Chapter 7

Twenty-eight levels below Cheyenne Mountain, Earth's Stargate activated. The Chevrons engaged and Sgt Harriman's voice called out the phrase. "Off world activation! Incoming Code...SG1.

Major General Hammond had already started his journey down the catwalk into the gate room when he realized that only one member of the team had come through the wormhole. He waived off the Security Forces that had automatically posted, then continued up the ramp to greet Teal'c.

The alien warrior was taking this moment to adjust to his arrival and to prepare to deliver his report. He knew General Hammond was already worried about his overdue team. This would not make him any happier.

"Teal'c, where is the rest of SG1?"

The big man gravely bowed his head in respect. "They are still on p2x42753. I have come to bring medical assistance back for Colonel O'Neill. He is gravely injured and would not have survived the journey without medical support procedures. Danieljackson remained with him. Also, Major Carter's location is unknown at this time."

Hammond digested the succinct report, then turned and gave the instructions to muster a Medical Team." Dr Fraiser had just entered the gate room. She paused. "What type of injury, Teal'c?"

"A Staff Weapon blast to the upper torso."

With this information, she turned on her heel and ran back down the hallway calling out instructions to her unit.

The General eyed the big man noticing the blood on his uniform. "Son, are you injured?"

Teal'c acknowledged it but only said. "It is of no consequence, General. O'Neill's injury is much more pressing and I must escort the medical personnel to him."

"What the hell happened, Teal'c?"

"We had gated onto a world that was preparing for an attack by the Goa'uld. We were cut off due to wormhole instability and became involved in the native population's defense activities. Colonel O'Neill was injured during the battle and Major Carter had not been seen since its' beginning."

"The battle is over, you say?" Hammond had a thoughtful look in his eye.

"Yes, General. The Goa'uld were badly beaten and driven back through the Stargate." Teal'c replied. "When I left, the 'mop-up' operations were still ongoing but the gate was secure."

"Does the civilian population need assistance?" The wheels were turning for General Hammond.

"They did sustain many casualties. I believe it would be welcome."

"Very good, then." Hammond thought a moment. "Teal'c what level of civilization are these people? Are they more advanced than us?"

"No, General. Danieljackson called them a 'stone age' civilization." He tried to remember the archeologist's words. "They are transplanted from your own Southwestern United States. I believe he referred to them as the 'Anasazi'.

Hammond was shocked. "Indians! American Indians!"

Teal'c was surprised at his reaction. "They are great warriors with courage and intelligence. They fought free of the False Gods many years ago." Then he added. "And they have maintained their freedom with no outside intervention for centuries."

"Of, course, Teal'c. No offense meant." General Hammond made a decision. "Wait for me here, I'll be back in a few moments." The older man turned and ran/walked up to his office area.

In a short time the Medical Team had gathered all their equipment and were standing ready to deploy. General Hammond reappeared dressed in a Desert Camouflaged Uniform. He was giving orders to Major Davis as he went down the steps two at a time. "As I said, Davis. You'll be in charge until Lieutenant Colonel Meyers of SG2 returns from off world sometime tomorrow. If you have any problems, ask Sgt Harriman's opinion. He's a good man and knows procedure."

Davis was running to keep up with the portly general. "General Hammond, I don't think this is such a good idea..."

Hammond came to a stop on the Gate room floor. "I've already spoken to the President. He's aware of the situation. As I said any questions ask Walter or wait for Meyers." He looked up at the startled senior NCO in the control chair. "You hear me Walter?"

The bespectacled Senior Master Sergeant grasped the microphone. "Yes, Sir."

"Very well," He glanced around at the personnel gathered on the floor around him. "Everyone ready?" At the team's nodded assent, he gave the order. "All right Sergeant. Activate the 'Gate."

