Author's Note-Sorry for the delay in posting this one, but my muse deserted me for a while. That said, I hope you enjoy this part and will be posting the next one next week…..Winnie
With the help of half a dozen Talosians, Daniel Jackson continued to go over the information they'd found in the archives. There was very little about the Mastyque and the Chagris, but they were adding to the list in order to educate future generations. They'd been here for nearly a week now and several more Talosians had chosen to embrace the Mastyque and undergo the changes they now called the Chagris.
The fighting that had brought SG1 here in the first place had ended and both sides were working toward a united front. Carter was inside the hospital working with Resandie and Beritonis to help the Talosians who'd been forced to go through the changes. They were further along in their recovery than Mitchell, but some were having a hard time dealing with what had been forced upon them by Layonna.
"Dr. Jackson, there is so much here. I wish we had a faster way of inputting the data," a young male Talosian named Salinias snapped. "Why don't we just put in what we know is important?"
"Every piece of data we have links with another. When we first found these files there were a lot of missing pieces that could have helped us make sense of what was happening. If they'd put all the data in here we might have stopped this before it went so far," Jackson told him. "Think of it as if it was a program."
"It is a program," an older Talosian woman scolded as she turned to the young male. "A program has many parts and without one part it is not complete. We could leave out the one piece that would make sense to future generations of our people. Would you want to be remembered as the man who could have saved our world, but was lazy and did not complete the task set before him?"
"No, Doninia," Salinias said and had the sense to look down.
"Then do as Dr. Jackson tells you and perhaps we will be finished before the evening meal," Doninia told him.
"I apologize, Dr. Jackson, I meant no disrespect," Salinias said.
"Apology accepted, Salinias," Jackson mumbled and frowned when he found what he hoped was a minor programming error. It was something they'd missed, and if he was right it could mean an easy way to travel across the void without causing problems for the Talosians or the Serpents. Serpents, God, Mitchell had nearly become one of the creatures, and he was still fighting to come back from the changes.
"Dr. Jackson, is something wrong?"
"No, Doninia, if this is correct then it means those who chose to become 'serpents' can stay as long as they choose and their families can travel to the world of the Mastyque," Jackson told her.
"What of those who were forced to change by Layonna?" Salinias asked.
"They could choose to revert back to Talosian form if they wished to," Jackson answered.
"There are many who were taken over the years…perhaps they will also choose to return," Doninia told him. "I lost my son and daughter many years ago, but have always hoped to be reunited with them. Do you think it is possible, Dr. Jackson?"
"Maybe, but we need to go through the files and figure out what Layonna did that changed her," Jackson said.
"Layonna was an aberration…one we prefer not to think about any longer," Doninia observed.
"I understand how you feel. It seems like every world has its share of aberrations," Jackson told them and continued to work through the new information they had.
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Cam opened his eyes as a hand touched his shoulder and smiled at the woman standing there. Carolyn Lam looked like she should be in the next bed and he knew he was the reason she looked like she missed as much sleep as he had.
"How do you feel, Colonel?"
"Tired…what time is it?"
"It's three in the morning," Lam said and took his chart from the nurse.
"Sorry," Mitchell said, swallowing convulsively as he looked from one woman to the other.
"What are you apologizing for, Colonel?" Lam asked.
"Seem to be sleeping while everyone else is working," Mitchell told her.
"Well, Colonel, everyone else hasn't been through what you've been through," Lam said and handed the nurse his chart. "Besides being tired is there anything else I should know about?"
"My back is hurting," Mitchell told her.
"Do you think you could turn on your side so I can take a look?" the doctor asked and smiled as he shifted on the bed. She opened the back of the gown and took note of the changes to his spine and skin. The bony protuberances were nearly gone now, but his skin held a leathery quality that reminded her of snakeskin. She gently probed the area before replacing the gown and waiting for him to look at her.
"How does it look?"
"I'm happy to say things are returning to normal. I want to do an MRI of your back, but if things continue as they are you should be back to yourself in a couple of days."
"When can I get out of here?" Mitchell asked.
"I said you should be back to yourself in a couple of days, but you still need monitoring, Colonel. You've been through a lot in the last few weeks and you continue to run a fever as if your body is still fighting an infection. I'm not going to sign your discharge papers until I'm sure you're 100% yourself. I'm going to draw some blood and then I want you to sleep."
"I'd rather stay awake," Mitchell told her.
"Still having dreams?"
"More like nightmares," the SG1 team leader answered as Lam drew the blood samples and handed them to the nurse before pulling chair closer to the bed and sitting down.
"I'm a good listener, Colonel," Lam told said. "Tell me about the nightmares."
"What's to tell? They're not real."
"Really? Why don't I believe you? Do these nightmares have to do with Talosia and Layonna?"
