Title: Peachy Author: Magicsunbeam Email: magicsunbeam@n... Category: Action, Angst. Pairing: None Rating: G Season/sequel: Summary: A mission ends up not being as peachy as Jack was hoping for. Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Productions; all the powers that be, not me; This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money exchanged hands. No copyright infringement intended. The storyis the property of the author and may not be posted without the author's consent. Authors notes: Another late night/early morning job so, once again, soree for the bad grama an spelin. <g>
Peachy by Magicsunbeam
Standing on the thresh hold of the gate, Jack O'Neill sighed and allowed himself a small smile. Of late, his team had seemed to have had their fair share of crazy natives, mad machines, nasty viruses and ghastly Goa'ulds. Enough to last them till Thanksgiving at least. So this little trip was going to be a peach. A boring, nothing but rocks and bushes as far as the eye can see, non-inhabited, peaceful planet. Hell, he didn't even mind the odd tree or two. Oh yeah, he thought to himself, this is going to be just peachy. There was clunking of feet on the ramp as the rest of SG1 joined him at the gate. He looked to each of his teammates, all gave him some signal of their readiness. General Hammonds voice boomed out behind them. "You have a go, SG1. Have a good one." Clapping his hands together and grinning, the Colonel said, "Okay kids, lets move `em on out." And stepped into the wormhole. Jack had no idea what hit him next. As soon as he came through at the other end, he felt like he was flying. Not up, not down, just horizontal. His senses upside down and inside out, the only thing he was certain of was white hot pain as his head collided with something rock solid. He could hear a sound roaring in his ears but couldn't put a finger on it. As blackness reached out and began to drag him down, the last thought in his head was, Oh for crying out loud, what now?
##### When the rest of the team exited the gate, they too were caught off guard by the enormous gusts of wind that was ripping across the planet's surface and were flung in all directions. To add to the already deafening roar, thunder boomed and lightening streaked across the darkening skies. Picking themselves up, it didn't take long to find Jack face down in the dirt in front of the gate. Sam quickly established that their favourite leader was alive but had received a sizable concussion for his efforts. When Daniel tried to dial out less than a minute later he found that the DHD would not accept the code. Again and again, both he and Sam tried until Teal'c broke their concentration, calling above the wind. "Major Carter, Colonel O'Neill remains unconscious. Would it not be wise to attempt to find shelter"? Leaving Daniel to keep trying, Sam moved across to where the Jaffa was trying to shelter Jack from the winds. She checked the gash above his left eye. It had stopped bleeding, but the bruising round it was already an ugly bluey-black colour. "Ouch." She muttered. "He's going to have one hell of a headache when he wakes up." "Indeed." Teal'c replied solemnly. Sam and Teal'c managed to locate a cave not too far from the DHD. It wasn't particularly big but it's served the purpose in getting the injured colonel out of the elements. Teal'c disappeared and returned with an armful of kindling, he quickly started a fire, which not only warmed the place, but lit it up too.
##### Jack woke slowly. Climbing through thick layers of black, he thought he could hear someone calling his name. He was confused, had no idea where he was or what had happened. He only knew this voice was determined to get through to him. "Come on Sir, I know you're in there." Sam urged him out of the darkness. Until only a few minutes before, Jack hadn't showed any signs of regaining consciousness. Stranded on a planet with nothing more in the way of medical help than a first aid kit, Sam was starting to worry. Her persistence rewarded, Jacks eyes cracked open a little. She threw him a beaming smile. "There you go, Sir." She said softly. Jack blinked, trying to get his eyes to focus. He could make out her face, but for a moment all his brain actually registered was blonde hair and a big smile. "Dorothy?" He whispered. Sam's eyes widened in surprise. "Where's Toto"? She stifled a giggle. Knowing the reference was to him, Daniel answered from somewhere in the gloom behind Carter. "I'm here Jack." Jack attempted to right himself but suddenly it felt as if someone had thrown a switch, as pain began to rush through his head. He lifted a hand to his forehead, to discover the small dressing Sam had put there earlier. Dropping his hand back to the ground and groaning, he asked. "Oh for crying out loud. What the hell happened, Carter"? Sam sat down next him. "Well, from what we can gather Sir, when you came through the gate, you must have been caught out by a crosswind. You hit your head on a rock as you fell." Jack closed his eyes in a futile attempt to shut out the pounding. "So, you're telling me a little wind knocked me over? Okay, now I feel stupid." "Well Jack, I wouldn't exactly call it a `little` wind." Daniel cut in. "I would say some of those gusts are probably about 70 miles an hour. You weren't expecting to walk out into a near hurricane so really, there's nothing to feel stupid over." Jack cracked an eye open and looked up at the archaeologist. Giving a grimace for a smile he said, "Thanks for that Toto." Daniel smiled sweetly back at him but didn't reply. Great he thought, just what I need, another stupid nickname. After a long moment Jack turned his head to Carter. "Soooo, I'm assuming we're still on PX. whatever? Why didn't you just dial us out of here"? "Well Jack," Daniel interrupted again. "That's where we have a slight Jack turned is head oh so slowly back to Daniel. "A *slight* problem? Daniel, we are SG1. We don't *do* slight. What the hell happened this time"? "Well, it seems we can't get the DHD to dial out. Sam and I have been trying for 4 hours straight to find the trouble." As Daniel finished his sentence, the cave was shook by a huge clap of thunder. "Annnnd," Carter looked pointedly up at the cave roof before finishing her sentence, "I think *that* was the start of our problem." "Thunder"? "Lightening. It's a bad storm, Sir. I think the electric interference is having a bad effect on the DHD." Sighing and closing his eyes again, Jack mumbled. "So have we any idea on how long this storm is going to last"? And when silence, was the answer he groaned. "Oh that's just peachy." Noticing the pain her CO was obviously in, Sam began to rifle through her pack. She eventually came across a packet of small pills and picking up her canteen she shuffled closer to Jack. "Colonel, I don't think strong pain killers are a wise choice until we can get you back to Janet, but I think a couple of Tylenol should be okay." With Daniel and Teal'c's help, Jack eventually got himself sat upright. He shot the pills into his mouth and gulped the water down, not realising until then just how dry his throat was. Then, taking in a deep, shaky breath he tried to think.
