Vulnerability

by Sam I Am the gate fan

While on a mission to find the Spring of Eternity, SG-1 are captured, but little do they know that Apophis has already found a unique way of making his unbeatable enemy, SG-1, vulnerable!

1. Vulnerability Part One

Vulnerability

By Sam I Am –

Rating: PG-13 (can't honestly be any more than that)

Warnings: Sam/Jack (that's a warning for anyone who don't like that) also Daniel/Janet, but not in great detail. Major Character death (and don't let that put you off it!)

Category: Character death, Sam/Jack Romance, mild Daniel/Janet, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, probably AU fic as it couldn't happen in the series, friendship and a little bit of SG-1 Humour thrown in for good measure. (If there's anything I missed out someone tell me!)

Spoilers: Bits and Bobs from Seasons 1-4!

Time frame: Sometime during Season 4, after 'Divide and Conquer' (I think!)

Summary: While on a mission to find the Spring of Eternity, SG-1 are captured, but little do they know that Apophis has already found a unique way of making his unbeatable enemy, SG-1, vulnerable!

Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime / Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. No copyright infringement is intended. No money is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author. Not to be archived without permission. 'The Scientist' is sung by Coldplay and the lyrics were used without permission (Sorry!) No Copyright intended, it just fits the story... and it's a really cool song! If you want to archive my story TELL ME, or, to borrow a phrase from our beloved Colonel, I am SO gonna kick your ass!

Author's Notes: The first Fan Fic I'm going to archive anywhere! WOO HOO! This has probably taken me the longest out of all my works in progress and the very few I have actually finished. Any feedback would be SO useful. As a young author competing against all the older fanfic writers I'm in need of encouragement, support and, if necessary, constructive criticism! And if you think it's good recommend it! I'd love to hear my stories actually being read instead of sat in an Archive somewhere collecting digital dust!

Dedications: To my Best pal/Editor. You know who you are and you have been such an Angel putting up with my incessant babbling about every story line I've created (if only in my warped imagination) and understanding, even when said story lines altered so many times I can't believe you haven't lost track! Thanks Hon. Also to all you S/J fans and all those writers (there are too many to name you all!) whose masterpieces have been a true blessing to this admirer! Finally, (and this may sound slightly weird) to Freddie Mercury. Though I was barely old enough to string a coherent sentence together when you died, your music has always been my inspiration. Thank you for the music, Freddie!

And so here you are... Vulnerability!

Å

Part One

"This is just fascinating!"

"Daniel! If you say that one more time I'm gonna shoot you!"

Daniel just shrugged apologetically and turned back to 'the rock'. Jack glanced at the luminous face of his watch and gave a groan.

They'd been on this planet for over three days and Jack was bored to death. Teal'c was helping Daniel translate the 'honking great slab of rock' as Jack had named it earlier. Daniel had babbled on and on about how significant the thing was and stuff, but Jack hadn't really been listening. Teal'c and Daniel were absorbed in their discussion and Jack felt very left out. He had done for three days.

The towering stone tablet stood in the middle of an open plain. There was no grass and no animals. There wasn't even sand. Just rock. Only a few trees and the tablet broke the skyline of the barren planet.

Jack sighed for the umpteenth time and began counting the trees again.

One, two, three...

'God, I wish Carter was here...'

Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine...

'At least I'd have someone to talk to...'

Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen...

'I wonder how she's getting on?'

Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen...

'What is she doing anyway?'

Eighteen, Nineteen...

'Oh for crying out loud, what's the point?' Jack thought to himself, 'I already know there are a hundred and twelve.'

"Jack."

Jack looked up to see Daniel walking towards him grinning. In his hand he held a large notebook and a pencil that was now so short he could barely write with it. The archaeologist beamed at the monument satisfied.

"I've finished translating and boy was it worth it. It's fa..."

"If you say fascinating!" Jack warned strangling an imaginary Daniel with his hands.

"Fa... fantastic!" Daniel grinned pleased with himself, as Jack glared at him. Daniel continued to smile, "We can go."

"OH YES!" Jack sprang off the ground with a whoop, as Teal'c looked puzzled.

Daniel gave a small smile, "I'm sorry. You must have been really bored."

"Ya think?" Jack retorted as Daniel nodded. Jack looked at his watch again. They had to be back at the gate in an hour. The gate was about 2 miles away and after being sat on the hard stone floor for a long time his knees were aching painfully.

Jack groaned as he hefted his pack onto his shoulders, "OK. Let's move out, Kids."

Å

They stepped into the embarkation room as General Hammond spoke relieved, "Welcome back SG-1. Was the mission a success?"

"Yes, Sir," Jack said glancing around the embarkation room discretely for the familiar face he wanted to see, "Daniel and Teal'c managed to translate that huge honking slab of rock and I think we discovered the most barren place in the universe, Sir. All in all, I think it was a success."

