A/N: I realise that in my last post, I said that this story was going to be one shot. I mean, that was the original plan, but as my chapters grew in length I decided to change it into a multi chap! Sorry, I should have made that clear!
Thank you to PatriciaS, LexisMom and dpdp for reviewing! (Hello dpdp, always good to see your name crop up in my reviews!) I love reading and responding to them! It's always interesting to hear people's thoughts about things! Thank you for favouriting and following too! It's intriguing to watch the traffic stats for my stories! Can you believe that this one has had 421 hits so far?! Amazing!
So, it's not really SJ, but as always, it's deffo there if you squint – though in this chapter you don't need to squint too hard!
Reviews are welcome! I look forward to reading them!
As always, mistakes are mine!
2. Cliff Diving
Laying in the hospital wing with his arm strapped to his chest was not how Jack envisaged spending his Friday night. For once, SG-1 had a rare night off and Jack had originally planned to spend it at home, with beer, pizza and a glorious Simpsons marathon, content with the knowledge that he wouldn't be called in for the next 18 hours.
As always, the universe had other ideas.
It had been a great mission. A really simple one, actually. It went without a hitch, the only stumble they had was fifty minutes from returning to the gate. Literally, a stumble.
Their job was to check in on a group of people that they had relocated two months ago, after they happened across the aftermath of a Goa'uld airstrike. Their Tok'ra allies had kindly offered a list of Goa'uld free planets perfect for the future prosperity of the group.
The planet they had chosen, P01-012, had two major advantages. The gate was located a decent three hours' walk from the settlement and the settlement was positioned close to a mountain range, complete with an excellent vantage point of the gate and plenty of tunnels to escape into should it be needed. The Aurorans were delighted with the choice offered them and accepted without question.
Once they had been relocated, different SG teams had the job of seeing them once a fortnight to check how the people were settling in. Naturally, SG-1's number eventually came up and they were sent to go and check in, which Jack was excited to do. It felt like the trauma the Aurorans suffered at the hands of the Goa'uld had come to a close now they had a new home. Jack could only imagine the look on the snakehead's face when he realised that SG-1 had beaten them yet again.
The journey from the gate to the Auroran's settlement passed by quickly. Teal'c stoicly leading the way, Sam and Daniel in the middle talking about the different flora they could see and comparing them to the densely populated forests they had back home and Jack just bringing up the rear, keeping an eye on his people ahead of him.
Once they had crossed the sea of grass, the terrain became rocky as they began walking up the mountain path to get to the settlement. Around fifty minutes into their three hour hike, the team began to walk in single file as the mountain pass began to narrow. With their backs pressed to the rocky wall, they navigated their way through the bending and winding pass.
Jack noted with his heart in his mouth that the mountain pass seemed to be a lot smaller than he had seen before. He would need to speak to the Auroran chief about that, perhaps they could knock away from of the rock of the mountain to widen the path a tad. The echoes of stones falling and skittering down the ledge doing nothing to dampen his own anxiety. His blood froze at the sound of a crunch and a yelp.
He looked up to see Sam reach her arm out to press Daniel into the mountain's face as he stumbled over a small boulder. Teal'c had stopped and turned on his heel, his staff weapon pressed to Daniel's chest, keeping him steady and in place.
"You okay, Danny?" asked Jack, softly, as if afraid of causing an avalanche.
"Uh, yeah. Not sure my fear of heights has been cured, but, you know, I'm working on it." stammered Daniel, his eyes closed as his hands gripped onto the mountain behind him.
"It might be worth talking to the Tok'ra. Maybe they could lend the Auroran's one of their growing crystals." hummed Sam, watching Daniel with eagle eyes as he steadied himself and began to walk again.
"Worth a shot, good thinking Carter." praised Jack.
Sam flashed a smile over her shoulder at the silver-haired colonel and continued her way along the path. Not soon enough, they were off the narrow mountain pass and were walking two by two towards the flattened peak of the mountain, where the Aurorans had settled.
