by Mereridkat/Morudai (Margaret Newman)
Daniel had dialed them out, grabbing Jack by his shoulders and dragging him into the wormhole. He had seen Teal'c following after them with Cpt. Brenner across his shoulders. The battle was overwhelmingly against them. A moment longer and they would all be dead. He thought briefly of Sam safely back on Earth, six months pregnant with her and Pete's first child. Then the wormhole enveloped him, and there were several seconds of *nothing*.
They were spat out the other end into a nighttime world. The wind was blowing fiercely, and the smell of rain was strong. It would start pouring at any moment. Lightening vividly flashed across the sky, momentarily illuminating his surroundings. Daniel still had a tight hold on Jack, and drug him over the uneven cobblestone.
The wormhole settled for a second, and then there was a loud crackling sound. Each symbol on the Stargate glowed brightly before going dark. The wormhole disappeared without Teal'c or Brenner coming through.
Leaving Jack tucked into an alcove of the temple ruins, Daniel tried to activate the DHD and gate them back to Earth. Nothing worked. The DHD would not respond. The wind was growing fiercer, and the lightening strikes hitting closer to the temple. Big droplets of rain began to pelt the ground as well as Daniel. Jack moaned, stirring.
"Where-?" Jack gasped, struggling to sit up as Daniel hurried back to him. "T?"
"He didn't come through with Brenner." Daniel grabbed his colonel before the older man smacked his head on the brick. He had to shout to be heard above the wind. It almost sounded like a background chorus of wolves, but he refused to let himself worry about a possible hostile environment.
Another lightening strike hitting a ruined column about a quarter of a mile away. Daniel leaned over Jack protectively.
"Where-." Jack was badly wounded, his words coming out in painful gasps. The Dorengu had certainly done a number on him. 'New at torture, my ass.' Daniel winced as he sat back to meet Jack's gaze. "Are. We?"
"I'm not sure." Daniel replied, glancing around. They had no gear, no guns, nothing. They were lucky to have what clothing they did thanks to their wonderful "hosts". "I dialed a neutral location, but this isn't it."
"We- need-." Jack bit his lip, gripping Daniel's forearm, trying to sit up further. His body was on fire, and the ringing in his ears was annoying him.
"Shelter." Daniel finished for him. "I know." He could see nothing easily in reach. He did not want to venture out past the ruins having no idea what might be out there and how bad the storm would really get.
There was just enough of a break in the wind to hear someone screaming, and the savage sound of an animal attacking. A person crawled into view, staying close to the ground, and covered from head to toe in cloak that nearly concealed 'him' entirely. Obviously terrified, and obviously determined. He stopped near a column across from Daniel and Jack, glancing back at the darkness where his companion had stopped making any noise. It sounded as if the person were being torn apart and eaten, if the vicious snarling meant anything.
He turned back towards the stargate, briefly hesitating when he caught sight of Daniel and Jack. He continued forward, staying on his hands and knees. At the bottom step that led up to the gate, he pushed hard on the middle stone. Slowly a stone pulled back in the floor between the DHD and the steps to the gate, and a dark hole grew.
As soon as it was big enough, the cloaked figure crawled down into the hole. Daniel got a quick glimpse of bare feet and calves, letting him know that this person was at least somewhat human. Without much consideration- besides savage animals, savage storm, and a badly injured Jack- Daniel hauled Jack to the hole in the stones. He shoved Jack down in, and the stone began to slide back in place. Daniel jumped down inside.
It was not a moment too soon as growling sounded above them. The stone slid shut, and they were plunged into utter darkness.
"Dan-." Jack gasped, his voice hoarse but faint. Daniel scrabbled to grab hold of him in the dark.
"We're safe." Daniel pressed a kiss to Jack's forehead, his eyes tightly shut. He couldn't bare the thought of losing Jack. Not now, not after everything, not ever. "Just rest. We'll be okay."
"Sure..." Jack whispered before passing out, his face resting against Daniel's chest.
TBC