Genres: Hurt/Comfort All Ages
Warnings: None
Series: None
Summary: Jack has to get an injured Daniel home.
"J'ck?"
"Easy Danny, easy. Don't try and move too much." Jack was quickly at his side in
a flash as Daniel struggled to get up. He gently eased him back onto the
bed.
Daniel groaned and closed his eyes again. His return to consciousness
had meant a return to pain.
"Deep breaths Daniel, I'm gonna put a fresh dressing on the wound and
apply some pressure. Gotta stop the bleeding pal - this is gonna hurt."
Daniel nodded and licked his dry lips, his eyes still shut tight. He
hissed and bucked as Jack pressed down on his shoulder.
"G'd, Jack!" he exclaimed as his vision started greying, inviting him
back into the abyss.
"Sorry Danny but you are losing a lot of blood and the bullet is still
in there. Easy, easy" he soothed as Daniel weakly thrashed in pain.
God his shoulder was on fire! He took deep shuddering breaths. "W..what
happened?" Daniel finally asked as he got his pain under control.
Jack sat on the bed next to him; his one hand continually applying
pressure on the stricken man's shoulder, the other mopping his sweaty
brow. "Ambush, Daniel", he tells him, gauging his response, wondering
how much Daniel remembered. The frown on Daniel's face answers his
question. "PX7 878 - we gated here this morning. We were met by a lovely
old monk. You know - big belly, bald head, jolly chuckle..."
"Jack!" Daniel interrupted.
Jack could see that he was struggling to keep control. He recognized
Daniel's 'cut the crap' look, so he carried on. "Well this jolly, fat,
bald monk let you give your meet and greet chat before signalling a
posse of gun-wielding mad men in the woods. Got the impression that they
knew us from somewhere."
"Ah, well, we are infamous." Daniel's chuckle turned into a groan as
pain lanced through his shoulder again. He shut his eyes and
concentrated on keeping the growing nausea at bay, deciding that the
pain of expelling it would topple him over the edge and back into the
black world again. He mentally shook the cobwebs away, opened his eyes
and concentrated on Jack's face and their surroundings.
"Where are we? How did we get here?" He asked, scanning the room. He was
lying on an extremely comfortable bed in front of a roaring, inviting
fire. Patchwork-covered pillows surrounded him and animal furs were
covering his lower body. He was naked from the waist up - a large square
of blood-soaked cloth was being held in place on his left shoulder, just
under his clavicle. He looked up at Jack, surprised to see him sat at
his side in, what could only be described as, a cream 'gown'. Where was
Sam? Where was Teal'c?
"S..S..Sam? T..Teal'c?" he stuttered, trying to get up again only for
his head to flop back onto the pillows as the room span.
"For crying out loud Daniel, keep still." Jack ordered and Daniel
groaned at the discomfort of the vertigo. "Sam and Teal'c have gone back
to the Stargate for help," Jack told him, replacing the now sodden cloth
with a fresh one, tutting at the sight of the bloody wound. Daniel
pulled his knees up to his chest as a wave of pain washed over him. Jack
wished they had their packs with them but they were long gone. What he
wouldn't give to be able to give Daniel a shot of morphine about now.
"Like I said Daniel, we were jumped. Apparently some system lord or
other visited here before us and put a price on our heads; promised the
locals this and that if they could capture us. We had quite a tussle but
Teal'c is a good guy to have on your team. Kinda frightened the locals
off and he and Carter managed to lure them away. Not before you took a
bullet to the shoulder though. You went down like a ton of bricks,
bashing your head on the way - went out like a light. I managed to drag
you into some bushes and we hid as the not overly clever country locals
went after Carter and the big guy."
Daniel nodded and reached a hand to his head, surprised not to feel a
bulky bandage wrapped round it. He frowned in confusion.
"You've got quite an egg-sized lump on the back of your head Danny."
Daniel sighed and licked his dry lips. Seeing his discomfort, Jack
poured him a glass of water and helped Daniel to sit up slightly. He let
him sip the tepid liquid.
"Thanks" Daniel whispered and lent back into the pillows. He closed his
eyes again. "How do you know Sam and Teal'c have gone for help?" he
asked, wearily.
"Well we hid for an hour or so until the coast was clear. People with
dogs kept coming and going - how we weren't discovered was beyond me. I
knew we would have to move before they picked up our scent but you were
totally out of it. I managed to get us to a shallow river but we were
too out in the open and a guy on a horse spotted and caught up with us.
I managed to sling shot him with a rock and knock him off the horse.
Then when I was struggling to get you on the horse a lad came out of
nowhere and helped me. He knew we were being hunted and it turned out
the guys after us apparently killed his father. He led us here so you
could get some medical treatment. Carter managed to check in about an
hour ago. She and Teal'c are holed up in a cave about 4 clics from the
gate. They're pinned down but when the coast is clear they're gonna make
for the gate and get some help."
Jack sat back on the bed and rested his aching back on the pillows next
to Daniel who inched over so that his head and torso were resting on
Jack's lap. He scrunched up his eyes in pain and bit his lower lip in an
effort to control the agony.
"Don't suppose there are any pain meds Jack?" He ground out the words as
the pain threatened to overpower him. He turned his body into Jack's,
fumbling for a grasp of his friend's shirt, burrowing his head further
into Jack's lap, trying to smother the fire in his shoulder. Jack's hand
caressed his cheek, pulling him in carefully as Daniel drew up his knees
to his stomach again, groaning, his legs moving restlessly under the covers.
"Sorry pal, the monks took our packs. The boy has gone to find his
mother. Maybe she'll have something to help but until then you're gonna
have to ride it out." He looked at his watch, the youngster had been
gone for an hour to go in search of his mother who worked in the fields
just outside the village. Hopefully he would be back soon. Jack
continued to sooth his friend as he continued to slowly writhe in agony.
"Shhh, Daniel - she should be here soon. Try and sleep."
"'Kay" Daniel whispered, turning his head deeper into Jack's lap,
desperately trying to escape from the burning, agonizing pain. His world
was greying again.
"T..tired," he mumbled, his good arm clutching Jack's waist, using it as
an anchor. "Th..think 'm gonna pass out now..." he stated and promptly
went limp in Jack's arms.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief that his friend was no longer in agony.
He carefully laid the injured archaeologist back on the bed, checked the
bandage and was happy to see the bleeding had slowed considerably. He
pulled the skin blankets up to Daniel's shoulders, brushed the
sweat-soaked hair off his forehead and gauged his temperature with the
back of his hand, pleased to note that it was not far off normal.
He stoked the fire and sat down at the homely kitchen table, his head in
his hands. Daniel needed help and he needed it soon. If they didn't get
that bullet out soon he was gonna be in real trouble. The threat of
infection was growing minute be minute. Hell they were already in trouble.
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"You are not safe here. You must go. Eduardo was wrong to bring you
here. This will be one of the first places they will search. You must go."
Eduardo had returned with his mother just before sunset. Jack had been
getting worried. Time had passed slowly and it was time that Daniel did
not have. He had almost given up waiting and was about to go and find
help himself when Maria had hurried through the door, extinguishing the
torches that Jack had lit when it had become dark.
