Authors Notes
-You have no idea how sorry I am it has taken me so long to update! I had a little case of writers block for a while – this is the most difficult chapter I have ever had to write for any fic I have ever done! Sounds a little dramatic but it just didn't seem right; even now I don't think it flows properly:-s
- I have to thank 7 League Boots for a wonderful PM that made me smile after the not so nice review I got for chapter 10. Thanx!
- I also want to thank Dragonland for reading and reviewing 3 times! Sorry it wasn't finished but from now on I shall be a quick updater! (atleast until the end of my summer hols, after that I will work as fast as possible but I go into my last year so lots of school work to do too!)
-You might notice some of this is similar to parts of the episode Abyss – it is one of my fav eppies and I have also used a little bit of it for the sequel – obviously totally AU tho, I like taking bits of episodes, mucking about with them abit and then sticking 'em in my fics!
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Chapter 12: Secrets among friends
'You son of a bitch,' Daniel turned on Jack, his harsh words catching the colonel by surprise 'Why didn't you tell us? Sam's life is in danger and you seem more concerned with hiding things from us than wanting to help her, has it not occurred to you why Nirrti took Sam and not one of us?' he resisted the urge to hit Jack, settling on a threatening but firm glare, just as he could predict, Jack did not back down at this comment or mumble pathetic sorrys, he retaliated with just as much anger as was on Daniel's part
'Don't you dare say I don't want to help Sam, I love her and the baby more than this or any other world!I would die for them-' Jacob stopped Jack mid-rant
'Nirrti doesn't want Sam…she wants the baby,' grave faces stared at each other as the room was plunged into a scared silence, everyone could see Jack was suffering most, Daniel knew it would destroy him to loose Sam or another child, especially to his sworn enemies, after Charlie had died he had gone on the Abydos mission because he believed it would be suicide, he could not go to that place again, for one thing Daniel did not fancy talking him off a cliff or anything high which lead to a large drop…
'We have to save her,' Jack looked at each face, they seemed determined yet none of them had moved 'NOW!'
'Jack, what do you propose we do? Rush up top and look around to see if Nirrti just happens to be sitting in plain view with Sam? We have established that she isn't anywhere in the Tok'ra base, Tok'ra sensors have obviously not picked up any movement on the planet, neither have the look out ships we have up, otherwise we would have been alerted. She could be anywhere below the surface of the planet.' Jacob crushed Jack's plan for improvisation. For a moment it looked like Jack was going to hit Jacob but revised the idea when considering he could be his father-in-law if they could help Sam escape and if things went somewhere from there.
'Jack, we know you want to be the hero in this situation-' Daniel ignored Jack's scowl 'but it isn't a case of rushing in, being an idiot and getting yourself or Sam killed. You are going to have to get used to the fact that this is going to take time,'
'Daniel, the way you go about it, it could take the rest of our lives!' Jack retaliated; Teal'c intervened to stop "battle of the egos"
'I agree with Daniel Jackson, we can not rush in but I also agree that we must not dawdle either. Nirrti has become vigilant since her expulsion from the ranks of the System Lords, she is not going to leave a trail for us to follow… if she did I would hastily consider it to be a trap. Major Carter is in danger and it seems all you can do is throw insults at each other,' He cast a look to Jacob which the Tok'ra returned 'I think it would be prudent for you to settle your differences before aiding us in finding Major Carter…' Teal'c paused, allowing Jacob to finish the sentence
'Teal'c and I will go, configure the sensors, check the readings more closely and correspond with the air patrol. Meanwhile you two can discuss exactly what your problems are,' without another word Jacob went to leave, followed closely by Teal'c, Daniel and Jack opened their mouths to object but one look from Teal'c instantly silenced them. Both watched as Jacob pulled out a crystal, plunged it into the doorway and more crystals expanded from this to seal them inside the chamber
'We shall return soon,' Teal'c voice came muffled through the crystalline door
'Okay then, we'll be…well we'll be here since there really aren't many other places we can go,' Jack commented, he heard a titter from outside the chamber and a sigh from inside as Daniel rolled his eyes, Jack waited until the footsteps had faded before spinning around to address no one in particular
'This is exactly why I don't trust Tok'ra,' he pitched his voice higher 'Oh We're the Tok'ra, we don't have any use for doors, we have nothing to hide" How many other people do you reckon they have locked up down here? Skeletons in their crystal closets…'
