AUTHOR'S NOTES: *waves hesitantly* Uhh. my excuse: I was away. Sorry for
not posting more, but blame irons, pink sheets, ice cream trucks and a
burst hot water pipe *G*
But here's Part Three. I know it's not long, but I'm busy writing. Also, big thank you to everyone who has sent feedback and reviews, I'm pretty sure I've replied to everyone, but if I haven't then I definitely will soon!
To Suds: thank you for everything, you put up with an awful lot of crap. And I'm sorry about that.
Ps, if there are any mistakes, take them up with my beta! *winks*
Chapter Three
Daniel wiped the grit from his eyes, staring down tiredly at the books in front of him.
"You should get some rest, Daniel." Janet's voice disturbed his scattered thoughts.
"Hm? Oh."
"What are you doing?" She entered the room slowly, settling herself on the chair next to him and peering down at the scribbled writing on the pad.
"Trying to find Sam and Jack," Daniel stated mulishly.
Janet sighed, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Daniel, the teams are busy looking under the rubble now. You know that."
"So? I don't think they're buried there. I think that Goa'uld has them."
Janet sighed. Daniel looked up at her, his eyes shadowed.
"You don't even know which Goa'uld it was."
"So? There has to be something here somewhere, something alluding to who she was."
"Why don't you ask the Tok'ra?"
"We've tried. They're not responding. Hammond and Teal'c both think they've had to jump base again, which means they'll contact us when they're ready," Daniel admitted, stifling a yawn.
Janet reached over firmly and closed his book with a snap. "Bed, Daniel. Now."
He gazed up at her, defiance shining bright in his eyes. "I can't, Janet. They could be going through torture right now, and I would be sleeping. How would you feel if that happened?"
A half smile touched Janet's lips. "Well, if you suffer from sleep deprivation it will only take longer for you to reach the solution. You of all people should know that."
Daniel sighed again, his shoulder sagging as he lowered his head to his desk.
"We were so stupid, Janet. We didn't even see her ship. Had absolutely no idea that they were there."
"So you were ambushed."
Daniel gave a short, sharp bark of laughter. "No. They were just as surprised as we were. They just outnumbered us, that's all. So we ran, like you run when there's a Goa'uld on your tail." Daniel broke off, frowning. He turned to Janet thoughtfully. "You know, it was almost as though they were looking for something."
"For what?"
"I don't know. Maybe it'll be an idea to go over the writings and discoveries we've made on that planet. It might help us find out who she is."
"You do that. Tomorrow."
Daniel yawned again, putting his book down reluctantly. "Okay. But you have to go home as well, Cassie will be worried about you."
Janet patted his shoulder once before standing up. "I'll see tomorrow, Daniel."
"Bye Janet."
The echo of her clicking heels slowly faded down the silent hallway, and Daniel stared down at the papers on the desk in front of him for a long, long time.
Eventually he stood up, flicked the light off and shuffled out of the room, running a careless hand through his messy hair.
~o0o~
Cal'ma bowed low before her goddess, her forehead reverently touching the smooth step before Nut's throne.
"The Tau'ri?" The voice of her goddess was smooth and childlike, the soft tones washing over the priestess.
"They are still sleeping, my Queen," Cal'ma whispered, remaining firmly in her prostrate position.
The Goa'uld was silent, but Cal'ma dared not look up for fear that she should displease the Queen.
Cal'ma believed herself fortunate to serve Nut. Where most gods were cruel and powerful, Nut cared nothing for power and revenge. Since Cal'ma had been in her service, indeed, since Cal'ma had been born, Nut had been searching for her mate.
Cal'ma loved her Queen fiercely, despite the Goa'uld's self serving nature. Nut, by comparison to most Goa'uld, was good. Her Jaffa and slaves were well cared for. She killed only to discipline those who deserved it. Often she healed their kind without placing them in the sarcophagus, which affected their minds.
Yes. Nut was a wonderful Queen to serve.
And Cal'ma served her Queen well.
"You have cleaned them?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"Attired them suitably for my presence?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"You serve me well, Cal'ma."
"It is my honour, my Queen."
She could feel the satisfaction and pleasure radiating from the Goa'uld.
"You may look upon me, Cal'ma."
Slowly Cal'ma straightened up, kneeling before her Queen with her eyes downcast.
"Yes, you do indeed serve me well. I will give the Tau'ri into your charge. Care for them, I want them whole."
Cal'ma's eyes flickered towards Nut. Care for the Tau'ri? But the Tau'ri were enemies of the Goa'uld.
Nut's eyes flashed, anger whip cutting like a whip through the air.
"You will do as I command. I am your goddess!"
"Yes, my Queen," Cal'ma whispered hastily, falling back down to her prostrate position.
"Good. When they are well you will present them too me."
"Yes, my Queen." Cal'ma's voice was shaking the same way her hands were shaking on the cold floor.
"You may go."
"Yes, my Queen."
Cal'ma rose hastily to her feet, her knees tearing painfully off the ground where they had stuck fast with sweat to the smooth surface. She said nothing, keeping her eyes lowered as she backed out of the room, continuously bowing.
