There seemed to be some problems opening the chapter last night. I hope everything is okay today.

Leaving Rannulfus under the watchful eye of Dre'lar, Teal'c decided to see what information he could find in the city. He knew he had to be somewhat careful but he was here as a free man – and his very size and demeanor kept people from objecting too strongly to his enquiries.

His first stop was the home of Aetius, the man who had bought Daniel. He had discovered that the man had been a soldier but had been blinded in the war. Now he was a scholar, an obvious connection to the purchase of Daniel Jackson.

Teal'c decided that the best approach was the truth. He didn't have anything to fear and he had heard that Aetius was an honorable, if conservative man.

He waited in the antechamber where the servant Nicia had left him. The man had looked at him strangely when he said he was here about the slave 'Danihel'. He'd have to try and speak to the servant alone.

"You may go in now", Nicia told him. "He is ready for you. Please, do not mention his blindness." Teal'c bowed his head in acknowledgment and followed the servant into the room. Aetius sat over by the window enjoying the spring air. It was obvious by the way he sat that he couldn't see, but he could feel the warm sun on his face.

"You are looking for my slave?" he asked, without preamble.

"No, I am looking for my friend Daniel. He is not a slave", answered Teal'c quietly.

"He was while he was here – I bought him honestly from the market."

"I do not believe one can ever purchase another human being 'honestly", Teal'c answered. "Daniel was a wise man, a scholar and an explorer. He was captured by evil men and sold into slavery. I came to this place to bring him home."

"Well, you are too late. He is gone. He left me months ago." Teal'c looked at the older man closely. There was something in his voice, which gave evidence to an emotion beyond the anger or frustration over the simple loss of property.

"Do you know where he went?" Teal'c asked. "I must find him."

"No, I don't know, although the rumors are he went with a woman and they fled to the Alemanni." He stopped and snorted. "He will get what he deserves with them. They are barbarians!" He moved around restlessly. "Why would he leave?" He looked over to where he could sense Teal'c was standing. "I treated him well. He had books and things to study. I even let him go to the market when he wanted. What could the Alemanni give him that I could not?"

"Freedom", answered Teal'c gently. "It is priceless to those who do not have it."

Aetius just shook his head, not understanding. He had felt Danihel was special and was angry and hurt that the man had left him. "What more do you want? I told you, I don't know where he went."

"You said he left with a woman. Do you know who that was?" Teal'c asked, although he was sure he knew. He just wanted to see if the man had any further information.

"Yes, she was a slave of my sister, Acquilina. She must be why Danihel left. That woman treats her slaves terribly. He probably thought himself a hero and decided to rescue her." He stopped and smiled, a humorless smile. "Acquilina wasn't pleased. Not only did she lose her slave, I heard that when they escaped they killed her housekeeper, a woman loyal to my sister."

"They? Do you mean Daniel and this woman?"

"Yes, and there were a couple of other slaves as well. Crispus, the son of my housekeeper and a servant in my sister's house, ran away at the same time, along with another female slave."

"Have you heard anything about an older man? A tall man with grey hair?"

"Was he a slave?"

"He was captured with my friends. I heard he may have been sold to the galleys."

"In that case he is probably dead. Galley slaves don't last long."

"Where would I find them?"

"Well, on the galleys, of course", the man laughed. "If he's alive he'll probably be at sea. They come in occasionally to get supplies but most of the time they're gone. I suggest you speak with Palinurus – but be careful. He's an evil man."

"Thank you for your information and for taking the time to speak with me." Teal'c turned to walk to the door when Aetius spoke.

"I wouldn't suggest you bother my sister. She's not very nice and won't like to be reminded of her loss. You could try speaking with her step-son. There is no love lost there, although they pretend."

"Why do they pretend?" Teal'c looked over at Aetius.

"Because there is money and property involved. Arrianus is a smart one. He knows he is safest when he pretends to be friends with Acquilina. If you ask me he is simply biding his time to find something that proves her guilt. Either that or he's planning on murdering her." He laughed again. "I just hope she doesn't beat him to it."

Teal'c frowned, wondering what this was about. He could tell that Aetius didn't want to speak anymore when the man turned blindly towards the window.

