Chapter 8: Evening
The morning had faded, leaving only foggy memories behind. There wasn't one person who could recall every minute detail of the early day. Even to Jonas it seemed to be nothing, but a blur.
The man that had been promised to Jonas, the one who was supposed to come and take a look at the mutilated window ledge, never showed, and now the day was slowly dwindling away into evening. It wasn't as though Jonas had expected the man to come, he'd sort of guessed there would be no one sent. However, he had hoped that his expectations would be falsely proved. It would've made him feel a lot better.
At the moment, the team of SG-1 was seated around the dining table with food once again placed in front of them. All, but Jonas ate. Jonas found his mind to be in a different place completely. He had absolutely no interest in food at this time.
"Oh, for cryin' out loud! Jonas, will you please eat something?" Colonel O'Neill asked, casting Jonas a desperate glance.
"I can't, Colonel. I'm not hungry." Jonas sighed.
"Not hungry? Jonas, you have to be hungry! You haven't eaten anything since before we left the SGC."
"I know that, but I'm really not hungry. Colonel, the thought of food doesn't even appeal to my senses."
"That's different, but humor me! You have to eat something, I don't care if it's just a slice of bread, just eat!" O'Neill replied, and to reinforce his point he grabbed a slice of bread from a nearby platter, and shoved it in Jonas's direction.
Jonas took the bread, looked at it wearily, turned his attention to Colonel O'Neill, who was eyeing him expectantly, sighed and began to absently nibble at the crust.
O'Neill looked satisfied, at least he drew his attention away from Jonas, and focused back on his plate. Jonas sighed in relief and placed the unfinished bread on his still clean plate. Major Carter saw Jonas's actions and gave him a warning glance. Guiltily, Jonas gathered the bread again, and began to chew on it, eyes cast down to the tabletop.
After a few more bites, he once again placed the bread on the plate. He began to push the plate away, when he felt a strong hand grab his arm. Looking up, he saw Teal'c watching him.
"Did O'Neill not instruct you to finish the bread, Jonas Quinn?" Teal'c questioned. Jack looked up at the mention of his name.
"Yes, Colonel O'Neill did instruct him to finish his bread." Jack said simply.
Jonas cast Teal'c an exasperated look, and once again resumed eating, this time finishing the entire slice, while all of SG-1's eyes were turned toward him.
"Thank you." Jack said after Jonas looked up expectantly.
"Can I go now?" Jonas asked, he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. He was feeling slightly uncomfortable with everyone staring at him.
"Go where?" Johnston asked, coming into the room, a relaxed smile on his face.
"I'm going to go for a walk." Jonas said, pushing himself from the chair.
"Be sure to return before dark. You have approximately one hour before the night comes." Johnston said.
"I will." Jonas said, and made a quick break for the front door. He was well aware of the eyes boring into his back as he went.
Through the front doors, and into the yard, his feet striking the stone pathway as he went, sent echoes hauntingly twisting around him. Jonas looked over toward where the Stargate was, he could just barely make out the stone ring in the fading daylight. The sun, which blazed brightly in the sky all day, was now settling in fro the night, sinking down behind the mountains in the distance, and the lack of sunlight caused shadows to stretch eerily across the yard.
Behind him, he heard somebody coming, and when he turned, he was greeted by a smiling Colonel O'Neill.
"Do you feel like taking a walk with me, Jonas?" Jack asked.
"Sure, where are we going?" Jonas asked.
"I have to make radio contact with General Hammond, before he sends out SG-8, or somebody to search for us." Jack replied.
Jonas nodded, sure, he was up for a walk, and he hated to admit it, but he felt safer, knowing that Colonel O'Neill was going to be accompanying him. He followed Colonel O'Neill toward the Stargate. It would take them no more than fifteen minutes to get there, maybe ten minutes to talk to the General, and another fifteen minutes to get back. Forty minutes, good they'd still have twenty minutes left of daylight. There was lots of time yet, nothing to worry about.
With that extra addition of reassurance, Jonas felt incredibly safe as he followed Colonel O'Neill toward the gate. There was no way that he was going to stay out after dark, not after what had been happening around the town, and the experiences he'd had since arriving. He trusted the darkness about as much as he would trust a Goa'uld. All things considered, that trust was very slim, and he was determined to be inside, with the doors and windows locked at the time that the night fell.