AN: Ok so I have a YOB! Yes, some poor fool actually hired me to do things. No my new boss is super nice and I already love her. That said the every other day thing will probably be the new permanent standard and MIGHT go down somewhat as I'll need to figure out my work life balance. Like you might only get me long enough to drink my coffee in the morning. So sadly no more War and Peace in a year writing. Oh well. Money makes the world go around.
Chapter 9
Sam didn't try to starve herself again after that but she was unusually quiet with all of them. She knew Jack had told them the news by the fierce hug Daniel had given her that night and the gentle squeeze Teal'c had given her shoulder. Neither seemed to know quite what to say other than Daniel's soft whisper during the hug. "It will be all right Sam."
Of course she knew that was utter nonsense because if they got home she was going to have to explain herself. Especially as added bonus, pregnancy seemed to make her exceptionally horny and while Jack no longer initiated their sexual encounters, he didn't exactly beat her off with a stick when she needed physical release either. As usual, Jack completely understood but never crossed the line again himself. He was letting her lead this dance and the only reason she could think of was plausible deniability later. It didn't even occur to her that he thought she didn't want the baby and that's why he was just doing whatever he had to do to keep her happy.
As with everything else that had passed between them, Jack honestly didn't know what else to do. They were both so used to not talking about this at all that neither tried to probe deeper into their relationship or what might be bothering the other and had only discussed their actions superficially. So he just helped her when she needed him to – both in and out of bed, made sure she ate, and lost himself in trying to figure out what he'd missed in forming an escape plan. He was so engrossed in figuring out what he'd missed one afternoon that he almost didn't notice the scuttlebutt about the Administrator coming for a 'surprise' inspection that it seemed some of the guards knew about but that warden Snrell was unaware of. Typically, Snrell kept mostly near his offices far away from the facility itself unless there were new prisoners.
The team had one of their now rare get togethers that night, since there were no new opportunities for escape to explore during the past few months.
"What do you believe his objective is, O'Neill?"
"I wish I knew. All I do know is the guards who were talking and laughing about it in front of me because they think I'm an idiot. They were laughing about how surprised Snrell was going to be. Apparently there's stuff going on that isn't supposed to be.
"Like what Jack?" Daniel asked him.
Jack frowned but shrugged. If it was what he thought he'd heard… he and Sam should have been safe just sharing a bed for her safety. That the sex was supposed to be encouraged not compulsory and the women were supposed to be on birth control unless their partner was up for release. Snrell was doing some shady stuff selling babies and the Administrator apparently wasn't in on the baby factory market as far as anyone knew.
Should be interesting. Perhaps in the confusion, they could figure out a way to slip away. Sam was now several months along but she might still be able to get an abortion if that's what she really wanted if they could just manage to escape and get home or at least gate to a friendly world as they no longer had their GDOs and their IDC codes would have been long changed after they were pronounced MIA That they had not been found in nearly a year and a half suggested to Jack that Earth assumed they had died months ago. Knowing what a softie George was, he'd have likely retired their team number. Jack really didn't want to think about it. They would prove they were who they said they were when they got home…
And then Jack had a really horrible thought. What if they had been switched with fakes and that's why no one went looking for them? What if they were the fakes like those robots… but robots can't get pregnant so they weren't robots... and Janet would catch that anyway… clones? Would Janet know clones? Or disguised aliens?
Jack's head started to hurt.
"Are you all right sir?" Sam asked him.
"Fine... fine… just… thinking out worst case scenarios."
"Robots." Teal'c said.
"Clones." Sam added.
Daniel nodded. "Disguised aliens."
Jack frowned.
"We know you Jack." Daniel said with a little smile.
Jack shook his head. "So hopefully there's enough of a ruckus when the Admin gets here that we can figure out a way to slip away through the bus tunnels." He pulled on his lip. "We won't be armed so we will have to be very careful to avoid the guards."
All three of them nodded in agreement.
"Al right… everyone out. I still need a shower." Jack grumped.
"That would explain the odor, O'Neill."
