The next mission was a cake walk, or so Jack O'Neill hoped. Go to another planet with nothing there but forest, grab some dirt and rocks, maybe a little water, and spend the rest of the time lazing around while the science twins gabbled to each other.
The first of three days went as expected, with Carter and Daniel gathering bits of dirt and sticking it into little vials. There was nothing to look at, except, oh wow! Trees. He hated planets like this. Nothing for miles around but trees. Give him a nice lake to fish in and he'd be happy.
He saw Teal'c-near the scientists- and Baker- far from the scientists- where Jack had assigned their watch points, and took a minute to study Baker. She wasn't anything he'd term unusual, except that her eyes were always searching and assessing. He didn't trust her. There was something wrong. He just didn't know what it was yet. He almost growled when her gaze settled in his direction for a split second before she turned her back to him. She watched him, he watched her.
Yes, he really needed to find out what she was hiding. In some corner of his mind, he knew this wasn't like him. This anger and emotional overload. He ignored the voice that said he was obsessed with Major Baker, that said he was acting strange, feeling strange. Brushing his hat along his leg, he tried to burn a hole into her back with his glare.
Carter and Daniel were discussing possible reasons for the humans to have left this planet when it was so fertile, when Sam leaned in close to the man and spoke.
"What's wrong with Colonel O'Neill?" It must bother Carter a lot for her to mention it to them.
"I don't know, and I don't think he does either. I don't think it really has anything to do with Anna, though. It's something else."
"I don't have any problem with her, but she's a bit standoff-ish. I am worried about the Colonel, though." Carter sipped some water. "He's been... off."
Teal'c looked down at them for a moment. "I find that to be an accurate assessment."
"Did anyone try to talk to him?"
Daniel sighed. "I asked him what was bothering him, and he wouldn't even admit something was wrong. He's been this way for months, but not so often, just the occasional thing."
"I, too, have expressed my concern to him. He did not wish to listen." Teal'c stared at the horizon.
"It has been worse since she came. I mean, he's even been yelling at General Hammond." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you think he's seen Janet?"
Daniel looked at her. He hadn't even thought of a medical reason. "I have no idea. Maybe we should tell her to check him over really well?"
Sam shrugged, and checked the time. If things didn't get better soon, someone would have to talk to O'Neill. Whatever was going on with him was getting worse, causing trouble for the team. "Daniel, let's finish this up. I'm ready to go home."
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The Jaffa warrior sat thinking of his friend. He worried for his team. He didn't think O'Neill was suffering from any of the afflictions that were common to soldiers. He'd not seen evidence of any depression, perhaps a surfeit of emotion, but not depression. He'd seen that the man was hiding things, though, so it was possible that this was simply not obvious.
Teal'c had also noticed the overly careful way his team leader watched MajorBaker. He also observed that she watched O'Neill. He had caught her gaze following him several times. Each time she'd simply looked his way and something indefinable passed over her face. He would say the closest word to describe it was despondent.
Jack chose that moment to emerge from his tent. "Hey, why didn't you wake me for watch, T?" The colonel really hated when they let him sleep through his watch.
"I had no need of additional Kel-no-reem."
"Ah." Jack looked at Baker, and she met his eyes over the coffee pot. To him, they were dark and cold. Empty. He'd wanted to catch her alone, question her. Damn. Things never work out. Daniel and Carter were stirring in their tents, so it wouldn't be long before they could move along. His head was killing him, and he wanted to get this done so they could go home.
There was the occasional murmured conversation, but for the most part, the camp remained silent. Jack surveyed the surroundings, looking for signs of anyone having disturbed the area away from camp. Nope, nothing. See, boring mission. Except that Daniel could find trouble anywhere. He rubbed his head. Why couldn't he let that go? Daniel did fine on lots of missions, why was he suddenly so worried about him?
"Sir, I'd like to head to the east before we leave. There were some slight variations in the temperature, and the UAV images showed some caves." Caves? Oh, just what they needed. Caves were usually bad news for his team. However, the General had reminded him just before leaving that part of his mission included finding resources for use in defending against the Goau'ld. Like minerals that might be used for weapons. " The temperature variations could be the result of natural springs, or vents from the planet's core. But I think it's something else. The UAV's readings picked up a significant amount of-"
"OK, I get it, Carter. Kids, lets finish packing this up and get the show on the road." He sighed. He felt old. Why was he so tired? "We're heading off to the east. How far are these caves?"
