If it is longer chapters you want, then longer chapters you shall have! Again, thanks reading and reviewing and Roonie, this is not my first fic, but it is my first SG-1 fic. I just became addicted to the show. Once I see two dynamic characters together, my hands itch and I have to write! Back to the show!

Disclaimer: see previous chapters . . . . . . ..

Seven Days of Hell -Chapter Three-

Sam's eyes opened painfully, her body screaming in protest as her mind awoke in the numb shell that had once been her body. The latest torture was over, but hours later; she was still feeling the aftershocks. She wasn't used to this kind of pain.

Pain of the heart she could deal with. Sam had had enough experience with that. With him. This kind of pain could not be stashed away and ignored in the way she had sealed her heart from him. This pain was all consuming. It tore through her body in a fiery rush, slowly taking pieces of her mind with it.

She thought of Jack during every torture session. For some reason beyond her understanding, it helped ease the pain. Probably, she mused, because she was so used to him hurting her. If she imagined it was his rugged face staring down at her, his fingers hitting the keys that would drown her in pain, Sam could tie the pain to something she recognized.

Her heart hurt.

Stifling a cry, Sam pulled herself into a sitting position; weary muscles screaming in protest as she hefted her bruised and battered body up against the wall. The pain would sharpen her focus and maybe, with luck, she could get out of this hellhole.

A thought occurred to her. Why hadn't he come for her? The first instant she had been captured, she had expected Jack to come charging in, weapons brandished, shooting down Goa'uld in an attempt to save her. He would open the cage, carry her out and through the Stargate, where she would be safe to ice her heart over again and pretend they were just friends.

Sam hadn't cried yet, either. The physical pain, though overwhelming, was insignificant to the hurt her heart was feeling now. He had always been her protector. Jack was the only person Sam felt safe with.

"Sir there's no time!"

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Sir, just go!"

"NO!"

A shiver ran down her body as she remembered. She could see the panic in his eyes, the fear that he may have not been able to break down the forcefield and free her. He had almost lost her and most of himself along with her. Sam laughed bitterly. Her own hero couldn't even save himself.

Sam gritted her teeth. She would not cry. She would give no one the pleasure of seeing they had broken her body and spirit. She would simply take her punishment and reveal nothing. Maybe, if she was lucky, the Goa'uld would kill her. Death would be preferable to what she had back home. Eternal sleep versus an overly broken heart? Who wouldn't prefer that? Dammit! She would not cry!

He wasn't coming for her. That much she knew now for certain. Fine. Let him live as if he never knew her. Let him live without his 2IC.

Let him pretend he never loved her back.

It was all a game. A long complicated chess game where there were pieces to be sacrificed and pawns to destroy.

Exhausted, Sam lay her head on her knees, closing her eyes against the familiar sting she felt against them. Seven years of missed opportunities, regrets, shared glances and broken hearts and she still hadn't run out of tears for him.

He was the one pawn she could never destroy; the one piece she would protect with her life.

If it was all just a game, why did she always feel like she was losing? Maybe she was. Maybe all of her scratching and clawing for some solid piece of reality that could pull her out of Hell for a moment had been for nothing. She was lost, stuck in a bottomless abyss looking up at the one man who could have saved her.

With a startled realization, Sam's eyes flew open.

Oh God.

She loved him.

Shit.

-End Chapter Three-

Well, hope you enjoyed. Please R and R as usual. Email me at if you want to talk. See ya next time.