Sorry this took so long but I went on a wonderful summer vacation with my family and I never came in reach of a computer the whole time!

------------------------------------ means some time passed

Fortunately they didn't have to wait too long. Soon the meal was done and Xylena walked up to the two women and said spitfully, "now that that is over with we can go and look at MY men," she finished with a smirk. Sam and Janet looked at each other worriedly and followed Xylena out quietly, dreading what might be around the corner.

Xylena walked purposely through the now busy square with Janet and Sam doging people as they trailed behind her. They reached a small door which Xylena threw open with a loud bang and then descended the dank stairs into the darkness below. Sam and Janet threw each other a desperate look before they descended the stairs themselves, a rank smell assaulting their nostils. Their eyes gradually got semi-used to the dark, but they still needed to hold on to the wall as they tried to feel their way down the steps. Gradually a light slowly reached them, as they approached the bottom they realized that it was coming from a torch set on a cone on the wall. When Xylena reached the bottom she picked up a torch from a large pile on the floor and lit it with the torch that was already lit, then stode off, not even checking behind her. This time Sam and Janet had to stay close behind so that they could stay in the light trailing behind Xylena. As they strode along they could hear whimpers and sobs coming from either side of them. When they looked closer they could make out the faint outlines of the men pressed against the far wall or laying feebily on the floor. At the far end Sam could make out a figure whose back was still straight and he looked as if he still held some glimmer of hope to himself. It's Jack, she though victoriously to herself, joy and relief coursing through her veins. Hey, she continued, talking to herself, I called him Jack!

"At the end of the corridor," Xylena broke in, disturbing Sam's thoughts, "is my newest prisoner," she finished looking at Sam coldly to see if she would react to what she had just said, but seeing nothing moved the torch for them to get a better view. When the light fell on Jack's face Sam realized just how haggard he really looked. The two locked eyes as Xylena continued to rattle off information about him. In that brief thirty seconds they exchanged how much they missed and were worried about the other. They also tried to get across that they were fine, but they both knew the other didn't believe a word of that. Then Janet broke it off when she caught Jack's attention, she then pointed to Sam's clothes, he turned back to look at Sam, this time his gaze moving past her eyes and resting on her attire. He then boke into an easy grin as he stared hungrily and Sam blushed furiously. Just then Xylena's words seeped into their silent converstion, "I think I'll have him sacrificed tomorrow," she was saying carelessly.

"What!" Sam exclaimed, the word popping out of her mouth before she could stop it. How did she let everything else slip out of her mind like that. There had to be something she could do, whe thought to herself, trying to get her mind back on track.

"Yes," Xylena continued offhandedly as she turned and started back the way they had come, "we usually have a yearly sacrifice for the Queen and this year I decided it would take him to appease me," she finished as she waved her hand back to include Jack. Sam turned towards Jack with a panicked and sad expression on her face, he shot her a reassuring grin, trying to cover up his fear. Sam smiled at him sadly then took on a determined look and sent him a look that said hang in there, I'll get you out of this before turning and running after Xylena and Janet.

As Jack watched them go he worried about Sam's safety, how was she going to save him from this. She might get hurt or worse killed, with that thought horror filled his body. No! that wasn't going to happen, she's Sam, she can do anything she wants he told himself. He then shook himself firmly from his reverie and started to try to get the attention of the other men, after all it was Sam and she never stops at anything small.

When the trio arrived at the surface Xylena seperated herself from the two women and told them to look around. She then marched off towards the building Janet and Sam had first met her in. The two women then looked at each other and agreed silently to look around. They then turned and walked towards were all the noise was coming from.

Soon they arrived at a large marketplace, they glanced over at the other that seperated so that they could get more information quicker.

Janet went towards the medical centre so that she could gleam some information while she trades medical techniques and medicines with some of the other doctors.

Sam decided to go to where some of the citizens were practising their physical combat skills. That's where she learned some pertinent information she knew she could use, though she'd have to get Janet to agree or... never mind she could change it around a bit so that she wouldn't have to tell her the complete truth...

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That night Colonel O'Neill woke up to the sound of Janet's voice, wildly describing all the medical techniques and medicine that she learned about today. From his knowledge of Janet it seemed as if she had been talking about that subject for awhile. Then he heard Sam's soft, laughing reply, "let me guess Jan, you didn't find out anything about Jacks predicament, did you?" With those words Jack's world exploded with joy and happiness. She had called him Jack? No sir, no colonel, just honest to goodness Jack! I could ask her to go fishing again, he thought excitedly to himself, his thoughts running wild... and she might just say yes!... but slowly his feet returned to terra firma and he continued to listen, wondering what else Sam might admit.

"No...sorry Sam, I didn't learn anything other then what Xylena had already told us. Either the doctors don't know anything about politics or they're in cahoots with her... or maybe Xylena wants to keep it hidden so badly that they're afraid of the punishment Xylena might dish out if they told," Janet said, then sadly added, "did you find out anything useful." She added hopefully.

"Yes," Sam declared twirling around once with happiness.

"I told you so," Jack said happily to the other men in the prison listening with him, "I knew that if there was any kind of loophole my Carter would find it."

"I thought that after we got him," Janet said, thinking ahead. Both unaware of the men listening below or what the were saying to one other, "we could 'gate to a world other then earth then connect to earth so that the inhabitants of this planet won't get hurt if they follow."

"That would work great Jan," Sam said, Jack noticed that she sounded tired, "unfortunately we can't get him out right away, but I do know a way that will work. We just have to bid our time. 'Kay Jan."

"That's great Sam," Janet replied sincerely, "but we only have until sometime tomorrow. Oh Sam," Janet exclaimed, suddenly noticing the state her friend was in, "you look awful, no offense, what happened?"

"Thanks," Jack heard Sam say wryly, "I'll tell you all about it sometime tomorrow or the next day, I promise. I'm just too tired right now though. Night Jan," she finished as she got under the covers on her bed.

"Night Sam," Janet replied sleepily as she got into her own bed.

As they started to fall into slumber Jack heard Sam's sleepy voice distincfully say, "Night Jack."

"Night Sam," he replied softly, feeling all was well with the world.