"We cannot alert Tanmiun that anyone is home, it is too dangerous". She
carefully lit the small lantern on the table.
"I'm sorry to bring trouble to your house ma'am, ..." Jack started.
"Maria", he was informed by the middle-aged, plump lady who was now
filling a large kettle and hanging it on the open fire that burnt
brightly in the stone fire place.
"...Maria" Jack corrected himself, "I'm Jack and my friend is Daniel."
He indicated Daniel who still slept in the large, ornate bed. "Daniel
needs your help, he was shot in the shoulder by one of Tanmiun's men - I
assume they are the ones who ambushed us?"
Maria indicated for Jack to sit at the table.
"Eduardo fetch our guest some bread and water. You must be hungry. You
can eat and go before you are discovered. I have heard Tanmiun's dogs
barking all afternoon. The rumors are that strangers came through the
circle, strangers that the gods foretold would come. You will be hunted
down by the dogs and the gods will pay a high price for your capture."
Maria broke the bread that Eduardo had placed in front of her and handed
a chunk to Jack who nodded his thanks and proceeded to eat, he had
forgotten how hungry he was.
Maria poured Jack a glass of water. "I have heard that the gods have
been informed of your arrival and have sent down an army to help in your
capture. The circle is closed off, a trap is being laid. You must hide
in the hills; it is the only safe place. Eduardo fetch me the parchment
and chalk."
"My friend is hurt. He needs urgent medical attention and our medical
supplies have been taken. Please, you must help us."
Maria shook her head and checked the water on the fire. "I cannot help
you. It would be too dangerous to take him to the healer; there are
patrols in the village waiting in the shadows. No it is too risky."
Jack stood and placed his hand on Maria's arm. "The bullet is still in
his shoulder. He is in great pain when he is awake. He took a blow to
the head. If we can't get him to the healer is there anything you have
here that can help him? Could the healer come here?" He asked, one eye
on Maria, the other on Daniel who was now stiring restlessly on the bed.
Maria looked at Jack and saw the despair in his eyes.
"It is only because Tanmiun murdered my husband that I will help you. He
is an evil man bent on service to what many of us see as false gods. He
has a loyal following who will stop at nothing to see you captured and
turned over for punishment. But there is a small band of non-believers
like me in the village. Eduardo, the parchment."
Eduardo passed his mother the paper and went and sat at Daniel's bedside.
"Mother, this man is in pain," he informed her as Daniel continued to
groan and writhe weakly under the animal skins.
Maria nodded and told Jack to sit.
"You need to go see Rantun and Pater, they are the healer and priest in
the village. You will need to explain what has happened. They will be
able to organise an evacuation plan. They are sympathetic to our cause
and will help you. I will write you a letter that you must give them to
give you reference. Eduardo will take you." She pulled the lantern
towards her and they sat in silence as she wrote the note, the silence
only punctuated by Daniel's soft moans.
"Eduardo will fetch you one of my husband's cloaks to go over your
gown," she told Jack eyeing him up and down.
Jack felt guilty for putting on one of her dead husband's gowns but his
BDUs had been soaked with water and Daniel's blood. "Umm, sorry
about..." he told Maria looking down at his attire.
"That is unimportant," she assured him. "Where are your clothes? We must
burn them. We must leave no trails."
Eduardo handed Jack a thick, heavy woollen black cloak. "We hid them in
the barn," he informed his mother.
"Good, good," she stated, tightly doing up Jack's cloak. "Eduardo take
Pepe - he will be faster."
The young boy nodded.
Maria knelt down to her son's eye level. "You know what you must do son?"
He nodded.
"Keep to the lane, do not venture into the village. Pater's house is in
the woods and ..."
"I know where Pater's house is mother" he interrupted.
Maria took a deep breath. "I know, I know" she sighed. "Go straight
there, no stopping." She pulled the boy in for a hug. "Be careful," she
whispered into his ear.
Jack placed his hand on her shoulder. "I will look after him - I
promise." He vowed.
She straightened up and walked over to the wooden trunk in the corner of
the room and pulled out a rifle and a small box. She handed the rifle
and bullets to Jack. "Take this for protection," she told him with a
small smile. "Be warned, Tanmiun is a dangerous man who will stop at
nothing. Keep yourselves hidden and hurry."
Jack looked her straight in the eyes. "Thank you." He told her
sincerely. He knew that they had bought danger to her home.
"You must go," she told them shepherding them towards the door. Jack
turned and looked at Daniel who was still sleeping restlessly.
"Daniel?" He enquired.
"I will care for Daniel. Now go!"
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He was lost. Lost and in pain. Abandoned. He needed to wake up, wake up
and find Jack but he was suffocating, a heavy weight was pinning him,
crushing him. His legs were stuck; he struggled and struggled to free
them but to no avail. He was so dizzy. How could he be dizzy if he was
asleep? This made no sense. He needed to sit, to roll over, to move. His
head hurt so much, surely someone was helping him? Please someone help
him. He tried to move again but G'd it hurt! He needed to wake up, wake
up and get help. Where was everyone? Why could he not wake up? He could
hear himself moan, feel himself writhe - why could he not wake up? Oh
G'd he hurt!
"J'ck?" He managed to moan, his head moving restlessly from side to
side; his stomach lurching with each movement of his head.
"J'ck?" He tried again. He did not want to open his eyes; if he opened
his eyes he knew it would hurt.
"Ummm, J'ck?" He bit down hard on his lip as pain pierced through his
shoulder, nausea rolled in his stomach again. "Oh G'd," he ground out.
"Shhh."
He felt the bed dip and a cloth bathed his forehead.
"You must remain still."
A female voice? Sam? He pulled himself into a ball as the pain grew.
"S. ?"
"No Daniel," the voice told him as a hand gently soothed his arm. "I am
Maria, I am tending you. Your friend Jack has gone for help." She firmly
but carefully placed Daniel back onto his back and he hissed with pain.
"I must tend your wound Daniel," she told him peeling the cloth off his
shoulder; he turned his head and groaned into the pillow. Maria wet a
fresh piece of cloth with the water boiled on the stove and patted the
hole caused by the bullet.
"We must make sure this is clean," she told him as she cleansed the
wound. "A healer is on his way who will remove the bullet. Then you must
leave you are not safe here."
Daniel took a deep breath to cope with the pain induced by Maria's
actions and nodded his head. Things were clearer now. He had been shot
and they were hiding in a cabin waiting for help. He nodded in
understanding again but the movement only increased his nausea. His
breath quickened and he reached out to the lady tending him.
"Gonna be s..," he told her, weakly struggling to get on his side. She
recognised the signs straight away and emptied the bowl of water she was
sponging him down with and helped him as he vomited over the side of the
bed into the container.
"Shh, steady." She helped him lie back when he had finished. "You have a
head injury," she informed him as she mopped the sweat off his face.
"You must lie still."
Daniel sighed and lent back on the pillows, feeling slightly better for
expelling the contents of his stomach but miserably embarrassed for
doing it in front of a stranger. Where was Jack? His brow frowned in
confusion.
