"What is it Daniel?" Sam was working in her lab, examining a piece of technology that one of the teams had brought back from a recent trip through the gate. She was studying it carefully, as if it could mean the end of their fight with the Goa'uld.

"We were called to the briefing room", he told her. "Someone just came through the gate and the General wants to see us."

"Who was it, do you know?" she asked, not showing much interest.

"The Tokra I think", he answered.

She sighed and put down the alien object. "Okay, let's go. What about Teal'c?"

"He went ahead. I said I'd come and get you."

She frowned at him. "Why wasn't I called?"

"Uh – because lately you've ignored it when people call you."

"I don't ignore it Daniel. It's just that sometimes I get busy and don't hear."

"Okay, okay. I just offered to come and find you."

"Sorry", she sighed again, putting her hand through her hair. "It's just – I have to concentrate on things or -"

"Yeah, I know", he said gently. "I do the same and Teal'c's taken to doing way more meditating. We'll get through this Sam."

"Will we?" she asked. "I don't see how. He's gone Daniel and he's never coming back."

"We don't know that. There's still hope."

"It's been seven months. The only thing we can hope is that he's dead – because you know he'd prefer that to having been made a host!"

"Sam!" he reached out to take her arm but she pulled away.

"Not now Daniel." A few seconds later they arrived in the briefing room.

Daniel knew that Sam – hell, that all of them were hanging on by a thread so he didn't say anymore. He wondered vaguely what the Tokra wanted, but found that he didn't care that much. Unfortunately, that was the way he felt about most things now days.

"Major, Dr. Jackson – please, come in and sit down. You'll see we have some visitors."

Daniel looked at the table where two Tokra were seated. One he didn't recognize, the other –

"Anise/Freya? Uh hi."

"Hello Daniel Jackson", the Tokra woman answered. "It is good to see you and you as well Major Carter."

"Uh hi", Sam said. She really didn't like this Tokra at all, but wasn't about to be rude. She gave Teal'c a small smile and then looked at the other Tokra with a questioning look.

"This is D'oral and Samel", Hammond introduced them. "These are my people Teal'c, who you met, Major Sam Carter and Dr. Daniel Jackson."

After the introductions were over everyone sat down and looked at Hammond.

"Our guests requested a meeting with us today. They informed me that they have some important information for us. Please", he turned to the two Tokra, "continue."

"Thank you General Hammond", Anise/Freya answered. "I will start by explaining that we recently returned from a mission to a planet on the fringes of our galaxy. We were sent there to check out a System Lord. Very little is known about him and he stays close to his home planet, but we were concerned that he might have been amassing Jaffa and weapons to attempt to strike out at the Tokra or possibly the Tauri."

"I see", Hammond frowned. "And did you discover this to be true?"

"No. In fact he seems to be very happy to stay on his homeworld. I believe he is worried that so many System Lords are falling and is attempting to keep out of our way – of our respective forces."

"So he doesn't pose much of a threat?" Sam asked.

"No", Freya looked at her. "We do not believe so."

"Okay, then – what's the problem? I mean, why are you telling us this in person. Wouldn't a message have been enough."

This time Samel, the host, turned to Sam and spoke. "I am sorry that I have not met you before, but I have heard many things about the great Sg1", he said. "I know your father, Jacob Carter well", he smiled at Sam. "It was for this reason that I asked if we could come in person to tell you what else we found." His face grew serious and he looked like he was having trouble speaking.

"So, what did you find?" Daniel asked, sounding impatient like Jack, rather than like his usually diplomatic self.

"We found Colonel O'Neill", Freya said gently. "He is being held by Raijin, the System Lord on the planet we visited."

There was dead silence in the room. It was almost as if everyone was frozen. It was Teal'c who was the first to move and to speak. "Has he been made a host?" he asked. His voice contained little emotion, but for those who knew him well it was obvious he was under great strain.

Freya shook her head, but said nothing. It was Samel, after a quick glance at her, who spoke. "No – Raijin is keeping him as his slave."

"God DAMN it!" Daniel stood up suddenly, his chair falling over violently, and made his way to the window overlooking the Stargate.

"Dr. Jackson!" Hammond admonished. "Settle down. We don't know anything else yet." He turned to the two Tokra. "How is he? Did he recognize you? Were you able to make contact?"

A strange look passed between the Tokra and this time it was clearly Anise who spoke. "He is not well", she said gently. "Raijin has treated him – harshly – and no, we were unable to make contact without giving away our identities."

"What do you mean he's not well", Sam asked softly. "What have they done to him?"

Again a look passed between Freya and Samel. It was Freya who spoke. "He has been kept as a slave – a trophy that Raijin brings out to show his guests. He brags that he has captured the great O'Neill. He is -" she stopped and took a deep breath. "He refers to O'Neill as his little pet and treats him -"

"Treats him how?" Daniel asked softly.

