Juggling her briefcase and a cup of coffee, Janet swiped her keycard through the wall-mounted reader and fumbled with the knob. Letting herself into her office, she flipped on the lights with her elbow, purposely ignoring the piles of paperwork and flashing phone messages that were waiting for her. She had thoroughly enjoyed her weekend at the lake with her daughter, and regretted having to return to the confines of the mountain entombed base so soon.
She dropped her briefcase onto one of the chairs and sipped at her coffee as she surveyed the damage. At least a dozen charts and folders occupied the "in" box, patiently awaiting her review and signature. Her phone indicated she had eight saved messages, and several hand written memos were stacked neatly on her keyboard. Clearly her services had been in high demand.
I need a clone… She thought, pulling a clean lab coat off the rack and slipping it on.
"Dr. Fraiser?"
Janet turned around to find Captain Tomas standing in the open doorway. She gestured for her to come in.
"Did you have a good weekend, ma'am?"
"I did," she replied, taking a seat at her desk. "I can't remember the last time got to lay out in the sun like that. It was nice. How were things here?"
"Well…" Tomas produced two folders from beneath her arm and held them out for the doctor to take. "I realize you're just getting in, but I thought you might want to see these right away."
Curious, Janet accepted the folders and flipped open the top one. It was Sam's medical chart. She quickly read through the most recent notations. "Her energy burn is infected. I thought it looked pretty good when I left on Friday."
"It did," Tomas agreed. "Apparently Major Carter got motor lubricant on her hands several days ago. Instead of coming to the infirmary for help, she took care of it herself. She came in last night with a low-grade fever, pain, and localized swelling. We scrubbed it clean, dressed it properly, and instructed her to keep it dry. She's due in sometime this morning for a recheck, but Dr. Warner is pretty sure the infection is secondary and will clear up quickly with antibiotics and rest."
Sam rest when there's work to do? Obviously Warner forgot who he was dealing with… Janet thought as she set her friend's folder off the side and picked up the next one. It was significantly thicker than Sam's had been and she had a pretty good idea who it belonged to. She flipped it open and found Jack's name staring up at her from the cover sheet. As she scanned down through the notes made by Warner and Morgan, she felt the sense of relaxation she'd acquired over the weekend start to dissolve. '…Symptoms indicative of the early stage of pneumonia…' damn it…
"I've heard of sympathy pains, but never sympathy infections," she said, shaking her head. "He was doing so good too."
Tomas saw the discouragement on the doctor's face. "Dr. Jackson and Teal'c alerted us to the change in colonel's condition early yesterday afternoon. He's been slowly deteriorating ever since."
"Did Dr. Warner take x-rays?"
"No. He didn't feel that the colonel's symptoms were severe enough to warrant an x-ray, but he started him on an antibiotic as a precaution."
"This is that last thing he needs," Janet muttered more or less to herself. "All right. I'm going to go check on the colonel and see how he's doing. If Major Carter should happen to come by, keep her here. I want to take a look at her hand personally."
"Yes, ma'am," Tomas replied, turning on her heel to leave.
"Oh, and captain?"
"Ma'am?"
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention. It's definitely something I needed to know about. "
The officer nodded and quietly left the room.
Alone in her office, Janet sighed and took a long drink from her rapidly cooling coffee. She looked at the pile of paperwork on her desk and the blinking message light on her phone. She knew there were people counting on her to get those things done, but they would just have to wait until later. Grabbing her stethoscope from its hook on the wall, she stood and headed for the door. There was no use denying it; it was going to be a very long day.
Jack was miserable. His head hurt and his body ached. His chest was on fire and it was becoming a conscious effort to take an adequate breath. He would be shivering one minute and sweating the next; the skin beneath his bandages and cast prickling terribly. He was exhausted, but unable to sleep thanks to the intense coughing fits that would jar him awake.
He opened his eyes when he felt a cool hand brush across his face. Janet was at his side, watching him with a mixture of concern and sympathy.
"I leave for a couple of days and look what happens," she said, mercifully keeping her voice low.
"Sorry, doc," Jack mumbled, his voice hoarse from frequent coughing.
She pushed his sweaty bangs away from his forehead. "You don't have to apologize, colonel, I'm just teasing you. I saw the notes Dr. Warner left in your chart. It sounds like you had a pretty rough day yesterday."
"He thinks it's pneumonia."
"That's what it sounds like, but I want to look you over myself just to be sure, okay?"
Jack nodded. "Daniel said Carter's sick too."
"I haven't seen Sam personally yet, but yes, her burn is infected," she explained. She saw his weary expression darken with concern. "I don't want you worrying about her though. My staff and I will take care of her, just like we're going to take care of you. You're both going to be fine."
He searched her face for a moment, as if he didn't quite believe her reassuring words. Finally he relaxed and shut his is eyes, the brief interaction wearing him out.
"Let me wash my hands, sir, and then we'll try to figure out what's going on. You might need to have a couple of x-rays, but I want to see how your lungs sound first." Janet walked over to the sink and turned on the water. She felt sorry for Jack. His injuries were bad enough, but now to be getting sick on top of them just didn't seem fair. She had hoped his work with a respiratory specialist would have prevented such complications and was discouraged to learn it hadn't been enough. She felt like she'd let him down in some ways, and could only hope that she'd be able to make things right again.
