Threshold Missing Scene

by Lex

Author's note: The original idea was to write a kind of Hitchcockian tracking shot where the action all happens in one take. But halfway through I realised that meant I'd need to write some really boring bits to fill in the time passing. Ah well, back to scene changes, but it was definitely fun to give it a go :-).

Many thanks to Tiv for the beta -- apologies for the British spellings, but some things I can't change!

One last thing, // // indicates that someone is talking over the speakerphone or the intercom.

Part One

I can't believe it happened so fast. If I live through this, I'm going to be in so much trouble. The General will probably have me sweeping the gate room for the rest of my natural life. I'll stand in front of that desk while he lists my mistakes in excruciating detail; isn't that what commanding officers are there for? Of course, I can already tell you exactly what he'll say -- sergeant, what were you thinking? At what point did you decide your orders were merely a suggestion, something you would act upon only if it suited your mood? Your assignment was to protect Dr. McKenzie and anyone else in that room with him in case Teal'c became violent. Anything else was to be dealt with by medical or other security personnel. Yet you left your post! Does your job description list stupidity as a required skill?

And naturally he'd be right. I mean, it's not as if there's any excuse for what I did, but Dr. Jackson's look of panic when Teal'c collapsed and apparently stopped breathing only a couple of minutes into the hypnosis session wasn't something I could ignore. The guy was about to die, right? There were two fully armed SFs outside the door, and it's not like Teal'c would have gotten more than two steps into the corridor if he tried to leave. So I helped Dr. Jackson lay Teal'c down on the couch, and that's when it all went to shit. I've never seen anyone move so fast. One second I was reaching for a pillow, and the next Teal'c had Dr. Jackson by the throat, my weapon pressed against his forehead.

So here we are, the three of us -- the two docs and me -- on our knees with our hands behind our heads. This therapy session was scheduled for two hours, and we're only about fifteen minutes in. No one is due to check on us before the first hour is up, and from the look on Teal'c's face we could all be very dead by then. He's locked the door. The solid steel door that dampens the noise from the base and stops people in here being disturbed. And which is now preventing anyone outside from realising there's a problem.

Oh there's a problem alright. I'm stuck in a room with a mentally unstable alien with a loaded gun, a stunned psychiatrist and a disbelieving archaeologist. Which means that it's up to me to get us out of this mess. It's no more than I deserve, really, for getting us into said mess in the first place. It's not like I could expect Dr. Jackson to realise the collapse was just a trick. And you can't trust psychiatrists to understand events when they're happening right in front of them. They need to have a report after the fact, so they can analyse and digest and... I can't believe I'm drifting like this. Must stay focussed; can't come up with a plan without concentrating on the matter at hand.

The matter at hand has just backhanded Dr. Jackson for talking. To his credit the doc's stayed upright and is keeping quiet. I guess he realises the trouble we're all in.

"Teal'c, you really don't want to-"

Or perhaps he doesn't. That one had to have hurt. I'd love to help him get back off the floor, but somehow I don't think Teal'c would appreciate it. It looks like we've been deliberately spaced apart so we can't just reach out a hand to help one of the others.

Dr. McKenzie is leaning across to whisper to Dr. Jackson. I can't hear what's being said, but by the look on Dr. McKenzie's face he isn't happy. And that's the unhappy 'if you don't shut up he might shoot me' way, rather than the unhappy-you've-been-hurt-because-Teal'c's-lost-his-marbles kind of way. Well that's interesting. If the good doctor is more concerned with his own survival than the safety of the group then we could be in even more trouble than I thought.

Understand the major players, learn their motivations, strengths and weaknesses; that's the key to winning both in sport and battle. So think this through Mark, who do we have here?

Ok, let's start with the mentally unstable alien. Physically he's exceptionally fit, reactions as fast as I've ever seen them, and a lot bigger than me. But that doesn't necessarily mean the three of us can't take him if we work together. He's also armed, which makes the odds a little worse, though not insurmountable. But getting into his head is going to be a near impossible task. Even with the shrink's skills to help us, I can see it's not going to be easy getting through to him. The guy's been brainwashed, which takes weeks or months of therapy to recover from. And without knowing the details, it'll be pretty hard to predict his movements. The three sessions I've sat in on haven't given me much of an insight into his psyche, other than knowing more than I ever cared to about what his role as first prime of Apophis entailed. And I don't know how much help Dr. McKenzie is going to be in that endeavour. I guess that's where Dr. Jackson comes to the fore. Assuming of course that he has any idea of what to do.

