Jackie is amazed at how many people are reading her story, and how great the reviews are. Thanks everyone - Flatkatsi
Life In the Shadows – Part Sixteen
Daniel and Teal'c had just returned from delivering a full load of ore when the excited voice of a youth hailed them.
"Come quickly," he shouted to them.
"Us?" asked Daniel, puzzled.
The youth nodded, panting from his run. "Your family, they are hurt."
Daniel and Teal'c just dropped the tools where they stood and raced off behind the youth.
"What's happened?" asked Daniel as they ran.
"Don't know, was told to get you quick.".
It took several minutes to reach their destination. Daniel and Teal'c pushed through the people who had gathered in the tunnel, the whispers not revealing anything to them. Daniel felt a ball of fear revolving in his stomach as he shoved people aside. His first reaction when he saw Jack sitting against the wall of the tunnel was one of relief, then he saw Sam cradled in his arms.
He squatted down in front of his friends and leaned close. "Jack … oh, God, is she?" When he got no response from the other man he blindly felt for Sam's neck. The blow on his face caught him by surprise and stunned, he fell back.
"Leave her alone," snarled Jack. His eyes were closed. "Leave …" His breath died into a gasp for oxygen.
Daniel realised Jack wasn't aware of who he was, and was purely protecting Sam on instinct alone.
When he lashed out the people around them moved even further back.
"Jack, it's me - Daniel," he said softly as he moved closer again, cautious and not touching.
Jack drew Sam tighter against his body, the sweat and blood rolling down his face, but he made no attempt to open his eyes.
"Jack, it's Daniel," he called louder this time. "Come on, Jack, Sam's hurt, she needs help. Jack!" he almost shouted
He could see the conflict arising on his friend's face as he struggled for awareness.
Jack whispered hoarsely, "Dan ..l?"
"It's me, Jack. Let me help Sam. Okay?"
Daniel put a gentle hand to Jack's shoulder, he felt the man flinch under his touch, but he allowed it to stay there. He took it as consent and put a shaky hand out to check Sam, heaving a sigh of relief when he found her pulse.
"We've got to get her back to our quarters. Jack, let go, she'll be okay. Teal'c's here. He will carry her."
Jack seemed to be considering Daniel's words, but didn't reply, merely let his hold on Sam loosen.
Without a word, Teal'c reached down and scooped Sam into his arms and headed down the tunnel, making his way to their quarters.
Daniel tried to help Jack up, but his friend cried out in agony and collapsed. Daniel barely caught his weight before he hit the floor.
"I need some help," he pleaded to the people standing watching. A muttering sprang up, but no one moved.
"Masa did this," said one man eventually.
Comprehension dawned on Daniel. "Did Masa tell you not to help them?" The man shrugged and looked around to his companions. "Then please, just help me get him back. Nothing else."
The man stepped forwards, looking slightly ashamed, and then as if having nade up his mind, he stooped to help. Between them they more or less carried Jack back to their quarters. As soon as Jack was laid down the man disappeared.
Before Daniel could do anything else Reena arrived.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Reena was breathless and pale from the shocking news she had heard. She quickly knelt to check Sam. Teal'c had already begun to bathe the cut on Sam's head, but stopped to allow Reena to tend her.
Reena winced as she saw the bruising on the woman's stomach and chest. The injuries didn't look too bad, but with a head injury there was always a possibility of complications. There was nothing obviously broken and she quickly moved over to Jack.
Daniel had started to clean Jack's face while Reena was busy with Sam. He had several new cuts, fresh bruising already darkening on the yellow marks still there from his previous injuries.
As Daniel cleared the blood, Reena noticed the blueness around Jack's mouth. His harsh gasping was already giving her concern. She knelt on the other side of Jack and quickly unbuttoned his shirt. One of the deeper gashes had reopened and she quickly sealed the bleeding with some balm. She saw the bandages Sam had put on for support and decided to leave them. She knew she couldn't do anything more for broken ribs than that.
She frowned up at Daniel. "It is not good," she said quietly.
Jack's breathing sounded loud in the room, the gasping shuddering breaths he drew barely moving his chest.
Daniel paled even further.
"I'm not sure how to help him," Reena admitted, unable to conceal the distress in her voice.
She cleaned the cuts, applied the balm and then stood.
