RATING: PG
SUMMARY:Its Christmas and someone is after Jacob
DISCLAIMER: They aren't mine, never were, never will be. I just borrowed them for a while. This story may not be posted elsewhere without the consent of the author.
A Christmas Assassin
By Tels.
Jacob looked round the room. Almost Christmas and he was stuck here rather than where he should have been. The base was on high alert, because of him. Or rather because of a death threat - aimed at him. Nothing unusual about that but for some reason they were taking this one seriously. A tree stood in the corner of the room, tinsel and fairy lights decorating it. The fairy Sam had made in first grade sat on top of it. Paper chains and tinsel balls hung from the ceiling.
He had tried to explain Christmas to Selmak who thought the idea of decorating a tree and hanging coloured paper from the ceiling a very strange way of celebrating the birth of a God, but if that is what Jacob wanted to do then so be it.
Malek came into the room and stopped short. "Very .... Nice," he said diplomatically.
"Selmak doesn't understand either. It's an Earth custom," Jacob told him. "But I assume you didn't come here to discuss my decor."
"The council have increased the guard on the gate and wishes you to have a personal guard for now as well."
Jacob sighed. It was bad enough he was under a curfew and confined to the base as it was without this. "Who?" he asked. <So help me if it's Anise...>
<She likes you> Selmak told him
<The feeling is not mutual and you know that.>
Malek looked at him. "For the time being I have been given that task."
Jacob sighed with relief.
"Although Anise did volunteer," Malek added, keeping his face as blank as possible.
<I bet she did> Jacob told Selmak dryly.
The council meeting that afternoon only enforced that. Jacob tried arguing that he would be better off elsewhere and just as safe on Earth but was outvoted. He had planned to spend Christmas with Sam, show Selmak what a traditional Earth Christmas was like, but there was no chance of that now.
Back in his quarters after dinner, he sat in silence. Malek had been called away and a young Tok'ra he didn't know had been assigned instead. He busied himself with writing a letter to Sam, not paying attention to what was happening. A swift movement cast a shadow over the paper. Glancing up he saw the knife glinting in the soft glow of the tree lights. He instinctively moved, the knife plunging into his neck, missing its target by a few inches.
Jacob staggered backwards, pain so intense it overwhelmed him flooding every part of his being, falling to his knees then the ground. There was a shout from the door and the sound of zat fire. His eyes closed.
"Dad!" a voice called.
He tried to open his eyes. “Sam?” he whispered.
A hand touched his shoulder. “It's me Dad, don't move.”
Footsteps ran into the room. Voices calling. But not the one he wanted to hear. She was silent and he couldn't even feel her. <Sel> he called. “Sam, what happened?” he whispered.
“Lie still Dad. You and Selmak are both seriously injured.”
Another voice, Malek issuing orders and one of the healers. He struggled to stay conscious but the darkness was coming closer. <Selmak.> Nothing - just silence.
“We're losing them. We have to move fast.”
“Dad, don't leave me. Stay with me please.”
Darkness hurtled towards him and engulfed him.
Bright light……
Jacob opened his eyes. He automatically reached out for Selmak. <Sel?>
<I am here> she replied, filling him with love. <We are fine.>
“Sam?” he asked as he saw the figure by the bed.
“Dad!” she said, hugging him. “Are you okay?”
“Sore but we are fine. What are you doing here?”
“Saving your life. We came for Christmas – the Col pulled a few strings and managed to get us assigned as your security detail as you couldn't come to us. Arrived just in time too.”
“What happened?”
“Anubis' assassin,” Malek said from the doorway. “She had infiltrated our ranks and made her move when assigned to protect you. You both had a lucky escape. Had you not moved she would have killed you both.”
“They said you can come back with us when you feel up to moving. So you get to spend Christmas with me after all.”
“What day is it?” he asked.
“Dec 21st,” she said.
“Then I didn't miss it.”
“No. You can still show Selmak the point behind it. As soon as you have rested a bit.”
“Yes Sam.” He leaned back and closed his eyes, trying to explain to Selmak what a man in a red outfit had to do with the birth of a God.