##### General Hammond paced the SGC, grunting to himself. He didn't like it, not one little bit. When SG1 was late it could only spell T.R.O.U.B.L.E., especially since it was way past their radio check in time. He strode back to the control panels. "Sergeant, how long are they overdue by"? "Just over 7 hours, Sir." "Okay. That's it." He turned to Ferretti. "Major, get your team ready, I want SG1 found." "Sir!" Ferretti snapped a quick salute and left the room. Janet Fraiser joined the General at the huge window that overlooked the gateroom. "You think we should be concerned"? Without taking his eyes from the gate, Hammond nodded. "Oh yes, Doctor. I'm expecting trouble of the highest order."
##### Jack hadn't managed to make his brain work, in fact all it wanted to do was close down on him which, and after 10 minutes, it did just that. Teal'c had once more braved the weather to find more kindling but despite a reasonable heat from the fire, the temperature was beginning to drop significantly in the cave. Sam was now sat up against the wall nearest the fire. Daniel had manoeuvred Jack back to a horizontal position where even now, wrapped in a sleeping bag and lying across Sam's legs, he gave an involuntary shiver as the cold got to his bones. Pulling the sleeping bag a little tighter round him, Sam glanced across at Daniel. He gave her a tired, but reassuring smile. "We'll be out of here as soon as the weather passes. He'll be fine when we get him home, you'll see." Sam nodded, half smiled and pulled her own bag around her.
##### "What's the problem Sergeant"? Hammond asked. "Sir, I don't know what to tell you. The gate is in full working order on this side. We've ran test after test and there are no malfunctions or glitches of any kind. Whatever the problem is, it's with gate on PXJ 249." "What about radio contact"? "Nothing Sir, we can't even establish a link." Hammond ran a hand over his balding head. "What the hell is going on"? He asked himself more than anyone. " Okay, just keep trying, Sergeant." "Yes Sir."
##### Something woke Sam with a start. She looked round her. Daniel was curled up in his sleeping bag. The winds they had battled with earlier that day had left both he and Sam pretty much exhausted, so she wasn't really surprised to see that, despite the now near freezing temperatures, he was managing some sleep. She looked across to Teal'c, who had volunteered himself for the watch. A sudden flash of lightening lit the cave mouth up, silhouetting the big Jaffa against the dark. Despite herself, Sam smiled. She would always feel safe with Teal'c on watch. She looked down at Jack and was surprised to find a pair of brown eyes staring back at her. She smiled. "Hey, Sir. How are you feeling"? "Cold, Carter. Not Antarctica cold, but cold all the same." She gave him a sympathetic smile, "If its any consolation, we all are." She felt him shiver. " I know Carter. Any signs of the storm letting up"? "I believe the storm may be dissipating, O'Neill." Teal'c had heard their voices and had come back into the cave to see how his friend was. " I believe the wind has dropped within the last hour, also the lightening has been less frequent." "Great news, the best I've had in days." Jack said, now struggling to sit up. "Teal'c, help me out here." "Sir, the weathers still too bad to attempt another dial yet." "It's ok, Carter, my butts just about numb. besides, I just want to get a look out." Between them, Teal's and Sam got their decidedly wobbly CO out of his sleeping bag, onto his feet and to the mouth of the cave.
##### Hammond picked up the phone and listened to the voice on the other end. "Very well Sergeant, just keep trying." He said then replaced the receiver. "Well, that confirms it. SG4 have just returned home. There is definitely no problem with our gate. I'm at a loss as to what to think now, Major if you have *any* suggestions, now is the time to make them." Ferretti just shook his head. "Sorry General, I wish I *could* come up with something. Truth is Sir, I'm just a soldier. I have no clue about how or why the gate actually works. I want SG1 back as much as anyone" Hammond nodded. "I know son, I know." The phone on Hammond's desk rang, he picked it up and listened. His face lit up. "I'm on my way." He turned to Ferretti, "Control has just reported some activity from the gate." Ferretti bounced to his feet and both men left the room at a run.
