Ever since Sam had woken up following the surgery she hadn't gone back to sleep. Whatever was causing her pain continued to do so so that she never had a moment's peace. SG-1 hadn't left her side, they couldn't help her but, they could stay close to her. For the most part the convulsions were minor but, then she'd have a big one and the screaming and crying made everyone's heart break. Everyone on base knew she was back and they all knew she was still being tortured. Sometimes her screams were so severe that she could be heard on other levels.
Following one of her bigger episodes Janet had come into the Iso room with red eyes and a puffy nose but, no one mentioned it. Instead Jack had barked at Janet for not finding a way to ease Sam's pain. "Sir we've tried everything," she nearly cried. "Any attempts we make to ease her pain only makes it worse. We found something in her tests."
Even though no one looked up she still placed test results up on the light box. She couldn't take looking at Sam. It took too much and she had to find a way to stop this. "Something's been implanted throughout her body." There was shifting and as Daniel stepped up next to her she knew that she now had the others attention; but, Jack and Teal'c weren't about to move from Sam's side.
"What are those," Daniel asked as he studied the pictures.
"I don't know. But, they're located at every single point of injury. They're small, we didn't see any sign of these during surgery but, the tests show more in her internal organs as well. I think these are what's causing her pain. In spite of all her injuries it's unlikely that their placement is coincidental. I think that they were designed to keep her injuries from healing – to keep her in pain."
"Can you remove them," Teal'c asked just as Hammond entered the Iso room.
"No," Janet offered defeated. "They have a tendril like structure. They shoot out from the body of the implant and lodge into her muscle and nerves. And considering all attempts we make to ease the pain seems to be counteracted by these devices I'd be willing to bet that it's also designed to keep us from removing them."
Hammond stepped closer to Sam's bedside and took her hand in his. "Sam," he offered softly. He could care less about military rank right now. This was the woman he considered to be his niece. He had watched her grow up and achieve so much; he refused to watch her die as anything less than what she meant to him. "I know it hurts but, can you tell us what happened."
Sam closed her eyes against the tears before shaking her head. "Who abducted you? Sam, give us something …"
Sam's eyes opened and she studied Hammond a moment before she sought out Jack. "Sir."
Jack immediately reached out, gently touching her shoulder as he studied her. "Give us something Carter."
"You can't go there … they'll kill you … there's no way …"
"We can't go where," Daniel asked softly.
Sam's eyes never strayed from Jack's and in a moment of their silent communication he understood. "Ba'al."
Sam closed her eyes. She couldn't look at him; they both knew he was going to do exactly what she had just told him not to. Instead she squeezed Hammond's hand. "Don't go."
"Sam –"
"Don't," Sam interrupted. "It's too dangerous."
"We're NOT going to let you die Carter," Jack bellowed.
Sam squeezed Hammond's hand tighter and he called Janet over. The convulsions didn't build like they previously had. Instead this one ripped through her with lightning speed and she immediately cried at the pain. She tried to bite down her scream but she couldn't stop it from erupting. Immediately everyone was standing next to her bedside and she continued to cry. When the convulsions stopped Sam looked to Jack through her tears. "Please … make it stop …"
"We will Carter. We'll get Ba'al –"
"No … it's too dangerous … please … just let me go." Sam's tears hadn't stopped and she continued to cry as another convulsion started. "Please … god … please, kill me … just make it stop!"