Chapter 1 - Unknown
Daniel found himself jerked to waking by the sudden sound of Dr. Frasier's heels on the hard infirmary floor, and he winced as his neck protested at how he had slept, slouching in a chair and leaning up against the wall by Sam's bed. Sighing, he sat more slowly up.
Dr. Frasier approached, examining the quietly humming and beeping equipment attached all over Sam. "I told you to go home to sleep, Dr. Jackson," she said.
"I know," said Daniel, in an inconspicuously stubborn way that he had perfected.
Janet didn't look too imposing, though, not knowing him well enough to see past his innocent exterior. "I'm sure she'll appreciate it once she wakes up," she said.
"Are we certain that will happen?" Daniel asked, looking up with open eyes bleary with worry.
"Yes, definitely," said Janet, nodding, with a confidence that could have been more than a reassurance to herself. "She survived the night—that was the biggest danger. Now my concern is what state she'll wake in." She sighed, looking to where Sam lay.
Daniel's gaze drifted back as well, remembering the limp and bloody figure that Jack had carried through the gate, whose hair had been matted darkly against her head and whose body had been covered in blistering red marks. The smell of scorched flesh had added to the sick feeling he had then, and so vivid a reaction it was that it burned into his mind—unforgettable. Now she was cleaned and bandaged up, a pale face against the pale sheets and pillows. It was almost eerier, especially her scarce breathing as she lay very still.
"But we probably have another couple days before she even opens her eyes," added Janet with a frown after a moment, "what with the head trauma and the injuries... General Hammond has given you leave, Dr. Jackson—as your doctor, I'd suggest that you take it."
"And go home to an empty apartment?" asked Daniel, no real question on his face.
"You could visit Colonel O'Neill," suggested Janet.
"Jack doesn't even want to admit that this happened," said Daniel, frowning a little. "I think he thinks ignoring it will make things better—believe me, here is the least stressful place for me."
"Well, at least spend some time in your lab, keep your mind busy," said Janet. "Excessive worrying won't help anyone."
Daniel gave her a weak smile, and she gave an answering one and then called over an aide. As they began to change Sam's bandages, Daniel decided he really didn't want to watch, and walked out yawning to change his wrinkled BDUs.
ooooooo
As Sam gradually became aware of her consciousness, she first noticed the dull pain wracking her body, and secondly that she couldn't remember why she had it. But she could recall being told that losing consciousness usually meant losing the last minute or so of short term memory, so she assumed it was connected to the attack on Nasya. At least the familiar sounds of the SGC gave her a place of reference. With the centering of the pain in her head and then running down her back and legs, she felt very fuzzy and groggy, not really aware.
She cracked her eyelids open, and found that the light was gentle on them. Her head wouldn't turn to look around, but as her eyes opened a little wider, she saw Daniel sitting next to her bed. He looked tired, even with the tray of breakfast food in his lap. and she spared a brief moment to be glad that she didn't wake up to strangers. She swallowed with a tiny sound to clear her dry mouth.
Daniel's head jerked upwards so that his eyes met hers, and he choked a little on his mouthful of oatmeal. "Sam?" he said, in obvious surprise.
Sam didn't know if she had the strength to speak until she tried. "Daniel?" she creaked.
"Janet said you probably wouldn't wake for another day at least, so I had no idea—you know who I am, right?"
Daniel had a way of making one both more and less confused, and Sam's dry lips cracked a little in a half-smile. "Yes, Daniel. I just can't remember why I'm in a hospital bed."
"Oh Sam, you have no idea how good that is to hear," said Daniel, gently placing a hand on Sam's IV'd arm. "We've all been worried sick—Jack couldn't even stay here, and Teal'c's been in kel'no'reem. You were very near a blast on Nasya, and the fireball and shrapnel knocked you out. There's, uh, a lot of burns and a really bad head wound," he said, indicating with his hands a bit absentmindedly. "We weren't sure about brain damage."
"I remember Nasya," Sam said, the cloud of foggy consciousness dissipating slowly.
"I should tell Dr. Frasier," commented Daniel to himself, wiping his face with his napkin. "Or not—are you all right, Sam, do you need me?"
