Later that evening after the fires of the village had been put out and the natives had retired to their huts, O'Neill finally felt it was time to start their escape. He cautiously released the thong that he had been holding in his right hand and lowered his weight to the ground. He stood for only a second, allowing the burning sensation of returning circulation to bring him to full alertness. Quickly, bending over and retrieving the knife that his earlier victim was still holding. He next cut Carter down, supporting her by her arms for a second till she recovered her balance, then turned to Jackson. Once the two officers released him from the tree, O'Neill slung Daniel's arm over his bare shoulder and supported his semi-conscious friend as the three teammates left the village behind and faded into the darkness of the surrounding forest

They traveled about a mile and a half before the Colonel called a short halt at a small, rock-bottomed creek. The water appeared clean, clear and cold and the large moon clearly lit the small clearing in the brush. Jack knew they couldn't pause long, a few minutes at the longest, but he had to get the knife blade out of Jackson's leg and try to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible. He lay his friend down on the firm earth by the creek and removed his blue nylon web belt from what was left of his BDUs around his waist. Daniel was fully aware now, watching O'Neill's preparations in the blue tinted moonlight, knowing what must come now. Jack cut the bloodied, torn pant leg off of Daniel above his knee, glanced up at the younger man and made eye contact with Daniel, who nodded. He wrapped the belt tightly around Daniel's upper leg twice above the protruding knife and tightened it down. This should slow the blood flow down until it could clot on it's own.

Sam, meanwhile, had sacrificed what was left of her long trouser legs for the cause, cutting them off mid thigh length. One had become a sort of bandeau top for her and the other had been torn it into a makeshift bandage for her teammate. It was down, dirty battlefield first aid but all they had to offer him. Jack looked from Daniel to Carter then back at the embedded blade. Carter slid up next to her teammate and offered him a twist of cloth as a gag. He took it between his teeth and looked up at her, she met his eyes and laid a hand over his mouth. Jack had watched them until this moment, then in a quick firm move, he pulled the flint blade from Daniel's leg. All that could be heard was a low strangled cry as Daniel lost consciousness completely.

Quickly O'Neill tightened the tourniquet another notch then tightly wrapped the BDU bandage around his friend's thigh. The blood welled up from under the cloth and dripped onto the soft dirt for a few seconds then finally slowed its pace. Jack took a deep breath and looked at Carter. Her face was almost as white as Daniel's. "It's over. We'll give him a few moments then we'll have to move him." She nodded her comprehension. Then Jack took the primitive knife and leaned over to the water and washed it clean of Daniel's blood. He then handed it to her. "Here." She nodded wordlessly and took the weapon from his hand. "Daniel wants you to have it. Keep it and use it on the bastard that did this to him."

"I know." She looked down again at her friend's ashen face. "I will."

After a scant few moments, O'Neill looked down at his friend. "Let's go." Carter looked at her commander, questioningly. At his expression, she got up. O'Neill rose, then reached down and grasped the unconscious man's shoulders and pulled him to a sitting position. Carter took his arms and then the colonel bent and took the linguists full weight on his shoulder in a graceless fireman's carry. She slipped the knife into her waistband and followed O'Neill and his precious burden into the woods again.

They traveled like this for quite a while. The colonel was making his way through the dark tangled wood, much more slowly than he liked. But Daniel was a dead weight on his shoulders and he couldn't afford to stumble or fall, possibly further injuring the helpless man or himself. Carter hung back to cover their trail and watch for followers. She didn't see anyone, but was sure the primitives would discover their escape soon enough. They continued on for two hours. Finally, O'Neill called a halt. He pointed to a darkened area off to the side of the trail embedded in a rocky ledge. "Carter, see if the bear's home."

She nodded silently and cautiously approached the rocky opening. There was no light in the stygian darkness within so she picked up a small stone and threw it into the den. Hearing nothing, she entered holding her knife in one hand, the other out in front. The ground was soft earth to her bruised, cut bare feet, and silence echoed in her ears. Eleven steps and she reached the uneven rear stone wall of the cave. She started to the right, gently scraping her fingertips on the wall. She passed the opening and continued her circle. When she came again to the opening Carter called to her Commander. "Colonel, it's empty." O'Neill wasted no time in entering. "Eleven steps back, it's more a nook than a cave. I can't touch the ceiling. The floor is dirt."

She heard him grunt as he squatted to offload Daniel. She moved over to help him. "Soft dirt is good, Carter." They supported the injured man until he was lying flat on his back. Sam felt for a carotid pulse and breathed a sigh of relief. Her hand brushed O'Neill's in the dark. Just for an instant he grasped her hand. "You've done good, Major."

"Thank you Sir." A quiet moment. "He's still unconscious?"

"Yea," a disembodied sigh and she heard him sit down. "You know for a skinny kid, he's damned heavy."

"He's not so skinny anymore, Sir. At your insistence."

"Well, I guess I wanted him to be able to tote me around all creation, not the other way around." More scuffling noises as O'Neill stretched out on the ground. "You got the time Carter?"

"Yes, Sir. My watch was in my pocket. It's oh one hundred hours plus 13."

