Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I probably shouldn't be allowed to. I'm dangerous.

Author's Note: First and foremost, a massive thank you to polrobin, who beta'd and smoothed out the rough spots. The most beautiful moments in this piece (and the title) came from her mind, and I can't take credit for them. Secondly, (though I hate warnings), she insisted (see how nice she is to all of you?) that I warn you about the content. So:

WARNING: Alludes to rape. Not happy. And it's rated M for other stuff, like a little language and... stuff that you shouldn't be reading if you're not 17. Any more gives the plot all away, and I just plain refuse. But you trust me, right? As Cole Porter would say, "It's always darkest just before they turn on the lights."

This fic is done, so no worries about that; I just probably won't get it all posted tonight because it's already midnight.

As always, your reviews make my heart glow and my fingers type faster.

Reclaiming Carter

Part One: The Claim

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
~Henry Kissinger

"So, what makes this planet so damned interesting?" Jack O'Neill surveyed his surroundings carefully. "Other than the trees?"

His second in command shrugged, shooting him a teasing smile. "Don't look at me, sir," Carter answered. "There's nothing I want."

"There is little evidence of recent Goa'uld activity on this planet, O'Neill," Teal'c chimed in. "I am, therefore, also uninterested."

Colonel O'Neill's eyes swung over to the young archaeologist. "Daniel?"

"If you'd been listening in the briefing, Jack, you'd know."

The colonel's stare stayed completely impassive and Daniel sighed. If he'd listened in the briefing? When was the last time that had happened? "The MALP found very little evidence of human life, but further study with the UAV found buildings with an architectural style I've never seen before. This could be a completely new culture. If they're gone, I want to study the area, if they're not, I want to meet them!"

"Woot." Jack clearly couldn't have cared less.

"You are an irritating man," Daniel shot back. To his chagrin, it only made the colonel smile.

"And you love me for it."

Carter cleared her throat loudly. "If you two need a room, the nearest building is that way."

"Sweet!" Jack declared. "Let's go."

~/~

The path SG-1 was traveling was well-worn, with little evidence of overgrowth. It was clearly in use – or, at least, it had been until very recently. Daniel's excitement increased by the klik.

The rate of increase was matched only by the rising of the hair on the back of Colonel O'Neill's neck. He knew Teal'c felt it, too, as the Jaffa automatically dropped back a few paces. It was their standard military formation – Jack on point, the doctors in the middle, and Teal'c watching their six.

When Carter picked up the pace ever so slightly to catch him, he knew there was trouble for sure.

"Sir," she said ever so softly over his shoulder, "we're not alone."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Stand ready, Major."

"Yes, sir." He knew she was clutching her P90 a little closer as she dropped back to warn their resident dreamer, but their pace didn't change.

Until two kliks down the path, when a small contingent of men materialized in front of them. Both groups stood with their weapons ready and Jack couldn't help but feel he was being sized up for something else entirely.

"Uh, hello," Daniel greeted a bit awkwardly. "My name is Daniel Jackson; we're peaceful explorers."

No one spoke, but most of the men glanced at a single, taller man. He was their leader, Jack guessed, and that was… something. Still, the looks in their eyes and the way they apprised each member of his team was unsettling.

When Daniel next spoke, he addressed the man in charge. "This is Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, and Teal'c. We're very interested in learning more about your culture. Perhaps an exchange of ideas, or trade?"

Still, the aliens didn't speak. Even Daniel was getting unnerved.

"Do you, um, talk?" he asked. "I mean, can you understand us?"

The leader jerked his head. "Take her," he ordered. "Kill the rest."

Immediately, every weapon from both groups was trained on the other. If his words surprised SG-1, their military experience kicked in too quickly for it to be noticeable.

"Whoa, Nelly!" Jack exclaimed. "Let's not be hasty, huh?" Though he'd never seen their weapons before, he was already calculating odds, as he knew Carter and Teal'c were doing behind him. Seven aliens, four… Earthlings?... with two automatic weapons, Daniel's sidearm, and Teal'c's staff weapon – they'd be fine.

Until the leader moved his head again and more men appeared from the trees all around them. Lots more men. Suddenly life looked less cheery.

"Can we discuss this?" Daniel spoke up. "I mean, really, we just got here."

"I have no interest in your speeches or your trade. Only in her."

"Ah, well, she's not really trade material," Jack answered woodenly. He was as primeval as the next guy, really, but that mentality always threw him for a loop. The fact that it was Carter and not just any woman only made it worse.

"I believe you misunderstand me. I have no interest in trading for her. I take what I want."

Jack knew her face didn't falter – neither did her aim – but he could feel the fear sheeting off her over his right shoulder. He couldn't blame her; he wasn't entirely comfortable himself. And he'd be damned if he'd let them have her without a fight.

