Bound Reflections
Part 6
-16-
The tel'tac was violently shaken by repeated hits. Nearly falling from his seat, Daniel once again wondered why none of the supposedly superior beings who regularly flew these vehicles had ever thought to install seat belts.
"They could easily destroy us," Sa'reb opined, frantically attempting to outmaneuver the gliders. "But, none of the vital systems have been targeted. I believe they simply wish to force us down so that Osiris may again take possession of you."
"Just get us down. My people will get to us before Osiris," Daniel told him confidently, mentally calling to his lover, 'Please be there, Jack.' As the craft was again turbulently rocked, Daniel threw his arm over the central console to steady himself.
"We have lost the shields," Sa'reb warned. "Hold on." Grasping the control mechanism, he turned the craft hard to the right.
Daniel let out a cry; the force of the blow was so startling. Sparks shot from the console in front of him and smoke seeped from between the panels.
"The ship is not responding," Sa'reb snarled. "The last shot destroyed our main control mechanism."
"Zigged when you should have zagged?" Daniel snarked, righting himself in his seat. The smoke irritated already compromised lungs, and he began to cough roughly.
Glancing out the window, Daniel noticed that though it seemed they had spent an inordinate amount of time moving about to avoid the gliders, the craft was definitely on a descent trajectory. Holding his breath in anticipation as the tel'tac broke through the planet's atmosphere, Daniel released it in a shaky gasp when the sandy surface came into view.
"Maneuvering thrusters are offline," Sa'reb shouted. "I cannot slow the craft down. If we impact the surface at this speed..."
"Escape pods?" Daniel suggested even as Sa'reb came around the console to yank him from his seat. Once Daniel was on his feet, Sa'reb stepped back to the center panel and punched the combination of glyphs to activate the descent vessels.
Apparently unaware that the tel'tac had been disabled, the gliders continued to assault the ship. Tightly gripping Daniel's arm, Sa'reb stumbled to the back of the vehicle, shooting an arm out to support himself and his charge against one of the pods when the craft lurched upward.
Planting his feet firmly, Sa'reb pulled Daniel around his body, propelling the archaeologist face first into the opened pod. Staggering swiftly to the other pod, he slipped inside, and slapped the control within to launch both pods.
Reflexively, Daniel's fingers scrabbled to hold onto the cloak still draped across his shoulders. With difficulty he swiveled within the pod, pressing his back firmly against the hard surface as the doors sealed him within the confining space.
"He's coming in awfully fast," Jacob commented worriedly, skidding to a halt behind Jack and Teal'c where they stood on the dune watching the tel'tac's descent. He cast his anxious gaze on Sam and Ka'lel, who filed in beside him.
"Perhaps it has something to do with them?" Ka'lel speculated, indicating the half dozen gliders just coming into view.
"Get ready," Jack snapped, glaring over his shoulder to discourage additional idle chatter. "Looks like we're gonna have to extract him under fire."
"Colonel."
Whirling to face Carter, the obvious alarm in her voice setting his hairs on edge, Jack immediately spun back, following her pointing finger to the tel'tac. He swore loudly at the smoke billowing from the vehicle.
As they watched, the craft was again struck by glider weapons fire. For one heart-stopping second Jack feared the ship had exploded when dual trails of smoke erupted from beneath it.
"Descent pods," Teal'c rumbled. Tracing the likely trajectory of the vessels with his eyes, the Jaffa moved southwestward, headed towards the southernmost boundary of the tree line.
Following without question, Jack kept his eyes on the pods. One of them was struck by a stray glider blast and Jack cursed, watching breathlessly as the pod disappeared rapidly behind the tree line, much too close to the Jaffa base.
Fingering his com, Jack shouted on the run, "Reynolds, any activity from the garrison?"
"Negative, sir. All quiet here... wait. Apparently someone's seen the escape pod. They're scrambling now."
"Shit," Jack muttered to himself, then into his com, "How many?"
"I can see ten, but there's no telling how many are in the bunker," Reynolds reported.
"Roger that," Jack acknowledged. "Head south from your position but stay in the trees. Don't engage them unless they get to the pod before we do. We may need you to cover us while we retrieve Daniel."
"Understood, Colonel."
Jack paused where the dune dropped steeply off to the desert floor. Skimming his gaze over Teal'c's swiftly retreating back, he trained his eyes on the second pod which had settled just below them. "Why would Daniel release two pods?" he huffed at the others as they came up behind him.
"Decoy?" Carter speculated, stepping aside to make room for Ka'lel who scampered through the group and quickly trailed after Teal'c.
"Let's hope Daniel's in the one that landed on the right side of the woods," Jacob commented, starting on the downward run to the pod, Sam following close behind.
"Right," Jack bitched into the desert air, "since when has Daniel done anything the easy way."
Extremely motivated to reach the escape pod, Jack propelled himself down the sand dune, catching up with the Carters before they reached the bottom. As the trio neared the downed vessel, Teal'c activated the release and the hatch swung open to reveal a young Jaffa.
"Sa'reb," Ka'lel identified the stranger, holding out her hand to assist him from the pod.
Darting his eyes among the members of the group Sa'reb faced Teal'c. "Daniel?"
Stepping forward, Jack gripped the man's arm. "His pod was hit by glider fire. He landed on the other side of those trees." Turning, he spun Sa'reb, and pushed him in the indicated direction. "How badly was he injured?"
"His injuries are not incapacitating but he is weak with fever and lack of rest," Sa'reb panted, picking up his pace with the others.
Grunting, Jack called into his radio, "DaSilva, bring Dr. Fraiser and her team closer to the tree line. Keep them behind that dune until I tell you otherwise."
"Yes, sir," DaSilva answered.
"O'Neill!" Reynolds summoned urgently.
"Go."
"Sir, we've got Jaffa ringing down to the surface. Six so far. Ba'al's Jaffa are engaging them."
"Osiris has sent them for Daniel," Sa'reb spat, lifting his feet higher to move more quickly through the sand.
Wondering at the look of disgust the young man affected, Jack clasped his radio. "Reynolds, do you see Daniel?" he asked, managing to keep the desperation out of his voice.
There was a brief pause before Reynolds deduced, "Daniel was in the pod? It hit the surface pretty hard; it's buried about three feet in the sand. I don't think those doors will open until someone digs it out."
Jack turned to Jacob. "Can he breathe in there?"
"The escape pods have life support systems." Jacob confirmed, his cautious tone failing to dispel Jack's fear that it could have been rendered inoperable by the energy blast or the impact.
"Reynolds, how close are those Jaffa?"
"A few of them turned back when the rings descended. There are eight Jaffa about four-tenths of a kilometer from Daniel's position, closing rapidly."
Jack and his team entered the tree line. Startled by the concussive force of glider fire striking the ground, they fell immediately into defensive positions.
"Colonel, six more Jaffa just ringed to the surface," Reynolds shouted over the com. "Those gliders are trying to keep Ba'al's Jaffa away from the pod.
"Acknowledged. We've made it to the tree line. Give me a second to reconnoiter."
Leaping to his feet, Jack moved swiftly over the more solid ground beneath the trees. Grasping his P-90, he signaled the members of his group to spread out under the thick cover.
