Note: Thanks for the reviews guys. ::grins:: I'm not sure if anyone's getting their author/story alerts, 'cuz I haven't been getting mine for the past few days. I'm wondering if there's a site problem or something. ::shrugs:: Anyways, here's a new chapter. Enjoy!
THREE
Teal'c entered the infirmary for a visit around 0300 hours. He discovered Major Carter fast asleep in a wheelchair beside the Colonel's bed, one hand resting on the mattress atop his own. A rare smile graced his lips as he studied the sight before him. It was long past overdue for Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill to be together, even if it was only because of unfortunate circumstances, and they weren't exactly 'together'. Teal'c was confident that the time O'Neill and Carter would have to spend in the infirmary together during their recoveries would benefit both of them in the long run.
Striding toward his friends, Teal'c found a nearby stool and dragged it alongside the Colonel's bed on the opposite side where Sam was seated. He stayed there for awhile, paying no mind to the several nurses milling about, checking vitals, fluids, and whatnot. The slightly quickened beeps of O'Neill's heart monitor had Teal'c on his feet in alarm. He noticed the Colonel's eyes moving rapidly beneath closed lids and tilted his head sideways with interest. "Doctor Fraiser!" The large Jaffa called out suddenly, forgetting that Major Carter was sleeping, though she remained so despite the noise.
"In here Teal'c, I'm coming!" Janet responded from a room connecting to the infirmary. She rushed toward the bed, adjusting the stethoscope around her neck.
"I believe Colonel O'Neill is returning to consciousness," Teal'c commented, hands clasped behind his back while he gazed down upon his brother in arms.
Janet smiled as she briefly examined Jack, also noticing that his heartbeat had shifted out of the restful rhythm. "I think you're right Teal'c," She reached out and placed a hand on the patient's shoulder. "Colonel, can you hear me?"
Slowly, Jack's eyelids fluttered open and he was squinting up at Janet. "Doc?" he croaked weakly, taking a moment to understand his surroundings and mutter, "What's..goin' on?"
Glancing once at Teal'c, Janet smiled gently down at her patient. "You're just waking up after surgery Colonel. You were suffering from internal bleeding and we had to operate right away, but you're going to be just fine now," Reaching for a nearby cloth, she gingerly mopped his forehead.
"Oh," Jack murmured without really comprehending. His head jerked up suddenly, but he found himself too weak to manage sitting up. "Carter," he gasped with wide, apprehensive eyes.
"Easy Colonel," Janet pushed more firmly against his shoulder, her words soft and soothing.
"Major Carter is doing well O'Neill," Teal'c was quick to assure him, gesturing to the Colonel's left side.
Jack relaxed back against the pillows, and he suddenly realized the sensation of someone's warm hand atop his own. Turning his head to where Teal'c had gestured, the Colonel blinked, feeling slightly at ease when he saw her fast asleep in the wheelchair beside his bed. He let his eyes close slowly before jerking his head, fighting the sleep that his body still craved.
"Colonel," Janet still had a hand pressed to his shoulder, silently urging him to lay still. "Try and rest sir, I don't want you further upsetting your injuries. You need time to heal," she was smiling gently at Jack, her expression one as a concerned friend and not just his doctor.
Breathing slowly, Jack weakly flipped his left hand and gently squeezed Sam's. He licked his dry lips, throat raw from the anesthetic. With a weak cough he winced, gritting his teeth against the pain it caused.
Teal'c realized what O'Neill needed and grasped a plastic cup of water with a straw from the nearby table. He silently handed it over to Janet so she could offer it to the Colonel.
"Thank you Teal'c," Janet smiled kindly at the gentle giant, receiving a bare smile and slight bow in return. She held out the cup, placing the straw between Jack's dry, cracked lips. "Here you go Colonel. Drink it slow now,"
Jack had taken a few satisfying sips of water before Janet took it away.
Dr. Fraiser backed off as the Colonel drifted again, and she briefly checked Sam's pulse before adjusting the blanket around the sleeping Major and nodding to Teal'c in a gesture that clearly said to leave the two alone. She notified her nurses to keep an eye on them without disturbing either patient, then left the infirmary to retreat to her office for a short time.
-
"Jack's awake?" Daniel had been doing some research on the planet where they'd been captured when Janet came in to give him the news. It was late, or rather, early, and he was avoiding sleep, but at the moment he just didn't care.
"He was," Janet nodded with a tight smile. "The Colonel's resting now though. Sam's doing the same," Her brows knit together as she leaned over the archaeologist's shoulder to see the many books and papers scattered about over his desk. She lifted one paper with a sketchy drawing of a humanoid lion. "What's this?"
Daniel slowly took the paper from her. "Oh, well I was trying to look into any myths and legends that had to do with animal...people," he shrugged with a lopsided smile, glancing at the books scattered about.
"Find anything?" she asked somewhat interestedly.
