Just a short chapter tonight folks. Sorry – didn't really have time but didn't want to leave you all hanging (at least with that chapter!) Enjoy.
"Jack!" Sam screamed, running towards the fallen man. What was going on? Why had Teal'c tried to shoot her? Before she had a chance to get to the Colonel she was grabbed and held.
"Teal'c, let me go. What are you doing? Jack is hurt." She struggled, desperately trying to get free.
"No, you will not harm him." Teal'c answered.
"Harm him? You're the one who harmed him, not me."
"It was because of you that he is injured. If it had not been for you he would not be lying hurt or killed."
"Well he is lying hurt so I suggest you two move out of my way." Daniel rushed past Sam and went to check on his friend. He'd been worried that something like this would happen.
He bent over Jack, who wasn't moving. Oh God, what if he were dead? Daniel reached down with a shaking hand and touched O'Neill's neck. After a couple of seconds he could feel a pulse – too slow – but there.
He looked up at Sam and Teal'c, both looking at him with fear in their eyes. "He's alive. Sam, help me check him out. I don't know how badly he's been hurt." He looked down again, trying to determine how serious the wound was.
Sam tried to pull away but Teal'c held her fast. "Teal'c, let me go."
"No, you will not hurt him."
"For God's sake Teal'c, let her go!" Daniel shouted. He'd had enough of this. "She's the one who knows first aid. She's not going to hurt him because I'm right here. You can watch her too but just let her go!"
Reluctantly, with suspicion in his eyes, the Jaffa released his former friend and colleague who instantly ran to Jack. Kneeling she began to check him to see where, and how bad, the wound was.
It was difficult to tell in the moonlight; she wished she had a flashlight. No, cancel that, she thought. If she was going to wish it would be that this was nothing more than a nightmare and that they were all home playing cards or watching a moving at Jack's house.
"Daniel, help me remove his vest. I can't see what's wrong." Together, the two of them removed the Jaffa breastplate. Once she'd thrown it to the side she leaned down and tried to examine the Colonel. She could feel the wet stickiness on his chest and knew that he was bleeding. How badly it was impossible to tell.
"Damn! I can't see. How am I supposed to help him when I don't even know what's wrong." Almost instantly a light flared beside her. Glancing up she could see Teal'c holding some kind of lit torch. The glitter from his eyes was fierce, but at least he was helping.
"Thank you."
"I do it to help O'Neill." He answered without emotion.
Ignoring him she returned to the Colonel. She could now see blood slowly oozing from the wound in his side. Because it was a staff wound there was less blood than if he had been shot as staff weapons tended to cauterize the blood vessels. Although that was good, the problem was it caused deep burns, which were incredibly painful and incredibly dangerous.
"I need some water. I have to clean this up and cool it down."
"How bad is it?" Daniel asked.
"It could have been worse. It looks like his armor helped and that he didn't receive the full blast. I don't think anything vital was hit but it's still dangerous. It can easily get infected and he wasn't in great shape to begin with."
"Why, what –"
"Daniel – we can talk later. Right now I need water and bandages. We have a craft hidden 500 meters or so from here. If you both can help get the Colonel back I expect there are supplies there."
"Okay. Teal'c, can you help me carry him? Let's get going." Daniel stood and beckoned his friend over. Still watching Sam carefully, Teal'c walked over and helped lift the Colonel.
"How do we know she is telling the truth Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked. "This may be a trick to get us to go to her master."
"Oh, for god sakes Teal'c, what the hell is wrong with you? I haven't hurt the Colonel and I'm not in league with a Goa'uld or anyone else for that matter. The Colonel is my friend and right now, all I'm concerned about is helping him. Come on." She turned and started to lead the way through the forest. After a slight pause Teal'c and Daniel followed, holding O'Neill between them.
It seemed to take forever but they finally arrived at the vessel. After checking to make sure the way was clear, Sam led the rest of her team into the spacecraft and indicated that they should lay Jack on the floor.
She immediately knelt beside him and checked his wound again. Feeling his forehead she looked worried and, turning to Teal'c, she spoke. "Do you recognize this vessel? I've never seen one before and we didn't have time to check everything out. Can you find where they keep the supplies?"
Teal'c didn't answer but turned instead to Daniel. "Watch her carefully. I shall get the needed items." He then walked back into the vessel, leaving the others in the main cabin.
"What's wrong with him Daniel? Why is he acting this way?" Daniel looked at her closely, still feeling unsure of what he should be thinking and feeling.
"Uh – we discovered on the planet – you know P8V 359 – that women are uh – you know – bad."
"WHAT!"
"Well, it seemed right at the time. It felt like a revelation, that women were the ones responsible for evil in the world. That's when we figured out that you had betrayed Jack and got him kidnapped. It seems – seemed true Sam. I'm still not … quite sure." He looked uncomfortable.