##### "What have you got, Sergeant"? Hammond asked as he entered the SGC. "Sir, I kept trying as you ordered and a few minutes ago a wormhole was established. It only lasted a few seconds before it disengaged, but that's the best we've had all night." "Okay," said the General. "Now we're getting somewhere."
##### "Wild." Was Jacks description of the weather before him. Standing in the mouth of the cave, he watched as the lightening lit up the darkened landscape before him. "Certainly is Sir, but I think Teal'c's right, it *is* starting to break." They watched for a while in silence, lost in their own thoughts. "When were we due back"? Jack suddenly asked, not taking his eyes off the stormy weather. Carter looked at her watch. "16 hours ago, Sir." "Hammond will be cursing us, Major." Jack laughed softly, suddenly sounding weary. He wasn't quite as steady on his feet and both Sam and Teal'c spotted it immediately. "Sir, I think you should lie down for a while." Sam said. "I agree, O'Neill." Teal'c said seriously. "You appear to be canine fatigued." Sam laughed aloud, but Jack just smiled and gave his head a cautious shake. "That's dog tired, Teal'c. I'm dog tired." Leaving Teal'c at the cave mouth, Jack and Sam went back to the fire. He carefully climbed back into the sleeping bag and eased himself back down once more Sam offering her body as support from the cold ground. Jack watched Daniel for a while, the archaeologist hadn't moved a muscle. Typical Daniel, Jack thought. He has seen the guy literally jump awake at the sound of bushes rustling, but here he was now, sleeping through the longest and noisiest storm Jack had ever witnessed. Sam read Jacks thoughts and explained about battling with the winds the night before. She told him how they had tried umpteen different ways to get the DHD going, but in the end had to give in when the storm had become too rough. "It should be light soon, Sir. Hopefully by then the storm should have passed and we can get home." When she didn't receive the enthusiastic reply she was half expecting, Sam glanced down and found Jack had disappeared into a deep and quiet sleep.
##### "Major Carter. Major, you must wake up." "Mm, what?" Sam prised open her bleary eyes. "Teal'c? What is it?" "There is some activity at the Stargate." Being careful not to disturb her sleeping CO, Sam quickly slipped out from underneath him and climbed to her feet. She gave Daniel a quick shake, left Teal'c to explain what was happening and all but ran out to the Stargate. She hardly didn't notice that where there was wind, there was now a gentle breeze or where there were thick, ugly black clouds, there was now brilliant, warm sun. Her focus was the gate and DHD and those two alone. As Sam approached the gate, she could here the familiar clicking and whirring as it started up. Her first reaction was relief. *Yes*! The "Holy Hannah!! Something just occurred to me. What if this isn't the SGC trying to get through, what if it's the Goa`uld"? All three stared at each other as the thought sank in. "Oh hell"! Sam cursed as they realized they were possibly in more danger than they had accounted for. "Take cover"! She ordered, herself barreling for an outcrop of rocks. As the gate whooshed to life, she prayed that Jack would not suddenly appear at the cave mouth.
##### General Hammond was in his office when the klaxons started blaring. The stargate was being activated. Incoming travelers. He made his way to gate room, meeting Janet Fraiser along the way. She shot him a questioning look. "I have no idea, Doctor. Lets just see." As the General and doctor entered the gate room, the Sergeants voice boomed out of the speakers. "Its SG2's signature, Sir." The gate whooshed to life, the particles eventually settling down into the soft, rippling pool that they were all so used to. SG2 stepped out of the event horizon, one by one making their way down the ramp. A stony faced Ferretti was the last through. "SG2 all present and accounted for Sir." Hammond looked to the floor, trying to hide his disappointment when he heard the distinct and familiar sound of a body passing through water. "Oh," Ferretti added with a grin. "And SG1, Sir." Hammond spun round to see Sam walking down the ramp. She was quickly followed by Teal'c and Daniel, each with a supporting arm around a very weary and colourful-faced Jack. Janet was on them like a rash, asking questions, checking Jacks reflexes, barking orders. "Major, what happened?" Hammond asked. "PXJ 249 was being hit by a massive storm as we arrived Sir. Colonel O'Neill was injured as soon as he stepped out of the gate. We couldn't dial home because the electrical interference from the storm was badly effecting the DHD, so we had to wait the it out. We were going to have another try this morning when Major Ferretti and his team arrived." "Okay Major, get yourself and the team cleaned up and checked out. We'll do the de-briefing when Colonel O'Neill has the go ahead from the doctor." "Yes Sir." Janet began herding all four out of the gate room and to the infirmary. As they passed General Hammond, he smiled a smile, one that came from somewhere deep inside, one that spoke volumes of him being relieved and happy to have them safely home. "Welcome home, SG1." He beamed.
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