And so onto the disbelieving archaeologist. I should be a little more clued in to what makes him tick, but it's hard to know what's true and what's not. Not having seen much of him myself, I have an impression of a hard-working scientist who goes about his business quietly. Of course what I've been told about him is a marked contrast to the evidence so far. In one camp there are those who dismiss him as a geek, and can cite endless examples of times he's messed up in the field, disobeyed orders, caused mayhem and chaos just by being the classic absent-minded professor on missions. The fact that he's been a part of the SGC's top team for so long is only down to the 'favours' he does for the colonel. Of course, those 'favours' are never expanded upon, but it's obvious where that train of thought is supposed to lead you.

And in the other camp there's the genius. The man who opened the Stargate, who never met a race he couldn't bring around with his calmly reasoned arguments and melodic voice. Yes, melodic. It's unbelievable words like that come out of otherwise hard-nosed military types.

Now, I regularly hear from one or other camp depending on who I'm sitting with at lunch. But so far I haven't seen a whole lot of evidence either way. Both of those extremes have the essence of the ridiculous at their core, but it doesn't seem like the supporters of each theory even realise that. Maybe it's because I'm a newcomer I can see with a fresh perspective. Or perhaps it's the way my dad drummed into me that I should always make up my own mind.

It looks like I'm about to have the perfect chance to make up my mind. Though how long I'll be able to act on that opinion remains to be seen.

Part Two

"Teal'c, this situation isn't going change unless we talk."

I turn my head to look at Dr. Jackson. He's been quiet for so long I thought he'd decided that conversation wasn't worth the resulting pain. Evidently not. Teal'c is sitting on the edge of the couch. His closed eyes do not fool me; my sidearm is in his hand and at the ready, safety still off. His reputation indicates that one wrong twitch from any of us and the culprit will be lying on the floor with a neat hole between their eyes.

"What would you like to discuss, Daniel Jackson?" His eyes slowly open and he directs his steely gaze at the doc. "This is a psychiatrist's office -- perhaps we could start with your insecurities? Or maybe we could talk through the significant events of your childhood, beginning with the death of your parents?" He pauses, as if expecting some sort of reaction. When nothing is forthcoming, he raises an eyebrow and tries another tack.

"Ah, no, I can see you're more interested in recent events. Should we discuss the way I personally selected your pathetic wife to be the vessel for Ammonet. How she struggled uselessly as she was stripped naked by the personal guard of my lord Apophis; how she was easily subdued and inspected by her god. How she was chosen to be a host purely on her physical attributes. How could you not consider-"

"Stop it. Please." Dr. Jackson's face is losing colour. "You don't mean any of this. I know that you only did what you had to do."

"It was my duty to my lord, and I was pleased to carry it out. I knew when I looked at her that her body would satisfy his desires. She was merely a container for his queen to satisfy his desires."

Satisfy his what? God, is this leading where I think it's leading? What the hell happened to Dr. Jackson's wife? Come to think of it, I didn't know he had a wife.

"No Teal'c, I don't believe that. You were prepared to stay on Cimmeria in that cave as punishment for making that choice. You've told me many times how much you valued my forgiveness."

"And you believed me easily. Do you know how simple it was to fool you? Your pitiable trust in our 'friendship' has allowed me to carry out many things in my lord's name. That included killing Ammonet once she had outlived her usefulness to Apophis and borne the Harsesis child. The death of her host, who had become beneath his interest even as a concubine, was just a bonus."

"Her name was Sha're. She was not a host or a concubine, she was a victim. One that you-"

"She was nothing!" He's standing now, towering over the doc as if the height will intimidate the man into capitulation. All it seems to do is feed his determination.

"She was everything. She was gentle and kind and a good person. She was a victim of the same evil that is currently holding you hostage to your past." He's speaking calmly and quietly, somehow holding in the anger which must surely be simmering inside.

"You are mistaken Daniel Jackson, it is you who is the hostage. You have been weak and easily fooled for years now. Did you really think that the First Prime of Apophis could be turned against his god so easily? Such a simple act convinced O'Neill that I could be trusted, and he allowed a Jaffa into the innermost circle of your only line of defence."

