![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Mercy
Author: elfcat255
Pairing: Sam/Janet and the team
Rating: G
Spoilers: none
AN: quick beta by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sams_ceara
AN2: Okay this one is doing double duty...it started out as a little something forjello_o for a birthday ficlet and became a monster as I realized halfbloodme needed a little TLC fic to help lift her spirts...I hope you both enjoy this.
In a bustling village on a far away world things went on as usual except for a small crowd of people gathered in the town square. The reason for the gathering was made evident when the crowd parted allowing a woman small in stature but with a strong presence of authority to make her way onto a small wooden stage. She was followed by a handful of medics who carried several cases of supplies and equipment. The auburn-haired woman watched as they began setting the things up on the stage, occasionally pointing out where she wanted different items set up. The crowd of villagers milled around as the medical team readied their equipment and as this progressed, four more of the visitors made their way towards the stage.
“Hey, Doc,” O’Neill called out.
Janet turned around when she heard him call out and replied, “Yes, Colonel?”
The man came to a stop next to the stage and answered, “We made sure the head guy knew to let any of the villagers with medical needs to come to the square. It’s up to you on how to organize them."
Looking down at him from her higher vantage point, she raised an eyebrow and remarked, “I’d appreciate a little help with crowd control, Colonel. The medics and I will have our hands full. If you could spare Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter, it would make everything move smoother.”
Pulling his cap off and rubbing a hand over his short graying hair, O’Neill thought for a few moments and then replied, “I’ll leave you Daniel and Teal’c. I need Carter with me to work out the trade agreement for those funny rocks she got all excited over.”
“Very well then, they can begin lining the villagers up in three rows for me,” the doctor told him and turned away to check over the equipment being readied.
O’Neill turned around to find Daniel standing behind him. “What she said,” then he hollered, “Carter, you’re with me!”
The blonde Captain moved forward from her position and answered him with a firm, ”Yes, Sir.”
O’Neill walked away from the stage with the blonde woman not far behind him. Janet watched them walk away and sighed. She had hoped to actually work with Sam some on this mission but it looked like her girlfriend was needed elsewhere. She turned to look down at Daniel and Teal’c. “If you could start lining up people we can get this show on the road,” she told them.
Daniel nodded but Teal’c gave her an odd look and asked, “What show are we readying for? I know of no shows on this world.”
“Come on, Teal’c, I’ll explain as we work,” Daniel told him and guided the large Jaffa towards the waiting villagers.
****
Several hours later, Janet stripped another pair of latex gloves from her hands and tossed them into a disposal bag. The steady stream of new patients had now trickled to just a few and the others could handle them without her. The villagers had a wide range of ailments ranging from summer colds to broken bones not set properly and even a few cases of cancer if she wasn’t mistaken. She would have to wait to make sure about those once she returned to Earth and her diagnostic equipment. She glanced over at one of the other medics who was wrapping a young boy’s arm in plaster and motioned with her hands she was going to walk around some. He gave her a nod back and the doctor walked over to where Daniel and Teal’c stood amongst a group of children. The archeologist was telling stories to a captive audience and Teal’c looked to be in a face-making contest with a young boy.
Daniel saw her approaching and wrapped up his tale, much to the disappointment of the children. “That’s enough for today, maybe I can tell a few more tomorrow before we leave,” he told them. With many groans the children dispersed, except for the boy staring at Teal’c.
Janet walked up and saw the expression on the child’s face. Laughing, she remarked, “That’s good but there’s no way you’re going to beat him in a stare off.”
Teal’c inclined his head without breaking his gaze with the boy and stated, “Indeed, but he has made a valiant attempt.”
The boy broke eye contact with the warrior and gave a little shrug then ran off to play with the other children, leaving the three SGC personnel to talk among themselves.
“So…Janet, did Sam get moved in okay?” Daniel asked the doctor.
“What? How did you know about that?” she replied giving him an odd look.
“Teal’c and I were on our way to go fishing at Jack’s last weekend and we stopped by to see if she wanted to join us. She was busy packing boxes,” Daniel told her with a knowing smile.
“We offered our assistance but Captain Carter assured us she could manage on her own,” Teal’c commented.
Janet hesitated for a few seconds and Daniel added, “It’s okay, Janet, as far as anyone is concerned she moved in to help you with Cassie. At least that’s what we plan to tell anyone who asks.”
Breathing a small sigh of relief the doctor finally answered his question, “Yes, she’s all moved in and everything is just fine. Both Cassie and I love having her live with us.”
Daniel saw a slight blush appear on his friend’s cheeks and couldn’t help but nudge her shoulder. “I’m happy for the two of you,” he said.
“As am I,” Teal’c added. “Both you and Samantha Carter have been in excellent spirits since the realization of your feelings towards one another.”
