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CHAPTER SIX
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Teal'c's aim was true. He ran forward, firing again and watched as the charged plasma from his staff weapon hit the Mal'Kek solidly a second time then a third. He glanced down quickly to where he'd seen Daniel Jackson bound to a wooden frame, his friend's head held high, expecting his death. Teal'c felt the warm touch of pride for his young friend's bravery then turned back as the archaic weapon exploded sending shrapnel high up into the morning sky. He ran ahead to where he could see the head of a trail leading down into the quarries, dodging the staff blasts coming from below. He could hear Major Carter and two others right at his heels.
As Teal'c headed down the rocky trail, he could see the prisoners below moving forward in a wave, their voices ringing in triumph above the weapons fire as they raged against their captors. Teal'c had never seen such creatures before as some of the guards turned against their prisoners and others looked up firing their staff weapons at where Teal'c and the assault team approached down different trails. The SG teams hadn't counted on the slaves revolting, but for Teal'c the assistance was most welcomed.
He caught sight of O'Neill struggling through the others, his warrior brother moving toward the platform on which Daniel Jackson was still bound. Then Teal'c's attention was drawn to giant of a man stepping out from the dark shadows near the wall. A knife glinted in the sun and Teal'c knew instantly who the man was and he felt anger heat his blood. He raised his staff weapon to fire, but the Goa'uld moved too quickly and Teal'c could not get a clear shot without hitting the archeologist.
Across the lower quarry, Teal'c saw the other assault team funneling out of what he thought would be the cellblock, but they were still too far to see what was happening on the platform. He moved his gaze back to O'Neill. The colonel, with the help of two other prisoners, was hoisting himself up onto the big rock shelf. He gained his feet and ran toward Daniel Jackson and the Goa'uld who was busy cutting the archeologist's bindings.
Teal'c hit the bottom of the trail and barreled toward the platform, firing and hitting the one guard who stood in between O'Neill and their younger friend. The creature jerked and lost its footing, toppling over the back side of the raised stand. The Jaffa warrior looked back at the Goa'uld just as he was sheathing his knife somewhere within his gaudy robes. The big man wrapped one arm quickly around Daniel Jackson's chest and, using the archeologist as his shield, took a step away from the frame.
The Goa'uld then brought up his other arm and Teal'c saw the wrist device. "No!" he roared. He shouted again, but he knew his plea was to no avail. The Goa'uld smiled as one finger sought out the control button. O'Neill dove for Daniel Jackson just as the transport rings appeared from the base of the platform.
Then they were gone.
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Jack stared at Balor as the Goa'uld released his grip on Daniel, the remains of the bindings still dangling from his friend's wrists.
"If you think your friends will be appearing any minute, think again," said the big man cheerfully. "The rings can only be activated by me." He glanced quickly at his wrist device then looked back up at Jack. "And it will take them a while to figure out where we are. By then all they will find is your dead body."
"I don't think so."
Balor smiled. "And the body of my host," he continued jauntily. "You see, I've been thinking---."
"I hope you didn't strain anything with the effort," spat Jack.
The Goa'uld laughed. "You do amuse me, Jack O'Neill," he said. His gaze moved to Daniel who dropped suddenly to his knees, his face flushed, his eyes sliding closed. "I've been wondering what it is about Daniel Jackson that warrants your devotion to him. Even the slaves want to save him." He moved his gaze back to Jack. "Why?"
Jack shrugged. "You wouldn't understand," he replied.
"Ah, but I do. You see, I think that Daniel Jackson has something---a gift perhaps. Something that you want to keep from me, that you want to keep for yourself, something that warrants the major offensive demonstrated by your people." Balor's eyes glowed and his lips curled into a snarl. "I will have it."
Jack swallowed, but fought to remain calm. "Uh---that would be a 'no'?"
"I will miss the size and strength of this body," continued Balor as if Jack hadn't spoken. He moved his hands down his chest in an obscene caress. "And though this one is smaller," he said raising one hand to gently stroke his fingers through Daniel's hair. "He is far prettier---and whatever gift he has will make up for what he lacks in stature."
Daniel's eyes opened and he jerked away from Balor's touch.
"Ah, such spirit," cooed the Goa'uld. "I will enjoy that as well."
