Chapter Four- More Obstacles

Bailey stopped, sniffing near the first hot spring. "This is where Colonel O'Neill and the two members of his team pulled themselves out of the water." Sanchez said as the group stopped, watching the dogs walk around the immediate area.

"Shit. It took us this long to walk 500 yards?" Airman Coffey said. He turned around and pointed his flashlight back in the direction of the Stargate. He couldn't see it but the four-foot flags that Airman Madrid was putting deep into the snow.

"You know, Sanchez, we might get lost in this blizzard as well. No one knows how long this storm is going to last." Guzman said. "There is no point in losing thirteen men to save one."

"I'm starting to think that as well. For all we know, Dr. Jackson drowned in the river." Major Torres said.

"Daniel isn't the kind to give up and die." Ferretti defended the lost archeologist. "I say we should continue."

"Its 13 degrees out here during a blizzard with winds over 50 mph and let's not forget the good doctor also fell into a freezing river that has two inches of ice covering it." Coffey shot back.

"Watch it, airman." Ferretti growled out. Before anything could be said further, the bloodhound let out a baying howl. Hayes was able to catch the tracking dog before he shot off into the dark.

"Bailey's got something. What do you want to do, colonel?" Hayes asked. The other dogs were also held by their handlers. Everyone looked at Sanchez.

"We continue. I'm not leaving this man behind to die out here when we could have saved him." The others nodded while Coffey kept his mouth shut. Hayes let Bailey out along with the other dogs. Running as fast as they could, the rescue team followed the tracking dogs.

The darkness surrounded, trapping him in a cold grip. Twisting, he tried to swim back to the surface as the river threatened to pull him deeper. The radiating from his leg kept flashing as he broke through the surface. Gasping, he tried to draw in the much needed air only to have more water enter his mouth. Choking and spitting, he reached where his ankle had gotten locked between the tree roots.

His fingers continued to slip and slide as he tried to free himself. Water was beginning to seep through his collar, quickly chilling his body further. Realizing that his foot wouldn't come free soon, he slid his hand back into the water, searching for his knife. Relief swept through him when his numb fingers closed around the handle. Pulling himself more toward the bank, he raised his arm and began to slash at the roots.

Chips and pieces flew as he hacked away at the wood, bringing his arm down again and again. In the back of his mind, more pain registered as the knife continued to plunge. Kicking at the root, the final pieces broke and he fell fully into the river. His water soaked back pack started pulling him down to the bottom of the river and he quickly wormed his way out.

Rising, he came back through the hole, seeing that ice was already forming. He had to get himself out quick or risk freezing to death. His right arm hung useless to his side, broken from his fall. He stabbed the knife deep into the back. Using it as a foothold, he climbed out of the river. Daniel was almost there when the knife gave out. With a cry he slid back down. The newly formed ice couldn't bear his weight and gave way.

Sputtering, he surfaced. The knife was lost and the bank was like an ice slide. Quickly thinking, Daniel decided to use the roots. He almost cried out of joy when he finally made it back onto the ground on the other side of the tree. Breathing was harder now, the air coming in short and shallow. Sitting against the tree, he felt himself beginning to shiver uncontrollably. Shit, this isn't good. He thought.

His ankle and arm were throbbing constantly with red hot pain. Cradling his arm, he tried to get up only to fall down when his leg slipped. This just isn't my day. Maybe he should rest here just a little bit. His now exhausted body couldn't handle being forced to move. His mind already beginning to slow down, he didn't see the blood collecting near his broken ankle. Watching the snowdrift, Daniel fell into a deep sleep against his will.