Journal Entries - Part 3
Jack belched loudly as he walked through the front door of his house. Daniel turned around and scowled at him, receiving only a raised eyebrow in return. "It's my house," Jack said pointedly.
"Check your manners at the door," Daniel muttered, walking to the kitchen. He put his left overs in the refrigerator and took Jack's from him and put them away as well.
"So, what say we grab a couple beers and watch a little tv?" Jack asked casually.
"Nope," Daniel said, leaning against the refrigerator, arms crossed in front of him.
"No?" Jack asked. Daniel locked eyes with Jack and a slow smile spread across his face. "Ah," Jack nodded in understanding. "Can I take a shower first?" Daniel merely shook his head. "Change into some comfortable clothes?" Another slow head shake from Daniel. "Put in a load of laundry?" That earned him a glare. "I'll take that as a no."
"After this morning, after all the teasing today, you mean to tell me you don't want to . . ."
"Didn't say that," Jack said quickly. "Just not quite sure how to . . ."
"Let's go to bed," Daniel said for him.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." Daniel stepped into Jack's personal space. "I've got a book in case we need directions." He fixed his eyes on Jack's mouth before looking back up into the coffee colored eyes. He dropped the book onto the counter with a loud 'thump.'
"I think we can probably figure this out on our own," Jack said. He jerked his head back toward his bedroom. Daniel led him through the hallway, standing aside as Jack entered the room first. He closed the door deliberately behind him and walked over to stand beside Jack at the foot of the bed. Jack reached up to begin unbuttoning his shirt and had only loosened one button before Daniel's strong hands fastened around his wrists and pulled his arms down to his side.
"I'll do that," Daniel said firmly.
"And this lack of confidence will be kicking in when?" Jack asked, light humor touching his voice.
"I'm faking it," Daniel smiled in return. He worked his way down to Jack's waist, loosened the belt and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his jeans before tugging the shirt out. After the shirt was open, he slipped his hands inside the material and lay his palms flat against the center of Jack's chest. The hair tickled his hands and the warmth from the skin seemed to spread into Daniel's arms. He ran his hands up and over Jack's shoulders, pushing the shirt with them, then sliding it down the lean, strong arms. Jack gave a shake of his wrists and the shirt fluttered to the floor. Daniel's eyes ran over the man before him. "Okay so far?"
"Oh yeah," Jack breathed. He reached out for Daniel's shirt, copying the other man's actions until Daniel stood bare chested in front of him.
With a deep breath, Daniel took a step back, unfastening his pants the rest of the way, never taking his eyes from Jack who was mirroring his movements. Both men eased their jeans down to their ankles and kicked their way out of boots, shoes and socks. Daniel sat down on the bed and scooted toward the center, Jack following him like a panther stalking his prey. He noticed that somewhere along the line Daniel had dispensed with his glasses.
Daniel reached out to grab Jack's neck, pulling him in for a burning kiss. Jack returned it with interest, wrapping his arms tightly around Daniel's shoulders and torso. Daniel pressed Jack down into the mattress, feeding on his heat, stoking the fire within him with the power of Jack's returned emotion. Breathing became ragged, teeth drug over jaw lines, tongues tasted rapidly warming flesh. Daniel's hand scraped down along Jack's abdomen until his fingertips dipped just inside the waistband of his briefs. He opened his eyes to find Jack's for permission. Jack gave him an almost feral smile signaling that it was perfectly fine for Daniel to divest him of what little remained of his clothing. Jack magnanimously returned the favor.
Naked at last, Daniel lay himself on top of Jack, nudging Jack's thighs apart and nestling himself as close to the older man as he could. Jack let out a surprised grunt as Daniel's erection brushed against his. "You got a license to operate that thing?" Jack panted, placing one hand firmly on one of Daniel's buttocks and pushing to keep him in exactly the right spot to continue the friction.
"In my wallet. You wanna see it?" Daniel breathed against Jack's neck. Daniel lay his hand on the side of Jack's face to restrain him from turning away and began the long-awaited ear assault, laughing in triumph as Jack bucked and writhed beneath him.
"God, not yet," Jack begged, his body tingling as Daniel pressed the tip of his tongue just inside one of the creases, "you're gonna end it before we even get started."
