A/N: I need a pick-me-up. Send me feedback please.
And this one is a long one. compared to the others at least!
Hugs sharim
Chapter Fifteen
Apprehension was buzzing so loudly in Sam's mind that she was sure everyone around her could hear it.
The temple was dark and dim, dust clouds swirling around them in a whirlwind ballet. She coughed loudly as the particles invaded her airway, cutting off her air supply.
"You okay?" the Colonel's voice rasped in his throat and she could hear his difficulty to breathe.
"Silence!" a Jaffa snapped, and she felt the stab of a staff weapon in the small of her back. She stumbled forwards, her toes stubbing painfully against rocks and debris littering the ground beneath her sandal clad feet.
The party continued forward through the dimness, and once Sam's eyes started adjusting to the darkness she could make out forms of fallen greatness around her. A shiver rippled down her back and she stepped closer to the Colonel, letting her eyes rest on the dim pools of light where the watery sun shone through the cracks.
It was eerie; the place stank of death and destruction.
Something was lying on the floor ahead of them, something different to the surroundings.
Sam frowned, trying to make her eyes pick out the lines of the form lying in a pool of light. It didn't move, a limp bundle in the darkness. Her eyes widened as her mouth opened soundlessly, allowing a million more particles of dust to engulf her lungs.
Next to her the Colonel hissed in shock, his whole body jerking backwards.
Nut screamed; her voice cut through the air with a wail that sent fear shooting into Sam's heart.
"Geb!" the Goa'uld cried, pushing forwards past the Jaffa and collapsing onto her knees next to the figure of Geb.
Sam watched silently, her throat raw.
A Goa'uld, showing grief.
A Goa'uld that had loved.
She found the thought impossible to comprehend, so she just stared.
"Carter," O'Neill whispered in her ear, urgency on his voice.
"Sir?" She turned her face towards his, letting his breath wash over her cheek so that the guards couldn't hear.
"Something had to have done. that," he stumbled on the final word, and Sam shuddered in agreement.
A Goa'uld didn't just appear lying on the ground with its neck slit for no reason.
"What do you think-"
Something whistled through the air and the guard to their right dropped soundlessly.
"A rescue?" she asked hesitantly, not sure.
"Not one of our people. They'd never do."
Yes, she agreed with him. None of their people would stab a Goa'uld and then slit its neck even though it was dead.
"Who then?"
He shrugged, pulling her down to crouch on the ground.
None of the Jaffa had noticed their fallen comrade yet, their eyes still resting on their Queen who was overcome with grief.
Sam reached a hand out in the darkness, her fingers encountering the warm stickiness of fresh blood seeping from the Jaffa's chest. He grunted beneath her hand, and Sam steeled herself as she carefully grabbed the silver wrought hilt of the knife protruding from his chest.
The knife slipped out cleanly, the blood on the silver blade black and glistening in the darkness.
She shuddered in revulsion and quickly passed the knife over to the Colonel after wiping it clean on the Jaffa's cloak.
Someone was moving around them in the darkness, she could feel the air movements of his form as it brushed passed them.
She stiffened.
"Sir," her voice cracked awkwardly as she whispered, "it's a Goa'uld, Sir."
She felt O'Neill's hand tighten around her own as he pulled her gently backwards. Silently they crawled along the ground until they were sitting behind a fallen pillar, squashed tight against one another and barely breathing.
"What now?" she asked, not daring to move.
"We find the Stargate," he said firmly, putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick hug.
As her head pressed against his chest she felt the furious beat of his heart, and knew that her own echoed its frantic pace.
This was it. It was now or never.
~o0o~
Teal'c paused on the steps of the temple, his eyes straining into the darkness.
"Can you see anything?" Daniel Jackson whispered next to him.
"I can not," he shook his head. "We must enter."
Daniel Jackson sighed, reluctance etched upon his features, but he did not argue. Silently the three made their way into the blackness.
Teal'c flicked on a small torch, letting the frail beam play carefully over the ground before them for a few seconds before turning it off.
"They have passed this way," he told them.
"Nut?"
"I do believe so," Teal'c nodded in the darkness, knowing that his head movements would not be seen. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness slightly before continuing. "And I believe O'Neill and Major Carter as well."
He felt General Carter rest a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. The prints in the dust are not just of Jaffa. One set is Nut's and there are three others."
"Three?"
This puzzled Teal'c greatly, but he was certain that one of the sets belonged to Colonel O'Neill. Not many Jaffa wore military issue boots.
"Perhaps one is a priestess in attendance to Nut," Teal'c said thoughtfully as the small cracks of light played around his dulled vision.
"Let's go then," General Carter suggested, his voice low and soft.
Again, Teal'c nodded and stepped forwards slowly. The ground underfoot was rocky and uneven, splintered rocks littering the ground and abandoned objects scattered throughout the way. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Teal'c looked around carefully, alert for any signs of movement.
"I see something," General Carter whispered, his voice so soft Teal'c barely heard it in the thick, dusty air.
Peering into the direction that the Tok'ra's pale limb pointed, Teal'c could make out several forms huddled in the lighter part of the temple.