"Yes," Mitchell answered and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Every time I close my eyes I feel like I'm losing control. I can hear her talking to me."
"By her you mean Layonna?"
"Yes, she tried to change the people of Talosia and use their serpent forms to tear the realms apart. She would have killed Carter and Jackson if I hadn't gone with her," Mitchell explained and knew he had asked about Layonna, but he could not remember what he'd been told.
"She's been imprisoned by the creatures of the Mastyque, Colonel, and won't be able to cross between the realms again. The Talosians can relax now that she's gone and so can you," Lam told him.
"I know how it sounds, but it would have been better if she'd died," Mitchell snapped.
"I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way, but there's nothing we can do to change what happened. Shanisia took her back and for all intents and purposes she'll never be able to cross the realm between the two worlds again. Shanisia and the other Talosians who chose to remain in their changed forms will be able to visit their families without the fear their new forms caused ion the past."
"Are Jackson and Sam back yet?"
"Not yet, but they've sent several messages and it looks like they'll be able to update everything for the Talosians and make it easier for them to research their past and look forward to the future," Lam explained and didn't miss the wistful look that crossed his face. "Don't worry, Colonel, you'll be back out there before long and rescuing damsels in distress…"
"Not if they're like Layonna," Mitchell told her and sighed tiredly. His back was throbbing and he knew she could see right through him when she asked the nurse to bring her the prescribed pain meds.
"I just gave you something for pain and a mild sedative to help you sleep, Colonel. That's what you need right now," Lam ordered and checked the monitors that continued to click and beep.
"Thanks, Doc," Mitchell said and closed his eyes. He heard her talking to the nurse, but was soon slipping toward sleep as nightmare images flashed across his mind.
'You should feel honored, Colonel Mitchell! I chose you to be part of this. I chose you because you are special and now you will spend the rest of your life bowing your stiff neck to me. You will be tied to the Mastyque forever and know what it is like to be crushed under my control!'
"No," Mitchell whispered as she sank her talons into his chest and squeezed his heart. He fought to escape as pain raced through his chest and his body screamed in protest. His eyes shot open and his hand clenched at his side as he looked around the darkened room. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep, but he knew he wasn't ready to go back to the darkness.
Mitchell wanted to get up and walk around, but he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He knew they were just doing their jobs, but he was damned tired of being poked and prodded and reminded of the changes to his body. God only knew he felt those changes every time he moved or lay on his back.
Cam turned slightly on his right side and placed his right arm under his head. He watched two nurses as they went over what needed to be done for the patients before the shift change occurred. For now he was alone and he felt his eyes closing in spite of his resolve to stay awake.
Mitchell jolted awake when he felt someone at the IV in his left hand, but swallowed back the fear as his eyes focused on the pretty nurse who was changing the IV bag above his head. "What time is it?"
"It's six thirty, Colonel. We're about to change shifts. Is there anything I can get you before I leave?"
"My discharge papers," Mitchell answered.
"Sorry, but General Landry read us the riot act about making sure you stayed out," the woman told him. "Seriously, Colonel, you need to give yourself time to heal."
"That's what they keep telling me," Mitchell said and shifted onto his back, surprised that he didn't feel like his spine was poking through his skin.
"Do you need anything for pain before I leave?"
"I'm good," Mitchell said and smiled slightly when he saw the man standing in the doorway. "Hey, Big Fella, when did you get back?"
"An hour ago…Master Bra'tac said to tell you not to stay in that bed too long," Teal'c told him.
"A man after my own heart," Mitchell said as the nurse exited the room. "Does that mean you're here to help me escape?"
"He is not!" Carolyn Lam said and smiled at the Jaffa. "Welcome back, Teal'c."
"Thank you, Dr. Lam," Teal'c said with a slight nod of his head.
"I want your word that you won't help Colonel Mitchell escape, but if you would like to take a walk before breakfast I think that could be arranged," Lam said.
"I can get out of here?" Mitchell said and raised the head of the bed.
"You have one hour. Go, but be back here in an hour or I'll send out a search party and you know what the general would say about that," Lam said.
"Indeed," Teal'c said as a nurse came into the room with a clean set of clothes for the injured man.
"Colonel, if you feel faint…"
"I won't…"
"Be that as it may, but if it does happen then Teal'c will bring you right back here," Lam told him. "Now, let me remove the IV until you get back."
"Can't you just take it out for good?" Mitchell asked.
"Well that depends?" Lam said as she unhooked the IV and capped the Heplock.
"On what?" the colonel asked.
"If you eat breakfast and keep it down. Yes, I know it's been 24 hours since you were sick, but you haven't really been eating or drinking and until you do I can't dispense with the intravenous fluids. I've ordered a solid breakfast for you and it should be here when you get back. Now, why don't we get you into something more comfortable for your walk?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," Mitchell said and motioned for them to leave him alone.
