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Daniel looked up from what he’d just written in his journal, wiping beads of sweat from his face with the back of his similarly damp arm. He reached down and picked up his glass, sipping the overly sweet drink and trying not to grimace. Jaceen, the servant who’d been assigned to SG-1, must have noticed his glass was nearly empty as she quickly approached with the ever present pitcher. Needless to say they all needed to stay hydrated in this heat and humidity, but Daniel would have preferred unflavored water over the juice concoction everyone on P3A 006 seemed to enjoy.
Sam seemed to like the stuff, and she held out her tumbler for more when the darkly tanned servant finished filling Daniel’s. Drink in hand, Sam sat back in her cushioned chair and turned her attention to the information laid out before her, studying the surveyed reports of the minerals they were currently negotiating for.
Daniel sighed and frowned at his glass. They’d only been on the move for a half day and he was already bored. The caravan they were traveling with was scheduled to reach the first of the four mines in another three days; the going would be slow and tedious with nothing more than scrubby growth and rocks to look at for diversion. He envied his teammates; they at least all had something to do on this mission. Sam had the scientific aspect to keep her occupied, Teal’c had befriended a few of the guards and was busy sparring with them, and Jack was currently entertaining the ruler of this pre-industry society, the Lareina Kathein.
The caravan could only travel as fast as the garun, large oxen-like beasts which pulled the enormous wagons. Most of the group walked on foot, though, trailing behind or to the side of the wagons, or alternating riding long-legged beasts called kains, or sitting alongside the drivers of the wagons. As accustomed as SG-1 was to walking, they weren’t used to the planet’s uncommonly high temperature and humidity. Thankfully it was customary for the caravan to stop at midday for a few hours to wait for the worse of the heat to dissipate when it was this bad.
Daniel chewed thoughtfully on the end of his Bic pen as he watched Jack. His lover was talking with the Lareina under the protective heavy canvas awning which shaded them from the brutal midday sun. They were sitting together about twenty five feet away from SG-1’s own little oasis. The Tau’ri were honored guests and their personal wagon had been situated in a position of high regard, close enough for Daniel to watch but far enough to not be able to overhear their conversation.
Not that Daniel was usually jealous about people Jack normally dealt with, but Kathein had taken a liking to Jack and the poor man had no choice but to keep her company. They’d joked about it between the four of them ever since the Lareina had begun making life hellish for Jack.
Jack hated making small talk and he’d been hard pressed keeping the woman entertained the past three days while everyone else had been busy making pre-departure plans. Daniel averted his eyes, not wanting to be caught staring as the Lareina turned to look his way. He tried to reread his last entry but his attention kept wandering back to the couple before him.
Daniel dared a quick glance and saw that the two were staring at one another in rapt attention. The Lareina was leaning forward slightly, her hand resting on Jack’s knee. Jack’s head had that little tilt to the side which indicated she had his full attention. Neither were talking at the moment and it looked to Daniel like they were simply gazing into one another’s eyes.
The spell was broken when bells rang out, indicating that the caravan was ready to move on. Servants began scurrying everywhere, picking up the remains of the midday meals and rolling up the canopies which had been cleverly attached to the sides of the large wagons. Daniel had been told that these would also become their sleeping tents, one to each side of the conveyance to provide a measure of privacy. It went without saying he’d be sharing with Jack, while Sam and Teal’c would be sleeping on the other side.
Daniel began packing his belongings and as he helped Sam put her stuff away inside their wagon, he saw Jack help the queen up into hers. Not that she needed the help. The woman was probably in better shape than Sam; she trained daily with her guards and had a figure most women would kill for. As she tucked her long red hair up into a wide brimmed hat, she waved farewell to Jack as he sauntered over to join his teammates.
“So?” Daniel asked as Jack leaned against the side of the wagon, watching the servants curl the canvas up and lash it to the wide-based wagon.
“What?” Jack questioned.
“What was so interesting?”
“Nothing.” Jack shrugged then pushed off with his shoulder till he was standing up straight. He picked up his baseball cap from the pile of equipment by the back wheel and threw Daniel’s boonie hat over to him. Daniel caught it awkwardly; his hands already full of Sam’s books and notes. He handed Sam her stuff and then placed the hat on his head after snapping his sunglasses over his lenses. He took up his position beside Jack and Sam as their conveyance was eased into the flowing stream of wagons and people.
The convoy consisted mainly of either workers or support staff conveying supplies to the various mines. The arduous trip was made once every three months, with the Lareina accompanying them whenever the whim set upon her. This trip she was proudly leading her new acquaintances from Earth to her mines in the hopes that the minerals were of good enough quality to set up trade negotiations.
Initial testing of the raw materials had shown several minerals which were rare or non-existent on Earth, including one that Sam said she had never seen before and had very promising properties. If the quality and quantity of these minerals were as good as the Lareina promised, Sam was hopeful that the agreement would be signed by the time they left P3A 006.
- - - - - -
Daniel toyed with his mostly uneaten supper, wishing the endless entertainment would end. He’d developed a headache near the end of the day and even with the Tylenol he’d taken earlier, the pills had only taken the edge off, leaving him irritable and nauseous. The music was grating on his nerves, the instruments and songs unfamiliar. Normally he’d love to study the culture, but right now he ached for peace and quiet.
Jack was sitting at the head of the makeshift dinner table to the right of the Lareina, with Teal’c at Jack’s side. Sam was placed on the Lareina’s left, with Daniel beside Sam. He couldn’t hear any of the conversation flowing around them, and their laughter boomed at the telling of a joke he didn’t quite make out.
At least now there was water available. Jaceen had gone to the trouble of boiling water for them and Daniel sipped the tepid liquid. He shivered suddenly, and realized that the temperature had cooled off considerably with the setting of the sun. Unable to stand the noise any longer, he waited for a lull in the conversation before getting up off the cushions he’d been sitting on, nodding to the Lareina Kathein as she turned towards him.
She waived a hand in dismissal and Daniel ignored Jack’s glare and Sam’s worried look. He headed off towards their wagon, keeping his eyes peeled for the unique design painted on its side which identified it as theirs. He finally spotted it at the far edge of the camp, a good ways away from the revelry. A small lamp had been lit inside the tent, providing minimum illumination. Daniel quickly stripped to boxers and tee and slid into his sleeping bag.
- - - - - -
Daniel jerked awake when a cold hand snaked around his nape and a hard body pressed against his back. Disoriented for a moment, he fought to turn around and look at his aggressor, and then relaxed when he heard Jack’s voice in his ear. The lamp was out and it was very dark in the tent.
“Why’d you leave so early, Danny?” Jack murmured as he rained kisses on Daniel’s neck and jaw while rubbing his erection against Daniel’s hip. For a moment Daniel felt irritation; his head was still throbbing, he was nauseous and the last thing he felt like doing was making love. Then he realized the faint music and singing he could hear in the background meant the supper wasn’t over yet, and that they weren’t even on Earth. He could hear soft conversation nearby and realized that Sam and Teal’c were getting ready for bed on the opposite side of the wagon in their own tented sleeping area.
Daniel pushed Jack’s hands away as they fondled Daniel through his underwear.
“Jack, stop it,” Daniel hissed as he batted his lover’s hands away and turned to face him.
“I tried getting away sooner but Kathein wouldn’t let me,” Jack whispered as he laid his length over Daniel. Daniel realized Jack was naked as his lover rubbed his erection teasingly over Daniel.
“Jack!” Daniel insisted as Jack obstinately reached for Daniel once more. “Sam and Teal’c...”
“We’ll be quiet,” Jack whispered as he licked Daniel’s ear.
For the first time in their relationship, Daniel pushed Jack away angrily. “Jack,” he spat at him, “we’re on a mission.”
“So, let’s live dangerously,” Jack persisted, his hands roaming over Daniel’s body. Daniel grabbed hold of Jack’s hands and held them away from him.
