STARGATE SG-1: The Cost of Honor by The Cost of Honor (SG1–5)

Author:The Cost of Honor (SG1–5) [Retail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Published: 2020-06-24T11:32:11+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

Jack stalked up the stairs. For a moment Daniel just stared in disbelief, then he darted up after him, taking the steps two at a time and heedless of the wrenching pain in his shoulder. “No!” he hissed as soon as he was within reach, grabbing Jack’s arm and yanking him to a halt. “You can’t do this.”

“I’m making a judgment call, Daniel,” Jack growled. “We can’t get her out. If we try we’ll all end up trapped in that thing.”

Daniel shook his head. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes. I do.” He tore his arm free and kept striding up the stairs. So much for reasoned argument!

Daniel didn’t follow, and behind him Teal’c came up the stairs to stand by his side. At the last moment, when he was almost swallowed by the shadows of the staircase, Jack stopped. “I gave you both a goddamn order.” It sounded like he was spitting glass.

Teal’c shifted, clearly disturbed. He seemed uncertain and conflicted — it wasn’t an expression often seen on the man’s face. But he didn’t say anything, and Daniel fixed his attention on Jack.

“Actually,” he said calmly, “you can’t give us orders anymore, Jack. Kinsey relieved you of command, remember?”

There was an icy silence. And then, “Daniel —”

“Just because you feel guilty about getting us into this,” Daniel pressed. “It doesn’t mean that —”

“Daniel!” Jack stepped down a couple of stairs, moving back into the murky light. His face was all hard angles, his eyes flat as stone. “That’s not what this is about.” He looked at Teal’c. “You know I’m right.”

Teal’c was torn, but eventually he bobbed his head. “O’Neill is correct, Daniel Jackson. We are not equipped to mount an effective rescue of Major Carter at this time. And the Kinahhi are surely awaiting us.”

Daniel couldn’t believe what he was hearing! “We’ve been through worse. We’ve taken on bigger odds than this. We’ve —”

“It’s a trap!” Jack snapped. “It’s a goddamn trap, Daniel, and I won’t lead you into it.”

“But it’s Sam!”

“I know!” His voice cracked as he spat the words, and for an instant Daniel glimpsed what lay beneath: a blizzard of self-recrimination, pain, loss, duty and honor.

Jack sucked in a breath, under tight control. “Daniel, it’s bad enough that they’re sucking Carter’s brain out. If they get you too…” He left it hanging, fixing him with a long, serious look. “You don’t even know everything you know.” He frowned. “If you know what I mean.”

The unease Daniel felt when confronted by the black gap in his memories rolled in like thunder clouds. “You mean, about the Ancients.”

“Among other things.”

Daniel held his gaze, then deliberately dropped it to the P90 Jack held in one hand. “I’m willing to take the risk. And if it came down to it,” he said quietly, “I’m sure you wouldn’t let them get me.”

A brief flash of anger widened his friend’s eyes. “Daniel —”

“You’d do the same for Sam.”

Jack flinched — obviously he’d already considered the possibility. But all he said was, “It’s not a question of risking our lives.

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