AN: As promised, another chapter. And I swear I'll update more quickly this time. Promise Promise Promise. FACT. Okay, no more talking. Enjoy, Kats and Kittens!

Chapter Four:

"I don't get it," Jack nearly shouts as he paces the infirmary. "You said he was fine, doc."

"I know," Janet sighs. "His CAT scan showed small traces of trauma left. There shouldn't have been a problem."

"Well, I call this a big problem," Jack snaps, stopping and glaring at her through narrowed eyes.

"Sir . . ." Sam starts in Janet's defense.

"He's brain dead, Carter," the colonel yells, turning on his 2IC. "As in a vegetable. He's not even alive anymore." His voice cracks through the last sentence, and he has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep what is left of his composure intact.

"Sir, we're doing everything we can to contact the Tok'Ra," Sam explains.

"What makes you think they'll be able to help?" Jack seethes through clenched teeth. Suddenly, General Hammond walks through the double doors, his face tight and grim.

"We were able to contact the Tok'Ra about ten minutes ago," he says as he stops before them. "Unfortunately, they have no available representatives that can help us with our current situation."

"Figures," Jack mumbles angrily.

"Not even my dad?" Sam asks with disappointment.

"Jacob and Selmak are presently in pursuit of a rogue agent that infiltrated their base," Hammond replies. "I'm sorry, Sam. He'll likely not be able to return for a few months."

"Months?" Jack exclaims, his frustration growing as the rage in the pit of his stomach builds.

"Can DanielJackson be kept alive in that amount of time?" Teal'c inquires of Janet.

"I believe so," she nods, albeit skeptically. "We can keep him on life support for as long as need be . . . but we cannot determine when his body will give out."

"Give out?" The general questions.

"Sir, as far as Daniel goes, his mind is gone," Janet explains sadly. "Everything that he was is . . . gone. But his brain is still able to keep his body alive, performing normal functions, such as keeping his heart beating. Even if the Tok'Ra are able to come, that healing device is not guaranteed to bring him back."

"What about a sarcophagus?" Jack asks.

"I'm not sure," Janet confesses. "We have no record of the sarcophagus's abilities. Unless you have one up your sleeve, I don't see any hope of acquiring one."

"So, what? We just keep him here on base until the Tok'Ra decide to show up?" Jack explodes.

"Is that such a good idea, Sir?" Sam asks timidly. "Keeping him on base, I mean."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, think about it. Those cars obviously knew where we'd be, and we only ever talked about the game on base. I'm thinking there's someone in the base leaking information."

"By keeping DanielJackson here, we could ultimately be endangering his life further," Teal'c says.

"Exactly," Sam nods.

"What would you suggest, Major?" General Hammond asks.

"I'd suggest a civilian hospital, Sir. Possibly registering him under a different name."

"Carter, that's crazy," Jack protests.

"On the contrary, Colonel," Hammond says. "If this can further Doctor Jackson's safety, I want it set up immediately. I'll leave the four of you with the arrangements. Contact me as soon as everything is in place." With that, the general leaves the infirmary.

0 o 0 o 0

Kaara Whitten, a nurse at the Denver Care Center, glances at the clipboard clutched tightly in her hands. Her first day at the hospital and she has already spilt coffee on her pants, filed a report incorrectly, attended to the wrong patient, and been groped by one of the more senile residents. She hums nervously, anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new patient.

'Shouldn't be too hard to take care of,' she thinks to herself. 'He's brain dead, after all. A change of bedding here, an I.V. switch there. Check his stats and away you go. Piece of cake.' She reads the name on her chart over and over again to embed it clearly into her mind.

Ernest Jackson.

Probably some poor old guy who had suffered a stroke or something. As the front doors slide open with that familiar swishing sound, she straightens, clearing her throat of the lump that blocks her voice. She watches as two people enter and start towards her. Both are in dress blues, and one wears a long, white doctor's coat. She has short brown hair and the scouring look upon her face more than makes up for her small height. The other is a tall, stoic man with graying hair. His sunglasses shield his eyes, causing him to look more impending than he already is, but as he removes them, Kaara finds a pair of soft, brown eyes behind them.

"Good morning," Kaara greets with a wide smile.

"Mornin'," Jack smiles forcefully in return. "I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill. This is Doctor Janet Fraiser."

"I'm Kaara Whitten, Colonel," the nurse replies shyly, shaking the man's out-stretched hand. "You're here for a tour of our facility, I presume?"

"We just want to make sure Mr. Jackson will be in the right hands," Janet amends.

"Say no more. We understand the importance of maintaining the safety of our patients and residents," Kaara nods. Jack returns the gesture with approval.

"Sounds good to me," he shrugs. "Janet?"

"I'm satisfied," Janet smiles. "We'll be transferring Mr. Jackson this afternoon."

"Uh . . . um," Kaara stutters. "B-But the tour . . ."

"Ms. Whitten," a rather large woman asks from the hall, making Kaara jump.

"M-Mrs. Grant! I was, uh . . ."

"She just finished giving us a tour of your lovely facility," Jack says with a smile, patting Kaara's shoulder. "And what a place you have here. Ms. Whitten has convinced us that this is the center to suit all our needs. Thank you very much, Ms. Whitten. We'll see you this afternoon for the transfer."

With that, Jack replaces his sunglasses, and he and Janet exit the way they came, leaving Kaara in a near state of shock and confusion.

"Well, Ms. Whitten," Mrs. Grant says hotly. "It's comforting to know that you're good for something."

"Yes, Mrs. Grant," the young nurse replies dazedly, shaking herself of the glazed state. Mrs. Grant shakes her head with a sour look before returning to her duties.

AN: Questions? Comments? Vague disregard to any or all words written and established in the mind of one who has no sanity?

Hope you liked, Kats and Kittens. Really truly. Next chapter will be up asap. :) Later, Gators!