“Jack, no,” he said in exasperation. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I want you,” Jack whispered, trailing kisses as he moved from Daniel’s jaw to his mouth. At first Daniel acquiesced and accepted the kiss when Jack stopped groping him, but when Jack stuck his tongue into his mouth, Daniel pulled back hurriedly as the urge to retch overtook him. The Lareina’s perfume overwhelmed Daniel; obviously Jack had been in close enough physical contact with her that it had spread to his skin.
With a hand covering his mouth to hold back his queasiness, Daniel scrabbled backwards in the dark, away from Jack. He came to a stop as he bumped the large wooden wheel, eyes wide in the dark quarters as he tried to see where Jack was. What the hell was wrong with Jack? And why could he smell the woman’s perfume on Jack’s face? If he’d gotten that close to her, it meant he had to have kissed her…
“What’s the matter with you?” Jack complained loudly, causing Daniel to jump.
“Shhhh,” Daniel hissed again.
“Don’t shush me,” Jack retorted, although his voice had lowered to a whisper once more. “Care to tell me why you’ve suddenly decided to play hard to get?”
Daniel’s temper snapped as his headache blossomed once more. “Well maybe the fact that you’re coming to me to assuage your rutting reflexes after cuddling up to Kathein…” Daniel hissed. He rued the words the second he’d said them, and before he could apologize, Jack cut him off.
“And the fact that I’ve been fighting the woman’s advances all fucking day and wanting nothing but to be with you doesn’t mean a thing?” Daniel could hear rustling sounds and it was only when the edge of the canvas was raised did he realize that Jack had been getting dressed.
“Jack—”
“Go to sleep, Daniel,” Jack said angrily as he walked away out of the tent.
Daniel sighed and groped the ground before him, seeking the edge of his sleeping mat. The two cushioned mats had been placed within a foot of one another and Daniel had kicked them together earlier before going to bed. He slid under the covers, shivering slightly in the cool air. He listened attentively, hearing only silence. He realized that his teammates had to have heard their argument and blushed at the thought.
Jack returned some three hours later, creeping into his bed quietly. Daniel hadn’t slept as he waited for the older man to return. Both illness and worry kept him from dropping off. He wondered where Jack had gone and hoped he hadn’t sent Jack to the woman’s bed.
Jack settled quickly and his deep breathing soon told Daniel that he was sleeping. Daniel turned and moved closer to Jack. He curled up beside him, sharing Jack’s pillow as he placed his arm around Jack’s waist. Jack sighed and moved instinctively against Daniel. Daniel could smell the clean, fresh scent of someone who had spent time outside intermingled with the odor of campfire smoke. He was relieved that Jack had probably gone out and spent time brooding.
Relaxing now that he knew Jack was back, he listened to his partner’s breathing as he allowed sleep to finally overtake him.
- - - - - -
Sam kept looking over towards Daniel’s tent, worried about her friend. He’d been unusually quiet last night at supper and had left the festivities unexpectedly. The Colonel had been noncommittal this morning when she’d asked after him, saying that Daniel hadn’t slept well and to let him sleep. But with all the noise of the stirring camp, Sam was amazed that Daniel was still asleep.
She and Teal’c had overheard their argument last night and she herself had wondered at the Colonel’s continued attentiveness to the Lareina. The relationship between her commanding officer and Daniel wasn’t a secret from Sam and Teal’c, but the two had always been careful not to overplay their attentiveness to one another and had never before put any of their teammates in quite an embarrassing position as they had last night. It had disturbed her to hear their lover’s quarrel. The two had disagreed before, actually they had always bickered and teased one another, but it had never been of a sexual nature.
Movement from the one remaining tent proved to be Daniel. He had his glasses in his hand and was holding his other hand to his eyes, shading them. He seemed to stagger slightly as he stepped into the sun-heated air. He put his glasses on as he spotted them, making his way to them. He was walking with what seemed to Sam as a gingerly gait.
He was pale and already sweating. She couldn’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but the dark lenses couldn’t quite hide the dark circles beneath them. She poured him a coffee and handed him the breakfast that she had kept aside for him, a meat concoction rolled up in a pita-like bread. He stared at the meatroll a moment and took a small bite. He sipped the coffee rather than gulping it as was his usual want.
She kept a careful eye on him as he nibbled at the food, and she noticed that the Colonel’s expression was neutral. Daniel was obvious in his avoiding looking at his lover, keeping his attention mostly on the food he wasn’t quite enjoying.
When he poured most of his coffee over the base of the nearest tree, Sam knew for sure that something was wrong with her friend. She exchanged a knowing look with Teal’c before she leaned over and touched Daniel’s arm to get his attention.
“Are you all right?” she asked. Daniel had been staring at his empty cup and at her inquiry, nodded his head.
“Just a bit of an upset stomach,” he admitted reluctantly.
Okay, that explained the lack of appetite, but not his overall appearance.
“Maybe the heat and humidity got to you yesterday,” she said as she realized that he hadn’t liked the refreshments and might even be dehydrated. She placed a hand to his cheek, noting that it was cool and damp.
Daniel brushed her hand away in irritation and she smiled at him.
“I think you should take it easy today and stay out of the sun,” she suggested. Turning to the Colonel, she added, “Daniel could ride beside our driver. There’s plenty of room and he’ll be in the shade.”
The Colonel’s eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, but his mouth softened slightly as he nodded.
“Carter’s right. I don’t want you walking in this heat today. Stay in the shade and make sure you get plenty of liquids.”
“Shall I accompany you today, DanielJackson?” Teal’c asked.
“I’ll stay with Daniel,” Sam said quickly. The Jaffa’s offer was kind but she knew that she could probably keep Daniel better entertained than Teal’c, who had found common interests with several of the guards. Let at least one of the group enjoy themselves on this long and tedious mission. And besides, she wanted to keep an eye on her friend. Normally they would all take turns but with the Colonel’s continued required attentions to Kathein, she knew he would be hard pressed to divide his attention between the Lareina and Daniel.
Their orders were to make Kathein happy and short of sleeping with her, if the woman wanted Colonel O’Neill to keep her company, then the poor man had no choice but to jump at her beck and call. This trade agreement was important to Earth and there were many pressures on them to get those minerals mined and shipped back home.
“You don’t have to,” Daniel said softly. The fact that he hadn’t argued with Jack’s decision indicated to Sam that he really wasn’t feeling well. They all stood up when the bells rang, indicating that the convoy was on the verge of leaving. She followed Daniel to the wagon, climbing inside the stuffy interior and looking for Daniel’s journal and books. She placed all in a bag and settled them at his feet within easy reach. The wagon lurched as the driver moved the garun forward onto the trail. Despite the swaying of the conveyance, Sam managed to pour a mixture of fruit juice and water into several small jugs.
“I’ve diluted the juice,” Sam said as she placed the containers behind Daniel’s seat. “It should be a little more palatable.”
Daniel nodded distractedly as he began leafing through his journal. She jumped off the high edge, hurdling over the steps and landed easily on the sandy ground.
“Make sure you drink all of it,” she ordered as she took up the pace of the caravan.
He waved in her direction and she knew she had already lost him as he began reading his latest entry in his journal, nibbling on the already mangled end of his pen. She walked off to the side to avoid the dust raised by the wagons before her. She was surprised to find she enjoyed the peace and solitude, walking alone when she felt like it or searching for company when she was tired of her inner thoughts.
She could see Colonel O’Neill ahead of her, similarly walking alongside the Lareina’s wagon. The lithe woman was walking beside him, matching him stride for stride. If Sam hadn’t known that the Colonel was in a lifelong relationship with Daniel, she would have thought for sure the couple before her was openly flirting.
