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As Daniel slowly sauntered into the Gateroom, Jack glanced at his watch, taken aback to see that SG-1's resident archaeologist was nearly ten minutes early. He had his backpack hanging from his arm and was rummaging inside the heavily packed sac, obviously searching for something.
Jack's elation at Daniel's change in trend quickly changed to frustration when General Hammond called Daniel's attention over the room's speakers.
“Doctor Jackson.” Daniel stopped and turned to stare up questioningly at the General, squinting slightly as his glasses fell forward on his nose.
“Doctor Fraiser just called.” The older man pursed his lips in irritation. “It seems you forgot to report to the infirmary today to receive your booster shot.”
“What?” Daniel had that wide-eyed, confused look Jack knew so well. He turned to Jack, as if begging him to say the General was mistaken. “That was today?”
“Don't tell me you forgot!” Jack grabbed the strap of Daniel's backpack and pulled it to him. “Daniel, we're a little short on time here so you had better get your butt down to the infirmary and get that needle or so help me…” His words trailed off as Daniel first began walking backwards and then turned and literally ran out of the Gateroom. Jack looked up and traded glances with General Hammond. Trust Daniel to be on time for once, and now Jack just knew he'd have to hold the ‘gate open for his friend until he returned.
- - - - - -
Daniel drummed his fingers impatiently on the elevator doors, willing the car to rush down the few levels separating the Stargate from the infirmary. How could he have forgotten? Everything had been going wrong for him since he'd arrived at the base today. He'd been in a perpetual rush to get everything fixed and finished before leaving for today's trip through the Stargate. He'd finally gotten everything together and had actually made it to the Gateroom earlier in plenty of time, except he'd suspected he had forgotten his book on ancient Sumarian in his office. And now this?
The booster shot was needed so that SG-1 could visit one particular planet scheduled for three weeks from today. The people there had been experiencing a very virulent plague and had refused to allow anybody to come through to their world until they were inoculated. Janet and her medical team had had to test the serum the people of P3P-993 had sent through to make sure firstly, that it was safe and secondly, that it would be effective. Then the team assigned to go to that world required a series of injections at very specific intervals in order for the inoculation to work. He had had a twenty-four hour window, which was obviously today and since he was going offworld in... he glanced at his watch… damn, the Stargate had activated one minute ago.
He hoped Janet would forgive him for having rushed her staff today, especially when there were obviously busy. And poor Kathleen, the nurse who had just given him the shot. He'd kept trying to glance at his watch while trying to hold the edge of his long-sleeved shirt up as she tried to give him his injection, and he knew she'd been a little exasperated with him. He'd need to apologize to her properly when he returned from this mission. Or at the least, he'd make sure he'd be in the infirmary in plenty of time for his next booster.
He ran to the Gateroom, out of breath, and was greeted with the sight of an active Stargate, and with Jack standing at the top of the ramp, tapping the butt of his P-90 impatiently. Teal'c and Sam were nowhere in evidence, they must have gone through already.
With an apologetic look to General Hammond, Daniel ran up the ramp, slowing down just long enough to grab his heavy pack from Jack. He slid through the vortex, his form disappearing through the blue shimmering flux of the wormhole.
- - - - - -
Jack stepped out of the Stargate and was witness to Daniel's headlong flight towards a series of crumbly steps. Teal'c's arm snaked out and stopped him just in the nick of time before he stumbled down the stairs.
“Thanks,” Daniel puffed, still out of breath. He straightened up and patted Teal'c's shoulder.
Jack knew he should be upset at Daniel for having held them up, but he knew his friend had had one hell of a morning. Actually Jack could only blame himself for Daniel's tardiness. He should have made sure Daniel had gotten his shot at the same time Jack had first thing this morning before breakfast. But it seemed to be one of those days for his friend where everything was going wrong, and Jack had quietly backed out of Daniel's office when his friend had spilled his coffee over his desk, his curses following Jack down the corridor.
Jack turned his mind to the mission at hand. They were stuck on this planet for a minimum of forty-eight hours, which was how long this DHD took to recharge after each use. The Stargate had also been altered; the Naquada didn't retain a charge like all the others they'd encountered. Its energy was constantly leached, and thus was wholly dependent on the DHD feeding it energy before it could be activated.
A previous team sent to this world had believed themselves stranded at first, until the unusual properties of the DHD had been discovered. He knew that Carter had been dying to examine it more closely; if they had enough time on their way back he'd give her a chance to play with it. Until then, SG-1 had a date with SG-4 and three scientists at the observatory.
Jack looked around, noting that the area around the Stargate was devoid of people.
“Weren't we supposed to be met by someone from SG-4?” Jack asked no one in particular.
“Indeed,” Teal'c said, coming to stand beside Jack and gazing out into the distance.
Jack clicked his radio on. “Siera Gulf four niner, this is Sierra Gulf one niner. Come in.”
He listened carefully, but only heard static. He repeated the call, feeling a chill go up his spine which had nothing to do with the cool air of the planet.
“Okay, folks. The town is east of here, and we know it's a good three hour hike. Carter, take point, Teal'c, you've got our six.” He didn't need to tell them to keep their eyes open; the ominous radio silence meant that anything could have happened.
Jack fell into step behind Daniel along the well-trodden dirt path, trying to adjust the straps of his heavy pack so they didn't dig into his shoulders.
The people of this world had been very accommodating, from what Jack had heard. They had recently discovered the remains of an ancient temple, the news of which had greatly interested Daniel. SG-4 had sent photographs of the sketches on the walls and Daniel had requested permission to go and explore. Hammond had granted it to him and thus SG-1 had been sent to play courier.
