the minor fall, PG
Title: the minor fall
Author: weaselett
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3,391
Warnings/Spoilers: Nothing mentioned beyond season 4 of SG-1.
Written For: starlings_id
Prompt: Request One
Pairings: Daniel/Janet
Wants: Absolute Power, AU, angst
Doesn’t want: Fluff, Character Death, Cassie
Author’s Notes: The title’s taken from ‘Hallelujah’. Hopefully this fic fits the bill and no one’s too OOC though I’ll admit it’s one of the weirder fics I’ve written. Beta'd by the lovely charlies_dragon
------------
Janet sags against the wall outside the isolation room, fighting the urge to cry as she wipes the spittle off her face. She should have started using a stronger sedative sooner.
He was worse now, much worse than the last time he’d woken from his sedative induced sleep. He was ranting about how they would all fall to the Goa’uld, it was just a matter of time. They were wasting his knowledge, the opportunity to save themselves.
There were people who would agree with him, she knew, but hopefully those people wouldn’t find about what was happening until it was too late. Until they’d found a way of helping him, of purging him of the knowledge that had brought him to this.
Janet shuddered as his scream, even weakened as it was by the effects of the sedative that was just starting to take effect, reached her ears. She had never thought she’d hear him like this again.
--
Janet looked up as a shadow fell across her office floor, meeting Daniel’s apologetic gaze. “Sorry I left without letting you check me out.”
“I understand why you did, just don’t do it again.” Janet answered sternly, before offering him a sympathetic smile, “I’m sorry Shifu didn’t stay longer.”
Daniel shrugged weakly, “I don’t think he could have stayed longer, once they were sure he was the Harsesis the Tok’ra weren’t going to leave him alone. It was good to see him though, to know he’s ok.”
Janet nodded her understanding before lowering the pile of folders in her arms onto her desk, “Well, as you’re here, I’d like to do a quick exam, make sure there aren’t any ill effects from whatever Shifu did to you.”
Daniel hesitated for a moment before nodding and making his way over to one of the beds in the main infirmary while Janet collected what she would need. Daniel pulled off his jacket obediently as she returned and started her exam, watching silently as she completed each stage of the now all too familiar routine.
Janet stepped back, finished, “Well everything looks normal, but if you notice anything unusual I want you to tell me, especially as we still don’t really know what Shifu did.”
Daniel nodded as he stood pulling on his jacket, “I will, promise.” He offered her a smile, “Well, if there’s nothing else, I have a translation to finish for SG-6 and a report to write.”
“You’re free to go, just remember what you promised.” She shooed him off good naturedly.
“I will.”
--
Janet returned to the observation room once she was sure the screams had been silenced. She looked down into the room and for a moment she could almost fool herself into thinking that Daniel looked peaceful, asleep under the influence of the sedative she’d given him. But it only worked if she ignored the restraints and the guards.
She glanced sideways as the door to her left opened, offering Colonel O’Neill a weak smile as he lowered himself into the chair beside her, his gaze instantly focusing on his unconscious team mate in the room below.
“I hate this.” He comments casually, his gaze never wavering.
“So do I, but it’s for his own good.” Janet answers, trying for the same casual conversational tone.
“And ours.” It’s as much a question as it is a statement and Janet has to fight against the blush that threatens in response.
“It’s this or a holding cell Colonel.” She answers without looking at him.
“I know.” He sounded wary and the hand idly rubbing his bad knee only amplified the image.
“I wish there was something else I could do, but so far we haven’t been able to find anything physically wrong with him.” Her frustration seeped into her voice as she spoke, drawing his attention away from the unmoving man below.
“I know.” He put more into those two words than she thought possible, reminding her of the trust that he continually placed in her, trust that she wasn’t sure if she really deserved right now. “It’s not your fault either, none of us realised anything was wrong.”
Janet forced herself to nod, but avoided his gaze, not wanting him to see the thought that was at the forefront of her mind. I should have.
--
“Daniel, did you hear what I said?” Janet questioned, glancing sideways, hands still posed half-way through cutting a potato into pieces.
Daniel blinked, turning to her with a frown, “Sorry?”
Janet frowned, finishing the last few potatoes with a few quick cuts before turning to face him properly, her hands free, “I asked if there was anything wrong.”
