Soldiers of Misfortune – part 15
They spent a few more days at the village, trading labor for continued supplies, before continuing their journey, now well rested and nourished. Jack was walking, but with the aid of a staff Teal'c had fashioned for him. The Jaffa's expression had defied him to refuse it.
Their pace was a little faster than when they were bearing the stretcher, but Jack still found himself getting impatient at how slow he was - how quickly he tired, and how much he was holding them back. He tried to pick the pace up a little, but it was taking its toll on him and he dropped exhausted at each resting place and each night he could do no more than curl up to sleep beside Sam, restless and in pain.
His exhaustion and pain was worrying the others. Sam had continued to give him the largest dose of painkiller she could, and that kept him on his feet, despite his protests. They were getting close to the capital now and Jack wouldn't hear of another diversion.
They'd planned as much as they could without further intel, but when they reached their last stopping place before the city, Jack knew that someone had to enter the city first. He also knew that he wasn't fit to go himself and it wounded him deeply to send someone else.
Daniel volunteered at once, with Alenor close behind him.
Jack reluctantly allowed them to go, briefing them on how to behave and what to look for … "And keep your heads down for cryin' out loud," he ordered.
He stood watching them until they were no longer in sight before he returned to the campfire and sat, lost in thought.
"You should rest O'Neill," said Teal'c, as he squatted beside him. Jack gave Teal'c a carefully blanked look, but the Jaffa knew what troubled him. "They will be fine. Daniel Jackson has learned much in his time under your command and Alenor will not allow him to take unnecessary chances."
Jack gave Teal'c a slow smile. "Okay, I know … What I wouldn't give for my P90 just now instead of those." He looked down at the handgun Teal'c had tucked into his waistband.
"Would you trade Major Carter?" asked Teal'c.
Jack gave the Jaffa a grin. "Nope, but they could have Daniel, might even trade you on a bad day, T."
Teal'c raised one eyebrow at him, "As I would you, O'Neill," he deadpanned before he rose and left his commander chuckling.
Jack shook his head, "You catch on too damn quick with the humor T, much more than you let on … He was joking? Yep … think so," he muttered to himself.
Sam had listened to the exchange with a smile, happy Jack wasn't shutting them out. She slid down beside him.
"Glad to know you love me more than your P90," she said, smiling at him.
"It was a difficult decision Major, but a P90 doesn't keep you warm at night and winter is a comin'," he drawled and drew her into a quick hug before she could hit him.
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They had expected Daniel and Alenor to be back not much later than noon the next day, and when the second evening was drawing in with still no sign of them Jack was like a bear with a sore head, pacing and continually going off to look for signs of them returning.
It was almost dark when Daniel and Alenor staggered into the camp, tired and hungry. Jack waited impatiently for the news and as soon as Daniel had emptied his plate he pounced, asking them to report.
"The Karmine have got the city under military rule. They patrol the outskirts as well. We didn't spot any drafted soldiers. The citizens are under house arrest. You're not allowed onto the streets until the Karmine call everyone to the city center and it seems, from the people we managed to speak to, that they give new orders there and publicly execute any resistance." Daniel spoke quietly, the traveling and what he'd seen obviously taking its toll on him.
"So there will be a problem getting to the museum even in daylight," commented Jack.
"They shoot on sight without question if you're caught in the streets," confirmed Daniel.
"The outskirt patrols are too spread out to be very effective. Once you get nearer the middle we were told it was very difficult to move without detection, and if we're caught out in the open …" Daniel didn't need to finish that statement. They knew only too well what would happen.
"We'll need to split up, draw less attention that way," said Jack. "How do they let the people know when they want them to gather?"
"They sound the church bells."
"So even the people on the outskirts know when to gather?"
Daniel nodded.
"How often?"
"It can vary. At first it was once a day, now less. It was two days since they were last summoned."
Jack sighed before patting Daniel on the shoulder. "You did well, both of you." His look took in Alenor as well. "Now get some rest. We'll be moving off at first light."
Jack ran various scenarios over in his mind. Trying to find somewhere to hide in the city until the people moved in the streets was the biggest problem. It would have been better for them to be able to go straight to the museum, but there was no way they could risk moving openly through the streets with Karmine patrolling the area so heavily.