Jack was dozing when she returned to his side. She could already tell he wasn't breathing right just by watching the rise and fall of his chest. The numbers displayed on the assorted monitors around the bed confirmed his declining condition as well. The doctor sighed and put on her stethoscope. She didn't have to listen to his lungs for long before she heard the telltale crackle of trapped fluid. It was a subtle sound – only detectable when he took a deep enough breath – but it was definitely there. Warner had either missed it entirely, or Jack had worsened since his last report.
"Colonel?" she said, trying to wake him as gently as possible.
"Hmm?"
"Can you take a deep breath for me, sir?"
"I'll start coughing."
"That's okay – I want you to try it anyway." She listened carefully as he drew in a couple of shallow breaths before attempting her request. He managed to fill his lungs about half their capacity before the coughing started, the harsh rattling sound of fluid filling her ears. Having heard all she needed, Janet pulled off her stethoscope and turned her attention to comforting her friend.
Jack's eyes began to water as the pain in his chest grew worse. He felt Janet put light pressure against his damaged ribs, and while it helped his discomfort, it did nothing to stop the deep, barking coughs that were shaking his body. Slowly, and with a tremendous effort on his part, he brought the unbearable hacking under control.
Satisfied that he was finished, Janet eased the pressure off his ribs and handed him a tissue. She didn't like how short of breath the spell had left him, nor the wheezing sound he made with each shallow inhalation. There was no doubt in her mind that he had pneumonia, and given the extent of his injuries, she knew they'd only get one chance to bring it under control.
"You want some water?" she asked, offering her patient a drink.
Jack took a few tentative sips from the glass before motioning her away.
"You okay?"
"Yeah – I'm…ow…I'm good," he uttered, wrapping his arm around his chest to support his burning ribcage. "Kinda getting used to it."
"Well, I would definitely say you have pneumonia, sir, but I still want to get a few x-rays to see how far it's progressed. I'm going to have the portable unit brought up – I think it'll be less stressful on everyone to do it that way. Will you be all right for a second while I make the call?"
The colonel nodded and closed his eyes. He'd been lying when he told Janet that he was getting used to the coughing fits. He couldn't tell if they were getting worse, or he was just getting weaker. Even with all the training and first hand experience he'd had dealing with pain, each cough felt like it was bringing him one step closer to losing it. It wasn't a feeling he particularly enjoyed.
He heard the doctor's brisk footsteps as she returned from making her call. She paused for a moment, and then there was a small 'click' up behind his head. Almost immediately, Jack felt the numbing effects of painkillers entering his bloodstream. She had triggered his PCA pump. "I don't need…"
"Yes, you do. You may be able to hide your pain from the others, colonel, but you can't from me." Janet pulled a chair up beside his bed and sat down. "Besides, you're going to appreciate it when the x-ray techs get here and start moving you around."
Jack grunted, but dropped the issue. He knew there were some arguments he just couldn't win, and this was one of them. He settled for changing the topic instead. "How'd your weekend with Cassie go?"
"Great. We practically had the whole lake to ourselves. We did some hiking, took out the canoe – my shoulders are killing me from that – we played in the sand, laid in the sun…"
"Swimming?"
"Not me, no; the water is still far too cold for that. Cassie, on the other hand – I had everything I could do to get her out of the water." The doctor chuckled. "She gets around like a fish though. You taught her well, sir."
He smiled weakly. "She's a natural."
"We had a little talk about school too."
"What'd she say?"
"Well she wanted to know why she was singled out of her class and what was in the notes the guidance office keeps sending home with her. I told her that her math skills were a little behind some of her friends, and the school was concerned it might make her transition into to Junior High difficult," Janet explained, noting the concern on Jack's face. "I said they were looking for the best way to help her get those skills to make the change go as smooth as possible."
"Does she know they want to keep her back?"
"No, and I've told the school I'd prefer her not to know. She's already upset about the results of the testing; I don't want her thinking she's not smart enough, because she is. Schools on Hanka just didn't stress math and science like we do here." The doctor sighed. "I have a meeting with her teacher tomorrow afternoon to get her take on things. Hopefully she can come up with something more reasonable than what the guidance department did."
There was a knock at the door. Janet excused herself and went to open it, finding three radiology technicians, the portable x-ray equipment, and a bewildered looking Daniel waiting on the other side.
"Janet?" he asked, standing on tiptoes to try and see into the room. "What's going on? Is Jack okay?"
"Go ahead and get set up. I'll just be a minute," she said to the lead technician. She waited patiently for the group to maneuver the ungainly machine into the room and closed the door behind them.
"Is Jack…?"
"He's sick, Daniel," Janet replied. "He has pneumonia."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Quite sure. I've ordered x-rays to be certain, but the symptoms are all there."
"But how? He's been doing so well. He seemed a little off yesterday, but he said he was tired."
"The risk of infection is always present with chest injuries, especially severe ones. I had hoped to avoid it, but sometimes prevention just isn't enough."
"He's going to be okay though, right?"
"I don't know."
"What?"
"Pneumonia is tricky, Daniel. It can rapidly overwhelm even a relatively healthy person. The colonel has been improving, yes, but his systems are still weak from the accident."
The archeologist frowned. "So Jack could still…?"
"I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to hear this, and I wish I could tell you he was going to be okay, but I just don't know. There are a lot of factors at work here, and if even one of them goes wrong, we stand a chance of losing him."
