Chapter 2 and the angst is still going!
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Chapter 2
"Well… this is different." said Vala as she sat down beside Daniel. Daniel gave her a side-look but said nothing. He was too busy trying to figure out what had happened with Jonas. How was it possible that they hadn't received any notification that Jonas had tried to contact them?
Sam was staring into the fire that was burning in the centre of the village. It was quite clear she was very upset over this. Teal'c was silent and his face was like stone. Mitchell's face was creased with a frown.
Looking very hesitant, Boyd approached them,
"I am sorry. I thought the Caedmon would be happier to see you. He has spoken of you many times by this very fireside, telling us amazing tales to pass long nights. Although… he always referred to you in the past tense, so I must say I thought you were dead."
"It looks like that's what we are to him." said Sam bitterly. Vala stood up and went to sit beside the other woman, putting her hand on her arm. Sam gave her a slight smile of gratitude for the offered comfort. Daniel wondered just how the two women had become such firm friends. Then again, Vala had a knack for making anyone like her, no matter how irritating she could be, or how she could be a double dealer. Maybe it was just because they were both women on a team with three men.
"I'm afraid the Caedmon's spirit has been very much crushed by life. Especially in recent times. He is struggling with his sibling J. J is not well in his mind."
"What do you mean? Is the kid schizophrenic?" asked Mitchell.
"I do not believe so. I'm afraid that he is what Caedmon refers to as a 'cutter'." All the team sat up at once at that.
"Is this the same sibling who's the father of that baby?" asked Vala.
"Yes. I'm afraid J does not wish to care for her. He does not speak much anymore." Boyd looked at them hopefully, "I am telling you this because maybe you can help him. Then Caedmon will be happier. He is very kind to us, and he helps us, he taught us how to make glass for our windows and he's helping us develop machines, that is, his friend Amador is and Jonas helps him."
"Why do you keep calling him Caedmon?"
"It's Celtic. It means wise warrior." offered Daniel
"We bestow this name upon someone who is wise and strong and helps the village." explained Boyd, "Jonas arrived with his family and friends only days after the last Caedmon passed away. We realised quick enough he was extremely intelligent, as are the rest of his people, but since Jonas is the leader, we gave him the title."
"Interesting. He's like the vizier of your village."
"What do you mean?"
"Well a vizier has a lot of influence and power but isn't technically a leader, which is what I'm assuming is the case with Jonas."
"It sounds similar." Boyd nodded. "We have no real leader, generally the oldest of the village are in charge. The Elders of the Clan."
"Interesting." said Daniel.
"Where do the other Kelnowans stay?"
"They have their own campsite a little closer to the river. They wished to be kept apart, but we built a house within the village for them when they stay with us until it is too dark or they are too tired to walk back to their own home."
"How many are there?"
"Twelve including Caoimhe."
"That's all?"
"They were lucky to escape with their lives from what they've told us. Each of them bears a mark of their escape."
"A scar?"
"Yes. I'm sure you saw Melosa today while I was speaking with Jonas."
"She's Kelnowan?"
"Yes. You can tell who's who because all the Kelnowans wear blood red shirts, I understand it is a symbol of mourning on their homeworld. Besides, none of them look as we do."
"You mean none of them look like elves?" asked Mitchell with a slight grin. Boyd grinned back.
"Exactly." Mitchell's smile became slightly surprised that Boyd knew what he was talking about. "We believe we are descendants of elves, but that we have lost our magical ability due to our poor blood."
"Poor blood?"
"Yes, because there were so few elves, they had little choice but to resort to incestuous relationships. As everyone knows it can result in offspring with disfigurements."
"Interesting… creepy, but interesting." said Mitchell, before adding, "I'm never going to be able to look at Liv Tyler as Arwen the same way again."
This made Daniel smile briefly, but his slight amusement died rather rapidly. He cleared his throat and said, "Well we hope you don't mind us staying around for a while, we'd like to learn about your culture."
"Of course not. What would you like to know?"