Children, who were playing by the edge, looked over at SG-1 and raised their hands above their head before creating small fists and placing them on their chests – the Auroran's way of bidding a friend welcome.
SG-1 copied the gesture and the children ran towards them.
Jack laughed. "Alright, kids, good to see you too!"
The youngest, who couldn't have been older than four leapt at Teal'c, squealing with delight as he picked her up to sit on his shoulders, prompting a raised eyebrow directed at his colleagues, silently daring them to comment.
The children all but pulled SG-1 the rest of the way to the settlement, meeting the rest of the Aurorans. The children pulled at Sam, making Jack chuckle.
He followed the crowd, bringing up the rear as the children guided them towards the middle of the settlement. Upon seeing the chief, Jack took off his hat and planted it on a child's head before extending his arm.
"Ah, friend Jack, it is good to be seeing you."
"And you, Ri'on!" greeted Jack, shaking the chief's hand with a smile. "I see you've settled well here."
Chief Ri'on was an impressive man. He stood just an inch taller than Teal'c, with broad shoulders and a long, toned body to go with his black silky braid. His beard reached just below his chest, adorned with beads and silver rings. While he looked every bit as intimidating as Teal'c, much like the Jaffa, he was a teddy bear – unless of course, you threatened his people.
"And that is to be giving thanks to you, friend Jack. You are to be saving us from the Goa'uld."
"Any chance to annoy them, we're happy to help!"
At Jack's comment, Chief Ri'on threw his head back and gave a deep belly chuckle. "Friend Jack, you are to being very humourous! Come, let me show you!" Ri'on extended his arm and encouraged Jack to follow him, Daniel and Teal'c fell into step just behind them. Upon seeing Sam wasn't following them, Jack stopped to scan the crowd to find her. It didn't take long, she was the only blonde on the planet, amongst a sea of black hair.
Jack laughed as the children were sat around Sam, two of them on her lap and another draped over her shoulders, chin resting on her shoulder. "We'll be back shortly, Carter!" he called. Her eyes met his and she nodded, not breaking her stride in whatever tale she was telling the children.
"Friend Carter is to be most welcomed here." commented Chief Ri'on, as Jack fell back into step with him. "Friend Carter is to be loved by my people very much. The children especially so."
"Yeah, she has that effect on people." replied Jack, pointedly ignoring the smirk growing on Daniel's face.
"Her hair is to being the same as our sun and her eyes the same as the oceans."
Jack felt a familiar wave of jealousy rise within him. He wasn't blind, at this point – as promiscuous as Daniel was offworld – Sam probably had a longer string of lovers trailing behind her, except, unlike Daniel, she didn't return the sentiment. It would appear Chief Ri'on would be another knot in the string. Poor man.
"You have much to show us, do you not?" prompted Teal'c, sensing the reasoning behind Jack's silence.
"Yes, I have much to be showing you, friend Teal'c. My people have to be speaking with your people. We have to be beginning our side of the trade deal." Chief Ri'on led them through the mountain settlement and stopped on a ledge. He beckoned the team closer and pointed down.
The three men peered over the edge and saw fields being worked on by the Aurorans. The fields were full of blue and purple plants and in the distance, they could hear the familiar 'chink chink chink' of a mining operation.
"Wow, that definitely wasn't here the last time we came!" commented Daniel, smiling at Chief Ri'on.
"We are to be doing hard work, we are to be growing the herbs you requested. Purple for pain and blue for healing." The long haired chief folded his arms across his bare chest proudly. "We are to be moving a lot quicker than expected. We are to be working hard for our friends."
"I can see that!" smiled Daniel, clapping the chief on the shoulder before sobering his expression. "You do know that that's not all we're friends for, right? We're not the Goa'uld."
Chief Ri'on raised his hands before creating a fist to press to his chest. "I am to be knowing this, friend Daniel. We are to being good friends. We are to be helping one another as you helped us flee from the Goa'uld. We are to be knowing you are not Goa'uld."