Daniel looked down at the floor, fixing his gaze on a dark fleck embedded in the concrete. The news of Jack's worsening condition seemed almost surreal. When he'd bid his friend goodnight the evening before, he'd sensed something was off, but he never imagined it would be this bad.
Janet saw a mixture of emotions playing across her friend's face. "Daniel?"
"He was doing so good…"
"I know."
"He was joking and laughing and complaining… It was almost like he was his old self again."
"I know."
"And now we could still lose him."
Janet could hear the disappointment and frustration in her friend's voice. "I know this feels like a low blow, but we're not letting him go without a fight. There are some strong antibiotics out there that will help tip the scales in his favor and increase his chances of making it through this."
"Sam's sick too."
"I haven't seen her yet, but it sounds like Sam's infection is secondary. It should clear up with the proper medication and plenty of rest."
An ironic smile twitched at the corner of Daniel's mouth. " 'Plenty of rest.' With that big MALP project going on, you're going to have to tie Sam to a bed to get that to happen."
"I can have that arranged, believe me."
Daniel's smile widened briefly before fading just as quickly. "Do you think I could sit with Jack?"
She started to say no, but then realized the colonel would probably appreciate some familiar company. "I'll tell you what: let us get the x-rays we need and then you can sit with him for a bit."
"Really? Thanks."
"Just remember that he needs to rest. I doubt he'll be in the mood for chatting anyway, he's feeling pretty lousy right now."
"Do I have enough time to go let Sam and Teal'c know what's going on?"
"Actually, I'd rather have you wait on that."
"What? Why? Jack's sick, they need to know."
"I agree, but right now the colonel needs to rest, and he can't do that surrounded by his well-meaning, overly concerned teammates," she said. "Let me confirm his diagnosis first and we'll tell the others."
Daniel didn't like keeping the condition of their leader from the rest of the team, but he understood where Janet was coming from. "Okay."
The door to Jack's room opened and one of the technicians poked her head out. "We're ready when you are, Dr. Fraiser."
"Thank you – I'll be right in," Janet replied. She turned back to Daniel who looked lost in thought. "Are you going to be okay?"
Daniel nodded. He was still upset by the news, but he took some consolation in knowing his friend at least had a chance. "Yeah. I just didn't expect to be confronted with this when I got up this morning."
"Neither did I," she replied. "I know you're worried, but try to keep an open-mind. It will benefit everyone, including the colonel." She offered him a reassuring smile. "We shouldn't be long."
Left alone in the corridor, Daniel slid off his glasses and scrubbed a hand across his face. He had a headache, borne of stress and concern for his friends. He'd known about Sam, but to hear of Jack's deterioration was a complete surprise. Janet was right when she said this was a low blow. They already thought they'd lost him once back on the alien world, but to have to face it again just didn't seem fair.
Daniel sank down into one of the plastic chairs lined up along the corridor. Dropping his head back against the cool concrete wall, he looked up at the tangle of pipes on the ceiling. He hated to wait, but if it got him into see Jack, he'd sit there all day. Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried to think of the best way to break the discouraging news to his friends.
General Hammond frowned as he skimmed down through the report he was holding. From the corner of his eye, he could see Janet hovering by the large glass window near the front of his office, anxiously fiddling with a penlight she had taken from her pocket. He'd been preparing to leave for the day when her tentative knock at his door had interrupted him. Wearing an expression of fatigue mixed with concern, she had passed him three folders to review.
"This isn't the sort of news I like to get at the end of the day, doctor," he said upon finishing the final report.
She came to the front of his desk. "I know, sir, and I'm sorry. It's just been a busy day. I would have gotten to you sooner, but when SG-5 came back after spending the night under prepared in below freezing conditions, they became my top priority."
"Of course, I understand," he replied, retrieving that particular report from the pile and flipping it open. "So the members of SG-5 will be all right?"
"Yes, sir. All four members were treated for mild hypothermia and frostbite upon their return. Apparently the hollow tree they took shelter in protected them from the worst of the elements. We're keeping them in the infirmary overnight for observation, but they should be just fine."
"And what about Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill?"
"As Dr. Warner suspected, Major Carter's infection is secondary. Her burn got contaminated with engine lubricant while she was working, and she tried to take care of it herself. The wound subsequently became infected, and she sought help when it wasn't getting any better. Although not serious, it did require her burn to be thoroughly scrubbed clean. This completely reopened the wound and now she's back to square one as far as healing goes. She's been put on antibiotics and 72 hours of strict rest."
"I bet that went over well," Hammond remarked, knowing how much Sam enjoyed staying busy.
"Sam and I had a long discussion about what light duty means and the potential ramifications of her infection getting worse. Blood poisoning is just the beginning, especially where the injury is so close to a mending broken bone. Assuming she does what she's told and doesn't over do it when she's released to go back to work, I don't foresee her having any more problems with it."
"That's good to know. Now what about the colonel?"
Janet sighed and sat down in one of the chairs facing the general's desk. "Colonel O'Neill has me worried. X-rays confirmed he's in the early stages of pneumonia. Normally this wouldn't pose such a concern as it's quite treatable, but his injuries will most likely complicate things. He has fluid in his lungs, and the urge to cough is ever present. He's miserable and in a lot of pain."
"Any idea what caused it?"