It was a hand motion this time that set everything into action, dozens of men coming at them from all sides. Daniel took down a few, as did Teal'c, and Jack and Sam let their P90's loose on the crowd – something they only did with the most hostile of men – but the aliens were just too close to start with, and there were just too many. All too quickly, it turned from a gun battle to a brawl as their weapons were knocked from their hands, and the odds didn't favor SG-1.

Daniel went down first, overwhelmed by sheer manpower. The three soldiers fared better against the mob, but it wasn't long before Jack heard a strangled high-pitched cry from behind him and knew it was all but over. Sure enough, he never even saw the pain stick that hit him from behind, but he didn't need to – the way it knocked him to his knees brought back some not-so-fond memories.

At least, if they were going to take her, Jack could say he'd tried his best. Not that that was any comfort.

Their weapons and vests were stripped from them, their hands bound behind their backs before the men were shoved to their knees in front of the tall man. Carter got a bonus – a rope with a long lead was tied around her neck and she was unceremoniously yanked to the leader and handed over to his control.

She looked pissed. And really, really frightened, but Jack was pretty sure only SG-1 saw that.

"Kill them," he ordered again.

"Hey!" Sam yelled angrily, catching his attention. "What the hell is going on?"

A smirk spread across his features as he approached her, slowly reeling in the rope that held her until his face was mere inches from hers. "I have no use for them," he murmured seductively. "Not as I do you."

Her throat shifted as she swallowed hard, but she held her voice even. She was hardly the team negotiator – in fact, she almost never handled that – but it seemed she was the only one with any leverage. The thought was fairly sickening to all of them. "You don't have to kill them."

"Why shouldn't I?" he answered with a shrug.

"Because there's no point. Because you have what you want. Send them back through the Gate and they won't bother you again."

Jack knew that she and he both had entirely different ideas about that – it involved claymores and a rather large incursion force that ended with beating the crap out of that guy – but he kept his mouth shut. She got points for getting the man talking, at least – that was better than Daniel had managed thus far. Bullet not in head was good.

Still, while her capitalizing on the creep's obvious attraction for her seemed to be the only option, he didn't have to like it. And he was running out of happy endings for that scenario. Quickly.

The alien's gaze flickered from Carter's blazing eyes to her lips and back up. "You have spirit."

"Or something," she shot back.

Abruptly, his free arm surrounded her lower back and pulled her hips into his. "Tell me again why I should free them."

That was enough. "Back off, asshole," Jack snarled, lurching to his feet, but a solid hit from one of the goons put him right back down.

"No woman has ever had the courage to attempt to bargain with me," the man sneered. "I will give you one last chance. Tell me why I should do as you ask."

SG-1 could tell the moment the full gravity of the situation hit their teammate – her throat went a little too tense, she blinked just a little too fast. She had to play this well.

"Because I will never cooperate if you don't."

"Then I will kill you as well," he answered smoothly.

"Fine."

The word was solid, fearless, and once again the gall of the woman took him aback. "You would die for them?" he asked, amused.

"I would do anything for them," she ground out through gritted teeth. "Even you."

Jack knew he should trust her. He knew they had better odds once they were on their feet and better yet once they could get reinforcements from the other side of the Gate, but his stomach was churning ridiculously hard and he couldn't help himself. "Carter, no."

But once again, his outburst earned him a violent reaction from the guards – this time, the butt of a gun to his temple sent him sprawling. Even as the world twisted, he could see the wince flash across his second's features.

It was far less disturbing than the malicious smile that grew on the face of the man who held her. "I have high hopes for you," he murmured, one hand still firm on the rope while the other ventured slowly from her hip up her stomach to cup a breast. With the rope around her neck, she couldn't pull back, and her eyes slipped closed.

So did Daniel's and Jack's.

"And because I would much rather enjoy you than kill you, I will make you a deal. Prove your worth, and I will let them go."

Wide and frightened, Carter's eyes found her CO's. Her plan, he realized, had been for them to escape and bring back help sometime before the son of a bitch got his hands on her, and that had just been blown out of the water.

"Oh, if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, there ain't no way," Jack growled.

"I do not recall giving either of you a choice. Bring them to the outpost."

The crowd of men hauled SG-1 roughly to their feet and continued down the path at a grueling pace. The leader, unfortunately, kept Carter with him, out of reach or decent hearing distance from the rest of them.

"This is bad, Jack," Daniel said softly.

"She can't do this, Daniel."

"I don't think she sees a choice."

"Yeah, well, I'd rather be dead," Jack hissed.

"Major Carter will never allow such an event to occur while she may prevent it, O'Neill."

"Enough talking," one of the goons clipped from behind them.

The gun in his back shut Jack up, but Daniel had one more important thing to say. "We'll get her back, Jack. No matter what, we'll get her back."