Except for gripping the handgun tightly, and the furrows of pain that lined his brow Jack lay exactly as Daniel had left him. Removing two of the med kits, Daniel quickly set to work cleaning and redressing the wound before easing Jack onto the makeshift stretcher. There was no exit wound which meant the bullet was still lodged in Jack's chest. He probed the area around the wound as gently as possible hoping to find the deadly piece of metal just below the skin. Unfortunately this wasn't the case but it really didn't matter since Daniel reminded himself he wasn't a surgeon. He'd found one syringe of morphine in a field pack that hadn't been destroyed by the men tramping through the camp.

Checking for air bubbles, he quickly injected part of the medication into Jack's thigh hoping it would help keep the pain at bay before replacing the cap and carefully placing the syringe in the shirt pocket. Slipping the straps of the travois around his shoulders, he gripped the handles and with a last glance in the direction of the campsite Daniel started the long journey to the Stargate.

Daniel dipped the cloth in the stream and wiped away the sheen of sweat that covered Jack's face.

"It's...b-bad...Da-Danny."

"Take it easy Jack." He soothed, laying the cloth across his friend's forehead, unable to meet Jack's pain filled gaze. "You're gonna be fine. You've been through a lot worse than this and survived. You're a big tough Air Force colonel remember." Worried that it might draw the attention of this morning's attackers but knowing they needed the warmth and the protection from any predatory animals, Daniel had built a small fire.

He knew they should keep moving but his exhausted body had refused. Changing the dressing, Daniel was pleased to see that although the wound continued to ooze a slow, steady stream of blood, there appeared to be no sign of infection. He knew the bullet itself would have been sterilized by the heat when it left the barrel but the bits of cloth that might have been imbedded in the wound worried him. Blood had already soaked through the last pressure bandage.

"I don't...think so Danny...Not...this...t-time."

"Shut up Jack!" Daniel rubbed a hand angerily across his eyes. He had to think. God it was so hot. He didn't remember it being this hot last night. Why couldn't he think? He wished Sam was here. She'd know what to do.

"Da...nny?"

"I'm right here."

"You look like...hell."

"You don't exactly look like the belle of the ball yourself." Daniel smiled, lifting Jack's head and placing the canteen to his lips before opening one of the MRE's. "As bad as these things taste. You need to eat something."

"Steak...grilled medium...well and...baked potato." Jack grinned weakly.

"Well you're in luck because that's the specialty of this particular restaurant."

The colonel shook his head slightly turning away after a few spoonfuls of the meal Daniel had heated.

"Come on Jack just a couple more. You need the nourishment to keep up your strength."

"Dan-ny, I want ya to go...home."

"What?!" Stunned Daniel almost dropped the metal plate. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Go home...you can.." a weak cough interrupted the sentence. "bring back help."

"Forget it O'Neil! We're going home together...You hear me! I'm not leaving here without YOU!"

"That's an...order Daniel."

"No good Jack, I'm a civilian I don't have to take orders." Setting the plate aside, he took a deep breath. "Would you leave one of us?"

"Don't...understand."

"If it were Sam or Teal'c or me...or even one of the guys from another team...Would you leave us?" Daniel watched the war going on in Jack's mind as he pondered the question trying to form an answer that would get him what he wanted.

"Yes."

"Liar." Daniel couldn't stop the smile, putting an end to the argument. "Your rule Jack; no one gets left behind. Get some rest."

Jack didn't respond as Daniel lay a warm hand against his forehead before tucking the sleeping bag more tightly around him. There was no fever but Jack's normally tan complexion continued to pale as his heart pumped his life blood from the hole in his chest. Had to stop the bleeding. How? Couldn't concentrate. He was so tired. His eyelids felt like lead. He'd rest for an hour. Just an hour, then he'd be able to think again. Daniel pulled the blanket tighter around his shivering form. Damn the temperature seemed to have suddenly dropped thirty degrees. God he was so tired.