Although her friends had never flaunted their relationship, the subtle signs were there for people to see if they were looking for them. The looks that passed between Daniel and her commanding officer, the subtle touching, the ease with which they performed their tasks together, all spoke volumes if one knew these people well. And their insistence upon arriving that they share quarters together. Originally they had all been assigned individual tents, but the Colonel had demanded that he share a tent with Daniel and that Sam and Teal’c do likewise. The excuse was that they were accustomed to this arrangement, and the Lareina had, in Sam’s opinion, reluctantly agreed.
Kathein very obviously had designs on the Colonel, and knew, or at least suspected, that Daniel was close to him. Sam grinned at the thought of her trying to lure him away from Daniel. Easier to try and teach a Goa’uld how to show mercy.
It was too bad that the woman’s intentions had upset Daniel last night. He obviously hadn’t been feeling well then, and Sam was a little ticked at Daniel for not telling them about it. Obviously the Colonel had also missed the signs; he’d probably be making it up to Daniel later this evening.
“Daniel, water,” she called out, noting that Daniel hadn’t drank anything in the past thirty minutes. She herself finished off the last of the sweetened water in her canteen and hopped up onto the first step to refill it with the jugs she had placed there after handing Daniel his share. The juice was this world’s equivalent to Gatorade; although fairly sweet in taste, it helped replace many of the substances that the body lost when it was this hot and humid.
She spent the next several hours talking with Daniel when he finally pulled his nose out of his journal. Then when he began nodding off, she watched as he slowly relaxed on the large, cushioned seat. Once she was sure he was sleeping, leaning back comfortably on the high-backed seats, she sent Jaceen looking for one of the miners who had promised her yesterday to answer some of her questions about the inner workings of the mine.
She became so engrossed with the man’s knowledge of the minerals that when she saw Daniel jump off the side of the wagon and stumble to his knees, it took her a moment to register that he was in distress. He got up and staggered away from the trail the caravan was traveling, finally falling onto his hands and knees.
As she ran over to him she saw he was being violently sick. His body was trembling with the effort of staying upright and she quickly wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her, steadying him as spasm after spasm wracked his body. Daniel gasped for breath in between bouts of retching and coughing.
She was peripherally aware of the convoy passing them by and of a small group of people standing around, either gawking or offering to help while being more of a hindrance than an aid. Daniel sagged more and more against her while helplessly dry heaving as his stomach tried to expel what was now no longer there. She was too busy trying to support Daniel and ignored the questions and offers of assistance.
Suddenly Daniel’s arms gave out and she moved beneath him to support his shoulders and head on her lap. His eyes were closed but he was still conscious, his hand clutching weakly at Sam’s leg. She brought her hand to Daniel’s chest and gently massaged the tight muscles there, knowing from experience the abuse this kind of illness caused. He continued to heave, but not quite as harshly as before.
She looked up and saw that the last wagon had passed them by and had already traveled a fair distance away from them. The onlookers had left by then and only Jaceen and the miner remained. The two of them had been holding up a piece of cloth, creating a bit of shade for her and Daniel. Three of the kains were trotting towards them, raising dust. Sam was relieved to see Teal’c’s familiar bulk astride one, and the Colonel on another. Obviously news of Daniel’s illness had reached the whole caravan.
“What happened?” O’Neill yelled out as he slid off the tall beast and ran the short distance to where she sat, Teal’c following a step behind.
“I’m not sure,” Sam answered as Daniel stirred at the sound of the Colonel’s voice. “Daniel got sick,” she added as her commanding officer cupped a hand gently around Daniel’s jaw. Daniel opened his eyes and looked up but she could tell he was having trouble focusing by the glassy appearance of his eyes.
“How you doing?” the worried man asked in a surprisingly gentle voice.
“A little dizzy,” Daniel replied as he tried to sit up.
“Don’t move yet,” Sam cautioned him as both she and the Colonel pushed him back down.
Teal’c handed her a canteen and she sniffed its contents, smelling only water. She tore the diaphanous scarf she wore around her shoulders for protection from the sun and poured the water over its edge, wiping Daniel’s hot and sweaty face with it.
“It appears to be heat sickness,” Jaceen said timidly.
“I know,” Sam said as she continued to wipe at Daniel’s neck, “but he stayed out of the sun today and had plenty to drink. I think it’s more than that, maybe some sort of allergy to an herb or food?”
“He hasn’t been eating much,” Colonel O’Neill said as he sat beside her. “I think he’s been feeling lousy from the get go.”
“I’m thinking the juice, and damnit, I forced him to drink some today. Daniel,” Sam said, seeing that the spasms were dying out, “do you think you can get up now?”
He nodded weakly, but Teal’c quickly spoke up.
“I will convey DanielJackson to our transportation vehicle,” he stated. When Daniel pushed himself away from Sam, Teal’c and the Colonel were there to assist him. It was an easy matter for Teal’c to lift him onto one of the tall beasts. Teal’c climbed up behind him and supported Daniel’s sagging form against him. Sam hopped up behind the Colonel while Jaceen took the other beast, sharing it with the miner.
- - - - - -
Jack slid off the lanky animal as soon as it came to a stop, rushing over and grabbing Daniel’s waist as Teal’c carefully lowered him down into Jack’s arms. Jack felt Daniel attempt to stand, but his legs gave way and he fell against Jack. Carter was suddenly there helping Jack to hold him up.
The three of them more or less manhandled Daniel into the waiting wagon. Their driver had pulled over when he’d spotted them, allowing them time to get Daniel inside before he started the wagon moving again.
The interior was dark in comparison with the bright sunlit day, and Jack groped blindly amongst the supplies for one of their sleeping mats. Carter opened the canvas window in the back, allowing a bit of air to circulate in the stuffy space and providing enough light to allow Jack to see what he was doing. She dug out her packsack and began rifling through their first aid kit.
Jack found a mat and uncurled it in the center of the wagon, and Teal’c lowered Daniel onto it, turning him onto his side. Jack sat down at the head of the cushioned bed and took Daniel’s head onto his lap. Daniel was shivering, but his temperature felt only slightly warmer than normal. Jack didn’t want to chance overheating him so he didn’t cover him with anything.
“Daniel,” Carter said as she stepped over Daniel to kneel in the small space by his side. “Do you think you could manage a bit of water? I want to give you something for the nausea.”
“Don’t know,” Daniel admitted through chattering teeth.
“Let’s try, okay?” She held a small, round, yellow-green tablet near Daniel’s mouth and Jack raised Daniel’s head slightly to allow him easier access to it. She fed him the pill and let a few drops of water dribble into his mouth. Jack watched him swallow the pill, hoping he could keep the Compazine down and ease some of his discomfort.
Knowing from experience that the medication would make Daniel sleepy, Jack tried to make himself more comfortable by pulling another of the sleeping mats behind him to cushion his back. Jack removed Daniel’s glasses and placed them up on a ledge for safekeeping. He then placed a hand on top of Daniel’s sweaty temple and gently massaged his scalp, hoping to ease the headache he knew had to be making Daniel miserable on top of the nausea.
“Tell me what else you’re feeling,” Carter said as she dribbled water on her scarf and proceeded to wipe Daniel’s face with it again.
“Headache,” he said, confirming Jack’s suspicions. “Sick, dizzy. Muscles hurt.”
“How long, Daniel? When did it start?” Carter asked.
‘How long indeed’, Jack thought. Definitely since yesterday afternoon. Jack wasn’t sure exactly what had gotten into him last night, but when he’d left Daniel to go cool off he belatedly realized his partner hadn’t been feeling well. Was that why Daniel hadn’t admitted to being sick? Because of their argument? Okay, he and Daniel hadn’t talked much today but Carter had kept the younger man company. Jack had been trying to watch him, though, as he had dutifully walked with Kathein earlier that morning.
“Yest’day, I think,” Daniel mumbled.
Jack felt the wagon tilt slightly as someone climbed onto the steps, and a moment later Kathein leaned into the doorway.
“Daniel Jackson is ill?” she asked solicitously, looking at Jack and Daniel.