The doctor looked up at the Jaffa and couldn’t help but grin at his comment. “Teal’c, you big softie,” she joked and the warrior gave her a slight grin in return.
****
Meanwhile a few miles outside of the village, Colonel O’Neill and Captain Carter were inspecting one of the mines with the village elders. The funny rocks as the Colonel had called them were actually unrefined naquada and it was a huge find for the team from Earth to have found. While Sam was busy inspecting the rudimentary mining equipment the villagers used, the Colonel chatted with the head elder.
“As we discussed earlier, my people are more than happy to help yours with the mining operation,” O’Neill said to the older man.
“No, that will not be necessary Colonel; your people are already helping us with our medical needs. The least we can do is mine the naquada on our own. We will be able to trade significant quantities with you, never fear,” the man replied.
O’Neill nodded his head and noticed Carter walking towards them. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to the elder.
Walking away from the older man, the Colonel met Sam halfway and asked, ”So, will they be able to produce as much as he says they can, Carter?”
She nodded and replied, “Yes, Sir. They have a crude but reliable drilling rig that they use to bore into the mine walls, and then they sort it by hand. From what I’ve seen they have a routine down that lets them move at least a couple hundred pounds of the ore every few hours. For right now that’s fine for our needs since we’re still working on the refinement process.”
“So, all I need to do is sign the dotted line and all the science geeks back at the base can start drooling over the rocks?’ he asked.
Sam chuckled and nodded. “Yes, Sir,” she replied.
“Alrighty then, let’s get back to the village and get that done,” he said with a smile.
“I want to take a look at something, Sir. Permission to hang around here for a little while?” Sam asked.
“Sure, just keep out of trouble. Even though we have the good doctor with us, let’s try not to put her to work on one of us this trip,” he remarked then added, “I don’t think she’d be too happy if she had to patch you up, Carter. She might get all emotional or something.”
“Sir?” Sam said giving him a strange look.
O’Neill didn’t answer but gave her a wink and then turned away to head back over to the village elders. Sam watched him walk away with a confused look on her face and then she slapped her forehead. “I’m so going to hurt Daniel when I get him alone,” she grumbled and turned to walk back to the mine.
*****
After the sun set a couple of hours later, the stage in the village square had been cleared of the medical equipment and a long table now sat upon it with many dishes of wonderful smelling food stacked along its length. The visiting SGC personnel stood off to one side as they waited for the Colonel and Captain Carter before they took their places as guests of honor in the seats provided.
O’Neill jogged up a few minutes later and said, “Well, it’s a done deal, time to celebrate.”
“Where’s Sam?” Daniel asked before Janet could when he saw the look on her face.
“I left her back at the mine a couple of hours ago. She wanted to keep looking at their gadgets,” O’Neill informed him then asked, “She’s not back yet?”
“No, she’s not,” Janet answered him before the archeologist could.
“She would have radioed if something happened,” said O’Neill.
“If she could,” the doctor grumbled and turned to walk quickly towards the house they were all staying in.
“Where are you going, Doc?” O’Neill called after her.
“To get my med kit and go find her!” Janet called back over her shoulder as she disappeared into the nearby house.
“Isn’t that our job to do?” Jack asked Daniel with confused look.
“I don’t think she cares about that right now, Jack. I would bet she has only one thing on her mind,” the archeologist replied.
O’Neill gave him an even more confused look and then realization finally sank in and he replied in with a nod, “Ahh, gotcha.”
He gave the gathered medical team a look and said, ”Well don’t just stand there, go get your gear, we have a search party to form!”
They all quickly moved towards the house to do just that and had to move out of the way as Janet hurried back out into the square and started towards the direction of the mines. O’Neill called out after her, “Doc! Wait on us!”
But the woman ignored him and kept walking. With a groan O’Neill motioned at Teal’c. “Go with her. We don’t want to end up searching for two out there tonight.”
Teal’c nodded and took off after the doctor at a jog, his long strides soon bringing him up beside her. “I am sure the Captain is unharmed,” he said to Janet.
“If she isn’t, it’s the only thing that will save her from getting yelled at,” Janet muttered and increased her pace, using a flashlight to make out the trail to the mine. ‘Please let her be okay,’ the doctor thought as she began to jog along the trail.
******
As the doctor and her escort neared the mine she caught a glimpse of something in the flashlight’s beam. Growing closer she realized it was Sam; the woman was sitting on the ground next to a large boulder and it appeared she was cradling something in her arms.
Janet rushed towards her and slid to a kneeling stop next to the blonde. “Are you okay? Are you injured? Why didn’t you radio us?” she asked in quick babble of questions.
Sam looked up at her lover with a dirty tear-streaked face. “I tried to help him but I didn’t know how,” she said in a soft voice.