Sam bit her lip and giggled.
"Cute." Jack rumbled and shooed them out.
After Daniel and Teal'c left, Jack stripped his shirt off and tossed it in the bin. Among other things their enforced confinement had led to an utter lack of modesty on both their parts. Much like a normal couple in the privacy of their own home. "How are you feeling today?" He asked her.
If Sam closed her eyes, she could pretend that was just a normal question about her wellbeing from her lover about their child's status. Sam didn't close her eyes. "Still tired all the time but I put a half day in at the lab for something to do."
"You must be bored out of your mind." He observed as he tugged his pants down with his back to her.
Sam watched him undress hungrily, flaming her desire for the rangy man in front of her. She knew some of this reaction was the pregnancy hormones talking but a lot of it was just that she had always desired him this way. Charlie had even offered to request her for his team if it would make things easier but then Charlie had died and they never again had dual front line teams.
"You all right?" Jack asked absently when she didn't answer right away. Seemingly unaware that she was devouring his very trim six with her eyes.
"Yah… I'm just worried if they come through the bus tunnels that the obvious escape route will be blocked." She said, covering for her wayward thought process.
Jack shrugged and looked over his shoulder. "I figured it was that or you were checking out my ass." He joked before stepping into the small shower.
Sam stared at him with her jaw hanging open. He did not just seriously accuse her of… well... she had been but still… He wasn't supposed to guess she'd been doing exactly what she'd been doing.
In a huff, Sam flopped onto the bed and curled up. If she were honest with herself, she'd have admitted she was sulking. The shower turned off and a much better smelling Jack joined her in bed and cuddled against her back. That at least had not changed. He didn't want this baby from what she could read from his behavior but he still had feelings for her. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.
"I can hear you thinking, Carter." He mumbled against her back. He'd wrapped his arm around her, his hand splayed across her stomach. If she didn't know better… but she did so there was no sense in dwelling on it.
"Sorry, sir. Goodnight."
Jack sighed inwardly. Unless she opened up to him about what was bugging her, he wasn't much help. But then again, they had rarely discussed their private thoughts and feelings, especially since they arrived on this planet as it was the only mental breathing room they now had. He couldn't get a clear read on how she felt about the pregnancy… if it was about carrying his kid or being pregnant in general. Was she worried that they might have it ripped from her arms and was afraid to get attached? She was a workaholic but she made a point of making time for Cassie every weekend she was home. She'd be a really good mom if she kept the baby… and if she didn't want to keep the baby… hell, he'd retire. After all, he'd retired before. Perhaps it was time he did so again. Assuming he's not in prison.
That was a possibility he wasn't looking forward to. They would have to admit the circumstances of the conception. And he'd rather sacrifice himself then see Sam suffer for his stupidity and jealous need to be the one that bedded her if it came to that.
Being honest with himself, he knew with zero doubt his reasons had everything to do with his feelings for her. Not because Teal'c is Jaffa and also married. And not to spare Daniel the emotional distress of bedding one of his best friends against his will after he'd been sexually abused by Hathor. No. His reason was how he personally feels about Sam and that was it. That's all it was. The other stuff was just excuses. Good excuses... but nonetheless just excuses.
Sam's breathing had evened out and Jack sighed. He felt a soft flutter of movement against his hand. If he could feel the baby, Sam could too. She hadn't said anything which was telling. It was like she kept trying to forget she's pregnant. He also noticed that she'd gone back to calling him 'sir'.
'I'm sorry little guy'. He thought sadly. 'I don't know if you will get to see the outside… and if you do, it might not be the most ideal situation if your dad is in jail and your mom doesn't really want you. Hopefully with time she'll change her mind about that… and they might commute my sentence if she decides she doesn't have time to be a mom or want to be a mom'.
But Jack didn't hold out much hope of either. Sam wasn't prone to being mercurial and the likelihood he'd escape sentencing was… low.
Two days later, the Administrator showed up for the inspection. Snrell hid in his offices after meeting with the man. There had been no shouting or orders. He'd simply walked through the facility, asking calm questions without ever once indicating his opinion on the matter.
