Chapter 6

The temperature must have been less than twenty degrees, Sam thought as she quietly followed Jack in the fog, totally reclining upon him. They had been walking for five minutes or so but nothing crossed their way and they couldn't hear anything that would assume the beasts were still looking for them. She knew Teal'c was right behind her but she couldn't help but look back over her shoulder to make sure everything was ok. It seemed as if the fog had thickened because Sam could barely see the back of the general in front of her and she knew she was following him from the same distance.

'Sir, can we stop for a second, I barely feel my fingers.' Sam asked.

Jack stopped and turned back to the other two following him.

'Ok. We haven't found anything in the last ten minutes anyway so a couple of minutes shouldn't hurt.'

Sam put her P-90 on the ground and sat down on a fallen branch next to the path they were following.

'These jeans don't keep the cold out as much as a BDU would.' Sam complained as she tried to warm her hand up by breathing warm air on them.

'No, but you look nicer in these.' Jack tried with a compliment.

Sam wasn't expecting something like that. She blushed and for the first time during the night she was glad that nor Jack neither Teal'c saw her face thanks to the thick fog. She could barely see her hands in front of her. She didn't know what to say so she stayed quiet.

'So Teal'c, how's your son?' Jack asked out of the blue.

'I do not know why that is important now.' Teal'c answered almost inaudibly.

'Do I have to have a reason to ask about your family?'

A short period of silence settled on the forest.

'He is fine,' came the usual length answer.

'That's good.' Jack tried to keep the conversation going, though it was pretty one sided.

'Indeed.'

'We can go if you want, sir.' Sam interrupted.

'Ok. Let's go.' Jack said and waited for Sam to get up then continued walking.

We could go on the whole night without finding anything again, Jack thought as he pushed a huge branch aside from the path. They had only met one of the beasts so far and actually it was the creature who had found them. Jack started to think that if those things didn't want them to find them they wouldn't probably be able to.

'We're not finding too much of the beast just yet.' Jack stated. 'I'll ask Mitchell if they were more successful.

The general was about to touch the radio when Daniel's worried voice suddenly exploded from the speaker.

'Jack, come in!'

'What's going on Daniel?' Jack asked immediately. He could hear the fear in the archeologist's voice.

'We've been attacked. Cameron's injured and one of those things took Vala. We need help.'

'Where are you?' Jack shouted as he geared up.

'I don't know. I'll send a signal, listen!'

Jack stopped and so did Sam and Teal'c. It took only a second until they heard a series of shots not too far to their left.

'What's going on?' Sam asked worriedly.

'They were attacked. Let's go.' Jack informed her.

They all headed in the direction. They shouldn't be that far. Jack ran as quickly as he could but before they could have reached the others they could hear the familiar cry coming exactly from in front of them. The fog blocked the view but they all knew the creature couldn't be too far from them. Jack lifted his P-90 so that he could get a better view in the not too much light the weapon's lamp provided.

'This is bad.' Sam told them as she looked around for the beast.

'Ya think?' Jack asked using his good old sarcasm.

Another cry followed the first one this time from a bit farther. Jack was ready to fire any time but it wasn't him who needed to use his weapon first. He could hear the sound of Teal'c's staff weapon followed by an orange blast disappearing in the fog. Sam and Jack pointed their weapons in the direction where the blast had disappeared and they didn't have to wait too long until the head of the deadly beast appeared in the fog heading in their direction. They fired their weapons as one and as the bullets reached their target the monster cried out in pain. The beast tried to flee when it knew it was dangerous to stay but Teal'c reacted quickly and stood in the way the monster wanted to go and fired his staff weapon sending a blast right into the face of their attacker. The dead wolf like creature fell on the ground with one final cry and then no sound left its mouth.

'One down, gods know now many more to go.' Jack said trying to ease the tension.

'Actually, sir, it's two down. We've already killed one yesterday.' Sam corrected. For the time she had been fighting the monster she had forgotten about how cold it was but after the beast moved no more she had to face the sad fact again.