As they came through the far side of the trees, Jack spotted the Jaffa within a few hundred meters of their hiding place. Falling to his knees, he desperately searched among Ba'al's Jaffa, a few of whom turned to fire at one of the invaders who had made it past the garrison defense. The group spread out and Jack gasped softly, spying the downed descent pod. As Reynolds had reported, the thing was buried upright in the sand.
'At least he didn't land on his head,' Jack thought idly, that fact bringing no real comfort.
Glancing beyond the vessel that held his lover, Jack could easily make out the Jaffa garrison about one kilometer distant. His eye was attracted by a flash of light, experience telling him he had just witnessed Goa'uld transport rings disgorging another contingent of Osiris's Jaffa.
Jack's radio crackled. "Sa'reb has identified Osiris," Ka'lel informed them.
Digging his spy glass out of his vest, Jack trained it on the Jaffa bunker and the ring platform nearby. A large figure, dressed all in black, lifted his left hand, taking out a significant portion of Ba'al's Jaffa with the ribbon device. The figure turned and stalked determinedly in the direction of Daniel's escape pod, the Jaffa that had ringed down with him moving to engage the remaining garrison defenders.
Noting the sudden silence overhead, Jack raked his eyes across the skies above them, confirming that the gliders had backed off when Osiris started towards the escape pod.
A bright flash and explosion brought Jack's attention back to the action in front of him. Another staff blast hit the ground just in front of Daniel's pod.
Ordinarily Jack would sit back and enjoy the shootout between rival Jaffa, but with Daniel sitting between the warring groups, that was not an option. Clasping his radio, he barked, "If those Jaffa go at it in earnest, Daniel's gonna get caught in the crossfire. We gotta get him out of there now."
Glancing northward, Jack again depressed his com. "Reynolds, on my mark, see if you can't distract those Jaffa that are still headed this way."
"Roger that," Reynolds acknowledged.
Jack glanced towards where he expected his teammates were hunkered, his fingers still on his radio. "Carter, Teal'c, we're gonna take out Ba'al's guys and get Daniel back. DaSilva."
"Sir?"
"Bring Doc Fraiser and her team up to the tree line. Stay down," Jack added, glancing skyward again. "I think those gliders are gone, but keep an eye out."
"Yes, sir. On our way," DaSilva said.
Pulling a fortifying breath, Jack scanned the combatants, including the fast approaching Goa'uld, one last time, and clicked his radio.
"Reynolds, go. SG-1, move in." Jack climbed to his feet, knowing that his team, as well as their 'guests' would be right behind him.
Stepping out from between the trees, Jack brought his P-90 to bear, instantly taking out the Jaffa nearest him. Teal'c's large bulk moved into his peripheral field of vision, staff weapon blazing brightly. Jack's trained ear easily identified the SGC-issue weapons fire further to the north which heralded SG-3's entry into the fray.
Carefully picking off the Jaffa surrounding the escape pod, Jack and his team moved slowly towards their goal.
A cry to his right alerted Jack that one of his team had been hit. Sparing just a glance in that direction, he saw Ka'lel lying in the sand, her staff weapon partially buried beside her. Even before Jack returned back to the task at hand, Jacob Carter moved up and, crouching defensively in front of the fallen rebel, fired his zat into the advancing Jaffa.
As Jack turned back towards Daniel's pod, one of the Jaffa guarding it lunged at him, dragging him down into the sand. Jack rolled to his back, attempting to pull his P-90 around to fire on his assailant but the weapon had been twisted behind him when the Jaffa knocked him down and was now trapped beneath his body.
The Jaffa growled and wrapped his hands around Jack's throat, closing forcefully the second they made contact. Grasping at the thick fingers with one hand, Jack walked the other down his hip, scrabbling for his sidearm. Just as his vision began to darken at the edges, Jack snagged his 9 mm pistol and, placing it squarely in the Jaffa's belly, pulled the trigger.
Pushing the dead man to the side, Jack choked in a ragged breath and, struggling to his knees, wheeled back to the action.
Scanning the crowd surrounding Daniel, Jack was enraged to see the Goa'uld that Sa'reb had identified as Osiris, placing his hands on the vessel. To the left of the pod, Teal'c was engaged in hand to hand combat with the last of the Jaffa still capable of fighting. Carter and Sa'reb lay stunned in the sand, apparent victims of Osiris's ribbon device.
A rapacious grin on his face, Orisis dug his fingertips into the crevice between the doors of the escape pod, pulling with great effort. The small opening that resulted, allowed the Goa'uld to force his fingers in deeper and get a better grasp.
Snatching the fallen Jaffa's staff weapon, Jack came swiftly to his feet. "Get the hell away from him!" he commanded, raising the weapon high against his chest.
Looking up, Osiris smirked and, dropping his hands to his side, stepped back.
Jack walked forward, his eyes never leaving the Goa'uld's. He paused briefly by Carter's prone form and nudged her with a toe. "Carter, you alright?"
Carter rolled away from the prodding foot, shaking her head hard. "Yes, sir. I'll live," she muttered.
Detecting a grunt behind him, Jack inquired, "Teal'c?"
"I am fine, O'Neill."
Nodding, Jack motioned Osiris further away from the escape pod, noting the members of SG-3 moving into position barely a kilometer behind the Goa'uld.
Osiris took a step back, his dark features lightening with a smugly suggestive grin.
"I understand completely why you are so eager to have him back," the Goa'uld said, his overtly lustful gaze raking the escape pod as though he could see the man within. "He is quite... satisfying, isn't he?"
Jack's stomach twisted, his breath frozen in the back of his throat. For a moment nothing existed except the Goa'uld's boast which, together with that repugnant leer, screamed to him that Osiris had done more than torture Daniel.
Taking advantage of his rival's distraction, Osiris brought his be-ribboned hand up, intent on doing away with the man who held his prisoner's heart. His eyes flashed starkly as a hole opened in his chest, followed by a second, the result of a staff weapon fired at relatively close range. The light died out at the same time life left the body, and it crumpled gracelessly to the sand.
Dropping the staff weapon, Jack extended his hand to Carter and pulled her to her feet.
"Let's get Daniel out of there," he snapped at his teammates. "Reynolds," he yelled without aid of his radio, "keep an eye out just in case there are more Jaffa."
Reynolds signaled assent and gestured to his men, moving them into defensive positions around SG-1.
"Carter, get that med team in here," Jack ordered.
Leaving the just rousing rebel Jaffa for his 2IC to tend, Jack skipped quickly next to Teal'c, who had taken a position in front of the escape pod. Dropping to his knees, he plunged his hands into the sand and began pulling it away from the doors, his arms working furiously. Teal'c maneuvered his large fingers into the opening left by Osiris.
Having radioed DaSilva to escort Dr. Fraiser to their position, Carter fell beside her CO and helped him dig through the sand that trapped their teammate.
The moment their party broke the tree line and she realized someone was down, Janet Fraiser increased her pace as much as the inhibiting sand would allow. Encountering Ka'lel and Jacob, she paused just long enough to determine the extent of the smoldering injury in the young woman's side.
