Episode Alphabet Soup contribution: 'Z is for Zebras'

[sid]

Soooooooup! Episode Alphabet Soup!

Gen, 240 words, based on the episode 'Legacy', Janet POV.

Z is for Zebras

They drill it into you in medical school. The most likely explanation for whatever symptoms a patient presents with, is the most likely explanation. 'Think horses.' Daniel's diagnosis was clear-cut. Migraines, hallucinations, increased dopamine levels… Everything added together pointed in one direction. I called in Doctor MacKenzie. He agreed with my conclusions.

Schizophrenia.

We put Daniel away. Committed him, medicated him, stopped listening to him. The only thing that saved Daniel in the end was Machello's device transferring itself into Teal'c.

Teal'c inadvertently saved Daniel's sanity and ended up nearly losing his own life. Daniel saved Teal'c by telling us what we should be looking for.

What I learned in medical school had been of no use to anyone up to that point. My sole worthwhile contribution in the entire process was ultimately the idea to use the centrifuge to make an injection of Sam's blood safe for the rest of us. Everything else I did or said was either useless or harmful.

'First do no harm' is the other thing they drill into you in med school.

I failed Daniel in every way.

I am the chief medical officer of a command that has the word 'Stargate' in its title. Why did I assume that the mundane answer would be the right one, when my patients travel for a living to other planets?

God help me, from now on, when I hear hoofbeats, I am going to think zebras.

Comments

[gategremlyn]

Poor Janet. She so messed up in that episode. It always makes me cringe to watch. But yay! for figuring it out and moving forward.

Great Janet PoV.

The last line is *excellent* indeed!

[sid]

It's so hard to watch Daniel suffering, and to watch other people Not Getting It. But I believe Janet learned from her mistakes...

[eilidh17]

Oh, this is excellent! The last line is perfect. When there are no horses, think zebras. A bitter revelation for Janet, though it might be, but it is also her moment of perfect clarity.

Niiice!

<3

[sid]

She'd already seen so much, but it was still so natural to proceed as she had been taught. Perfect clarity, indeed!

[skieswideopen]

This is wonderful. Poor Janet, yes. And poor Daniel.

I love that last line!

[sid]

Thank you! It's good to know that Janet and Daniel had an excellent relationship going forward from this. I'll bet there was A Conversation!

[annejack]

This was great. I love Janet dearly and I love that you've given us a glimpse into her head after that awful episode. To me, watching this is worse than watching Meridian because they all fail Daniel in a very bad way.

If this had been a 1st season episode I would have understood their way of thinking and diagnosing him - but after all this time, after all they have seen coming through that gate? It just hurts to watch.

I love that you gave Janet these thoughts, they fit perfectly, thank you.

[sid]

Maybe it was because the rest of SG-1 seemed perfectly healthy? So it wouldn't necessarily seem mission-related. But We-The-Audience knew something else was up!

Glad you enjoyed!

[paian]

What a smart and perfect resolution she makes. I love how you have her phrase it, and how passionately she delivers it. I'm still giving the episode writer the stinkeye, but hurrah for Janet and for you!

[sid]

It's... sort of hand-wavy that no one thought to search for a different answer. But it's a mistake Janet will not repeat, Goddamnit!

[jdjunkie]

Janet is nothing if not pragmatic.

This is great, and helps ease the wtf reaction I usually have with this ep.

Nice work, baby!

[sid]

I suppose we have to give props to MacKenzie for checking up on Teal'c and relaying Daniel's message. Really, the wtfuckery rests with Janet, which is Very Hard To Take. But she clearly learned!

[magickmoons]

Everything else I did or said was either useless or harmful. Ouch.

Great take on the episode. I can so hear Janet saying this!

[sid]

Lots of "Ouch" to go around in this ep. The rest of SG-1 accepted the diagnosis too easily considering all the wacky shit that had gone down up until that point, but Doctors Know Best!

Thanks!

[fignewton]

Poor Janet. What can you do, if your training suggests one thing and the circumstances demand another?

I love that tagline!

It's your fault for being the first person to submit, but also being the person who chose Z. I can't believe it took me so long to read this last fic! Definitely worth the wait, though. :)

Thanks, as always, for your contribution to the Soup.

[sid]

I have not read a single one of the other 25+ fics, so you're WAY ahead of me! :-D

Poor Janet, indeed.