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Runaway To Hell

Chapter Fifteen

Oakey's request sounded strange but Casey nodded, and studying the image of the flower in her mind, 'stepped' into the very center of the bud. The petals began to close around her, cocooning her. She felt safe...warm...her faith in Oakey strong and unshakable. The 'kindred spirit' had earned her complete faith in the short amount of time she had known the Being. If she couldn't trust Oakey, who could she trust? The darkness of the enclosed space began to dissipate as the petals turned transparent. Casey gasped at the scene revealed 'outside'. The first thing her eyes were drawn to was a nebula that shimmered in multiple shades of purple and blue, punctuated by fingers of fuchsia. "Whoa!"

"Are you well, Guide sapling?"

"I'm fine, Oakey...it's just...wow! I wasn't expecting it to be so beautiful!" She had been in space. But she'd never been surrounded by the dark void, the sparkle of stars surrounding her like brilliant diamonds.

Oakey couldn't help but give a mischievous chuckle. "Welcome to my garden." With infinite care, the Great Being started the journey across the expanse of space, training her senses on the location of the mate of her missing sapling.

"Your garden is breathtaking," Casey said softly, the beauty around her more majestic than words could describe. The pictures taken by the Hubble telescope could never compare to the reality of the grandeur of space.

"If you were not bound to a mortal body, I would take you to the plane of existence of my birth...to view this from that level is beyond description."

"This almost makes me wish I weren't bound to a mortal body," Casey whispered, the resplendent sights that surrounded her demanding reverence. This, she thought, was truly the home of the gods.

"We are almost at our destination."

Oakey's announcement was almost disappointing. The ride had been breathtaking. Casey forced her mind away from the majesty of the universe around her and onto the mission at hand.

As Oakey slowed, Casey became aware of grey tendrils of what seemed to be smoke marring the beauty of the galaxy they were traveling in. Some patches were just streaks while others were thick like a fog. A shiver ran down her spine. "What's that?"

"The tracks of the daemon," Oakey replied, her voice filled with distaste and anger.

"He...or she...has certainly been a busy bastard. It looks as if there isn't a place in this...sector...that hasn't been slimed," Casey groused.

Entering the galaxy where Annika had been known to be, the entire region was blanketed in the mist.

Casey shivered again. "What's that...smell? Is that from the daemon?" She didn’t even stop to wonder how she could sense the stench that assailed her nostrils.

"Not even the purest rain can cleanse the stench of a daemon's soul."

She gave a small prayer of thanks that her olfactory senses hadn't been so assaulted while SG-1 had been held on the astral plane by the daemons. She'd have been tossing her cookies for sure! Holding her hand over her face helped to block the worst of the foul odor.

Oakey wished she had a physical nose so that she could block the smell; had to settle for simply ignoring it. Honing in on the specific location of Daniel she paused near the bulkhead of a large cruise ship. "They are onboard."

"Have they located Annika yet?" Casey strained to see...trying to see 'through' the metal of the ship. As much as she wanted to see Daniel, to know he was alright, she also wanted to see her friend, to know that Annika was there, and that soon she would come home.

Being this close to the daemon, it was easier for Oakey to locate. She frowned when she realized that the sapling team was on the other side of the ship.

Casey could sense the slight rustling of Oakey's leaves. "Is something wrong?" she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

The Great Being sensed Casey's desire to see what was going on within. With a sheepish grimace she realized she had forgotten that the spirit still looked with human eyes. It took less than a second for Oakey to alter the shielding of the protecting pod surrounding Casey, so that she could see through whatever solid objects she wished with just a thought.

When Casey looked toward the ship again, it was as if the hull was made of glass. She could see each level, and the rooms that lined the outer perimeter. There! She could see him. Knew in a heartbeat that the sandy-blonde archaeologist she watched was her soul mate "No," she whispered, "You're going the wrong way!"

On the far side of the ship she saw Annika, at least she was pretty sure it was her. It was hard to tell because of the dark cloud surrounding her. With her 'enhanced vision' it looked like the cloud was dragging Annika. Before she could voice her question, Oakey confirmed her suspicions.

"The daemon controls her," Oakey said, her voice quivering with barely contained emotion.

