revised editions.
Nov. 30th, 2002 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eliabrithI've been revising some of the earlier chapters of Second Chances and managed to get the rest spell checked at least so heres the whole of Second Chances hopefully in a decent state.
Second Chances.
Part 1 revised.
The dense tropical jungle on P4S 512, steamed gently around the Temple plateau in the late afternoon heat and in the east the sun was beginning to start its descent towards the horizon, It should have been and would have been a very attractive and peaceful sight but for the noise of machinery and shouted orders from the center of the plateau the actual site of the temple. On a small rise overlooking the main complex that may have once been a minor outer building, according to the preliminary archeological survey. Jack O'Neill stood in complete silence and watched the others work around him. He had been a real shit to Daniel recently and had he apologized? No. Would he apologize and explain his reasons? It didn't look like he would be able to anytime soon. Not because he didn't want to, but it was impossible to, as Daniel and Ryers, Robert Rothmans replacement, were currently buried under several tons of what used to be an Aztec like Goa'uld temple. Jack shut his eyes in an attempt to block against the memory of his last words to Daniel.
****
//"Come on Jack just give us another few hours. Please! We're really beginning to make progress with the translations i'm sure tha....."
"No Daniel!" Jack interrupted "You've already had 2 extra days and you're not finding anything new or anything that might be useful to us! We can send Ryers back with a proper Archeology team to continue at some point but there's no real reason for us to stay!There are much more important things we could be doing." Daniel's normally expressive face shut down and became a carefully blank expression. Jack mentally kicked himself but refused to take back his harsh words.
"Fine! I'll go help Ryers pack!"
Daniel wheeled around and stalked off towards the vine covered temple, just before he ducked inside Jack noticed Daniel hugging himself and the now usual intense stab of guilt hit Jack. Daniel hadn't done that for a long time. When had he started doing it again? Jack didn't know but he was assailed by flashes of Daniel doing it more and more frequently over the past couple of months, maybe longer.
Jack then turned and headed back to the base camp all too aware of Sam and Teal'c watching him uncomfortably.
"Start packing we're leaving!" he barked before they could say anything he wasn't in the mood for someone else to tell him how badly he was acting, he was fully aware of it himself.//
The three of them had just packed up the last tent and were strapping the packs to the FRED when the first of the tremors hit. They just cleared the rise in time to see the main temple in the complex come crashing down on itself.
***
Jack opened his eyes and watched the flurry of activity around him. Teal'c had gone for help and within a few hours brought back a large recovery team, Doctor Frasier and what equipment they could get through the Stargate and transported to the site. While he'd been gone Jack and Sam had wandered around the rest of the complex calling for Daniel but not wanting to risk getting too close and disturbing the unstable rubble and further complicating the situation. Silence had greeted them only broken by the sounds of slipping rocks and the call of an occasional jungle bird. They had been relieved to see the rescue team arrive and start surveying the site while the rest of the equipment slowly arrived. Once the surveys where completed they started to shift the rubble hampered occasionally by mini aftershocks that caused rock slides and the piles to settle more firmly. Now six hours later with the light fading fast, hope for the archeologists was beginning to die as well.
End part 1.
Second Chances
Part 2 revised.
As the sun finally slipped beneath the horizon a shout for a medic went up from the work crew. Jack's head snapped up and he leapt off the FRED he was perched on and walked slowly towards the temple. The crews had finally had enough of his attempts to help early in the mid-afternoon and had banned him from the Temple complex after he had spent the afternoon yelling at everyone when he deemed they weren't working as fast as they should and he had started to unintentionally hold up the work so the Colonel in charge of the rescue team had actually had Jack forcibly removed to the edge of the site. He noticed Carter coming towards him shaking her head and he stopped heart sinking again and waited for her to reach him. She started speaking as she reached the base of the rise that had become Jack's base and turned to face him.
"It's Ryers, he's still alive but there's still no sign of Daniel yet. The main underground chamber seems to be pretty much intact which is why he's still alive. He was found by the doorway to the exit tunnel, they're assuming he was on his way out to join us. The crews are hoping that Daniel was some where behind him in the chamber as the Geophysics survey didn't locate any other large air pockets"
Jack stared at her in shock before closing his eyes in pain and turning away.
"Are they stopping?"
"They have to, we can't see to continue the search and we would only cause more problems. As said it seems the chamber is still fairly intact but they can't rick sending anyone in until its been shored up a bit to ensure safety."
"I know it's just the thought of Daniel..." Jack trailed off unable to continue.
"I know Sir, he's my friend too." Sam whispered as she turned to look back towards the complex. "I'll get back and keep you appraised of the situation." she walked off quickly discreetly wiping at her eyes but Jack never noticed.
He walked back to the top of the rise thinking over the conversation they'd just had and sat back down on the FRED and pulling his legs up to his chin and hugging them, unaware of how much the gesture imitated Daniel.
"He's not just my friend. I love him." he whispered to the still night.
* * *
The search resumed at first light but with little optimism. Ryers had regained consciousness during the night and had managed to reveal the news that Daniel had come back into the chamber after arguing with Jack, told him to pack up and head back to base camp before wandering through the length of the chamber and out into one of the other tunnels. He hadn't seen or heard Daniel again before the tremors struck and the room started to collapse around him. Dr Fraiser had thrown everyone out after that stating that Ryers need to rest. Also the specialized microphones that the rescue crew had placed around the site had not picked up any sounds another than sifting debris from under the rubble all night.
The information Ryers had given had coupled with the plans that Daniel had compiled allowed the work crew a better idea of where Daniel might have gone and allowed for a much more concentrated search area. After several hours the work hit a snag, the tunnel that Ryers said Daniel went down was completely blocked and buried under a heap of rubble made up of pieces of the temples outer wall. The pieces were too large for the equipment that the team had brought to move and they couldn't risk using the equipment to break the slabs up after the first attempt had brought more rubble down into the tunnels, injured 3 workers and put the operation back by more than an hour. As a result they decided for safety they would have to start digging the tunnel out from the other end.
Jack had reclaimed his seat on the FRED and watched the digging resume at the new site. He thought back over the last few months, he really hadn't been fair to Danny. He should have listened to him about the Eurondans. He should have trusted him over the Lotan problem, not try to blow him up. He should have paid more attention to him after Sam and he had been abducted by Marty's friends. He should have ... the list went on and on. Jack was furious with himself for his actions and he just prayed that he'd have the chance to say sorry and make it up to Daniel. If Daniel would let him.
End part 2.
Second Chances
Part 3
Jack stood at the edge of the dig site in the dwindling light and watched the crew with his heart in his throat, the team had been shutting down for the night again when one of the sound activated microphones that had been inserted into the rubble had switched itself on. The noise on the tape had sounded like a cut off human groan, now generators where being rigged up for the flood lights so the rescue operation could be continued into the night. Jack felt an irrational stab of anger that the lights hadn't been used the night before instead of wasting the 8 hrs of darkness he knew the anger was completely unjustified as the generators where for emergencies only and until now the crew had been working on the assumption that this was more of a body hunt rather than a rescue mission. That was something else Jack was pissed at. Didn't these people know that Daniel had more lives than a cat? How many times had they given up hope only to have Daniel prove them wrong? Why should this time be any different?
