It was therefore a shock when I felt a strong hand grip my wrist, halting its momentum mere inches from my target. Gritting my teeth in anger and panic, I spun around twisting my wrist sharply to escape the tight hold and glaring at the new attacker.
It wasn�t until I heard a familiar voice yelling,
�Quinn, what the Hell are you doing!� That I began to calm down a little and when I looked back to the person who had grabbed my wrist my eyes widened with surprise.
�Teal�c?� I frowned, my eyes slipping back to green as confusion and fatigue set in. Whilst I hadn�t extended much physical energy, the effort of using my advanced abilities for a long time coupled with the confusing emotions I felt flooding me was enough to leave me feeling tired and confused.
�Jesus Christ, Quinn�� Colonel O�Neill muttered, running a hand through his hair as the two youths took off at a sprint. �You nearly killed him!� His voice was shocked and confused and I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, not understanding his concern.
�I would have killed him.� I tried to defend myself, wondering if he didn�t think my combat skills were good enough. �I would have killed him but Teal�c grabbed my wrist.� I explained frowning when the expression on the Colonel�s face grew even more shocked. Feeling my heartbeat speed up in fear I stepped back slightly, turning to Sam in the hopes of some support but the expression on her face reflected that of the Colonel�s and I flinched as the Colonel stepped forward, expecting a blow.
�What the Hell were you thinking?� His voice was higher than normal and I felt my eyes darkening once again in fear.
�I was�I was gonna crush his windpipe.� I stammered, wincing when he took in a sharp gasp of air, before whimpering. �I�m sorry�� Not knowing what I was apologising for, �Please, I�I�m sorry, please don�t hurt me.�
�Quinn�� Sam stepped forward and I stepped back again, shaking my head furiously.
�What...what did I do?� I could feel myself trembling under their shocked gazes, �What did I do wrong? I don�t understand��
�Alright, Quinn�easy, no one�s gonna hurt ya.� I could see Jack slipping into Colonel-mode, forcing his emotions under the surface and I struggled to do the same, first concentrating on slowing my breathing into a more controllable rhythm, then forcing myself to stop trembling and stand still and finally dropping my gaze to the floor hoping whatever they were going to do to me wouldn�t be too bad.
�Yes Sir.� I mumbled, desperately trying not to flinch.
�Alright Quinn, take some deep breaths.� I felt Sam�s hand on my shoulder.
�Are you injured, Quinn?� I looked up to see Teal�c gazing at me with concern and I shook my head.
�No�but��
�But?� Colonel Jack stepped forward immediately, his eyes sweeping over me for any injuries and I shook my head again before pointing to the injured animal that had caused the whole scenario.
�They�they were hurting it.� I explained quietly as SG-1crouched down near the creature.
I could see Sam had her hand to her mouth and my advanced hearing picked up her murmur of �Oh God��
The animal gave another whimper and I shook my head fiercely, forcing myself to remain in the present as I remembered myself being in a similar position, before turning to the others and tuning in to the conversation.
��might be best to put it out of its misery��
�No!� I wasn�t even sure that the exclamation had come from me until Major Sam, Colonel Jack and Teal�c turned to look at me and I wondered if I was pushing my luck, having obviously upset them with my attack on the abusers. But it was as if I couldn�t stop myself as I begged,
�Please, can we give it a chance? It might be strong, it might survive if...if it just gets a second chance.� Before looking to the floor and mumbling so quietly I could barely hear it myself, ��I did��
�Oh, Quinn�� Sam�s eyes filled with moisture and I wondered if that was a look of understanding in her stare.
�So, Mom, can we keep it?� I wondered why Colonel O�Neill�s tone was humorous at such a serious a time before I remembered he often used sarcasm and humour when he was upset, perhaps I wasn�t the only one who wanted to save this animal.
�The canine is in need of medical attention.� Teal�c�s was the voice of both reason and urgency as usual and I glanced up with pleading eyes at the two air force personnel.
�I�ll do whatever you want�� I mumbled, wondering if they would want me to pay for medical treatment.
�How are we going to help it? There won�t be any vets open this late�� Major Sam cut me off with a louder than normal tone but her words brought me a cautious hope.