"Go to hell," hissed the archeologist with venom.
Balor laughed. "I will have to heal you of course," he said then he gripped Daniel's throat, easily lifting the archeologist up from his knees. "But I will enjoy taking you for my host, Daniel Jackson."
Jack lurched forward. "Leave him alone!" he shouted. He hit the Goa'uld broadside with his shoulder and the big man stumbled, releasing his hold on Daniel. The archeologist slipped to the floor in a heap, his frantic gasps for breath reaching Jack's ears.
"How dare you!" reproached Balor angrily.
The colonel regained his balance and eyed the big alien warily. "You won't have him, Balor," he snapped. "I promise you that."
Balor swung his arm with frightening speed and caught Jack across the face with the back of his hand, the armor of the wrist device slicing into tender skin. The colonel reeled and staggered, collapsing to his hands and knees from the blow. He felt blood running down his cheek as he turned his head to see the Goa'uld grabbing Daniel's arm and wrenching him harshly to his feet.
The archeologist fought against Balor's grip then reached a hand up to dig his fingers brutally into the Goa'uld's eyes. Balor's scream was a mixture of pain, surprise, and anger. He threw Daniel away from him with frightening ease then covered his bleeding face with both huge hands.
"Daniel!" yelled Jack as he regained his feet. He scrambled to his friend's side and knelt reaching out to hesitantly rest his hand against the younger man's chest. "Hey?"
Daniel swallowed and choked. "His waist," he managed. "Beneath his robes, Jack."
Jack scowled and leaned closer. "What?"
"His knife," choked the archeologist then his eyes rolled back and his body went lax.
The colonel held his breath as his fingers quickly pressed against his friend's neck. Finding the blessed movement pulsing beneath his fingertips, Jack exhaled. He rested his palm briefly against the burning skin of Daniel's cheek then stood and turned to face Balor who'd stopped his pathetic mewling.
The Goa'uld lowered his hands and Jack couldn't help but wince at the gore; Daniel had done a more than adequate job of partially blinding the big man. One eye was definitely useless, but the other narrowed and looked directly at the colonel. The blood-covered hands balled into enormous fists at Balor's sides and he lunged.
Jack tried to side-step but the alien moved with alarming speed. His shoulder caught Jack in the side sending the colonel back-pedaling to regain his balance. He hit the wall hard and felt his breath knocked from him. Gasping, Jack crouched in anticipation of the next assault.
Balor turned and sneered. "I will have your friend, Jack O'Neill, and that sweet gift he possesses." Then he grinned maniacally. "With that gift I will make my brethren take notice and one by one, they will all kneel before me. And with their help I will take your world. It will be Daniel Jackson's innocent face your friends see as they take their final breaths."
"Not going to happen," Jack replied. He saw movement just beyond Balor and the colonel glanced quickly to see Daniel struggling to sit up. The archeologist was on the Goa'uld's blinded side and from his friend's expression Jack knew Daniel had realized that as well. He looked back at the alien. "Daniel will fight you every step of the way. You see, Balor, Daniel Jackson is the single most stubborn individual I have ever met on this world or any other. He will not do your bidding."
"He will have no say in the matter once I take him, Jack O'Neill."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that."
Daniel managed to get to his feet and Jack saw the agony his friend was suffering written clearly across his pale face. He couldn't help the surge of pride he felt as Daniel's eyes focused on his target, all pain tamped down to be dealt with later. The archeologist's gaze moved to Jack for just a moment and the colonel readied himself.
Like so many times before, the plan went unspoken and Jack just knew that Daniel would do what Jack needed him to do. As the colonel lunged forward, his friend moved in from Balor's blind side. The Goa'uld braced himself and brought both arms up in a defensive posture his eyes focused solely on Jack. Daniel swept in low, his determined blue eyes standing out starkly against his pallor, and grabbed Balor's arm, levering it down while Jack grabbed the other. The archeologist's other hand moved quickly within the Goa'uld's robes in search of the knife he'd said was sheathed there.
Balor bellowed his anger and wrenched his arms. Jack held on, but Daniel lost his hold and stumbled backwards, the knife's blade glinting in his hand. The Goa'uld swung his now freed arm and backhanded the archeologist solidly against the side of his face. Daniel reeled and toppled, but not before releasing the knife to clatter on the floor at Jack's feet.
