CHAPTER FIVE

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"Colonel, do you read! Colonel, come in!"

Jack fingered his radio pocketed at his chest. "Go ahead."

"Sir, Daniel's in the river. What is your location?"

"We've just crossed the bridge. Did you say Daniel's in the river?"

Carter sounded out of breath and Jack could tell she was running. "No time to explain, sir! He's in the water. You've got to get to him, sir!" she continued urgently.

Without responding, Jack motioned to Teal'c then ran back toward the low-hanging bridge that linked one side of the river to the other, dropping his weapon and his gear as he moved. He shoved all the questions concerning his young friend to the back of his mind and focused his eyes up river as he stepped up onto the foot bridge.

"I do not see him, O'Neill," said Teal'c.

"Just----keep your eyes open."

The minutes that passed seemed like hours to Jack as he scanned the rushing water. Finally, he saw something dark coming toward them caught in the current near the center of the river. Without a word, Jack moved to the middle of the bridge, Teal'c just behind him. They both braced themselves and leaned over the edge. The water was shockingly cold when Jack's hand hit it. He lifted his chin to watch as the dark shape materialized into a body.

"O'Neill."

"I know, Teal'c," managed Jack. "I know." He leaned further over the edge and caught Daniel by one arm allowing the river's current to drag his friend's body around until he was face up, his legs drifting down river. Teal'c then managed to snag the other arm. Jack looked down to see the water rushing over his friend's slack features. "Pull!" he shouted. Daniel's head lolled back lifelessly as his body was lifted from the icy river.

Once on the bridge, Teal'c immediately pulled Daniel's back against his chest, wrapped strong arms around their friend's middle and squeezed, forcing water from Daniel's lungs. He then laid the body flat. Jack leaned down and placed his ear against Daniel's still chest then reached shaking fingers toward his neck searching for a pulse that signified that his friend lived. Finding nothing, Jack positioned himself and Daniel then leaned down to press his warm lips over Daniel's cold blue-tinged ones. He breathed into the archeologist's too still body. Teal'c silently began chest compressions at Jack's nod and everything else faded for Jack except for the icy feel of his friend's mouth under his and his own wildly pounding heart.

Time seemed to slow down. The colonel stared at Daniel's pale face willing with all his strength for the blue eyes to open. His friend wasn't supposed to be so still. He dipped his head to breathe into the younger man's mouth again. He'd lost count of how many times he'd performed the identical movements; stare at Daniel's face then breathe, stare then breathe. He vaguely was aware of Teal'c's soft grunts as the Jaffa did everything but physically reach into Daniel's chest and force the stilled heart to beat. Grief threatened but Jack kept it at bay. Daniel wasn't dead.

"Sir?"

Only when Carter touched his shoulder did Jack realize that the major was kneeling at his side.

"Let me take over, sir," she continued.

Jack shook his head; stare then breathe, stare then breathe.

"Sir, please, you're exhausted."

"No, Carter!" Jack snapped. He'd let Daniel be taken from him and he was damned well not going to let it happen again.

He dipped back down to breathe again only to be stopped when the young man inhaled sharply then retched violently, spewing water from his open mouth. Jack and Teal'c rolled their friend onto his side as fluids forced their way from the shivering body.

"Easy, easy," soothed the colonel, one hand rubbing circles on Daniel's heaving back.

"Here," said Carter as she removed her coat. "We've got to warm him up."

Teal'c took the coat and gently wrapped it around Daniel's shaking form.

"Let's get him off the bridge," ordered Jack.

Lifting Daniel carefully between them, Teal'c and Jack managed to get their semi-conscious friend off the shaded wooden bridge and settled on the sun-warmed grass. Jack removed his own coat and encircled Daniel with it then settled his soaked friend against him cocooning him to his chest in an effort to warm him. Carter knelt at Daniel's side and brushed the damp strands of hair off the pale forehead even as her other hand clutched his wrist at his pulse point. Teal'c shrugged out of his own jacket and gently wrapped it around Daniel's bare and bleeding feet, all the while keeping a wary eye on the young man's still heaving chest.

"Jack?"

"Right here, Dannyboy. I'm right here."

Daniel coughed. "He's gone, Jack. It worked."

Jack squeezed his friend. "Shhhhh, rest now."

"I'm so cold."

"I know you are, buddy."

"He's gone," repeated Daniel then he suddenly struggled to sit up. "Don't let him touch you! That's how he does it."

Jack shared a confused look with Carter.

"How he does what, Daniel?" the major coaxed.

"How he gets into your head. He has to touch you, Jack. Don't let him----please."

