Okie day, I've lowered the rating to T. I thought it over, and realized theres nothing TOO bad in here to keep it at M. Other than vulgar language and excessive alcohol/tobacco use...it's not too, too intense...at least I don't think so.

Plus there is this deep seeded selfishness that wants more people to see it and read it, soo... -innocent grin-

Retribution

The match flared to life as he struck it against the wall. He leaned in, and put it to his cigarette.

He dropped the match onto the ground, making the people on the other end of the room flinch. The flame licked at the edge of the trail of gunpowder that led straight to where they were sitting strapped together with about ten pounds of explosives.

Sure, it was a bit overkill. But right then, he didn't really give a shit.

Finally the powder sparked, and the people on the other end of its death line started to scream and wail. He grinned at their distress, taking a drag from his cigarette. He placed his foot over the spark, and slowly stomped it out.

"Now that I've really got your attention." He said, his voice barely suppressing the fury within him. "I want you to tell me where she is."

The man he'd assumed was the ring-leader spoke up. "Sir, we don't know who you speak of."

"That's BULLSHIT!" He shouted in response, pointing his cigarette at the oversized lump of a man. "I know for a fact that she was in here just last week."

"Sir..." the man spoke up again. Oh, he was brave. "Your information must be mistaken because we have never seen this Vala you ask us about."

He laughed out to the ceiling. "See, you just FUCKED yourself right there!" He swiftly moved to squat down in front of the man. He pulled from the cigarette again, making sure to dangle it close to one of the sticks of dynamite as he pulled it away from his mouth. "I never told you her name."

The man paled. "N-no...I...You did."

He smiled at the man's screw up. "N-no..." He mocked. "I...I d-d-didn't." He stood back up, sweeping his arm over the explosives as he did, raining hot ashes all over. "God, they really can't seem to find themselves INTELLIGENT trustees, can they?" He shouted with glee. He walked back to the other side of the room, and turned back to the now sweaty man.

"See, unlike them..." He pulled a drag from the cigarette. "My contacts are smart, and VERY reliable." He exhaled blue smoke to the ceiling. "My most trusted source...you might know him...a little taller than me, wicked sense of humor, drinks a little too much and plays a little too loud, my teacher and mentor...best friend actually...goes by the name of Jack."

The pudgy little toad's eyes widened. "Mr. O'Neill? But he's not..."

His blue eyes brightened. God, he loved doing this. "Not what? A criminal? A rogue?" He laughed to the ceiling once more. "Damn, he's played you good! He told me this would be so much fun, and I honestly thought he was joking. Because how could anything be fun without the love of my life at my side? But no, he was right." He stepped closer to the group of people again. "He's the one who told me she was here, by the way. And he would NEVER lie to me about this." He put his hand to his chin, and considered what he just said. "In fact, he would never lie to me about ANYTHING."

He knelt down, and fingered the trail of gun powder. He brought the almost finished cigarette close to the black substance, looking up at the man. "Tell me where they took her."

"Sir...p-please..." the man stuttered, struggling in his restraints. "I'll tell you...Just...let the women go."

He'd had enough with this talk. It was clear the man was just running him in circles so those who had Vala could get farther away. He would lose the trail if he didn't get the info like five minutes ago.

"FUCK the women!" He shouted as he stood. His temper was gone. "THEY helped YOU drug her and beat her, and have her ra..." He stopped on the word, unable to say it. He took a calming deep breath, allowing the slow burn of fury to give him focus. "Now you're going to tell me." He drew his gun, and pointed it at the most overdressed woman tied in the group. "Or I'll shoot your slut before your very eyes...and then if you still don't tell me, I'll kill all your other whores, and leave you here to ROT in their stench."

One of the women cursed at him in another language, and he smiled. "Why thank you, princess." She looked at him wide-eyed. He winked at her, then turned back to the man. "Tick, tock, tick, tock." He cocked the gun, and went to squeeze the trigger, the cigarette slipping from his grasp.

"Wait!" The man shouted. He pulled up the gun, but still dropped the cigarette.

"Pressure, pressure." He shrugged.

"I overheard them say they were taking her through the forest to their hideout along the mountains, about twenty miles north." The pudgy man looked at the spark traveling his way. "Now please, put it out."

He nodded and stomped out the spark once more. He turned away from them, and moved to pick up his bag. Tossing the now dead cigarette butt to the ground, he started to exit the building.

"Wait, aren't you gonna untie us?!" The man shouted.

Daniel turned as he reached the doorway. He tilted his head as if considering the thought for a moment. Then he smiled.

"Nope." He stated simply, aiming his gun at the trail of powder. The man and women screamed as he fired, the spark of the bullet ricocheting off the floor setting off another spark along the black line.

With that, he walked out quickly. He pulled another cigarette out, and just as he lit it with a match, the building behind him exploded. His smile of retribution was bright, his stride never faltering as the ground beneath him shook.

"All for you, baby." Daniel stated to the open air as debris rained down around him.

A/N: So Jack finally made his 'appearence'. I'll be writing one with him ACTUALLY in it soon, if the bunnies allow it. But my beta has suggested -cough- DEMANDED SUBTLY -cough- for a follow up, so that's probably what's coming next. Reviews are LVOE!