On the way to recovery

Jack paced the hall outside of the infirmary, anger set in every line of his face. He could still see the image of Thea behind his eyes; her ribs showing through the torn shirt that barely covered her; her swollen, bruised and bloodied face, the blood pooling on the floor as it dripped from her mouth. She was near unrecognisable. But what scared Jack the most was how hurt Teal'c was. If Teal'c was in pain than Thea could be in nothing short of agony.
The door clicked open behind him and he whirled round sharply, his eyes locking with Janet Fraser. Her large blue eyes were filled with concern and, Jack noted with interest, a raging anger. Janet never could understand the way people treated each other. But then, who really could?
'I've finished my examination of them both.' Her voice was soft.
Jack nodded and the two set off to Hammond's office in silence. Once inside the General motioned for them to sit with a nod of his bald, shiny head. His shrewd eyes took in the members of SG-1 and Colonel Jacobs, the commanding officer of SG-7. He had been asked to join the meeting out of respect due to his close working relationship with Captain Simone.
'Dr Fraser?' Hammond's voice was low and commanding, but all could detect the slight anxiety in it. He was a general who cared for his officers.
Clearing her throat Janet began to speak.
'Both have suffered prolonged torture. They are both covered in outwards signs of abuse, including, what appear to be, knife and whipping scars. Both have internal injuries caused either by brute external force, or invasive surgery.
Although Teal'c appears to have suffered the most experimental surgery on both himself and his symbiote, he is the better of the two. Luckily his symbiote did not suffer any serious damage and is healing him as we speak.'
Here Janet paused, shuffling her papers nervously and taking the time to compose herself. The others watched her with heavy eyes.
'Thea is in a critical state. I have managed to stabilise her for now but she needs intensive surgery to repair the damage that has been inflicted upon her. Her ribs are broken in several places and she is suffering with internal haemorrhaging. She also came in with a bad concussion and is covered in scars, some of which will be permanent. She's being prepped for surgery as we speak.'
Janet let out a sigh and fixed her eyes in turn on those in the room.
'I can only talk about the physical ramifications, I cannot even guess at the mental distress the two might be suffering with.'
The room fell into a silence. Sam's jaw was tensed and her eyes were full of unshed tears. She knew all too well what it was like to be held captive and tortured, and her heart went out to Thea. Jonas sat with a look of bewilderment on his face, his eyes flicking to O'Neill whose hard face and cold eyes expressed the man's deep anger at the treatment of his friends.
General Hammond laced his fingers together and rested his chin on it, his jowls quivering slightly as he spoke.
'Thank you, Dr Fraser. I know you will do all you can.'
Janet nodded.
'You're all dismissed.'


Nearly two weeks later Jack walked into the infirmary, the sound of raised voices meeting his ears. He smiled, thinking how good it was to hear Thea speak. It had been a week before she had managed to say anything. It was the stress Janet had said.
Pushing open the door with a rueful grin, Jack took in the scene before him. Thea stood with her hands on her hips, one wrist encased in a heavy cast. Janet's eyes were focussed on the woman whose hair was hanging down her back in tatty, dark waves, framing her pale face and enhancing the deep hollows around her hazel eyes.
'Please Janet.' Thea's voice was imploring and husky. She had strained her vocal chords quite severely due to her screaming during the capture.
'I'm sick of this place. I'm sick of surgery and sterilised atmospheres, I just want to go home where things are familiar.'
Janet turned frustrated eyes to Jack.
'Colonel?' Her voice was a plea for assistance.
Jack rubbed a hand through his short hair.
'If she's physically well enough then I can't see why we can't clear it with the general.' Thea smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Nothing seemed to anymore, they were just blank holes in her face most of the time.
Janet sighed knowing when she was defeated.
'Fine. But I don't want you to be alone. If you don't mind putting him up I think Teal'c should go with you. You can both get some bed rest in more comfortable surroundings, and I'll come round and check on you each night. Keep you up to date with your medication.'
Teal'c who had been observing everything from his place in the corner stepped forward.
'I would be honoured to stay with you, Captain Simone, if that is your wish.' His eyes caught hers and Jack watched as some of the tightness in her face eased. Jack knew from his own personal experiences that the two would now share a deep bond after what they had experienced together.
Thea nodded, and Jack stepped forward putting a gentle arm around her shoulders.
'And y'know I have the weekend off, so if you want I can take you fishing. We can get all boozed up and frighten the fish.'
Thea smiled weakly, but she leaned into Jack's sturdy body, and he knew that she would be ok. Eventually.