‘The Stand’

Written for word of the week challenge for the word: Aberration

Rated: G

Spoilers:  none

 

Jack came to, his instinct the only thing functioning 100 percent as he rolled to kneel in the mud, groping with his free hand while the other clutched his P90, stuttering off rounds into the smoky blackness.   “Carter!” his attempted yell coming out a strangled croak with the harsh smoke that was searing his lungs.

 

A small moan was the only response, sounding off to this right, seemingly close.  He moved awkwardly that direction, squatting low.   His reaching hand found cloth and he seized it and pulled it toward him, his hands feeling, identifying the form as his missing second in command.   Hearing the noise of enemy movement, he fired off a burst to buy him some time. 

 

“CARTER, where are you hurt?”

 

No answer.

 

‘Dammit.’  He couldn’t see her -- only feel her.  His one free hand roamed, finding her face, and moving clumsily felt through her hair, not feeling bumps or blood.  It then moved down her form, until finally meeting the unwelcoming sensation of sticky warmth in the location of her right side, low on the abdomen.  

 

A blast of weapons fire hit the muddy bank a scant yard to his left sending viscous mud flying, hitting them both in heavy pelts.  He pulled Sam behind him and fired off a long round in the direction of the blast and felt satisfaction at the screams of pain that answered through the smoke. 

 

He considered his situation and first found the ‘upside’.  Daniel and Teal’c were safe through the gate.  Thank God in that.  It had been Carter’s stand at the DHD that had allowed their safe passage.  Jack recalled Teal’c’s (for once) expressive face, as he disappeared through the Stargate – his whole being manifesting the desire to stay and fight but his orders had been to see DanielJackson safe and he had obeyed.  Pushing and pulling the resisting Archeologist every step of the way as Daniel of course, had decided NOT to obey orders.  He had wanted to fight along with them; admirable maybe, but also Goddamn irritating when it’s your orders that are being ignored. 

 

The attack had been swift and planned for maximum casualties, occurring deep in the night.  He’d been on watch when the smell of smoke and the swift line of fast moving fire had appeared on the hilltop close to their encampment. Their salvation had partly been in the form of a sudden and violent thunderstorm, which slowed down the wildfire even as the smoke effect had then doubled.  

 

 Jack had sent the rest of his team ahead for the gate as he covered their retreat shooting through the blaze at the shadowy attackers who followed the fire line, their identities unknown even as he saw they were wearing sophisticated suits to withstand the heat and were using weapons that were close in performance to the staff weapons of the Jaffa.  

 

His thoughts now went to the ’downside’.  A wounded Carter… trapped… unable to get to the DHD.   The only aberration in this whole fiasco was that it was Samantha Carter who was wounded instead of him, which would have been normal.  It had been discussed among them about Sam’s good luck in that department.  She of course, argued in good fun that it was skill rather than luck that kept her from rarely even getting a scratch.  Yet this time it was different, Sam was the one down for the count.   He only hoped that it wasn’t as bad as it felt in the inky blackness.

 

The choking smoke was growing stronger; he took a chance and let go of the P90 to find his water bottle.  His head was throbbing unmercifully; he ignored the pain and concentrated on his task.   Swiftly he poured water over his bandana and finding Carter’s face by feeling, he wrapped the wet cloth loosely around her face.  He then found another in his pack and wetting it, wrapped it quickly around his own lower face feeling instant relief. 

 

He judged the DHD was somewhere to the right of where they lay.  As Carter had been In position by it to cover Teal’c and Daniel’s exit and then she had saved his own hide by moving to a more forward firing position so that he could make it in.  She was one hell of a soldier – even if most when considering her would categorize her as ‘brilliant Scientist’ – to Jack she was the one who had his back – and always came through for him.  

 

He tried to see through the smoke, but could see nothing.  He rolled his neck trying to will the throbbing ache in his head away.  He listened and from the sounds, it seemed that the fire was dying out, probably from the lack of vegetation immediately encircling the Stargate.

 

 He moved to take Carter by the shoulders and was thankful for the wet ground that made sliding her easier; he scooted backwards to the cover offered by a small embankment he remembered from earlier recognizance.   The weapons fire still came from beyond the smoke but it seemed to be lessening.  Gasping for air, he pulled Carter in as close to the muddy ledge of the embankment as possible.   She’d been quiet the entire time and this bothered him.  He felt for her neck and then finding it, felt for a pulse.  There it was and felt relief wash over him.  It was a trifle weak but at least it was there. Hearing movement in the dark around them, he raised his P90 and fired in the direction of it.  Pain-filled screaming filled the night and he ducked from the responding blasts that blazed back, barely missing him.  

 

He figured he had time so he laid his gun down, and feeling in his pack, he found a t-shirt, which he pressed against Sam’s wound.  The pulsing flow had to be stopped or she would bleed out.  He put his strength behind it and heard Sam cut off a gasping scream.  He eased up a bit and leaned closer over her.

