Hellloooo, I know I've made you all suffer, and I'm very sorry (I'm not really). Anyway, I think our intrepid SG1 need a bit of bonding now, but I'm not giving anything anway, you'll have to find out for yourselves. This will probably be the PENULTIMATE chapter *sniff*.

With that said, who knows, you know how I love to ramble, as can be confirmed by this rather large chapter, what can I ay, I got excited.

Ahem! Anyway, time for some Goa'uld kicking butt scenes.

Rating: PG13

Spoilers: As usual from Season 2 onwards.

Stargate: Will never be mine, but the story is *G*

End of Chapter 19- No Turning Back

Sam's thoughts churned within her, a second voice questioned what she about to as she remembered what this man had said to her earlier, 'This isn't you…You'll regret this…I forgive you." How did this man know her so well? Jaret had been cold and calculating, but nothing this man said, brought back the empty feelings and fear that she had succumbed to when Jaret had taken her mind prisoner. He was right. This wasn't 'her way', but he had hurt her and her friends…hadn't he?

Jack seeing the window of opportunity as he witnessed clouds of doubt filtering through his 2IC's mind.

"Sam, listen to me. I know you're having doubts about doing this, it's because it's not who you are. You're being manipulated Sam, and if we're going to get through this, you have to listen to what I'm saying…trust me."

Amemait was incensed that Major Samantha Carter was listening to him. "I said inject him! NOW!"

Her hands wavered over Jack's body as she felt the pressure inside her, reaching boiling point, she didn't know which way to turn. Feeling as if she had no alternative, she plunged the liquid into Jack's chest.

Chapter 20 – Retribution

Jacob and Teal'c were busy trying in a vain attempt to stabilise the engines, their run in with the death gliders had damaged the systems more than they had anticipated.  It had taken all their knowledge and expertise to ensure that the ship didn't explode into a million and one pieces.

Jacob's thoughts continued to plague him, they had to make this work. If they didn't Sam and Jack's fate would be already determined, and he wasn't prepared to allow that certainty. He'd nearly lost her once, and he wasn't prepared to lose her again. His thoughts were mixed with sadness as he remembered the day he'd lost his wife, and losing Sam to *this* resurfaced the hurt he'd felt during those darkened days.

A voice in his head emerged from within, //You may be too late to save them Jacob, and you have to accept that.//

"I don't *have* to accept anything Selmak, this is my daughter we're talking about here."

//Yes, I know that Jacob, but you have to be objective about this. Your life, and the knowledge you hold within you, is a valuable asset to the Tok'ra. Something that should not be disregarded lightly.//

"My daughter and Colonel O'Neill are my only concern Selmak, and nothing you say will change that."

Sensing that was the last statement Jacob was prepared to make for the time being, he receded back into the depths of Jacob's mind.

Teal'c had just finished realigning the crystal matrix when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Turning round he noticed that it was Daniel.

"Daniel Jackson, you have returned."

Jacob turned round at the sound of Teal'c's voice. Noting a concerned look on his face, Jacob proceeded cautiously towards the two men.  A fear of in trepidation crossed his elderly features. In his heart he knew that something was very wrong, and his heart sank to the pit of his stomach when he realised that something must have happened.

"Danny?" Jacob asked hesitantly.

"Jacob, Teal'c. There's been a few complications."

Both men waited patiently while Daniel explained what he had witnessed in the prison cell, specifically how Sam had reacted to whatever had been injected into her body. Silence filled the engine room as they listened intently, Jacob's eyes showed his fear become reality as he heard what they had done to his 'little girl'.

Inhaling deeply as a way of controlling his emotions he turned to Teal'c asking.

"Teal'c, we need to come up with a plan to get inside the mother ship.  Any ideas?"

"I do not believe that using the ships landing bay would assist us with our rescue attempt.  Several death gliders have already fired us upon, and if we attempted to land on the ship, we would be captured. I believe our wisest course of action is to use the ring transporters."

"Okay, we'll go with option 2.  Daniel, we need to know the layout of the ship, specifically where the ring transporters are located.  I want you to work with Jonas on this, he has the knack for remembering small details, and he might be able to help.  Teal'c and I will finish completing the repairs, we should only be about 5 more minutes."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

After injecting the contents into Colonel Jack O'Neill, Sam gazed down at her hands, unable to believe what she had done.  Stepping back from 'Jaret' she felt empty; she still had hold of the syringe that she used to inject him. She had hoped that killing this man would ease the pain she felt within her. The retribution she longingly sought for didn't come as she had anticipated, instead she felt sickened at her actions.