The desperation in Daniel's voice was nearly Jack's undoing. He pulled his young friend tighter against him and whispered nonsensical words in his ear in an effort to calm him.

"Don't let him, Jack, don't let him."

"I won't, Daniel. It's over now."

"He's gone---death saved me," mumbled Daniel then he relaxed back against Jack, his voice trailing off into silence.

"He's out, sir."

Jack nodded at his second-in-command. "To hell with taking him back to the village, Carter, let's just set up camp right here. I have my backpack and bed roll, some coffee and MREs. I want him warmed up five minutes ago."

Carter lifted the wrist she'd been holding, gently supporting the long fingers in her palm. "Be careful of his hand, sir. It looks like it's broken." She tucked the wounded hand carefully under the coats then stood. "I'll get a fire started."

"And I will get dry clothing, O'Neill."

"And I'll----well, I'll just sit right here," said Jack. He rested his chin on the top of Daniel's head and expelled a long breath, suddenly aware that his own body was trembling with reaction against the chilled one he held against him. He closed his eyes for a long moment and said a silent prayer of thanks to whatever gods happened to be in the area.

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Teal'c adjusted his grip on his staff weapon then knelt beside the bundled figure of Daniel Jackson. The young man had barely stirred when Teal'c had assisted O'Neill in exchanging the archeologist's sodden clothing with dry ones from O'Neill's pack. They'd wrapped the torn feet then had slipped on socks to help keep them warm. Daniel Jackson had yet to even open his eyes.

"I think he's out of danger, Colonel, but we should get him back to Janet as soon as possible," said Major Carter from where she sat near the camp fire.

"Ya think?" snapped O'Neill curtly then he sighed and scrubbed his fingers through his hair. "I agree, Carter, except we've still got that little problem with the DHD. I just hope the general's had luck tracking down one of those crystals." He sat at Daniel Jackson's side, his back propped up against the log on which the major sat. "What happened to Daniel's hand anyway?"

"I'm not sure, sir. It's definitely broken---almost looks like it was crushed. I've done what I can to immobilize it given what we have in our first aid kit. What concerns me most, though, are his eyes. If I didn't know any better, sir, I'd say he's been drugged."

"That sonofabitch."

"I'd like to give him something for the pain, but I don't want to risk it until Janet can do some blood work."

Daniel Jackson shifted beneath the sleeping bag which covered him, drawing Teal'c's attention. "He appears to be in significant pain even as he sleeps," he observed quietly.

O'Neill leaned forward and drew back the heavy cover. "He's done that twice now," he said as he gently pulled the injured hand from the grasp of the other. "I can't figure out why---it's gotta hurt." He placed the wrapped hand on Daniel Jackson's abdomen then covered him back up with a gentleness and affection that did not surprise the Jaffa warrior.

Teal'c's senses notched up several levels when the sound of a snapping twig reached his ears. He stood quickly and aimed his staff weapon at the elderly man who approached the camp from the village trail.

Tezca raised his hands in a placating gesture. "It is only I," he announced then his eyes fell on Daniel Jackson. "I see that you found him."

"Not exactly," replied O'Neill as he rose to his feet. "He---uh---found us."

Tezca stepped into the center of the little camp seeming oddly out of breath and Teal'c regarded him with a quirked brow; the man must have been walking at a rapid pace.

"Has he said anything----about Kaatzál?"

"No," stated the colonel with a note of apprehension.

"He's been unconscious since the colonel and Teal'c pulled him from the river."

Tezca looked up at Major Carter. "The river?"

"Yeah, the river," repeated O'Neill. "You know, as in tributary? We've got him toasty warm, though, so we're pretty sure he's going to be okay."

"I see----good, that's very good." Tezca pulled aside his heavy robes and knelt beside the archeologist. "Kaatzál no doubt knows the young one is gone. He will be looking for him."

"That's what we figure."

The holy man reached out with a gnarled hand and rested his palm against Daniel Jackson's pale cheek. "The river is quite cold and care should be taken that he does not develop a pulmonary infection."

"We're aware of the dangers," replied Major Carter somewhat defensively. "We're watching him closely, Tezca."

"Jack?"

Teal'c watched as O'Neill was immediately down at Daniel Jackson's side. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe, Daniel."

Tezca rose to his feet and stepped back to make more room for the colonel.

"No, Jack---something's wrong----make it stop."

O'Neill placed a gentle hand on the young man's forehead. "Make what stop, Daniel? Are you in pain, buddy?"

The archeologist's head rolled from side to side then he feebly kicked at the cover, displacing it. He raised his hands slightly from where they rested on his stomach, his good hand squeezing at the little finger of his injured one.