Jack released the big man and dove down for the knife, but Balor again moved with lightening speed. Both men tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs and Jack fought with all his strength to get free of the Goa'uld.
"I will kill you, Jack O'Neill!" roared Balor. He used his weight to pin Jack beneath him then wrapped both hands around the colonel's throat. "I will kill you then I will take the gift from your friend freely."
Jack gasped as he gripped Balor's hands with one of his and blindly sought out the knife with the other. His lungs burned for oxygen and his vision began graying and Jack knew his life was about to end, his last sight the gruesome, bloody face of a Goa'uld.
Then Balor jerked suddenly and his eyes widened. He stared incredulously at Jack, his lips forming words with no sound. He jerked again and gasped, saliva dribbling from his open mouth to land on Jack's chest. His big hands released the colonel's throat and Jack coughed, his lungs fighting to bring in precious air.
Balor turned his head. "No, this can't be," he choked. "Not you." He pushed himself off Jack and the colonel rolled to his side gasping harshly.
"Guess again."
The colonel heard his friend's voice. He blinked to clear his vision and saw Daniel standing, watching wide-eyed as the Goa'uld rose unsteadily to his feet. When Balor turned toward the archeologist, Jack glimpsed the knife stuck hilt deep in the big man's upper back.
Balor stepped toward Daniel, a guttural growl rumbling in his throat. "You will be mine," he hissed.
Jack centered all his remaining strength and rose to his feet. He reached for the knife and managed to yank the weapon out at the same moment Balor's big hands grabbed at his friend's shoulders. In one smooth, quick motion, the colonel brought the knife around and plunged it up under Balor's ribs.
The Goa'uld shrieked and dropped to his knees taking Jack down with him. Jack braced himself and forced the knife deeper, feeling the heat of Balor's blood washing over his hand.
Balor grunted. "Why do you fight so hard? Who is he?" he rasped.
"He's my friend, you sonofabitch," spat Jack quietly. "Something you snakes will never understand." He plunged the knife even deeper.
The Goa'uld's eyes glowed bright for a brief moment then rolled back. The alien pitched forward and Jack skirted out of the way letting the big man hit the floor in a lifeless heap. He sat on his knees panting and felt the first waves of reaction shake through his body. Daniel dropped to his knees at his side and Jack turned to look at the younger man. His friend's ashen skin and pained eyes snapped him back to the reality of their situation; he still had to get Daniel to safety.
A strange wet ripping sound drew Jack's attention back to Balor and he watched in horror as the Goa'uld symbiote wrenched itself out of its dead host's mouth. The snake slithered a moment in place, writhing, then it lifted its head and hissed at Daniel.
"Move!" ordered Jack.
Daniel froze transfixed and the snake launched itself. The sudden movement snapped the archeologist out of his stupor and he fell back on his haunches and scrambled away as fast as he could.
Jack pulled the knife from the corpse, his heart like a jackhammer in his chest. He rose to his feet turning to see the snake launch itself again, this time hitting its mark. Daniel cried out in fear and shock, his hands frantically holding the snake as it tried to slither its way to the back of his neck.
"No!" Jack bellowed and he suddenly felt time slow, heard the rush of his own blood in his ears. He reached for the Goa'uld symbiote and called out Daniel's name, watching as one single drop of crimson began dribbling down the back of his friend's neck. No, he thought, God please don't let this happen---not this.
Then in the blink of an eye it was over.
Jack looked down at what remained of the snake, its body cleaved in half by the knife he held in his trembling hand. He dropped the weapon and it clattered on the floor. Jack looked up at Daniel to see his friend's body shaking uncontrollably, his hand pressed to the back of his neck.
"Daniel?"
"Oh, God," murmured the archeologist. He pulled his hand away then stared uncomprehendingly at his blood-covered fingertips.
Jack moved to the younger man's side and gripped his face between his red-stained palms, forcing Daniel's eyes up and away from the bloody fingers. "Look at me," he urged.
Daniel's breathing was erratic, his eyes wild with shock and fear.
"Look at me," Jack repeated more firmly.
Finally, Daniel's eyes met Jack's and they focused in.
"You're okay, Daniel," assured the colonel. "It's over, okay? It's over."