They were bringing several needed pieces of equipment to enhance the telescope SG-4 had set up in this world's observatory. This planet was approaching a strange gaseous mass that had the astronomers drooling, and they kept asking for more computers, more software and more time.
Jack wondered what could have happened to said scientists. Could the Goa'uld have shown up on this planet, which apparently had been snake-free for centuries? It would mean quite the coincidence, but then again, SG-1 seemed to experience their fair share of those.
Jack hoped it wasn't illness, remembering another time when they'd come to join an SG team, only to witness the decimation of a population at the hands of a Goa'uld. The only good thing about that mission was it having brought Cassie into their lives. He realized he hadn't seen the young teenager in a few weeks and made a mental note to call on her when he got home.
His musings were interrupted when Daniel stumbled in front of him. Before Jack could say anything, Daniel recovered and continued on. Jack could see him trying to adjust his backpack and Jack commiserated, his own was already uncomfortably heavy.
Jack tried the radio again, without any response. He hated the thought that if anything serious had happened, they were all stranded here without backup for at least two days.
He realized that he was walking more slowly and noticed that Carter had gotten a good distance ahead of them. It wasn't him, it was Daniel who had slowed down and Jack had automatically adapted his pace to maintain the same distance between him and Daniel.
He moved up, clapping Daniel on the shoulder. “Hey, slowpoke, wanna get a move on?”
“What?” Daniel asked, slowing down even more and then coming to a stop. He staggered a moment and reached out for Jack's shoulder to steady himself.
“Whoa, you okay?” Jack asked in concern.
“I don't know,” Daniel replied as Teal'c joined them.
Jack heard Teal'c keying his radio and alerting Carter. Jack took a good look at Daniel, noting that he looked a little dazed. Carter's footsteps thudded on the path as she jogged back to them.
“What's wrong?” she panted as she came to a stop beside them. Their friend simply stood there, his hand still on Jack's shoulder, breathing heavily.
“I feel strange,” Daniel told them. “Tired.”
“Did something bite you, sting you?” Carter asked, passing her hands quickly over Daniel's exposed skin, checking his hands, neck and face. Daniel simply stood there, allowing her to examine him without complaint.
“No, just… tired. Really sleepy.” His voice was thick, his words a bit slurred.
Jack looked around, trying to see if maybe something or someone had tried to attack them while Carter moved on to check Daniel's clothes. Jack checked his watch and noted they'd barely been on the planet ten minutes. Nothing in the air could have affected one of them that quickly, could it? Jack felt fine, the others looked fine.
“Anyone else feeling funny?” Jack asked. Both Carter and Teal'c answered in the negative.
“Okay, let's take the pack off of you for a minute and let you rest, okay?” Jack said, unbuckling the straps to Daniel's pack and setting it on the ground. “You wanna sit?” he asked. Daniel nodded.
“Easy!” Jack cried when Daniel suddenly bent his legs and made as if to sit on a chair. Jack wasn't sure if Daniel's legs had just let go or if his friend was confused. He managed to catch Daniel before the man landed on his butt, Teal'c and Carter helping Jack lower Daniel the rest of the way down.
Teal'c took up a defensive stance beside them, while Jack sat beside Daniel on the ground. Immediately Daniel leaned into Jack, as if he wasn't able to stay upright by himself. Jack put an arm around Daniel, holding him close.
Daniel's eyes closed and he opened them after several seconds.
“Wanna sleep,” Daniel said before his head dropped onto Jack's shoulder.
“Don't go to sleep,” Jack said, shaking Daniel's shoulder. Daniel lifted his head and opened bleary eyes. His friend's breathing was coming fast and shallow in his endeavour to stay awake.
“Daniel,” Sam said as she bent over their friend, “did you take any medication today?”
Daniel frowned. “Anti… anti-his…” Daniel's voice trailed off and Jack shook him once more.
“Stay with me here, don't go to sleep,” Jack repeated.
“Can't,” Daniel sighed, his breathing evening out as his eyes closed and his head lolled forward against Jack.
“Damn,” Jack said quietly. He looked at Carter, who had her fingers on Daniel's neck, monitoring his pulse. “Any ideas?”
Carter frowned. “All I can think of is that he's had some kind of allergic reaction to the booster shot,” she told him. “His pulse is strong, Sir, but he's out. I think we should try and make camp and wait until he wakes up.”
Jack looked around, knowing they were pretty exposed at the moment.
“There are trees not far,” Teal'c supplied. “We would be hidden from anyone walking this path.”
Jack looked at the small copse of trees about a quarter mile away and made his decision.
“Teal'c and I will take Daniel and make camp. Carter, you go back to the Stargate and see if you can dial the SGC.”
“Sir, you know that the DHD—”
“I know, we used up the charge for the Stargate when we came through and it needs to be recharged. But humour me, okay? If there's any chance that we're wrong about the DHD and we can get through to Earth…”
“Yes, Sir, you're right.” She stood up and took looked down at both Jack and Daniel.
“Leave your pack, you'll move faster without it,” Jack ordered. He saw her hesitate a moment when she realized that Jack would be doubly burdened with both hers and Daniel's on top of his own. But if she was going off on her own, she might need to move quickly. She swiftly divested herself of the bulk and placed it beside Daniel's.
“I'll try to make it fast,” she said as she took a step back.
“Carter, be careful. We don't know what happened to SG-4.”
“Yes, Sir.” She turned and began jogging back the way they came.
