Note from the translator (Lauriesf): please don't hesitate to send hate messages to me if I did poorly on the translation; the errors are mine and mine alone.
Until death reunites us: Chapter 5
Teleportation only lasted a split second, taking Sam and Jack outside on what seemed to be another planet covered with lush vegetation. They watched their new environment staying on their guards, a P90 in their hands. On their right, a grim-looking wood stood about three hundred feet from them while an ink-dark lake spread on their left. A thick fog which was preventing the daylight from reaching them made the place even more threatening.
_Carter, I have the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore...
She opened then closed her mouth.
_I think we shouldn't have pushed the lever without asking Daniel first, she whispered.
_This is not what I would call a Carter-like explanation, O'Neill answered curtly.
She took a device from her bag and held it at arms' length.
_It does seem this planet is viable and our chances of finding life here are consistent.
_We might see it as a chance but certainly not as luck, he said, pushing dead leaves with his feet.
_My opinion is this lever was a trap, a sort of teleportation device to some hostile place, Sam concluded, putting away the device.
_Really, this is nuts! Someone normal who sees two levers and who knows one closes the door thinks the other opens it! Who would be stupid enough to build a mechanism that closes the door next to a teleportation device?! Jack thundered, hitting his forehead with his hand.
His team mate smiled at his annoyance. She could acknowledge he was right but still, they'd been careless. They agreed Daniel and the others would do anything they could to find them and they knew they'd be successful. Nobody was ever left behind at the SGC.
They hit the road to find some refuge, a cave, anything that could shelter them from this unknown world. They might even meet some kind of civilization and find a way back home.
_Recon mission! Yes, indeed! I'll give you goddamn recon missions! General O'Neill muttered.
_But I thought you loved the unexpected, Sir..., Carter replied mischieviously.
He fell silent for a moment.
_So true..., he finally admitted, but now, we're really in a heap of trouble!
_If the teleportation device is a trap, you can bet this planet is not full of nice little creatures, Carter said, pointing her gun at the noises coming from the woods.
_Don't you be pessimistic, Carter, Jack replied with a reassuring smile.
The noises were getting closer, branches crackling, leaves rustling and grunting could be heard. They stood still, back to back, their P90s pointing at the fog. Breathless, their hearts beating hard, they waited. Time seemed to stretch as seconds seemed longer. Finally, they saw a shape coming through the fog that didn't look that threatening. The figure came out of the mist and they saw it was a big grey wolf merging with the surrounding fog. Its eyes came to rest first on Jack then on Sam who had not moved an inch. Suddenly, it snarled, growling and showed its brightly red fangs.
_Hey, doggy-doggy, Jack whispered in a soothing tone.
_I don't think he wants to be friends with you, Sir, Sam said, slowly backing off towards the bushes.
The wolf set his green eyes on the young lady who stood still. He bent his head to the side, as if out of curiosity.
_We're going to back off very slowly, O'Neill ordered her.
The strange emerald eyes turned to him.
_You're a good dog. You're going to let us go, right?
They slowly backed off, one step at a time, taking care not to turn their backs on the beast. They were about three hundred feet from the wolf who had not moved an inch when suddenly, he craned his neck to the sky and then started howling. But this didn't sound at all like what you could hear on Earth: it was a shrill sound that did not have its match in their own world.
The two soldiers put their hands on their ears. Like ultrasound, this howling rang in their heads and they knew if they didn't clear off quickly, they would faint soon enough. Jack grabbed his team mate by the arm when he saw her getting weak and falling on her knees. He supported her and together, they ran towards the woods.
The wolf watched them go. A cruel smile seemed to creep on his lips when he crouched and leaped, pursuing his preys.
They had spotted a cave a few hundred feet away and were rushing towards it, running for their dear life. Despite all their efforts, their pursuer had caught up with them in just a few, easy strides.
Still running, they shot at random at the huge animal which seemed to be toying with them. A bullet hit him on his side and he roared with pain. In a fit of fury, he leaped at Colonel Carter, tackling her violently onto the ground.
She couldn't possibly escape: he was on top of her, blowing his pungent breath on her face. Sam was holding back her breath, not daring to move. She looked into the threatening eyes of the beast and swallowed hard. She had dropped her gun and it was now lying on the ground, out of reach. She glanced at her CO, in a panic.
_Carter!
