Returning to the Gate
Jack was somewhat surprised to see Janet arrive with several airmen and a medic.
"I didn't think that you made house calls, Doc."
"I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I might as well come by and check on the major while I was here."
The casual response didn't fool Jack or Teal'c. In the past, the doctor admitted to them that she didn't really like gate travel all that much. She was completely willing to make an off-world trip when necessary, and had done so numerous times, but as she put it, "The only ride that I can endure at the amusement park is the carousel, and I get queasy just looking at some of those rides. Why would I enjoy taking a trip wilder than anything those ride designers could ever imagine?"
Most of the time, she wasn't required to go off-world, since she could generally save more lives in the infirmary with a full team of assistants and the best medical equipment at hand. But if someone was wounded so severely that they needed more medical attention than each team's designated medic or even a field medic could provide, and when transport was deemed too dangerous, a staff MD was needed on the scene to provide immediate care. As CMO, she could have opted out of that rotation, but she felt it was important to set an example for the rest of the staff, so she made the trips when she was on duty. Once or twice, doctors had been assigned to the SGC who seemed to believe that their duties stopped at the infirmary doors. That had been in the early days of the program, and those individuals hadn't lasted long. The screening process was better now, and doctors coming in were told in advance of the expectations and possible dangers.
When the first survivors were discovered here, a group of field medics had been dispatched to assist the wounded, and help transport them to the gate's location. A medical staging site was established close by, since patients couldn't leave the planet until the gate could be erected again. With evidence that the drones were still on the planet, it was well protected by SGC marines, and would be vacated quickly as soon as the gate was upright. Jack had seen Janet there earlier when they brought Jacob back. She had looked hopeful when they arrived with Jacob, but when she saw that Sam wasn't with them he could read the same disappointment in her face that he felt.
Jack was well aware that Janet had gone back to earth with the most seriously wounded when the gate was operational again, and that she must have come back through once she heard that they'd found Sam. He allowed her bogus "in the neighborhood" story go unchallenged, grateful that she'd once again put aside her personal discomfort with gate travel in order to help and heal Sam. Although Sam's injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening, he felt better knowing that Janet was there to not only see to Sam's physical ailments, but to help her emotional state as well.
Janet took a quick look at Sam, assessing her overall condition before getting to the specifics. Obvious injuries to head and leg. Bleeding from the ears, no doubt as a result of the blast, a couple of facial cuts, a severe burn on the leg, probably the result of a hit from the drone. She took in the improvised tourniquet, and the glazed eyes.
She crouched down and said, "Sam, I'm going to do the usual checks, ok? Pulse, lungs - you know the drill. I can see your leg injury, and that you took a hit to your head. Can you tell me if you've got any other major problems that I should know about? Ribs ok? I don't want to hurt you unnecessarily while I check you out, so tell me where you hurt now, before I start examining you."
Not getting a response, she reached over to take Sam's pulse, and said firmly and directly into Sam's face, "Sam, can you hear and understand me? It's important that you let me know how you're feeling."
Sam glanced up, dazed and exhausted. "I hear you Janet. Just really tired."
"I can see that, Sam, but I need you to stay awake for a little while longer. What hurts?"
"Head and leg, mainly."
"Mainly? Does that mean something else is giving you pain, but not as bad as those?"
"Maybe a rib, left shoulder's…" her voice trailed off, as she zoned out again.
"Sam… Sam!"
Janet momentarily gave up on Sam as a source of information, and turned to the colonel.
"Has she lost consciousness at any point since you found her?"
"No; she's been like this. She didn't pass out, but she hasn't been really alert either. You don't think that there's something seriously wrong, do you?" Jack was a little more concerned now.
"She's not in shock, so I don't think so. Give us some privacy, would you, so that I can check her ribs and shoulder. I'll run a couple of other simple tests, and should have a better idea after that."
Jack told Teal'c and the airmen to move away, allowing Janet and the medic to examine Sam more thoroughly. After a few minutes, Janet reported back to Jack.
"You can relax, Colonel. She's really not bad, all things considered. Her injuries look garish, and are probably painful, but not serious. I was mainly concerned that she might have suffered another concussion. Her last one was severe, and on first sight today, I worried that she might be in trouble. But there's no evidence of severe head trauma. I think that the sluggish reactions are just a result of exhaustion and pain."
