Cursed

Spoilers- The Curse
Disclaimer- None of the following characters or settings belong to me, they belong all those other people who are too numerous to mention.
Note- Thanks as always to GrayMatter.
xxx

Mini 5- Clowns to the left of me

Steven ducked behind a rock. Blasts of Goa'uld staff fire singed the air around him. Steven found himself pressed against Daniel's left side.

"You never told me it'd be like this!"

"Why do you think we took you to the shooting range?" Daniel yelled back at him.

To Steven's utter disbelief, Daniel leant back around the rock and sprayed the Jaffa with P-90 bullets.

Steven yanked him back behind the rock. "Are you crazy!"

Daniel shrugged. "Sometimes! I think, maybe, yes!"

He leant back around the rock, his P-90 firing like crazy.

Steven pulled him back again. "Stop doing that!"

Their radios crackled to life. "Daniel, Rayner, do you read?"

Steven scrambled for his radio. "They're shooting at us!" He shrieked.

Daniel rolled his eyes and thumbed his own radio. "We read you, Jack."

Steven's eyes widened at Daniel's calm reply.

"You behind that big rock?"

"Yes."

Jack's sigh echoed through the radio. "Right. Of course. T, move around to your left. Carter, you take the right. And I'll come down the middle. We could use a distraction, Danny."

"We'll provide cover fire."

"What? We will?" Steven's breathing became ragged. This wasn't supposed to be happening. This was only his second trip through the Stargate. It was supposed to be a safe archaeological dig. They weren't supposed to be ambushed by Jaffa and cut off from the rest of SG-1.

Steven laughed a tad hysterically. One trip to Abydos, watching the natives fawn over their 'Dan'yel', did not prepare him for THIS!

"Steven. Steven!" Daniel grabbed Steven's shoulder and shook it. "Snap out of it! I need you to cover your side."

"Cover?"

"Just lean around, shoot in the direction of the Jaffa and duck back before they shoot you. Can you do that?"

Steven jumped as an energy blast landed dangerously close to him. Daniel was so calm, how could he be so calm! Steven started to hyperventilate.

Daniel eyed him dispassionately. "So this is how Jack felt," he muttered lowly.

Summing up his courage, Daniel leant around the rock and let loose a spray of bullets. Out of the corner of his eye Daniel could see movement in the surrounding the Jaffa. He ducked quickly back to reload.

"Daniel, we're in position. Just give us another minute."

"Roger that, Jack."

Daniel leant out once more, but when he went to duck behind the rock he shared with Steven a staff blast caught his shoulder. It sent him sprawling backwards. Daniel's pain-glazed eyes stared, then briefly met Steven's wide terrified eyes, before Daniel blissfully sank into unconsciousness.

xxxxx

Steven fiercely scowled around the empty infirmary. Dr. Fraiser was keeping him overnight for observation. She had diagnosed him with shock the moment he stepped back through the gate. Colonel O'Neill had a nasty look cut to his thigh, Daniel had been hit by a staff weapon blast and hit his head on a rock when he fell and Steven had shock. Wasn't he the triumphant hero!

"How are you feeling, Steven Rayner?"

Steven looked up quickly. For a large guy, Teal'c could walk so quietly it was as if he was weightless.

"Teal'c. I'm fine. How's Daniel?" Steven asked stiffly.

"He fares well. This is not his first injury inflicted by a staff weapon."

Teal'c settled his hands behind his back. It was a very military gesture. Steven had noticed that Daniel had picked it up occasionally as well.

"He's quite the warrior, isn't he?" Steven commented bitterly.

"Daniel Jackson has been fighting the Goa'uld for many years," Teal'c said. "In that time he had become a fearsome warror."

Steven sunk down into the infirmary bed. That was just what he wanted to hear.

"You feel shame because you could not perform in the heat of battle," Teal'c stated calmly.

Steven's eyes narrowed. "How dare you-"

"There is no shame to be felt for your actions," Teal'c interrupted him. "In my years of service as First Prime I witnessed many soldiers who were overwhelmed by battle. They had undergone many years of training, but it was not enough to prepare them."

Steven gritted his teeth.

"Next time, you will be prepared."

Steven watched Teal'c as he turned and walked away. Really the Jaffa wasn't that intimidating. Sure he was tall and muscular and as close to invincible as a human could get. But the man was wise and noble and, God, he hoped the man was right.

xxx

end