"About five kilometers, sir." Great, his knees just loved the long walks through the woods.
They made decent time despite their leisurely pace. Jack almost hoped Baker would find a hole and fall in it. She took her duties seriously, always positioning herself to protect Daniel, the civilian. Not that he seemed to even notice, but hell, it was Jack's job to do that, not anyone else's. Was she trying to take over his position? He would bide his time, but he knew he had to do something, and soon.
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Someone was approaching her position from behind. She waited and just at the right moment, she threw herself into a spin. Her hands grabbed the weapon before her mind knew it was there. She thrust the heal of her hand into the chest of her attacker. She could hear someone yelling at her, but couldn't let it distract her. Her elbow connected with the man's face and she heard a cry of pain. Another pair of hands grabbed her from behind. She didn't realize she was cursing in Goau'ld. How'd he sneak up on her? Trying to break the hold, she felt a fist to the jaw. Her head felt like it was being torn apart. She felt her back and leg against the cave wall, the rought stone tearing through her uniform to the skin. Everything started to fade. One last chance. She managed to get her fingers on her knife and flipped it up into her hand. She felt the blade slice into flesh, and then a prick in her shoulder. Drugs! Oh, God, NO! Was her last thought as she lost consciousness.
Daniel ran over and supported her head as Teal'c lowered her to the ground. Jack was cursing a blue streak, one hand to his bleeding nose. Carter was trying to look at the cut on Teal'c's arm. Daniel felt ill. Seeing what she'd been able to do, alone, in the dark, disturbed him. He knew she'd been a pretty effective weapon but seeing it was different than theorizing.
"I don't care what Hammond says. That lunatic doesn't belong in the field. She's ruined!" Jack paused as Sam touched his nose. "I know it's not broken, Carter. Leave it alone. Teal'c you alright? OK, we're getting out of here."
Anna woke up on the way and seemed to be in a daze. When they entered the embarkation room, Jack ordered her taken into custody. "Make sure she can't go anywhere but the infirmary, and no one gets close to her. Use a zat-twice if you have to." With those angry words, Jack headed to the infirmary for his post-mission physical.
Janet got to Anna. "What happened?"
Anna shrugged, as if uncaring of everything around her. "I lost it." Simple and to the point. "I couldn't tell who was an enemy and who was a friendly."
"Anna..."
"They're going to put me in a very secure prison."
"Well, maybe they won't. It's possible they might want to put you into a hospital." Janet met her eyes. "I could recommend it, if you want."
Anna smiled with absolutely no humor. "A psychiatric hospital? Which one can handle a case like mine? The Tok'ra would love to take me, though, I'd make a wonderful subject for study."
"Maybe if I talk to Colonel O'Neill..."
The marine looked into the doctor's concerned eyes. "It won't matter. This certainly won't change his mind."
"Well, I can keep you here..."
"Janet, I can't stay here." Anna remained impassive. "You're my friend, right?"
"Of course." Janet was really worried now.
"Is there something you can inject me with, something painless? Actually, it doesn't really have to be painless, just effective."
Janet gasped. "Oh, Anna! I can't do that! I can't believe you'd even ask me to do that! Let me talk to the General, or someone, but don't even think of that!"
The marine held Janet's eyes. "I'm gong to die anyway."
Laying her hand on the other woman's arm, she said, "Let's just get you fixed up for now, and figure the rest out later."
She stared at her without expression, then started shrugging out of her clothes. Janet was fuming by the time she finished suturing her friends leg and cleaning the burn on her side. She directed the other woman to an ISO room so she could keep an eye on her. Storming back into the infirmary, she slapped her hands on the bed where Anna had just sat. She was going to kill Jack. Speak of the devil, there he was. Slinking out from behind a curtain. "How long have you been in here?"
"The whole time. And before you say anything, I want you to tell me what's going on- and none of that patient confidentiality stuff!"
"Sir, I can't do that." She spread her hands in helplessness. "Any more than I could discuss your recent concerns with her."
"Doc, when a member of a team like ours is suicidal, I think you damn well can tell me! And what was that about the Tok'ra?" Jack's face was red with anger.
"I thought she wasn't part of your team? At least as far as you're concerned."
"I mean it, doc, if you don't tell me-"
"Dr. Frasier, can you and Colonel O'Neill follow me to the briefing room?" George Hammond stood in the doorway. He did not look pleased.