"Seems to be leading her away, doesn't it? " Casey asked, wanting to verify what she was seeing.

"My sapling is heading for the transporter," Oakey said softly. "They will not reach her in time."

"Oakey, we have to do something!"

"I cannot smite it here...it is as we feared, it is connected to my sapling."

Her instinct was to cry out...to try to warn Daniel...and his counterpart, and the SG-1 of this reality that they were heading in the opposite direction of the redhead...who at the moment had bottle-created black hair...they sought. "Well, can we block its path?"

"Yes," Oakey said with steely determination. In less time than it took to blink, the two spirits were floating in the corridor Annika was running down.

Annika sprinted down the corridor, her heart thumping madly. Her only thought was to get to the transporter on level three. Barreling around the corner she sensed a presence. A presence that made her want to scream out in grief and fear. Pin-wheeling backwards the panic consuming her, she ran for the closest exit. The guest transport was her only option. She had to get off the ship, get to the Stargate, get away from Oakey! A hysterical laugh screech through her skull. If Oakey had found her here, where in the universe could she hide? She didn't know. Couldn't form a coherent enough thought to think of a rational plan other than 'get away'. Biting her lip to stop the scream of terror from escaping, she burst through the door to the gaming room, her focus on the smoky glass-paneled walls of the guest entrance.

A A A

"Nic, be our eyes," Veta spoke into the radio as he led the way onto the gaming floor. "Myst should be in sector two."

"Got her, Boss. She's running like she's got hellhounds on her tail..." He broke off, his eyes pinned to the security camera showing the corridor in sector two. "Scrap that. She's reversed direction for whatever reason...heading your way. Should be emerging at door three....now."

Though seeing through the crowd of guests was impossible, Veta saw above their heads the top of the door slide open. He spoke over his shoulder to the team behind him. "She's on the floor..." He blinked when he realized he was talking to thin air. "Where the heck did they go?"

"Eyes front, Boss." Nic kept the amusement from his voice at Veta's bewilderment. Thanks to the bird's eye view of the camera he'd seen where the 'intruders' had gone.

Veta's head swung back to sweep the immediate area. Damn, Myst was right, they move like lightning. All he saw was the team's backs as they fanned out ahead of him. Interestingly the two Daniels shrugged out of their robes while the remaining three pulled their hoods up.

"Boss, what about them?" Nic asked watching the team spread out amongst the guests and the three who remained robed draw their weapons.

"Leave them be," Veta ordered. Inwardly he'd admit to being impressed with how quickly they'd moved into action. Obviously this part of the plan had been devised in advance.

Daniel caressed the bond he shared with his wife so gently it was barely a feather's touch. He was counting on Annika being so focused on running that she wouldn't feel it. That he could sense her at all told him just how panicked she was at the moment. Fighting down the instinctive urge to try to calm her, he activated his radio. "Daniel, she's heading your way."

Hearing 'his own' voice softly in his ear, the other archaeologist scanned the immediate area. Spied a dark head dodge around a group of gamblers. "I have a visual." He ducked behind another group of guests to remain out of sight until Sam on his right or Jack on his left, could get behind Annika.

The plan was simple. He and his counterpart would act as a distraction to Annika, hence the reason the two men had stripped the facade of their robes to have their BDUs on display. The others would hopefully be able to sneak up on Annika while her attention was on him or her husband.

Sam found her way blocked by two guests swapping tables. "Sir, you take it."

"Roger that," Jack replied skirting the middle of the floor.

From the corner of his eye the AU Daniel saw Jack scoot ahead. His gaze never left the woman heading right towards him. Just a few more seconds... He cursed when the man in front of him bent down to pick up a fallen chip, exposing his position.

Her eyes locked onto him, widening in shocked disbelief and violet depths, already wild, became more so.

He took a step towards her. "Hello, Annika. Time to come home."

Seeing Daniel so unexpectedly shocked her into immobility. How had he found her? Was he working with Oakey? She shoved the questions aside. It didn't matter, she couldn't go back! She raised her hand, intending to use her telekinesis to keep Daniel away, but her hand froze. She couldn't bring herself to use the gift against him. With a flick of her fingers she directed the force to the closest gaming table, sending the chips and money flying every which way. She then spun on her heel, racing in the opposite direction, intending to double back down the other aisles.