Daniel followed the two braves that were carrying the stretcher with O'Neill back to the Indian Village. He was definitely sore and getting stiff from his long ride on Shefox bringing the buffalo in. He and the Indians had arrived in the proverbial nick of time with the herd to deliver the final blow to the Goa'ulds invasion of this peaceful world. But he knew it had been the brave sacrifice of many of their Indian friends that had bought them the time they needed to get the buffalo to the canyon. When he had passed Jack on horseback he had been elated to see that his friend had still been uninjured, but to his dismay when he managed to get his horse turned around O'Neill had been seriously wounded by one of the last shots of the war. By some stroke of luck it had not been full strength and O'Neill had survived but with severe injuries. Then Daniel found out that Samantha Carter was missing in action. Teal'c had gone back through the Stargate to bring medical help for O'Neill. That left him to insure that Jack was properly cared for and to search for their missing teammate.

Upon entering the village, O'Neill was carried directly to Painted Face's Medicine lodge. The Shaman was already there, preparing treatment for Jack's wound. Jackson was torn between trusting his friend, the medicine man, and allowing him to treat the horrific wound or not allowing Painted Face to perform his healing medicine and possibly alienating the man and his tribe. When they entered the village, Daniel had made his decision. He trusted Painted Face and if it had been himself lying there, he would have wanted the Medicine man to treat his wounds. He knew that the Indian would do his damnedest to help Jack. Someone had already lit the fire outside of the small hut and was heating water in one of his precious fired clay pots off to the side of the blaze. The two strong men that had carried Jack's litter bent down and managed to get it into the low door of the lodge without as much as jostling their passenger. Painted Face was on the other side of the room busy mixing something in a stone grinding bowl. He told the two men to place Grey Wolf on the pallet. Jackson moved in to assist them. O'Neill appeared to be either asleep or unconscious as they removed the carry poles from the stretcher and the blanket that he was riding on was left to become part of the bedding.

Painted Face approached with the bowl in hand and some large leaves that looked like they came from a corn plant, long and wide. The greenish concoction was spread on the leaves and they were placed carefully over the burned, blackened flesh. "This will moisten the damaged area and it will come off as the injured area heals." The shaman told Daniel. "This wound will be very painful for at least two moons and the scar will be bad. This poultice will draw out the poison and keep it from becoming rotten." He looked up at his friend's face. "If your Shaman can come through the God's Mouth, maybe with your good medicine he will be able to do more."

Jackson nodded. "If we can get him through the God's Mouth safely, our Medicine woman can do much with her magic."

"I will ask the Great Spirit to help you in your journey." Painted Face replied. "This wound was made with the bad magic of the false ones. My medicine may not be strong enough."

"But we know that your thoughts and prayers are good. I am sure it will help until we can get him home." Daniel replied. "And your help now is very important."

Painted Face nodded. "I have asked Two Spears to send some men to look for Mountain Lion Woman. They think they know where she and the young warriors were at during the fighting." He looked down at Jack as he lay sleeping. "I know that your Chief will rest better if we can find her and bring her to him."

"That is so my friend." Daniel agreed. He knew Jack would worry about Sam until they found her and she was safe with them again.

Daniel had settled down to keep Jack as comfortably as possible. He was trying to find an 'easy' way to sit down when Jack started to come awake again. He immediately went to his friend's side and knelt by him. He put his hand on Jack's forehead, feeling to see if there was any fever. The brown eyes opened, blinked a few times and recognition began to dawn in them. "Danny?"

"Hey there, you're awake at last." Jackson shifted his position to sit next to his friend.

Jack furrowed his brow in concentration. "Where 'm I?"

"The medicine lodge of Painted Face." Daniel told him quietly. "You were hurt right at the end of the fight."

"Yea... 'member." Jack shook his head. "Stupid move."

Daniel tried to lighten his mood. "Bad luck, Jack. He should have been buffalo dust by then."

Jack wasn't having any of it. "Shouldn 'ave turned m' back..."

Daniel smiled and shook his head at his friend. "Okay, I give in...it was your fault, just don't tire yourself out. Okay."

Jack nodded and looked around the lodge. "Where's everybody?"

This was what Jackson had been dreading, giving Jack the news about Sam. "Teal'c went back through the Stargate to bring a med team to get you back safely."He put his hand on O'Neill's arm. "Sam isn't here yet. Painted Face has the warriors out looking for her."

"e's missin?" Jack's voice rose weakly. "Dany, could be hurt...need to..."