Daniel shrugged, stepping past her to get something out of the fridge, “No, there’s nothing wrong, why?”
Janet hesitated watching him for a moment before answering, “You just seem preoccupied, that’s all.”
“It’s the PR6-7UT translation, I still haven’t managed to figure out the language.” Daniel offered her an apologetic smile, “Sorry if I’ve been a bit distracted.”
Janet hesitated for a moment, knowing that he was holding something back from her, before smiling weakly, “It’s ok, I was worried, that’s all.”
Daniel slipped an arm around her waist before dropping a light kiss on her forehead, “I’m fine really.”
She closed her eyes, leaning into him, ignoring the nagging doubt. Everything was fine, he was just distracted. Nothing was wrong, it was just her overreacting, that was all.
--
Janet cursed herself as she examined Daniel’s latest test results. She should have seen that there was something wrong sooner, it should have never gotten this far. The only problem was, there didn’t seem to be anything medically wrong to explain what was happening to him.
No anomalies in the scans, his blood work was identical to what they had on record, there was nothing.
Janet sighed, resting her head in her hands for a moment, struggling against the knowledge that there was nothing she could do but try and keep him calm, keep him somewhere that he couldn’t be a threat to others…or himself.
“Janet?” Sam stepping slowly into the room as Janet raised her head. “How is he?”
Janet hesitated glancing back at the test results before sighing and shaking her head, “He’s more agitated than before, I’m going to have to start using a stronger sedative.”
Sam nodded slowly, watching her friend with concern, “How about you?”
Janet hesitated, lowering her gaze, trying to think of the right words to express how she was feeling, “I feel helpless.”
Sam winced in sympathy, “If there’s anything any of us can do to help, if there’s anything I can do to help, you just have to ask.”
Janet managed a weak smile in reply. They, SG-1, were taking this just as hard as she was. After all, they hadn’t noticed anything either, hadn’t seen that something was wrong until it was too late. She wasn’t alone in that at least.
--
Colonel O’Neill stormed into the infirmary, with an angry Daniel just a few paces behind. Blood dripped from the tips of O’Neill’s fingers onto the floor, his other hand holding a rough dressing in place over his upper arm. Janet automatically started gathering the supplies she thought she would need to tend to the injury, keeping an eye on them both at the same time. It wouldn’t be the first time that the two argued in the infirmary after a mission, recently at least.
“Jack would you just listen to me for one minute.” Daniel was yelling, his face flushed with frustration.
O’Neill spun stopping suddenly in the middle of the infirmary, his body language making his feeling on the matter clear, “You just got me shot by peaceful villagers, so no, I’m not going to listen to you Daniel.” He turned away again, having said his peace and completed his journey to the empty bed furthest from the door, pulling the curtain shut around it.
Janet frowned, watching Daniel as he stood face pale, shaking in the middle of the floor, starring at the curtain as Teal’c and Sam entered the room, looking just as shaken as him. She watched silently as Sam shot Daniel a wary glance before heading over to one of the beds to wait for her post mission exam with Teal’c following her lead.
Janet hesitated, still surprised by what she had witnessed, before she forced herself to move. Colonel O’Neill needed medical attention, the others, even Daniel, could wait until she’d treated him.
--
Janet warily selected something edible from the remaining offerings in the commissary then made her way to her normal table, close to the door.
She drank her coffee first, getting up to refill it before settling properly, eying the cooling food half-heartedly. She wasn’t really hungry, but she had to eat or she wouldn’t be any use to anyone, let alone Daniel. She needs sleep maybe just as much, but she doubts she could manage it, there’s too much on her mind.
A shadow fell across the table and she looked up, finding herself staring into Teal’c dark knowing eyes.
“Doctor Fraiser.”
She manages a weak smile, “Teal’c.”
He settles into the chair opposite her, setting a bowl of ice cream onto the table in front of himself. He’s been awake just as long as she has, but he looks the same as always, calm and confident. She applies herself to her food as a way to avoid the conversation she knows is coming.
“You should sleep.” Teal’c comments bluntly, the concern in his gaze softening the words.
“I know, but I don’t think I can, not right now.” She replies, toying with her remaining vegetables.
“You will be of no aid to Daniel Jackson if you do not rest.” Teal’c reasons, his ice cream finished.
