SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 BURNING BRIGHTLY

Chapter Seven:

Disclaimer: Stargate is not mine, nor is it likely to be mine at any point in the near future.

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JACK:

I emerge from the Stargate and immediately do a duck and roll, throwing myself to one side and off the side of the dais so that I'm down amid the foliage, out of line of any fire and ... up to my knees in a puddle. Brilliant entrance, O'Neill.

It's dark here, closing in on night-time, and the brilliant Frevian sunset has dulled to a smear of red on the horizon; but its not dark enough to hide the team of armed Frevian guards and their weapons. As the Stargate snaps out of existence, one of them shouts out and steps back, and the team fall back into defensive positions. They think I'm gonna shoot at 'em. I think they're gonna shoot at me as soon as they figure out who I am.

Best to get out of here before that happens. I crawl as quietly as I can out of the puddle even as they begin to move towards my position, dedinl's at the ready. I'm now covered in a thick layer of wet mud that smells of leaf mould, which is surprisingly handy given that it adds to my camouflage. I move quickly to the left, behind the Stargate, then out to the right into the cover offered by the thick trees. There is a shout from behind, and suddenly a bright blue light suffuses the landscape, accompanied by an electrical snap.

I pull myself down on the ground, hands over my head and face pressed into the dirt. They shot at me! Bastards, I HATE it when people do that. But the snap fades into a hum, and I raise my head warily. The blue glow is still there, and it's coming from behind me. I shift around to look.

There's a faint blue light shimmering in a wall inches from my feet. It extends for a few metres either side then bends back around the Stargate. A force field in place to stop and hold unwelcome arrivals, no doubt - more of their hidden technology. It only took them seconds to turn it on, but they were too slow. I'm already outside the perimeter.

Okay, I'm so not hanging round here. I decide it's best to stand and make a break for it, crouching low and weaving side to side until I'm deep within the trees. A blast of orange light clips a branch above my head. Now they ARE shooting at me. Bastards. It's darker in here than out on the path, and hard to see where I'm going. I hit my injured hand and twigs catch at my clothes and hair. But I can still hear sounds of pursuit - it might be safe to assume that given the Frevians level of technology they probably have something that can track me. Damn. I'm gonna have to move fast.

There's not much point in keeping low if they can see me anyway. I stand and run, which sounds simple, but in actual fact is not when you're waist high in ferns and can't see two feet ahead of you. There are more calls from behind, in the manner of 'halt!' and so forth, but I'm not halting. Crashing through trees and getting slashed in the face by leaves I have no way to avoid. I trip numerous times and feel my skin tear as I go down on a hidden rock. I heave myself back up and keep going. Another orange blast explodes against a tree before me, and sparks catch me as I pass. I brush them off, wondering if those things are like zats - one shot stuns, second kills - or if they simply blast you to atomic particles instantly. I could send a few bullets flying their way, but I don't want to accidentally hit someone (strange thing for someone in my position to be saying, I know) and beside I don't want to waste what little ammo I do have.

I've been running for at least ten minutes before I see the trees start to thin. Frevia Four has two moons, both small purple rocks hanging in the sky. Also tonight, Frevia Prime, a giant blue planet looms above. Consequently, the ocean is rough with tidal disturbances and greats me with a roar as I charge out of the trees and onto the steep slope above the city.

The city doesn't have too many lights on at night, but a few spots of illumination come from the larger buildings. I plunge down the slope full-pelt, knowing that the sooner I reach the city the better because if they are using sensors it's going to make it harder to spot me amongst other people occupying various buildings. If they aren't, well, at least I can use the streets to throw them off.

I push through the last of the ferns and duck around a small house that backs onto the forest. My pursuers are circling round to try and catch me here, but I'm already out, leaping the stone fence and accompanying vines and skidding down the slope onto a paved road.

It's around about then that I realised I have absolutely no plan whatsoever. Getting to the city was as far as I got. Figured that was the hard part, and that the rest would just sort itself out. The idea, I suppose, was to get the device off Father Nahibrim; only I don't have a clue where to find him. I could go to the temple, but the place is massive. I wouldn't know where to start looking, and that's provided the priests even spend the night there. In any case, it's where I'll have to head. If I remember correctly, it's over the other side of the rise ...