"I will be back later. Just keep him still. Sam should awaken when she is ready."
Daniel only nodded absently.
"What happened back there?" he asked suddenly as Reena made to leave.
She shrugged. "Someone said Masa and Relon were ready to give trouble. Masa is a wicked man; he doesn't need a reason to hurt someone."
Daniel gave a groan. "I bet it didn't help that Jack probably gave him a mouthful. He just can't keep quiet you know, always got to rub them the wrong way."
He ignored the looks that both Reena and Teal'c cast his way. He began to pace slightly and then squatted besides Sam.
Reena excused herself with a last look to Teal'c.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Teal'c put a gentle hand on Daniel's shoulder.
"Are you alright, Daniel Jackson?"
"Yes, no … no, damn it! I'm angry." he announced, getting up and resuming his pacing.
Teal'c looked askance at Daniel. He was not used to seeing such behaviour from the man, but he understood he was upset.
"He just can't stop smart mouthing can he? Now he's half dead again and he's got Sam hurt too and we're stuck in this Godforsaken place till they heal." Teal'c let him rant. "I swear to, God, if we get him home I'll sew his mouth up!"
To Teal'c, this seemed a bit extreme, even in the circumstances. He knew O'Neill had a 'mouth' on him, but it was usually used for a good reason, to direct the attention away from his team, and to antagonise the enemy either into making a mistake or revealing a weakness. He'd never known O'Neill to try and offend without an intention of some kind behind it, regardless of what people thought.
"We do not know what happened," he reminded his teammate, "and we have yet to ascertain an escape route."
xoxoxoxoxox
Daniel sighed heavily at Teal'c's words. "Yeah I know, but at this rate …" He didn't finish as Sam moved and groaned, starting to come around.
Daniel was back down beside her in a flash. "Sam?"
Sam's eyes flickered open to regard him, rather unsteadily.
"Take it easy, Sam, you got a nasty head wound, don't try and move." He gave her a few sips of water from the cup Teal'c handed him. "Here, drink this". She gave him a grateful smile. "How do you feel?"
"Like … oh, Christ … what the …" she moaned, trying to draw her legs up as she cradled her stomach.
"Lie still. You've been hit in the stomach, and it looks like there's a lot of bruising. Is there anywhere else that hurts?"
Sam flexed the other parts of her body as she considered them. "Nope, just head and here," her hand circled her chest and stomach.
"Daniel … Shit, the Colonel …" she gasped as she remembered, her eyes widening in horror. She turned her head obviously seeking Jack's whereabouts.
"Take it easy, Sam, he's … he's okay," said Daniel as he swallowed the lump in his throat. He was doing his best to keep her calm as well as himself.
Sam twisted herself around a little more, still trying to see for herself. "Where? … He's okay?" she murmured softly.
Daniel urged her to rest, feeling relieved when she settled back down. He watched her fighting the urge to sleep, but eventually losing the battle. He felt it safe for her to sleep; she'd seemed lucid enough and otherwise okay.
Teal'c prepared some food and sat waiting patiently, but Daniel had trouble settling and alternated between pacing and sitting.
It was much later when Jack began to stir and Daniel was quickly at his side.
The pain was clearly etched on the man's features. Daniel watched as the dark eyes opened fully, then slammed down in instinctive reaction to the pain.
"Daniel?" he uttered hoarsely.
"Take it easy, Jack. Don't try and move."
"S …am…?" he gasped out, his eyes still tightly closed.
"Sam's okay, a bit bruised. She took a blow to the head, but she's okay." Daniel waited. He watched helplessly as Jack fought to stay conscious. "Oh, Jack, why? Why did you have to find trouble?" he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Jack gasped one word, his eyes flickering, trying to open. "Tried …"
"Jesus, Jack, you'd think you'd have learned something by now …" Daniel's voice cracked a little.
"Tried … Dan …" Jack lost the battle and slid unconscious.
The harsh breathing from Jack seemed loud and frightening to Daniel's ears. He was hurting for his friend, but at the moment he was also royally pissed with the man.
"Just another few days, Jack, another few days … and we could have been out of here," he whispered, his voice harsh, his emotions running very high. The thought that they would never leave this place alive frightened … no … terrified him.
xoxoxoxoxoxo