A Will to Survive
Chapter 4
Since all the crystals he had effectively replaced now came the easy part. Well easy for someone with two working legs and no pain. Daniel had to admit that the agony that had finally reached to manageable levels before was slowly creeping back to the surface. Maybe it was time for another dose or even that final syringe of morphine, no he wouldn't go there not yet. He had too much work to get done to be high on narcotics with nothing more on his mind than sleep. So he relied on a more primitive way to keep him going, a method based on pure adrenaline. But even that little strength it was giving him was beginning to slowly ebb with every passing hour.
Daniel decided to go with his more reasonable option, a break and ibuprofen. Leaning back from his newly, and hopefully properly, fixed DHD he settled to rest. Bringing his hand to his face Daniel considered that it might be time to put on a meager amount of sunscreen. He had no doubt Jack would laugh at him if he returned looking like a lobster. He also noticed the beginnings of a light beard, little more than a days worth, as he brushed a hand down his jaw. He didn't care what he looked like, his appearance probably fast approaching that of a POW in the desert complete with war injuries.
As he brought his hands down Daniel realized real quick that the sun's exposure wasn't confined to his face. His hands were cracked and peeling, red and blistered as he worked in the scorching sun and hot sand. They would hurt a lot worse if not for his other injuries but he knew that was only temporary until he returned to the SGC. But at least there he would have assurance that Janet wouldn't let him lay in pain, probably dope him to the gills an inch away from consciousness.
Painfully he shifted towards his pack, grabbing it and dragging it across the sand. Agony gripped his chest as he coughed, the sand clogging his throat. If he didn't see this much sand again it would be too soon. Why couldn't he get stranded on a jungle planet with plenty of rain? Because he carried the never ending bad luck of Daniel Jackson, the one the Powers That Be ensured one to be kicked when he was down. He knew Jack would think otherwise but getting stranded in Antarctica sounded a whole lot better than here right now.
Taking out the Tylenol and ibuprofen he took the cocktail as before washing it down with a little more water from his canteen. Shaking it once he was finished he noticed his rations were running short. He settled for just one more little sip noting that his mouth was becoming increasingly dryer. It either meant he was merely thirsty or something more sinister like the later stage of dehydration. The lack of heavy sweating from before was another alarming symptom that was beginning to show itself. He just had to think of the good rather than the bad, like slowly shriveling like a raisin.
Clipping his canteen back to his belt Daniel reached over for his forgotten vest. Somewhere in there he had a pair of cloves, a pair of cut-off's Jack made him use when shooting. His team leader was less than happy with him after returning with blisters and open wounds on his hands after a day in combat situations. Ever since then Daniel was charged with a pair of gloves that he never used, something all of the team was given but never used. Looking in every pocket Daniel remembered at the last moment it was the one mission when he left them in his locker, probably in defiance to Jack as he pestered the archeologist about the finer points of forgetting necessary supplies.
Maybe he could slip his jacket sleeves down as far as they could go to at least protect his wrists. The less sunburned he got the better chances he had at preventing dehydration. His boonie hat provided some protection to his face but nothing was there to protect his hands. So he would just have to deal with the pain that accompanied the cracked and peeling skin, the sunburn already beginning to blister. The thought of pouring the cool water over the reddened skin occurred to him but he had to ration, water for only drinking purposes. So he settled for the first aid kit, or whatever he could find in the kit.
Pulling it out of his open pack he unzipped the canvas bag and dug in. Two small burn dressings, a few minute packets of antibiotic cream, that little bottle of sunscreen, pain killers, one antiseptic wipe, and whatever leftover bandages he had. Nothing much for the acute sunburn that was plaguing him so he settled for the sunscreen. Only a little remained but it would be just enough for a thin coat on his hands and face, just enough to protect for at least a few hours. Squeezing the cream from the bottle he gently rubbed on his face first, the cold feeling good on his hot skin. He used whatever was left on his hands to spread down his neck in the front and back. Shaking the bottle he wanted every last ounce to rub on his hands, squeezing it on his right hand first.
