A short chapter again – sorry. More adventure coming.
They ran as fast as they could. Getting down from their lookout slowed them down and allowed the Jaffa to get clos.
As they literally ran for their lives Jack thought to himself that there was no way in hell that he was going to allow this to be the end; not when it had taken him and Sam all these years to finally get together.
Grabbing Carter's hand he pulled her along, the sounds of the Jaffa growing closer. At one point they were in sight of the pursuing alien soldiers and they heard some of the staff blasts as they hit the rocks beside them. Fortunately they were still far enough away that they were a difficult target.
As the trail curved around they were no longer in sight but they could still hear the sounds of pursuit. They figured there was no way the Jaffa would let them get away. Obviously they didn't want anyone to know what they were doing on the planet.
Sam briefly wondered what it was they were mining. Although Naquada was valuable, she didn't think the Goa'uld would work this hard to keep it a secret. She hadn't given it too much thought before now, but she really didn't think they would have destroyed a gate just to project a naquada mine. They had other mines, on other planets, and they had never gone to that much trouble before.
Another staff blast struck inches away from O'Neill. He could feel shards of rock hitting his arm and back. It stung but it was nothing compared to what a staff wound would have felt like.
He could feel the burn in his lungs getting worse. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. Normally he had pretty good stamina – if anything it was the knees that bothered him. He wasn't in the best shape right now however. After all the wounds he'd received since coming to this planet he knew his body was still recuperating. He prayed he'd be able to continue.
Sam was also just about at her limit but knew they had to keep moving. The only problem was where. They didn't want to lead the Jaffa to the tribe but they really didn't know where else to go.
For a moment Jack wondered if they should try to hide in their original cave but didn't think they had enough time to get up the small hill before the Jaffa got close enough to see them. As they ran past he saw Sam glance over at him but he shook his head and they kept going.
They had gained a bit of ground, even though they were exhausted. The Jaffa, although strong, were at a disadvantage in their heavy clothes – even though they weren't wearing their armor. If they could just stay far enough ahead they might find somewhere to hide.
Just at that moment both of them heard a strange sound. They couldn't quite figure out what it was as they looked at each other. Both felt a strange tingle of fear run through their bodies. It was almost as though someone had walked on their graves.
By now each of them were sobbing as they breathed. It was impossible to get enough oxygen and their muscles were starting to shake from exhaustion. The sweat dripped off their bodies, soaking their shirts. They no longer had the strength, the energy to run but still they kept on – adrenaline and fear keeping them going when muscles and flesh gave out.
The sounds of their pursuers again grew closer. They could hear the shouts, the words of anger and hate. They heard the name of the Jaffas' God – Ptah – being shouted as they ran.
Time seemed to slow. Everything faded into one tiny spot that Jack focused on as he ran. He no longer heard the sounds of pursuit, his breathing or Sam's gasping or footsteps. The sun, the forest, the hills, the dirt – all faded away until all he saw was one point, one speck ahead of him. That point was safety and life – he knew if he could reach it, along with Sam, they'd be okay. He kept running, his endurance and strength long gone.
He continued to pull Sam with him towards that point. If he let go he knew she would falter and stop. He had to keep going, they had to keep going. There was too much to live for.
Suddenly Jack heard that eerie sound once again. It penetrated through the mists that were obscuring everything. It was a terrifying sound. It was the sound of death. Somehow though, he was comforted by the thought that it was not his death, or Sam's he heard. No, if they could reach that sound they would also be safe. That sound was at that same spot, that same point towards which they were running.
Jack could see it ahead. It was the fork in the trail, the one where the men of the tribe had stopped, refusing to move along the trail they were now travelling. Off to the left the trail continued to where he'd killed the wild pig. Ahead lay the cave. As he and Sam approached the fork he looked at her. She actually smiled back at him, her face red from exertion, the sweat drenching her clothes – but she smiled and nodded.
They reached the fork and without a pause they veered to the left, drawing the Jaffa away from the cave. Just as they took the new trail the horrible sound escalated until they wanted to cover their ears. It was a shriek like they had never heard. Glancing up they saw, for the first time, Chewi above them, on a rock ledge.
As Jack and then Sam looked it seemed as if the animal peered right back. Afraid, for one instant, that it was going to hurl itself at them, they thought their lives might have just ended, not from the Jaffa – but from this terrifying beast.
Instead, the tiger simply stared at them, not moving. Its eyes slowly followed them as they continued along the trail, the sounds of the Jaffa getting closer and closer.
