Chapter 9
This happened in the last chapter: Jack was delirious with fever from his infected wounds. As a last resort to save him, the priestess of Hera was called in. She was accompanied by Daniel who served as an assistant in a primitive ritual with smoke and incantations. Sam was furious at Daniel and certain the Colonel was going to die.
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Sam was about to leave them to their antics and vent her frustration somewhere else, when the priestess produced a device from the black little velvet bag. It looked like a thick bullet at first, but when the woman activated it, it elongated into some kind of wand of a heavy silver color, looking like pure platinum. It produced a soft hum and a dim light where it was in contact with her hand. She started rubbing the wand on the red cloth and the tip lightened too as it touched Jack. Sam couldn't help but wince in sympathy with her CO as he jerked in pain, even delirious as he was. The priestess started rubbing the tip of the wand in light circles, then she closed her eyes to feel her way along the deep wounds through the wand. After a while, she placed the device flat across Jack shoulders where it lighted up totally. She rolled it down and up his back several times, all the while singing softly in the thin smoke from the censer, and the light from the wand was intensifying as the ritual went. That was fascinating, Sam had never seen such a thing... Suddenly, the wand flashed several times and died out. Daniel covered the censer with a cap and helped the priestess to a stool as she seemed exhausted. Kheiron, who had followed the procedure with a deep interest, was now checking the priestess's pulse and sent Hephaestus fetch some drinking water for her. Meanwhile, Daniel was packing the different items they had used, even the red cloth which was now soiled with pus and blood. It would be ritually burnt at the temple when they returned, to complete the healing. He examined his friend's back carefully and seemed quite satisfied with what he saw. Sam just had to come and see for herself. The skin was whole and the wounds were closed, none of them bleeding nor oozing. Even the black and blue color was fainter and the whole back was looking healthier. Sam wanted to touch the freshly healed skin, but he was still her CO and she didn't really dare put her hand on his bare skin. She hesitated a long time before she gave in and almost religiously let her fingers glide on his shoulder blade. In full disbelief, she looked up to the priestess, who was watching her through half-closed lids.
"What is the name of this man?" she asked.
"Dominus Hadrian named him Jason, Your Highness" Sam answered in owe of the woman who had saved the Colonel from a certain and painful death. The priestess closed her eyes again and remained silent for a long time, then she asked:
"So of course, you'd be Atalante?" Sam frowned before she answered.
"Yes, this is the name Dominus Hadrian gave me...How...?" The priestess simply smiled and left. Sam was annoyed that these people seemed to know something about the Colonel and herself that she didn't, but she was too happy that he was safe to let those worries spoil her joy and relief for the time being.
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Daniel had been lectured as soon as the priestess had been alone with him.
"Linus, I am disappointed in you today. You did not behave correctly, talking too much and too loud, forgetting your duties, letting yourself be distracted by a beautiful woman"
"I am sorry Vesta, I can explain"
"Please do"
"This man and the woman are my friends. We were captured together, as well as another man who is now at the gladiator's school. I was sold before they were and never knew what had become of them. I was overjoyed to meet her again, and distressed when I saw the state of my friend. That is why I was distracted in my duties, Vesta. I apologize."
"I see" the priestess said. "How long have you been friend with them?"
"For many years. We have been through a lot together. If you would authorize me to do so, Vesta, I would very much like to have some time to speak with them before we leave"
"If Hadrian Anthonius authorizes it, you may remain here until Khastor is half way to its zenith. We are waited elsewhere after that"
"Yes Vesta, thank you"
With Hadrian's permission, Daniel walked back to the slaves quarters to find Sam.
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They had been sitting on the stairs leading down to the slave quarters and exchanged as much information as they could. Daniel was now in a hurry to leave to be back at the temple on time, when they heard the awful sound of someone being sick.
"That'd be Jack" Daniel said. "I'd better hurry to the temple and get this ceremony done with. I hope I'll see you soon again Sam. Take care of Jack and say hello when he's up to it!"
He rushed up the stairs while Sam hurried to their cell to find Jack on all four, violently vomiting in a pot Priam was holding for him. When he was done, he was so exhausted he felt he would pass out. Breathing hard, he dragged himself back to the straw mattress with Priam and Sam's help.
"Here, you should drink some wine" Priam said, holding a cup to him. The water was barely red with wine and smelled mostly of vinegar. Disgusted, Jack tried to push the hand away, the smell making him sick again.
"Please Sir, you have to keep hydrated"
"It stinks Carter"
"Please?" she implored. Barely opening an eye, he saw how worried she was and complied. She smiled at him and sat at the head of the straw mattress. Jack thanked Priam and collapsed back, dragging himself up between Sam's legs so he could rest his head on her thigh. She immediately proceeded in drying his sweat-drenched temple.
"I will take this and bring another, clean one" Priam said as he was leaving with the soiled pot. "Get some rest now Jason"
"Thank you" Sam smiled. Jack was already so drowsy that he didn't even react.
A couple of hours later, Sam was about to succumb to sleep herself when Jack's body jerked, shivering with fever. He was again sweating and looking pale, almost green, so Sam wasn't surprised when he suddenly sat up, looking urgently for the pot.
"You know, food is disgusting enough to vomit, but bile and vinegar are really not as delightful as they sound" he said between two hard breaths.
"Yes Sir" Sam answered, presenting him with the sour wine, which he used to rinse his mouth and hydrate, despite his former declaration.
Once he was done, they resumed their position on the straw mattress, Sam tiredly stroking his wet hair as he was shivering under the blanket.
"Daniel was here with the priestess to heal your wounds. He said you'd be sick but it should pass when they achieve the ritual by burning the cloth they used on your back. Although I don't know how them burning a piece of fabric in town can have anything to do with your nausea, I hope he's right. He said you should be completely fine about twelve hours after they performed the ritual, and I assume it's been almost six already. Well, I can't really be sure, I think I dose off at some point"
"You must be exhausted, you've been up all night and you have taken care of me since. Get some sleep, I'll be fine now"
"Daniel said he had seen Teal'c at the gladiator's school" she continued. "He is called Ajax there, it means something like strong warrior I think, he is doing well. They also have a few goa'uld larva at the temple, so no matter how long we are stuck here, it won't be an issue for Teal'c"
"That's a good thing, although I really hope we'll be outta here before he needs a new goa'uld. I don't like the idea of those goa'ulds here, what do they keep them for? Are they implanting people with them?"
"Daniel didn't know, and he doesn't know much about Hera's whereabouts either. It's been a long time since she visited the planet"
"Yeah, anyway, you should lie down and get some sleep now"
"Yes Sir" she complied. She stretched behind him and carefully spooned him to share some of her body heat, since he was freezing despite the fever. They were soon both asleep.