Several dark figures appear on my right, silhouetted against the colourful sky. As I'm down lower they don't see me at once, but as I curse inwardly and dump myself off the side of the road they follow.

I slip on the moist grass, tearing the neatly grown blades with my boots as I careen down the way, passing the rears of houses. The guards seem to be tracking me easily, I can see them off to the left, swiftly keeping pace. A few orange blasts pass over my head and one just before my knees, so close I can feel the heat of the energy. I guess they think I'm armed and dangerous and planning a terrorist attack or something. Not good. Before long they'll be calling in reinforcements.

In any case, they're heading me off. I count at least four on my right, two on the left, one or two behind. I wish I had been able to grab a zat from the armoury instead of the PPK so that I could at least throw a few shots around without worrying about killing anyone right away.

The slope drops away beneath me.

I skid, clawing at the moist earth and grass, trying to regain purchase on something. I flip head over heels, automatically pulling my head into my arms as I roll. I'm free falling before I land, hard, on solid earth - and damn, it hurts. Can't breath ... and can't ...

Shit.

"Colonel O'Neill. You are under arrest, according to statute law. Do not attempt to escape custody again. You will accompany us, now, without hesitation. Do you understand?"

Could that light they're shining in my face be any brighter? I nod, climbing to my feet and holding my gun up in surrender.

"You will drop your weapon."

I let it fall to the ground and kick it across to them. One of them takes it warily, and shoves it in his belt - I can't see too well in the glare, but I'm guessing there's three of them, with more on the way. I got no chance. I'm winded and bleeding and sore in so many different places that it makes the car accident look like a pillow fight.

I'm scanned for additional weapons, but they seem wary of me even when they don't find any. Probably from the way I'm glaring at them.

Nevertheless, they lead me down the slope, guards on either side, and down a long, winding road bordered by darkened buildings. We climb another of those long flights of stairs, and I realise that they're not taking me to prison; we're headed for the citadel.

Reichert greets us as we emerge through the gate into the courtyard. He looks me over distastefully. It looks like he's just been woken up, and he's not too happy about it. He opens his mouth to say something but he's cut off. A figure steps through the shadows, then as if noticing me for the first time, stops short.

"You!"

Not the kind of warm welcome I would have liked. "So," I say, keenly aware of the guards holding me upright. "How's the jaw?"

Senator Melabinsan doesn't back down, to his credit. The bandages are gone, and he looks fully healed. "Colonel O'Neill," he sneers softly, walking around me slowly, eyes focussed on my face. "What a surprise. Come back to finish what you started? How about a fair fight, this time? Hm? Or would you rather simply shoot me with your primitive firearm?"

Reichert looks between the two of us, and says nothing.

In the dim light, his movements cause myriads of shadows to ripple across the stone walls and cobbled floor. The stupid smirking bastard. It would make me a very happy man to shoot him where he stands. And I'd just as easily take up his offer of a fight so I could pound his pretty little face to such a mess no technology would fix it. All I can see him doing is staring at Sam that way. Dancing with Sam. Sam never danced with me, and I don't stare at her like that. Wouldn't dare stare at her like that. But could quite easily stare at her like that. But come to think of it, staring apart, I've never asked Sam to dance with me. Why the hell haven't I ever asked Sam to dance with me?

I shake my head free of these distracting thoughts and focus on the fact that Sam isn't going to be dancing with anyone ever if I don't somehow pull this off. So I move on the offensive, taking a step forwards, surprising the guards. The senator isn't quite as cocky as he looks, because he flinches the second I move. I snarl. "You know what, as much as your ego might try to turn this into some sort of bravado thing where I come back to shoot you because of the severe pain in the arse that you are, I'm here for Major Carter. Not you. Get over it."

Pushing forwards slightly, and as expected, he moves back.

"Hold him still!" Reichert says to the guards. "Put some binders on him."

