The Coldest of Hearts – Part Five
Jack changed direction again as another bullet whizzed by into the night. He knew it was too far away from him to be a danger and must have been a lucky shot. He realised he had to rest soon, his lungs and limbs burned with running. He also had to try and find out where the men were and see if he could get back down the road. Failing that he decided his best move was to hide in plain sight ... back at the base.
Panting heavily, his chest heaving, he concealed himself under a large fallen tree, the hollow beneath its huge trunk giving him shelter and a place to hide. He slowed his breathing down and gradually got it back under full control, listening to the sounds in the night air.
The moon decided it was co-operating and stayed hidden behind the clouds. Jack strained to hear past the normal sounds of the forest and its inhabitants going about their usual nightly business. The comparative silence edged on his nerves a little as he waited. He knew he should have been able to hear the engines of the vehicles chasing him, if nothing else ... unless they were now all on foot.
The crack of three shots, close together, some distance from his current position he judged, brought him to a crouching alert. He recognised it as a signal - 'Oh Christ ... Cassie!' was the sole thought in his head.
He moved automatically, yet cautiously, in the direction of the gunfire, praying that he was wrong!
xoxoxoxo
Janet's nerves were thoroughly frayed by the time they arrived at Peterson. The fresh faced officer that joined them in their vehicle at the gates of the base to brief them on their way to the waiting helicopters and the army team annoyed her beyond reason when he picked up her surname.
"You're the child's mother ... they've allowed you ..." he blustered.
Janet Fraiser sucked a sharp breath in and drawing herself straight on her seat, gave him an icy glare, the one that worked on hard assed Air Force Colonel's. "Although it doesn't say it on my uniform," she almost growled as her hand swept over the black outfit, "I am Major Fraiser, Lieutenant," she announced scathingly. "I am the CMO of the SGC."
The Lieutenant cringed and gave her a quick salute. "Sorry, Sir. You're the doctor I was told to expect."
Sam nodded and put a hand out to touch Janet gently on the shoulder. "I'm Major Carter. I'm in command of our team. You need to fill us in as fast as you and get us under way."
The Lieutenant, give him his due, spoke quickly and to the point, giving them all the information he had, which wasn't actually a lot, but more than they'd known a few minutes ago.
"The man we think is in charge is Carl Mayer. He is a known arms dealer, clever and ruthless, we've been after him for a long time. We know just two of the other men involved, Brinks and Carconi – known as Si – short for psychopath to his friends. They are very dangerous. Eight men were killed in their raid and we followed their trail to the national park where we lost them. We found their abandoned truck a little more than an hour ago."
The Lieutenant then filled them in on the disused army base and what they knew.
"What is to prevent them from escaping when they hear us coming?" asked Teal'c.
"We're using stealth helicopters. Unless they are watching the field we should catch them by surprise. We think they already have a buyer for the NEM lined up and are waiting pick up."
Sam felt her heart sinking the more she heard about the men that had taken the Colonel and Cassie. She knew the Colonel was more than capable of looking after himself, but against those odds and with Cassie ... she knew he would put Cassie's safety to the forefront, against everything ... even his own life.
xoxoxoxo
Jack used the shadows and kept low as he neared the road. Another shot sounded, followed by what he recognised as the leader's voice.
"Colonel, I know you aren't too far away. We have your daughter," he shouted.
Jack's stomach recoiled in horror. He had been praying that Cassie was well on her way to safety or at the very worst, still hidden where he had left her. He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, letting his head fall back and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Colonel, give yourself up and she won't be harmed."
Jack risked moving closer, he had to see, make sure ...
xoxoxoxo
Cassie groaned, her head hurt so much and she was cold, very cold. She moved her head slightly and the movement caused the nausea to rise. She drew herself up slightly and began to heave. The little of what remained in her stomach evacuated itself.
The grunt of disgust from above her made her open her eyes. The dim world tilted and the dark legs beside her had her straining her neck to look up.
"She's awake!" called the man standing above her and she found herself being snatched up by her jacket. Her legs wobbled and threatened to collapse and the tears began to track silently down her face as she was unceremoniously dragged from the truck's wooden floor and manhandled off the tailgate.
Cassie knew that without the strong hold the man had on her she would have floundered on the floor, and she didn't struggle – she just didn't have the strength.
The light that shone in her face suddenly blinded her and she blinked as more tears tracked down her cheeks, her vision swimming with orange dots.
"Where is he heading to?" asked the voice behind the light.
Cassie shook her head a little, regretting it as the world tilted again, and she found herself being shaken hard. Her teeth rattled, but just as suddenly as it had started the shaking stopped and she began to retch. The heaves were dry, just the bitter taste in her mouth to remind her.
Hardly able to see, she was dragged forwards. The retort of a gun beside her made her jump violently, forcing a snigger from the man holding her.
Cassie stiffened when she heard the man calling out to Jack. She just hoped and prayed he couldn't hear. The thought that it was herself that would lead to Jack's capture appalled her and the guilt began eating at her.