"Daniel, Jack has gone for help - remember?" Maria told him, recognising
the confusion on his face.
Oh yeah - he remembered, he was safe and Jack had gone for help. Sam and
Teal'c had gone for help and he was safe. Yes. The cobwebs were
clearing, his head did not feel as if it was stuffed with cotton wool.
He ventured to open his eyes.
"Hi" he muttered as Maria's blurry face came into view. He gave her a
wan smile. "Thank you for helping me," he told her as she smiled back at
him.
"I can only do so much Daniel, you are not safe here. The gods have sent
their soldiers to help the men search for you. Jack has gone to meet
with our resistance to arrange your safe passage back to your world."
She reached over and poured Daniel a mug of fresh water. "Do you think
you could manage a drink?" She asked, helping raise Daniel's head at the
base of his neck and placing the mug at his lips. "Small sips," she told
him. "We Don't want this to make a reappearance. You have lost a lot of
blood."
That would explain why he felt so weak. The mere effort of lifting his
head was exhausting. He took a few sips of the cool water and she helped
lower his head back down. He closed his eyes. "Thanks," he whispered.
"Try and sleep Daniel." Maria told him. "The others will be back soon
with medication to help with the pain, just try and relax until then. "
Daniel smiled again. "Easier said than done... my head is pounding." He
admitted, biting down on his bottom lip.
Maria sighed and smiled down at the young man. How could the gods think
these people were evil? She did not understand. Daniel looked so
powerless. She held his hand as he groaned again and again as pain
washed over him.
"They won't be long," she promised the suffering man.
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"But Rantun we must help these people." Pater begged. "Tanmiun must not
find them."
Rantun paced up and down the room, nervously biting his fingernails.
"No, no, no Pater. The Gods will be angry, we will be punished..."
"For crying out loud!" Jack interrupted in frustration. "When are ya
gonna listen to me? These things, beings, are not your gods, they are
parasites feeding from your world. You are their slaves. Can't you see
that?" He slumped back in his chair and tugged at his hair in annoyance.
They had been here, arguing the same argument for nearly three hours and
they were getting nowhere.
"Maria has stated that they are good men, telling the truth. We must
help them, hide them, get them back to their own world." Pater was
nearly as desperate as Jack. Years of feeding the gods and living under
Goa'uld power had taken a huge toll on their world. Divided their
people. They were on the brink of civil war. Maybe these strangers could
stop the conflicts and help them be rid of the oppression thrusted upon
them.
"Please Rantun - his friend needs medical attention. I cannot help him
with that - you are his only hope. Please, you call yourself a healer,
how can you stand by and do nothing?"
Rantun turned and looked at Jack.
"If we help you do we have your word that you will help us?" He asked.
He was an elderly man, worn down by false gods who lived in fear for his
family. "If we are caught they will destroy us," he told him, "I don't
want that to be in vain."
Jack could understand their plight. Hell, this planet was not alone, not
the only one being suppressed. He took a deep breath. He knew he could
not give them false hopes, false promises.
"If you can get me and my friends back to our world I promise I will
send some of my people back here who will help you defend yourselves
against the 'Gould'. I can offer you no more help than that. It is a
fight we wage every day. We will not stop trying to defeat them that
much I can promise and Daniel is a very important person in that fight.
It will be harder without him. You have to help him. Please?" Jack
begged. He wasn't beyond begging, begging was good. Time was running out.
"Okay." Rantun conceded. "I will tend to him - Pater fetch my medical
bag. Eduardo go and help get the buggy ready. I will treat your friend
and then we will formulate a plan to get you home."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Jack sighed with relief.
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Where were they? Where were they?
Maria looked out of the window, again. It had been five hours now and
still there was no sign of them. She was so worried. Why oh why had she
let Eduardo go? He was only a child for heaven's sake! What was she
thinking? This was not their fault, their problem. Why did she get
involved? She scanned the horizon again. Nothing. Nothing but darkness.
She closed the curtain again and lit one of the lamps by the fireplace.
The dogs were silent now and she assumed the hunt had been halted for
the night. She scrubbed at her apron. Please, please, please be safe she
prayed. She went over to the window again.
Daniel watched as Maria paced the room. He felt so guilty for putting
her through all this. Where on earth was Jack? Please let him be safe.
He had tried to doze but the ache in his shoulders had preventing him
achieving a deep sleep. Time had slowed. He almost wished he could pass
out like before. He was wrapped in all-consuming misery. He licked his
lips and pulled at his blankets, longing to be free, the heat was
oppressive. He wished Maria would open a window; he could not bear the
heat much longer. He looked at Maria in confusion as she shuddered,
wrapped her shawl tighter around her and placed another log on the fire.
He was so hot, so thirsty, and so achy. He managed to kick the blankets
off his legs so that he was laying near-naked but still his skin burned.
He tried to move from the heat of the bed but was so weak, weak and so,
so hot! He did not understand. He ran his free hand through his hair,
not surprised to find it soaked with sweat. He knew he was in trouble.
"Maria?" He called weakly.
She turned and looked at Daniel with a smile, glad to see him alert. She
sat on the bed next to him pulled a blanket over his legs, Daniel sighed
in frustration. Maria took his hand in hers. He looked exhausted,
boneless almost.
"They back yet?" He asked. He knew time had passed, he just was not sure
how much.
"Not yet Daniel, I am sure they will not be much longer now." She told
him with more hope than she felt.
"Yeah, won't be long now," he agreed, wincing as he tried to move his arm.
"Does it still hurt?" Maria asked tenderly.
"Yes," he admitted.
"Your arm?"
Daniel shook his head. "My shoulder."
Maria touched the skin around the gauze dressing. "May I take a look?"
she asked. Now Daniel was more aware she did not want to startle him
with her ministrations.
"Um." He gave her permission. She carefully removed the dressing and
gently dabbed the wound. She looked at Daniel with a sad smile and
placed her hand on his forehead. Her cool touch felt wonderful to
Daniel's overheated skin. Her hand moved to his cheek and neck.
"The wound is infected Daniel." She told him with a sigh.
"I know," he admitted. He had gradually been feeling sicker and sicker.
The pain of his shoulder had receded into the background as the growing
fever took hold. His whole body ached.
"Your wound must be cauterized and the bullet must come out," she
informed him sadly.
He slowly turned his face to hers. "Ouch!" he said with a ghost of a smile.
She picked up a damp cloth and bathed his face again. He closed his eyes
in relief at the coolness of the cloth. Maria dipped the cloth in the
water again and looked at Daniel. His whole body was covered in a fine
sheen of sweat; his hair was plastered to his forehead. She wrung the
cloth out and proceded to wipe his neck, chest and abdomen, careful not
to go anywhere near his shoulder. Daniel lent into the touch, totally
spent. Her touch was soothing.
"How long have you known you have had a fever Daniel?" She asked as she
pulled the cloth across his abdomen.
Daniel shrugged his shoulders, hissing at the pain the movement caused. "
Couple of hours" he admitted.
