Sam cringed as she realized luck was not on their side today. Instead of quietly making their way to the palace, they'd run into what seemed to be the only group of men remaining in the city. Keeping her eyes cast downward, Sam played the part of the dutiful slave following her master. For once, she was willing to act submissive because it meant she didn't have to see the men openly staring at her.

Tell me again why I can't just shoot anyone ogling you? Jack asked.

You know as well as I do that you've got to play the role of my master, she mentally sighed. She wanted to shoot them all as much as he did. We haven't heard from Daniel or Teal'c. Do you think they are in position?

They'd better be, Jack growled. I really don't like this. Something is off, the streets are too empty.

Before Sam could agree, a door to the palace opened and two men came rushing out.

"Greetings!" The first one called to Jack. "You are just in time for the event!"

"Event?" Jack asked. Do you know anything about an event?

No, Sam whispered, but she didn't like the sound of it.

"Perfect timing, then" Jack grit out trying to sound happy to be there in time. She felt his anger as the guards gawked at her.

"Is she the slave that sold for one-hundred gold pieces?" The first guard with some awe.

"She is," Jack replied hesitantly. "The auction was attacked after I paid for her and we fled. We finally made our way to the palace—for the event."

"I see why you paid a fortune for her," the guard said. Sam dared a quick look up and immediately wished she hadn't. See could see his eyes salivating as he drank in her body through the translucent material. Resisting the urge to cover herself with her arms, she shuddered.

"I hope she was worth the price," the other guard raised his eyebrows at Jack suggestively.

I'm gonna hit him, Jack growled, but maintained the act. "Definitely worth it," he gave the guards a wink.

"How much for a night with her?" The second guard took a step forward.

Scratch that, I'm gonna kill him, Jack took an equal step forward.

Jack! Sam's thought stopped him.

"She's not for sale, not even for a night," Sam heard the deadly calm in Jack's voice. "She's mine."

The guard snapped his eyes to Sam's owner; Jack's tone finely piercing the man's lust.

"No offense meant," the guard quickly stepped back. "You may enter."

Keeping her eyes locked onto Jack's back, she fought the urge to glare at the disgusting guards as they passed.

"That was easier than expected," Jack said once the door closed behind them.

"Too easy. Let's just find the crystal assembly and get out of here," she turned down the corridor that led to the center of the palace, assuming Teegan's intel was correct. Walking down the hallway, Sam noticed most of the rooms they passed were bedrooms, or at least rooms with beds. She internally blanched as her imagination started to form ideas of what they were used for.

———POV———

I know Sam, it makes me sick, too, Jack told her. Before she could answer the sounds of male voices them drew her attention. They jerked to a stop.

"Hiya fellas!" Jack suddenly boomed stepping to shield her from view. "We're just looking for the event."

"Stop hiding the merchandise," one of the men snarled walking forward.

"She's not merchandise, I'm afraid," Jack told him, trying to appear aloof. "This is my highly coveted slave," he cringed as he said the words.

"You must not covet her too much if you brought her to the elite auction," the second man leered at her.

"Elite auction?" Jack said as his blood ran cold. "I just purchased her not more than a week ago at the slave auction," he sighed feigning exasperation. "Why would I bring her to another auction so soon?"

"Bored with her already," The first man shrugged laughing. "Come one, just one little taste to see if she's worth bidding on."

Jack shared the laugh before surging forward with an uppercut. The man went down instantly. The other one grabbed Jack in a bear hug before throwing him to the floor. Out of nowhere, two more men, presumable guards, seized Sam by the arms and began dragging her away as she fought them.

"Sam!" Jack surged to his feet. "Let her go!"

"My, my, my," a familiar voice said before Jack could react. "I had hoped I'd meet you both again."

"Zabar," Jack's voice was laced with venom. The men holding Sam stopped, waiting for instructions.

"I think your slave would make a find addition to our elite auction," Zabar said smoothly.

"We've married," Jack jerked his arm free of the man holding it and pulled down the front of his shirt revealing the phoenix tattoo. "You can't sell her."

Walking over to Sam, Zabar forced her to turn around revealing her phoenix tattoo. Tossing her back to the guards, he laughed. "You think this will stop me?"

"It's against your own law," Sam challenged him.

"Silence," he backhanded her across the face, the blow snapping her head back.

Jack lunged for Zabar, but his captors held him back. "I'll kill you for touching her!" He struggled against their hold.

"Unlikely," Zabar hissed. "I make the laws and at the elite auction, these marks mean nothing!"

"You son of a—," as Jack tried to charge him again, Zabar pulled out a Goa'uld pain stick striking him in the chest. Jack crashed to the floor, as he fought against the electricity surging through his system. Paralyzed, he watched helplessly as Sam fought against the men holding her. Breaking one arm free, she punched the man to her left before kicking the man to her right. Just as he thought she'd gotten the upper hand, Zabar stepped forward and raised his weapon. With a cry, she crumpled to the floor as he pressed the pain stick to her back.

Black spots swarmed into Jack's vision as he fought to remain conscious, but he knew he was losing the battle. The last thing he heard before the blackness consumed him was Zabar ordering his death.