The second shot made her jump just as much and she bit down a sobbed breath.
The man finished speaking and a deathly silence drew over them. She waited, listening ... hoping.
She knew she couldn't let Jack give himself up. It was only a matter of time now before they were rescued, he had to hold on a while longer – she had to hold on!
Drawing a deep breath she screamed out - "Jack, hold out ... don't ..." she didn't finish as a hand slammed across her face. It would have knocked her to the floor if she hadn't been held up already. Her lips split against her teeth and bright spots danced in her vision.
xoxoxoxo
Jack was close enough to see ... Two men were standing with Cassie in the light from the truck's headlights.
He saw the blow and his whole body screamed with rage. The fury in him was burning and yet he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do except give himself up and take their attention from her.
Drawing a deep breath to try and calm himself, forcing himself to think rationally and box the rage, he rose silently.
He was out of the trees and stepping down onto the road before they saw him, arms raised in surrender. The leader whistled and Si and the two missing men stepped from the trees further up the road and began to move towards them.
Jack kept on steadily walking towards the leader. Cassie looked to be deathly still in the man's arms and he prayed she was still alive. So help them, if she was dead ... he would kill them ... each and every one of them – slowly and painfully!
The leader's eyes lit up as he approached. "Your daughter is alive, Colonel. That is if she is your daughter?"
"Step daughter!" growled Jack, the only excuse he could think of for Cassie screaming his first name. They had to believe she was important to him, keep her alive.
The man nodded, and using the rifle's barrel, motioned Jack to stand against the truck.
"Search him Si," he called stepping back, the rifle trained on Jack's back.
Jack buckled slightly from the force of the kick that spread his legs. A large hand in his back slammed him against the truck and he felt the heavy hands frisking him thoroughly. The knife he taken from Brinks was withdrawn from its hiding place.
"This is Brinks's!" snarled the man and flipped Jack around to face him.
The knife was raised threateningly to his face and Si got up close and real personal with him, the large man's eyes widening at the sight of the blood splattered across his clothes and hands.
"Si," called the gunman warningly.
"Stay out of it Mayer!" growled Si. "Where is he?" he spat at Jack, grabbing him by the throat, his immense strength choking him.
Jack stayed still. He knew the man could snap his neck easily.
"Si, let go," ordered the man Jack knew now to be called Mayer.
"You killed him?" snarled Si. His grip tightened alarmingly on Jack's throat as he struggled to breathe.
"Si, let go or I will personally shoot you. If Brinks is dead, then he is dead because he was careless, as were you when you let them escape before." Mayer's words were calm, but none the less deadly and no one had any doubt whatsoever that the threat would be carried out.
Si obviously believed it and with a final squeeze he let go. Jack's hands went to his throat automatically and he began to cough as he fought to draw air in.
Mayer's eyes glinted coldly behind his glasses. The deadly calm Jack had heard in his voice bore witness in his face and Jack, for one of the few times in his life, felt in actual fear of someone. Jack had done things in his life he was not proud of, things he could never justify to himself, things done in his darkest moments, but he knew without a shadow of a doubt, that the man standing before him held no conscience and no fear of anything.
"Take them back and lock them up," said Mayer calmly.
"I want to take him apart!" growled Si. The huge man's bulk moved towards Jack again and it took everything Jack had to stay still.
"Do what I say. Brinks couldn't have failed to hear those shots. He hasn't answered his radio for over two hours. Forget him."
Si grabbed at Jack again, but this time dragged him away from the truck's side and towards the back. He found himself facing the tailgate with a punch to his right kidney that almost folded him. He gasped as the pain tore through him and the huge man literally threw him into the back of the truck. He slid several feet in a tangle of limbs before coming up hard against the side.
"Move and she's dead!" threatened Si as he mounted the tailgate and was passed Cassie's prone figure up by the other man before joining them.
Jack lay perfectly still as Si settled down with a limp Cassie across his legs, one huge hand gripping her jacket, the other Brinks's knife.
The tailgate was put into place and a thud at the side of the truck signalled its driver to go. The truck lurched into gear and up the road so roughly that Jack was glad the knife wasn't actually any closer to Cassie than it was.
The journey back to the camp felt like it lasted a lifetime, during which Jack had time to wonder if Cassie still had the cell phone in her possession. She'd possibly been caught sneaking down the road and if they discovered the phone and thought rescue was underway he knew their lives wouldn't be worth much at all.
The truck jarred to a halt and Jack sat up slowly.
"Let me carry her," he begged.
Si rolled the unconscious girl towards him with a nod.
