Fading Memories
By Terri D. Thomas
Part 6
"Yeah." The rough voice came across the phone line after four rings.
"Jack, it's me." Daniel had debated for a long time, trying to decide whether he should involve Jack and the SGC in the search for Teal'c. The dreamer in him said that Teal'c was fine and could be located with ease. The realist in him said that something was horribly wrong. Teal'c would not have intentionally abandoned Daniel for so long a period.
"Daniel?" the gravel in the voice cleared.
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?" Jack pressed, seeming to know without hesitation that something was amiss.
"It's Teal'c. He's missing." The words were forced.
"He left the SGC with you, right?" Jack confirmed.
"He was with me. He's disappeared." Daniel paused, trying to gather his thoughts. "There was a shooting. We saw the. . .," he started to explain.
"A what?" Jack exclaimed, interrupting the process.
"A shooting, Jack," Daniel repeated. Before he could continue with an explanation of the events, Jack stopped him again.
"You're hurt?" was the conclusion.
"No, not really," Daniel answered, frustration in his voice. "If you'd let me. . ."
"Damn it, Daniel, can't I let you out of my sight for one blasted night?"
"Jack, if you'd just shut up for a second, I'll explain," Daniel's voice raised to match the Colonel's.
Jack, surprised at the outburst, was suddenly much calmer. "All right. . .what happened?"
"There was a shooting. Teal'c and I saw the gunmen and tried to apprehend them. They got away. I was. . .uh. . .knocked out."
"But you're okay?"
"Yeah. . .fine. Anyway, Teal'c went after them. He hasn't returned."
"How long ago?"
"It was over an hour ago. The police came. They're looking for him too."
"What? Why?"
"Because he's a missing witness," Daniel explained, his patience wearing thin again. "They wanted a detailed description of him. I was afraid to tell them too much."
"Why?"
Daniel sighed. "I don't think it would be a good idea for them to find him."
Jack was silent for a moment. "Yeah, I see what you mean. You have no idea where he is?"
"No. But Jack. . .I think he could be in trouble. He wouldn't have been gone this long if he were able to return."
There was another length of silence then Jack's voice returned. "Yeah. . .you're right. Okay, where are you?"
"The pay phone outside of O'Malley's."
"You went there?" Jack was clearly mystified. "Huh. . .I thought you hated that place."
"That's really not important right now, is it?"
"Well, no. Okay, hang tight. I'll be there soon."
"Jack, you can't. You're hurt."
"It's not that bad. Meet me at the bar. I'll be there in a half-hour."
"No, Jack. . ." Daniel started to protest, but the phone disconnected before he could get the words out.
Daniel shook his head. He couldn't wait for Jack. He had a sinking feeling that Teal'c was in serious trouble and thirty minutes could mean the difference between life and death for the Jaffa.
Daniel entered the bar and found the bartender. The man frowned as he visually examined Daniel's head. "What happened to you?"
"Had an accident."
The man nodded. "Does it have anything to do with what's going on in the alley?"
Daniel shrugged, but didn't answer. The man pressed on. "So what's all the excitement out there?"
"A shooting," Daniel answered simply.
The man's eyes widened. "Whoa. How bad?"
"A guy was killed."
The man shook his head. "This used to be a good neighborhood." He turned back to Daniel. "So what can I get you?"
"Nothing. I need a favor though."
"Yeah?"
"You know Jack O'Neill, right?"
The man thought for a moment. "The Colonel?"
"Yeah. Could you let him know that I had to leave? Tell him I'll meet him back here in an hour."
"Okay, no problem."
Daniel started to leave, then paused. "You wouldn't happen to have a flashlight I could borrow? I'll bring it right back."
"Yeah, sure." The man reached under the bar. "I have a couple of them. Lights go on and off here during the storms."
"Thanks. I'll be back."
Daniel left the bar and examined the street. The police were still working in the alley. Not wanting to deal with interference from them and being determined to find his friend, Daniel set off in the opposite direction.
Teal'c cautiously made his way down the unfamiliar street. Squinting into the darkness he could barely see the safety of the foliage. It was not nearly as far away as it had been only a short time before. It would not be long before he could use the brush as cover and determine his next course of action.
He would have to get his bearings if he had any hope of finding the Chaapa'ai. He did not want to consider the consequences if he was unable to locate the transportation device.
As a warrior in the Goa'uld's service, he had left injured Jaffa behind in battle on several occasions. The rules were clear. Survival of the strongest and fittest was the way of life. If he had been injured in battle and unable to keep up, then he would be abandoned, left to fend for himself on the foreign planet.
However, Teal'c doubted that he had been in battle. There were no signs of Goa'uld invasion forces. The world around him appeared to be at peace. This confused him. Why would he have been on this planet unless it was to do battle and take the populace as slaves for Apophis?
"I'm an idiot," Daniel muttered to himself as he pushed his glasses up his nose. He stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk and silently cursed again. It was at times like this that Dr. Daniel Jackson couldn't help but wonder about the twist of fate which had resulted in life as he knew it. "I'm walking the streets of a city I barely know in the middle of the night looking for a Jaffa warrior who is chasing two murderers. This is a far cry from anthropology, Dr. Jackson."
He often found himself wondering about where he would be if he had not climbed into the back of the limo over a year and a half ago. If he had gone with his gut instinct, which had screamed at him to reject Catherine Langford's offer, he would never be here now. Of course, had he not accepted the offer, he'd be broke and the laughing stock of the scientific world. He also would never have fallen in love with Shaur'i, never would have befriended Jack , Sam and Teal'c.
His foot caught on a rock and he tripped again, barely avoiding full body contact with the ground. "Damn it," he mumbled as he regained his balance. The small flashlight in his hand and the lights from the street were doing little to help him see his surroundings. He realized that Teal'c could be three feet from him and he'd probably never see the large man.
He held his watch up to the flashlight. It had been well over thirty minutes since he left the bar and there was no sign of the Jaffa. Nausea settled in the man's stomach. He couldn't help but wonder if Teal'c had been taken by the murderers. . .or worse yet, had become a victim. Had he been shot in the same manner as the dead man in the alley?
He rubbed a hand over tired eyes as he debated his next course of action. It didn't take him long to come to the conclusion that he needed help to find Teal'c, even if that help was in the form of an injured, irritated Colonel.
He made the decision to return to the bar. He had only taken a few steps when his foot made accidental contact with something soft.
Bending over, Daniel picked up soft cloth and held it up to the light. It was a dark blue baseball cap with no insignia. Daniel recognized it immediately. It was Teal'c's. The man had been here. Daniel examined the hat closer. He couldn't help the small gasp which arose in his throat when he saw the stain on the inside. Blood coated the band of the hat. It had seeped through to the fabric on the outside.
There was no doubt in Daniel's mind now. Teal'c was hurt and in trouble.
End Part 6
To Part 7