Alenor and the others would not be able to use the Stargate without one of them, so that meant he had to split his team up completely, something Jack was loathe to do, but he knew he had no choice. The only up side was that it might distract his team from the pairings he was going to chose. There was no way he was going in with anyone. He knew he would slow them down if there was trouble - running anywhere was just not an option to him at the moment …
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They poured over the map as dawn began to turn the blackness into gray. The museum was almost in the center, just two streets away from the square where the Karmine rounded everyone up.
Jack put the simple plan into words. "Split up into three pairs including one group of three, each of you with one of them." He nodded between Alenor and the others and his team. "We all pick a different route in and find somewhere to hold-up in the city until we hear the bells, then we can move in with the people to the center square. Once you get close, try and make your way directly to the museum, but don't draw attention to yourselves. You may have to go to the square first and wait until they disperse, then make that the route back."
"How long do we wait at the museum before we dial?" asked Daniel.
"You don't, first there dials it up. If there's a problem it's better knowing straight away, but you don't wait. Have you got co-ordinates for us, Daniel?"
Daniel nodded and bent to draw them in the dirt. SG1 quickly memorized them and Jack nodded at each of them before he scrubbed the dirt back to hide the marks.
"PX3591 - it should be okay. SG11 were on long term assignment there, and hopefully still are, so we can get a GDO off them. If not we can go on to somewhere else from there," said Daniel.
Sam sat frowning at Jack while Daniel had been speaking.
Jack caught the look and nodded to her. "Major?" he queried.
"Three pairs?" she stated.
Jack nodded, he'd been wondering how long it would be before someone called him on that.
"So …"
"So that means I walk in alone," he stated firmly.
Daniel looked up quickly. "No Jack, we pair up. What if you get into trouble?"
"I'll be okay. I won't be able to move as quickly as I should. It's better this way. I can pace myself - one person alone can hide more effectively."
Sam and Daniel both looked set to argue.
Alenor even spoke up. "I would be honored to go with you, Jack. You would not hold me up."
"Thanks Alenor, but no. I go alone and that's an order. Now let's sort your pairs out." Jack was adamant and no amount of cajoling would shift him, but he pointedly looked from Alenor to Sam.
Alenor got the message quickly. "Sam if you would allow me to accompany you?"
Sam nodded, her gaze was still on Jack though, her eyes showing her displeasure and her anger.
Teal'c and Jourin decided to pair up and that left Daniel with Ream and Cairen.
Each group memorized a route in and once their meager rations were shared between them, they broke camp quickly to move on. The city soon came into view in the distance and they decided to part before they would encounter any Karmine patrols.
Jack was tired already. The long night had been filled with thought and not sleep. He was leaning heavily on the staff. Sam walked beside him quietly, but he felt her unspoken anger. He had in fact been feeling the crackle all night and her refusal to let him hold her close had hurt him. Quietly he'd moved to the fire, hiding behind his Colonel persona, the shutters going into place once more and staying there the next day, shoring his defenses as he walked.
They'd halted to say their goodbyes. "Any questions?" asked Jack of the group one last time. The silence that followed seemed to stretch on, until Jack shook his head and broke it himself. "Good. Now, get there safely, keep your heads down and no matter what … don't get involved. Keep moving when it's safe, okay? Move out."
Daniel looked troubled and opened his mouth to speak, but Jack squeezed his shoulder gently.
"Go on, get out of here. We'll all make it … scat!"
Daniel reluctantly turned. He quickly hugged Sam and then clasped Teal'c on his arm before leaving with Ream and Cairen.
Teal'c inclined his head. "O'Neill, Major Carter, safe journey," he bid them before moving on with Jourin.
Sam and Alenor walked a little way with Jack. Alenor tactfully kept a little distant from them.
"Okay Sam, spit it out," ordered Jack.
Sam rounded like a spitfire, her eyes blazing and Jack had trouble not taking a step away from her.
"You bastard!" she spat. His eyes must have showed his surprise at her vehemence and she pushed her advantage, taking a step closer to him. "You're a selfish bastard! Splitting us like that … you - me … What if you fall, need help? … You're not fit to be going alone … giving your orders – I thought we meant more than that to each other … I …" The tears joined her anger and as Jack put his hands out to her, she fell into them, burying her head along with her anger into his shoulder, allowing the tears to fall.
Jack let her ride it out, just holding her, barely holding onto his own emotions.