The cold felt great, but soothing as it was rubbing it in was a bitch. The cool soothing cream was soon turned into acid as he smoothed it onto his tortured skin. Wincing and grunting he completed his task before moving onto his left hand and what do you know the left was just as painful. The only time his hands were this burnt was after he had the infinite wisdom to spill a half of pot of scalding hot coffee onto them in his office. Jack got him for that one for two weeks, the length of time he was off active duty while his hands healed. Lobster hands had become the affectionate nickname Jack came up with. He wondered what his name would be now with a peeling face and hands. Oh, he was never going to hear the end of it especially with his added knee injury.
Replacing the empty bottle back in the kit he stored his meager first aid supplies back in his pack. With his burns taken care of, well partially taken care of with what he had, and his pills taken it was time for a snack. Actually looking up the sun was changing, lowering a little to end the hottest time of day. The cycle on this planet was just confusing but he was beginning to get the hang of it. On Earth it was equivalent to mid-day, or maybe even later in the afternoon. But then again the sun had resumed its ferocious beating so maybe he got it all wrong.
Grabbing one of his three remaining power bars he savored every last bite. God he was hungry, so hungry that the second half of the MRE from last night sounded heavenly but he saved it for the night. At least the nausea from yesterday had disappeared but it brought an increasing need to eat. He would just have to hold out for the most another day, until that DHD was working for real. Rolling up the wrapper from the bar he stuffed it in his pocket before leaning back on the heated stone of the DHD. While his mind screamed to keep on working his body demanded rest. He went with his body's cries first, figuring if he was too tired to move than his mind would be useless. Letting his exhaustion and pain drown out all needs they swept to the back of his mind Daniel let his eyes slip closed.
"I said I was fine," Jack groaned as he sat on the gurney. Normally Janet would agree but for someone who was just recently nearly mauled to an inch of his life she was inclined to disagree. Just one sight of him had her cringing, that little "doctor" mind rattling off all possibilities. Infection came first so Janet moved to clean the wounds that littered his right forearm, bicep, and neck. That creature really did a number on him just judging by the way he walked in, all stiff and guarding like there was some other hidden injury.
"Colonel take off your jacket," Janet ordered.
Jack complied with little protest, which was almost unheard of for Janet but she knew he was hiding something deep inside that just wanted to get out. Janet watched as he tried not to wince as he removed his jacket, the mixture of dried blood from both himself and the animal sticking to the open wounds. Whatever the animal was had big teeth, like razor sharp teeth and very long claws by the look of his neck. It would be painful but with no lasting damage but the same couldn't be said for the rest of the colonel.
"What did this Colonel?" Janet asked as she carefully inspected his arm between deft hands.
"Big hairy cat, with sharp teeth," Jack described sarcastically.
"Oh, well it did a number on you," Janet commented as she stepped back.
No stitches just bandaging with antibiotic cream and rest. She would add in a tetanus shot and a hefty dose of penicillin too, God only knew what little germs were crawling around on the planet or the cat's mouth. Turning away from the colonel she gave orders to the nurse waiting for a moment for her to return. She could now see that impatience that Jack held back, a jittering of his leg to accompany his restlessness. To be honest she felt the same inside, it being agonizing to stand here and wait to see if a dear friend lived or died.
"Well I need to clean this up a little then dress it," Janet informed her.
"Whatever, just get it done Doc we have things to do," Jack responded impatiently.
On any other day Janet would be rolling her eyes but today she kept stoic. Glancing up she saw his two other teammates waiting, Sam with her head down sadness in her eyes while Teal'c remained stoic. She wanted to know but deep down already knew the answer. So she would complete this task as swiftly as possible unless another injury made itself known.
"This may sting a bit," Janet informed Jack before she swabbed the area with antiseptic.