General Hammond gave an amused smile, "Bored, Son?"

Jack smiled back, "That's an understatement."

General Hammond chuckled as he said, "Debriefing at 1900. Get yourselves checked out and cleaned up."

As they left the embarkation room, Jack couldn't help, but wonder about Carter. Surely she would have been in the gate room to say 'Hi.'

'Maybe I should stop by her office,' Jack thought to himself as he began to worry about his 2IC's whereabouts.

After taking a shower and having the usual post mission examination from Fraiser, Jack found himself walking to Carter's lab automatically. He stopped hesitantly by the door, which was ajar. He gently pushed the door open...

The first thing Jack noticed, as usual was Carter. She was sat in her chair, her head resting on her arms. She looked a state. Her hair was a mess and she had dark rings under her eyes. Her uniform was crumpled and creased. She looked really tired and ill. Jack began to worry about her again.

The second thing Jack noticed was the mess her lab was in. It looked like it had been the victim of a small nuke! There were a countless number of empty coffee mugs that lay around her. Her computer was still on and showed a page of calculations and numbers Jack couldn't even begin comprehend. Around her lay a disarray of papers and notes. Carter's office was usually messy, but never like this!

Jack walked over to the sleeping Major. He crouched down beside her, "Carter," he whispered gently as Sam woke up with a jolt.

"Sir!" she exclaimed in a sleepy sort of slur, "What are you doin' here? You're not meant to be back for another four hours."

"Check your watch, Carter."

The woman, blinking back sleep, peered through heavy lids at her wrong wrist before realising her watch was on the other. She was exhausted.

"Oh, God!" She put her head in her hands, "Colonel, I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's no big deal, Carter," he assured her, "Besides, I'm always dozing off when I'm not suppos..."

"I'm trying so hard to get this finished." She signalled the computer screen.

Jack stared at it blankly, "You've totally lost me, Carter. I haven't a clue what that is."

Carter rubbed her eyes as she turned to look at the screen, "Last week, Daniel went on that mission with SG-7. That's where he got the address to '669, the planet you just visited. But also he found another address, but the address was in code and it was incomplete."

"And you've been trying to figure it out."

Sam nodded, "The address apparently leads to a place of 'Eternity'. From what Daniel has read there is a spring of eternity or eternal life. Daniel says it's a medicine or something similar. If he's right it could revolutionise medicine as we know it!"

Jack just nodded, "Well, you might just need some of that stuff," he looked her up and down, "Staring at that screen, scribbling notes, and working yourself into overload cannot be good for you, Carter. You look like hell!"

She nodded, "I've just got to..."

"Carter, get some rest," he said firmly, "Besides if you're too tired to remember which wrist your watch is on, then you're too tired to crack some impossible code!"

Sam smiled slightly as she saved her work and switched the computer off. She got up off the chair and yawned, "Tell Daniel to give me anything from the translation that might help with my code-breaking."

"Will do," Jack sighed as Sam went for the door, "Oh and Carter?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Never leave me with Daniel and Teal'c translating ever again. I think I'm a danger to myself."

Sam smiled sleepily, "Night, Sir."

Å

Daniel yawned sleepily as he stepped into Sam's lab. She wasn't here yet, so Daniel sat himself down on a chair and sipped his mug of coffee slowly.

'Thank God for Coffee!' he thought, 'Who needs some medicine of eternity when you have... wait a second...' He looked around Sam's office. Something was wrong.

For one thing the papers and letters in her in-tray were stacked neatly as were the papers on her desk. Her desk, which usually had at least one drained coffee mug, now possessed none whatsoever. Her chair had been completely pushed under the desk. The keyboard was neatly placed before the computer, which had been totally switched off. Daniel knew Sam always forgot to switch off part of her computer, but not even the printer was still on. Daniel also noticed the pencil pot that stood on Sam's desk. Usually it was empty, but today all the pens and pencils that littered her desk were placed in the pot.

Daniel turned on the chair and surveyed the room. The bookcase. Sam's bookcase was typically hers. Usually books covered the shelves, none of them stacked properly. Folders usually hung out at odd angles, but today they were all stacked neatly. Daniel noticed that the pieces of broken down devices still lay on her desk, but in a more orderly manner. Her hundreds of floppy disks and CDs had been placed in their box. Daniel flipped through them. They were alphabetical. The small filing cabinet had all the draws pushed in and no clutter covering the top. The room was... organised and clean.

Something was VERY wrong!

"Morning Daniel. Have you got the... Whoa!"

Daniel turned to see Sam staring around her lab in utter confusion. Her jaw dropped slightly, "Daniel? Did you clean my lab?"

"Didn't you?" Daniel asked, knowing how stupid the question sounded. Sam! Clean her lab! That was almost as good as Jack reading their reports!