Nicia met him at the door and went to lead him out when Teal'c stopped. "Do you know something about Danihel?" he asked. He was sure the man knew something by the way he was acting.

Nicia looked around carefully and then gestured for Teal'c to follow him into a small room off the main hall. It looked like a study - one which hadn't been used for a long time.

"The master loved Danihel like a son and was devastated when he left." Teal'c nodded, not surprised. "But Danihel was not like the other slaves. He was born to freedom and was a well-educated, intelligent man. He did not belong here although everyone liked him." Again, Teal'c wasn't surprised. That was Daniel Jackson all right.

"He had a friend – Turpisia – no, Danihel called her Samanta – and he was very worried about her. He used to get reports from Crispus about how she fared. Just before he ran away he had found something out. I do not know what it was, but he went to the Market many times and spoke there to a beggar. Shortly afterward he left along with Samanta and Crispus and another young woman."

"Do you know where they went?" Nicia looked at him narrowly, trying to determine whether or not he could trust this man. "They are my friends", Teal'c told him. "I am here to rescue them and take them back to freedom in our country. I will not hurt them."

Nicia seemed to make up his mind, and nodded once. "They were taken to the household of Germanicus, the leader of the Alemanni. They made it there safely but I do not know how they are now." He took a deep breath. "You have heard about the war? Well, the soldiers left over a week ago with the intent to wipe out the Alemanni. They were headed to Germanicus' lands as he was the one responsible for their victory."

"Victory?"

"Yes, just a few months ago. A battle was fought just before Danihel escaped and the Alemanni won. There was a rumor that someone, a newcomer to the land, helped them plan and win the battle."

Teal'c nodded and thanked the man. He now knew where Major Carter and Daniel Jackson had gone. He did not yet know where O'Neill had been taken but he would not rest until he found his friend and brother. "Why do you know these things?" he suddenly asked Nicia. He was curious that the man knew where the runaway slaves had gone.

Nicia looked at him seriously. "Crispus is my son", he answered. "He sent me word." With a nod Teal'c thanked him again.

"I will watch out for your son and tell him that I saw you. And do not worry, I will not speak of this to anyone."

After Teal'c had left he returned to the room where he'd left Bre'lan and Rannulfus. "You will accompany Rannulfus back to the ship. Watch him carefully", Teal'c cautioned the younger Jaffa. "Do not let him trick you."

"I will not Teal'c. But what of you? Where will you go?"

"I go for my friends Bre'lan. I have found where two of them are and will continue to look for the third."

As they left the next morning Rannulfus turned to him and spoke. "You will not find them, you know. The Adrano will kill them or capture them first. The Alemanni have no hope of winning the war. And as for your other friend – the grey haired one – I am sure he is dead."

"You must pray he is not", Teal'c answered, "or my promise to you stands. You will die."

Later that morning, after Bre'lan and the slave-trader had started on their return to the ship, Teal'c made his way to the docks to see if he could find this Palinurus.

He wandered for a while, looking at the sailors, the beggars and the women who sold themselves to those who were coming from the vessels docked by the rough wharves. He stopped and asked for directions and finally made his way to a dingy office stuck down a dank alley. Outside the door were two huge men who watched him without expression. When he reached to open the door one of the two men stepped in front of him.

"What do you want?" the man grumbled.

"I am simply here for some information. I come to see Palinurus."

The two men looked him up and down. "I don't think he wants to see you." They didn't move and didn't let him enter.

Teal'c reached into the small purse tied at his waist and pulled out a few coins. Tossing them up and down he simply looked at the two guards. "All I want is to ask a question – nothing more."

The two gorillas looked at each other and one put out his hand. Teal'c dropped the coins into it and they moved aside. Again, he reached out and pushed the door open and walked into the dark room.

"Who are you?" a soft voice came out of the darkness. Teal'c squinted, trying to see the source of the voice.

"I am Teal'c. I come in search of my friends."

"Friends? Why are you here? It is not my business to find 'friends' for people."

"No, but you do buy slaves and one of my friends was sold to you for the galleys."

"If I bought him then he is mine. You might as well forget him – friend or not."

"No, that is not acceptable. He is more than a friend, he is a brother."

Teal'c could barely see the man but he could see the dismissive shrug he gave.

"Again, not my problem. You will leave now."