Daniel slowly rolled them to their sides, relenting from his exquisite torture. Jack's hand worked it's way between them, enclosing Daniel's hardness in a strong grip. Daniel pulled his lips away from Jack's for a moment. "Slow and easy or hard and fast?" Jack asked, teasing his thumb over the head.
Just as Daniel opened his mouth to speak, the separate shrill tones of two beepers going off shattered the air in the bedroom. Jack and Daniel looked at each other in disbelief. "What the FUCK is that?" Daniel demanded. At the same moment Daniel's cell phone, which was stashed in the pocket of his crumpled jeans, began to ring.
"You have fuckin' got to be kidding me!" Jack yelled as he rolled over onto his back, hands slapping against his face. Within moments, his cell phone began to ring as well.
"No no no NO!" shouted Daniel as he lunged to the foot of the bed to grab one of the offending communication devices. He'd no sooner pulled his cell phone from his pocket than Jack's home phone chimed in.
"I'm gonna shoot every GODDAMN one of them!" Jack swore as he yanked the phone from it's cradle next to the bed. "WHAT?!"
"It's the base," Daniel mumbled, slamming his fist into the mattress when he saw the number on his caller ID.
"Yes this is O'Neill! Who the hell else would it be, Sergeant? And this had better be so MONUMENTALLY important that you've got orders from the President to call me!" He stopped to listen for a few minutes. "Aww fer Christ's sake," he groaned and pulled a pillow over his face. He threw it across the room a second later. "Yessir, General. Pleasure as always to speak with you, sir." Jack watched in ultimate frustration as Daniel pulled himself off the bed to find a quiet corner of the house to make his own phone call. "Yes, actually, I was in the middle of some. . . thing." Jack couldn't keep the anger out of his voice but he knew there was no point in directing it toward the General. He also knew the only reason he ever got an emergency page was for just that - an absolute emergency. "I'll be on the road in five minutes," he said after the General explained that he was needed at the mountain faster than ASAP. He sat up on the bed and swung his legs over the side as he listened to the status of the rest of his team. He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'll be there as soon as I can, sir." He hung the phone up and turned to see Daniel tugging his clothes back on.
"Daniel . . ." Jack started, the apology heavy in his voice.
"Don't Jack," said the younger man. "I got the page, too." He looked at Jack with a defeated smile. "You should probably get dressed. I'm going to head on in."
"Wait, we can ride in together," Jack offered.
"No, we probably shouldn't. I'll see you up there." Daniel stopped before he left the room, turned purposefully and strode back over to Jack. Reaching down he took Jack's face in his hands and gave him a passionate kiss. "Your ass is mine when we get back, Colonel." With a final look he walked from the room and a few moments later Jack heard the front door close.
++++
"PZY-998 was thought to be uninhabited," General Hammond said as he looked around the table at his flagship team. He tried not to chuckle as his eyes fell on Colonel O'Neill. The General recognized all the signs of being interrupted at an 'inopportune' moment. He continued on with the briefing. "Major Carter, can you please explain to me how one of my teams can go missing on an uninhabited planet?"
Carter winced at the accusation. "The UAV showed no visible signs of any technology or civilization, General."
"Ever heard of caves, Carter?" Jack snapped sarcastically.
"Colonel," warned the General without ever taking his eyes from Samantha Carter.
"Apparently that's exactly the case," Sam went on to explain, shooting a cold glance in O'Neill's direction. "After SG-14 transmitted their situation, we sent through a team with equipment that can penetrate . . ."
"Carter. . . please . . . just this once," Jack asked, his voice hard and sharp, "bottom line us here."
General Hammond shot Jack a sharp look but Jack didn't back down. Carter sighed and carried on. "In essence, sir," she said, directing her comments to the General, "we've got a subterranean maze that could stretch for thousands of miles. The bedrock of that planet is harder than granite so they've obviously been down there for . . ."
"Centuries," Daniel finished for her. He pushed his glasses up and rubbed at his eyes. "And we have to go in there and try and talk them into giving our people back."
