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CHAPTER SIX
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Teal'c lifted his chin and canted his head; he'd seen something.
"What is it?" asked Major Carter who stood at his side.
"I believe the wall is---changing."
"I think you're right."
Teal'c flicked on his staff weapon, the hiss of it shattering the eerie silence that had settled over the altar. He watched as the wall seemed to come alive, shimmering in the gray light, shifting like a delicate curtain blowing in a breeze.
Then Daniel Jackson stumbled through collapsing in a heap at the center of the altar's stone floor.
"Daniel!" cried the major. She dropped to her knees at the fallen archeologist's side and gently rolled him to his back.
Teal'c hovered over them, his staff weapon still raised and watched as Major Carter removed their younger friend's glasses. He then switched his attention back to the still-fluctuating wall.
"What is his status, Major Carter?"
"He's alive, but---oh my God."
"What is it?"
"His eyes."
Teal'c knelt beside the major and peered into Daniel Jackson's still face. The woman lifted one of her friend's eyelids to reveal not the expected clear blue but an iris of red.
"What could have caused such a change?"
"I don't know---pressure maybe, but this---this doesn't look like broken blood vessels," replied Major Carter. She leaned closer. "It's almost like---."
Before Teal'c could respond, one of Daniel Jackson's hands shot up and grabbed the major around the throat. His eyes snapped open and he sat up abruptly throwing Major Carter from him with inhuman strength. He turned his head and pierced Teal'c with his flaring red gaze.
"Daniel Jackson."
"No---guess again."
Teal'c stood and stumbled back a step, lifting his staff weapon to point it at the archeologist.
Daniel Jackson's lips curved into an unfamiliar smile. "You won't kill your friend," he said.
"You are no longer my friend, but the demon of which the inscription warns."
The stranger rose to his feet, the smile still gracing his lips. "But your friend is here, too---stubborn and strong-willed, this boy."
"Release him."
Teal'c cast a quick glance to see Major Carter standing at his elbow, her MP5 aimed and at the ready.
"Let Daniel go," continued the major.
"I will release him, but only when I'm at the Gateway."
"The Stargate?"
The demon shrugged. "Yes---if that's what you call it. I will let the boy go when I get to your Stargate."
"We can not allow you to leave," declared Teal'c.
Daniel Jackson's eyes closed tightly and when they opened again, Teal'c met the familiar blue gaze.
"Teal'c? Sam?"
"Daniel?"
"Areszeus, he's hurt Jack---," stammered the young man, his expressive brows furrowed with pain. "Get to Jack---help him."
"Daniel Jackson---."
"Help him," implored the archeologist then he wavered and his expression changed, his eyes flashing angry red once again. "I will kill the boy or I will release him---the choice is yours."
Teal'c lifted his chin and stared down his nose at the demon. "If you terminate the life of Daniel Jackson, I will kill you."
Areszeus smiled. "Our little problem could be solved so easily if you just allow me passage to the Stargate, my friend."
"I am in fact not your friend."
"Ah, but you're his."
"Let Daniel go now and we'll allow you passage," offered Major Carter.
Areszeus regarded the major through narrowed eyes. "You expect me to trust you?" he asked.
"You expect us to trust that you'll let Daniel go," the woman countered.
"I believe we have what is called a stalemate then."
"Indeed."
The demon looked first to Teal'c then to Major Carter, his nostrils flaring in anger, his breath audible as it gusted from his nose. For a moment, Teal'c wavered; this was his brother, his dear friend---he could not kill this man. Then Areszeus' red gaze fell on the Jaffa warrior once again and Teal'c saw only evil. An evil that distorted Daniel Jackson's features, curled his lips, bastardized the archeologist's innate goodness, his innocence.
Somewhere nearby a bird's strange cry shattered the ominous silence.
"Teal'c."
The Jaffa looked to Major Carter and nodded in acknowledgement.
"All right," conceded the major, her icy blue eyes moving back to Areszeus. "We'll let you pass, but we'll go with you to the Stargate and if you don't release Daniel, we'll kill you without hesitation." She motioned with her automatic rifle for the demon to move. "Go."