“We think he’s allergic to some of your food,” Carter informed her.
She nodded, dismissing Daniel and looking pointedly at Jack. “I will require your attention shortly so that we may continue our discussions of the distribution of the minerals. Please attend me.”
“Damn her,” Jack said under his breath once Kathein had left the wagon.
“Others sick?” Daniel asked with his eyes squeezed shut.
Jack glanced at Carter, and then at Teal’c. Both shook their heads.
“No, only you. So it’s not a sickness, it has to be something you ate.”
“Oh great,” Daniel mumbled.
Jack waited a while until he felt Daniel begin to relax. When he was sure he was sleeping, Jack slid from beneath Daniel and left him to Carter’s care.
- - - - - -
“Sam,” Daniel said as he turned towards his friend once he heard Jack leave. “Do me a favour?”
”Daniel, I thought you were sleeping,” she stated in a surprised voice.
“Go play chaperone.”
“What?”
“Find an excuse and stick to Jack, watch and see if she’s doing something to him.”
“I don’t think the Colonel’s going to be happy about my leaving you,” Sam began, but Daniel cut her off.
“I’m feeling better, not quite as sick. And Teal’c can stay with me.” Daniel glanced towards the open end of the wagon and saw Teal’c following their conversation. “Please Sam, I don’t trust her. I’d feel better if someone watched Jack’s six.”
He was feeling a little better, the pill that Sam had given him had taken away some of the debilitating nausea he’d been experiencing. He’d have been happier if Jack had been able to stay with him here in the confines of the wagon, but would settle with someone keeping an eye on Jack instead.
He was sleepy and knew he’d be asleep in a few minutes. He rubbed his eyes then wondered where his glasses were. Didn’t matter, he didn’t need ‘em if he was going to sleep.
“Okay, but if the Colonel gets mad I’ll tell him it’s all your idea,” she chided gently as she stood up. She placed a hand to his cheek in farewell, and stepped off the wagon. Teal’c moved inside to take her place.
“I think I’m going to sleep now,” Daniel said, stifling a yawn.
“Perhaps you should attempt to drink some liquids first,” Teal’c suggested, handing him a flask. Daniel raised himself onto his elbow, surprised at how weak and shaky he still felt. He took a few tentative sips, testing his nausea. When nothing threatened, he drank several swallows, feeling the tepid liquid dribble into his abused stomach.
He lay back and tried to relax, ignoring he slight ache in his neck and back, and the slight cramping in his legs and feet. It was stifling inside; he was situated too low in the confined space to feel any of the air flowing from the open window.
He dozed lightly, waking up every time one of wheels hit a pothole or one of the garun snorted or farted. He couldn’t seem to get comfortable, no matter how he positioned himself, his body ached and he had to reposition himself every time he woke up. He had no concept of time; it might have been thirty minutes or three hours from the time he’d gotten sick when he finally felt the wagon turn off and finally come to a stop.
It was midday. Time for lunch and siesta.
- - - - - -
Jack waited impatiently for the Lareina to dismiss him and Carter, and he had a sneaky suspicion the woman was deliberately delaying them when she knew they were both anxious to go and check on Daniel.
She’d hidden her displeasure well when Carter joined them, but Jack was beginning to recognize her mannerisms. Although all smiles and pleasant words, her eyes had tightened nearly imperceptibly and her body was held more stiffly than usual whenever she addressed Carter. He’d noted the same reaction towards Daniel and Jack suspected she knew about his and Daniel’s relationship.
The wagon train had stopped, the makeshift canopies had been erected to provide shade from the sun, and a cold lunch was being distributed. Kathein had been served her meal but she ignored it and was making a show of going through the paperwork they had been discussing for the past two hours. Jack held himself still, only moving to wipe away the sweat dripping down the side of his face. He glanced at Carter and saw her looking in the direction of their wagon.
“Very well,” Kathein finally said, gathering the documents into a neat pile. “I will examine these more closely and give you my answer this afternoon.”
Effectively dismissing them, she turned her attention to her meal. Jack motioned to Carter with a tilt of his head to follow him. The Lareina irked him, she could blow hot and cold, and Jack never knew which side she would show him whenever he came to talk to her.
They quickly strode through the camp and reached their wagon. He could see Daniel sitting on a mat on the ground, leaning against one of the enormous wagon wheels. Daniel smiled a greeting at them when he spotted them. Jack eyed him critically and decided that Daniel looked a bit better.
A partially-eaten power bar sat beside him on the sleeping mat, indicating that Daniel had managed to down some food. Jack and Carter both flanked Daniel, each squatting down on either side of him.
“Feeling better?” Jack asked as he inched his fingers over Daniel’s, moving his body to hide the movement from any onlookers. He squeezed gently and Daniel turned his palm over and gave Jack a squeeze back.
“Yeah, a little,” Daniel answered. Jack wondered if he really was better or if the Compazine had simply done its job.
“You’ll need to stick to MRE’s for a bit; at least until we can figure out what exactly made you so sick.”
Daniel nodded. “I figured as much. Just keep that juice away from me,” he said with a smile as he turned to Carter. “I don’t think I could swallow any right now.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Carter said contritely. “But you do know the stuff is good for you.”
“Not if that’s what’s making him sick,” Jack said.
“True,” Carter said, chewing on her bottom lip. Jack guessed she was feeling guilty about having forced the liquid on Daniel.
“I need to go set up the radio relay, Sir,” Carter told him.
“Teal’c’s doing that,” Daniel said, pointing off to the right with his chin. “He was fiddling with it a little while ago and said you should go join him after you ate.”
Carter got up and went to inspect the basket of food that was sitting beside Daniel. She pulled out some meat and began making sandwiches, handing two to Jack before eating her own.
The radio relay was being set up to facilitate communications, both for SG-1 on this mission and for any subsequent missions to the mines in the future. Although so far they’d traversed gentle hills, they would soon be entering a more rugged, mountainous area which could affect their radio waves.
Teal’c had gone off to the highest point in the immediate area, a designation they had already mapped off which was about a kilometer and a half away from their mid-day camp site. With the sun high in the sky and the energy-sapping heat of mid-day, Jack didn’t envy his two team members’ job. He would have accompanied Carter on this duty also, but there was no question of leaving Daniel alone.
“I’ll see you in a few hours,” Carter called out after gathering her equipment, munching on another sandwich while heading for the saddle beasts.
“Take it easy out there,” Jack called out. She raised her hand in acknowledgement. Jack finished his meal and sat back against the wagon, trying to rest during the lull in their journey. Daniel appeared restless, though, constantly shifting around.
“What?” Jack finally asked, cracking an eye and looking at Daniel.
“Nothing, sorry,” Daniel replied.
“Okay. Is there anything you need? Water? Pills?”
“No, Teal’c dosed me about an hour ago. Guess I’m good for a little while.”
“You eating okay?”
Daniel picked up the uneaten portion of his power bar, and fiddled with it nervously before answering.
“Yeah, the pills are helping, but I’m still feeling a bit queasy.”
“Headache?”
“Took more pills for that, but yeah, it’s better now.” Daniel looked over at Jack with a slightly sheepish look. “Honestly, I’m feeling much better. I just wish I knew what it was in the first place that caused that. Because I really don’t want a repeat performance.”
“You and me both. I think you frightened Carter this morning.”
“I scared myself too,” Daniel admitted quietly, folding and unfolding the empty part of the wrapper over and over. “I honestly thought for a second that… well, let’s just say I was pretty scared.”
“We can turn back, you know, return to the SGC if you don’t start getting better soon.” Although he said the words, Jack knew what Daniel’s answer was going to be even before he said it.
“The minerals are important, Jack. I know the pressure General Hammond is under to get the mining agreement signed. I think if we turned around and went home now, the Lareina would simply rescind everything. Plus I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“I sort of noticed that,” Jack said with a grimace.
