove it as soon as possible."
"Foreign – what sort -?" She saw the moment he understood what she meant, saw the revulsion in his face. "The snake? There's a bit of the snake-"
Knowing what the colonel needed to hear, she hurried to interrupt. "We'll get it out. When you wake up again it'll be gone - completely. You have my word."
There were only a few more minutes before they needed to finish getting Colonel O'Neill ready for surgery. Janet could see her staff preparing now, but she had to tell him everything.
"You were right, sir, the wound was infected. You have all the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome. I'll run some tests to confirm the diagnosis once you're out of surgery and then we'll begin treatment."
"Doctor Fraiser?" It was Doctor Warner. They were ready to begin. She bent down to say one last thing. "Don't worry, Colonel. You'll be fine."
She only hoped she was right.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Robert Makepeace gave the small woman sitting across the table from him an incredulous stare. "O'Neill's got that thing women get when they leave…" He found himself unable to complete the sentence and his words ground to an embarrassing halt.
Only O'Neill could get sick with a female disease – typical flyboy. He smirked and continued his thoughts aloud. "Well, at least it isn't anything serious. You'll pump him full of antibiotics and he'll be good to go – right, Doc?
He frowned as the doctor turned a full-blast glare on him – a glare matched by the one he was getting from Captain Carter. The other members of SG-1 didn't look too impressed with him either.
"Toxic shock syndrome is a serious problem, Colonel, and not something to be taken lightly. Nor is it confined to menstruating women." Fraiser's index finger was tapping at the notes in front of her – a stabbing, violent tapping that conveyed her anger.
Whoops, he'd obviously said the wrong thing, although he had no idea what, but he'd better pretend he was sorry.
"Sorry, Doc." There, now that was done they should be able to get this briefing finished and O'Neill back up on his feet and straight into Hammond's chair. And not a moment too soon.
"How did Jack get it, Janet?" Pleased that Jackson had distracted the women's attention, Makepeace waited for the answer.
"First I should explain that this is similar to streptococcal toxic shock rather than the more widely known form. It's caused by bacteria in an infected wound. From the tests we've done it seems the remains of the Goa'uld still inside…"
"Wait a second." Makepeace interrupted the doctor's flow of words. "You're saying there is a bit of that snake still in O'Neill? Why didn't you see it before, when you examined him after the mission?"
Looking up from the papers, Doctor Fraiser nodded. "I missed what appears to be a piece of the spikes from the Goa'uld's neck frill. It was very small and only visible on the MRI. Unfortunately I didn't spot it and consequently the wound became infected. Doctor Warner has since removed the piece during surgery and cleaned the surrounding area, but the damage has been done. As I explained, toxic shock syndrome has developed in response to the bacteria present on the spike."
Maybe it wasn't so funny after all. "But you can cure it – right, Doc?"
Again she nodded at him, but this time a little more slowly. "You were correct about the antibiotics, sir, and Colonel O'Neill is receiving them now. Hopefully the bacteria is similar enough to its Earth cousin that it responses. But unfortunately it has been several days since the infection and any delay in treatment can have serious repercussions on a positive outcome."
He shook his head. "Enough of the doctor-speak. You're saying you didn't catch the problem soon enough and now O'Neill could die?"
There was a long moment of silence. The doctor's answer was finally spoken – softly, and with obvious regret. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
Author's Note - Sorry for the delay and the shortness of this part. We had an unexpected death in the family and with working and the funeral I haven't had time to do any writing. Thank you for the reviews - I haven't forgotten the story, or General Jack.