“Help what? Sam, what are you talking about?” the doctor asked in a confused tone.
The blonde slowly unwound the bundle in her arms, which was made from her jacket, and revealed a small cat-like creature. Its tan fur was streaked with dirt and blood. The small creature appeared to be barely breathing. “Can you do something for him, Janet?” Sam asked.
Janet looked into red-rimmed blue eyes and replied in a soft voice, “I’m not sure, sweetie, but I’ll try.” Janet took the animal from Sam’s arms and laid it on the ground, spreading the jacket on which the animal rested out. “If I can’t fix what’s wrong, then at least I can end his suffering,” Janet told the blonde.
She glanced up at Teal’c, who stood nearby watching the scene play out. “Come over here and give me some extra light with your flashlight and, Sam, you take mine so I can work.”
The large warrior moved closer until he stood over the two women shining his flashlight directly over the small animal. Janet opened her kit and began pulling out various things. While she listened to the animal’s heartbeat she glanced up at Sam. ”Is this all the animal’s blood or is some of it yours?” she asked.
“Mostly his, I do have some nice scratches from where he fought me while I was trying to rescue him, though. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it just wouldn’t slow down,” the blonde told her.
“Hold that light steady, Sam; I’m going to have to sew up this cut. If I can stop the flow maybe he’ll have a chance,” Janet said a she pulled out a suture kit and a bottle of antiseptic.
Luckily the small animal was past the point of caring about any more pain so she didn’t have to give it any anesthetic; it probably wouldn’t have been able to handle it anyway in its weakened condition. A large gash ran from the middle of its chest, under the front leg and halfway down its side. She began cleaning away as much debris from the wound she could before started her sewing. As she worked, the doctor asked Sam what happened again and why didn’t she radio.
Sam pulled her radio out of her pocket with her free hand and let the pieces fall with a clatter to the ground beside her. “I busted it trying to wedge myself through a hole to get to this little guy,” she told the doctor. “Everyone else had already left to get ready for the celebration and I heard yowling so I went back into the mine. I think the drilling tool must have busted through to a den or something and nicked him.”
As Sam finished with her explanation, Teal’c remarked, “The others approach; shall I radio them to stay clear?”
“Yes, Teal’c, the less noise the better until I get finished with the stitching. The poor little thing is already in shock, no need to hasten it with a bunch of strange noises and smells,” Janet replied to his question then changed her mind. “No, tell Lt. Summers to get over here as fast as he can.”
Sam gave her a confused look and Janet explained, “His father is a vet and he worked with him until medical school.”
The young Lieutenant ran up at that moment and knelt next to the doctor. “What do you need me to do, Dr. Fraiser?” he asked.
“Ben, you know more about what animals can handle than me. Can you set up a fluids drip so we can keep this little guy from slipping further into shock?” Janet said as her hands hovered over the animal’s wounds.
“Sure can, Ma’am,” he replied and handing Teal’c his flashlight began to pull out the things he need from his kit. “Lucky for this little critter we worked on kids today, I have lots of small bore needles,” he remarked as he found an IV line and saline.
Sam moved out of the way to let the young man take her spot and watched as he fixed a needle in the animal’s leg. She stood up beside Teal’c and added the light in her hands to the two the Jaffa held over the working doctors. Just then O’Neill and Daniel appeared from the darkness. “Alright, explain why you only wanted Summers to come over here,” the Colonel remarked in a loud voice.
“Colonel O’Neill, if you don’t be quiet I’ll use this needle on you when I finish,” Janet said in a serious tone.
Jack stuck his head between Teal’c and Sam to look down at what the doctors were doing. “Sorry, Doc, I didn’t know you were in the middle of surgery,” he said in a more subdued tone. He gave Sam a look out of the corner of his eye. “That why you were late for the party?” he asked. She nodded and he added, “You hurt?” She shook her head no and he shrugged. “Good, Daniel let’s give them some more light,” he told the archeologist and the four members of SG-1 stood over the doctors with their combined flashlights.
With an extra set of hands, Janet quickly sewed up the injured animal’s side. She finished the last stitch and making sure the injury wasn’t seeping, untucked the end of her stethoscope from her jacket pocket and listened to its breathing. “Everything sounds okay to me; here, Ben, have a listen,” she said, passing the instrument to him.
The young man accepted the tool and listened closely for a few minutes. “His heartbeat is a little erratic but steady and I don’t hear any fluid in his lungs,” he told the doctor. “If he makes it through the night and infection doesn’t set in, I think he has a good chance,” he said looking up at the other team members.
“You didn’t happen to bring one of the stretchers with you did you?” Janet asked the Colonel.
“Of course, it was Carter we were looking for, Doc,” Jack said with a slight grin and radioed for them to bring it on over.
