AN: I only have five more chapters outlined at the moment, so I'm not sure how many more after that this story will have. The other day, I came up with a new story to write when I finish this one. A good ol' fashioned mission-based story (not part of this series) , complete with those naughty Goa'uld we love to hate. Though, I'm falling in love with the character so much that it may turn into a series of its own.
Janet wiped a stray lock of hair from her face. She looked down at the chart in her hand, redundant because she had never strayed very far from Sam's side. Even now she was standing just outside the room that held the other woman. But already knowing what she was going to read only added to her frustration. Janet and her team had been running wildly for almost six hours now, desperately trying to keep Sam's vitals within acceptable levels. Even the ventilator was only able to do so much.
Sam's respiration and heart rate were jumping all over the place. It was only just after they had arrived at the hospital and her staff from base had edged Olivia out that Sam's vitals had spiked. Going from one extreme to the other in little more than a blink. And it seemed as soon as they'd get her somewhat stabilized that it would happen all over again.
Fortunately, the woman was spending more and more time hovering around normal levels, and less at those wild extremes. The peaks were also slowly becoming less pronounced. It was only mildly comforting news to Janet. They were still dangerous.
Janet glanced over at the door that led towards the waiting room. She could only imagine what the others were feeling right now. It really was time to give them some sort of update. Janet just wished that she had better news. While Sam was indeed improving, it was happening very slowly. Cautious optimism was still a little too strong a phrase for what she was feeling.
Sighing, she forced herself to head to the waiting room. Sam had been 'stable' for the better part of an hour now, so there really was no excuse to leave them in the dark any longer.
By the time she had crossed the threshold into the waiting room all eyes were on her. She heard the skid of chair legs as those who were seated got up. While she had come to expect this reaction in her profession, she would never get used to it. Because the events that led up to it were never good, and she couldn't always give good news after.
They searched her for clues of what she might say. Janet started with the best news she had, something she knew they needed to hear her say. "She's alive."
All reacted to her words, even Teal'c lowered his head in obvious relief. Jack was the one picked up on the hesitance in her tone.
"I hear an awfully big 'but' in there."
"Sam's vitals have been going all over the place. Only recently have they started to settle down, but not as quickly or as much as I'd like to see."
Daniel broke in. "But she is getting better, right?"
For now, she thought bleakly. However what came out of her mouth was more tactful. "At the moment, but there's no guarantee that this trend will continue."
Janet looked over at Olivia, who had yet to say a word. Her features were drawn tight, arms wrapped across her chest. Olivia stood apart from the others. Janet wasn't sure how much of that was the woman's doing. She remembered Jack's stinging words vividly, Janet having been mortified on Olivia's behalf. It was foolish to think Olivia would forget them so quickly.
She wanted to give the man a piece of her own mind, but it wasn't the time for that.
"May we see Major Carter?" Teal'c said, bringing Janet back to the moment. Olivia perked up, pleading desperately with her eyes.
Janet bit her lip. It hurt to deny them. "I'm sorry, it's just too hectic in there still. I want to be sure she's going to remain stable before I'll let anyone in there. I'll let you know the moment she can have visitors."
"Doc," Jack said before she could move. She hated to see him look so helpless, it did not suit the Colonel one bit. "What are her chances?"
Janet hesitated, hoping she could have avoided that uncomfortable question entirely. Unfortunately, her silence spoke volumes. She watched on as he deflated even more. Daniel was chewing his lip nervously. Teal'c appeared neutral, but Janet knew that was because he was putting so much energy into holding the impassive expression. Most of the color had washed out of Olivia's face. Janet was trying desperately to think of something to say when Jack spoke again.
"What if we had found her sooner?"
Janet shook her head. She just didn't know enough about what she was dealing with to say anything with much confidence. "I really don't know, Colonel."