Chapter 4

"Jack. Jack, I need you to wake up."

Jack blinked and Daniel's face slowly slid into focus. Daniel's brows drew together, worry lines etching his forehead and the corners of his eyes. A spectacular bruise was blooming on his right cheek, and blood trailed down the side of his face.

"'M up, 'm up. Ah--shit." Jack grimaced as pain returned on the heels of awareness.

Daniel pressed a hand to Jack's chest. "Don't move. Just tell me where you're hurt."

"Everywhere."

Daniel rolled his eyes, but looked worried rather than exasperated. "Could you be a bit more specific?"

"You want a list? Fine. Probable concussion, couple a cracked ribs, a superficial staff burn to the shoulder. Happy?"

A little of the tension seeped out of Daniel's body. He helped Jack unbutton and remove his fatigue shirt, easing it carefully off the injured shoulder. After a moment's consideration, he pulled out a knife and cut away the tee shirt. "Not happy, Jack. I can't predict how long we'll have to wait before Sam and Teal'c bring the cavalry and all I've got is the med kit from my pack. Minor injuries I can handle but..."

//Anything serious and I'm screwed.//

Which was precisely why he had no intention of telling Daniel about the sullen ache deep in his abdomen. He'd been around the block a few times, enough to recognize when something was busted inside. He watched Daniel open the med kit, fumbling antibiotic cream and bandages with shaking hands. Best to keep his friend in the dark for as long as possible. If Jack was hemorrhaging internally, there was nothing Daniel could do but agonize over it.

Pain lanced through his shoulder.

"Ow! Damn it, Daniel! Take it easy!"

"Sorry." Daniel's cheeks were pasty white, a stark contrast to the dark red blood. He continued spreading cream over the charred flesh, biting hard on his lower lip. "I know I'm not very good at this. I wish Sam was here, too."

Jack laughed, then choked. "Carter's no...angel of mercy... She sucks...at this."

"Jack!" Daniel's tone was reproachful, but his hands steadied. After a moment he quietly asked, "Really?"

"I'm lucky...I've still got my leg. Thought she was gonna...twist it off."

Daniel's lips twitched as he covered the wound with gauze pads. Jack waited a beat.

"'Course...she's a heck of a lot...better looking."

Success! Daniel chuffed a weak laugh. "That's gratitude for you." He finished bandaging the wound and sat back on his heels. "I'm not sure what to do about your ribs."

"Rip that...into strips." Jack gestured to his tee shirt. "Wrap around...chest. Helps stabilize...breathe easier."

Jack tipped his head back against the wall, closed his eyes, and concentrated on pulling air into his lungs. Now that the adrenaline rush had dissipated, the pain was unbearable. All he wanted was to sleep, to escape for a little while, but he couldn't let go just yet. He looked at Daniel.

"What happened back there?"

Daniel's face closed off. He began tying the cotton strips together, focusing on the task and evading Jack's gaze. "I thought we covered that already. You did something incredibly stupid and got zapped for your trouble."

"Yeah, that much...I got. It's the rest that's...a bit fuzzy."

"Hold this." Daniel pressed one end of the strips to Jack's chest. When Jack anchored it in place, he began wrapping the material snugly around Jack's ribcage.

"So, I--ah! Not so...so tight." Jack puffed for breath until the pain eased. "I repeat--what happened?"

"I took out the Jaffa who shot you, threw you over my shoulder, and ran like hell."

Jack watched his friend through narrowed eyes. Daniel's voice was strained, his manner uncomfortable. He was omitting something important.

"Took out? How?"

Daniel tied off the makeshift bindings and sat back on his heels. He mopped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve, inadvertently smearing fresh blood down his cheek. "It's not pretty, but it should help."

"Daniel."

"Jack?"

Jack sighed, grabbing hold of his friend's wrist when Daniel started dabbing at Jack's split lip. "How did you take out the Jaffa?"

Daniel's shoulders curled inward. "I, ah... I grabbed your P90 while he was focused on you. I shot him." He looked away, jaw clenched. "And when the other one started waking up, I shot him, too."

Bingo. Now things were beginning to make sense.

"You had no choice." Jack squeezed his friend's arm until Daniel gasped and looked him in the eye. "You saved my life. Thank you."

"Yeah, well, you'd just done the whole swan dive thing. I couldn't let you show me up."

Jack released his grip. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Daniel dabbed at the lip again.