"Like an animal. He is chained and kept naked. Some of the guards told us he is forced to live in a cage and is often beaten and starved. I am sorry", she said quickly, "but I don't believe he is -" again she stopped. The fact that Freya – the one who was usually without emotion and the tougher of the two, seemed to look sad.

"I do not believe there is anything left of Colonel O'Neill", Samel said softly. "He showed no recognition of anything and didn't speak or respond in any way."

"Oh God", Sam covered her eyes with her hands. "No – I know the Colonel is still there. He's tough. He's probably just laying low to trick them."

Freya went to argue, but her fellow Tokra took her arm and shook his head. "It is possible. We did not have a chance to see him on his own so we do not know. He may have simply been tricking the Goa'uld."

"He would have recognized Freya", Teal'c said softly. "He would have attempted to acknowledge her in some way."

They all looked at the Tokra woman, but she simply shook her head. "There was nothing", she told them gently. "I am sorry."

It was then that both Daniel and Sam turned to the General. "We have to go get him Sir", Sam said. "We can't leave him there."

Hammond sighed and spoke to the Tokra. "What are the chances of mounting a rescue operation?"

Samel took a deep breath and looked at his companion. "It would be difficult", he said. "Although Raijin isn't interested in conquest, his forces are reasonably strong. He's also put a lot into protecting his planet. I think he fears that the Tauri and Tokra might attack him."

"But he welcomed you?" The General asked.

"Yes – we posed no threat as we arrived in a small ship and there were few of us. We came pretending to want to trade with him."

"I see – and do you think he was at all suspicious?"

"No", Freya answered. "He was too interested in showing off his prize and in lusting after me", she told them. "He suspects nothing."

"Could you return?" Hammond asked. "Would he be suspicious if you were to go back?"

Both of the Tokra considered for a moment. It was Samel who finally replied. "He might be, although he indicated he was interested in purchasing more Homel if we were to get some." At the humans' blank looks he explained. "It is a rare drink made from the nectar of the lalia plant. It is fermented and becomes a very potent beverage."

"Many people say it is an aphrodisiac", Freya explained. "I believe Samel is correct. If we were to arrive, saying we had purchased a number of bottles he would believe it was an adequate reason for us to return. He was willing to pay a substantial amount for the beverage."

"So, let's get some of this Homel stuff and go get Jack", Daniel said impatiently.

"It is not so easy Dr. Jackson", Freya told him.

"Why not?" Sam frowned at her. "Daniel's right. Let's get it and go to the planet and bring Jack back with us. What's the problem?"

"There are two", Samel told them. "One, we need to get permission from our High Council – they may not wish us to return and secondly – it is very difficult to find Homel. It is a rare substance. It may take us many weeks to find it."

"No way!" Sam stood up this time. "We can't leave him there any longer, not if what you're saying is true. We've already left him for seven months! God – and we promised we'd never leave anyone behind!"

"Major", the General said sharply. "You know as well as I do that we tried everything we could to find the Colonel. And I know very well that every team that goes out there spends time looking for him. There was nothing we could do. Jack will understand that."

"Will he?" Daniel asked. "I bet he was counting on us and we didn't save him. God – we've got to go now."

"It will look too suspicious unless we have a valid reason to return." Samel told them carefully.

"Look, I'll get in touch with your High Council and request your help. After all we've done for the Tokra, they'd better say yes", Hammond said fiercely. "As for this drink – do you have any at all?"

"We have one bottle", Freya said. "But that would not be enough reason to return."

"No, but if you give me a sample, maybe I could create something that tasted just like it!" Sam said excitedly.

Freya frowned. "I do not believe that would be possible. It is a very unique flavor. Anyone who drinks it would be able to tell the difference."

"So, we give him your bottle as the sample and then have some crates of the fake stuff. All we need to do is get onto the planet, retrieve the Colonel and get out quickly. I'm sure we could do it?" Sam turned to Hammond. "General? We have to try Sir."

After a moment he gave a nod. "Okay – but watch yourselves out there. I don't want to lose the rest of you too. Samel/D'oral, Freya/Anise – thank you. I'll contact the High Council now."

"Yes, thank you", Sam turned to them and attempted a small smile. "Uh, if you have that bottle?"

"I will have to return and bring it back with me", Freya told her. "We will return as soon as we have received approval from the High Council."

A few moments later and the Tokra were gone. It was only then that Sam realized she hadn't even asked after her father. She could only assume he was still on an undercover mission somewhere.

"I can't believe they found him", Daniel spoke softly, still looking at the gate.

"O'Neill is strong", Teal'c said, standing beside him. "We will rescue him and he will be himself once more."

"I hope that's true Teal'c", Sam whispered. "I just want him back."

"We all do Sam – we all do."