Sam smiled a little. "I don't think so, my pain seems pretty normal." Her brow furrowed as she thought about what she was feeling. There was an odd sensation in her head, beyond the normal trauma of a head injury, and it was growing now. It was almost like the presence of something foreign, and it didn't feel right at all.
ooooooo
Daniel sat patiently as he watched Sam frown and introspect. He was excited to spread the news, but Sam seemed to have something to say. He watched her frown and look somewhat worried, but didn't know whether he should be worried himself.
Suddenly, her hand snapped out with a strength he wouldn't have expected to grab him, her eyes wide open in sudden panic as she gasped: "Daniel, it's a—"
Then a flash of golden light in her eyes, and Daniel leapt back involuntarily, his tray crashing to the ground, the food spraying across the floor.
"Guar-marines! I need help here!" he called frantically. His hand went to his hip because of the lack of other options, but he did not carry a weapon off mission.
Not-Sam tried to sit up, and Daniel was at that moment glad for the accident as he saw that the creature controlling his friend could barely rise a few inches before sinking into the pillow again. Then, breathing heavily, she spoke with that twangy Goa'uld voice: "Do not—be rash, Daniel Jackson. Things are—not as they seem."
His shock at hearing that voice come from Sam faded quickly as he registered her words. There were footsteps coming quickly toward the infirmary. "What?"
"I have—no wish to harm any of the—people of this planet," said not-Sam through gasps, closing her eyes. "Do not assume you know all of the Goa'uld."
The arrogance was there, surely, but as the marines came in and had their weapons up at the ready at the sound of her voice, Daniel doubted.
"Wait, don't shoot!" he said, not turning around but waving a hand in their direction. "What are you talking about?" he asked pointedly, drawing a little nearer to the hospital bed.
"I am Jolinar of Malkshur," said not-Sam slowly. "And I am no Goa'uld."
"Dr. Jackson?" asked the captain of the marines, not moving his eye from the sight of the gun in case there was trouble.
"I don't think she could move if she wanted," said Daniel, his adrenaline already fading, leaving only tension.
"Should I send for General Hammond?"
"Yeah, yes, that would be good—and see if Jack's here," said Daniel, deeply worried but no longer panicked. He turned his full attention back to Jolinar, though. "What exactly are you denying?" he demanded. "You've already expressed all of the characteristics we have seen of the Goa'uld."
"Foolish young ones," breathed out Jolinar, but too tired to be angrily. "You spend a year in the galaxy and think you know all."
"So, explain to me what we've missed," said Daniel, wanting to hear a reason, any reason, but not expecting to get one. "Because if you don't hurry up about it, some men who are more trigger happy and less likely to care what I think are going to come through that door and, I assure you, they probably won't hear a word you say."
"The Goa'uld are your name for a symbiotic race of beings, which are, in fact, much more than what you have seen," said Jolinar, slowly but more steadily.
"So what, you're a good Goa'uld?" asked Daniel, moving his hands about to ask for clarification.
"No, the Goa'uld are but a sect of our race," said Jolinar somewhat impatiently.
"What the hell is going on?" demanded the loud voice of General Hammond as he entered the infirmary.
"Captain Carter's a Goa'uld, sir," reported the captain of the marines.
Jolinar let out a frustrated sigh, but even that was so clearly tinged with the symbiotic voice.
"Wait, sir, I'm not so sure," said Daniel.
"She's been saying strange things, sir," said the captain.
General Hammond's large brow was deeply furrowed, and he looked unhappy about more than Sam's situation. "Dr. Jackson?"
"She's not acting like a typical Goa'uld, general sir," said Daniel. "And she's not admitting to it—this is a new case, we can't just jump in like we know everything."
"The hell we can!" said Jack, fast on Hammond's trail. "Daniel, Carter's been taken by an alien being against her will—that's all we need to know."
"No, Jack, I don't think so," protested Daniel, not even sure why he was doing it.
"Dr. Jackson, have you never heard of enemies lying to gain sanctuary?" asked Hammond.
"Just wait a bit, please," said Daniel. "I'm not convinced about anything yet, but I don't want to rush things. Keep the guns if you want, just let me talk to her."
The infirmary was now full of people; marines mostly, but Dr. Frasier was standing nearby, and Teal'c was ready with his staff weapon. Hammond looked once from Jack to Daniel, then nodded. "You have five minutes, son."
