Chapter 3

Daniel walks though the gate with Jack. Once they emerge on the lush planet Daniel puts on his sun clips and looks at Jack. "So how is it going with Maria?"

Jack surveys the trees. Jack grins. "It's great."

Sam looks up at him. "How many dates have you been on now?"

Jack laughs at Carter. "Eight and we have one for Friday night." He's wears a smile of satisfaction.

Teal'c looks at O'Neill. "Have you engaged in a kiss yet O'Neill?"

"What? Teal'c I don't kiss and tell!" O'Neill says jokingly, as they fan out.

O'Neill lays on a gurney in the Infirmary. His shoulder hurt bad, really, really bad. "Doc. I got to talk to Daniel." She was poking him hard.

Janet Fraiser looks down at her protesting patient. "Not now Colonel your wound is pretty bad. Later okay."

Jack shakes his head in protest. "Now Doc!" Jack rears up.

Fraiser looks at the Corpsman. "Go find Dr. Jackson." She continues to poke the wound with her gloved hands.

Jack leans back relaxing, a bit. "That hurts doc." His shoulder was on fire from the weapon that had been fired on him.

Fraiser grins, at least he was conscious. "I know, but you'll be better in no time." Janet probes some more.

Daniel runs in followed by the corpsman. "What is? Is he okay?"

Jack looks at Daniel, pain hits him hard. "Yeah!"

Fraiser turns to Daniel stopping for a moment. "He insisted he talk to you."

Daniel walks over to the bed and stands next to it. "What is it Jack?"

Jack leans back and looks at Daniel, knowing he was going to pass out soon. His ribs hurt too. "I have a date tonight. Call and cancel. Tell her I'm sorry." God, he didn't want to miss a date with Maria, but there was no way in hell he was going to see her like he was.

Daniel nods. "I will. Anything else?"

Jack nods. "I.." Pain swamps him and he passes out cold.

Fraiser steps forward and turns to Daniel. "He'll be fine."

Daniel nods. "Aright, let me know when he wakes up."

Fraiser nods. "I will." Janet turns back to her patient. Daniel looks at Jack then turns and leaves.

Daniel waits for Maria to pick up the phone. Her voice was soft. "Maria Blake, how can I help you?" Maria asks, not know who was on the other end.

Daniel can help but smiles. "Maria, this is Daniel."

Maria smiles, Daniel only called her when he had something for her to look at from his collection. "Hi Daniel, what can I do for you."

Daniel frowns. He hates to ruin her day. "Maria there was an accident. Jack's been hurt. I'm sorry, I know you had a date tonight but he has to cancel."

Maria sighs. "That's alright Daniel, I need to cancel anyway. Tell Jack, I hope he feels better." Her voice isn't full of concern.

Daniel instantly assumes something is wrong. "Maria is everything okay between you and Jack?"

Maria laughs. "Everything's fine Daniel, we got a new shipment of art. I have to go though this weekend. Some of the pieces are missing." She forces herself not to worry.

Daniel sighs with Relief. "Okay, I'll have Jack call you when he can." The nagging voice in the back of his head goes away.

Maria smiles to herself. "Alright Daniel. Give him my love please."

Daniel smiles to himself. "I will Maria." Daniel hangs up grinning.

Jack glances at Daniel, sitting in the passenger's seat of the truck. "She hasn't returned my calls, all week. What did you say to her?" The truck travels down the dimly lit city streets.

Daniel looks at his worried friend. "I just said there was an accident."

Jack nods, feeling nervous and worried. He'd done some checking Maria's car was in the shop. He called her earlier to say he would pick her up. "Something doesn't feel right Daniel. The curator said he would make sure she called me back."

Daniel shrugs. "When I talk to her last Friday she sounded busy."

Jack didn't want to hear it. Maria always took time to be with him. Especially when she knew he was going out of town. "Something's wrong. Either that or she hates me and doesn't want to see me again."

"Jack, she said to give you her love. I seriously doubt that she hates you." Daniel says grinning at his friend's discomfort.

Jack nods, pulling into the museum's dimly lit parking lot. "Good, because I'd like you to go in and get her for me?"

Daniel pales. "Jack, are you okay?"

Jack nods, his ribs were hurting him. "Yeah, it's just if she doesn't want to see me…"

Daniel nods. Since when Did Jack O'Neill ever chicken out? "Okay, the guard knows me, from the last time I came with you."

Jack smiles. "You better bring her back with you…" Jack threatens.

Daniel grins. "I'll try." Daniel opens the truck door and hops out. Jack watches as Daniel walks around to the back of the museum.

Daniel walks to the back entrance of the museum. The door is cracked open. Daniel walks over and pulls the door open. Carefully he peaks his head in looking for the guard. Daniel looks around then down to see the guard lying in a pool of blood. Daniel leans down and feels for a pulse. Daniel closes his eyes, feeling that the man is dead. Daniel searches his pockets for his cell phone. "Damn." Daniel can't find his phone. He'd go back for Jack, but he has to find Maria first and see if she is alright. Daniel makes his way past some closed and open crates toward the offices and storage rooms. Opening a conference room door he spots the curator lying with his head blown off. Daniel turns his head. "Oh Shit." Daniel swears. He looks over and sees Maria lying on the floor dressed stained with blood. Blood pooled around her on the floor, some in her hair as well. Daniel runs over and drops to his knees beside her. Daniel sees the gun shot wound on her right shoulder. Daniel watches her struggle to breath. "Maria, its Daniel. Hang in there. I've got to tell Jack and get you help."

Maria opens her eyes and turns her head to see Daniel kneeling next to her. "Jaack?"

Daniel nods. "He's in the truck. I need a phone."

Maria blinks slightly. "In My pocket, with the artifact." Maria moves her hand to her pocket and pulls out the two objects. One is a cell phone the other a rod of some sort.

Daniel takes the cell phone. "Alright, just rest." Daniel takes off his coat and supports her head. Taking one hand flips open the phone and Dial's Jack's number.

Jack answers on the first ring. "Maria?"

Daniel uses his other hand to put pressure on Maria's wound. "Jack its Daniel, something happened in here. The guard and the curator are dead. Maria's been shot, but she's alive."

Jack hears Daniel's words. "Daniel don't let her die! I'll be right there." Jack hangs up.

Daniel looks at Maria. "He's coming."

Maria nods her face pale. She holds up the artifact. "They wanted this. They took the other …." Maria trails off.

Daniel takes it from her and studies it. At first it looks like some sort of sculpture for ritual use. Daniel takes a closer look and notices the runic inscriptions, similar to those he'd seen on Cimmeria. "Maria, where did this come from?"

Maria gasps. "It came from Norway and the others Scandinavia." Maria's eyes roll back.

Jack runs over from the door and falls to his knees. "Maria?"

Daniel looks at Jack. "She's lost a lot of blood Jack. I haven't called for an ambulance yet."

Jack looks up at Daniel. "Why the hell not. Damn it Call Fraiser too."

Daniel nods, clutching the artifact in his hand. He gives it back to Maria. "Hold on to this don't lose it. I need it okay."

Maria looks at Jack then back at Daniel. "Okay. Jack, I wanted too …"

Jack leans down and kisses her on the forehead. "I know. I've got to go make sure it's clear. You'll be safe with Daniel."

Maria nods. "The Curator?"

Jack frowns and looks over glad his body was blocked from her view. "He's dead." Jack looks at Daniel. "Make sure the police know." Daniel nods. "I will, go." He calls 911.O'Neill leaves the room quickly.