This is a huge turning point in this story that is why this chapter contains about 4500 words. I know it is now prefect but when the story's ready I will read it again and correct anything that is wrong. Soo, enjoy!
God, I so hate myself for mistyping a lot of times. Hope you'll forgive me. :)

Chapter 14

Daniel moved forward slowly, listening to every noise around him. He had been on many missions before, all dangerous and there was always a chance that he might never make it home alive. Those missions were different though. Now he didn't have to worry about getting home in one piece, he was already home. Well, not home as in his house but he was on Earth. But this fact didn't cheer him up. There was still a chance for getting killed and no matter whether or not he was at home; death meant the same thing both cases.

Daniel didn't want to leave the living just yet, but the fear of death wasn't the strongest feeling in him. His heart raced as the thought of finding Vala filled his mind. He had never felt more determined in his life than he felt right now. He knew that if needed, he would give his life for Vala without thinking. He couldn't tell exactly when their relationship developed to the level where he would even die for her, but it just didn't feel important. The fact that Daniel would even face death to save the woman who he cared for more than any other woman he had met in his life was enough.

As he was looking at the back of Cameron who was walking in front of him, Daniel accidentally stepped on a twig and the crunching sound of the wood was loud enough to let the beasts know their position. In that very moment they heard the familiar growl coming from all directions. The three men froze and waited with their breaths held for the inevitable. Lorne checked the life sign detector but it didn't contain any new information. They were being surrounded.

'I screwed up.' Daniel whispered regretfully.

A moment later they could hear the rustling of the leaves join the dreadful growling.

'You did!' Cameron agreed much louder, since they had already given their position away.

The colonel was right. In a brief moment the wolf-wraith beasts appeared from the trees and the trio found themselves encircled by the bloodthirsty mutant creatures. None of them needed to be told what to do; they all started firing at the same moment. The silence that surrounded the trio a minute ago was now replaced by the roar of the firing guns accompanied by the ear-piercing cries of the creatures as the bullets lodged into their fleshes. The creatures took a couple steps backwards trying to get out of the way of the bullets but they soon realized they couldn't, so instead of backing off they started to move forward, the ring of beasts closing up on the firing men.

'We need a plan B!' Lorne shouted as loud as could while he kept firing at the beasts.

They all knew that gunfire wasn't going to stop the mutant creatures. They didn't understand how they could stay alive for this long under these circumstances but in that very moment it didn't matter anyway.

'Run!' Cameron ordered as the highest ranked officer in the trio. There was only one other officer in the trio though but Cameron's rank was higher than Lorne's.

'Where?' Daniel looked around but couldn't see a gap between the wolves where they could have escaped.

Cameron realized the problem and focused his fire on one particular beast. It obviously didn't like the multiplying effect of the gunfire but kept going forward resolutely.

'Shoot this one!' Cameron ordered the others to join in shooting the creature he had chosen.

'What about the others?' Lorne asked dubiously and kept firing on the other beasts which kept closing up on them.

'Just do it!' Cameron ordered. There was no time for explanations.

Neither Daniel nor Major Lorne were a hundred percent sure it was a good idea to turn away from a dozen beasts, giving them the opportunity to attack them without having to face any kind of resistance. But of one thing they were sure, they couldn't keep on shooting forever without running out of bullets sooner or later and that helped them become more decisive. Daniel silently cursed as he turned away to the creature Cameron was shooting at. So did Lorne. Now with their firepower tripled it took them only as much as a couple of seconds to make the wraith fall into the dirty snow. When the dead body hit the cold ground the other, still living creatures were only a couple feet away from the team and they would have only needed a few more seconds to reach their prey. The needed time was not given to them though since the moment there became a gap in the place of the fallen wraith all three stopped firing and fled from their attackers on the escape route they had created. They ran at top speed without really knowing where they would end up but as they heard the strenuous gasping of the beasts behind them they just hoped that they would be able to lose them.

