A/N's: sorry, I am late tonight, guys! Technically, it is already Saturday here, oops. But I have the best excuse in the world, it is/was my birthday... so I am so sorry for the wait, hope you will forgive me...
let's get Jack out, all right?
Both Teal'c and Bayfield fired round after round at the watchtowers, while Bayfield accelerated, zigzagging the truck to avoid being hit by the return fire. Luckily the bullets only punched the heavy metal of the truck, without damaging anything major and with a loud bang the vehicle broke through the fence.
Bayfield tossed some grenades through the window, and veered off. He briefly looked back over his shoulder, watching in satisfaction as the watchtowers slowly fell. "I'm going south for a while, to distract possible pursuers," he yelled at Teal'c. "Then we'll try to head more to the east. We'll ditch the truck behind and hike back to the north."
Teal'c nodded, and, while keeping an eye backwards to detect any danger, he quickly removed his backpack, gathering his medkit. He glanced at his CO, who was lying on his right side, exposing his swollen, misshaped left arm. A swift exam told him O'Neill's pulse was too fast, that he was breathing in short, rapid gasps and that he was burning with fever.
There was no time to do more than inject his friend with a strong dose of morphine, hoping it would take away the pain the man had to be in, then Teal'c settled for trying to get small sips of water into the desiccated mouth. With the old truck bumping over the rocks and stones that was quite a challenge, but Teal'c was satisfied to see that his friend unconsciously swallowed little amounts now and then.
Nobody was following them just yet. The Elite Forces of course had no vehicles left, since Colonel Bayfield had blown them all up. Bayfield now had to turn the headlights on; it became almost impossible to drive in the dark. He drove another couple of miles to the south, then turned east. When he believed he'd gone far enough, he parked the truck, jumped out and climbed in the back to turn his attention to the unconscious man.
"Bastards, " he cursed, as he took O'Neill's vitals. "Did you give him some morphine?"
Teal'c nodded. He took out a package of bandages. "I need your assistance, Colonel Bayfield. When you lift O'Neill I will try to tie his arm to his body. I am afraid I cannot do more."
Colonel Bayfield carefully pulled O'Neill's upper body up and watched how the Jaffa secured the misshapen arm by wrapping bandages above and below the elbow; all around his torso and hips. He didn't fail to notice how the alien's lips tightened, his face turning grim, as the injured man moaned softly and unconsciously tried to withdraw.
"Well done. Do you think you can find your way in the dark? I want to get going, so we have a good head start on the troops. It's not going to
be easy, but I want to get back to the others as soon as possible."
Still holding his former colleague he pulled one arm free to gather the canteens plus the syringes Janet had given him and handed the package to Teal'c.
"It will be no problem, Colonel Bayfield," the Jaffa stated shortly, tucking the package in his pack without questioning. Teal'c fastened the pack on his back and bending forward, he picked the injured man up in a fireman's carry.
Colonel Bayfield jumped of the truck, grabbed Teal'c by the arm to support him as the big man with his burden climbed off, too. "You go ahead, Teal'c. I'm going to lay out some diversions; hopefully that will slow them down a bit. Then I will catch up with you, after covering our tracks."
"I will leave immediately," Teal'c said simply, while turning around and headed north.
Major Carter was getting worried. Two hours after the explosions there was still no sign of their colleagues. She had no way of knowing what had become of them; she could be sure that the Elite Forces would eventually start to investigate the area and that they were a little bit too close for her liking.
She pondered whether she needed to fall back to the second meeting point, just to be on the safe side. What if Colonel Bayfield had taken off in another direction, maybe forced by the situation, or deliberately to distract the troops? Would he want to head back to a position dangerously close to the camp, or would he rather go to the second meeting point?
Sam started pacing, momentarily uncertain about what to do. Think, Sam, think.
If the men were captured, she needed to take Daniel and Janet back to the pick-up point. If they have escaped, what would be a logical explanation for them not being here yet? The ones she'd just come up with were the only ones that came to mind.
One way or the other, it was a safe decision to head for the second meeting point. They would be in less danger there and she could still retreat in the morning if they weren't reunited with the men by then. "Janet, Daniel," she turned back at her teammates, her decision made. "We're leaving. I don't think it's safe to stay here."
She took in the concerned glances that were directed her way. "Look, they've had two hours since the explosion to reach us, and they haven't. So either they've failed, in which case we are supposed to get the hell out of here, or they are heading in a different direction for some
reason. If the last assumption is true, they will not likely head back to a spot so dangerously close to the camp, but pick the second point to catch up with us. It is our best guess."
"You're right," Daniel sighed. "I just wish..."
"We all do, Daniel," Janet softly added. "Let's just keep our hopes up, okay? Lead the way, Sam."
Despite the dark, the small group moved out, with Sam leading, Janet in the middle and Daniel watching their six. They were making slow but steady progress, determined to reach the second meeting point. Nobody said much; they were all lost in their worries, plus they needed to concentrate on their steps.
Teal'c only made slow progress through the dark with the heavy form of his CO draped over his shoulders. The rough scenery with rocks and stones forced him to take slow and cautious steps. He stopped every five minutes to check whether the still form continued to breathe, deeply concerned as he was about O'Neill's condition.