"The witching hour, Major. Wake me at three."

"Yes, Sir. Sleep well."

Too soon he felt her soft touch on his shoulder. "Colonel, it's time."

"Thanks Carter. Time hack?"

""Oh four fifteen."

"Carter, I told you to wake me at oh three hundred." He grumbled softly at her.

"Sorry, Sir. I heard in three. Doesn't matter, it's still pitch dark and no witches have shown up."

"What? Oh. Okay, it's done. Here this spot is still warm." He bent down to check on Daniel. Good breathing and pulse okay so he was holding his own, but they all needed water and food soon.

As he removed his hand from Jackson's throat, another one caught his. "Jack?"

"How ya doing, Danny."

"Tired, dizzy, leg hurt. You?"

"Tired, hungry, feet hurt, okay."

"How long?"

"Just tonight. When daylight comes, we'll move again. Rest."

The hand released his. Jack unerringly patted him on the head and then moved out to the cave's opening.

Sunrise found O'Neill doing a perimeter check about twenty yards out from their cave. He thought he had heard water running and had found a spring. It was much smaller than the creek had been, could even be it's source. Jack was able to take a long deep drink of the icy water that bubbled out of it's limestone mouth. He sat there a moment listening for any sound of movement. Satisfied there was nothing moving but himself he started to rise, then a shiny reflection caught his eye. As he watched a large water snake, five feet long and as big around as his forearm, swam lazily up the small rapids. O'Neill smiled.

By the time he got back to the cave it was early morning. He glanced into the sheltering overhang and had to stop and smile at his 'kids'. The two of them looked like puppies cuddled up to each other in the morning chill, sharing body heat. He sat down and started to 'fix breakfast'.

"Okay, troops. Rise and shine. Time to eat."

Carter sat up and looked at him sleepy and confused. "Sir?"

He walked in and gave her a hand up. "Come on Carter. Get up and go wash your hands and face. I'll get Daniel taken care of." At her blank expression, he turned her bodily and pointed. "Fifteen yards to the right is a spring. Go." At his push, she left.

"Daniel, you with me?" An affirmative noise responded as the young man rolled over. "C'mon." Jack grimaced as he took Daniel's weight on his shoulder again, pulling his right arm over it.

"Where?"

"Just out of the cave for now. When Carter gets back, to the spring. You need to drink water and clean your leg better. It's as good as that stuff you pay a buck a bottle for back home." Daniel was holding his hand to his middle with a confused expression on his face. "What?" Jack demanded.

"I know why my leg hurts, understand why my head hurts but can't figure out why my chest hurts."

"That's not your chest, that's your belly, and I probably did it hauling your butt up here over my shoulder."

"Oh. Uh, thanks."

"Don't mention it. You'll return the favor I'm sure." He jerked his head towards the cave's mouth. "Here's Carter back. Let's get you over to the spring." After helping Daniel 'clean up' and supporting him while he drank his fill, the two men returned to their cave.

Carter had sliced up the already cleaned snake's carcass and divided the small bite sized pieces into three even piles. They sat in the morning sun at the mouth of the small cave and ate the raw meat with gusto. "Not bad, a little tough but filling." O'Neill commented as he sat back.

Daniel was sitting with his back against the wall. "Nobody can bring home the bacon like Jack can, right Sam?"

"Yea, but it tastes like chicken." Carter replied. O'Neill and Jackson just looked at her for a moment and then snorted.

"Okaaaay." O'Neill threw his last piece of snake meat at her. She caught it and popped it in her mouth, grinning back. "Well, now that we've all slept, drank and eaten, let's make some plans. He leaned forward with a small stick to draw in the dirt. "I think the gate is this way. Carter, I want you to hot foot it back and dial out to Earth."

She nodded, but had a question. "No GDO?"

"I know. Throw rocks at the damn wormhole. How's your Morse code?"

"SOS. What's SG1?" Jack gave her the code in the dust.

"Do that three times, then disconnect. That should get us their attention and send us a MALP.

Daniel was watching. "What are we going to be doing?"

"Slow but steady, partner. We'll limp in at best speed, but Carter maybe able to bring relief quicker than we can get there." He glanced at the dry, bloody bandage on Daniel's bare leg.

"I can walk, with a little help." Jackson replied. "Maybe a walking stick."

"Can do easy. Major, much as I hate to lose your company, take a last drink of water and head out." She nodded and got up. "Don't go through the wormhole without an invite from Hammond. I don't want you going splat on the Iris."

"Absolutely no splats, yes Sir." She nodded, looking unhappy at leaving the two men alone.

"Git! We'll be along." The two men watched her lithe form as she trotted out of their clearing. "Okay, Danny-boy, a walking stick it is."