The mutant creatures had obviously preserved the speed of the wolves as they maneuvered between the trees without losing speed. Also whenever the trio suddenly changed direction trying to surprise the beasts they reacted quickly and followed them as if it were the simplest thing in the world. There seemed to be no escape.

After a couple of minutes the three men all started to feel the effects of the long and tiring run and they needed to make hard efforts to prevent themselves from slowing down. They needed to keep their speed up because the creatures behind them kept following relentlessly. The time they spent running felt like forever. Just like as if they were a part of a never ending chase. Lorne checked the life sign detector to see if the direction they were heading there were more wraith beasts waiting for them or not. Not far ahead a little to their right there was another group of blue dots but the left side of the screen was blank.

'This way!' Lorne shouted as he took a sharp turn left.

The others followed without doubting his instincts. Though they were heading to a clear area they didn't have the luxury of losing the chasing wolves.

'There!' Cameron said and pointed at the darkness in front of them.

For a moment none of the others saw what the colonel did but as they took a couple more steps, they could see the huge hole in a stone wall in front of them. It wasn't something that had been created by the nature and Daniel, as an archeologist, could tell that it wasn't built by any known people.

'This is our best chance,' Cameron added as he felt the doubt in the other's hearts.

Cameron himself had doubts whether the cave was a safe place or not but as he looked back over his shoulder at the growling beasts he could tell they would stand a better chance in there than in the open.

Daniel was the first to enter the cavern followed by Lorne and Cameron. When they were all inside they finally stopped but couldn't take the deeply desired rest after the long-distance sprint because of the growling creatures at the mouth of the cave.
The three men turned back to face the beasts and once again started shooting at them hoping they would be able to make them go away. The beasts' painful roaring almost felt natural to the trio. They kept shooting but at first nothing happened. The clips in their P-90s were almost empty and they knew that if they were to reload it would give the opportunity for the beasts to attack and most certainly kill them. They could only hope for a miracle to save them.
Suddenly Lorne raised his hand. 'Hold your fire!'

'They're gonna tear us into pieces.' Daniel replied without moving his finger off of the trigger.

'I don't think so.' Lorne disagreed and lowered his weapon.

To Cameron and Daniel Lorne's words didn't make any sense at the moment but as they thought about it a little longer they realized that during their time on the SGC they had learned that things that don't make any sense do happen.

'I'm so gonna regret this.' Cameron muttered and followed Lorne's example; he also lowered his weapon.

Seeing the other too Daniel couldn't do anything but do as they did so he too stopped firing. They waited silently without moving for the beasts to attack. But in opposition to what they were expecting the beasts kept growling for a couple of second then slowly slouched away. The trio waited for the creatures to return but they didn't.

'Ok, what the hell was that about?' Cameron asked with a perplexed expression on his face.

'No idea here.' Lorne gave an extremely unsatisfying answer. Unsatisfying it was but he didn't have any better.

'Jackson?' The colonel looked at Daniel questioningly, hoping the younger man would be able to give him a better explanation.

Daniel just shrugged and it told Cameron he had no idea either. Daniel spoke after all.

'Whatever it was, I don't think this was just a coincidence.'

'What do you mean?' Lorne was faster to ask the obvious question.

'When you checked the detector you told us to come this way because there were no more of these things here. Then we found this cave where we would have been checkmated if those beasts decided to come for us. But they didn't. They just went away.' Daniel explained.

Hard as it was to believe it was the way it happened.

'So, what do we do…,' Lorne started but he was cut off by a huge scream coming from deeper in the cave.

'What the…,' this time Cameron was cut off by Daniel.

'Vala!'

As Daniel said the name they all realized the archeologist was right. Without waiting for an order from Cameron Daniel stormed away into the darkness of the cave. Cameron knew that orders were unnecessary so he and Lorne followed Daniel.

Daniel didn't care if the others were following him. He didn't care what would be waiting for him on the other end of the tunnel. There was only one thing on his mind, one name that kept repeating in his head like a broken record.

Vala.

oOo

When Vala woke up she found herself sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall of her cell. She didn't remember falling asleep but she felt just as tired as she had been before. That wasn't surprising since sleeping sitting on the cold floor against a rugged stone wall was never too relaxing.

