Sick and Tired
Part Two
"Chevron 7 locked," the sergeant announced and waited while the familiar whoosh of the Stargate subsided. Then he glanced over his shoulder. "All set, sir."
General Hammond leaned towards the microphone. "SG-3, this is Hammond. Please respond. Over."
The only reply was static. The General repeated his call, again with no response. "How long are they overdue to report?" he asked.
The sergeant looked at the chronometer. "Twenty-one minutes, sir," he replied precisely.
Hammond considered for a moment. "Notify me if you haven't heard from them at an hour," he ordered.
At forty-three minutes the klaxon sounded and alarm lights flashed. "Unscheduled off-world activation," came the announcement. Hammond arrived at the gate-room as the last chevron locked.
"SG-3 ID code, sir," reported the sergeant a moment later, and Hammond nodded.
"Open the iris."
Everyone waited anxiously as a lone figure staggered through the wormhole.
"Close the iris," he called hoarsely and then collapsed.
A little while later Dr. Fraser and General Hammond stood next to Lt. Kelso's bed.
"I'm sorry, sir," he apologized again. "We thought the planet was deserted. There was no sign that anyone had been near the site in years. Then they just came out of nowhere. They have distance weapons of some sort. I think they left me for dead. They took Captain Carter and the others. I didn't know what to do, so I waited until they were gone and dialed the Gate." He stopped, obviously distressed.
The General placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Rest easy, son," he said. "You did exactly the right thing. We'll take it from here." Reassured, the lieutenant closed his eyes.
Shortly thereafter General Hammond knocked on Jack's door. There was no answer, but Hammond wasn't deterred.
"Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond. Open the door!" He pounded on the door and yelled until finally the door opened. A haggard-looking O'Neill considered him briefly then stepped aside to let him enter.
"I need you back at SGC," Hammond said without preamble.
"I quit," Jack replied flatly. "I'm tired. Let someone else save the universe."
"Fine," the General surprised him by agreeing, but then added, "However, I need you to save Captain Carter and SG-3."
That got Jack's attention. He listened while Hammond explained, but then shook his head.
"You can send another--"
Hammond cut him off. "No. This is a serious situation and I want the best handling it. Whether you admit it or not, that's you. Your team departs at 1700 hours."
He left without giving Jack any further opportunity to respond. Outside, he paused for a moment and passed a hand over his face. He hoped this worked.
At 1655 hours Daniel and Teal'C waited anxiously in the gateroom with another group of Marines. When the door opened and O'Neill, in uniform, stepped through, their relief was obvious. But as they waited for the Gate to open, Daniel realized that Jack had the same set, remote look as he had the first time they'd met. The look of a man who had shut off his emotions to simply get a job done and not think about anything else. Jack might be with them physically, but mentally he had still not recovered. Daniel knew, as he followed him through the Gate, that the rescue would go through, but he couldn't help wondering if Jack meant to return from this mission.
On PX-2651 it was not difficult to find and follow the trail. Jack set a guard to watch the Gate area from under cover, deployed men to either side and headed off with Daniel and Teal'C close behind him. Daniel wanted to talk to Jack, try to get through to him, but the seriousness of the mission and the look on Jack's face stopped him. Later, he promised himself.
Nearly an hour later Jack suddenly raised a hand and then gave a voiceless double-click signal on his radio. Three Marines gathered in soundlessly from either side of them and everyone dropped to their elbows and knees to peer over the ridge. Below was a sturdily constructed village surrounded by a wall. Jack counted about 50 buildings and a reasonable number of inhabitants going about their business. The Marine next to him nudged his arm and pointed. Focusing his monocular on it, Jack saw a building that looked like a jail, being the only one with bars on the windows and standing apart from its neighbors.
O'Neill set his plans carefully. He emphasized that they would succeed by stealth and surprise, not force. During the hours until sunset they reconnoitered the area thoroughly. He set Daniel to watch the building and they were rewarded with a brief glimpse of Carter at one of the windows. Reassured of their goal, they reviewed the plan for getting in, out and to the Gate, along with several variations - just in case.
"I want no casualties - on either side," the Colonel ordered.
As expected, the gates swung closed shortly after sunset. In the gathering dusk O'Neill, Teal'C and Sgt. Warshaw moved to the point where the woods came nearest the wall. Four other Marines deployed to the opposite side of the village, to create a diversion if necessary. Daniel and the sixth Marine remained at their vantage point, watching both outside and inside the wall with night-glasses as a warning system for the others.
In the end, it was almost too easy. Upon word from Daniel that things were quiet, they swung a muffled hook up and climbed over the wall. Keeping to the shadows, they crept to the jail, easily overpowered the lone guard and set the captives free. Major McGee was injured, but mobile, and the others were unharmed. Soon they were back over the wall and the entire party headed for the Gate.
"Let's hold all the talk until we're home," said O'Neill. Daniel sighed in relief, both at the words and his tone. Jack flashed him a look and gave him a brief nod. It was probably all the apology or explanation he'd get, but Daniel was satisfied.
The next morning, after debriefing, Jack knocked on the General's door. Hammond looked up from his desk and beckoned to him.
"Sir, about that resignation…" he began.
"What resignation?" Hammond inquired innocently.
"Thank you, sir," Jack smiled, turned and went back to his team.