Jack had stopped running and was now pointing his P90 at the wolf who was holding his 2IC under his power. When he saw the beast was getting reading to open his jaws and bite her, he didn't hesitate: he aimed at the animal and shot at the same moment the bloody red fangs were driving into Sam's flesh. She screamed in pain. The report was brief but ringing and the wolf fell on the colonel's body.
Jack rushed to Sam's side and pushed the wolf's dead body away allowing her to breathe more freely. She had a bloody wound on her belly. She had difficulty breathing and was clenching her teeth.
_Carter! Ok? O'Neill asked, not hiding his worry.
She made an effort to lift up her head and examine her wound that was hurting like hell.
She pressed her hands on it to stop the stream of blood from running and let her head drop to the ground. She closed her eyes and felt a hand touching her forehead. She opened them in a flash and looked in astonishment at her CO who was looking really worried.
_Ok? he asked again in a softer voice.
She nodded coyly.
_We're going to take shelter in the cave. I'll help you, Jack told her.
He helped her sit up, putting one arm under her armpits. He then drew her up, still holding her. Together they covered the few feet separating them from the cave. Once inside, he propped her up against the wall and opened the bag that had fortunately been sent with them during teleportation.
_Now, can I be pessimistic? Sam asked casually, watching him rummaging through the first-aid kit.
_What? Because of that? he asked, motioning to the wound with a mocking smile.
_It wasn't a regular kind of wolf
_I got that, Carter... So what? he replied with feigned indifference.
_So... this bite is not a regular bite either. His fangs were red Sir, she added, looking directly at him. He saw solemnity and despair in her gaze. He looked away and went on rummaging through the bag with anger.
_We've seen much worse than that. Stop dramatizing, he replied harshly.
She remained silent.
Jack finally found the disinfectant and bandages. He turned his attention to the colonel and lifted the tail of her bloody t-shirt. He started by cleaning the wound but it spanned higher than the abdomen, on her ribs. Knowing what he'd have to do, he sighed.
_Take that off, Carter, he whispered, pointing casually at her t-shirt.
She turned crimson and looked away.
_What? she evaded.
He sighed.
_Do you want me to tend to your wound or not? he replied, aggravated.
She nodded faintly and started to undress, but each movement brought pain to her whole body. Even lifting her arms was painful. Seeing she was in pain, O'Neill closed his eyes, hating to see her like that. It was bad enough to be in that kind of ordeal. Fate was really not being soft on them.
_Ok, stop it! I'll do it myself, he softly whispered.
He got closer and looked into her sky blue eyes, then hurriedly looked away and concentrated on his hands. He got hold of the bloody t-shirt with his fingertips, not wanting to touch her because he couldn't bear it. He slipped the garment up...and uncovered her subtly muscled belly.
His heart picked up speed against his own free will. He was afraid of reaching higher but she lifted her arms, clenching her jaws. He willed his self-control and removed the garment.
He set his eyes on her chest, clad in sports bra, not really sexy but still, she looked so good in it...
Realizing she was getting redder and redder, he quickly looked away from her blue eyes and her half-naked body.
In spite of Jack's gentle touch, Sam was dreadfully suffering. Her wound was hurting her like hell a little bit more every second and specks of light were dancing in her eyes. There was blood everywhere, her hands were sticky and she saw Jack's hands were even more so.
She clenched her fists on what she thought was her pants and closed her eyes. Actually, it was her CO's arm. He looked at her, worriedly, and laid his hand on her burning cheek. The cold touch took her back to reality. Their eyes locked. It lasted for long seconds. Sam couldn't tell if it was her condition or the ambiguous situation with her CO that was making her heart beat faster in her chest, maybe both.
The cool hand on her cheek and this gaze were appeasing the piercing pain. Well aware they were on slippery ground, Jack withdrew his hand regretfully, without breaking eye contact with her. He noticed he had left a bloody stain on her cheek and with an coy smile proceeded to cleaning it with a wet tissue.
_Cheer up, Carter! I'm almost done, he kindly whispered in her ear to give her courage.
She nodded and smiled shyly.
Jack breathed in and finished his work. Some minutes later, his 2IC had a skillfully-wrapped bandage around her waist.
_Thank you, Sir, she sighed before closing her eyes and falling fast asleep.
_You're welcome, he whispered.
To be continued
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