"I will be fine," Ka'lel asserted, waving Janet forward. "Go to Dr. Jackson."
Smiling appreciatively, Janet nevertheless directed one of her medics to tend to Ka'lel before quickly moving with the other to SG-1's position.
"Teal'c?" Janet stopped just behind and to the right of the large man, attempting to peer around him to the patient waiting within the escape pod.
While O'Neill and Carter continued to dig, Teal'c pulled relentlessly on the doors which opened in ever increasing increments as the barrier was removed.
Suddenly, the doors gave way and Jack fell backward into the sand, narrowly escaping a blow by the one that swung in his direction. Glancing up, he immediately shifted forward, coming to his knees. He reached out, cradling Daniel's head with one hand. The other wrapped around the archaeologist's midsection, slipping under his impromptu covering, as the younger man slumped sideways and forward.
As Jack pulled Daniel securely against his chest and sat back in the sand, Janet pushed past Teal'c and knelt beside the colonel. "Nice catch, sir," she quipped, hoping it was enough to cover Jack's ill-advised embrace in the presence of so many of their colleagues.
Placing her fingers against the pulse point on Daniel's neck, Janet frowned, her experienced touch also detecting the alarming heat radiating from the moist, ashen skin. Skimming the bruises on his cheek and jaw which stood out in gruesome contrast on the ghastly white face, her brow furrowed.
"Doc?" Jack breathed, not daring to inquire directly whether life still beat beneath her fingers. Daniel was totally unresponsive, hanging limply in Jack's arms.
Shooting Daniel's concerned lover a comforting glance, Janet motioned to her medic. "Marcus, bring that stretcher in here."
Reaching for supplies, Janet discerned from the corner of her eye a figure stirring in the sand. "Sam?" she called softly to her friend, who kneeled opposite, just over the colonel's shoulder.
Glancing in the direction Janet indicated with her chin, Sam smiled, relief apparent in the expression. "That's Sa'reb, Daniel's savior. He took the brunt of Osiris's ribbon blast."
Pushing herself back, Sam climbed to her feet and shuffled towards the Jaffa. A moment later Janet heard her whisper reassuringly, "Dr. Fraiser will take good care of him."
Wresting her stethoscope from the pocket of her med kit, Janet set the earpieces in place. Pulling at the heavy cloth haphazardly enveloping her patient, Janet placed the ball of her stethoscope on his back. Her mouth tightened minutely, the only reaction she allowed to the defect on Daniel's shoulder that she'd instantly identified as a bite mark. Janet flicked worried eyes to Jack's, sighing thankfully. The colonel appeared not to have seen the wound, his focus on the face that rested against his shoulder.
Slipping the stethoscope out of her ears, Janet placed her hand over the one that cupped the back of Daniel's head. "Colonel, you've got to lay him down so I can examine him," she said sharply.
Lifting care worn eyes to hers, Jack nodded and shifted his hold on his lover.
"Marcus, give us hand here," Janet instructed, standing and sidling around the stretcher to give him room. Marcus knelt beside Jack and, as the colonel leaned forward and gently lowered Daniel's upper body onto the stretcher, Marcus lifted the archaeologist's hips and legs guiding them also onto the canvas litter.
Kneeling at Daniel's head, Janet was startled by a groaning gasp. She shot her gaze upward, disconcerted to see Sam turning away, her face contorted with misery. Anxiously scanning the source of Sam's distress, Janet discovered that Daniel's cover had fallen back, revealing a line of dark bruises along the archaeologist's pale hip — ugly smudges unmistakably etched by grasping fingers — and more teeth marks in the juncture between his hip and leg.
"I need room to work, people," Janet admonished, making shooing motions with her hands. As all but Jack took several steps back, Janet bent over her patient.
A shadow fell over Daniel's inert form, and Janet looked up to find a key dangling in her face. Tipping her head back, she flashed a gracious smile at the young Jaffa who offered it to her and turned away to unpack her med kit.
Accepting her wordless invitation, Sa'reb knelt soundlessly and unlocked the manacles. Waiting for Janet to view the damage, he gingerly extracted Daniel's wrists from the metal bands and backed effortlessly out of her way.
"He's dehydrated," Janet announced, resuming her exam. "Marcus let's get an IV started." She fingered the bite mark on Daniel's leg, her lips drawing tight at the redness that spread several inches from the site of the injury. "We need to get antibiotics in as soon as you've got him set up," she appended.
Shifting back towards Daniel's head, Janet leaned over him to block the sun while she checked his pupil responses. Carefully turning his head, she gently palpated what appeared to be a partially healed injury just behind Daniel's left temple.
While her med tech inserted Daniel's IV, Janet determined her patient's readiness for transport. Beginning at his head, she diligently catalogued his injuries, discreetly uncovering and shielding him as she made her way down his distressingly still body.
Probing the frighteningly dark bruise under his ribs for a second time, Janet lifted her circumspect gaze to Jack. "There doesn't appear to be any internal injury, sir. Externally, the most serious injuries appear to be the bites, the cuts on his head, wrists and shoulder and a broken right ankle, which likely happened when his escape pod impacted the planet's surface."
Turning her attention back to her patient, Janet confirmed that Marcus had the IV fluids and antibiotics going. Instructing the tech to dress the wounds on Daniel's neck and shoulder, she tended to those on his hip and wrists.
Sighing deeply, Janet helped Marcus set the broken ankle, placing an inflatable splint around it.
Janet murmured thanks to the tech, who silently began collecting the detritus of their care. She passed an assessing eye over the unconscious man, mentally cringing at what the bruises on his hips foretold about what she would find when she examined him fully. She closed her eyes briefly and breathed, angling her face to hide her discomposure. In control again, she re-checked Daniel's pulse and BP.
Smiling encouragingly into the anxious faces of Daniel's friends, Janet nodded. "He's stable enough to take back to the SGC." Gathering the ends of the cloak around Daniel, she pulled a blanket out of her bag and draped it over him.
Jack radioed to those members of SG-6 still guarding the gate, alerting them of their imminent arrival. Around him, the rest of the rescue team gathered up their gear for the walk back to the gate.
Watching, intrigued, as Jacob Carter helped Ka'lel to her feet, Jack turned back to find Sa'reb had come forward, stooping to grasp one end of Daniel's stretcher while Marcus gripped the other.
Jack lifted the corners of his lips in warm appreciation and stepped back to allow the stretcher bearers to rise, knowing that, without this young man, Daniel would still be a prisoner of the Goa'uld. Swinging his gaze to the beloved occupant of the stretcher, Jack snaked a hand under the blanket, gently squeezing the too-warm forearm beneath. "We're taking you home, Danny," he whispered.
Dragging his eyes from Daniel's bruised and abraded features, he shared a look with Fraiser, who stood opposite, clutching Daniel's IV solution in one hand, the smaller bag of antibiotics in the other. Quietly accepting her supportive gaze, he called, "Move out," and filed in behind Daniel's litter for the slow trek back to the SGC.
-17-
Heart pounding expectantly against his ribs, General George Hammond all but jumped down the last three steps into the control room and rushed over to the tech on duty.
