From the Ruins

Part Five

After telling Daniel for the fourth time not to stay up all night and being waved off yet again, Jack drifted off to sleep. The next morning, he awoke to excited voices and decided to feign sleep and eavesdrop.

"You were right, Sam. They touched it. Apparently it turns easily."

"So, what happened?"

"Um, they both got headaches. They turned it in the other direction, and the headaches went away. They intended to leave it alone after that, but I guess they were a little too curious because after they finished studying everything else and stowed the journals –which they intended to retrieve one day- they decided to experiment with the glyph."

"In the interest of science of course," Sam said with a smile.

Daniel smiled. "Of course. Anyway, they turned it in small increments until the headaches were too strong.  They hypothesized that the closer they were to the glyph, the more intense the pain would be, so my father backed away to see if he could prove that. He concluded the same thing your instruments did. That the power is evenly distributed throughout the room. They tested various other theories, and what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I guess the Colonel was right. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Sam teased.

Jack laughed quietly, thankful that they were way too into their conversation to notice.

"Ha ha. You, Jack and Amon should really take your act on the road."

Sam laughed. "So, what happened next?"

"Maybe I won't tell you," Daniel teased snapping the journal shut.

"I'll make coffee for you."

"That's low."

"I know." Sam smiled.

"Ok. But only for the coffee."

Sam shrugged.

"Basically, they found that the headaches got worse the further into the passage by the glyph my father went."

"So, the power source is somewhere in the passage you found the journal in."

"Probably.  I don't know how far he got. The last entry cuts off mid sentence, so something must have happened.  My guess is my father went too far and passed out from the pain. So, my mother quickly turned down the power. She must have dropped the journal as she went to him. She probably had to get him out fast, and they just forgot to go back. Or just didn't go back. Or couldn't"

"Sounds plausible. We'll have to check out that passage."

"The secret room is probably there too."

"We'll check it out right after breakfast," Jack said sitting up.

"I'm not hungry," Daniel said opening the journal again.

"Now how did I know you were going to say that? Good morning to you too by the way."

"Morning, Colonel."

"Good morning Carter. Daniel!"

Daniel looked up from the journal.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Um." He looked back at the book.  "Not really."

"For crying' out loud, Daniel.  How long have you been awake?"

"As soon as we're done, I promise I'll sleep."

"That's not an answer."

"Jack."

"Daniel."

"You do look exhausted Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said looming over them with a large platter in one hand and four coffee mugs on a tray in the other hand.

"Ah, there's nothing like breakfast in bed," Jack said helping Sam clear a space for the food. "Thank you, Teal'c."

"You are welcome." Teal'c sat down.

In perfect unison, all four members of SG-1 reached for a mug. Jack and Teal'c each took a plate. Sam hesitated before taking a plate.

"So…" Jack prodded after taking a sip of coffee and sighing.

"So what?" Daniel pretended to have forgotten.

"How long?"

"I don't know. I lost track."

"That's definitely a sign you need sleep. Now."

"Jack, I'm really not-"
"Don't you think you'd be more alert when we get to this armory if you've had a few hours of sleep. At least.  I could make it an order you know," Jack added when Daniel didn't answer.

"Fine, I'll take a nap."

"After breakfast."

"I'm not-"

"Ah. I let you skip breakfast and lunch yesterday because I knew how important that journal was. That means you've barely eaten since the other day. Not including that pathetic dinner you ate last night."

"That's not true.  I had a-"

"Doesn't count.  Eat, sleep, then other things."

"I thought you wanted me to sleep first."

"Well, the food's hot now," he said handing Daniel the last plate.

"I wasn't very hungry either, Daniel," Sam coaxed. "But this is really good."

"Indeed."

"It's not fair for you guys to gang up on me like this," Daniel whined reluctantly taking the plate.

"If you keep not eating, there won't be anything left to gang up on," Jack said. "And how can you not be hungry? I don't get it. The rest of us ate more dinner than you, and we're hungry."

"You're always hungry. And Sam said she wasn't that hungry."

