Chapter 7
Kale watched in solemn yet relieved silence as the gate locked each chevron preparing to send him home. Despite the corruption, murders, and attempted still to be attempted he ached in his heart for home. Not all of his people were rotted in the soul and were worthy of saving. It was the task his father had passed on to him when he'd died. Save, protect, and guide the people that were still good at heart. It was going to be long, it was going to be hard, but it would be a noble cause. He had to admit, only to himself, that despite Colonel O'Neill's words, he was surprised he was being allowed to leave, let alone unpunished, after what his people had done to their friend. It was not what he'd expected. The sound of footsteps approaching pulled him from his reverie to see Jack O'Neill coming towards him.
"So you all packed. Got your souvenirs? Towels and soap from our bathroom?" Kale cocked his head sideways slightly confused.
"Why would I steal your towels and…soap?" Jack shook his head and sighed.
"Never mind. You ready to go home?" Kale smiled sadly.
"Yes Sir, I am." he looked back slightly awed by the gate still as it continued to lock coordinates.
"And you're sure you want to go back. The people do intend to kill you, you know" Jack tried again. He felt almost guilty letting the child go back among a people that would try to kill him and a world of nations about to be torn apart by war, already infested with corruption.
"I must. I owe it to my people. Not all of them are corrupt and deserve someone to help save them from the others." Kale continued to stare at the gate.
"Here, Daniel insisted we give you one of these, General Hammond and I weren't against it either. It's a GDO. It's what we use to send that code you were given. If you get into a bind and need supplies or to move to a new planet if it comes to that, just send us the message. But don't ever come through yourself without sending the code and use giving you word the iris is open. There's no coming back from going through with the iris closed." Jack handed it to him giving a stern, almost paternal stare.
"I will. Thank you." Kale smiled and tucked it into a hidden pocket of his cloak.
"And remember. We won't ever give you weapons for war. Food, medical supplies, that kind of thing. We don't meddle in war however." he reminded acutely.
"I will. We have no interest in war. And those who are we are leaving behind in the old village. Will you give this letter to Dr. Daniel Jackson when he is recovered?" he handed out a yellowed paper rolled with a string tying it closed.
"Yes, I'll make sure he gets it." O'Neill took it gently careful not to crush or bend the fragile paper.
"I give you my most abundant thanks. Also, in one month's time I will be leaving a gift of sorts buried on the right side of the table of symbols at the gate. There will be a rock upon the spot to mark where the gift is buried. It is for Daniel. I know there is nothing we can do to compensate for what's been done to him, but I believe he will take great pleasure in what will be found there, and it is my belief that the items will be far safer in his hands, then my own people's" Jack looked at him quizzically.
"What's the party favor?" he quipped mildly.
"Huh?" Jack lolled his head back for a moment and sighed heavily.
"What are you leaving?" he corrected.
"Oh, it will be all my people's historical documents. I will have copies but I think the originals are much safer with him and I know he will appreciate them more than anyone at home. Please, make sure he gets it. One month's time, I know you have the means of making sure there are none at the gate and I will not send anyone to make sure you get it. It will not be safe to leave someone at the gate to await your arrival for the documents."
"He'll sure appreciate it Kale. Are you sure you want to do that though? Your people might not appreciate giving away the originals of their history." he tried sounding unsure and hoped to give the kid a second chance.
"No, he deserves them and like I said, we will have copies. Besides, with this GDO I could always request them once more if they were truly needed. And if he is the character I suspect, he will try to give them back regardless once he's studied them and learned all he can." the gate whooshed to life startling Kale slightly.
Jack chuckled, "You're right, he will. Good luck Kale. You're a good kid and I wish you and some of your people the best of luck" Kale smiled.
"I thank you for all you've done Colonel O'Neill. It is my hope that in the future, pray it not be too distant, we will have eradicated all corruption and can become the open allies we'd spoken of so hopefully before the council betrayed us both.
"That's something to strive for Kale, I know you'll do your best. Stay safe and well." Jack sighed heavily as the child went through the gate without looking back. He was too young to take such a burden on his shoulders. He shouldn't have to deal with leading his people into schism, the corrupt and those still clinging to goodliness, facing his father's murder and attempts on his own life. It would be hard for sure and he worried that childhood was forever lost. He shook his head and trudged back to the infirmary.
