"We shall see." Tem'tarn looked at the two guards and gestured towards Carter. "Take her."
Jack lunged forwards to try and stop them but was knocked back by a sharp blow to the head. He licked his lips and tasted blood. Sprawled on his back, he was now unable to stop the guards as they dragged Carter to her feet. While one held her in place, the other shepherded Teal'c to Jack and Jonas' corner of the cell, brandishing his pain stick menacingly. Jonas helped Jack to sit up.
Tem'tarn pointed his pain stick at Carter, but addressed Jack as he spoke.
"What is the sequence of numbers required to pass through your stargate unharmed?" Jack spat out a gob of blood and saliva and rolled his eyes.
"Look, Tim-Tam, I don't know who you think we are, but—" He was cut off abruptly by a sudden scream from Carter as Tem'tarn touched the pain stick to her abdomen. The energy and the pain within her were so great that they spilled out from her mouth, her eyes; too great for her body to bear. Jack could barely wrench his eyes away from her, even when Tem'tarn removed the pain stick and her body went limp.
"I ask you again," Tem'tarn repeated patiently, "what is the sequence of numbers?"
"Don't tell him, sir." Carter's voice was weak, but she raised her head to meet Jack's gaze.
"Carter…" His voice was a warning. It meant, Don't be a hero. Tem'tarn waited a few moments more and then touched the pain stick to her neck without warning. She cried out in agony and Jack tried instinctively to get to his feet and help her, but he was thrust backwards with a touch from the pain stick. He fell to his knees, unable to withstand it. But at least it meant that it wasn't on Carter anymore. When he looked back at her, the dirt on her cheeks was streaked with tears and she could barely contain a whimper. Jack physically ached with second-hand suffering and his inability to protect her. You had one job, O'Neill, he thought despondently. One job – keep her safe. And you can't even do that.
Tem'tarn bent down to grasp Carter's face roughly in one hand, his nails digging into her skin.
"Perhaps you can tell me," he said quietly, menacingly. Forcing herself to open her eyes, she met the cold gaze of the Jaffa just inches from her, and spat in his face. Tem'tarn didn't flinch, but his mouth curled up in a snarl as he drew back his arm and struck her hard across the cheek. Teal'c instinctively grabbed Jack's arm, preventing him from trying to retaliate. He could see the veins pulsing wildly under Jack's skin. Tem'tarn straightened up.
"Kree, Jaffa!" The guards holding Carter released their grip and she collapsed unceremoniously in a heap on the floor. At the door, Tem'tarn paused and looked back.
"I will return later. If you tell me what I want to know, none of you will die. You would do well to consider my proposal – otherwise next time I will not be so… forgiving."
Teal'c kept his hand curled tightly around Jack's wrist until the door had closed behind the Jaffa and they were returned to the almost-black of their prison. Then, as one, the three of them rushed forwards to Carter, who seemed to be unconscious. Jack reached out to check her pulse with shaking fingers. It was weak, but… she was alive. Definitely alive. He let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding, and moved aside as Teal'c pulled her into a sitting position leaning against his broad chest. Jonas had untied the bonds around Teal'c's wrists, and moved on to Jack and Carter.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the unsteady rhythm of her breathing. Suddenly, they all tried to speak at once.
"We have to get out of here, how—"
"We obviously can't tell them—"
"Perhaps it would be best if—"
But they were interrupted by a soft whimper from Carter, and their attention was drawn instantly back to her.
"Sam?" Jonas said softly. Her eyes flickered but didn't quite open as her hand unconsciously found where Jack's had come to rest next to it. Jack kept his eyes resolutely locked on her face as he felt Teal'c's gaze drilling into him, and gave Carter's hand a squeeze.
"Carter? You okay?" he murmured. Her eyes finally opened blearily and settled on his face. Something in her eyes softened as she relaxed in his presence.
"'m okay, sir," she mumbled. Her strength began to return and she sat up a little straighter. Jack could see the battle that she was fighting just to stay conscious, and held her hand a little tighter.
"We're going to get out of here, okay? Just hang on. I won't let them hurt you again." Jack's voice was low and determined.
"I know, sir," Carter replied sleepily, her eyes unfocussing as they closed. After a few moments, Jonas spoke.
"Colonel, I don't know if she should—"
"Just let her rest, Jonas," Jack said softly as he extricated his hand from Carter's. Jonas looked uneasy, but didn't press the issue. Jack took off his jacket, rolled it up, and then gestured for Teal'c to lay Carter back down so that she could use it as a pillow. For several minutes, the only thing that moved was the flickering candle flame.
"How long do you think we've got 'til they come back?" Jack said at last. Teal'c shrugged.
"It is impossible to say, O'Neill. They will want to make us sweat… three days with no food or water will make people strangely compliant." Jack shuddered at the thought that all three of them knew that only too well, and took a deep breath.
"Right. We could be in this for the long haul, folks. Without food we'll need to conserve our strength, so… let's get some rest. Teal'c, you take first watch. Anyone remember where the door is?"
"I believe it is there, O'Neill," Teal'c said, pointing at a spot in the darkness.
"When they come back we'll make our move. Jonas, you help Carter. Teal'c, you and I…" He explained his hasty plan, and then moved into position next to where they hoped the door was with Teal'c. Jonas lay down close to Carter so that he could be ready and she could reach him if necessary. Within seconds, he and Jack had both fallen asleep.