"Jack? Oh, God, Jack." The archeologist brought his hands up to grip Jack's wrists then dropped his gaze to what remained of the Goa'uld symbiote. "It almost----."
"Yeah, I know," replied Jack then he drew his friend's head into his chest and rested his chin against the dirty hair. "Easy, just take it easy," he implored gently. He swallowed convulsively; he'd come too close to losing Daniel again, way too close. He squeezed his eyes shut and just allowed himself a few moments to revel in the very real weight leaning against him.
"Are you all right Jack? You're shaking."
"I'm fine. You're just a lot heavier than you used to be. Oma must serve pretty good meals, huh?"
Daniel's muffled snort brought a grin to Jack's face. He eased his friend back then looked at him closely. Daniel met his gaze with a shaky smile and nodded.
Jack ruffled the younger man's hair. "Let's say you and I go find Carter and Teal'c then blow this popsicle stand, okay?"
"Best idea you've had yet," replied the archeologist.
Jack stood then reached a hand down to help Daniel to his feet. The younger man grimaced, his free hand moving to cover his side as he stood, but he said nothing. As Jack encircled his friend's waist with his arm, he could feel the heat of Daniel's body against his bare skin. Oh yeah, he thought worriedly, definitely time to get the hell out of Dodge.
As they entered the tunnel from the chamber, Jack took an immediate right.
"How do you do that?" asked Daniel leaning heavily into the colonel's side.
"Do what?"
"Keep track of which way to go."
"You have to pay attention to your surroundings, Daniel."
"I do pay attention."
"No you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"No."
"Yes."
Jack tightened his grip on his swaying friend and turned them around to face the opposite direction---and to face a solid wall of rock.
"Oh."
The colonel snorted, turned them back around then continued down the tunnel. "Admit it, Daniel, the only things you pay attention to are your fancy rocks and your scribbles."
Daniel dropped his chin to his chest and muttered vehemently under his breath.
"What was that? I couldn't quite make that out. Did you say 'yes, Jack, as always you're right'?"
"Pretty much."
Jack shook his head with fond amusement then he suddenly stopped.
Daniel's head came up. "Someone's coming," he whispered.
The colonel froze, his focus on the sounds echoing towards them.
"They're not Fomorians," murmured Daniel. "Not heavy enough."
Jack backed his friend into a nearby alcove. "I'm not taking any chances," he whispered.
"Colonel?"
Jack felt his shoulders sag at the familiar hushed voice. "Right here, Major," he announced as he stepped out of the shadows to greet his second-in-command. "You're certainly a sight for sore eyes."
"So are you, sir. Are you two all right?"
Jack reached for Daniel as his friend took a shaky step forward. He caught him under the arm as the archeologist's knees started to buckle.
Carter stepped to Daniel's other side and ducked under his other arm to offer her support, the move eliciting a pained moan. "Daniel?"
"Carter," said Jack drawing his second's attention. He shook his head at her and she backed away. The colonel ducked under the arm he still grasped and placed his own around his friend's waist again.
"I'm okay, Sam," placated Daniel as he folded his free arm protectively against his side.
Carter lifted her hand to press a palm against Daniel's cheek. "You're not okay, Daniel." The major glanced from their younger friend to give Jack a worried look.
"We need to get him home, Major," Jack replied simply.
"Yes, sir."
"I can take him, Colonel," volunteered a soldier Jack recognized from SG-7, but for some reason, couldn't quite place his name.
"Its okay, Sergeant, I've got him. You lead the way."
Jack with Daniel leaning against him followed the four soldiers who'd come with the major back in the direction from which they'd arrived.
"Teal'c?"
"He's fine, sir. He's up top with Colonel Reynolds and the others," reported Carter from Daniel's other side.
"The Fomorians?" asked Daniel, his voice slurred with exhaustion.
"Fomorians?"
"Behemoths---goons---minions," offered Jack helpfully.
"Oh," replied the major. "They're all dead."
Jack threw his second a questioning look.
Carter smiled tightly. "We suffered some injuries, but no casualties, sir."
The colonel nodded in relief. He'd always found it hard to stomach loss of life especially when he'd been the cause of it.
"The Goa'uld, sir?"
"Daniel and I took care of him---permanently."
"What about the prisoners, Sam?"