Maria looked at the fire. Daniel needed the bullet out and now, before
the fever took a stronger hold. She had no idea when the others would be
coming back, or even if they were coming back. She sighed and placed the
cloth down.
"What?" Daniel asked quietly as Maria hung her head and sat silently. He
reached his good hand to her head and patted her hair. She looked at him
with tears in her eyes.
"I must cauterize your wound straight away Daniel, you grow weaker and
weaker. There is no way of knowing when the healer will be here ..."
"Or if." Daniel interrupted with a smile.
Maria nodded. "I have no medication to give you. It will hurt. If I
don't do it you will get sicker. You might d..."
"Do what you have to do," Daniel interrupted again, "it'll be fine." He
wiped the tear from Maria's face as it fell. He let his arm flop back
down on to the bed, too exhausted to hold it up anymore. Maria nodded
and patted Daniel's face again. He closed his eyes and tried to float off.
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Maria stood at the fire with the steel poker in the embers. She looked
at Daniel. He was plastered to the bed, almost molded to the mattress.
His head was rolling slowly, weakly from side to side; his body
shimmered with sweat, his breathing shallow and rapid, his forehead
crunched in pain. She could see his pulse racing in his neck. He had
gone downhill so fast. She took the poker out of the fire willing it to
be hot enough, plunging it back into the flames in despair as it was
nowhere near ready. She watched as Daniel opened his eyes and licked his
lips again, his eyes searching the room for her.
"I am here Daniel. It won't be much longer; try and rest," she called.
"Ummm," he retorted and sank back into his twilight world of heat and
airlessness. Where was the healer? Where was Jack?
Maria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could do this. She had
done it before, granted on a sick cow but surely there were not too many
differences - were there? She checked the poker again. It was now white
hot. She knew what she had to do. She knew she had to do it now. She
placed the meat knife in the embers. She would deal with the bullet
removal after she had cauterized the wound. Hopefully the pain would
make Daniel pass out and she would be able to operate without having to
knock him out. She reached for the bottle of liquor from the cabinet -
that would do to cleanse the wound after she removed the bullet. She
took the cork out with her teeth and took a slug herself to calm her
nerves. She would love to be able to give Daniel some to lessen the pain
but with a head injury she knew she could do more harm than good. She
made her way to his bed, snagging a piece of firewood off the woodpile
as she passed it.
She sat down slowly on his bed. "Daniel?" She asked and gently touched
his face to get his attention.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Ready?" She enquired.
"Umm." He touched her hand and nodded.
She placed the bottle on the table and handed Daniel the piece of wood.
"Bite," she ordered.
He took the wood and looked at it. His hand flopped down again. Maria
lifted the wood off the bed and placed it in his mouth.
"Bite," she soothed.
Daniel looked up to the ceiling and sighed and readied himself.
Maria bought the poker down and placed it on Daniel's inflamed skin.
Daniel bit down on the wood in agony, his back arched and the wood in
his mouth muffled his scream of pain. Sweat poured from his pores. He
grunted in agony once more and his eyes rolled into the back of his
head. His head lolled to one side and his mouth relaxed. The smell of
burning flesh nearly toppled Maria who had to fight to keep the nausea
she felt at bay. She plucked the stick from Daniel's mouth as his lips
quivered in reaction. She reached and patted the sweat away from his
forehead with some fresh cloth and ran her hand across his face and
cupped his chin, grateful that he had passed out, grateful that he was
no longer in pain. She scrubbed her face with her apron and started to
prepare to remove the bullet.
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"You did so well Maria." Pater told the still shaking women and pushed
the glass full of liquor across the table. Maria picked it up and downed
it in one, hissing at the heat of the alcohol between her teeth. She
placed the glass back down and hugged Eduardo tighter and glanced over
to the bed.
"Rantun has been a long time," she mused. The cavalry had turned up in
time. She looked down at her hand; it was still shaking, shaking in
relief that Eduardo was safe. Shaking in relief that Daniel had the help
he needed.
"He is in good hands now Maria. He will be fine."
Maria sniffed and smiled and kissed Eduardo's head.
"He is asleep Maria - shall I put him in his bed?" Pater offered.
Maria nodded and lifted Eduardo into Pater's waiting arms, one quick hug
and she let go. She wrapped her arms around her and went and sat next to
Jack in the kitchen. Rantun had hung a curtain around Daniel's bed while
he operated to remove the bullet, to keep prying eyes out and to create
a sterile area as much as he could.
"You were so long," Maria said sadly. "He became so ill, I had no
choice. I did not know if you were coming back or not. I had no choice."
Jack turned to face her and lifted her chin. "Thank you, you acted so
quickly. If you had waited it may have been too late."
Maria smiled and sniffed, Jack pulled her in for a hug. "He will be fine
- Daniel is always fine," he told her and she relaxed into his touch.
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Rantun washed his hands and put his now clean instruments back into his
bag. He checked on his patient again. He gauged that his fever was still
very high but hopefully Maria's swift actions may have stopped the
infection getting any worse. He had obviously lost a lot of blood and
there was little he could do for that. His blood pressure was pretty low
but he dare not give him any blood as there was no way of knowing what
type he was or whether anyone else was compatible. They had to get him
home as soon as possible and into the care of his own people. The bullet
had been removed and the fever could be controlled but he was still one
extremely sick young man.
He sat and took Daniel's pulse and felt his temperature, surprised to
see two blue eyes staring at him in bewilderment.
"Maria?" Daniel asked quietly.
"Maria is here Dr Jackson. I am Rantun, the village healer. I have
removed the bullet."
Daniel nodded and his eyes dropped again. He felt relaxed, sleepy,
drugged. The healer must have given him something. The pain had receded
to a manageable level. He was glad the healer was here. Jack? Where was
Jack? If the healer was here why wasn't Jack? His eyes flew open and he
struggled to get up. Rantun pushed him back on the bed.
"Jack?" Daniel called.
"Please lie back Dr Jackson, I will fetch Colonel O'Neill for you - just
relax."
Daniel eased himself back and tried to control his breathing, which had
sped up in panic.
Rantun pulled the curtain back and indicated for Jack to follow him. He
moved to the center of the room out of Daniel's earshot. Maria joined them.
"Dr Jackson is awake and asking for you." He told Jack who let out the
breath he did not realise he was holding. "I have removed the bullet and
debrided the wound as much as I can. I have left the wound open as he
has an infection and sewing the skin together would only hold the
infection in. He is still running a high fever but I have given him some
of our herbs which are giving him pain relief and should hold the
infection at bay until you can get him back to your world. I dare not
give him any of our more powerful drugs, as I do not know how your
bodies would react to them. His head wound is not too serious - just a
mild concussion but you need to get him home as quickly as possible. He
needs a blood transfusion and again I am not happy to risk using any of
our blood. If we could attempt taking him to the healing place we could
cross check his blood but we would risk capture if we did." He placed
his hand on Jack's arm.
"Go sit with him, reassure him. We will work out a route through the
mountains to get you back to your world. Stay with him. He should sleep
soon and so should you. We will leave at dawn."
Jack nodded, smiled and thanked Rantun. He patted Maria on the arm,"get
some sleep as well" he said as she yawned sleepily.
