Jack's POV
I could remember sitting by the
infirmary bed for hours, hope still in me that everything would be okay, just
like it always was. When a day pasted with no good news, deep inside, I began
to think 'It might be like this forever.'
I still pushed those thoughts away because I knew he would pull
through, he always did for God's sake, why not now? After two days, things seemed to get worse because I could see
those blue eyes open slightly, but they weren't the same. They were dull, lifeless, and not the person
I knew. I think that's when it finally
hit me, things were 'not' going to be fine, and nothing would ever be the same
again for my team and me.
I had wished ever since it
happened, it had been me lying in this bed, not him, my friend, correction,
best friend, because I knew it wasn't his time to go, it couldn't be. It hurt to see those blue eyes staring at
the ceiling, no recognition in them, any intelligence, or even life for that
matter. I think I've always kept up a
small amount of hope, even after Janet told me he would never recover from the
accident, and for the rest of his life, he would live in some kind of nursing
home or hospital, until one day, he would just close his eyes, slip into a
coma, and then die. Forever gone this
time.
It wasn't fair, I knew that,
but was life ever fair? Why did the
family going on a weekend vacation, trying to get away from school and jobs,
have to be the ones hit by a drunk driver, killing them all, or part of the
family, and the drunk lived through it?
Maybe he went to jail or was put to death, but it was never the same. He
had no idea the pain he had caused another family, friends, and loved ones of
the ones he had killed. Is it fair for
a little boy to kill himself with his father's gun? I know it isn't, but sometimes, what isn't fair, just plain
sucks.
I try not to think about it
now, as I look at my once caring friend, the one who's eye's lit up with a new
discovery, and knew it was a waste for him to go like this, and so early. I know the others feel just as bad about
what has happened as I do, the whole base feels the loss, but I think it's
worse for me, knowing I've lost him again, for the last time. I can't help but think about that day,
almost a week ago, where the team, and my life changed. Could I have done something different?
Changed something I did? I don't think
I'll ever know.
~*~Chapter 1~*~
3 days ago...
The dust drifted off the stone doorway as it was moved, causing Dr.
Daniel Jackson to hold his breath to keep from sneezing. Daniel had been saved earlier, by Janet
Fraiser, who'd rushed his antihistamines to him, moments before he had left the
base, Colorado, the planet, even the known galaxy on his last mission.
'To bad the ones I have just happen to only work for flower pollen,'
Daniel thought as he looked into the semi dark room that was filled to the brim
with different ancient objects.
Books, scrolls, tools, cooking utensils, and other strange things lined
the room, much to Daniel's enjoyment.
Behind him, Daniel heard Colonel Jack O'Neill mutter something that
sounded extremely like, "For crying out loud, we're going to be here
'forever'!"
He looked back at Jack and saw Captain Carter, who was next to him,
smile at the comment, knowing how much Jack hated all scientific missions. Even though Daniel couldn't see him, he knew
that Teal'c was somewhere outside, scanning the area for any danger. Daniel doubted the passive Jaffa would find
any though. The planet was deserted
except for one small area that looked abandoned. It looked as if no one had lived there for hundreds of years,
which excited Daniel even more.
~*~
Jack sighed, leaning against a wall, closing his eyes, letting the
scientist go at their work. 'Ha,' he muttered to himself, 'scientists.'
Things seemed peaceful enough,
and Teal'c had returned after a few minutes to inform him that he had found no
sign of predators, or any hostile aliens around. Jack thanked him, but Teal'c
insisted on leaving again to stand guard.
Jack waved him on with a slight grin, actually wishing he out there, and
not having to be inside babysitting.
While he wasn't actually babysitting, someone had to stay here, and
Teal'c was the best choice for outside since he could hear things farther away,
and was a much better tracker than the Colonel himself.
Jack yawned and opened his eye again, taking a peak at his other
teammates, and just in time to see Daniel walk behind a wall, and say,
"Hey Sam, come look at this!"
Jack didn't personally care what it might have been, but knew both Sam
and Daniel would both be ecstatic. "'Geeks," he muttered goodheartedly as he
grinned and closed his eyes again.
~*~
The next time Jack opened them, Sam was in his line of sight again,
looking through her pack a few feet away, and he could hear Daniel shuffling
through something behind the wall.
He closed his eyes, thinking, 'Maybe I should keep Daniel away from the
machinery,' but was startled to hear Carter yell "Sir!"
His heart skipped a beat when he saw an orange glow from the area
Daniel was, and then heard his younger friend gasp.
"Daniel!" Jack yelled, heading towards his friend, and
turning the corner in time to see Daniel fly past him, hitting the wall on the
opposite side of the room and falling into a limp heap.
As soon as he hit, the glow
disappeared, leaving the somewhat dark room to be in shadow again. He ran over to his fallen friend and fell to
his knees next to him. Carter landed
only a few seconds after him, as Jack felt frantically for a pulse...
It was there, pretty strong,
and nothing seemed broken. He sighed in
relief, and then started on making plans for getting Daniel back home, never
knowing what was coming.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
::Hides behind her PC,
waiting for the first tomato to be thrown::
