A couple of things I forgot to mention - This fic is an entry in the Jackfic archive monthly word challenge. The word for January is 'embark'. And you never need to worry about me not finishing fics. I only post them here after they are complete.

Flatkatsi

Alone On a Wide Wide Sea – Part Two

He was shouting, what he didn't know, just that it was urgent.

Running, pulling someone along with him.

Running for their lives.

He pulled Carter up, dragging her through the churning water, using all his strength to forge a path to . . .

Where?

He couldn't remember.

xoxoxoxoxo

Daniel struggled to hold the trashing man, well aware of the danger he was putting them all in.

"Jack!" It was hard to see. In the absolute darkness of the starless night he could only go by touch, grabbing at flailing arms. "Damn it, Jack, you'll capsize us."

And maybe his words sunk into part of the fever racked mind, because his friend slumped back down, panting, his long fingers clutching at Daniel arm.

"Sorry."

"It's alright." Daniel held the canteen up. "Here. Not too much."

He was relieved when Jack swallowed, knowing it was the first water he'd had in hours.

"We're still on the boat?"

He nodded, but realising the other man couldn't see him, spoke. "Yes. And still drifting. At least there's no sign of another storm."

"Carter?"

"Here, sir." Sam's voice floated up out of the night. Daniel knew she'd been asleep, but there hadn't been any point in waking her, so had left his teammate to take what rest she could.

Jack began to raise himself, pushing against Daniel.

"I should check the sail."

Daniel held tight, not letting him up. 'There's nothing to check. It was ruined in the storm, remember, you've already had a look at it. You said it was useless."

"I did?" Confusion showed plainly in Jack's voice and Daniel could picture the frown on his face. "When was that?"

This time Sam answered. "The last time you were awake. You insisted on checking it."

"You lasted about three minutes on your feet, just long enough to stand up before you fell down again."

There was no response. The silence stretched out until Daniel finally roused his tired brain into action.

"Jack?" He moved a little, easing the muscles in his legs as the weight of his friend pressed them down. "He's gone again, Sam."

And Daniel rested his hand on Jack's shoulder and let himself float into sleep.

xoxoxoxoxo

"As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean."

"Just do me a favour and don't quote the next line."

Jack snorted in amusement and regretted it within a second, tensing up as he rode out the pain. "So you're finally awake."

"Apparently." Daniel straightened a little, looking around, then lowered his voice. "Sam's still asleep?" He didn't wait for Jack to answer, lowering his head again to peer down, his eyes narrowed as if searching for details in the early dawn light. "How are you doing?"

There wasn't any point denying it, so Jack didn't try. "Not so good. Could you give me a hand to sit up?"

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

"No, but if I lie here any longer my butt will bond itself to the planks."

Daniel nodded and shifted, and Jack bit back a moan. His friend paused.

"You okay?"

He ground out the answer through gritted teeth. "Yeah, just do it already."

A couple of minutes and a lot of pain later he was sitting, his back against the boat's pathetic excuse for a mast. He looked around, taking in the torn sail, and the generally unseaworthiness of the craft. His gaze lingered on the shattered remains of the boom, the rotten wood ending in jagged splinters, and had to stop himself from touching the burning wound in his belly. He felt Daniel's eyes upon him and, catching the look of sympathy, knew his thoughts were transparent.

"So much for sailing back to land. Getting on this boat wasn't the best idea I've ever had."

"We wouldn't have survived if we hadn't, sir." The sound of Carter's voice had him carefully turning to face her. She was rubbing her eyes, her face shadowed by fatigue.

Jack rested his head on the smooth wood, shutting his eyes, letting the sweat run freely down his face. "About that – any idea what happened?"

"I can only guess, sir. The UAV spotted volcanic activity from two mountains in the high range several miles southwest of the gate. I think activity on one of the mountains triggered a lahar, a sort of torrential mudflow."

"There was more than mud in that water, Sam."

"The mountains were snow covered, Daniel. The blocks of ice were probably loosened by the heat from the volcano. That could have been what triggered the lahar – several large blocks falling into the lake we spotted in the carter of the larger volcano. That would have raised the water level suddenly and caused the water to burst out, creating a flash flood."

Jack let her explanation wash over him as his energy flagged. A light touch on his arm brought his eyes open once more to find Daniel watching him. He gave the other man a slight smile and a nod and was rewarded by an easing of the tension in Daniel's face.

"It was a good thing this boat was there, Jack. You did the right thing."

He scrubbed a hand over his chin, knowing Daniel was correct but not willing to admit it given the result. Maybe they should have tried to make it back to the gate. He had looked back at one point, seeing Teal'c on the opposite side of the swollen creek, already at the foot of the hill on which the gate was positioned.

"Teal'c?"

Carter answered. "He's safe, sir. The hill was above the flood level, I saw him standing next to the gate." She paused, exchanging a quick glance with Daniel. "Don't you remember? We discussed his reporting to General Hammond . . . before the storm blew up."

They had been swept far out to sea along with a torrent of debris - he remembered that. He remembered fighting to turn the craft back to land and he remembered the gale force winds that hit without warning. After that it all got a little hazy.

He didn't nod, just grunted, hoping they would take it for agreement and let him rest.

xoxoxoxoxo