"I will find him and I will set him free - and then I will return." Teal'c turned towards the door.

"Who is your friend?" Palinurus suddenly asked, although his voice still sounded disinterested.

"His name is O'Neill – he is a tall, grey haired man. He was sold many months ago by Rannulfus, the trader."

There was silence for a few seconds and then a small, faint laugh. "He is dead. You might as well quit now."

"Dead?" Teal'c walked closer to where the practically invisible man sat. "How do you know?"

"The ship he was on sank in a battle with the Alemanni. No one survived. Now you will leave."

Teal'c stood for a moment longer and then turned and left. He walked by the two guards but didn't look at them.

"I will find you O'Neill and after I do I will return and I will kill that man." Teal'c said to himself. He realized, as he walked away, that he'd just been in the presence of pure evil.

The next day he set out for this 'Germanicus' home, following in the footsteps of the Adrano army. He just hoped that he would find his friends and that they would be alive.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

He was finally beginning to warm up and snuggled into the warm body next to him. It had been so many years since he'd had someone to sleep with and was realizing just recently, not only how much he liked it, but how much better he slept. He sighed – Sam was the nicest thing he could hope to wake up to!

He turned over and put his arms around her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" a male voice broke into his thoughts and he frowned. Who was that talking and why did he sound so close?

"Jack, move over!" Daniel? It was Daniel? He opened his eyes and found himself looking into a pair of blue eyes, only inches from his own. The only problem was they were the wrong eyes. Not only were the wrong eyes they were –

"Daniel!" he pulled himself back violently, scooting to the very edge of the narrow bed. "What the hell are you doing Jackson?"

"Me? You're the one who grabbed me – hell, you were the one who was snuggling with me! Yech!" Daniel had moved as far away to the other side of the bed as he could get.

"Well crap! I didn't know it was you! How was I supposed to know you'd climb in bed with me?"

"You were freezing. In fact, you had hypothermia and I was trying to save your life." There was a long silence.

"Oh - okay – I guess." Another pause. "Thanks", Jack said stiffly.

"You're welcome", Daniel answered, equally as stiffly. The two men lay there, not moving, embarrassed by the situation they were in. Suddenly Daniel heard a 'snort'. After a couple of seconds he heard another one and then Jack began to laugh. At first he was offended but then he began to see the ridiculous side of things and let out a chuckle of his own. Within seconds he was laughing along with his friend.

"Oh God", Jack choked. "I can't believe I woke up to – you – staring at me."

"Hey, how do you think I felt? I was lying there sound asleep when suddenly you hugged me!", Daniel could barely breath.

"I didn't know it was you – believe me – I didn't know!" He tried to catch his breath. "You realize I'll have to kill you if you tell anyone about this." Jack laughed again, the tears running down his face.

"Hey, if anyone finds out I'll kill myself. God, can you imagine if Reynolds or Ferretti found out about this?"

"Hell – what if Walter finds out. It'll be all over the base in a second!" Jack continued to snicker.

"Oh my God", gasped Daniel, "Teal'c will raise his eyebrow -"

"And mutter 'Indeed'", Jack choked.

"Indeed!" The two men erupted again in laughter. Finally beginning to calm down Daniel rolled on his side and looked at his friend.

"You are pretty toasty you know. I can see why Sam likes cuddling with you so much."

He watched in amusement as the Colonel went red and immediately looked anywhere but at Daniel. He loved being able to tease Jack.

"Daniel!", warned his friend. "Don't go there."

"Go there? Me? Hey, you guys are the ones who 'went there' – not me. Come on Jack", he said as the other man continued to look uncomfortable. "You've gotta know that I'm happy for you. At least I would be if the two of you would ever get your act together!" At that Daniel rolled out of bed and put his feet on the cold floor. Standing up he hobbled over to the clothes to check and see if they were dry.

"Here", he said, tossing Jack's clothes to him. "You'd better get dressed." He quickly donned his own clothes and walked over to Jack. "How are you feeling anyway?"

"Not too bad", answered Jack quietly. He looked up at his friend and smiled softly. "By the way – thanks! Really. I know you saved my life and -"

"Nothin' you haven't done for me on many occasions Jack. Just forget about it okay?"