"I don't see Sam and Jack," Daniel Jackson whispered.
Teal'c frowned. "There are not enough people."
"There's one of the ground. it's Nut!" General Carter hissed excitedly.
"No," Teal'c cautioned as the Tok'ra raised his weapon. "Until we know of Major Carter and O'Neill's whereabouts it would be unwise to attack."
The Tok'ra grunted in agreement, and they crept closer.
"Did you see that?" Daniel Jackson hissed.
"What?" General Carter asked with a hint of annoyance on his voice.
"One of the Jaffa just killed another one."
"What?" the Tok'ra questioned in disbelief.
Teal'c remained silent, watching as a dark form moved steadily towards a lone Jaffa. Seconds later the Jaffa tumbled to the ground silently, and the form moved on to the next Jaffa.
"Jack?" General Carter asked softly.
No, the form was too lithe and too small to be O'Neill.
"How many Jaffa are left?" Daniel Jackson questioned.
Teal'c strained his eyes, his chin scraping roughly on the rock as leant forwards, trying to get closer.
"Perhaps 4 or 5."
"That leaves Nut, our mystery assailant and the possible priestess," General Carter counted off. "Can we take them out?"
"Until we know the whereabouts of O'Neill and Major Carter." Teal'c started out, falling silent as yet another Jaffa fell to the silent adversary.
The remaining Jaffa were murmuring now, he could see their agitated movements. Teal'c felt disgust that Jaffa could be so unaware and not realise that their comrades were being picked off silently, one by one.
"Show yourself!" A rasping voice commanded.
Teal'c watched as Nut stood to her full height in the dim pool of light, her tiny frame seeming to glow as the sparkling dust flew around her.
Another Jaffa dropped, and the remaining Jaffa shuffled towards Nut, their staff weapons raise and ready.
"I command you, Anhur!"
Teal'c's eyes widened in recognition. Anhur. The Hunter.
"You command me nothing, Nut." The voice was mocking, echoing in the darkness.
Anger flashed on Nut's face.
"You are a coward, Anhur. You hide in the darkness. Where is your honour?"
Anhur was a hunter, and a hunter never revealed himself to the prey until the hunt was over.
The Hunter laughed again, and Teal'c watched the form flit through the dark.
"You will be my prize, Nut. The prize to regain what I lost because of Geb."
Nut laughed boldly, the laugh light and tinkling.
"Ra is dead, Anhur. Killed by the ones I hold prisoner no less."
Anhur had been imprisoned. He would not have known Ra was destroyed.
"You lie!" Anhur screamed.
"I do not. The Tau'ri will prove it. Cal'ma!" The order was sharp and frantic, Nut looking around worriedly in the dark. From her position in the light she could not see Anhur's dark form gliding along the darkness.
Teal'c's hand gripped his staff weapon tightly. Soon. soon they would see O'Neill and Major Carter. and then they would attack. O'Neill and Major Carter could arm themselves with the fallen Jaffa's weapons. There were only three Jaffa remaining, and badly trained Jaffa at that.
A murmur of fear rippled through Nut's small escort.
A tall Jaffa priestess stepped up towards Nut.
Nut's face contorted in anger. The priestess was taller and bigger than the Goa'uld, but the Goa'uld slapped the dark cheek with such forcefulness that the Jaffa rolled across the room in the darkness, her body thudding dully as she bumped against the debris.
Teal'c frowned.
Where were O'Neill and Major Carter?
~o0o~
Anhur watched with dry amusement as Nut's forces fell to pieces around her.
The Goa'uld knew she was trapped and at his mercy.
Satisfaction and pride filled Anhur. His hunt had been successful. It was almost over now. One last, final kill to make before the victory was complete.
But he would not throw his kill away.
No. He would employ his full skill and cunning to trap the prey.
It was all the more challenging when the victim knew the hunt was on.
Anhur moved the darkness like a shadow; unnoticed and unheard. A ghost employed by Ra to wreak revenge on those who betrayed him.
Ra's Champion.
Anhur the Hunter.
First he would find his knife. A kill of this importance and magnificence should only be fulfilled with the right objects, and the ceremonial knife would be needed.
Silently Anhur turned to search for his knife, confident in the approaching victory.
The prey was frightened and trapped.
A certain victory.
~o0o~
Jack let go of Carter slowly, easing away from her tense form until he could peer carefully around the base of the refuge.
All he could see were forms of Jaffa huddling around Nut, their shadowed faces tight with concern as the light played on their features.
"Anhur?"
A strange stab of satisfaction rippled through him. The Goa'uld was afraid. And it felt damn good to hear the snake sound scared, almost begging for mercy. Reminded him that their war was worth it, that the Goa'uld were beatable.
Jack froze as someone brushed right past their rock, the silent form barely creating a noise as it moved across the ground.
He turned to Sam, his heart rate increasing another notch or two. "Carter," he hissed into her air, barely audible. "That Goa'uld is back."
He felt her nod her head against where his hand was pressed against her neck. She understood. They had to get weapons now and pick the Jaffa off while they still had the element of surprise.
"Go," she whispered.
