The Capitoline Wulf

Chapter Six

Sam was so shocked by Dan'yel's brutal statement that it had rendered her speechless. She wished that she had been sitting down because she felt suddenly dizzy. Tears slipped down the boys face once more. River stretched her neck up so that she could lick the salty tears away in hopes that it would make him feel better.

"You don't believe me."

"No." Sam admitted. "I'm sorry, I don't. It goes against everything I know about Daniel. He would never rape anyone, never."

"If that were true I would not be here talking to you."

"Why would your Mother name you after him?"

"It was her desperate attempt to help her believe that it had been her choice, that it had been love. However, it was not a lie she could believe forever."

"Who is she?"

"Shyla daughter of Pyrus."

This time Sam did sit down, fearing that she may actually fall. She had believed her words that Daniel would never rape anyone one hundred percent, but at the same time she would have also said with true conviction that Daniel would never leave her and the rest of the team to die. However on the mining planet of P3R-636 he had almost done exactly that. Suddenly the impossible seemed less so.

"Daniel was very ill then, he wasn't in his right mind."

"He never has been." Dan'yel snarled. "This is why I called to speak to you instead."

"You asked for 'Major'…I was only a 'Captain' at the time."

"I assumed you would have been promoted by now, I just underestimated how far."

"How do you know the rank system of the USAF?"

Dan'yel didn't answer, he switched his attention to River instead. The Wulf mutt looked truly sympathetic to the child's plight. River hadn't moved from his side and now she endeavored to get even closer. Sam got back to her feet and took a step forward. In response Dan'yel pushed himself harder into the corner.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Dan'yel. I want to help you."

"You still don't believe me."

"I didn't say that."

"But you're thinking it." Dan'yel accused. "He was going to let you die. If it hadn't been for what my mother went through you would have been worked to death in a matter of days. She saved you. You were suffering, you were dying in slavery, and he didn't care. His heart is black, an evil, selfish creature."

"No, that's not true." Sam shook her head. "Daniel was very sick at the time, he was addicted to the sarcophagus. He is not the man your Mother remembers."

"I am a child of violence and he has no remorse for it." Dan'yel said stubbornly. "Even if what you say is true…he…he never even came back to see if there were any consequences to his actions. The sarcophagus didn't change him, he was simply in a position of power for the first time and he took advantage of it."

"No."

"Ask him."

"What?"

"Ask him how I came to be his son. Ask him why he never came back for me."

"I…"

"Test my blood, you'll see that it's his."

"How do you know that we can do that?"

"Ask Daniel Jackson for the truth about me, promise me that you'll protect me from him and I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything."

Sam's blood chilled slightly. She wasn't sure why, but suddenly she was afraid of this child. Something wasn't right, the terrified boy was suddenly not only courageous and defiant, but he was also trying to strike a deal. Sam thought about her options while Dan'yel stroked River's fur.

"Alright, I'll ask him."

"Make sure that you are prepared for the answer."

Once again Sam's sixth sense tingled and bristled. The problem was that she wasn't sure if it was because of the boy or the idea of having to confront her best friend with a rape accusation. Dan'yel did have a point about Daniel never making sure that Shyla wasn't pregnant once he came back to his sense, assuming he was Daniel's in the first place. Sam knew there were plenty of other reasons that Dan'yel could share Daniel's genetic code, maybe even a few she hadn't thought of yet.

"River, come with me." Sam ordered.

River looked up at Sam and hesitated.

"River."

"You don't trust her with me?" Dan'yel asked.

"If I'm going to talk to Daniel I will need my partner." Sam lied. "Come on, River, we'll come back."

River contemplated her options. In the end she got to her padded feet. She licked Dan'yel's cheek like a mother giving a child a kiss good night. River walked over to Sam and rubbed affectionately against her leg. Sam stepped out into the hall and took a deep breath.

"I can't believe I'm even considering doing this."

River nuzzled Sam's hand.

"River, how can you be the only one not alarmed by all of this?"

River wagged her tail.

The guards standing out in the hall allowed Sam to talk to herself without interruption. She told the men outside Daniel's room that he was no longer under any restrictions. Forgetting to knock Sam let herself into the room.

Daniel was sitting in the corner much the way Dan'yel was in the next room over. However Daniel was there so he could more easily reassure Jackson rather than seeking any physiological comfort himself. Jackson seemed to have calmed considerably and was on his back so that Daniel could rub his stomach. Daniel looked up and when he saw that River was with Sam he smiled.

"What took you guys so long?"

"We were just talking." Sam said casually. "How's your arm?"

"Sixteen stitches." Daniel replied ruefully. "But it's fine. Did Onuris have anything new to say? He must be terrified of me now."

Sam forced a smile, her stomach fully twisted in a knot. She wondered if this was what the boy in the other room wanted, to drive something between them. A team divided would be an easier target. Even if the accusations proved false, the damage might be done in the asking.

Daniel instantly saw through her false smile. He got up off the floor and walked over to her. Jackson had lost some of his calm and followed Daniel with his whole body in a state of readiness.

"Sam, what's wrong? What happened?"

"I have to ask you something."

"Okay."

"Daniel, is there any chance tha…"

Sam was interrupted by River who suddenly threw herself at the closed door. When the door didn't open she howled desperately. Daniel and Jackson instantly forgot about Sam's question and rushed over to her. River began scratching at the door frantically, barking like her tail was on fire.

"River?" Sam reached out to sooth her.

The icy hand that Sam had experienced before suddenly had her by the neck once again. Adrenaline flooded her system as she fought against River's spiritual pulling. There was no winning and within seconds she was back on all fours. River used her stolen human form to open the door and rushed out.

"Sam!"

"River!" Sam barked. "Daniel, stop her!"

River dashed across the hall, but the guards didn't think to stop her. She barged into Dan'yel's room causing the boy to jump to his feet. River ran over and scooped him up into a powerful embrace. He fought her at first, but she used her superior strength to lift him up and place him on his back on the bed.

"Sam?!" Daniel called at River.

"I'm down here!"

Daniel looked down at Sam and his eyes widened in shock. She nodded to affirm that she had been switched again. River meanwhile was holding the terrified boy down on the bed.

"Let me go!" Dan'yel cried. "Please! Don't hurt me! I'm sorry!"

"H'alp!" River screamed. "H'alp! 'Aniel, h'alp!"

"River," Daniel put his hands on River's shoulders to pull her away. "River, stop! Let him go."

River violently ripped herself out of Daniel's grasp. Jackson gave out a high pitched alarm bark. He jumped up on the bed, but this time he was not being aggressive, he suddenly shared River's anxiety. He paced back and forth, adding to the chaos.

"Daniel, something's not right…he smells different. Something's happening."

The Airmen outside had just stepped into try and take control of the situation when Dan'yel's frame went limp. The peace didn't last long as Dan'yel was suddenly thrown into a violent thrashing. The sickening convulsions intensified despite River's attempt to hold him down.

"H'alp!"

"Careful!" Daniel snapped at the Airmen. "It could be a trap!"

"Daniel, no! This is real. I…I can smell it. He's having a seizure! River must have sensed it from the other room before it even happened."

Daniel stared at Sam as she yelped helplessly at him. The Airmen held back, waiting for orders.

"Dr. Jackson?"

"Get medical…he's having a seizure."