Jack's Fangtastic Adventure – Part Thirteen
Feet clattered on the metal ramp, heralding the return of the rescue team. The personnel in the Control Room held their collective breaths, waiting.
Colonel Lawrence came first, followed closely by Major Carter.
"Medical team!"
The Major's shout was urgent and the tension rose accordingly, all eyes still fixed on the open wormhole.
Then he was through.
Held between Teal'c and Captain Shamol, his feet dragging.
Daniel's arrival with the remaining members of SG-3 was barely noticed as Colonel O'Neill was lifted onto a gurney and pushed rapidly from the room.
The iris slammed shut.
More than one shocked set of eyes glanced at the clock far up on the wall. After so long waiting, it all seemed too quick, too sudden.
"SG-3, report to the infirmary for your post mission checks. Debriefing in an hour." General Hammond's matter of fact voice broke the silence. He didn't need to order SG-1 from the Gate Room, they were already following hard on the heels of their fallen leader.
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SG-1 stood on the far side of the large room, watching and listening, trying to interpret as much as they could from the activity hidden behind the thick curtain. Machines were pushed past them, followed closely by bag after bag of blood. Janet's slightly panicked voice could be heard above all else, snapping orders.
Then he was pushed out. They caught the briefest glimpse of a far too pale face above white sheets, before the gurney was gone, the operating room doors swinging shut to block the view.
"Janet!"
The doctor barely paused, casting a 'Not now, Sam" behind her as she followed her patient, stripping off surgical gloves stained with the Colonel's blood and tossing them into a bin as she passed. The doors had hardly time to still before Doctor Warner dashed through them.
"Get yourselves cleaned up, people. I want you in the Briefing Room in forty-five minutes." General Hammond stood at the entrance to the infirmary, his expression compassionate. He looked towards Daniel and shook his head. "And before you ask, Doctor Jackson – no. I'm sure the Colonel will be in there for some time and I need to know exactly what happened. For that I need you at the debriefing. You can come back here after."
Daniel nodded, turning his eyes back to the closed doors as if trying to see through them. "Yes, sir."
"We will be there as requested, General Hammond"
The General nodded in response to Teal'c's firm statement, silent communication passing between himself and the Jaffa. Teal'c would see that both his teammates were on time for the debriefing.
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"Doctor?"
Warner's eyes lifted from above the green surgical mask to meet those of his colleague.
"I've done all I can for now. He'll have to be carefully monitored, and if his condition stabilises within the next few days I'll begin repairs on his arm. If not…" He didn't continue, knowing Fraiser was well aware of the implications. He stepped back as the nurses and orderlies prepared the Colonel for transfer to the private room off the main ward.
Janet tugged the covering from her hair, giving it a shake. Her tiredness was obvious, and Warner knew it was mirrored in his own body.
O'Neill was in hypovolemic shock when brought into the OR, and that had been the doctors' priority. Even now Warner was surprised that his fellow officer had held on long enough for them push in the volume of fluid needed to save his life. He had worked so hard to repair the torn blood vessels and arteries in O'Neill's left arm, finally managing to stop the bleeding, but as to whether they could save the limb was still doubtful – the damage was so severe.
He sighed, following Fraiser towards the showers. Such concerns were academic considering O'Neill's condition. The man had practically been drained dry. How he had lasted long enough to make it to the OR was a mystery, but one that Warner should have expected, knowing O'Neill's propensity for survival in the most dire of circumstances.
"Doctor!"
Warner turned, his hand already on the door, finding a nurse running towards him. One part of his brain automatically prepared a reprimand for running, while the other took in the look of fear on her face.
"Quickly, Doctor. It's the Colonel."
Damn! He sped up, following her into the ward. He had known it was too good to be true. The Colonel had finally run out of luck.
He screeched to a halt, finding his way to the bed blocked by bodies.
"Let me through." His words made a hole through which he pushed, only to be confronted by the last thing he expected.
The bed was empty.
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