Daniel nodded. "Good, I'm glad we're friends, Chief Ri'on." Daniel copied the Auroran chief's gesture, pressing his fist to his chest, making Ri'on laugh again.
"What are they mining over there?" asked Jack, gesturing over to the source of the noise.
"We are to be creating other tunnels. As our people grow, we are to be using the sources around us to do the same."
"Fair enough, you know we can help you with that? You know, bring in some diggers and whatever?" said Jack, Teal'c nodded next to him.
Chief Ri'on beamed. "We are to being most grateful for your help." The bearded man turned on his heel. "Come, we are to be preparing a feast this night and we are to be most grateful for you to be staying."
"Love a party, sure thing!" commented Jack, allowing Chief Ri'on to lead them back towards the main settlement.
On the walk back, Daniel moved so he was at the front, conversing with the chief to learn about the customs of their people. Daniel had discovered that the Aurorans' culture was very similar to early Polynesians but it had themes of ancient Egyptian (which was to be expected) and aborginal cultures interlaced to create what they were now.
Jack, who could care less, dropped to pick up the rear with Teal'c by his side.
"You are most quiet, O'Neill." commented Teal'c as they ambled back up the mountain. "I do not believe Chief Ri'on meant any offense when he spoke of Major Carter."
Jack scoffed. Am I really that easy to read?! "It's fine, Teal'c. I know he didn't."
Teal'c responded with a silent quirk of his eyebrow, following Jack's lead to drop the topic of conversation.
The party reached the settlement, Jack immediately scanned the sea of black hair to find Sam. Once he laid eyes on her, he began making his way over to her, disguising his gasp as a snort of laughter as he took in her appearance. Sam looked up at him, her wide blue eyes barely containing her mirth as two children stood behind her toying with her golden locks.
"Uh," Jack cleared his throat, "Sorry to rain on the fashion parade, Carter."
"It's fine, Sir. I think Poea and Bori are almost done."
"Yes, friend Carter. We are to be finished now." pipped up a small voice behind Sam. The two girls stepped back and admired their handiwork before skipping off.
Sam looked at Jack, raising a slender eyebrow, daring him to comment on her appearance.
Jack couldn't find it in himself to comment on the flowers in her hair. An assortment of blues, purples and jades adorning her hair in a crown like fashion, bringing out the aqua tones of her eyes. Jack shook his head, hiding a half smirk. There was nothing he could say at all.
"Very festive, Major."
Sam reached up to touch the flowers in her hair, a brief flash of insecurity gracing her features before lowering her hand. "The girls, they've never seen my hair colour before."
"Well, I like it, Carter. Perfect for the party the chief is throwing tonight."
Sam kept her head down as a light blush settled on her cheeks as she got off of the floor. "A party, Sir?"
"Yeah, Chief Ri'on is throwing a feast and we're invited." He reported as Sam fell into step next to him to walk towards the Chief's hut.
"Daniel's going to love that." smiled Sam as two small children waved at her.
"Don't put any ideas into his head, Major! As long as he stays away from the local moonshine, we'll all be fine."
oOoOoOoOo
Jack shouldered his pack and smiled at the child who had returned his hat. "Keep it kiddo, we'll be back soon." The child squealed and planted it firmly on his head. He bowed and ran off back towards the party.
"Well, the Aurorans know how to throw a party." commented Daniel, waving at the Aurorans that were still dancing.
The party had started like any other that SG-1 had been to offworld. The people gathered around a well-lit fire, roasting meats and a sweet dish that had the consistency of rice pudding but tasted like apples and cinnamon.
Chief Ri'on had entertained his people with stories of their warrior ancestors and a few insights into his own life. The people had roared with laughter when he told them about how he tried to woo a woman back on their old planet, just to fail at the final hurdle by tripping and knocking her into a puddle of mud.