Jack drew her into his arms and held a finger to her pulse. He found it strong and steady and sighed with relief. The few seconds while they lowered the tailgate gave Jack enough time to search Cassie's pockets. He didn't find the phone and this gave him hope that she had managed to ditch it in time ... to hope that she had managed to make the call was too much at this moment, his only thoughts were to keep her alive.
xoxoxoxo
The helicopters rose from the airfield. Sam's eyes caught Daniel's and she nodded reassuringly to him before reaching out and giving Janet's arm a firm squeeze. She tried to blot out her fears, focussing on the mission, focussing on the rescue.
xoxoxoxo
Jack was shut back in the same room with Cassie. This time they weren't tied up, but he could hear the pacing from the man on guard.
He'd been a little worried that Si would be left with them and he fought down the sigh of relief when they were thrown into the room alone.
He dragged off his coat and wrapped Cassie in it, supporting her against him as he ripped some of his shirttail to wet it down in the mug of water still on the tray in the room. He snatched a mouthful of water for himself before proceeding to gently wipe at Cassie's bloody face. Her mouth was cut and bruised, but there seemed nothing drastically wrong, although he did find a lump on the side of her head. There was always a risk with head wounds, but her pulse was strong and steady and provided she awoke soon, he didn't think she was hurt too badly.
Jack judged it wasn't too far off dawn. He was tired and aching. The day had been long and punishing, his body crying for rest, but he couldn't ... he held her close in his arms, rocking gently, his chin on her head and he said a silent prayer for her, this time he hoped it would be heard ... 'keep her safe, I don't care about anything else, keep her safe!'
xoxoxoxo
Cassie stirred with a sigh. Jack ceased the rocking, waiting for her to wake.
When it seemed she wasn't going to, he spoke. "Cass hon, can you hear me?"
"Uh, mmm," she sighed without opening her eyes.
"Cassie, come on open those peeps for me, please," he whispered to her.
She shifted slightly in his arms. Her eyes opened just a little, very slowly and she raised her head. "Jack ... Oh God!" she moaned suddenly and tried to sit up, her eyes widening in horror as the memories hit her.
"Jack are you okay?" she spoke in a rush, straining to see his face, her hand coming up to touch him gently, as if not believing he was actually there.
"I'm fine," he responded.
"Oh ... urghhh," she moaned and sank down against him as her head obviously made itself felt.
"Take it easy Cass, try and stay still, you've taken quite a thump."
She raised her hand to her mouth. "Ouch, what the shit ..." she moaned.
"Oy, language, I'm in enough trouble when I get you back!" he warned jokingly.
Cassie stared at him wide eyed for a moment.
"You won't be kissing any boys for a while," he gave her a grin.
Cassie grinned back at him until the pull on her sore mouth made her wince again.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go ..."
"Straight to jail ... we're back where we started aren't we?"
Jack nodded and couldn't help the shiver of cold that betrayed him.
Cassie straightened and pulled at his coat that she was huddled in. "Here," she said quietly, but when Jack looked as if to object she resolutely pulled it off, trying to awkwardly put it around him. Seeing her determination, Jack gave in and put the coat on, but left it open and pulled her gently against him, engulfing her in it with him.
She pulled away slightly after a moment and strained to see his face. "I made it down the road ... I made the call, I got through!" she began yelling excitedly and Jack frantically shushed her. "Sorry," she continued in a whisper. "I spoke to General Hammond and Mom and Sam ..."
"Then what the hell were you doing when you got caught? You should have been halfway home by now!" hissed Jack.
Cassie looked down suddenly. "I heard shooting," her voice was barely a whisper now and he had to strain to hear.
"You heard shooting in front of you?" asked Jack suddenly, the anger building up as a sneaking feeling began to set in.
Cassie shook her head slowly, very slowly, not daring to look up at him.
"Cassie," said Jack through clenched teeth. "Please tell me what happened."
Cassie sighed deeply. She knew she was for it now. The fact that she was solely responsible for them being recaptured hit her hard. If she'd kept going she would have been safe and Jack would have probably been giving the men the run around in the woods.
"I ..." she faltered. Jack's gentle but firm squeeze on her shoulder prodded her to speak.
"I thought you'd been shot," she began.
"Before or after you made the call?"
"During," she responded.
Jack closed his eyes. The anger in him rose then fizzled down to an absolute nothing. "And?" he asked.
"I told them what you said, switched the cell off, ditched it and ran back up. I thought somehow that if I showed up they wouldn't kill you."
Jack breathed out harshly. 'God what a mess!'
"Then I got caught and they knocked me out and next thing I knew was when he was shouting to you to give yourself up ..." Cassie faltered. She looked up at his face and the stillness of him, his eyes closed made her shudder. "Please Jack, I didn't mean to ... I am so sorry ..." her voice wobbled hoarsely, the unshed tears thick in her throat.
Jack took a deep breath in. "It's okay Cassie, it's okay." He hugged her tighter to him and began rocking her slowly. She sank thankfully into his embrace, taking comfort from him, feeling the security of love and protection ... letting it wash over her like a warm blanket, soothing and warming like nothing else in her entire life ever did. She would rather have only one other person hug her at this moment, her mom, but Jack was close behind her in second place ... and the security she cherished in his love for her was second to none!
xoxoxoxo