Jack walked a few meters away from the house before he sank to his knees beneath the dark branches of a tree. Looking up, he whispered a pleading, "Keep him safe, Sam. For a while longer, please keep him safe." Then he dropped his head to his hands in despair.
Chapter 12 – A Night Devoid of Stars
Jack's knees being what they were, he couldn't remain in his position under the tree for long. He slowly made his way to a bench leaning against their temporary dwelling. It was far enough away from the door and in the shadows of the overhang so he was still given some privacy should anyone peer out looking for him.
He leaned his head back against the smooth adobe wall and looked up at the sky, wondering if perhaps Sam was somewhere out in the open as well, looking up at the same night visage. He frowned to himself as he noted the absence of any stars. The sky appeared overcast; only a faint glimmer of Moval's moon peering occasionally through the swiftly moving clouds. If she were out there, Jack thought dismally, she wouldn't be looking at any stars.
Jack closed his eyes and sighed dispiritedly. How had this happened? He went over things again and again in his mind, wondering what he should have done to prevent someone from taking Sam and JJ. He snorted in self-derision: he never should have brought them here, that's what he should have done.
Jack opened his eyes and turned his head as he heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel beside him. When he could just make out Daniel's form in the dim moonlight, he once again closed his eyes and leaned back against the house.
"Go away, Daniel. There's nothing you say to change anything," Jack stated without preamble.
Despite the warning tone in Jack's voice, Daniel continued toward him and sat down at the other end of the bench. "I know that Jack. I just didn't think you should be out here alone any longer." He darted a look at his friend. "And obviously beating yourself up over what happened. You couldn't have prevented this, Jack. This was clearly planned out ahead of time," he stated quietly.
"Yeah, and so I should have never brought them here Daniel," Jack's tone was filled with anger at himself. "Sam and I agreed that JJ would never be involved in anything that related to going off-world. Hell, we even argued about bringing him into the SGC. God knows we've brought back enough alien viruses to kill off the entire population!"
"But you still brought him in, Jack, because he's your son and everything the two of you do relates to the SGC…you can't deny that. But you both took precautions, always checking ahead to see that the base was secure and only leaving him with trusted members of the SGC. And there was no reason whatsoever to think that this trip wasn't safe…you had Thor check everything out, you talked things over with Sam, hell, you knew these people, Jack," Daniel tried to reassure him, if not a bit forcefully.
"Or so I thought," Jack remarked bitterly.
"You know you wouldn't have been able to keep Sam from coming on this mission – it's her job and she's damned good at it," Daniel reminded him quietly.
Jack sighed, "I know, but I still can't help thinking that if I would have gone with my gut instinct…" he left the rest unsaid as he leaned forward and put his head in his hands.
Daniel scooted closer and placed a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder. "We're going to find them, Jack. Don't give up. Sam's strong, she'll get through this and she'll keep JJ safe, just like Teal'c said."
Jack cocked his head toward Daniel, the despair in his eyes strong enough to cause Daniel's own heart to clench with pain. "I don't think I'm strong enough, Daniel," he stated quietly.
Daniel frowned, purposefully choosing to misinterpret Jack's meaning. "What are you talking about Jack? Aside from Teal'c, you're the strongest person I know."
"I'm not strong enough to lose them," he said so quietly that Daniel had to strain to hear his words. "I can't lose another son, much less Sam. They're my life. If anything happens to them…" he didn't finish his sentence, but Daniel knew exactly what he was talking about and let his anger override his sympathy for his friend.
"Stop talking like that, Jack! It sounds as if you are giving up on them already! Sam would kick your ass if she could hear what you just said and you damn well know it!" Daniel got to his feet, pulling Jack with him. "Come on, you've had enough time out here wallowing in self-recrimination. It's time to get inside and make plans. Sam and JJ are waiting for us; they're waiting for you."
Jack walked a few steps before he pulled against Daniel's arm and stood rooted to the spot, glaring at Daniel and taking slight offense at the tone he had taken. For his part, Daniel was glad to see the anger return, for an angry Jack O'Neill was much easier to deal with than a despondent one. Daniel didn't back down, just stood there with his arms crossed, waiting for Jack.
As the minutes ticked by with the two in a stand-off of sorts, Jack's face began to relax and he finally gave Daniel awry grin. "You do know that you're a royal pain in the ass, right?"
Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose and smiled back, "So you keep telling me."
Jack let his eyes dart away, before coming to rest on his friend once more. "Thanks Daniel."
"Anytime you need someone to yell at you, I'm your man," Daniel replied, his smile growing a bit wider. They began the short trek back to the house together in silence. As they reached the door, Jack turned around once more and looked at the dark sky. "I'll be there soon, Sam," he whispered to the darkness, then he turned and entered the house.
Sam had practically worn a trench in the floor of their cell, looking for something, anything, that would enable her to get JJ and herself out of there. She had found a panel in one wall that had turned out, not to be a hidden escape route, but a small washroom. While she was glad for the facilities, she was disheartened not to find a way out.