“She seems to like you.” Jack saw the start of a dimple in Daniel’s cheek as he tried to hold back a smile.
“Ya think?” Jack groused. “Although what she sees in me when she could be looking at you…”
“I think she’s got pretty good taste myself,” Daniel stated. Daniel turned to stare at Jack and for the first time he noticed Daniel’s pupils were dilated. Jack hoped it was simply the effects of the medication he’d taken.
Jack yawned and laid his head back against the wagon. He’d only gotten a couple of hours of sleep last night, having woken up early and trying to figure out what had gotten over him, leading to their argument. When the sun had risen, Jack had spent a good amount of time simply lying there watching Daniel sleep.
He yawned again and Daniel chuckled. Daniel moved over on the mat he was sitting on and patted the empty space beside him. Jack slid down and lay on his side while Daniel did the same. It was just too hot to do anything else but sleep. He felt sorry for Teal’c and Carter, vowing that they could spend the rest of the afternoon resting in the wagon with Daniel if they felt like it. The last thing he heard was Daniel shifting around behind him restlessly.
Jack woke up feeling headachy and lethargic from the heat. His clothes were sodden with sweat and he simply lay there, listening to the goings on of the camp. He could hear Daniel breathing softly beside him, and he could feel Daniel’s body heat even though there were inches separating them. The heat and humidity seemed to make everything unbearable.
He finally turned onto his back with a soft groan. He looked at Daniel who was still asleep, his face near Jack’s. There were still dark circles under his eyes and he was still pale, and he needed a shave, but his familiar face sent a pang down into Jack’s stomach as he realized how much he loved the man lying beside him.
He closed his eyes again, not expecting to sleep.
The noise of the camp breaking up woke him. The sun was much lower and the temperature had cooled off a bit. Daniel was sitting up beside him, rubbing his right leg.
“Hey,” Jack said, his mouth feeling thick and pasty. He was dying for something to drink and he looked around for a canteen.
“Sleep well?” Daniel asked as he handed him some water. Jack nodded as he first slaked his thirst then poured some of the water over his head, giving his head a shake. Droplets splattered all over and he quickly regretted the action when his headache blossomed. He reached for his pack and took out a couple of Advils.
“Sam and Teal’c are back,” Daniel informed him. “I just saw them riding in.”
“Good, I’ll talk to Fraiser tonight when Hammond powers up the Stargate.” He walked over to the ever present jug of water and filled Daniel’s canteen, then his own.
Carter looked totally exhausted when she returned to the wagon and Jack suggested she go rest inside. Teal’c reported that the relay was working fine and they should have no problem communicating with the SGC via the MALP that had been left by the Stargate specifically for this purpose.
When the servants began pulling down their canopy, Jack went over to help Daniel back inside the wagon. He caught Daniel rubbing his leg again, but at his questioning, Daniel merely replied that he had slight cramps.
Jack feared dehydration and bade Daniel drink more water. He watched as Daniel settled himself beside Carter, who was already fast asleep. Daniel opted to sit inside near the front of the wagon and Jack took the front seat beside the driver. He talked for a while with Daniel, but he could see Daniel was tiring so he urged him to lie down and sleep.
He watched his team members sleep, one obviously exhausted and sleeping deeply and heavily, the other one sick and weak and tossing restlessly. He found himself constantly reaching down and checking Daniel for fever. His temperature remained normal, thankfully, and he was sweating freely, so hopefully he was getting enough liquids.
He finally relinquished his seat to Teal’c when Kathein’s servant came to inform him the Lareina was ready to see him. He jogged lightly to the woman’s wagon, where as usual, she walked easily by her wagon as she waited for him.
- - - - - -
They spent the rest of that afternoon’s journey discussing the mining rights, and Jack was wishing that Carter were here to help answer some of her questions. At least he didn’t have to take notes; one of the servants was doing that for him. The sun was nearly setting when they reached the oasis they’d been heading for and the convoy soon settled into the now-routine business of making camp.
Expecting to be excused, he was surprised for a moment when Kathein invited him to eat with her. He had no ready excuse; Daniel was getting better and had both Teal’c and Carter to watch over him. He sighed, and agreed. She sent one of her people over to them with the message not to wait for him and then preceded him into her quarters.
- - - - - -
Soft hands caressed his cheek and he caught them easily, bringing them to his mouth and pressing kisses onto the soft skin. His body was shaking with desire, and his cock straining at his pants. He licked the small fingers, bringing one into his mouth and sucking on it before biting down gently.
He took the finger from his mouth, searching for those warm, supple lips he remembered so well. He found a mouth, and looked up. Shining purple eyes stared at him lovingly, pupils dilated in lust.
Jack blinked. That was wrong. The eyes should be blue, a clear and brilliant blue.
He pushed off the bed and stood up, swaying.
“Jack,” the woman protested as she raised an arm in supplication.
“No, this isn’t right,” he said, backing up towards the edge of the tent. He spotted his tee shirt lying on the ground and grabbed it, nearly losing his balance in the process.
His head felt thick and the whole candle-lit tent looked surreal. The ache in his groin was persistent and he had to leave before he lost control and tried to slake his relief with this woman. He needed Daniel. He needed Daniel now!
He stumbled out of the tent, fumbling with the flaps before finding the opening. The cool night air washed over him, helping to clear his head a little. He searched for his wagon, thinking it was usually camped to the right of the Lareina’s. He set off in that direction.
It took him several minutes but he finally found it. Both tents had been erected together rather than on either side of the wagon. It made one large tent, which was what had confused him.
He entered the tent and saw Daniel lying sprawled on his stomach opposite the entrance. He’d been writing in his journal earlier, it was sitting open beside him, his lax hand resting over the pages. Jack’s cock jumped to attention, swelling even harder at the sight of his slumbering lover. His eyes traveled over the familiar form before him. The blanket was caught between Daniel’s legs, pulled tight against his ass. Jack took an involuntary step towards Daniel when a voice suddenly yanked him back to the present.
“O’Neill.”
He turned to the voice and saw Carter and Teal’c both sitting off to the side, Carter presumably working on the notes that had been taken today. Why the hell were they here? Why couldn’t they have stayed in their own tent tonight?
Daniel groaned suddenly and rolled over onto his side. Jack could see the paleness of his face and suddenly he recalled Daniel was sick. Daniel opened his eyes, and looked at Jack.
Damn, he needed relief. He needed Daniel badly, he felt as if he were burning up. What the hell was going on?
Ignoring Carter and Teal’c’s questions and Daniel’s voice calling his name, Jack sped out of the tent and made for the sanctuary of the dark night, where only he and his hand would know how close he had come to taking Daniel had he been alone with him.
- - - - - -
After relieving the pressing needs of his body in a dark corner and coming to grips with his emotions, Jack wandered around the camp until he found some water. He washed his hands and face, trying to scrub away the stench of the Lareina’s perfume. His head ached and his legs felt shaky. He suspected he’d been subjected to some kind of aphrodisiac, his memory was fuzzy but he recalled feeling the woman’s body beneath his hands.
Daniel had looked up at Jack. He had to have seen the state Jack was in. Damn, how was he going to explain this to him? Would Daniel even believe him?
He rubbed his hands through his hair in irritation. Of course Daniel would believe him. That woman had tried to force Jack into doing something he hadn’t any interest in doing. He’d known at first she’d been flirting with him. He’d been polite, but hadn’t reciprocated. But flashes of memory came to him, sitting by her side and being mesmerized by the exotic colour of her eyes, her soft lips, her voice a sultry seductive siren song that pushed out all thoughts except those of her.
Christ, how long had she been doing this to him?
Angry now, he made his way back to his tent, remembering suddenly he was supposed to speak to Hammond tonight. He glanced at his watch as he passed a campfire, and he noted that the scheduled time had come and gone. Shit. He hoped Carter had managed to get through in lieu of him.