The residents of SG-1's cell unit were eventually herded into the main dining hall where he asked them questions. The guards stood at full attention at each entrance. Jack cursed under his breath. There would be no sneaking out this time.
They stood near the back of the group though, Sam in the middle with Teal'c at her back and Daniel and Jack on either side of her.
The admin's eyes swept the crowd and landed on them. His eyes did not show any surprise or emotion as he looked at the guards that were closest to them. "You there, bring that group of prisoners here." He ordered the guard.
SG-1 looked at each other in confusion as they were nudged ungently forward by the guards.
"Load all four of them in the transport." He said to the guards.
Sam, Jack, Daniel and Teal'c were shackled together and lead out of the prison.
"Well, this is cliché." Jack said
"No talking." A guard told him.
"What about whispering?" Jack asked in a loud whisper.
He was rewarded with a poke in the back with a weapon butt.
Jack cut a look to Sam. Could she pick the locks with a distraction?
Sam shook her head imperceptivity. She didn't have tools to do it.
Jack's mouth settled into a grim line. 'I guess we find out what's next'. He thought in frustration. At least they weren't in the prison anymore. That was something.
They were shoved into a sort of van Jack supposed and were then forcibly belted into their seats. Then the doors were closed and they sat in the darkness together.
Daniel sighed. "We spent months trying to get out…"
"And we still have no idea if this is out, Danny boy." Jack reminded him.
"We do not. However, at this junction, any change is an improvement." Teal'c said.
"Carter?" Jack asked in the dark vehicle. She was the only one who hadn't expressed an opinion yet.
"Sir, I don't think we have enough information to make a judgment call."
Jack smiled in the dark. And that was why he was grooming her for command. She didn't jump to conclusions. Ever.
It was probably a bit over an hour when the door opened and a driver got into the vehicle. Then the door across from Jack opened and the Administrator climbed in.
"Back to the capitol, sir?" the driver asked. Unconcerned about the prisoners.
"Yes, Fronwis." He said and the driver started up the vehicle which hummed softly inside.
Watching out the darkened windows, he waited to speak to them until the driver had them away from their escorts on the highway. The Administrator fished something out of his jacket pocket and set it in the drink holder between himself and Jack.
"We may speak freely now. We are far enough away that they cannot see us and they can no longer hear us either." He gave Jack a very stern look. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?"
Jack was taken aback. "Pardon?"
"Half the damned galaxy is looking for the four of you. The Goa'uld, for obvious reasons. The Lucian Alliance and a few others to ransom you to the highest bidders and your General Hammond has made it quite clear he'd pay a hefty sum for your return as well."
Jack cut a look to Sam who grinned.
"Now, would one of you like to tell me why you were hiding in my rehabilitation facility?" the man asked them.
Sam, Jack, and Daniel all started talking at once until the man put a hand up. "Stop!" he ordered them.
There was silence in the van for a moment. "You." He said to Jack.
"We got sucked up in a homeless sweep about a year and a half ago. We've been trying to get released since or find a way out but it's a pretty well guarded facility and Snrell wasn't the most reasonable guy."
The Administrator nodded. "I'd ask but I'm certain you would lie." Jack shot the man a look as if saying 'why would I tell you anything to begin with, mister?' "However, You are now in a unique position to explain to me what's been going on in there." He prompted.
Jack narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "What is supposed to be going on in there?"
The Administrator looked at Jack, noting he was clearly the leader of the group. "I am very glad you asked as it seems to differ greatly from the current situation.".
He paused a moment before answering Jack. "The rehabilitation facility is for criminals to learn job skills. As you may have guessed, we also have a homeless problem. It is a very bad habit but some of my people have taken to dumping older children in the streets when they had too many mouths to feed. Most homeless people are also in need of job training and a hand up due to being abandoned at a young age. My plan for the facility was to offer services to both within reason. There would be common areas for the non-violent offenders to mingle with the people in the job training program.