Jack saw the uncertainty within Sam's eyes, just prior to her plunging the substance into his chest. He knew he couldn't persuade her as she plunged the needle through his chest. Hoping to convey one simple sentence that would jolt her back to reality, his thoughts and feelings merging as one as he said softly.

"Sam, what have you done?" There was no animosity towards her, just simple disbelief that she had carried this out, hurt reflected in his eyes. Trying desperately to retain the fact that this wasn't her who had hurt him in this way. Using his own memories to try and block out some of the pain he was feeling, he latched onto a recent memory when he held her in his arms on the planet.  That was the Sam that he would remember, and those feelings he had for her would help him get through what was next to come as a waive of pain filtered through his entire body. While Sam stood aside of him, as pained expression rested in her eyes.

Amemait sneered, his voice thick with malevolence; his aim to destroy Colonel O'Neill was coming to fruition, but there was only one more deed that had to be done.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

After the repairs had been finalised Jacob and Teal'c joined their friends in the control centre, the stealth mode had been activated, and they were preparing to manoeuvre the ship into the best location.

Jacob spoke first, a sense of urgency enunciated in his words. "Daniel, I need you to find out their exact location, and come back as soon as possible.  We haven't got the time or manpower to take on the whole fleet so whatever we do, we have to do it as quickly as possible."

"Jacob, there's something I have to tell you first." Daniel advised him cautiously, and then preceded to explain what Oma had advised him, should he continue to interfere.

Looking directly in his eyes, Jacob noticed the mixed emotions tumbling through the young mans vision, and he knew that this wasn't a decision that he could make for him, it was something that Daniel had to decide for himself.

"Danny, I wish I could tell you what to do! All I can say is that the decision is yours to make, and whatever you decide I'll back you." Jacob paused to allow him to mull the words in his head before he continued. "I may not like it, but either way I need for you to make up your mind…and quickly.  We don't have a lot of time here."

Looking sadly at his friend…at Sam's dad, Daniel was torn in two. He didn't know which way to turn; did he risk it all, and suffer the wrath of the 'council'? Or did he take a chance, and save his friends, the way they had saved his life so many times before. It was probably the most difficult decision he was going to have to make. Taking a few moments to gather his thoughts, he realised that there really was no question as to what he would do, damn the consequences, if he was going to be punished for his transactions, then let them do it, whilst he was doing something worthwhile.

Turning back to Jacob once more, he said with his voice full of passion and commitment, "I'll help!"

Jacob gave a huge sigh of relief, and said, "Great! Get going, we haven't got much time."

Daniel winked out of existence and went to find his friends, and hoped that he wasn't too late. It took him a few moments to find them, and during that time he knew the others would be getting into position. Jacob was right, Jonas was very intelligent, and he had found during these last few days that even in the difficult circumstances, he would have really enjoyed working with him. He was just sorry that things turned out like they had, as he believed they could have become good friends.

Searching for Sam and Jack had not been particularly difficult in light of the fact that now he had ascended, he was able to locate people as if they were possessed with some kind of beacon, he found it particularly the case when it cam to locating his friends, it was if their souls were always meant to be connected, even when he wasn't in his physical body.

Observing from a distance he noticed Sam looking lost, her face flushed with fever and pain. Then diverting his eyes around the room, he saw Jack strapped tightly to a metallic table, his body convulsing, sweat profusely flowing down his face with the effort of trying to remain conscious.

Amemait stood to one side next to Sam, he eyes hungrily waiting for death to take his prisoner, a grin escaped his lips, as he watched Jack's body twitch and writhe. Knowing he couldn't do anything without the others, he tried to observe as much as possible in the short space of time that he had before the assault took place.  There were only a couple of guards in the room, their staff weapons placed by their side, obviously believing that there was currently no risk to theirs or their Lords safety.  The corridors were empty, which was going to be helpful of they were going to make it safely on board.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The ship was now firmly in position and they were patiently waiting for some sign from Daniel to provide them with the exact location. As if right on queue, Daniel rematerialized back into the ship.

Teal'c saw him first and asked in his tenor voice, "What is their status Daniel Jackson?"