"Sergeant?"
"It's SG-1's IDC sir," Walter Harriman confirmed, his round face split by a wide grin.
"Open the iris, son." Hammond ordered coolly, his mood a bit more cautious than his underling's. While Walter might reject the very thought, Hammond was unable to completely dispel the fear that SG-1 had been unable to recover Dr. Jackson or that, God forbid, the young man had perished in his escape attempt.
Striding purposefully into the gate room, Hammond turned to the Stargate, intently watching the faux pool within the ring of naquadah. He exhaled an anxious breath when one of Fraiser's med techs emerged bearing the front end of a stretcher, the other end held up by a young Jaffa he did not recognize. Pacing solemnly on either side of the stretcher's occupant, Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Fraiser offered him twin grim smiles as they neared the end of the ramp.
Sparing just a glance for the additional medical personnel and the gurney that preceded them through the door on his left, Hammond moved up to get a better view as the litter bearers stepped off the ramp. His thin lips twitched testily. Though he knew that Dr. Jackson had been tortured, having the battered, unconscious figure lying so unnaturally quiet in front of him rankled him far more than any verbal report could have.
"Sir, with your permission."
Hammond glanced from the patient to the base CMO, slightly taken aback by the troubled look in her eyes. Eyeing the unknown Jaffa critically, the general raised a brow at O'Neill, who nodded his approval of the man.
"By all means, Doctor," he said, shuffling back to allow the stretcher to pass. "We'll debrief after you've seen to Dr. Jackson."
Hammond watched while the litter was settled on the waiting gurney. The unknown Jaffa stood back and Dr. Fraiser and her team rushed into the hallway, headed for the infirmary.
Sighing, Hammond turned to face O'Neill. His gaze immediately drawn over the taller man's shoulder, he swallowed convulsively, moved by the sight of a dozen men and women standing on the ramp, silently observing the retreating med team and the much revered man they conducted.
Smiling ruefully, the general quickly took in the condition of each team member before commanding, "SG-3, SG-6, report to the infirmary for your post mission exams."
His eyes darting, unsettled, around the suddenly two-thirds emptier room, Jack jarred as though he had just remembered something. "General, Ka'lel took a hit with a staff weapon."
Hammond gazed curiously at the female warrior who stood tall on the ramp, no evidence of her injury apparent in her carriage.
"I'll help her down to the infirmary, George," Jacob offered, moving to support the rebel Jaffa.
"I am capable of getting there on my own," Ka'lel informed them all, no trace of anger or offense in her voice.
"May I show you the way, then?" Jacob countered.
When Ka'lel inclined her head, Jacob extended his arm, inviting her to precede him.
The banter between Jaffa and Tok'ra providing momentary distraction, once the duo left the room, Hammond acknowledged Teal'c and Major Carter, who solemnly descended the ramp to stand next to their commanding officer.
"Colonel?" Hammond tipped his head at the still unidentified Jaffa, who had drifted back to the ramp once Daniel had been taken away.
"General Hammond, this is Sa'reb. Sa'reb, General Hammond, the commander of our facility."
Sa'reb bowed respectfully. "I am honored to meet the leader of the Tau'ri resistance," the young man said earnestly.
Brows rising curiously, Hammond stepped back to open the way for the others. "Let's go to the briefing room," he suggested.
Seeing the members of SG-1 and their guest were settled, Hammond inquired, "How is Dr. Jackson?"
"Doc did a quick exam. It doesn't look like any of his injuries are life-threatening but Osiris was not a gracious host." Jack's mouth quirked at the double meaning of that word, knowing as he did that the host had no conscious part in Osiris's actions. "He got the hell beat out of him, and his wrists are a mess from being suspended by them for a day."
"Daniel Jackson was denied proper sustenance and sleep," Teal'c contributed.
"He apparently has an infection which has Janet worried, especially given Daniel's weakened condition." Sam glanced briefly at the colonel. "Though she did indicate to me that the IV antibiotics she's using should take care of it."
"What about Osiris?"
"Dead," Jack declared decisively. "Shot the son of a bitch in the chest with a staff weapon when he tried to ribbon me."
Hammond eyed his 2IC speculatively, his brows jumping when the colonel pulled an imaginary sidearm.
"Quicker on the draw. Didn't even give him time to activate his personal shield," O'Neill smirked.
The colonel's exposition serving only to confuse him further, Hammond turned to Major Carter for clarification.
"Osiris ringed down to the planet with about twenty Jaffa. Ba'al's Jaffa came out of the bunker to engage them."
Nodding comprehension, Hammond turned to their guest. "Sa'reb, we were given to understand that you would get Dr. Jackson to a tel'tac, but that you would not be accompanying him to the planet."
"We were discovered as I helped Daniel to the cargo bay," Sa'reb explained. "Once I was revealed to be a traitor, I could not remain."
"Just as well, too," Jack groused, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes disapprovingly at Sa'reb, "since I'm not sure Daniel was in any fit shape to pilot that tub."
Closely watching his 2IC, aware that the stress of the past few days and uncertainty regarding Daniel's current status would make the colonel especially prickly, Hammond failed to detect the arrival of Jacob Carter, who entered from the hallway behind him, until his friend came fully into his line of sight.
"Jacob, how is Ka'lel?" he inquired, gesturing for his friend to join them.
"She's going to be fine. The staff blast was only a glancing blow. Painful, but not serious."
"Were you able to find out anything about Daniel's condition while you were down in the infirmary?"
"Not much." Jacob grimaced faintly, his gaze sliding from Jack to his daughter's equally anxious face. "They had him behind a screen in the back corner. I did hear someone say he may require surgery to repair the ankle fracture."
Acknowledging the news with a troubled expression, Hammond pushed through his concern to offer Daniel's rescuer a genuine smile. "Sa'reb, we very much appreciate everything you've done in helping Dr. Jackson escape from Osiris."
Sa'reb received the thanks with a solemn nod. "He is quite an extraordinary man."
"Yes, he is," Jack concurred, taking no pain to conceal his pride in his friend.
"Unscheduled off-world activation."
Reflexively, Hammond shot out of his chair the moment Sgt. Harriman's familiar alert rang out over the equally well-known warning klaxons. Herding Sa'reb before him, Jack followed after the others who routinely dogged Hammond's steps to the control room.
Hearing the party approach, Walter Harriman turned his chair towards the stairs and announced as soon as the general was within earshot, "We're receiving a text message from the Tok'ra, sir." He spun his chair back to the gate, glancing over his shoulder as Jacob slithered through the group to stand behind him.
Jacob scanned the message, reading aloud after a moment. "The crew on a cloaked Tok'ra ship, who had Anubis under surveillance, followed his ha'tak to Anat. There they witnessed a battle between Anubis's ha'tak and another ship. Though it appears that at least some of those aboard the unidentified ha'tak transported to the planet's surface, Anubis destroyed the ship in orbit."
Hammond frowned at Sa'reb. "Osiris's ship?"
The Jaffa nodded distractedly.
"I thought Osiris worked for Anubis," Jack snapped. "Why would he destroy Osiris's ship?"