"Doctor Jackson, I am counting on you to bring a peaceful resolution to this situation," Hammond intoned in his calm, Texas accent. "Contrary to what we thought at first, this planet is not only inhabited, but those inhabitants are hostile and have a technologically developed culture equal to or perhaps slightly more advance than our own. We've received one transmission from them stating that they have our people. They've made no demands or put forth any sort of offer to negotiate."
Daniel nodded that he understood. It was his job, yet again, to go in and make something out of nothing. "Do we have any information on them at all, any writings or pictures of their clothing? Anything that would give me a basis for their culture?"
"Nothing. I'm sorry Doctor, but this time you'll be going in cold. You'll have two hours to make contact and establish some sort of dialogue. At then end of those two hours, I want SG-1 back here and we will decide how to proceed from there."
"I need to listen to the recording of the last transmission. Maybe I can pick something up in the background," Daniel commented, re-reading the notes in front of him, hoping for any minuscule detail that might help him.
"What are we looking at for layout of these tunnels?" O'Neill asked, his eyes glancing over the preliminary scans of the planet.
"I wasn't kidding when I said it's like a maze," Carter continued, flipping on the view screen at the end of the room. She indicated one particular track. "There are dead ends, switchbacks. The place is honeycombed with tunnels that lead in every direction. And since we have no idea where our people are being held . . ."
"We have no idea which path to take," Jack finished. He looked up at the General, flipping the folder shut. "Sir, unless we get some better intel, there's no way we can turn this into an extraction."
"I realize that, Colonel," Hammond nodded. "It's the reason why I insisted it be Dr. Jackson that goes in first. If anyone can talk some sense into these people, he can."
"Thank you," Daniel said, his brow furrowed, "I think."
"Your powers of persuasion are most formidable, DanielJackson," intoned Teal'c.
"You have no idea," Jack muttered under his breath. He tugged quickly at his right ear.
"We're sending a MALP through in 30 minutes. You'll leave once we've determined the area is secure. Upon reaching the planet, you will not move farther than 100 meters from the gate and you will maintain constant radio contact with the SGC. We will dial out every 38 minutes thereafter to reestablish contact. 120 minutes after footfall on that planet, you will return home. If you make contact with the inhabitants within that time, you will conduct negotiations with them. You will be provided with locating devices. Should you be able to place one of these devices with one of the inhabitants, we hope the signal can lead us to where they are holding our people. In the event that any of you are taken," his eyes swept around the table, "we'll use it to locate you.
"If your attempt at negotiations are unsuccessful, I've asked Teal'c to lead the first part of the search and rescue mission, Colonel, to track these people overland. You'll head up the extraction team. You'll be accompanied by Major McAllister and SG teams 2 and 3."
"Yes sir," Jack nodded. He cast a quick glance across the table to Daniel. A brief flash of worry crossed over the archeologist's face.
"Gear up and bring our people home." Hammond wrapped his knuckles on the desk and stood up. "Major Carter, I'd like to see you in my office please."
"Yes sir," Sam said with a pained expression on her face, walking with him from the room.
"The General doesn't blame her for this," Daniel asked, surprised, "does he?"
"Partly," Jack informed him.
"What? Why?" Daniel demanded.
"Cater's survey of the planet was incomplete," Jack said, indicating the folder in front of him. "She's not usually so casual with her work."
"Sam's the most detailed person I've ever met," Daniel said, coming to the defense of his friend.
"Perhaps that is why GeneralHammond is upset," Teal'c ventured. "This is not MarjorCarter's normal standard of work. She is not one to make assumptions."
Jack clenched his teeth together and made his way from the room. Daniel followed him with his eyes but knew the man well enough to leave him to his thoughts. "I need to listen to that transmission," Daniel said.
"I will accompany you," Teal'c informed him and the two men walked to the control room.
++++
"Well, this is . . . flat," Jack said as he stepped through the event horizon. "Reminds me of North Dakota."
"SG-1, report," came the General's voice through their comms units.
"No sign of any natives, hostile or otherwise, sir," Jack said, motioning Teal'c to move off to his right, Carter to his left. "Area seems secure."
"We are keeping this channel open, Colonel," Hammond informed them.
"Roger that," O'Neill confirmed. Jack looked over to Daniel who merely shrugged as he looked around. There were no markings, no structures, nothing but a flat expanse of hard packed earth surrounding them. Much to Jack's delight, there were also no trees.
