DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in this story are the property of Showtime and Gekko Film Corp. The Stargate, SG-1, the goa'uld and all other characters that have appeared in the series STARGATE SG-1 together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of the people who made them up. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement upon those rights and solely meant for entertainment. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
Acquisition
Part six
Jack hurried to catch up with Daniel and Alison, reaching the safety of the building just after the skies opened and big, fat drops of rain fell to the ground, soaking them in the short time it took them to dash inside. It wasn't yet the vicious, stinging rain - that would follow in another hour or so, along with the gale-force winds.
Jack quickly scouted through the building, coming up with nothing useful and led them into the largest of the rooms available, the room that had been used for the interrogation. The chairs were still there, lying on their sides as though kicked out of the way as someone hurried to leave.
'Well, this is cosy,' Jack said, moving towards a fireplace to one side of the room. He peered up the chimney to make sure it was clear, then set about breaking up the chairs for firewood and passing the pieces to Daniel who was in the process of lighting the fire. Glancing in Alison's direction he saw her standing just inside the doorway, leaning against the wall for support and shivering. Jack put down the chair he was about to break up and in two long strides, reached his pack. He pulled out the items he had taken from Sam and handed them to Alison. 'Here - why don't you change into these - you'll feel a lot warmer.' Alison stared at him as though she were having difficulty understanding him, clutching the dry clothes to herself like a security blanket.
'Alison,' Jack spoke gently, placing his hands on her shoulders, bringing her back to the current situation.
'Huh?' Alison looked stupidly at him, holding the clothes up questioningly.
'Dry clothes. Put them on.' Jack spoke slowly and clearly, trying to get through to her. Alison nodded her understanding at last and began to pull off her wet things. Jack turned his attention back to the fire Daniel was building, glancing over to the door after a few minutes to make sure Alison was managing. She was just pulling a t-shirt over her bandaged arm, struggling a little, and Jack cursed silently under his breath as he saw how many bruises covered her back. Daniel, his attention caught by the look on Jack's face, also saw and his face blanched at the sight. Jack looked away again in time to catch Daniel's reaction.
'Daniel?' Jack asked, concern for his friend evident in his voice. Daniel had said he was alright, but after seeing Alison's injuries he couldn't be too sure he'd been told the truth. Daniel had been known to forget to mention some pretty serious injuries on occasions.
'I'm fine Jack, really,' Daniel knew exactly what Jack was asking. 'They hardly touched me. That maniac seemed to take pleasure in using Alison as a punch-bag. I tried to stop them, but there was nothing I could do, Jack.'
'I know you would have done everything you could,' Jack reassured the younger man. 'Sometimes there isn't anything you can do at the time, but you can make up for it after. Anyway, I don't know about you but I'm going to get into some dry gear - I guess I must be getting old or something when the damp makes my knees and back ache.'
'Or something,' Daniel grinned at him as he too quickly changed into dry clothes before bringing Alison closer to the fire, wrapping her in a blanket and using himself as a hot water bottle. Once she stopped shivering, Daniel leant Alison against the wall near the fire while he searched through one of the med kits. Grabbing what he needed, he gave Alison a couple of shots and sat back on his heels when he was done, feeling a hand on his shoulder.
Daniel turned to look up into Jack's face. 'I've given her some antibiotics to help fight the infection and some painkillers. There's not much else we can do until we can get her back to the infirmary.'
They watched Alison's eyes grow heavy and begin to close. Together they helped her lie down, making her as comfortable as they could and she was soon in a deep sleep.
A loud crack of thunder accompanying the sight of the sky lighting up like a Christmas tree caused Jack to grab his radio.
'Carter - you better be on you way back now,' Jack said.
'Yes sir - should be with you in ten.' Sam's breathless voice came in reply before the radio went quiet again.
XOXOXOX
They took turns in keeping watch out of habit. There was no real threat, but you never knew. Half way through Daniel's watch, Alison sat up abruptly.
'I don't know where it is. I don't know. I can't tell you anything. I don't know anything. I don't know…' Alison's voice trailed off as she rocked backwards and forwards, unaware of her surroundings, reliving the ordeal she had gone through. Daniel moved towards her, not wanting to startle her as he recalled her reaction to Jack when caught by surprise.
Another figure joined him.
'Nightmares?' Jack spoke quietly.
'I'd say so,' Daniel replied, equally quietly as he turned back to speak to Alison. 'Alison?' He said, then again, more loudly this time. 'Alison?' Accompanied by a hand on her arm.
Alison started away with a cry of fear before her eyes registered where she was. 'What…?' She managed to mumble out.
'It's ok, just a nightmare, just a nightmare.' Daniel, realising he was not likely to receive a physical injury, moved closer, sitting beside Alison and gathering her into a hug as she began shaking, crying quietly into his chest. Daniel looked at Jack over the top of Alison's head, Jack indicating that he'd take over the watch, leaving Daniel where he was. Jack was well aware how badly Daniel was feeling at being unable to stop Alison from being beaten up and needed this opportunity to make amends in his own way.
Half an hour later Jack could see Daniel lying Alison back down again, testing her forehead with his hand before moving over towards himself.
'I think her fever's getting worse,' Daniel informed him. 'She's burning up and mumbling to herself. We need to get her to the infirmary soon.'
'Well the storm seems to be easing and should be gone before morning. We'll leave as soon as it's light - just as well Carter's smarter than that NID lot.'
Shortly before dawn Jack woke them all up.
'Rise and shine, campers.' He greeted them cheerfully. 'It looks like it's gonna be a beautiful day and it would be such a pity to waste it.'
After a hasty breakfast of energy bars they fashioned a makeshift stretcher for Alison, knowing there was no way would she be able to walk. Her fever appeared to have risen further and she lay still now, her eyes closed and her forehead creased as she relived the nightmare over and over.
They made good time back to the gate and within two hours Alison was handed over to the care of Dr Fraiser and her staff.
XOXOXOX
Two days later, Alison was sitting up in bed. Her fever had broken during the night after giving Dr Fraiser a real fright and she was feeling tired and limp but definitely on the mend. Dr Fraiser had persuaded her to talk about what she had gone through and Alison had found it easy to talk to the doctor, which left her feeling a lot more comfortable about the whole situation. She closed her eyes, finding herself ready to drift off to sleep again when the sound of footsteps stopping by her bed roused her again.
'So - how's the patient?' Jack was saying as he dumped a vase of flowers down on the cabinet.
'Hey, Alison, feeling better?' Daniel asked, smiling at her.
'Yes, thanks.' Alison looked a little uncomfortable as she noticed Jack's slightly swollen nose. 'Er, Colonel, I'm uh, I'm sorry about you know…'
'Nearly breaking my nose?' Jack filled in the gap, grinning as he spoke. 'Hey, no worries. It'll be good as new in no time.'
'That wasn't what you were saying to Dr Fraiser, sir,' Sam smiled at him, recalling the scene with the doctor right after Alison had been settled.
'So, what are your thoughts on working here now?' Jack asked, half expecting to be told that her letter of resignation was already on General Hammond's desk.
Alison appeared to give this some thought. 'Well, the people are ok I guess, and the work is alright. But there is one thing I am concerned about.' Alison looked into the expectant faces of her visitors. 'Is it always this quiet around here? Because if it is I might need to find something a little more interesting, just so I don't get bored.'
'You'll do,' Jack said, patting her shoulder in a paternal gesture, 'you'll do.'
THE END