I lean in closer to the senator and lower my voice. "Now in saying that, I by no means imply that shooting you would not give me a lot of pleasure. But I'm on a tight schedule. I need to find a man named Father Nahibrim. Let me speak to him."

Reichert snaps. "Binders! Now!"

Bit edgy, aren't we? One of the guards reaches for his belt, lowering his dedinl for a split second. I spin quickly, pulling myself from the second guards grasp and flinging myself at him. It's way too easy. I grab my gun from his belt, and man, it never felt so good to have a weapon in my hand. I aim it quickly first at one guard, then the other - just long enough to make them pause, then I'm facing Melabinsan again. I whirl on one foot, bringing me up behind him. I jam the barrel of the gun right up under his chin - mainly because I can't reach his forehead properly, I admit - and lock my left arm around his neck tightly.

Melabinsan gulps visibly for air, trying his damnedest to look down at the gun which is just out of his field of vision.

Reichert is mad now. "You're already under arrest, Colonel O'Neill. I would recommend..."

"Shut up!" I can hear the shake in my voice and I try to calm down a bit. As much as I can calm down after just having taken someone hostage, that is.

I shove the barrel in the mans face, using the anger at what he would have done with Carter to fuel my rage. "Dammit, there's a woman back on my primitive little excuse for a planet whose life depends on my getting what I came here to get. So I'm going to get it." I narrow my eyes. "Your going to help me, senator, because deep down, underneath all that sleaze and derision, I'm hoping there's some sort of a decent person who can realise that someone's life is on the line and that I'm gonna do whatever I can to make sure Sam lives. Father Nahibrim works as a healer. Show me where the healers stay."

The man looks positively scared now. And he should be, because my gun ain't wavering. But he's not shutting up yet, probably trying to keep up the cocky act.

"You like her, don't you." he sneers. "You couldn't even stand the fact that she was talking to me that week. I saw you, frowning at the edges of our vision every time we worked together."

"Shut up." I say.

"You actually think that she would be attracted to you? Your not even her equal. Samantha is a brilliant woman, and on an intellectual level she is closer to the Frevians than the Tau'ri, far surpassing you, Colonel. That she should even tolerate you as her superior officer is quite beyond my understanding."

I grit my teeth, knowing that he is trying to goad me. It's working too, coz I'm ready to strangle the man.

"Have you ever told her how you feel, then? Ever let her know? Somehow I think you're too much of a coward to put such a thing before your career, am I right?"

"SHUT UP." Forcefully now. The man is so going to die if he doesn't quit it. "Call who you have to, Reichert. Get me Father Nahibrim. Now."

Reichert gives a low-throated growl, raising his own weapon.

"Fire at me, I fire at him." I nod towards my captive, who finally seems to be grasping the weight of the situation. About time.

"I need a device called a venrai." I say. "That's all. I promise I'll give it back when I'm done and all. I just need to lend it. Rent it. Whatever."

"We do not make deals with insurgents, Tau'ri. You will release Senator Melabinsan at once. You are outnumbered and we have the distinct advantage."

All at once I realise that there is nothing I can do. I've failed. I can't get what I need to because this stupid stuck-up race has decided that while the Tau'ri are a perfectly attractive race, beyond flirting shamelessly with us, they're not going to do shit when it comes down to our alliance or helping us. Not now, and not in the future, be it a cure for the common cold or a Goa'uld invasion. And beyond screaming at them or the Governor or cursing whatever gods have an ear to listen, I can't do a thing about it because I'm only a step (or a trigger-pull) away from being thrown on their equivalent of death row. And then I'm certainly not going to be able to do anything for Sam.

Sam, lying on that bed, so pale and still. It's not right. They can keep her alive on life support for as long as they can pump nutrients into her veins. But she's no longer alive if she's not up and talking, working on her reactors, typing at her computer, or excitedly blathering sciency jargon while effectively confusing the crap out of me and most everyone. That brilliant mind that Melabinsan here likened to the Frevian state of evolution or whatever? He's wrong, because Sam is not only intelligent, she's also compassionate and thoughtful. Something these people are clearly not capable of being.