"Those who made emotional connections were welcome to form family units, based on mutual support as opposed to skills or necessity. I'm glad that part is still working at least. The women for their own protection were supposed to be on contraception. Something most of my people openly object to for religious reasons." He huffed a sigh. "As people were rehabilitated, they were meant to be offered outside work programs and given help setting up a new household including continued contraception services if they so choose. The hope being families would voluntarily choose to only have as many mouths as they could afford to feed."
He looked thoughtfully at them. Sam was only just starting to show.
"I had no idea that idiot had swept you up with no idea about your identities. Unwritten policy is generally to leave Tau'ri alone as doing so is to our continued long term benefit."
Jack would have scrubbed at his face if his hands were free. His shoulder raised to do it but his hand is still restrained behind him so it becomes an awkward shrug. "Looks like your buddy decided to turn it into a black market baby factory instead."
The Administrator frowned. "Elaborate."
"We were brought in, told to choose a woman if we wanted to. The rules were enforced, once a woman was assigned and no one else challenged you for her, the guards killed anyone that broke the rules... but women that weren't chosen by a man the first night were free for the pickings to any man that wanted her attached or not." Jack frowned. "If you picked a woman and weren't able to or refused to copulate with her, she was put back in the pool when they found out if you couldn't prove that you could and would follow through." He ground out.
Behind him, Sam winced, her face stricken. Everything about his tone telegraphed disgust. Was that the reason he didn't want this child? Because of how he felt about the way it was conceived? Sam's face flushed with humiliation as she turned away and looked out the window.
"So what happens now?" Jack asked.
"Now all four of you come back to my home until I can secure a ship and get you home."
"Just like that?" Jack's tone was incredulous.
The Administrator shrugged. "They aren't going to retaliate that I took some prisoners because they are running a black market baby factory. I think there needs to be a bit more control over that situation. It might lose money but there are plenty of women that will gladly produce many children for the exchange of a safe place to live. Children they won't have to raise. But the rape needs to stop." He said firmly. "The women should be choosing their partners not the other way around. Snrell is a sadistic bastard. He's not going to have a job much longer... or a life."
Jack frowned and bobbed his head back and forth in consideration. Death might be too good for the guy but it was a solution. Morally asking women to be rent-a-wombs was a bit sketchy but if there was one thing Daniel had drilled into him… morality in many cultures was subjective. If this society habitually dumped kids on the street they weren't going to have the moral fortitude to object to exchanging safety for their children. It made bile rise in Jack's throat that the society treated kids like they were disposable but he recognized the Administrator's attempts to change that for what they were.
"Why can't we just leave by the Gate?"
"Gate?"
"Chappa'ai?" Daniel suggested and when he got a blank look, "Astrea Porta?"
"Ah… yes… We haven't got one." When he was met with suspicious looks, he put up his hands and his face softened. "Centuries ago, my people buried ours after a great war with the system lords. Our star systems have been free since but as we spread we did discover another in a neighboring system outside our local cluster we eventually became allied with and joined in ruling as well. But with the time it would take to get you there from this planet, we may as well simply take you home." He told them. "We did not inform your people how large our system was simply because we did not wish to once again attract the system lords. Sadly, instead we have left ourselves open to the Lucian Alliance."
"And they are?" Jack asked.
"Pirates, criminals… mobsters who have taken power with the defeat of the Goa'ulds. Take your pick. Some can be reasoned with, others not. Many of our people lack education and are easily taken advantage of."
"So why not work on that?" Jack pointed out.
"I assure you, many of us who wish for more than obedience are working on it but there have been so many generations of wage enslavement that many of our people are unable to cope with such changes. It will likely take more than one generation to create the free society we seek. All sudden changes have been met with violence from those that would benefit the most." He admitted. "It is… as your people say… an uphill battle."
The Administrator fell silent, After a short time, he finally spoke again. "You will be my guests until I can safely get you offworld. If you wish to go directly home, you may or if you have coordinates for another planet you prefer, that is reasonable also. The Bartok system has no quarrel with the Tau'ri. We do not wish to begin one either. I hope you will accept my sincere apology on the part of my government in this fiasco."