He hesitated, touched her cheek in acknowledgement and slowly raise himself to his feet, hunched over low.
Beneath his feet the rocks clattered and crunched loudly, sounding like gunshots in the tense air.
The form ahead of him dropped slowly to the ground, and Jack readied himself for an attack.
The Goa'uld stayed low, moving oddly across the ground.
What was he doing?
The knife. The Goa'uld was looking for the knife clutched tightly within Jack's own hand. Hope flooded through Jack. If he could reach the Goa'uld before-
"Kree!"
Crap.
He froze, dropping as low as possible behind another boulder and peered in direction of the voice.
Carter. They had Carter!
Ahead of him the form stirred, a frustrated groan of rage rumbling softly from it. It knew someone had taken the knife, and it wasn't happy about it.
"Where is your mate, Tau'ri?" Nut demanded, still shielded behind her remaining Jaffa.
Carter kept quiet; Jack could see the stiffness of defiance in her stance, and he felt pride at her actions. She'd never let him down. Never.
"I will kill you. You hear, Tau'ri? I will kill your mate if you do not reveal yourself."
Jack swallowed, moving the knife from one hand to another to wipe his sweaty, dusty palms on his trousers.
A staff weapon charged, he watched the glow of energy as it played it.
"I give you one last chance, Tau'ri."
He had two choices, Jack realised, either give himself up - which just didn't work for him at all, or attack.
One shot at this. One only.
He gripped the knife handle carefully, deliberately turning his view away from Carter still standing with a staff weapon pointing at her in the darkness, and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
Slight movement ahead.
The knife was perfectly balanced. It cut cleanly through the air.
There was a soft thud and a groan, a brief flash of silver and then nothing.
Throwing caution to the wind Jack flew across to the fallen Goa'uld and pushed him aside, ignoring the half gasping sounds as the form died and scratched around the dead Jaffa.
Triumph as his fingers closed over a staff weapon.
He grabbed it and jumped up, ready to fire at the Goa'uld still standing in the light.
"Jack, wait!"
Daniel? What was Daniel doing here?
~o0o~
"Jack, wait! If you shoot her now then they'll kill Sam!" Daniel yelled.
Next to him Jacob Carter groaned in disgust and Teal'c immediately pulled him to the ground.
Daniel winced as his soft flesh was ground into the dirt, the rocks scraping against his cheek.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Jacob hissed. "Anhur is still out there!"
"Show yourselves or the woman dies!" Nut ordered.
"There are four of us, Teal'c, and only four Jaffa. If we take the one that's got Sam out first she'll grab his weapon," Jacob spoke urgently, his eyes flitting back to where Sam was standing in a small pool of light.
"Okay. Let's do it," Daniel agreed.
"Teal'c, you take care of the Jaffa holding Sam. Daniel, you take the close guard, and I'll take the far one and Jack will more than likely take care of the Jaffa closest to him."
"Very well."
"Okay, NOW!"
The M-16 was alive in Daniel's arms, spitting its vicious bullets directly onto the metal chest plate of his assigned Jaffa. The Jaffa didn't stand a chance beneath the onslaught and staggered backwards against the force until one round finally made it through and struck his fragile body.
Around Daniel staff weapons were still firing, lighting up the darkness with brief spurts of light.
Noise bounced around walls like the showers of rock and dirt knocked out by stray bullets.
And then silence.
Dust stung in Daniel's eyes and dust clogged his throat. What happened? What was happening? Was everyone okay?
Next to him Daniel heard Jacob draw in a strangled breath of shock, and Daniel peered into the dusty air.
He swallowed. Oh shit, oh shit oh shit. no!
"Carter!" Jack's scream tore through the air. Daniel watched as he ran across the floor, stumbling over fallen Jaffa and rubble, his face strangely terrified where the light bounced across his features. "Carter! No!"
Daniel started to run, but Teal'c stopped, him, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him low.
"Silence!"
Daniel almost laughed hysterically. Even now the Goa'uld were still busy ordering people around.
"Teal'c, you go around her back. Daniel and I will be the decoy. It's only Nut, one Jaffa and Anhur as far as I can tell," Jacob ordered.
Daniel nodded slowly, lead tightening in his stomach.
Sam.
They'd lost Sam.
Teal'c left silently, Daniel didn't even realise he'd gone until Jacob gently tugged on Daniel's sleeve to lead him toward a new shelter.
Jacob.
How did Jacob feel knowing his daughter was dead?
"Reveal yourselves and I will spare you," Nut's voice ran throughout the darkness.
"Daniel, she knows there's more than one of us. She doesn't know how many though. We'll give Teal'c another two minutes to get into position and then we'll show ourselves. The minute Teal'c attacks get back down and do what's necessary."
"What about Jack?" Daniel demanded, glancing over at the Jaffa pointing a staff weapon at Jack who was now sitting by Sam's. Sam's body.
"I'll take care of him," Jacob said grimly.
Daniel nodded.
Two minutes stretched for an eternity.
"I will kill the Tau'ri," Nut threatened.
"How do I know you won't kill us?" Jacob yelled out loudly, his voice muffled with dust.
"You have my word."