I lower the gun and release the senator slowly. He jerks away, gasping and rubbing his neck and tender jaw. He looks at me, wide-eyed with something I can't quite read. Then he looks at the guards surrounding us.

"Stand down." he says softly.

...the hell?

The guards look at him. Reichert seems incredulous, a mirror image of myself. "Senator..."

"Stand down." he repeats.

"You cannot give my men orders!" Reichert looks livid.

"I am not giving your men orders. I am asking you to stand down and move aside."

"You can't do that. This man -" points to me, who looks like a stunned guppy, no doubt - "refused to cooperate with our laws, showed blatant disregard for your own life, and then demanded we yield to him our technology. You wish us to stand aside and let him pass?"

Melabinsan waves his hand and goes on in a strained voice. "We can debate my authority later when I escort him to the prison complex. For now, you will allow me to call Father Nahibrim."

He waves his hand, revealing a silver bracelet. "Send Father Nahibrim to the courtyard, and tell him to bring a venrai device." he speaks to it, then looks back at me. Oh, right, don't mind me; I'll just sit here with my loaded gun and wait for either Nahibrim to arrive, or for Reichert to blast my head off. One or the other.

The priest does arrive, rather quickly, appearing in a flash of light from the transportation thing. He is dressed in his brown robes, but his hair is sleep-tousled.

Reichert all but turns purple in the face as he stares at the senator. I'm staring at the man too, but he shakes us off, turning to the priest. "Will you give Colonel O'Neill one of the venrai devices?"

Father Nahibrim looks slightly intimidated by all the eyes switching between him, me and Senator Melabinsan, but he nods. "Gladly." And he reaches into his robes and pulls out a small, flat piece of metal. He holds it out to me.

For a few seconds I debate taking it for fear it's gonna blow up in my face, or more likely Reichert there will order me shot. But with the entire group looking at me expectantly, I reach out and take it. It's surprisingly light, and smooth, and cold like metal.

"I will escort Colonel O'Neill to the prison complex, where we will wait to speak with Governor Laius so that we might resolve this matter." the senator goes on. "Reichert, if you will accompany us to ensure the colonel does not again violate our laws."

He looks at me darkly, then at the senator, then back at his men. He gives them a signal, and they form two lines. I hold tightly to the device as if someone's going to change their mind and take it back. Father Nahibrim steps up beside me, and Senator Melabinsan appears on my left. Reichert gives us all the dirtiest of dirty looks.

Father Nahibrim eyes me shyly. "Use the venrai device merely by placing the travellers hand on it. It works by interfering with the actions of the mind, and should not be used unless there is no alternative. In this case, I would give her perhaps two minutes of contact time at first. If there is no result in the next few hours, a prolonged exposure to it might be necessary. I should also warn you of the dangers of the device - there have been cases where the traveller fails to recover at all. In these cases they will most often die before they ever wake, as their spirit may be forced to take the other road. Use it only if you truly believe she is in danger, Colonel O'Neill."

The senator gives Father Nahibrim a look. "If you would return to the hospice, Father."

The little priest bows, and does as he's told. The senator leads me into the centre of the courtyard, where a large pillar stands. He touches it gently, and I do the same. As I guessed, its another zappy thing.

But to my surprise, instead of inside a building, we appear in the jungle, the Stargate looming in the darkness. It's raining heavily now, drops spattering down every-which-way. I squint up at the senator.

"So," I say conversationally. "Why the change of heart?"

He looks as if he'd like very much not to have to answer that. "Samantha is a very exceptional individual, Colonel O'Neill. I found myself enjoying her company very much during her stay."

Yeah, I bet you did.

He goes on. "And," he pauses. "I would like very much for her to return someday."

Ah. I see. "Well, I hope she does." I grimace, patting his arm. "Just - try to keep away from that Altheum stuff. Otherwise I might have to break more than just your jaw."

He gives an uncertain smile. "She is a very special person, colonel. I hope that you deserve her."

Uh oh. "Um," Draw a little gesture in the air. "We're not like ... not like that."

