A Single Man of Courage – part nine
There was the smallest of noises – a tiny scratch, alerting them that someone was on the roof outside the room. Jack turned slightly, giving Teal'c a quick nod before moving over to wake their teammates. Teal'c was at the window within seconds and opened the shutters cautiously, giving Hassuf and another man access.
"This is Khaleb. He is most trusted. He speaks a little of your language as well."
"We have taken care of the guards on the roof. They had just changed. They will not be missed for many hours," said Khaleb quietly and haltingly, his English surprisingly good for a servant.
Once they were all on the roof, Jack took off quietly, closely followed by the others. His sense of direction was unfailing and they were soon entering wing of the palace near the stairs without mishap.
Presently they stood at the top of the stairs leading to the dungeons.
"I saw one guard last night?" questioned Jack, whispering.
Hassuf nodded. "That is usual. There has never been an escape before."
"Daniel, you're on watch here. Keep back out of sight on the stairs. Get down and warn us if anyone comes. We should be able to hide."
Daniel nodded and watched them disappear down the steps.
Jack had them wait until he dispatched the sleeping guard with his knife before giving the all-clear signal. Silently they crept towards the cells.
Sam almost gagged at the stench. The horrible moans coming from some of the cells clawed at her insides.
A murmur of voices up ahead halted them and Jack ushered them into an empty cell. He gave them the 'silence' signal and crept out to get nearer, returning within a couple of minutes.
"Two men, not sure who they are," he whispered.
"Do we let them leave?" asked Sam.
"No, the guard, remember? And Daniel's in the way."
There was the slam of a cell door from down the corridor, and they had no further time for plans. Two men were suddenly passing their hiding place.
Jack gave Teal'c a silent 'you and me' and swiped his fingers across his throat. They crept after the men.
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Daniel was standing at the top of the stairs, peering into the badly lit hallway, half lost in thought. He was still cringing at the way he'd sounded off at Jack. Sure Jack could be obnoxious, stubborn, even arrogant at times, but he was also a good friend. He was always there for him, whenever he'd needed anyone, or even when he thought he hadn't … Jack had been there for him.
Daniel didn't hear the sounds of someone approaching him from down the hallway until it was too late. As he turned, the guard shouted out, obviously as startled as Daniel was. However the trained warrior reacted faster and, drawing a long wicked blade, ran at the stunned man.
All Daniel's training left him. Completely forgetting the pistol, he bolted down the stairs, his only thought to get to Jack. His flight didn't last long. He came to a sudden halt at the foot of the stairs, banging hard into another person coming in the opposite direction - Jack's intended victim.
The two guards from the cells had been oblivious to the fact they were being followed … up until now, that was.
Daniel's headlong rush brought him on the scene just as Jack and Teal'c were about to dispatch their victims. Teal'c managed to deal with his, as efficiently as ever, but the other guard was pushed off balance just as Jack was about to grab him, knocking him into Jack.
Jack hit the wall, the guard's body forced against him. He was momentarily stunned, the breath driven from him, and he failed to deliver the killing stroke to the man. The knife caught the man across the shoulder, which gave the guard the chance to unsheathe his sword.
Daniel was now on the floor, facing the man who had chased him down the stairs. The guard raised his sword to strike at Daniel. Faced with his own death, Daniel's mind cleared and his fingers closed on the gun around his neck. He brought it up and fired. The guard's eyes widened in surprise then glazed as he slumped down dead, his sword clattering harmlessly to the floor.
The death of the guard hadn't ended Daniel's problems. The noise of the fight brought a further guard running to investigate. He appeared at foot of the stairs, took one look and turned tail.
Daniel managed to get a shot off, hoping to stop him, but it exploded harmlessly into the stone. Teal'c saw the urgent need to stop the man before he alerted the whole palace. He ran past Daniel after the escaping man.
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The guard rammed the sword backwards and Jack felt the cold metal slicing into his side. Biting down a cry of pain, he managed to correct his hold on the man's neck and finish the job he'd started. The guard slumped forward with a single gasp, blood bubbling in his throat. As he fell he pulled the sword free from Jack's flesh with a sickening jerk. This time Jack couldn't help crying out, a soft groan all he allowed himself.
Daniel climbed slowly to his feet, his eyes following the guard's body as it fell to the floor. The spurting blood drew Daniel's revolted eyes.
Jack slid down the wall, holding his left side, his bloodied knife clenched in his right hand. After a few moments he collected his strength and got shakily to his feet just as the noise brought the others to them.
"What happened? Where's Teal'c?" Sam whispered urgently.
"Teal'c's gone after another guard," panted Daniel.
Khaleb muttered something and rifled the pockets of the two guards until he flourished a bunch of keys.
"Get those men out now Major," ordered Jack.
Jack was leaning against the wall, but was hunched forward breathing heavily.
"Jack?" queried Daniel.
"Help Carter. Go."
Daniel figured Jack was out of breath after the guard had banged into him, so he didn't hesitate to run after Sam.
