Chapter 12
Shortly before dusk, Raphaella was taken to the large building in the middle of the settlement. Her hands were bound behind her, a sword held to her back, prohibiting any thought of escape. She was taken inside and up to the second floor where the entire space was open and unfurnished, save for one elaborately carved chair covered in gold leaf where Daimyo sat.. The "throne" was set on a raised platform, allowing the seated person to see throughout the room. He motioned Raphaella over to him and shoved her down to sit on the platform by his side.
"I am meeting someone in a few minutes. You will tell me what he is thinking or you will not receive any food for the next 24 hours."
Raphaella knew the only way she could do that was to touch the other person, but she didn't think Daimyo knew that. She weighed the risk of speaking now or being wrong later.
"Excuse me, sir, but the only way I can read minds is to be touching that person. I can only sense their feelings and emotions when I do not touch," she explained as quickly as she could.
Daimyo stiffened. I wondered why you did not tell your leader what I had planned for your group today. He reached down and pulled her up to her knees. Once again, he backhanded her across the face, this time splitting her lip.
"You will learn not to speak to me until ordered."
Several minutes later, the guards led a small group of people into the room where they were told to stand in the center, facing Daimyo. They began a conversation in a language that Raphaella did not recognize. She opened her mind to the emotions of the group and found only good intentions and honesty.
After about an hour the discussion was completed and the group left.
"Well, tell me what you felt."
"I found only honestly and willingness to do business with you."
"Good. You have earned your bowl of rice for the day." He looked down on her, disgusted. "You are filthy. I may even allow you to have a bath tomorrow before you come to me again. I do not like unpleasant smells."
Daimyo rose and left the room, signaling to his guards to return Raphaella to her hut. On her return, she saw that the headscarf she had left behind was gone. She hoped it was someone on SG1.
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Sam and Daniel waited at the meeting place for O'Neill and Teal'c. While they were waiting they saw guards approach their previous confinement cell. A light was shined down into the pit and the guards realized the prisoners were missing. They seemed to be discussing what action to take next, when the other two members of SG1 arrived.
Sam turned to Jack. "Sir, it's been noticed that we're missing. Within a few minutes they should have guards out looking for us. We did find a hut where Raphaella was kept, but she wasn't there at the time. Daniel found her headscarf."
Jack looked at Daniel, and noticed the sad glint that appeared in his friend's eye. He cleared his throat. "Right. We need to head for the gate and bring back-up. I haven't seen anything more advanced than swords or bows-and-arrows. Of course, they now have our weapons, but I think a couple of SG teams should be able to take this bunch. Let's go."
Teal'c scouted ahead and saw no one in the ravine, so they took the shortest route to the gate. They found no guards.
"This guy's got to be the most arrogant SOB I've ever met. He doesn't seem to think anyone could get away from him." Jack observed as he waited for Daniel to dial home and send the GDO code.
Suddenly a large group of warriors burst through the ravine to the area around the gate and began firing arrows at the team. The event horizon whooshed and the four dove for safety, arrows flying after them.
At the other end, the waiting SGC guards took cover from the flying arrows as SG1 rolled down the ramp. General Hammond hurried in. "Is everyone OK? Where's Raphaella? What happened?"
Jack rolled to a stop at Hammond's feet. Looking up he shouted, "Close the iris!" Standing up, he looked the general in the eye. "All of us were captured. We escaped, but Raphaella was being held somewhere else. We couldn't find her, sir. I request permission to return with back-up."
"Granted. Now go to the infirmary, get checked out, and we'll debrief in one hour."
Sam stood up and looked down at Daniel who was still on the ground. "Um, sir. Daniel seems to be bleeding."
"Of course he is." Jack looked back to see an arrow protruding from Daniel's shoulder.
Teal'c reached down to help a dazed Dr. Jackson to his feet. "Just a scratch. I'm fine," Daniel protested weakly.
"Yeah. You've 'been fine' every time you died, too!" Jack wouldn't be convinced Daniel was fine until Doc Frasier checked him over.
Daniel made it to the infirmary on his feet and Janet confirmed that it was indeed, just a scratch. He only needed four stitches and a strong antibiotic shot.
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Within the hour, they were in the briefing room giving a detailed account of the mission-gone-wrong. Daniel was uncharacteristically quiet, while Jack was noticeably irritated. Hammond sensed tension among the members, especially between Jack and Daniel. However, since no one made any comments on the matter, he decided to trust O'Neill's judgment and let it go.
"You'll go back at dusk their time tomorrow. That's 22 hours from now. Until then you people are to rest. Carter, Jackson, that means you – no working tonight. Understood?" Hammond was well acquainted with the working habits of the two scientists and knew they needed to be fresh tomorrow.
"Yes, sir," Sam replied sadly. She had been planning on running another experiment on the mel'c.
Daniel simply nodded, not looking up from the table.
After Hammond left, Sam and Teal'c left to go to their quarters, when Jack pulled Daniel aside. "Daniel, we need to talk."
Daniel followed Jack to his seldom used office and shut the door behind them. Jack plopped himself down in his chair and ran his fingers through his hair. Daniel stood facing Jack, hugging himself protectively.
"Daniel, sit"
"No, thanks."
Jack shrugged. "Daniel. I know you think I believe you're responsible for the mess today, but I don't. I was irritated and took it out on you. I'm sorry I snapped at you when we were dumped into that pit. I've been reviewing events and I don't see anything you did that caused our problem." Jack ran his hand through his hair. "I was the one who agreed to lay down our weapons. We've done it countless times on other planets without incident. I should have obeyed my instincts. My fault."
Daniel shifted his weight from one foot to another and kept his head down. "Thanks, Jack, but I was the negotiator. It was my responsibility to realize we were being lied to. It's my fault Raphaella's in trouble."
"We'll get her back tomorrow. Go get some sleep. That pain killer Doc Frasier gave you should make you sleep tonight."
Daniel headed for his quarters, exhausted and sleepy. He sprawled across his bed without removing his shoes and fell instantly asleep.
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"Dan-yel."
Daniel heard her whispered call. "Sha're? Where are you?"
"I am here, with you, my Dan-yel."
"Sha're. I messed up again. My fault. I lost you and now I've lost Raphaella." In his dream, Daniel reached out for her, but she wasn't there.
"Dan-yel, you didn't lose me. I'll always be here with you. Raphaella loves you and she can share the life you have. Let her heal you. Let her love you, my Dan-yel."
Daniel woke up with a start. He could smell Sha're's scent in the room. He hated those dreams of her, when he could almost touch her, but then she was gone – again.
He got up, went into the small bathroom and splashed water over his face. He flipped on the light and starred at himself in the mirror. He looked like hell. His shoulder felt like it was on fire again, so he downed a couple more of Janet's magic pills.
Afraid to go back to sleep, but too exhausted to prevent it, Daniel sat on his bed with his back leaning on the headboard. He pulled his knees up, wrapped his arms around his shins, and rested his head on his knees.
God, if You're out there, help me. I'm losing my mind.
Daniel, let her in.
Daniel snapped up. He'd heard that. Someone had spoken out loud. Daniel scrutinized the small room quickly. No one. I really am losing it. Now I'm hearing voices.
He stood up, removed his boots and jacket, then slid under the blankets. He curled up on his side, hugging his knees, fighting sleep, afraid of what was waiting for him there, but finally losing the battle, he succumbed.