“I believe we are south of the city of Gales, O’Neill,” Teal’c offered as he put his skills as a tracker to use, checking the area around them for signs that anyone else had been there recently.
“And we knew Daniel wouldn’t be here,” Sam added, shielding her eyes and looking off in the direction they had been facing when they first appeared. “Whoever took him used the transporter to send him as far away from the city as possible before taking him to their next destination. I’m not seeing any signs of movement in this direction, sir.”
Jack nodded, pulling out his sunglasses and slipping them on. “You’re right; we guessed we wouldn’t find Daniel right away. But I still have a question: where’s the Stargate?”
“The other side of the city. I think we’re going to have to hope for another way around, sir. If Daniel’s been mistreated, it’s going to be difficult to get him through Gales unnoticed, especially that gate marking the beginning of the city proper, or to explain his condition if we are noticed.” Sam sighed. “That’s on top of explaining our behavior. I’m sure the guards have reported the grand chase by now.”
“I know, I know, we broke their precious rules. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and I don’t care what these people think. You gettin’ anything, Teal’c?”
The Jaffa lifted his head from his examination of the ground surrounding them. “I believe I have found the tracks of four large-sized men heading south toward the line of trees in the distance. There are no other signs of people having been here.”
“Could one of those sets belong to Daniel?” Sam asked, tearing her gaze away from the far horizon.
“I do not believe so. The men who were here had larger feet and weighed more than Daniel Jackson, but one set of footprints is deeper than the others. I believe that man to have been carrying him.”
The physicist sighed. “So they didn’t wait for him to wake up then. I was hoping they would have.”
Jack shrugged. “A lot less resistance that way. Go ahead and take point, Teal’c; I’ll watch our six. We’ve got a lot of daylight to burn before we need to worry about setting up camp. Let’s hope we have a better clue about what’s going on before then.” He gestured for the big man to start, and the three of them headed off along the trail they hoped would lead them to their friend.
* * * * * * * *
The rest of the day went by quickly and mostly silently, no one in the mood to hold any kind of extended conversation with one of their team still missing. They reached the trees an hour before sundown, the trail they were following still distinct. “Keep your eyes open for a decent camp site,” Jack ordered, his eyes sharp and alert for any potential threats, especially from Daniel’s kidnappers. “We should probably settle in for the night soon.” His tone of voice spoke loudly of his reluctance to give up the chase even as he accepted the necessity.
“O’Neill, the footprints veer off the animal trail they have been following,” Teal’c announced.
“Do you think there might be another one of those transport thingies out here? Maybe they used it to get Daniel to wherever he is now.”
Sam shook her head. “I don’t think so, sir. These trees don’t offer that much cover, and the power source needed to run one of them is massive. The one in Gales was tapped into the city supply; one out here would practically need its own power plant.”
Jack sighed. “I didn’t think we’d get that lucky. They probably set up camp near here then. Let’s find it and see what we can find. Lead on, Teal’c.” The Jaffa nodded and did as requested.
A few minutes later the three of them found the suspected campsite. “This place was not used more than twenty-four hours ago,” the team’s tracker said after he’d checked the circle of stones in the center of the clearing. “I believe you were correct in your belief that Daniel Jackson’s captors rested here, O’Neill.”
The colonel nodded. “Then let’s use the last of the light to check for any clues as to where they went next, maybe what condition Daniel was in. We’ll set up our own camp when we’re done.”
Sam’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. It wasn’t pleasant. “Um, sir? I just thought of something. It’s been longer than we thought since Daniel was taken. It has to be.”
“What are you talking about, Major?”
“How did you wake up this morning, sir?”
“Teal’c woke me up a little after sunrise when he noticed Daniel wasn’t anywhere on watch. We checked his tent and found one missing archaeologist and that strange powder on his sleeping bag. Then we found you dosed up with the same stuff near the bushes. What are you thinking?”
The blonde major shook her head dismissively. “Did either of you check for that powder on your own things?”
Teal’c shared a worried look with O’Neill before responding. “No, we did not. You believe we should have?”
