Gutierrez jerked back into consciousness. Chinga! How long had he been out? He had to stay awake - Farrell needed his help.
He climbed unsteadily to his feet, trying to ease the pain in his protesting shoulders. The chains were long enough to allow him to sit, but they kept his arms raised above his head. Gutierrez cursed silently against the pain of returning circulation and the pounding in his head. He tugged uselessly at his bonds, knowing that it would do him good.
He was so stupid, he told himself. His job had been to protect Farrell and he'd failed miserably. He was chained to a wall, helpless, while she was off somewhere drugged and waiting to be raped or even killed. If anything happened to the anthropologist, he'd never forgive himself. And, even if they did manage to both get out alive, his days would be numbered.
If Ferretti and Sloane didn't kill him for letting their anthropologist get hurt, Gutierrez knew who would. Colonel O'Neill, Dr. Jackson and Teal'c had cornered the male members of SG2 in the locker room just prior to their first mission together as a team. The colonel had frowned menacingly and said, "You'd better take good care of our girl." The expressions on the other men's faces indicated that they were in full agreement with their leader's sentiments.
Gutierrez knew that all the members of SG1 were close to the anthropologist, especially as she'd spent her first few months at the SGC assigned to their unit. Ariana and O'Neill had both been injured during her first mission off-world, and now the entire team felt rather protective of her.
Ferretti had just grinned at his old friend. "She's our girl now, Jack. Take it easy! We'll bring the doc back in one piece."
"You'd better," Dr. Jackson had replied quietly.
"Indeed," Teal'c had added.
They'd managed to do just that on their trip to P3X-987. By the time they'd returned from the two-week mission they'd become a team. The crush that Gutierrez had initially developed on the anthropologist had blossomed into a solid friendship that was now shared by all of the members of SG2.
Now, he'd failed his friend. Gutierrez could only hope that somehow Ferretti and Sloane found them before it was too late.
Ferretti gazed at the busy street that fronted the building Talina had indicated. Shit! There was too much traffic for them to be able to get inside unnoticed. Their BDU's meant that he and Sloane couldn't exactly blend in with the local population.
Sloane shook his head in exasperation. "There's no way we'll make it in that way, sir."
Talina nodded in agreement. "Captain Sloane is correct, Major Ferretti. However, I had not intended for you to enter the building from the street. Come with me."
The two men followed the girl as she led them to a narrow alleyway. Talina said, "Some of Herasta's clients do not wish to be seen entering or leaving her establishment. This alley leads to the rear entrance. The private pleasure rooms are easily accessible from there. Herasta will have your friends in one of those rooms."
"How will we know which door it is?" Ferretti asked.
"It will be the only door that is guarded. Herasta has two of her men stationed there at all times. The rest should be in the main hall at the front of the building."
Ferretti nodded. "Good. Wait for us here." He motioned to Sloane and they set off down the dark alley.