She sighs, rubbing her eyes with one hand, unsure of how to answer him. He’s right, but at the same time, she knows that she’ll only spend the time she should be resting thinking that she’s wasting time she could be using to find a way to help Daniel.
“The Tok’ra will be arriving in fourteen hours.”
Janet looks up, surprised. She knew that Sam had sent word, but she didn’t think that they had heard anything in reply. “They think they can help?”
Teal’c hesitates, seeming to consider her question for a long moment. “They are unsure, however there is a chance that they may be able to help Daniel Jackson.”
Janet feels the dread build in her stomach, they all know that it’s more likely that when they realise what has happened they’ll reconsider helping. They’ll want the knowledge in Daniel’s mind more.
“You will be of more help to Daniel if you are well rested.” Teal’c prompts, his choice of words making it clear that he’s thinking the same thing as she is.
Janet swallows hard, nodding, “You’re right Teal’c. Thank you.” She puts as much emotion as she can into those last words and he offers her a smile in return. She stands slowly, wishing him good night before she heads towards her assigned bunk, determined to try and follow his advice.
--
She winces as Daniel’s elbow catches her in the stomach as he rolls over, muttering something in Goa’uld. Normally Daniel doesn’t move all that much in his sleep, for the last few days however, he’s been restless, leaving her with a small number of bruises.
He shifts again and she narrowly avoids being kicked. She sighs, easing herself out of the bed, making sure not to wake him. He’s sleeping badly enough without her waking him to complain about his restlessness and he has a mission in the morning.
There’s something on his mind, she knows, but he won’t talk to her and that worries her. She’d thought that they’d gotten to the point in their relationship that he knew he could trust her with whatever was bothering him. All she can is hope that he’ll speak to someone else. There’s no point in trying to make him talk about it, she learned long ago that Daniel won’t talk about anything unless he wants to.
She closes the bedroom door slowly before heading down the corridor to her guest bedroom, silently thankful that she’d had the foresight to make the bed earlier. She needs sleep just as much as he does.
--
The Tok’ra sent Aldwin and another Tok’ra, Le’na, that none of them knew, with them they brought the zatarc device. Janet starred at it for a long moment, the feeling of dread building to a peak. Aldwin must have suspected this would happen from the moment that Daniel had told them what Shifu had done, but he hadn’t warned them.
The briefing didn’t last long, the Tok’ra both sat quietly listening to what she and Colonel O’Neill had to say, then they politely asked to see Daniel, to ‘assess’ his condition. If she’d had a choice she would have refused , instead she silently gave in to the general.
Daniel was awake when they reached the isolation room with Doctor Warner nearby, preparing the sedative.
“That will not be necessary.”
Janet stiffened as Aldwin spoke, angry that the Tok’ra’s offer of help meant that she powerless to stop them. After all, they did need to see and talk to Daniel themselves to understand the situation fully. At least that was the reason Aldwin had given for their request.
Once they’d done so, or if Daniel showed any signs of distress however, she would order the sedative be administered. She was after all, if nothing else, still the chief medical officer and Daniel was her patient.
Daniel started hurling insults as soon as the Tok’ra entered the room, glared at them both. She only understood half of the words that he used as he swapped between English and Goa’uld, but from the expression on Teal’c’s face she guessed that she had gotten the gist of it.
She gave the Tok’ra exactly five minutes before she nodded to Warner, ignoring the protests of both Tok’ra. She wasn’t about to put her patient through anymore. Especially not in the face of what she’d seen written across the features of Le’na.
--
“I feel like I’m going crazy.” The words are barely a whisper, but the emotion behind them sends a shiver down Janet’s spine. She doesn’t want to remember the last time she heard that much fear in Daniel’s voice.
“Daniel?” She moves closer, placed a hand on his arm, silently wishing that she could close his office off from the rest of the base.
“I keep thinking of things, wanting to do things that…” He winced shaking his head, “I’m dangerous.”
It was a full minute before her body forced her to take another breath, “Daniel, you don’t mean that…”
He shook his head, raised his head to met her gaze, his blue eyes troubled, “No Janet, you have to listen to me, I thought it was just a dream, that I didn’t still have the memories, the knowledge., but it’s there, waiting. I thought I could fight it but,” Daniel shook his head hopelessly, “it’s too strong.”
Janet shook her head, not understanding.