"You are trustworthy Teal'c, you just have to remember that. Somewhere inside is the knowledge of what Apophis is, of what he's done. And you know as well as I that the Goa'uld need to be stopped. You've been a major part of the success of the SGC -- can you really tell me that all you've done has been a lie? Do you really have an alternate reason for every act of bravery, for every time you helped us defeat an enemy, all those times you protected the team?"

"Indeed I do, and you have merely to cite an example and you will learn. I have been in this distasteful position only to serve my god -- your belief in my loyalties will not alter the truth."

"And your words will not change the facts. I'm a linguist, Teal'c, remember that. I know how words can be used to influence, to cajole, to threaten, to hurt... Your attempt to use words to cause me pain will fail, because I know you. I know what's in your heart, and it's crying out now at the words you-"

"You will be silent! You may ask your questions if you seek the truth, otherwise you will not speak. I do not wish to hear your pitiful attempts to reach my heart. A Jaffa has no need of a heart -- he lives to serve his god to the best of his ability. And the proof that I excel in that endeavour is kneeling before me in submission, still refusing to see reality. But that's a habit of yours, is it not Daniel Jackson? You still deny the reality of your wife's duty to her god, even when you have seen the evidence of it with your own eyes. Did you really think that the conception of the Harsesis was a one-time event? Do you not know of the pleasure a god receives through the correct use of their host body?"

Teal'c looks down at Dr. Jackson as someone beneath his contempt. And the doc's not looking too good, as if his conviction is somewhat shaky. I almost fell for what he said earlier about words not affecting him, but it looks like that was just some kind of automatic defence mechanism -- if he said it out loud then he could force himself to believe it.

"I see that you understand exactly what I mean," Teal'c continues. "In fact you have firsthand knowledge of the pleasure a god can bring. Although in your case it was a goddess, was it not?"

The doc looks like he's about to throw up. He studies the floor intently as he responds. "I was drugged. I had no defence. And there was no pleasure in the act."

I can't believe what I'm hearing! Dr. Jackson slept with a Goa'uld? I glance across at Dr. McKenzie to see if this is as confusing to him as it is to me, but he doesn't seem surprised by the news. But then he's a shrink; they get trained never to look surprised by anything.

"You cannot deny the gratification -- the proof was there for all to see. Not only the evidence of the offspring, but the security cameras in the quarters. Had you forgotten about those?"

Teal'c looks like he's beginning to enjoy this. As if he's no longer trying to prove a point, just cause as much anguish as he can. And he seems to be succeeding in this goal.

The doc speaks quietly. "That's not true."

"Do you want to know how many have watched the recording? Do you walk the corridors and wonder if each airman you pass knows of your skill and enthusiasm as you pleased a goddess?"

"Stop it."

"Do you wonder if the nurses in the infirmary laugh as they recall the passion you displayed for your professed enemy?"

"I said stop!"

The anger blazing from Dr. Jackson's face is almost frightening. He seems to have forgotten who's holding the gun. He's bringing his arms down, preparing to...who knows what he was intending to do. Whatever it was, his movement is halted both by the sudden pain in his arms and the weapon now mere inches from his face.

Teal'c's voice is hushed and menacing. "You will not move from your position or I will kill you."

You can't really argue with logic like that.

"No Teal'c, I don't believe you will."

Okay, so maybe I'm wrong. Again.

As the silence lingers, the glares that pass between captor and captive suffice to speak for both of them. The room seems to be our entire world; I can't bring myself to look away from this intensely private battle of wills. Until I'm startled back to the here and now by a knock at the door.

Part Three

They know we're here. I'm not sure if Teal'c forgot about the mid-session drinks delivery, or if he was expecting to use it to announce the situation to the general. In any case, the banging on the door stopped a few minutes ago when whoever was outside got no response. Of course, when they tried to open the door and couldn't, I'd say that was a big clue there was trouble in here. We're waiting for the next move.

And there it is, the call we're all expecting. The next step in dealing with a possible hostage situation.

"Teal'c, I think you should answer the phone."