Jack had been only a few meters away when he saw the chips and money get tossed into the air. The resulting flurry of activity from the guests and staff scrambling to retrieve the flying currency, blocked his path as effectively as it had Jackson's. "Danny, T, you're up. I'm doubling back around."

Daniel's heart wrenched when he finally got a look at his wife. She looked so damned scared, her eyes darting in all directions frantically looking for the rest of SG-1. He saw Teal'c emerge from behind a table just at Annika's back. He stepped into her direct path. "My Angel, you'll be safe with us."

Annika skidded to a halt, her mind reeling, her head tennis matching between the man standing in front of her and where he had been a few seconds ago. How had Daniel gotten across the room so fast? It wasn't possible! Had the first Daniel been a hallucination? A hologram? She backed away even as her hand reached out, instinctively wanting to caress the lines of tension from his face. She snatched her hand back curling her treacherous fingers into a fist. Became more disorientated when she collided with a solid wall of muscle.

Two arms closed around her from behind; familiar arms that she knew from past experience she wouldn't be able to break free from. However, she fought against them nonetheless. "Nooo!"

The horror and heartache in his wife's tortured cry caused tears to sting Daniel's eyes. Knowing time was of the essence he ran the few steps to her, gripping one of the air pressure syringes.

"Please, please, please let me go!" Annika bucked against Teal'c's solid grip, trying to dodge out of range of the sedative Daniel was trying to press to her neck. "You risk me killing you all if you take me back!"

Daniel depressed the syringe, his other hand gently brushing her cheek. "It's worth the risk."

For the barest of moments she stilled, then her thrashing increased, adrenaline from her desperate compulsion to escape making the sedative have no effect.

Daniel fumbled for the second dose he had in his pocket, but before he could pull it out, Jack was there, armed with his syringe.

The second dose had more of an effect.

"You don't know what you're do..." her head lolled forward, her body going limp in the supporting embrace of the Jaffa.

"Okay, let's get her home," Jack said quietly.

"Let me take her, Teal'c." Now that he had her, Daniel had no intention of having her anywhere but in his arms.

Teal'c gave a nod and released his hold on his teammate.

It was the moment Annika had been waiting for. The second she felt Teal'c's arms loosen she propelled herself forward slipping from the Jaffa's grasp. With speed she didn't know she possessed, she sprinted across the floor, ignoring the concerned yells of her team calling her back.

Sam and the other Daniel, who'd been making their way to the team, saw Annika's mad dash. They also couldn't miss the widening gap the psychic was making between her and Jack, Daniel and Teal'c, despite the men reacting instantly to chase after her.

"The daemon must be pushing her," Daniel’s counterpart murmured, setting off at a run to cut Annika off.

"Must be," Sam agreed, keeping pace with the archaeologist. With a sick feeling in her stomach she drew her zat'. Though there had been too many people milling on the floor during the initial chase for any of them to use the weapon, they had hoped they wouldn't have to resort to using it in the first place. Now they didn't have a choice. Steeling her resolve, Sam sped up, gaining as much ground as she could, coming in diagonally behind Annika. The moment she had a clear shot she fired.

The crackle of the energy discharge hit the psychic on the shoulder blade, but it didn't have the usual effect. Instead of the blast rippling through her body, only part of it coursed through her torso. The rest of it seemed to arc out to an invisible mass above her head.

The low growl of shock and anger that no human voice could create was drowned out by Annika's cry of pain at the electrical charge shooting through her.

Sam exchanged a stunned look with the man beside her, both having the same dilemma. They couldn't risk zatting her again. Even though she hadn't lost consciousness, enough of the energy may have passed into Annika for a second hit to be a deathblow. The blonde switched her troubled gaze to the Daniel she had known for eight years who was barely a few meters away. For a moment his face reflected the same disbelief and sense of loss at what to do next. Then she distinctly saw his blue depths harden, glinting with determination.