 

 “Sorry about that… trying to stop the bleeding.” 

 

He felt her shudder and she answered her voice unfamiliar in its weakness, “It hurts like Hell Sir.”  

 

‘Sorry Sam, It can’t be helped.”

 

“Payback for Antarctica…huh?”   She whispered. 

 

“Hey…would I do that?”  Even as he quipped his retort, his throat closed with his admiration for her grit.  She was full of it and he wished that the naysayers against women in uniform could see the gutsy soldier that Samantha Carter was – they’d never open their mouths again. 

 

“No.  You wouldn’t.” She responded and then added, “How bad?”

 

He answered honestly as this was the real soldiers’ way.  No lying to comrades.  A warrior wounded in battle needed time to make peace with their maker and with themselves if necessary.  So even if the truth was bad, they still heard it. 

 

 “I don’t know.  Lots of bleeding, but I’m working on that.  You’ll be okay when we get ya back to Old Doc Fraiser.”

 

“She hates that.”

 

What?”

 

“Calling her ‘old’ ”

 

“Hmm, well I guess I’d better change my ways.  I don’t want to rile the tiny one who wields the long needles and enema catheters.” 

 

He was surprised to hear a coughing chuckle, ‘Good, if she can laugh she can’t be that bad’, his thoughts hopeful as he continued to press the padding against her stomach.

 

Picking up his gun he fired a round just to let them know he was alive and kicking. 

An immediate volley of return fire hit the embankment, sending rock and mud sliding in steaming piles.  O’Neill threw himself over Carter to protect her. 

 

“Damn, I thought they were giving up.”  He muttered as he shook the debris off his back.

 

“Put the Beretta in my hand, Sir.  And… if I don’t make it, tell Cassie that I was thinking of her.”  Carter’s pain filled voice came to him so soft it was barely heard.

 

He thought about it and then did it.  Fumbling to locate the small gun and then laying it in her hand to feel her fingers instinctively grip it.

 

“Just hold on to it and Carter…think positive…you’re gonna make it.”

 

“Yes sir.  I’m here if you need me.”  Her soft voice seemed barely there in the dark.  He felt her head fall sideways as she lapsed into unconsciousness.   

 

He thought about the hole that would be left in the world if Carter died and fury boiled over at the very idea. 

 

Time held no other meaning than to be measured by the number of times the enemy attacked and was held off.  It seemed a lifetime ago that Teal’c and Daniel had made their way home, leaving Jack and Sam behind.   

 

 Jack’s head throbbed and eyes streamed unceasingly.  It appeared that fire was their favorite method of routing out their enemies as now they were completely encircled by a noxious smelling fire.  They were able to withstand it by keeping their faces low to the wet muddy ground.   Luckily there weren’t any combustibles around their area – only the claylike mud – so the danger of being burned alive was at least one death they were going to avoid in the near future. 

 

It was then, that the sound of the gate dialing rang out in the stygian blackness.    

 

Jack counted and reloaded his P90 by feel as he waited for the seventh chevron to lock.   It had to be reinforcements from home.   He felt Carter stir in reaction to the familiar sound as well.  “Sir?”  Her voice sounded weakly.

 He knelt close to her face and patted it clumsily, saying, “Sam, the Calvary has arrived.” 

 

“Bout time.”  She mumbled. 

 

“Just hold on, once they’ve mopped up, we’ll be out of here.”

 

Jack listened and heard the wonderful noise of P90’s as running feet hit the ground mobilizing.  His radio squawked, “SG-1 this is SG-3 come in.”

 

“Welcome SG-3 to the dark side of Hell.  If you look to your right upon entering the planet you will spot us laying low, wallowing if you will, in the mud.”  

 

“Roger that… good to hear your voice, Sir. SG-3 out”   

 

When the rocket launcher came through the gate that was all it took.  A couple of launches later and the natives had retreated swiftly and were soon gone.  No effort was made to chase them.  Jack offered up his own contribution to the fight until he ran out of ammo and then he waited it out.

 

Finally it was over.  Footsteps approached and a voice rang out. “Colonel O’Neill!”

 

“Over here.   Carter’s in a bad way.  ” Jack yelled out.   

 

His back was slapped heartily, “Got the Doc right here, Jack” 

 

“Good.  Did ya’ll bring flashlights?  How can you see what your doing in this dark?”

 

There was a pause.  Then Doctor Fraiser spoke up, “Colonel, Can’t you see me?”

 

“I can’t see a damn thing.  Why?”  

 

He heard an unladylike curse and she responded, “its full light sir.  I’m afraid it’s only you that cannot see.”  

 

“Shit!   I guess this mission wasn’t such an aberration after all.”    He muttered to the bafflement of the others.  

 

 

<the end>