Only a tiny hiss escaped Jack's lips, as he remained quiet. She wiped the area on his forearm; removing the dried blood before moving up to the smaller and more minor bites to his bicep. With his right arm cleaned she could concentrate on his neck where she just wiped a new antiseptic sponge over the three claw marks that began behind his ear and continued down to his collarbone. Actually that looked more painful than the bite marks, with all the little nerve endings exposed to open air.
"So was there any luck in finding Daniel?" Janet asked as she moved back to Jack's arm swabbing each bite wound with a decent amount of antibiotic cream.
"No, he wasn't there," Sam intoned her voice laden with sadness.
"I do however believe that Daniel Jackson is on another world as Major Carter explained earlier," Teal'c suggested.
"We won't stop looking and yes we failed, only succeeding in finding the cats from hell," Jack shot back.
"I hope we find him soon, he doesn't have very many rations," Janet thought.
"Yes Doc we know," Jack snapped and instantly regretted it by the look on Janet's face.
She stopped abruptly in her work, trying to remember another time Jack was this cross with her without being comical. Something had truly snapped in the colonel, something so deep that it left him confused. Pushing back his last biting remark she resumed her work reaching over to grab the gauze pads. Laying them strategically over each cluster of bite wounds she lightly patted them down so they would remain in place for her next task. Grabbing the rolling gauze Janet began the task of rolling it around Jack's forearm, starting from his wrist and rolling it up to his elbow. When his arm was bandaged and tape applied Janet moved onto the upper arm where some taped gauze would suffice.
"Here, tilt your head a little," Janet instructed.
She ignored his look as he complied giving her clear access to the scratch on his neck. Carefully and gently she placed a big enough piece of gauze to cover the length of the scratches before taping it down. Stepping back she got a good look at her handiwork pleased to see all the gruesome injuries now covered. He was looking more like the humpty dumpty colonel they all knew and loved, complete with all that gauze that covered his right side.
"All done, are there any other injuries I need to know about?" Janet inquired.
The fact that Jack got real silent at her question opened up a new avenue. Maybe watching as he winced at the slightest movement clued her in on something a little more than just those bites. Janet knew he would deny any other injury that may book him an extended stay in the infirmary but he would regret it later when he was unable to move. His knee she knew was once again twisted, what little ligaments remained pushed to their limit. And his back was a different story, too many years of pushing his body to the brink of exhaustion had finally come back to bite him in the ass.
"I'm fine can I leave now," Jack had that edge to his voice that left no room for small talk.
"What about your back and knee?" Janet asked.
Her insight paid off because suddenly Jack rolled his eyes wincing as movement must have set off a twinge of pain in either area. The look on Sam's face from behind was lost on Jack but not lost on her as her eyes told a different story. While Jack could deny he was injured his team never lied.
"I'm fine, the longer we sit here the more time Daniel is missing," Jack protested.
"Colonel pull your shirt up and let me take a look at your back," Janet ordered.
"Doc I don't have time for this," Jack bit out between clenched teeth.
"Sir you fell to the ground hard, let her take a look," Sam put in.
"Carter! We don't have time for this!" Jack snapped.
"I observed your fall O'Neill, you may not be without serious injury," Teal'c suggested.
"Sir just humor me," Janet gave him a look directly in his eyes her face like stone.
Breathing through his anger that rose to the surface Jack complied, pulling his black T-shirt from his BDU pants. Janet moved behind to the other side, ready to inspect and palpate the offending area. What she saw as he raised his shirt didn't surprise her. Deep bruising encompassed his lower back disappearing under his belt line, bruising that could've only been caused by a fall. Gently she put her hands to his back watching his reaction as she pressed down. He barely moved but the slight arching away and the hiss between teeth wasn't lost on her. An X-ray would be required just to see that he didn't slip a disk but Janet's initial diagnosis was deep muscle bruising and spasms.
"There's a lot of bruising back here Colonel," Janet announced.
"Ya think? I fell end of story," Jack shot back.
