* Sigh * The real world has caught up with me. Instead of simply counting coo, it walked right up to me and shot me between the eyes. I could list everything that's happened, but...nah. Anyway, I've decided to take a few minutes and post most of what I have written for the next chapter. With any luck, I'll be able to work on it this weekend.
*~*~*~*
Sam awoke slowly, feeling groggy and disoriented. She opened her eyes just long enough to note the familiar red stone ceiling spinning dizzily above her.
"Déjà vu," she groaned. With her eyes still tightly shut, she carefully rolled onto her side and placed her hands against the cold stone floor in the vain attempt to push herself into a vertical position.
"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing."
Strong yet gentle hands clasped Sam's upper arms and assisted her with the fight against gravity and her own body's inclination to remain horizontal. As soon as she was upright, Sam's dizziness increased ten fold and an involuntary groan escaped her lips. She decided that she had been much better off lying down and attempted to return to that position.
"Oh, no you don't!"
Unfortunately, those strong hands that had assisted with her earlier goal were now preventing her descent back to the floor.
"Sam? Come on, open your eyes."
The hands had released her arms and were now gently cupping her face. Two fingers from one of the hands began incessantly tapping on her cheek, demanding a reaction. Sam felt as though she had no other option but to respond.
Ever so slowly, Sam opened first one eye then the other and found herself staring into Daniel's concerned blue eyes.
"Are you with me now?" Daniel quit tapping his friend's cheek but his hands remained in position.
"No offense, Daniel, but waking up like this is beginning to get a little old."
Daniel let a small grin grace his features and lowered his hands to cover hers where they rested in her lap. "Yeah, well I'll be sure to complain to the management."
With Daniel's help, Sam struggled to her feet. As soon as she gained her equilibrium, she checked her watch.
Correctly interpreting the motive and understanding the fear behind the action, Daniel offered what little reassurance he could. "You were brought here only about twenty minutes ago. Nothing new has happened...yet."
Sam heaved a great sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" she asked, getting a good look at the vivid bruising along one side of his face.
"Yeah. I've had worse," he answered truthfully.
Sam nodded. She could feel that, while the bruising was spectacular, there were no broken bones or other serious injuries. "I don't suppose anything has changed around here. Door?"
"Locked."
"Windows?"
"Nonexistent."
"Walls?"
"Solid."
"Genie in a bottle?" Sam allowed a slight grin.
"I felt sorry for it and used my only wish to set it free. Sorry." Daniel's smile matched Sam's. "What about Jack and Teal'c? Did you bring them back with you? Where are they?" Daniel asked, all levity instantly gone.
"Yeah, they were with me. We were at out campsite when someone grabbed me. Things get pretty hazy after that but I don't think the others were captured." Sam concentrated on the few memories she had. "I was on the opposite side of the clearing from them. Whoever grabbed me was totally silent. I doubt the Colonel or Teal'c even knew something happened until I was long gone."
"They don't even have a clue as to where we are." It was a statement, not a question. Daniel could easily add two and two. Even he didn't know where he and Sam were being held and the rescue team had gone to their earlier campsite instead of heading directly towards this location. Another thought occurred to him. "The Naquadah?"
Before Sam could answer, the door to their room opened and the two burly guards entered. Daniel instantly positioned himself between Sam and the men. He glared at the guards, as if challenging them to try something. The guards glared back.
Noticing the silent yet hostile communication, Sam wisely maintained her position behind Daniel and kept quiet. The tension in the room was palpable.
After a few intense minutes, Daniel broke the silence. "Rand, Tylus. It's always a pleasure to see you." Acid dripped from every word and Sam could feel Daniel's dark emotions building. She tried to keep her own thoughts and feelings in check.
The guards never said a word but the captives knew what was expected of them. Daniel took Sam's hand in his own to keep her near him as they followed Rand out of the room. Tylus fell in behind them.
Sam and Daniel shared many of the same concerns. What did Ochsner have planned for them? Would Jack and Teal'c be able to find them? Would they be able to escape on their own?
