Author's Note: Hello again here is the next story. I can't post this without thanking the two people who helped me make this story the best it could be. Both of them pushed me to write better and not get lazy with this story.
Thank you FallenStar2 and Purpleshrub. I want you guys to know how much I appreciate your patience with my horrible grammar and allowing me to take the two of you on this journey. Also thank you to KEF and SirenBunny for your help as well. I couldn't have done it without the two of you too.
Just so you all know this story is 17 chapters long. I have almost all of it in my possession so I can post mostly at will.
Waking up is Painful
Major Samantha Carter woke slowly, but the more aware she became, the more she wished for unconsciousness. Her body felt battered and bruised as though someone had used it for a punching bag. No matter how she shifted, she found her clothes irritated her skin because of a bruise or cut.
The air around her was cool and she realized that whoever had brought her here had taken not only her SGC jacket, but her socks and boots as well. Rubbing her bare arms, she tried to warm herself. Looking around at the small room she had her jacket, but she was grateful to still have her own t-shirt and pants, even if one leg had a gaping hole in it.
The room was bare except for the small cot where she lay. The cell was dark and dank lit only by the slivers of daylight leaking through the small window's bars high above her head. Sitting up to get a better look around her, Sam hoped to find someone, anyone, from the team and also a way to escape. Using her fingers, Sam felt under the cot to see if there was anything that she could use to pick the lock, but the cot used ropes for support not metal.
Turning her attention to the cell Sam studied the bars and door. She could see into the next cells along the same wall as hers and across the narrow hallway where there were more cells. There didn't seem to be any guards, so if she could get the door open, she might be able to get away. If she could run that is.
Sam knew if she was going to escape she needed to know what condition her body was in. Flexing her arms, she evaluated their condition. There seemed to be only bruises and a few scrapes. She paused as she moved her shoulders. Reaching up, she touched her neck; there seemed to be some sort of collar around it. She tried to find a catch to get it off with her fingers but found none. The front seemed to be stamped with a pair of crossed swords. She wondered what it was for, there seemed to be no rings or loops to attach a chain to.
Leaving the mysterious collar for now, she felt along her torso and down her legs. It was much the same except for the arrow wound in her thigh. Someone had removed the arrow and cut her pants to do it, leaving two large holes in them. The wound looked clean but far from healed. It looked like if she was going to escape she might have to wait.
Vaguely she could remember another cell somewhere else where she had been on display with many other women. It was all foggy, as though she had been drugged. It must have been the water that they had given her.
There were harsh male voices followed by the clinking of coins. She was dragged for a while and then thrown to the ground. Hands grabbed her as soon as she hit the ground. She tried to break free of them and crawl to a corner where she could defend herself better. They seemed to crawl all over her as they sought out each and every pocket in her pants, searching for something, anything of value.
Sam tried to fight them off, but they were stronger or not drugged. Then there was blackness as one of them struck her on the head to stop her struggles.
Sam's hand reached up to touch the small bump there as she remembered. Putting her hands into her pockets, Sam searched, hoping to find something the woman had missed. On off world missions, her pockets were full of things, a knife, string, a piece of wire, anything that might be useful in a pinch, but her hands found nothing.
Sam tried to remember what happened next.
She was led from the rows of cages with her hands bound in front of her. The smell of unwashed bodies and death hung in the air. She was forced into a line of slaves, mostly male. People dressed in finery walked by appraising each of them.
Sam paid them no attention until a strong hand clamped her chin in a painful grip, forcing her to look up at him. Trying to force her eyes to focus Sam held herself steady as the world swam blurry around her. She could feel his gaze raked over her body as he examined her hair, teeth and then the muscles on her arms and legs. She wished that she could fight him but she was too weak.
His voice was low as he spoke. "You have been host to Goa'uld in the past. Tell me, slave how is that?"
Sam's drug fogged mind raced to come up with a way that wouldn't reveal that it was a To'kra or that she was of the Tau'ri. She had no idea where she was or who this Goa'uld was. As much as she could see him she didn't recognize him. She looked straight at him her gaze never wavering. She did not fear this fat snake.
Her mind latched on to a name that Daniel had been prattling about a few weeks ago. The minor Goa'uld had been over thrown by Ba'al. "I was a human slave to one of the Gods, Thoth. I fought matches against other warriors to please him. I am a strong fighter I usually won. For a while I was a temporary a vessel for him when he fought Ba'al. He left me once a more suitable vessel was found. The Mighty Thoth left me for a man, stronger more worthy of his presence."
The hand released her so quickly that Sam fell onto all fours as the world spun and dipped. Her stomach rolled and she fought down the urge to vomit.