The door hissed shut.
Cal'ma raised herself to her full height and stared at the door.
Care for the Tau'ri?
Her Queen had odd requests from time to time, but none as odd as this.
Care for the Tau'ri.
Heal the Tau'ri.
It was as good as trusting the Tau'ri.
~o0o~
The consciousness that washed over him brought a sharp pain with it, his head throbbing painfully even before he opened his eyes.
Light.
Pain.
He frowned, trying to remember.
Light.
Pain.
A scream.
He opened his eyes slowly. Waiting until the fuzziness cleared before he allowed himself to try and focus on his surroundings.
Gold. A golden roof with gaudy designs.
He groaned, not in pain but with disbelief.
Light.
Pain.
A scream.
A Goa'uld.
His eyes widened. A Goa'uld. A Goa'uld they had never seen before; Daniel hadn't even known who it was. Neither had Teal'c.
But it was a pretty important Goa'uld, judging by the amount of Jaffa that had been crawling around the place.
And the memory came out of nowhere. She'd died. In his arms. She'd whispered words to him and died while he held her, the sweetness of her breath drawing to a still against his dirty neck.
Carter was dead.
He didn't feel sorrow at the realisation.
He didn't feel anger.
He felt grief. Grief so intense that his breathing became jagged and everything around him faded to insignificance.
Carter was dead.
His eyes burnt just as hotly as his forehead, and he determinedly gazed up at the roof. He would not cry. He would not cry. He would not-
He felt the smooth warmth of a salty tear leak out of his eye and bleed down his cheek.
And what about Daniel and Teal'c? He could only hope they'd managed to escape, managed to avoid the rock fall that had unexpectedly cut of his and Carter's escape route.
Jack released a shuddering breath.
He couldn't just lie here. He couldn't just lie here and let his thoughts wander all over the Universe. He had to get out. He had to escape. He had to-
What was that?
His muscles were stiff and uncooperative, the pain reaching new heights as he forced his body to move, forced himself to roll over onto his side.
But the pain was worth it. His face broke into a broad, disbelieving smile. He stretched out a shaking hand and touched her arm quickly, pulling his limb back in relief. She was real. She was alive.
Carter moaned again in her sleep, her pale face strained and tense as she shifted.
He was getting tired again, the darkness crowding around his vision until small black spots danced across his eyes. But he watched her, feeling oddly relieved and comfortable as he slipped back into oblivion.
~o0o~
once again, that's end for now folks. Feedback and Reviews are absolutely *adored*, so Puh-lease SEND ME! (and no, I'm not above begging for it *G*) All constructive criticism is welcome too! (
But here's Part Three. I know it's not long, but I'm busy writing. Also, big thank you to everyone who has sent feedback and reviews, I'm pretty sure I've replied to everyone, but if I haven't then I definitely will soon!
To Suds: thank you for everything, you put up with an awful lot of crap. And I'm sorry about that.
Ps, if there are any mistakes, take them up with my beta! *winks*
Chapter Three
Daniel wiped the grit from his eyes, staring down tiredly at the books in front of him.
"You should get some rest, Daniel." Janet's voice disturbed his scattered thoughts.
"Hm? Oh."
"What are you doing?" She entered the room slowly, settling herself on the chair next to him and peering down at the scribbled writing on the pad.
"Trying to find Sam and Jack," Daniel stated mulishly.
Janet sighed, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Daniel, the teams are busy looking under the rubble now. You know that."
"So? I don't think they're buried there. I think that Goa'uld has them."
Janet sighed. Daniel looked up at her, his eyes shadowed.
"You don't even know which Goa'uld it was."
"So? There has to be something here somewhere, something alluding to who she was."
"Why don't you ask the Tok'ra?"
"We've tried. They're not responding. Hammond and Teal'c both think they've had to jump base again, which means they'll contact us when they're ready," Daniel admitted, stifling a yawn.
Janet reached over firmly and closed his book with a snap. "Bed, Daniel. Now."
He gazed up at her, defiance shining bright in his eyes. "I can't, Janet. They could be going through torture right now, and I would be sleeping. How would you feel if that happened?"
A half smile touched Janet's lips. "Well, if you suffer from sleep deprivation it will only take longer for you to reach the solution. You of all people should know that."
Daniel sighed again, his shoulder sagging as he lowered his head to his desk.
"We were so stupid, Janet. We didn't even see her ship. Had absolutely no idea that they were there."
"So you were ambushed."
Daniel gave a short, sharp bark of laughter. "No. They were just as surprised as we were. They just outnumbered us, that's all. So we ran, like you run when there's a Goa'uld on your tail." Daniel broke off, frowning. He turned to Janet thoughtfully. "You know, it was almost as though they were looking for something."
"For what?"
"I don't know. Maybe it'll be an idea to go over the writings and discoveries we've made on that planet. It might help us find out who she is."
"You do that. Tomorrow."
Daniel yawned again, putting his book down reluctantly. "Okay. But you have to go home as well, Cassie will be worried about you."