The woman grimaced. “I’m beginning to think so, yeah. Teal’c, you said that the fire pit hadn’t been used more than twenty-four hours ago, right?” The Jaffa nodded. “Well, according to what we remember, Daniel hadn’t even been taken twenty-four hours ago. Would you say it had been used within the last twelve hours?”
Matching realization blossomed in the dark brown eyes of the alien member of SG-1. “No, I would not. How much time do you believe has passed, Major Carter?”
“I have no idea, but definitely more than the few hours that made up Daniel’s watch and what was left of mine. Who knows what kind of lead they have?”
“Now both of you hold it right there,” Jack snapped. “If you’re saying what I think you’re saying, it’s anything but good. We were out for more than a day? They’ve had Danny for at least two days now?”
Sam sighed. “I’m afraid so, sir. Otherwise we’d only be about six to eight hours behind them.”
“And the pit hasn’t been used for at least twelve. I get the picture.” The older man rubbed his face with both of his hands. “Jesus, why us? Do we all have giant signs on our backs saying ‘Kick Me’? Maybe give off a scent that marks us as galactic whipping boys? And girls,” he added as a quick afterthought with a glance at Sam through his fingers. “What exactly have we done to deserve this?”
“I wish I could tell you, sir. Philosophy is more Daniel’s field than mine.”
Jack tore his hands away from his face almost violently. “Well then, I guess that means we better get him back. I refuse to die without knowing the answer to that question. Check out the site and then set up. The trail should still be fresh enough for us to follow in the morning.” He did an abrupt about-face and started examining the perimeter of the clearing.
* * * * * * * *
Sam was in the middle of the desert, her green mottled camouflage and black T-shirt a discordant sight against the pale yellow-brown of her surroundings. The bright sun beat down on her uncovered head and her unshielded eyes couldn’t help but squint practically shut in the almost blinding light even as she held her hand to her eyebrows. She couldn’t be sure as she hadn’t been there that long on any of her visits, but something told her she was on Abydos. And if she was on Abydos...
“Daniel!” she cried. “Daniel, where are you?” Spinning around, she saw no sign of her friend, only an endless expanse of sand that stretched from horizon to horizon. “Daniel, please! If you’re here, let me know! Let me find you!”
The wind chose that moment to pick up, grains of sand stinging her right cheek as though to draw her attention in that direction. Sam turned to look and gasped sharply. There on the horizon was a familiar sight, a mass of swirling sand that could only mean one thing: sandstorm. And for some reason that Sam was at a definite loss to explain, she was feeling an amazing draw toward it.
Without truly considering the consequences, the blonde woman found herself moving in precisely the opposite direction common sense and basic self-preservation would normally scream at her to go. Some other sense entirely guided her steps, one that was sure she would find what she sought only by facing this deadly force of nature. Daniel was this way, she was sure. And if Daniel would be found by heading into the storm, then she would do just that. There were no other options.
There were no words to describe the feeling as the violent storm overtook her, taking away her breath and what little sight the sun had left her, her skin instantly abraded and raw, every moment threatening to rip her apart and leave her broken and bleeding and finally buried in an unmarked grave in the middle of a completely barren wasteland. Even with her life being drained away, her mind was focused on only one thing. “Daniel!” she shouted, the word whipped away as it left her cracked lips. “Daniel!” She stumbled forward a few more steps then collapsed to her knees. “Daniel!” She could no longer hold herself up that far, the wind that abused her body forcing it face down in the sand. “Daniel,” she gasped, coughing as the cushion beneath her head tried to fill her mouth. It wasn’t much longer before she succumbed to the beating, unconsciousness benevolently taking her into its embrace.
A rocking motion and gentle, murmuring words were the next things Sam knew. Soft cloth soothed her battered skin and strong arms held her upper body away from the harsh sand of the desert, the same sand that had tried to take away her life and keep her from her friend. She sighed and burrowed her face into the firm chest it rested against.
“That’s right, Sam, it’s all right. Everything’s okay now. God, what are you doing here? I can’t believe you’re here.” She felt the light touch of lips against her temple. “I just want you to be okay. Please be okay.”
“I’m okay,” she muttered before taking a deep breath and releasing it. Relief filled her that she was able to say that and she smiled. “I’m okay.”