“I lied to you.” Daniel admitted, “I didn’t tell you what was wrong, what is wrong. Shifu, he, he gave me the knowledge, I don’t think he meant to, he just meant to give me the dream to make me understand how dangerous it is. “
“How dangerous what is?” Janet asked despite herself, there was a part of her that knew what his answer would be, but she wouldn’t believe it until she heard him say it.
Daniel struggled for a moment before he spoke, his voice wavering “The Goa’uld knowledge, the knowledge that Shifu as a Harsesis has.”
Janet felt her heart stop.
--
“The Tok’ra say they might be able to help.” O’Neill’s voice was tinged with anger as he spoke, his hands clenched into fists in his lap as he starred down into the isolation room.
“They wish to take the knowledge from Daniel Jackson’s mind.”
“Don’t you mean they want the knowledge in Daniel’s noggin’.” O’Neill corrected bitterly, ignoring Sam’s wince.
“They want to use the zatarc detector.” Janet supplied without having to ask, somehow managing to keep her voice mild.
Sam nodded, she hadn’t even tried to defend the Tok’ra this time, something undoubtedly made easier by the fact that it wasn’t her father planning to use one of her closest friends. “They think that once they’ve got what they want they can erase the knowledge from Daniel’s mind.”
“Once they’ve got what they want.” Janet echoed quietly, fixing her gaze on Daniel, watching as he shifted uneasily in his sleep. He was going to need another dose of sedative soon, or not if they went ahead with the Tok’ra’s proposal.
“You know, I was just starting to like Aldwin.” The colonel muttered, crossing his arms over his stomach as he slumped further in is chair.
“Can they be sure that it’s the only thing they’d erase?” Janet questioned after a moment.
“They can not.” Teal’c answered.
Janet swallowed hard, “Do we have any other choices?”
--
“He told me about the dream.” O’Neill’s voice is soft as he steps over the threshold of Janet’s office. He leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.
“How much did he tell you?” Janet questions, all too aware of how emotionless her voice is. It’s barely been an hour since Daniel finished telling her, in great detail, just what he had done in his dream. The dream that Shifu had sent him.
“All of the important bits about how he turned into Doctor Evil.”
She fought back her anger and jealous. Jealous that Daniel had told his friend what he hadn’t been able to tell her until it was too late. Anger that the Colonel could still be so flippant in the face of what was happening and that he hadn’t seen it coming.
“He didn’t want you to know.” O’Neill continues, watching her carefully, “Didn’t want you to look at him and think he could be capable of that.”
Janet’s heart skipped a beat for a moment, recognising the truth in what he had said. Only Daniel could have believed that she would think that, that anyone could think that of him. She shuddered faintly. It wasn’t Daniel that had done the things he’d seen and experienced himself doing in that dream. It had been the knowledge, knowledge that Shifu had given him in reality.
Only this time they knew what was coming, what it meant. They could stop Daniel becoming the man he’d seen in his dream, they could save him,
They had to save him.
--
The unauthorised gate activation alarm rang out just as the Tok’ra entered the isolation room to oversee the transportation of their patient. Janet and Sam exchanged a worried glance but remained where they were, watching the Tok’ra.
Moments later, the General made a familiar announcement over the speakers. “All personnel, this is General Hammond. A glowing energy being is headed towards the infirmary, lower your weapons and do not attempt to intercept it.”
Aldwin frowned, “What is going on?”
“I have no idea.” Sam answered, exchanging a glance with Janet, leaving the rest of her thought unsaid.
“You have some means of contacting the Harsesis.” Le’na accussed, eyes dark with anger.
Janet frowned, starring at the woman in disbelief, “If we did do you really think we would have asked for your help?” She demanded.
Le’na opened her mouth to answer, only to stop as a bright light foiled the room blinding them all. Janet gasped stepping back until she hits the wall, shielding her eyes with her hands. There was nothing any of them could do but hope that this particular energy being meant them well.
Minutes later the light vanished abruptly, returning the room to normal. Janet lowered her arms slowly, blinking hard against the black spots that were dancing across her vision. She forced herself to move slowly as she crossed the room to Daniel’s bedside, ignoring everyone else in the room. She reached out slowly taking his wrist gently in her hand and checking his pulse.
“Janet?” Daniel stirred, starring up at her blurrily, “What’s going on?”