The trail again turned and they lost sight of the tiger. Jack didn't think he could continue any farther. He knew he had reached his limit. He felt a soft tug on his hand and turning towards Sam he saw that she too was at the end. Closing his eyes he slowly came to a stop, Carter beside him. Without a word she leaned into him and rested her head against his heaving chest. Neither of them could speak, they could barely breathe. They knew it was about to end but they could go no further.
A scream – this time not of an animal but of a man – broke through the sound of their pumping hearts and sobbing breaths. It was quickly followed by other screams and yells. The two Air Force officers then heard the awful sound of tearing flesh and breaking bone. As they stood there Jack pulled Sam closer into his body, trying to protect her from the awful noises and the realization of what was happening.
It seemed to take forever but in actual fact it was only a short few moments until there was silence. It had not even been long enough for the two to catch their breath or recover from their frantic run.
Sam was shaking so badly that Jack wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, worried that she'd collapse.
"You … okay?" he gasped.
"I … think so." She answered. "The Jaffa?"
"Gone, I think." he murmured into her hair as he continued to hold her tightly. Although his ostensible reason was because of Sam he knew he needed the support just as much. He was also shaking in reaction to the terror of their escape as well as the sounds of the tiger.
He pulled back slightly, looking down at his 'mate'. With a small smile he bent and kissed her nose. "I think I'd better go check."
"Not without me." He realized that it wasn't Sam who answered him but Major Carter. He couldn't very well start treating her like some shrinking violet even though he'd much rather she stayed here.
"Okay, but stay behind me." As she went to object he turned into Colonel O'Neill. "That's an order Carter. You watch my six in case there are still some Jaffa out there."
"Or the tiger." Startled he looked at her.
"Yeah, although I have this strange feeling we don't have to worry about him." Jack couldn't quite explain it, but he almost believed that the Chewi had been protecting them from the Jaffa. He had felt like the animal was communicating with him in some way. Maybe the tribe was right, maybe the Chewi did protect them and now that he and Sam were members they were under that 'umbrella'.
Jack held tightly onto his gun as he made his way back along the trail. He was worried as to what he would see. Although he'd seen many gory things in his years as a soldier, he still knew that the sight of men ripped apart by a wild animal could be pretty horrific. As tough as he knew Sam was, it was one of the reasons he's wanted her to stay back.
Carefully, slowly he advanced, Carter a few steps behind. At the bend of the trail he slowed and inched forward, wanting to make sure there wasn't anyone lying in wait. When he finally got to where the tiger had been watching he stopped in surprise. Not only were there no mangled bodies – there was absolutely nothing. There was no sign that anyone had been here at all.
Sam had moved up by this time and was standing beside him. "Where is everybody?" she asked, equally as surprised.
"I don't know. There's no sign of anything. I don't get it."
"Maybe he dragged them off. That's what he tried to do with you."
"Yeah, but there would still be some evidence. I mean, we heard what happened and there isn't even any blood or anything. No, something weird is happening."
Sam realized she felt it too. There was something very strange about this place but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.
"We'd better get back. The Chief is going to be pretty ticked as it is."
"Jack, what do you think is going on?" Sam asked as she started back along the trail, walking next to O'Neill. "There's something odd about this planet and I don't really think the Goa'uld or Jaffa are here for naquada."
"No?" he asked surprised. "What do you think it is then?"
"I don't know. I just can't see them going to all this trouble and secrecy for Naquada." She paused and then stopped. "Did you happen to hear what those Jaffa were shouting?"
"Well, it was the usual for the most part. You know – stop and surrender or our God will yadda, yadda, yadda. Whatever you want to say about those guys, originality isn't their forté!"
"Did you catch the name of their 'God'?"
"Uh – I think it was something like – Ptawto or something. I don't think I've ever heard of it."
"No, me either. I think it may have been 'Ptah'. I wish Daniel were here. He'd know."
"Yeah, but I don't know if that would tell us anything anyway. They're all just really smarmy dudes with big voices, lots of arrogance and a snake in the head. You seen one you pretty much seen 'em all – you know, potato Ptahto!" She just gave him a rather disgusted look at that!
By this time both of them were so tired they just wanted to collapse on the trail and rest. Instead they kept moving, the thought of a big drink of water and a soft bed of furs sounding heavenly.
Eventually they arrived 'home'. Sam was shocked at how good that felt. The fact that she even referred to it that way surprised her, until she realized that it was where she and Jack had admitted their feelings and had started a life together. With him by her side it was truly home.