Eyes flitting nervously among the personnel busily attending to their duties nearby, Sa'reb stood silent.
His lips compressing at Sa'reb's obvious discomfort, Hammond motioned them towards the staircase with his chin. "Let's take this back upstairs."
Much more slowly than they had descended, the group returned to the briefing room. As they approached the table, Sa'reb slowed his pace. "General, may I, perhaps, speak with you privately?"
Pulling up short, Hammond motioned for O'Neill to wait with them while the others continued across the room. Scrutinizing the young man, Hammond countered, "I would like Colonel O'Neill to sit in, if that's alright."
"Of course," the Jaffa agreed readily.
"Colonel, take Sa'reb to my office," he instructed, calling to the other members of SG-1, "Major, Teal'c, go get your post mission exams and let Sgt. Harriman know where I can find you after."
"Yes, sir," Sam replied. She took her father's arm, waiting until Teal'c bowed his compliance before leading the two men towards the exit.
Inhaling deeply, Hammond released the breath in a slow stream and strode to his office. Stopping just inside the door, he frowned at his 2IC, who agitatedly shuffled in the tight space behind the guest chairs.
In the corner of his field of vision, Sa'reb began to rise from the chair he occupied. Halting the action with his upraised hand, Hammond flicked his fingers at O'Neill. "Have a seat, Colonel." Pushing the door closed, he took his place behind the desk.
Redirecting his path mid-step, O'Neill sullenly marched to the indicated chair, dropping into it with less than his usual perfect control.
"Okay, Sa'reb, what do you have to tell me that you didn't want the others to know?"
Glancing briefly at O'Neill, the Jaffa captured and held the general's questioning eyes. "I have no secrets, General Hammond. I wish only to protect Daniel."
Jack bristled. "Protect him how? From whom? Osiris is dead."
"I speak of his honor, Colonel," Sa'reb explained softly. He shifted, unmistakably ill at ease. "I do not know how such things are viewed among the Tau'ri... I know that Daniel is not a warrior..."
"What are you trying to say, Sa'reb?"
"Osiris raped Daniel, sir," Jack replied flatly, his eyes trailing over Hammond's shoulder before crawling to the hands fiercely clenched in his own lap.
Mouth agape, Hammond took a moment to regroup, staring from his 2IC to their guest. "Is this true?" he finally asked.
Sa'reb nodded once to Hammond then turned to O'Neill. "How did you —?" Sa'reb broke off, wincing. "The markings."
"The bastard told me," Jack sneered. Catching Sa'reb's confused squint, he raised his hand, waving it haphazardly in the Jaffa's direction. "After you and Carter were knocked silly by that damn ribbon device."
Nodding glumly, Sa'reb returned his gaze to Hammond's. "Colonel O'Neill asked why Anubis would attack Osiris," the young Jaffa reminded him. "It is because Osiris would not turn Daniel over to Anubis."
"Why would Osiris defy Anubis like that? Was he hoping to gain his own power or ...?"
"He could not give Daniel up," Sa'reb clarified, his attention wavering now between the general and his subordinate. "There was word among the Jaffa that Daniel had bewitched Osiris; that he had an unnatural hold over the Goa'uld. I do not believe in such magic. But I do know that Osiris was obsessed with making Daniel submit to him." Sa'reb shook his head, admiration clear in his features. "But the more Osiris degraded and abused him, the taller Daniel stood at the end of it all. I have never known a man, human or Jaffa, to be so intractable."
The praise for Daniel's strength of character automatically brought a fond smile for the man himself to Hammond's lips. But too soon the reality of the situation intervened and the general grew serious again.
"So, Osiris's assault on Dr. Jackson was all about control."
Even as Sa'reb responded in the affirmative, Jack snarled, "Of course it was."
"Colonel?"
Jack flinched, clearly startled by his unsolicited outburst. Unsettled, he pushed against the arms of his chair, sitting rigidly upright. Opening his mouth to respond to the general's inquiry, he paused, and glanced sidelong at Sa'reb then back to his commander, his raised brow clearly questioning whether the young Jaffa should hear what he was about to say.
Recognizing Jack's hesitation for what it was, Sa'reb rose. "General Hammond, I must report Osiris's demise to the rebel Jaffa leadership. With your permission, I will take my leave —"
"You can't go, not yet." Jack shot to his feet, quickly reeling back the hand that moved to clasp the young man's arm. "Daniel will want to see you when he wakes up, to thank you himself for saving his life."
When it appeared Sa'reb would protest, Hammond likewise stood. "Colonel O'Neill is right. You said it yourself; Dr. Jackson is an obstinate man. That quality makes it very difficult to deny him anything. He will want to talk to you before you go." Motioning the Jaffa to follow him, Hammond placed a hand on the man's shoulder as he opened the door.
"I'd also like you to stay and attend our mission briefing. You're the only one who can tell us what happened on Osiris's ship. Aside from any information you may have regarding Anubis's plans, Daniel's friends will want details concerning his time in captivity, which only you can provide."
His eyes widening slightly, Sa'reb tipped his head curiously. "You count yourself among them, Daniel's friends." It was a statement, not a question.
"I do," Hammond confirmed.
Sa'reb seemed unsure what to say, his eyes searching Hammond's. Finally, he shook his head in befuddlement. "This is unheard of in my world. You say you are his friend, yet you command this entire facility."
"It's not altogether common here, either," Hammond confided. "But, as you know, Dr. Jackson is a special man. People just naturally gravitate to him, and those of us who know him well care a great deal about his welfare."
Sa'reb nodded thoughtfully. "I will tell you what I can."
"Thank you." Stepping through the doorway into the briefing room, Hammond gestured to an SF standing across the way. When the man was within earshot, Hammond said to Sa'reb, "You can send a message to your leadership. Sgt. Harriman will help you with that. Then you can get refreshment in our commissary. I'll send someone to retrieve you when we're ready for the briefing."
The SF nodded understanding and Hammond watched the two men cross the briefing room until they began their descent to the control room. Sighing heavily, he moved back inside, closed the door and trudged tiredly to his desk.
Dropping into his chair, Hammond demanded, "Okay, Colonel, care to tell me what that was about?"
Lowering himself slowly, Jack took that time to consider how best to impart his information. He raked his lip with his teeth, purposefully rolled his shoulder and met Hammond's earnest blue eyes.
"My conversation with Sarah Gardner was quite revealing," he said, twisting his head in an effort to loosen muscles which seemed to clench spontaneously at the mention of the woman's name. "Apparently she and Osiris had a true symbiotic relationship."
Hammond's mouth dropped open. "Are you saying she allowed Osiris to take control?"
"Well, not technically. Once the symbiote burrowed into her brain, there wouldn't have been anything she could do to stop it taking over. But... she apparently was able to gain the snake's cooperation on more than one occasion."
Jack's brow knotted and his aspect darkened. "She didn't say directly, but I got the impression she shared everything about her and Daniel's relationship with Osiris, including..." his gaze was irrepressibly drawn to the hands twisting in his lap, "the sick games she liked to play in the bedroom."
If Hammond was shocked at the implication of Jack's statement, he did not show it.
Rubbing his hand over his face, Jack sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees.
