Chapter One. A Hunting We Will Not Go

Getting mauled by a Grizzly bear isn't something that loans itself to dinner conversation. Daniel sat quietly while the others set the food about the table and even though the food looked and smelled great, he didn't have an appetite. Vala tried to tempt him with a few bites of grilled chicken, since he couldn't feed himself, yet, but after a few bites, he was done. The pain medication was wearing off and he was tired so he excused himself and went up to his room.

He laid back on the bed and closed his eyes. It was too early to take a Vicaden and he stomach felt upset. 'If I could just nap for a few minutes, maybe I'll feel better.' The pain was bad but soon he was out.

As soon as dinner was done, Jack looked across at Carolyn and they both got up and headed for the stairs, equally concerned about Daniel. It was his birthday and he never liked a fuss, but he was healing from the bear attack and they were concerned.

When they stepped into Daniel's room and saw that he was asleep on top of his bed spread, Carolyn quietly stepped forward and checked his pulse. It was slow and steady, just like normal. Placing the back of her hand on his forehead, she noted that he didn't seem too warm. She stepped back and indicated for Jack to follow her. "He's fine. I think he's just tired. It's not easy to sleep in the infirmary. If he doesn't come back down in an hour, come back up and see if he wants to come down. It'll be time for his meds, then."

Jack was concerned. Daniel hadn't taken it well when they'd given their theory about the bear being Goa'ulded. He looked over at his best friend and wondered how Daniel managed to keep it all together. He sure had been through a lot.

When they got back down to the kitchen, they helped with the clean up and assured everyone that Daniel was okay and they needed to talk. So, they all headed for the sun room with their coffee or iced tea and made themselves comfortable.

"We have to hunt that thing down," Jack said. "Any ideas?"

"It could be anywhere, Jack," Sam said. "By now, who knows where?"

"I believe that we will not have to hunt this animal," Teal'c said.

"Why? Do you think this is over?" Cam's question made them all stop and think for a moment.

"I do not believe it is over, Colonel Mitchell. I believe it is just beginning."

"Explain, T." Jack sat back and watched his friend, wondering what he was getting at.

"I believe the bear will hunt Daniel Jackson."

Vala sat up straight, "You mean, you think it will come here?"

"Indeed. It was implanted with a certain mission in mind. The Goa'uld within will direct it here. It will know where Daniel Jackson resides and will come for him."

"So, all we have to do is wait. I'd rather not, if you don't mind." Jack didn't like the thought of waiting around for the monster to show up."

"How else will we find it, Sir? It was shot numerous times with the zat gun, which didn't stop it for long, and it is still out there, somewhere."

Cam had a good point, Jack thought. Finding it wouldn't be easy.

"Daniel knew you'd want to hunt it down and he wants to go along." Vala looked at Jack with a worried expression on her face. She didn't like the idea of Daniel being out there on the bear's home turf.

"Well, he's not going anywhere," Carolyn said. "He's in no shape to be running around through the mountains being bear bait." She shivered at the thought. "He's got some physical therapy to go through to get his arm and fingers back in working order and I won't have him risking more damage to his tendons and ligaments. He can't even hold a weapon so what does he think he could do?"

"It's personal, with him," Jack said. "This bear was sent on a mission to kill him and Vala. He's not the kind to wait around and let the beast sneak up on him."

Vala was looking down at the floor and said, "I don't want him out there, neither. I'll never forget seeing him flat on his back with that THING on top of him, trying to kill him." She wrapped her arms around herself protectively as Sam got up and went to sit beside her. Sam hugged her and tried to console her as tears welled in Vala's eyes.

"Well," General Landry said, "he's not going to go. I'll get some SF teams to come out and watch the perimeter. I don't think I want to wait, either. It's been a few days and Grizzlies can move quick."

Cam said, "Why a Grizzly? They're aren't any around this area, normally. Montana and Yellowstone, sure. But Colorado Springs?"