"Sir, I need to check Sam's vitals," said Janet.
"Do it! Just keep your distance," ordered the general.
Daniel nodded his thanks, and moved back to where Jolinar lay with her eyes shut, though clearly awake. Jack followed, arms crossed and eyes glowering protectively.
"You are indeed as rash as legends are saying," drawled Jolinar without opening her eyes.
"Okay, insulting us is not the way to gain trust," said Daniel, now a little frustrated.
"What'd you expect from a Goa'uld, Daniel," muttered Jack, hands twitching at his side.
Daniel took a deep breath, and Jolinar opened her eyes to flash them. "I am no Goa'uld!"
"Protest overmuch?" Jack came back, stance switching from worried to aggressive.
"Please, Jack, let me do this," said Daniel. He folded his arms, trying to keep his worry from showing so physically. "Jolinar, he's not without a point."
"I am weak," said Jolinar shortly. "And my testimony will mean nothing to you without action, so I see. So be it!"
There was a shudder, and suddenly the eyes flashed and Daniel saw Sam in them.
"Daniel?" she asked, tentative and obviously shaken.
"Sam?" he answered.
"Oh god, Daniel," she said, still too weak to even rise.
Daniel hesitated for a moment, loosening, and then he impulsively took the last few steps forward to put his arms comfortingly and gently around Sam, ignoring the shuffling of feet drawing nearer and the cocking of weapons behind him.
"Dr. Jackson, this might very well be a ruse," said General Hammond from where he stood behind the marines' line of fire.
"We can't know anything for sure, general," said Jack, looking less angry as he watched either a good imitation or the actions of Sam herself in the way she held onto Daniel.
"Sam, how are you feeling?" asked Janet, drawing closer as Daniel had.
"I want this thing out of me," Sam said as sharply as she could.
"We'll do everything we can, Sam," soothed Daniel.
"How do your wounds feel?" asked Janet.
Sam shuddered and gripped onto Daniel's sweater. "She's healing them even now," she said. "Jolinar—she's trying to fix me."
"That's good, Sam," said Janet, bending a little to look at Sam's face. "She's probably all that kept you alive last night."
"I don't care," spat Sam.
"That's not what she meant," Daniel assured. Then, urgently, "How did this happen, Sam?"
"I don't know, I don't remember," said Sam distractedly, and Daniel felt her physical weakness as she began to tremble. "God, Daniel, I don't even remember."
"Okay, Sam, it doesn't really matter now," said Daniel. "We need to know who we're dealing with. Can you read her thoughts, know what she's thinking?"
Sam took a few deep breaths. "No, she's hiding in the back of my mind so she can heal. But I could see her a little before, when she was in control."
"I'm sorry Sam, but we need to know—was she truthful?"
"She wasn't actively lying," said Sam carefully. "She was full of fear—fear, frustration, even anger, but she was sincere about it."
"That doesn't mean anything, and you know it, Daniel," said Jack, standing behind Daniel's shoulder.
"Jack, what Goa'uld gives up control of its host?" said Daniel.
"We don't know that this Jolly Goa'uld has!" protested Jack. "She's in Sam's mind, knows what Sam would say!"
"But why?" pushed Daniel. "If she's in Sam's mind, what would she see there that she could take advantage of?"
"Your damned tolerance, for one," said Jack.
Daniel snorted. "I'd never let anyone take Sam—she would know that—no matter what."
"So why bother talking to her?" asked Jack. "Why don't we put her in a nice cell until we can get Sam back?"
"Sir, you may not have that option," said Sam slowly, speaking after a few deep breaths.
"We didn't have much success before," admitted Daniel darkly. "But we're not giving up—and maybe we can convince this Jolinar to leave before we kill her."
Jack nodded his head in firm agreement.
"Daniel, I didn't see anything about armies," said Sam. "I don't remember her thinking anything like that. She—I think she wanted to go home."
"Even if she's the best Goa'uld in the whole galaxy, what does that mean?" asked Jack, his stance betraying his lack of determination of whether he wanted to come closer or stay cautious.
"It means we can't kill her lightly," said Daniel, closing his eyes for a brief second.
There was a murmur behind him, but whether from the marines or Hammond Daniel didn't know.