"Daniel's not going to be happy when he finds out I told you this..." He fell back, exhaling sharply, his eyes meeting Hammond's steady regard. "You remember what Daniel was like when he first came back from Abydos? So idealistic, so..." he huffed humorlessly, "so clueless about the way things worked in the real world." Jack took Hammond's affectionate smile as an affirmative response. "And so damn brilliant."
"His extraordinary intelligence and compassion have saved our asses on more than one occasion," Hammond agreed.
"Yeah. Well, back in Chicago, Sarah Gardner saw Daniel's brilliance and she wanted to possess it for her own gain, and Daniel's empathetic nature gave her the edge she needed." Tightening his lips briefly, Jack scoffed, "She had this twisted idea that dominating him in the bedroom was the quickest way to get complete control of him."
Hammond frowned, an expression Jack felt mirrored on his own face.
"She did things to him... I'd rather not get into the details, just, believe me when I tell you the woman is seriously disturbed."
"And you believe that Dr. Gardner shared these... activities with Osiris."
"We know that when a Goa'uld takes over a host, it learns everything the host knows. Sarah's desire to own Daniel was so overwhelming..." Jack bolted from his chair, spinning on the ball of his foot to again pace the area behind the chairs.
"If Sarah interacted with Osiris the way she told me she did... and if she showed him how powerful she felt doing... what she did to Daniel..." Jack's hands pulled into fists.
Hammond's eyes followed his 2IC's determined stomp across his office. "You think that Osiris's assault on Dr. Jackson was spurred, at least partially, by the memories he retained from Sarah Gardner," he surmised.
Moving behind the nearest chair, Jack clasped the back of it with punishing force, his fingernails scoring the leather. "I think she put ideas into his head about how best to break Daniel," Jack spat.
"Colonel."
Jack jerked outraged eyes to those of his CO. Though he hadn't risen from his chair, Hammond nevertheless presented a commanding posture, managing, even in his seated position, to loom over his subordinate.
"Sit down," Hammond suggested firmly, nodding at the chair caught in Jack's death grip.
O'Neill stiffened at the directive, and the general pursed his lips tensely, pale blue eyes losing just a bit of their edge to understanding. "I know what's happened is upsetting, but, son, if you can't maintain control I will order you to take leave and have you escorted from the base. Is that clear?"
Sobering immediately, Jack pulled a deep breath and slowly settled himself in the proffered chair.
Nodding his approval, Hammond relaxed back into his seat. "Now, you said Dr. Gardner had a desire to 'own' Dr. Jackson?"
"She still does," Jack ground out. "She told me she intends to get Daniel back. She sees him as her ticket to world domination." Taking in the general's astonished gape, Jack shook his head, still unable himself to comprehend the things Sarah had revealed. "She's angry that we took the Goa'uld out of her, that we took that power away.
"She thinks that Daniel has what it takes to rule the world, and, God knows, she's probably right about that." Jack scraped an agitated hand over his scalp. "And she believes she can regain the power she had as a Goa'uld by exerting total control over Daniel, vicariously gaining power through him."
"She still believes this plan is possible?"
"Oh, yeah. She screeched as much at me when we talked in her office."
Hammond studied the surface of his desk, forehead knotted as he considered what he'd just heard. "Well, Dr. Gardner and her bodyguard are guests in this facility, in lock up, under 24 hour guard. And the evidence that Major Ferretti collected..."
"You've seen it?" Jack asked with some trepidation, uneasy even though he had thoroughly prepared for the inevitability.
"Enough to agree with your assessment that Dr. Gardner has some sort of unnatural attraction to Dr. Jackson. I spoke with her briefly last night — early this morning, actually — when I got back to base. She was not very forthcoming."
"What about her watchdog. What's her name? Freddie?"
Hammond nodded. "Fredericka Webb. The NID Director has already called and demanded we release her to them. I declined the request, stating that Agent Webb may be implicated in an attempt to blackmail individuals under this command. He'll no doubt go to Senator Kinsey, but I think I can trump him with the President's support."
Jack tweaked a satisfied grin. "Has she clammed up, too?"
"Actually, Agent Webb had quite a bit to say. She claims that Sarah Gardner has been a model ward. She told Major Ferretti that Dr. Gardner just goes to work and then comes home, with occasional trips for shopping and such."
"Well, we already know that's bullshit," Jack snapped, shrugging an apology at Hammond's disapproving scowl. Recovering quickly, he added, "Sarah told me she drugged 'poor Freddie' so she could get out without her knowledge."
"Major Ferretti didn't report any suspicious drugs, though they did find several vials of an unidentified liquid hidden behind a drawer in Dr. Gardner's vanity. Once Dr. Fraiser has Dr. Jackson settled, I'll have her and Major Carter analyze it.
"In the meantime, Agent Webb and Dr. Gardner will remain here until we can question them further."
Jack cleared his throat softly. "We, sir?" he asked hesitantly.
Hammond's mouth pulled taut, an expression Jack recognized as displeasure. "We, meaning you, Major Ferretti and myself, since the three of us are already aware of your relationship with Dr. Jackson." He narrowed his eyes, glaring pointedly at his subordinate. "I could have them interrogated by a member of the security staff, but then quite a few more people would likely find out."
Acknowledging the reprimand in that statement, Jack hung his head. "I'm sorry I had to get you involved —"
"Damn it, Jack, you should have involved me sooner. I might have been able to do something to protect you and Dr. Jackson from exposure."
"Uh..." Jack began, but was spared grappling for a suitable response by the general's phone.
Snatching up the instrument, the general barked, "Hammond." Listening, he glanced at his watch. "Thank you, Doctor. We'll schedule the debriefing for 1900 hours."
As he hung up the phone, Hammond openly regarded the anxious countenance of his 2IC, his own expression neutral. "Dr. Fraiser has finished with Dr. Jackson. Why don't you go down for your post-mission exam?"
Jack smiled wanly and rose slowly to his feet. "Yes, sir," he said, making his way to the exit. His hand on the doorknob, he paused and turned to Hammond.
"Thank you, sir."
Receiving Hammond's acknowledging nod as his permission to leave, Jack quickly headed for the infirmary.
- 18 -
Having rushed directly to the infirmary, Jack paused on the threshold, mentally preparing himself for his first good look at Daniel's injuries. His mind screaming at the outrages visited upon his lover, he feared that having time to catalogue each of them at his leisure would only increase the volume in his head. Leaning against the wall next to the doorway, he took a few deep breaths before stepping determinedly around the corner.
His eyes raked the half dozen beds, and Jack made a panicked grab for one of the nurses when he found no archaeologist in any of them.
"It's alright, Colonel, he's in here."
Spinning towards the voice, Jack quickly crossed the room to where Janet Fraiser waited. Cupping his elbow, she guided him into the next room.
"I moved him to a private room so that he can rest more comfortably," she said, her voice automatically taking on that quiet, hospital tone she employed around her sleeping — or unconscious — patients.
As he stepped into the room, Jack's turbulent soul was unaccountably quieted. Once in Daniel's presence he felt an immediate peace that viewing his heart's immobile form should not have engendered.
