Chemical Awareness, by Amaranth Traces

-- Chapter 3 --

Teal’c followed Sam to the first isolation room. She swiped her security card to unlock the door and they entered the room. Colonel O’Neill was sitting on the bed, his head in his hands. He looked up groggily at them. When he saw Sam, he tried to stand up but his motor control was obviously not quite prepared for the movement, and he half-fell onto the floor.

Sam saw Teal’c quickly glance her way before he stepped forward to help Colonel O’Neill back onto the bed. She stayed by the door, keeping her distance from her commanding officer.

“Carter.” The Colonel’s voice was a seductive growl.

“Sir, Dr. Frasier believes that you’re under the influence of a chemical that’s affecting your behaviour.”

Two nurses entered the room and stepped to Colonel O’Neill’s side. He looked menacingly at them and they hesitated.

“We just want to take another blood sample, sir,” said one of the nurses. Teal’c held his arms, allowing them to do their job and they left the room.

“I can smell him all over you.”

Sam sighed. Well now, that’s more than a little creepy. “Colonel, Janet thinks that whatever’s wrong with you and Daniel is reversible. We’ll figure it out and get the two of you back to normal as soon as we can.”

“Normal!” He laughed harshly. “I am normal, Carter. Maybe I’m finally following through on my thoughts and impulses, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with me.” Colonel O’Neill stood, wobbling slightly on his feet. Teal’c took his arm to steady him, but the Colonel didn’t seem to notice the Jaffa beside him. His eyes were fixed on Sam.

“Carter. Sam.” He stepped toward her, leering. “You’re mine. You said as much.”

That surprised her. “What?”

He took another step towards her. “During that whole zatarc thing,” he answered waving a hand in the air.

“That – that was a long time ago, sir,” she said softly.

“Does time change what we feel for each other?”

She didn’t respond.

“I want you. Now.”

“Colonel...”

“My name is Jack, Sam.”

Sam swallowed the lump in her throat. “Colonel,” she said again. “I don’t—”

Suddenly, he was all over her. His arms pulled her tightly against his body and he sank his teeth into her neck.

She cried out in surprise and pain. Teal’c pulled the crazed man off of her.

“Major Carter, perhaps it would be best if you waited outside.”

Nodding, she stepped outside with her hand over the place on her neck where her commanding officer had bitten her. She leaned against the wall in the hallway and examined her palm for evidence of blood from her neck. Seeing only a trace of red, she sighed and tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling. This whole situation was overwhelming.

Teal’c emerged from Colonel O’Neill’s room and used his card to lock the door behind him. “I do not believe it would be wise for you to speak directly with Daniel Jackson.”

Sam shook her head. “I promised that I’d come back to talk to him.”

Her friend tilted his head at her silently.

“Daniel seems...calmer than the Colonel. He was listening to me. I think it’ll be okay.” Teal’c didn’t look convinced. “I promised him, Teal’c.”

At that, Teal’c nodded and they went to the second isolation room. The nurses were just finishing with Daniel and passed Sam and Teal’c on their way out.

“Was he alright?” she asked one of them.

In answer, they both rolled their eyes. “He’s impossible, ma’am.”

“Sam!” Daniel moved quickly towards her. Teal’c stepped in and placed a heavy hand on Daniel’s shoulder, keeping him a safe distance from Sam. “Let go, Teal’c.”

“I will not, Daniel Jackson. I will not allow you to harm Major Carter.”

“Harm her? I’d sooner die. Let me go.” His struggles against the Jaffa were futile.

“Daniel, please calm down,” Daniel’s struggles lessened, then stopped. Teal’c raised an eyebrow at Daniel’s reaction to Sam’s request. “Janet has found a chemical in your blood that is making you and Colonel O’Neill act so...out of character.”

Daniel groaned in frustration. “Not this again. Sam, I’m fine. Better than fine – I’m great.”

“I know you feel fine, but trust me. You’re not acting like yourself.”

His half-lidded eyes seductively wandered up and down her body, and she became acutely self-conscious. When he saw the mark on her neck, his eyes widened, and he resumed his struggles against Teal’c. “You were with Jack!”

Sam had never heard Daniel speak to her with such anger. Her hand flew to cover the spot on her neck where Colonel O’Neill had bitten her.