"As much as possible." Daniel said, with some of his usual eagerness. Vala decided to go see about food and drink. Teal'c wandered off to explore the area. Sam and Mitchell just sat there, feeling rather useless.
Teal'c strode through the forest, following the sound of the river, searching for the Kelnowan campsite. He wanted to find his friend and talk to him, explain that they had not received his messages, or else they would have responded. As he reached a clearing he stopped short in surprise. Actually rather more than surprise. More like shock.
Jonas was lying on the ground in the clearing, which was rather secluded and private, completely naked. Beside him lay another naked figure, also male. As Teal'c watched, too taken aback by what he'd come upon to move, the other man leaned over Jonas and kissed him deeply. Jonas' fingers worked their way into the man's hair and held him close as they entered a very tender embrace.
After a moment it was clear they had no intention of stopping, so Teal'c decided it would be best if he tried some other time. He silently walked away, pausing when he felt a pair of eyes staring at him.
Looking to his left, Teal'c saw a small boy of ten staring at him. He sent the boy, who could not be anyone but one of Jonas' siblings, a small smile of greeting and then walked away, knowing the boy would follow, thus taking them both away from the intimate moment going on.
Jonas stared up at the stars, lying on his back, enjoying the freeness of his bare skin on the ground. Amador rested his head on Jonas' shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist to keep him close. Jonas said nothing. He rarely did afterwards.
"I know you're still upset Jonas." Amador whispered, looking up at him, "I wish you would talk to me."
"It doesn't matter. They'll be gone soon. Then we can forget they were ever here." said Jonas firmly, his tone indicating he didn't want to talk. Amador sighed heavily and kissed his skin softly. Jonas closed his eyes to fight the feelings those gentle caresses produced. Nevertheless he slipped his hand into Amador's, resting them on his own chest. Amador's fingers were rough against his, even though his own were hardly smooth. Amador looked into Jonas' eyes, his dark brown ones making him think of chocolate.
"I wish you'd let this anger go. I miss your smile."
"There's no reason to smile anymore."
"That's not true. There's so many reasons to smile. Each day is a reason to smile, we are alive. Is that not reason enough?"
"Whenever I try to think like that I just end up remembering that everyone on Kelnowa only smiles to honour the Ori or else they will die."
Amador sighed and gave in as he always did, pulling Jonas as close as he could, clutching him to him. Jonas swallowed hard and felt tears spring up into his eyes. He brushed them away before Amador saw them. He hated crying in front of people, especially Amador.
"I love you Jonas." Amador whispered, tightening his hold even more. Every time he said this he seemed afraid that Jonas would try to run away. Jonas would never do that.
"I know Amador, now go to sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day."
"Hmm…" Amador closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. Only then did Jonas allow himself to cry.
Vala was walking through the forest, too wired to sleep, her P-90 at her side. The forest was peaceful, and seemed relaxed, which made her assume there was no danger. Still, she kept a wary eye out for predators.
A loud wail emanated through the trees, making Vala freeze. It was a baby's cry, and after a few minutes of listening, it only increased in pitch. Vala followed her ears, pushing through dense forest, to reach the sound. Every instinct in her was pushing her forwards, like it was her own child who was crying for her. For a moment Adria flashed through her mind, and Vala felt a stab of pain through her heart. No matter what Adria had done, or what she was, Vala couldn't stop loving her daughter, whom she'd never held in her arms.
At last Vala reached a clearing and stopped short in horror. The baby, Caoimhe, was lying on the ground, having wriggled free of her blanket, revealing that she'd soiled herself, badly, and was bawling her little head off. Her face was highlighted by the moon, showing it scrunched up along with her body in a little ball of fury.
Beside Caoimhe lay a boy, and for a moment, Vala thought he was dead. Sprawled out on the ground, his arms outstretched, blood glistening as it fell from his arms, with his eyes closed, his chest barely rose with breath. There was the unmistakable smell of drugs about the air as well.
Vala ran over and knelt beside him, checking his pulse, finding it weak. Shaking, she fumbled for the radio and said,
"Daniel! Samantha! Teal'c! Cameron!" unable to keep the panic out of her voice.