Hearing the steady beat of the heart monitor and watching the smooth chest rise and fall rhythmically, Jack was content. 'He's alive. None of the rest of it matters,' Jack's soul breathed.
Glancing up, he noticed that the room was darkened. Though it was late afternoon outside, in here it could be the middle of the night.
"How's he doing?" Jack asked, adopting Janet's whisper.
Gazing attentively on her patient, Janet sighed. "The infection has me a bit concerned. We're giving him antibiotics, and it looks like he's responding, but he's got a long recovery ahead of him."
Jack quirked a smile. "He'll be back to work in a couple of days," he said with mock amusement. "You know how hard it is to keep him down. Remember the aftermath of the Honduras trip? How many times did you threaten to restrain him?" The smile faded quickly as the memory of Sarah's confession loomed.
Shifting uncomfortably, Jack wrapped his arms around himself, his hands clenched tightly under his armpits, a gesture achingly reminiscent of his injured lover's habitual stance.
Rubbing his arm soothingly, Janet glanced into Jack's pained face, then quickly away.
"Jack," she began, the use of his first name significant. She was addressing Daniel's friend and lover, not his CO.
Turning to her, Jack took in her disheartened slump and guessed at what she was about to say. "I know," he responded calmly, though the thought of Daniel's violation was twisting his insides.
Nodding, Janet smiled sadly. "I'm sorry."
"How bad?" Jack returned his attention to the man in the bed.
"There's no permanent damage. Physically, he'll recover. Do you want the details?"
"No," Jack barked sharply, grimacing guiltily at Janet, who jumped at his too-forceful reply. "I'll wait for the briefing."
Janet watched him for a moment and Jack resisted the urge to squirm under the scrutiny. He imagined she was wondering at his reaction. Ordinarily, 'The Colonel' wanted specific information pronto when one of his team members suffered injury.
But these injuries Daniel had suffered... Jack cursed himself for a coward but he knew he could not bear to hear the particulars of Daniel's assault alone in the intimacy of Daniel's room.
Sighing, Janet squeezed his arm. "Okay." Indicating a stool on the far side of a second, unoccupied bed, she started towards the door. "Why don't you sit with him for a few minutes? I'll come back when I'm ready for you."
Smiling gratefully, he nodded. "Thanks."
Jack listened to the click of her rapidly retreating heels on the hard infirmary floor as he watched Daniel breathe, hoping to recapture his soul's absolute belief that Daniel's rape was inconsequential to their future.
Ambling to his lover's bedside, Jack covertly located the security camera and purposefully moved so that his back was to it. Spying a pair of Daniel's glasses on the stand next to the bed, he grinned involuntarily. "Carter," he mumbled fondly, certain it was she who had made the detour to retrieve the spare lenses from Daniel's desk on her way here earlier.
Screwing up his courage, he took in his lover's pale features, and the grin faded. He cringed empathetically at the bruises marring Daniel's left cheek and jaw line, the outline of several fingers still clearly visible. The swelling under his lover's left eye was such that Jack doubted Daniel would be able to wear his glasses comfortably for several days.
He shifted his focus to the dry, cracked lips parted slightly in repose, vividly recalling the feel of them pressed to his own and, in spite of the horrors that Daniel had suffered, his heart swelled with gratitude that this lover had been returned to him.
"It doesn't matter to me, Danny," he whispered with all the love he could infuse into just his words. "This doesn't change anything."
Reaching out, he gently settled his hand high on Daniel's arm, a frown tightening his forehead. The skin felt hot and dry against his fingers.
Cognizant that the warmth was a product of Daniel's fever, he absently stroked his thumb over the bicep, relishing the feel of firm muscle, a reminder of Daniel's strength. "You can beat this, Daniel," he asserted quietly. "I'm here, waiting for you."
Lifting his eyes to the IV pole, from which hung a bag of IV solution and two other smaller bags, presumably antibiotics, Jack grinned.
"Bet Doc's got you on the good stuff. We'll have you out of here in no time."
Glancing back down, his eyes fell on Daniel's neck. Jack frowned at the glaring white bandage affixed to the ashen skin. His fingers curled over Daniel's arm and Jack snatched the hand back, fearful the rage-generated fist might inadvertently harm his lover.
Mouth set in a savage line, Jack raked his gaze over the beloved body, silently cataloging the offenses committed against his love, mentally pulling the trigger on the staff weapon aimed at Osiris after each entry.
Quickly skimming over Daniel's groin area, Jack concentrated on the toes peeking from under the covers at the bottom of the bed. His glare softened immediately and he slowly peeled the blanket back, sighing at the heavily wrapped foot. Looking closer, he noticed the outline of a splint running down the back of Daniel's leg, the ace wrap encasing the foot and lower leg holding it in place.
"Only you could get yourself hurt during your own rescue." A smile ghosted across Jack's features.
Sidling to Daniel's shoulder, Jack felt his knee brush against something. Stepping back, he glanced down, inhaling sharply when he recognized the plastic container into which Daniel's catheter emptied his bladder. The fluid was tinged a dark pink.
"I know it looks alarming, sir, but it will probably resolve on its own," Janet Fraiser reassured softly from behind him.
"Blood?" he asked brokenly.
"Yes. From trauma to his bladder and kidneys during..."
"God," Jack spat. Shuffling back to Daniel's bedside, he immediately rested his hand on the younger man's forearm, the need to touch him too compelling to resist. "I killed that damn snake way too quickly," he grumbled murderously.
"Yes, sir," Janet agreed.
Glancing over his shoulder, he caught her gazing at Daniel's face, her brow knotted in a sympathetic scowl.
Apparently sensing his scrutiny, Janet quickly darted her eyes to his, her countenance smoothing.
"Come on. Let's get to your exam. General Hammond will be waiting." She turned and moved into the infirmary proper, allowing him privacy to say good-bye.
Nodding assent, Jack gazed into the face of his love, so unnaturally still beneath him.
"I'll be back later, Danny," Jack whispered. Again angling his body so the view of his actions was blocked from the security camera, Jack raised his hand to stroke the hot temple, brushing his fingers through the soft hair behind it.
"You just lie here and rest," he admonished softly. He moved away slowly, his eyes still fixed on the bruised face. "Behave yourself. Don't give the nurses a hard time," he added, wishing fervently that Daniel was capable of such misbehavior.
With one last longing glance, Jack quickly rounded the corner of the doorframe and went to find Fraiser.
Hammond listened to Sa'reb's recounting of Dr. Jackson's day and a half in captivity with mounting anger and concern over the aftermath, not only for Dr. Jackson, but also for the young man's teammates.
The actual details of the assaults had been sparse, reduced mainly to phrases such as, "That is when Osiris assaulted Dr. Jackson the first time." But, in Hammond's experience, such scant bits of information only served as fodder, fueling active imaginations hell bent on supplying their own versions of the facts, irrespective of the individual's wish to examine such conjured images.
From the corner of his eye, Hammond witnessed Major Carter's hands twisting into fists in her lap; Teal'c's usually impassive face was pinched with obvious distress.
