Dr. Daniel Jackson groaned in pain as the Goa'uld healing device closed the bullet wound in his midsection. He wanted the Tok'ra performing the healing to finish, so he could join General Hammond, Teal'c, and Jacob Carter in the briefing room. He knew Jacob would be itching to get going, so they could rescue his daughter and Jack.
After Daniel and Teal'c had escaped through the Stargate, Dr. Fraiser had immediately taken Daniel into surgery. Upon awaking the next day, he discovered they could not establish a connection with the Creetion's Stargate. Since there was heavy bombing and fighting occurring all around them, it was assumed the gate had been destroyed.
General Hammond had immediately reached out to the Tok'ra high council to find Jacob and tell him what had happened to his daughter. While Hammond had wanted to dispatch the Prometheus immediately, it was instead ordered on a top secret mission. Daniel thought that was actually a bit of good luck. The Prometheus would have taken ten days to reach Creetia; however, Jacob arrived via Stargate the next day claiming to have a Tok'ra ship waiting to meet them on a planet with a working Stargate. This planet was only one day away from Creetia via hyperspace travel.
Jacob had, of course, wanted to go immediately, but Selmac requested they wait for Daniel. Since Creetia was one of the planets the Tok'ra knew nothing about, Daniel was essential to understanding how to interact with the government. That decision led directly to Daniel suffering the pain of the healing device, so he could travel with them as soon as possible. Sam and Jack had already been on the planet without backup for nearly three full days. With any luck, the rescue team would be able to reach them before the the end of their fourth day.
Daniel hissed as the healing device sealed the last part of the wound. "Thank you," he called over his shoulder as he shot off the bed and toward the briefing room.
"Dr. Jackson," General Hammond greeted him as he entered and took a seat.
"May we get started now?" Jacob asked, his impatience obvious.
"Almost three days ago we lost contact with Colonel O'Neil and Major Carter. They are presumably stranded on the planet Creetia," General Hammond recapped. "According to Dr. Jackson, the Colonel was successful in purchasing Major Carter at a slave auction; doing so under a direct order from me," the General added glancing at Jacob. "Teal'c has informed me that you told Colonel O'Neil the only way to protect Major Carter was to, and I quote, 'marry her.'"
"Yes, General," Daniel nodded.
"Do you mind telling me why?" The General asked.
"Well, from what I learned while on the planet, women who are considered orphans and are unmarried are treated as public property," Daniel explained. "Despite Sam being an adult, she was without parents; therefore, an orphan in the eyes of the law. The only other option was finding her a husband. Seeing as I was wounded and dying, Jack sent Teal'c and I back to the SGC. He and Sam could not join us until her slave cuff was removed."
"That's what I don't understand," Jacob said. "Who cares if she had cuffs on? I'm sure we could have found a way to remove it."
"The cuff emitted a severe electrical shock when we first tried to rescue Major Carter," Teal'c answered. "It was reasonable to assume it would do so again."
"That was also the reason Jack needed another way to protect Sam. Once the slave cuff was removed, she would have no longer been seen as belonging solely to him."
"I can't believe we are actually talking about someone owning my daughter." Jacob growled, slamming his fist on the table. "What the hell did you get her into, George!"
"Jacob," General Hammond began.
Jacob's eyes flashed as his symbiote Selmac assumed control. "Please forgive, Jacob, he is extremely concerned about his daughter. As am I."
"We understand, Selmac," General Hammond told her. Closing her eyes, Selmac released control back to Jacob.
"So it's save to assume that my daughter is still on a barbaric planet and married to her commanding officer?" Jacob bit out.
"Jacob, I know what you're thinking," Daniel said, "but Sam and Jack are both professionals. They'll handle themselves accordingly."
"I have every faith in both of my officers," General Hammond agreed.
"Have you not noticed the way that—that officer looks at my Sam!?" Jacob said standing up and walking toward the door. "I don't care what you say, he better keep my daughter safe, and that includes from himself."
"I know he will, Jacob," General Hammond said calmly. "Colonel O'Neil will and has done anything necessary to protect those who serve under him. I also happen to know he and Major Carter have a unique bond between them from the countless missions they've been on. If anyone will keep her safe, Jack will."
Glancing around the table, the General stood up. "Ok people, you know what to do. Let's bring our people home."