It speaks -- Dr. McKenzie is attempting to take charge. Dr. Jackson looks too shaken up by what Teal'c said to string a coherent sentence together right now, so McKenzie's jumping in. He looks like he's just itching to prove himself. I'm no expert, but surely that kind of smug attitude is not the way to placate anyone with a loaded firearm.

Guess I'd better start earning my pay. "Dr. McKenzie's right, Teal'c. You need to speak with the general if you want this situation to move forward."

I'm wondering how the situation can possibly be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved, and the solutions don't jump out at me. What does pop into my head are best case scenarios, where perhaps only one of us dies before the others subdue the Jaffa, or maybe there're only a few injuries. It goes downhill from there, with the general allowing Teal'c to drag someone to the gate with him, a gun at their head and an extremely muscular arm around their neck. Just the thought of that makes me suck in a breath, as if to stockpile enough air in my lungs to survive such a journey through the grey corridors to the gate room.

"Teal'c, perhaps I could talk to the general?" McKenzie tries again. "I can explain the situation to him, and hopefully bring about a peaceful solution where everyone is satisfied."

Well that sounds like a plan to me, and it looks like it might just be acceptable to the Jaffa. I really hope so, because that chirping sound is beginning to grate on my nerves.

"You may answer the call. However, you will use the loudspeaker and attempt no deception or there will be consequences."

McKenzie nods solemnly, a placatory smile on his face as if he doesn't really believe such a threat but feels he should humour his patient. Doesn't he realise how dangerous this man is?

He's getting up off his knees, bringing his arms down from behind his head. Oh, that has to be heaven. Or as close to heaven as I'm likely to get in this lifetime. Yes, there's the pain initially as your circulation begins to come back, but then comes the blessed relief of no longer having to hold such an unnatural position. Your arms come down, you massage your shoulders a little, and then you're left with the peculiar sensation of your arms feeling as if they could just float away. I know this hasn't been all that long, that an hour in this awkward position isn't exactly something to write home about; I endured a lot longer during training. But in training, no matter how much you try to convince yourself, there's something in the back of your mind telling you this isn't real, that these people aren't going to kill you if you don't talk. The added strain of having no such reassurance now is causing some serious cramping in between my shoulder blades. If I could concentrate enough to force my muscles to relax then I would. Dr. Jackson doesn't look like he's suffering from the same problem. But then, from what I've heard of his missions, he's used to this kind of treatment.

Oh thank you, that incessant clamour has finally stopped.

"Hello, this is Dr. McKenzie."

//Dr. McKenzie, this is General Hammond. Is there a problem in your office?//

McKenzie glances up at Teal'c before answering. "Ah, not a problem exactly, perhaps an opportunity for us to show some interplanetary consideration. Teal'c would like to be afforded a change in circumstances in exchange for... well I think in exchange for the safety of all involved."

I can hear the sigh coming over the phone from across the room. //Doctor, can you be a little clearer?//

While McKenzie just sits there frowning at the phone, Dr. Jackson jumps right in. "General, Teal'c has a gun. He says he's prepared to use it. He hasn't actually articulated any requests as yet, but I think we can all guess what they'll be."

Uh, Dr. Jackson? I don't think now is really the time to cop an attitude.

//Dr. Jackson, has anyone been hurt?//

Yes, the doc's been smacked round the head a couple of times. My knees are bruised from being shoved forcefully onto a concrete floor. Oh, and my arms are killing me.

"No sir, we're all fine."

//Can Teal'c hear me?//

"Yes sir, I just don't think he's interested in talking to you right now."

"I'm sure that Teal'c will welcome the dialogue in order to facilitate his wishes." McKenzie is smiling at Teal'c, as if confident that's going to persuade the Jaffa to change his mind. There's no sign of a response, but he's not defeated yet. "Teal'c, you should talk with the general. That way, this situation can be resolved peacefully to the benefit of all concerned."

//Teal'c, this is Jack. Can you hear me?//

Jack? Jack who?

"I hear you, O'Neill."

Oh right, the colonel. Well at least he got a response.

//Buddy, I know you think you need to do this, but believe me you don't. If you could just listen to Dr. McKenzie and remember the truth, then this will all be over in a heartbeat.//

"You are easily fooled, O'Neill. Neither your words nor those of this scientist can make me pretend to be your lackey any longer. All there is to remember is how I have served my lord Apophis with honour by infiltrating this miserable group. You have no idea how many chances I have had to kill you all, but my hand was stayed by the will of my god."