---
Author: weaselett
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3,391
Warnings/Spoilers: Nothing mentioned beyond season 4 of SG-1.
Written For: starlings_id
Prompt: Request One
Pairings: Daniel/Janet
Wants: Absolute Power, AU, angst
Doesn’t want: Fluff, Character Death, Cassie
Author’s Notes: The title’s taken from ‘Hallelujah’. Hopefully this fic fits the bill and no one’s too OOC though I’ll admit it’s one of the weirder fics I’ve written. Beta'd by the lovely charlies_dragon
------------
Janet sags against the wall outside the isolation room, fighting the urge to cry as she wipes the spittle off her face. She should have started using a stronger sedative sooner.
He was worse now, much worse than the last time he’d woken from his sedative induced sleep. He was ranting about how they would all fall to the Goa’uld, it was just a matter of time. They were wasting his knowledge, the opportunity to save themselves.
There were people who would agree with him, she knew, but hopefully those people wouldn’t find about what was happening until it was too late. Until they’d found a way of helping him, of purging him of the knowledge that had brought him to this.
Janet shuddered as his scream, even weakened as it was by the effects of the sedative that was just starting to take effect, reached her ears. She had never thought she’d hear him like this again.
--
Janet looked up as a shadow fell across her office floor, meeting Daniel’s apologetic gaze. “Sorry I left without letting you check me out.”
“I understand why you did, just don’t do it again.” Janet answered sternly, before offering him a sympathetic smile, “I’m sorry Shifu didn’t stay longer.”
Daniel shrugged weakly, “I don’t think he could have stayed longer, once they were sure he was the Harsesis the Tok’ra weren’t going to leave him alone. It was good to see him though, to know he’s ok.”
Janet nodded her understanding before lowering the pile of folders in her arms onto her desk, “Well, as you’re here, I’d like to do a quick exam, make sure there aren’t any ill effects from whatever Shifu did to you.”
Daniel hesitated for a moment before nodding and making his way over to one of the beds in the main infirmary while Janet collected what she would need. Daniel pulled off his jacket obediently as she returned and started her exam, watching silently as she completed each stage of the now all too familiar routine.
Janet stepped back, finished, “Well everything looks normal, but if you notice anything unusual I want you to tell me, especially as we still don’t really know what Shifu did.”
Daniel nodded as he stood pulling on his jacket, “I will, promise.” He offered her a smile, “Well, if there’s nothing else, I have a translation to finish for SG-6 and a report to write.”
“You’re free to go, just remember what you promised.” She shooed him off good naturedly.
“I will.”
--
Janet returned to the observation room once she was sure the screams had been silenced. She looked down into the room and for a moment she could almost fool herself into thinking that Daniel looked peaceful, asleep under the influence of the sedative she’d given him. But it only worked if she ignored the restraints and the guards.
She glanced sideways as the door to her left opened, offering Colonel O’Neill a weak smile as he lowered himself into the chair beside her, his gaze instantly focusing on his unconscious team mate in the room below.
“I hate this.” He comments casually, his gaze never wavering.
“So do I, but it’s for his own good.” Janet answers, trying for the same casual conversational tone.
“And ours.” It’s as much a question as it is a statement and Janet has to fight against the blush that threatens in response.
“It’s this or a holding cell Colonel.” She answers without looking at him.
“I know.” He sounded wary and the hand idly rubbing his bad knee only amplified the image.
“I wish there was something else I could do, but so far we haven’t been able to find anything physically wrong with him.” Her frustration seeped into her voice as she spoke, drawing his attention away from the unmoving man below.
“I know.” He put more into those two words than she thought possible, reminding her of the trust that he continually placed in her, trust that she wasn’t sure if she really deserved right now. “It’s not your fault either, none of us realised anything was wrong.”
Janet forced herself to nod, but avoided his gaze, not wanting him to see the thought that was at the forefront of her mind. I should have.
--
“Daniel, did you hear what I said?” Janet questioned, glancing sideways, hands still posed half-way through cutting a potato into pieces.
Daniel blinked, turning to her with a frown, “Sorry?”
Janet frowned, finishing the last few potatoes with a few quick cuts before turning to face him properly, her hands free, “I asked if there was anything wrong.”
Daniel shrugged, stepping past her to get something out of the fridge, “No, there’s nothing wrong, why?”
