"Okay, so let's assess. The Stargate isn't working. Carter and Teal'c are who knows where and we've been tramping through the jungle for yonks. We've climbed hallf a mountain...and are now prodding a wall which doesn't feel like letting any vistors through. No biggie."
"Jack this wall is huge. And my guess is that it's also verrry long. We haven't even come close to circling the whole thing yet."
"Your point?"
"We could find a way in any minute now."
A sigh, "Daniel, you've said 'we could find a way in any minute now' more times than I can count. Can't we just... dig under it or something?"
Ajax glanced back at O'Neill, "I sincerely hope that that was a comment out of humour..."
"Not necessarily."
"Jack, don't be an ass."
"Just a thought." Jack's voice trailed off in a high pitch, emphasising his annoyance.
They'd been walking for hours now; their hands pressed against the wall, looking for a way in. They weren't as lucky as Carter and Teal'c. It was too dark to see more than five meters ahead of them, and so far the wall was perfectly smooth. No visible way in.
The three figures fell silent, lost in their own thoughts. They walked in silence, listening only to the leaves that crunched under their footsteps and the sand-paper sound of their hands sliding along the wall.
At last, Daniel broke the silence.
"Hey, can we sit down for a while? My legs are killing me."
"No, we must press on. There is little time." Ajax began to quicken his pace.
"Hold on there sparky. I'm in need of a little rest myself if you don't mind." Jack stopped.
Ajax pulled an agitated expression, "Alright. But please, we cannot linger here for too long."
Daniel sighed in relief and slid to the forest floor, his back against the wall. Jack and Ajax followed suit.
The coolness of the stone was comforting.
"Phew, didn't realise I was that hot."
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He'd lost her. Somewhere in his haste he'd forgotten that he wasn't alone and had left her behind. That wasn't like him. He never forgot. Numerous times he had stopped and backtracked for a little while, looking for her. But she wasn't there. And his usually calm stomach was now doing back flips....or maybe that was junior. He couldn't tell.
Annoyed with himself, he pressed on. Finding Jack and Daniel was his priority now.
Taking giant steps he gained more ground than before. The forest was still too thick to attempt to route through, and a light fog was descending about him, making it increasingly hard to see. For a long while, he noticed nothing. It was only until he rounded a corner that his strained senses picked up on a faint warbling. He immediately changed his posture. Stealthily, the heavy Jaffa made his way silently along the wall, every sense in overdrive. He made not a crunch or snap, and his breathing was well under control now.
A little further and he was inches from the source of the sounds. He crept forward a little more and readied himself for a scuffle. What he got was somewhat of a surprise.
Teal'c tripped. His feet flew out from underneath him and he fell forward. Just before his face hit the dirt he heard a startled cry, or maybe more. Luckily for him, most of his body landed on something particularly soft.
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They hadn't seen it coming...whatever 'it' was. In a flash, their light discussion about vegetation had turned into a mixture of fear and fright. Not to mention the fact that there was something big, soft and heavy lying across their laps. Their startled yelps echoed off into the forest, dying down to a frantic hush.
"Jack? Ja-ack!"
"I know Daniel." Jack prodded the object. To his surprise it rolled over and off their laps. In a flash, everyone was on their feet.
"You are outnumbered. Identify yourself." Ajax curled his fingers into a fist.
"O'Neill?"
"Teal'c?"
"Daniel Jackson."
"Yeah."
"Teal'c?"
"Indeed."
"Teal'c! What the hell was that?"
"A miscalculated step, O'Neill."
"Nah. How'd you get out? We can't even find a way in."
"Major Carter and I found a split in the fortified wall." Teal'c winced slightly at the use of Sam's name.
Jack straightened his back and looked around, "Where's Carter?"
Through gritted teeth, "I have lost her."
"Lost her?"
"She was behind me for some time. I must have moved too quickly, for she seemed to vanish. I am sorry O'Neill. I attempted to look for her many times, but to no end."
Jack sighed.
Daniel smiled, "Hey, don't beat yourself up over it Teal'c. It's dark, foggy and at least you made it here."
"Okay campers, time to move. Teal'c, think you can guide us back in?"
"I believe so."