"Jack, please stay calm." Jackson put some pressure on O'Neill's arm, holding him down. "The warriors are all out looking for her. They'll find her. There's nothing you can do right now...just don't hurt yourself any worse, okay."

O'Neill ceased his struggle to rise. "Danny..."

"Jack, we'll find her." He squeezed his friend's hand. "You know nothing gets past these guys. It'll be fine. I promise."

Jack looked up at him. "I know, just..."

Daniel released his grip on Jack's hand. "I know...just get some rest. I'll go see what I can find out." Jack nodded and closed his eyes. He knew that Daniel wouldn't let him or Sam down.

Several hours later Daniel Jackson stood up from the campfire where he was adding the local equivalent of chamomile leaves to the hot water in a metal US issue pot. After a few seconds, he carried it into Painted Face's medicine lodge.

On one side of the room, lying on a pallet, was Samantha Carter. He bent over her to check that she was resting peacefully. The warriors had brought her in an hour ago. She was asleep now, her injuries while serious were not life threatening. Daniel could tell that she had a broken arm, a nasty gash to the back of the head and a possible concussion. Sam also sported a number of cuts and abrasions to her face and any other exposed areas. . The Indian search team that had been sent out by Two Spears had located her and the remainder of her group of teenaged warriors quickly. The youngsters had been carrying her back to the village when the older men had found them. The report from the teenagers was that she had been leading a very successful style of 'hit and run' tactics against a group of Jaffa when the buffalo herd came through the valley and swept the enemy away. An unlucky blast from a staff weapon of a panicked jackal-head had taken out a granite cliff face behind the group when they were climbing to avoid the stampede. She had been close to the point of explosion and had been hit by the flying rock shrapnel and fallen some fifteen or twenty feet. Painted Face had cleaned and treated her cuts and Daniel had splinted her arm, the medicine man, had watched and learned this new technique. They were both confidant that she would soon recover. Then the Shaman had given her something so that she would sleep. That was after Daniel had assured her that Jack would be all right and yes, Janet was coming. He was confident that she would soon regain her full health and mobility once she was safely moved back to the SGC.

Jack O'Neill was a different matter entirely. The older man lay on his side, leaving his good lung up to help his breathing. Jack had been in and out of consciousness for the past few hours that they had been here. Daniel had stayed close to be certain he was here when Jack regained consciousness. He knew from experience that a staff weapon wound would be hideously painful and his friend would need all the support he could get. As he watched, O'Neill moved, groaning.

"Jack" Daniel sat down cross-legged next to his friend. He laid a comforting hand on O'Neill's face. "Jack can you hear me?" The brown eyes opened and looked up at him in confusion.

"Danny," He managed to gasp in a low voice.

"Yeah, Jack. It's me." The younger man carded his fingers through the graying hair, giving him the physical contact that he always craved when he was hurt.

"Carter?" The question had been asked earlier when Danny had no answers. Now he had a good one for his friend.

"They found her, Jack." He shifted his position to clear Jack's line of sight to the other side of the lodge. "She's hurt, but I don't think it's too bad." O'Neill managed a nod. "Looks like a concussion and a few other things, but she's basically intact."

"Teal'c?"

"Gone back to get help, remember? I expect to hear from him soon." Daniel continued the stroking. "Relax, Jack. It's over. We won."

"Know that." Jack wheezed, trying to grin at his friend. "Damdesthing I ever saw." He tried to smile at his young friend. "Done good, Danny."

Daniel smiled down at him. "It sure was. I didn't know they had horses, Jack." He continued to speak in a light vein. "We got there and when I saw the Buffalo and the Horses, I knew I was all wrong...about them being Anasazi, I mean." O'Neill's eyes were beginning to shut again, his weakness dragging him down into unconsciousness. "Jack. Jack can you stay awake?" Jack opened his eyes to the fear in Daniel's voice. "Jack, stay with me, please."

O'Neill knew that Danny was afraid for him. But he was so tired...so very tired. "Won't leave you, Danny, jus need sleep."