Janet hesitated watching him for a moment before answering, “You just seem preoccupied, that’s all.”
“It’s the PR6-7UT translation, I still haven’t managed to figure out the language.” Daniel offered her an apologetic smile, “Sorry if I’ve been a bit distracted.”
Janet hesitated for a moment, knowing that he was holding something back from her, before smiling weakly, “It’s ok, I was worried, that’s all.”
Daniel slipped an arm around her waist before dropping a light kiss on her forehead, “I’m fine really.”
She closed her eyes, leaning into him, ignoring the nagging doubt. Everything was fine, he was just distracted. Nothing was wrong, it was just her overreacting, that was all.
--
Janet cursed herself as she examined Daniel’s latest test results. She should have seen that there was something wrong sooner, it should have never gotten this far. The only problem was, there didn’t seem to be anything medically wrong to explain what was happening to him.
No anomalies in the scans, his blood work was identical to what they had on record, there was nothing.
Janet sighed, resting her head in her hands for a moment, struggling against the knowledge that there was nothing she could do but try and keep him calm, keep him somewhere that he couldn’t be a threat to others…or himself.
“Janet?” Sam stepping slowly into the room as Janet raised her head. “How is he?”
Janet hesitated glancing back at the test results before sighing and shaking her head, “He’s more agitated than before, I’m going to have to start using a stronger sedative.”
Sam nodded slowly, watching her friend with concern, “How about you?”
Janet hesitated, lowering her gaze, trying to think of the right words to express how she was feeling, “I feel helpless.”
Sam winced in sympathy, “If there’s anything any of us can do to help, if there’s anything I can do to help, you just have to ask.”
Janet managed a weak smile in reply. They, SG-1, were taking this just as hard as she was. After all, they hadn’t noticed anything either, hadn’t seen that something was wrong until it was too late. She wasn’t alone in that at least.
--
Colonel O’Neill stormed into the infirmary, with an angry Daniel just a few paces behind. Blood dripped from the tips of O’Neill’s fingers onto the floor, his other hand holding a rough dressing in place over his upper arm. Janet automatically started gathering the supplies she thought she would need to tend to the injury, keeping an eye on them both at the same time. It wouldn’t be the first time that the two argued in the infirmary after a mission, recently at least.
“Jack would you just listen to me for one minute.” Daniel was yelling, his face flushed with frustration.
O’Neill spun stopping suddenly in the middle of the infirmary, his body language making his feeling on the matter clear, “You just got me shot by peaceful villagers, so no, I’m not going to listen to you Daniel.” He turned away again, having said his peace and completed his journey to the empty bed furthest from the door, pulling the curtain shut around it.
Janet frowned, watching Daniel as he stood face pale, shaking in the middle of the floor, starring at the curtain as Teal’c and Sam entered the room, looking just as shaken as him. She watched silently as Sam shot Daniel a wary glance before heading over to one of the beds to wait for her post mission exam with Teal’c following her lead.
Janet hesitated, still surprised by what she had witnessed, before she forced herself to move. Colonel O’Neill needed medical attention, the others, even Daniel, could wait until she’d treated him.
--
Janet warily selected something edible from the remaining offerings in the commissary then made her way to her normal table, close to the door.
She drank her coffee first, getting up to refill it before settling properly, eying the cooling food half-heartedly. She wasn’t really hungry, but she had to eat or she wouldn’t be any use to anyone, let alone Daniel. She needs sleep maybe just as much, but she doubts she could manage it, there’s too much on her mind.
A shadow fell across the table and she looked up, finding herself staring into Teal’c dark knowing eyes.
“Doctor Fraiser.”
She manages a weak smile, “Teal’c.”
He settles into the chair opposite her, setting a bowl of ice cream onto the table in front of himself. He’s been awake just as long as she has, but he looks the same as always, calm and confident. She applies herself to her food as a way to avoid the conversation she knows is coming.
“You should sleep.” Teal’c comments bluntly, the concern in his gaze softening the words.
“I know, but I don’t think I can, not right now.” She replies, toying with her remaining vegetables.
“You will be of no aid to Daniel Jackson if you do not rest.” Teal’c reasons, his ice cream finished.