"What about your knee?" Janet added as she walked back to the front of the gurney.
"It's fine," Jack's quick answer didn't sound at all convincing.
"Let me see," Janet said leaving no room for Jack to protest as she went to her knees.
Pulling up his pant leg Jack could do nothing more than sit back as she completed her job. He wanted to yell at her, stomp out of the infirmary up to Hammond's office but knew Janet wouldn't have any of it. Relaxing only a bit he regretted leaning back on his arms as pain shot through his body. Maybe he was truly getting too old for this but he would contemplate it later once Daniel was back with them. He spared a glance down at Janet her look of surprise not lost on him.
"Well it doesn't look like you did anymore damage but I want you off this leg before any more ligament strain occurs," what she meant was the few remaining ligaments that held his old and tired knee together. Even after all these years the injury still haunted him, to the point that Janet was already pestering him about yet another surgery to correct the damage. A surgery or injury he couldn't think about right now. He would consider it after Daniel returned, rest it when he could share a bed beside his friend in the infirmary.
"Yeah I know so can I go now?" Jack asked.
"I want to give you a muscle relaxant….," Janet began but didn't get to finish.
"No! No muscle relaxants, I need to be awake," Jack countered.
"Colonel…," Sam tried to protest.
"We need to find Daniel and we're not going to get anywhere with me in the infirmary. So if you are finished I need to go," Jack turned to Janet.
"Fine, keep those dressings dry and come back tonight to have them changed. I want you to ice your back and knee and I'll give you some ibuprofen. You also need a tetanus booster and a shot of penicillin because there is no telling what you were exposed to," Janet compromised but that edge never left her voice.
"Good so do it so I can go," Jack's answer had Sam rolling her eyes and Teal'c raising an eyebrow.
"Okay, roll up your sleeve," Janet instructed.
Jack rolled up his left sleeve giving her full access to his bicep. Swiping it quickly with an alcohol wipe she pushed the needle home, pulling back on the plunger slightly before pushing the medication in. The tetanus booster given she turned to grab the second syringe as Mary Beth, the nurse on call, walked over with a medication cup. Wiping the area once more she repeated the procedure with the antibiotic a little sorry for her actions once Jack jolted.
"God Doc, what size needle was that?" Jack quipped as he rolled down his sleeve.
"Here take these," Janet decided to let the comment slide as she pushed the little medicine cup in Jack's hands.
He took them, deciding to dry swallow the two ibuprofen tablets before Sam had a chance to get a cup of water. It put just a little ease to Janet's mind that at least his pain would be dimmed a little. Handing him a reusable ice pack she made sure he took it for later. Hopefully he would comply and ice his knee or else she would see him in here later when he collapsed. One day the surgery would come but Janet knew it wouldn't be any day soon. For now all she could do was let him go and pray he followed her orders. But then again letting him leave against her advice may just bring Daniel back sooner, something that she was willing to allow.
"Good, thanks Doc," Jack nodded sharply as he slid off the bed painfully.
"Don't forget to keep that dry and come back later," Janet's comment was more towards Teal'c and Sam than Jack.
"Yeah, yeah," Jack dismissed.
It was all she could do as a doctor. Some patients complied with her orders while others, like Jack, just delved back into work only a short time after yet another near-death. She had no doubt Jack was okay to return to work but she knew he wouldn't take it easy, the thought of light duty lost on him as much as it was lost on Daniel in the same situation. Actually thinking back Janet recalls the moment Daniel decided to skip out of the infirmary only mere moments after waking up from a five hour period of being unconscious following a concussion to do the same. Watching Jack limp from the infirmary followed by his team it was the best she could do for now.