"They're held in the northern quarter of the ship, there are two Jaffa guards and the system lord.  There didn't appear to be any guards patrolling the corridors, but that could change drastically when we get on board. Another thing that I think needs mentioning." Daniel paused trying to gather his thoughts. "They've got Jack strapped to a table, and by the looks of things he's been tortured."

"What of Major Carter?" Teal'c asked.

"Um, that's…that's one of the problems Teal'c." Daniel stuttered, unsure of how to broach this. "From the looks of things, it looked like Sam had taken part in some shape or form with hurting Jack."

Teal'c raised his eyebrows in concern, his eyes showing a hint of scepticism at Daniels words. Jacob couldn't reply, his eyes wide in disbelief. Jonas had kept silent throughout this exchange, he didn't really know Major Carter that well, but he knew her well enough to know this wasn't how she would normally behave, and asked.

"Doctor Jackson, are you sure, because this could change things.  If Major Carter has been involved, then…can we trust her?"

Jacob's face erupted with anger, who was he to speak of his daughter like that. The irrational side of him was saying that *this* was his little girl and of course she could be trusted, but another voice reared it's head again, and told him to think rationally about this.

Seeing that Jacob was gradually becoming irate with Jonas's words, he placed a hand on his forearm, and said, "Jonas Quinn is correct with his statement.  We cannot assume anything.  We must take every precaution regarding Major Carter, whether it is warranted or not." Allowing Jacob to take stock of what had been said he continued. "I am a father also, and I understand your concerns Jacob Carter.  I have been in the same position as you, and I know the pain that it causes. Yet we are uncertain as to Major Carter's condition. Until that certainty is known, we must remain cautious in our efforts to rescue them."

Jacob knew that they were right; it was just so hard imagining that his daughter might not be the same if they ever got her back. Pushing all negative thoughts to one side for the moment, he accepted to Teal's words with a slight nod. Teal'c in turn gracefully moved his head to one side and tilted it downwards in acknowledgement. Taking a deep breath he continued.

"Okay, that changes a few things, but it's nothing that we can't cope with. Daniel, Teal'c you're with me.  Let's get the show on the road. Jonas, we need you to activate the transporters from this end, and maintain stealth mode for as long as possible.  The engines should hold up, but if you see any sign of death gliders heading for your position, I want you to get out of here as quickly as possible. We need you to let General Hammond know of what's happened, we're way over due, and I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't already sent out a search party."

Each knowing their part, they prepared themselves on the transport ring waiting for Jonas to active the control as they headed to rescue their friends. Jacob looked at Daniel as he picked up two Zats and held out one to Daniel. Curiously he looked at Daniel wondering whether he would take it. Hesitating only slightly, Daniel bit his lip wondering if simply by touching it, it would cause his return.  Taking the risk, he took it from Jacob.  Now with all three of them armed, they prepared to take on Amemait.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The convulsions came in periods of waves as he watched his 2IC with Amemait, he honestly didn't know how much longer he could hold out; the pain was becoming unbearable, and from the looks of his 2IC, it didn't look as if she was fairing much better than he was. They both needed medical attention and soon.

Sam looked at Amemait her eyes filled with sorrow and pain, all she wanted was for this to end, to curl into a little ball in some distant place and never wake up. Her head pounded from trying to recall those fragments of memories, but everything was distorted, and every time she tried, it drained her. She just wanted to get away from everyone and everything.

Amemait reached into a hidden enclave, and pulled out a hand device.  Knowing full well that Major Carter was able to use the Goa'uld technology due to the symbiote she had possessed, he would ensure that she use this against Colonel Jack O'Neill; thereby ensuring the conversion was complete.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

They had materialised un-noticed, thanks to Jonas's knowledge regarding the schematics of Goa'uld mother ships, and Daniel's recent scouting mission. All were silently grateful for small mercies.

They cautiously went thought the various corridors, waiting and watching for any signs of guards approaching. Suddenly spotting two guards heading for their direction, both Jacob and Daniel zatted at the two, before they had the opportunity to fire a single shot.

Taking in a sigh of relief that they hadn't given a warning shout, they rushed over to where the fallen Jaffa lay. Searching for a place to hide them, they couldn't see anything. Moving them further down the corridor, Jacob fired on them again to get rid of the evidence.  Continuing to move precariously down the corridor, Daniel told them that it was only one more level up, and then they would be there.

"Great! Nothing like pushing your luck is there?" Jacob sighed, rolling his eyes upwards at the task at hand.