She sighs, rubbing her eyes with one hand, unsure of how to answer him. He’s right, but at the same time, she knows that she’ll only spend the time she should be resting thinking that she’s wasting time she could be using to find a way to help Daniel.
“The Tok’ra will be arriving in fourteen hours.”
Janet looks up, surprised. She knew that Sam had sent word, but she didn’t think that they had heard anything in reply. “They think they can help?”
Teal’c hesitates, seeming to consider her question for a long moment. “They are unsure, however there is a chance that they may be able to help Daniel Jackson.”
Janet feels the dread build in her stomach, they all know that it’s more likely that when they realise what has happened they’ll reconsider helping. They’ll want the knowledge in Daniel’s mind more.
“You will be of more help to Daniel if you are well rested.” Teal’c prompts, his choice of words making it clear that he’s thinking the same thing as she is.
Janet swallows hard, nodding, “You’re right Teal’c. Thank you.” She puts as much emotion as she can into those last words and he offers her a smile in return. She stands slowly, wishing him good night before she heads towards her assigned bunk, determined to try and follow his advice.
--
She winces as Daniel’s elbow catches her in the stomach as he rolls over, muttering something in Goa’uld. Normally Daniel doesn’t move all that much in his sleep, for the last few days however, he’s been restless, leaving her with a small number of bruises.
He shifts again and she narrowly avoids being kicked. She sighs, easing herself out of the bed, making sure not to wake him. He’s sleeping badly enough without her waking him to complain about his restlessness and he has a mission in the morning.
There’s something on his mind, she knows, but he won’t talk to her and that worries her. She’d thought that they’d gotten to the point in their relationship that he knew he could trust her with whatever was bothering him. All she can is hope that he’ll speak to someone else. There’s no point in trying to make him talk about it, she learned long ago that Daniel won’t talk about anything unless he wants to.
She closes the bedroom door slowly before heading down the corridor to her guest bedroom, silently thankful that she’d had the foresight to make the bed earlier. She needs sleep just as much as he does.
--
The Tok’ra sent Aldwin and another Tok’ra, Le’na, that none of them knew, with them they brought the zatarc device. Janet starred at it for a long moment, the feeling of dread building to a peak. Aldwin must have suspected this would happen from the moment that Daniel had told them what Shifu had done, but he hadn’t warned them.
The briefing didn’t last long, the Tok’ra both sat quietly listening to what she and Colonel O’Neill had to say, then they politely asked to see Daniel, to ‘assess’ his condition. If she’d had a choice she would have refused , instead she silently gave in to the general.
Daniel was awake when they reached the isolation room with Doctor Warner nearby, preparing the sedative.
“That will not be necessary.”
Janet stiffened as Aldwin spoke, angry that the Tok’ra’s offer of help meant that she powerless to stop them. After all, they did need to see and talk to Daniel themselves to understand the situation fully. At least that was the reason Aldwin had given for their request.
Once they’d done so, or if Daniel showed any signs of distress however, she would order the sedative be administered. She was after all, if nothing else, still the chief medical officer and Daniel was her patient.
Daniel started hurling insults as soon as the Tok’ra entered the room, glared at them both. She only understood half of the words that he used as he swapped between English and Goa’uld, but from the expression on Teal’c’s face she guessed that she had gotten the gist of it.
She gave the Tok’ra exactly five minutes before she nodded to Warner, ignoring the protests of both Tok’ra. She wasn’t about to put her patient through anymore. Especially not in the face of what she’d seen written across the features of Le’na.
--
“I feel like I’m going crazy.” The words are barely a whisper, but the emotion behind them sends a shiver down Janet’s spine. She doesn’t want to remember the last time she heard that much fear in Daniel’s voice.
“Daniel?” She moves closer, placed a hand on his arm, silently wishing that she could close his office off from the rest of the base.
“I keep thinking of things, wanting to do things that…” He winced shaking his head, “I’m dangerous.”
It was a full minute before her body forced her to take another breath, “Daniel, you don’t mean that…”
He shook his head, raised his head to met her gaze, his blue eyes troubled, “No Janet, you have to listen to me, I thought it was just a dream, that I didn’t still have the memories, the knowledge., but it’s there, waiting. I thought I could fight it but,” Daniel shook his head hopelessly, “it’s too strong.”
Janet shook her head, not understanding.