She nodded in agreement and made for the couch - her bed taken up by the
ailing archaeologist.
"Pater, fetch the charts," Rantun ordered, "we have much to do."
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Jack was amazed to see Daniel staring at him as he sat on his bed. His
arm now in a sling. His chest still bare.
"Hey." he smiled. Daniel grabbed his hand. Jack covered his hand with
his, almost grimacing at the heat radiating off his friend. He lent
forward and brushed the sweat-soaked hair from Daniel's forehead. "How
you doing?" he asked softly.
"Fine." Daniel retorted. Jack snorted in amazement.
"Ya sure?" he asked smiling at his doped up friend. "'Cause I gotta tell
you I could fry an egg on your stomach right now." He placed his hand on
Daniel's abdomen and moved it to his chest, feeling the racing heart
beat and the shallow, rapid, weak breaths. His lungs were working overtime.
"Feel fine." Daniel stated again, staring at Jack with saucer wide eyes,
his pupils wide and drug educed.
Jack smiled and shook his head; he took the damp cloth and started
bathing Daniel again. "Sleep Danny, were going home in the morning, just
sleep," he soothed and Daniel shut his eyes and did as he was told.
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"We cannot risk going back to the village," Pater mused as he and Rantun
huddled over the charts that were spread out on Maria's kitchen table.
"Word is the entrance and exit are now patrolled by the soldiers. Any
attempt to return will be thwarted. We could go along the Manroe trail
up through the mountains but even that has its risks, the terrain is
dangerous."
Rantun agreed but shook his head sadly "I am afraid that is our only
choice. The direct route to the ring is now shut off - we have no
decision to make here."
Jack pulled up a chair and joined the two men in their deliberations.
Daniel had quickly succumbed to sleep. Jack had spent time with him,
ensuring the fever did not climb any higher. The sound of Daniel's soft
snores which had replaced the whimpers of pain had lifted a weight of
worry off Jack's mind. He had covered the sleeping man and turned his
mind to the rest of his team and their passage home to safety.
"I have two of my team holed up in a cave between the river and the ring
- I need to get them out and home safely." He poured himself a glass of
water from the jug on the table and inspected the maps. He could clearly
make out the signs for the village, mountains and the ring. The danger
caves were positioned between the ring and the mountains. He pointed at
the caves.
"Is there any possibility that there is a back exit to the caves 'cause
if we took the route through the mountains we would run adjacent to the
caves," he asked taking a swig of water. The two men exchanged glances
between them and silence filled the room.
"What?" Jack enquired putting his glass down and wiping the water from
his mouth.
"No Rantun - it is too dangerous," Pater whispered.
"It is their only chance." Rantun stared at the fire place, watching the
embers jump and spit. "If it is not this way then it will not be any
other way - they will be hunted, they will be captured and we will live
under oppression for ever."
"What?" Jack urged again. Rantun nodded at Pater who sighed heavily.
"There is another ring, hidden from the Gods. It is not used, it is too
dangerous." He picked up some chalk and drew a gate near the top of one
of the mountains near the caves.
"It is perched on the top of Canty Mount. There are sheer drops at
either side, many people have perished trying to use it but it has been
known to work."
Jack smiled. So there was hope and that was all he wanted. They had been
in worse situations than this and survived. Piece of cake. Get a message
through to SG-1 and Hammond would send help - trained help. Yep this was
doable. He pointed to the caves again.
"My team - is there a way out? Some where we can meet them?"
Pater drew a cross at the back of one of the caves.
"The Onmly tunnel leads from the caves to the foot of the mountains. We
could meet them there."
"Okay - now that sounds like a plan," he told them with a smile. "I will
contact my team and let them know tha..."
Pater interrupted him "It will be very dangerous. I make no guarantees,"
he told him sadly. "We will only go with you so far - the rest will be
up to you. We have family to protect."
"I know," Jack admitted "Thank you. We just need a fighting chance and
you have given us one. I need to contact my team."
"You need to sleep," Rantun told him,"it will be a short night and a
long day. Go - sleep with Daniel. Pater and I will sleep in the buggy
and wake you when the sun rises." He fumbled in his bag for a small pack
of herbs and mixed them in a tumbler of water. "Try and get Daniel to
drink this," he implored Jack. "It will help with the fever and the pain
- tomorrow will be a hard day on the fittest, there is no way of knowing
how Daniel will fare," he told him with a sad smile. "Keep an eye on him
tonight and if there are any problems fetch me immediately."
Jack accepted the glass and smiled at the elderly man. "Thank you," he
said with a nod and made his way to Daniel's bed.
"Sleep well Colonel," Pater called softly, stoking the fire as Rantun
folded the charts up and they readied themselves for the long journey
ahead.
...
"Carter? Come in." Jack perched on the side of Daniel's bed. His friend
slept on though his fever was still high. Jack sat at his side in his
T-shirt and boxers. The heat from the fire and from Daniel's fever had
made the small room stuffy but Jack could not see a window that he could
open. He wet another cloth, folded it neatly and placed it on Daniel's
forehead. He straightened the sheet that loosely covered the ill man. He
eyed the space next to Daniel with longing - he was so tired.
"Sir?" Came the muffled reply from the radio. Daniel stirred at the
sound of Sam's voice and peered at Jack through heavy lidded, bloodshot
eyes and watched as Jack replied.
"Good to hear your voice Carter," he admitted with a sigh.
"Yours too sir," came Sam's cheerful reply.
"What is your situation?" Jack asked as he watched Daniel try and turn
in bed only to hiss as pain blindsided him. He needed to get the herbs
into him soon before the pain became too much. He rubbed Daniel's arm to
try and help sooth him.
"We are Okay sir. Still in the cave. There is no sign of any activity
outside. We were just thinking of doing a recce, see what's going on..."
"Negative Carter," Jack interrupted. "Stay put we will come to you. The
Stargate is heavily guarded and the village is cut off. We will be
leaving at dawn. We have had some help and will be guided by some locals
through the mountains to the back of the caves. There is a route out of
the back of the caves you will need to find. We will be able to guide
you when we are closer. There is another gate on this world but it is on
top of one of the mountains and very treacherous but it looks like a
means of escape," he told her, one eye on the now writhing archaeologist
on the bed.
"Yes sir, understood sir," came the reply.
"Do you have any supplies Carter? Water, food?"
"Yes sir, we managed to hold on to Teal'c's pack. We have a small fire
for heat burning now."
Jack sighed with relief and smiled.
"Full pack did you say?"
"Yes sir. Full pack"
"Medical supplies?" He asked hopefully.
"Daniel?" came the worried reply.
Daniel forced his eyes open again at the sound of his name, blinking
slowly as he forced his exhausted body to become aware. Jack turned and
spoke quietly into the radio.
"Could do with some of those meds yesterday," he sighed wearily.
"Sir?" Came the clipped response.
"He is not doing so good Sam," he admitted. Sam sighed, the use of her
first name was not lost on her. Daniel was obviously struggling.