He entered the tent a second time that evening, feeling more in control of himself. Carter and Daniel were sitting side by side, talking. Jack’s eyes went straight for Daniel, afraid of what he would see reflected in his lover’s face.
“Jack!” Daniel exclaimed. Daniel was sitting crossed legged on the sleeping mat and he made to rise when he saw him. Jack went straight for Daniel and crouched beside him. He nearly sagged with relief when he saw worry and love and not the accusation and anger he was expecting.
“Are you okay?” Daniel asked, his eyes searching Jack’s face with an intensity that was almost scary.
“Yeah, I am now.” He took Daniel’s hand and squeezed it before turning to Carter.
“Did you talk to Hammond and Fraiser?” He felt Daniel squeeze back.
He listened with half an ear as Carter expounded on her conversation with Hammond, the details being exactly what he’d expected. He sat beside Daniel and tried to relax. When she moved on to her conversation with the SGC’s doctor, however, he gave her his full attention.
“Janet was mostly worried about dehydration but considering that Daniel managed to eat a full MRE tonight, she thinks he’s over the worst of the allergic reaction. She cautioned that we all keep to what we already know is safe for us to eat, and that Daniel not eat any of the local food.”
Jack nodded. In other words, continue doing what they’d been doing already.
“Colonel, Teal’c is out searching for you. If you don’t mind, I’ll go see if I can find him and let him know you’re okay.”
“Fine.” Bless her, she was giving them privacy. Carter stood up, but as she was leaving the tent, Jack called her back in.
“Do me a favour?”
“Sir?”
“No matter what Kathein says, make sure either you or Teal’c continue to play chaperone when I’m with her.”
“Understood,” she said after a short pause.
“She drugged me,” Jack said quietly to Daniel, his thumb rubbing small patterns on the back of Daniel’s hand.
“I figured as much.”
“If there wasn’t so much riding on this trip, I’d have us turn around right now and go home.”
Daniel turned to face Jack and stroked a finger down Jack’s cheek. “Not on my account, I hope.”
Jack would have preferred to hand Daniel over to Fraiser, even with the news that Daniel was feeling better. But the mission came first and so long as the trip wasn’t endangering his team, he had no choice but to continue on.
“No. But because the one woman who holds everything the SGC wants tried to coerce me into doing something I had no intention of doing. And I think she tried this more than once.”
Daniel teasingly nudged Jack with his shoulder. “We’ll get Teal’c to babysit you, don’t worry. She won’t try anything with him looking over her shoulder.” Jack smiled at the thought of the Jaffa watching Kathein with an eagle eye. He felt better, glad he knew now what had been happening to him.
- - - - - -
Daniel’s frantic movements as he tried to get out of his sleeping area woke Jack up. Before Jack could sit up, Daniel scrambled off the sleeping mats and had almost made it out of the tent before he began throwing up. Jack was up in a flash. He could hear Daniel struggling to breathe through the violent upheaval, coughing and gagging whenever he tried to take a breath.
Teal’c reached Daniel the same time Jack did and they both held onto his shaking body. Jack spoke soothingly, trying to keep Daniel calm. Carter lit the lamps, and Jack saw her rifling through her pack. Soon Daniel had nothing left to throw up, although his body kept on trying. They pulled Daniel back onto the mat, removed his soiled clothes and covered him up with a blanket. Daniel curled up on his side, his knees drawn to his chest. As Carter gave him an injection of Compazine, Jack hoped the antiemetic would act quickly and ease Daniel’s suffering.
Jack grabbed the corner of the blanket and wiped Daniel’s sweaty face with it. Daniel’s breathing sounded harsh and quick, and he was shivering. Daniel grabbed at Jack’s hand and Jack could see the fear reflected in his lover’s eyes.
“It’s gonna be okay, you just need to ride this through,” Jack told him. Daniel moaned and squeezed Jack’s hand tightly as he dry heaved once more. “It’s okay,” Jack whispered. “Just try to relax in between bouts.”
“Can’t. Hurts.”
“What hurts, Daniel?” Carter asked, leaning over Jack and reaching for Daniel’s wrist to take his pulse. “Your stomach?”
Daniel nodded, unable to talk when another spasm wracked his body.
Carter finished taking his pulse and shook her head. She placed a hand on his cheek, then his forehead.
“He has a fever,” she informed Jack, “and his pulse is way out there.”
Jack didn’t need her to tell him that. He could feel the heat coming off Daniel’s hand which was still holding tightly onto Jack’s. He could also see the pulse in Daniel’s neck beating so fast it was almost vibrating.
“Carter, you sure Daniel didn’t eat anything local tonight?”
“Yes Sir, I’m positive. He had more of an appetite and managed to eat an MRE.”
“What about the water? Could it be contaminated with something?”
“I observed the woman Jaceen myself,” Teal’c said. “The water is very carefully boiled and MajorCarter and I have both ensured it was purified before being provided for our drinking needs.”
“Damnit, there has to be something he ate or drank that’s making him sick,” he ranted to nobody in particular.
His attention was returned to Daniel once more as he moaned in discomfort. The worst appeared to be over, though, so Jack slid down beside Daniel on the mat. Daniel allowed Jack to pull him against his chest and he maneuvered his body against Jack’s, seeking his body warmth.
- - - - - -
Daniel woke up slowly, trying to figure out what had disturbed him. He listened attentively and heard Jack’s voice raised in anger outside, slightly muffled through the thick canvas of the tent.
With a groan, he managed to sit up. His head spun and he had to swallow a few times to ease the nausea that had returned with the movement. The muscles along his ribs and back ached fiercely and his head was throbbing. He felt feverish, even his skin hurt. His eyesight was blurry, and he rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision.
He had an awful taste in his mouth and he felt like he couldn’t get enough saliva to wet it. He looked around for a canteen, and spotted one by their packs. Crawling over to it, he managed to swallow a few sips before looking for his clothes.
He got up, holding onto the wagon until his head stopped spinning, and spotted his glasses nearby. When he put them on he was surprised that his vision didn’t improve by much. He found his pants and tee shirt lying discarded by the far side of the tent. He wrinkled his nose at the sour stench of vomit as he picked up his tee shirt. He dropped it back onto the ground and walked unsteadily to his pack and found clean clothes. He could still hear Jack arguing with the Lareina while he dressed, wanting to turn their wagon back and bring Daniel to the SGC for treatment.
Daniel cautiously opened the flaps of the tent, squinting in the bright light. He belatedly wished he’d thought of looking for his sunglasses when his headache doubled in intensity but he wasn’t sure where they were. Reluctantly he stepped outside and heard Sam call his name. Jack’s voice stilled and suddenly he was there by Daniel’s side, an anxious expression on his face.
“Hey, you shouldn’t be up,” he said as he helped Daniel over into the nearest shady area. “How are you feeling?”
Sam and Teal’c joined them, and he could see the worry reflected on their faces. He ignored the way his body broke out in sweat from the short walk.
“I’m fine, guys. Just a little dizzy and tired.” He looked around as he sat down and saw the Lareina standing off a ways, staring at them. He nodded to her and she moved off without acknowledging him.
“You should have stayed in bed a little longer,” Jack chided. When Daniel raised a questioning eyebrow, Jack added, “You’ve got plenty of time to rest. We’re turning back.”
“Turning back? Why? I told you last night I was feeling better.” He wasn’t really, but this mission was important to Earth. They would reach the first mine later that afternoon; it would take two days to reach the Stargate. It wasn’t worth turning back now, especially as they were so close to reaching their goal.
“You expect me to believe that after your little episode last night?” Jack exclaimed incredulously.
“Daniel, the Colonel’s right. This trade agreement isn’t worth your life,” Sam added.
“My life? I had an upset stomach! I’m sorry about the mess and the worry, but aren’t you guys making a big deal over this?” Sure he felt really lousy at the moment but he’d get over this, whatever it was. He always did. He looked over at Teal’c, expecting the Jaffa to at least agree with him.