"Because" the rational side of Jacks brain answered "this time Daniel had a whole damn temple dropped on him and he's been trapped for nearly 40 hrs." Jack snarled softy at himself he hated when his brains' rational side forced the truth on him, especially when the truth it forced on him had the power to be soul destroying.
***
The three remaining members of SG-1 had been standing in a huddle at the complex edge for hours now, dawn was beginning to spread along the hill tops in the distance. The crew had worked all night to clear the temple remains away from where the sounds had been picked up but hope was again dwindling as there was no sign of the missing archeologist nor had there been any other sounds detected since the moan nearly 6 hrs previously. Suddenly the work stopped and silence descended on the complex. Jacks heart dropped to somewhere around his knees and he thought he would vomit. He held his breath in an attempt to restrain his terror. The crew began to work again quietly and slowly almost it seemed reverently. Jack shook his head trying to rid himself of the morbid thoughts.
One of the rescue crew emerged from the site and headed at a dead run for the medical tent Jack started forward only to be held back by Carter and Teal'c.
"Wait until we get told." she hissed. Jack shook them off but didn't continue toward the site, instead wandering to one side. He was torn between wanting to rush in and finally know and staying where he was and continuing to hope. It had been made amply clear that he was to remain away from the dig, but he needed to be doing something, so he paced.
***
Janet Fraiser was checking Ryers' vitals again before she allowed him to be transported back to the SGC for better attention when a noise disturbed her and she looked up from her clipboard to see Lieutenant McCoy stumble into the medical tent.
"We found him! Can you come now?" he gasped.
"Just give me a minute to grab some things and we'll go."
She turned round and called for the nurses that had come to transport Ryers back through the gate, while gathering supplies into a bag and then told them to bring the body board before they all rushed from the tent.
***
The trio watched as Lieutenant McCoy left the med tent with Dr Frasier and two of her nurses in tow. The four raced to the worksite and disappeared down the excavated tunnel out of site. None allowed themselves to get too hopeful. They knew how bad the tunnel's condition had been.
***
Janet surveyed the scene down the excavation in despair, there was nothing recognizable as the apparently grand tunnel the hole had once been. She had been greeted at the entrance by Colonel Gavin Stark and he had escorted Janet and one of the nurses down the tunnel. The scene down there was heartbreaking. Daniel lay still, half buried under dust and rubble, blood staining his clothes and the surrounding floor, his left arm twisted awkwardly under him. His head gashed. She crouched down and pressed her fingers to the side of his neck to look for a pulse, she held her breath and pressed harder. She felt a faint flutter under her forefinger. There was a pulse, it was very slow and week but there was a pulse. Daniel was miraculously still alive!
End part 3.
Second Chances
Part 4
Jack stared angrily at the medical tent, logically he knew it hadn't done anything but it was preventing him from seeing his Daniel. He'd only gotten a quick glance of his friend from a distance when Fraiser had her nurses carry him on a body board to the medical tent. Jack had headed straight for the tent but Fraiser had refused to let him in saying that they needed to work and that he'd only get in the way. That had been 2 hrs ago and there had been no sign of Janet since then and therefore no news of Daniel's condition. Carter was sitting on a pack to his left having thankfully given up on that forced optimistic attitude when he'd glared at her for the 10th time in the past half hour, there was only so many repetitions of "No news is good news.", "He's in good hands." and "At least we know he's alive." that Jack could take. Teal'c was standing beside Carter as stoic as ever he hadn't spoken since Janet Fraiser had asked them to remain outside and stay out of everyone's way.
Jack sighed, he couldn't decide if a long wait was good or bad on one hand the longer the wait the more injuries Daniel had on the other hand a long wait meant they could do something about the injuries and hadn't given up on him. he sighed again thinking like that was making his head hurt. He rubbed his eyes he'd had maybe 3hrs sleep since the Temple collapsed what? 2, 3 days ago? he looked at his watch almost 3 he decided, it was now almost 3 days since Daniel had been buried, almost died. Almost 3 days since Jack realized he was in love with his best friend.
He groaned and dropped his head into his hands he couldn't stop the thoughts from running around his head in never ending circles. His head snapped back up so fast he was surprised he didn't give himself whiplash as Janet Fraiser stepped out of the tent. The 3 members of SG-1 approached the petite Doctor as a unit, concern and dread where clearly written on 2 pale faces and even Teal'c had a worried look in his eyes and on his face instead of his usual expressionless mask.
Janet looked up at them worry and sympathy clear in her eyes and motioned them to precede her into the makeshift hospital. On the gurney in the center of the tent lay Daniel as still as death. It was difficult to decide which was whiter, Daniel's face or the pillow his head rested on. The portable monitors and drips around the bed painted a grim picture. Jack stepped forward but stopped short of touching the bed's occupant forcing himself to turn back towards the others to listen to Janet's prognosis.
"He's alive but critical. We've done what we can here but we need to get him to Earth if he's to have much of a chance to recover."
Carter glanced at Jack and seeing that the Colonel was struggling to grasp the reality of what Janet was saying took charge.
"How bad is it? What exactly is wrong?
"It's bad." Janet chewed her lip for a moment as though considering her answer before continuing.
"The most worrying injuries include a fractured skull, his left lung collapsed when we moved him and we had to put in a chest drain and re-inflate the lung but we need to get him back to base to determine in there are any other internal injuries. He lost a lot of blood both internally and externally which is a major worry as we don't have enough equipment and supplies here to deal with the internal bleeding or replace the blood lost. His right leg is broken in 3 places but we have that splinted to make transportation easier, most of his ribs are broken or cracked two of them punctured his lung hence its collapse. He also has more minor injuries such as multiple cuts, abrasions, bruises and lacerations. " Janet broke off seeing Jacks expression, he had gone completely white and looked nauseous. She swallowed and pushed on determined to get the worst over with.
"He's pretty deep in shock and unresponsive to outside stimulus. If he survives the trip back though the Gate his chances will improve until then I would say he has maybe a 30, 40% chance of survival at best and I won't even guess at the odds of full recovery until we have a complete medical report, x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans etc and rule out hemorrhaging and brain damage."
"W..what do you mean survives the Gate trip?" Jack was beginning to feel glad he hadn't eaten anything in 8 hrs just so it wouldn't be making a dramatic reappearance anytime soon despite his stomachs best efforts.
"Well Colonel, as you know traveling through the Stargate places a strain on the body, it's quite a shock to the system even when you become used to it. The added stress could cause Daniel's body to shut down completely."
The silence that greeted the end of her description was broken only by the slow beeping of the monitors around the bed, the rhythmic hiss of a ventilator and the sound of Jack O'Neill hitting the ground when his legs folded from under him.