"His wound is badly infected, the healer had to cauterise it." He could
hear Sam wince. "He's running a blazing fever and desperately needs a
blood transfusion. The healer is not happy giving him any of their
drugs, only herbs that are knocking him out. He needs antibiotics and
fast," he admitted head in hands.
Sam took a breath. Her CO sounded dejected. "That we can do sir - just
get him here as soon as you can. I will be ready with the drugs and he
will be back home in no time. Janet and the girls will have him right in
no time," she told him as cheerfully as possible.
Jack giggled and looked at Daniel who was still staring at him. He
repositioned the cloth on Daniel's forehead, which had become misplaced
and Daniel sighed at the cool relief it brought.
"Ah those girls just love getting their mucky paws on our Danny boy hey?"
"That they do sir, that they do," Sam replied with a smile.
"Get some rest you two, big day tomorrow," Jack told them. "We will be
in contact as soon as we are near."
"Yes sir. Keep safe sir and look after Daniel," Sam told him.
"Always do Sam always do. Sleep tight. O'Neill over." He clicked off the
radio and turned to Daniel and picked up the glass.
"You need to drink this Danny," he told him as he helped the weak man
sit up slightly in bed. He arranged some extra cushions behind Daniel's
neck to support him as his head lolled to one side. He supported his
friend as he drank the herb mixture and then eased the ill man back
down, covering him with a thicker blanket as he began to shiver. He
gauged his temperature again, sighing at the heat, and replaced the now
dry cloth on his forehead with damp one. Hopefully the herbs would lower
the fever. He carefully climbed into bed next to the shivering man and
extinguished the lamp at the bedside.
He pulled Daniel close to him in an attempt to warm him, knowing that it
would only be a matter of time before the fever turned and Daniel was
plunged back into a world of oppressive heat. He needed to get him home.
Daniel turned and faced Jack - staring with fever bright eyes. "S.
and 'c?" he asked through chattering teeth
"They are fine Danny. They have Teal'c's pack with the medicine in it.
We're gonna meet them tomorrow. Soon have you feeling better," he
soothed. "Just try and sleep."
Daniel's shivering continued. It was going to be a long night.
...
The dip in the bed as Jack made his way to the bathroom woke Daniel from
his light doze. He had been aware of Maria waking Jack a few minutes ago
- imploring him to get ready, as the sun would soon be up. Daniel was
relieved to watch Jack make his way to the small room at the back. He
had hardly slept, the fever keeping him uncomfortable. He had lain awake
trying not to move, trying not to moan. Jack needed to rest, he had a
long day ahead of him and Daniel knew that. He also knew he would be no
help to them at all - he felt so ill. The stomach cramps had started to
assail his body about and hour ago. He had been able to smoother his
agony into the pillow but now, with Jack occupied, he gave in to the
pain and curled into a ball trying to stub out the pain in his gut. His
whole body felt so heavy and achy and his stomach was rolling and
dipping with nausea. He tried to concentrate on the noises coming from
the kitchen, water being pumped into pots, soft whispers of conversation
between Pater, Maria and Rantun planning the journey home. What he
wouldn't give to be home now, tucked up in the infirmary with Janet's
good drugs running. He licked his dry lips - he knew he was becoming
dehydrated; the fever was leeching his strength. He bit down on his
bottom lip as another cramp twisted in his abdomen. G'd he could do
without this as well! Where was Thor when you needed him? Why did he not
just 'beam' him out 'beam' him home? He rocked weakly and rode out the
pain. When he was, at last, able to uncurl his bladder let him know that
it was in urgent need of being emptied. He rolled onto his good side and
started to ease his heavy body upright, supported by a mountain of
pillows at his back. He needed to go and he needed to go now!
"Daniel?" Jack rushed to his side as he saw his friend struggling.
"Need to pee," he admitted with a shy smile.
Jack supported the sick, weak man across to the bathroom and steadied
him as Daniel fumbled with his boxer shorts with one hand - the other
was still supported by a sling. Just as Daniel was finishing up another
cramp squeezed his abdomen. He bent double clutching at his stomach.
"Daniel?" Jack exclaimed as he helped Daniel to his knees. Daniel moaned
and rocked as waves of nausea hit again.
"Rantun!" Jack yelled, holding Daniel as the young archaeologist
violently vomited, over and over again. Rantun rushed to his side and
added extra support as Daniel dry heaved.
Eventually Daniel's head flopped in defeat onto Jack's shoulder. Between
them, Jack and Rantun helped the near unconscious man back to bed. Jack
sat heavily in the chair. This was the last thing they needed.
Rantun checked Daniel's pulse, his temperature and changed the dressing
on the still weeping wound. He gently palpated his stomach and Daniel
moaned. Rantun turned to Jack, "Help me change him into his robe. We
need to leave now!"
Jack could here the panic in the elderly healer's words and they both
poured the near boneless man into the cheesecloth robe Maria had
provided, finally wrapping him in a warm blanket. Daniel had no strength
left to help. He curled up in misery and let the greying world carry him
off...
"He is very sick," Rantun informed Jack. Hell, Jack could see that for
himself!
"I am afraid the herbs are making him vomit," he continued. "He is
running out of time - his heart will surely fail soon. I am now
powerless to give him anything for the fever or pain. He needs to be home."
Jack nodded in understanding, looking at the deathly still man on the
bed. He looked truly awful, sunken eyed, grey skin with fever blush on
his cheeks. He needed the med pack and needed it now.
"Let's go then," he told Rantun and they prepared for the journey.
...
The sun was just beginning to climb in the sky as Jack, Daniel, Pater
and Rantun left in the horse drawn buggy. Eduardo had begged Maria to be
allowed to travel with them but Maria had put her foot down. The worry
had been too much and the journey was too dangerous. Jack had assured
him that things would be fine and when it was possible he would send
help for his family. Maria had packed food and supplies for them. There
was plenty of water not only for drinking but also for sponging Daniel
down if his fever spiked. Jack had helped Maria burn their clothes and
ensured that there were no signs left behind that they had been there.
He was worried about the threat of reprisal if Tanmiun's men found out
that she had hidden the desperate men. With a quick hug and words of
gratitude to Maria and Eduardo they were on their way, still hidden by
the mists of dawn.
Rantun and Pater sat up front on the buggy, rifles ready for any
trouble, charts open - guiding them along the narrow paths that would
lead them round the mountains to the back of the caves. They had filled
the back of the buggy with straw, hay and thick blankets and had lain
the sick man on the comfortable nest, wrapping a thick black cloth
around his shivering shoulders and covering him with straw-coloured
blankets. Jack was perched on a wooden plank that ran around the inside
of the buggy. Milk churns had been placed at the entrance as a screen to
hide them should they be stopped. Jack felt the movement of the buggy
relaxing and lent back onto the tarpaulin, gently being rocked. One eye
was trained on the front of the buggy and the other on his sick teammate.
He had contacted Sam as they set off, explaining that they were a good
five hours away. Teal'c had managed to locate the tunnel and they were
preparing to leave. They could do no more.