�Well�� When I turned my eyes to the Colonel he had his portable telephone in one hand and a mischievous smile on his face. �I think I can call in a favour here��
*-*-*
�Colonel O�Neill that is a dog!� I don�t think I had ever seen Doctor Janet so annoyed before. Her usually immaculate hair was frizzled, her usually bright eyes were bleary and her usually cheery manner seemed to have distorted into this irritated, grumpy personality as she stood, dressed less than impeccably, in the middle of the SGC infirmary. �You woke me up in the middle of the night and made me drive to work because of a dog! Oh, Jonathan O�Neill when I get my hands on you��
�Hey, hey�� The Colonel hastily back-pedalled. �It wasn�t me, it was Quinn�s idea.�
�Oh�� The petite doctor turned to face me, �Well in that case�� And suddenly her face melted into the familiar kind expression I so loved seeing, �Let�s see what we can do for the little fella shall we?� She said as she beckoned me forward, placing a friendly arm round my shoulder.
�You�you�ll help it?� I asked cautiously. I was pretty sure these people wouldn�t hurt an injured animal, they had helped me when I was sick after all, but there were still seeds of distrust and suspicion buried deep in my brain born from years of neglect and abuse and, as much as I wanted to trust these people, I knew it was always a gamble to put your faith in someone.
�Yes Quinn�� Her voice was soft and sad as she answered, �Of course we will.�
I cracked her a grateful smile in response and she replied with one of her own but I could tell her heart wasn�t really in it.
�Thank you.� I whispered, gratefully, as she turned back to the injured animal.
�Quinn?� I looked up to see the Colonel indicating to the exit, �You and me got some things to talk about.�
�You were really gonna kill him, weren�t you?� The Colonel�s voice was both surprised and resigned as he looked me straight in the eye.
I�d long since given up trying to figure out the right thing to say around the Colonel so I simply nodded and replied. �Yes.�
�And then what would you have done?� He asked and I shrugged, not wanting to admit I hadn�t made up a plan but, at the same time, not wanting to lie.
�I�I don�t know.� I shrugged, looking at the floor. �Helped the�the animal�� I trailed off.
�It�s called a dog, Quinn.� The Colonel explained and I nodded as I looked at the floor, repeating the word softly to myself.
�A dog��
�Quinn, this is maybe my fault for not telling you earlier.� The Colonel started as he leaned forward in his chair and I couldn�t help my eyes changing at his serious tone of voice. �But we�we don�t kill people here. At least, not unless we REALLY have to.� He starts and I feel my eyes widen.
�Oh.� I frown softly as I consider the statement. I�d grown up watching Andaris and Teranian�s kill for fun. I�d been on the battlefield for over half of my short life and I�d watched my fellow clones kill each other for food, clothing or even just for fun in the case of some clones whose aggression suppressing enhancements hadn�t gone quite right. But it had all maintained a sort of order and balance, the weak were killed or killed themselves and the strong survived, that was how it went.
�Have you killed a man before, Quinn?� The Colonel�s eyes were narrow and I could tell what I was saying was important to him.
�Men�� I started, stressing the plural nature of the word before continuing, �And women�� I admitted quietly, my voice dull as I remembered past battles.
The Colonel barely finished his next question of �Children?� before I was shaking my head.
�No.� I shook my head again. �I was supposed to�but�� I simply trailed off again, shaking my head before repeating, �No��
�They punished you for that.� It was a statement, not a question and I nodded once, feeling a shudder run through my body before adding hoarsely.
�You don�t want to go there, Sir.�
�Okay, Quinn, just�you need to understand, life�people�s lives mean a lot here. I know maybe you weren�t taught that growing up but that�s how it is.�
I nodded slowly, starting slightly as he added, �And that means yours too.�
The steel barrel of the gun is cold against the back of my neck and I shiver as my master presses it harder into the skin.
�What�s to stop me pulling this trigger, slave?� He asks coldly, not even bothering to use my number and I shake my head.
�Nothing, Master.�
�That�s right.� He seems pleased and lessens the pressure a little.
�And what are you?�
�N�nothing, Master.� I stammer out as the huge Teranian slowly circles round to face me before pushing me to my knees and pointing the gun against my forehead.
�That�s right�Nothing.� He sneers before frowning sharply, �So what makes you think that you have the right to disobey my orders?� The gun is rammed against my forehead but I force myself to keep calm. So what if he shoots me? I don�t think I�m afraid to die.
�Answer me!� He yells and I lick my dry lips before speaking.
�I�I don�t have that right, Master.� I stammer out and he nods before backhanding me across the cheek.
�So WHY were those children left alive!�
I don�t have an answer and I simply close my eyes in expectation of the fatal shot he�s about to fire.
�Oh no 0823�� His voice is chilling and I open my eyes warily at the sound of it, �I�m not going to kill you.� My eyes brighten with hope at this before he chuckles sinisterly, gripping my jaw in a bruising hold, �It�s going to be much worse than that��
�I understand.� I mumbled to the Colonel even though I didn�t before adding, �But I would kill to protect anyone here.