Vala slowly stood up and felt how numb her limbs had become. She started walking around the cell trying to gather her thoughts. She remembered the two voices speaking about some kind of retrovirus and the beasts but couldn't remember the details. Her head was about to explode and she was cold too which certainly didn't make it easier to think either. She couldn't tell exactly how long she had been there in the cavern but by then her eyes got used to the dark. The small cavern she was stuck in was still empty; she was still the only prisoner.

She was about to sit back to the place she now called hers when suddenly she heard voices on the other side of the walls. They came from the same direction as they voices she had heard before and as much as she could tell they were the same. She moved closer to the walls so that she could hear what the two were talking about.

'The hybrids have chased the team here. We just have to wait for them to find us and we will be able to kill them too.' Vala could identify the voice with the one she named First.

'We shall finish this one before the others get here.' Vala could now hear Second's familiar voice too.

'With her death we will become stronger and will kill the rest easily.' First added.

Chills ran down Vala's spine as she heard the short conversation. Her captors could have killed her right away when she was brought here but they didn't. They were waiting for long enough to let Vala think they had other plans. That they wouldn't kill her. Now that last ray of hope was gone.

Suddenly a part of the wall disappeared as if it was just a hologram and two figures appeared in the cavern. Vala wanted to scream but her voice was stuck in her throat.

The two men in front of her were scarier by their looks than their voices. They looked partly human but still they were different. Both had long white hair and they had teeth that were sharper than human's.

They slowly moved closer to Vala who was backing away from them until her back hit the wall behind her. There was nowhere to go. The two wraith were now only a couple of feet from her. Vala laid her hands on the rock behind her hoping it would disappear but it stayed solid. The wraith lifted their hands and Vala spotted the cuts on their palms.

'Say goodbye to this world.' One of the wraith said with a scary grin on his face and when his eyes started to glow Vala couldn't keep her voice inside anymore, she let out a painful scream, one that would probably be her last.

oOo

Vala closed her eyes, waiting for her death when suddenly she heard the familiar sound of a P-90 a few feet away from her. She opened her eyes and saw the surprised faces of the wraith in front of her. The evil grin subsided into a pained expression.

The two hands that were ready to afflict were still in the air. Another series of shots followed the first and the two wraith fell on the ground. Vala looked at the hole in the wall where the wraith entered the cell and saw Daniel, Cameron and Major Lorne standing there with their weapons in their hands.

'I think you should wait with that goodbye.' Daniel said with a warm smile on his face.

'Yeah.' Vala muttered and ran to him, hugging him tight.

Daniel held Vala close to him as a sigh of relief left his mouth. He breathed in her scent but he couldn't get enough of it. He wanted to say and ask so many things but it wasn't the right time.

'I'm so glad you're here.' Vala said with her voice trembling and buried herself deeper into Daniel's embrace.

'It's ok now. It's ok.' Daniel repeated trying to relax her.

'I thought I'd never see you again.' Vala said, sobbing. Tears appeared in her eyes, the tears of relief.

Lorne walked over to the two bodies on the floor, examining them.

'How did these get here?' He asked when he was sure they were really wraith.

'I think the real question is if there are more.' Cameron said, anxiety reflecting on his features.

None of them could answer that question.

'Their eyes glowed.' Vala said as Daniel released her.

'What do you mean glow?' Cameron asked, confused.

'They are Goa'uld.'

'That's impossible.' Daniel stated.

'No. They really are.' Vala assured.

They all knew what danger it would mean if it was true.

'We have to find the others.' Daniel said.

Cameron nodded in accord and tipped his head towards the exit. 'Let's go.'

'What about them?' Major Lorne asked looking at the bodies.

'They're dead,' came the simple answer from Cameron as he left the cavern.

Lorne wasn't fully satisfied with that answer but he didn't argue. After Daniel and Vala he left the cavern too.

One the way out they didn't meet anyone, the tunnel was quiet. Once they were outside Lorne checked the life sign detector but couldn't see that signs of the other team on the screen.