"Pneumonia is a common complication of chest injuries. Pain causes patients not to breathe as deeply as they normally would, and bacteria can build up in the lungs. I had hoped the breathing exercises the colonel was doing with Lieutenant Morgan would have been enough to prevent this, but it obviously wasn't. I realize now he should have been on a low dose of antibiotic from the beginning as an added layer of protection."
"It's not your fault, doctor," Hammond assured her. "What's his prognosis?"
"At this point, it's too soon say," she replied. "I've changed his antibiotic to something more aggressive than the one Dr. Warner had him on initially. We're watching him closely and looking out for signs of undue distress. Right now he's breathing adequately on his own, but we're ready to step in if things change. We're also working to keep his fever down and his discomfort at a minimum."
"So things could still go either way?"
Janet nodded solemnly. "Yes sir. Hopefully we caught it early enough to keep it from progressing much further, but things can change very quickly."
The general sighed. He'd gotten the feeling that Jack's situation wasn't good just by reading the report, but to hear the details from Janet herself made his heart sink. "I trust you'll do your best, doctor. Keep me apprised of both…"
There was a sharp, urgent knock at his door. It swung open a moment later to admit Sergeant Harriman. "I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but I just got an urgent call from the infirmary. They need Dr. Fraiser to report to Colonel O'Neill's room immediately."
Janet was already on her feet. "Sir…"
"Go. I'll be right behind you," Hammond said. The petite doctor had left his office and was out of sight before he'd even stood up from his chair. He quickly stowed the confidential folders in his desk and hurried out the door after her.
One…two…three…four…five…turn.
Five…four…three…two…one…turn.
Daniel paced the narrow length of the corridor outside of Jack's private room. Pacing wasn't something he normally did, but he was agitated and it provided an outlet for his anxious energy. Jack's condition had just gone from bad to worse, and he and Teal'c had had a front row seat.
One…two…three…four…five…turn.
He glanced at Teal'c as he rigidly stalked by. The large man was seated on one of the plastic chairs with eyes closed and his shoulders squared, apparently meditating. He and Sam had come down to see Jack around lunch after working for most of the morning converting a spare storeroom into a suitable workshop for the MALP upgrade. Their team vigil was interrupted a short time later when Sam was summoned to the infirmary for an appointment with Janet. She never returned, and a nurse later informed them that she'd been ordered to rest for the remainder of the day.
The two men spent the afternoon quietly keeping their sick friend company. Daniel occupied himself with a stack of photos depicting ancient glyphs that another SG team had discovered off world. Teal'c spent his time either meditating or playing his video game with the sound piped through a set of headphones. Jack slept, waking only briefly during the worst of his coughing spells before being claimed by sleep once again.
Except for that last time… Daniel thought. He'd been thumbing through one of his reference books when Jack began to cough. He didn't think much of it at first; his friend had been experiencing bouts of coughing all afternoon. It was when the coughing didn't stop after a minute or two that he became worried. Even with headphones on, Teal'c had sensed there was something wrong and left his game to check on his teammate. As his coughing continued, Jack became progressively more distressed. Just as they were about to call for help, there was an odd cracking sound and his pain seemed to increase tenfold. Blood appeared on his lips, and he seemed unable to pull in enough air. Teal'c had hit the panic button, and within seconds, the small room was crawling with medical personnel.
I wish they hadn't kicked us out… Daniel stopped pacing and looked at the closed door leading to Jack's room. There was no telling what was going on inside. Janet had flown through several minutes ago, barely acknowledging their presence before disappearing into the room. Now all they could do was wait.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
Daniel turned when a familiar voice spoke from behind him. It was Hammond. "General," he greeted. "Have you heard about Jack?"
"I was with Dr. Fraiser when she got the page for assistance from her team. Do either of you know what happened?"
"O'Neill was unable to stop coughing. His condition quickly deteriorated and he began expelling blood," Teal'c explained, rousing from his meditative state.
"The lead nurse said it looked like Jack's right lung may have collapsed again," Daniel added. "She said Janet would be able to tell for sure."
"I certainly hope it's nothing that serious, " Hammond replied. A re-collapsed lung was the last thing Jack needed. Any more complications, and he feared the injured man might not make it through. He sighed and gestured to the row of chairs along the wall. "May I wait with you?"
"Of course, General Hammond," Teal'c said with a nod.
As Hammond took a seat, Daniel resumed his pacing. Except for the occasional scuff of his boot heels, the hallway fell silent. There was no small talk, conjectures, or expressions of fears or hopes. They were there to support Jack, even if they couldn't be with him directly.
One…two…three…four…five…turn.
Five…four…three…two…one…turn.
Time passed slowly as the three men waited. Teal'c returned to his meditation and Hammond merely sat with his arms crossed and a distant expression on his face. Daniel continued to pace and count, occupying his worried mind and body with the same mundane mantra and repetitive movement.
One…two…three…four…five…turn.
Five…four…three…two…one…turn.
At last the door opened and Janet stepped out. The three men nearly came to attention, anxious to hear what the doctor had to say.
"How is he?" Daniel asked as she approached.
"He's doing okay," she replied. "We got his coughing under control and made him as comfortable as possible. He's resting now."
"What happened, doctor?" Hammond asked. "Dr. Jackson said it was thought his lung might have collapsed again."
