Author's Chapter Notes: Can Jack pull off his mission in time to save Teal'c?
A big thank you to PhDelicious for Betaing. She's made this story flow so much better. Thanks to all for your reviews and to all who have continued to follow this.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no kidding! No money. No infringement intended. Just trying to keep them busy. You know Jack can't be still!
Chapter 11 - Deadly Mission
Daniel never missed any of his teammate's reactions, no matter how subtle. The fact that Teal'c was out of Tretonin hadn't been lost on Daniel. They had been here a little over eighteen months and he knew Teal'c had brought all the Tretonin the SGC pharmacy had prepared when they'd left 2005.
Daniel also knew that Teal'c had long ago reduced the dosage. He had watched him getting weaker by the day. Now, he was leaning against the table, discreetly trying to control the pain. He had pressured Jack, Daniel, Katep and the other tribe leaders into discussing the revolt. Teal'c knew time was running out for him.
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The next evening, returning from hunting, Daniel stopped Jack before he entered his tent. Jack and Sam had been so wrapped up in each other and Grace, Daniel wondered if they were aware of the fatigue and pain that Teal'c had been experiencing for the last week.
"Jack, hold up a minute, please." He spoke softly giving Teal'c enough time to go in to speak to Sam and pick up Grace. Teal'c adored the baby. She was his saving "Grace." She had kept his mind occupied. He hadn't been able to spend much time with Ry'ac as a baby, and he enjoyed every opportunity to play with Grace.
"There's my baby girl." he said, as he held her against his big chest and made cooing noises to her. It was still odd to see Teal'c in this role. He had surprised them all. Teal'c looked at Sam. She was sitting, mending one of their robes. She did all the "woman's work" for all of them. She actually liked taking care of her boys and Grace, much more than she would have ever dream possible or admitted.
"Samantha, are you well, this day?"
"Yes, I'm good, Teal'c. You?" Contrary to Daniel's belief, Sam was worried about Teal'c. She suspected he was running out of Tretonin, but she didn't know he had been dividing the dosage. She knew about how much he had brought.
He didn't answer her. It was difficult for Teal'c not to speak truthfully, especially to Samantha.
"Teal'c, are you well?" she asked again. This time he looked at her over Grace's blond curls as he lifted the baby to kiss her head.
"I am fine, Samantha." The look she gave him let him know she didn't believe him.
"Teal'c, you would tell us if something was wrong, wouldn't you?" Concern was vivid in her bright blue eyes.
He looked at her, as if looking through her. "Indeed." He paused too long.
"Teal'c"
He exhaled and handed Grace back to her. "I am hungry, Samantha, is there sustenance remaining from breakfast"
"Won't work, you're not changing the subject!" Sam stared at him.
Outside, Daniel told Jack of his suspicions. "I don't think he has any Tretonin left," Daniel spoke quietly. He didn't want Teal'c to overhear them. Jack jerked his head and stared at Daniel. "Really?"
"I don't think so, Jack. Think about it. We've been here over eighteen months. How much could he have brought? And I know he's cutting the dosage"
"I thought that thing was pre-measured?" Jack finally asked.
"It can be adjusted manually. I've watched him adjust it," Daniel answered. Jack just stared, looking worried as Daniel waited for him to say something.
"Jack, what are we gonna do?"
"I don't know. I have to talk to Sam. She may know how much he brought, and what cutting down the dosage has done to him. God, Daniel. I don't know what we'll do, but I'm not letting him die"
Daniel could see that Jack was getting upset, and tried to quiet him. "Not so loud, you don't want him to hear us." Jack shook his head, looking down at the ground in deep thought. He turned and entered the tent.
"Teal'c, how's it going, buddy? Katep and the guys getting ready to start back on surveillance? We need to get back in the swing soon."
"Indeed, O'Neill, that was the subject of our conversation of yesterday." This caught Sam's attention. 'Guess our happy little life is coming to an end.' She didn't know why Jack's statement had this affect on her or why it was the first thing that came to her mind. Except the thought of dieing here was always on her mind.
She was still afraid of what was to come, even though lately she had been able to keep it to the back of her mind. Jack's voice and look made her jumpy. She knew him well enough to know something was wrong. Jack wasn't ready to get the rebellion back in force either. They had talked about it. He wanted things to die down some and try and hit Ra unexpectedly. It simply hadn't been enough time. That meant something else was amiss. She wondered what it was. She could read the worry in his eyes. She also knew now was not the time to ask him. She decided to wait until the guys had gone.
"Yeah, I think we should start to map out the area. Identify his weakest spots and see about hitting from those angles. We need to check and see if the intelligence we've already collected is still accurate," Jack spoke in his command voice. Picking up his tone, Sam realized she hadn't missed that at all. What was with her? Had she completely lost her military identity or was she just afraid of how all this would end?
