Jack glowered at his leg. Great going, bucko. He sat there, feeling the dampness of the soil seeping into the seat of his pants, wondering when he lost control of the whole situation.
For a little over an hour, Jack had spent the time staring at the back of Daniel's neck, speculating on why Daniel was being more stubborn than usual. And believe him, there was a gauge for these things when one works with a guy who tends to swoon and drool over the dustiest, tiniest rocks Jack had ever walked his boots over. Jack trailed behind him, counting how many times Daniel was finally forced to reveal his tired limp, had his arms wrapped around his middle to ward off the despair and dejection that hung over him like a cloak. It was a gesture Daniel hadn't done in a long time and one Jack most certainty didn't miss. And they all summed up to bad. Very bad.
After Jack counted past fourteen "I'm fine", ten flinches, and six self-hugs, Jack had enough and was ready to reach over and shake Daniel until the guy told Jack what was bothering him.
Then, he tripped.
Okay, maybe not tripped, but the tree root hidden under the thick carpet of grass and weeds certainly took him by surprise. Unfortunately, Daniel mistook it as his leg injury was to blame.
"I can't believe I completely forgot it. Is it still bleeding? Are you feeling lightheaded?" Guilt paled Daniel's face. Berating himself, Daniel hobbled over, kneeled down, and examined Jack with a flurry of hands.
Jack batted Daniel's hands away and settled his on the younger man's shoulders. Shit, Daniel was gasping like he ran down the whole mountain. "Easy. I'm alright. Just didn't see that damn tree." Jack grimaced. Actually, his leg really did hurt like hell now.
"Hold still," Daniel murmured as he tugged at the rip on Jack's slacks. With a purr, the fabric tore easily and he probed at the laceration. Jack made a face. Damn, he hadn't realized how long the wound was. It spanned around his thigh muscle like a neat slice.
"It's not bleeding," Daniel breathed out, relieved. He rocked back on his heels and nearly toppled over when Jack tugged at Daniel's left sleeve, pulling the younger man off his feet. Daniel tottered, then suddenly sitting on the ground with an "Oof." And a hissed, "Jack!"
Jack motioned towards the landscape, the trees bending at a slant downhill, boulders of granite and limestone protruding from the ground, topped with grass. He wiped his hand across his brow. "Ground's a little steeper from here on in. Looks like we may be near some highway soon. Might as well take a break here. Some good cover here." Jack studied the other man. Actually, Daniel could use the break more, he determined.
Daniel didn't seem too happy with the idea. "I can keep going. Jack, we need to get back, unless…" He drifted off, his gaze wandering over to Jack's leg. "Are you feeling tired?"
Jack was about to give him a negative, but paused. "A little," he lied. Jack was glad to see Daniel settling back down, no longer trying to stand up.
The archeologist hobbled a few inches over to duck behind one particularly large outcrop, the natural formation covering his shoulders when he sank down. He sat on the incline with great careful, biting back the sharp hiss of pain, but Jack wasn't fooled. "I can stand watch. Do you want to lie back for a while or something?" Daniel asked, keeping his voice low, his eyes kept darting nervously towards their surroundings.
Shaking his head, Jack countered with "Do you?" He didn't believe the small shake of Daniel's head. "You sure?"
Daniel's lower lip stuck out. "I'm sure." He sat there, leaning against the large stone with its ripples of quartz. He barely noticed the hard surface, rubbing his arms, and staring at the ground.
Frustrated, Jack muttered a "Fine" and let himself fall back on the damp grass besides him. He stared at the sky peeking through the thick cover of trees.
"What do you want?"
"I'm uh...uh...I'm not sure, to tell you the truth. I'm here to talk, I guess."
So where's the talking now, Jack thought. He glanced sideways at Daniel, who was staring vacantly into space, one hand still curled around his injured arm.
"How is it?" Jack asked quietly. He tried to be casual about it, but his chest ached watching Daniel shy away from him each time he tried to check.
"Huh?" Daniel's eyes focused and squinted towards Jack.
"Your arm."
Daniel looked down as if he just remembered. "Fine." He lowered his hand. "Hurts…a little," he confessed.
Jack turned his face towards Daniel. "How that happen?"
Daniel's face shuttered. "Um, it was when I…tried to escape."
"What?" Jack shot up. He forced himself to keep from shouting. "Escaped?"