“I shall convey DanielJackson,” Teal'c offered. Jack nodded, removing Daniel's glasses before pushing the unconscious man from him to allow Teal'c to grab onto him. Between the two of them, they hefted Daniel to his feet. Daniel's head came up and his eyes opened, the movement bringing him to awareness, but he was unable to hold his weight. They tried to get him to walk but he simply collapsed against them.
Teal'c took Daniel into a fireman's carry and Jack picked up both Carter's and Daniel's packsacks. He wasn't sure who had the heavier load as he swung both backs over his shoulders.
It took them fifteen minutes to reach shelter, with Jack constantly checking to ensure they went unseen. Near the end of that time, Carter radioed him and reported that she'd been unsuccessful in activating the ‘gate. She was on her way back to join them.
Finding a secure spot between several large trees and thick growth which would hide them from prying eyes, Teal'c slowly bent down and lowered Daniel to the ground. Jack dropped his packs and helped settle Daniel. Their friend opened his eyes for a moment but closed them without even trying to look around. Jack rummaged in Daniel's pack and removed a tee-shirt and placed it beneath Daniel's head as a pillow. He dug out Daniel's sleeping bag and put it aside. If Daniel didn't wake up before very long, they'd need to keep him warm. The weather wasn't that cold, but Daniel would soon start to feel a chill.
He spotted Carter coming along the path and stepped out to wave her in to their hidey-hole. She immediately went to Daniel, assuring herself there hadn't been any change.
“There was no sign of anyone,” Carter reported as she checked Daniel over once more. She reached for the sleeping bag and shook it out. Jack and Teal'c helped her roll Daniel over so she could slide the covering under him. “And as I suspected, the Stargate wasn't functional. I just wish I could have contacted the SGC, maybe Janet could give us some insight to what happened to Daniel.” She flipped the edge of the sleeping bag over Daniel, covering him up to the chest, but without zipping it up.
“Well, he's just sleeping now.” Jack shrugged. “If anything bad were to happen, wouldn't it have already?”
“I don't know, his blood pressure could be dropping, his kidneys could be affected, his heart… there's just no way of knowing, Sir, especially since we don't know why he's unconscious.”
Jack scratched his head in irritation, looking at Daniel who simply appeared to be sleeping peacefully. He pulled his attention back to the situation at hand. “Teal'c, you and Carter go out and do a perimeter check since it looks like we're gonna be here for a while. I know we're a good distance from the town and SG-4, but stay out of sight if you spot anyone.” Both nodded and picked up their weapons. He didn't need to tell them he'd stay with Daniel.
He watched his team members as they slipped out of the trees. Although they were soon out of earshot, he found himself straining to listen to their progress. He was aware of Daniel's soft breaths, a few twitterings of alien bugs or beasts and the rustle of wind in the trees.
His job was the worst, sitting here feeling helpless because there was nothing he could do for Daniel except stand guard. Which was why he chose to be the one who remained behind with their friend; at least Teal'c and Carter were doing something useful.
Recalling Carter's supposition that Daniel could be affected adversely in ways he wasn't aware of, Jack put his hand to Daniel's neck, feeling the slightly cool skin and the strong, rapid pulse beneath his fingers. He slid his hand under the blanket and placed it on Daniel's chest, feeling him breathe. Jack cocked his head in concentration. Was it his imagination or was Daniel taking quick, shallow breaths?
Jack keyed his radio once, his signal for an update. Teal'c's tinny voice sounded in his earpiece, confirming an all clear. He estimated they'd be back in five minutes.
Jack leaned back on a tree trunk and checked his watch. They'd been here on the planet barely forty-five minutes and already one man was down, a team might be in peril and they had no backup. Could things get worse?
He glanced at Daniel instinctively at that thought and realized something wasn't right. He leaned forward, trying to figure out what was wrong. His heart leaped into his mouth when he realized Daniel wasn't breathing!
“Shit!” Jack swore as he leaned over and placed his ear to Daniel's mouth. Nothing. Jack grabbed Daniel's shoulder and shook him, his other hand lightly tapping Daniel's face while calling his name. Jack was rewarded with a soft gasp and Daniel's unfocused gaze before he closed his eyes again. Upon hearing his friend's faint inhalations, Jack relaxed, but kept his attention on the soft sounds, afraid they'd suddenly stop again.
Teal'c and Carter returned, having ascertained that there was nobody around their impromptu campsite.
“Is something wrong?” Carter asked Jack, looking first at him and then down at Daniel.
“Yeah, he stopped breathing for a second or two,” Jack admitted. “He's still not doing so good,” he said, his hand resting on Daniel's ribs. Carter's face paled at his news while Teal'c knelt beside Daniel and gently touched the younger man's face.
“You are indeed correct,” Teal'c said in a low voice. “He appears to be incapable of breathing deeply.”
“Help me prop him up,” Carter said. With Teal'c's help, they pulled Daniel into a seated position. Jack scooted over and pulled his friend into his embrace so that Daniel was sitting sideways, leaning against Jack. Daniel mumbled softly at the change in position, quieting as Jack positioned Daniel's head against his shoulder.
Jack could see immediately that the position eased Daniel's breathing. He could hear Daniel's breaths and feel the soft puffs of air against his neck.
“He needs medical attention,” Carter said as she pulled the sleeping bag up and over Daniel's shoulders, tucking it around his neck. Jack hadn't realized how cold he'd gotten sitting still until he felt the heat of Daniel's body.
“I know,” Jack said softly as he leaned back against one of the trees to take the pressure off his back. He saw Carter and Teal'c looking at Daniel with worry, and he knew they were going to hate his next order.
“I want the two of you to make your way into the town. We don't know what happened to our people, so try and stay out of sight for as long as you can.”