Jack stood for a trying to breathe through the pain, his vision shifting and graying, his stomach threatening to heave.
Teal'c came down the stairs panting slightly.
"The guard escaped me. We must hurry," he urged.
At Jack's lack of response Teal'c stepped closer.
"You are hurt?" he asked as he saw how Jack clenched his hand over his side, the blood running despite the pressure.
"I'm okay. Go help the others, get them out. I'll go up in case we need cover."
Gritting his teeth Jack straightened himself up and moved to the stairs. Teal'c gave him a concerned look, but followed the order.
Jack managed to get up the stairs, stumbling and cursing, the adrenalin now the only thing keeping him moving - that and the urgency to get everyone away from the dungeons before they were pinned down.
Cautiously he checked the corridor and moved to the corner away from the stairs. He heard the noise of men approaching and flattening himself on the floor, readying his P90. As guards appeared around the next corner he let loose a burst of fire. Three guards fell and the rest retreated, shouting and cursing.
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The others were halfway up the stairs when they heard the gunfire.
"Major." Sam's radio crackled into life.
"Colonel?" she called back, thumbing the radio.
"Carter, the guards are on their way. Come up quickly. I've got them pinned for now. Move out the way we entered."
"Sir, we can help. Daniel can get them out."
"Negative, you get everyone out. Go as planned. I repeat, go as planned."
"Sir!"
Sam waited for a second, but hearing nothing further she toggled the switch again. She still received no response. The Colonel wasn't answering and the gunfire they heard showed why.
They had got Masters and Parker, of Dawson there was no sign and neither man knew anything. They were both disorientated, shaking, and hurt. A hurried search of the remaining cells produced no trace of the missing Major.
Daniel looked at Sam, stricken.
"Sam we can't …."
"Orders Daniel, now let's move." Sam retreated into her Major's persona, hating every second, but she moved them out.
Hassuf and Khaleb guided them to the roof. It took some doing to get the injured men up on to the high flat surface, however they finally managed it and at Khaleb's worried urging, hurried on. He led them away for a distance before stopping to speak.
"We hide in palace."
"What about Jack?" asked Daniel, struggling to understand the man's halting English.
"If he escapes he will know where to find us," said Khaleb, obviously not holding out much hope. "I must go and send the men with the diversion. You go with Hassuf."
They could still hear the spasmodic shots for quite a while, even when they left the rooftops.
When the shots suddenly ceased Sam and Daniel looked at each other in alarm. They froze, listening hard for anything else, but nothing, except their harsh breathing, broke the silence.
Hassuf ushered them through corridors. The walls were bare and there was hardly any light. Rooms led off the corridors, with no doors, just cloths hung for privacy.
Another man moved towards them with a lamp, helping to light their way. They stopped before a bare stone wall and Hassuf bent low and pushed. A portion of the wall swung back to reveal a large room, quite well lit with wall lamps. Cushions and blankets lay waiting, along with food and drink.
Hassuf beckoned them in, the wall closing behind them.
He spoke slowly for Daniel, who translated.
"We're to rest. We'll be safe here. He'll try and find out what's happened to Jack, but we must be patient. He can't do anything yet till it all quietens down." He turned to Sam. "What about the radio?"
Sam shook her head. "If he got away it might give his position away. He'll contact us."
They helped Masters and Parker to lie down and Teal'c got the first aid kit from their packs. The men were soon cleaned up. They were suffering from numerous cuts and bruises, shock and dehydration and a few broken fingers between them. Sam did what she could for them with the resources she had available.
Hassuf left them, asking them not to come out unless fetched, but showed them how to swing the wall open just in case.
Sam flung herself down, overwrought and dropping with fatigue. If only she knew what had happened to the Colonel. Vivid flashes of his body lying dead came to her, so real she almost cried out. She couldn't think of any way that he could have evaded death except for capture.
Daniel passed her a drink, his hands were shaking as well, and he gave her an apologetic shrug.
"He'll be okay Sam, he's got to be," he consoled, urging her to drink.
"O'Neill was wounded in the dungeons," stated Teal'c suddenly.
"What? How bad?" cried Sam. She should never have left him back there, never!
"It was not good. A sword or a knife, perhaps. There was much blood." Teal'c indicated his side with his hand.
"So even if he shot all the guards, he's not likely to have got away," groaned Sam, bringing her hands to her face.
Daniel froze. He remembered cannoning into one of the guards knocking both him and Jack backwards - that must have been when Jack got hurt. Daniel had thought he was just winded. If only he'd been paying attention on the stairs, Jack would still be alive and with them. Jack was dead and it was his fault. Daniel gave a groan and dropped his head to his knees, hugging his legs in tightly.
Sam saw, but couldn't offer any comfort, she was too caught up in her own feelings. Distraught, she slumped silently into the cushions.
The night passed slowly, Sam eventually falling into a troubled doze. Daniel stayed awake, hugging himself but not speaking.
Teal'c performed kel-no-reem for a short time then kept a watchful eye on them all.
xoxoxoxoxoxo