Daniel almost laughed out loud.
"Get ready," Jacob whispered. "Here we go."
They stood up slowly, clutching their staff weapons down alongside their bodies in order to buy a few precious seconds when the time came.
"Is that all of you?" Nut demanded incredulously. "Two Tau'ri?"
Neither of them answered as they slowly picked their way across the rubble towards Nut.
From the darkness the sound of a staff weapon broke the silence.
Nut staggered as she was hit, shock clearly depicted on her delicate features.
"Again!" Jacob screamed, raising his own weapon and shooting the remaining Jaffa before Daniel even had time to think.
"No!" A strange voice cut through the darkness. Daniel watched as a Jaffa Priestess stepped up next to Jack, a knife glinting silver in the pale light as she held it against his throat.
"I will kill the Tau'ri if you harm Nut again."
~o0o~
Cal'ma's hands were shaking as she held the blade steady against the Tau'ri's throat.
He swallowed roughly, betrayal and disappointment shining in his eyes.
She was not betraying him. She had never been on his side.
She was on Nut's side.
Nut was her Queen.
Nut was her life.
"Cal'ma," he whispered desperately, fear in his eyes. "You don't have to do this-"
She pressed the knife tightly against him, the keen blade drawing a thing, barely visible line of blood against his dusty skin. She watched as the blood welled long the cut, blooming into a red necklace until it beaded slowly on his dust-covered neck.
"Cal'ma, you are a most loyal subject," Nut purred.
Cal'ma smiled in enjoyment. Nut was happy with her. Nut was most pleased with Cal'ma. Relief ran through Cal'ma's veins.
Together, Cal'ma and Nut had defeated the Tau'ri, and-
The Tau'ri moved like lightening, his limbs behaving like a wild cat as he jerked away from her and sprang upwards, grabbing hold of her hands covering the hilt and driving the pointed blade deep within her breast.
Cal'ma gasped in shock, her eyes wide and her voice soundless as she gazed up at him, stunned.
"You." her voice would not work, no sound came from her throat.
Her eyes fluttered shut and her body felt cold.
Nut. She had served Nut well. She. had. honoured.
~o0o~
He lowered the staff weapon slowly, his eyes watching as Nut's eyes glowed one final time before they dulled and the frail body collapsed soundlessly.
He swallowed, before finally turning to face the picture that he hadn't wanted to see.
Sam lying dead in Jack's arms.
"We should leave this place," Teal'c's voice intruded rudely on the silence. "Nut's ship is still present along with all her Jaffa. Should they all be as loyal as the Priestess."
Jacob nodded, his eyes burning.
"We should go, Jack," he said softly.
Jack grunted, getting awkwardly to his feet. "How do we leave?"
"We came in a ship."
"She won't make it back. I'll take her back through the Stargate."
She won't.
Jacob rushed to the ground next to his daughter.
Her chest was rising and falling slowly, the air barely passing over her lips. But she alive. He touched her cheek gently, letting his fingers trail down her throat to rest on the pulse fluttering weakly in her chest.
"Jack, are you okay?" Daniel's voice was concerned, and Jacob turned to cast half a glance on Jack.
Jack swayed.
"Uh."
Jack collapsed.
"Teal'c, you take Jack and I'll take Sam." The orders were barked out with military precision as Jacob picked Sam up quickly and carefully, eyeing the blood soaked binding Jack must have put around her waist.
The trip to the Stargate had never taken longer and Sam had never felt heavier. With each step she jolted in his arms and he watched as her blood continued to seep steadily from the bandage. Jack was right; she'd never last the journey home in the ship.
The Stargate was their only hope.
Daniel was already at the DHD, his form small and blurred in the distance.
She will be fine, Jacob. She is strong.
He grunted, stumbling over a loose rock.
Not if I drop her she won't, he retorted sharply, his eyes focused on the ring growing ever closer.
The wormhole established, the unstable vortex shooting out with its usual display of brilliance. For a second it lit the surrounding grey world up, casting and eerie blue glow over the greyness.
Jacob shivered; he'd be happy when they left this place.
"Daniel, you'll have to take her through," Jacob wheezed, stumbling to halt. "Can you carry her?"
Daniel nodded silently and accepted Sam's frail form into his hold.
"Be careful with her," Jacob begged, tears stinging in his eyes.
Daniel nodded again, and Jacob pressed a quick kiss to his daughter's forehead.
She was going to be okay.
She had to be okay.
Sam was too stubborn to die now.
"I will send O'Neill through after you, Daniel Jackson."
Jacob turned to Teal'c, confused.
"I will accompany you on your return, General Carter."
Jacob nodded in agreement; it would be nice to have Teal'c on the trip home. The Jaffa was wonderful for talking and reasoning with. And he'd provide a third party in a debate against Selmak.
Selmak groaned in annoyance.
Jacob smiled tightly.
"I'll tell Janet," Daniel promised. "Be careful."
He stepped through the gate. They waited a few minutes and then Teal'c carefully fed Jack through the gate.
The wormhole disengaged and they were left standing alone in the greyness.
~o0o~
Thanks for the feedback etc, there is more coming, I promise!