Janet found herself in the unusual position of looking down into the Colonels face and was pinned by the look of anguish in his brown eyes.
"I'm sorry Colonel, but that's the way things stand."
End part 4.
Second Chances
Part 5
Jack opened his eyes and groaned. Damnit why did these chairs have to be so goddamn uncomfortable!
"They're not unless you continually fall asleep in them." he muttered to himself,
Without getting up he stretched and fidgeted until he had worked all the kinks out of his back and neck, before letting his gaze fall on the motionless figure on the bed on front of him. Jack shifted again, it had been 17 days since the temple complex collapse, 13 days since they had brought Daniel back to the SGC, 13 days of sitting by this bed hoping and praying to see Daniel wake up so he could apologize and begin to make amends for the past few months.
"Come on Danny. Haven't you slept enough?" As with all the pleas he'd made over the past days there was no response from the silent archaeologist. Jack glanced down at his watch, 06:54, he'd maybe another hour before Doc. Fraiser arrived and chewed him out for staying the night again and not sleeping properly. He sighed, once again letting his mind wander back over the events of the past fortnight.
***
//It had taken nearly a full day to move the injured archaeologists to the Stargate, progress had been painfully slow so as to prevent further damage and added complications to the wounded scientists. A message had been sent on ahead with some of the rescue team to have all available medical personnel present in the Gate room when the main party came through. While the wormhole was reestablished Janet and her nurses checked their patients vitals one last time before going through. SG-1 held back and watched as the medical team disappeared, giving them time to clear the ramp etc. before stepping through themselves.
The scene that had greeted them on the other side had made Jacks blood run cold. True to Janet's warning the added stress of Gate travel had been too much and Daniel had flat lined. The medical teams at the base of the ramp had Daniel bagged and a portable defibrillator recharging as they tried to restart his heart while causing as little added damage as possible to his broken and battered ribcage. Jack started down the ramp as the medics shocked Daniel again and Janet gave a cry "We've got a pulse!" At that the team wheeled Daniel from the room to the Operating Room to begin to repair his injuries.
It had been 8hrs later when Janet emerged from the O.R. and told them that she'd done all she could, internal bleeding stopped, leg set, lung repaired and the rest was up to Daniel. //
***
13 days later they where still waiting, hoping and praying for some change in Daniel's condition. Jack continued to stare at Daniel so lost in his thoughts he neither saw nor heard Janet come into the room and stare at him for a few minutes before checking the chart and machines then left again.
Janet sighed as she refilled the coffee filter and waited for the jug to fill again. Daniel's body was healing well but since he'd been found and brought home there had been no indication of his regaining consciousness and the longer the coma continued the less likely it was that Daniel would wake up and be his old self again. She'd known from the start that brain damage was a possibility but not wanting to believe it had pushed the thoughts from her mind and not mentioned them to the Colonel, but as time went on the possibility was seeming more and more likely. Daniel's skull had been fractured and there had been some internal bleeding putting pressure on his brain, pressure that had only been relieve when they'd got him home and into surgery but there was no way of confirming or denying the possibility until if and when Daniel woke up.
Still lost in thought she poured 2 mugs of coffee and headed back into Daniel's room. One good point of Colonel O'Neill's constant vigil at Daniel's bedside was she could keep an eye on him and make sure he at least ate properly so she wouldn't have another patient to worry about. Stopping beside Jack she cleared her throat and waited until he became aware of her and turned to face her. She handed him one of the mugs without meeting his eyes knowing all she would see there was the guilt and sadness that had taken up permanent residence in his expression.
"No change?" The question jerked her back to reality and she took a long drink of her coffee while contemplating Daniel before answering.
"Not really the EEG shows another slight increase in the level of brain activity but other than that everything has remained unchanged." She took another drink before broaching the next rather touchy subject. "Why don't you go home and get some proper sleep or at least a change of clothes and some fresh air." She pressed before he could object. To her surprise he nodded and got to his feet.
"A shower and a change would be good and I need to check on his fish, but I'll be straight back afterwards. He finished in a tone that dared her to contradict him. She just nodded and turned away to read over the results of the latest blood tests.
Jack walked past her setting his empty mug on her desk on his way to the door giving the bed and its occupant one final glance and froze. Janet glanced up realizing he hadn't moved from the doorway and was staring wildly at the bed. Frowning she turned back around to the bed to find her gaze met by a pair of blue eyes she hadn't seen in far too long.
End part 5.
Second Chances
Part 6
"Daniel?"
Janet slowly moved closer to the bed all the while carefully noting Daniels reactions to her movements and not missing the way the blue eyes flickered almost fearfully between herself and Jack.
"Daniel, can you hear me?"
The bright blue orbs swung back to fix on her as he slowly nodded.
"Yes" he croaked, his voice rusty and dry from lack of use. Janet moved forward and poured a glass of water, placed a straw in it and held it out for Daniel.
"Just sip it." Daniel complied drinking a few sips before allowing Janet to set the glass on the table for later. Glancing around the room again his gaze fell on Jack.
"What happened this time? Did I fall?"
Jack shot Janet a quick glance before stepping forward frowning when Daniel inched backwards on the bed.
"No, you where back in the temple......."
"Temple? What Temple? Where am I? Who are you?"
Daniels voice had been rising in volume and pitch since he'd interrupted Jack and his frightened eyes had filled with tears. Jack opened his mouth to answer his friend but after a quick glimpse of the expression on the Docs face closed it again.
Janet took a small step forward.
"It's okay Daniel. I'm a Doctor and I'm going to have to ask you a few questions and do some tests to check a few things out. Is that ok with you?" And Daniels nod she smiled "I have to go and speak to some people and then I'll be right back."
She turned on her heel and headed for the door motioning for Jack to accompany her. Jack gave a last looked at Daniel before following Janet out into the corridor.
"What's going on? Why doesn't he recognize us?" Jack demanded as soon as the door clicked shut behind the pair. Janet simply motioned him towards a chair across the corridor and said .
"Stay there while I get some help to do some tests to give us a clearer picture of what's happening."
She turned away before the Colonel could begin to object and strode down the hallway her thoughts in turmoil.
After locating and having a quick discussion with Doctor Warner and Nurse Carver they headed back towards the room where Daniel lay. Janet was unsurprised to see that Colonel O'Neill had vacated the chair in favor of pacing up and down in front of the door. His head snapped up at their approach but after meeting Janet's glare he wisely remained silent and lowered himself back into the chair resigned to waiting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Janet closed the door behind her pointedly ignoring the brown gaze at her back and turned towards the bed. "Daniel?"
The rooms occupant open his eyes and regarded the 3 medics curiously but as before no recognition flared in the blue eyes. He nodded slowly.
"Daniel, we need to ask you a few questions. Is that ok?" Another slow nod was her only answer. "Okay then. What is your full name?"
"Daniel Nicholas Melburn Jackson"
"What date is your birthday?"