“Thank God.” The tone was as warm as the breath that accompanied the words into her hair. “I was afraid I was going to lose you like I lost myself. What are you doing here?”
The familiarity of the voice finally penetrated the cocoon that had surrounded her. Blue met blue as Sam’s eyes sprang open and she looked up into the face that she had been willing to chance so much to find. “Daniel! You’re here! I was trying so hard to find you.”
Daniel gave her one of his small smiles. “Looks like you found me just in time to be found yourself. I heard you call my name and I barely managed to get to you before you were buried by the sandstorm. Why are you here?”
“Like I said, to find you.” She let him help her sit up on her own and watched as he unwrapped his thick Abydonian robes from around her to cover just himself. “What were you doing in the middle of that storm?”
“I was lost. There was someone else here, someone I was running from, but he didn’t make it.” The younger man pointed to a spot over her shoulder.
Sam turned to look and gasped when she saw the body half-buried in the sand. A gust of wind uncovered a face that she’d seen only recently. “I think I know who that is, Daniel. He was the man wearing the headset in the building underneath Gales.”
“I was running for so long...” The archaeologist sighed and rubbed his forehead with a weary hand. “The storm never stopped, and every time I looked behind me he was closer. And then there was nothing, but I had to keep going. I didn’t know what else to do. The storm wouldn’t stop and I couldn’t find anybody or anything.” The lean, long-fingered hand fell away to reveal a distressed expression. “I was all alone with no way home. Then I heard your voice and had something to hold onto. All I could do when I found you was wrap you up in my robes and hold you close, and hope with everything I had that the storm would stop so we could both go home. I want to go home, Sam. I’m tired and I just want to go home.”
It was Sam’s turn to hold her friend. “I know, Daniel,” she assured him while he rested his weight against her, his relief at finally not being alone radiating like the sun as he accepted the comfort she offered. “I’ll get you home. Teal’c and the colonel are here with me, and we’ll all get you home.”
She could feel his smile against her neck. “Thank you, Sam. Thank you for being here, for making sure I’m not alone. I don’t want to be alone anymore. And it feels so good to have you hold me...” Daniel’s voice faded as he lapsed into slumber, his breathing growing deep and steady.
Sam smiled down at the top of his head, pleased she could make her friend feel comfortable enough to sleep. She had a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself the luxury since he’d found himself in this place however long ago, lost and confused with no idea how he’d gotten here. Now she just had to get him home like she’d promised. “Oh, Daniel...” she murmured into his hair, fading away herself as the peace and calm of the moment washed over her like a gentle tidal wave.
* * * * * * * *
“Daniel!” Sam cried as she sat up like a shot, her sleeping bag falling down to gather around her waist and her tent shaking as her head impacted the canvas above her. “Oh my God, Daniel!”
There was a commotion outside her tent, then the flap was thrown open wide and Jack scrambled inside. “Carter? It’s okay, Carter. It was just a dream, just a nightmare.” He reached out and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
The blonde head snapped toward her CO’s voice. “No, no, it wasn’t,” she replied breathlessly, her weak voice shaky. “It was something else completely.”
Jack shot a look over his shoulder at Teal’c, who had been right behind him when he had hurried over to help his distraught teammate. “I don’t know, Carter. Sounded like a bad dream to me.”
“No, sir, it wasn’t,” Sam repeated, getting herself under control. “I think I know what the other database was on the network, or at least what it was connected to. It makes a strange kind of sense if you think about it.” She reached up and absently rubbed at the headset she still wore where it connected on either side of her head to the flesh behind her ears.
“Of what are you speaking, Major Carter?” Teal’c asked, seeing Jack clench his jaw in frustration as his hand drew back from the woman’s shoulder.
She blinked at the dark form blocking the entrance to her tent, her hands falling to her lap. “Daniel. Daniel is connected to the other database like I’m connected to the one in Gales. My mind must have followed the link while I was sleeping and linked to his. That also explains the swirling sand I saw when I first put on the headset and then again when I tried to access the other database. It was what made up Daniel’s thoughts.”
“Why would Daniel be thinking of swirling sand?” O’Neill asked incredulously.