"Indeed, O'Neill. We should discuss this with the tribe leaders. I will arrange for them to meet us tomorrow. Now, I will take my leave. I am rather fatigued. Goodnight Samantha, and my little Grace," Teal'c said as he kissed Grace and bowed his head slightly to Sam and left the tent.
"I'm really worried about him, Jack. I think he's out of Tretonin," Sam said, frowning. She looked up at Jack, then leaned in to kiss him. "I didn't tell you hello." He pulled her in tighter and returned her kiss, then kissed Grace's little chubby cheeks.
"How's daddy's little girl? Daddy missed you!" The contrast in Jack when he talked to Grace always amazed Sam. This hardened soldier--warrior and ex-black-ops was capable of such love and tenderness, not only with Grace but also her.
"I love you, Jack O'Neill." Sam had decided a few months ago to make sure she told him and Grace every day.
"I love you back, Mrs. O'Neill," he said in a sexy, soft voice. Sam melted as she always did.
"Later tonight? Mr. O'Neill?" She winked at him.
"Yeahsureyabetca! Can't wait!" he said kissing her softly. He waggled his eye brows and asked, "What's for dinner?" He never forgot his stomach! 'Typical Jack,' she thought, smiling at him. He had two things on his mind always. It just depended at the time which was first.
The next day Jack, Daniel and Teal'c met with Si'lon, Jo'sep, Katep, and several others of the tribe. They agreed to make another raid to ensure their previous intel was still the same, and to map the first strike zones. They would leave right after the noon meal tomorrow, they wanted to reach the Palace after dark. It would take several hours to get there on foot, since it was twenty miles away. Jack had another plan in mind. He hadn't discussed it with anyone, but he knew he had no choice.
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The group made their way covertly into the palace to check out the most significant locations. They divided into groups of four to scout the areas of the palace they had already identified. Nothing seemed changed. Jack noted the possible first strike areas that would gain the best advantage; and good places to place C-4 in case they needed to take out the patrols. He would have to discuss this with Teal'c when they returned. He had to keep in mind that he only wanted Ra to leave, not dead. This was difficult for Jack, since what he really wanted was to zat him to hell. After three hours they all met at the side entrance of the Palace as planned. All were accounted for.
They were fairly sure Ra had been aware of their previous ventures. The tribe members were to go back to their tents in two different directions, and Jack, Daniel and Teal'c in yet another. It would also ensure that none of the local's would know of Jack's plan.
Jack stopped about a mile from the Palace outskirts, grabbing Teal'c by his arm, "Ok, buddy, we have another stop to make." Both Daniel and Teal'c looked at Jack.
"Jack? What're you talking about?" Daniel asked.
"Just follow me, keep your heads down and be quiet," Jack instructed them as they moved covertly through the sand dunes and desert trees. They stopped behind a rather tall dune and watched the Jaffa patrol as it came near.
"We have to separate one of those guards," Jack told them.
"Why?" Daniel wanted to know.
Jack had hoped they would come across one of the guards while still in the Palace. He could've just zatted him and grabbed what he wanted. It would have made the deed so much easier. He wasn't sure how Teal'c would react to doing it this way, his Jaffa honor and all that. But if it were self-defense, neither he nor Teal'c would have to deal with the ethics. They were all three watching the patrol. It looked as if there were ten or twelve guards, but they were too far away to tell for sure. "Daniel, you know what we talked about yesterday." It wasn't a question. He glared at Daniel wanting him to understand without having to be told.
"Yeah, I know, but what has that to do with the Jaffa?" Daniel asked.
"O'Neill, if you are planning what I think you are, I will have no part in it. I will not allow the death of another to stave off my own." Teal'c spoke quietly, but with much force.
"It's not up to you, Teal'c. This is on me. I won't sit back and watch you die." Jack answered as quietly as he could. He continued to watch the guards, waiting to single one out.
"No, O'Neill, it is not right. What of the timeline?" he asked Jack.
"What of it?" Jack wasn't interested in discussing the timeline. He'd heard too much about the damn timeline from Sam, he'd rather it never be mentioned again. He had convinced himself that they were part of the original time anyway, so he figured he could do this without it making any difference.
In truth, he was going to do this to give Teal'c time, whether anyone liked it or not. Damn the timeline. He felt he owed Teal'c this at least. He had brought him here. Teal'c seemed to read Jack's thoughts.
"O'Neill, I do not blame you or DanielJackson for my being here, or Samantha. I could have stayed or traveled back to Dakara and not made this trip. There is no blame. Do not feel you must do this out of guilt," he half whispered to Jack.
Jack turned to look at him. "Don't matter what you say. I'm doing this. I'm not letting you die in this God forsaken place, not for lack of tretonin anyway. Consider it a spoil of war." With that he turned and belly crawled toward the Jaffa. Daniel and Teal'c followed Jack.
"For what's it worth, Teal'c, I'm with Jack on this one," Daniel whispered to Teal'c.
TBC