"July 8th"
"Where do you live?"
"Saint Bartholomew's Orphanage"
The 3 medics stared at each other in shock. Dr Warner stepped forward as Janet seemed beyond making a reply.
"Daniel. Can you repeat what you just said?"
Daniel frowned at them and began to look scared again. "I... I live at St Bartholomew's Orphanage."
Janet shook her head as if to clear it and stepped forward again. "Daniel can you tell me what age you are?"
"Tw... twelve, why?" Daniel was becoming increasingly agitated.
"It's ok Daniel calm down. We're just going to have to perform a few scans to check something and then we'll be finished and you can get some rest."
She glanced around at her colleagues. "Can we speak outside a minute?" As they turned to exit she looked back at Daniel to find him still eyeing her warily. She smiled warmly. "We'll be back in a minute Daniel it's alright." Her reassurances didn't allay the unease in the sharp blue eyes but he nodded. Janet turned on her heel and joined the others in the corridor.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well?" Janet jumped at Jacks crisp demand. She turned to look up at the Colonel.
"Sir?"
"How is he? What's going on?" Jack was beginning to lose his patience. Why couldn't they tell him what was going on? Daniel was his best friend and perhaps more.
"Colonel" Dr. Warner cautioned him. "you know we can't tell you everything..."
"It's okay Dr. Warner," Janet interrupted. "Daniel has the Colonel listed as his next of kin."
"He.. he does?" Jack looked confused.
"Yes he had it changed a while back. Just before his appendicitis burst."
"Ok seeing as I'm Daniels next of kin, you can tell me what's going on then?"
"Umm.. maybe we should use my office." Janet shepherded them all down the hall and into the office. "Dr.
Warner, perhaps you could arrange the further tests and let me explain the circumstances to Colonel O'Neill." She waited until the pair left before turning to face the Colonel again.
"Well?"
"Colonel... Jack, we still need to do some tests but it does seem that Daniel isn't the Daniel we know."
Jack stared at her. "What exactly do you mean by that?!"
"Basically Daniel believes he is twelve years old. It is seems that for now at least the past 24 years of Daniels life has been erased from his memory."
End part 6.
Second Chances
Part 7
"12 years old?"
"Yes."
He doesn't remember anything at all after that?"
"No."
"Nothing at all?!"
"Oh for ... No Carter as the Doctors been telling us. Daniel Has no memory of anything from the last 24 years! No me, no you, no gate. Nothing! Got it?!"
"Jack you're not helping matters!" Janet broke through his tirade.
Jack scrubbed his hands across his face and stared down at the briefing room table and sighed. He glanced back up at Carters shocked face, her eyes bright with unshed tears and sighed again letting his hands flop back to the table.
"Sorry Sam. It's just..." He trailed off.
"A shock sir I know." Sam smiled wanly across at him.'
"Indeed." Added Teal'c . The General just nodded before turning his attention back to Doctor Fraiser.
Jack gazed forlornly down concentrating on the grain of the wood as Janet continued. He'd heard it all before, first as worries when Daniel had woken the previous day and then during the day as the fears began to be confirmed. He forced himself to tune back into Janet's words in case there at been any new developments.
"The scans indicate that the swellings caused by bruising to Daniels brain has gone down to normal levels and there is nothing else to indicate any other physical problems that can be fixed or will repair themselves in time. We cannot say with 100% accuracy, as we still don't understand how the brain works entirely, but the expert view is that the brain damage Daniel received when the temple collapsed caused the permanent loss of his memory. When asked if there was any chance of the memory returning over time the Neurologists involved say there is only a small percentage of chance of partial memory regain and they have basically ruled out a complete or even significant memory recovery. In essence the Daniel we know is gone." she stopped and glanced around the table. The General was obviously shocked and saddened by the news Sam looked shattered and seemed unaware of the tears rolling down her cheeks. Teal'c was more distressed than she had ever seen him before, his dark eyes shadowed with grief. None of their reactions where surprising considering they had just heard that a good friend of 4 years was for all purposes dead. Janet turned her head and forced herself to look at the tense body of the Colonel sitting next to her. he had returned to staring blankly at the tabletop.
"I am sorry." She added, desperately trying to keep her own emotions in check.
The General cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention only Jack refused to look towards the General.
"Thank you, Doctor for keeping us informed of the situation regarding Dr. Jackson's condition." he paused. "Er.. what will become of Dr Jackson now?"
Janet took a deep breath knowing this wasn't going to be easy, and the last bit was? her subconscious mocked her.
"Well for a week or so Daniel will remain at the hospital for continued physical and psychiatric evaluation but then we'll have to place him in a home or special care facility where..."
"no"
"...they have experience in these in matters such as these and he can be cared for while he adjusts to his new life. And.."
"No!" This time Janet heard the strained voice beside her and she turned to face agonized brown eyes.
"Colonel," she began patiently, "Daniel cannot stay in the hospital permanently. He is basically a child and he needs a home where his specialized needs can be met."
"I said no. Daniel has already spent one lifetime in and out of homes and "care" facilities, and you want to put him through it all again?"
"Colonel, Daniel is a 12 year old child in an adult body, in a world he doesn't understand he is confused frightened and he needs time and specialist help to adjust to a new life and for that he would be best off in a home."
"And after he's adjusted in this facility what then? Leave him there the rest of his life? Lock him away in another one? What about the care and affection he needs where's he going to get that? huh?"
Janet leaned her head back against the seat and sighed.
"Colonel maybe we should talk about this later and in private!." she snapped hoping he'd take the hint and leave it for now, her shoulders slumped as she saw him start to shake his head.
"No let discuss it now!"
Fraiser glanced beseechingly at Hammond and was relieved when he instantly stood and indicated for Teal'c and Carter to accompany him.
"We'll leave you both to it."
Teal'c and Carter followed him out of the briefing room closing the door behind them.
As the door clicked shut Janet turned her chair fully to face the Colonel.
"Jack, I know this is distressing and seems unfair but at the moment it's the only really viable option available to us."
"What if someone could care for him at home when he was released and then bring him in to the hospital to see the shrinks and Doctors he needs etc. but then take him home again at night?"
"It's possible, but Jack you have to understand that finding someone willing to take on the difficulties that Daniel will have. Will be nearly impossible to find but I can look into finding foster families etc that have experience in dealing with special needs, but it's highly unlikely that we'll find someone able to take him on before he is released from hospital and there is really no reason to keep Daniel in hospital any longer than it takes to complete the evaluations of his condition."
Jack looked at her weighting his options up before replying.
"I'm listed as Daniels next of kin. That means I have power of attorney over his treatment yes?"
Janet nodded, suddenly uneasy as to what Jack was getting thinking.
"So in the end I get to have the final say of what happens to Daniel, where he goes etc. Yes?"
"Yeesss." Janet drew the word out unsure of what was coming. "So?"
"So..." Jack continued, gazing at her with a strange expression on his face. "Don't bother looking for some home to put him away in. I'll look after him at my house."
