All that I'm living for
All that I'm dying for
"Wow. This is exciting," Samantha Carter said sarcastically as the team came through the Stargate. "Trees."
The team, sans Vala, was on a routine mission. Vala hadn't come because of the bad case of the flu she had caught, brought on by the harsh winter back home.
"Right. Its official, Sam," Daniel joked light-heartedly. "You've been hanging out too much with Jack."
Sam glared at Daniel, her cheeks flushing. Daniel grinned at her.
"Bet Vala'll be so disappointed when she learns we left her for this," Cameron Mitchell said, gesturing at the dense forest around them.
"Bugs me we had to leave without her knowing," Daniel muttered. Sam and Cam shared a grin before Sam asked slyly,
"Why's that?"
Daniel's ears turned pink as he stuck his tongue out at her. "Just a feeling."
"It is a bad case of the flu," Teal'c commented.
"I wonder if it hit her harder because she's not from Earth," Sam mused.
"Other than that you could easily pass her off as an Earthling," Cam commented.
"'Earthling'?" Daniel repeated, laughing. Cam grinned at him.
"Yeah, okay, that sounded stupid," he admitted.
"Vala has progressed in her mannerisms," Teal'c added. Daniel snorted.
"She doesn't jump at the opportunity to have sex every day anymore!"
"Basically because she's already had sex with every guy on the base," Cameron pointed out. Sam laughed.
"Oh really?"
Cam flushed and shot a glance at Teal'c's raised eyebrow. "Well. Not everyone."
"And of course not you!" Sam laughed. Daniel joined in.
"You keep telling yourself that, Cameron."
"Well it's not like you haven't had sex with her, Jackson!" Cam argued, his face a dark shade of red.
"I never said that," Daniel replied good-naturedly. "And I don't count."
"And why not?" Cam demanded. Daniel suddenly grew quiet. Taken off guard, Cam glanced worriedly at him. "Jackson?"
"I'd never admit this to anyone else but…I love her."
Simultaneously, the two colonels grinned. Sam's was more of a mother-like smile, whilst Cam's was quite triumphant. Even Teal'c couldn't resist the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Daniel noticed.
"And I know you guys guessed a long time ago but I don't care. Really, I don't know why I feel the way I do. She can be such a pain in the ass. But her moments of selflessness, especially after Adria was born, and her just…fun with life, I guess, makes up for it." Daniel grinned sheepishly. "And that was extremely cheesy but."
Cam applauded. "Amazing shpeel. Encore, encore."
Daniel shook his head. "I think it's your turn to spill your guts."
"What?"
Daniel laughed. "Carolyn Lam for you, Cam. And Sam, you've got Jack. Teal'c even you have a girl."
"And who would that be, Dr. Jackson?" Teal'c asked.
"Ishta!"
Cam laughed. "He got you there, big T. Can't deny it."
"You cannot deny your fancy for Dr. Lam, Colonel," Teal'c shot back.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion, smoke filling their visions. They could hear foul swearing in Daniel's voice as they hurried to relocate each other. Soon the smoke cleared and they could see the archeologist lying on the ground, his right pants leg steadily soaking with blood.
"Jackson!" Cam yelled, scrambling towards him. "What the hell was that? You okay?"
"I'm fine," Daniel bit through gritted teeth. "Must've stepped on some sort of mine or something."
"Let's see your leg," Sam said hurriedly, reaching to cut away the cloth. Daniel batted her hand away.
"I'm fine," he insisted.
"We should return to Earth," Teal'c suggested. Daniel shook his head.
"We should find out what's going on."
"Okay, first, it's none of our business," Cam argued. "Second, we don't want to run into any more mines. Third, can you even walk?"
Daniel glared at him before turning on his left hip to hoist himself up. Making a sour face at the pain, he stood and hobbled forward a few steps. Then he turned around and gave Cam a death glare. The colonel raised his hands up defensively.
"Okay, okay, whatever. Blame's on you, though."
Daniel didn't reply but turned back away and continued walking. With an annoyed sigh, the rest of the team followed. After awhile, Daniel's hobbling lessened, along with the density of the forest. Soon they could see a lone man with his back to them. Daniel approached him.
"Hello. My name's Daniel."
The man turned around slowly, a small gun in his hand.
"Hello."
The next few minutes whirled past abnormally fast. There was a small bang and Daniel staggered backwards, a look of utter shock etched on his face.
"No!" Sam screamed.
"Jackson!" Cam bellowed. Teal'c turned on the man, his P90 aimed for his heart.
"You will regret that," he vowed.
Daniel's eyes glazed and rolled up into his head. Limply, he fell to the ground, Sam dropping to her knees beside him.
"No…" Quickly, she checked his pulse.
Meanwhile, reinforcements for the unknown man were rushing into view. Cam stood by Teal'c aggressively when suddenly the oncoming force opened fire. Cam swore loudly as he returned fire and bellowed to the large Jaffa beside him.
"Teal'c, grab Daniel! We're going home…now!"
No one argued but immediately did as Cameron ordered. They sprinted to the 'gate and Sam stumbled forward to dial Earth's address. Cam stood at her side, bouncing with anticipation. He glanced at her and frowned.
"Pull yourself together, Sam!" he said, harsher than was necessary. Sam's face was red and great, heaving sobs racked her shoulders. She shook her head frantically.
"I checked his pulse, Cameron," she told him. "And the bullet hit his heart…"
"Are you—"
"He's dead, Cameron!" she screamed, turning her hysteric expression his way. He stared at her, not wanting to believe, but somehow…
The wormhole opened and Cam snapped to action. Quickly, he ushered Sam through.
"Go, go." He turned to Teal'c who had a disturbed expression resting on his face.
"Colonel—"
Cam shook his head. They were still coming, whoever they were. "Just go, Teal'c. I'm right behind you."
Luckily the Jaffa didn't argue.
Take my darkest fears and play them
Like a lullaby
Like a reason why
"Colonel Carter!" Landry cried, surprised by her arrival. "You're back early…what's wrong?" He had just caught sight of her horribly flushed face, tear-stained and frightening. Right then, Teal'c came through with a very limp Daniel slung over his shoulder. Landry hit the com.
"Carolyn, get a med team over here now."
"It's too late," Cam called to him, walking down the ramp dejectedly. Landry frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean, Colonel?"
Cam looked up, meeting Landry's furrowed brow with tear-brimmed eyes.
"He's already dead."
Landry could feel his heart plop into his stomach. He tried to smile reassuringly. "Oh, come on. It's Daniel!"
Sam shook her head. "No, General. It…feels different." She coughed harshly. "He's gone…forever."
I could have run forever
But how far would I have come
Without mourning your love
A/N: Song is All That I'm Living For by Evanescence.
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