Hi everyone! Here is the next chapter. Sorry about the wait, exams, Christmas...well you know. There should only be one, maybe two, more chapters, hopefully soon.

Anyway, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

As always, please review! Thanks a million!

Chapter 12

Another shot from a death glider shook the tel'tak. The shuddering made standing difficult and Sam fell, sprawling onto the floor. The impact caused shooting pains in his previously bruised knees. Sam lay on the floor as the small ship shook, praying that they would make it out of there alive.

"Careful Sam." The scientist lifted his head and looked at his best friend. Al stood right there, handlink in hand and a concerned look on his face. Even if Al couldn't physically do anything, Sam could always count on him for moral support.

"Hold on." said Teal'c, sending the cargo ship into an evasive maneuver, avoiding the majority of the incoming fire. Through the front window, bright yellow streaks of energy from the death gliders lit the dark background of empty space. A few beams connected with their target and again the small ship shook under the strain, sparks flying out of the control panel. The tel'tak had neither weapons nor a shield and the battle was taxing the small ship.

A large streak of bright colored light missed the nose of the vessel by meters, as Sam finally found his feet. He shuffled over and put both hands on the back of Samantha's chair for balance. His spirits sank as he looked at the display. The tel'tak had a bit of a head start but the death gliders were quickly approaching. Soon they would be close enough to get an accurate shot at the tel'tak, an event they probably wouldn't survive. The small cargo ships were not meant for battle conditions.

"Doesn't this thing have a cloak, shield, or something?" Jack asked, his tone stressed.

"The cloak is not engaging." Teal'c grunted, intense concentration visible on his every feature. His excellent piloting skills kept the tel'tak from being blown to bits, but they needed an escape route or plans for a long life were going to be cut short.

"We have jump to hyperspace, now!" Samantha called to Teal'c, as she brought the information up on screen. "Set our destination here, it's the closest planet with a stargate."

Jack turned and looked at Sam "I'm going to trust that your plan will work and make that mother-ship go away." He pivoted back to look out the window "Cuz I don't want to have to around and find out."

After a few seconds of preparation, Teal'c set the small ship into hyperspace. The short tug and feeling of acceleration threw Sam off guard but soon the soft colors and white light of hyperspace filled the front window. The team let out a collective sigh as the damaged ship settled into a smooth flight.

Jack patted Teal'c on the shoulder. "Good work Teal'c, Carter, Daniel."

Sam finally let himself relax as the reality of their escape set in. Putting his back against the closest wall, he slid down into a seated position and rested his forehead on his knees for a moment.

"You did it!" Al let out a chuckle and Sam peaked through his arms at the hologram. Al had lifted both hands and was dancing a little victory dance.

Sam smiled and laid his head back down. Al stopped dancing, walked up to him and squatted down so he was eye level with the scientist. Although he was smiling, his tone was quiet "Great job, Sam." He paused for a moment but then continued "I'm going to go now, but I will be back after you gate back to Earth. Get some rest, you deserve it."

Sam looked at him and gave a small smile back "Thanks for your help Al."

"No problem, kiddo. That's what I'm here for." With a push of a button the hologram walked through the imagining chamber door and was gone.

Sam's body ached. Now that most of his adrenaline induced energy was gone, he finally began feeling the negative effects of the interrogation. The first thing he noticed was his dull headache slowly progressing into a mild migraine, most likely a product of the energy rod or the ribbon device. A throbbing pain came from his back and legs, which were probably covered in bruises. Touching his face yielded a tender spot underneath his eye and a gash above his right eyebrow.

Looking at his quiet teammates did not produce better results. Jack had sustained several bruises and looked like he was nursing quite a headache. Teal'c looked for the most part unhurt but the tired look in his eyes coveted a much needed kelnol'reem.

By far, Samantha had suffered the most. She had a large bruise on the right side of her face, where the Jaffa had punched her. There were probably underlying abrasions and bruises that Sam couldn't see, maybe even a cracked rib or two. His shirt was still tied around her, protecting the majority of the wounds inflicted by the whip. Even on the black cloth of her shirt, Sam could see blood stains.

He had a degree as a medical doctor, but he did not feel that he could perform a proper job of making sure the wounds were clean and bandaged. His shaking hands would do more harm than good. Soon they would be back under the watchful eye of Doc Fraiser and she could do what she did best.

Sam let out a huge sigh and closed his eyes, exhaustion tugged at him. The floor of the ship were hard and uncomfortable but he did not notice. He had gone so long without proper sleep. His last thought, as heavy eyes dragged him down in the land of dreamless sleep, was of home.

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~Gracie :)