“Daniel—” she started.

“You’re mine! I’ll kill him for touching you!”

This is not going well, thought Sam. She took a nervous step forward, her hand outstretched to him. “Daniel...” she started again.

“Major Carter, I do not believe that is wise,” warned Teal’c.

Sam ignored him and took another step. This was Daniel, after all.

“Daniel, calm down. There’s something wrong with both you and Colonel O’Neill, but we’re going to fix it, okay?” Her voice was soft and soothing and Daniel’s struggles again diminished.

“Are you in love with him?” he asked hoarsely.

“No, I’m not,” she answered firmly.

“Then you are mine.”

Sam sighed and decided it would be best not to respond to that statement. “We’re going to have to leave both you and the Colonel in isolation to keep you from hurting each other or anyone else. We’ll figure this out. You’ll both be back to normal in no time.” She prayed she was telling the truth.

“I want to stay with you, Sam.”

She took a deep breath. “You have to stay in here.”

“Then you stay with me.”

“I can’t do that, Daniel.”

“So I have to stay here alone?”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “Will you come back?”

Sam looked at Teal’c and then back at Daniel. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. At least not until you’re back to normal.”

Daniel dropped his head to his chest. “Can I just have one kiss before you leave?”

She sighed and closed her eyes in frustration. “Daniel...”

He lifted his head and stared intensely at her. “If you do, I’ll promise to behave until this is resolved.”

Sam looked at him thoughtfully then glanced at Teal’c for his opinion. In response to her questioning gaze, Teal’c released his grip on Daniel and took a small step back. Daniel looked like he was struggling not to run towards Sam, but he stayed put. She thought back to the reaction the nurses had given her when she had asked how he had been while they were taking his blood and made a decision.

“You promise not to give the nurses or anyone else a hard time?”

“I promise.”

“And you promise to stay in here, quietly, until we have this figured out and you’re back to normal?”

“I promise, Sam.” His voice was shaking.

Sam swallowed hard. “One kiss,” she said softly.

The words were barely out her mouth before Daniel was directly in front of her. Teal’c watched him intently and took a step towards them.

Daniel caressed her face and ran his fingers through her hair. His hands ran down her arms from her shoulders and then wrapped around her back, pulling her body tight against his. Sam gasped as his lips lowered to hers. His tongue explored her mouth, and she felt her arms wrap around him as if they had a mind of their own. Her whole body felt like it was on fire.

Oxygen deprivation finally separated them, and she stood gasping at Daniel, dazed. He grinned at her. Lightly, he ran a finger from her forehead along her nose, over her lips and chin, and down her neck. “You’re mine,” he whispered with a seductive smile.

He stepped back from her and sat down on the corner of the bed. His eyes never left hers.

Sam took a deep breath and pulled herself together. “Okay. We’re going to go now.” She moved towards the door with Teal’c following. “Don’t forget your promise.”

“I won’t. Thank you, Sam.”

The door locked behind them, Teal’c studied Sam carefully. “You were correct, Major Carter. Daniel Jackson does seem to respond more readily to discussion than O’Neill.”

“Yeah, well that’s just the way they are, isn’t it? If nothing else, it gives me hope that they’ll be alright.”

“I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of Doctor Frasier to assist our friends.”

“So do I.”

“Before we leave her to her work, I believe that you should have your injury examined.”

Sam groaned and touched her neck again. It was very tender. “Great.” She wasn’t looking forward to explaining it to Janet.

After Janet cleaned the wound, she covered it with a bandage. Sam inspected the doctor’s handiwork in a mirror. The injury was obvious, given the bandage, but at least it was no longer visually identifiable as a bite mark. Satisfied, Sam and Teal’c finally gave their mission briefing to General Hammond. The General was understandably concerned and contacted Dr. Frasier for a full report.

After they were dismissed, Teal’c retired to his quarters to Kel’no’reem and Sam went to her office. She sat down at her computer and started reading up on human behaviour, testosterone, and serotonin. Several hours later, her phone rang.

“Carter,” she said after picking up the receiver.

“Major Carter, your presence is required in the infirmary.”

“On my way.” Sam dropped the phone and took off at a dead run.

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