"Indeed, but we have more than that General Carter do we not?" Teal'c asked innocently.

"Yeah Teal'c.  We have you." Jacob responded, and surprisingly elicited a small smile from Teal'c in appreciation at his worthiness.

Daniel spoke and said in mock hurt, "What about me?"

Given the direness of the situation, Jacob allowed himself to smile slightly and turned to face his comrade. "Yes, Danny, you too."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~~  ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Amemait approached Sam with the hand device in the palm of his hand. Sam saw the gold object and looked directly towards the man on the table, a hint of fear was now in her eyes at what he was expecting her to do with it.

"Put the device on Samantha, and in a few minutes 'Jaret' will be no more, and *you* will be able to seek solace in the fact that he can no longer hurt you or your friends."

"No, I don't want to." Sam stated plainly, there was no bitterness, no anger, just a feeling of despise at herself of what she had stooped to.

Amemait's words became angrier and malevolent as he said, "PUT IT ON!"

Her hands shook, and she felt tears well up in her eyes as she placed the device on her hand. Jack saw the turmoil in her strained features, and with his voice heavy set with emotion he called to her like a whisper in the darkness, touching the very soul of who she was. "Sam…please, don't do it.  Follow your instincts.  This isn't you. Help me Sam, please. He's manipulating you into thinking I'm something I'm not.  Look at me Sam, it's me… Jack."

Amemait walked over to Jack, and shouted at him, his voice full of repressed rage.

"Shut Up, human.  Or I will shut you up permanently."

Ignoring Amemait's grasp on his face, he continued, "Sam, what you're feeling *is* real. You just need to trust your instincts."

Sam was in shock, she shook her head trying to clear the confusion in her mind as to what was right and what was wrong, her hands visibly shook with concentrated effort. She heard a commotion going on outside the door. Her hand containing the device rose automatically in defence and who she saw took her completely aback.

Amemait in defence shouted for help, as Teal'c fired his staff at the Jaffa guards.  Moving even closer to Jack, the system lord used Jack's body as a human shield. Sam's hand was aimed directly at her father, Daniel and Teal'c. Her eyes moved delicately over their faces, and she didn't know what was real and what wasn't anymore.  All she knew was that she had to get out of this room as quickly as possibly.

"Jacob, I think we're gonna have company *very* soon if we're not careful, whatever you have up your sleeve, we need it now." Daniel told him warily as he glanced back between Sam, Jack and the corridor. Teal'c's staff weapon was aimed directly at Amemait in case the System Lord tried anything.

"Samantha, they're lying to you, they are not who they claim to be.  They are trying to trick you." Amemait told her seeing that she was about to lose all rational thinking. "*They* are your enemies Samantha, and they're trying to hurt you." He continued in a soft dangerous voice.

A voice from the table could be heard gasping in pain, as he tried to warn Sam. "Sam…Listen to me, we talked about this, trust your feelings." Jack said before his body convulsed once more.

Sam felt like everything was falling in on her like a deck of cards tumbling in on themselves, she heard the voice of who sounded like her dad.

"Sammy, listen to Jack. It's the truth honey. We can help you, but you have to put the device down before you hurt anyone."

Sam brought up her free hand to her forehead, it sounded like her dad, and he'd said  'Listen to Jack'. The man on the table was Jack? She didn't understand, and her head felt as if it was ready to explode.

Sam crept towards the prone figure. Her heart raced against the pressure that was threatening to overwhelm her.

Jacob, Daniel and Teal'c watched their friend get closer to her CO. Teal'c manoeuvred himself round to a better position, as Sam was now faced opposite Amemait. From the others perspective it looked as if Sam was about to use the hand device on Colonel O'Neill.

Teal'c and Daniel gave Jacob a look that said, they weren't certain of Sam's intentions towards her CO. Jacob shook his head and said. "Trust her."

Sam looked at the tears in her CO's eyes, the pain was clearly evident now, and he looked at her with such an intensity that made her heart break in two. She heard goading from Amemait as he whispered. "Kill him.  Kill him, NOW, before it's too late."

Turning her head towards the back of the room, she saw the weapons aimed directly at her and Amemait. She saw the trust in her father's eyes as he made his way towards her. She made no move against her father as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sam, it's okay.  We've come to take you and Jack home. You need to take off the hand device. C'mon Sam, no one can hurt you now."

Sam's hand wavered as she heard his soft voice, reaching out to her as he had when she was a little girl. Then she heard Teal'c's voice. "Jacob Carter, we must hurry, there is not much time."