//And why would Apophis want us to stay alive, Teal'c? As I recall, we're not exactly his favourite people.//

"Your travels have served his purpose. He now knows about the Tok'ra, the Nox and the Tollan. He can see that those and other races are not as powerful as they profess to be. Very soon, the Asgaard protected planets treaty will be just so much dust under his feet. Apophis knows the Asgaard do not have the strength to strike out against him. You have provided all of that information, and more."

//If that's true, then why would we let you go back to him? Oh, sorry, I should say why should we let you leave, since we all know Apophis is dead.//

"How many times have you believed that to be so, O'Neill, only to be proven wrong? Apophis is a god, he will return in triumph as he always does." Teal'c looks extremely smug at the moment. I'm not sure that these people haven't been deceived all along. He seems utterly convinced of his words, and the emotion behind them is genuine. I haven't seen the Jaffa express many emotions before these therapy sessions began. Could it be that he was holding them in strict control as the only way he could manage to not give himself away as a spy?

//You haven't answered my question, Teal'c. Why would we let you leave, when you know so much about the SGC and earth?//

"Because if you do not, then I will kill everyone in this room. Starting with Daniel Jackson."

He moves swiftly across to stand behind Dr. Jackson, pulls his head back by the hair and presses the barrel of my weapon just behind his right ear. The doc cries out, grabs hold of Teal'c's wrist and tries to wrench his hand away. Teal'c draws his foot back and delivers a sharp kick in the vicinity of Dr. Jackson's kidney. The doc instantly drops his hands to clutch at the source of his pain, leaving Teal'c to support his weight through the tight grip on his hair.

"Perhaps you would care to explain to the colonel what you are witnessing, Dr. McKenzie."

McKenzie finally looks frightened, his mouth slightly open as if he wants to say something but the words aren't there for him to use. Dr. Jackson has closed his eyes and is apparently concentrating on breathing through the pain. In and out, in, out. I'm waiting for one wrong move, one small lapse in concentration that will allow me to act. But it just isn't coming.

//Teal'c, what are you doing?// O'Neill sounds wary, as if he might just have realised what those of us in here can see pretty clearly -- Teal'c isn't about to recover from his little mind-warping any time soon.

"Now!" Teal'c throws the order at McKenzie.

"Um, colonel, Teal'c is holding a gun to Dr. Jackson's head."

Yeah, and the rest.

//Teal'c, if you kill any of those people, we will be forced to act.// Thanks general, but can't you act before he shoots someone? Please?

"If you do not allow me to leave, then people will die. It is your decision, General Hammond. How many bodies do you wish to discover when you finally manage to break this door down? You have ten minutes to consider your answer." Releasing Dr. Jackson, the Jaffa strides over to the desk and slams his hand down on the phone, ending the conversation.

I look over at his would-be victim. Dr. Jackson is breathing faster now, dragging air into his lungs as if it were water in a desert. His eyes are still tightly shut, his face definitely a little paler than normal. He looks how I would feel if someone had just given me a reprieve from a death sentence. However short that reprieve might turn out to be.

Part Five

"Get up." Teal'c is gesturing with the gun at Dr. Jackson.

"Teal'c, there's nowhere to go. The general's not going to let you leave here, you know that."

You know doc, that's such a cliche. You can't expect anyone to take that kind of comment seriously, even if it is true.

"If you will not stand, then you will die on your knees like the weakling you are. A demonstration of my intent will ensure their co-operation."

Uh oh, that doesn't sound... no, no, no, don't shoot him. Please don't shoot him. God, is Dr. Jackson just going to let this guy kill him? Come on Mark, this is not the time to act like a second-rate cadet; show some damn leadership!

I clear my throat, "Um, I think there's another way to get your point across, sir."

Dr. Jackson's looking at me like he's only just realised I'm here. Well, more glancing than looking. It's gotta be tricky to turn your head when the barrel of a gun is pressing into your forehead that forcefully. He's really not going to like the second sentence I'm going to speak in the... oh, it must be going on two hours now that we've been here.

"Continue."