"Oh believe me – I will!" he grinned up at Daniel who grinned back. "I don't suppose there's anything to eat?"

"Sorry, no. I think there's a stream outside so I'll get some water but I'm afraid that's all there is – unless you'd like some hay?"

"Na, I think I'll pass. Any idea where we are?"

"Not really although we're definitely south of where the battle was being fought. I'm hoping there'll be a path that leads back around to where we were. I wonder how the battle is going?"

"It's probably over by now. We need to get back to where the women are." Jack didn't look up as he put on his socks but Daniel knew he was thinking of Sam. So was he, for that matter. He prayed the Adrano hadn't come out victorious.

Jack tried to stand up but swiftly sat back down as the pain spiked through his knee.

"Damn!" he muttered.

"Bad?" Daniel asked sympathetically.

"Yeah. I must have twisted it again when I was knocked off the horse. Do you think there's a branch or something outside I could use as a cane?"

"I'll check when I get the water. Take it easy, okay?" He reached out and touched Jack's forehead. "I think you're still suffering from the hypothermia. Your temperature feels a bit cool."

"I'm fine Daniel. Nothing a nice hot bath, and a big steak, won't cure."

"Thanks Jack – just what I need to think about right now." Daniel walked to the door. "I'll be back in a minute."

Once they'd finished their morning ablutions and had their breakfasts of a cup of warm water, heated over the embers of the fire from the night before, they decided to head out. Daniel brought the horses to the door and helped Jack hop over and then mount his animal. He hadn't been able to find anything for a crutch but didn't figure they really needed it right now – at least as long as they had the horses.

They set out on the trail visible outside the cabin, hopefully headed in the right direction.

"Don't worry Daniel", Jack said. "We're going the right way."

"How can you be so sure?"

Jack looked at him incredulously. Surely the man trusted his sense of direction after all these years.

"I'm sorry", Daniel grinned after seeing Jack's expression. "I know, I know – you know where we're going." It was true, thought Daniel. If there was one thing that Jack was good at it was finding his way – well, anywhere. The man must have a compass and a giant map of the universe in his head, thought Daniel. He always seemed to know where they were and how to get wherever they wanted to go. Teal'c was a slightly better tracker, although Jack was good, but the Colonel had everyone beat when it came to a natural sense of direction.

"Any idea how long until we get to where we're going?" he asked the older man.

"Not really. It depends on the terrain and if the trail continues. We've been forced to move quite a ways away from our original location so it could take a while."

"I hope not too long. I'm starving!"

"Yeah, I could eat a - " He pulled up his horse sharply and stopped. When Daniel went to speak he held up his hand, indicating that he should be quiet.

"There's something ahead", Jack spoke softly.

"Somebody coming?" asked Daniel, equally as softly.

"No. I smell a fire. I think there may be someone camped a mile or two away. Go quietly and slowly – and get ready to run if it's the wrong people." The two friends continued on carefully, keeping their eyes out for any danger.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Samanta, you have to eat something", Alarice held out a plate of food to the woman who continued to sit outside, staring off into nothing.

Sam simply shook her head but didn't answer. She didn't want to eat. In fact, she didn't want to do anything. Even breathing seemed senseless – she just wanted to lie down and close her eyes and never wake up.

As she sat there, still stunned from the news about Jack and Daniel, she knew that she was in shock and that the pain was going to get much much worse, before it got better. The problem was, it was bad enough now.

The last time she remembered feeling like this was when her mother died – and she knew it was going to take a long time before she could begin to move forward and start to live again. She acknowledged to herself that a bit part of her wouldn't live again– the part of her that had died with her friends – one of whom was the man she loved.

So, for now she just wanted to sit here and do nothing, think nothing and remember nothing.

"Samanta", a new voice joined the chorus of those trying to get her to move, to eat, to look after herself. She slowly turned and tried to focus on the face of her friend Maya. "I know it is difficult but you must continue to live. They would want that for you."

Yes, she thought. Both Daniel and Jack would want her to go on and be happy – to make something of the life she had left. But now was not the time. Now was the time to mourn.

"Please", she said softly, "just let me sit here." She turned back and again stared off into the distance. Maya and Alarice looked at each other and sighed. Each of them touched Sam's shoulder gently and left her in peace.