He was so worried about Daniel. He had hardly stirred as they placed him
in the buggy, his fever still soaring. He must be so dehydrated. Jack
knelt by his friend and pressed two fingers to Daniel's carotid pulse,
scratching his head in concern at the fast, weak heartbeat. He undid
Daniel's cloak to allow some of the refreshing breeze to wash over his
friend's pistol hot body, the chills having receded for a while. He
picked up a damp sponge that Maria had provided and started to sponge
him down. He ripped Daniel's gown down the middle to expose his torso -
anything to cool him down. He wet further sponges and placed them under
Daniel's armpits, on his groin and behind his neck. He had seen Janet do
this with cooling pads and knew this was the best way of dealing with a
high fever. That and a good dunking in a cool bath - which they did not
have the luxury of, though if push came to shove he was sure they could
find a shallow river that would do the job just as well. But they really
did not have the time - he needed Sam's medication.
Rantun clumsily climbed into the back with Jack and placed his hand on
Daniel's forehead.
"His fever grows," he stated. He reached for his medical bag and took
out their equivalent of a stethoscope and listened to Daniel's heart.
"His heart is beating too fast - I am afraid he may have a seizure." He
looked at Jack with hopeless eyes.
Daniel cried out for Shar'e, his arm flailing in the air, his head
lolling listlessly from side to side. He was lost, trapped in fever
dreams. The sun was beating down on his naked body; he could feel the
soft sand of Abydos under his aching bones. Where was his wife? Did she
not know he was sick? Why was the sand moving? Please Sha're? Please
stop the sun; it was so hot, too hot. He needed to escape!
"Sha're, please!" Daniel tossed and turned in the grips of delirium.
Jack grasped his arm and soothed his brow with a fresh cloth.
"Yes Sha're. There you are... I'm s..sick. h..help." Daniel
continued to move listlessly as both Rantun and Jack continued to sponge
him down.
"He is caught in delirium," Rantun admitted. There was little more he
could do now. The young man would surely not survive now, his heart was
failing and so must his kidneys be, he surmised with a heavy heart.
"There is little more we can do now but make him comfortable," he
informed Jack.
"What about the herbs?" Jack asked, there must be something they could
do; they were so close now - he just needed Daniel to hang on a little
longer.
"They make him too ill Jack - we cannot risk it."
"Rantun, last night when I gave him the herbs it settled his fever and
made him sleep for a few hours, it will buy us time. Once we get him to
the caves we have medicine that will help him, help stabilise him until
we get him home. I know he will be sick but if we don't do anything now
he will not even make it to the caves."
Rantun stared at Jack. Perhaps he was right, perhaps it would stabilise
Daniel enough to prevent seizures, which would most likely lead to coma
and even death. They could deal with the consequences of the herbs
later. He just needed to keep his patient on the straight and narrow
until they reached their teammates and that would take another three
hours God willing.
He dug deep into his pack and prepared the herbs, praying that Daniel
would be able to tolerate the fluids. They had tried on previous
occasions to get some water into the sick man but to no avail. It was
imperative that they got the liquid to stay in Daniel's body.
Over the next hour Jack and Rantun undertook the laborious task of
dripping small amounts of liquid into Daniel's mouth, knowing that any
more than a drop would immediately re-appear. Finally the task was done
and they covered Daniel and tried to make him as comfortable as
possible. They both sat back in relief as once again Daniel's snores
replaced his delirious groans. Rantun reached over and tested Daniel's
temperature once again and smiled at Jack.
"Much better," he proclaimed and Jack lent his head back with a sigh of
relief. Round one to them he thought. Now they would wait for round two
but at least Daniel could rest now. He smiled as he heard Daniel sigh
with relief.
"Thank you," he whispered and fell into a deep sleep.
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It was slow going.
The weather closed in as the sun rose, dark clouds blocked its rays
turning the already gloomy landscape into a barron, uninviting world.
Jack sat up front with Rantun as Pater steered the increasingly spooked
horse across a narrow ravine. The wind had picked up and judging from
the clouds they were in for some storm. Jack pulled his cloak close as
the temperature dropped.
"How much further?" he shouted. The howling wind drowning out his voice.
Forked lightning lit the dark skies and the rumble of thunder echoed
through the valley causing the horse to stop dead in its tracks. Rantun
urged the frightened animal on and Pater pulled at the reins.
"About an hour to go to the caves." Rantun shouted back as he struggled
to control the buggy.
Jack hopped off the buggy and went to help Pater as he slipped and
stumbled; the horse proving to be much too strong for him. The heavens
opened and torrential rain fell. Heads down, leaning into the wind Jack
and Pater led the buggy along the mountain path, trying to ignore the
sheer drops either side and dips in the crumbling path.
"We must try and find some shelter," Pater yelled as thunder clapped
again. "It is getting too dangerous."
Jack held on tight as the horse bucked as the lightning flashed. "Can't
we wait until we get to the caves?" He urged. Daniel needed medical
attention - now! Spending time sheltering was wasting time he might not
have.
"I do not know how long Pepe will go on like this," Pater replied,
trying to sooth the terrified animal as it stopped again.
"Look I can't see anywhere to shelter anyway - lets keep going. If we
find somewhere we stop, if not let's keep going," Jack suggested. Pater
looked at Rantun who was checking the charts.
"Rantun, what do you think?" He yelled as the wind and rain pelted down.
"He is right, there is nowhere to shelter until we reach the caves, we
do not have much choice my friend. We could go back."
"No!" Jack exclaimed. There was no way he was going to go back, they had
come so far. Pater reluctantly nodded and urged Pepe on again.
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The lurching of the buggy was not doing much for Daniel's rebellious
stomach. He had managed to sleep; the oppressive heat had retreated and
allowed his body to wallow in a comfortable place, away from pain and
illness. He had dreamed, dreamed of happier days, days in the sun spent
relaxing at Jack's cabin. Fishing and sailing by day and laughter and
good company in the evening. He could almost smell the steaks grilling
on the BBQ. Daniel groaned as his stomach protested. Perhaps he was
hungry? He could not remember the last time he had eaten. He looked
around the buggy, tried to drag his body into a sitting position but
failed miserably and flopped back onto the soft pillows. He was so
thirsty. Where was Jack? He called out to him but his cries were
silenced by the sounds of the storm. He managed to turn onto his side
and sighed in relief at the change of position, his bones ached so much.
His stomach gurgled again. He closed his eyes again, longing to be back
safe and sound in his Happy Place. It was so warm, hot almost at the
Happy Place, the sun burned his skin. He could see Jack smiling at him,
holding up a huge fish in pride. Daniel smiled and waved back, his hand
flopping down as the rocking of the boat lulled him into a twilight
world. He could feel the ice-cold water of the lake dripping on his
face, it felt so wonderful. He grinned at the thought of the steam that
would be coming off his skin as it was cooled by the water. He felt the
boat dip and lurch as Jack sat by him - fish in hand.
"Look Danny, look what I caught," he exclaimed, dangling the still
flapping fish in Daniel's face. The rancid smell assailed his nostrils
and he turned his head away from the awful stench. Water dripped off
Jack's hand onto Daniel's body causing him to shiver, he pulled into
himself as he started to shiver uncontrollably.
"J'ck - nooo," he groaned in misery.
