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Chapter Nine Buffy froze as she felt the atmosphere shift. Her eyes swept the surrounding trees for… something. She wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for, but something felt off. “Jeff, hush,” she said, her grip tightening on her P-90. He stopped and looked at her. “So now I’m boring you, too?” He asked, hurt coloring his voice. “No, hush.” She concentrated as he grew silent. His eyes widened as he took in her tense posture. Then she heard it, a snap hiss. A slight movement in the bushes caught her eye and she saw a glint of metal. She took off running and tackled Jeff just as she heard the staff weapon fire. They both grunted as they hit the forest floor. “Dave, we’re under attack,” she called into her radio before firing off a few shots in the direction the blast had come from. “What’s your position?” “I don’t know, there’s a bunch of trees. But I bet if you follow the sounds of gun shots you’ll find us,” she hissed, firing off another shot. “We’ll be right there. Do you know how many?” “I’ve only seen two, but I think there’s around ten.” Jeff looked at her in confusion. “How can you know that?” “Long story,” she said with a frown. “Come on. We’ve gotta move before they circle in on us.” She grabbed him by his green jacket and hauled him to his feet. “We’ve got to get to the gate.” They took off running while Buffy occasionally fired off a few shots behind them. A Jaffa stepped in front of them and slammed a meaty fist into Jeff’s face, knocking him to the ground. Buffy ducked as the Jaffa swung its staff weapon and then gave him a swift uppercut, causing him to stagger back. She yanked the staff out of his hand and then brought it back down on his head. He collapsed unconscious to the ground and she turned back to Jeff, who was still sprawled out. “Jeff, wake up,” she said, patting his cheek. “Damn it.” Into her radio she said, “Dave, where the hell are you? Jeff’s out cold.” “Is it bad?” “No, probably just a light concussion.” “We’re on our way, Summers,” he said and she could hear gunshots both through the radio and in the distance. “I’m going to keep heading towards the gate,” she said. “I’ve got Jeff with me.” “I thought you said he was unconscious!” Dave yelled, firing off another round. “He is, but it’s not a problem. We can’t stay in this spot, it’s not defensible,” she said, looking around and seeing that they were in some sort of dip in the terrain. “Just catch up, we’ll be fine.” With a grunt, Buffy slung Jeff over her shoulder and started running. It was awkward considering his height and her lack of it, but somehow she managed. Since she didn’t sense any Jaffa nearby, but could still hear battle sounds, she guessed that Dave and Simon were keeping them occupied. She had just reached the clearing that the stargate was located in when she heard Jeff moan and shift. “Don’t move, Jeff. I’ll put you down in a minute.” Either he passed out again or decided to follow her instructions because he ceased moving. When she reached the DHD, she gently set him on the ground. With a gentle hand, she inspected the bruise that was beginning to form on the side of his face. “Well, at least it’ll be pretty,” she said with a half smile. “Did I get knocked out again?” He asked, wincing a little at the movement. “I’m afraid so, but he was very big.” “Apparently not too big for you to take down,” he pointed out. “Ah, but I’m trained to.” Into her radio she said, “Dave, we’re at the gate.” “Just about there. Dial it,” Dixon barked. She moved away from Jeff and dialed the address. The wormhole was established just as Dave and Simon came running into the clearing and she quickly sent her IDC. “We’re clear!” She said, pulling Jeff to his feet and helping him towards the gate. She and Jeff went through the event horizon with Dave and Simon hot on their heels. “Close the iris!” Dave said, emerging on the other side. “Well that was fun,” Buffy said just before she collapsed unconscious onto the ramp. “Summers!” Dave said, rushing over to her prone form. “Med team to the gateroom,” Hammond called out over the intercom. “Colonel, what happened?” “I don’t know, sir, but she was hit in the hip by a staff blast,” Dave said between clinched teeth. He glanced over at Jeff and saw the blood on his uniform but no obvious injury other than the bruise on his face. “I’m guessin’ she carried Balinsky the entire way with the injury.” “What?” Hammond exclaimed. “They were ambushed while we were doing a sweep,” Dave said, stepping back so the med team could work. “Balinsky got knocked out and she carried him to the gate. She never mentioned that she was injured, sir.” Hammond nodded his head. “We’ll brief