Chief Ri'on made a point of smiling at Sam as she chuckled at his misfortune. Much to Teal'c and Daniel's amusement, Jack chose then to move from Teal'c's left side to sit next to Sam on her right.
After a hearty meal, the air full of an array of aromas and laughter, some of the younger Aurorans brought out their instruments and began to play.
Of course, Daniel was snatched up to dance by a very beautiful Auroran, with fluttering eyelashes and her long, ebony hair reaching her waist. She giggled when he accepted her hand to dance.
Teal'c was accosted by the child he had given a piggy back to earlier and her many friends, all clinging onto him as he led them in a dance.
The hair the back of Jack's neck stood up as Chief Ri'on bowed to Sam and offered him his hand. Sensing Jacks' unease, she looked at him and smiled before accepting Ri'on's hand.
Jack watched Ri'on dance with Sam, clenching and unclenching his jaw as he twirled her around.
Daniel fell into Sam's seat, having finished dancing and he bumped his shoulder into Jack's. "It would have been rude for her not to, Jack."
"Yeah, yeah." Jack waved Daniel's commentary away.
Sam eventually returned, her cheeks flushed and she sat next to Jack. He offered her his canteen and she took a long drink. Checking her watch, she handed it back. "We should think about making a move, Sir, before it gets too dark."
"Great minds, Carter." smiled Jack.
They said their goodbyes and promised to return. Though, not too soon Jack voiced in his head as he shook hands with Chief Ri'on.
As the sun began to set, they were well on their way down the mountain pass. They kept their backs to the cliffs as they made their way in single file along the path. Teal'c, with his uncanny sense of sight, led the way with Daniel following him. The team had thought it best for Daniel to be close to Teal'c, given his unnatural affinity with gravity. Sam was just ahead of Jack as he brought up the rear.
Jack watched their progress along the mountain pass like a hawk. Given how the path had crumbled earlier, his heart was thumping uncomfortably in his chest and it wouldn't be soon enough for them to reach solid ground.
He looked up to see Sam staring out at the sunset, painting them and the cliffs in an amber glow. Jack felt like his breath had been stolen.
His 2iC's hair seemed to glow like embers in the sunset. Adorned with a crown of flowers, she looked ethereal. He shook himself out of his stupor and continued with his walking until the breath was stolen from him again.
There was a loud crack, a shriek and then a snap.
"O'Neill!"
"Sam!"
When Jack opened his eyes, all of the sounds he had heard suddenly made sense as his brain caught up to the situation he had found himself in.
The crack had come from the ground underneath Sam's feet giving way, disappearing from under her to roll down the hundreds of feet of the mountain face to the ground far below them.
The shriek had come from Sam, vocalising her surprise and horror at the realisation she was going to plummet to the ground below, with nothing to stop her from falling.
The snap had come from when Jack had reacted and thrown himself forward to try and grab onto whatever he could to stop her from falling. By God's grace, he had managed to grab her hand, but it was at such an angle that, combined with the force of his own fall, he had snapped a bone.
"Jack! Sam!"
"Yeah, keep shouting Daniel, make more of the mountain fall down on us." growled Jack, white spots dancing in his vision as his senses caught up to his body.
Daniel fell silent, his face as white as a sheet as he took in the sheer peril he and his friends were facing. Sam's only lifeline was Jack's grip as she dangled, at least, five hundred feet in the air and Jack's strength was compromised. "Oh God…"
"Teal'c!" called Jack, pouring every ounce of strength he had into keeping Sam in his grip. His eyes bored into the top of Sam's head and when she looked at him, he hardened his resolve to ignore the pain shooting through his upper body.
Teal'c pulled Daniel closer to him and made him pivot so that they exchanged places.
"Sir?" called Sam, an air of panic lacing her words as she willed herself to still. "I don't want to fall!"
"I'm not going to let you. Just hang on!"