Sam grumbled, “I do not get hurt that much.”
Daniel nudged her with his elbow. “Well, it’s usually me or you,” he joked.
“Whatever,” the blonde mumbled as she held out a hand to help the doctor up from the ground after she picked up the things pulled from her kit.
The rest of the medics appeared with the stretcher and Lt. Summers carefully transferred the small animal onto it. He held the bag of fluids as the group began to make their way back to the village. Reaching the house they were to stay in, Janet had the stretcher taken to the room shared by her and Sam. Lt. Summers gave the little animal another look over and told the doctor if there were any changes to radio him.
With that done, the rest of the team and the other medics went off to their rooms, leaving Sam and Janet alone in the room. With a tired sigh, the blonde walked over to a wash basin and filling it with water from the nearby pitcher, began washing off the dirt and dried blood from her arms. Janet walked up beside her lover and watched the blonde. “Let me get cleaned up and I’ll put something on those scratches, Sam,” she told her.
Sam didn’t say anything but nodded her head as she grabbed a towel and dried off her arms. Janet dumped the dirty water out and then washed her own blood covered hands; drying them on a fresh towel, she turned around to see Sam standing over the little creature, watching its chest rise and fall. Walking up behind her, the doctor threaded her arms around Sam’s waist and hugged her tightly. “I’m proud of you,” she said in a soft voice.
“Why? I could have gotten myself stuck or even worse, stuck and injured with no way to contact you,” the blonde mumbled.
“But you didn’t and you saved a life, Samantha,” Janet pointed out.
“I couldn’t just leave him there,” Sam replied.
Squeezing the blonde even tighter, Janet remarked, “And it’s one of the things I love about you the most, your compassion for others, you silly goof.”
Sam turned in the doctor’s arms until she faced her and placed her arms around the smaller woman’s slim waist. “Really? I thought it was for my witty charm and thousand watt smile,” the blonde said smugly.
Janet gave the blonde a wink and grinned. “Those, too,” she replied.
A soft mewling noise caused them to stop their conversation and turn around to see the little cat-like creature waking and trying to pull itself up on its feet.
Sam knelt down and placed a hand on it, keeping the animal from righting itself. “Hey now, no moving around, little guy,” she crooned.
The little animal hissed at the blonde and tried to bite at her hand. “We’ve had this discussion already, stop that,” ordered Sam as she held her other hand out to the frightened animal. The animal’s nose twitched as he smelled the outstretched hand and he calmed down, giving Sam’s fingers a nudge with his head.
“Well, that’s a good sign,” Janet remarked as she knelt next to Sam and held out a hand for the creature to sniff. Soon she received the same treatment and the couple was rewarded with a rumbling noise coming from the small animal.
“That’s an even better sign right?” Sam asked glancing at her lover.
“Yes, if he was in too much pain he wouldn’t be doing that. I think the little guy is going to be just fine, Sam,” the doctor told her.
Sam stroked the little animal’s tan fur and scratched it between the ears. ”Hey, you know what?”
Janet gave her a questioning look, “What?”
“You haven’t sneezed once all night,” Sam said with a grin.
Janet thought for a few seconds then replied, “You’re right.” The doctor began shaking her head. “No, Sam…absolutely not.”
“Oh come on, Janet, he’s hurt and needs expert medical attention,” the blonde said and gave Janet a pleading look.
“There are regulations against doing things like this. He’s a strange creature from another planet for heaven’s sake, Samantha,” the doctor said in a stern voice.
“He looks like a cat and acts like a cat, so he could be a cat if anybody asked,” Sam pointed out as the little animal continued to purr and rub its head on her outstretched hand. “He can stay in quarantine until you run the necessary tests; we can’t leave him here…please?” Sam pleaded again.
Janet threw her hands up in the air and muttered, “Fine, but you’re going to have to convince both Jack and General Hammond to let us bring him back to Earth.”
“I’ll handle Uncle George and you can just spout medical jargon at Jack, he’ll say yes just to get you to stop,” Sam said with a grin.
“Fine, now come on and let me put something on those scratches,” the doctor said as she rose from her kneeling position.
Sam watched her walk over to her med kit and glanced back down at the animal who was watching her intently. “Hear that little guy, you’re going home with us,” she said and stroked his head. The little cat-like creature purred even louder and yawned, making Sam chuckle. She rose to her feet and walked over to sit on the bed so Janet could look at the scratches.
From its position on the floor the little creature watched the small woman fuss over the tall woman. They seemed like caring individuals what with the tall one saving him and the small one fixing his wound, maybe this new home they spoke of would have more of his kind; he could only hope the long search for them would end there. Closing his eyes the animal let out a content sigh and drifted into a healing sleep, his ears filled with the soft voices of the two women he now considered his own.