"Are you sure you don't need any help, Colonel Mitchell?"
"Thanks, Big Fella, but my granny taught me to dress myself while I was knee high to a grasshopper," Mitchell said and waited for them to leave. Once the door was closed he stood up, shocked at how weak he felt as he grabbed the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes and waited until his body got used to the idea of being upright before donning his clothes and shuffling toward the door. He pulled it open and smiled at the two people standing there.
"Colonel, if you need to come back here before the hour is up don't hesitate to do so."
"Thanks, Doc."
"On the other hand if you're not back within the hour I'll have a search party sent out to look for you," Lam warned.
"I will see to his safe return within the allotted time," Mitchell said with a slight tilt of his head.
"I'll hold you to that, Teal'c," Lam said and moved to the main desk.
Mitchell walked slowly toward the door leading out of the infirmary and felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It felt so damn good to be up and around, yet he could feel Teal'c at his side, catlike reflexes ready should anything change. They walked along the corridor, stopping to talk to several people as they made their way toward the gate room. He hadn't even realized that was his destination until they stopped in front of the entrance to what he always thought of as Stargate central.
Cam stepped inside and was greeted by several familiar faces, including the man who helped guide them on several occasions. How many teams do we have out there, Walter?"
"Sorry, Colonel, we're under orders to answer anything except if it deals with the SG teams or their missions," the older man answered.
"Colonel Mitchell, I hope you're not AWOL," Landry said from behind him.
"No, Sir, Dr. Lam gave me my walking papers," Mitchell answered sheepishly.
"For one hour," Teal'c added and smiled thinly at the look on the other man's face.
"Traitor," Mitchell said.
"No, I do not believe that is the correct word, Colonel Mitchell," the Jaffa said with a frown.
"No, it's not, Teal'c. You of all people could never be called a traitor," Mitchell told him and glanced at the clock. He knew his time was nearly up and if he wanted to have more freedom he'd better make his way back to the infirmary.
"All right, Colonel, now that you've said hello to everyone you might as well head back. Teal'c, see that he doesn't make any detours," Landry ordered and smiled when the big man nodded slightly as Mitchell made his way to the door. It was good to see the younger man up and around, but there was no mistaking the bone deep weariness in the man's eyes and he hoped Cameron Mitchell would be able to put the nightmares behind him.
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Carolyn Landry smiled as she spotted the two men entering the infirmary, but it was short lived when she saw how pale Mitchell looked. Teal'c was standing close enough that if her patient's strength gave out, he would catch him.
"Hey, Doc," Mitchell said and leaned on the desk.
"Hey yourself. I thought I said to come back early if you needed to," Lam scolded lightly.
"It's not so bad, Doc, and it felt good to be up and around," the colonel told her.
"Well, why don't we get you back to bed and I'll get you something for pain. Is it your back?"
"Yeah," Mitchell answered and realized he was rubbing at his lower back.
"Teal'c, would you help him back to his room while I get his meds ready?" Lam asked.
"Thanks, Doc," Mitchell said and took a deep breath before making his way toward the room he'd been assigned. The bed was freshly made and a clean pair of pajama bottoms lay at the foot of the bed. A new bag of antibiotics hung from the IV pole and he briefly wondered how much longer he would need them.
"Colonel, you can stay dressed if you like, Breakfast is here and I want you to eat it…you need to gain back some of the weight you've lost and get your strength back."
"I'm not really hungry, Doc," Mitchell said as she hooked up the antibiotics and gave him a shot for pain.
"Colonel, we had a deal," Lam said and placed her hands on her hips. "Now I know you don't want to argue with your doctor, so let's get this straight. I think the staff here is as tired of having you here as you are, but until you start eating and gaining weight then the IV stays put and so do you. Understood?"
"Understood," Mitchell said as a tray was placed on the small table and pushed closer to him. He sighed heavily, shoulders slumped slightly as he lifted the lids from the plate. The smell made his stomach rumble and he realized he was hungrier than he thought, or maybe it was just that the aroma of the food actually tantalized his taste buds.
"Good, eat all that and maybe I'll see if the kitchen has any Macaroons," Lam told him. The whole base knew of his love for the sweet cookies and several people had taken it into their heads to find that perfect recipe. So far Carter's was the best of the best.
"Thanks, Doc, you got a deal," Mitchell told her. The bowl of thick chicken stew was calling him and after the first taste his appetite came back with a vengeance. He finished it all and drank the juice and coffee before laying back and closing his eyes. God, he was shocked at how good he felt and knew the pain medication was only partially responsible. Sleep came for him and he gave himself over to the waiting arms of Morpheus.
TBC
