To all of you that have been so loyal to me and to the newbies, here is another chapter as promised. With finals completed and the new semester not starting for two weeks, I am hoping to be able to write a little more often. However, college is just one thing in my busy life. With working a full time job and a handicapped sister, time still seems to slip away faster than what I expect so bear with me if I cannot live up to that challenge. If I cannot, I will keep posting once a week, each Sunday.
Thank you again for all of the reviews, you really do not know how much they mean to me. Should you read this chapter, please leave a review. Even the ones you think may criticize my work – they all help me in the long run. I would really love to hear from all of you that read it!
Chapter 10
Fighting for freedom, life & love
With realization dawning on her, Sam had to admit that the fear in the pit of her stomach seemed to grow even larger at what she saw in the I.V. bag. The liquid in the bag was strong enough to make men like the Colonel beg for mercy and be tempted to commit suicide if subjected to it for a long period of time. That was why she was having nightmares. Somehow whoever had her had gotten a hold of something very powerful. Something that the SGC and the NID was supposed to have under lock and key and no one without the right clearance should be able to get their hands on it. The fluid in the I.V. bag was known to SG1 as Sokar's blood.
Sam had been subjected to the poison when they had to rescue her father and Selmak from Netu when Apophis had used it to try and gain information. The things the drink made her revisit in her memories always started off the same but then became twisted in the middle of the nightmare. The torture had not lasted that long because they had escaped but if they had not, would she have given in?
Had she given in this time? Is that why had they stopped it? Had they gained what they needed with the mind probe they had been using on her? Daniel had told her about the mind probe that Nem had used on him. When Nem had convinced her, Teal'c and Jack that Daniel had died on the planet only he had kept and used the mind probe on him to try to help him remember what had happened to Omoroka, Nem's wife. Was it the same mind probe they used on her? If it was it could very well be possible that between the blood of Sokar and the mind probe they could gain all the information they would have needed. All the information that she knew about the SGC and their allies. It would be scary if it fell into the wrong hands. Sam prayed that she had not let anything slip out but she just did not believe they would have stopped torturing her if she had not. At least she assumed they were through. Were they not?
That was Sam's thought when she heard a door open over to the left side of the room. She could move her head to look to see who had come in but she could not move anything else or defend herself and she did not like that feeling at all.
She felt the unbelief begin when she could feel the naquadah. When she saw who had walked in the door, she prayed that somehow – just maybe she was still having a nightmare – this one just a little more real. But she knew she was not. She also knew that the man she had seen walk into the room was very real. What the heck was a Goa'uld doing on earth? Especially this one. The last thing she needed was to see him. Knowing he was here meant that what she had locked up in her brain was why she was in the nightmare in the first place.
That is when it all became clear to Sam. It was the information in her memories that they were digging for. She was here because she knew things about their allies. Allies like the Nox and their ability to heal, even when someone was completely dead. She also had Jolinar's memories since she had been taken over by a Tok'ra and now they wanted whatever information they could get from her concerning her dad and his new family. Even more frightening was all the codes and locks that she had installed into the computer software at the SGC. Had she given away this information? Information that not only could prove harmful to Earths allies but could cause death to her friends and family right here on Earth.
"Well, look who we have here." The voice had that same deep gravel sound that all the Goa'uld had when they spoke but Carter did not turn her head. Screw them, if they wanted something from her they would have to kill her for it. Because something in Carter assured her that she had not given anything away. She had been trained too well in hostile situations to believe otherwise.
Ba'al actually smiled when he saw that Carter was trying to put up a fight. But surely these Tauri should know by now that they were no match for the gods! He grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. She tried to move her head but he held tightly to her.
"You think you are powerful enough to hide from me what I seek to know? I will find out all and have fun with you in the process. Look around, no one is coming to save you. Did you think your precious O'Neill would come? Even if he was to come, he would be too stuck in his own memories of what I did to him to help you. And remember – you are the reason I was able to have the fun with him that I had. You are after all the one that suggested he take a symbiote. Oh, and let's not forget how easy it was to torture him to death numerous times because of his obsession for you."
