Alternatives

Chapter XIII: Emotional

Based upon Stargate: SG-1

Rating: G

- JOR - Takes place late-season 9 between the episodes of "The Scourge" and "Arthur's Mantle" -

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Major General Jack O'Neill groaned when he heard his phone ring. He rolled over and reached onto the nightstand for it, glancing at the clock. The caller ID read SGC-Carter. He picked up the phone to silence it. "For cryin' out loud, Carter, do you know what time it is here?"

"Sorry for waking you, General," a voice that was not Samantha Carter answered.

He sat upright, taking a second to realize who the person on the other end of the phone was. "Doctor Lam?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Why do you have Carter's phone? Is she okay?" When the base doctor called your emergency contact, chances were that you were not all right.

"She's fine, Sir, they're all fine."

"They?" he repeated.

"SG-1, Sir. Before I tell you anything else, you should know that they're all fine. They're safe, and they're fine."

"For cryin' out loud, Doc, what happened?"

"SG-1 was exposed to something."

"What?"

"We're not exactly sure what it was or how it happened, but their brain chemistry was seriously altered when they got back. They had unusually high levels of specific hormones and neurotransmitters, causing altered emotional states."

Jack didn't answer, having been lost at 'brain chemistry.'

"Basically, Sir, none of them are in control of their emotions. Now, we're just going to wait to see if the levels return to normal on their own. If not, we'll take some medical action. But until then, we're just trying to keep them comfortable.

"Which is where you come in, Sir. Colonel Carter wanted to talk to you before I sedated her."

"Sedate?" he couldn't imagine that whatever was effecting SG-1 was enough to warrant sedating her.

"Yes, Sir. I don't think she'll be able to fall asleep if she didn't. You see, Sir . . . Colonel Carter has been crying for the last three hours. Don't worry, she's responsive and we've been keeping her hydrated. She's just really . . . sad."

"Alright," he said. "Go ahead put her on."

"Sam," he heard Doctor Lam say softly, as if she was talking to a small child, "General O'Neill is on the phone."

The next thing to hit his ears was the most pathetic sound he had ever heard. "Hi, Jack," Sam sobbed.

"Hey, Sam. How are you feeling?"

"Good," she sobbed. "It's just . . . I miss you so much."

"Me too," he answered sweetly. Jack was pretty sure he had had this conversation with Charlie a few times when he was away and had the opportunity to call home. "I wish I could be there for you."

"Yeah, me too."

Jack didn't really know what to say, so he just listened to her cry for a few seconds. "Are they treating you good?"

"Yeah, they let me go to my quarters and they put someone outside in case I need anything. Doctor Lam said she'd come check on me in a few hours."

"That's good. Make sure you tell them if you need anything. Water . . . Blue Jell-O . . ." He heard her let out a soft laugh that was quickly swallowed by tears. "How's the team?"

"Well, Teal'c's like me. He's just moping around looking sad. I don't think he has tear ducts."

Jack chuckled.

"But Cam and Daniel must have been exposed to something else because they're angry."

"Angry?"

The pitch in her voice rose as she tried to fight the tears, "They yelled at me."

If that hadn't been the saddest thing he had ever heard, he would have burst into laughter. "I'm sorry," he said.

"They were really mean . . ."

"I'm sure they didn't mean it, Sam."

"I know."

"Why don't you get some sleep and call me some time tomorrow. I'll make sure they'll let the call through, no matter what is going on. If the whole world's blowing up, you'll be able to get through."

"Thanks." Her words were becoming less and less coherent as the tears took over again.

"I love you, Sam."

The next words out of her mouth were pure gibberish, but he knew she returned the sentiment. "Sweet dreams."

"General?" Doctor Lam returned.

"Yes, Doctor."

"Thank you, and again I apologize for waking you."

"That's alright, Doc. You did the right thing. Make sure she gets some good sleep."

"I will, Sir. Good night, Sir."

"Good night, Doc."

Jack put his phone down and fell back into his bed. That was the funniest, most depressing conversation he had ever had. He wanted to laugh, but he felt bad. He wished he could be there. If not to hold Sam until she fell asleep, then to see Teal'c 'moping' and Mitchell and Daniel 'angry.'

Jack chuckled at himself. He was a terrible person.

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