"What? You didn't think I would try?" Daniel whispered in a tight voice. He sniffed, his voice growing raspy. He covered it by peering around the boulder, checking for anyone approaching.
Jack leaned forward and whispered "You know I didn't mean it that way."
"Don't really know anymore," muttered Daniel.
"What the hell did that mean?" Jack stared at him. His blood grew cold as he thought how desperate Daniel must have felt if he decided not to wait. His mouth ran dry. Didn't Daniel think…Jack pushed up further on his elbows and scooted over to his friend. Daniel fidgeted uneasily, his back curved forward as he fingered his right sleeve without touching the wound. He wouldn't meet Jack's gaze. "What, didn't you think I was going to come and get you?"
"No," Daniel sounded bitter. No, Jack realized. Daniel sounded sad. "No, I knew you probably would. Like you always do. You probably didn't even consider I might try and escape on my own. Always forced to help me-" Daniel broke off and shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."
"No way."
Daniel blinked towards Jack, hearing the harsh low tone.
Jack bunched his fists and thumped the ground. "Daniel, you can't tell me you want me to sit back next time someone tries to—"
"To what?" Daniel shot back. "Til someone kidnaps me again? Til I fall for another gullible trap? Til—" He took a deep breath, averting his eyes. "No wonder you didn't try to tell m-" Daniel trailed off, too low for Jack to decipher.
Jack stared at him. "Try to what? What?"
"Nothing." Daniel fell silent.
"Daniel."
"I think I'll rest my eyes for a second after all," Daniel abruptly whispered under his breath. He drew up his knees and folded his arms on top of them. "Not too long though. We have to head back, Jack." He lowered his head into the circle of his arms. "Sam, Teal'c, everyone might not know yet. He might even be…" He trailed off, refusing to hazard a guess what might be happening.
Jack sat there, staring at his outstretched legs, wondering if he tried kicking the tree angling up in front of him, would it hurt the damn plant or him more?
"That stuff I was talking about...at my house..."
That stuff, as Jack had so cavalierly categorized it, had done more damage than he thought. Worried, he looked across to Daniel, still sitting curled up with his face hidden with his good arm draped over his eyes. The archeologist failed to fool Jack he was sleeping, his breathing too short, too quick to pull the deceit off. Jack swallowed the lump away from his throat.
"Uh...the place was bugged. I had to keep up the act."
Too good of an act. Jack wanted to walk over there and shake some sense into Daniel, scream and shout "It was all an act! Why would you believe I can even be that kind of an ass?", but screaming and shouting, even if their situation wasn't so precarious, wouldn't help. And besides, Jack was supposed to make it believable in order to pull it off. But damn it…
"I...uh...understand, really..."
No, Daniel didn't. Damn it. Daniel didn't at all. It was back to those small smiles, the fake sounding "I'm okay", and the distance Jack never realized bothered him so much until now.
"And obviously the whole friendship thing, the foundation, it's all solid."
What a bunch of crock. Jack curled, then uncurled his hands. Even before everything happened, Jack really wasn't sure what to say. He figured a quiet dinner, a game of chess and everything would simply fall back to status quo, slip back into place and all would be well in the universe. He hadn't realized Daniel had all these doubts running around eroding him away from the inside. His throat ached for the right words to say. What could Jack do? Say sorry? Jack almost snorted out loud. Sure, that would heal all. Not.
The sun glinted into his eyes between the trees overhead, small spots of light like lasers zeroing in on his face. Jack squinted, bringing up a hand to block its harshness. It was a blunt reminder the day was passing quickly. Taking their time trailing behind everyone had been time consuming, time Jack feared he and Daniel really couldn't spare.
Carter's a smart girl and Teal'c ain't exactly have his head in the sand, Jack tried to assure himself. They'll figure it out. Hell, Teal'c's probably scaring the shit off the mole with his patented glare as we speak.
A tiny cough Daniel tried to cover with a fist caught Jack's attention. But when Jack arched an eyebrow towards him, the archeologist simply turned his head, pretending to rest. Jack worked his jaw, fighting the urge to hit something.
The two men stayed where they were, Daniel wedged in closely against Jack's hip and the boulder he was masking behind. Every so often, Jack would look over the natural formation, checked around, then sink back down to his spot. Daniel would be waiting, apprehensive eyes that didn't quite relax even after Jack nodded it was all clear.