"Daniel Jackson," gasped Teal'c. "You will do further damage."

"Stop it, Daniel," hissed O'Neill as he covered the young man's clasped hands with one of his own.

Daniel Jackson's eyes flew open and he stared unseeing at the evening sky, his blue eyes wide with fear. "No, Jack---make it stop!"

"Move away from him, Tezca!"

Teal'c swung around, his staff weapon aimed squarely at the new intruder. Behind him, the warrior heard the colonel rise quickly to his feet and the telltale metallic click as a rifle was primed to be fired. Kaatzál stood perfectly still at the edge of the bridge. He looked filthy and disheveled, but his hazel eyes burned with anger.

"Hold it right there, Kaatzál!" ordered O'Neill as he moved to Teal'c's side, his MP-5 directed at the old man. Major Carter quickly appeared at the colonel's other side with her automatic weapon in hand and together, they formed a protective barrier behind which Tezca and Daniel Jackson remained.

Kaatzál looked momentarily surprised then his face settled into one of fury again. "Whatever he has told you, Colonel, it is not true. You must keep him away from Daniel."

Daniel Jackson moaned and Teal'c could hear him writhing behind him. "What are you doing to him?" he demanded.

"I am doing nothing!" replied the holy man with forcefulness. "I would never harm him!" He turned his fiery gaze on Tezca once again. "It is my brother who does him harm!"

"Funny, you're the one who disappeared when Daniel did," observed Major Carter bitterly.

Kaatzál stepped down off the bridge, his hands raised. "I followed you to Teóti that day to warn you," he explained. "I was right here crossing the river when I was struck from behind. I remember the shock of cold water then the next thing I knew I was down river several miles fighting to stay alive in the current. Once I escaped the water, I made my way back here. As I drew closer to Teóti, I knew my brother had Daniel." The old man squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "The colors were so intense-----they caused such pain----I was unable to continue." His eyes opened again and he looked at O'Neill. "Not until a short time ago when the pain suddenly faded was I able to come to you." He held the colonel's eyes steadily. "I can not harm Daniel, Colonel. You must believe me."

"Jack----please!"

Teal'c swallowed at the agony conveyed in the archeologist's frightened plea.

"Carter," whispered O'Neill. He jerked his chin over his shoulder in the direction of their struggling friend. "See to Daniel." Then he directed his focus back on the old man. "Daniel was fine until you showed up."

Kaatzál suddenly slouched and took a few stumbling steps forward, his eyes tightly shut against something unseen. "Tell me," he choked out, his brow furrowed. "Did Tezca touch Daniel?"

Teal'c froze.

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He could hear Sam's gentle voice urging him to relax, could feel the tender touch of her hand on his forehead, but it wasn't enough to save him.

Daniel's mind was splintering, shattering into a million pieces. Memories flooded him bringing with them wave after wave of blinding sensation. He reached out frantically for an anchor to which to cling, something that would keep him from being swept away. He grabbed at his broken hand and felt a bolt of white hot fire lance up his arm then inflame his entire body. He grabbed at the pain, scrambled to hold onto it, to gather all the fraying pieces of his mind together and enfold them in it.

And then the darkness was there; the cold presence that lingered in the shadows.

Daniel opened his eyes. Sam was kneeling over him, her hands working to break his grip, but he held on fiercely, held onto the only thing that would keep him from falling apart. He could hear others talking; Jack's angry tone, Teal'c's low rumbling bass, and Kaatzál's, pleading for them to listen.

Then all the voices fell silent and the cold presence stepped out of the shadows.

Daniel's eyes met shining charcoal ones and Tezca smiled down at him. The archeologist's fragile grasp faltered, his heart pounding so hard he wondered that it didn't break free of the confines of his chest. His lungs suddenly seemed barren of precious air and Daniel began to panic. Emotions bombarded him and his body shook with reaction.

"Daniel!" cried Sam. She placed strong hands on his shoulders but they did nothing to quell his overwhelming fear, to help him get back his delicate hold on the unraveling threads of his mind. He was floundering, being pulled under and he stared at the evilness that was responsible.

Hate grew inside Daniel and it burned alongside the pain. He latched onto it and held tight. In the distance, he heard someone cry out in agony, but Daniel's eyes didn't move from the old man hovering just behind Sam, the old man who was taking pleasure from feelings he had no right to take.

"No!" screamed the archeologist. He forced himself to move even though his entire being protested, sitting up so abruptly, he took Sam by surprise. He reached to her side, closing his good hand around the cold metal of her rifle; death would save him.

Fury fueled his movements and he didn't hesitate as he lifted the gun and squeezed the trigger.

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TO BE CONTINUED