Chapter Ten

Jackson sat on the ground in front of the Stargate, the perfect picture of misery. It was obvious that he hated just waiting for the others to find Daniel. He raked his hands through his hair. When that didn't calm him he started licking at the back of his hand.

"Jackson..." one of the men left to guard the Gate called "it's going to be alright, okay? The best in the business are looking for Dr. Jackson."

"You think he understands you?" One of the others asked.

"I don't know, but I hate seeing him so agitated."

The little girl they had found seemed to feel the same way. She sat down next to him and leaned against him. Sighing heavily Jackson ran his hand over her silky hair. After a few minutes she laid down with her head in his lap and fell asleep.

As time passed Jackson became less capable of sitting still. He gently moved the little girl off his lap. Standing up he started pacing. The SG members gave up on trying to settle him and just stuck to their jobs of making sure the area was secure.

"'Aniel..." Jackson muttered sadly to himself.

Closing his eyes for a moment Jackson's senses were overtaken by an intense fear. Gasping violently Jackson searched the immediate area for danger. No one else seemed disturbed, but his skin was still chilling. Even the short hair on the back of his neck was standing up. Jackson growled deeply.

"Jackson? What's wrong?"

Jackson's new vocabulary was extremely limited and he was unable to answer. He wasn't even sure what was wrong himself. He whimpered pitifully and looked around nervously. The men did not take Jackson's heightened agitation lightly. They came to full alert and with weapons raised they began sweeping the area.

Jackson gasped as a vision of violence assaulted him. Without thought, without reason Jackson bolted into the darken forest. He could hear the shouts of the men, he heard them calling him back. However, not even Sam's voice would have made him return at this point.

Pushing Daniel's heart to its limit Jackson ran through the lush woods. He didn't know where he was going. He wasn't even sure if he was getting closer to Daniel. All he knew was that he had to keep running.

It wasn't until he reached the edge of the city that he was forced to stop. Falling to his knees Jackson wretched violently as he fought for breath. Daniel's body was not meant for the kind of speed and endurance that Jackson was used to enjoying in his canine form.

Fighting a sickening dizziness Jackson forced himself back to his feet. He walked into the sleeping city with his heart still pounding painfully. The streets were empty, and eerily silent.

Jackson had lost the strong sense of direction that he had been using to guide him before. Wandering aimlessly Jackson looked around at the towering builds. He wanted to shout out for his missing partner, but something told him he should keep quiet.

Unaware of complex concepts such as time Jackson had no idea how long he walked through the streets. Eventually he came to the center Square. He caught sight of the gilded cage and froze. It took him a moment to realize what he was looking at.

Laying inert in the cage Daniel was barely breathing. Jackson rushed up to the bars. Tears slipped down his face as he reached through and placed his hand on Daniel's shoulder. He furrowed his brow as he stared at the tight muzzle.

"'Aniel..."

Daniel didn't wake. Even after Jackson shook him gently he remained locked in a comatose sleep. Jackson stroked Daniel's fur before beginning to explore the buckle on the leather strap. He tried just pulling the strap up over Daniel's ears, however he quickly abandoned that tactic.

Concentrating as hard as he ever had Jackson studied the problem. Through trial and error Jackson managed to unbuckle the muzzle. He tore it off and rubbed the indented fur and skin on the bridge of Daniel's nose. He shook him gently again without result.

Jackson tested the strength of the bars, but had no hope of breaking them. He started to run his hands over the outside of the cage looking for the door. He found the place that he thought should open. Pulling at the bars frustrated him because the lock was not about to budge.

"What are you doing?"

Jackson yelped in surprise and whipped around. Hasup and three others were standing behind him.

"Who are you?

In response Jackson pressed his back against the bars and bared his teeth at the men. Hasup took a step back from the bizarre behaviour. When he saw the leather muzzle laying on the ground he ground his teeth in anger.