The silence between them was maddening. Jack sat there, working his jaw, listening to the wildlife around them chirp, howl, cluck and freaking howl, unaffected by the fact they were being chased by a hell of a lot of people with bigger guns then theirs. It drove him nuts. Jack was tempted to take a good-sized rock and toss it at the treetops. Yeah, think they wouldn't hear that? He sat back, momentarily at a loss for words on what to do next. He raised his hand and massaged his temples wearily. The colonel made a face when he felt his stomach gurgle.
"Steak. Medium rare," Jack suddenly said.
Daniel lifted a heavy head and stared at Jack. "What?" Daniel wiped the bottom of his chin with his sleeve. He grimaced. He could feel the grit in his sweater.
"Steak," the colonel repeated with unusual patience. "I said steak." He glanced around the area, making sure their voices weren't too loud. He dropped his head lower and amended "Steak and some of those red potatoes with the bacon."
"What?" Daniel parroted again. What was Jack talking about?
"When we get back." Stretching his arms, Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "When we get back, I'm going to that new steakhouse up on Fifth and order the biggest steak they got. Ferretti swears by them. Said he was going to marry the chef." He smirked. "Until Anderson checked it out and told him the chef was a he."
A small smile tugged at Daniel's lips. "That good, huh?"
"Said it tasted like the cow just up and died on the grill for him."
Daniel shook his head. "Sounds appetizing." He rubbed his hands on his legs. Daniel wished it were a bit warmer. Shouldn't it be warmer by now? He gazed up at the sky. The sun was very high above them. Afternoon? Daniel breathed out, surprised to see white condensation escape his lips.
"How about you?"
"Huh?" Daniel turned his head. Jack appeared sideways to him, his face expectant.
"What do you want when you get back?"
Daniel's stomach growled. He offered a pained smile and faced upwards towards the sky. "Steak sounds good. If they have a nice apple pie, it would be great," he admitted slowly. "Although, right now, anything sounds good." Jack frowned. "Daniel, it's been a little over two days. Did they even offer to…?" He grit his teeth when Daniel shook his head. "Not even a drop of water?"
Daniel moved his shoulders up and let them drop slowly. "She said she would rather see me starve."
"I see."
At the words spoken through clenched teeth, Daniel's gaze flew up to Jack. "I'm alright, Jack."
"Sure," Jack forced out. "I'll be, too once I get my hands on him again." And while I'm at it, go find her, too.
"Again?"
Jack flexed his hands for show. "He told me you were dead," Jack seethed. He wiggled his fingers, remembering. "Showed him what I thought of his report."
"Oh."
Leaning forward, Jack rested his elbows on his knees, his eyes hooded and angry. "I'll kill him."
Alarmed, Daniel's eyes glued to Jack. The colonel's gaze held flint as he brooded over Daniel's words.
"Jack…don't." There was a faint tremor in Daniel's voice.
"Huh?" Jack turned halfway and looked down at Daniel. The younger man's lower lip stuck out as he turned his face away.
"You don't have to feel like you have to…," whispered Daniel. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Don't keep acting like I'm your responsibility."
"Like hell you aren't," hissed Jack, his voice rough with self-reproach. He worked his jaw, rotating it from side to side. It was his fault Daniel got snatched up to lure Jack away.
For some reason, a glazed look of despair spread over Daniel's ashen face. The archeologist swallowed, rolling over to his side, turning his back on Jack.
Confused, Jack gaped at the hunched back. He stared at his hands, rubbing them on his thighs, wincing as his injury reminded him how far more they may still have to go. What the hell? Jack reached out a hand, but the back practically screamed of desolation. He retracted his hand and slumped forward. The two sat there, hidden in the dense bushes. Jack listened to the birds cawing, the wind howling sorrowfully as it blew past.
Jack flicked a piece of shale off his boot. "Uh…wanna go…check it out?"
What? Daniel diverted his attention back to Jack.
The older man shrugged. "That steakhouse. When we get home." He shook a finger at Daniel as if he thought Daniel was going to refute that. "We could go check it out and then…uh…" Jack shrugged again. He picked up a twig, twirling it in his hands. "There's still that chess game we never finished."
"Oh."