But instead of siding with Daniel, Teal’c placed a hand to Daniel’s cheek. Daniel’s reactions were a little slow so he jerked his head back after the damage was done.
“Your body temperature is elevated. You are not well.”
“It’s hot outside, Teal’c,” Daniel said sarcastically. “Of course I’m hot.”
“Can it, Danny,” Jack growled. “We just have to look at you to know you’re not feeling that great.” Daniel lowered his head in embarrassment, trying to hide his expression of dismay. “This has gone on long enough, it’s time to get you back home and have you play at being Fraiser’s pincushion for a little while.”
“And that visual is supposed to make me want to go back?” Sam’s lip curled up slightly at Daniel’s words, but Jack’s face remained impassive. “Look, okay. So I’m feeling a little lousy. But we’re close to reaching the mines, which is what this mission is all about. Why don’t we go on to the first one and if I’m not better by tomorrow, we leave then? I’m not slated to be doing anything there anyway, so I can take it easy while you guys all go exploring. At least this way we’ll have completed part of our objective.” He could see that Jack wasn’t buying it.
“Look, do you really want to turn back because I’m sick, or because you’re pissed that Kathein tried to drug you into her bed.” Jack started at his words, and then glared at Daniel. “Because if that’s the case, you’re going to be axing our best chance in years to get the trinium and other raw materials we’ve been searching for. Please Jack, I’ll nr fine. I’ve had worse than this.”
“You may have had worse, but we’re two days away from proper medical help and I’m not willing to risk you for some minerals.”
“Jack, if I can risk *you* in the hands of Kathein, then maybe you can risk trusting me on this.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed and Daniel could see that he was biting back a retort. The emotions running through Daniel at the moment aggravated his illness and he wanted nothing more but to curl up somewhere in a corner and hide his head under the covers. But Jack had put on his mother hen hat and was ignoring their mission’s mandate. He really felt lousy and was having a hard time hiding the severity of it from Jack.
“Fine,” Jack snapped at him. “Get something to eat and get back in the wagon. I’ll go tell her highness that we’ll be ready to leave in fifteen.”
As Jack walked away, Daniel sighed and closed his eyes. A hand gripped his arm lightly and he opened his eyes to see Teal’c squatting beside him.
“He is worried for you, as are we all. Do not belittle his concern.”
“Teal’c, I’m not…”
“Yes you are, Daniel,” Sam interrupted. “You’re not fooling anyone, you know.” She took a deep breath and Daniel was relieved when she changed the subject. “I’ll get you something for your fever. Eat this and drink some water.”
Daniel accepted the power bar she handed him, wondering how he was going to force it down. He unwrapped it and then took a tentative bite, chewing slowly. He swallowed it down with a sip of water, actually feeling the nourishment reach his stomach and sit there uncomfortably. It felt like his stomach was swollen and irritated, and the food was making it worse. He managed another two bites when the nausea rose up again.
He sat there with his eyes closed, fighting the waves of heat and queasiness that rolled over him. He finally won the struggle and was able to swallow the pills Sam gave him. She eyed him critically but didn’t say anything as she took the nearly untouched meal away from him.
By the time Jack returned, the camp was almost ready to move. As Daniel stood up and walked back to the wagon on wobbly legs, he wondered at how sensitive his skin was. The material of his pants was rubbing painfully against his legs and his boots felt nearly unbearable. As he placed a step on the first rung to haul himself onto the wagon seat, Jaceen stopped packing their belongings and joined them.
“I did not wish to overhear,” she said, eyes downcast. “But your voices carried so.” She glanced up nervously, eyeing them all.
Daniel heard Jack say to her to go on as he grabbed the seat to prevent himself from falling backwards as his legs nearly gave out on him. He nearly fell onto the seat and clutched at the sides when the world began to spin.
“There are healers at the mines that could look at Daniel. Perhaps the Lareina will send one to you when we arrive today. I wished only to say…” She bit her lip and looked around cautiously, before lowering her voice. “The healer who is appointed to the mines is a friend of the Lareina’s, and will do as she is told. If you would, the Leroi’s… friend… is known to all as being well versed in the healing arts. But the Lareina will not take kindly to her husband’s paramour treating one she believes to be in the Lareina’s care.”
“Wait a minute,” Jack exploded. “Husband?” He stared up at Daniel dumbfoundedly. “She’s married?”
Jaceen’s expression was one of confusion.
“But yes. Surely you knew?”
“No,” Sam intervened quickly before Jack could say something rude. “We were given to understand that Kathein was sole ruler here.” She looked up at Jack and then at Daniel. “This could be a problem, Sir.”
“The Leroi Howain oversees the mines and spends much time there and away from the city,” Jaceen explained. “It is also one of the reasons why we are escorting you to the mines, so that you may discuss and finalize the agreement with him. I do not understand why you were not told of this.”
“Oh, I can think of a few,” Jack said as he glared towards the head of the wagon train. “Thank you, Jaceen,” Jack said suddenly. “I appreciate your candor and Daniel could certainly use the services of a healer.”
“We’ll be at the mine by suppertime tonight, Sir,” Sam confirmed. “Could you make the arrangements for this healer to come?” she asked, looking at Jaceen. The younger woman nodded and smiled, then looked up at Daniel.
“I am certain that the Leroi will do so the instant he hears of illness. If anyone can help you, Daniel, it will be Braggain, who trained under the skills of Timal. All who do are renowned for their healing abilities.”
“I’d rather have Fraiser looking at you,” Jack said, bringing his hand to grasp Daniel’s arm and rubbing it gently, “but maybe one of the local healers can identify exactly what bug you’ve picked up or what allergen that’s making you sick.”
The sensation of Jack’s hand was both comforting and painful on Daniel’s sensitized skin. He didn’t pull away but instead withstood the discomfort. When Jaceen finished gathering their stuff, Jack let go of Daniel and began handing her their supplies, which she packed in the interior of the wagon.
Their driver clambered up onto the seat beside Daniel, giving him a nod before speaking. “You had best stay on the wagon,” the driver warned. “We will be traveling more quickly, at least until we reach the foothills.” Daniel looked at the grayish brown smudge that blurred before him. “A storm approaches quickly and we need to deviate from our route.”
“Storm?” Daniel mumbled, turning to look around the wagon behind him when the man pointed in that direction. The sky was a strangely ominous grayish pink. From his vantage point, Daniel could see that the storm system was huge.
“We have no wish to be caught in the flatlands,” the driver continued.
“Hey, looks like we’re in for quite a storm,” Jack said as he came up beside them and handed Jaceen the last of their stuff.
As soon as Jaceen stepped off the wagon, it pulled away with a lurch. As they took their place in the convoy, Daniel could tell that the pace was nearly double that which they’d been traveling for the past two days. The heat was oppressive already this early in the morning. it was going to be hard on both the people and the huge beasts pulling the wagons.
“You said we’re deviating?” Daniel asked, looking back worriedly at his friends walking beside the wagon. He regretted the movement, the world tilting nauseatingly a moment before it righted itself again. He had to concentrate on the words of the driver.
“Yes. We will take a seldom-used route to gain the foothills, where we will be able to take shelter should the storm continue this way. With the original route, we needs cross a river but it will be too swollen with rainfall by the time we would get there this afternoon. The alternate route is treacherous, which is why we rarely use it, but we would cross the river much sooner. Since the Lareina’s young son was killed there, we avoid it as much as possible.”
They traveled in relative silence, everyone trying to conserve energy as they kept up with the fast pace Kathein was setting. Daniel mulled over the driver’s words, and wondered about the death of Kathein’s son.
Soon the heat sapped the last of Daniel’s energy and he had no choice but to move inside and lie down. As he sat down on the makeshift bed that Jaceen had prepared for him earlier to try and remove his boots, he felt the wagon tilt and Jack’s anxious voice called out to him as his form blocked out the light.
