A/N: Dedicated to Beth at Thank You!!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Stargate SG-1 or Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.
SG-1 minus Daniel stepped through the Stargate once more to the planet of green, the planet of calm, which hid Daniel's rapid progression to 'insaness', as O'Neill had so aptly named it. The team were determined to find this creature, no matter what it took. Their orders from Hammond were to remain on the planet until they did, unless an emergency came up. They had supplies for four days, and more would be sent through after that time was up.
Even though they had left the base at 11:45 that morning, it was just on dusk on the planet. The team set up camp and slept in suspense of what was going to happen the next day, day one.
The next morning O'Neill was unusually the first one up and ready for action. He decided that although splitting up the group would be dangerous, it would be the best way to cover ground.
"Only for today," he said, "We'll do a bit of recon around here. T, you'll be on your own, coz… well, you know why. Never, and I mean NEVER wander off too far from camp. OK?"
"Sir…"
"Carter, I don't want to hear it. Teal'c can handle himself, can'tcha buddy?!" O'Neill slapped a hand on the Jaffa's shoulder. Teal'c raised an eyebrow and O'Neill swiftly removed his hand.
Jack drew in a breath and ordered them to move out.
Teal'c cautiously moved through the forest. At the smallest sound or sign of movement he swung around. During his Jaffa training his reflexes were brought to be the best they could possibly be. A rustle and hard footsteps were distinctly heard from his left and he jogged over to the spot.
A small mound of bones was placed around a long wooden staff or chiselled branch. There was a shred of unknown material stabbed over the top of the pole. The bones were evenly placed with care, large bones beneath smaller ones, then skulls on top with a circle of tiny bones around the outside, things like finger bones.
Teal'c radioed in to the Colonel.
"Colonel O'Neill. I have found what appears to be a pile of animal bones."
"OK Teal'c," came O'Neill's crackly reply, "Check your bearings and return to the camp. Keep an eye out for any more activity. I think we'd better get some back up on this one."
"Indeed," muttered Teal'c as he placed his radio back on his strap. He memorised the position of the bones and jogged back to camp.
O'Neill and Carter were ready and waiting for him.
"What did ya see out there Teal'c?" O'Neill needed more info before radioing in to Hammond.
"I heard a sharp noise and went to where it had come from. There I found a scrupulously formed pile of bones."
"They weren't scattered or anything?"
"They were placed in position carefully Major Carter."
She nodded and turned to O'Neill, "Sir-"
"I know Major. Dial the gate."
A bush behind them rustled and a snapping sound was heard. Teal'c swung around, weapon armed and pointing at the tree line. O'Neill and Carter followed suit. A creature on all fours turned to face them, startled, like a rabbit in the spotlight. It was a beautiful creature, emerald green, glistening skin, and eyes that were completely shaded a bright fiery orange. It had a long elegant tail that swayed behind it. Although it had skin instead of scales it moved like a goanna and had a strong reptilian resemblance. Teal'c stepped towards it warily.
"Careful Teal'c," O'Neill warned him.
"It appears startled O'Neill," Teal'c informed him.
"I agree Colonel, it seems more scared of us than it seems threatening."
"That may be so Major but stay on your guard."
Just then the lizard-like animal rose on its back legs. Teal'c stepped back and the teams relaxed weapons were readily in position again. The creature walked towards them, hissing slightly. It picked up pace slightly and it was barely three metres away when O'Neill shot once, twice. The electric eyes faded to a peach shade to white.
"Colonel!" the Major cried out.
"I'm sorry Carter but I could not risk it. If it was the same thing that got Daniel we need to take it back with us to base."
"It seemed merely curious O'Neill."
O'Neill looked conflicted for a second. "I know," he said.
They gathered the body and took it to the gate where they radioed the SGC.
"What have you got Colonel?" Hammond asked.
"Well Teal'c found a pile of bones and we shot a lizard. Permission to bring it through the Gate, Sir."