When Daniel woke he noticed the sun had changed. Damn, he only meant to rest his eyes not take a catnap. Groaning as he sat back up from the DHD he instantly yelped when a new pain joined the party with the others. This one a little more ominous than the other being that it was a stab in the left side of his abdomen. It felt like he had been kicked in the gut sometime during his little nap. Maybe he dismissed it after inspecting his injuries, the agony in his knee outshining any other pain he may have had. The fact that he didn't have any new unexplained acute weakness gave him a little comfort, it wasn't like he going into shock any time soon. It was actually funny that for an archeologist to know the exact signs of shock having felt every one of them at some point.
Pushing open his jacket he lifted his shirt to inspect the new painful area, noticing the bruise he must have dismissed earlier. The bruising extended over his entire abdomen down to his bellybutton only slightly worse on the left. So he had a little more damage than he initially thought. His belly felt swollen but as he palpated he didn't note any distension, something that gave him a little ease of mind. Pressing a hand into the spot Daniel saw spots, okay so not such a good idea. So he could add possible internal injury to the list. That's just great.
"I apparently missed that one," Daniel mused out loud.
Dismissing the pain that plagued him Daniel had to continue on. The nausea had returned with a vengeance whether from his newfound abdominal pain or the return of the concussion he didn't know. Maybe it was the fact he was still hungry, a good sign he figured. Risking a glance at his watched he could barely make out the hands under the cracked plastic. Four hours he guessed he had fallen asleep and by looking at the position of the sun Daniel figured it was an accurate assumption.
Pulling over his pack he dug through it until he pulled out the remaining half of the MRE and heating supplies. Setting up the sterno and heater Daniel poured the rest of the MRE into the cup. It wasn't much but it was something and he could do his own self-diagnosis of the cause of the nausea if it stayed down. He sat back waiting for the meal to heat, painfully aware that the pain in his abdomen hadn't abated. Actually it was beginning to feel like the pain he felt in the beginnings of his appendicitis just on the left. But the lack of a cold sweat and weakness told him it was something either very slow or minor.
Taking the cup from the heater and blowing out the sterno Daniel was prepared to eat. Digging in he tried to make the macaroni and cheese last taking little sips from his canteen between bites. Once again he wondered how his team was hoping they hadn't landed in his same predicament. But the lack of rescue alerted him to a possible scenario that his team was stranded as well but where was lost to him. He didn't even know where here was taking a wild guess that it was a moon of either P5C-118 or neighboring planet. If Sam were here she would know but it was just him. Speaking of alone Daniel glanced at the work on the DHD praying that he guessed the correct combination because to tell the truth he was running out of steam to try again. With barely any water rations left and little food Daniel didn't have much time left.
She sat in her lab staring at the wall. For the first time in a long time Sam was lost. After leaving the infirmary she went directly to the control room to speak with her father only to find out he was on a mission. The Tok'ra were assisting in the search since they were at a standstill. Hammond had made that clear more than once even if the general wanted so badly to disregard those orders. She had seen the way Jack walked away seething and couldn't help feel the same. Staring at the board she had set up with all those useless Gate addresses Sam went over the numbers again.
"It doesn't make any sense!" she yelled to herself.
On a whim she picked up a ball that was on her desk and with one strong flick of the wrist flung it across the lab. As the ball went wide, bouncing off the wall and traveling to the other side a new idea came to mind. Frowning she got up from her stool and picked the ball up from the floor. Once more she threw the ball back at the wall following its every move as it bounced off the adjacent wall and traveled to the opposite corner.
Ball forgotten Sam picked up the nearest marker and went to the white board. Her hand danced over the board writing down equation after equation, the numbers creating a symphony in her head. Maybe it was a plausible idea but others who may just be knowledgeable in wormhole physics may think she was crazy. There was still the other idea she tried to forget but was becoming all too real. Stepping back from her work she saw the new equations on the board, redrawing her original lines to accommodate her new theory.
"Carter," Jack announced as he limped into her lab.
"Colonel, how are you feeling?" she was bold for asking but didn't really care how he felt.
"I'm fine," Jack said with that sarcastic edge in his voice bordering on annoyance.
"You have an idea Major Carter," it wasn't a question but a statement as Teal'c joined them.