"What are we going to do while Daniel's sleeping?" Sam interjected.

"Well, we could spray whipped cream all over him. Then add sprinkles."

"Very funny, Jack."

"We have no whipped cream with us, O'Neill. Nor sprinkles."

"Damn. I knew I forgot something."

"I'm assuming Daniel's going back to the temple with us," Sam tried again. "So, what I meant was what are we going to do while we wait for him."

"See, Jack. I'm just going to hold you guys up if I-." His words were cut off by a yawn.

"Carter, do you need Daniel's help to find the power source?"

"No, sir."

"Well, then you can do that while he sleeps. Teal'c'll go with you."

"Jaack."

"We won't go into the armory without you. I promise."

***

It had been forty-six minutes since Sam and Teal'c left, and Jack was bored. Despite his protests, Daniel had fallen asleep remarkably fast.  Jack had occupied himself with gazing around Amon's tent. The man was definitely interesting. There was a stack of magazines nearby. Jack figured they'd be mostly sciencey magazines but was amused when he discovered a swimsuit issue, two boating issues and three science fiction/fantasy issues.  He was almost bored enough to read one of the sci-fi stories when Sam rushed into the tent out of breath.

"Carter?"

"Sorry, sir," Sam whispered as Daniel stirred. "Maybe we should talk outside."  Jack followed her out. "Ok, with Daniel's latest info and my updates on energy analysis, I was able to modify my instruments to locate the power source."

"That's great! But…"

"I told you I'd need to turn up the power in order to get an accurate reading-"

"Carter."

"Well, sir." She handed him something.

"Carter, this looks like-"

"It fell off, sir."

"What?"

"I turned it, and it just fell into my hand after half a rotation."

Jack ran a hand through his hair.

"That's not all. Imbedded in the wall behind it was a button."

"A button?"

"Yes, sir. Teal'c and I agree that if we press the button we'll find the power source and probably the hidden room."

Jack looked at Teal'c, who nodded.  "Alright. I promised Daniel we wouldn't go in without him, but we can at least see if we've got a location. You guys go ahead back to the temple. I'll meet you there."

"Yes, sir."

Jack walked the short distance to where Amon was working with a couple other people.

"Hello, Jack." Amon smiled.

"Hey. Um, my people need me over at the temple. I know you're working and all, but-"

"I will keep an eye on Daniel for you."

"Great. See, he hasn't slept much the past couple of nights. At least. And he just got over the flu. I mean, I know he can take care of himself. It's just…"

"He doesn't. Mel was like that."

"Right. Thanks." He waved at Amon's nod and jogged to the temple. "Ok, I guess it's now or never," he said kneeling behind Sam.

"Yes, sir." She took a deep breath and pushed the button.

There was a loud sound coming from the end of the passage where the journal had been. Teal'c walked into the passage. Jack and Sam stood. Jack signaled for her to stay there as he followed Teal'c at a distance.  The sound stopped as Teal'c got to the end of the passage.

"O'Neill."

"What'd we get?" Jack asked waving Sam into the passage and heading for Teal'c's position. "A trap door." He moved sand off the handle with his foot.

"It rose from beneath the sand."

"Wow. Power source is definitely under there," Sam said studying a beeping instrument. "It's strong, sir. Very strong," she added rubbing her temple.

"Stronger than naquadah?" Jack felt a headache coming on as well.

"Hard to tell. It doesn't resemble naquadah at all."

"O'Neill!" Teal'c pointed up as the ceiling cracked.

Sam gasped as chunks began falling. Teal'c backed up on one side of the passage. On the other side, Jack pushed Sam against the wall, burying her face in his chest and lowering his head beside hers. Dust and small chunks landed on all three of them. When he couldn't hear anything else, Jack looked up.

"I believe the cave in has ceased for the moment," Teal'c said looking up.

"Yeah," Jack said moving away and letting go of Sam. "Ok?"

Sam nodded. "Wow," she said looking at the piles of debris between them and the passage entrance. "We have to get through all that."

"Guess we should get started," Jack said.