An eerie silence marked the flight back to Colorado Springs, and Sam seemed more distant than ever. She chose to sit on the other side of the cabin, leaving a noticeable gap between herself and Jack. While he understood that she was going through a lot, it was difficult for Jack not to take it personally. He tried to give her the space she needed.
As they returned to the SGC, the silence continued. However, Jack decided it was time to break it once they entered the facility. He addressed Sam with a neutral tone, "We are having a meeting at the briefing room in half an hour, Colonel. See that you attend it."
"Yes, Sir," she replied promptly, and then Jack headed to his office, avoiding looking back at her. He didn't know what he might do if he saw her standing there, unsure of where to go or what to do. No one at the base knew about her reinstatement yet, and Sam felt like an intruder in a place that used to be her home. Her anxiety was mounting, and she feared another panic attack might be on the horizon.
Sam tried to control her breathing as it quickened, pressing the elevator button and waiting anxiously. When the elevator arrived, she entered and pressed the button for Level 25. She had decided to stay in her room until the briefing, where she could have her incoming meltdown to let her emotions out.
Once she arrived at her room, she closed the door behind her, leaned against it, and closed her eyes. The weight of everything she had been through was overwhelming, and she could feel herself teetering on the edge.
Meanwhile, Jack had called Daniel and Teal'c to inform them of the upcoming meeting and asked them to tell Tom. He closed the blinds and locked his office door before changing into more comfortable BDUs. Sitting at his desk, he couldn't help but reflect on the complex situation. Sam's return meant a lot of changes, and it put a pause on whatever future they had envisioned.
When the time for the briefing arrived, Jack headed to the meeting room. Daniel and Teal'c were already there, accompanied by Tom. However, Sam was conspicuously absent.
"Where's Carter?" Jack inquired as he took his seat.
Daniel looked puzzled.
"Sam?" he echoed, clearly unaware of her return.
"Yes, Daniel. She's back at SGC. Hammond reinstated her," Jack informed him.
Daniel's face lit up with excitement.
"Really?! That's excellent news!" he exclaimed, genuinely pleased by the revelation.
Teal'c nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed."
Jack looked around the room, growing increasingly concerned.
"So, where is she? I told her about this briefing," he wondered aloud.
Daniel exchanged a look with Teal'c.
"We haven't seen her. We didn't even know you had arrived until you called us. Do you want me to go check her bedroom?" Daniel offered, rising from his seat.
Jack was already on his feet.
"No, I'll do it," he said, rushing out of the briefing room. He pressed the elevator button, but when it didn't arrive promptly, he ascended the stairs two at a time in his haste.
Breathing heavily, Jack reached Level 25 and made a beeline for Sam's room. He knocked on the door, but there was no response. Growing increasingly worried, he called out, "Colonel?" when there was still no answer. He pushed at the door, finding it partially blocked as if something were behind it. "Someone's blocking the door," he thought.
Jack exerted more force, finally getting inside, only to discover Sam unconscious on the floor. He knelt beside her, calling her name while checking her pulse.
"Come on, Sam, wake up," he urged. Fearing the worst, he grabbed the phone from the wall and dialed the infirmary. "I need a medical team now at Colonel Carter's room," he stated, repeating the instructions when the nurse asked for confirmation of the location. Then he hung up and continued his efforts to wake her.
Dr. Brightman arrived with two nurses, and while she appeared surprised to find Sam on the floor, the CMO immediately began assessing her condition. They gently lifted Sam onto a gurney and rushed her to the infirmary, with Jack following closely behind.
Sam woke up in the infirmary, disoriented and wondering how she had ended up there. The familiar beeping of machines greeted her ears, and she tried to sit up but was immediately met with resistance in her hand as she saw an IV attached to it. That's when she noticed Jack asleep on the chair beside her bed, a sight that had become all too familiar over the years.
"What are you trying to do?" Jack mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Getting out of here," Sam replied, her determination evident.
Jack managed a tired smile.
"Very funny, Colonel. Now stay still while I call the doctor," he said, getting up and heading towards the doctor's office.
He returned with Dr. Brightman, who greeted Sam with a professional demeanor.
"Good, you're awake, Colonel. How are you feeling?" she inquired, shining a penlight into Sam's eyes for a quick examination.
"A lot better if I was not here," Sam retorted, her impatience evident.
Dr. Brightman withdrew the penlight and placed it in her pocket, her expression more serious.
"Really? Do you know why you are here?" she asked.
Sam blushed slightly and remained silent, leaving the doctor to provide the answer.
