Part Five

They packed quickly, and Teal'c took up O'Neill once again, this time wrapped in a sleeping bag, the elaborate cloak left behind – concealed under low bushes. They couldn't afford to wait for Daniel to get back, hopefully they would meet up with the rescue team before they reached the gate, but speed was the main thing now, for who knew what the unknown energy drain was doing to the Colonel.

They were still several miles from their destination when the Colonel showed the first sign of waking. He twisted his head slightly into Teal'c's chest.

"Captain Carter." Teal'c called, dropping to crouch with the other man resting against his legs. "O'Neill is stirring."

The Captain hurried to his side. "Colonel? Colonel O'Neill, can you hear me?"

"Carter?" The eyelids fluttered, finally giving up the fight and staying closed.

"Yes, sir. I'm here with Teal'c. Daniel's gone ahead to the gate."

"Carter?"

Teal'c caught the Captain's eye, and shook his head. It was obvious O'Neill could not hear her. His head moved again, an agitated movement showing his distress, and Teal'c laid him down, allowing Captain Carter better access. She had just placed her hand against O'Neill's neck when the Colonel gave a loud cry, his eyes snapping open for a second before shutting, squeezing tight as if in great pain. Teal'c felt the other man's body pressing against his own as O'Neill arched his back, stayed rigid for a second, then flopped bonelessly back down, his head sliding sideways against Teal'c's knees.

"Colonel?" Captain Carter leaned forward, her hands busy. "I can't find a pulse!"

Without questioning her, Teal'c tilted O'Neill's head back, and exchanging a quick nod, waited until the Captain was positioned across from him then bent and breathed into the Colonel's mouth.

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They had been working together for ten minutes now. When Sam had begun to tire she had exchanged places with Teal'c, breathing for the Colonel as the Jaffa compressed his chest with strong, sure movements. She took a second to glance at her watch. If Daniel had made it to the gate, he should be back by now. By her calculations the rescue team would be with them very soon.

If? She gave herself a mental shake. Of course Daniel got to the gate. He was bringing help.

She looked at Colonel O'Neill's pale, lifeless face, and sent up a prayer that help would come soon.

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Climbing up was almost impossible now. For every hard fought step upwards Jack was being pushed three down, and his energy was almost gone.

The void was filled with images, pictures flying past him, dropping away as parts of his life fell to the onslaught. Feelings he had buried long ago welled up, tore through the hole in his chest, and away.

He was losing himself.

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"Captain Carter, come in."

Sam flicked the switch on her radio and waited until she had given the Colonel two more breaths before answering.

"Captain Carter here. We're approximately one kilometre from the gate, still on the path."

"Colonel Makepeace here, Captain. What is Colonel O'Neill's status?"

"He stopped breathing over twenty minutes ago, sir. Teal'c and I are administering CPR. Please hurry." She bent back to her task without waiting for the reply.

"Understood, Captain. We have SG-8 with us. Makepeace out."

Sam pressed her fingers against the Colonel's carotid artery.

She shook her head at Teal'c enquiring look.

Nothing.

"Come on, sir." She pleaded softly.

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That was it! He'd had it with this slow sucking of his soul. There was no way he was going to let it beat him.

He pushed, forcing himself up, holding on to what little energy he had left and using it to fight.

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A shudder was all the warning they had, and they barely had time to move back before the Colonel started struggling to get up. His eyes were open, but the glassy stare showed he was unaware of his surroundings. He had pushed himself half out of the open sleeping bag before they could stop him.

"O'Neill. You must desist." Teal'c gripped the Colonel's arms, holding him firmly. He could feel the muscles rigid under his hands. Slowly O'Neill's head turned until he was looking directly into his face. The brown eyes blinked twice.

"Teal'c?"

"It is I, O'Neill."

"You dead too?"

"Neither of us are dead, O'Neill. Captain Carter and I are taking you to the chappa'ai. Daniel Jackson has brought help."

"Carter?" The Colonel's eyes moved, searching.

Sam moved closer, bringing herself into his line of sight. "I'm here, sir."

"Where…?"

"We're on our way to the gate."

His eyes flittered, constantly moving. "Where…?" He made to get up again, pushing against Teal'c's arms. "Daniel?" The cuts on his face had opened again, and Teal'c could feel moisture seeping through the bandages beneath his hands.

"Sir, you have to stay still." Captain Carter raised her voice, trying to get her commander's attention, but it seemed impossible.

He wrenched one arm from Teal'c's grip, his hand going to his chest. "God! It hurts." He fell back once more, his weight resting against Teal'c, as his breath came in harsh gasps, each one sounding more painful and labored than the last.

Teal'c reached one arm around the distressed man, holding him firmly. He listened as Captain Carter used her radio to call Colonel Makepeace, telling him to hurry.

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Major Ferguson, leader of SG-8, checked once more that the oxygen mask was secure before they lifted Colonel O'Neill. He had been stunned to find the Colonel showing all the symptoms of a heart attack as well as the shock and blood loss he had expected when Doctor Jackson had reported his CO's injuries. They stabilised him, but the Colonel had lapsed into unconsciousness again. Ferguson gave the signal, and his team lifted their patient, the stretcher carefully balanced so as not to jar him unnecessarily.

Colonel Makepeace was listening to Captain Carter, his face an unemotional mask, but his stance showing how upset he was with her report. He kept glancing back down the trail towards the city as if he wanting nothing less than to go straight into its heart, straight up to the temple, guns blazing. Ferguson was sure that if Makepeace did, Teal'c would have gladly followed. The Jaffa walked alongside the stretcher, one large hand resting on O'Neill's shoulder, the other tightly clenched at his side, his absent staffweapon a ghostly but almost tangible presence. Doctor Jackson was firmly ensconced on the opposite side of the stretcher, refusing to take more than one step away from it, just as he had refused to remain behind at the SGC.

The journey to the gate was carried out in silence, except for the low murmur of Carter and Makepeace. Ferguson watched them out of the corner of his eye, noting how they continually scanned their surroundings even as they spoke. Teal'c too was on alert, even as he guarded Colonel O'Neill.

The Colonel was pale, the cuts standing out in vivid contrast to his skin. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the Major could see small tremors running across him. He took his patient's pulse – much too rapid – but catching Doctor Jackson's concerned look, ignored the query in the other man's eyes by quickly lowering his own.

He returned his gaze to Colonel O'Neill's still figure and gestured for his team to pick up the pace.

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It was like swimming through mud, and as sensation returned to his body, it got harder and harder to keep afloat.

Was there any point to this battle? He was, after all, dead.

But it had now become a battle of principle. He had come too far to give up now, and somewhere, something was telling him to hold on just a little longer because he was almost there.

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