Fading Memories
Part 17
Sam watched the Colonel slowly trudge up the steep path. The man’s natural athletic ability seemed to help him avoid further injury to his ankle.
The trail they were following was overgrown. There was absolutely no sign that either of their teammates had chosen this course.
O’Neill stopped suddenly and Sam had to jerk to a stop to keep from colliding with her commander’s back. "What’s wrong?" she asked, worry tinting her voice. "Do you need to go back?"
"Ssssh," O’Neill responded gruffly, holding up a hand.
Carter held her breath, trying to hear what the Colonel had obviously detected. However, she heard nothing but birds and the slight mountain breeze fluttering through the trees.
After a few long seconds, Sam couldn’t keep her curiosity in check. "What?"
"I heard. . .." Jack stopped, listening again. He shook his head slowly. "I think I heard something. It sounded like someone was calling Teal’c’s name."
"Could have been one of the search parties," Sam suggested. "Maybe they found something." Her voice reflected her barely contained excitement.
"No. . .it was ahead of us, not behind."
"Daniel?"
Jack nodded, his eyes showing a mixture of hope and impatience. "Let’s find out."
The Colonel stepped up his pace. To Sam’s amazement, he seemed oblivious to his ankle injury.
"Daniel," the soft whisper echoed in the young archeologist’s head. "Daniel Jackson," the voice repeated, barely audible over the scientist’s grief.
Daniel, his body still partially covering the injured Jaffa, opened his eyes, confused by the source of the sound. He assumed his anguish over Teal’c’s death had caused his imagination to work overtime, when the familiar voice met his ears again. "I am sorry, Daniel Jackson, but I must ask you to move." The words were stronger, but still held great discomfort.
Daniel pushed himself upright quickly, eyes wide. "Teal’c!" he shouted, almost giddy. "You’re alive!"
"Yes," was the simple response.
Daniel gave silent thanks to whichever deity had answered his prayers. "I thought. . .I thought you were dead."
Teal’c frowned at the man’s words. "It appears that I am not."
Daniel laughed nervously. "Yeah, I can see that." Forgetting about the larger man’s condition, he started to roll the Jaffa onto his back when a pain-filled moan froze him. He inhaled his breath when he realized the stupidity of his actions. "Oh God, I’m so sorry," he apologized.
"I do not think I should be moved at this time," Teal’c politely grimaced.
"Uh. . .yeah. . . I should have thought about that." Daniel started to push himself to his feet. "I’ve got to get help."
Before he could rise Teal'c's strong grip found his left arm, halting his motion. "No, please." The injured man's words were strained. "I am confused. How did I get to this place?"
It was now Daniel's turn to frown. "You don't remember?" He shook his head and mumbled to himself, 'God, not again.' Redirecting his attention to his friend he asked, "Do you remember anything?"
Teal'c appeared to be searching his memory. Finally he gave a slight nod. "I seem to remember certain. . .events. However, I do not recall how I ended up here."
"You fell." He glanced to the top of the cliff. "The rest doesn't matter." Daniel's hand drifted to the Jaffa's forehead, gingerly resting there. "You need a doctor. I think you're seriously hurt."
Teal'c shook his head and whispered. "Please, Daniel Jackson, do not leave me here."
Daniel looked at his watch and then at the sky. It was almost mid-afternoon. He looked off to the west and could see the build up of clouds over the top of the mountain. "I have to get help for you. The afternoon storms are going to be moving in and. . ."
"I do not wish to stay here alone. I think. . .," Teal'c started to push himself up. "I think, with help, I can stand."
"No," Daniel shouted, pushing the Jaffa back down. "You could have a spinal injury. . .or internal bleeding. . .you shouldn't move." Daniel mentally kicked himself for not having thought of that before attempting to move the larger man in the first place.
"My larva will heal me."
"It'll take time." Daniel pointed to the cliff. "Let me climb back up. I don't think my car is too far away. I'll get to the SGC and bring back Dr. Frasier."
Teal'c closed his eyes, but said nothing more. Daniel frowned and placed a hand on the larger man's shoulder. "Teal'c. . .are you okay?"
"I. . .," the Jaffa started to say and then stopped. "I do not wish to stay here," he whispered. "I am . . .concerned."