'They're too far away. I can't see them.'

'Great. Do you remember which way we came from?' Daniel asked.

'Maybe.' Lorne answered briefly and headed towards the trees on their right.

The others followed without a word. They all wanted to get as far from the cave as possible.

They had been walking for about ten minutes without meeting anyone or anything when Lorne saw a dot moving in their direction.

'Stop.' He whispered to the others. 'There's someone coming.'

Cameron walked to Lorne and took a look at the screen.

'They usually hunt in groups.' He said as he saw the one lonely dot.

'It might be a wraith we met in the cave.' Vala said hoping she was wrong.

'It might.' Cameron agreed and tightened his grip on his gun.

Soon they could hear the rustling of the leaves, the noise that they identified as danger. Vala moved behind Daniel to take cover and waited for the scary face to appear from the trees.

The sound grew louder and louder when suddenly a dark face appeared in front of them.

'Teal'c!' Cameron shouted but he was rather relieved than angry.

'It is good to see you Cameron Mitchell.' Teal'c said and they could see the relief in his eyes too.

'You too, muscles,' Vala responded as she came out of Daniel's cover.

'It is a pleasure to see you well.' Teal'c said and bowed his head.

'They had no chance of breaking me.'

'I am afraid I have t tell you bad news. It appears that somehow the wraith are possessed by the Goa'uld.' Teal'c informed the team.

'We know. Just met 'em.' Cameron replied.

'We must find O'Neill and Colonel Carter then. They are in grave danger.' Teal'c continued.

'We were just headed for them. You can join us, Teal'c.' Cameron invited the Jaffa and after he nodded they continued their way through the night.

oOo

'Sir, we can't hold them for much longer!' Sam warned while shooting at the beasts around them.

She was standing next to Jack with their backs to each other, fighting tenaciously against the creatures that seemed to be immortal. And when finally they succeeded in killing one, two had already taken its place.

'See that, Carter.' Jack replied. 'We should change strategy.'

'I think we should simply run.'

'That's what I was gonna say, go!' Jack ordered.

They stopped firing and ran into the woods where they hoped the beasts were not going to be able to find them. For some time they could hear the wraith creatures behind them but as they kept running they managed to get farther away from their pursuers. Jack was the first to get tired and he noticed that he couldn't keep up with Sam on full speed. When Sam noticed Jack was falling behind she stopped and turned back towards the general.

'Come on, sir. Over here!' Sam gestured with a flourish of her arm.

Jack kept running until he reached Sam and they moved to a fallen tree that was next to the path they had come on. It seemed to provide them the refuge they needed. After a couple of minutes passed without the voices of the beasts they relaxed a bit.

They sat down on the ground and leaned against the trunk of the huge tree. As the moon lit that part of the forest Jack could see the face of Sam covered with blood and a few scars. She was exhausted more that Jack first thought.

'You alright?' He asked apprehensively. He was worried about Sam.

'Yes, sir.' She answered without looking at Jack but she couldn't lie to him. He knew her just too well. 'I'm not.' She confessed.

'It's gonna be okay.' Jack said and sent an uncertain smile towards Sam.

She wanted to believe it would.

Silence fell on the two of them and all they could hear were the sounds of the first raindrops as they hit the ground. As she felt the wet drops on her skin, Sam closed her eyes and turned her face towards the sky letting the falling rain wash the blood from her face. The rain continued to fall heavier and it felt refreshing as the cool water streamed down on Sam's face. When Jack turned towards her he didn't see a tired soldier next to him but the most beautiful woman in the world. He could have just sat there and watched her forever.

Slowly Sam lowered her head and looked at the ground in front of her. Jack kept his eyes on her but she didn't seem to notice. They kept listening to the rain until Sam suddenly turned to Jack and looked straight into his brown eyes and from that Jack knew she was aware of him staring at her the whole time. Even in the faint light Jack got lost in the blue ocean of Sam's eyes.

'I meant what I said earlier.' She said.