"Yeah, I do," Sam stated.
"Is it any better than the last because that one sucked," Jack quipped.
"I'm sorry Colonel, the MALP didn't show any wildlife on M7R-079. I didn't know exactly what kind of topography we were going into," Sam explained.
"Whatever, so idea shoot," Jack prompted.
"What if Daniel traveled backwards," Sam suggested.
"I thought you couldn't do that," Jack inquired.
"Was it not you Major Carter who explained that matter could only travel one way through an open wormhole?" Teal'c asked.
"Yes I did and I don't mean literally backward. What if the particle stream as it jumped slingshot around the planet because of built up energy to an adjacent orbiting moon? If that's the case than Daniel may just be closer to P5C-118 than we initially thought," Sam said.
"Okay, what if he did its not like we are given clearance to search," Jack shot back.
"I know but it's just a theory sir. Without being able to search every one of these planets I'm starting to believe that Daniel's not going to come back," Sam countered saying the words none of them wanted to hear.
"He's coming back Carter and I'll be damned if we sit here doing nothing while he's out there!" Jack raised his voice.
"I don't know colonel! I'm sorry I don't know, all I know is that the longer he's missing the less his chances are of returning. We left him behind sir," tears began leaking from Sam's eyes as her wall begun to crumble.
"I know Carter, I know. He's coming back, he's Daniel," Jack said softly as he pulled Sam to him wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.
"We left him behind," Sam cried repeating those words she said almost four years ago.
"I do not believe Daniel Jackson would give up that easily," Teal'c suggested.
"We have to keep trying," Sam broke away from Jack's embrace as Teal'c laid a hand on her arm.
"There's not much that we can do," a new deep accented voice sounded from the door.
"General," Jack greeted.
"I just got off the phone with Washington, they have officially declared Dr. Jackson as presumed dead KIA. They stated that our allies can take over the search for a body but we are not to engage in anymore search and rescue operations until they deem it worthy of the resources. They said we are to have a memorial service by the end of the week," General Hammond said solemnly.
"Our allies? You mean us? That's just like them, God forbid no technology comes out of this. So they rather sacrifice Daniel because no worthy technology will be found in the rescue efforts?" Sam was angry now.
"That's exactly what they mean Carter," Jack answered.
"The Tok'ra will continue the search?" Teal'c asked.
"Yes and the Asgard if they agree to our requests," Hammond told them.
"Oh Thor will agree," Jack said.
"So that's it, we just continue on with our lives," Sam choked.
"I'll be damned if I think for a moment that Dr. Jackson is dead and I'll ensure you that if it were up to me we would never stop looking but I have my orders. As for SG-1 the president said for you to resume operations ASAP but he decided to leave it up to me so as of right now you are off active duty and on stand down until further notice," Hammond intoned.
"What about Major Davis?" Jack spoke up.
"I'll have you know that when I recently contacted Major Davis he stated that he tried to talk to the president about our plight but the president had made up his mind. Major Davis wishes he could've been more help but he tried and wanted me to tell you that if he were able he would give the order to go ahead with search operations," Hammond informed them.
"I refuse to believe that Daniel's dead," Jack protested.
"I know and by the way Colonel O'Neill shouldn't you be in the infirmary?" Hammond turned to Jack.
"Doc released me," Jack said quickly.
Hammond didn't really believe the answer but chose to move passed it. They had bigger fish to fry concerning their friend. Jack still refused to believe Daniel was permanently missing even if the odds were stacked against him. Search and rescue operations when they deem worthy meant in a few days, a few days that Daniel didn't have. Maybe they would get lucky and the Tok'ra would dial in telling them some operative suddenly found Daniel in the least expected place. Maybe their godsend would come out of the blue once the president noticed that Daniel was just as valuable a resource as anything else. It didn't seem likely at this point as they were once again charged to wait, this time for closure that only came with a body and memorial service. But SG-1 chose not to believe that's why they held onto hope.