"Ya hungry Danny boy?" Jack teased, slapping the fish down on the floor
of the boat taking out his knife. Daniel swallowed hard as nausea washed
over his shaking body.
Jack plunged his knife into the fish as Daniel moaned. The fish split in
two and Jack offered him half of it. He shook his head slowly, his
stomach lurching at the sight of the maggots cascading out of the head.
The smell was truly awful. Jack thrust the rotting carcass in Daniel's face.
"Come on Danny, ya must be hungry. All this for you!" He laughed as the
fish oozed through his fingers, its guts and blood pouring down his
arms, the maggots pooled around Daniel's legs.
"How about an apple Danny?" Jack giggled and bit into a large green
apple, his mouth filling with maggots as he chewed.
"N.n..n't h..hungry," Daniel stuttered, his stomach whirling. Jack
rocked the boat, the water sloshing at the sides, rocking, rocking, the
heat growing, the rocking increasing, the smell of rotting fish, the
smell of stale sweat.
God his head was pounding, his heartbeat loud in his ears. Oh G'd - the
smell was awful, the heat too much.
"Come on Danny," Jack was manic now, "Eat the fish Danny, eat the fish,
it is good for ya Dannyboy."
Daniel's stomach cramped and his nausea grew. He panted as waves of
illness assailed him.
The pain and discomfort brought him out of his dream world. He was going
to be sick. He panted harder, looking around in panic for Jack. Oh G'd
he was going to be sick. There was nowhere to escape to. He managed to
levered himself up so that he was propped up higher on the cushions. He
bent double as the cramps hit once again. His head and shoulder were
screaming, his stomach rolling, his whole body broke out into a cold
sweat and he vomited violently over himself.
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"Okay? Better?" Jack asked pulling Daniel closer, gently rubbing his
abdominal muscles and cringing at the feel of his hot dry skin. Daniel
nodded weakly, dropping his head back on his friend's chest.
The storm had now abated and Pater and Rantun had gone to meet Sam and
Teal'c, they had made good time to the caves. Pepe was grazing, taking a
well-deserved rest!
Jack had been making his way to check on Daniel when he heard the young
man retching once again. He rushed to him, sitting him up and supporting
him as Daniel had struggled with the illness. Finally things had
settled. Between them Jack, Pater and Rantun had cleaned Daniel up, put
him in a new gown and rolled the sides of the buggy up to get some fresh
air.
Jack had radioed Sam to say that they had arrived and had offered to go
and meet them but it was decided that Daniel needed Jack more and Pater
and Rantun knew the caves like the backs of their hands.
"Think you can manage some more water?" Jack asked lifting the cup to
Daniel, supporting his shaking hands as Daniel took some tiny sips.
"Good boy," Jack praised, placing the cup back down. He picked the wet
cloth out of the bucket of water and laid it on Daniel's forehead again
receiving a sigh of relief from Daniel as it cooled his fevered brow.
"Feels nice," he mumbled. He was not just talking about the cloth but
also the feeling of contentment of being held in Jack's strong arms and
the cool breeze flowing through the buggy was like heaven to him, he had
felt so hot for so long.
"Bet it does," Jack soothed and tucked Daniel's head under his chin.
"Will we be home soon Jack? I want to go home," Daniel admitted, his
eyelids falling shut. This whole mission had been a disaster and he
wanted to be home in bed with good drugs, he was so fed up of feeling ill.
Jack gently kissed the top of Daniel's head. "Won't be much longer," he
assured the sick man. "Sam will be here in a minute. Soon have you
feeling better. Quick stomp up a mountain to get a message through to
Hammond and your carriage will be dispatched - making a beeline to bed 3
in Janet's infirmary. You can sleep your heart's content and then I will
take you fishing up at the lake."
Daniel turned weakly in his friend's arms and peered sleepily at Jack.
"Don't think I could cope with BBQ-d fish at the moment," he told him
turning green and swallowing quickly. Jack frowned and was about to ask
why when a familiar voice called his name. "Sam is here."
Daniel smiled and turned to look at his teammates as they entered the
buggy, the weight of Teal'c causing it to lurch and dip, Jack held
Daniel tighter.
"Sir," Sam greeted, kneeling at Daniel's side, flashing her CO a
relieved smile.
"Good to see you guys," Jack replied, and he meant it. It had been a
long journey.
"As it is you," Teal'c replied, offloading his pack, rummaging through
it to locate the medical bag which he passed to Sam who was checking
Daniel's temperature with the back of her hand. Daniel gave her a wan smile.
"Hi."
"Hey sweetie, how are you doing?" Sam asked, her hand lingering on his
cheek.
"Been better," he admitted and Sam smiled.
"Right Daniel, let's get some antibiotics and pain killers in you, eh?"
she told him preparing the two syringes. Jack squeezed his arm in relief
as Sam deftly injected the much-needed medication into Daniel's upper thigh.
"Tired," the stricken man admitted and Jack and Sam helped him to lie
down more comfortably and covered him gently with the animal blankets.
Jack brushed the hair off his brow.
"Go to sleep Danny, when you wake up you will be at home." He looked at
Sam for confirmation that she had given him some morphine, which would
make him sleepy, she nodded and smiled.
Rantun poked his head into the buggy. "How is he doing?" he enquired.
"He is resting now," Sam confirmed.
Pater appeared at Rantun's side.
"We must hurry, I can hear the dogs," he informed them. Jack and Teal'c
sprang out of the buggy leaving Sam to care for Daniel. They walked
along side the buggy.
"How long until we are at the ring?" Jack asked as he hurried to catch
up Pater who was now leading Pepe.
"We will be there within the hour if we hurry," Patner told him.
Jack smacked Pepe on the bum. "Ya! Pepe - we need to hurry!"
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"You have got to be kidding me!" Jack exclaimed as he and Teal'c stood
at the base of the pathway that led to the hidden stargate. Rantun and
Pater stood at their sides.
"We did warn you it was not going to be easy," Pater told him.
Jack took a deep breath and sighed, scrubbing his fingers through his
hair. The gate was situated half way up the mountain on a ledge, with
sheer drops either side. There was a small flat area in front of the
gate but barely enough room for people to be able to stop when exiting
the event horizon. This was going to be tricky. The path itself was worn
and crumbling. Even if they could get to the gate and help arrived there
was no way Daniel was going to be able to climb the path and the thought
of stretchering him up the mountain was dangerous and daunting. They
would need expert climbers and equipment.
They needed to make a move - now! The sounds of the dogs were growing as
the search party came nearer and nearer. They had hidden the buggy at
the back entrance to the caves, Sam staying with Daniel as he slept on,
his fever was growing again even with the medication.
We must go O'Neill," Teal'c stated and began the steep climb.
"Go, stay with Daniel, keep out of sight," Jack informed Pater and
Rantun. "We will be as quick as possible."
"Be careful," Rantun told him. "I already have one patient I do not
require more" he told Jack with a grim smile as they retreated to the
safety of the caves. Jack hurried to catch up with Teal'c.
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"Sam?" Daniel shivered as he was covered once again with a warm soft
blanket.