As the words reached Jack's mind he returned to reality and put the serious soldier mask back on his face.

'Which was…?' He left the end of the question hanging in the air as if he didn't remember.

'About my feelings. That I want to be with you. When you said there is always hope, it truly made me believe that there's a chance for us.'

She truly surprised him. Jack never would have thought she was going to bring the subject up. His gaze fell on a lonely rock on the ground in front of him. He let out a painful sigh before he spoke.

'It's not always about what we want.' Every word came out of his mouth as a whisper.

'Why?' Sam cried letting her emotions take control over her. Jack words deeply hurt her and she felt her eyes become wet, this time not from the rain but from tears.

He looked into her eyes and answered this time more distinctly. 'Come on, Carter. I'm a fifty-year-old Air Force general. You can't think there's still chance for us.'

His own words hurt him almost as much as they hurt Sam and they weren't easy to say.

'I don't think. I know.' She said fighting her tears.

'No. It's too late for Sam and Jack.'

Sam hardly believed what she just heard. For the past ten years she had secretly believed that one day her dreams would come true. Ten years of hope and it was torn apart in a second. She felt like Jack had just stabbed her in the heart with a dagger.

Jack turned away from her. He couldn't look into her eyes because he knew the pain and hurt he would see would kill him. The rain kept falling monotonously, the drops hitting the ground with a certain rhythm.

Sam kept gazing Jack's features, trying to decipher his expression but it seemed that he meant what he said.

Somewhere in the distance they heard a beast's cry fill the silence. Sam hesitated whether or not she should say what she was going to say and decided there was nothing to lose.

'Sir, if we don't make it I want you to know that,' she started but was cut off by Jack.

'Nobody's gonna die, Carter. We all gonna make it out alive and have…cake.' The words that at other times would make Sam smile didn't have the desired effect. He knew it wouldn't cheer her up but he had to give it a try.

'Kiss me.' She suddenly said.

'Excuse me?' He couldn't believe that after all he had said she really did ask him to kiss her.

'I need to know something. Please, Jack.' Her heart was broken but she couldn't let him go without knowing what it felt like. 'One kiss.'

Her tone was begging and Jack couldn't say no. He slowly leaned in to kiss her. Sam closed her eyes and moved towards Jack. Their lips almost met when a sudden cry broke the silence only mere feet away from them.

Jack immediately reacted and pulled away from Sam, taking his P-90 into his hands and looked into the direction of the voice, searching for its source. Across from them a beast appeared from the woods and ran towards them. Jack sprang up as fast as he could and jumped between Sam and the beast before the creature could have reached her. He started shooting but the beast had come too close by then. Jack kept firing resolutely but knew there was no use. The beast reached him and with a huge flourish of its fore-foot it ripped his BDU shirt apart, tearing up his chest with the same move. The sudden pain Jack felt was worse than anything he had felt before. Jack fell to his knees and his hands couldn't hold his P-90 anymore, it hit the ground beside him. The world around him became blurred, the voices became distorted. He could hear Sam crying 'no' behind him and then the sound of her P-90. The rest of his strength had slipped away and he couldn't keep kneeling; he fell to his side. He couldn't sort the voices around him anymore; everything had become a huge blur. He rolled to his back as he was trying to breathe, unsuccessful. He couldn't tell how much time had passed when he felt Sam's arms around him. She kneeled beside him and moved him to her lap, resting his head against her chest. He heard her crying and it made him even weaker.

'Please Jack, hold on.' She begged him, sobbing. She saw his blood had impregnated his shirt and knew the end was close.

Jack gathered his last strength and whispered his last words, almost imperceptibly. 'I'm sorry.'

'Don't die, Jack, I need you.' Her begging was mixed with hysterical sobs. She held him close to her, never wanting to let go.

Jack felt as life left his body and slowly everything started to darken around him. The last breath escaped his lips and his eyelids slowly closed, leaving him in eternal darkness.

Sam laid a light kiss on his silver hair and whispered the words he would never have the chance to hear.

'I love you.'

~TBC