"That's what I thought too when I first saw him," she agreed. "But based on the results of his exam, I'm fairly certain that's not the case. My team is preparing to take him over to radiology for an MRI to rule it out completely though."
"If O'Neill's lung has not collapsed, what do you believe caused these new symptoms?" Teal'c inquired.
"I suspect his coughing has aggravated some of the injuries he sustained in the accident. He's definitely re-broken several of his ribs, now whether or not they having anything to do with his bleeding remains yet to be seen."
"This could really be serious then," Hammond said, concern evident in his voice.
"Yes sir, it has the potential to be," Janet replied.
Their heads all turned when the door to Jack's room opened and several nurses began the delicate task of guiding the bed through the narrow doorway.
"Janet, can we see him for a minute?" Daniel asked.
"I don't see why not."
The three men gathered together and waited as the nurses brought the bed to a stop in front of them. Hammond hung back as the others stepped forward, allowing them some space to be with their teammate.
Daniel reached out and took Jack's hand. He barely recognized his friend beneath the fogged oxygen mask and haggard appearance. They had cleaned the blood from his face, but in his mind, he could still see it smeared across his mouth and chin. He shook his head to clear away the unpleasant image. "Is he unconscious?"
"He's sedated, but he can still hear you," Janet replied.
"Hey, Jack. It's me – it's Daniel. Teal'c and General Hammond are here too. We ah…" He paused and cleared his throat. It was hard seeing his friend like this and his voice kept trying to break. "We just want you to know that we're all here pulling for you and that we hope you start feeling better soon."
"Your presence is greatly missed, O'Neill," Teal'c added. "Daniel Jackson does not possess the same vigor as you do at boxing. I am hopeful for the day when we may spar again."
"We all miss you, Jack," the general agreed. "The base is too quiet without you around."
Daniel felt Jack's fingers close weakly around his own and saw his lips moving behind the mask. "Jack? Janet, I think he's trying to say something."
The doctor leaned forward and tipped the mask away from her patient's face long enough to hear what he had to say. Smiling, she replaced the mask and patted him on the arm. "He said he's not dead yet."
Daniel grinned. That's our Jack… "Of course you're not, and you're not going to be either," Daniel said, tightly gripping his friend's hand. "You've just got to hang on and fight. Show that pneumonia whose boss, kick its ass – do whatever it takes. And you're not fighting this alone. We all are. Sam, Teal'c, and I, the general, Janet and her staff – the whole base is rooting for you, Jack. Don't give up. We still need you out there."
Janet had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself composed. It was always difficult to remain impartial when friends were involved, especially when the situation looked bleak. Despite her feelings of sadness, however, she knew she had to remain professional for the sake of Jack and his team, as well as her own.
"Daniel, we need to…"
"Go…Right." He gave Jack's hand a final squeeze and settled it back at his side. Teal'c momentarily rested a hand on Jack's shoulder and Hammond bid him good luck. With a nod from Janet, the nurses resumed guiding the bed down the hall, around the corner, and out of sight.
"How long do you expect the MRI to take?" Hammond asked.
"Not long. An hour at the most."
"Would you let me know what you find out before you leave?"
"Certainly, sir. I can do that."
"I'd appreciate it." Sighing deeply, the general turned to the two members of SG-1. "I know this is difficult for you both. It's hard to see someone you care for in a situation like this. I've done it many times over the years and it still bothers me as much today as it did the first time it happened." He offered them a sympathetic smile. "Try to get some rest, gentlemen. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day." With a nod to Janet, Hammond parted from the small group and headed back toward his office.
For a moment, the others just stood and listened to his fading footsteps echoing through the hall. Daniel finally broke the silence, his voice sounding loud in the quiet passageway.
"Can Teal'c and I wait here until he comes back? We can sit with him if…"
The doctor shook her head. "No, not tonight. It's getting late, and the colonel needs to rest, as do both of you. I'm going to assign a nurse to him, so you don't have to worry about him being alone," she assured them. "Now Dr. Champney will be here in the morning as I've volunteered to help out with Field Day tomorrow at Cassie's school. It's the last day of classes, and her teacher wanted to something fun for the kids. I'll be in to work the overnight with Dr. Warner, but I'll make sure Dr. Champney knows short visits with the colonel are all right as long as he's stable."
"Should we not alert Major Carter of O'Neill's worsening condition?" Teal'c asked.
"That's something else we need to talk about actually..."
"What? You mean we can't visit Sam either? Janet…"
She held up her hand to silence Daniel's argument and motioned the two men to follow her down the hall. "I want you to let Sam rest tonight. Although she's not as sick as the colonel, she still has an infection. She's been running a fever and sleep is what she needs the most of right now." Based on their expressions, Janet could tell neither Daniel nor Teal'c were very happy with her decision. Being such a closely-knit team, it was difficult for them to be denied access to their friends, especially during times of need.
"Listen, I know you're both frustrated, afraid, and worried about your friends. I am too, and so is the general. We all care about the colonel and Sam, and we all want them to get better. There's a good chance that will happen, but we need to give them the opportunity to heal first. Allowing them to rest now will greatly better their chances at a full recovery – especially the colonel." She brought the small group to a stop just outside the radiology lab. "You'll be able to see them both again soon – just not tonight. Okay?"
Teal'c accepted her explanation with a bow of his head. Daniel seemed a bit more reserved, but he nodded just the same.