Sam could not help but cringe when Ba'al said those last words. Jack had never told her when he had talked about Ba'al capturing him and torturing him, that he had spent time in the sarcophagus because he had died. She had already confessed to Jack about feeling blame about being the one that had talked him into taking the symbiote but to know he was tortured because of her. That left Sam feeling worse then what she already was.
Ba'al paused between his next words as he rubbed his palm across her face. He would never tell the other system lords, but there was just something so soft about the skin of most Tauri women and Carter was no different. He had noticed her actions and her face when he had mentioned using her as the means to torture O'Neill. So using his death as a means to gain information from her would be the best solution after all. He continued to taunt her but he noticed that the words he spoke did not seem to bother her as much as his hands on her did. Hmm, maybe that was the answer. He wanted the information and he would get it – by whatever means. Besides, taking pleasure against her will would not matter. She would be everything he wanted her to be soon enough.
"But do not worry. O'Neill will not be angry with you anymore for allowing him to fall into my hands. You are mine now. He will never find you. And who knows, I may just keep you for a plaything once I have extracted all the information I want from your memories, your mind. Of course, by then there really won't be any fight left in you sadly. But it is the price I will have to pay to gain your vast knowledge and once again have my place among the system lords. You will be as submissive as a puppet."
Carter refused to back down. "You talk so much junk but I see you still do not have Colonel O'Neill. You so called gods are not as powerful as you think you are. It's about time the whole bunch of you realize that. We will kick your butt again just like we always have. After all, aren't you missing a few gods around the table because of the Tauri. The same ones you claim you can defeat has left all of you scrambling for cover at one time or another"
Sam spat the words at Baal but she could not help the fear that was showing in her eyes. Jack had told her one night when they were at his ranch just some of the things that Ba'al had done to him. She had to admit, she was nowhere near as brave as the Colonel was. And if he was to get a hold of Jack and use him against her…she really did not believe she would last that long. It was different to have the nightmares, but for that person you loved with every beat of your heart and every breath you took to be tortured because of you, no there was no way she could do it.
"Do you think it is that easy to get rid of a god? When I am through with you, you will see how powerful I am. You will watch while I destroy every Tok'ra and Tauri on this world and every other world. Then I will reign supreme, as a god should. Oh and do not worry, I will not fail. You will give me all the information I need."
Carter knew how all of these supposed gods loved to brag about what they were going to do and who they were going to get rid of. She also knew that before the SGC had gotten rid of the ones they had, each team had suffered severe blows – even to the death of some very special friends. If it had not been for the Nox and the Ancients, her whole team would be dead.
So she could not help herself when the words Ba'al told her about keeping her around as a plaything started causing her to worry. No one really knew where she was and to be honest, she did not know how long she had been where she was. She had no doubt that Jack knew she was missing. He would have figured that out the minute she did not answer his usual call around 10 that morning. Or was it the morning before? Had she been gone for over 24 hours already.
She turned off her thoughts. Baal's intense stare made her remember who she was with and that she really did not have that good of a poker face. She didn't want to give anything away, especially the knowledge that she was scared. So scared in fact that her body would be trembling if it could.
Ba'al continued to stare at Carter. He hated to admit it but she was a worthy advisory, almost as worthy as O'Neill. So therefore she would make an even better slave. He knew how well certain Tauri could and would fight to get her back but if the Tauri puppets he had on his strings did their job correctly there would be no fight from anyone. O'Neill should be dead by now and once they lost O'Neill, the fight would be lost. This would be simple if all the pieces fell into the right places. Oh but he was nobody's fool. He knew how easy it was for these puppets of his to mess up. So he had other things in place to take care of any mistakes.
He would be the new system lord on the counsel with all the information he would gain from Carter. O'Neill would be dead and Carter would be his new toy before the week was out. Things were looking much, much better.