Author: elfcat255
Pairing: Sam/Janet and the team
Rating: G
Spoilers: none
AN: quick beta by
sams_cearaAN2: Okay this one is doing double duty...it started out as a little something for
jello_o for a birthday ficlet and became a monster as I realized halfbloodme needed a little TLC fic to help lift her spirts...I hope you both enjoy this. In a bustling village on a far away world things went on as usual except for a small crowd of people gathered in the town square. The reason for the gathering was made evident when the crowd parted allowing a woman small in stature but with a strong presence of authority to make her way onto a small wooden stage. She was followed by a handful of medics who carried several cases of supplies and equipment. The auburn-haired woman watched as they began setting the things up on the stage, occasionally pointing out where she wanted different items set up. The crowd of villagers milled around as the medical team readied their equipment and as this progressed, four more of the visitors made their way towards the stage.
“Hey, Doc,” O’Neill called out.
Janet turned around when she heard him call out and replied, “Yes, Colonel?”
The man came to a stop next to the stage and answered, “We made sure the head guy knew to let any of the villagers with medical needs to come to the square. It’s up to you on how to organize them."
Looking down at him from her higher vantage point, she raised an eyebrow and remarked, “I’d appreciate a little help with crowd control, Colonel. The medics and I will have our hands full. If you could spare Dr. Jackson and Captain Carter, it would make everything move smoother.”
Pulling his cap off and rubbing a hand over his short graying hair, O’Neill thought for a few moments and then replied, “I’ll leave you Daniel and Teal’c. I need Carter with me to work out the trade agreement for those funny rocks she got all excited over.”
“Very well then, they can begin lining the villagers up in three rows for me,” the doctor told him and turned away to check over the equipment being readied.
O’Neill turned around to find Daniel standing behind him. “What she said,” then he hollered, “Carter, you’re with me!”
The blonde Captain moved forward from her position and answered him with a firm, ”Yes, Sir.”
O’Neill walked away from the stage with the blonde woman not far behind him. Janet watched them walk away and sighed. She had hoped to actually work with Sam some on this mission but it looked like her girlfriend was needed elsewhere. She turned to look down at Daniel and Teal’c. “If you could start lining up people we can get this show on the road,” she told them.
Daniel nodded but Teal’c gave her an odd look and asked, “What show are we readying for? I know of no shows on this world.”
“Come on, Teal’c, I’ll explain as we work,” Daniel told him and guided the large Jaffa towards the waiting villagers.
****
Several hours later, Janet stripped another pair of latex gloves from her hands and tossed them into a disposal bag. The steady stream of new patients had now trickled to just a few and the others could handle them without her. The villagers had a wide range of ailments ranging from summer colds to broken bones not set properly and even a few cases of cancer if she wasn’t mistaken. She would have to wait to make sure about those once she returned to Earth and her diagnostic equipment. She glanced over at one of the other medics who was wrapping a young boy’s arm in plaster and motioned with her hands she was going to walk around some. He gave her a nod back and the doctor walked over to where Daniel and Teal’c stood amongst a group of children. The archeologist was telling stories to a captive audience and Teal’c looked to be in a face-making contest with a young boy.
Daniel saw her approaching and wrapped up his tale, much to the disappointment of the children. “That’s enough for today, maybe I can tell a few more tomorrow before we leave,” he told them. With many groans the children dispersed, except for the boy staring at Teal’c.
Janet walked up and saw the expression on the child’s face. Laughing, she remarked, “That’s good but there’s no way you’re going to beat him in a stare off.”
Teal’c inclined his head without breaking his gaze with the boy and stated, “Indeed, but he has made a valiant attempt.”
The boy broke eye contact with the warrior and gave a little shrug then ran off to play with the other children, leaving the three SGC personnel to talk among themselves.
“So…Janet, did Sam get moved in okay?” Daniel asked the doctor.
“What? How did you know about that?” she replied giving him an odd look.
“Teal’c and I were on our way to go fishing at Jack’s last weekend and we stopped by to see if she wanted to join us. She was busy packing boxes,” Daniel told her with a knowing smile.
“We offered our assistance but Captain Carter assured us she could manage on her own,” Teal’c commented.
Janet hesitated for a few seconds and Daniel added, “It’s okay, Janet, as far as anyone is concerned she moved in to help you with Cassie. At least that’s what we plan to tell anyone who asks.”
Breathing a small sigh of relief the doctor finally answered his question, “Yes, she’s all moved in and everything is just fine. Both Cassie and I love having her live with us.”
Daniel saw a slight blush appear on his friend’s cheeks and couldn’t help but nudge her shoulder. “I’m happy for the two of you,” he said.
“As am I,” Teal’c added. “Both you and Samantha Carter have been in excellent spirits since the realization of your feelings towards one another.”