They each had their own unique fears as well. Sam wondered if Ochsner had discovered the true nature of the Naquadah bars and worried about what would happen when or if he did. Daniel worried about what would happen if Ochsner should decide to hand Sam over to Rand and Tylus. He vowed to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.
*~*~*~*
Sam awoke slowly, feeling groggy and disoriented. She opened her eyes just long enough to note the familiar red stone ceiling spinning dizzily above her.
"Déjà vu," she groaned. With her eyes still tightly shut, she carefully rolled onto her side and placed her hands against the cold stone floor in the vain attempt to push herself into a vertical position.
"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing."
Strong yet gentle hands clasped Sam's upper arms and assisted her with the fight against gravity and her own body's inclination to remain horizontal. As soon as she was upright, Sam's dizziness increased ten fold and an involuntary groan escaped her lips. She decided that she had been much better off lying down and attempted to return to that position.
"Oh, no you don't!"
Unfortunately, those strong hands that had assisted with her earlier goal were now preventing her descent back to the floor.
"Sam? Come on, open your eyes."
The hands had released her arms and were now gently cupping her face. Two fingers from one of the hands began incessantly tapping on her cheek, demanding a reaction. Sam felt as though she had no other option but to respond.
Ever so slowly, Sam opened first one eye then the other and found herself staring into Daniel's concerned blue eyes.
"Are you with me now?" Daniel quit tapping his friend's cheek but his hands remained in position.
"No offense, Daniel, but waking up like this is beginning to get a little old."
Daniel let a small grin grace his features and lowered his hands to cover hers where they rested in her lap. "Yeah, well I'll be sure to complain to the management."
With Daniel's help, Sam struggled to her feet. As soon as she gained her equilibrium, she checked her watch.
Correctly interpreting the motive and understanding the fear behind the action, Daniel offered what little reassurance he could. "You were brought here only about twenty minutes ago. Nothing new has happened...yet."
Sam heaved a great sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" she asked, getting a good look at the vivid bruising along one side of his face.
"Yeah. I've had worse," he answered truthfully.
Sam nodded. She could feel that, while the bruising was spectacular, there were no broken bones or other serious injuries. "I don't suppose anything has changed around here. Door?"
"Locked."
"Windows?"
"Nonexistent."
"Walls?"
"Solid."
"Genie in a bottle?" Sam allowed a slight grin.
"I felt sorry for it and used my only wish to set it free. Sorry." Daniel's smile matched Sam's. "What about Jack and Teal'c? Did you bring them back with you? Where are they?" Daniel asked, all levity instantly gone.
"Yeah, they were with me. We were at out campsite when someone grabbed me. Things get pretty hazy after that but I don't think the others were captured." Sam concentrated on the few memories she had. "I was on the opposite side of the clearing from them. Whoever grabbed me was totally silent. I doubt the Colonel or Teal'c even knew something happened until I was long gone."
"They don't even have a clue as to where we are." It was a statement, not a question. Daniel could easily add two and two. Even he didn't know where he and Sam were being held and the rescue team had gone to their earlier campsite instead of heading directly towards this location. Another thought occurred to him. "The Naquadah?"
Before Sam could answer, the door to their room opened and the two burly guards entered. Daniel instantly positioned himself between Sam and the men. He glared at the guards, as if challenging them to try something. The guards glared back.
Noticing the silent yet hostile communication, Sam wisely maintained her position behind Daniel and kept quiet. The tension in the room was palpable.
After a few intense minutes, Daniel broke the silence. "Rand, Tylus. It's always a pleasure to see you." Acid dripped from every word and Sam could feel Daniel's dark emotions building. She tried to keep her own thoughts and feelings in check.
The guards never said a word but the captives knew what was expected of them. Daniel took Sam's hand in his own to keep her near him as they followed Rand out of the room. Tylus fell in behind them.
Sam and Daniel shared many of the same concerns. What did Ochsner have planned for them? Would Jack and Teal'c be able to find them? Would they be able to escape on their own?
They each had their own unique fears as well. Sam wondered if Ochsner had discovered the true nature of the Naquadah bars and worried about what would happen when or if he did. Daniel worried about what would happen if Ochsner should decide to hand Sam over to Rand and Tylus. He vowed to do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.