"Good. I'm glad you understand. This is tough, I know, but you've got to trust me." She reached for the doorknob. "I'll probably be here another couples of hours if either of you need to talk. Otherwise I'll be in sometime early tomorrow evening after I drop Cassie off at her friend's house."
"I think we'll be all right, Janet," Daniel replied. "Thanks for letting us see Jack."
"Sure. Now go get some rest, both of you. It's been a long day, and I need you guys to be in fighting form for tomorrow."
The two men exchanged confused looks. "What's tomorrow?"
"Well, since I'm not going to be here, I need someone to keep an eye on Sam. I've given her a strict 'no work' order, and I'm counting on you two to make sure she sticks to it."
"I believe we can ensure your orders are followed, Doctor Fraiser," Teal'c replied. "Major Carter will not be permitted to do work of any kind."
Janet smiled. She knew if anyone would take her orders as verbatim, it would be Teal'c. "Terrific." She pushed open the door. "Have a good night, gentlemen. I'll see you tomorrow."
Daniel gave her a small wave and then both men turned and headed toward the elevator. Janet watched as they went, wishing there was more she could say to ease their worries and concerns. She could almost guarantee Sam's recovery, but Jack's fate was still up in the air. Regardless of the MRI results, she knew he was in a bad place; it was just a matter of how bad and whether he would recover or continue to slowly slip away from them.
For all of the joy and excitement working in the medical field can bring… she thought as she stepped into the equipment laden radiology lab. This is one of those times when being a doctor can really suck…
Janet muffled a weary yawn as she stepped into the elevator and keyed in her destination. She was worn out from a day in the sun chasing soccer balls, dodging water balloons, and mending the occasional scraped knee. Field Day and the subsequent barbeque had been a huge success with the students at Cassie's school and had served as the perfect way to close out the year.
The elevator came to a gradual stop and opened its doors on Level 21. Janet stepped out and headed towards the infirmary, bidding goodnight to several other officers as they passed by. She stopped by the main ward to collect a few items and check in with Dr. Warner. With shift assignments handed out to the staff and new patients looked in on, she was able to shift her focus to her main concern: Colonel O'Neill.
As she made her way down to where the private rooms were located, her thoughts drifted back to the unsettling events of the previous day. She hadn't been pleased with the results of his MRI, but she hadn't been surprised either. The scan confirmed that his coughing had re-broken four of the six rib fractures along his right side. Luckily, the internal stabilizer Warner had put in after the accident held the broken segments in place and prevented another, undoubtedly deadly case of flail chest from occurring.
The scan had also shown the poor condition of Jack's lungs. Both were clouded with fluid caused by the pneumonia, making it clear to see why he was having such a difficult time breathing. It was his right lung, however, that had drawn most concern with its dark patches of shadowing. He'd shown similar mottling after the accident, but it had been improving when his new symptoms began. The concussive force of his coughing had reopened the internal sores and caused the bleeding and bruising to return.
Janet knew the colonel's situation wasn't good. Stubborn determination could only take a person so far, especially when their body was waging war against an infection. Toss in a couple of broken ribs, sore lungs, and a weakened immune system, and you had yourself a recipe for a potential disaster. And not to mention a devastating loss…
The doctor sighed as she rounded the corner leading to Jack's private room. She found Captain Tomas seated outside the partially open door, a thick novel in her hands. "Good evening, Captain."
"Dr. Fraiser," Tomas greeted as she set her book aside. "How was Field Day?"
"It was great," Janet replied. "I broke a few nails playing Frisbee and was bombarded by ice cold water balloons, but it was still a lot of fun. Cassie was so worn out she was practically asleep when I dropped her off at her friend's house on the way in. All that fresh air and exercise is good for her though. How have things been around here?"
Tomas's smile faded as she leaned over to grab Jack's chart and held it out for the doctor to take. "Quiet. Uncomfortably so."
Janet took a moment to read down through the new notes left by Dr. Champney. "Has the colonel been sleeping a lot?"
"He's been out for most of the day," Tomas replied. "It's probably the best thing for him. The poor man is absolutely miserable when he's awake. We've been trying to keep his fever down, but it's being rather persistent. At least it's not getting any worse."
"How's his coughing been?"
"Constant. He's been sleeping through most of it, but every couple of hours he'll wake up during a nasty spell. He's short of breath for about fifteen minutes afterwards, and the pain from his ribs is obvious."
"I saw Dr. Champney increased his pain medication." It wasn't a promising sign. "How about blood? Is he coughing it up still?"
Tomas nodded. "A little, usually during the worst bouts. Most of it's clotted though. Dr. Champney said the sores in his lungs were likely starting to close up."
"It'd be a relief if they did," Janet remarked. "Has his team been down at all?"
"Dr. Jackson and Teal'c have been in and out all day. They were good and kept their visits short. The colonel was usually asleep anyway and they didn't want to disturb him."
"What about Major Carter?"
"She came down a couple of hours ago."
"Good. I was hoping she'd get out for a while. How did she look?"
"A little pale, but she seemed to be all right."
"How about when she left? Did she seem upset?" Janet saw an odd expression flicker across Tomas's face. "Captain?"
"She…" Tomas glanced over her shoulder through the partly open door and lowered her voice. "She hasn't left."
"She's still here?"
