AN: Ok, the short breather is almost over. I think next update will be when things start to pick up again. Yay.
She was drugged, even just entering the realm of consciousness she could tell that much. It was the good kind of drugged that left the thundering in her skull dulled to a level that she could deal with. That left her more able to focus on how tired she was, like she could sleep for a week. And no matter how good the stuff they gave her was, it still couldn't fully mask the fact that she simply felt like crap.
There were familiar sounds and smells around her. So she was in the infirmary, at the SGC. The thought should have been enough to make her extatic, even if she did feel akin to death warmed over. But Sam couldn't muster any excitement for it. She just didn't want to deal with it all again. Maybe she could just keep her eyes closed a little longer and not have to deal with it.
The yo-yo came to a stop in his hand, Sam only just noticing the sound. She heard the chair creak as Jack leaned back.
"I know you're awake, sleepyhead."
Sam opened her eyes, blinking against the fluorescent lights. And rolled onto her side away from him with a sigh. "Leave me alone."
His stunned silence almost left her pleased with herself. She certainly wasn't acting her normal self. At that moment she just didn't have the desire to play along.
"How are you feeling?" Jack asked tentatively, finally breaking the silence that had descended.
Sam didn't for a moment think that any of this was real, but she still found herself feeling sorry for him. She tossed him a bone. "Like a bomb went off in my skull."
"Ouch," he sympathized.
"The drugs are nice, though."
She could imagine his wry smile behind her. "The doc is good for that much at least. Let me get the others, you had us all really worried."
"What happened?" she asked finally turning back around. She may not have wanted to, but she needed to figure out what was going on sooner or later. He stopped halfway to the phone on the wall.
"You stopped breathing. Luckily it happened after Daniel gated back to Earth with you." Jack paused for a moment, clearly distressed. "Carter, what did they do?"
"I don't know."
Sam didn't want to discuss it, to give him a chance to raise doubts. She also thought it might be better not to tip her hand too soon. Whatever good it would do.
"You don't remember any of it?" He seemed to be probing her, as if he doubted her response. But apparently he wasn't prepared for a confrontation, the question light.
She held firm, thinking of something he might possibly buy. "No. I just... I remember throwing up. A lot."
Jack rubbed at the back of his head, uncomfortable with the subject. "Yeah..."
The fatigue was starting to win, Sam finding it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open. And, thankfully, it provided her an excuse to hold off on the concerns and questions she knew would come from the others. Hopefully giving her time to think of a way out of this. She stifled a yawn.
"Can we put this off for a bit, sir? I feel like I haven't slept in days."
"Oh. Yeah. Of course. Sorry, I'll let Daniel and Teal'c know that you woke up. See you later, Carter."
Sam nodded, closing her eyes as he left. She had planned to do some thinking and figure out a gameplan before giving in, but she was asleep almost immediately.