The Goa'uld held a discussion with someone next to him in the Goa'uld language. Sam only caught a few words. The snake was intrigued by her and Sam wasn't sure it that was a good thing or bad. The other voice a woman's it sounded slightly familiar. Sam tried to look up to see if she truly recognized the woman the voice belonged but when she looked up the world titled as her stomach pitched again and she dropped her head hoping that would calm both of them.
The woman pointed out that Sam would make a fine gladiator. She already knew how to fight and would bring strength and courage to his ranks. She might also be valuable for other reasons....
Although Sam listened intently she didn't understand the reason given.
The Goa'uld grabbed a fist full of Sam's hair and yanked her to her feet. "I choose you. You are mine to do with as I please." Then to the woman standing beside him he said, "Pay for her and have her brought-" He let go and Sam blacked out once more.
The next thing she remembered was waking up in this cell earlier in the day. A girl bent over her and Sam tried to fight her. Sam was forced her to drink more tainted water before removing her vest, jacket, shoes and sock.
The girl's sure hands ripped Sam's pants and broke off the arrow. With a sharp yank she pulled the arrow out. Blackness edge Sam's vision as the pain shot through her leg. There was a cool sensation of something being rubbed on the wound.
Sam felt the girl lean close to her ear. "I'm sorry but this is how it must be." The girl's hands were cold as she fitted the collar around Sam's neck and then the drug pulled her into unconsciousness.
Quickly she looked around her. The girl was gone, how long ago had that been. Hours days, Sam did not know. It was all a blur.
The place was devoid of any other life signs. In a way, she was glad that the others weren't here, that might mean they made it back through the gate to the SGC.
Fighting the dizziness, she braced her hand against the rough stone wall to help her remain upright as she remembered what had happened to get her into this mess.
The day was warm and bright as they stepped from the wormhole. There was the snap as the wormhole closed behind them. In front of them lay a vast expanse of the usual trees and mountains that they seemed to find on every planet with a Stargate.
Sam found herself briefly wondering if the Ancients had terraformed these planets to create this climate or if these planets were chosen because they had this climate. The thought was broken when someone spoke beside her.
"Well campers, it seems we have a whole lot of trees and rocks and water," Colonel Jack O'Neill said as he surveyed the planet, descending the stairs from the Stargate and pulling on his sunglasses.
Sam rolled her eyes and stifled a giggle. Pointing his finger at her, Jack said, "No giggling Major, that's the rule and you know it. It has been for a very long time. No exceptions."
"Yes sir," was her only response, accompanied by a salute as she turned around locating the sun. "The UAV found the ruins half a kilometer that way."
Sam and Jack started off in the direction she indicated, but Daniel stayed where he was. Turning to the two of them, Daniel asked slyly. "Just when was this rule made? You always mention it, but I haven't heard the story behind it," Daniel's curiosity had killed many cats and himself a few times, but he refused to rein it in.
"Danny, Danny, Danny, and you never will. Carter, you take point. Teal'c, you take our six. Let's move. I want to be done with the rocks by dinner time," Jack motioned for them to follow Sam.
The terrain was hilly and rocky, and it took about half an hour until they arrived at the massive ruin complex. Sam took the required soil samples and Daniel studied the huge complex of ruins, mapping as much of it as he could in the short time he had on the planet.
As darkness fell, Jack called a halt to work and they headed to a spot a short distance away where they set up their camp for the night.
Later, when they had all gathered around the fire, Sam asked with a smile, "So we have two weeks leave when we get back, what are you going to do Sir?" as she shoved a mouthful of her unappetizing food into her mouth.
Returning her smile he said, "Land of Blue Sky waters, cabin and fishing-fun. You wanna come?" he asked, knowing as always, what her answer would be.
Sam looked down at her MRE. "I, uh, can't Sir. I have a lot of things that have been piling up around my house. I really need to do some painting and my eaves troughs are horrendous.
"Maybe next time. T, Danny you want to come with?"
"No, thank you O'Neill I have other things I must attend to." Teal'c said refusing to elaborate further.
"AJack. I ah, can't too many rocks and other stuff to look at and such." Daniel said rubbing the back of his neck.
Sensing the tension building, she turned to Daniel, who was looking at the various artifacts that he had gathered, "So what have you found Daniel?"
He held up an object that was the size of his fist, "This is a distaff. It was used to spin thread and it is definitely of Roman design. These ruins are as well. That building to the left of us is very much like the temple of Jupiter, found in Rome; only here it is dedicated to Caesar. From what I can tell, he was a Goa'uld. The frescoes tell a story of how he defeated Apollo and took the people away to a new place where they were safe. I don't see any reference to where they went, but from what I can tell, they didn't use the Stargate."