Areszeus nodded once then crossed the altar, his movements so unlike Daniel Jackson's. He stopped in front of Teal'c and looked up at him. The warrior couldn't help the shiver that rose up his spine; the gaze was oddly familiar yet strange at the same time.
The demon smiled. "You know me, don't you?" he asked lowly.
Teal'c blinked, the memory of a childhood nightmare rising to the fore. He cast a glance at a confused Major Carter, shaken to his core. She looked back at him questioningly then he shook his head and shoved the memory away.
Areszeus chuckled, the sound unnerving. He moved to the head of the stairs, paused for a moment as if to soak up his freedom, then he lowered a foot to the first step---and screamed.
Teal'c didn't remember hitting the wall. He was standing watching the demon one moment then found himself slumped at the base of the inscriptions, Major Carter at his side, the next. He stared in a daze at Daniel Jackson's body as it convulsed, the young man's head thrown back, his mouth opened as he cried out his pain.
"Daniel!"
For a moment, the Jaffa looked beyond Areszeus to see a tall figure appear from the underbrush, a weapon lifted and aimed, dark eyes widened in horror then Teal'c's gaze moved back to the body of his struggling young friend.
"No!" shrieked the demon. He turned to stare at the wall, his prison, a look of clear incomprehension on his face. Blood drizzled from the corner of his mouth and a guttural scream passed his lips again. His head fell back and his body shook.
Then Teal'c narrowed his eyes as a flash of light nearly blinded him. The light burned bright white then slowly shifted and split into two colors, one light blue, the other deep blood red. Daniel Jackson suddenly tumbled backwards down the steps leaving only the crimson light shimmering unsteadily at the head of the stairs. For a moment, Teal'c caught sight of a creature ominous in its size as it coalesced then the shape faded. Beside him, Major Carter gasped.
Teal'c pushed himself to his feet, his eyes still narrowed against the harsh light. He pressed himself against the wall, the feeling of cold evil in the air almost physically forcing him back. Major Carter stood at his side, her hand instinctively moving to grip the Jaffa's forearm.
A panicked scream split the eerie silence and the light trembled violently. It collapsed in on itself then launched itself toward the wall. Teal'c pulled the major to him as the ball of red hit beside them.
One final scream full of pure hatred echoed in Teal'c's ears as the light disappeared into the prison then a quiet fell, broken only by the distant shouts from SG-11.
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Sam pushed herself off the corridor wall against which she'd been leaning and walked to the closed door of the isolation room. She placed her hand against the door, the metal cold against her palm---so different than the heat she'd felt coming off her friend only hours before.
Daniel had been unconscious when she and Teal'c had finally rushed to his side, but he had come to calling desperately for the colonel. He'd been delirious; his skin hot to the touch as he'd pleaded for them to help O'Neill, so certain that his friend was dead. Sam could still hear the young man's broken pleas, see the hands reaching for the wall. O'Neill had immediately dropped to his knees at Daniel's side, his P-90 all but forgotten, and had gathered their friend to him.
The major turned and looked at her commanding officer as he nervously paced back and forth, his hand rubbing absently at the back of his neck. His reputation with the SGC was one of toughness, hard-as-nails, cold-heartedness, but she and her team mates knew a different man. O'Neill had been gentle with Daniel, tender, Sam thought, as he'd cradled him protectively to his chest, hushing his young friend's pleas with quiet words.
Sam shook her head, still unable to process what had happened. If she hadn't heard the colonel's lame attempt at a bird call, one Daniel had teased him about mercilessly during one of their first missions then she wasn't sure what she and Teal'c would have done. She'd known O'Neill was out walking the perimeter, but she hadn't known if he'd seen what was happening in time to help. Daniel's life had been in her hands---or rather in the hands of an unfathomable evil and she'd known that no matter what the cost, she'd stop Areszeus from escaping.
"Are you well, Major Carter?"
The major started slightly then looked up to meet the concerned eyes of Teal'c. The big Jaffa regarded her closely, his head canted to one side, his chin slightly lifted.