And this one is a long one. compared to the others at least!
Hugs sharim
Chapter Fifteen
Apprehension was buzzing so loudly in Sam's mind that she was sure everyone around her could hear it.
The temple was dark and dim, dust clouds swirling around them in a whirlwind ballet. She coughed loudly as the particles invaded her airway, cutting off her air supply.
"You okay?" the Colonel's voice rasped in his throat and she could hear his difficulty to breathe.
"Silence!" a Jaffa snapped, and she felt the stab of a staff weapon in the small of her back. She stumbled forwards, her toes stubbing painfully against rocks and debris littering the ground beneath her sandal clad feet.
The party continued forward through the dimness, and once Sam's eyes started adjusting to the darkness she could make out forms of fallen greatness around her. A shiver rippled down her back and she stepped closer to the Colonel, letting her eyes rest on the dim pools of light where the watery sun shone through the cracks.
It was eerie; the place stank of death and destruction.
Something was lying on the floor ahead of them, something different to the surroundings.
Sam frowned, trying to make her eyes pick out the lines of the form lying in a pool of light. It didn't move, a limp bundle in the darkness. Her eyes widened as her mouth opened soundlessly, allowing a million more particles of dust to engulf her lungs.
Next to her the Colonel hissed in shock, his whole body jerking backwards.
Nut screamed; her voice cut through the air with a wail that sent fear shooting into Sam's heart.
"Geb!" the Goa'uld cried, pushing forwards past the Jaffa and collapsing onto her knees next to the figure of Geb.
Sam watched silently, her throat raw.
A Goa'uld, showing grief.
A Goa'uld that had loved.
She found the thought impossible to comprehend, so she just stared.
"Carter," O'Neill whispered in her ear, urgency on his voice.
"Sir?" She turned her face towards his, letting his breath wash over her cheek so that the guards couldn't hear.
"Something had to have done. that," he stumbled on the final word, and Sam shuddered in agreement.
A Goa'uld didn't just appear lying on the ground with its neck slit for no reason.
"What do you think-"
Something whistled through the air and the guard to their right dropped soundlessly.
"A rescue?" she asked hesitantly, not sure.
"Not one of our people. They'd never do."
Yes, she agreed with him. None of their people would stab a Goa'uld and then slit its neck even though it was dead.
"Who then?"
He shrugged, pulling her down to crouch on the ground.
None of the Jaffa had noticed their fallen comrade yet, their eyes still resting on their Queen who was overcome with grief.
Sam reached a hand out in the darkness, her fingers encountering the warm stickiness of fresh blood seeping from the Jaffa's chest. He grunted beneath her hand, and Sam steeled herself as she carefully grabbed the silver wrought hilt of the knife protruding from his chest.
The knife slipped out cleanly, the blood on the silver blade black and glistening in the darkness.
She shuddered in revulsion and quickly passed the knife over to the Colonel after wiping it clean on the Jaffa's cloak.
Someone was moving around them in the darkness, she could feel the air movements of his form as it brushed passed them.
She stiffened.
"Sir," her voice cracked awkwardly as she whispered, "it's a Goa'uld, Sir."
She felt O'Neill's hand tighten around her own as he pulled her gently backwards. Silently they crawled along the ground until they were sitting behind a fallen pillar, squashed tight against one another and barely breathing.
"What now?" she asked, not daring to move.
"We find the Stargate," he said firmly, putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her a quick hug.
As her head pressed against his chest she felt the furious beat of his heart, and knew that her own echoed its frantic pace.
This was it. It was now or never.
~o0o~
Teal'c paused on the steps of the temple, his eyes straining into the darkness.
"Can you see anything?" Daniel Jackson whispered next to him.
"I can not," he shook his head. "We must enter."
Daniel Jackson sighed, reluctance etched upon his features, but he did not argue. Silently the three made their way into the blackness.
Teal'c flicked on a small torch, letting the frail beam play carefully over the ground before them for a few seconds before turning it off.
"They have passed this way," he told them.
"Nut?"
"I do believe so," Teal'c nodded in the darkness, knowing that his head movements would not be seen. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness slightly before continuing. "And I believe O'Neill and Major Carter as well."
He felt General Carter rest a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. The prints in the dust are not just of Jaffa. One set is Nut's and there are three others."
"Three?"
This puzzled Teal'c greatly, but he was certain that one of the sets belonged to Colonel O'Neill. Not many Jaffa wore military issue boots.
"Perhaps one is a priestess in attendance to Nut," Teal'c said thoughtfully as the small cracks of light played around his dulled vision.
"Let's go then," General Carter suggested, his voice low and soft.
Again, Teal'c nodded and stepped forwards slowly. The ground underfoot was rocky and uneven, splintered rocks littering the ground and abandoned objects scattered throughout the way. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Teal'c looked around carefully, alert for any signs of movement.
"I see something," General Carter whispered, his voice so soft Teal'c barely heard it in the thick, dusty air.
Peering into the direction that the Tok'ra's pale limb pointed, Teal'c could make out several forms huddled in the lighter part of the temple.