Teal'c hasn't shifted his severe gaze from Dr. Jackson's white face, but I know he's talking to me. I swallow, wishing for a glass of water. "Well sir, it would be more effective if you injured rather than killed. If the first action you take is so final, then there will be no option for the general other than to storm the room with lethal force. However, if you take less permanent action and gradually escalate, then you may well obtain the reaction you need: to be allowed to leave and return to Apophis' service."

My second statement doesn't seem to have an instant effect. Dr. Jackson isn't reacting at all. Maybe it's just too much for him to comprehend that one of his friends is so far gone he actually has to be stopped from killing him. I can't tell what Teal'c's thinking, which way he's going to go. But I'm getting a more complete understanding of the theory of relativity here; time is cruelly stretching into eternity while one Jaffa makes a decision.

He finally looks at me, and I know that he's made his choice. The barrel is pulled back slightly from Dr. Jackson's head, and the doc looks like he might just pass out from relief. I can't take my eyes off the weapon, somehow perversely impatient to learn Teal'c's new target. In stark contrast to the past few aeons of waiting for him to decide not to kill, his aim shifts in a microsecond and he fires.

The noise is thunderous in such a confined space. While some part of my brain is dealing with what will happen next, wondering how the team outside the door will react to the sound of the discharge, the other ninety eight percent is coming to terms with the roaring fire in my side that indicates I've been shot. Me. The bastard shot me.

Part Six

"It's ok, you stay where you are. You'll be fine."

It hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Come on doc, you're a doctor, right? Make it go away. Please?

"What's your name, sergeant?"

My name? Why's that important? We're all about to die here!

But he's insistent. "Come on, tell me your name. I can't hold a conversation with someone I don't know."

A conversation? Is that what you want? Can't you ask for something easier, like a few hundred push-ups maybe...

But I manage to get it out. Don't want to make Dr. Jackson's day any worse than it's already been. "It's Mark."

He's smiling and nodding, as if I'm a student that's just recited some complex theory correctly.

"Ok Mark, well I've got some pressure on the wound and it's slowed the bleeding considerably. You're going to be just fine."

Fine. I'm going to be fine. Why does that sound suspiciously like the 'your attempt to use words to cause me pain will fail' quote of, um, oh a while ago. The words aren't very convincing, but I appreciate the sentiment. Honestly, I do.

He presses a little harder on my side and the increased pain forces a hiss out of me. I squeeze my eyes shut and just concentrate on breathing. And listening. I may be injured but I'm still the only one who's trained to take on the Jaffa if the opportunity presents itself. I just need a few minutes here to get my strength back.

"Teal'c, you can see that violence hasn't achieved your objective. Perhaps it would be wise now to let me leave and persuade the general of the depth of your intentions." Oh yeah, McKenzie, that's gonna work. About as much as the last time you tried it. "I could explain your circumstances face to face, and I don't see how he could fail to be swayed by such a plea."

I can't see the Jaffa's face, on account of my eyes being tightly shut right now, but I can hear the contempt in his voice. "You will go nowhere, Dr. McKenzie. Your feeble attempts to escape your fate are unworthy of a warrior. You may only be a scientist in your military, but have you not sworn to protect your country? Even the pitiable Daniel Jackson has more courage than you."

I open my eyes at that statement, wary of the effect it might have on Dr. Jackson. But he seems oblivious to anything except the task he's focussed on so intently -- somehow stopping my insides from falling all over the floor.

"I can understand how you might view this request Teal'c, but in fact it is in your best interest. The general listens to my advice and acts on it. I am the expert here, after all."

What's wrong with the man? It's not like there's a chance in hell that Teal'c's going to suddenly let him out of here, and yet he persists in trying to worm his way through that door. And every time Teal'c comes near him he seems to shrink in on himself, as if cringing might somehow protect him from the violence. Oh yeah, Dr. McKenzie: the incredible shrinking shrink.

So it's official, I've lost it. A few cards short of a full deck. A few screws short of a toolkit. A few chevrons short of a Stargate. Hey that's pretty good, maybe I can use that later when there're people around to fully appreciate my incredible wit under pressure. Looks like I could make use of Dr. McKenzie's services myself later on. Nah, after this I'm definitely going to have to find a different source of mental support. Assuming there is a later. That looks like an awful lot of blood on the floor, and the concern on Dr. Jackson's face isn't instilling confidence. If he tells me I'm going to be fine one more time...