Teal'c had come awake in a very unhappy mood. He was lying in front of the Chappa'i bound hand and foot with some very strong vines. He remembered being at a village, assisting Danieljackson with his translations when a hue and cry had been set up from the far side of the village. People were literally running over themselves to get to the surrounding forest. SG1 had been separated at the time of the attack and chivied along with the rest of the crowd. He had briefly seen Jackson but had lost him in the press of panicked natives. Then a gas bomb had been thrown and he and the whole group that he was with had lost consciousness. Here, he had awoken helpless to any enemy that came along. He had been struggling with his bonds throughout the night and now, he could finally feel them beginning to give. More time elapsed, then he finally got a hand free at the cost of some skin and a fingernail. A few more minutes and his feet were free. Now all he had to do was seek sustenance, locate his teammates, provide aid and/or rescue them, get them all back to the gate and go to SGC headquarters. An O'Neill-ism came to mind. 'A piece of cake'.

As the big man stood stretching out his cramped and cold muscles, he was surprised to see their pile of backpacks lying beside the Chappa'i. Investigation proved that it was indeed their gear including the GDOs. Evidently he was not only unwelcome, but all their equipment, weapons and food were also denied by his attackers. He allowed himself an imperceptible smile. This was indeed a benefit. But first he had to locate everyone. Teal'c strapped on a zat, pocketed two 9-MM pistols , two of the GDOs, picked up his staff weapon and started back up the trail that had led them to the original village site.

Samantha Carter was trying to jog across the rough woodland but seems to spend more time walking than trotting. The ground was littered with rocks of varying sizes, broken branches, thorns and generally sharp things. Her bare feet were getting such an abusive workout she'd be in white cotton socks and tennis shoes for a week. She had once again been amazed at the Colonel's ability to sublimate pain. How he managed to keep on going last night, carrying Daniel for over two hours through the forest with no shoes or leg protection she couldn't even begin to imagine. And then he'd been as happy as a schoolboy when he somehow had caught and killed their snake breakfast.

Jack had located a likely looking tree branch to serve as Daniel's walking stick cum crutch. About five feet long, six inches around with a v-notch at one end where the tree had branched out, it probably wasn't as comfortable as Doc's aluminum and rubber models but it would have to serve. He wished he could provide some sort of foot protection for both of them. His were pretty cut up from the run through the woods last night. He'd soaked them in the cold spring water this morning but they were going to bother him for certain. When he returned to their cave, Daniel was no where to be seen. Jack gave a low whistle and got an answer from the left side of the cave entrance where the sun was blocked by some leafy bushes. O'Neill had briefly thought about trying to stay hidden for another day, but decided that retreat was the better part of valor here, with one missing and one wounded. He hoped that Carter could locate the Gate and bring some transportation for Jackson. The young linguist was going to be a slow go for today at least, but the stab wound had finally stopped bleeding and by all indications no major tendons were involved. "Ready, Daniel?" He handed the stick to his friend.

"As I'm going to be I guess." Daniel looked at him nearsightedly, as he took the staff. "You're limping." He pointed out.

"Yea, cut my foot in the dark last night." O'Neill shrugged. "Little sharp rocks."

Jackson nodded. He knew how and why Jack had done it, for him, again. Daniel fitted the rough-cut crutch under his shoulder. "I'm ready. Let's go." The two men started through the rough underbrush. After about an hour, O'Neill called a short halt. Daniel was definitely slowing down. Jack knew that his leg must be killing him by now and he had lost a lot of blood before the injury could be treated. Besides his feet hurt too. "Jack, I'm okay." Daniel protested at the halt.

"Daniel, I need you to pace yourself. Remember, we've got about ten, twelve miles to cover." O'Neill tried to make it sound reasonable.

"But we've covered less that two."

"Yea, and at the end of the next two, we'll stop again." He indicated Jackson's leg. "You've started to bleed again. You've got to be able to walk the whole ten, not run six and me carry you the last four." He had to grin at Daniel's expression. "I know, it won't happen, but see my point?" Daniel nodded. O'Neill got to his feet. "I'm gonna try to find water, and check our back trail. Be back in a short."

The officer started a circuitous route that went out about 50 yards starting in the front and cutting back to the left. There was no spring to be found in the immediate future so Jack started back parallel to Daniel's resting spot. But as he turned back on to their 'trail' to eliminate any accidental sign, he heard voices. Their escape must have been found sooner than he had hoped. They were too close and he knew that the younger man could not run on his injured leg; plan two was going to have to do.

Jack jogged back to their rest area. Daniel was off the trail and not too conspicuous but he found him easily. "Look, they're right behind us." O'Neill waived off Daniel's protest. "I'm going to camouflage your position and do the mama bird thing. You need to sit tight and let them go past you. Once they've cleared, you do best speed to the Stargate. I'll circle off and lose them then meet you there. Okay?" Daniel didn't say anything, just glared at him. "Okay, Danny?"

"No, it's not. But I guess it's for the best." Jackson didn't sound happy. "I don't like being separated. I can find the gate, but...what about you?"

"I'll meet you there, if your not there I'll circle back for you. If I'm not there then wait for Carter or Teal'c." Jack shrugged. "I still don't count him down."

Daniel nodded grimly. "We won't leave you behind."

"I know, I'm counting on it." He grabbed Daniel and shuffled him back farther into the brush, then gripped his shoulder in a quick embrace. "Gotta go. You be quiet and let the plan come together, okay." Daniel glared up at him. "I'll take that as a yes." He looked back towards where he had heard the voices, then took off at a limping trot.