'Whatever. I'm sure there's much more to go.' Jack kicked into the body lying in front of him making sure it was really dead. Once he was certain he remembered Daniel needed help and continued his way in the direction of the shots Daniel sent earlier.

As they get closer to the place they could hear as several beasts moved around them but none of them attacked and until they couldn't see them either there was no point in attacking.

'They are circling us.' Sam told the others.

'Our first priority is to find Daniel and Mitchell. These things can wait.' Jack answered but he was worried as well.

Sam passed by a tree and she spotted Cameron sitting on the ground with Daniel standing next to him.

'Over here!' She called for the others.

Soon Jack and Teal'c appeared next to her.

'How bad is it?' Jack asked Daniel nodding in the direction of Mitchell.

'I don't know. He fell during firing on those beasts and he blacked out. Now he's awake but it might be a slight concussion. I'm not a doctor.' Daniel told the situation to his CO.

'What about Vala?'

'When Cameron fell I quit firing and went to him to help. I left Vala alone. They must have taken her then.'

'Ok. There's no point in fighting now, we have to fall back.' Jack ordered.

'What? We can't leave. Not without Vala.' Daniel argued. He was worried Vala more than the others. She meant a lot to him.

'No, Daniel. We can come back later but now we don't have good chances.'

'She might be dead by now.' Daniel tried to convince Jack.

'And Mitchell might be dead if we don't go back right now.' Jack raised his voice decisively.

'Jack, we can't leave her!' Daniel shouted. 'If you don't want to help, I'll go myself.'

Daniel turned around and took a step towards the trees but Jack grabbed his arm before he could get away.

'Daniel!' Jack turned the younger man and looked him in the eye. 'There's no time to argue. This is not an option, this is an order. If you don't like it, go and get yourself killed. But we don't know where she was taken and I doubt we could follow any tracks.'

He could see in Daniel's eyes he wanted to leave and try to find Vala without thinking but he also knew Jack was right. Maybe it was his feelings that would lead him into the forest after the woman he cared about.

'Sir!' Sam called for Jack. 'We got company!'

Jack turned in her direction without releasing Daniel and saw two monsters appearing among the trees.

'Great.' He muttered and turned back to Daniel. 'We're gonna find her. I promise. But not now.'

Daniel reluctantly nodded, admitting Jack was right.

'Good.' Jack said and turned to the beast approaching them. He joined Sam and Teal'c who had already been firing at them.

One of the two beasts was defeated and fell on the ground helplessly. Before they could be pleased two other appeared from the fog replacing their fallen mate.

'If we want to move we have to do it now, sir. They are getting more. I don't know if we can hold them for long.' Sam shouted trying to be louder than the combined sound of the P-90s and the cries of the wounded beasts.

Jack sent out a couple more bullets then kneeled down next to Cameron.

'Can you move?'

'I hope so.' He answered weakly.

Jack stood back up and turned to Daniel.

'Help Mitchell and follow us.'

Daniel nodded and helped Cameron to stand up. He put Mitchell's arm around his shoulder and wrapped his around his waist acting like a crutch. Jack was watching them and when they were ready he shouted fallback and moved away from the others, keeping firing at the monsters. The others followed him trying to keep the beasts as far from them as possible. Jack knew the forest quite well but in the fog he wasn't sure which way to go. He approximately orientated the direction of his house and headed that way. They didn't fire anymore; it would have only slowed them down. This way they could run with full power and had a better chance to get away from the hunters.

Teal'c was behind Daniel and Cameron watching their back and as he heard that the creatures got closer and closer to them he stopped, took a 180 spin and targeted the beast closest to him. He fired twice and it seemed to have slowed the beast down so he followed the others.

Jack knew they were getting closer to the clearing where the house stood but he also heard the heavy breathing of the monsters around him. He didn't stop to fire; he just hoped they would get out of the forest before the beasts reached them.

Suddenly he heard a thud from behind him and he knew something was wrong. Jack stopped and turned back to see what happened and saw Sam lying on the ground.

'Carter!'

'It's ok, sir. I just stumbled. I'm fine.' She relaxed Jack and quickly stood up.