"I don't see Sam and Jack," Daniel Jackson whispered.
Teal'c frowned. "There are not enough people."
"There's one of the ground. it's Nut!" General Carter hissed excitedly.
"No," Teal'c cautioned as the Tok'ra raised his weapon. "Until we know of Major Carter and O'Neill's whereabouts it would be unwise to attack."
The Tok'ra grunted in agreement, and they crept closer.
"Did you see that?" Daniel Jackson hissed.
"What?" General Carter asked with a hint of annoyance on his voice.
"One of the Jaffa just killed another one."
"What?" the Tok'ra questioned in disbelief.
Teal'c remained silent, watching as a dark form moved steadily towards a lone Jaffa. Seconds later the Jaffa tumbled to the ground silently, and the form moved on to the next Jaffa.
"Jack?" General Carter asked softly.
No, the form was too lithe and too small to be O'Neill.
"How many Jaffa are left?" Daniel Jackson questioned.
Teal'c strained his eyes, his chin scraping roughly on the rock as leant forwards, trying to get closer.
"Perhaps 4 or 5."
"That leaves Nut, our mystery assailant and the possible priestess," General Carter counted off. "Can we take them out?"
"Until we know the whereabouts of O'Neill and Major Carter." Teal'c started out, falling silent as yet another Jaffa fell to the silent adversary.
The remaining Jaffa were murmuring now, he could see their agitated movements. Teal'c felt disgust that Jaffa could be so unaware and not realise that their comrades were being picked off silently, one by one.
"Show yourself!" A rasping voice commanded.
Teal'c watched as Nut stood to her full height in the dim pool of light, her tiny frame seeming to glow as the sparkling dust flew around her.
Another Jaffa dropped, and the remaining Jaffa shuffled towards Nut, their staff weapons raise and ready.
"I command you, Anhur!"
Teal'c's eyes widened in recognition. Anhur. The Hunter.
"You command me nothing, Nut." The voice was mocking, echoing in the darkness.
Anger flashed on Nut's face.
"You are a coward, Anhur. You hide in the darkness. Where is your honour?"
Anhur was a hunter, and a hunter never revealed himself to the prey until the hunt was over.
The Hunter laughed again, and Teal'c watched the form flit through the dark.
"You will be my prize, Nut. The prize to regain what I lost because of Geb."
Nut laughed boldly, the laugh light and tinkling.
"Ra is dead, Anhur. Killed by the ones I hold prisoner no less."
Anhur had been imprisoned. He would not have known Ra was destroyed.
"You lie!" Anhur screamed.
"I do not. The Tau'ri will prove it. Cal'ma!" The order was sharp and frantic, Nut looking around worriedly in the dark. From her position in the light she could not see Anhur's dark form gliding along the darkness.
Teal'c's hand gripped his staff weapon tightly. Soon. soon they would see O'Neill and Major Carter. and then they would attack. O'Neill and Major Carter could arm themselves with the fallen Jaffa's weapons. There were only three Jaffa remaining, and badly trained Jaffa at that.
A murmur of fear rippled through Nut's small escort.
A tall Jaffa priestess stepped up towards Nut.
Nut's face contorted in anger. The priestess was taller and bigger than the Goa'uld, but the Goa'uld slapped the dark cheek with such forcefulness that the Jaffa rolled across the room in the darkness, her body thudding dully as she bumped against the debris.
Teal'c frowned.
Where were O'Neill and Major Carter?
~o0o~
Anhur watched with dry amusement as Nut's forces fell to pieces around her.
The Goa'uld knew she was trapped and at his mercy.
Satisfaction and pride filled Anhur. His hunt had been successful. It was almost over now. One last, final kill to make before the victory was complete.
But he would not throw his kill away.
No. He would employ his full skill and cunning to trap the prey.
It was all the more challenging when the victim knew the hunt was on.
Anhur moved the darkness like a shadow; unnoticed and unheard. A ghost employed by Ra to wreak revenge on those who betrayed him.
Ra's Champion.
Anhur the Hunter.
First he would find his knife. A kill of this importance and magnificence should only be fulfilled with the right objects, and the ceremonial knife would be needed.
Silently Anhur turned to search for his knife, confident in the approaching victory.
The prey was frightened and trapped.
A certain victory.
~o0o~
Jack let go of Carter slowly, easing away from her tense form until he could peer carefully around the base of the refuge.
All he could see were forms of Jaffa huddling around Nut, their shadowed faces tight with concern as the light played on their features.
"Anhur?"
A strange stab of satisfaction rippled through him. The Goa'uld was afraid. And it felt damn good to hear the snake sound scared, almost begging for mercy. Reminded him that their war was worth it, that the Goa'uld were beatable.
Jack froze as someone brushed right past their rock, the silent form barely creating a noise as it moved across the ground.
He turned to Sam, his heart rate increasing another notch or two. "Carter," he hissed into her air, barely audible. "That Goa'uld is back."
He felt her nod her head against where his hand was pressed against her neck. She understood. They had to get weapons now and pick the Jaffa off while they still had the element of surprise.
"Go," she whispered.
