Chapter 5: Warnings

Jonas tried to move, tried to dodge out of the way, but found that he was completely immobile. From what, he couldn't tell, but he couldn't move, it was as though the figure rushing from the shadows had shoved him into a trance. A trance in which his mind could register all that was happening, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get his body to cooperate with his mind.

The glowering eyes drew ever so nearer, and Jonas drew in a sharp breath, he tensed every muscle in his body, and waited to accept the impact which he knew was eminent.

"Jonas, get out of the way!" Colonel O'Neill yelled.

O'Neill's voice seemed to be echoing from somewhere far off, a place where Jonas couldn't quite reach. He turned his gaze toward O'Neill, saw the look of pure terror splashed over the Colonel's face, and willed himself to move.

'C'mon Jonas, just move! How hard can it be? This is no time to disobey orders! Just move!' Jonas yelled inside his mind, his voice reverberated off of the walls of his thoughts, and echoed all around him.

Jonas looked up, and saw the figure was no more than two feet away from him. He called out in surprise, and heard a gunshot go off. The form fell in a heap, and Jonas stumbled backwards, nearly losing his balance.

He turned to where the shot had come from, and saw Major Carter holding a weapon out in front of her.

"Are you okay, Jonas?" She asked him.

"I think so, yeah. Thanks Major." Jonas replied.

"Not a problem, but next time, how about you move when something is about to kill you, huh?" Sam replied simply, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and Jonas couldn't help, but smile back.

"Did you get it Carter?" Jack called.

Sam looked back to the spot where the creature had fallen, and her eyes grew wide when she saw that the place was empty. There was nothing there, not even a single clue.

"I thought I had, but I must not have." She said.

"Perhaps your shot merely stunned the creature, Major Carter." Teal'c offered.

"Maybe, but if that's the case then that thing sure as hell isn't human." Carter answered, her eyes still fixed on the now vacant spot.

"Let's get back inside before it decides to come for another round." O'Neill said softly.

Nobody offered an argument. They didn't dare to. They were all more than willing to get inside out of the dark, because so far, the simple meet and greet had become something far more complicated.

A wildly muttering Johnston met them at the door, murmuring phrases about insanity and death wishes. Colonel O'Neill cast an amused glance back over his shoulder to where Jonas and the others were following behind.

"Thanks for your concerns." Jack said in good humor.

"Hmpf." Johnston uttered and then slammed the door shut behind them. They watched as he locked it behind him, sliding five bolts across it.

"You should remain inside for the remainder of the night." He murmured.

"There are still many hours until daylight, follow me, I will show you to your rooms. You would be best off to remain inside them with your doors and windows locked. It knows you are here now, and it understands that you are not afraid of it. It will kill any of you if it is granted the chance. Hope that none of you do offer a chance." Johnston replied, his voice was slightly harsher than it had previously been, and it was laced with concern and fear.

He lead each member of SG-1 to separate rooms, and opened the doors. After granting them a fair night, and warning them yet again to lock the doors and windows, Johnston ambled off to his own room.

Jonas lay awake, staring aimlessly at the ceiling, for what seemed like a very long time. He heard scratching outside of his locked window, but didn't bother looking to see what was calling. Instead, he rolled over and closed his eyes, eventually falling into a fitful sleep which he did not awaken from until early morning, despite the endless scraping at his window, and the haunting sound of howling wind entering through cracks in the architecture.

A/N: Sorry about the short length of this chapter, but I think it was necessary, and stood best alone. Next chapter should be longer, I hope! Until then leave me a review and let me in on your thoughts.