"The Trust must have moved it here. I can't imagine how they managed it, but they have technology that they've stolen from other planets so I'm sure they're capable of it." Jack looked at General Landry and said, "I'm going to call the Pentagon and let them know what's going on. I'm also going to call President Hayes and fill him in. And, I'm going to stay here to help. I don't like it when anyone goes after one of mine." The sobering look he gave Landry spoke volumes. Jack may be a two star general stationed in Washington D.C. as Secretary of Home World Security but his heart was still with SG-1 and always would be. "I've got some calls to make," he said as he headed for Daniel's office.

Vala stood and said, "I'm going to check on Daniel." Sam and Carolyn decided to go up with her to see for themselves that he was resting comfortably.

"It's time for his pain pills, anyway," Carolyn said as she grabbed her bag and followed the other two women up.

Teal'c stood and turned towards the windows. The sum room windows reached from floor to ceiling and made up two of the walls on the corner of the large house that Daniel lived in. From his vantage point, he could see the whole northern approach from the woods that were about 50 yards away. If the bear came from that direction, he might have time to see it and fire. But, what would bring this creature down?"

"Colonel Mitchell, why do you think the zat gun didn't work on the bear?"

Cam stood and walked over to stand beside Teal'c, looking out. "My guess was it had a personal shield. Daniel didn't say but in the heat of the moment, I don't know if he would have noticed. After all, it was trying to eat him."

"I think you're right," Landry said. "It's the only thing that makes sense."

"Well, sir," Cameron said as he turned to look at the General, "If that's the case, this bear won't go down easily."

Landry joined them at the windows and said, "Bullets won't penetrate a shield but knives or spears would, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir, but I'm not really comfortable going after a Grizzly with a spear. They can cover the distance of a football field in 6 seconds. We don't have 300 feet from here to the trees. It would be on us before we could react and we'd have to get close in order to be accurate."

"You're right, Cam. But crossbows would work." Landry looked over at Cam and Teal'c and smiled. We won't have to get that close. If enough of us had them, we might be able to stop it."

"Can we get our hands on crossbows, sir?"

"I can get my hands on whatever I need and the experts to shoot them, too. Excuse me, I have some calls to make, too."

Cam looked at Teal'c and said, 'So, let me get this straight... We're not going to hunt the bear. We're going to let it hunt us. And we're using crossbows?"

"Indeed, Colonel Mitchell. I believe you have it straight." Teal'c smiled and turned back to view the back yard.

"Okay, just so we're on the same page." Cam turned and joined his friend, hoping for all their sakes that General Landry was right.

0 0 0

When Daniel woke up, he heard voices and turned his head towards where he thought they were coming from. Opening his eyes he saw Vala, Sam and Carolyn sitting by the fireplace on the west side of his bedroom. He tried to sit up and noted that he was undressed and covered with a blanket. 'How in the world…?' He tried to sit up again but the pain in his shoulder and chest was pulsing and he couldn't manage it.

Carolyn turned when she heard him try to sit up and said, "Hey, he's awake."

"What happened?" Daniel didn't remember undressing himself and why were they in his room? He looked up at Carolyn as she came around and approached his side of the bed.

Vala walked over and said, "That's not the reaction I expected. Most men would be thrilled to wake up in their bed with three beautiful women in attendance."

"I am. I mean, you are. I mean... um…" Daniel decided to keep his mouth shut. He could only stick his feet in so far.

Sam laughed and said, "You had us worried so we came up to see how you were doing."

"Who undressed me?" Daniel's face was a bright red at the thought.

"All of us." Vala smiled. "It's not like we haven't seen you undressed before."

"Sam hasn't!"

"Well, actually, there were a few missions where you were getting dressed and well..."

"Sam!"

"Oh, come on Daniel! It's not like we have any privacy when we're off world. Most of the time you and I share a tent and that's just the way it is. It's no big deal."