He hesitated, touched her cheek in acknowledgement and slowly raise himself to his feet, hunched over low.
Beneath his feet the rocks clattered and crunched loudly, sounding like gunshots in the tense air.
The form ahead of him dropped slowly to the ground, and Jack readied himself for an attack.
The Goa'uld stayed low, moving oddly across the ground.
What was he doing?
The knife. The Goa'uld was looking for the knife clutched tightly within Jack's own hand. Hope flooded through Jack. If he could reach the Goa'uld before-
"Kree!"
Crap.
He froze, dropping as low as possible behind another boulder and peered in direction of the voice.
Carter. They had Carter!
Ahead of him the form stirred, a frustrated groan of rage rumbling softly from it. It knew someone had taken the knife, and it wasn't happy about it.
"Where is your mate, Tau'ri?" Nut demanded, still shielded behind her remaining Jaffa.
Carter kept quiet; Jack could see the stiffness of defiance in her stance, and he felt pride at her actions. She'd never let him down. Never.
"I will kill you. You hear, Tau'ri? I will kill your mate if you do not reveal yourself."
Jack swallowed, moving the knife from one hand to another to wipe his sweaty, dusty palms on his trousers.
A staff weapon charged, he watched the glow of energy as it played it.
"I give you one last chance, Tau'ri."
He had two choices, Jack realised, either give himself up - which just didn't work for him at all, or attack.
One shot at this. One only.
He gripped the knife handle carefully, deliberately turning his view away from Carter still standing with a staff weapon pointing at her in the darkness, and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
Slight movement ahead.
The knife was perfectly balanced. It cut cleanly through the air.
There was a soft thud and a groan, a brief flash of silver and then nothing.
Throwing caution to the wind Jack flew across to the fallen Goa'uld and pushed him aside, ignoring the half gasping sounds as the form died and scratched around the dead Jaffa.
Triumph as his fingers closed over a staff weapon.
He grabbed it and jumped up, ready to fire at the Goa'uld still standing in the light.
"Jack, wait!"
Daniel? What was Daniel doing here?
~o0o~
"Jack, wait! If you shoot her now then they'll kill Sam!" Daniel yelled.
Next to him Jacob Carter groaned in disgust and Teal'c immediately pulled him to the ground.
Daniel winced as his soft flesh was ground into the dirt, the rocks scraping against his cheek.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Jacob hissed. "Anhur is still out there!"
"Show yourselves or the woman dies!" Nut ordered.
"There are four of us, Teal'c, and only four Jaffa. If we take the one that's got Sam out first she'll grab his weapon," Jacob spoke urgently, his eyes flitting back to where Sam was standing in a small pool of light.
"Okay. Let's do it," Daniel agreed.
"Teal'c, you take care of the Jaffa holding Sam. Daniel, you take the close guard, and I'll take the far one and Jack will more than likely take care of the Jaffa closest to him."
"Very well."
"Okay, NOW!"
The M-16 was alive in Daniel's arms, spitting its vicious bullets directly onto the metal chest plate of his assigned Jaffa. The Jaffa didn't stand a chance beneath the onslaught and staggered backwards against the force until one round finally made it through and struck his fragile body.
Around Daniel staff weapons were still firing, lighting up the darkness with brief spurts of light.
Noise bounced around walls like the showers of rock and dirt knocked out by stray bullets.
And then silence.
Dust stung in Daniel's eyes and dust clogged his throat. What happened? What was happening? Was everyone okay?
Next to him Daniel heard Jacob draw in a strangled breath of shock, and Daniel peered into the dusty air.
He swallowed. Oh shit, oh shit oh shit. no!
"Carter!" Jack's scream tore through the air. Daniel watched as he ran across the floor, stumbling over fallen Jaffa and rubble, his face strangely terrified where the light bounced across his features. "Carter! No!"
Daniel started to run, but Teal'c stopped, him, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him low.
"Silence!"
Daniel almost laughed hysterically. Even now the Goa'uld were still busy ordering people around.
"Teal'c, you go around her back. Daniel and I will be the decoy. It's only Nut, one Jaffa and Anhur as far as I can tell," Jacob ordered.
Daniel nodded slowly, lead tightening in his stomach.
Sam.
They'd lost Sam.
Teal'c left silently, Daniel didn't even realise he'd gone until Jacob gently tugged on Daniel's sleeve to lead him toward a new shelter.
Jacob.
How did Jacob feel knowing his daughter was dead?
"Reveal yourselves and I will spare you," Nut's voice ran throughout the darkness.
"Daniel, she knows there's more than one of us. She doesn't know how many though. We'll give Teal'c another two minutes to get into position and then we'll show ourselves. The minute Teal'c attacks get back down and do what's necessary."
"What about Jack?" Daniel demanded, glancing over at the Jaffa pointing a staff weapon at Jack who was now sitting by Sam's. Sam's body.
"I'll take care of him," Jacob said grimly.
Daniel nodded.
Two minutes stretched for an eternity.
"I will kill the Tau'ri," Nut threatened.
"How do I know you won't kill us?" Jacob yelled out loudly, his voice muffled with dust.
"You have my word."