Teal'c was in the middle of meditation on the cot by Daniel's bedside still. O'Neill knew he'd be there. They were all there as much as they could be. A couple of days had gone by since Jacob carter had done everything he could with the healing device and they knew for sure that the archaeologist would live now. It was like a dead weight of dread and fear had been lifting from their shoulders when Janet had declared with complete assurances that their friend would live. Since then he'd slept. That was all he did. Rarely did he wake and it was to disorientation and insecurity. They were quick to chase away the unease with their presences and soothing words. Sleep would take him again once they'd reassured him.
The nightmares had begun to plague him since the night before. Jack was their sole destructor. He was always the one present in the dead of night when they would creep from the recesses of Daniel's mind to torment him. It wasn't a surprise to Jack. After seeing the way they'd found Daniel he'd known they would come. He knew they would be fierce and linger longer than others his friend had to endure. But endure he would. Daniel always endured, breaking past everything the universe threw his way. No matter what they chucked his way Daniel survived. It was simply what he was; a survivor. He brushed the hair out of his closest friend's face, checked him over as he often did unable to shake the fear of something else happening to him when not under his vigilant watch, then settled into the chair.
That was Janet leapt upon him.
Her eyes were flashing with a vengeful gleam. Her wrath, like fire, and the fear he'd caused her would be requited tenfold. He threw up his hands defensively, leaping from his chair, ignored by Teal'c, and tried to talk his way out of her war path. It was no use. She could not be dissuaded, bribed, charmed, or threatened out of her revenge. It was time to face the pain and pay his penance. No one could save him.
Inoculation day.
In no time flat, with a shamefully short, ineffectual resistance, she hand him sequestered, privacy curtain drawn, bent irreverently over a hospital bed, flanks bared for abuse. He chewed his lip fearfully, something he would never confess to, while Janet prepared the syringes.
"Janet, it was an accident. I didn't mean to give as much as I did all at once." he pleaded nervously.
"Colonel you are an adult, mostly intelligent, experienced colonel, I didn't mean to just won't cut it." She countered flatly.
JAB.
Jack grunted in pain and winced. One shot down…who knows how many to go.
"He needed blood. He was losing more than I put into him. What did you expect me to do?" he argued with a wheedling tone.
WHAM!
Jack gave a repetitive, vocal, gasping like similar to the squeal made when someone drops an ice cube down the back of one's shirt.
"I expected you to be intelligent. Giving blood was fine Colonel, giving so much at one time was just stupid." her tone was harsh and unforgiving. Jack knew that once her vengence was through and her point made he would be forgiven and in her good graces once more. Yes he knew he should have been smarter and paid closer attention to how much he'd given, but he wasn't going to say it now. He'd take his sentencing like a man.
"I was saving Daniel's life Doc. He needed the blood and I had it to spare. I would do it again any day." he snipped defensively.
WHAM!
"You nearly killed yourself Colonel Jack O'Neill. Next time you decided to give blood show a little sensibility and let your body recover and make up some blood for itself. You nearly killed yourself!"
JAB!
WHAM!
"Aw hell…" Jack blinked back tears and failed to choke back a whimper his legs starting to shake, "I would…would do it again. Even if…if it killed me…." wrong answer.
STAB!
JAB!
WHAM!
Was she actually giving him inoculations or just stabbing him? The tears escaped alone with a groan.
"No matter the situation Colonel his, and anyone else's, odds are a good deal higher if you don't actually die before they're rescued. Did you think of that?" she countered without missing a beat.
WHAM!
Jack jerked forward with a gasp as the tears let loose. He brushed them away angrily. She would not break him. She would not break him.
"Doc…he's….he's worth it…" he gasped struggling to breathe around the dread of that next needle. Is she done yet? Am I gonna live through this? She will not break me. She will not break me. She will not break me.
"Yes Colonel, he is." deceptively, dangerously calm was her voice.
STAB!
Jack O'Neill broke. Anyone present would have heard him scream like a little girl, tears streaking down his face as he was crushed beneath Dr. Janet Fraiser's unrelenting, insurmountable wrath. Forgotten by all by Daniel's bedside, in meditation yet not unaware of went on not far from his position sat Teal'c taking mental notes, for future blackmail, as he listened to the mighty, manly Colonel Jack O'Neill beg for mercy.
A smile played across his lips.