Tbc....
End part 7
Part 8 can be found a few entries down.
Second Chances.
Part 1 revised.
The dense tropical jungle on P4S 512, steamed gently around the Temple plateau in the late afternoon heat and in the east the sun was beginning to start its descent towards the horizon, It should have been and would have been a very attractive and peaceful sight but for the noise of machinery and shouted orders from the center of the plateau the actual site of the temple. On a small rise overlooking the main complex that may have once been a minor outer building, according to the preliminary archeological survey. Jack O'Neill stood in complete silence and watched the others work around him. He had been a real shit to Daniel recently and had he apologized? No. Would he apologize and explain his reasons? It didn't look like he would be able to anytime soon. Not because he didn't want to, but it was impossible to, as Daniel and Ryers, Robert Rothmans replacement, were currently buried under several tons of what used to be an Aztec like Goa'uld temple. Jack shut his eyes in an attempt to block against the memory of his last words to Daniel.
****
//"Come on Jack just give us another few hours. Please! We're really beginning to make progress with the translations i'm sure tha....."
"No Daniel!" Jack interrupted "You've already had 2 extra days and you're not finding anything new or anything that might be useful to us! We can send Ryers back with a proper Archeology team to continue at some point but there's no real reason for us to stay!There are much more important things we could be doing." Daniel's normally expressive face shut down and became a carefully blank expression. Jack mentally kicked himself but refused to take back his harsh words.
"Fine! I'll go help Ryers pack!"
Daniel wheeled around and stalked off towards the vine covered temple, just before he ducked inside Jack noticed Daniel hugging himself and the now usual intense stab of guilt hit Jack. Daniel hadn't done that for a long time. When had he started doing it again? Jack didn't know but he was assailed by flashes of Daniel doing it more and more frequently over the past couple of months, maybe longer.
Jack then turned and headed back to the base camp all too aware of Sam and Teal'c watching him uncomfortably.
"Start packing we're leaving!" he barked before they could say anything he wasn't in the mood for someone else to tell him how badly he was acting, he was fully aware of it himself.//
The three of them had just packed up the last tent and were strapping the packs to the FRED when the first of the tremors hit. They just cleared the rise in time to see the main temple in the complex come crashing down on itself.
***
Jack opened his eyes and watched the flurry of activity around him. Teal'c had gone for help and within a few hours brought back a large recovery team, Doctor Frasier and what equipment they could get through the Stargate and transported to the site. While he'd been gone Jack and Sam had wandered around the rest of the complex calling for Daniel but not wanting to risk getting too close and disturbing the unstable rubble and further complicating the situation. Silence had greeted them only broken by the sounds of slipping rocks and the call of an occasional jungle bird. They had been relieved to see the rescue team arrive and start surveying the site while the rest of the equipment slowly arrived. Once the surveys where completed they started to shift the rubble hampered occasionally by mini aftershocks that caused rock slides and the piles to settle more firmly. Now six hours later with the light fading fast, hope for the archeologists was beginning to die as well.
End part 1.
Second Chances
Part 2 revised.
As the sun finally slipped beneath the horizon a shout for a medic went up from the work crew. Jack's head snapped up and he leapt off the FRED he was perched on and walked slowly towards the temple. The crews had finally had enough of his attempts to help early in the mid-afternoon and had banned him from the Temple complex after he had spent the afternoon yelling at everyone when he deemed they weren't working as fast as they should and he had started to unintentionally hold up the work so the Colonel in charge of the rescue team had actually had Jack forcibly removed to the edge of the site. He noticed Carter coming towards him shaking her head and he stopped heart sinking again and waited for her to reach him. She started speaking as she reached the base of the rise that had become Jack's base and turned to face him.
"It's Ryers, he's still alive but there's still no sign of Daniel yet. The main underground chamber seems to be pretty much intact which is why he's still alive. He was found by the doorway to the exit tunnel, they're assuming he was on his way out to join us. The crews are hoping that Daniel was some where behind him in the chamber as the Geophysics survey didn't locate any other large air pockets"
Jack stared at her in shock before closing his eyes in pain and turning away.
"Are they stopping?"
"They have to, we can't see to continue the search and we would only cause more problems. As said it seems the chamber is still fairly intact but they can't rick sending anyone in until its been shored up a bit to ensure safety."
"I know it's just the thought of Daniel..." Jack trailed off unable to continue.
"I know Sir, he's my friend too." Sam whispered as she turned to look back towards the complex. "I'll get back and keep you appraised of the situation." she walked off quickly discreetly wiping at her eyes but Jack never noticed.
He walked back to the top of the rise thinking over the conversation they'd just had and sat back down on the FRED and pulling his legs up to his chin and hugging them, unaware of how much the gesture imitated Daniel.
"He's not just my friend. I love him." he whispered to the still night.
* * *
The search resumed at first light but with little optimism. Ryers had regained consciousness during the night and had managed to reveal the news that Daniel had come back into the chamber after arguing with Jack, told him to pack up and head back to base camp before wandering through the length of the chamber and out into one of the other tunnels. He hadn't seen or heard Daniel again before the tremors struck and the room started to collapse around him. Dr Fraiser had thrown everyone out after that stating that Ryers need to rest. Also the specialized microphones that the rescue crew had placed around the site had not picked up any sounds another than sifting debris from under the rubble all night.
The information Ryers had given had coupled with the plans that Daniel had compiled allowed the work crew a better idea of where Daniel might have gone and allowed for a much more concentrated search area. After several hours the work hit a snag, the tunnel that Ryers said Daniel went down was completely blocked and buried under a heap of rubble made up of pieces of the temples outer wall. The pieces were too large for the equipment that the team had brought to move and they couldn't risk using the equipment to break the slabs up after the first attempt had brought more rubble down into the tunnels, injured 3 workers and put the operation back by more than an hour. As a result they decided for safety they would have to start digging the tunnel out from the other end.
Jack had reclaimed his seat on the FRED and watched the digging resume at the new site. He thought back over the last few months, he really hadn't been fair to Danny. He should have listened to him about the Eurondans. He should have trusted him over the Lotan problem, not try to blow him up. He should have paid more attention to him after Sam and he had been abducted by Marty's friends. He should have ... the list went on and on. Jack was furious with himself for his actions and he just prayed that he'd have the chance to say sorry and make it up to Daniel. If Daniel would let him.
End part 2.
Second Chances
Part 3
Jack stood at the edge of the dig site in the dwindling light and watched the crew with his heart in his throat, the team had been shutting down for the night again when one of the sound activated microphones that had been inserted into the rubble had switched itself on. The noise on the tape had sounded like a cut off human groan, now generators where being rigged up for the flood lights so the rescue operation could be continued into the night. Jack felt an irrational stab of anger that the lights hadn't been used the night before instead of wasting the 8 hrs of darkness he knew the anger was completely unjustified as the generators where for emergencies only and until now the crew had been working on the assumption that this was more of a body hunt rather than a rescue mission. That was something else Jack was pissed at. Didn't these people know that Daniel had more lives than a cat? How many times had they given up hope only to have Daniel prove them wrong? Why should this time be any different?