"You'll be fine Mark, just breathe slowly and stay awake."

Right. Stay awake. No trouble there doc, you keep pressing on the hole in my side and I promise not to doze off any time soon. Feels like you could fly a death glider through that hole. As big as the damn Stargate. Hey, maybe the others can escape through it?

Please don't look at me like that, doc, I know that was a giggle but I swear I won't lose it completely. You can count on me to be in the action when it starts. Just give me a sign. Oh god, just give me a minute.

//Teal'c, can you tell us what's going on?//

That's Hammond again. Why doesn't he just come in here and shoot us all himself? We know he's not going to give in to any demands, so it's just a matter of time before the Jaffa kills us. Or maybe that's what they're all waiting for; probably less paperwork that way. Hang on a second, where's his voice coming from? Didn't the phone get destroyed?

//Teal'c, we can see the room through the security camera now. What happened to Sergeant Wilkins? You can talk to us son, and we'll hear you fine -- the camera has audio.//

More silence. I'm wondering what's going on. Dr. Jackson's looking around the room for the camera that nobody seems to have noticed before. I thought these therapy sessions were private? I swear, I'm never going to-

"You have deceived me."

Oh, that doesn't sound good.

"No, I didn't know about the camera. It was disconnected from the security system when this became my office."

I try to sit up to watch the conversation unfold, but the surge of pain persuades me otherwise.

"You knew all along they were watching."

"No, I-"

"Teal'c, there's no way Dr. McKenzie could have known about the camera." Dr. Jackson's trying to be the voice of reason. "His sessions are always private; it's unthinkable that anyone would watch such personal discussions." That's right Teal'c, listen to the doc, he knows what he's talking about. He's a complete genius -- didn't anyone tell you?

I can hear movement, then a chair being pushed back. I crane my neck to watch what's happening, but can't see around Dr. Jackson's body.

"Please..."

God, he's not going to shoot someone else, is he?

No! The gunshot is followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. Oh shit, he's done it, he's killed someone. There're only two of us left. I've failed them, I can't protect them like this.

"Mark!"

Dr. Jackson's shaking me.

"McKenzie's not dead. Teal'c just shot out the camera."

The doc seems as relieved as I am.

"What hap'nd?"

"Teal'c punched him, I think he's unconscious. Look, I need to check on him. Do you think you can hold onto this for a couple of minutes?"

He moves my hand to hold whatever it is that's been soaking up my blood. "Push down. Harder. That's it."

A shadow falls across my face and I look up to see Teal'c looming over us. He grabs the back of Dr. Jackson's t-shirt and hauls him away from me. I have no strength to act as the doc is forced down face first on the floor, protesting all the way. He goes abruptly silent as the gun finds its way to the back of his neck. Teal'c pulls his arms roughly behind his back one by one, then uses his own belt to tie him with. I'm struggling to sit up, desperate to stop whatever insane action he has planned, but even that slight movement has my head spinning. The room is beginning to fade. I can just make out Teal'c as he starts to rise. I think Dr. Jackson must be fighting him; they seem to be kind of unsteady. Or maybe it's the floor moving up and down that's got them off balance. That can't be right. The floor shouldn't move. I have to get up, I have to... I don't... I can't...

Part Seven

I can hear a beeping. Some kind of whirring, maybe a buzzing too. And the sound of a page turning, I think it's a newspaper page. I'm lying down somewhere a lot softer than I was a second ago. It could feasibly be more than a second; things seem a little hazy.

I open my eyes slowly. Ceiling tiles, low level lighting. I turn my head to the side a little and locate the newspaper. Colonel O'Neill is sitting in a chair between my bed and the next, reading the sports section from the Sunday paper. Which would mean it's been considerably longer than a second since I was lying on the concrete floor in Dr. McKenzie's office.

Whoa. I try to sit up as the memories come back in a rush, but there's a pain in my side that forces me back down. I feel a hand on my arm, and hear the colonel yelling for the doctor. Come on sir, she can't be that far away, no need to be so loud.

"Just you stay there, relax. Everything's fine."

I open my eyes again and try to answer the colonel, but my throat's too dry. He seems to realise the problem, and a glass appears in front of me, complete with straw. I suck at it, happy with the lukewarm water that soothes my throat. He takes it away as Dr. Fraiser appears.