"I'm sorry, Dr. Fraiser. Dr. Champney told me to limit visits to no more than a few minutes, but I thought…"
Janet shook her head. "It's okay, captain. I knew one of them would weasel in sooner or later; I just didn't want the whole team converging on him at once. It's probably doing them both some good anyway. I spoke to Daniel on the phone this morning and he said she was shaken when she found out about what happened last night."
"The last time I looked in on them, they were both asleep. Major Carter didn't look very comfortable, but I didn't want to wake her up."
"I'm heading in to give the colonel his next dose of antibiotics, so I'll check on her," she said, closing the chart and tucking it under her arm. "Thanks for keeping an eye on things today. It sure makes my job a whole lot easier."
Tomas smiled. "Anytime, ma'am," she replied and returned to her reading.
Being as quiet as she could, Janet let herself into the small room and closed the door behind her. She smiled when she saw Sam slouched over in a chair beside the bed, a magazine splayed open in her lap. Her position looked decisively uncomfortable with her head lolled forward and one leg tucked awkwardly beneath her. There was no doubt she'd be sore when she finally woke up, but for now she was too deeply asleep to be disturbed by her contortions.
Leaving her friend to rest, Janet went to check on the colonel. Like Sam he was asleep, but nowhere near as relaxed. Even in the low light, she could see he was feverish and unnaturally pale. His breathing was labored, and she didn't need a stethoscope to hear the crackly wheeze of fluid coming from his lungs.
Janet sighed as she reached into her pocket and withdrew the syringe that held his next dose of antibiotics. She had to wonder if they were even doing any good. It had been over 36 hours since she'd switched his medication, and he still hadn't shown any signs of improvement.
But there haven't been any signs of deterioration, either… She tried to dismiss this notion as wishful thinking, but it refused to go away. His difficulties last night were caused by his injuries, not because the pneumonia is getting worse…
She thought back over what she'd read in his file, particularly the chart containing his vital information. His numbers were certainly irregular, but they'd been steady across the board since early that morning – about 18 hours after his first dose of the new antibiotic. If his condition were still worsening, she would have expected his vitals to fluctuate considerably as his system struggled to regulate itself.
Janet looked down at the sleeping colonel. Although she wasn't fond of the cliché, Jack had definitely reached the critical hour. His condition was poised to swing either way. It was just a matter of his flagging immune system holding back the pneumonia a little bit longer so the drugs could finish their work.
She slid the syringe into the IV catheter taped to the back of Jack's hand and slowly depressed the plunger. The man groaned and twitched his fingers as the cold fluid entered his overheated body.
"It's okay, colonel," Janet said quietly. "This is going to help you feel better. You just have to hang on for a little longer, and then it will all be over." One way or another…
She chided herself mentally for allowing such a thought, but she knew it was the truth. She'd been here many times before, watching as a critically ill person wavered between recovery and death. She had seen patients with a promising outlook suddenly fail and those who were thought to have no chance survive. This was where the science of medicine became a twisted game of chance in which one wrong move could cause the player's game to end. Permanently.
With the medication given, Janet dampened a cloth at the sink and used it to gently wipe the perspiration from Jack's face. She considered moving him back to the critical care ward, but dismissed the idea as quickly as it came. Unless he suddenly took a turn for the worst, there really wasn't anything more that could be done for him over there that wasn't already being done now. She also feared the stress of the move could send him headlong into the deadly decline they'd been trying so hard to avoid.
Satisfied that she had made Jack as comfortable as possible, the doctor returned to check on her sleeping friend. Sam hadn't moved from her awkward position in the chair. If anything, she had curled up even more. "Sam?" Janet whispered, lightly tapping her on the knee. "Sam? Come on now, it's time to wake up."
Sam woke up in such a rush that Janet nearly leapt out of her skin. "Colonel?" Still half asleep and unaware of her cramped limbs, she clambered to his bedside and searched wildly for what had woken her. "Sir?"
"Sam, it's okay, it's just me."
The bewildered major turned and looked at her, her eyes still glazed with sleep. "Janet?" she uttered. "The colonel…"
"He's all right, Sam. He's asleep."
Sam looked back to her commanding officer as if to verify her friend's words. He looked far from all right, but he was definitely asleep. As her panic subsided and the adrenaline rush faded, she gradually became aware of her own pain – and not just the deep throb coming from her injured hand either.
Janet saw the change in her friend's expression. "Sam? Are you okay?"
"My right leg is asleep…bad."
"Well, you weren't sleeping in the most comfortable position."
"What do you mean?" Sam asked. "I…I was asleep?"
"Mm-hmm. For quite a while too, according to Captain Tomas."
Sam frowned. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought," she replied, unable to recall falling asleep or even feeling drowsy. "I just came down to see how the colonel was doing and walked in on one of his coughing spells. The nurse asked me for help, so I used a pillow to support his broken ribs. It was awful, Janet. By the time it ended, he was exhausted and his breathing sounded terrible. And the blood…" Sam closed her eyes, remembering the darkened blood that spotted the tissues the nurse had used to clean his mouth. It was suddenly too much for her to bear.
"Sam?" Janet placed a hand on her back and felt the light tremor that was going through her body. "Sam, it's okay."