Daniel's question hung in the air a long moment and the archeologist turned his head to look at Carter.
"They put up a hell of a fight, Daniel, but they were unarmed and---."
"How many?"
"Daniel---."
"How many, Sam?"
"Over half. The---guards, they just turned away from fighting us and opened fire on them. It took so many rounds of ammo for us to bring them down---we tried, Daniel, but the prisoners---they just couldn't----."
Daniel's chin dropped to his chest and Jack saw his friend's eyes squeeze shut.
"I'm sorry," offered Carter softly. "We tried to protect them, but they were---."
"Fighting for their freedom," finished the archeologist in a hushed voice.
"They were good people, Major," said Jack shifting his grip on Daniel's wrist where it hung over his shoulder. "They'd been afraid for so long----." He shook his head, unable to express the sense of pride he felt for his dead friends. "Do you know if a man named Liam survived?"
"I don't know, sir."
Jack inhaled a steadying breath then peered ahead down the tunnel to where the exit loomed. They stepped out of the passage and to Jack's surprise, into the corridor that led back to their cellblock.
"O'Neill, Daniel Jackson."
The colonel smiled as Teal'c approached looking battle worn but unscathed.
"It is good to see you," continued the Jaffa.
"You, too, big guy."
"Daniel Jackson?"
The archeologist raised his free hand from his side to give his friend a thumbs-up.
"We are treating the injured just outside, O'Neill. Do you require assistance?"
Jack shook his head and continued up the corridor toward the exit that led out into the quarries. He could hear a low chanting from outside and he looked up at Teal'c.
"Some are mourning their dead."
"Ah."
The daylight was blinding as the colonel stepped outside the cellblock, but he welcomed it. He moved with Daniel over to where a makeshift triage had been hastily set up then carefully lowered his friend into a stretcher that two soldiers held up between them.
"I'm okay," hissed Daniel between gritted teeth.
"Yeah, sure you are," Jack replied fondly.
Daniel gave the colonel a small smile then laid back and closed his eyes. Jack touched the back of his hand against his friend's forehead and grimaced; way too hot. He then turned from the archeologist to see the carnage, bodies of both the prisoners and the Fomorians scattered over the bright white rock of the lower quarry. The battle had been a bloody one.
"Jack?"
The colonel looked over his shoulder to see Liam covered in gore but very much alive rising from where he'd been seated on a huge boulder. The man waved off the ministrations of one of the soldiers and moved to Jack with a tired smile on his face.
Jack heaved a sigh. "Good to see you made it, Liam," he greeted.
"You, too," replied the other man softly. "When you both disappeared from the platform with Balor, I feared the worse."
"Colonel---sir, we should really take a look at that cut on your face and that head wound, too."
Jack glanced at the young woman who'd approached, her brow furrowed in concern. The colonel reached up and gingerly probed at where he'd bumped his head during his earlier swim; he'd completely forgotten about it.
"And I really need to finish up treating that burn," said the young man who'd been working on Liam's injured arm.
Jack smiled at his friend. "We'll catch up later, okay?"
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Daniel could sense that he was moving by the gentle swaying motion he was experiencing and he fought to rise from the depths of his drug-induced stupor. He could hear voices talking over him and he turned his head, his eyes still closed, toward the more familiar voice; Jack.
"So you're a leader of your people."
The archeologist recognized Liam's soft lilt and then felt relieved that their new-found friend had survived the battle.
"I hold the rank of Colonel in the Air Force," replied Jack and Daniel could just imagine the self-deprecating expression on his older friend's face coupled with his nonchalant shrug. "That's a military organization on my world."
"Then Daniel is a---colonel as well?"
"What? Daniel? No."
"I'm an archeologist," offered Daniel groggily then he pried his eyes open to see Jack looking down at him with a relieved smile.
"Hey."
Daniel swallowed the cotton that had accumulated in his mouth. "Hey."
"Hold up a minute, fellas."
The archeologist felt the stretcher he was resting on gently lowered and watched as Jack knelt, a canteen in his hand. The colonel lifted Daniel's head and helped him take a few sips of the cool and much-welcomed water.
"Better?" asked Jack.
Daniel nodded and swiped his tongue over his lower lip. He narrowed his eyes and squinted up at his friend noticing the white bandage across his forehead and the butterfly stitches on his cheek.