The doctor looked up at the Jaffa and couldn’t help but grin at his comment. “Teal’c, you big softie,” she joked and the warrior gave her a slight grin in return.
****
Meanwhile a few miles outside of the village, Colonel O’Neill and Captain Carter were inspecting one of the mines with the village elders. The funny rocks as the Colonel had called them were actually unrefined naquada and it was a huge find for the team from Earth to have found. While Sam was busy inspecting the rudimentary mining equipment the villagers used, the Colonel chatted with the head elder.
“As we discussed earlier, my people are more than happy to help yours with the mining operation,” O’Neill said to the older man.
“No, that will not be necessary Colonel; your people are already helping us with our medical needs. The least we can do is mine the naquada on our own. We will be able to trade significant quantities with you, never fear,” the man replied.
O’Neill nodded his head and noticed Carter walking towards them. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said to the elder.
Walking away from the older man, the Colonel met Sam halfway and asked, ”So, will they be able to produce as much as he says they can, Carter?”
She nodded and replied, “Yes, Sir. They have a crude but reliable drilling rig that they use to bore into the mine walls, and then they sort it by hand. From what I’ve seen they have a routine down that lets them move at least a couple hundred pounds of the ore every few hours. For right now that’s fine for our needs since we’re still working on the refinement process.”
“So, all I need to do is sign the dotted line and all the science geeks back at the base can start drooling over the rocks?’ he asked.
Sam chuckled and nodded. “Yes, Sir,” she replied.
“Alrighty then, let’s get back to the village and get that done,” he said with a smile.
“I want to take a look at something, Sir. Permission to hang around here for a little while?” Sam asked.
“Sure, just keep out of trouble. Even though we have the good doctor with us, let’s try not to put her to work on one of us this trip,” he remarked then added, “I don’t think she’d be too happy if she had to patch you up, Carter. She might get all emotional or something.”
“Sir?” Sam said giving him a strange look.
O’Neill didn’t answer but gave her a wink and then turned away to head back over to the village elders. Sam watched him walk away with a confused look on her face and then she slapped her forehead. “I’m so going to hurt Daniel when I get him alone,” she grumbled and turned to walk back to the mine.
*****
After the sun set a couple of hours later, the stage in the village square had been cleared of the medical equipment and a long table now sat upon it with many dishes of wonderful smelling food stacked along its length. The visiting SGC personnel stood off to one side as they waited for the Colonel and Captain Carter before they took their places as guests of honor in the seats provided.
O’Neill jogged up a few minutes later and said, “Well, it’s a done deal, time to celebrate.”
“Where’s Sam?” Daniel asked before Janet could when he saw the look on her face.
“I left her back at the mine a couple of hours ago. She wanted to keep looking at their gadgets,” O’Neill informed him then asked, “She’s not back yet?”
“No, she’s not,” Janet answered him before the archeologist could.
“She would have radioed if something happened,” said O’Neill.
“If she could,” the doctor grumbled and turned to walk quickly towards the house they were all staying in.
“Where are you going, Doc?” O’Neill called after her.
“To get my med kit and go find her!” Janet called back over her shoulder as she disappeared into the nearby house.
“Isn’t that our job to do?” Jack asked Daniel with confused look.
“I don’t think she cares about that right now, Jack. I would bet she has only one thing on her mind,” the archeologist replied.
O’Neill gave him an even more confused look and then realization finally sank in and he replied in with a nod, “Ahh, gotcha.”
He gave the gathered medical team a look and said, ”Well don’t just stand there, go get your gear, we have a search party to form!”
They all quickly moved towards the house to do just that and had to move out of the way as Janet hurried back out into the square and started towards the direction of the mines. O’Neill called out after her, “Doc! Wait on us!”
But the woman ignored him and kept walking. With a groan O’Neill motioned at Teal’c. “Go with her. We don’t want to end up searching for two out there tonight.”
Teal’c nodded and took off after the doctor at a jog, his long strides soon bringing him up beside her. “I am sure the Captain is unharmed,” he said to Janet.
“If she isn’t, it’s the only thing that will save her from getting yelled at,” Janet muttered and increased her pace, using a flashlight to make out the trail to the mine. ‘Please let her be okay,’ the doctor thought as she began to jog along the trail.
******
As the doctor and her escort neared the mine she caught a glimpse of something in the flashlight’s beam. Growing closer she realized it was Sam; the woman was sitting on the ground next to a large boulder and it appeared she was cradling something in her arms.
Janet rushed towards her and slid to a kneeling stop next to the blonde. “Are you okay? Are you injured? Why didn’t you radio us?” she asked in quick babble of questions.
Sam looked up at her lover with a dirty tear-streaked face. “I tried to help him but I didn’t know how,” she said in a soft voice.
