SG-1 had been on the planet for nearly two days without any sign of Daniel's reptile-man. The Colonel was ready to give up but their orders were to either stay there until they found the creature, or for four days, whichever came first.
It was while Sam was watching the beautiful calm scenery fade into a deep shady night by the suns setting that she got the news via Gate radio connection. She raced back to camp, half crying from shock, half from the bitter winds that had suddenly swept up. She stood, sobbing, in front of her friends, stuttering the message. She reached the end and a new wave of tears overcame her and she sat down. Teal'c sat in front of her, resting his hand on her knee. His face was set harder than stone, expressionless, as usual, but his eyes fought back emotion. O'Neill sat cross-legged next to Sam, a random tear rolling down his face. That night they slept restlessly, curled next to one another.
They rose early the next morning, to the sounds of crickets and fish and streams. The smell of bacon wafted to them, making their stomaches roll. Sam had made this, feeling as though she had to look after the two men. She knew she couldn't eat so she walked over to the Stargate, and squatted, studying it while her friends picked at their food. She stood and gazed at the spot where she had rested on merely 7 hours before, admiring the beautiful planet. She couldn't believe that such a wonderful place could cause such destruction. She met the others at the tents and silently they packed their things.
Robotically they dialled the Gate and were swept back home.
The greeting for SG-1 at the base was poor. Few soldiers stood in the room, and only the General was in the Control Room, looking over his team's arrival. The place was deadly silent. The General descended to the Gate room to meet the team. Soft condolences were spoken to one another and the members were led to the infirmary, not for their usual check up but to see where it all happened.
At entering the infirmary Sam instantly doubled over crying, before she ran off to the bathroom. Jack stared at the walls and slowly circled the room, followed by Teal'c.
"I'll leave you alone," the General's words were barely audible.
The room was a mess. There were over-turned trays, mattresses and trolleys everywhere. There were scratches across one wall, also down some curtain poles. There was thick blood smeared crudely across another wall. Random pools of thin bright blood lay about the room. A few loose tiles on the floor were clotted with blue and black severed veins, ripped ruthlessly from a body. It was obvious that bodies had been removed, conscious bodies.
A voice echoed from the doorway. "Daniel did all this?" Sam asked, her voice scratchy.
The Colonel looked at her and nodded. "I guess so."
"But, Janet-" Sam broke down again.
Jack and Teal'c slowly moved her out of the room.
"We must find out what that lizard creature was, O'Neill," he said so only Jack could hear him.
Jack nodded. "And this time-it's personal." But his voice lacked it's usual sarcastic humour.
Until next time... Stay tuned for more... stuff.