"How did they leave then, spaceship?" Sam asked, curious. She could feel Jack's eyes watching her even though he was doing tricks with his yoyo trying to seem disinterested in her and Daniel's discussion.
Daniel shrugged; "I don't know and if we can't stay another day, I won't be able to find out." He looked pointedly at Jack,
Jack launched the yoyo at Daniel and it stopped just short of his nose and then spun back into Jack's hand. "Down time, Daniel. We haven't had it for a-" He looked at his watch, "Way too long. I'm going fishing and that's final. You can see if you can con some other SG-team to come and take a look at these rocks, but I have a date with a lawn chair and a dock."
Wanting to continue the argument, Daniel got up and moved to sit next to Jack, but Jack was quicker as he stood up and headed to his tent. "All right folks it's bedtime. Daniel you take the first watch while the rest of us turn in. You can study these ruins all you want as long as you don't fall asleep."
Sam smiled as she finished her coffee and threw the dregs into the fire.
Daniel sighed. "Jack, I can't see anything when its pitch black out and you know it. Please, can't we stay?" There was almost a whine to his voice as he spoke.
Jack chose to just ignore the question. "'Night Daniel, see you in the morning." To Teal'c and Carter he nodded. "Don't stay up too late. Daniel, wake T for the next watch and then Teal'c, you wake me and Carter can have the sunrise watch. See you all in the morning." And then he disappeared into his tent.
SG-1 slowly made their way back to the Stargate late the next afternoon. Sam was giggling again and Jack was wagging his finger at her when they were ambushed by a group of men dressed in pants and tunics. They seemed to be very angry at SG-1 as they shouted and shot arrows at them.
Surprised to find themselves being attacked, the team scattered, each finding cover where they could. Daniel was crouched down behind the DHD while Teal'c, Jack and Carter found boulders to take shelter behind.
As they launched their second volley of arrows, Teal'c called out, "O'Neill, there are ten of them scattered around the clearing. We must proceed with caution."
Jack huffed in agreement, "Yeah Teal'c, caution would be a good idea. Danny, any idea what we did to make them angry?"
The language the men spoke was not English and all eyes turned to Daniel hoping that he could tell them what to do or how to fix what they had done wrong.
From his hiding spot behind the DHD, Daniel called, "I think it is some form of old French or maybe a mixture of that and Latin. They seem to think that we are trespassers and they need to take us home to-" Daniel listened to the words. "Sell us. Their leader thinks that Caesar would like Sam." He swallowed as he looked back at Jack, who tensed before making his way over to Sam.
Daniel stood up and spoke, "Hello, we are from the Tauri or Earth and we come to visit your planet in peace. We are ex-" another round of arrows flew at him and he ducked for cover once more.
As Sam watched Daniel try his diplomatic solution she ducked as an arrow flew past her as well. She could feel Jack beside her as they crouched behind a rock. She peeked over the rock again and saw that Daniel had given up on diplomacy and was trying to dial Earth. The wormhole bloomed out and settled into the shimmering puddle, Daniel looked to Jack for orders.
With a wave of his hand, Jack ordered, "You and T head for the 'gate. Carter and I are right behind you."
While Jack and Sam lay down cover fire, Teal'c managed to reach Daniel. Jack yelled, "Keep going, Carter and I will cover you." Teal'c looked as though he wanted to argue but Jack cut him off. "Now T. We're right behind you."
Jack waited until Daniel and Teal'c were almost to the gate when Jack turned to Sam. "You ready to make a run for it?"
She looked to where the men were reloading their bows. "Yes, let's go." They waited until the men shot their arrows again and sprinted toward the DHD where they took shelter while they waited for the men to reload and shoot again.
The arrows flew around them and then Jack and Sam broke free of the cover of the DHD and headed for the 'gate's stairs. About half way, Sam felt an arrow enter her thigh and she went down. She struggled to stand, but her leg collapsed beneath her.
Jack took a few more steps before he realized that she wasn't behind him any longer. Stopping, he looked back and saw her on the ground. Hurrying to where she lay, he had her over his shoulder in a fireman lift within seconds, as he continued heading for the gate.
They had almost made it to the stairs when Jack stumbled, as he was struck by an arrow in the side.
From where she was, Sam could see it protruding from him. Her last thought was that she hoped it wasn't as bad as it looked and when they were safe, he'd let her look at it. It was then Jack started to collapse. Sam could remember the fall, but not hitting the ground.
How's that for a first chapter? Let me know if you liked it or loved it. Reviews are love..... ~Kelleth~