later, Colonel.” “Thank you, sir.” XXXXXXXXX Buffy opened her eyes to see Jack sitting in a chair next to her absently playing with a yo-yo. “Ow,” she said, shifting slightly in the bed and causing pain to shoot down her leg. Jack bounded out of the chair and wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug. “Thank god, you’re okay.” He placed a rough kiss on her cheek. “Relax, Jack. I’m fine,” she said, hugging him back. “I know, but all I had heard was that you had been shot. It was… well, it was kind of… you know, scary,” he said, pulling back and fumbling with his yo-yo again. “Careful there, you were almost admitting feelings,” she teased lightly in effort to lighten the mood. “Finally awake, I see,” Janet said, walking over to them. “How are you feeling?” “My hip is sore, but other than that, I’m fine,” Buffy said, completely honest about her condition for once. Jack had warned her that Janet had an unerring ability to sense when her patients were lying to her. “That’s to be expected. The wound was pretty severe,” she said, checking Buffy’s hands and face. “Your superficial scratches have all healed, but even with your natural abilities your hip will require a few days at least, going by what you have told me. And you’ll need to stay on base for a few days.” “How’re Jeff and the others?” “Colonel Dixon and Airman Wells were uninjured, and other than a very minor concussion, Dr. Balinsky is just fine.” She smiled at Buffy. “And from what I hear, that was largely in thanks to you.” Buffy blushed. “I was just doing what I always do.” “And I think it’s wonderful,” she said, patting Buffy on the knee. “I’m also pulling you from the duty roster for at least a week and a half.” “A week and a half! But…” “Unless you want everyone to be suspicious about your abilities, it’s the best I can do.” “Jack,” she pleaded. “She’s right, Buffy. It was your decision to keep this a secret and you have to accept the consequences.” She pouted. “But, Jack…” “No,” he said, resolutely turning away. “I’m not fighting the Doc, I’m smarter than that.” “Fine, then move me in with Teal’c.” “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Janet said slowly. “T really isn’t up to visitors or roommates,” Jack explained. “Well I don’t care,” Buffy said, crossing her arms over her chest in a defiant motion. “If I’m going to be stuck here for a few days then I want a roommate.” Janet and Jack exchanged a long look before the doctor sighed. “Very well, I’ll arrange it,” she said before turning and leaving. “I don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into,” Jack said with a shake of his head. “On a good day Teal’c is laconic, but at the moment he’s damn near mute.” “It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” she assured him. “Summers, you are in big trouble,” Dixon said, walking over to Buffy and Jack. His arms were crossed and his large frame seemed to fill the curtained off area. “Why?” She asked, clearly confused. “That entire time we were out there you never mentioned that you were injured,” he said, looking sternly down at her. “Would it really have mattered? I mean, could you have gotten to us any faster? No. I just ignored it and did what needed to be done.” “That’s not the point,” Dave said. Buffy looked over to Jack for clarification and he indicated that he wasn’t going to get involved. She was part of Dixon’s team and therefore was answerable to him. Jack really only needed to get involved if Dave stepped out of line – which wasn’t likely. Plus, he was aware of the rumors flying around the base despite his best attempts to squash them. There was no need to add fuel to the fire. Besides, Buffy’s little heroics with Jeff were going to help prove that she deserved her appointment. “I am your commanding officer,” Dave continued. “I need to stay completely aware of what is happening to my team while we’re out in the field. What if you had collapsed sooner and injured Balinsky more? We would have had no idea of your location or situation. We would have lost precious time and possibly lives searching for you.” Her hazel eyes widened as the implications sunk in. She had just grown so accustomed to being the one that everyone depended on in the field that she had never thought about getting help. Dave’s eyes softened and a gentle smile played at the corners of his lips. He uncrossed his arms and leaned against the end of the bed. “All of that aside, Summers, you did real good. I’m glad you’re on my team.” She could only nod her head as she played with the edge of her sheet. “I’m not really mad, you just had us worried,” he said. “When is the Doc releasing you?” “Not for at least a week and a half,” she said with a sigh. He nodded. “Very well. Take it