Jack cursed when the antiseptic burned. "Ow! Enough, Daniel. Just..." He gentled his tone. "Give me a break and take care of yourself, okay?"

"I told you, Jack. I'm fine."

"Really?" Jack ran his index finger down the side of Daniel's face and showed his friend.

Daniel's jaw dropped and he instinctively brought his hand up. When he felt the sticky blood, he grimaced. "Guess he hit me harder than I thought."

"Ya think?"

Jack leaned back against the wall, watching through slitted eyes as Daniel awkwardly cleaned the gash that was concealed by the hair just above his ear. When he'd bandaged the wound as best he could, Daniel collapsed beside Jack and passed him the canteen and some Tylenol.

The first mouthful slipped down his throat, deliciously wet and cool, reawakening the sleeping giant of his thirst. Jack chugged several more gulps before common sense kicked in. Wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, he tried to return the canteen.

Daniel blocked the attempt, gesturing for Jack to take another drink. "Go ahead. I'm fine."

Jack couldn't resist a few more swallows. He licked his lips as he pressed the canteen firmly into Daniel's hands. "Go on. You hauled me at least a couple miles in that sauna out there. You must be thirsty."

Daniel took a few anemic sips, shrugging when Jack frowned. "I had some earlier, when you were still pretty out of it. Besides, you need it more. Puking dehydrates you."

"Thank you so much for that reminder, Dr. Jackson."

"You're welcome."

"You should head back to the 'gate." Jack's tongue felt thick and clumsy. He forced his heavy eyelids open. "Find Sam and Teal'c."

"I'm not leaving you alone. Besides, the woods are swarming with Jaffa." Daniel's cool fingers touched his cheek. "You want to lie down?"

Jack shook his head, regretting it when the world dipped and spun. "Sit up. Breathe easier." Waves of darkness lapped at the edges of his vision; he let his eyes flutter shut. "Jus'...gimme a minute. Need a minute."

Daniel's voice sounded hollow, as if he were speaking from the end of a long tunnel. "Sleep, Jack. I got your six."

He wanted to argue but another wave rolled in and swept him away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pain. Everywhere. Even his damn hair hurt.

Jack pried open sticky eyelids. He was curled on his uninjured side, Daniel's pack and a thermal blanket tucked under his head. The cool stone chilled him to the bone, raising gooseflesh on his arms and stiffening already abused muscles. The cave was bathed in deep shadows now; he could barely make out his hand in front of his face.

Jack pushed himself upright, groaning. His shoulder burned, the dull ache in his gut blossomed into razor-sharp agony, and someone was playing a drum solo in his head. Jack folded over, arms clutching his stomach.

"Daniel?"

Was that weak, pathetic croak his voice? Jack gritted his teeth and eased back against the wall, panting as if he'd run a marathon. Shivers wracked his body, but the blanket now lay tantalizingly out of reach.

"Danny?"

The name echoed off the walls, hollow and empty. Where was he? Jack hugged himself more tightly and ran his tongue over dry, cracked lips. God, he was thirsty. Forget Daniel. Where the heck was the canteen?

He squinted against meager light and blurry vision, finally locating the precious container about five feet from his right boot. Jack closed his eyes. Might as well be five hundred feet. No way in hell could he make it that far.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Jack stared at the faint outline of the canteen, no longer able to summon enough spit to wet his lips. The thirst eclipsed even his worry for Daniel, though the anxiety was always there, like a pesky dog nipping at his heels. He tried focusing on other things, but hockey stats led to pizza, pizza to ice cold bottles of beer, and he was right back where he started.

Fifteen minutes.

Jaw clenched, he gingerly inched away from the wall, scooting on his butt. Despite his care, fire licked its way up his arm, across his chest and kindled in his gut. He froze, gulping air, and glared at the flask.

//Damn it, Daniel! Where *are* you?//

Flexing his foot, he used the toe of his boot to hook the canteen's strap. Eventually, after many near misses, he snagged the strip of canvas and slowly dragged it toward his outstretched hand. It moved a few inches, then slithered off his foot and the canteen rolled even farther away.

Something inside Jack snapped. With a growl he dragged himself up on his knees and lunged for the object of his torment...

...Collapsing in a heap when his wobbly arms refused to bear his weight. The pain, too enormous for his brain to process, exploded into brilliant, multi-colored sparks behind his eyes. He clung to consciousness by a thread, dimly aware of wetness leaking from his eyes and rough stone beneath his cheek.