Jackson pulled his Swiss Army knife out and used the spoon attachment to trickle a little of the tea between his friends dry lips to moisten his mouth, but not enough to drink. Then he dipped a cloth that he had torn from his extra t-shirt into the fragrant tea and gently wiped O'Neill's face. The older man was beginning to feel feverish as his body was attempting to defend itself against infection. The scent of the tea itself was relaxing and it was about all Daniel could think to do to help make him more comfortable. Jack nodded, no energy left to speak.

When the God's Mouth spoke again, Two Spears and his braves who had remained behind to guard the gate came to battle ready positions. Then they saw it was Great Bear with more of his tribe. The Chief immediately approached the group as they stepped down from the pedestal.

General Hammond looked to Teal'c when he saw the Indians approach. The SG1 member stepped forward to meet him. The Jaffa wished now that he had learned more of the other's formal language but the battle pidgin that they had developed would have to do. "Ho, Two Spears."

The Chief stepped up to Teal'c and addressed him in return with the mixture of English, Indian and sign language. "Ho, Great Bear. Your clansmen await you at the Medicine Lodge of Painted Face. Grey Wolf is very weak and Coyote fears for his life. But we have found Mountain Lion Woman, though she too is hurt and sleeps long."

Teal'c nodded his understanding. He indicated the group behind him. "These are our tribesmen. I bring our War chief and our Medicine Woman. He wished to council with Chief Grey Badger and she will heal our clan's people."

"This is good. We should hurry so that Grey Wolf is healed soon." He motioned one of the younger braves to run ahead to the village. "Grey Badger rests in his lodge. He will be pleased to meet Grey Wolf's Chief when he is rested." Two Spears spoke to his men and then turned and led the group towards the village.

On the trip Teal'c briefed General Hammond and the Doctor. "Once we get to the village, Danieljackson can interpret for you. I do not have a good command of their formal language. But I believe he said that they have located Majorcarter. She is injured and sleeps but I am unsure how he means that."

"Well. At least they found her." Dr Fraiser was walking to one side of the General carrying her ER bag. "What did he say about the Colonel's condition?"

"He said that he was very weak and Danieljackson is very worried." He looked down at the Doctor. "I can tell you that the wound is severe. The fact that he is still alive only means that O'Neill is fighting very hard. A lesser man would already have died."

When they finally arrived at the village, Painted Face was waiting for them. He automatically picked the healer out of the crowd and called to his clan member, Great Bear. Teal'c indicated the man to Dr Fraiser. "He is the Shaman or medicine man of the tribe. He wants to lead you to O'Neill."

General Hammond nodded to her. "Go on Doctor, we'll join you shortly." Fraiser called a member of her medical team and they broke away from the group to follow him into the village.

Teal'c nodded. "Two Spears says the old Chief Grey Badger is in his lodge. He is an elder man and was very tired after the battle.

General Hammond nodded. "I understand completely. When does he think his chief can receive me?"

The warrior looked to the Chief. Two Spears turned and spoke to an old woman who was about to enter the lodge. She replied quietly and went in. Two Spears said something to Teal'c and motioned the two men to follow him.

"Crow Woman said she would call us when Grey Badger is ready." Teal'c told the General as they followed the war chief into the village proper. "Two Spears has invited us to his fire circle to eat after our long journey. Then if you like we will go and see O'Neill. You will need Danieljackson with you to speak with the chief. His words will be more precise than mine."

Hammond nodded. "This is quite impressive, Teal'c. I see what Dr. Jackson finds so compelling here."

The Warrior nodded. "Their culture is one I am not at all familiar with; one based on honor and freedom. I would like to teach my people such concepts, then perhaps we also can be free of the Goa'uld."

Dr Fraiser and her medic followed the tribal shaman to a lodge near the center of the village. She was looking around at the people as they made their way through the narrow streets. The overall impression she received from the tribe's people was one of health and vigor. This was obviously a very viable culture. She hoped that whatever had happened during the battle that she had been told SG1 had participated in had not done anything to upset the natural balance of things here. Finally, they reached the adobe house that was the medicine lodge. She ducked through the doorway past a blanket. Jack O'Neill was lying on a pallet opposite the doorway. Daniel was sitting on the ground next to him. Against another wall Samantha Carter was also lying stretched out and apparently asleep.