For a while nothing changed. Sam simply sat, trying to not let the pain gain the upper hand. She continued to stare into the distance and for a long while didn't notice – or at least didn't process – the sight of two riders approaching in the distance. It was only as they got closer that she started and sat up straight.

It looked like there were only two of them and they were moving slowly. They didn't look aggressive or like they planned to cause trouble. Maybe they were from Germanicus, she thought briefly, although she didn't care that much.

A tiny piece of her mind wondered at their cautious approach. It almost appeared as if they were worried about what they'd find. Again, she really didn't care and didn't allow herself to consider the matter deeply – she just continued to watch as they neared.

They must be soldiers, she thought, as she saw the horses and their battle armor. As they got closer she could see that they were Alemanni – and were wearing the colors of Germanicus' tribe. They were friends then. Good.

As soon as she realized that they didn't pose a threat she stopped looking at them. Let the others deal with the visitors; she just wanted to sit here and think of nothing.

The 'clip clop' of the horses' hooves grew nearer and soon she could hear the sound of the animals' breathing and their occasional snort. Soon the men would arrive, maybe with news about how things were progressing. Again, she didn't really care.

Jack kept looking at the woman sitting outside the small hunting lodge. She looked ill or old, her shoulders and her head bowed. She was wearing a veil, like most of the women, and Jack wondered if she'd lost a husband or son or father in the war. The other possibility was that she was mourning the loss of the battle. He assumed she must be of the Alemanni – God, what if they'd lost?

"Watch out Daniel", Jack leaned towards his friend. "Things look like they might have gone bad. Keep your eyes out for any soldiers." Daniel nodded and watched carefully, but as yet all he could see was the woman who'd been sitting in front of the house the whole time they'd been approaching.

They eventually reached the house and stopped. Still, the woman didn't look up. Jack glanced at Daniel and raised his eyebrow, worried at the stillness. What if the woman was a decoy to distract them?

He cleared his throat. "Uh – Ma'am- " He'd barely got the word out of his mouth when the woman's head snapped up. Two beautiful blue eyes looked at him in shock and, before he had a chance to do or say anything more, tears began to spill from those same eyes.

"Sam!" he whispered as he stared at the woman in front of him. She didn't move, just sat there, quietly crying.

"Jack", she finally spoke, her voice breaking. "They told me you were dead." The heartbreak in her voice almost broke his own in two. Without thinking he kicked his leg over his horse and jumped to the ground – and promptly landed flat on the ground.

"JACK!", she screamed this time, and ran over to him. Kneeling down she frantically searched to see where he was hurt. When she couldn't find anything she grabbed his face between her hands and began to kiss him wildly. He attempted to speak but each time he opened his mouth she covered it with hers.

All the while this was going on Daniel sat on his horse and grinned. He glanced up and could see a crowd of women standing on the porch of the house, along with Arminius. They too were smiling.

"Saa-am", Jack finally managed to get a word out but again Sam kissed him. As nice as this was, he thought, he was worried about her. He wanted to make sure she was okay – he'd never seen her react like this before. Besides that, his leg and butt were killing him.

"Sam", he tried again. He took her arms and gently tried to push her back. She strained against him and continued to try and kiss him. "SAM!" he said firmly, holding her wrists. Finally she stopped and simply looked at him. She then burst into tears; great gulping sobs that didn't seem to want to stop.

Jack looked up at Daniel in panic, not sure what to do. Daniel smiled and shrugged. Hey, he thought. Jack's been married before – he can handle this one. Anyway, it looked like things were going to be just fine.

It seemed that they were sitting on the ground forever before Sam began to calm down. By this time Jack was feeling seriously sore and stiff and desperately wanted to put his leg up and have something to eat. Of course, he couldn't really complain about having Sam in his arms. Thinking about it, he decided that what he really wanted was all of the above including Carter.

"Sam", he said gently as she seemed to quiet down. "It's okay. Danny and I are just fine. Are you alright?" spoke into her neck as she continued to press up against him. He knew things were going to be okay when he could feel her nod and give a huge 'sniff'.

"Ah Daniel – can you get a Kleenex – or whatever the equivalent is here?" Daniel got down off his horse and went up and opened the door to the house. Soon after Sam's loss of control Maya had herded all the women inside, giving them some privacy.