"Daniel!" said Sam with a start, and then suddenly Jolinar was back. Daniel withdrew his arms swiftly, and Jolinar lay back against the pillow as her eyes flashed.
"Your Colonel O'Neill is being appropriately direct," she said.
"So, what do you have to say to that?" demanded Jack, the softness that had come when faced with Sam gone again.
"You want this one returned to you at any cost," said Jolinar. "And I do not want to stay in an unwilling host."
"Oh, and we're just going to believe that?" asked Jack. Daniel was deep in thought and didn't seem to notice their conversation.
"I only chose her to save both our lives," said Jolinar, though she eyed Jack with just a hint of scorn. "It matters not what you believe, thus are the facts. So is the fact that I must return to my people."
"Yeah, and who are they exactly?" Jack stepped forward past Daniel, but only so that he towered over the bed.
"The Tok'ra," said Jolinar, holding her gaze upwards towards Jack's.
Then Teal'c stepped out from the sidelines, breaking the barrier of the silent crowd. "They are but a legend, ColonelO'Neill," he said in his deep rumbling voice.
"A Jaffa?" asked Jolinar. "The famed shol'va, Teal'c? You must know more of us than that—do not even the Goa'uld speak of the name of Jolinar of Malkshur?"
"Uppity, are we?" commented Jack, but Teal'c appeared pondering.
"I have indeed heard of that name, ColonelO'Neill," he said. "She is wanted among the System Lords for acts of treason."
Jack's eyebrows rose considerably.
"Tok'ra," said Daniel, coming out of his reverie as he connected some pieces, tapping a finger on his leg. "Tok-ra, against Ra, that's what that name means?"
"Of course," said Jolinar shortly.
"Why?" continued Daniel.
"You of all people need reasons why any others would oppose such an evil?"
"When it comes to you, yes," said Daniel, giving her a close look. "You're a—a symbiote, you need humans. Why should you hate those like Ra?"
"Ra was an abomination, as are his brood," said Jolinar disgustedly. "Our race was not originally so flawed; we are meant to live in harmony with our hosts, sharing body and mind."
"So, like just now with Sam?" asked Daniel.
"This is not the most ideal of situations," said Jolinar dryly. It frustrated Daniel to hear.
"Dr. Jackson, we need to make a decision," cut in General Hammond.
"We haven't learned anything useful, sir," said Jack. "She's still a snake, and she still has Carter. I recommend we continue with the original plan."
"Except we didn't have one," said Daniel. "And general sir, this isn't like Kawalsky—this Jolinar doesn't want to stay in Sam."
"How do we know she's who she says she is?" demanded Jack.
"Why would a Goa'uld take on the identity of a traitor? It makes no sense, Jack," said Daniel.
He stepped away from Sam to stand by Hammond, saying quietly so Jolinar couldn't hear. "Sir, I think for Sam's sake we need to treat this less like a hostage situation, at least on the surface. Jolinar may be cooperative, but she doesn't seem like the most patient."
"General?" called Janet from where she had taken up Daniel's place. "Whatever you decide, Sam is going to need continual care."
"That is beside the question," spoke up Jolinar. "Your Carter will be well healed within two days, and already she is past any critical stage."
"I'll need to check that, sir," said Janet hesitantly. "But we do know that Goa'uld heal quickly."
Hammond frowned, and spoke after a moment. "Dr. Frasier, you will accompany the marines to an isolation chamber, where you will make sure that this Jolinar and Captain Carter are secured safely. We will continue this discussion at a later date."
"Thank you, sir," said Daniel.
"Follow me, gentlemen," said Hammond, and he turned to leave the infirmary.
Daniel looked to Sam. "Sam? Don't worry, we'll get you through this, I promise."
"We've got your back, Carter," said Jack. Teal'c nodded his equal assurance.
ooooooo
Jolinar's eyes flashed as she gave control back to Sam, but Sam had nothing to say, just watched as her team walked out of the infirmary. Then she lay back on the cot as it was wheeled down the hallway. She was a prisoner in her own body, afraid of speaking in case she might betray something to her jailor—and no one had a rescue plan, not even her.
Part of her wished that she had not been saved by this Jolinar, and it was a part that was growing stronger by the moment.