O'Neill's countenance was stone-like — as though by making his outward self impervious, O'Neill believed that none of what Sa'reb told them would sink into his psyche.
Unfortunately, as Hammond himself knew all too well, the disturbing images had a way of insidiously seeping in around the hardest barriers one placed to repel them.
He returned his gaze to Sa'reb as the young man finished his recital.
"I secured Daniel and myself in the escape pods." Glancing around the table, Sa'reb offered a grateful smile. "Your people took over from there."
Taking just a moment to process all that he had learned, Hammond leaned forward in his chair, his focal point the young man without whom Daniel Jackson would still be lost to them.
"Thank you, Sa'reb, for making us aware of the brutality Dr. Jackson suffered. I think it's safe to say the man himself would never have given us such detail of his time as Osiris's prisoner." Ignoring O'Neill's confirming huff, Hammond added, "That knowledge will be helpful in Dr. Jackson's recovery."
Before Sa'reb could respond, Hammond leveled his cool blue eyes on the young Jaffa. "I want to extend my thanks again, on behalf of myself and the SGC, for your part in returning Dr. Jackson to us."
Several emotions chased each other across Sa'reb's face, finally merging into a scowl. "I wish there had been a way to save him from such violation..."
"Son, you did everything you could under the circumstance, and at great risk to yourself. We are grateful for that."
Studying Daniel's teammates, Sa'reb was visibly taken aback to find the same sentiments reflected in their eyes. Turning back to Hammond, he inclined his head in respectful acceptance of their gratitude.
Having already received reports of the rescue from Colonel Reynolds and Major DaSilva — both of whom had been dismissed thereafter — and from SG-1, Hammond turned to Janet Fraiser.
"Doctor?"
The SGC's petite medical director shifted uneasily in her chair. Prior to the briefing, the general had questioned how much detail regarding Daniel's condition should be revealed to his team members. While Hammond had voiced concern for Daniel's privacy, Jack had countered that Sam and Teal'c were Daniel's family and their support would be necessary to his recovery. Though clearly not happy at the prospect of telling them everything, he had reasoned that the more they knew about what Daniel had endured, the better they could help him cope.
Glancing at Jack, who was seated across the table from her, Janet relaxed slightly when the colonel's lips twitched in a quick smile, a gesture that conveyed his assent.
Flipping open the folder that lay in front of her, Janet drew a calming breath, determined to get through her report as quickly and objectively as possible.
"As you've heard," Janet began, glancing up at Sa'reb, "Daniel was raped, anally penetrated multiple times.
"The only positive thing I can say about that is that the physical damage could have been much worse. There was quite a bit of tearing," Janet paused, observing Sam shift in her peripheral field of vision. "But we've repaired the damage. There was blunt force trauma to the kidneys and bladder, which will likely heal without intervention, but we will be closely watching his kidney function.
"Daniel's assailant — Osiris — bit him in two places, hard enough to puncture the skin. Not surprisingly, Daniel has a serious infection. However, since the host's mouth likely contained human-like bacteria, the broad spectrum antibiotic we're giving him should take care of that."
Having apparently covered the most difficult part of her report, Janet purposefully stilled the fingers tapping the table, and continued.
"Daniel has a six-inch cut along the line of his clavicle which required stitches. I also had to stitch some of the wounds on his wrists. He sustained deep lacerations and bruising from being suspended with iron manacles. Some of those wounds were also showing signs of infection but, again, antibiotics should take care of it. There are similar wounds on his ankles, though they're in better shape. The good news is Daniel was able to walk and grasp a zat, so I'm hopeful there's no permanent damage. We'll have to do further testing for ligament strain, rotator cuff tears, and the like."
O'Neill sighed, drawing her attention. The colonel scowled, most likely, at the notion that Daniel's injuries extended beyond the visible.
Offering a comforting smile, Janet returned to her notes. "The head wound Daniel received during his kidnapping has healed far more completely than I would have expected for the short time he's been gone." Janet nodded towards the rebel Jaffa. "Sa'reb understood that Osiris used the healing device on Daniel, but, if that's true, the Goa'uld did not heal him completely."
Shrugging away questions regarding the Goa'uld's motives to which they would probably never have answers, Janet continued, "Daniel has a concussion, exacerbated, no doubt, by his crash landing on PB5-926. Which is also how his right ankle was broken." Janet's lips contorted in a wry smile. "We've immobilized the joint but, once the infection clears up, the injury will have to be repaired surgically."
On the homestretch now, Janet added, almost as an afterthought, "He's dehydrated; IV fluids are helping that.
"We removed six shards of glass from the bottoms of his feet...
"He also has multiple contusions, smaller cuts and abrasions — he's going to be very sore when he wakes up."
"When will that be, Doctor?"
"I'm going to keep him sedated at least until tomorrow morning. I'll reevaluate at that time."
Hammond's head bobbed in understanding. "Very well."
Looking around the table, Hammond recognized the unconscious fidgeting of a team anxious to check on its missing member.
"If there are no other questions —"
"Can we see him?" Major Carter grimaced apologetically for stepping on the general's proposed dismissal.
Rather than reprimand her for the gaffe, Hammond flashed an understanding grin and deferred the question to Daniel's doctor.
"Briefly," Janet said.
Taking in the anticipatory glances aimed his way, Hammond pushed back his chair and stood. "Dismissed," he declared, nodding paternally to the assembled as they came to their feet.
Hammond sidled the table and motioned to Fraiser. "Doctor, I have some things to take care of, including making arrangements for our guest." He acknowledged Sa'reb, who came up on his left. "I'll come down to the infirmary in just a while."
"Yes, sir," Dr. Fraiser replied. Her arms wrapped around her notes, she turned and smiled warmly at Sa'reb. The Jaffa dipped his head in parting, acceding to the general's invitation to lead the way to his office.
Clasping Daniel's file to her chest, Janet spun towards his teammates, who were already standing in the hallway. Noting there was a team member missing, Janet turned back and frowned at O'Neill. Having reseated himself, Daniel's lover hunched miserably, staring at the polished wood of the tabletop, brows crowded in the center of his forehead.
"Colonel, are you coming?" she asked gently.
Jack started, having obviously been lost in thought, and turned wide eyes on her. He blinked once to dispel the clouds of foreboding developing, dark as the eyes themselves, but not before Janet had seen his distress. He shifted his gaze back to the table. "Let Carter and Teal'c visit. I'll be down in a while."
Scrutinizing him for a second, Janet smirked, an impish glint in her eyes. "Good idea," she chirped. "In fact, why don't you get something to eat and have a nap before you come?"
His eyes darting up, Jack raised a quizzical brow.
Her smile broadening, Janet added, "That way I'll at least know I don't have to worry about you when you ignore my requests to leave the infirmary tonight."
"Fair enough," Jack replied, half-heartedly returning her smile.
"See you later, sir," Janet said, backing away.
Jack watched with disinterest until she met up with Carter and Teal'c in the hallway. That final distraction gone, his eyes again turned hazy with the blow-by-blow images of Daniel's torture and rape.
"Aw, Danny," he murmured, realizing with complete clarity how foolish he'd been to think that hearing the details would be easier with his and Daniel's friends around him.