Then, abruptly, hands were tugging at his body; a voice babbling in his ear. Daniel's hands and Daniel's voice. Everything turned head over heels, fresh agony flared, and bile rose in his throat. Clamping his lips shut, Jack groaned, too far gone to care about anything other than making the pain stop.

Oh God, please make it stop.

Gradually, the world stabilized and his distress settled into a steady, throbbing ache. Words filtered through the roaring in his ears.

"...only supposed to be gone a few minutes...so sorry...Jaffa...couldn't get back..."

"Water."

He heard cursing in Abydonian, then something nudged his lips. Jack opened his mouth, whimpering when water dribbled onto his tongue and then disappeared.

"Easy, Jack. Nice and slow or it's going to come back up."

He felt like indulging in a few curses of his own, but his mouth was too busy slurping down the water Daniel doled out in miserly drips. Thirst finally slaked, he let his head fall back with a sigh.

For the first time he realized yielding warmth rather than unforgiving stone cushioned his back. A pale shaft of moonlight spilled through the cave's opening, providing just enough illumination for Jack to see the long legs bracketing his own. He tentatively explored a band of warmth draped across his chest, his clumsy fingers brushing Daniel's arm.

Jack stiffened, face heating when he realized Daniel was cradling him against his body. "Sure hope...that's your sidearm."

"Shut up, Jack."

Daniel's words, laced with exasperation, put Jack at ease. Daniel's heart thudded rapidly against Jack's spine and occasional tremors vibrated through his limbs. Realizing Daniel needed the contact as much as he, Jack relaxed into the firm embrace, soaking up the tiny bit of comfort amidst the overwhelming pain.

"Where the hell...were you?"

"Doing a little recon. Everything seemed quiet. I was hoping the Jaffa had pulled back, that we might be able to make it to the 'gate." Daniel sucked in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Jack. I thought it would only take a few minutes, that I'd be back before you woke up."

"I take it...still out there."

Jack felt Daniel nod, his chin grazing the top of Jack's head. "I went too far, got cut off from the cave. All I could do was hide and wait for them to move on. I never should have left you alone like that, Jack. I thought...I didn't expect..."

He squeezed Daniel's arm, cutting off the tumbled flow of words. "Hey. You're doing...best you can. So far I'd say it's been...pretty damn good."

"Not good enough."

"Daniel."

"Jack." Daniel's body tensed and his voice vibrated emotion. "When were you going to tell me?"

Crap. Daniel was too darn observant for his own good. He so did not want to discuss this.

"Tell you what?"

"Don't! Just...cut the bullshit, okay? You're hurt worse than you let on. How bad is it?"

He hurt too damn much to argue. The pain was wearing him down, eating him from the inside out. Jack scrubbed a hand over his face. "Pretty bad."

"Internal bleeding?"

Jack ached at Daniel's even, carefully-controlled tone. His friend was trying so hard, doing everything he could to hold them together and keep them safe. Daniel's emotional state was fragile before this train wreck of a mission. If Jack didn't make it, if Sam and Teal'c didn't find them in time...

"How did you figure it out?"

"Just now, when I picked you up off the floor... I grabbed you around the waist and..."

Oh God. Daniel's voice broke and Jack heard quick, shallow breathing as he fought to suppress tears.

"Daniel, I--"

"You screamed. It was like I'd stuck a knife in your belly, I...I nearly dropped you. I didn't know, I...I...If I made things worse--"

"You didn't."

Daniel sniffled. When he spoke again, anger had crept into his words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Knew you'd worry. Nothing you can do. Needed you to...keep your mind...on taking care of business."

"Yeah, well, taking care of business requires me knowing any and all weaknesses that might impact our chances for survival. You should have told me, Jack."

Jack smiled. He much preferred a feisty, pissed-off Daniel. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Daniel huffed, but let the matter drop. Jack heard rustling paper and a moment later Daniel pressed something into his hand. He ran his fingers over the rough, slightly sticky surface. A power bar.

"Try to eat," Daniel mumbled around a mouthful. "I don't dare start a fire. The light could draw them right to us. This will have to do."

Jack sniffed the bar, nose wrinkling. "Not sure...I can."

"You have to eat to keep up your strength. First rule of survival."

Jack blinked, lips curving. "Where'd ya hear...that crap?"