"You appear to be a great distance away," continued the gentle warrior.
Sam smiled. "I was," she replied.
"I too have been replaying the incident in my mind. It is never easy choosing between the lives of many and the life of one held so dear."
"No, it's not. God, Teal'c, it could have played out so differently, he could have died at the hands of that---that thing."
"But he didn't, Carter. The Chege saw to that."
Sam looked at the colonel. His expression was hard, almost angry, and she swallowed convulsively. He wasn't dwelling on what could-have-been, he wouldn't allow that; Daniel was alive and Areszeus was gone and those were the facts.
The major nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Any news?"
Sam looked beyond O'Neill to see Hammond striding towards them. "Not yet, sir," she replied.
The general's brow was puckered in concern and his blue eyes darted quickly over the three members of SG-1 before settling on its leader. "We'll debrief as soon as we know Dr. Jackson's condition, Colonel."
O'Neill nodded then his head turned sharply as the door to the isolation room opened to reveal Dr. Janet Frasier. "Doc?" he prompted. He shoved his hands quickly into his pockets and stepped toward the diminutive woman.
"He's going to be fine, Colonel. He's responding well to the antibiotics. His temperature is still far too high for my liking, but he's out of danger."
"Can we see him, Janet?" asked Sam.
"Of course."
Janet stepped aside as Sam and the others filed into the big room. O'Neill brushed past the major as he moved to Daniel's bedside, his hands still in his pockets while Hammond and Teal'c stood at the foot of the bed.
Sam's brows furrowed; Daniel was curled up on his side, his knees drawn up as far as the little bed would allow. She looked up and met Janet's eyes in confusion.
The doctor shrugged. "He insists on sleeping like this," she replied.
"He's trying to disappear," murmured O'Neill.
"Colonel?" prompted Hammond.
O'Neill canted his head so he could see Daniel's face. "Just something he told me once," he explained evasively.
Janet seemed to understand for her expression softened. "Well---we'll just keep the lines untangled then," she said, her voice breaking slightly. She reached across the sleeping archeologist to straighten an IV line that led to Daniel's hand, a hand that lay curled beneath the young man's chin in a position that reminded Sam of a small child.
"What is his condition, Doctor?" asked the general.
Janet sighed. "His wrists are severely abraded leading me to believe he was restrained, probably chained. There are a number of welts on his back---." She paused, one hand idly closing the gap at the back of Daniel's scrub top. "The skin wasn't broken so the intent was clearly to inflict pain and not physical damage."
"What about---?" O'Neill waggled a finger at his mouth.
"The blood? No internal injuries, he just bit his lip."
"And what of the fever, Dr. Frasier?" prompted Teal'c, his big hands clasped at the small of his back.
"There are puncture wounds to his shoulder and several deep bruises inflicted by what looks like a very large and powerful hand. The wounds are infected as are the scratches on his face----which explains the high fever. This demon certainly didn't worry about good hygiene; Dr. Jackson's system was teeming with bacteria." The doctor canted her head in thought. "His chemical makeup was also quite different. I found traces of a toxin as well."
"But he's responding to the drugs," clarified Sam.
Janet nodded and smiled reassuringly.
"So what---that son of a bitch poisoned him, too?" asked O'Neill, one hand gesturing sharply. "It wasn't enough that he chained him and whipped him---he made him sick, too?"
The doctor frowned. "I'm afraid so, sir," she replied. "I can't identify the chemical but it seems to be having a hallucinogenic effect on him."
"That would explain Daniel Jackson's insistence that O'Neill was in danger," offered Teal'c.
As if in response, Daniel mumbled and shifted on the bed, his bandaged fingers twitching, his legs moving beneath the light sheet.
"Hey, hey---take it easy," soothed the colonel. He rested a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder then pulled it back when Daniel jerked away.
"Don't," muttered the archeologist.
O'Neill looked across Daniel to Janet, a questioning look on his face.
"He's not aware, Colonel."
"Jack---no, no---please find Jack."