"Sam, this is the best way … Shush." He put a finger to her lips as she lifted her head to speak. "I need for you to be safe, all of you and if this is the best way I can ensure it, then that's how it will be. I can move better alone, and with Alenor with you it gives him the best chance too. There's more than ourselves at stake here. Those damn regulations are there for a reason. At times like this it's hard enough as it is. It's too late to turn the clock back and please believe me - I don't want to. We have to carry on and do the best job we can - the best way we can."
Sam's heart constricted at his words. She felt so guilty at shunning him during what could have been their last evening together … ever … but her anger at him hadn't let her see beyond that. It was only her anger that was getting her through it.
"God Jack, I'm sorry … I know you're not being selfish – anything but – I wish you would be though, just sometimes. I am so afraid of losing you now I've got you …"
"Never Sam, never and you've had me for a very long time." Jack hugged her tightly for a few minutes before drawing away. "Now daylight is burning … let's move out Major … I'll be seeing you on PX 3591."
Sam drew herself upright, calling on all her military bearing, but her eyes narrowed as he reeled off the designation. "You do remember the co-ordinates as well, Sir?" she asked.
"Got them right here Major. Now move out," he said tapping the side of his head. He bid Alenor farewell and stood watching them for a few minutes before taking his own route.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Daniel, Cairen and Ream made their way into the outskirts without a problem. They found a disused workshop to hide in, but they soon wished the bells would sound, as there was no food or water aside from what little they carried with them.
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Teal'c and Jourin narrowly avoided trouble when a skirmish broke out as they entered the city. The rebels however, were quickly overpowered and the Karmine killed all but two of them. Teal'c and Jourin used the distraction the soldiers provided and followed behind them to get quite a distance into the city.
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Sam and Alenor had little trouble either. They found an empty house about halfway from the outskirts to the center and they rested in relative comfort. Sam was worried about the others, but Jack in particular. Everything was being churned over in her tired mind. The events of the last few weeks spun around, making her head ache. The longing to feel Jack's arms around her was so intense it hurt. The constant nagging that she should not have left him to go alone was never far from the foreground of her thoughts and she couldn't help the dread that was churning her stomach over and over.
Alenor stood quietly beside her as she kept a watchful eye on the streets.
"He would have it no other way. He is a fine soldier."
Sam jumped at Alenor's words, so lost in thought, she'd forgotten she wasn't alone.
Alenor's quiet ways were comforting. His hand reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder. "It will be fine. You will see."
Sam nodded, the lump in her throat preventing her from speaking as she turned her gaze back to the streets.
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Jack managed to get through the patrols without detection. The dragging ache in his side was beginning to turn into fully fledged pain and he leaned heavily on the staff. He slowly made his way towards the center, using the special ops skills he had acquired over the years to their full extent. The Karmine were very active in the city, the patrols heavy and on their toes as he drew nearer to his goal.
He knew he had to find somewhere to rest soon, but also that it was important he get as close as he could to his target.
The darkness made it a little easier for him to move about, but his strength had almost left him completely and the need for shelter was now urgent, despite being a little off the target he'd set himself – he was on the wrong side of the square.
He managed to get into a disused shop, not far from the center and lay in the shadows away from the big window and any casual observer. He sank to the hard floor gratefully as he consumed the last drops of his water. The pain came in sickening waves now he was still and his limbs were trembling with fatigue.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The clanging of the bells startled him from the doze he'd fallen into. He cursed himself for falling asleep where he lay as the daylight streamed through the large window, clearly highlighting him should anyone chance to look through.
It took some doing to haul himself upright on his weak limbs and he moved further back into the shadows whilst he gathered himself. He stood leaning against one of the dusty counters, waiting for the room to steady, fighting the dizziness and nausea he felt.
Although he didn't want to move out too soon, he needed the cover of other people. He felt like crap and doubted his ability to move out at all at the moment, knowing that if he collapsed in the street it would draw unwanted attention. On the other hand, if he didn't move soon he knew he wouldn't be moving in the near future, perhaps at all … and that wasn't an option. Hopefully if he fell in the streets they'd just dismiss him as a local or shoot him as a rebel … either way as long as the others made it back … it didn't really matter, he had nothing to lose.
People were now beginning to fill the street as they made a slow trudge towards the center square.
He left it a while longer, knowing he was on the wrong side of the square to get directly to the museum. The best he could hope for now was to get into the square and on the far side in the crowds and when they dispersed he would make his way across.
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