She continued, "I do want to get her back to the infirmary as soon as possible. I'll hook up an IV now, get some fluids and pain meds into her, and we should see a difference pretty quickly."
Jack nodded in understanding and watched as Janet and the medic went to work. Janet's prediction was accurate. Within minutes, some color returned to Sam's pallid face. She looked up, her eyes clearer now. She noticed the IV in her arm, and directed a look towards Janet.
"Thanks, I feel a lot better now."
Janet knew Sam too well, and interpreted this statement as a ploy to convince Janet that she was well enough to make the trek back to the gate under her own power.
"You may feel better, but you're certainly not in good shape. Let's get you back home where I can really fix you up."
Janet asked the airmen to bring a stretcher over.
"Sam, how do you want to do this? Should they just lay it down on the ground and have you scoot over onto it, or would you rather that we give you a boost?"
Jack admired the deft way that the doctor had given Sam a choice while making it absolutely clear that Sam would be traveling on the stretcher, not walking. "Damn, the doc's good. Sneaky, but good. But I guess I already knew that."
Sam knew that she had lost this battle before it even began, and deep down, she was relieved. It would be a long walk back to the gate, and as tired as she was, it would be better if she didn't slow everyone down. However, she hoped to get Janet's approval for one concession.
"Ok, Janet, I can scoot over. When we get to the gate, I should be rested enough to walk through."
She looked directly into Janet's eyes during this statement, knowing that Janet would understand. Sam had often told her friend that she really hated the idea of being carried through the gate. Coming down that ramp, flat on her back, in front of the general, the technicians, and anyone else in the gate room made her feel horribly helpless and exposed.
Janet matched Sam's stare, hearing the unspoken request. She gave a slight nod, and said, "We'll see when we get there. Maybe if we can find someone willing to give you a hand just to be sure that you don't stumble and do more damage."
Jack opened his mouth to volunteer, but was preempted by a deep voice from behind him.
"I would be most honored to assist Major Carter through the gate."
Sam looked past the colonel to Teal'c and smiled. "Thank you, Teal'c."
Janet nodded in satisfaction. "Ok, now that we've made all our travel arrangements, shall we be on our way?"
The airmen and the medic helped Sam get positioned on the stretcher, and the group made their way to the Stargate.
The trip was without incident and much shorter than Sam had imagined. On the way, she questioned the colonel about the attack on the base, and he informed her that it wasn't clear who was responsible. He did give her the number of casualties and survivors. After hearing that news, she was silent for a long time, digesting the enormity of the attack.
When they reached the gate, there were only a few marines present. It was obvious that the rescue effort had moved on to the recovery phase. Several body bags were there, waiting for their final trip to earth.
Janet asked Sam, "Are you all right? You've been awfully quiet."
Sam was slow in answering. "Yeah, it's just…I was so lucky."
Jack heard her response.
"I wouldn't call a super soldier tracking your ass, or that hole in your leg lucky! You did what you were supposed to do – survive in spite of terrible odds. Sure you were given a chance, but it was a pretty slim one, and you made the best of it. Don't belittle what you accomplished as mere luck. It was some damn fine soldiering."
He flashed a cocky grin, and said, "Come to think of it, I'm sure it came as a direct result of the examples set by your fearless CO."
Teal'c's eyebrow rose at that comment, and he approached Sam's stretcher.
He offered his arm down to her and queried, "Major Carter, shall we give the colonel an example of real courage?"
Sam looked a question at Janet, who nodded her head.
Sam stood up with Teal'c's help. It took a moment to clear her head, and he waited patiently.
"I'm ready now."
She held tight, reassured by his strength and stability. Together they walked through the wormhole. Exiting, Teal'c held her close, assuring that she couldn't fall. She was grateful for the support. Whatever Janet had given her seemed to be wearing off, and the pain and lethargy were returning.
She looked up the control room to see the general and Daniel looking down, relief and concern evident on their faces. She just managed to lift her head in acknowledgement. With Janet following closely behind, she and Teal'c made their way to the infirmary.
Sam made it to the nearest bed and collapsed onto it, allowing herself to finally give in to the sleep which she had been craving.
Author's note: one more chapter to go