"O'Neill," came Teal'c voice through his earpiece.
"Go," Jack acknowledged.
"All tracks leading away from the Stargate stop suddenly after approximately 50 meters"
"Same here," came Sam's voice.
Jack reached down to make sure the homing device he'd been given was switched on. "So you're saying maybe they didn't walk out of here?" The hackles on the back of his neck began to stand up.
"Transported?" Daniel asked.
"Teal'c, Carter, get back to the Gate," he ordered. "General, you need to shut down so we can dial out."
"What's the problem, Colonel?"
"Sir, what tracks there are just stop at about 50 meters. Means our people didn't walk out of here, they were lifted out."
"Understood," Hammond said. He turned to Sgt. Davis. "Shut down the Gate and prepare for. . ." There was an ear-splitting screech then static over the intercom.
"Sir, we're still receiving telemetry from the tracking devices, but the signal is much fainter than it was."
"Colonel, O'Neill, report." No answer. "Colonel O'Neill." Static.
Hammond's jaw worked busily as he pondered his options.
++++
"Jack?" No answer. "Jack!" This time a shove with a heavy boot in the hip brought the Colonel around. "Wake up!" Another shove.
Jack rolled his head down to his chest and groaned. "Daniel?"
"Come on, Jack, you've got to wake up. We are in deep DEEP trouble here." He shoved him one more time.
"Quit doing that!" Jack barked. He pried his eyes open and tried to focus on the scene around him. The first thing he noticed was that he was chained to a wall, his arms pinned above his head. He blinked, trying to clear his vision. "Teal'c?"
"I am here, O'Neill," came the familiar rumbling voice to his left.
"Carter?"
"Here, sir." Her weak response reached him a moment later.
"I can't see a damned thing," O'Neill said, willing his eyes to focus.
"We were drugged when we first got here, do you remember?" Daniel asked.
Jack concentrated. He remembered standing at the Gate, remembered telling Hammond to shut it down so they could dial home. Then the light. . . a struggle, and the scrape of an instrument over his neck . . . "FUCK!" he swore. He yanked on his chains and tried to stand up.
"You're eyesight will clear up now that you're awake," Daniel informed him.
"Where are we, can you make anything out, Daniel?"
"Just a big square room, Jack. There's a podium of some kind in the center. No markings so I still have no idea who we're dealing with."
"Carter?"
"No clue, sir."
"Big guy, I hope you've got something to add."
"I do not, O'Neill."
"Great." Jack tried again to stand up. "Something's wrong with my legs, I can't. . ."
"We seem to be partially suspended, O'Neill," came Teal'c's calm voice.
Jack looked down, his eyes finally beginning to clear, and found he was indeed hanging some inches over the floor, although the pressure on his arms didn't feel like he was holding his full weight. He also noticed he'd been stripped down to just a t-shirt, BDU pants and his boots. "I hate it when this happens."
He pulled his head up and looked around him. Daniel had been right, there was nothing to be seen save the strange podium in the center of the room.
"Any ideas at all?" he asked. His team was silent. "That's about what I've got, too."
Just then a door along the far side of the wall slid open. As it did, various other panels retracted to reveal glass windows to the outside. A tall man stepped through, draped in a garishly designed, multi-colored cloak and wearing an elaborate head dress.
"Daniel," Jack said, nodding to their visitor, "you're on."
"You will be silent," came the clipped order from the stranger. Jack jerked and cried out in pain as the chains that held him to the wall glowed blue for a full ten seconds before fading. Jack's body trembled as he tried to regain his breath. "All of you have been brought here for my entertainment. The others provided great amusement to me. I am hoping you will do the same."
Jack raised his eyes to stare at the man but said nothing. The adorned man laughed. "You learn much more quickly than did your counterparts." He came closer, walking down the line of hostages, examining each one in turn. When he stopped in front of Daniel he lifted an eyebrow. "I will begin with you."
"No, you'll begin with me," Jack growled. "I'm in command . . ." His voice was choked off as the chains glowed once more.