“Sir, what about Daniel?” Carter asked. Jack could see the worry for their friend vying with their mission orders.
“I'll stay with him. We'll try and join you if we can, otherwise we'll stay holed up here until you two find SG-4 and the others.”
“With all due respect, Sir,” Carter began. “I don't think it's a good idea to leave you and Daniel alone.”
“Got any better ideas, Carter? We can trade places, you stay with Daniel and I'll go off with Teal'c, but you're the scientist here. If whatever's happened to our people has anything to do with that weird gas up in space, you've got a better chance of solving the mystery than I do.”
“Yes, Sir,” she answered glumly. “You're probably right. It's just that I hate…”
“As do I, MajorCarter,” Teal'c said. “But O'Neill is correct. We may have need of your expertise. DanielJackson will be fine.”
“Leave the equipment here, take the minimum you need,” Jack ordered. Immediately Teal'c went through the packs and took out emergency rations, packing enough for two meals for both himself and Carter, plus the seven missing men and women.
“We'll leave the blankets for you,” Carter said as she took half the share of supplies. “If you can't move Daniel, you'll need to keep him warm. It's going to get cold tonight and you won't be making a fire. Hopefully Teal'c and I should be back here before nightfall, if all goes well.”
Jack nodded. “Report in every hour,” he said as he adjusted his radio's earpiece. Teal'c and Carter did the same, and with a final worried look at Daniel, Carter picked up her weapon and led Teal'c away from their safe haven.
Ten minutes later Jack was sorry he'd sent them away. He'd sat there quietly, listening to Daniel breathing, beginning to think he'd been mistaken earlier in thinking Daniel had actually stopped breathing when his friend's respirations become more and more shallow. Within moments, the soft puffs against his neck stopped.
His heart beating wildly, Jack shook Daniel's shoulder.
“Daniel,” he called as loudly as he dared. “Come on, wake up,” he pleaded as he gently slapped the slack cheek lying against him. Jack shook him harder and was finally rewarded with the sound of air being sucked in. But Daniel still wasn't breathing right.
He clutched his friend as Daniel began sliding out of Jack's grasp, Jack's earlier movements having dislodged Daniel from where he had been resting against him. He shifted Daniel slightly, bringing his knees up and trying to hold him in position with his legs.
Jack continued to cajole Daniel into waking up, not liking the way Daniel was breathing or the waxy hue of his skin. But his efforts were in vain. In a scenario that was almost surreal, Jack heard and felt Daniel stop breathing once more.
“Daniel, please, don't do this,” Jack begged his friend when this time calling Daniel's name didn't wake him. He slapped Daniel's cheek, but his friend didn't react. Jack shook him hard, then listened carefully. Nothing. He slapped Daniel's cheek with more force, wishing he could hear Daniel's voice complaining about the mistreatment.
He brought shaking fingers to Daniel's neck and felt for a pulse, and was relieved to feel it beating strong and rapid. Quickly he laid Daniel onto the ground and pushed the sleeping bag off of him. He reached down and grasped the skin of Daniel's inner thigh and squeezed, hoping the pain would wake him and cause him to inhale.
“Damnit, Daniel. Wake up!” Jack said between clenched teeth. He grabbed his canteen and splashed water over Daniel's face, but his friend remained unmoving. Knowing time was running out as he watched Daniel's lips begin to turn blue, Jack straightened Daniel's limbs and tilted his head back while pulling his jaw forward. Pinching Daniel's nose closed, Jack took a deep breath and placed his mouth over Daniel's. He exhaled deeply and was relieved to see Daniel's chest expand. He kept his ear close to Daniel's mouth and heard the air being expelled.
Recalling his training, Jack began counting and breathing for his friend. Every minute or so he'd stop and make sure Daniel's pulse was still beating strong. Jack began to lose track of time, but he was sure he'd stopped to check Daniel's pulse at least four times when he heard the faint sounds of Daniel breathing on his own. He lowered his head to Daniel's shoulder and rested a moment, feeling tired and a little light headed from his efforts.
He waited a moment longer to make sure Daniel was going to continue to breathe unaided, then raised him up into a seated position once more, his hand supporting Daniel's neck. He pulled the sleeping bag over Daniel one-handed, feeling slight shivers coursing through the unconscious man's body.
“What the hell's going on, Danny?” Jack spoke softly to his friend as he rubbed the man's back, the synthetic material of the sleeping bag making a slithering sound. “You need to fight this, whatever it is.”
- - - - - -
“Colonel O'Neill, do you read me?”
Jack ignored Carter's insistent voice in his ear, concentrating on keeping his friend alive. When the worried voice changed over to Teal'c's, Jack raised his head and reached one hand for his radio while the other searched for Daniel's pulse.
“Stand by,” Jack said curtly into the small radio as replaced his hand over Daniel's nose. He'd been breathing for Daniel for the past fifteen minutes, sweat was coursing down his back and ribs and he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to continue. He was dizzy and breathless, and he had to stop a moment before he keeled over himself.
“Come on, Daniel,” Jack said angrily at his non-responsive friend. “Give me a break here.” Trying to get his emotions under control, he lowered his head and placed his mouth over his friend's. His world narrowed once more to the warm body underneath his, the feel of slack lips and burning lungs and hot breath and fear and sweat. The terror of losing his best friend because Jack simply couldn't force one more mouthful of air into him was enough for Jack to ignore his exhaustion and keep breathing for his friend. As long as Daniel's heart was beating— there! Was that a…? Yes!
Exhausted, Jack pulled Daniel's head onto his lap while turning him onto his side. Jack slumped over his friend, trying to get his breathing down to normal. He shivered when his sweat-dampened clothes began to cool and he reached for a blanket, pulling it over his shoulders to ward against the chill.