Daniel immediately scrambled to his feet, or tried too. He appeared to be moving very slowly and with great stiffness in his limbs. He made it to her side and grasped the medical bag from her hands. "Thank God your here, Janet." Daniel pointed her over to Jack's side. She turned and waived the med tech that had followed her in over to Carter.

"Teal'c said that the Colonel was hurt pretty badly by a staff weapon blast. What else can you tell me about his condition?" She immediately settled down to the business at hand, kneeling by O'Neill's side.

"He's been in and out of consciousness ever since his injury." Jackson replied. "He is having hard time breathing and has numbness to the injured side. Painted Face made a poultice of some herbs and some kind of succulent leaves."

Doctor Fraiser knelt down and put her hand on Jack's forehead, feeling for fever. "Colonel O'Neill, Jack. It's me Janet Fraiser, let me help you."

Jack turned his head to look at the doctor. "Doc?"

"Yes, Colonel. It's me." She put her stethoscope around her neck in readiness and started her examination. "How are you feeling?"

"Feeling kinda woozy, Doc." he had difficulty getting the words out. "Can't breath."

She stroked his brow. "I can see that. Let me look at your wound, so I can see what I need to do to get you fixed up, okay?"

"Kay." He tried to look back at Daniel who was kneeling behind him.

Jackson rested his hands gently on Jack's shoulders, holding him steady. "I got you, Jack. We're just going to roll you over, okay."

O'Neill nodded, understanding what they wanted to do and why. At Frazier's nod, Jackson slipped his hands under O'Neill's shoulders and with her supporting his torso gently lifted him over onto his front exposing the wound. She started the exam using her stethoscope to listen and her hands to gently palpate the area around the wound.

Daniel could tell its severity by the expression on Frazier's face. She finally looked up at him. "It's a third degree burn and its location is bad. He's numb because his nerve ending are affected. His ribs are probably cracked, that's why he can't breath. Without an x-ray, I'm guessing but I'm getting good chest sounds. We need to get him back to the infirmary so I can start treatment as soon as possible in a sterile area." Jackson nodded. She replaced the poultice with a sterile, moist dressing, then protecting and sealing it with an airtight wrapping. Janet then indicated they should move O'Neill back to his original position. Once he was back and resting she put an oxygen cannula on him from a canister she had brought with the. "I'd rather be cautious until I can get some X-rays of the chest to be sure there's no further damage." She glanced over at her tech that was working on Carter. "What do you have, Jerry?"

The young man glanced up from where he was rewrapping Carter's splinted arm. "A closed fracture of the ulna, cuts and bruises and a probable concussion. She took a hard knock to the head. I'm concerned that she's not awake yet, but other than that, nothing life threatening."

"Painted Face gave her something to let her sleep." Daniel told them. "She was awake earlier."

Janet made a doctor-noise in her throat. Then she looked at Jackson. "Okay, Daniel. What's your story?" At his blank expression, she pressed. "Why are you limping?"

Jackson looked embarrassed. "Oh, that." He shook his head. "Nothing," At her expression he continued. "I just rode a horse bareback for twenty miles in less than five hours." He laughed depreciatingly. "I'm just really sore and a little chaffed. Nothing to worry about, but I won't be real comfortable for a few days."

Fraiser had to smile at the look on his face. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out a tube of Desitin cream. "Use this; it'll help the skin irritation. The muscles will have to heal themselves. If you continue to be sore, come see me in a few days."

He took the cream gratefully. "Thanks."

She smiled at him. "I think the General is going to need you as an interpreter pretty soon. Why don't you go on over to the Chief's house."

"General Hammond's here?" He stood slowly and carefully, and then looked down at Jack and Sam.

Janet shooed him away. "I'm going to stay with them until we get ready to transport. It will be a little while though; I want them both stable before we go through the Stargate. Go on, go see the General."

Daniel smiled at her and walked stiffly to the doorway. As he ducked and walked outside, Janet thought she heard a groan. She smiled to herself and shook her head in wonder at their favorite Archeologist and his legendary luck. Good or bad, it was never indifferent.