"I told you to be silent," snarled the man. Once the chains had returned to normal, the man stood in front of Jack and threw a vicious punch to his ribs. Daniel wanted to yell at him to stop when he heard the sound of breaking bone from the force of the blow but knew that it would only make it worse for Jack, Sam and Teal'c in the long run if he did. The man stood back and with a satisfied sniff in Jack's direction turned back toward Daniel. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to engage in peaceful negotiations for the release of our people," Daniel said steadily.
"I see," said the man. "We don't believe in negotiation."
"We're explorers," Daniel continued. "We've come through the Stargate to learn of your culture and to exchange knowledge."
The man stepped up to Daniel and looked at him carefully. "You are much more pleasing to the eye than the others. You will do."
Daniel watched the man move away. There was a rumbling as the solid, cream colored walls of the cell seemed to slide over and down the walls to be swallowed by the floor. What remained were walls of glass. Daniel realized with a start that they were still above ground. He looked to his left and saw the Stargate on the horizon less than one half mile away. His attention was snatched away by Jack's labored breathing. He met the eyes of the Jaffa on the other side of Jack and saw the impotent fury lodged there.
Their jailer turned around once he'd reached the podium and motioned toward Daniel. "You will come here." He pointed to a spot just in front of him. He touched a red button on a bejeweled belt at his waist and Daniel dropped to the ground. Rubbing his wrists he moved forward carefully.
"Daniel," Sam warned. Her next breath was taken away as the chains above her hands glowed blue and her body arched up nearly horizontally as the current coursed through her. Jack's words of so many years ago came back to him when they were trapped on the prison world of Hadante. He would show no weakness, but an idea began to form in Daniel's mind.
Daniel turned his back on Sam and glared at his captor. Finally the man depressed the control at his waist and Sam hung limp from her restraints. With a sickening feeling in his stomach, Daniel realized he was their only hope for survival or escape - it was all on him and it was all or nothing. He'd been freed because he was deemed to be the least dangerous among them. Surprise was on his side - but not in the way their tormentor imagined.
"Should you not cooperate," came the voice of his captor. "I will kill them, one at a time, the same way I killed the others."
Daniel locked his eyes with the man - and shrugged. "Do what you have to do."
"You may address me as High Lord Callington," continued the man. However, Daniel saw the slight hesitation in his eye. He'd not expected that response from Daniel. Callington used threats and terror as his weapons. If he could disarm him of those, he'd bring the playing field more even. "Move to the podium and place your hands in the center."
Daniel did so, casually. As he placed his palms on the top of the dias, he felt a static charge and when he tried to remove his hands he was firmly held in place. "Well. . . isn't this convenient for you."
Callington laughed. "You do not yet understand that your friends will bear the consequences of your insolence."
"What I understand is that this is all very - trite." Daniel looked around him. "I'm going to guess there are viewers to this little soiree."
Callington chuckled. "Of course. They will bear witness to your humiliation."
"Humiliation?" chuckled Daniel. "Oh, I don't think so."
"Then perhaps it would help you to know that not only are the people of my world watching, but yours as well." He motioned to the stargate. "The last time your home world activated the device, we locked it open and are now sending through the transmission of our - discussion."
Daniel tossed his head in the direction of the gate. "So when the rescue troops come through, they'll just be spirited away like the rest of us were?"
"It is an automatic defense device," Callington gave away airily, "and it serves us well in keeping us supplied with our - subjects."
"Yes," Daniel said dryly, "I'm sure it does." He looked down at his hands. "Since I don't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, let's get things underway shall we? I assume this is where you will bluster and boast to whomever is watching on my home world that you will make me scream in pain, beg for mercy, etcetera, etcetera, then there will be the obligatory rape, etcetera, etcetera, my lifeless body will be cast aside and you will begin with another, yadda yadda yadda. Is that about right?"
Callington's features darkened. Daniel heard Teal'c grunt and knew that he was now receiving the same sort of shock that Sam had. "You know," Daniel said as conversationally as he could while his guts twisted in agony for his friend, "this is all quite mundane. I'm sure you're wanting to put on a good show for your people but honestly, couldn't you have come up with something a little more inventive than this?" He heard Teal'c's expelled breath of air and knew the torture had stopped.
"You hide your fear well."
"That would be because there isn't any," Daniel lied. "The inevitable will happen and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Why get all worked into a lather?" He tugged at his hands. "It's kind of like shooting fish in a barrel - no sport involved."