He raises an eyebrow. "But you are ... 'like that'." he rubs his jaw tenderly to illustrate the point.

I move to the DHD and begin to dial before Reichert can figure out we're not at the prison. As the chevrons snap into place, Melabinsan calls "I will speak with the Governor on your behalf. We may be able to rectify the treaty. It will take time. Please be patient."

Somehow I don't think we're going to be seeing him again any time soon.

SAM:

I'm smart. I figured out the Stargate, for God's sake. I not only designed a computer program to run a piece of technology countless thousands of years old that was missing it's counterpart piece of technology, I can remember hundreds of Stargate addresses in my head. I'm smart, and I know it.

So why the hell am I still stuck here? I truly have no clues as to what the guardians want me to do. I need some answers.

Anise stands straight and tall, her face impassive as usual. "Major Carter was trapped behind a force shield." she says.

I watch Jack sitting in the chair before her, black band across his forehead and restraints on his wrists. "That's right." he replies, eyes straight ahead. Doesn't look at me through the window of the observation room. Looks at the empty space ahead of him.

I've seen this before a lot of times. Replayed the scene over and over in my mind until it lost all meaning. I know what he sees. PX9-757.

"Sir, there's no time." I call to him. From behind me come the footfalls of the guards. Fear races through my veins, and I turn back to Jack pleadingly. God, I'm scared. Tears sting my eyes as I curse the stupid armbands and the Tok'ra and... and Jack, who won't move! He attacks the force shield, ramming the haft against it as hard as he can, sending shimmering blue ripples across it.

"Sir." He has to leave. Now. Why won't he listen? There's no time left. The C4 is going to blow any moment... leave, Jack, damn you!

"I know!" he replies, turning his attention back to the control panel on the wall, attacking it with all his strength.

"Sir! Just go!"

"NO!" He whirls, facing me, angry as all hell and as scared as I am. His gaze softens as he looks at me through the barrier. I can't tear my eyes from his face. I'm going to die here. Going to die. Sir? Leave, now. I love you. Please. Love you.

"What were you feeling?" Anise asks dispassionately.

Jack looks pained as he recounts. "Like someone who was about to die." he pauses, remembering. "I didn't leave because I'd rather have died myself that lose Carter."

"Why?"

"Because I care about her." his voice is quiet now, quieter than I've ever heard it. "A lot more than I'm supposed to."

I wonder at the strength it takes for him to utter those words, and not because he doesn't mean them but because he does. Eyes fall on me, Janet's and Teal'c's gazes sympathetic at this having to be revealed here and now. The publicity doesn't matter to me though. Hardly notice it at all.

Jack looks at me as he undoes my bonds. "Carter."

I know what has to be said and I say it. "None of this has to leave this room."

"We're okay with that?"

"Yes sir."

Things had been awkward between us for a while afterwards. After Martouf's death, of course, he had come to my quarters and talked me through it, even though I didn't need to be talked through it. He'd respected my need for solitude. But it had passed beyond that, into a kind of shadow that fell across us every time we met in the hallway, or sat across from each other in the briefing room. I'd thrown myself into work. That had helped. There were things to be done, and I had to do them. Jack did the same. It made it easier to talk to each other when we were discussing missions than when we were sitting in the commissary over lunch; in a way, a rift had grown between us and neither of us was willing to build a bridge. What didn't have to leave the room left that room, and wasn't going back or away.

He had caught up to me in the passage one night. "Carter!"

"Sir?" I turn.

His hands are shoved deep in his pockets. "Whatcha doin'"

"Um, sir? It's 2300. I was going to bed."

"Right. Me too. I just... wanted to check that we really are okay. It's... it's not just me, is it?"

I shrug and keep walking. "No, it's not." I say. "We got something out in the open then shoved it right back in the closet again. It's bound to make things difficult." I stop outside the door to my quarters.

Jack looks very worried. "But we are okay, aren't we?"

"Yeah," I force a smile, opening the door. "We're okay."

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(Okay? Heh. Hardly.) More to come ...