"Are you telling me that you actually believed this crap?"
"Well, maybe it's true!" he defended angrily.
"True? You've known me for how long Daniel? Have I ever betrayed any of our team – or anyone from our planet for that matter? How could you believe that even for a second? I thought you were my friend." The last words ended on a sob. She'd been so thrilled to see her friends, thinking that finally they were going to be okay and now, everything was turned upside down.
She felt even more exhausted and sick than she had before. She could also feel herself getting weaker. She didn't know if it was worry, or the walk through the forest, or the anger she felt at her friends, but she started to feel as if she were going to pass out.
"Daniel." She groaned as she began to fall over.
"Sam!" He rushed over and grabbed her just before her head hit the floor. Now what was wrong? Just then Teal'c returned, his arms full of supplies. Seeing Daniel so close to Major Carter, he quickly dropped everything and ran over.
"What did she do Daniel Jackson?"
"She didn't do anything Teal'c. She just passed out." Looking back at Sam he began to gently slap her cheeks. "Come on Sam, wake up. We have to help Jack." After a couple of more slaps she started to regain consciousness.
"Wha' ?" she muttered.
"Come on Sam. Let's help Jack." Pulling her to a sitting position he watched as she gathered herself together. She was incredibly pale and, for the first time, Daniel realized there was something wrong with Sam as well.
"Here, I'll help." He reached over and took the supplies, pulling things out as best he could. There was not a lot as Jaffa didn't require much in the way of first aid but at least there were some bandages. Teal'c had also brought a pitcher filled with water.
Sam took the preferred items and began to tenderly dress the wound. She poured water over it, not only to clean it but also to try and cool the flesh. She again felt Jack's forehead. Sighing she then began to bandage the wound.
"How is he?" Daniel was looking down at his friend, noticing how incredibly pale and thin he looked. This was more than just this recent wound. Jack had been wounded or ill before this happened.
"I think he's okay for now but he wasn't well to begin with." As she finished with the bandages she took some of the blankets and tucked them around the Colonel. She then took another folded one and placed it under his head.
"You said that before. What was wrong?"
"I don't know. He was tortured but then he seemed to be okay. But then, just in the last few days, he's developed some kind of sickness. He's cold all the time – so cold he can barely talk or walk for the shivering. He's weak and I know feels awful, although he doesn't say much."
"Of course not." Daniel muttered. "He'd be dying and he still would say nothing."
"I just wish I could figure it out. I don't know what's wrong but he's not getting better. I'm so scared Daniel. I don't know what to do!" Daniel reached over and hugged her, trying to offer some support. He glanced up and saw Teal'c glaring at him. Great, now he was probably under suspicion as well.
Just at that moment they heard a soft groan and looked down. Jack was beginning to come around.
He slowly opened his eyes. It took him a bit before his eyes focused but then he saw his three closest friends in the universe all looking down at him. He closed his eyes, feeling that everything was right with the world. Sam was beside him as was Daniel, Teal'c was standing to the side, glaring at - ! What? Why was Teal'c glaring? He opened his eyes and looked at his large friend again. Suddenly, it came back to him – Sam walking towards him, Teal'c lifting his staff weapon and then firing, him jumping in front – oh crap!
"Teal'c", he gasped. "What the hell did you do?" He looked over at his friend. Why would he try and shoot Carter?
"I was trying to protect you O'Neill."
"Protect me? From what?"
"It was from whom, O'Neill. I was trying to protect you from Major Carter."
He groaned in remembrance. That damn planet. Somehow Teal'c had been infected with that woman-hating virus. Hey, he suddenly thought, what about Daniel?
"Daniel?" He turned to the younger man. "You too?"
"Uh, I'm not sure Jack. I'm pretty sure Sam is okay but I figure we'd better be careful."
"I heard that Daniel!" Sam then moved closer to Jack. "Sir, are you all right?"
"Fi-
"Don't say it!"
"Okay, my side is killing me and I feel like I want to puke. That better Major?" He really was hurting. It was strange, he thought. His side felt like it was on fire and the rest of him felt like it was frozen. Frozen fire! Great!
Sam leaned down and gently stroked his forehead, moving the hair from his eyes and trying to offer comfort. He allowed himself to drift, relishing the feeling of her touch.
"I'm sorry Sir. I don't have any painkillers but you're going to be okay. The wound wasn't too bad."
"Good" he murmured. He felt so tired; all he wanted to do was to drift off to sleep.
"So Jack" a faint voice reached him in his dreamlike state. "What should we do now?"
Hmmmm, he thought. Do? How about we all just rest awhile. Carter can curl up beside me and snuggle and the rest of you can go away. How's that?