Shaking his head, Daniel released a frustrated sigh. "Not..really," He held a thoughtful expression for a moment before speaking somewhat excitedly. "I wasn't able to find any cultures that seemed to resemble theirs enough, but actually, I think both Sam and I were partially correct in our theories about these beast people trying to study us. But, I don't think we were captured to be studied..." Pausing, Daniel met Janet's questioning gaze. "I think we were captured as pets," His own eyebrows were raised.
"Pets," Janet repeated, wide-eyed.
"Yeah," Daniel nodded affirmatively. "I mean, think about it. They captured us and put us in rooms similar to a place you'd find on earth; a habitat," he clarified, waving about with his hands. "Later we were brought out to a fenced yard, I'm assuming, for exercise." He shrugged.
"I suppose," Making a face that had the possibility of an agreement, Janet half-shrugged in return.
"I also think that humans once occupied that world before being captured, and possibly...ultimately...destroyed...by these aliens." Daniel threw out the possibility. "For all we know, the original humans from the planet could be locked away in another building, similar to the way we were imprisoned. They could even have been held up in the same building," he exclaimed, shrugging again. "We weren't there long enough to find out, so it's possible."
Nodding, Janet headed over to the door, one hand resting on the knob. "Have you told General Hammond about this?"
"Uh, not yet," Daniel scrambled to his feet, gathering up a few papers and folders. "But I think I will," he smiled lopsidedly and patted the doctor's shoulder. "Thank you Janet, I think I'll go do that now,"
She smiled as he passed her, then just shook her head and closed the lab door before striding on down the hall. Suddenly realization struck, and Janet turned around to hurry after Daniel. "Daniel, wait!" she called frantically after him, jogging and turning the corner to have him stop abruptly and turn to her with a perplexed expression.
"What? I forget something?" He adjusted the glasses that were falling down his face.
"Daniel, it's almost 0400, I'm sure the General's gone home by now," Janet smiled gently, putting a hand to Daniel's shoulder. "Why don't you get some rest. General Hammond can hear more about it in the morning."
"Ah, right.." Daniel nodded somewhat reluctantly, tucking the papers and folders under one arm and running a hand through his hair. He smiled somewhat bashfully and turned again down the hall, waving a hand back at Janet as he walked. "You should get some rest too you know,"
Janet smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Yes, I suppose I should." She blinked, bowing her head slightly in agreement.
-
Jack was awake for several minutes, taking time to get his bearings before Sam woke. Her hand was still held gently in his own, and he was watching her carefully as her eyelids fluttered. He had an almost-impish smile on his face when she finally seemed to focus on him. "Hey sleepyhead," he murmured softly.
"Jack!" Sam's eyes were wide and she had unconsciously pulled her hand away from his to press it to her temple. Just then she noticed the somewhat amused look he was giving her and realized she'd called him Jack. "Uh, Colonel, sir," she fumbled, wincing slightly at her returning headache. "You're awake,"
"Good deduction," he murmured softly with a faint smirk.
Sam snorted softly, feeling her cheeks flush with warmth. "So," she began, changing the subject with a quick smile, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Jack answered quickly and dismissively as usual. The man absolutely hated being fussed over. He rose an eyebrow slowly. "How 'bout you Carter?"
She smiled and rubbed her forehead. "To tell you the truth sir, I could use a few Aspirins. But other than that, I'm good,"
"Glad to hear it," Jack mumbled somewhat groggily. He was still fighting the effects of many drugs in his system.
Both Sam and Jack turned their attention to the infirmary door when they heard the approaching footsteps in the otherwise silent corridor. Within seconds Janet was coming through the open door. She appeared pleased to see the both of them awake. "Colonel, Major, how are you both feeling?"
"Fine," Jack answered dismissively once more.
"I'm alright," came Sam's response while she looked over at Janet.
The doctor smiled at her knowingly. "I'll give you some more pain medication for your headache," Janet walked over and placed a comforting hand on the Major's shoulder before checking the Colonel's monitors. She was glad to see him awake and lucid, but her patient was a bit too pale for her liking. Placing a hand on Jack's forehead, she drew a penlight from her coat pocket and checked his pupil's reactions. "Sir, readings have shown that your blood volume and BP's a little low, so I'd like to get you hooked up to a blood bag," she told him, awaiting the impending argument, but it never came.
Jack just blinked slowly. "Not enough needles pokin' in me for your liking Doc?" he mumbled jokingly with a weak smirk.
Janet smiled apologetically and shook her head. "Sorry Colonel," she turned to Major Carter. "Sam, I want you back in bed okay? I'd still like to keep an eye on you for another twenty-four hours."
"Alright," Sam sighed reluctantly as Janet pulled the wheelchair from beside the Colonel's bed and moved it over to her unoccupied one. She fought a wave of dizziness as the doctor helped her move from the chair to the bed.