"Seize him!" Hasup ordered. "He is trying to free the Murderer!"

Unwilling to leave Daniel's side Jackson was easily captured. He cried out in panic and tried to twist out of the men's grip. Hasup stepped up and backhanded Jackson across the face hard enough to render him momentarily senseless.

"What should we do with him?"

"Throw him in with Alopekos. If the Beast does not tear him apart we will know that they are partners and we will kill them both in the morning."

Jackson fought being forced into the small cage. He managed to sink his teeth into one of the men's hands. In the end, Jackson found himself on the wrong side of the bars. Ignoring the men he instantly knelt down next to Daniel and nuzzled his neck.

"You are here to save this Monster." Hasup spat. "You deserve to share his fate!"

Jackson couldn't understand the words, and didn't even care to try. Sitting cross-legged he gently lifted Daniel's head onto his lap. Hasup growled in disgust and turned to leave. He ordered the others to stand guard and walked off.

For over an hour Jackson stroked his unconscious partner's bloodstained fur. Tears continued to trace down his face. Just as exhaustion was about to take him as well Jackson noticed Daniel's golden eyes flutter open. He held his breath waiting for him to become fully awake.

Moaning softly Daniel woke to an odd mix of sensations. There was no denying the wracking pain in his muscles and the throbbing in his head. But at the same time he felt oddly safe. When he looked and saw 'himself' looking down on him he didn't know what to think at first.

"Ja...Jackson? What are you doing here?"

"'Aniel." Jackson whispered happily and smiled brightly.

"You're talking? What is going on?"

Using all of his strength Daniel sat up. His scenery hadn't changed, he was still locked up. Jackson put his hand on Daniel's chest and pushed gently. It was a signal that Daniel understood, he wanted them to change places.

"Jackson, I'm in a lot of pain that I don't want you to be in. I don't think it will help at this point."

Looking at the now sleeping guards Daniel figured that trying to talk his way out of this was probably still pointless. The strange mix of Latin and Greek made it so he could understand them, but he wasn't sure that could speak the language. He didn't know which words were supposed to be which.

"Saam..." Jackson whimpered.

"I'm sure she's on her way..."

Daniel stopped as he caught sight of his radio still on his jacket. Jackson followed his line of sight to the radio and smiled. He pushed against Daniel's chest once again.

"Okay, just for a minute."

Jackson whimpered quietly as he retook his form. Daniel looked to Jackson sympathetically and stoked between his ears. Jackson laid down and panted heavily.

"I'm sorry," Daniel whispered "I wasn't very careful with your body."

Jackson parted his long toothy jaw in an animal smile. However he was clearly suffering. Daniel wasted no time and pulled out the radio.

"Sam...Sam."

"Daniel?" The radio replied in shock. "Daniel where are you?"

"In the center of the city near the Stargate. Jackson and I are being held here under light guard."

"We are half way to the city already. Are the inhabitants going to be a problem?"

"Well they certainly aren't going to just let us go, but I haven't seen any weapons other than pain sticks."

"Pain sticks?" Sam repeated in concern.

"Yeah, but the Goa'uld seems to be long gone. Please, hurry, I'm not sure how much time we have left."

"Before what?"

"Before I'm made into a rug."

"We'll be there shortly, just hang on."

"Sam, keep a sharp eye out for a large fox."

"We've met, she ran off."

"There's a little girl..."

"We've met her too."

"Good. I'll see you soon."

Daniel put the radio away and took one last look around before changing places with Jackson once again. It was a shock to be dropped back into intense aching pain that was still assailing Jackson's body.

Back in Daniel's form Jackson tried to comfort his weak partner. He laid down next to him and wrapped his arm around him. Daniel took a deep breath and began to relax. It was comforting not to be alone surrounded only by enemies. He knew Sam and the others would get to them soon. Jackson nuzzled behind Daniel's large black ear.

"I luf you, 'Aniel."

"I love you too, Jackson."