Teal'c knelt close to the edge and flattened himself along the ledge, distributing his weight as evenly as possible. "Major Carter, can you reach my hand?" asked the Jaffa, reaching down to her.
Sam looked up, blinking away the tears in her eyes that she didn't realise had formed. "Not without hurting the Colonel."
"Carter, it'll be fine." said Jack though clenched teeth.
"But, Sir-"
"Sam, listen to me. Letting you fall is not an option, okay? I'm going to count to three and we're going to work together so T can grab you. You're… you'll have to let go, but we can do it, alright?"
After hearing the strain and emotion in Jack's voice, Sam nodded. "Okay."
At the count of three, Jack all but roared as he swung Sam closer to Teal'c. Using her legs, Sam gathered momentum and reached for Teal'c's outstretched arms. He caught her, both his arms under her shoulders and pulled her up back onto the ledge. He positioned her to lean against the mountain face as she caught her breath, her head buried in her hands, while Daniel sat next to her, a steady hand placed on her knee.
Teal'c stood at the edge and extended his arms, watching with a wince as Jack pulled himself upright. Cradling his arm, Jack ran and jumped, groaning as Teal'c caught him and steadied him.
Daniel squeezed Sam's knee and set to work, putting Jack's arm into a makeshift sling. "We're not too far from the gate." Daniel commented quietly, his voice not quite strong enough to be steady. "We're almost at the end of the path, then about a half an hour walk to the gate."
"Will you be able to manage this, O'Neill?"
"Yeah, no problem." said Jack, wincing as Daniel tied the sling in place. He looked past Daniel's shoulder to see that Sam was yet to move from the position Teal'c had left her in. The silver haired colonel looked up at Teal'c and indicated his head towards the blonde.
Teal'c moved to stand in front of Sam before crouching down. "Samantha."
Sam pulled her head up from her hands, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Teal'c." she whispered.
The former first prime offered his hand and when Sam took it, he pulled her up. If Teal'c was shocked by Sam moving to link her arm through his, he didn't show it. He merely tightened his grip, looked over his shoulder to see if Jack and Daniel were following and continued leading the journey back to the gate.
They had arrived back at the SGC. Jack was escorted to the hospital wing by Daniel and Teal'c while Sam had retreated to her lab, with the promise that she would attend her post-mission physical as soon as she felt she was ready.
After being poked, prodded, x-rayed and strapped up, Jack indeed, had a broken collarbone. Teal'c and Daniel left the hospital wing with the promise that they would be back soon and Jack was left to rest in bed, accompanied by the various beeps from the different machines dotted about the wing.
After cursing the universe for scuppering his Friday night plans, he was just about to settle down for the night to enjoy the cocktail of painkillers that was currently coursing through his veins, when a certain blonde popped her head around his curtain.
"Carter."
"Sir."
He took in her appearance, she was too pale and the scrapes she had received from her tumble were vivid on her face. He frowned. "You okay? Have you had your post-op, yet?"
"No, I was just about to, I just wanted to see you first." She spoke softly and Jack winced as he could hear the bubble of emotion in the back of her throat threatening to burst.
"I'm okay, Carter."
Sam nodded, a rebellious tear escaping and leaving a trail down her cheek. "I know." She wiped it away. "I, uh… I just wanted to say thank you."
"For what?"
"For not letting go." Sam regarded him with a guilty expression. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I'm sorry."
Reaching out with his good hand, he held Sam's in his own. "Carter, between a broken shoulder bone and not having you around, I know which one I'd pick."
Sam nodded and gave him a watery smile. "Yes, Sir."
"Good, no guilty feelings, okay? All that matters is that you're safe. Might be worth contacting the Tok'ra for some crystals after all." He squeezed her hand before letting go. "Although, if you want to smuggle me in some beer and pizza, I wouldn't say no."
Sam rolled her eyes and chuckled before bidding Jack goodnight.
"Carter?" Jack called as she retreated behind the curtain. "That wasn't a no!"