Vala resisted the urge to let loose with a growl of barely suppressed frustration at the complete and utter lack of control she currently had over her body. The good news was that with the fog of whatever drug Jacek had given her now leaving her system, she was thinking more clearly, albeit with more than her fair share of pain.
The soles of her feet were the worst. Tiny bolts of lightning hot agony crackled unendingly just under the surface of her skin, arcing up and around her ankles and into her legs where the pain gradually dulled into a bone deep ache that left her wanting to scream. Her stomach had long since stopped turning over, something for which she was currently thanking each and every god and goddess Daniel had ever mentioned, be they real or not, she wanted them to know she was supremely grateful.
She could move her fingers in little twitches now, not that she wanted to. The slightest movements of her hands caused fire to burst along her knuckles and shoot up into her arms, across her shoulders and down her back until they collided most painfully with the ache in her legs.
After the drug began wearing off, Vala had started shivering with cold, even as sweat poured off her skin in tiny rivulets. Carolyn had been forced to set up several IVs to combat dehydration.
"How's he doing?" Daniel asked, gently rubbing a hand over Vala's belly where their child lay.
"So far, everything looks good. If this keeps up, I'm going to be delivering in about two hours, provided nothing happens to speed things along." Carolyn replied, coming to stand on Vala's other side and taking her pulse.
When her demeanor changed slightly, Daniel jumped on it.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing, believe it or not. In fact, since the pregnancy started I've been noticing a few unusual things about both Vala and the baby. Good things, before you jump to conclusions. Vala, Doctor Jackson, I would like to do some more bloodwork on Vala, just to see if my suspicions are correct. Thankfully, we're more than well equipped to do it here, otherwise I'd have to just draw blood and wait." Carolyn was working swiftly as she spoke, drawing blood from her friend.
"I'll be back." She smiled, then was gone.
Vala quirked her eyes up to Daniel who shrugged.
"Not a clue." He replied.
"No offense, but, I wish you guys wouldn't do that." Mitchell called from his seat by the door.
"What's that?" Daniel called back.
"The whole, you know, answer-her-questions-before-she-asks thing. Kinda' creeps me out." Mitchell stood and walked over to them, taking Vala's other hand and squeezing it gently. She tried to smile, give him reassurances that she would be alright, but all the motion she could force out was a slight quivering around her mouth.
"Hey, you wouldn't mind if I got a little revenge on her, would you? I mean, she did handcuff me to a bed a few years ago. I think a little payback is deserved." Mitchell grinned then. "Not happening until she can fight back on her own. Last time I tried to fight you, I ended up kissing the floor. Vala can take care of herself, but you'll wait until she can kick your ass before you try revenge." Daniel replied.
"Great. I finally get a chance at revenge, and you don't let me grab it. I'll remember this, Jackson." He smiled, the worry never leaving his eyes.
When Carolyn bustled back into the room a few minutes later, Daniel jumped to his feet and met her eyes.
"Before you ask, I need another bloodsample." She stated quickly.
"What's with the samples? This is the second one you've taken, just give me a hint here, give me something to take my mind off this." Daniel pleaded. Lam took a deep breath as she began prepping Vala for a sample.
"I've noticed certain abnormalities in Vala's bloodwork over the past few months. Certain proteins she doesn't carry in her bloodstream started showing up almost as soon as I found out about the pregnancy. The hormones her body produces have been reacting with the proteins, reacting in a positive manner. I can't explain it, all I can tell you is that Vala has been alive this long because of the reaction. The past few weeks, the proteins have almost doubled in intensity. Whatever they are, they weren't there before the pregnancy. The new chemical is building up in her system, and, I have a strong belief that this is giving her the strength to carry the baby this long. With this new sample, I can probably give you more answers." Carolyn explained. Daniel sucked his breath in, almost afraid to hope for a miracle. It had been a few weeks since fate kicked him in the teeth, he was about due for another. He just prayed he wouldn't lose both Vala and the baby in the ensuing aftermath.