“Help what? Sam, what are you talking about?” the doctor asked in a confused tone.
The blonde slowly unwound the bundle in her arms, which was made from her jacket, and revealed a small cat-like creature. Its tan fur was streaked with dirt and blood. The small creature appeared to be barely breathing. “Can you do something for him, Janet?” Sam asked.
Janet looked into red-rimmed blue eyes and replied in a soft voice, “I’m not sure, sweetie, but I’ll try.” Janet took the animal from Sam’s arms and laid it on the ground, spreading the jacket on which the animal rested out. “If I can’t fix what’s wrong, then at least I can end his suffering,” Janet told the blonde.
She glanced up at Teal’c, who stood nearby watching the scene play out. “Come over here and give me some extra light with your flashlight and, Sam, you take mine so I can work.”
The large warrior moved closer until he stood over the two women shining his flashlight directly over the small animal. Janet opened her kit and began pulling out various things. While she listened to the animal’s heartbeat she glanced up at Sam. ”Is this all the animal’s blood or is some of it yours?” she asked.
“Mostly his, I do have some nice scratches from where he fought me while I was trying to rescue him, though. I tried to stop the bleeding, but it just wouldn’t slow down,” the blonde told her.
“Hold that light steady, Sam; I’m going to have to sew up this cut. If I can stop the flow maybe he’ll have a chance,” Janet said a she pulled out a suture kit and a bottle of antiseptic.
Luckily the small animal was past the point of caring about any more pain so she didn’t have to give it any anesthetic; it probably wouldn’t have been able to handle it anyway in its weakened condition. A large gash ran from the middle of its chest, under the front leg and halfway down its side. She began cleaning away as much debris from the wound she could before started her sewing. As she worked, the doctor asked Sam what happened again and why didn’t she radio.
Sam pulled her radio out of her pocket with her free hand and let the pieces fall with a clatter to the ground beside her. “I busted it trying to wedge myself through a hole to get to this little guy,” she told the doctor. “Everyone else had already left to get ready for the celebration and I heard yowling so I went back into the mine. I think the drilling tool must have busted through to a den or something and nicked him.”
As Sam finished with her explanation, Teal’c remarked, “The others approach; shall I radio them to stay clear?”
“Yes, Teal’c, the less noise the better until I get finished with the stitching. The poor little thing is already in shock, no need to hasten it with a bunch of strange noises and smells,” Janet replied to his question then changed her mind. “No, tell Lt. Summers to get over here as fast as he can.”
Sam gave her a confused look and Janet explained, “His father is a vet and he worked with him until medical school.”
The young Lieutenant ran up at that moment and knelt next to the doctor. “What do you need me to do, Dr. Fraiser?” he asked.
“Ben, you know more about what animals can handle than me. Can you set up a fluids drip so we can keep this little guy from slipping further into shock?” Janet said as her hands hovered over the animal’s wounds.
“Sure can, Ma’am,” he replied and handing Teal’c his flashlight began to pull out the things he need from his kit. “Lucky for this little critter we worked on kids today, I have lots of small bore needles,” he remarked as he found an IV line and saline.
Sam moved out of the way to let the young man take her spot and watched as he fixed a needle in the animal’s leg. She stood up beside Teal’c and added the light in her hands to the two the Jaffa held over the working doctors. Just then O’Neill and Daniel appeared from the darkness. “Alright, explain why you only wanted Summers to come over here,” the Colonel remarked in a loud voice.
“Colonel O’Neill, if you don’t be quiet I’ll use this needle on you when I finish,” Janet said in a serious tone.
Jack stuck his head between Teal’c and Sam to look down at what the doctors were doing. “Sorry, Doc, I didn’t know you were in the middle of surgery,” he said in a more subdued tone. He gave Sam a look out of the corner of his eye. “That why you were late for the party?” he asked. She nodded and he added, “You hurt?” She shook her head no and he shrugged. “Good, Daniel let’s give them some more light,” he told the archeologist and the four members of SG-1 stood over the doctors with their combined flashlights.
With an extra set of hands, Janet quickly sewed up the injured animal’s side. She finished the last stitch and making sure the injury wasn’t seeping, untucked the end of her stethoscope from her jacket pocket and listened to its breathing. “Everything sounds okay to me; here, Ben, have a listen,” she said, passing the instrument to him.
The young man accepted the tool and listened closely for a few minutes. “His heartbeat is a little erratic but steady and I don’t hear any fluid in his lungs,” he told the doctor. “If he makes it through the night and infection doesn’t set in, I think he has a good chance,” he said looking up at the other team members.
“You didn’t happen to bring one of the stretchers with you did you?” Janet asked the Colonel.
“Of course, it was Carter we were looking for, Doc,” Jack said with a slight grin and radioed for them to bring it on over.