Daniel returned with a handkerchief and handed it calmly to Jack who proceeded to try and wipe Sam's face which was buried in his shoulder. He then held it to her nose and said, "blow", just like he had to Charlie when he was little.

After she had blown her nose she settled her head back into Jack's neck. She held on to his shirt with a death grip. She was never going to let him go, she said to herself. She was going to hold on to him forever.

"Ah Sam", Jack spoke gently to her after a few minutes. "As much as I like this, I'd also really like to get off the ground. Do you think we can go inside?" Sam didn't look up, she simply shook her head and held on even tighter. Jack looked over to Daniel. 'What do I do?" he mouthed to the younger man. Daniel just smiled and shrugged but finally walked over to the two.

"Sam", he said, kneeling down beside his two friends. "Jack has hurt his knee again and really needs to lie down. We also haven't eaten since yesterday morning and we're hungry. Do you think you could let him up?" Sam sat silently for a moment but finally moved back a couple of inches. She relaxed her hands slightly, although she continued to hold Jack's shirt. Although she'd managed to move back a bit Daniel could tell she was not about to move too far away from Jack.

Damn, he thought, she'd really been traumatized. She'd truly thought they were dead. Poor Sam! The only good thing about this was he figured Jack pretty much didn't have a hope in hell of trying to get them to move back to a professional relationship after this. By the look of Sam she had laid claim to Jack, and wasn't about to let him go – literally or figuratively!

"Sam", he reached out and touched her arm. "We're gonna have to help Jack. He can't walk on his own. Do you understand what I'm saying?" She nodded but still sat there. Daniel sighed and stood.

"I'm going to get Arminius to help, Jack. Just hold on." The Colonel nodded and simply held the woman he loved. He felt terrible for what she'd gone through and knew he was going to have to stay close to her for a while. He smiled slightly at the thought of again being able to sleep with her. His grin widened as he thought about this morning. Unlike his 'rude' awakening earlier today, this was one teammate he wouldn't mind waking up to.

With Arminius and Daniel helping they managed to get Jack into one of the cots in the big house. The whole process was made more difficult by the refusal of Sam to let go, so they had to maneuver around her. It was as they were getting Jack moved that he looked directly at Sam's face.

"Good God", he said loudly. He immediately softened his voice as Sam flinched. He carefully touched her cheek. "What happened to you?' he asked worriedly, seeing her black eye clearly for the first time. She wouldn't answer, just shook her head and put her head back on his chest.

This time he was worried. Maybe her reaction wasn't just to seeing him alive. Maybe something bad had happened to her. As soon as they laid him down on the cot, Sam curled up around him, he looked to where Maya was standing. He motioned her over with his head and tried to ask her, without letting Sam know, what had happened.

"Oh", she answered, as soon as she understood. "You want to know what happened to her face?" He nodded but glared, not wanting her to upset Sam.

Maya immediately understood and spoke to reassure the man. "It is alright. A group of men came by and tried to attack the women but we fought and won. They are tied up waiting for our men to return. Samanta was hit by one of the men and got some bruises but she is fine. None of us were seriously hurt. She is upset because she thought she had lost you, not because of the fight."

He nodded, relieved. Leave it to his Sam to save the women! He knew, without a doubt, that it had been under her leadership that the women had triumphed.

"Hey Sam", he whispered. "You didn't say hi to Daniel." He heard a soft sob and she finally pulled her face up and looked around. As soon as she saw the other man she smiled and tried to speak.

"Hi", she said softly.

"Hi Sam. I'm glad to see you."

"Me too", she answered, her eyes filling up with tears. Giving him another smile she laid her head back on Jack's chest. She reached down and, lifting his shirt at the waist, put her hands underneath until they were resting on his chest, right over his heart. With that she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, a small smile on her face.

Jack simply watched her for a while, his heart nearly bursting with love for this woman. He glanced up briefly to see Daniel looking at both of them, a crooked smile on his face. The other man nodded and turned away, happy at the evidence of the love his friends shared.

O'Neill closed his own eyes then and rested his head on top of the woman he had cared for for so long. Soon he too was asleep.

Via Amor - Journey of Love