Sam watched the look of arrogance cross Ba'al's face and she realized that Teal'c was so correct in his statement that a Goa'old's worse enemy is their own pride. They honestly believed that they could not fail. Well she had some news for this one, she would die before he would gain any information from her. She would not betray her family, her friends, her Country and surely not her God. Because to give this false god the information he wanted was to betray everything that meant something to her and she would die first. She may not be able to go without screaming and crying but she would not give anything out.
Sam believed this with her whole heart until she saw the knife appear in Ba'al's hand. When it sliced through her uniform, cutting it and everything she wore under it so that she laid fully exposed in front of him, she knew then that the torture had not stopped, the game had only changed. And in the back of her mind Samantha Grace Carter was not so sure that she would be able to handle what she was afraid was coming next.
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Daniel was quiet as the ambulance sped through the streets, lights flashing and siren blaring. He just could not believe what had happened, what he had seen. It should have gone down without a hitch. O'Neil would take a bullet, fall down, pretend to die while Teal'c chased whichever NID shot O'Neill. The vest should have stopped the bullet. Jack should not be bleeding like this! He should be responsive! They should not be having to take him to an emergency room to sew up a hole from a bullet that went straight through a bullet proof vest.
The plan had been established long before Jack had gotten so antsy in the hotel room. Each person in their group had known that whomever was pulling the strings again, Jack just shook his head at them and stated "Kinsey" would want Jack completely out of the picture. Once the culprit had found out that Jack had stayed in Nevada with Carter, then they would do everything in their power to get rid of him.
So knowing this, they decided that Jack was to go nowhere without a bullet proof vest. That way if he should get shot he would be protected and they would have gained some ground. With the rogue NID and Kinsey thinking Jack was out of the game, they would not be as weary of where they were seen or where they went. Jack being black ops trained, he could trail them right to Carter.
That was the plan anyway. Great plan, but even great plans fail and this one had definitely failed, miserably. Daniel had seen the look on Jack's face when the bullet had ripped through him. The look said it all and Daniel was afraid that Jack was right. Had they lost two of their best people? Had he lost two of his best friends?
Sam was like a little sister to him. She brought out the things that his foster families had pushed down when he was growing up. When Jack would get annoyed because he would babble on profusely about something, she would stand and listen. Never doubting him and his assessment, she was willing to go to bat for him to get more data on a planet or check out some ruin that had been found. He had known of her feelings for Jack since the first time Jack had made the mistake of flirting with her. He had seen the love actually grow stronger and the hurt deeper because Sam had known that she could never have him.
Jack on the other hand reminded him of the school bully turned big brother. Jack loved to pick on him and for some reason, he allowed it to go on. The day Jack stood in the gate room and called him Space Monkey he wanted to bury himself into the concrete, he was so embarrassed. But a part of him appreciated what Jack had said and done. When he pulled him close and hugged him, he knew then that Jack would always have fun badgering him but would beat the holy crap out of anyone else that tried.
Jack had proven that with one of the teams that was stationed on SGC. The day in the cafeteria when one of them had called Daniel Space Monkey and then continued to make fun of him for his "geekiness"– Jack was at their table before anyone could say anything and made it plain without so many words, that no one called Daniel that but him and if he ever made the mistake of showing Daniel anything but respect, he would be cleaning every latrine at the SGC with a busted face.
Teal'c and Janet were the other two that made up their tight group. Oh, General Hammond was in the top 5 but he really could not associate himself with Jack's team so it put up a little barrier. Teal'c was to Daniel as a best friend was. He protected Daniel without saying he was doing it. They had been through quite a lot together and somehow it strengthened the friendship.