There was a strange, and profound silence that suddenly filled the spacecraft. Jack, his eyes still closed, tried to figure out what was causing it. It was only when he opened them and looked up at his friends that he realized what he'd done. Sam's face was bright red and she wouldn't meet his eyes. Daniel looked surprised, a little shocked and a little pleased. Teal'c just looked angry. Shit, he'd just said that out loud, hadn't he.
"Uh sorry. Just a little delirious." Damn, he'd have to watch himself.
"Okay Jack" Daniel answered a little hesitatingly. "So, what are we going to do?"
Teal'c was the first to answer. "They will be suspicious by now that we have not returned. They may have sent a search party out to find us."
"Damn! I totally forgot." Daniel turned to Jack. "We were just going for a short walk. The other Jaffa will wonder what's happened to us."
"How", Jack coughed which caused him to curl in on himself, the movement causing the pain from the burn to escalate. Sam held his hand tightly as he tried to breathe through the pain. When he'd finally calmed down he started again. "How did you get mixed up with Ba'al and what's happening at the SGC?"
This time Daniel looked plain guilty although Teal'c still looked angry. God, thought Jack, he is one pissed Jaffa today.
"Well, we uh kind of ran away from the SGC. We thought it was in the control of Janet and her women and we wanted to find you. We found out that Ba'al had heard about you and Sam and that he was planning to buy your – well, I mean we heard he might know where you were so we pretended to join in his service."
"Oh". Jack lay there for a moment, taking in Daniel's words. A small grin began to appear on his face. "Janet?" He then began to chuckle. "Ow, don't make me laugh. Are you telling me that you think itsy bitsy Doc Frasier is a criminal mastermind out to overthrow the men of the world? Oh God, don't tell me you actually believed this Daniel? And you Teal'c? How could you buy this? Don't you see that you've been infected by something? Don't you remember those men on that planet and how disgusting we all thought they were?" By the end of his speech he was gasping. He wasn't sure if it was the wound or the fact that his 'medicine' was beginning to wear off again.
"It does sound kind of crazy when you think about it Jack." Daniel was beginning to feel relieved. Maybe Sam was okay. What would they do about Teal'c though?
Jack must have been thinking the same thing because he turned to Teal'c and started to speak. "Look Teal'c, I get the fact that you're convinced Sam is evil. I can tell you for a fact it isn't true. I know her" (he was never going to tell anyone how well) and I promise you that she is not only loyal to the SGC but to each one of us individually. I know you don't believe me but please, trust me? If you can't do that, after all these years, then you're not the man I know you are. Please, promise me you won't hurt Carter?"
Teal'c looked at him and then at the Major. His insides were boiling and it was not a larval Goa'uld who was causing the feeling – it was his confusion and uncertainty. His experience told him to trust his commander but his mind was telling him O'Neill had been tricked. He looked deep into the eyes of the one man, above all others, he had always trusted. Finally he nodded.
"I will not hurt Major Carter, but I will continue to observe her. When we return to earth I will demand an investigation."
"Fine", Jack was exhausted and lay back. He knew he was in an increasingly bad way.
He wasn't sure how much he had left of the stuff Martia had given him but he knew he needed it to keep going. Gingerly feeling around his waist, he found the pocket with the little bottle. He pulled it out but was too weak to continue.
"Sir, what's that?" Sam had seen his movements and the bottle. She hadn't seen it before.
"Medicine", he answered briefly. "Help me Major?" he tried handing her the bottle but was so weak he couldn't even lift his arm. She reached out and gently took it from him.
"Where did you get this Colonel?" she asked quietly.
"Martia. The other day. She told me it would help the symptoms."
"Did she also tell you what was wrong?"
When he didn't answer she asked the question again. She could tell he wasn't sleeping but he was refusing to speak. In frustration she reached down and touched his face.
"Please Jack. We promised to be honest with one another. What is it? What's wrong?"
His jaw clenched but he eventually opened his eyes and looked at her. With a small groan he began to talk.
"They poisoned me." He answered briefly. At her shocked look he reached out, with his last bit of strength, and took her hand. "I'm sorry Sam. I didn't want you to know."
"But why Sir? Why would they do that? They wanted you to – us to – why?"
"It was to make me, you know, 'Mai'thun' with you." He glanced over at Daniel and Teal'c but their confusion seemed to indicate they didn't know the word. He went on. "Martia explained that they had given me two substances together that they're never supposed to mix. I guess I made them kind of mad. Anyway, that's why I'm sick." He stopped, exhausted.
"Is this a cure?" Sam held up the bottle.
"No, it helps but she said it would stop working eventually."
"And then what?"
He still didn't speak.
"Sir! And then what will happen when it stops working."
He looked at her, feeling again that deep sense of love and longing. He only wished - . No O'Neill, no wishing, no regrets. Sighing he continued.
"And then I die."