Note: Hi there! I haven't updated in such a long time, sorry about that everybody! I just thought I would mention, in case I didn't before, that I am from England, so I'm sorry if sometimes I don't make complete sense to you American folks! I hope you can forgive me. =)
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate and I am not making any profit from this piece of writing.
4: Delusions
Jack simply stared.
He was vaguely aware of Daniel launching into one of his we-come-in-peace speeches as the crowd of locals swelled around them, the activating of the Stargate having caused a stir. But Jack didn't hear a word. Instead he stared at the familiar symbol, frantically going over past events in his head, how Carter had disappeared, that strange robed man and the eerie ring thing that had given him the creeps...
There was some sort of connection, he was sure of it. Something connected that place and this one...
He simply had absolutely no idea whatsoever as to what the connection was.
"...I'm Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel Jack O'Neill and this is Teal'c." Daniel was busy explaining, and Jack looked away from the sculpture in order to see a tall, broad shouldered man step forward from the crowd.
"Greetings, Daniel Jackson." the man boomed, his voice seemed unnaturally low, though Jack figured it kind of suited his enormous, hulking frame. "I am Torrik. Welcome, all of you."
Daniel launched into the next part of his little speech and Jack continued to study Torrik carefully. Geez, the guy was seriously big, way bigger than any of the other villagers, Jack thought. Hell, he could give Teal'c a run for his money where muscles were concerned...
"If you intend to stay a while," Torrik said, bringing Jack out of his thoughts yet again, "you are welcome to stay in my home. I have a spare room that you may rest in."
"Well that would be very kind of you, Torrik." Daniel smiled warmly at the offer. Jack attempted to smile too. He was not sure that he had managed it, hell he was not sure he had truly smiled in over a month. He wondered how Daniel did it. Of the two men, Jack had always thought himself the better actor.
"Come," Torrik turned and the crowd immediately parted to let them through. "This way."
As they fell into step behind him, Jack eyed their surroundings warily, taking in every detail that he could, searching for any hint or clue that might tell him something, anything about what had happened to Carter. His concentration was disturbed somewhat by Teal'c who was walking just beside him.
"O'Neill," the Jaffa said, his voice low as Daniel continued to talk animatedly with Torrik. "I have yet to see any women in this place."
As he observed a small group of men sat in chairs outside of a nearby building, it occurred to Jack that Teal'c was right. Geez, how come he hadn't noticed? He'd been looking hard enough.
"Yeah Teal'c, you're right." he agreed in an undertone. "Wonder where they're hiding..."
They were lead to a house surrounded by tall brick walls and shown to a small room that Torrik announced was to be their bedroom. After examining the somewhat sparse furniture the three members of SG1 set about unpacking the sleeping bags from their packs, the few blankets that their host had provided seeming less than inviting. As he paused in his arranging of his bedding to glance out of the window, Jack found himself looking out into a somewhat dilapidated looking walled garden, it's grass patchy and dry looking under the warm sun. Jack watched as a figure walked into view, carrying a large basket full of washing in both arms, followed by a second with a similar basket.
"Looks like we found the women." Jack announced, but neither Teal'c or Daniel seemed to be listening.
Both women were dressed in hooded dresses made of some sort of thin, floaty material, their faces hidden beneath their hoods. Jack watched as they set about hanging the washing out to dry, their dresses flapping in the breeze. As he watched the wind blew the hood back from the second woman's head and she set the clothes she was holding back down in her basket before reaching to pull it back up again.
Not before Jack got a good look at her first, however, and despite himself he audibly gasped.
"Carter!" he shouted before he could stop himself, before turning to his team mates, pointing triumphantly through the window. "Daniel! Teal'c! Look! It's Carter!"
"What are you talking about, Jack?" Daniel asked as he looked up from straightening his sleeping bag. Jack wanted to scream at the archaeologist's complete lack of urgency.
"I'm talking about Carter! Here! Right here, in that garden!" Jack pointed urgently out of the window and Daniel scrambled hurriedly to his feet to get a look.
"I don't see anybody, Jack." the younger man observed, his shoulders immediately slumping.
"Neither do I, O'Neill." Teal'c agreed.
Jack turned to look back out of the window. The garden was deserted.
"She was right there!" he insisted, pointing again at the washing line upon which a few garments now hung.
Teal'c and Daniel exchanged a skeptical glance. The Jaffa raised an eyebrow.
"I dunno, Jack...maybe...maybe you saw the clothes out of the corner of your eye and..."
"Oh for cryin' out loud!" Jack cried, fists clenched in aggravation. "I know what I saw, Daniel! She was stood right there!" When nobody seemed anymore convinced he threw his hands up in exasperation. "You think I'm being delusional?! I'll tell you what's delusional, for god's sakes, us all just standing here doing nothing!"
Again, Teal'c and Daniel exchanged a look.
"O'Neill," Teal'c said at last as Jack stepped closer to the window and leaned out, attempting to get a better look at the garden. "I do not believe that Major Carter could be here. This is not the planet upon which she was lost to us."
"What's your point, Teal'c!" Jack snapped, rounding on his companions, his teeth clenched in frustration. "They could have used the Stargate! They could have ships!"
"I doubt it, Jack, we caused quite a commotion when we came through. I don't think the natives use the 'Gate here and they seem a bit primitive to have ships..."
"You saw the Nox! Don't be fooled, Daniel, they could have a whole fleet..."
Daniel held up his hands, a silent plea for rationality.
"Okay, okay!" he said as Jack turned and again started to look out at the garden. "Let's just...let's just assume for a wild moment that you did just see Sam in that garden. What was she doing?"
"She was doing the washing."
"The washing...?"
"Yeah, can't you see the clothes?!"
"Right...so...so Sam was hanging out the washing. That's...that's well...pretty alright. What I mean to say is that she was not exactly in danger, right?"
"No, she was just hanging out the washing."
"Okay. So that's...weird...but not dangerous. So there's no need for us to loose our heads or...or do something irrational..."
"You don't believe me." Jack observed despairingly, reaching to pull the baseball cap from his head and rake a hand through his hair. "Oh this is...this is just...peachy! Will you stop doing that?!" he added as the other two looked at each other yet again. "You know what? Fine, don't believe me! But I call the shots around here and I say I saw her. Teal'c you can go and report back to Earth, me and Daniel will start looking for Carter."
Teal'c and Daniel watched him turn and head out of the room.
"O-kay..." Daniel breathed, reaching to take off his glasses and polish them with the sleeve of his BDUs.
"O'Neill is behaving very strangely, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c observed.
"I think you better tell Hammond." Daniel muttered.