Sam grumbled, “I do not get hurt that much.”
Daniel nudged her with his elbow. “Well, it’s usually me or you,” he joked.
“Whatever,” the blonde mumbled as she held out a hand to help the doctor up from the ground after she picked up the things pulled from her kit.
The rest of the medics appeared with the stretcher and Lt. Summers carefully transferred the small animal onto it. He held the bag of fluids as the group began to make their way back to the village. Reaching the house they were to stay in, Janet had the stretcher taken to the room shared by her and Sam. Lt. Summers gave the little animal another look over and told the doctor if there were any changes to radio him.
With that done, the rest of the team and the other medics went off to their rooms, leaving Sam and Janet alone in the room. With a tired sigh, the blonde walked over to a wash basin and filling it with water from the nearby pitcher, began washing off the dirt and dried blood from her arms. Janet walked up beside her lover and watched the blonde. “Let me get cleaned up and I’ll put something on those scratches, Sam,” she told her.
Sam didn’t say anything but nodded her head as she grabbed a towel and dried off her arms. Janet dumped the dirty water out and then washed her own blood covered hands; drying them on a fresh towel, she turned around to see Sam standing over the little creature, watching its chest rise and fall. Walking up behind her, the doctor threaded her arms around Sam’s waist and hugged her tightly. “I’m proud of you,” she said in a soft voice.
“Why? I could have gotten myself stuck or even worse, stuck and injured with no way to contact you,” the blonde mumbled.
“But you didn’t and you saved a life, Samantha,” Janet pointed out.
“I couldn’t just leave him there,” Sam replied.
Squeezing the blonde even tighter, Janet remarked, “And it’s one of the things I love about you the most, your compassion for others, you silly goof.”
Sam turned in the doctor’s arms until she faced her and placed her arms around the smaller woman’s slim waist. “Really? I thought it was for my witty charm and thousand watt smile,” the blonde said smugly.
Janet gave the blonde a wink and grinned. “Those, too,” she replied.
A soft mewling noise caused them to stop their conversation and turn around to see the little cat-like creature waking and trying to pull itself up on its feet.
Sam knelt down and placed a hand on it, keeping the animal from righting itself. “Hey now, no moving around, little guy,” she crooned.
The little animal hissed at the blonde and tried to bite at her hand. “We’ve had this discussion already, stop that,” ordered Sam as she held her other hand out to the frightened animal. The animal’s nose twitched as he smelled the outstretched hand and he calmed down, giving Sam’s fingers a nudge with his head.
“Well, that’s a good sign,” Janet remarked as she knelt next to Sam and held out a hand for the creature to sniff. Soon she received the same treatment and the couple was rewarded with a rumbling noise coming from the small animal.
“That’s an even better sign right?” Sam asked glancing at her lover.
“Yes, if he was in too much pain he wouldn’t be doing that. I think the little guy is going to be just fine, Sam,” the doctor told her.
Sam stroked the little animal’s tan fur and scratched it between the ears. ”Hey, you know what?”
Janet gave her a questioning look, “What?”
“You haven’t sneezed once all night,” Sam said with a grin.
Janet thought for a few seconds then replied, “You’re right.” The doctor began shaking her head. “No, Sam…absolutely not.”
“Oh come on, Janet, he’s hurt and needs expert medical attention,” the blonde said and gave Janet a pleading look.
“There are regulations against doing things like this. He’s a strange creature from another planet for heaven’s sake, Samantha,” the doctor said in a stern voice.
“He looks like a cat and acts like a cat, so he could be a cat if anybody asked,” Sam pointed out as the little animal continued to purr and rub its head on her outstretched hand. “He can stay in quarantine until you run the necessary tests; we can’t leave him here…please?” Sam pleaded again.
Janet threw her hands up in the air and muttered, “Fine, but you’re going to have to convince both Jack and General Hammond to let us bring him back to Earth.”
“I’ll handle Uncle George and you can just spout medical jargon at Jack, he’ll say yes just to get you to stop,” Sam said with a grin.
“Fine, now come on and let me put something on those scratches,” the doctor said as she rose from her kneeling position.
Sam watched her walk over to her med kit and glanced back down at the animal who was watching her intently. “Hear that little guy, you’re going home with us,” she said and stroked his head. The little cat-like creature purred even louder and yawned, making Sam chuckle. She rose to her feet and walked over to sit on the bed so Janet could look at the scratches.
From its position on the floor the little creature watched the small woman fuss over the tall woman. They seemed like caring individuals what with the tall one saving him and the small one fixing his wound, maybe this new home they spoke of would have more of his kind; he could only hope the long search for them would end there. Closing his eyes the animal let out a content sigh and drifted into a healing sleep, his ears filled with the soft voices of the two women he now considered his own.
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