Janet patted his shoulder once before standing up. "I'll see tomorrow, Daniel."
"Bye Janet."
The echo of her clicking heels slowly faded down the silent hallway, and Daniel stared down at the papers on the desk in front of him for a long, long time.
Eventually he stood up, flicked the light off and shuffled out of the room, running a careless hand through his messy hair.
~o0o~
Cal'ma bowed low before her goddess, her forehead reverently touching the smooth step before Nut's throne.
"The Tau'ri?" The voice of her goddess was smooth and childlike, the soft tones washing over the priestess.
"They are still sleeping, my Queen," Cal'ma whispered, remaining firmly in her prostrate position.
The Goa'uld was silent, but Cal'ma dared not look up for fear that she should displease the Queen.
Cal'ma believed herself fortunate to serve Nut. Where most gods were cruel and powerful, Nut cared nothing for power and revenge. Since Cal'ma had been in her service, indeed, since Cal'ma had been born, Nut had been searching for her mate.
Cal'ma loved her Queen fiercely, despite the Goa'uld's self serving nature. Nut, by comparison to most Goa'uld, was good. Her Jaffa and slaves were well cared for. She killed only to discipline those who deserved it. Often she healed their kind without placing them in the sarcophagus, which affected their minds.
Yes. Nut was a wonderful Queen to serve.
And Cal'ma served her Queen well.
"You have cleaned them?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"Attired them suitably for my presence?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"You serve me well, Cal'ma."
"It is my honour, my Queen."
She could feel the satisfaction and pleasure radiating from the Goa'uld.
"You may look upon me, Cal'ma."
Slowly Cal'ma straightened up, kneeling before her Queen with her eyes downcast.
"Yes, you do indeed serve me well. I will give the Tau'ri into your charge. Care for them, I want them whole."
Cal'ma's eyes flickered towards Nut. Care for the Tau'ri? But the Tau'ri were enemies of the Goa'uld.
Nut's eyes flashed, anger whip cutting like a whip through the air.
"You will do as I command. I am your goddess!"
"Yes, my Queen," Cal'ma whispered hastily, falling back down to her prostrate position.
"Good. When they are well you will present them too me."
"Yes, my Queen." Cal'ma's voice was shaking the same way her hands were shaking on the cold floor.
"You may go."
"Yes, my Queen."
Cal'ma rose hastily to her feet, her knees tearing painfully off the ground where they had stuck fast with sweat to the smooth surface. She said nothing, keeping her eyes lowered as she backed out of the room, continuously bowing.
The door hissed shut.
Cal'ma raised herself to her full height and stared at the door.
Care for the Tau'ri?
Her Queen had odd requests from time to time, but none as odd as this.
Care for the Tau'ri.
Heal the Tau'ri.
It was as good as trusting the Tau'ri.
~o0o~
The consciousness that washed over him brought a sharp pain with it, his head throbbing painfully even before he opened his eyes.
Light.
Pain.
He frowned, trying to remember.
Light.
Pain.
A scream.
He opened his eyes slowly. Waiting until the fuzziness cleared before he allowed himself to try and focus on his surroundings.
Gold. A golden roof with gaudy designs.
He groaned, not in pain but with disbelief.
Light.
Pain.
A scream.
A Goa'uld.
His eyes widened. A Goa'uld. A Goa'uld they had never seen before; Daniel hadn't even known who it was. Neither had Teal'c.
But it was a pretty important Goa'uld, judging by the amount of Jaffa that had been crawling around the place.
And the memory came out of nowhere. She'd died. In his arms. She'd whispered words to him and died while he held her, the sweetness of her breath drawing to a still against his dirty neck.
Carter was dead.
He didn't feel sorrow at the realisation.
He didn't feel anger.
He felt grief. Grief so intense that his breathing became jagged and everything around him faded to insignificance.
Carter was dead.
His eyes burnt just as hotly as his forehead, and he determinedly gazed up at the roof. He would not cry. He would not cry. He would not-
He felt the smooth warmth of a salty tear leak out of his eye and bleed down his cheek.
And what about Daniel and Teal'c? He could only hope they'd managed to escape, managed to avoid the rock fall that had unexpectedly cut of his and Carter's escape route.
Jack released a shuddering breath.
He couldn't just lie here. He couldn't just lie here and let his thoughts wander all over the Universe. He had to get out. He had to escape. He had to-
What was that?
His muscles were stiff and uncooperative, the pain reaching new heights as he forced his body to move, forced himself to roll over onto his side.
But the pain was worth it. His face broke into a broad, disbelieving smile. He stretched out a shaking hand and touched her arm quickly, pulling his limb back in relief. She was real. She was alive.
Carter moaned again in her sleep, her pale face strained and tense as she shifted.
He was getting tired again, the darkness crowding around his vision until small black spots danced across his eyes. But he watched her, feeling oddly relieved and comfortable as he slipped back into oblivion.
~o0o~
once again, that's end for now folks. Feedback and Reviews are absolutely *adored*, so Puh-lease SEND ME! (and no, I'm not above begging for it *G*) All constructive criticism is welcome too! (