"Permission granted. Meanwhile, I thought you'd like to know that Dr. Jackson is restrained and under sedatives."
"Yes Sir."
"Sir?" Carter spoke up, "I want to work on the alien body with the doctor in charge."
"Of course Major."
The link was cut and the team returned to base.
In the Infirmary a sterilized room was being used to autopsy the body. Dr. Rose Branston was cutting open the creatures lean chest with a scalpel. The skin split surprisingly easily, the blade glided through the flesh. She opened the chest completely and was shocked by what she found. The animal had the complete organ structure of a human being. She told an airman near the door to call for Major Carter, who joined her a minute later with General Hammond and O'Neill.
"This is incredible Sir," Carter said to Hammond, "The creature's inner body is exactly like ours in many ways. It has a heart, stomach, liver, kidney, and bladder. The only difference is that it has one lung, and no noticeable reproductive organs."
"And it walks weird," O'Neill piped up.
"Yes," said Dr. Branston, "It's bone structure is that of a lizards."
"So does any of this help us?" asked Hammond.
"Well Sir, we inspected the creature's mouth. It has teeth but no fangs, no venom sacks of any kind."
"So basically you're stumped," said O'Neill.
Dr. Branston nodded.
"I want to know what happened Doctor," Hammond said to Branston.
"Yes Sir. We'll let you know if we find anything new."
"Major," Hammond turned to Carter, "Work on this with Dr. Branston. Use all the resources you need."
"Yes Sir."
"Maybe its like that TV show where the creature scratches its victims which paralyses them."
"You are referring to Buffy the Vampire Slayer O'Neill."
"Yeah, that's the one," he said as he turned to leave, following General Hammond.
Branston and Carter looked at each other. Then they went to one side of the body and held the hand of the lizard. The claws felt corroded.
"Sir! You may have done it again," Carter called out to O'Neill who was at the doorway.
The Colonel put his hand on the General's shoulder to stop him and they both re-entered the lab.
"What did I do?" he asked.
Dr. Branston got a microscope and with a little magnification they saw that the ends of each claw had half a dozen tiny holes around the jagged end.
She got a scalpel and sliced open the finger, revealing a small venom sack. She cut the nail, severing the string like tube that ran in the centre of it.
They two women looked up at Hammond triumphantly.
O'Neill gave a side-glance at Hammond, "I don't like the look of those triumphant expressions General."
Hammond laughed, "Good work people."
"Thank-you Sir," said Rose Branston, "Now if you don't mind I'm due to top up Dr. Jackson's sedatives." She removed her gloves, washed her hands and left the room.
O'Neill watched her go, "Sir, with your permission, I'd like to go see him."
"I too would like the opportunity to see Daniel Jackson."
Hammond thought about the request for a moment. "Permission granted. You may enter the cell, but I am ordering you to keep your distance. Understood?"
"Yes Sir," O'Neill turned to Carter, who was finishing up with the body, "Carter? You coming?"
"I have some work to catch up on Sir."
"Carter, you never have work to catch up on. You've always got things done."
She didn't reply.
"Carter," he continued in a softer tone, "If you don't go see him soon, it will get harder and harder for you. Don't put it off."
"Thank-you, Sir, but right now I have some reports to finish," this wasn't a complete lie.
The Colonel walked up to her, "I know it hurts," he said, "It hurts all of us," he sighed, "Maybe next time?"
"Yes Sir," Carter was relieved he wasn't pushing the subject. She would see Daniel in her own time.
"OK," the Colonel followed General Hammond out of the room.
Teal'c looked at Carter, bowed his head to her then left. The Major turned to the alien body and muttered a curse under her breath. She would study it more later. Right now she needed some rest.
A/N: Finally!! I started writing this chapter but got stuck just afer Jack orders them to move out, then wrote a bit more, then got stuck again after T finds the bones. So now I'm done with this chap and the next one should be here soon. Thank you Beth for letting me write that episode guide because now I can write again!