Daniel, Mitchell and Teal'c had fallen behind since they were moving slower than Sam and Jack so the two of them had a little time to rest until they caught up.

'It's gonna be ok. We're close.' Jack told Sam while they were waiting for Daniel and the others.

'Yes, sir.'

As she said that Daniel appeared in the fog and they continued their way. By every moment the run got more and more tiring but they couldn't stop. Suddenly a grey head appeared in front of them but Jack didn't stop, he just lifted his P-90 and fired. It was enough for the beast to back away and free the path they were going.

'We better get there soon, because I can't hold on much more.' Cameron shouted sending his words to Jack.

His wish was granted and a moment later the fog disappeared and they caught themselves standing on the clearing with the small frozen pond in front of them.

Jack turned back to the others.

'Ok. Daniel, get Mitchell into the house. Carter, go with them. Teal'c and I will cover you.'

Everybody nodded letting Jack know they understood their task. Sam led the way for Daniel and Cameron while Jack and Teal'c turned back towards the forest waiting for the beasts to appear and shoot them. They didn't have to wait for long, after a minute of waiting the first wolf-like creature appeared. Neither of them hesitated to fire. Among loud cries, the beast continued approaching them, only a little slower.

'We can't hold them for too long!' Teal'c shouted.

'Come on.' Jack told him and back away from the beast following Sam and the others.

Teal'c fired one last time and followed his friend towards the house. They couldn't see but they heard as more beasts joined the first one. As Jack ran he heard the voices of their hunters fade. He looked back over his shoulder and saw that the four beasts following them had stopped. He didn't want to think about the reasons, he just had to reach the house and think later.

Sam opened the door and let Daniel and Cameron in then went back to wait for Jack and Teal'c. They were there within a minute and stopped before Sam, breathing heavily.

'What happened?' She asked when she discovered there were no animals following them.

'I don't know.' Jack answered between two breaths. 'Let's go inside.'

When they were all inside the house Sam locked the door behind her.

They went into the living room where Cameron had already lied down on his bed. He was barely conscious.

'How is he?' Sam asked when she got there.

'He's weak. He must have hit his had pretty badly. He's barely awake.' Daniel answered. He wasn't a doctor but he could tell that Cameron wasn't good.

'Jack, get a wet towel.' Daniel asked.

Jack didn't hesitate, he went into the bathroom and a minute later he returned with a white towel. Sam took it from him and placed it on Cameron's forehead. The cold cotton cooled his head and Cameron felt a little better from it, though his head ached as hell.

'You're gonna be ok.' Sam soothed Cameron.

'I hope so.' Sam could hear his weak voice.

'Have a sleep. That's gonna help.' She suggested.

Cameron slowly closed his eyes and it didn't take too long for him to fall asleep. Sam was sitting next to his chair the whole time, she only stood up when she was sure he had fallen asleep.

Teal'c, Daniel and Jack were sitting at the dining table quietly, lost in their thoughts. Sam walked to the table but didn't sit down.

'I think he's gonna be ok.' She said. 'Though I don't know how bad it is.'

They didn't answer, there was nothing to say.

Daniel seemed to be the angriest of all. He could have gone after Vala. He might have been able to save her.

'We'll find her, Daniel.' Jack told him as if he were reading his thoughts.

Daniel didn't answer; he was just staring at the table in front of him.

'We don't leave anyone behind. This isn't gonna change. Not now, not ever.'

Daniel looked at Jack. 'I really hope so, Jack.'

He then stood up and walked back to the living room.

'Why did they stop?' Sam asked Jack who first didn't know what she was talking about.

'Those creatures. They didn't follow you to the house.' Sam explained when she saw his questioning look.

'I don't know, Carter. But I don't really care right now.'

'I understand, sir.'

Jack stood up and faced the colonel. 'Let's go have some rest.'

'What about Vala?' Sam asked.

'We'll figure it out.' Jack answered but didn't know if he could keep a promise like that. He was hoping he could.

So was Sam. She smiled weakly at Jack. 'Yes, we will.'

~TBC