He finished his meal and felt only a little more energized than before. His abdomen still ached and his knee was burning with a new type of agony. Storing his supplies once more he reached for the first aid kit taking a quick inventory of what little painkillers he had left. One dose of Tylenol, no ibuprofen, and that one remaining morphine injector was what stood between him and the pain. Breathing through the pain that came with movement Daniel was beginning to feel sick. Not the sick that came with fever but one that came with pure exhaustion.
He could only remember one time he felt this exhausted and on the edge of breaking and that was waiting for his team while recovering from an emergency appendectomy. But then he had others to keep him afloat like General Hammond and Janet who had been more than just a little support. Here he was alone left to his own devices to survive. That little syringe of morphine was looking closer in his mind but he resisted the urge until he had a clear picture of going home.
Centering himself Daniel stood gasping as the pain returned. Glancing down he was happy the stick and metal that held his leg straight remained in place, the bandana's doing their job. Daniel wondered what it would feel like without those supports, if he would even be able to drag himself up to a partial standing position. If he could call it that considering that if he let go of the DHD Daniel would be flat on his face.
Leaning over the DHD sweat poured down his face with the exertion. Now the nausea had returned at full force, the world spinning before his eyes as his vision blurred. So the concussion had to resurface at some point but why had it been now? Thankfully his half of MRE was staying down in its rightful place so at least one thing was on his side. The same couldn't be said for his vision though as everything was one big blur. Remembering he bent down gingerly for his vest picking it up carefully before putting it on. His belt soon followed, clipping it to his waist but keeping his holster hanging loose. Reaching up to one of the pockets Daniel grabbed his broken glasses from his vest. As he put on the shattered lenses a strange thought came to mind, one that could only come from exhaustion, I have to stop breaking these this is my second pair this year.
Even through cracked lenses his vision was clearer booking another argument of his concussion. Even in perfect health his vision had a tendency to get worse the more tired he got. Staring down at the glyphs on the DHD Earth's address came as instant recall. He couldn't help but smile, hopefully his hard work had paid off. Leaning over carefully he glanced at his handiwork to make double sure that every crystal was in place before dialing, no telling what may occur if one was out of place. He was satisfied or as satisfied as one would be to fix a DHD with no prior experience, he just hoped his mock Sam routine had paid off. Standing back up straight Daniel leaned most of his weight against the DHD. Hands hovering over the stone he began dialing.
It happened in an instant, the unscheduled Gate activation alarm blaring in the base. The klaxon screamed alerting all in the base to their respective posts. In the labs Jack, Sam, and Teal'c were immediately on their feet running at break neck speed to the control room. Jack was first, on point as usual, as he pushed all pain in his body beside as he ran. Sam and Teal'c were directly on his heels very aware of that limp that remained in their team leader even at the fast run. But there wasn't time for worry or caution only to get to the control room and wait for Daniel. If it was Daniel but they held onto hope.
They reached the control room in record time taking their place behind Walter as he watched the consoles. Within seconds of their arrival Hammond slid in next to them running as fast as they were from his office. One thing was on everyone's mind, that one thing being Daniel. Finally he had found a way home or it was the Tok'ra coming to bear either good or bad news. Whatever it was they could only wait.
"Incoming traveler," as if Walter even had to announce.
"IDC?" Hammond asked.
"Not yet," so Tok'ra then.
"Close the iris," Hammond ordered.
"What do we do now?" Jack asked apprehension clear in his voice.
"We wait," Hammond intoned.
Together they all held their breath, closing their eyes as if waiting for a miracle. Even Walter was breathing heavily as he continued to watch the console, desperate to see that familiar IDC flash upon the screen. Now all they had to do was wait even if waiting was the hardest thing any of them had to ever do. Jack continued to watch the Gate as the wormhole shimmered behind the iris and for the first time in years actually said a silent prayer to a god he didn't believe in. Maybe it was time to believe in miracles.