easy, okay?” “I will.” “See you later, Jack,” he said with a nod. “Dave,” Jack said as the other man left. “Wow… I didn’t think… huh,” she said, her gaze on her fidgeting hands. “He’s just worried. We all were,” Jack said before getting back up from his chair. “I’ll go get you some Jell-o.” XXXXXXXXX “Hey, Teal’c,” Buffy said in greeting as the nurse wheeled her into the room Teal’c was staying in. “Buffy Summers, I had heard you were injured in battle,” he said. “Just a staff blast to the hip. I’ll be fine,” she said cheerily. “Janet wants to keep me here for a few days to make sure I don’t get an infection.” “Indeed.” “So how are you?” “I am fine.” “Good, good.. So how is the treetoes stuff doing?” She asked. “Tretonin. It does not assist my healing as well as my symbiote once did,” he said, his eyes never looking over at her. “Bummer. That’s gotta suck.” “Indeed.” Buffy waited, but he didn’t elaborate. She sighed softly to herself. This was going to be harder than she thought. Since she was going to be stuck on base for a while, she had wanted a more permanent roommate than the nursing staff so she could talk to someone if she was bored. And really, Jack had warned her but she still hoped for the best. “Well, one good thing will come of this.” When he never responded, she continued, “Jack will have to wait on me hand and foot for a while… Yup, my own personal slave… Get whatever I want…” She looked over to see him still staring at the wall. He was making Oz look like a babbler. She was beginning to think that she would have been better off in the infirmary alone. “Think we could get a TV in here with cable?” She asked hopefully. “Buffy, Teal’c, how are you?” Daniel asked, entering the room. “I am fine,” Teal’c answered calmly. “Having a blast,” Buffy said dryly. “My first real injury in years and I’m stuck with no TV.” Daniel smiled. “I’m sure we could fix that.” “Really? Great.” “I hear you were quite the hero,” Daniel said, sitting on a stool between the two beds. “I guess,” she said quietly. “Dave didn’t seem to think so.” “What do you mean?” Daniel asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Because I endangered both me and Jeff since I didn’t tell him I was injured. I just didn’t want to worry Jeff. I wanted him to concentrate on getting out of there. He would have just fretted if he knew.” “Well, I don’t know anything about that, but Colonel Dixon has been bragging that he’s got the toughest person on base next to Teal’c on his team. He’s been recounting the battle to anyone who’ll listen.” She looked up at him in shock. “What?” “Sounds to me like he’s proud,” Daniel said with a smile so genuine that she had to smile back. “Well, I just stopped by to see for myself that you were okay. I have to get back to work, but I’ll be by later.” “Okay, and thanks, Daniel.” “You’re quite welcome. See ya.” “What was Daniel Jackson referring to?” Teal’c asked. “I knocked Jeff out of the way and got hit with the blast that would have killed him. Later, he got knocked out and I carried him back to the stargate,” she said with a small shrug of her shoulders. “It sounds as if you are a most honorable warrior. Colonel Dixon is indeed lucky to have you on his team.” “Thanks, Teal’c,” she said and they both fell silent. She took some time to think over what everyone had said. Dave definitely sounded like he wanted her to lean on the team if she needed it, for her to know that she wasn’t out there alone. It was something that Jack and the Scoobies had been trying to drill into her head for years. It was only now that she understood. Or maybe it was just this place and the circumstances that shifted her perceptions. No matter how much the Scoobies had learned in order to help her, it was still her out there on the front line day after day. Alone. They still looked to her to pull them through the worst, to do the dirty work. They all depended on her in the end. Even now, with all of the slayers around the world, it seemed like they all looked to her. She no longer patrolled, but she was still the one they turned to during an apocalypse. How could she lean on them when they depended on her for protection? She was the slayer. Here, she just happened to have abilities that gave her an advantage, but her teammates didn’t treat her like she was someone special. They treated her as part of a team. They were there for her just as she was there for them. It was a strange feeling for her. This place and these people invoked a feeling of home that she had almost forgotten existed. Perhaps she could stay here and never go back to Cleveland. To stay and be Buffy the woman and not Buffy the slayer. It was tempting. Very tempting. Previous Chapter Undertow Menu Chapter Ten |