A number of the people ran out of the cave when they arrived, jabbering and gesturing something fierce. The Chief and Maru also appeared, both looking steaming mad.
"Oops", Jack reached down and whispered. "I think we're in trouble with Mom and Dad!"
"Yeah, I wonder what the punishment is going to be?"
"Hopefully they'll just ground us or send us for a time out. If the Chief takes me to the woodshed I'm gonna be peaved."
Somehow the picture of the little old man trying to give the Colonel a 'whoopin' was quite funny. She had to bite her lip to keep from snorting in laughter.
For the next 10 minutes Jack and Sam stood there and got reamed out by both the Chief and Maru. They couldn't understand half of what was said, but they knew they had not only angered, they had frightened the members of the tribe. For some reason, Jack didn't just think it was about him being a 'good luck charm'. No, he got the distinct impression that these folks were frightened, not for themselves, but for their two newest members.
Once the angry words had stopped Jack carefully explained what they were trying to do. He also told the chief about the strangers who might soon come to the cave and who would be serious trouble. He was extremely worried when the Chief just seemed to shrug off his warning but simply saying that "Chewi would protect them."
Both he and Sam might have laughed that off even the day before but, after what they'd seen, they both wondered if there was actually something in that. Still, thought Jack, if enough Jaffa show up, or they're not taken by surprise, they could easily vanquish the Chewi, and most of the tribe.
No matter what he said he was ignored. Finally, Maru grabbed the two of them and pulled them back into the cave. Making them sit she brought them drinks and bowls of stew.
Finished eating they lay back and rested, utterly exhausted after the wild day they'd had.
"So", Sam said quietly. "What should we do now?" She turned her head to look at Ja – no, right now she was looking at the Colonel. They needed to figure out what to do, from a military perspective.
"I think we need to find out what the hell they're mining. Next time we're going to have to be more careful. I'm just worried they're going to send out more Jaffa when the ones who followed us don't return."
"I know." She stopped and then rolled on her side. "Jack, we've been hear almost eight weeks already. Don't you think our allies should have gotten here by now?"
"Yeah, unless something else is happening out there. I mean, the Asgard may be dealing with the Replicators, the Tokra – well, you know the Tokra – they could all be off on some secret mission. Someone will show up Sam. We just have to be patient."
"I guess, although I'm wondering if they came already and couldn't find us."
"But you know both the Asgard and the Tokra have ways of monitoring life signs. They would check out anyone and everyone close to where we were left."
"What if their instruments don't work?"
"Don't work? Why wouldn't they?"
"I've been thinking about whatever they're mining. It's obviously in these hills. What if it interferes in some way with any technology our allies might use."
"So, you're saying they could have arrived but been unable to find us, is that right?"
"Yeah, I guess I am."
"Great! If that's the case we may already have lost our ride home."
"I'm sorry Sir, I should have thought of that before. We should have stayed closer to the gate."
"Nothing for you to be sorry about Carter. We would have starved out there – or gotten really, really tired of fish! Anyway, most of the time you've been nursing me back to health."
It made her feel a bit better that he didn't blame her, but she still panicked when she thought about the idea of staying on this planet.
"So, we may end up staying here?" she asked in a small voice. "I guess it's a good thing that we've found the tribe. At least they've taken us in."
"No, we're not staying here! Yeah, I'm glad we've found the tribe too. They've helped us and they're good people, but I certainly don't want to spend the rest of my life as a caveman! And if we were to have kids I really don't want them to grow up here. God, can you imagine what those mythical grandkids of yours would look like!"
She giggled a bit but still felt worried. "So, how are we going to get home?"
He looked at her with that Jack O'Neill 'damn the torpedoes, cause we're gonna kick some ass' grin.
"We're gonna steal us a Goa'uld ship and fly home Carter. What could be easier?"
She just stared at him for the longest time. "You're crazy Jack."
"Yeah – and you love me for it."
"Yeah, maybe I do. But that still doesn't tell me how we're going to steal a ship – that's sitting right in the middle of hundreds of our enemies who want nothing more than to enslave us or kill us!"
"How? Well, I'm sure you'll think of something Carter!" With a big yawn Jack reached down and pulled the covers over the two of them. Rolling over on to his side he put his arm around Sam and pulled her closer.
"We'll worry about it in the morning Sam. Right now I just want to sleep."
Thinking that sounded wonderful she too yawned and closed her eyes. Snuggling into Jack she quickly drifted off into a warm and comforting sleep. Her last thought, as she drifted into the arms of Morpheus, was that tomorrow she'd have to figure out how to get them home.