THE PLOT - 3
Chapter 3 - Injection - Infection
They had gated from one mission directly into a steamy jungle of a planet. It seemed as though it would rain at any moment but just got more and more humid.
The Tok'ra needed to meet immediately, it was of the utmost importance. And they were a no show. O'Neill was not a patient man at the best of times. His back ached and itched. Carter had cleaned the knife wounds with the last of the antiseptic wipes this morning. She had hmmed and tsked.
"You need to see Fraser." She said.
"Yeah" he dejectedly agreed.
Just this morning he found a snake had slithered onto his sleeping bag. And he hated snakes, every size, shape and variety, especially the Goa'uld and Tok'ra variety. And bugs, lots and lots of bugs, big ugly assed ones and tiny ones that flew up your nose or in your ears or in your eyes. He was presently working up a supreme hatred for the Tok'ra they were waiting for.
They were all bored.
Jack cooled his heels chatting with Daniel.
Carter was bored and twiddled dials on her instruments trying to look busy. Teal'c stared off into the distance looking inscrutable.
The locals were rather primitive although he resented when the word was used to refer to him and his team. Also they had the habit of stealing whatever wasn't nailed down and yet at the same time managed to look down their noses at him and his team. He put his foot down when one of them tried to make off with his entire pack. Put his foot down literally - on the pack strap and a couple of fingers.
O'Neill was totally fed up with the locals, the weather, and the Tok'ra and they were almost out of MRE's. And when Carter found a leech on her leg her yelp had O'Neill running.
Jack ordered his team to pack up and get ready to leave, when the Stargate lit up. It was General Hammond ordering SG-1 back to base. Jack 'Yes Sirred' him and said they would be there momentarily.
O'Neill, as well as the rest of the team, was more than ready for a shower and change of clothes. Hammond was in agreement and scheduled the debrief in two hours.
But, of course, it was the infirmary first. On their way there they saw a long line of airmen. The base had received the new flu vaccine and was instructed to administer it to the entire base.
"Oh no, no, no." Another needle, it was the last thing O'Neill expected or wanted.
"You can go to the head of the line." the no nonsense Dr. Warner said.
"Gee thanks."
The line of airmen with sleeves rolled up gave them wide berth. They were quite aromatic.
Even Warner wrinkled up his nose. And just as the doc was to administer the inoculation the pneumatic injector ceased to function. Siler was there and tried to fix it but no dice. The line was long and more Airmen were expected.
A male nurse gave the doc a small tray with a vial and a sterile syringe. O'Neill got the injection the hard way and right afterward the pneumatic injector seemed to work again. And so the doc used it to continue vaccinating the rest of the base.
O'Neill rubbed his arm, the pneumatic injectors were bad enough but did he have to be the lucky chump to get the dreaded needle.
Next was his post mission exam. Naturally they all ratted on him and regaled Fraser with the story of the attack in the village. And all he wanted was a nice hot shower.
The doc inspected his wound which was quite angry now, probably due to scratching. She drew more blood than usual to check for infection. And to his dismay another injection to ward off any infection.
He stayed in the shower for more than the usual 5 minutes. He thought maybe the hot steam was making him woozy.
At the debrief two hours later Jack was feeling not bad but not good either.
Jack thought he'd stay late tonight, there wasn't anything good on TV tonight. Although he wasn't quite sure what the day was actually.
If he spent some quality time with his laptop, he could get this mission report written while it was all fresh in his mind. Or he could review the rest of the team's reports. Or perhaps in the reverse order, only of course to refresh his memory. He just couldn't concentrate.
Then maybe he could get out of here early tomorrow. He had four days leave so he planned a quick trip up to his cabin and some quality time fishing.
He was feeling, well not awful but not great. The trip through the old orifice used to make newbies puke, but he was an old hand. Carter did say this last planet was a long distance from Earth. Then maybe the possible source of this malaise from something on the planet or a MRE or that injection. Whatever it was he should probably keep his distance and see what develops. He thought he should grab his laptop from his office and headed for his on base quarters. Maybe a nap first. Then again maybe he could use a snack to settle his stomach.
Daniel stopped in Jack's office and found him looking with confusion at his ringing phone. Daniel asked if he was hungry and ready for dinner with the team.
"No," he said bleary eyed, " not hungry, kinda dizzy and hot and maybe a little nauseous." He dropped his phone and put his head down on his desk. "I need a nap," he muttered.
Daniel hollered for Teal'c and they carted O'Neill off to the infirmary.
Maybourne knew Jack was back at the SGC and wondered why he wasn't answering his phone. He needed to warn him, if, of course, if he even talk to him. O'Neill could carry a grudge. But he was in danger, there were NID plots afoot to ride the SGC of road blocks. One named Hammond and another named O'Neill.