It was like standing at Daniel's office all over again. "Oh?"
"Uh, I mean, sure…when we get back." Daniel moved his left arm up and shut the sun away from his eyes. "When we get back."
Jack watched the exposed throat swallow, the Adam's apple moving up and down. "That's not gonna happen, is it?" Jack murmured sadly.
Daniel lowered his arm and stared at him.
Waving a hand to himself, then towards Daniel, Jack felt tired, very, very tired. "We're gonna head back, make our reports and you're going to do that vanishing act again in your office, aren't you?"
"I don't-"
"Bullshit," Jack cut in harshly. "That's bull and you know it."
Daniel fell to silence.
Berating himself, Jack clamped his mouth shut. That was real smooth, O'Neill. Is it any wonder you're not leading the diplomatic teams instead?
"Why couldn't you tell us? Why did you have to…"
Jack almost missed the softly spoken question. "What?"
Daniel appeared to have changed his mind. He shook his head and unsteadily got to his feet. "Never mind. Are you set? Maybe we should get going—"
"Daniel."
The archeologist stopped.
"I had my orders. No one else could know." Jack sat there, watching Daniel's shoulders drop lower.
"And you just agreed to it?" Daniel wouldn't look at Jack. His face was hooded in shadow. "Just said okay and went and did it."
"Daniel, they were going to—"
"Pull out of the alliance, I know," interrupted Daniel. "I understand that. But why-"
"Why what?" Jack eased back up on his feet, hopping slightly on one leg. He winced, it felt like maybe a tendon was damaged. Great. "Daniel, why what?"
"Back at your place," Daniel began. "Why that way? Why didn't you just…" Daniel stopped. Uncertainty flickered in his eyes. Daniel shrugged. "No, forget it. I was just wondering." He reached out a hand to Jack. "Come on, you could try leaning on me again."
"My place was bugged, Daniel. I told you that."
Daniel's hand dropped. "You could have just not let me in. But you didn't. You felt like you had to say…" He couldn't finish, shaking his head. "Come on," Daniel said quietly. "Let's go."
Jack stared at the hand Daniel offered. "Daniel."
"Jack." The quiet plea made the colonel look up. He met the weary gaze head on. "We have to go."
Scowling, Jack dropped his head and sighed. He reached out his hand when he heard the distant click. "Down!" he barked.
Daniel whipped up his head. He didn't hear the click, but he heard Jack. Daniel dove away in the opposite direction of Jack, just before the ground spit up in sharp successions.
"Get behind some cover!" Jack hollered. He snapped back his head behind a tree as bullets spat a line inches away from his face.
Daniel barely had time to duck behind the same boulder he was rest on before. He lay there, gasping, listening as Jack fired off a shot. It was all they have. One gun. Only one gun. Daniel flinched as a shot got close to his ear.
"Stay down!"
I'm trying, Daniel thought as another ricocheted off the ground. He winced as dirt flew up.
"Missed me, civie?" a voice echoed out in the woods. It seemed to come from all sides.
Daniel closed his eyes. "Not really," he muttered. He tossed a worried look over to Jack. The colonel was beet-red, craning his neck to see if he can sight her.
"Give it up, Tobias!" Jack barked out. "Your own personal clean up crew dropped by the cabin before. Neumann's probably caught by now or dead. You can still come with u- shit!" Jack lunged to the side, drawing his legs up as the ground exploded in a dozen little holes.
"Jack!"
Jack waved to the archeologist that he was okay. He waved even more frantically when he realized Daniel looked like he was going to run over.
"You think I really care anymore?" Tobias screamed out. Her voice echoed loud into the forest. Jack grimaced. If those guys hadn't heard the gunshots before, they probably would hear that. "One of you are going to take me to that second Stargate and get me off this ungrateful planet!" More shots, this time at Daniel's direction. Now it was Daniel's turn to slam down hard on the ground, hands over his head as the shots volleyed off his cover. "I don't need you both. Which one will it be?"
Jack fired another shot in the general direction. Tobias' rifle fell silent. He slid back down the tree. With a hard yank, he pulled out the clip. He stared at it in dismay.
Three left.
"Jack?" Daniel shouted as he saw the colonel jerked back after another shot carved a hole in the tree above his head.