Janet, oh Janet! Daniel would have her for more than just a friend if he knew she felt the same way. He had fallen for her the first time he stepped back through the gate from Abydos and she had to do a post check up on him. He watched her with fascination. Such a beautiful woman all bundled up in a short little time bomb. Oyh! And time bomb she was too. He had witnessed the arguments that she and Jack had gotten into because he did not want the Napoleon needle jabber 'jabbing him with her needles' as Jack would put it or he did not think she was doing all she could for whatever time member was wounded and was a resident of the infirmary.
Daniel's mind came back to the present as he noticed that the ambulance was slowing down. They were taking Jack to the Military hospital on the base at Grooms Lake and precautions were being followed. They did not want anyone except a select few to know that Jack was still breathing. Though they had lost him a couple of times he was fighting and fighting hard and Daniel could not help but believe that Sam was the reason why. If the word spread that Colonel Jack O'Neill was alive and being treated at Area 51, it would not take long for the rogue NID or Vice President Kinsey to find out.
The doctors and nurses were waiting outside a back set of doors away from the front when the ambulance pulled in and stopped and they had Jack covered from head to toe with the I.V. bags and tubes hidden away from view. They whisked him away before Daniel even had time to climb out of the ambulance. As he ran down the long hall following the stretcher, he felt the phone in his pants pocket begin to vibrate and reached inside to pull it out. Seeing General Hammonds number, it did not take Daniel long to figure out that the news had hit Washington about Jack – just how much news he would soon find out.
Daniel noticed the doctor and nurse going into the elevator and hurried to catch up as the nurse waved her hand at him. Obviously, after coming in the back way, Daniel figured they were taking Jack to a secure part of the hospital in order to work on him without a lot of people knowing. Daniel answered the phone and listened to the General's questions, dreading the news he was going to have to give.
"General, sir. I take it you have heard the news…." Daniel waited while the General talked on the other end. Looking at the doctor and nurse he watched their faces when they all heard the General ask if Jack was dead or alive and if alive would he make it. He saw the doctor shrug his shoulders. He was not sure if he could save Jack or not. However, knowing that the General was most likely in the room with others and that he was on a speaker phone, Daniel answered the way the General had hoped he would.
"Um Sir, I am afraid that we have lost Jack. He didn't survive the gun shot sir. Not sure what kind of bullets they have but it went straight through the vest. Yes, sir every precaution was taken…no sir still no word on Major Carter. Teal'c was pursuing Matthews but I believe he escaped."
Daniel knew he lied on both of those parts. So far Jack was still alive and Teal'c had caught Mathews. He knew not to say that or Mathews would not live to be able to tell them anything.
"No sir we do not know who else is involved and now that Jack has been killed our chances of finding out where Sam is and who is behind this just plummeted even more. Yes, sir I will. The body will be shipped back to the SGC according to your authority. I understand and thank you, sir. He was a good man as you well know."
Daniel hung up the phone and put his fingers to his lips signaling the two other occupants in the car to keep quiet until they reached where they were going. He knew General Hammond had caught onto the ruse and hoped it did not turn out to be the truth. Daniel still did not like the way Jack was breathing under the sheet and when he had looked at his face the last time, there was no color in it at all. If there was it was a deathly pallor color.
The doctor was already unsure whether Jack would make it or not and he had not seen the rip that was all the way through Jack. The bullet had gone clean through Jack's upper chest and it had torn the skin, muscle and tissue on the way out. Daniel wanted to have faith but he knew deep down that this may be one time when SG1 wouldn't come out victorious.
The doors opened to the elevator and just when the doctor started to push the gurney out, he stopped and looked down at Jack. Before Daniel knew what was happening he was on the side of the stretcher, pushing on Jack's chest. The nurse begun the oxygen pumping but the look on their faces scared Daniel. This was it. He was going to stand right here and watch one of his closest friends die and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
Where was all these people at that they had saved their butts? Why had they been left alone on this whole thing to try to find Sam? Why was someone always gunning for Jack and Sam and never allowing them to just have a little bit of good times? Daniel's insides were turning like a merry go round. He wanted to cry. Maybe he was crying. All he did know was that he was begging the man that had saved his butt so many times not to die on him. He did not think he would be able to handle it if he lost Jack and Sam.