After having hiked for almost two hours, Teal'c decided to take a brief rest and carefully lowered O'Neill to the ground. Grabbing the special canteen from Janet, he removed the lid and carefully leaned the unconscious man against his chest. He placed the opening on O'Neill's mouth and poured small amounts of the liquid in there, stopping in between to allow the injured man a brief rest. He watched in satisfaction as his CO responded to the water, swallowing the liquid without choking.
Knowing the pain medication was still active in O'Neill's system, Teal'c knew there was not much he could do for his friend besides giving him some water to drink and getting him into the capable hands of Dr. Fraiser as soon as possible. He would take five, then move on, he decided.
Before the five minutes had passed O'Neill started stirring. Teal'c waited patiently, folding a cold wet cloth over the man's brow.
"Charlie?" the word barely audible, O'Neill's eyes looking around, clearly bewildered and confused.
"It is I, Teal'c," the Jaffa responded. "You must remain still, O'Neill. You are not well."
The injured man struggled, attempting to get to his feet, fighting off the arms that were holding him down. "Charlie... I need to go and find Charlie," he whispered.
"Charlie is not here, O'Neill," Teal'c told him simply, frowning in concern as his friend abruptly stopped fighting, sinking back. Teal'c gently caught him, guiding him until O'Neill was settled against his chest once more.
"Where is he?" the words soft, startled, confusion flooding the face of the exhausted man.
"He is safe," Teal'c said, wiping off O'Neill's forehead. "We must leave immediately, O'Neill. We are not safe yet." He wondered if the feverish man was lucid enough to understand anything he said. "Allow me to carry you."
"I... can... walk..." More struggling.
Teal'c sighed, knowing that O'Neill wouldn't give in easily, no matter how delirious he was.
"As you wish," he responded, and then steadied the swaying man, helping him to his feet. He positioned himself on O'Neill's right side, draping the man's arm over his shoulder for support.
"Who turned... the lights off?" the Colonel rasped. "It's dark."
"Indeed it is," agreed the alien, starting the hike, assisting his friend in any way he could.
They were making slow progress, the swaying Colonel slowing them down. Teal'c knew however that O'Neill wouldn't be able to walk very far and that he would be able to move at greater speed once he could carry the man again.
After having stumbled along for about a hundred yards O'Neill's knees buckled and he gasped for his breath.
"Allow me to carry you, O'Neill. You need to save your strength," the Jaffa insisted, more urgently this time.
"Charlie..." the weakened man protested, attempting to get control over his shaking limbs, but failing.
"I can travel at greater speed," Teal'c stated succinctly, indicating he was about to pick the injured man up.
A deep sigh and a slight nod was his only answer as the Colonel gave up resisting, his energy fading, and the strong Jaffa gently draped him
over his shoulders, continuing their trek through the dark.
The silent group of two women and an archaeologist reached the second meeting point before midnight. Carter stopped them, searching for the best spot to settle down and led her colleagues to hiding, their backs covered by a mountain wall.
If they were at all disappointed with not finding the four missing men here, they each managed to hide it pretty well. Daniel just kept exchanging looks of understanding with Sam, while Janet silently lowered herself down into a sitting position.
"Now, we wait," said Sam, dropping her pack next to the CMO. "Janet, I want you to get some sleep. No offence, but I still hope you're going to be busy tomorrow." The alternative was unthinkable. "Daniel, I think we can safely take turns in watch, what do you think?"
Daniel, having examined their surroundings upon reaching their destination, agreed with her. "Well, since nobody can approach us from that side," he pointed to the mountain wall covering their backs, "and, if you sit up there..." he motioned to a higher piece of rock slightly to their right, "you've got a pretty good view over the area, I think that's safe. I can take first watch, if you want."
Sam smiled, she'd picked the same spot for keeping watch and was glad that Daniel was experienced enough to make a similar decision. "Wake me in three hours, then," she nodded thankfully. She was tired, but knew also that Daniel had to be feeling the same. Promising herself to allow him to sleep the second part of the night, she cuddled up beside Janet and was asleep in no time.
Colonel Bayfield had managed to lay out a couple of diversions, heading off in two different directions. He was satisfied that his efforts would at least slow their pursuers down for a while. He carefully swept away all possible tracks from the direction he was finally heading. Hopefully the Elite Troops wouldn't expect them to head back north, back into the direction of the camp; it was more logical to think the fugitives would head either east or west.
About five hours after he'd sent Teal'c off with O'Neill, he caught up with them. The Jaffa was already alerted to his approach and had lowered his burden to the ground.
Bayfield dropped on his knees next to the wounded man and did a quick visual exam. He gently placed two fingers on O'Neill's wrist to take his pulse, his other hand slightly touching the man's forehead. "He's burning up," he said, feeling the heat radiate underneath his fingers. "Has he been awake?"
Teal'c nodded. "Indeed, O'Neill has been awake for a brief moment. He is sick with fever and I do not think he was aware of his surroundings. He attempted to walk, but did not make it very far."
"He tried to walk?" Bayfield spoke up, surprised at first. He sighed, shaking his head. "Of course he did. We better get going. I can carry him for a while."
"That will not be necessary, Colonel Bayfield." Teal'c gently picked the still form up and together they moved on, with the Colonel leading the way.
A/N's. Ha! Teal'c refuses to hand over his burden... this is his job! You guys have a great weekend!