She fought against the restlessness that threatened to overtake her. She had tried to rest on the bed with JJ, but neither her mind nor her body would let her. Once JJ had settled back into a deeper sleep, Sam had carefully gotten off the bed and begun her pacing.
She had picked up the discarded necklaces that still lay in a heap in the corner. Carefully placing them on the table, she prodded them with her fingers, turning each piece this way and that in exploration. It didn't take her long to find the locater beacon that Beroni had mentioned. The bead it was contained within was a slightly different hue than all the others. Sam desperately wished for some tools so she could pry the beads open. Maybe, she could alter them to send a signal to her father, or Thor. She knew the alien could pick up even the faintest of signals with the equipment he had on board his new ship, the Jonathan Jacob.
Sam sighed as she left the necklaces on the table. Tomorrow, when she and JJ were taken wherever they were going, she would have to look for some kind of tool. It would be difficult, especially with having to keep JJ with her and out of danger. But she would do it.
Sam paced the small room some more, wishing to God there was a window in the cell. She always felt a bit claustrophobic when locked within a small area without windows. Even a door with bars on it would be better than this small enclosed space, she thought to herself with little humor.
Looking at her watch, Sam saw that it was well past midnight. She wished she could look out and see the stars right now. It always made her feel more secure when she and Jack were apart: looking at the stars and wondering if he was also star gazing. Her thoughts drifted once again to her husband. Jack… what was he doing right now? Was he all right or had something happened to him as well? Sam felt panic rise up at the thought. She couldn't seem to stop torturing herself with thoughts of Jack and with her own feelings of guilt.
I should have listened to him. Jack didn't feel right about bringing JJ here, but I practically pushed him into coming, thinking of the naquadah and what it might mean to us. Sam slammed her fist against the wall in frustration, turning back to the bed quickly when she heard JJ whimper at the sudden noise.
Shit! I can't get so distracted – I have to concentrate on JJ and getting us out of here, not blaming myself or worrying about Jack. She angrily brushed at the tears that had threatened to fall and shook out her slightly aching hand before making her way back to her son.
With newly firmed resolve, Sam lay back on the bed and gathered JJ close. She was careful not to turn her back on the door; her soldier's training mixing with her mother's instinct to protect. Taking the pillow, she placed it behind JJ; effectively blocking him from view should anyone come through the door.
"How are our guests?" came the imposing tone of the High Chancellor as he entered a small room next to the one Sam and JJ were being cloistered in.
Beroni turned from watching a display screen to greet the High Chancellor. "They are both resting, your Eminence. Although, I daresay, Colonel Carter will not allow herself to fall asleep. She has been looking for a way out of her room, all to no avail of course," he smirked.
"And the child? I trust he has not been harmed." The High Chancellor gave Beroni a stern look.
"Of course not, High Chancellor. You commanded me to bring them here safely, I have done just that," he assured the older man, taking a bit of offense at the accusatory tone.
"Good, good. I am most anxious to begin tomorrow. I hold out great hope that the son of Ambassador O'Neill is the one we seek."
"I feel I must warn you, Chancellor, Colonel Carter will not be easily swayed to cooperate with us. In fact, I believe had I not threatened the child's safety, she would have done me great bodily injury!" Beroni acted affronted at the mere thought of her daring to do so, although he would never admit to the High Chancellor that he had been more than a little afraid of her earlier.
The High Chancellor looked down at Beroni, a frown upon his face. "The child will not be harmed, Beroni. You know this. Nor will Colonel Carter, not if it is at all avoidable." His tone left no room for argument.
Beroni ducked his head in feigned acquiescence. Inwardly he seethed at the tone that was being taken with him. After all, hadn't he been the one to get them here in the first place? "I only meant to impress upon her the importance of her cooperation, your Eminence."
The High Chancellor nodded once, then moved closer to the screens. "We will have to move quickly at first light. My guards have reported that the Ambassador and his Jaffa searched the Government Building. He believes I am involved somehow," he muttered to himself.
"Are you not afraid he will find us and stop us before we can complete the tests?" Beroni asked.
The High Chancellor shook his head. "Dr. Jackson might be able to decipher the writings inside the temple and ascertain from there what our intentions are regarding the child. However, Renai has been very adept at keeping him out of the temple itself. She does not know the full extent of what we are trying to accomplish, no one does. But she will continue to follow my decree to keep the visitors out of the temple on the pretense that it is too dangerous. Should the good doctor somehow gain access, he will be too late to delay us. I am not concerned, Beroni, nor should you be."
The leader of the Makesh people moved toward the door. "I must return to my office for a time but will return before light. The night is dark, the clouds obscure both the moonlight and the stars. It seems as if the heavens are aiding us in our quest here tonight." He fixed his steely gaze on the scientist, not quite confident that he could trust the balding man. "Watch over our guests, Beroni. If anything should happen to them before dawn, all our plans will be for naught," he warned the scientist.
Beroni glared at the door as it closed after the High Chancellor. He had not missed the veiled threat behind the Chancellor's words. He would watch over the guests, and when they had completed their objective tomorrow, Beroni would see to it that the High Chancellor and the humans showed him the respect he deserved. Especially the beautiful Colonel Carter.