“You okay?” Jack questioned as he knelt beside him. Daniel looked at Jack, noting that his clothes were sodden with sweat. He felt guilty about lying down when Jack and everyone else were most probably already exhausted.
“Tired,” he said weakly, tugging on his boot while trying to ease it from his throbbing foot. Jack moved his hands gently away and fiddled with the laces, finally easing the heavy footwear off. Daniel lay down onto the mat as Jack worked the other boot off.
“What about you?” Daniel asked, seeing Jack wipe sweat from his face with the back of his hand.
“Hot,” he said with a wry grin. “But we’ve got plenty of water, so we’re all okay.” He looked around and spotted a canteen. “Speaking of which, I don’t remember seeing you drinking any today.” He handed it to Daniel, who took it and forced a few sips into his still rebellious stomach.
“I’d better get out there before they think I’m goofing off,” Jack said with a grimace. He squeezed Daniel’s shoulder and Daniel nearly shot off the floor from the pain. He pulled away from Jack instinctively, and saw Jack freeze.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, but Jack was eyeing him with concern.
“What the hell was that?” he demanded, his fingers ghosting over the spot where he’d grasped Daniel.
“My skin hurts,” Daniel finally admitted.
“Skin?”
“Where it touches my clothes.” He felt Jack lift his tee shirt and he raised his head to look at the pale, unblemished skin of his abdomen. Jack’s hand trailed lightly over his skin, leaving sensations of fire behind wherever his fingers touched.
“This hurts?” he asked, keeping his eyes on Daniel’s face. Daniel nodded, pulling down the material to cover his exposed skin, forcing Jack’s fingers away from him.
“Danny,” Jack said, “we can’t turn back with that storm coming. We have no choice but to keep going. This is more than just a bug or allergy.”
“I know.”
“All we can do now is pray that this Braggain woman can help you.”
Daniel nodded, knowing his predicament full well. He closed his eyes wearily. He felt Jack’s cool lips on his own before his whispered words reached him.
“Get some sleep. I’ll be right outside.”
“ ‘Kay,” he said, keeping his eyes closed. He heard Jack leave the wagon, and Jack’s voice carried to him as he filled his teammates in on Daniel’s latest symptoms.
He tried to sleep, but the heat in the wagon and the increasing sensitivity of his skin kept him awake. He took a finger and played it up and down his arm curiously, seeking out the pain. He realized that it hurt more in certain spots, as if the nerves themselves rather than his skin as a whole were what had become sensitized. Finally exhaustion claimed him and he fell asleep despite the heat and pain.
He woke up with a cry, his feet seeming to be on fire. Shivering with fever, he reached down and tried to massage the hurt away. His whole body ached and burned, and he held back the need to call out for Jack. Feeling like a child, craving sympathy and someone to tell him he’d be fine, instead he ground his teeth together and told himself he was a grown man. He’d weathered allergies, colds, the flu and broken bones throughout most of his life by himself; he didn’t need to beg someone to come and hold his hand just because he was feeling a little insecure.
He rummaged through the nearest packsack, seeking something for his fever. He removed a blister pack and peered at the packaging, his eyesight blurry and unable to make out the wording. He picked up a few others, rubbing at his eyes and hoping the print would be clearer. He finally came across the Tylenol, recognizing the yellow and red color of the tablets. He swallowed two, draining half the water when he realized how thirsty he was.
The wagon hit a pothole and Daniel lost his balance, falling onto his side. He realized that the going was rougher than before, although their speed hadn’t diminished. He could hear people calling out to one another, a sense of unrest in the air. He heard running water, and suddenly the sound of the wagon changed as it splashed through it.
Crawling on hands and knees, he decided to go look outside and see what was going on. He’d only made it halfway when without warning the water he’d drank made a sudden reappearance. He dropped onto his side, curling around the painful cramping of his stomach that brought tears to his eyes.
When the cramps finally eased, he realized the wagon had come to a stop. He continued to lay there, exhausted, when Jack suddenly entered the interior.
“Daniel, we’re going to have to…” His voice trailed off and he rushed to Daniel’s side.
“What happened?” he asked, eying the puddle of liquid Daniel was lying in.
“I was stupid. I drank some water too fast,” Daniel said, forcing himself back into a sitting position and wiping the warm water from his arm. He was relieved to see Jack; glad that he wasn’t alone.
Jack looked at him carefully before his hand came up to caress Daniel’s cheek. “Shit, you’re burning up,” Jack said. Daniel leaned into Jack’s hand a moment before answering.
“I took some Tylenol, but I think they’re…” he waved at the water he’d vomited. Jack reached over for a pack and fished out some more pills. Daniel took them from him and swallowed them dry this time.
“I hate to do this to you, but we’re going to have to walk a ways now. The road is too steep for chancing passengers riding inside the wagons. I took a look and there’s no way you’re staying in here.”
“Okay,” Daniel said, steeling himself for the journey. He looked for his socks and boots, and as he reached for them, Jack was already there. He took the socks from Jack and pulled them over his feet, hating the heat they already generated on his sensitive nerves. He pushed his feet into his boots, biting back a moan. He laced them up as loosely as he could, then nodded to Jack that he was ready. Jack looked at him quizzically and then reached back and took Daniel’s glasses and placed them on his nose. His sunglasses followed, then his boonie hat.
“Ready?”
Daniel took a deep breath and let Jack help him up. As he leaned against his lover, he noticed that Jack’s clothes were soaked with sweat.
His legs felt rubbery as he grabbed the seat for leverage and made his way to the ground. Teal’c and Sam were there, helping him down. As he walked towards a bunch of trees where many of the people were resting beneath the offered shade, he saw the path the wagons had to take. Jack was right. It was very steep, surrounded by unforgiving boulders and trees.
They sat down at the edge of the trees, where they had a bit of privacy. Most of the group was resting, but a few had already begun trudging up the hill, widely littered with rocks which prevented the wagons from traveling the easier route. The spot where the people were climbing was nowhere near as bad as where the animals were forced to go.
Daniel couldn’t believe the garun could make it up that grade. He watched as they struggled, their hindquarters quivering with the effort of placing one step before the other, pulling the loaded wagon behind them. Daniel heaved a sigh of relief when it finally cleared the top. The event recurred when the next wagon in line began climbing the hill.
“Jaceen was telling me that Kathein’s toddler son was killed when her husband left him sleeping inside their wagon,” Sam said. “The wagon in front slid into theirs when one of the garun slipped. She didn’t come right out and say it, but I understood that Kathein never forgave Howain.”
Daniel looked at Jack, wondering how he would take the news. Jack’s eyes narrowed slightly and Daniel wondered if he was already hating this man who had unwittingly caused the death of his child. He sighed, wondering if there was going to be even more tension when they finally met up with him.
Jack shifted closer to Daniel and pulled him against his chest. Daniel allowed the motion and leaned tiredly against Jack, reveling in the feel of his body against his own. It was really too hot for body contact, but he’d missed Jack’s touch and began to feel a little more secure once again.
“Don’t go to sleep,” Jack whispered in Daniel’s hair. He nodded, knowing they were going to have to start moving soon. He looked back at the wagons and saw that their own was next in line. He tensed as he saw their driver step down and began leading the animals up the hill. He held his breath, muscles stiff and tense, until they finally made it to safety.
He hadn’t realized that Jack had also tensed up until he felt his body relax beneath his. Jack took out his canteen and offered it to Daniel.
“Try and drink a bit before we go.”
Daniel took a sip and waited. His stomach contracted once, and then settled down. He managed a few more sips without mishap and handed the container back.
He stood up and looked up the path they had to take, already wishing they were at the top. The landscape was fading into a blur; he was going to have to trust his team to make sure he didn’t walk into a tree or fall over the edge of a cliff or something. With Sam taking point and Jack and Teal’c flanking him, they began their slow trudge uphill.
ON TO PART TWO >>
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