Belatedly remembering his other team members who were probably worried by now, Jack keyed the radio. “O'Neill. Go ahead.”
“Colonel,” Carter quickly responded. “Is everything all right?”
“Just peachy,” he answered as he settled Daniel more comfortably against his legs. “Any problems?”
“No, Sir,” she replied. “We've barely seen a soul, although we've passed a couple of houses and there are signs of life. I'm getting a strange feeling, like the people here are afraid.”
“How do you mean?” he asked as he grabbed the blanket that was beginning to slide off his shoulder. He hitched it back up in irritation.
“Curtains moving in the windows indicating people are watching us. No children in the yards although I can hear them crying inside. I can't explain it any better than that, Sir.”
“I see,” he answered, although he didn't. If she was right, what was scaring these people? SG-4?
“Sir, is Daniel…”
“He's having trouble breathing,” Jack admitted. Which was one hell of an understatement, half the time Daniel *wasn't* breathing.
“O'Neill,” Teal'c interrupted. “Do you wish us to return?”
“Negative. There's nothing you can do.” Which wasn't entirely true. Jack would have given anything to have someone else here with him the next time Daniel went into respiratory arrest. And he was sure it would happen again. In the past hour, Jack had had to give Daniel rescue breathing three times already, the last incident being the longest in duration. But by the time Carter and Teal'c would make it back, another hour would have passed. Maybe, hopefully, by then Daniel would be recovering from whatever was ailing him.
“You have your orders,” he continued as he splayed his hand along Daniel's cheek and underneath his nose. Warm, moist puffs of air travelled along Jack's cold fingers, indicating that everything was under control, at least for the moment.
“Yes, Sir,” Carter replied.
“Report back in an hour.”
“Understood.” A moment's hesitation and the radio came back to life. “Sir, about Daniel…”
“I know, Carter,” Jack said softly, wishing there was more any of them could do. “I know,” he repeated.
- - - - - -
Sam carefully circled the large, brick observatory, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. She knew Teal'c was standing guard behind her, but still she'd have felt safer if both the Colonel and Daniel had also been with them. But Daniel was sick, and the Colonel had sounded distracted each time she'd communicated with him. She knew he was hiding something from them, probably that Daniel was worse off than she suspected.
She pulled her thoughts back to the present, knowing it would be dangerous if she were distracted by her worry over her friend.
The old tower appeared empty, but appearances could be deceiving. She walked softly to the door and stopped a moment, listening. Other than the wind and the buzz of insects, she couldn't make out any human sounds. Flanking the wooden door, she pressed her back against the cool bricks and reached for the metal handle.
At her touch, the door opened up a crack. It wasn't latched. She glanced back towards Teal'c and he nodded his understanding. Her weapon held at the ready, Sam stormed inside while Teal'c moved to stand by the open door.
She was greeted by sunlight and empty space. Four open doors led into small rooms and she quickly peered inside. One was a makeshift kitchen, which looked like a meal had been interrupted. Food was left congealing on plates, a glass had spilled its contents onto the table and which had dripped onto the floor. Insects were having a feast on the abandoned meal, with no sign of the people who had prepared it and had left it in a hurry.
In the other rooms, which had been turned into bedrooms, she saw clothes, books and other personal articles which she recognized as having come from Earth, but still nobody to whom they belonged. A metallic spiral staircase wound up towards to what she assumed was the makeshift observatory. She climbed the stairs as quietly as she could, her footsteps ringing out despite her best efforts to be quiet.
The large telescope the scientists had carried from Earth was set up in the center of the room, and three small worktables set up on three sides opposite the staircase all held laptops and a variety of books and journals.
Sam returned downstairs and exited the tower, quickly moving to join Teal'c at the door. She shook her head at his questioning look.
“There's no one there, but it looks like they left in a hurry.”
“We should proceed to the town,” Teal'c suggested. “There is nothing more to be learned here.”
“Right,” Sam agreed. As they began walking towards the town limits, she reported in to Colonel O'Neill.
This time he answered her call immediately. The two previous times she'd tried to contact him, he'd taken up to five minutes to get back to her. She reported her findings and he bade them to be cautious. As she signed off, she wished he'd tell her what was going on with Daniel. She knew he didn't want to worry them unduly, but she had a pretty good idea what was happening. And she didn't like it.
- - - - - -
Jack quickly slid from beneath Daniel, trying to ignore his own exhaustion as once again, his friend was unable to breathe by himself. Jack laid Daniel flat on the ground and shifted close to Daniel's shoulders, prepared to provide rescue breathing once more. To his surprise, Daniel's eyelids fluttered slightly and he turned his head, soft breaths starting up voluntarily.
“Thank God,” Jack whispered as he wearily lowered his forehead against Daniel's shoulder. Hopefully this was a sign that whatever crisis Daniel had undergone was fading. He remained bowed in that position for a few minutes, his hand resting on Daniel's chest, ever-vigilant in the status of his autonomous breathing.
Pulling the sleeping bag back up over his friend's body, Jack decided to take the opportunity to stretch his legs for a few minutes. He took a few steps away and emptied his bladder, then paced the area, keeping watch on Daniel's slowly rising chest while working out the kinks in his aching legs and back.
Daniel coughed and Jack froze. Daniel shifted and brought his hand up, scratching his nose. If anything, the sound of his inhalations was deeper and more rhythmic than the previous few hours.