Moving beside Jack again, Janet lifted his wrist to check his pulse for herself, not fully relying on the monitors. Her brows furrowed. "Sir, are you feeling lightheaded at all?"
Taking in a slow, deep breath, Jack blinked and thought for a moment. "Mm...ah, a little," he admitted quietly.
Turning slightly, Janet gestured toward one of her medical staff. "Could you get me a unit of blood for Colonel O'Neill please?" She handed the young, rosy-cheeked nurse his chart to assure the right blood type was aquired.
"Sure Doctor," the nurse replied quickly, looking over the chart before taking off.
Jack cleared his throat and shifted carefully before Janet turned to him. "Hey Doc, any chance that-"
"Nope," Janet interrupted firmly.
His mouth hung open while he stared back at her with furrowed brows. "How do you know what I'm gonna say?"
Janet rolled her eyes. "I know you all too well Colonel. When you're stuck in my infirmary it's only a matter of time before you start to get antsy and want to leave. My answer is no," She eyed him sternly when he looked about to object. "You're not leaving for some time sir, I'm sorry."
Jack grunted and turned his head to the side to see Sam stifling a laugh.
-
After Jack was given the blood he was pretty drowsy and Janet instructed him to sleep for awhile after making sure he had some breakfast. Sam had gotten thouroughly checked over once more before being allowed to shower and change, and then she had to return to bed. Her head didn't feel quite so bad anymore, but she wasn't tired enough to sleep. Since Janet had sternly forbidden use of her laptop, because she said it wouldn't help with Sam's concussion, she found herself laying there bored to death with nothing to do but twiddle her thumbs and watch Jack sleep.
Two hours went by before Jack woke, and by that time Sam had done plenty of twiddling, and even a little thinking. When Daniel stopped by earlier and discussed his new theories on the aliens that had abducted them, she was more than intrigued. But now that Jack was awake she wouldn't bother him with such matters. Instead, they played chess. Teal'c came to the infirmary with the board per Sam's request. He helped her into the wheelchair that was still nearby, then pushed a tray over the bed for them to play on.
Jack moved one of his black pieces along the board after a moment's thought. He rose an eyebrow at Sam as she made a face. "What, is that good?" He gestured toward his piece.
Sam glared at him mockingly and was almost tempted to stick out her tongue. "Don't act like you didn't do that on purpose, I've seen you play chess with Daniel," she shot at him.
A slow, devilish smile spread across Jack's face. "You got me."
Sam just shook her head. When she looked up at Jack again, she noticed his smirk had quickly faded and she frowned, brows furrowing. "Colonel?" Her concern grew when she watched him grimace and place a hand over his abdomen.
"I'm fine," he insisted through clenched teeth. Jack tried to breathe slowly in an attempt to control the pain, but it just wasn't enough. After being given more blood, he convinced Janet to ease him off the pain medication slightly to see how he'd do. He certainly wasn't fond of being drugged up to the eyeballs, but right now it seemed as though he could use the good stuff.
"Sir, are you sure you're alright?" Sam persisted with the questioning. He didn't look so good any longer.
"I'm fine," Jack repeated as he bit back a groan.
"Understatement of the century," Sam said quietly under her breath. She carefully rose from the wheelchair and reached for the call button before taking her seat again and grasping Jack's hand. Her heart felt like a battering ram against her ribcage as she looked into his pained brown eyes before they were clenched shut.
Thankful for the reassuring contact, Jack squeezed Sam's hand in return while he fought back a howl of agony as the pain coursed through him.
Janet quickly rushed into the infirmary, her eyes drawn to Sam searchingly before shifting to the obviously uncomfortable O'Neill. "Colonel?" While she grasped his wrist for a pulse, Jack's hold on Sam's hand didn't waver.
Sam pushed the tray with the chess board aside, remaining by the Colonel without getting in Dr. Fraiser's way.
Jack grunted as Janet took the bed controls and made it so he was laying flat. "Hurts...Doc," he groaned through clenched teeth, eyes mere slits staring up at her concerned face.
"I know sir, I'll take care of that, just hang on," Janet assured him with a gentle pat on the shoulder. She shared a concerned look with Sam before hurrying to the medical cabinet.
With her eyes locked on Jack, Sam suddenly cried out to Janet when he threw his head back and writhed in pain, the agony becoming too much to hold in. "Janet, hurry!" she called again tearfully, hating to see the Colonel in such bad shape.
"I'm giving him a sedative now," the doctor returned, injecting the needle directly into the IV. Janet's eyes flashed to the monitors that showed his quickened heartbeat. She felt a little better as they slowly returned to normal and Jack began to settle while the drugs took effect.
Sam still clung to Jack's hand while Janet set up a morphine drip. His grip had weakened after receiving the drugs, but she kept holding on, silently promising to make sure he remained resting peacefully, no longer taken hold of by the haze of pain.
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