Sam bit her lip at the soft pleading words and at the expression on her commanding officer's face. There were so many times O'Neill conveyed an indifferent front, but occasionally he'd let his mask slip slightly and reveal the deeply caring man beneath. He was hurting for his friend, a man who had managed to fly under O'Neill's radar to find a permanent place in the older man's life---in all of their lives truth be told. Sam still wondered how a sometimes scatterbrained, absolutely brilliant, stubborn, clumsy, gentle civilian had won them all over so easily. She shook her head; and even without their knowledge.
Daniel settled again and O'Neill shoved his hands back into his pants pockets.
"He's going to be fine, Colonel," assured Janet gently.
"Anything else, Doctor?"
Janet moved her gaze to Hammond. "Physically, no, General, and honestly, I think in cases like this one, the physical is the least of our worries. Daniel's been to hell and I think it'll take some time for him to come back from it."
"Whatever our boy needs, Doctor," promised the general.
"Yes, sir."
"Jack?"
The weak voice from the bed drew Sam's attention.
O'Neill bent down to look closely at the younger man, placing a hand on Daniel's shoulder again. "Daniel? You with us?"
"You okay?"
Sam moved slightly so that she could see her friend's face. The archeologist's eyes were unfocused, his expression one of confusion as he stared at the colonel in disbelief.
"I'm fine---how---how are you?" replied O'Neill uncomfortably.
"No, he hurt you. How---? What---?" Daniel moved his hand from beneath his chin and rubbed his eyes. "God, Jack---I've got to get you out of here."
O'Neill frowned at Janet then moved his gaze back to the archeologist. "Its okay now, Daniel---you did good."
Daniel drew his knees up further and curled his hand back under his chin. "I'm scared, Jack," he mumbled, his eyes sliding closed. "Don't leave me here alone."
"I won't," replied O'Neill softly but firmly. "I promise---now sleep, okay?"
Daniel didn't respond and Sam knew he'd slipped away again. O'Neill stood bent watching his friend for a long moment, his hand still resting on the younger man's shoulder and Sam felt once again the deep-rooted connection between the two men; the affection that was ever present. Then O'Neill's face shuddered, he cleared his throat and straightened his stance, once again the military colonel concerned only for the well-being of a subordinate.
"He'll be in and out for the next few hours," explained Janet. She absently straightened the lines draped over Daniel's body then tucked the sheet up over the scientist's shoulder.
"Daniel Jackson still believes he is captive."
"The toxin is dissipating, Teal'c, and his fever is down; he'll be okay given time. Now you all look exhausted so why don't you leave me to my patient and go get cleaned up---and eat something while you're at it."
"Mind if I stick around for a little while?" asked O'Neill. "Just in case he---you know---wakes up confused again?"
Janet smiled indulgently. "Colonel."
O'Neill hitched his head. "Just for a little while, Doc."
"I would like to remain as well, Dr. Frasier."
"Me, too," chimed in Sam with a sheepish shrug. "I think we just want to sit with him a while, Janet. We all thought he was gone---please, for just a little while?"
Janet exchanged a look of fond exasperation with Hammond. "All right," she replied then she raised a finger and canted her head. "But don't wake him up---I mean it, Colonel."
O'Neill touched his palm to his chest, a look of complete innocence on his face.
Hammond chuckled and shook his head. "I'll check back in an hour or so, Doctor. If there are any changes, please let me know immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Sam watched the general leave the isolation room then she turned back to her team mates. O'Neill had already maneuvered a stool to Daniel's bedside while Teal'c remained in a relaxed stance at the foot. Janet slid another stool to the side opposite the colonel then patted its seat with a knowing smile.
"Thanks, Janet."
"No problem."
The major sat down and hooked her feet around the stool's legs then braced her hands against her thighs. She looked down at her sleeping friend curled up beneath the light sheet, watched as his fingers twitched. Through the slight gap in his scrub top she could see the red welts standing out starkly against his pale flesh and she shivered. Daniel 'had' been to hell and Sam knew with the help of her team mates they'd bring their youngest member back.
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CONTINUED
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