"If your government has no quarrel with us, why not drop us off at the nearest government facility so we can hitch a ride home?" Jack asked the dark skinned man.
The administrator nodded. "That would be logical on the surface but having just discovered my rehabilitation facility has been taken over in my absence, I am wary of potentially discovering my place of employment has also been as well." He smiled tightly. "I want all of you returned home safely to avoid any sort of interplanetary incident.
"I know you were last seen on Orbistus. Your people, of course, came and looked for you several times but because my government never properly processed any of the records for the rehab center, there was no record of you being there. I imagine many of those picked up in homeless sweeps are not recorded properly." He said thoughtfully, clearly frustrated that he'd have a lot of mopping up to do. "They probably figured no one cared about any of them. They wouldn't technically be wrong. It's why we targeted them for the work program specifically." He sighed. "We have arrived at my home. Once inside, I will have your restraints removed. Please do me the extreme courtesy of not murdering me the first chance you get."
"No promises." Jack tells the other man.
"Duly noted." He gives Jack an amused smile. "I intend to trust you considerably more than you trust me. Your team has a reputation." He said with a bit of a grin. "A deadly one… but also an honorable one."
Jack found himself grinning back. Daniel rolled his eyes. Jack had found himself a kindred spirit.
The van rolled to a stop and they sat in silence for a moment. When the door opened, it was the Administrator's armed guards. They stepped away so the Administrator could exit the vehicle then Jack and his team were unbelted before being led into the house. The Administrator apparently knew the SG-team would not react negatively to their current treatment as no weapons were currently pointed at them.
He leads them to a spacious office and the guards are left outside though the driver follows them in and closes the door firmly.
"Now then…. I know your names but I have not introduced myself. I am Londaris, this is my private bodyguard, Tueri."
Tueri bows. "At your service." He says with a flash of a smile and fishes in his pocket for the key to their bindings.
While the bodyguard gets to work opening their shackles, Londaris continues. "You have free use of my home. Tueri will assign you rooms. I believe the west suite would suit you best as it has a small kitchen attached as well as several rooms. Feel free to ask for anything you need. My wife's personal shopper will see to getting you clothing as soon as we are done here." He nods to Tueri to inform the person in question. "If you would like to join the household for meals, you are more than welcome to do so. If you prefer to keep to yourselves that is also acceptable. It will take several days for me to secure a ship and bring it here discreetly. I'm sure you could imagine I'd prefer not to start a political incident."
"You keep saying that. Whose ass are you covering? Your government or your own?" Jack said rubbing his wrists as he shook the kinks out of his shoulders.
"Oh a bit of column A, a bit of column B…" He admitted with a chuckle. "It would not look good on my record if my employers knew my time away has led to this… fiasco."
A servant knocked politely. "Come." Upon the appearance of the newcomer, every member of SG-1 tensed as if preparing themselves. Londaris put up a hand. "I know each of my staff on sight. No one would be able to sneak into my home and disguise themselves." He nodded when they collectively slightly relaxed.
"Sir, the noon meal is served. Will your guests be joining us?"
"I believe they will." Londaris said with a hopeful smile.
Jack rocked on the heels of his worn prison shoes. "We're a bit underdressed."
Londaris laughed. "We eat lunch in the kitchen with the servants. By the evening meal, you should have some clothing of your own."
Daniel shrugged at Jack. Sam seemed to be avoiding making eye contact with him and Teal'c gave him the 'you think I care what I look like while I eat' look. "Sure. We could eat."
Londaris chuckled a little. "There will be four more for lunch, Dulcina."
"Yes sir." She agreed and politely left.
"Now then, Tueri will show you to your rooms where you may rest until the noon meal."
"If you will follow me please." The bodyguard said as he went to the door.
Jack nodded and put his hand out in supplication with a small bow for the rest of his team to follow the man while he brought up the rear. He gave Sam a questioning look when she didn't make eye contact with him and frowned when she didn't seem to notice.