"Your screams will be like music to my ears," Callington growled as he advanced on Daniel.
"You're hardly enough to make me scream. That man that you just sent a jolt through - he could make me scream. You?" Daniel snorted in derision as his eyes dropped over the form of the man in front of him. "I think not."
He saw a look pass over Callington's face and he knew he had him. Reminding himself not to over play his hand, Daniel sighed and waited. "I believe a little sport might be in order," Callington said, his hand passing over a purple jewel on the belt. The static feeling under Daniel's palms stopped and he pulled his hands from the surface of the podium.
"Rrright," Daniel intoned. "So, let's get on with it shall we? I mean we have this beautiful day, a lovely view of the gate to our left, why waste time?" He began to unbuckle his belt. When he had the second button of his BDU's undone he glanced up to find Callington looking at him strangely. "Well this is where we're headed isn't it?" Daniel casually leaned with his back against the podium.
Callington composed himself and removed the multi-colored cape from his shoulders. "Are you so anxious to show your weakness to your comrades?"
"Weakness?" Daniel laughed. "You consider this weakness? Well, I can see our definitions on that are different." Daniel caught movement near the gate and nearly fell on his knees in relief as the UAV quickly climbed away from the event horizon. He managed to maintain his control. "I'm not noticing any - enthusiasm - on your part." He motioned pointedly toward the man's crotch. "Are you sure you're up for this?" The last thing he saw was Callington fingering a gold jewel.
When Daniel's vision cleared he found himself against a wall, the ringing in his head making him dizzy. Callington was advancing on him menacingly. "I grow tired of your taunts."
"Yes, disable the toys before you play with them. That always ups the safety factor, but it kills the challenge, don't you think?" Daniel spit at him. From the corner of his eye he watched as his friends jerked in agony as another electric shock ripped through them. "You know, if you keep this up, I doubt I'm going to be much good when it comes time for me to - return the favor - so to speak." He saw the look of disgust pass over the other man's face.
Daniel pulled himself to his feet. He saw his friends sag back down as Callington stopped the flow of energy to them. "Are we going to do this or not?" Daniel finally asked. "I'm getting a little tired, quite honestly." Callington reached out and grabbed him by the shirt, throwing him into the center of the room. Daniel caught his balance and walked back to the podium. He turned and faced his friends, placing his hands on the sides of the alter. His eyes immediately locked on Jack's.
Callington came to stand behind Daniel, pushing him brutally down onto the dias. "You shall know the fury of my wrath," he swore. Daniel remained silent as he felt his pants being yanked down just over his hips. Terror gripped his heart but he held himself perfectly still, eyes trained on Jack. Callington pressed his body against Daniel's and Daniel could feel the man had undressed. Callington thrust his hips forward savagely. Daniel felt the semi-erect penis slide uselessly between his butt cheeks and he let out a genuine laugh. His head was slammed into the stone surface in response. Callington attempted penetration twice more.
Daniel turned his head slightly to one side. With as much sarcasm as he could muster, he spoke. "Need me to draw you a map?" Callington howled in fury and tried once more to pierce Daniel's body. His erection completely deflated when he failed. "Maybe it would help if I got out and pushed?" Daniel taunted.
Callington raised his arms over his head, ready to smash them down onto Daniel's exposed back when the first gunshots were fired. Callington stood upright and stared at the entrance shaft into the room. He was distracted just long enough for Daniel to spin about, smashing his fist into Callington's rage-distorted face, making contact directly with his nose. Time slowed as Daniel felt the cartilage crush and give, heard the snapping of bone breaking. Callington crumpled to the floor in a heap. Before he knew what had happened, strong arms were around him, propelling him away to safety. The outer wall shattered as ordinance exploded against it and the remainder of the troops that hadn't been transported inside crashed through into the cell.
Daniel turned and looked at who it was that had grabbed him. He saw the determined face of Major McAllister staring back. "Get your britches up, Doc," he said, squeezing Daniel's shoulder, "we've got a march to the gate to go yet." Daniel smiled. He yanked his clothes back into place. McAllister grinned down at him. "Get out and push?"
"Line from my second girlfriend," Daniel shrugged. "I figured it was appropriate for the situation."