"Hello there, can you tell me your name?"

"Mark Wilkins."

"That's great. And your date of birth?" She's shining a torch in my eyes now, and it's not doing a great deal for my headache.

"February 9th 1973."

"How are you feeling, sergeant?"

I consider this for a minute. "My side's pretty painful, and my head hurts. Otherwise I think I'm ok."

"Ok, we'll give you something to ease the pain, and see if we can rustle up something nice and bland for you to eat. Would you like some more water?"

I nod quickly. "Please."

"I can do that, doc." Colonel O'Neill grabs the glass before the doctor can reach it. This is not normal behaviour from a senior officer.

"Fine. Small sips only, then you let Sergeant Wilkins rest, sir. I'll be back in a little while."

He watches her leave, then holds the glass up for me again. I take another sip, before I ask the question that I'm dreading the answer to. "What happened, sir? How's Dr. Jackson and Dr. McKenzie?"

In answer, the colonel steps back and gestures to the next bed. Dr. Jackson is lying on his back, sleeping peacefully. I can see a few bruises on his face, but there's no sign of bullet holes anywhere. I glance back at the colonel; he's watching the doc with a mixed expression of relief and satisfaction.

"Sir, how about Dr. McKenzie?"

O'Neill waves vaguely to some point beyond Dr. Jackson's bed. "Oh, he's fine too. Not a scratch on him." I'm not quite sure how to react to that comment.

"So how did we get here?"

The colonel puts the now empty glass back on the nightstand, pulls his chair closer and sits down. "While the general and I were having that nice chat with Teal'c, Dr. Fraiser and Major Carter were creating some kind of super gas that would knock you all out, junior included. Apparently they used the liquid from the Isis jar and mixed it with...something." He trails off as it becomes obvious he's lost me. "We used it as soon as it was ready, but I guess it wasn't early enough." He gestures toward my wound apologetically. "Sorry about that."

"Not your fault sir, I'm just glad the situation was resolved without anyone dying." I take a deep breath to prepare for the next statement. "I apologise sir, this wouldn't have happened if I'd done my duty."

He looks a little surprised at that. "What do you mean?"

I start to study my hands, then realise I need to face up to my actions properly. I look directly at the colonel. "I left my post, sir. It looked like Teal'c had collapsed, and instead of calling for assistance, I helped Dr. Jackson lift him onto the couch. I dropped my guard, and that's how Teal'c managed to get my weapon."

O'Neill raises his eyebrows, then glances across at Dr. Jackson before responding. "Sergeant, let me guess what Daniel said to you. Something along the lines of 'he's collapsed sergeant, he's not breathing. I don't give a damn about your orders, a man's life is at stake'. Am I even close?"

He's smiling now, probably at the stunned look that I can't keep off my face. "Um, I..."

"It's ok, you don't need to answer that. He's extremely hard to ignore when he's worried about a friend. Hell, he does the same thing even with strangers. You write up your report objectively, sergeant, and let the general worry about interpreting the facts."

"Yes, sir."

"And think on this: sometime between Teal'c threatening to kill Daniel, and us getting the security camera online, you were the one that got shot. Now I don't know all the facts yet, but it looks to me like you did your duty in protecting the civilian. Wouldn't you agree?"

I don't have an answer for that. Maybe the colonel's right, I should write my report and see how I feel after that.

"You should get some rest, sergeant. The doc'll be back any second with some tasteless sludge for breakfast and some happy juice." The colonel pushes his chair back again, picks his paper up from Dr. Jackson's bed and settles down to read.

I watch Dr. Jackson sleep for a few minutes, before lying back and closing my eyes. Having gone through this experience, I've made up my mind. The doc's definitely not a geek, though the jury's still out on whether he's a genius. What I do know is that he's a man who's had to deal with some extraordinary things in his life. I know what camp I'm in now, and it's the same one O'Neill occupies. It's the one where we'll fight to keep Dr. Jackson safe so he can do his job -- help protect us from the Goa'uld any way he can

Feel free to contact the author... here

Return Home

Within the context and limitations of the site Disclaimer, Any and All original characters, situations, story line, dialogue and narrative © July 2001, the author