"No it's not," she uttered, her voice wavering. "It's not okay. He's…he's…"
"Shh…" Even in the dim lighting, Janet could see she was deeply upset. Taking Sam by the arm, she led her to the front of the room where they could talk without disturbing Jack. "Sam…"
"I'm sorry, Janet. It's just he was doing good and now he's so sick." She stopped and sniffed, fighting hard to keep her emotions in check. "This is all my…"
"Ah!" Janet dug her fingernails into Sam's arm to get her attention. "Don't you dare say it, Sam," she whispered sharply. "We've been down this road before, and you know as well as I do that the colonel does not want to see you slipping backwards."
"But, Janet…"
"No buts, Sam. Not this time. This wasn't your fault – none of it was. And until you can fully accept that, you're just going to keep hurting yourself and the colonel too." When Sam looked up at her with wide eyes, she knew she'd struck a nerve. "He's in a delicate state right now. It's important that he feels good energy, not guilt and sorrow."
"It's just hard…"
"I know it is, but we'll get through it, just like we did before," Janet assured her. "We're all fighting for him, but we also have to fight with him. He needs to be encouraged to hang on and fight, especially now when it would be so much easier just to let go. He doesn't need you to feel sad for him, Sam. He needs you to be strong."
Sam sniffed and wiped the moisture from her eyes. What Janet was saying made perfect sense, but it was difficult to put her words into practice. If I just hadn't picked up that damned stone…
"There's something else you need to remember as well," the doctor said, interrupting her thoughts.
"What's that?"
"You're sick too, and your emotions are apt to be all over the place." Janet saw the doubtful look cross the other woman's face. "It's true. You're fighting an infection. Add to that being tired, stressed out, and worried. You're probably not eating well and you're certainly not getting the amount of exercise you're used to. It's enough to make anyone feel out of sorts. Have you been taking it easy like you were told?"
"I haven't had a choice. Teal'c's practically been following me around since I got up this morning, scrutinizing everything I do. He wouldn't even let me carry my own tray at breakfast or get a book from my lab without him coming along. I mean it's bad enough General Hammond postponed the MALP upgrade for a week; I don't need a babysitter too."
Janet reached out and took her friend's hand. "He just cares about you, Sam. We all do. We want to see you get better, and you can't do that if you don't slow down and give your body the time it needs to heal. Now I know you're eager to get back to work and normality, but I also know you're using it as a distraction from what's going on with the colonel. It's not healthy to do that, especially when you're sick. And if you keep it up, you're going to work yourself right into a bed in the infirmary. You don't want that, do you?"
Sam shook her head. That was last place she wanted to wind up. "So what do I do?"
"When was the last time you ate something?"
"This morning. The guys tried to get me to eat lunch, but I wasn't hungry."
"I suppose you skipped your midday dose of medication too?"
"No…I took it with some milk."
I guess that's better than nothing… The doctor thought with a sigh. "How's your hand feel?"
"It hurts," Sam admitted quietly. "It's nothing I can't deal with though."
"I'm sure you can, but I think we should take care of it anyway. Do you want to see the colonel again while I speak to Captain Tomas?"
Sam nodded and hobbled back over to Jack's side, her leg still weak from the way she'd slept on it. Placing her hand on her superior's arm, she took in his poor state and felt her chest start to tighten. No! She told herself firmly. No more crying. Janet said I need to stay positive, to give him strength and encouragement, and not guilt. But how do you find something positive at a time like this?
She searched his face, looking for something – anything – to lift her spirits enough to give Jack the support he deserved. When she failed to find the inspiration she needed, Sam moved her hand down to his chest and focused on the one thing that could give her comfort: his beating heart. Feeling its slow, steady rhythm beneath her hand, she was reassured that he was still very much alive. As long as he was alive, she knew there was a chance he'd pull through. And that chance, she decided, was something to be optimistic about.
"You have to keep fighting, sir," she said quietly. "I…we need you out there. We still have Goa'uld to catch, people to free, and really cool space guns to find. You're important to us, colonel, and not just as our leader. You're a friend, a confidant, and a source of strength for us all. You can't let the pneumonia win. I know you can beat it; you just have to hang in there a little longer. Don't give up on us, colonel. Please."
Releasing a shaky sigh, Sam gave Jack's hand a final squeeze before joining Janet and Captain Tomas at the door.
"Well said," the doctor told her.
"I just hope he heard me."
"I think he did, in his own way."
"I-I don't want to leave him."
"I know you don't, but you need to get some rest," Janet insisted. "He won't be alone. I'm going to sit with him tonight."
"And with Dr. Fraiser around, you know the colonel will be in good hands," Tomas added with a supportive smile.
"But if something happens…"
"You and the others will be among the first to know," the doctor assured her. "Now, come on. Captain Tomas is going to take you over to the infirmary to clean and rewrap your hand. She's also going to make sure you eat a decent meal and take your pain medication."
Lacking the energy to argue, Sam merely accepted her fate with a nod. Casting an uneasy glance over her shoulder at Jack, she reluctantly turned and followed the young nurse toward the main ward of the infirmary.
Janet watched as the two women disappeared around the corner. She'd been tempted to let Sam stay, but she knew sending her away was best. She needed to rest properly, and if the colonel suddenly took a turn for the worst, it was better that she not be there to see it. Not allowing herself to dwell on the unsettling – albeit realistic – thoughts of Jack getting worse, Janet stepped back into the room and shut the door behind her.
It was going to be a difficult night.