Watching the nurses and doctors as they moved Jack from the gurney to a bed while still working on him caused Daniel to slip back to his childhood when he had watched the paramedics try to save his parents. He had only been 5 when they had died but he remembered it as if it were yesterday. The beating on the chest, the chaotic noises and the smell of death. And he was stuck right here seeing, smelling and hearing the same thing all over again. The only difference now was that the doctor had switched to the paddles but they weren't doing much better. The line seemed to go on forever on the machine – just one long straight line.
Then it changed. Suddenly there was a different rhythm on the machine. Jack's heart had started back. Very slowly and barely going but it was there. The doctor turned to look at Daniel in unbelief. Daniel was looking the same way, using the wall behind him to hold himself up.
"He is alive. Whether or not he makes it now and later is up to him but we have got to see what we can do about this wound. You need to step out Dr. Jackson and we will let you know if anything changes." The doctor said the words but Daniel knew what he meant by "if anything changes" and it scared him all over again. He knew the chances of Jack making it off of the operating table alive was almost a zero to none. Again if he did -it was only because of Sam.
Daniel waited in the hallway for what felt like eternity. When the doctor came out saw him, he waved for Daniel to come back to the room they had taken Jack to at first. When Daniel walked in, he knew things had not gone the way he had prayed. Jack was laying in the bed, and if Daniel did not know better he would have sworn he was dead. The ventilator plugged up and the tube down Jack's throat told Daniel all he needed to know. Jack had slipped into a coma. The chances of him surviving now had just dropped below zero.
He walked out of the room and picked up the phone that was vibrating in his pocket. It was Teal'c. Oh God, could he even talk to him? He had meant to call him and let him know what was happening but things had gone by so fast. He was not sure where Teal'c had gone when he had come back and realized what had happened to Jack. He just looked at all the blood and then turned around to face the man he held in his hands. He jerked him and turned to walk off, not listening to Daniel or the man's pleas.
Mathews face turned whiter than any fresh snow had ever been and he knew that Teal'c would kill him if O'Neill was dead. That is of course if Teal'c did not take him back to the hotel room to Reynolds. Daniel knew Reynolds was another one that if he got his hands on Mathews before anyone could stop him, Mathews would be dead. Daniel hoped not because Mathews may be there only link to finding Sam. But Daniel had this small suspension that Mathews did not know where Sam was. He had this funny feeling that each person in this little scenario knew no more besides the part they were to play.
In other words, whoever took Sam most likely was not Mathews. Daniel had a feeling that Mathews job was to do nothing but get rid of Jack. He also felt sure that someone out there had a job to get rid of Mathews when he finished his job. Daniel prayed that Mathews had failed miserably with his one job.
"Daniel Jackson, how is O'Neill?"
The words came out of Teal'c's mouth and not even being in the same room with him, Daniel could tell that this was one time when apprehension was showing on Teal'c's face. Teal'c and Jack were closer than anything Daniel had ever witnessed. They were brothers. Brothers in arms. Brothers to the end. They would fight and protect each other, while dying themselves.
Daniel wanted to answer Teal'c but he was worried. Was the phones secure that they were using? To be sure no one had gotten to them. If they had, then there was someone at the SGC conspiring against them also. Could Daniel take the chance?
"Daniel Jackson, I am using my secure phone – no one has compromised it nor yours. I had them checked when we left the SGC. That is why I gave you a new one upon finding you. Now tell me of O'Neill."
Daniel told him. Told him everything. He heard the man grunt and then he heard something break when he told him that Jack had slipped into a coma. Daniel prayed it was not Mathews that had connected with whatever Teal'c had just destroyed.
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Yes, I know but I promise in the long run it will all work out – I hope. I am not even sure what my Mr. Muse is doing at this point. I will warn you that the next chapter will deal more with Sam's torture and it will be graphic. Mature audiences only please!