During the next hour, Jack only had to shake Daniel three times to remind him to breathe. The last time he did so, Daniel opened his eyes and looked at Jack for a second. He fell asleep immediately after, soft snores coming from the sleeping man, which were music to Jack's ears. Daniel turned onto his side, his hand curled up beneath his chin.
- - - - - -
“You!” The voice came from behind Teal'c and he turned quickly to assess the threat. MajorCarter remained alert, but she did not point her weapon at the man. He was the first who did not run from them as the two of them strode through the eerily empty town.
“You must leave here!” the man yelled at them, poised to run at the slightest hint of danger.
“Why must we leave?” Teal'c asked as he took two steps towards him, stopping when he saw the panic spreading over the man's face.
“They will come again. You must not be out in the open when they do. Quickly, seek shelter.”
“Wait!” MajorCarter yelled as the man fled away from them. “Damn,” she muttered softly under her breath as his footsteps quickly faded. She looked at Teal'c, shrugging her shoulders in the way he knew her to express frustration.
“We should continue. Perhaps someone else will be willing to provide information,” Teal'c suggested. His team mate nodded, stepping beside Teal'c as they continued down the empty main road.
They came to what appeared to be a large meeting house, and heard the murmur of many voices inside. With a look, they both agreed to enter the building. Teal'c slowly opened the door, bringing the sound and scent of many bodies crowded together in close quarters. They were yelling loudly at someone, voicing their displeasure.
Teal'c began pushing through the crowd, trying to see who the crowd was unhappy with. One man stood on a dais, trying to get the people to listen to him. As Teal'c and Major Carter wound their way forward, the people around them quieted. Soon only those before him were yelling, and they quickly stilled as they became aware of the silence around them.
The man on the dais watched them approach, as did everyone in the room. Teal'c was used to this sort of exposure, but he knew that his team mate was not. But she remained calm and sure of herself, watching Teal'c carefully to see if he would address the person who appeared to be in charge.
“We are searching for our friends,” Teal'c said in a voice that carried through the whole room.
“Yes, they said you would be coming,” the man standing before Teal'c answered. “My name is Kareeb, I am Headman here.”
“What happened?” MajorCarter questioned. “Why is everyone so afraid?”
“Your friends caused this,” a man spat out at them. Angry murmurs sounded behind them, but Teal'c ignored them. His companion shifted slightly, conveying her nervousness to Teal'c.
“Whatever has occurred, I am confident my friends did not do it purposely. You will tell me now what it is they have supposedly done,” Teal'c ordered, years of commanding Jaffa making his words an order, with an underlying threat if disobeyed.
“They have caused the legends to come to life!” someone screamed. The crowd shifted forward slightly, and Teal'c simply turned his head calmly to stare at the closest few. The mass of people backed off and murmured amongst themselves once more.
“How can someone make legends come alive?” MajorCarter asked. “What did you do with our friends?”
“They have been taken into custody to keep them safe from the townsfolk,” a woman standing beside them said softly. “Many blame them for this and feel that their death will be the only thing that would assuage the monsters. Although I've been trying to tell Kareeb that the monsters' return was expected, but no one would listen to me,” she ended sadly.
“Our friends are safe?” Teal'c asked.
“For now, yes. But Kareeb is having a difficult time trying to convince these people that killing the strangers would only make things worse.”
“What happened? What monsters?” MajorCarter asked.
“Last night, they came from the night sky. They have set fire to one house, murdering the family inside, and three others were found dead below a cliff where they were pushed to their death. Our lore tells us that the monsters are harmless, but with these deaths, I am afraid I may have been wrong in my beliefs.”
Immediately Teal'c suspected the Goa'uld had arrived in ships. He asked for description of these monsters.
“Lights, some hear sounds, and they fly like the wind. They have no bodies, but their touch is death.”
Teal'c raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had never heard of such beings.
“Can we speak to our friends?” MajorCarter asked.
“No one may see them,” Kareeb interjected. “Not until I have decided whether they are to be sacrificed.”
“But maybe they can help us understand what happened?” MajorCarter said, her voice rising in exasperation. Between her worry for their friend, DanielJackson, and the disappearance of their people, she was quickly losing her temper.
“May we return to the tower, the observatory,” Teal'c asked. “As you will not permit us to speak to them, perhaps our friends' notes there may shed light to these occurrences.”
“You may,” Kareeb said. “But do not attempt to visit the prisoners, or else we will be forced to arrest you also.”
Teal'c inclined his head in understanding, and grasping his staff weapon in his hand, turned and strode out of the building.
- - - - - -
Jack had just finished eating a cold MRE and was in the process of returning the used packaging to his packsack when he heard Daniel stir behind him. He shoved the garbage deep inside the bag and turned to his friend. Daniel was lying there, staring at Jack with half-lidded eyes.
“Hey,” Jack said with a relieved smile as he shuffled forward on his knees to sit beside his friend.
“Hey,” Daniel responded, followed with a yawn.
“How are you feeling?” Jack asked as he reached behind him for a canteen. He raised it questioningly, and Daniel nodded.
“Tired,” Daniel admitted, rising onto his forearm and accepting the water. His hands were shaky so Jack reached over and helped him hold the container to his lips. Daniel swallowed a few sips and handed the canteen back, falling onto the ground with a heavy sigh. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, looking around sleepily.
“Where are we?” he asked.
“P3R 2823,” Jack answered.
Daniel frowned and rubbed his forehead.
“The observatory? Supplies for the astronomers?” Jack offered in the hopes of nudging Daniel's obviously flagging memory.
“SG-4 and the scientists are missing?” Daniel asked tentatively as he squinted at Jack.
“That's the one,” Jack said with a smile.
“Is it morning?” Daniel asked, obviously still confused.