From the moment Annika had feigned the sedative's effects, Daniel had been fighting down a wash of emotions that he simply didn't have the time to deal with, but with every step his wife ran from him, the harder it became to control. Just a few more meters, that's all we need... They had chased Annika across the galaxy, there was no way failure was an option when they were literally within arm's reach. With the failed zat' blast he knew he was fighting a losing battle with his emotions. It was then that he struck on an idea. He wouldn't even try to control them. He focused on the bond he had with his wife and he shoved all his love, all his anger and frustration, determination, guilt, heartache and pain of the last three weeks down their invisible link.

Her body tingling with pain, Annika kept running. Now her team was trying to kill her! Run, run, RUN! the voice screamed in her head. She was almost at the transporter room. If I can just make it there... The thought was cut off when suddenly she felt a tidal wave of emotion collide with her heart. The force of Daniel's feelings made her knees buckle and her sprint became a drunken stagger. She almost fell to the floor, but then the sea of people parted revealing the doorway she had to get to. Gritting her teeth she stumbled forward. Her and her team's lives depended on her getting there. Almost sobbed in relief when Veta stepped into view. "Veta, help me!"

To her horror she saw the security guard raise a pulse gun, aiming it right at her. "I am," he said grimly, pulling the trigger.

In that split second it took for the orange beam to hit her, Annika was swamped with a sense of disbelief and betrayal. Then she felt a burning pain explode in her chest and she knew no more.

Sam and the AU Daniel were the first to reach the now unconscious psychic. The colonel immediately pressed her fingers to Annika's neck searching for a pulse.

Less than a second later, Daniel, with Jack and Teal'c on his heels, skidded to the floor, scooping his wife into his arms.

"What did you hit her with?" Jack demanded.

"It's a mix of photonic energy, set to stun," Veta explained, holstering the weapon. "The effects last longer than those Goa'uld toys you have and can be used repeatedly."

Brushing a lock of hair from Annika's pale face, Daniel looked up at the burly man. "Thank you."

"I sure hope the rest of your plan runs smoother," he drawled, catching sight of Mahj'arc hurrying towards them with Sachee running beside him.

The little girl streaked ahead of her dad, tears running down her cheeks.

"Sach', Myst is okay," Veta tried to reassure her, but she ignored her uncle, sliding to the floor where the blue eyed man from her visions was still cradling her friend.

"The nasty thing is stuck to her. It can't break free." Her red-rimmed eyes skittered from Daniel to his counterpart who had crouched down on the other side of Annika. She blinked for a moment to determine which one she needed to speak to. Her eyes returned to the man who looked as tired and pale as her friend. "You need to get her to let go."

"I will," Daniel promised. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this small girl was the fledgling seer who had 'eavesdropped' on Casey and Oakey. "Thank you for helping us get here."

"Myst taught me that helping is what we psychics need to do." She darted a glance at her dad and uncle at their raised eyebrows at Daniel's comment, then lowered her voice for just Daniel to hear. "Even if it means breaking a few rules." She turned to the other archaeologist with a slight frown, as though she was trying to work out a puzzle. Then she smiled shyly at him. "Your lady, who's like us," she gestured to herself and Annika, "she's really nice."

"Yes, she is," the AU Daniel agreed.

"Don't be mad at her for coming, okay? She and the tree only wanted to help."

"Casey was here?" The archaeologist's eyes weren't the only ones startled by the comment.

"And Oakey?" Sam asked, shaking her head in bewilderment.

"They were," Sachee gave a nod, but before she could elaborate Jack butted in quietly.

"We should get moving."

While Sachee had been speaking with SG-1, Veta had been quickly relaying his 'ultimatum' to Mahj'arc. "I'll meet up with you at Feronia Prime, or at least send word."

Mahj'arc nodded. His eyes rested on the woman who had changed his life in so many ways in the short time he'd known her, then swept over the family who had come to claim her. "I hope everything works out. When Myst has...recovered...we'd like for you all to come back for a visit."

The smiles he received back were taut as they helped Daniel to stand with his precious cargo.

Veta strode into the transporter room issuing an order to the controller. "Put us down as close to the Galaxy Portal as you can."

In less than a minute, SG-1 was dialing the DHD for home. The first part of their mission was complete. They all sent up a silent prayer that the second would be just as successful.

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