Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delays, I've had some grueling hours at work, and I've been alternating working on the other story I'm writing, so every other day I'm trying to get this worked on. It is almost over, I promise! Probably one more chapter (will be on the long side), and maybe an epilogue or final chapter. I've got the two chapters in my head so it's just a matter of finding the time to get it written! Sache8, this story is anytime after Singularity but before Rite of Passage.

Chapter Eight

Rescued

"Teal'c, we've got to do something!" Carter exploded, pacing in the flashlight illuminated room.

Doctor Fraiser was working as much as possible, her team of med techs assisting, hoping to find a cure. Things were looking grim. The Colonel and Daniel had been captured, the Goa'uld in question was floating over the city, and they were hiding, lucky to have escaped detection.

"I intend to." Teal'c replied evenly.

That stopped Sam's pacing, "You do?"

"Indeed." He inclined his head and began walking towards the exit.

"Teal'c?" She rushed after him, throwing a lost look at Janet, who seemed uncertain of what to do. "Keep the lights down, and stay quiet!" Carter whispered loudly, before following Teal'c out the door.

"Teal'c, what are we doing?" She hissed, reaching a hand to tug at his arm.

Teal'c regarded her gravely, "We are going to ambush a group of Jaffa, and using their wrist device, ring up to the mother ship, and rescue O'Neill and Daniel Jackson."

Sam's mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut, "Is that wise?" She finally managed to say.

"Not likely. You should remain behind and protect Doctor Fraiser."

"I won't let you go alone."

Teal'c seemed like he was going to argue, but decided against it, perhaps seeing the importance of having an extra body to pull off this rescue. Major Carter was a brave and fierce warrior; he would do well to have her with him. He inclined his head, and began moving again in the stealthy shadows of the buildings.
"Do you think we'll get out of this one?"

Jack was sitting in their cell, feet straight out on the ground, back against one of the walls, across from Daniel, who was looking at him expectantly. He stared back at Daniel, not wanting to admit he hadn't heard anything he had said. He had been lost in thought and only looked up because he heard him say one. One what, he didn't know.

Taking a guess, he smiled confidently, "Sure."

"You weren't listening, were you?"

Jack paused, "Maybe..."

"Never mind." Daniel looked away from Jack and stared at the door; deceptive in that it was open, wide-open, but for the force field that would knock you on your ass if you touched it.

Jack felt a momentary stab of guilt. "We'll get out of here Daniel." Unaware he'd hit the question dead on.

Daniel looked back at him, "How?"

"I heard you two needed a ride out of here." A brash voice spoke from the door area, making both Jack and Daniel turn their heads in surprise.

"Boch?" Jack swore, "What the hell have you done this time?"

Aris Boch, errant bounty hunter for hire, grinned, "Nothing...yet. I'm here to rescue you."

Jack groaned, if it had been Teal'c he would've thought he'd watched Star Wars one to many times, but this guy didn't know what Star Wars was, "Great. We'll be dead by morning."

"You wound me Colonel." Aris waved a hand across a panel, and the force field crashed with a small hum.

"You don't exactly have a trust worthy history." Daniel pointed out, not making an attempt to leave the cell.

Boch frowned, but the grin came back, "Doctor Jackson, you'll be happy to know the price on your head has gone up...but we can talk about that later. Right now, unless you really want to be one of Nertti's latest experiments, and trust me you don't, we should get moving."

Jack and Daniel exchanged a look, "All right, fine, but I don't trust you and when we get out of this, you've got a lot of explaining to do." Jack said, and Boch knew he was going to have more than a lot of explaining to do.

He put on a confident look, and gestured for the men to follow him. They snuck through corridors, making their way steadily towards the ring device, the hallways remarkably clear.

"Where is everybody?" Jack finally asked grimacing as another strong wave of pain raced through, reminding him that he needed that cocktail of Fraisers.

Boch saw the slight tremor pass across his features and tried to not let his worry show, "They're gone. Nertti lost most of her forces getting the phase technology to this level."

Daniel blanched, "She experimented on her own Jaffa?"

"Of course. With the symbiotes they were able to stand the side-effects for longer periods."

Jack felt sick, and not just from the phase effect, "She really needs to die."

The clanging of metal boots on the ship's deck betrayed the Jaffa's presence ahead. Boch waved at them to stay behind and keep quiet. Jack didn't bother with explanations, stepping to the front and leading the way. Daniel looked back at Aris who finally shrugged and fell into line behind Daniel. They skirted from alcove to alcove, getting nearer to their location. They must be guarding the ring device, Jack figured, wishing he had a Zat.

Boch tossed one up, reading his mind. Jack could see two figures standing awkwardly by a wall, one of them working a panel.

"Carter?" Jack exclaimed.

The Jaffa fiddling with the wall looked up in surprise, and punched a button, retracting the helmet, "Sir!"

"This is...unexpected." Jack said.

"We were coming to get you O'Neill." Teal'c retracted his helmet, and observed the individual with Jack and Daniel.

Boch approached the panel, "You kiddies can talk later, after we are off the ship."

His warning aside, Jack realized Boch was right. He was going downhill fast, his body weakening, and he could see from the continued pallor on Daniel's face, he was in the same condition. "Right. Teal'c?"

Teal'c nodded, and the others got in position, Teal'c joining with a wrist device. In seconds they were down on the planet.

Jack really hated to ask for help, but he knew he'd fall flat on his face if he took another step. "Teal'c." He called, quietly, trying to not draw attention to his condition. Boch, Daniel and Carter were all ready moving forward.

"Yes O'Neill?"

He hated being weak, but he also hated passing out and waking up somewhere else, which is exactly what was going to happen if he didn't ask for help, "I..." Before he could finish another strong wave of pain assailed every nerve ending in his body, if that were possible, and he found himself sliding to the ground.

A strong hand reached out, supported him, and got him back up. "Thanks Teal'c." He whispered hoarsely.

"It is...no problem."

He wasn't sure how long it took to get back to what was becoming their base of operations, but it seemed forever. The pain had continued to rise, and he was dimly aware of Carter and Boch supporting Daniel by the time they arrived.

Despite his protests, they were laid on beds, and Fraiser had the IV's running in what had to be a new record. He'd thank her later; right now he needed answers from Boch.

He fought to clear his vision, which was blurry for some reason, "Boch!" He hollered, forgetting the need to be quiet.

It wasn't Aris Boch's face that came into focus above him, but Carter's. She smiled, but Jack could see it was fake, the kind of smile you had when you were assuring the dying that they would be okay, "I'm sorry Sir. Janet says you need to rest now."

He tried to reply, but found his lips weren't functioning very well, "Drugged me." He finally slurred. But there wasn't any reply and his eyes closed, taking him into a healing sleep.

Carter turned away from Jack, fighting to not let it show how upset she was. She saw Teal'c watching her, and knew she hadn't been successful, but then again, Teal'c had the ability to see right through a person most of the time.

"Are they going to make it?" Boch asked, looking concerned.

Janet looked at Sam, and didn't answer, her face solemn and subdued. She didn't need to say anything, everyone in the room understood. Jack and Daniel were dying.