"Because" the rational side of Jacks brain answered "this time Daniel had a whole damn temple dropped on him and he's been trapped for nearly 40 hrs." Jack snarled softy at himself he hated when his brains' rational side forced the truth on him, especially when the truth it forced on him had the power to be soul destroying.
***
The three remaining members of SG-1 had been standing in a huddle at the complex edge for hours now, dawn was beginning to spread along the hill tops in the distance. The crew had worked all night to clear the temple remains away from where the sounds had been picked up but hope was again dwindling as there was no sign of the missing archeologist nor had there been any other sounds detected since the moan nearly 6 hrs previously. Suddenly the work stopped and silence descended on the complex. Jacks heart dropped to somewhere around his knees and he thought he would vomit. He held his breath in an attempt to restrain his terror. The crew began to work again quietly and slowly almost it seemed reverently. Jack shook his head trying to rid himself of the morbid thoughts.
One of the rescue crew emerged from the site and headed at a dead run for the medical tent Jack started forward only to be held back by Carter and Teal'c.
"Wait until we get told." she hissed. Jack shook them off but didn't continue toward the site, instead wandering to one side. He was torn between wanting to rush in and finally know and staying where he was and continuing to hope. It had been made amply clear that he was to remain away from the dig, but he needed to be doing something, so he paced.
***
Janet Fraiser was checking Ryers' vitals again before she allowed him to be transported back to the SGC for better attention when a noise disturbed her and she looked up from her clipboard to see Lieutenant McCoy stumble into the medical tent.
"We found him! Can you come now?" he gasped.
"Just give me a minute to grab some things and we'll go."
She turned round and called for the nurses that had come to transport Ryers back through the gate, while gathering supplies into a bag and then told them to bring the body board before they all rushed from the tent.
***
The trio watched as Lieutenant McCoy left the med tent with Dr Frasier and two of her nurses in tow. The four raced to the worksite and disappeared down the excavated tunnel out of site. None allowed themselves to get too hopeful. They knew how bad the tunnel's condition had been.
***
Janet surveyed the scene down the excavation in despair, there was nothing recognizable as the apparently grand tunnel the hole had once been. She had been greeted at the entrance by Colonel Gavin Stark and he had escorted Janet and one of the nurses down the tunnel. The scene down there was heartbreaking. Daniel lay still, half buried under dust and rubble, blood staining his clothes and the surrounding floor, his left arm twisted awkwardly under him. His head gashed. She crouched down and pressed her fingers to the side of his neck to look for a pulse, she held her breath and pressed harder. She felt a faint flutter under her forefinger. There was a pulse, it was very slow and week but there was a pulse. Daniel was miraculously still alive!
End part 3.
Second Chances
Part 4
Jack stared angrily at the medical tent, logically he knew it hadn't done anything but it was preventing him from seeing his Daniel. He'd only gotten a quick glance of his friend from a distance when Fraiser had her nurses carry him on a body board to the medical tent. Jack had headed straight for the tent but Fraiser had refused to let him in saying that they needed to work and that he'd only get in the way. That had been 2 hrs ago and there had been no sign of Janet since then and therefore no news of Daniel's condition. Carter was sitting on a pack to his left having thankfully given up on that forced optimistic attitude when he'd glared at her for the 10th time in the past half hour, there was only so many repetitions of "No news is good news.", "He's in good hands." and "At least we know he's alive." that Jack could take. Teal'c was standing beside Carter as stoic as ever he hadn't spoken since Janet Fraiser had asked them to remain outside and stay out of everyone's way.
Jack sighed, he couldn't decide if a long wait was good or bad on one hand the longer the wait the more injuries Daniel had on the other hand a long wait meant they could do something about the injuries and hadn't given up on him. he sighed again thinking like that was making his head hurt. He rubbed his eyes he'd had maybe 3hrs sleep since the Temple collapsed what? 2, 3 days ago? he looked at his watch almost 3 he decided, it was now almost 3 days since Daniel had been buried, almost died. Almost 3 days since Jack realized he was in love with his best friend.
He groaned and dropped his head into his hands he couldn't stop the thoughts from running around his head in never ending circles. His head snapped back up so fast he was surprised he didn't give himself whiplash as Janet Fraiser stepped out of the tent. The 3 members of SG-1 approached the petite Doctor as a unit, concern and dread where clearly written on 2 pale faces and even Teal'c had a worried look in his eyes and on his face instead of his usual expressionless mask.
Janet looked up at them worry and sympathy clear in her eyes and motioned them to precede her into the makeshift hospital. On the gurney in the center of the tent lay Daniel as still as death. It was difficult to decide which was whiter, Daniel's face or the pillow his head rested on. The portable monitors and drips around the bed painted a grim picture. Jack stepped forward but stopped short of touching the bed's occupant forcing himself to turn back towards the others to listen to Janet's prognosis.
"He's alive but critical. We've done what we can here but we need to get him to Earth if he's to have much of a chance to recover."
Carter glanced at Jack and seeing that the Colonel was struggling to grasp the reality of what Janet was saying took charge.
"How bad is it? What exactly is wrong?
"It's bad." Janet chewed her lip for a moment as though considering her answer before continuing.
"The most worrying injuries include a fractured skull, his left lung collapsed when we moved him and we had to put in a chest drain and re-inflate the lung but we need to get him back to base to determine in there are any other internal injuries. He lost a lot of blood both internally and externally which is a major worry as we don't have enough equipment and supplies here to deal with the internal bleeding or replace the blood lost. His right leg is broken in 3 places but we have that splinted to make transportation easier, most of his ribs are broken or cracked two of them punctured his lung hence its collapse. He also has more minor injuries such as multiple cuts, abrasions, bruises and lacerations. " Janet broke off seeing Jacks expression, he had gone completely white and looked nauseous. She swallowed and pushed on determined to get the worst over with.
"He's pretty deep in shock and unresponsive to outside stimulus. If he survives the trip back though the Gate his chances will improve until then I would say he has maybe a 30, 40% chance of survival at best and I won't even guess at the odds of full recovery until we have a complete medical report, x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans etc and rule out hemorrhaging and brain damage."
"W..what do you mean survives the Gate trip?" Jack was beginning to feel glad he hadn't eaten anything in 8 hrs just so it wouldn't be making a dramatic reappearance anytime soon despite his stomachs best efforts.
"Well Colonel, as you know traveling through the Stargate places a strain on the body, it's quite a shock to the system even when you become used to it. The added stress could cause Daniel's body to shut down completely."
The silence that greeted the end of her description was broken only by the slow beeping of the monitors around the bed, the rhythmic hiss of a ventilator and the sound of Jack O'Neill hitting the ground when his legs folded from under him.