"You are dehydrated, anemic, underweight, and I'm still waiting for the results of several tests," Dr. Brightman explained, her tone indicating that she was not amused.
Sam swallowed hard. "I can take some vitamins, and usually, it solves the problem," she suggested.
The doctor shook her head firmly.
"Not in your current condition," she stated with authority.
Jack, standing behind Dr. Brightman, wore a concerned expression. He berated himself for not insisting on medical tests for Sam as soon as she had returned. It was all his fault.
"What does she need to do, doctor?" Jack inquired.
Dr. Brightman laid out the plan.
"She needs rest, for one. Her stress levels are through the roof. She'll also have to complete the IV treatment I'm giving her, and after that, I'll assess her condition further."
Jack nodded in acknowledgment.
"You heard the doctor, Carter," he said to Sam.
Feeling embarrassed, Sam blushed even more and pulled the blanket over herself.
The doctor decided to leave them for now.
"I'll be back when I have more results," she said before exiting the room.
Jack sat on the chair beside Sam's bed and asked, "Did you faint?" Concern was evident in his voice.
Sam, still looking at the ceiling, replied quietly, "Probably. I was starting to have a panic attack, so..."
Jack's guilt weighed heavily on him.
"You're not my babysitter, General," Sam retorted, guessing what he was thinking.
Jack crossed his arms, not wanting to admit how worried he had been.
"I should have known," he muttered to himself.
Sam continued to lie there in silence, and a heavy thought seemed to weigh on her.
"Maybe this was a mistake," she said in a low voice.
Jack was taken aback.
"What?" he asked, unsure he had heard her correctly.
"My return. Coming back to SGC," Sam clarified.
Jack did not respond and instead commented, "You must have hit your head when you fell."
Sam remained silent, and Jack did too. In a matter of minutes, she had fallen asleep once again. Jack took a deep breath and watched over her, his concerns and emotions swirling inside him.
As Sam slept in the infirmary, Jack had company with Daniel and Teal'c, who came to visit. Jack explained the doctor's diagnosis to them, and they both expressed concern for Sam. They assured Jack they would return to see her once she was awake.
Throughout the base, news of Sam's situation had spread rapidly. Daniel had taken it upon himself to ensure that everyone was informed, and the reactions were not hushed comments but rather a collective sigh of relief that Colonel Carter was back and working with them again.
When Dr. Brightman returned, she brought with her the results of Sam's tests. She informed Jack that Sam's system still had traces of a drug, though it was not considered dangerous and would be monitored. The revelation that Sam had been drugged further fueled Jack's anger towards the Russian individual who had put her through this ordeal.
With a heavy heart, Jack asked the doctor the most difficult question he had ever faced: the results of the rape kit. Dr. Brightman, however, provided some relief by explaining that there were no signs of forced sexual relations. Jack sighed in relief, grateful that at least that aspect of the ordeal had not occurred. He remained by Sam's side, determined to support her through her recovery.
Sam had spent nearly a week recovering in the infirmary, and it was a relief for everyone when she was finally discharged, even though her stubbornness had driven the good doctor to the brink of frustration. She wasn't back to her full strength yet, but she was well enough to contribute to the mission of bringing down Vladimir and his criminal empire. The Russian counterparts had made significant progress, apprehending several individuals associated with Vlad's operations. Swift justice was being served, and they were in the process of changing compromised codes.
Sam was in the briefing room, reviewing files and unraveling the intricate web of code, when Daniel entered. He greeted her and inquired about her well-being. She admitted to feeling better but not yet at her peak. Daniel took a seat, expressing their collective concern.
"We've been worried," he confessed, glancing at Jack's office. Sam tried to downplay it, suggesting that Daniel might be exaggerating.
He sighed, recognizing that some things hadn't changed during her absence.
"Sure I am," he responded.
At that moment, Jack emerged from his office, noticing Sam and Daniel in the briefing room. He asked if he was interrupting, and Daniel assured him he wasn't, taking his leave. Jack observed Sam's work.
"So you don't like your lab anymore?" he asked amusedly.
Sam blushed slightly as she explained her need for a larger workspace, as her lab was too confined for her current tasks. Jack accepted her explanation and began examining the papers filled with intricate code.
As he leaned in closer behind her, Jack inquired about her progress. Sam paused for a moment, closing her eyes briefly. The emotions they both felt were palpable, but they remained unspoken.
Jack's hand moved toward her shoulder but hesitated, eventually retracting. He managed to utter a simple "Okay" before leaving the briefing room and returning to his office. Sam bit her lip, feeling the ache of his absence. She resumed her work, attempting to stay focused and keep her mind occupied amidst the unspoken tension between them.