Taking another slow breath he glanced over the personnel in the room one more time and then turned to meet Teal'c's gaze again. The Jaffa was waiting patiently and met his eyes knowingly.

.

.

Chapter 4

.

.

"Allright, let's do it. Keep alert, people," Daniel instructed and watched the top of the sarcophagus as Teal'c operated the controls.

The top then split lengthwise and the two slabs pivoted apart a few millimeters.

The soldiers tensed and trained their weapons on the top of the artifact.

The two slabs ground to a halt and then lurched and started moving again.

Grit, sand and dust ground under the moving slabs as they lurched aside.

All eyes in the room watched the air above the now-open sarcophagus.
Nothing moved.
Nothing leaped out and swooped down to begin murdering people.

And they waited.
The soldiers were all a bit nervous, while Daniel and Teal'c waited with knowing dread.

But nothing appeared.
Nothing moved.
Nothing came from the now-open box.
No movement.
No sound.

Which meant that they were going to have to go over and... look inside.

Vulnerable.
Whoever did that would be vulnerable.
Vulnerable to whatever might be lurking inside.
To whatever might be waiting... for the unlucky to come... and look.

Daniel silently met Teal'c's eyes again and the large man signaled for Daniel to cover him while he stepped forward.

Daniel watched the air above the technological coffin.
Watched for anything.
For the slightest movement.

Teal'c silently inched forward until he could see into the rectangular space.

And then he froze.

Daniel waited.
He waited for a sign from Teal'c that there was nothing there. Nothing to worry about.
And he waited for the opposite. For the sign to fall back with undue haste.
He waited for something to emerge.
He waited with that hateful weapon in his hands.
Ready to defend and protect if necessary.

Only seconds had passed, although it felt like much longer.
And then Teal'c glanced over at his comrade and signaled for him to step forward and take a look inside. Still giving Daniel no information as to what was there, but the archeologist knew that the Jaffa must not be expecting much danger if he was signaling his friend to come forward.

Cautiously, Daniel inched forward and leaned over to see inside.

... ...

And then he too froze.

There were two bodies inside the sarcophagus.
One cradled in the other's arms.
And blood. There was so much blood.

Daniel and Teal'c just stared at the horrible scene before them.

...

And then the larger one moved.

Just a little. Just an arm. Just a little.

And then he groaned softly and his eyes fluttered open halfway.

He started and reflexively tightened his grip around his companion in the box.

...

Seconds. Only seconds... a few minutes... since they'd opened the sarcophagus.
But time had slowed.
Each second was felt in its entirety.

...

"Step - Away!" Colonel Rothson shouted as they heard the weak groan emanate from the box and all of his men tightened their grips on their weapons in readiness for whatever may come out.

Startled, Daniel looked back at the men that he'd temporarily forgotten about. Teal'c appeared unfazed.

"Professor. Step. Away. Now!" Rothson ordered vehemently.

"No," Daniel refused softly and then gestured for the officer to join him at the side of the ornate box.

"Professor...," the Colonel tried a warning tone, but Daniel held resolute and the officer reluctantly edged forward to join them. Inching forward, with his gun in front of him, the Colonel carefully leaned over and sharply took in the contents of the box. His military experience quickly assessed the visible blood and state of the inhabitants. Without relaxing though, the officer slowly stood up and waited for Daniel and Teal'c's assessment.

... ...

It had only been a few minutes since they'd opened the box.
Just a few minutes.
But so much had happened in those few minutes.

And now, time seemed to snap the other direction. Urgency gripped him as he looked at the half-open eyes of the larger occupant of the sarcophagus.

"We've got to get them out of there!" Daniel stepped forward with Teal'c who moved to assist him.

"Careful, Professor," Rothson warned him.

Before Daniel could respond, a voice came weakly from the inside of the box, "Whu-a-t...?"

"Don't move, we're going to get you out of there," the archeologist interjected.

"What... year... is it?" the weak voice asked a disconcerting question.

Disconcerting, although it shouldn't have been unexpected, Daniel realized quickly. The occupants of the sarcophagus had been inside it for 3500 years... but then, they wouldn't know that. "Two thousand and eight... A.D." he supplied gently.

The half-open eyes met his for a moment and then turned down to his motionless companion. Still cradled in his arms, she showed no signs of life. He moved weakly and put a hand on her throat, feeling for a pulse. After a few seconds, "I... I don't...," came out brokenly.

So Daniel reached in – and the SF Colonel stepped around the sarcophagus to reacquire a clear shot as Daniel moved – and put his fingers on her throat. She wasn't cold. That was a good sign, he told himself. And, there was a pulse. Very weak, but there. "She's alive, but we need to get her to a hospital right away. Both of you."

But the injured man shook his head, "No, close it back up...," his voice urgent even though weak and barely above a whisper.

"What...!" was all Daniel managed to mutter in shock.

"Close it up... and then ship the whole thing. Close it up. Quick!" his weak voice carried accustomed authority even while sliding into desperation.

Daniel looked horrified for only a split-second longer and then he understood. Nodding, he stepped back as Teal'c worked the controls to seal the sarcophagus back up.

.

======== End Chapter 4 =========

.