Daniel almost laughed out loud.
"Get ready," Jacob whispered. "Here we go."
They stood up slowly, clutching their staff weapons down alongside their bodies in order to buy a few precious seconds when the time came.
"Is that all of you?" Nut demanded incredulously. "Two Tau'ri?"
Neither of them answered as they slowly picked their way across the rubble towards Nut.
From the darkness the sound of a staff weapon broke the silence.
Nut staggered as she was hit, shock clearly depicted on her delicate features.
"Again!" Jacob screamed, raising his own weapon and shooting the remaining Jaffa before Daniel even had time to think.
"No!" A strange voice cut through the darkness. Daniel watched as a Jaffa Priestess stepped up next to Jack, a knife glinting silver in the pale light as she held it against his throat.
"I will kill the Tau'ri if you harm Nut again."
~o0o~
Cal'ma's hands were shaking as she held the blade steady against the Tau'ri's throat.
He swallowed roughly, betrayal and disappointment shining in his eyes.
She was not betraying him. She had never been on his side.
She was on Nut's side.
Nut was her Queen.
Nut was her life.
"Cal'ma," he whispered desperately, fear in his eyes. "You don't have to do this-"
She pressed the knife tightly against him, the keen blade drawing a thing, barely visible line of blood against his dusty skin. She watched as the blood welled long the cut, blooming into a red necklace until it beaded slowly on his dust-covered neck.
"Cal'ma, you are a most loyal subject," Nut purred.
Cal'ma smiled in enjoyment. Nut was happy with her. Nut was most pleased with Cal'ma. Relief ran through Cal'ma's veins.
Together, Cal'ma and Nut had defeated the Tau'ri, and-
The Tau'ri moved like lightening, his limbs behaving like a wild cat as he jerked away from her and sprang upwards, grabbing hold of her hands covering the hilt and driving the pointed blade deep within her breast.
Cal'ma gasped in shock, her eyes wide and her voice soundless as she gazed up at him, stunned.
"You." her voice would not work, no sound came from her throat.
Her eyes fluttered shut and her body felt cold.
Nut. She had served Nut well. She. had. honoured.
~o0o~
He lowered the staff weapon slowly, his eyes watching as Nut's eyes glowed one final time before they dulled and the frail body collapsed soundlessly.
He swallowed, before finally turning to face the picture that he hadn't wanted to see.
Sam lying dead in Jack's arms.
"We should leave this place," Teal'c's voice intruded rudely on the silence. "Nut's ship is still present along with all her Jaffa. Should they all be as loyal as the Priestess."
Jacob nodded, his eyes burning.
"We should go, Jack," he said softly.
Jack grunted, getting awkwardly to his feet. "How do we leave?"
"We came in a ship."
"She won't make it back. I'll take her back through the Stargate."
She won't.
Jacob rushed to the ground next to his daughter.
Her chest was rising and falling slowly, the air barely passing over her lips. But she alive. He touched her cheek gently, letting his fingers trail down her throat to rest on the pulse fluttering weakly in her chest.
"Jack, are you okay?" Daniel's voice was concerned, and Jacob turned to cast half a glance on Jack.
Jack swayed.
"Uh."
Jack collapsed.
"Teal'c, you take Jack and I'll take Sam." The orders were barked out with military precision as Jacob picked Sam up quickly and carefully, eyeing the blood soaked binding Jack must have put around her waist.
The trip to the Stargate had never taken longer and Sam had never felt heavier. With each step she jolted in his arms and he watched as her blood continued to seep steadily from the bandage. Jack was right; she'd never last the journey home in the ship.
The Stargate was their only hope.
Daniel was already at the DHD, his form small and blurred in the distance.
She will be fine, Jacob. She is strong.
He grunted, stumbling over a loose rock.
Not if I drop her she won't, he retorted sharply, his eyes focused on the ring growing ever closer.
The wormhole established, the unstable vortex shooting out with its usual display of brilliance. For a second it lit the surrounding grey world up, casting and eerie blue glow over the greyness.
Jacob shivered; he'd be happy when they left this place.
"Daniel, you'll have to take her through," Jacob wheezed, stumbling to halt. "Can you carry her?"
Daniel nodded silently and accepted Sam's frail form into his hold.
"Be careful with her," Jacob begged, tears stinging in his eyes.
Daniel nodded again, and Jacob pressed a quick kiss to his daughter's forehead.
She was going to be okay.
She had to be okay.
Sam was too stubborn to die now.
"I will send O'Neill through after you, Daniel Jackson."
Jacob turned to Teal'c, confused.
"I will accompany you on your return, General Carter."
Jacob nodded in agreement; it would be nice to have Teal'c on the trip home. The Jaffa was wonderful for talking and reasoning with. And he'd provide a third party in a debate against Selmak.
Selmak groaned in annoyance.
Jacob smiled tightly.
"I'll tell Janet," Daniel promised. "Be careful."
He stepped through the gate. They waited a few minutes and then Teal'c carefully fed Jack through the gate.
The wormhole disengaged and they were left standing alone in the greyness.
~o0o~
Thanks for the feedback etc, there is more coming, I promise!