“Late afternoon,” Jack said. “You've been unconscious for a good four hours.”
“What happened?” his friend asked as he closed his eyes. Jack could see Daniel succumbing to whatever malady that still had him in its grip. He suspected the last question was asked more out of courtesy than actual curiosity.
“You collapsed on us,” Jack said softly, waiting for Daniel's eyes to pop open. When they didn't, Jack knew that Daniel had gone back to sleep. Jack adjusted the sleeping bag around Daniel, then brought a hand to his neck to monitor his pulse. Slow, rhythmic and steady. His skin was warm, but not overly so and he was breathing deeply and evenly. Now that his fear over Daniel's survival had eased, he turned his focus to their mission.
“Carter, this is O'Neill, over,” he spoke into the radio as he made himself comfortable beside his sleeping friend. He waited several seconds, and his 2IC's voice sounded in his ear.
“Colonel. It's good to hear your voice,” she said. For a moment he had to think why she sounded so cheerful, then realized that nearly each time she'd contacted him, he'd been brusque with her. Of course he'd been a little busy trying to save their friend's life at the time…
“Any news?” he asked, knowing she and Teal'c had returned to the observatory and was now trying to glean any clues from their peoples' notes and equipment.
He heard the end of her sigh before she answered. “There's so much information here, it's going to take a while. I don't even know what I'm looking for.”
“How long?”
“I don't know, several hours. I think it's best if Teal'c and I stay the night. Sir, will you and Daniel…”
“I don't know, Carter. He's still sleeping, but seems to be improving. We'll try to join you before nightfall, but don't hold your breath.”
“Understood,” she answered.
“One more thing. I wouldn't spend the night in the observatory. Take some precautions and keep some distance between you and the town, just in case the townsfolk decide they need a few more prisoners.”
“Yes, Sir. We'd already decided on that. Teal'c's searching for a campsite as we speak.”
“Keep your eyes and ears open, willya? And let me know if you find anything.”
“Yes, Sir. Carter out.”
Seeing that Daniel's breathing still appeared to be normal, Jack decided to take the chance of running a perimeter check. The exercise was welcome; his legs and back were stiff and walking got the kinks out of them. He moved quietly, not expecting to see anyone, but not taking any chances at any rate.
He returned and checked on Daniel, who was still sleeping and didn't appear to have moved at all in the twenty minutes Jack was gone.
He felt somewhat useless waiting for Daniel to get better and wake up, and if he were honest with himself, he was slightly irritated at Daniel for remaining asleep, although Jack knew it wasn't his friend's fault. Now that the all-consuming worry was over, Jack could spend more time concentrating on their mission and felt that his hands were tied with Daniel being out of the action.
He picked up a small branch and began peeling the bark off of it, amusing himself by trying to pull it off in long, thin strands. Carter had informed him that something strange had occurred last night, frightening the villagers and blaming the visiting Earth team for the ensuing chaos. Jack was pretty sure whatever it was that had taken place, neither SG-4 or the astronomers were to blame. But what if it happened again? He was worried about Teal'c and Carter; he knew they could hold their own, but certainly not against an angry mob. And that mob *had* captured seven of his people.
Damn, he didn't even have confirmation that those seven were in good health, let alone seriously injured. Teal'c had tried to locate them once more before leaving the town, and had come up against a heavily armed escort who insisted they not try to go any farther. Carter had confirmed that she'd glimpsed a building with several guards posted around the door so they had a good idea where their people were being held, but they very obviously didn't have the manpower to go and attempt to free them.
Of course, if they waited the two days before the DHD was fully charged before contacting Hammond, it would be another two days before help could be sent through the Stargate, and then another two days before they could chance a rescue and dial Earth and escape. He sighed heavily. Yep, he hated waiting and he hated having little options with which to work.
Daniel stirred, and as Jack looked at him, his friend sat up. He pushed onto his knees, swaying slightly.
“Hey, easy there,” Jack cautioned as he reached over to steady Daniel. “Where do you think you're going?”
“Gotta pee,” Daniel replied. Jack smiled and grabbing Daniel under the arms, lifted him up until he was standing. The unsteady man reached out and placed a hand on Jack's chest for a moment, head bent, eyes closed. After a several seconds he opened them, and looked around. Jack guided him a few steps away and carefully let go of him.
Daniel braced himself against a tree trunk and relieved himself. When he finished, he made his way back to the sleeping bag, dropping down into a seated position a little too fast for Jack's liking.
“Where are we?” Daniel asked, looking around at the trees surrounding them.
“P3R 2823,” Jack answered him while handing him his glasses. Daniel stared at the proffered lenses a moment before blinking at Jack in surprise.
“Why are we camped here?” he asked as he took his glasses and put them on. “Where's Sam and Teal'c? What happened? Weren't we supposed to meet SG-4 and Doctor Lalonde's team?”
“Looks like something weird happened last night and SG-4 and the scientists are being blamed for it. The townsfolk have taken them into custody… Carter and Teal'c have gone on ahead to try and find out what's going on.”
“And we're still here because…?”
“You got sick barely ten minutes after we ‘gated through.”
“I did?” Daniel asked, his eyes widening in surprise. “I don't remember. Wait,” he said, his hand coming up to massage the bridge of his nose. “I remember you trying to contact SG-4 and not getting an answer, but after that, everything's kind of fuzzy.”
“Well, you've been either unconscious or asleep for over five hours,” Jack said.
“I have?” Daniel looked down at the sleeping bag he was currently sitting on. “Um, sorry about that.”
Jack patted Daniel's shoulder, telling his friend there was no need to apologize with the touch.