“I lied to you.” Daniel admitted, “I didn’t tell you what was wrong, what is wrong. Shifu, he, he gave me the knowledge, I don’t think he meant to, he just meant to give me the dream to make me understand how dangerous it is. “
“How dangerous what is?” Janet asked despite herself, there was a part of her that knew what his answer would be, but she wouldn’t believe it until she heard him say it.
Daniel struggled for a moment before he spoke, his voice wavering “The Goa’uld knowledge, the knowledge that Shifu as a Harsesis has.”
Janet felt her heart stop.
--
“The Tok’ra say they might be able to help.” O’Neill’s voice was tinged with anger as he spoke, his hands clenched into fists in his lap as he starred down into the isolation room.
“They wish to take the knowledge from Daniel Jackson’s mind.”
“Don’t you mean they want the knowledge in Daniel’s noggin’.” O’Neill corrected bitterly, ignoring Sam’s wince.
“They want to use the zatarc detector.” Janet supplied without having to ask, somehow managing to keep her voice mild.
Sam nodded, she hadn’t even tried to defend the Tok’ra this time, something undoubtedly made easier by the fact that it wasn’t her father planning to use one of her closest friends. “They think that once they’ve got what they want they can erase the knowledge from Daniel’s mind.”
“Once they’ve got what they want.” Janet echoed quietly, fixing her gaze on Daniel, watching as he shifted uneasily in his sleep. He was going to need another dose of sedative soon, or not if they went ahead with the Tok’ra’s proposal.
“You know, I was just starting to like Aldwin.” The colonel muttered, crossing his arms over his stomach as he slumped further in is chair.
“Can they be sure that it’s the only thing they’d erase?” Janet questioned after a moment.
“They can not.” Teal’c answered.
Janet swallowed hard, “Do we have any other choices?”
--
“He told me about the dream.” O’Neill’s voice is soft as he steps over the threshold of Janet’s office. He leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.
“How much did he tell you?” Janet questions, all too aware of how emotionless her voice is. It’s barely been an hour since Daniel finished telling her, in great detail, just what he had done in his dream. The dream that Shifu had sent him.
“All of the important bits about how he turned into Doctor Evil.”
She fought back her anger and jealous. Jealous that Daniel had told his friend what he hadn’t been able to tell her until it was too late. Anger that the Colonel could still be so flippant in the face of what was happening and that he hadn’t seen it coming.
“He didn’t want you to know.” O’Neill continues, watching her carefully, “Didn’t want you to look at him and think he could be capable of that.”
Janet’s heart skipped a beat for a moment, recognising the truth in what he had said. Only Daniel could have believed that she would think that, that anyone could think that of him. She shuddered faintly. It wasn’t Daniel that had done the things he’d seen and experienced himself doing in that dream. It had been the knowledge, knowledge that Shifu had given him in reality.
Only this time they knew what was coming, what it meant. They could stop Daniel becoming the man he’d seen in his dream, they could save him,
They had to save him.
--
The unauthorised gate activation alarm rang out just as the Tok’ra entered the isolation room to oversee the transportation of their patient. Janet and Sam exchanged a worried glance but remained where they were, watching the Tok’ra.
Moments later, the General made a familiar announcement over the speakers. “All personnel, this is General Hammond. A glowing energy being is headed towards the infirmary, lower your weapons and do not attempt to intercept it.”
Aldwin frowned, “What is going on?”
“I have no idea.” Sam answered, exchanging a glance with Janet, leaving the rest of her thought unsaid.
“You have some means of contacting the Harsesis.” Le’na accussed, eyes dark with anger.
Janet frowned, starring at the woman in disbelief, “If we did do you really think we would have asked for your help?” She demanded.
Le’na opened her mouth to answer, only to stop as a bright light foiled the room blinding them all. Janet gasped stepping back until she hits the wall, shielding her eyes with her hands. There was nothing any of them could do but hope that this particular energy being meant them well.
Minutes later the light vanished abruptly, returning the room to normal. Janet lowered her arms slowly, blinking hard against the black spots that were dancing across her vision. She forced herself to move slowly as she crossed the room to Daniel’s bedside, ignoring everyone else in the room. She reached out slowly taking his wrist gently in her hand and checking his pulse.
“Janet?” Daniel stirred, starring up at her blurrily, “What’s going on?”
---