Janet found herself in the unusual position of looking down into the Colonels face and was pinned by the look of anguish in his brown eyes.
"I'm sorry Colonel, but that's the way things stand."
End part 4.
Second Chances
Part 5
Jack opened his eyes and groaned. Damnit why did these chairs have to be so goddamn uncomfortable!
"They're not unless you continually fall asleep in them." he muttered to himself,
Without getting up he stretched and fidgeted until he had worked all the kinks out of his back and neck, before letting his gaze fall on the motionless figure on the bed on front of him. Jack shifted again, it had been 17 days since the temple complex collapse, 13 days since they had brought Daniel back to the SGC, 13 days of sitting by this bed hoping and praying to see Daniel wake up so he could apologize and begin to make amends for the past few months.
"Come on Danny. Haven't you slept enough?" As with all the pleas he'd made over the past days there was no response from the silent archaeologist. Jack glanced down at his watch, 06:54, he'd maybe another hour before Doc. Fraiser arrived and chewed him out for staying the night again and not sleeping properly. He sighed, once again letting his mind wander back over the events of the past fortnight.
***
//It had taken nearly a full day to move the injured archaeologists to the Stargate, progress had been painfully slow so as to prevent further damage and added complications to the wounded scientists. A message had been sent on ahead with some of the rescue team to have all available medical personnel present in the Gate room when the main party came through. While the wormhole was reestablished Janet and her nurses checked their patients vitals one last time before going through. SG-1 held back and watched as the medical team disappeared, giving them time to clear the ramp etc. before stepping through themselves.
The scene that had greeted them on the other side had made Jacks blood run cold. True to Janet's warning the added stress of Gate travel had been too much and Daniel had flat lined. The medical teams at the base of the ramp had Daniel bagged and a portable defibrillator recharging as they tried to restart his heart while causing as little added damage as possible to his broken and battered ribcage. Jack started down the ramp as the medics shocked Daniel again and Janet gave a cry "We've got a pulse!" At that the team wheeled Daniel from the room to the Operating Room to begin to repair his injuries.
It had been 8hrs later when Janet emerged from the O.R. and told them that she'd done all she could, internal bleeding stopped, leg set, lung repaired and the rest was up to Daniel. //
***
13 days later they where still waiting, hoping and praying for some change in Daniel's condition. Jack continued to stare at Daniel so lost in his thoughts he neither saw nor heard Janet come into the room and stare at him for a few minutes before checking the chart and machines then left again.
Janet sighed as she refilled the coffee filter and waited for the jug to fill again. Daniel's body was healing well but since he'd been found and brought home there had been no indication of his regaining consciousness and the longer the coma continued the less likely it was that Daniel would wake up and be his old self again. She'd known from the start that brain damage was a possibility but not wanting to believe it had pushed the thoughts from her mind and not mentioned them to the Colonel, but as time went on the possibility was seeming more and more likely. Daniel's skull had been fractured and there had been some internal bleeding putting pressure on his brain, pressure that had only been relieve when they'd got him home and into surgery but there was no way of confirming or denying the possibility until if and when Daniel woke up.
Still lost in thought she poured 2 mugs of coffee and headed back into Daniel's room. One good point of Colonel O'Neill's constant vigil at Daniel's bedside was she could keep an eye on him and make sure he at least ate properly so she wouldn't have another patient to worry about. Stopping beside Jack she cleared her throat and waited until he became aware of her and turned to face her. She handed him one of the mugs without meeting his eyes knowing all she would see there was the guilt and sadness that had taken up permanent residence in his expression.
"No change?" The question jerked her back to reality and she took a long drink of her coffee while contemplating Daniel before answering.
"Not really the EEG shows another slight increase in the level of brain activity but other than that everything has remained unchanged." She took another drink before broaching the next rather touchy subject. "Why don't you go home and get some proper sleep or at least a change of clothes and some fresh air." She pressed before he could object. To her surprise he nodded and got to his feet.
"A shower and a change would be good and I need to check on his fish, but I'll be straight back afterwards. He finished in a tone that dared her to contradict him. She just nodded and turned away to read over the results of the latest blood tests.
Jack walked past her setting his empty mug on her desk on his way to the door giving the bed and its occupant one final glance and froze. Janet glanced up realizing he hadn't moved from the doorway and was staring wildly at the bed. Frowning she turned back around to the bed to find her gaze met by a pair of blue eyes she hadn't seen in far too long.
End part 5.
Second Chances
Part 6
"Daniel?"
Janet slowly moved closer to the bed all the while carefully noting Daniels reactions to her movements and not missing the way the blue eyes flickered almost fearfully between herself and Jack.
"Daniel, can you hear me?"
The bright blue orbs swung back to fix on her as he slowly nodded.
"Yes" he croaked, his voice rusty and dry from lack of use. Janet moved forward and poured a glass of water, placed a straw in it and held it out for Daniel.
"Just sip it." Daniel complied drinking a few sips before allowing Janet to set the glass on the table for later. Glancing around the room again his gaze fell on Jack.
"What happened this time? Did I fall?"
Jack shot Janet a quick glance before stepping forward frowning when Daniel inched backwards on the bed.
"No, you where back in the temple......."
"Temple? What Temple? Where am I? Who are you?"
Daniels voice had been rising in volume and pitch since he'd interrupted Jack and his frightened eyes had filled with tears. Jack opened his mouth to answer his friend but after a quick glimpse of the expression on the Docs face closed it again.
Janet took a small step forward.
"It's okay Daniel. I'm a Doctor and I'm going to have to ask you a few questions and do some tests to check a few things out. Is that ok with you?" And Daniels nod she smiled "I have to go and speak to some people and then I'll be right back."
She turned on her heel and headed for the door motioning for Jack to accompany her. Jack gave a last looked at Daniel before following Janet out into the corridor.
"What's going on? Why doesn't he recognize us?" Jack demanded as soon as the door clicked shut behind the pair. Janet simply motioned him towards a chair across the corridor and said .
"Stay there while I get some help to do some tests to give us a clearer picture of what's happening."
She turned away before the Colonel could begin to object and strode down the hallway her thoughts in turmoil.
After locating and having a quick discussion with Doctor Warner and Nurse Carver they headed back towards the room where Daniel lay. Janet was unsurprised to see that Colonel O'Neill had vacated the chair in favor of pacing up and down in front of the door. His head snapped up at their approach but after meeting Janet's glare he wisely remained silent and lowered himself back into the chair resigned to waiting.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Janet closed the door behind her pointedly ignoring the brown gaze at her back and turned towards the bed. "Daniel?"
The rooms occupant open his eyes and regarded the 3 medics curiously but as before no recognition flared in the blue eyes. He nodded slowly.
"Daniel, we need to ask you a few questions. Is that ok?" Another slow nod was her only answer. "Okay then. What is your full name?"
"Daniel Nicholas Melburn Jackson"
"What date is your birthday?"
"July 8th"
"Where do you live?"