“You hungry?” Jack asked, reaching back into one of the packs.
“I don't know,” Daniel answered. “I still feel a little weird,” he admitted.
“Maybe a little sustenance in your stomach will help you feel better. Now, you want some macaroni and cheese? Or how about some Thai chicken? Oh, I saw some meatloaf with gravy somewhere,” Jack said as he rummaged through the packs. “Don't tell me Teal'c took that one,” he grumbled to himself. He abandoned his pack and reached for Daniel's. “Cheese tortellini, beef with mushrooms,” he continued as he removed those meals he knew Daniel liked. “We have a huge selection this time around,” Jack said cheerfully as he placed the packages on the ground beside him.
When he heard no response from Daniel, he glanced over at his friend, and sighed when he saw Daniel had curled up on his side and was fast asleep. After removing Daniel's glasses and covering his friend with a blanket, Jack stuffed the food back into the packsacks. Looked like they weren't leaving anytime soon.
- - - - - -
“I still don't understand why you didn't wake me up,” Daniel complained as he licked the chocolate from his fingers, the dessert not quite satisfying his sweet tooth. He eyed his empty plate, wondering if there was any scrap of food he'd missed.
“Well, considering you've been sleeping for nearly ten hours straight,” Jack told him as he scraped the last of his meal onto his fork, “and were barely coherent whenever you did wake up, the last thing I wanted was to force you onto your feet and maybe make things worse by trekking overland for three or four hours.”
“Ten hours?” Daniel exclaimed, looking at his watch. Unfortunately, Jack was right. And since the sun would be setting in two more hours, Jack had deemed it too dangerous to set out now and chance arriving at their destination in the dark. They'd be leaving at first light instead.
Daniel felt fine, except for a faint residual headache that was reminiscent of having been a partaker of Janet's happy juice. He still felt a little tired, but he figured that was from having slept the day away.
“I still can't believe you let me sleep all that time,” he reiterated.
“Daniel,” Jack said, putting his empty food container on the ground beside him. “You were more than just asleep. At one point you'd stopped breathing. I had to perform rescue breathing for a while to keep you alive.”
Refraining from giving into the urge of wiping his mouth with the back of his hand at the thought of Jack giving him mouth to mouth, Daniel went to accuse Jack of teasing him, but he saw the serious mien on Jack's face. “I stopped breathing?” he said incredulously.
“Yep. Scared the shit out of me each time.”
“Each time? You mean it happened more than once?”
“On and off for nearly four hours, Daniel,” Jack said softly.
“Oh,” Daniel replied, not knowing what to say, and understanding now why Jack had been so solicitous with him when he'd woken up thirty minutes ago.
When Jack reached over and offered him his cookies, Daniel looked at him suspiciously. Usually Jack coveted these particular sweets and always wheedled and finagled everyone's share of them. Daniel took them cautiously, expecting Jack to pull them away at the last minute. But his friend simply smiled at him and began clearing their campsite.
“Thanks,” Daniel said as he took a bite. He saved the last piece for Jack, and offered it to him when his friend finished and settled down beside him. Jack smiled his gratitude and took the treat.
They sat in companionable silence for a while until Daniel saw Jack stiffen slightly. Daniel was alarmed until he saw Jack reach up and key his radio. Daniel fumbled for his earpiece and switched his own on, clumsy in his haste.
“…were damaged. It took me a while, but I managed to retrieve some of the data. His notes say that about 500 years ago, some sort of cataclysm occurred on the planet, Doctor Lalonde suspects it was a meteor hit. But in any case, the visits from what the people used to call ‘the shadow chasers' stopped after that time.”
“Sam, who were these visitors?” Daniel interjected as she stopped to take a breath.
“Daniel.” He could hear the pleasure in her voice at the simple uttering of his name. “It doesn't say. They traced them back to old folk tales. What were stories told with joy seem to have evolved into what's this planet's equivalence to the bogeyman. It might have something to do with the fact that these people were nearly decimated by the cataclysm, and it took them a long time to build up to what they have now.”
“That makes sense,” Daniel said, looking over at Jack. “Many civilizations have lost massive amounts of lore and culture due to some kind of disaster. Sometimes only the folktales remain, and centuries later, they became twisted from the telling.”
“There are several mentions of the old temple, Daniel. I think whatever happened last night, that temple has something to do with this. Teal'c and I are on our way there to have a look, while there's still light.”
“Jack,” Daniel said, “the temple is closer to our position that the town, right? If we left now, don't you think we might make it there before nightfall?”
“We'd have to move pretty damned fast,” Jack said, looking intently at Daniel. “I don't think you're up to it.”
“I'm fine, Jack. Okay, I'm a little tired, but even if we can't make it to the temple tonight, at least we'd be that much closer.”
Jack continued to stare at Daniel, making the younger man uncomfortable. Yes, he was tired, and although he hadn't admitted it to Jack, he was still a bit shaky. But he was confident that he'd be able to make the journey without much trouble. And even if they travelled half the distance, it was that much less they'd need to journey tomorrow.
“You sure?” Jack finally asked. Daniel nodded.
“Carter,” Jack said into his radio. “Daniel and I are gonna pack up camp and try to meet you at the temple. If we don't make it before sunset, we'll either try to find your camp or we'll find you come morning.”
“Understood, Sir. Hopefully we'll be seeing you in a couple of hours. Carter out.”
Both men got up and began sorting through their gear, and were ready to leave within minutes. They left the heavy, unnecessary equipment they'd been bringing for the scientists hidden under some bushes, and with a last glance around their campsite, Daniel followed Jack out into the open.
ON TO PART TWO >>
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