Jack fingered the bandages and shrugged. "I've had worse."
"Oh," replied Daniel simply.
"You're a little out of it, aren't you?" teased the colonel good-naturedly.
"Um---."
Jack snorted then capped his canteen.
Sam and Teal'c appeared over Jack's shoulder and Daniel smiled and managed a little wave. "Hey, guys."
"Hey, Daniel."
"Daniel Jackson."
The archeologist's brow furrowed as he scrambled for an elusive memory then his eyes widened. "Caleb," he blurted. "He---um---his wife, I need to tell his wife." He struggled to sit up then his side pulled and even though the pain felt more distant than before, he still couldn't help the small yelp that escaped.
"Hey, just what do you think you're doing?" scolded Jack. He pressed a hand against Daniel's shoulder and easily pushed the archeologist back down.
"Jack, I need to talk to Caleb's wife, I need to tell her."
"Adia ValTori is dead, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel's brows puckered in confusion. "What?" he asked, his thought processes slowing with the drugs he knew were flowing through his system.
"She died in her sleep two nights ago, Daniel," explained Sam. She knelt and laid a gentle hand on Daniel's knee. "The colonel told us what happened to Caleb."
Daniel's eyes slid closed of their own accord. "Then they're together now," he murmured.
"Indeed they are, Daniel Jackson. They have crossed the bridge."
The archeologist smiled. "Yeah, the bridge," he whispered.
"Get some sleep, Daniel."
Daniel managed a slight nod in response to Jack's gentle voice then he let himself drift, still awake enough to hear the comforting sounds surrounding him.
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Jack stood up from his friend's side then nodded to the two soldiers who bent and gently picked up the stretcher again. He watched Daniel's ashen face settle as the younger man relaxed and the colonel sighed tiredly, rubbing his fingers against his forehead.
"We're almost at the 'gate, sir," said Carter from Jack's side then she touched his sleeve briefly, settled her rifle in a loose grip before her then moved to walk up ahead of Daniel's stretcher.
Teal'c canted his head and bowed slightly then took up a position at the rear, his staff weapon gripped in one big hand.
Liam crossed behind Daniel's stretcher to walk at Jack's side as the group headed toward the Stargate. Up ahead, Jack could see the surviving prisoners walking, the SG teams talking with them, theirs eyes still watchful for any sign of ambush. He looked down at the worn shoes someone had pilfered for him and wondered to which dead prisoner they'd belonged.
"What is an---archeologist?" asked Liam suddenly.
Jack threw the other man a perplexed look then he remembered their earlier conversation and he grinned. "Someone who digs in the dirt for old stuff," he replied lightly then he waved a hand in front of him. "Daniel studies artifacts and ancient civilizations. He's also knowledgeable about a lot of other stuff---cultures and languages, that sort of thing. He's a genius---too brilliant for his own good."
Liam frowned. "He's not a colonel then?"
Jack shook his head. "Nope, he's not even in the military. He's what we call a civilian consultant."
"But he's under your command," concluded Liam.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Technically, yes," he replied hesitantly.
"I see."
"Look, Liam---," Jack began as he realized why the other man seemed so confused. "Daniel and I---we're kind of an exception to every rule out there. We have a special kind of---well---I don't know what we have exactly, but it sure as hell isn't your standard CO subordinate thing. Don't ask me why it works for us, but it does."
"It works very well, I should say."
The colonel smiled with affection. "Yeah, very well. It's taken a long time for me to see it, but now---I wouldn't have it any other way."
"You're both important to your world, aren't you?"
Jack shrugged. "Guys like me are a dime a dozen, Liam. Guys like Daniel? Not so much. We have a term in my country---the place where I live on my world---for things that are precious and irreplaceable, things that you can't put a value on. We call them national treasures."
"And Daniel is a national treasure?"
"No, Daniel's a treasure to the universe," Jack replied softly then he raised his index finger sharply. "And if you ever tell him I said that, I will SO deny it."
Liam snorted. "I won't say a word, Jack."
Murmurs rose from the prisoners ahead of him and Jack craned his neck to see the Stargate on the horizon just ahead. He dropped his gaze to his friend swaying gently in the stretcher; they were almost home.
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CONTINUED
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