“He was lost inside himself, sir. They must have attached another headset to him while he was still unconscious and tried to access his mind. I think he was so confused with the combination of drugs in his system that he visualized how he was feeling, and so got lost in a sandstorm.”
“Only Daniel,” Jack muttered, shaking his head briefly. “Can you contact him now? Does he know where he is?”
Sam closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. “I believe he’s sleeping, sir. If what I remember is right, though, he doesn’t know. I don’t think he’s slept since this started either. It took him knowing I was there for him to finally relax and pass out.”
Jack nodded. “If that’s the case then we should let him sleep. Why don’t you get some more yourself? Teal’c and I will split the watches.”
“I can take a watch, sir,” Sam protested.
The colonel held up a hand, stopping anything further. “I know you’re capable, Carter. But since you can’t take that thing off your head you’re the only one who can communicate with Daniel. I want you to focus on that. Teal’c and I will take care of everything else.”
“Indeed,” the Jaffa agreed with a solemn bow of his head. “Daniel Jackson may try to speak with you again at any time. You must be prepared. And I believe that will include getting what rest you can while you are able to do so.”
“So go back to sleep, Carter,” Jack ordered with a smile. “We’ll wake you up in time for breakfast and you can fill us in on the details of your little communion with Daniel.” He started to back out of the disgruntled major’s tent as she laid back down and straightened out her sleeping bag. “Sweet dreams,” the silver-haired man called out before closing the flap and retreating to the campfire to resume his watch.
Sam glared irritably at the green canvas that was between her and her commanding officer. “I swear, Daniel, there are times I just don’t understand how you can put up with that all the time. I have a hard time dealing with the small doses he sends my way.” She shook her head and settled back in to get what rest she could . Sleep claimed her quickly.
* * * * * * * *
The new day dawned with no further communication with Daniel, and the three friends that searched for him continued on after a quick breakfast and explanation of Sam’s experience from the night before. As Jack had suspected, the tracks they had been following were still fresh enough to see clearly, and Teal’c once again led the way. The trio made good time, pausing only briefly for lunch around midday, and determined to put as much distance behind them as possible before the sun set that evening.
Sam periodically checked the connection she now knew she had with the missing archaeologist, hoping to “speak” with him again and possibly discover where he was being held. She tended to receive only fleeting, ghost-like images - strange visions that convinced her Daniel was most likely dreaming. As much as she was glad the younger man was finally able to rest, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated at both her lack of ability to communicate with him and her inability to focus on her surroundings. The colonel had told her not to worry too much about the latter issue; he and Teal’c were more than prepared to deal with anything that might try to ambush them, and they were convinced that Sam needed to maintain her new-found link with Daniel so it would be easier to find him. Their reassurances, although heartening, did nothing to lessen the feeling that she was letting everyone down by not holding up her end of the bargain. She hated feeling like she had to be protected, no matter what the reason.
“Jack!”
Sam looked around sharply at the call, having been focused on the trail at her feet, her eyes noticing the lengthening shadows caused by the mid-afternoon sun and the movement of only herself and her two companions.
“Sam! Teal’c!”
That was Daniel’s voice! Sky blue eyes darted around even more determinedly, certain she’d see the man she sought nearby. He was trying so hard to get their attention...
“Is there anybody there?”
Oh, God, he sounded so scared! Scared, but trying hard not to show it. She had to find him! She had to find him now!
Sam took a closer look at the men before and behind her, hoping to get a better clue where she should be looking. Why weren’t they doing anything? Didn’t they hear him? Didn’t they know where to go? And it hit her. No, they didn’t. They didn’t hear him. Daniel’s voice was only in her mind, a communication Daniel was sending her through the headset. Apparently he was awake... and once again lost.
“Sir,” she said quietly, kicking herself for not having seen the truth sooner, “I think Daniel’s trying to reach out to me again.”
Jack’s eyes brightened. “We’ll stop then and let you concentrate. I don’t want you tripping over something and missing a vital piece of information. Come on, Teal’c. Let’s get off the path a bit and set up some shade for Carter. Sit down, Major. Just close your eyes and talk to Daniel.” He helped his 2IC to the ground and started to assist Teal’c in setting up a temporary rest stop.
Go to part three
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