Daniel was speechless. She was right. In fact, he'd seen her, partially undressed before but hadn't said anything, neither. It couldn't be helped so they remained professional about it."

"It's time for your Vicaden, Daniel." Carolyn went into the master bath and got a glass of water and came towards him with the prescription bottle in her hand.

"I don't think the Vicaden is really working. It wore off a while ago and I really hurt."

Carolyn noted that he felt a little warm. "Let me check your dressings. Can you move over to the side of the bed more?"

Daniel tried but it was difficult without causing more intense pain. So, the ladies grabbed the edge of the bed spread and pulled. Just like that, he was surprised to find himself laying right where Carolyn could reach him. Sam and Vala stood back while Carolyn removed his sling and cut the bandages away from his shoulder. They both hissed when they saw the puncture wounds in his upper arm. It was worse when they watched her remove the bandages from his chest. Daniel turned red under their scrutiny so they stepped back, trying to give him some privacy.

Carolyn checked his fingers and said, "These are healing nicely but you're a little red around the cuts on your chest and the holes in your arm." She gently pushed on them with her fingers and Daniel squirmed under her hands.

"Ow. It feels like the stitches are pulling some."

"I'm sorry. I needed to see if there was any puss in there. I don't see any but this is a bit inflamed and you're running a low fever again. I'm going to increase your dose of antibiotics and try something different for the pain. It'll probably make you sleep but at least you'll not feel anything."

"I'm not so sure I like that idea. It seems like all I do is sleep."

"I know. But, it's your body's way of saying, 'STOP,' so it can heal." She applied antibiotic cream to his wounds and then bandaged him up again. "I'm going to go down to the kitchen and prepare a tray of food for you. You don't want to take anythingon an empty stomach." She left the room and Vala sat down on the edge of the bed.

"You just need to rest, Darling. You'll feel better in a few days."

Sam said, "I wish you had a better birthday than this."

"Hey, it beats being dead." He stared up at the ceiling and said, "I really thought that was it. I was going to die."

Sam sat down in a chair by the bed and said, "If you hadn't taken your zat along, you would be."

He reached for Vala's hand and carefully took it. His hands were scratched up still and the splints on his fingers made it difficult to maneuver but he didn't complain. At least he still had fingers!

Carolyn came back in carrying a tray, followed by the guys. Teal'c gently helped Daniel sit up against the headboard and Vala helped him eat. The rest of the group gathered around the cold fireplace and chatted about this and that.

When Daniel was done eating what he could, Vala took the tray and set it on the table by the window. Carolyn gave him his pain pills while the others gathered around the bed and General Landry told him their plans of having crossbow teams stationed around the house.

"Everyone else needs to stay indoors. Nobody goes outside. The local authorities have been alerted about a 'rogue bear' in the area but they don't know the complete details."

"So," Daniel said, "We just sit and wait for it to show up?"

"Pretty much," Jack said. "We have some SF's outside the perimeter who are trying to find it and some eyes in the air watching out for it, too. Don't worry, Daniel. We won't let it anywhere near the house."

Daniel hoped Jack was right. He didn't want that thing near any of them. Soon, the pain medication started to work and his eyes were drooping so Carolyn suggested that they go downstairs and let him rest.

Teal'c stayed behind and helped Daniel up so that he could use the bathroom. It wasn't easy with bandaged fingers but he managed and when he came back to the bed, Teal'c had pulled back the covers and waited while he climbed in. Then he gently covered Daniel and said,

"Is there anything else you need, Daniel Jackson?"

"No, I don't think so. Hey, thanks Teal'c." Daniel was grateful for his friend's help and consideration.

Teal'c smiled and said, "You are welcome." He then turned and closed the door behind him as he made his way back downstairs.

Daniel settled under the covers and thought, 'This hasn't been the best birthday I've ever had, but I'm glad they're all here.' Soon, he was sound asleep.