"Saint Bartholomew's Orphanage"
The 3 medics stared at each other in shock. Dr Warner stepped forward as Janet seemed beyond making a reply.
"Daniel. Can you repeat what you just said?"
Daniel frowned at them and began to look scared again. "I... I live at St Bartholomew's Orphanage."
Janet shook her head as if to clear it and stepped forward again. "Daniel can you tell me what age you are?"
"Tw... twelve, why?" Daniel was becoming increasingly agitated.
"It's ok Daniel calm down. We're just going to have to perform a few scans to check something and then we'll be finished and you can get some rest."
She glanced around at her colleagues. "Can we speak outside a minute?" As they turned to exit she looked back at Daniel to find him still eyeing her warily. She smiled warmly. "We'll be back in a minute Daniel it's alright." Her reassurances didn't allay the unease in the sharp blue eyes but he nodded. Janet turned on her heel and joined the others in the corridor.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well?" Janet jumped at Jacks crisp demand. She turned to look up at the Colonel.
"Sir?"
"How is he? What's going on?" Jack was beginning to lose his patience. Why couldn't they tell him what was going on? Daniel was his best friend and perhaps more.
"Colonel" Dr. Warner cautioned him. "you know we can't tell you everything..."
"It's okay Dr. Warner," Janet interrupted. "Daniel has the Colonel listed as his next of kin."
"He.. he does?" Jack looked confused.
"Yes he had it changed a while back. Just before his appendicitis burst."
"Ok seeing as I'm Daniels next of kin, you can tell me what's going on then?"
"Umm.. maybe we should use my office." Janet shepherded them all down the hall and into the office. "Dr.
Warner, perhaps you could arrange the further tests and let me explain the circumstances to Colonel O'Neill." She waited until the pair left before turning to face the Colonel again.
"Well?"
"Colonel... Jack, we still need to do some tests but it does seem that Daniel isn't the Daniel we know."
Jack stared at her. "What exactly do you mean by that?!"
"Basically Daniel believes he is twelve years old. It is seems that for now at least the past 24 years of Daniels life has been erased from his memory."
End part 6.
Second Chances
Part 7
"12 years old?"
"Yes."
He doesn't remember anything at all after that?"
"No."
"Nothing at all?!"
"Oh for ... No Carter as the Doctors been telling us. Daniel Has no memory of anything from the last 24 years! No me, no you, no gate. Nothing! Got it?!"
"Jack you're not helping matters!" Janet broke through his tirade.
Jack scrubbed his hands across his face and stared down at the briefing room table and sighed. He glanced back up at Carters shocked face, her eyes bright with unshed tears and sighed again letting his hands flop back to the table.
"Sorry Sam. It's just..." He trailed off.
"A shock sir I know." Sam smiled wanly across at him.'
"Indeed." Added Teal'c . The General just nodded before turning his attention back to Doctor Fraiser.
Jack gazed forlornly down concentrating on the grain of the wood as Janet continued. He'd heard it all before, first as worries when Daniel had woken the previous day and then during the day as the fears began to be confirmed. He forced himself to tune back into Janet's words in case there at been any new developments.
"The scans indicate that the swellings caused by bruising to Daniels brain has gone down to normal levels and there is nothing else to indicate any other physical problems that can be fixed or will repair themselves in time. We cannot say with 100% accuracy, as we still don't understand how the brain works entirely, but the expert view is that the brain damage Daniel received when the temple collapsed caused the permanent loss of his memory. When asked if there was any chance of the memory returning over time the Neurologists involved say there is only a small percentage of chance of partial memory regain and they have basically ruled out a complete or even significant memory recovery. In essence the Daniel we know is gone." she stopped and glanced around the table. The General was obviously shocked and saddened by the news Sam looked shattered and seemed unaware of the tears rolling down her cheeks. Teal'c was more distressed than she had ever seen him before, his dark eyes shadowed with grief. None of their reactions where surprising considering they had just heard that a good friend of 4 years was for all purposes dead. Janet turned her head and forced herself to look at the tense body of the Colonel sitting next to her. he had returned to staring blankly at the tabletop.
"I am sorry." She added, desperately trying to keep her own emotions in check.
The General cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention only Jack refused to look towards the General.
"Thank you, Doctor for keeping us informed of the situation regarding Dr. Jackson's condition." he paused. "Er.. what will become of Dr Jackson now?"
Janet took a deep breath knowing this wasn't going to be easy, and the last bit was? her subconscious mocked her.
"Well for a week or so Daniel will remain at the hospital for continued physical and psychiatric evaluation but then we'll have to place him in a home or special care facility where..."
"no"
"...they have experience in these in matters such as these and he can be cared for while he adjusts to his new life. And.."
"No!" This time Janet heard the strained voice beside her and she turned to face agonized brown eyes.
"Colonel," she began patiently, "Daniel cannot stay in the hospital permanently. He is basically a child and he needs a home where his specialized needs can be met."
"I said no. Daniel has already spent one lifetime in and out of homes and "care" facilities, and you want to put him through it all again?"
"Colonel, Daniel is a 12 year old child in an adult body, in a world he doesn't understand he is confused frightened and he needs time and specialist help to adjust to a new life and for that he would be best off in a home."
"And after he's adjusted in this facility what then? Leave him there the rest of his life? Lock him away in another one? What about the care and affection he needs where's he going to get that? huh?"
Janet leaned her head back against the seat and sighed.
"Colonel maybe we should talk about this later and in private!." she snapped hoping he'd take the hint and leave it for now, her shoulders slumped as she saw him start to shake his head.
"No let discuss it now!"
Fraiser glanced beseechingly at Hammond and was relieved when he instantly stood and indicated for Teal'c and Carter to accompany him.
"We'll leave you both to it."
Teal'c and Carter followed him out of the briefing room closing the door behind them.
As the door clicked shut Janet turned her chair fully to face the Colonel.
"Jack, I know this is distressing and seems unfair but at the moment it's the only really viable option available to us."
"What if someone could care for him at home when he was released and then bring him in to the hospital to see the shrinks and Doctors he needs etc. but then take him home again at night?"
"It's possible, but Jack you have to understand that finding someone willing to take on the difficulties that Daniel will have. Will be nearly impossible to find but I can look into finding foster families etc that have experience in dealing with special needs, but it's highly unlikely that we'll find someone able to take him on before he is released from hospital and there is really no reason to keep Daniel in hospital any longer than it takes to complete the evaluations of his condition."
Jack looked at her weighting his options up before replying.
"I'm listed as Daniels next of kin. That means I have power of attorney over his treatment yes?"
Janet nodded, suddenly uneasy as to what Jack was getting thinking.
"So in the end I get to have the final say of what happens to Daniel, where he goes etc. Yes?"
"Yeesss." Janet drew the word out unsure of what was coming. "So?"
"So..." Jack continued, gazing at her with a strange expression on his face. "Don't bother looking for some home to put him away in. I'll look after him at my house."
Tbc....
End part 7
Part 8 can be found a few entries down.
