Chapter 11
Dinner arrived much the same as breakfast. Women with heavy basket doled out large mugs, this time laden with a vegetable stew, and loaves of bread. Again as Sam approached the bars, the woman handing out the food hesitated, glancing at Sam's tags. She looked fleetingly at Sam but her eyes darted away nervously as they both heard the loud tramp of approaching Jaffa. The women finished their assigned task quickly and disappeared.
The colonel was thrust into the cell, the cell door was slammed shut and Jack gave his team a tight grim smile. They all looked at him and he had nothing for them. Carter broke the ice and brought him one of the loaves and mug of stew. He took the food but as hungry as he was, he still did not have much of an appetite.
The serving women, finished for the day, made their way back to the inner kitchen where the food was prepared for serving after it had been brought in from the main kitchens.
"So where is my pottery? You know those in the cells are very hard on my dishware."
The mistress of the pantry was incensed that the slave girls had not finished their assigned task.
"My lady, one of the prisoners had just returned from the divine presence."
"Finish your dinner then get my pottery."
Cooper slid into the bench beside the girls and shared the left overs from the platters served to the court.
"We have new prisoners to feed?" He felt for the poor souls, he knew what the future had in store for them.
"There are four of them. Three men, one a Jaffa, and a woman." The girl looked around furtively, nibbled a few more mouthfuls then whispered "They have these." as she touched Cooper's tags nestled under his shirt.
Cooper thought he'd be sick. They were finally here and managed to be imprisoned before he even caught sight of them. They had finally come to save him and he had to rescue them. Well so be it. He had to think and plan, he had to be cool and with the festival fast approaching he didn't have much time. And in the meanwhile he needed to give them hope.
When the girls went back to collect the dishware Jack stood by the bars with the mugs in his hand. He held them firm not letting the woman take them trying to catch her eye. She smiled shyly and slipping her hand beneath her robe drew out a packet wrapped in cloth. She took the mugs and stole away.
After assuring himself that there was no one else beside his cellmates able to see, Jack unwrapped the gift. It was a whole roasted... chicken? It smelled like chicken. Jack licked one of his fingers, it tasted like chicken, so he split it in half and handed the half to Teal'c. Each of them splitting it yet again.
"I think we have a friend." Jack said almost without sound.
Each of them made short work of their quarter of the small bird.