CHAPTER 21

This Tau'ri frustrated him greatly. The man had not made a sound in hours. If not for the ragged breathing, the Goa'uld would not know he was even still alive. Every answer he had been given was useless. Several times he felt triumph over breaking the human, only to realize that the Colonel had spun another web of lies. Many of his favorite torture methods had already been employed. The stubborn creature would not give up.

Ba'al had commanded his ship be taken to a new location, one that not even his most trusted Jaffa had ever heard of before. They had gotten what they required from the planet, and destroyed it. Most of the supplies had been moved to this new location. Several of a defeated enemy's servants had already begun building Ba'al's fortress at this site. This would be the ideal place to perfect his weapon.

"You could go home, save yourself great distress if you would only tell me what I want to know," The snake lingered above Jack taunting him. Jack would have answered, had he been able, but not a sound would leave his mouth. The anguish he had endured thus far had left him in such a bad state that talking back no longer appealed to the usually chatty soldier.

"Perhaps you would like some time to think over matters," Ba'al gave Jack hope of a few hours' rest, but then just as quickly dashed it as he summoned two of his Jaffa to bring in a young girl, whom Jack guessed to be twenty at most, "For every hour you refuse to speak, a new horror will be unleashed onto this child," This was nothing more than another sick form of torment of Ba'al's, "It would appear that my Jaffa have taken a liking to this girl. Perhaps I will let them have her for a while."

The snake smirked cruelly as his first prime leered at the female lustfully. Jack gazed into the poor child's eyes. All he could make out was fear and despair, and the slightest glimpse of hope.

She hoped he might save her.

Jack knew he would disappoint.

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"Sam, you need to eat."

"Just a minute, Daniel. I'm almost finished." Sam told him distractedly while going over the thousandth simulation to destroy the weapon Ba'al now had in his possession. Sam had not left the SGC, and had barely taken a single break in the last few days. She was running on adrenaline. Carter had to work this out and stop Ba'al. She had to.

"You said that an hour ago," Daniel pointed out.

It had now been three days since Jacob had visited. The SGC had sent a MALP through to the planet SG-1 had been captured on and found it completely destroyed.

Sam needed to figure out how the machine worked, and how she could disable it. She had so far been unsuccessful in her attempts.

At the very least she had to find a way to defend against the weapon. Right now she didn't think that was achievable. For the last seventy-two hours, Sam had been up working on her difficult task, stopping only when on the brink of exhaustion, dehydration, and starvation.

"Well, I mean it this time," Daniel rolled his eyes at her. He took in her presence: the hollow eyes, the messy hair, and the trembling hands. Sam's friends had periodically dropped by to make sure she was eating and resting. Apparently the visits hadn't been sufficient. Her slumped shoulders made her look as if the weight of the world was sitting on them. Daniel silently realized that the world really was on her shoulders, but not only that, the entire universe, too.

"Sam, you can't do this to yourself. How well are you going to think when Janet confines you to the infirmary until you take care of yourself properly?"

"Daniel, I appreciate all of you guys' concern, I really do, but I swear, if you all don't stop bothering me…!" Daniel understood the meaning behind her words and knew she was right, but her small fragile frame concerned all of them. You know what you're doing to yourself, Sam. You are far from stupid. You can't delve into work in the hopes of forgetting who you're trying to save. Daniel thought and raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, quietly waiting for her tirade to end.

As his eyebrow shot up, she continued and folded her arms in a defensive posture. "I can't afford a break, Daniel! If I don't figure this out-" Sam was cut off, mid yell. The phone was ringing. Daniel watched as Carter put a hand to her head as if she had a headache. When her hand fell away and she went to answer the phone, he noticed her drawn face. Since Jack's been gone, she's been growing more and more emotionally unstable. Come to think of it, she's been acting off even before he went missing. When this is all over, I need to sit down with her and figure out what's wrong.

"Carter," Sam barked into the phone.

"Ma'am, General Hammond would like to see you and SG-1 in the conference room." The airman timidly informed her at her displeased voice.

She took a deep breathe, calming her voice. "Thank you, airman. We'll be right there," She hung up the phone, "Hammond wants to see us," was all she said icily as she walked out, not waiting for the crippled man to follow. Oh yeah, she was mad all right.

A/N: It was a short one...next one up soon! I know I kind of held this story hostage last chapter, and it was probably wrong, because reviewing IS a voluntary thing, but I must say how proud I was of all of you! You went above and beyond when I asked for ten and received twenty-two! I will admit that I mostly wanted reviews because I was in a bit of a writer's block, but your positive comments inspired me! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Oh, and I know that reviewing can be intimidating and that you don't always have time, but I really appreciate it when you do have a minute to leave me something. Special thanks to candee (my first reviewer), nogigglingmajor, Benh71, Neiths Arrow, sg1 huge fan, dp, FCarter, scarletwitch0, urgurlie13, Lauren, FrBuffy, Monzie, Kirsty22, PatriciaS, Danielle, scottiedog, AT Fan, majorlaine, atlantis sg1, Phyllis, dcwoods, and cassie!