Daniel smiled slightly at the hesitancy. He could hear the fear in the man's voice. He could also see a touch of shame in the man's facial expression. The sound and the expression were unfamiliar to the younger man. Teal'c was the picture of courage. To hear him show any sign of fear about his predicament was disheartening. However, it was also understandable in light of everything that had happened over the past day. "It's okay if you're disoriented. You had a bad fall, but you're going to be okay. I just can't move you right now. Please, let me get help, I promise I'll be right back. You can trust me."
Teal'c was silent for another moment and then nodded. "I have always trusted you, Daniel Jackson."
Daniel smiled, affectionately tightened his grip on the man's shoulder and then pushed himself to his feet.
Daniel forced his body to make the long climb back up the rough face of the cliff. Physically, he was exhausted, but mentally he was elated. Teal'c was alive. Against all odds, the Jaffa survived a fall that would have killed most men. 'Hell,' Daniel thought, 'all men.' The only thing that kept his friend alive was the larval Goa'uld he carried in the small pouch. That had to have been the reason. Daniel shook his head. He didn't care how the symbiont had saved the Jaffa's life, only that it had. Daniel chuckled to himself. As Jack would say, 'Junior had earned his keep, once again.'
He glanced down at the ground below. He was over three-quarters of the way up. A momentary waive of vertigo took away his vision and he bent over and grasped the rocks beneath the fingers of his left hand tightly, in a desperate attempt to steady himself. After a few seconds, the feeling passed. "That wasn't so bad," he muttered. "Maybe I'm getting used to this. Could become a new hobby." He climbed a few more feet. "Jack's always saying I need to get out and experience life."
Daniel looked up and realized he was only a dozen feet from the top. Unfortunately, though, the last few feet were the toughest of the climb. He looked around for the path he had used to come down, but couldn't see any recognizable markers. He realized that in all likelihood, he had strayed from the original trail and was now climbing through new territory.
He debated as to whether he should backtrack and try to find the path he had used for his descent, but then he remembered Teal'c's condition. He risked a glance down and felt dizziness overtake him again. He closed his eyes until it passed.
He opened his eyes and found that the disorientation had passed, once again. He calculated the time it would take him to climb back down. It would take too long, especially if his problem with heights was returning. Instead, he decided that, with care, he could make the last few feet.
He pushed aside the momentary concern at his newest predicament and put Teal'c's well-being foremost in his mind. He looked for the nearest handhold on his left side and then looked for a foothold to match it. He knew that his right arm would be virtually useless and he prepared his healthy side to carry the burden.
He pressed his body close to the rock and pulled himself up to the next level. He glanced down to find a foothold for his right foot and was successful in locating a small crevice.
He jammed his shoe into the crack and distributed his body weight evenly between his legs, trying to ease the pressure on his scratched and scuffed left hand.
He repeated the process another time. He felt a surge of satisfaction at his accomplishment.
He then looked for the next foothold and hoisted himself up with his left foot and hand. He was now within an arms reach of the top. Excited, he lifted his right foot up, found a small rock ledge and pushed his body up. Using his right hand to hold his body steady and ignoring the resulting pain, he extended his left hand over the top, his fingers fumbling for some niche to anchor himself.
Without warning, his right foot slipped off the rock. His hand still hadn't found a safe perch and his right arm wasn't strong enough to carry the load of his weight. With a panicked gasp of pain-filled terror, he slid backwards, away from his goal.
Jack and Sam entered a clearing which opened up into a lush valley. Jack hobbled to the edge, ignoring the noticeable swelling he could feel in his ankle. He surveyed the canyon below, desperate to find some sign of his friends.
"See anything?" Sam said from behind.
Jack shook his head. "It was a long shot."
The Captain looked at the ground. "I know, Sir." She joined her commander on the edge. "I just don't understand what happened to them. None of this makes sense."
Jack gave a tight chuckle. "It's Danny and Teal'c."
Sam smiled and shook her head. "Doesn't make me feel better, Sir."
Jack looked at his surroundings. "I really thought I heard something."
"Sound does funny things in the mountains," Carter consoled.
"Yeah, I guess so." Jack sighed and shook his head, a picture of defeat. "Let's head back, Captain."
End Part 17
To Part 18