"Go ahead Vala. What's wrong?"
"I've just found a boy, I'm assuming he's Jonas' brother, with the baby. He's cut his wrists and his pulse is weak, and I think he used drugs. Daniel, I think he's dieing!"
"Where are you?" demanded Daniel, his firm tone reassuring her a little.
"Uh… north. Just north of the camp. The baby needs changing too."
"We're on our way. Try and wake the kid. Out." said Mitchell. Vala let go of the radio and lifted the boy's head a little and slapped his cheek.
"J? J wake up! Time to get up." she called, trying to sound cheerful, in an effort to rouse him, glad she could remember his name. J stirred but didn't wake. "Come on J! You need to wake up! Your daughter needs you to wake up."
J stirred a little more and then his eyes opened and he stared at Vala. His lips were white and his pupils were pinpricks. Vala rubbed his chest in an effort to warm him up, smiling down at him, "It's ok J. It's ok, you'll be just fine. Just stay with me ok? Stay with me."
J swallowed, his lips parting and a soft gasp escaped his mouth. He didn't seem to know where he was or what was going on. Caoimhe continued to wail. Vala tried to ignore the sound, because J needed her attention now. The baby was all right, just a little smelly.
J blinked and tears filled his eyes, trickling free and falling down along taut skin. Vala looked into his eyes and saw a child lost in a sea of despair, unable to swim and being pulled under. She smiled again and rubbed his torso again, more for comfort than anything else.
"It's ok. It's ok." she mumbled, repeating it until the words ceased to make sense.
"Vala!" Daniel burst into the clearing, no doubt having followed the sound of the baby. Behind him came Sam, Teal'c, Mitchell, Jonas and a taller man with dark hair and eyes, with Boyd bringing up the rear.
"J!" Jonas ran to his brother and knelt beside him opposite Vala. Looking him over Jonas snarled, "You idiot J! You goddamn idiot!"
J whimpered and one hand latched onto Vala's arm, seeking safety. Vala narrowed her eyes at Jonas,
"Hey! Right now is not the time to be yelling at him. He's dieing and he needs help, not your scolding!"
Jonas glared at Vala, then said, "Amador, take Caoimhe and clean her up, Boyd, get Melosa, tell her what's happened. We'll bring J to the big house." The man Vala didn't know tenderly picked up the crying baby, not caring that he was getting covered in waste, and he hummed to her as he carried her away. Boyd dashed off in another direction. Jonas picked J up in his arms and carried him off. J managed to keep a grip on Vala, who followed them, letting J hold onto her. The others brought up the rear.
Jonas strode through the forest, not breaking stride once, Vala jogging to keep hold of J's hand.
"It'll be ok J, don't you worry." she said, angry that Jonas was saying nothing to comfort his younger sibling. J moaned, sounding frightened.
"Melosa!" shouted Jonas as he entered the house they'd met him originally.
"I'm here."
"Have you got it?"
"Here." Melosa held out a syringe, full of dark green liquid.
Jonas went into a smaller room, full of beds and lay J down on one. J was shaking now, his arms still bleeding. Vala held his hand and knelt by his side, opposite Jonas and Melosa. Jonas took the syringe and held it up to the candle light and tapped it, to remove any air in the needle.
"Melosa, hold him down." Jonas ordered, his face set. Melosa pressed down on J's shoulders.
"Hold him down by the hips." she ordered Vala, who obeyed, her heart hammering. Daniel went to her side and held J down by the hips too. Vala threw him a grateful look as Jonas injected the syringe's contents into J's system. There was a moment of silence and then J's shaking became a full-bodied fit. His head snapped back and his breathing sped up until he was almost hyperventilating. Jonas applied his own body weight to J's torso, while Boyd, who'd been hovering in the shadows, held down J's legs. J let out a scream of agony.
"It's hurting him! Make it stop." said Vala, feeling panicked.