'Jack what is your problem?' Daniel knew if he built up to any kind of serious conversation it would be a matter of sarcasm and jokes for the stand up comedian who just kept on avoiding the truth
'Well, Daniel, I'm not sure coz I'm no shrink but I think it could be something to do with the fact that the mother of my child is in the hands of some renegade Goa'ould bitch and while I should be trying to help her I am trapped in a big crystal chamber with the biggest pain in the ass on my team. At least Teal'c doesn't talk like he is trying to psyche 101 me.' Jack started to pace, venting his anger but still aware of the fact Daniel's eyes never strayed from the path he wore into the floor
'Yes Jack, I know that much…well most of it, but I don't know how you actually feel about the situation other than being extremely pissed,'
'Oh, God help me if you start talking like Frasier, she is all about the "what exactly do you feel towards Sam" thing, no one seems to be happy with a simple "I love her" anymore'
'I am not talking like Janet,' Daniel snapped indignantly, straying from the topic and allowing Jack to succeed it diverting the focus – something he was too good at. Realizing this and pinning it as a distraction Daniel shook himself mentally and moved on 'Okay, lets just take this slowly – step by step,'
'Step by Step,' Jack repeated, dubious about whatever Daniel was going to throw at him now, the man had a good track record, he had breached Jack's tough exterior before to reach a cookie dough center, of course it was a major disadvantage that Daniel knew his weak points and along with getting him cooking could also hit him where it hurt and allow reflex action to tell him what he wanted to know
'What do you feel about Nirrti?' Obvious question…this felt a lot like a psyche evaluation, what the hell was the right answer? There probably wasn't even a right answer.
'Oh c'mon Daniel! You know what I think about Nirrti…' it was Jack's turn to roll his eyes but Daniel still held the sigh
'Jack if you can't just get over yourself and sort out your problem you won't be able to save Sam.'
'I don't have a problem,' Jack insisted turning away from the fuming archeologist, neither were quite sure where the conversation was going until it hit them
'Jack you are killing her! You are killing the woman you love! You can not think rationally, you are going to step in too soon and it will be her blood that covers your hands. You lost Charlie and the way you are going you are going to loose this baby too, when that time comes, when you have been too stupid to ask for help and you find yourself back up on that ledge I am not going to talk you down. I am not just talking about loosing your life Jack, no. I am talking long before that, the path you are forcing yourself down, the guilt that keeps nagging at you, the sarcasm you hide behind… it will cost you your soul. If you can't break out of this, what we have all seen happening you will kill everyone you ever cared about! You are a better man than that Jack,'
'That's where you're wrong!' Jack span around, tears that could no longer be contained spilled from the eyes that aimed daggers into Daniel, those words, they hurt more than any weapon he had ever been hit with, his heart bled, his soul burned, no he wasn't a better man than that, he was the idiot that had offered his little boy his murder weapon, he was the self centered son of a bitch who nearly destroyed Abydos and Earth when he could have just let himself freefall from a cliff and now he was making the same mistakes, costing more lives…even saving the world could not offer him redemption for what he had done.
'No I'm not…I may be a lot of things but I am not wrong about this Jack, you can save her but you have to let go of the crap that has been clouding your intentions. You have to make tough calls, you have to lower yourself to the worst of men when you choose who lives and who dies but at the end of the day you are not a callous man. You don't seem to realize you are already on a path of redemption, Sam, this second chance, they can't change what has happened or what you have done but they can give you what you have always deserved,' Daniel's voice had become progressively hushed but Jack did not miss a syllable, now he remembered why – why he trusted Daniel Jackson more than words, why there was always a way out, why it was Sam that could truly save his soul and why he couldn't spend a second longer in this damn cell…
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I hope that was at least satisfactory, I had a little trouble with the end bit so sorry if it's a little cheesy. I could probably sit here for a while saying what was wrong with the chapter but I'll just focus on the good stuff – Teal'c actually played a decent part in this chapter! Lol.
Next Chapter: Sam still has problems that get heightened when Nirrti foils her escape plan with a few nasty threats.