"You got a brass set on you, Doc, that's for damn sure," McAllister snickered.
Daniel nodded in appreciation and made his way over toward Jack. Sliding down next to the injured man on the floor, Daniel leaned in close as the rescue personnel would allow. "You hang on, Jack. We're on our way home."
"Crazy as a fucking loon," Jack wheezed. "You wonder why I don't let you have your way very often." He turned pain filled eyes on Daniel, but underlying the pain was pride. "Nobody thinks on their feet like you do, Dannyboy. You had that bastard dead to rights the second he let you start talking." Jack's eyes slid closed as he lost consciousness.
"Daniel?"
Daniel spun around, stunned at the set of stern brown eyes that stared back. "Janet?"
"Let me in there, Daniel. I need to get him stabilized before we can move him." She pushed past him and knelt next to Jack. "I need you to give me some room," she said firmly. She began examining Jack, her hands moving quickly and efficiently. She scowled severely as she listened to his breathing. Without any hesitation she ripped Jack's shirt open. Daniel moved off, holding his stomach as he watched Janet slice unceremoniously into Jack's side. Blood spewed forth across the small woman's gloved hands as she worked at inserting a chest tube into the Jack's side. He turned his attention to Sam who was being lifted gently onto a stretcher. Finally, his eyes came to rest on Teal'c who was being helped to his feet by two medics, a gash across his chest having been bandaged.
Daniel limped over to his friend and took his arm in greeting. "You showed great courage, DanielJackson. Callington could easily have killed you at any time."
"Well, he didn't," Daniel said, clutching his side as a cramp flared through him.
"You are unwell," Teal'c said softly. He motioned to the medics standing near him.
"No, Teal,'c, I'll be alright."
"That is a falsehood," said the Jaffa gently, "and one which I choose not to believe. You have also injured your hand."
Daniel looked down at his swollen hand and wrist. "That's gonna hurt in the morning," he said as he allowed himself to be tended by a field medic.
"Indeed," Teal'c chuckled softly.
++++
Daniel awoke slowly, his entire body seeming to throb with pain in time with his heart beat. "Hey there," came a gentle female voice from his side. He turned his head to see Janet's smiling face. "How are you feeling?"
Daniel grunted and tried to blink his eyes. "I feel like crap," he said honestly.
"Well that's a first," Janet said teasingly. "Your normal line is 'I'm fine.'"
"Jack?"
"Resting. Two cracked ribs and one broken. The broken rib punctured his lung but he'll be fine after a bit. Can I get you anything?"
"Bucket of aspirin?" Daniel asked as he eased his way up in the bed. "How's Sam?"
"The shocks she received hit her harder than we would have thought. We think it was because the naquada in her system magnified the effects of the electrical charge. She's still sleeping, but she'll be fine. There was no permanent damage."
"Teal'c?"
"Teal'c is - Teal'c," Janet chuckled. "He's kel-no-reeming in his room." Janet checked Daniel's vitals then patted his shoulder. "You've got a bruised kidney along with a pretty good concussion and a sprained wrist. You're going to be my guest overnight, Doctor Jackson, I suggest you make yourself comfortable."
"And exactly how would I be able to do that?" Daniel asked, trying to squirm around into a more comfortable position.
"You behave yourself and the nice doctor will have some foam mattress pads brought in for you. Deal?"
"Oh yeah," Daniel said.
"Okay. Just rest, we'll take care of your bedding in a few minutes. I've got Jack in a private room for right now, but maybe a little later you could go in for a quick visit."
Daniel nodded and tried to settle back into the bed. "What about SG-14?"
"Let's just say they'll recover physically. Our teams found them in a room just off the main one where you were kept." Janet stepped up close to him. "You took one hell of a chance playing that man that way."
"He would have killed us," Daniel said simply. "I had to do something. He was built of ego - it was the only thing I could think of."
"Well it worked and that's all that matters." She made a quick note in his chart before leaning down close to him. "That 'draw a map' line was one of my favorites to use on my ex." She winked conspiratorially. "I knew you were going to make it when I heard that."
Daniel smiled up at his friend and doctor. "I'm glad one of us did." He eased himself back into the mattress and grunted.
- finis -