"It's forcing the drugs out of his system, he needs it or he'll die." snapped Jonas, not even looking up from his brother's face.
The fit stopped but J began to heave and Jonas turned him onto his side while Melosa caught what he brought up in a bowl. Daniel grimaced as his hands became wet as J soiled himself at the same time. Then it was all over and J was unconscious, looking almost peaceful, if one ignored his sweaty, grey skin and soiled clothes.
Jonas let out a soft sigh of relief, lowering his head as if exhausted, then lifting it again.
"I'll clean him up. Melosa, you go get some sleep."
"You sure? I can stay and help." offered Melosa.
"No, go tell the others I'll be here tonight. And make sure Caoimhe's ok. I'm sure Amador's got her covered. And can you find-"
"Nas and Jun? You got it Jonas. Try to get some sleep tonight Jonas. You haven't slept for five days." Melosa touched Jonas' arm, and Jonas pulled away from her.
"I don't have time for sleep. Too busy." he grunted, sounding shattered. Melosa sighed, pinching her lips together.
"Ok Jonas. Good night."
"Night Melosa."
Melosa left the room. Jonas ruffled his hair, and then said,
"You can go too Boyd."
"Are you certain Caedmon?"
"Yeah, just… just go get some rest. Looks like we'll have to feed him up again… for all the good it'll do."
"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Vala, standing up, feeling furious and unable to hold her tongue after what she'd just seen.
"It means that this keeps happening. J overdoses and over-bleeds and after we keep him alive and feed him up until he's more or less healthy again, he just does it again. It's a never-ending cycle and all the while I have a ten year old boy and a seven year old girl who don't know if their brother knows they're alive anymore or even cares. And what's more I-" Jonas snapped his mouth shut in the middle of his rant, turning away from them all. When he spoke again, it was in a low growl, "Thank you for your help. You can leave now."
"I'm staying." said Vala, her dark eyes glinting in determination.
"Oh?" Jonas glanced at her over his shoulder.
"That's right. This boy doesn't need medical care. He needs kindness. Something you are clearly incapable of giving him."
Jonas stared at Vala, looking like he'd just been hit in the face. Then he burst out laughing. It wasn't a warm laugh like the other team members remembered. It was a cold, hysterical, bitter kind of laugh that sent chills up their spines. Jonas kept laughing, staggering into the wall, leaning against it.
"You… you, you think… oh!" Jonas couldn't get a word out among his laughter. He held his stomach and doubled over, tears rolling down his cheeks, but it was impossible to tell whether he was really crying or just crying because he was laughing. It could have been both. Then he stopped, and he grabbed a piece of pottery and flung it across the room, narrowly missing Sam. They all flinched at the sound.
Jonas stood there, panting, flexing his fingers, staring at them all, a crazy gleam in his eyes. He swayed a little, then dragged his hand over his face and when he dropped his hand his face was as blank as stone.
Without a word to anyone, he stripped off his brother's filthy clothes and washed him off, like he was a baby. Then he put a long nightshirt on the thin, frail body and carried him to a clean bed. Then he walked out. He didn't come back.
Vala waited a moment before setting a chair beside J's bed and sitting down, looking determined to carry out her promise to stay.
"Oh my god! What's happened to him?" gasped Sam, sounding close to tears.
"I have no idea." said Daniel, sounding heartbroken. Teal'c had his head down, his eyes dark. Mitchell looked regretful. He may not have been on SG1 at the time, but he could remember Jonas well enough. The eager young alien had been the talk of the SGC when he'd arrived. Ok, at first no one had a nice thing to say about him, since most, if not all of the SGC held him responsible for Jackson's death, but after a few months everyone had begin to warm to him. The man had been a likable guy. Even Jack O'Neill had come to like him. Always eager to help, ready for any adventure, never loosing that cheerful outlook on life. He'd been a fresh breeze in the stuffy halls of the SGC. Now though… now he was barely recognisable as the man that had lived on Earth for a year. Mitchell shuddered to think about what could have done that to such a man as Jonas Quinn.
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Night's Darkness