Daniel laughed silently, soft puffs of breath ruffling Jack's hair. "From one of those hardass military types."

"Figures." Wrinkling his nose, Jack nibbled on the bar. After three bites he dropped it and breathed slowly through his mouth.

Daniel's fingers brushed his forehead. "You okay?"

"Can't... Any more goes down...'s comin' back up."

"Here." The canteen touched his lips.

Jack drank, remembering to take small sips. Sunset had brought some relief, but the elevated temperature, humidity, and lack of airflow left the cave stifling. Though still thirsty, he passed the canteen back to Daniel.

"Water's getting low."

Daniel capped the canteen and set it within easy reach. "I know. That's part of the reason I ventured so far from the cave. I was hoping I'd find a creek or maybe a lake."

"Did you?"

"No."

Silence stretched between them. Jack stared at the anemic puddle of moonlight and listened to the soothing song of crickets and tree frogs. Daniel's soft voice startled him.

"It's not just about losing Sha're."

It took a moment for Jack's lethargic brain to catch up. "I know."

He did. Daniel had loved Sha're deeply--you'd have had to be blind not to see it. But she'd given Daniel so much more than companionship and affection. Family. Stability. A sense of belonging. Apophis had not only robbed Daniel of his wife; he'd stolen his dream.

"I'm not the person I thought I'd be." Daniel sounded bewildered. "I... Jack, how did I end up here?"

"You got in the car...with a stranger. Didn't anyone ever...warn you about that?"

"I'm serious."

"Hell, Daniel. You think I'm where...I thought I'd be?"

"You dedicated your life to the service of your country. You're 2IC at the mountain, leader of the SGC's flagship team--"

He was getting pissed off now, pain and exhaustion wearing away his patience. "My kid shot himself with my gun...and my wife left me. Trust me--this isn't the life...I had planned."

Daniel's breath caught in his chest. "Sorry."

Damn. The last thing he wanted was to contribute to Daniel's stockpile of guilt. Jack gripped the arm clasped across his chest.

"Don't apologize. You have every right...to grieve. God knows...I have."

"All those years being passed around like some kind of hand-me-down. Of feeling invisible, like I could disappear and...and no one would notice. I promised myself that they were wrong. That I did matter. I was going to do big things. Make a difference. Show them all."

Daniel chuckled, a bitter, jagged sound. "I showed them, all right. I'm the laughing stock of the archeological community. A joke to my peers. I'm a failure, Jack."

"You killed Ra. Saved the Abydonian people...from a life of slavery."

"But I couldn't save my own wife."

What could he possibly say to that? Jack closed his eyes in resignation, but Sha're's face intruded. Sha're--hell and spitfire concealed beneath a deceptively fragile beauty. Jack harbored no doubts that Daniel's wife never blamed him for her fate. By Daniel's own account, she'd reached out to him even at the moment of her death.

"Sha're didn't think...you were a failure. She never stopped...believing in you. She trusted you...to find her child. Right?"

Daniel didn't speak for a long time. When he did, his voice was thick. "So?"

"So the least you can do...is honor that trust."

"Yeah? And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Believe in yourself." Jack waited a beat. "I do."

"You're lying in a cave, surrounded by Jaffa, bleeding to death. How can you possibly trust me?"

"For cryin' out loud, Daniel! I'm still breathing...thanks to you. Cut yourself...some slack."

Jack ground his teeth together and bit back a groan as needle-sharp spasms tore through his gut. Hammond was always saying his temper would be the death of him. Right now that prediction felt a little too close to the mark.

"You really do trust me?" The soft question held a glimmer of hope. "You're not just saying what you think I want to hear?"

Jack snorted, grimacing. "Me?"

"I see your point." Daniel must have felt the tension in Jack's body. To Jack's surprise, his normally undemonstrative friend began rubbing soothing circles over Jack's heart. "I'll get you out of here, Jack," he vowed, weariness blurring the words. "Everything's gonna be all right."

Daniel's cheek settled against the crown of Jack's head and his stroking hand slowed, then ceased. Jack battled heavy eyelids, his limbs weighted and his head stuffed with cotton. One of them needed to keep watch, and Daniel had been going nonstop since they'd stepped through the 'gate. If he could just stay awake an hour or two, long enough for Daniel to get his second wind...

The weight of Daniel's arm and the steady puff of his breath lulled Jack into slumber.

Concluded in Chapter 5