Jacob nodded his head in response. Softly he implore her, "Sam, we gotta go, now. It's dangerous to stay."

Feeling as if a weight was being slowly lifted off her shoulders, she noticed his 'real' face for the first time since he had injected her with drugs. It had all been a façade. He'd forced her to hurt her friend in unspeakable ways, and even though she had not done it willingly, it brought fury and disgust to her features, and her hands shook as she raised the weapon that was still in her hand.

With all the hatred within her, she felt the power building u in the device.

"Sam, don't" Jacob said warningly.  It was one thing to kill in battle, but another to kill through hatred, and the two were very different thing. Something he never wanted his daughter to go through.

Sam didn't feel as if she were able to stop, and ignored the pleas from her father.

Placing her free hand on top of her other hand she released all the energy that had been building up within her. A brilliant flash of light emanated form the device, and her friends could only stand and watch as she hit him full blast with all the strength she had.  The force of the blast sent him flying through the air, landing hard on the instruments used to illicit pain on his victims.

Her voice was cold as she spoke the words, "Now I have retribution."

Daniel's soft voice could barely be heard as he said, "Way to go Sam."

"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.

"Sam? Are you okay? We need to get out of here as soon as possible.  Can you manage?" Jacob asked indicating for Teal'c and Daniel to come and help them with Jack while he tended to Sam, her eyes vacant as she continued to see the lifeless body in the corner.

Teal'c and Daniel rushed over to untie Jack, while Jacob helped Sam with getting off the hand device, one thing he didn't want was for to inadvertently point it at any one them.  Finally releasing Jack from his binds, they noticed his pallid colour, and knew that there wasn't much time.

Hoisting Jack over his shoulder Teal'c led the way immediately followed by Jacob who had a tight grip on her waist in an attempt to keep her upright and moving.  Daniel brought up the rear.  Sounds of Jaffa hoards could be heard heading for them, and they had to hurry.

Quickening their pace, they made their way back to the transport rings.  Daniel raised Jonas on the radio in preparation for their arrival, and confirming that they had Sam and Jack with them.

Throughout the twists and turns towards their escape route, they ducked and dived as they came face to face with some Jaffa warriors. Placing Jack on the floor for a moment Teal'c placed Jack to the side to shield him form any weapons fire. Jacob literally had to drag Sam out of the way, as she stood blankly in the middle of the corridor; his thoughts were that this was never a good sign.

After a few near hits, they managed to knock out the remaining Jaffa who stood in their way.  Making a break they headed for the section just below them, and ran as fast as they could to the transporter rings.

Thankful that there were no further obstacles in their way, they placed themselves round the inner circle of the transporter and signalled for Jonas to activate the rings.

Just as they were dematerialising by the energy of rings, they witnessed a hoard of Jaffa head straight for them.

Jacob looked upwards as a sighed as a sign of thanks that Jonas got them out on time.

Lowering Jack on the floor beside them Teal'c advised that he would take control over the ship, as there may be more death gliders to follow. Which would allow Jacob to tend to Jack and Sam's injuries as they all headed for the Stargate.

Sam was abnormally quiet throughout the trip back, Jacob with a lot of concentrated effort had managed to heal the majority of injuries Sam had inflicted on Jack. Within a few minutes of Jacob healing him, he opened his eyes and instantly realised that he wasn't on the mother ship anymore.

Jack's eyes searched for her, but couldn't see as Jacob was directly in his vision.

"Jacob…Sam, is she.." Jack asked hesitantly his voice indicating none of the strength that he was known for.

Jacob patted his hand on his shoulder, and said softly, "We got her back to Jack."

"Where is she, Jacob."

Moving out of his vision, he finally saw her, and it hurt him deeply to see that she was in the furthest corner of the room, not even looking at anyone, her face showed a look of deep regret and loss. Feeling nothing but sorrow for his 2IC, he called out to her.

"Sam."

Sam looked up to see that the Colonel was awake, and she knew that he would be okay, but inside she didn't feel that she would be.  Unable to look at him, she turned her face away and placed her head on her bent knees. She couldn't think or feel anymore, and all the pain that she had caused him filtered through her brain. Never in her life had she felt so lost and alone.

End Chapter 20

A/N I told you I went on a bit didn't I. Well this IS the penultimate chapter. The last one, I promise will involve lots of bonding.