Jack waved three fingers at Daniel and pointed to the gun. Daniel stilled. The archeologist knew the implications of that. Three bullets were not enough to go against an assault rifle. Daniel waved wildly at Jack, pointing to a direction looping around Tobias. Come at her from behind? Jack shook his head vehemently at the proposal. Daniel got shakily up on his knees as if he wanted to try, flinching, as Jack hissed a "No way" to Daniel making violent slashing motions across his throat. Jack did not want to take the chance.
"Which one, huh? Which one?" Tobias grew louder and louder, rivaling the rapid fire of her rifle. Daniel bodily threw himself down again. Jack watched helplessly as Daniel's leg twitched, drawing in closer to avoid the shots.
Jack stared at the forest. Where, where, where- there! He could see a shadow, darker than the others, running left and right, light from her rifle flashed sporadically. He gripped the gun tightly and fired off a shot.
Tobias grunted in the distance and the shadow dropped out of sight.
Lowering the handgun, Jack stared at the distance. Did he get her?
"Okay, colonel…that's enough."
Jack spun around with his gun again and froze.
Neumann stood there, his handgun pressed firmly on Daniel's temple, dimpling the skin. The younger man looked miserably at Jack, mouthing "Sorry" at him as he laid there on the ground.
"Back where we started, huh, sir?" Neumann shifted and the pistol clicked as the trigger locked. Red rimmed eyes glued to Jack's face. "Drop it, colonel. Now."
"Jack, don't—" Daniel grunted when Neumann kicked him hard from behind. Danielfell forward smacking into the ground. .
"Should have just let Tobias have you. Stubborn geek," Neumann muttered, missing the murderous look on Jack's face. His rifle came back up and stayed a spot over Jack's chest. "Drop the gun, colonel. Cooperate or just watch me blow his brains out." He tapped the gun on Daniel's head once more. "Your choice."
"You know," Daniel gasped out. "I'm getting sick and tired of everyone thinking they can use me like some kind of pawn." He met Jack's eyes. Jack's eyes widened.
Shit, Daniel. Don't do what I think you're planning to do.
Neumann chuckled. "I bet you are, Jackson." The rogue suddenly fell backwards as Daniel kicked out at his ankles.
"Daniel!" Jack shot up to his feet, horrified to see Neumann and Daniel struggle for control of the rifle. Jack raised his gun, ready to fire. Frustrated, he couldn't get a shot, Jack lowered it. "Daniel, back away from him. I can't get a clear shot." Jack grunted as gunfire zipped by. Tobias. He felt something slammed into his left leg hard, exploding in the back of his thigh and he toppled. The gun tumbled out of numb hands before he could catch it. Everything flared up to a wall of red. He didn't see where the firearm went as everything then turned to gray.
"Jack!"
Daniel! Jack struggled to stand. His leg detonated into a massive wall of pain and he fell back to the ground. He grunted as shots pocked the ground parallel to him. The female rogue's laugh was high as Jack jerked back when another shot got too close. He tried to reach for the gun only to snap his hand back when a bullet spew dirt, making the gun jump a little.
"Tobias! What the hell are you doing? Just shoot him! Shoot him!" Neumann shouted at the female rogue in the distance. He whipped around sharply as Daniel lunged for the dropped gun. "Oh no you, don't!" The rogue snarled, his handgun swinging down. Daniel cried out as it landed squarely on his back, sending him sprawling next to Jack.
"Son of a—" Jack exploded from the ground, using the agony to fuel his feet. With a roar, he bodily threw himself on Neumann before the rogue could fire his weapon. A shot rang out in the air as Jack slammed a fist over Neumann's wrist to disarm him.
"Jack!" Daniel flinched as Tobias diverted her aim to him now. One shot splintered the tree next to him, the other sent shards flying as it struck the boulder.
"Get out of here! Go!" Jack hollered.
Daniel couldn't respond, his arm covering his face as Tobias let loose a barrage of gunfire, spitting up wood splinters and shards of rock all around him.
"Daniel!" Jack clamped down on Neumann's hand, and grunted, his head snapping back as Neumann pistol-whipped the colonel right across the cheek. Jack crumpled to the ground with a groan.
Neumann swore violently, his gun lashing out to fire at Jack, who laid there, squinting in a daze. No! Daniel went scrambling for the gun he spied on the dirt, heedless of Tobias wildly firing towards his direction.