Suddenly realisation appeared on her face and Sam smiled quietly. Without saying another word she sat at her desk and switched the computer on. Daniel was about to speak when he saw a look on Sam's face that he hadn't ever seen her wear. She was day-dreaming!

"Sam?"

"Uh huh," she hummed still smiling. She looked up to see Daniel's confused expression directed at her, "Don't worry, Daniel. Now. The translation..."

Å

Jack whistled as he strolled along the corridor. He couldn't help, but grin slightly. He stopped whistling as he turned down the corridor that led to Carter's lab. The door was open he could see from here. He walked along slowly and when he reached the door looked inside.

Daniel's expression reminded him of a child that's just realised it is Christmas Day and Sam was talking excitedly and jabbing at the screen of her computer.

Jack stood there for a moment before saying, "Good Morning Class!" He turned to Sam smiling, "Working already?"

Sam looked up as a huge grin spread across her face, "Yeah."

"And...?" Jack asked as Daniel looked at Sam's knowing grin in confusion.

"We've cracked it! Looks like the planet of 'Eternity' is our next stop, Sir," Sam said still smiling.

"Great," Jack said enthusiastically. He then grimaced and turned to Daniel, "And no more translating! If you even have to translate one word I'm going to kill you!"

"Jack, I will probably have to translate something. Both planets I visited had no occupants, but they had monuments and runes I have to..."

"Ah! No!" Jack said cutting him off, "No more 'Thirak bir thirel menau gershrak'! I've had enough of translating!"

"Jack, you don't underst..." Daniel began to retort and then frowned, "What did you say?"

Jack then shrugged, "Something you were translating. It just stuck in my head. It seemed to be the only bit of the text you didn't spend half a day on."

"Thirak bir thirel menau gershrak," Daniel frowned slightly, "It means..."

"The waters of Eternity in the early land," Jack shrugged at the looks of amazement shot at him by Daniel, "Like I said, it just stuck."

Sam looked at him in surprise and then turned to Daniel, "Early land?"

"Oh. The words 'thirel menau'. They usually mean 'land of the dawning, or rising, sun', but 'early land' is another translation."

Jack just smiled slightly, "You can't expect me to listen to everything you say!"

Sam turned back to Daniel, "So the land of the rising sun?"

"The planet must be like Alaska in the winter," Sam nodded showing she understood, but Jack frowned, fixing Daniel with a confused look. With a small sigh, Daniel continued, "In Alaska they have days with only a few minutes of daylight in the winter and vice versa in the summer. It is quite possible that the planet only has a few hours of sunlight a day."

Jack nodded showing he finally understood. He was lent against the doorway, "Well, someone tell Hammond and he'll probably have us shipped out there within the week."

Sam and Daniel both got up hurriedly and sped off to talk to General Hammond. Jack remained in the doorway for a moment. He noticed something and walked over to the desk. He picked up the pencil and placed it back in the pen pot. He then switched off her computer and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Å

Sam looked across the terrain. According to the MALP readings they were in a mountain forest. A silvery mist filled the air and Sam shivered slightly. It was quite cold, not freezing though. Around them stood fir-like trees and the soil had huge chunks of icy, grey rock protruding from it.

Sam could see the sun quite visibly through the clouds. The star that this planet revolved around was massive and was bigger than their sun. Also instead of being the usual yellow, the atmosphere of this planet changed it to a pale green colour.

The green orb was visibly through the mist and it was quite high in the sky. Sam frowned confused as Jack turned to her also confused, "Isn't that sun a little high in the sky?" He turned to Sam, "This is their winter, right?"

"Yes, Sir," Sam said still confused.

Jack asked another question, "Shouldn't it be... dark?"

Daniel pulled a hand through his hair, "I may have translated wrong."

"Yeah, but 'early land' makes no sense," Jack added.

"There may be another meaning of the words. The translation was in a strange dialect and was quite hard to decipher."

Jack just nodded and then turned to Teal'c, "OK, let's take a look around. Teal'c, take point."

He inclined his head as Sam watched her CO stride before her into the haze. Daniel walked behind her and Teal'c behind Daniel. They began to descend a small slope that had small rocks sticking through the bracken floor everywhere. Jack told them to watch where they stepped and not to trip and then added, "That means you, Daniel!"

She could hear Daniel muttering mutinously, but it soon changed to thoughtful murmurs as Daniel tried to think of different translations for the text. After about five minutes Teal'c asked, "Do you require my assistance, Daniel Jackson?"

"Uh... yeah. I'm trying to think of other variat..."

"I have gathered."

"OK... so..."

Sam blocked out the conversation behind her and immediately felt a small smile on her face. After a few minutes deliberation, she took in a deep breath and began to walk beside her CO.

She hid the smile and could see him glance at her out of the corner of her eye. She felt the smile tugging at her lip and finally gave in. She glanced at him as he looked back giving her that look of innocence he could always make her lose her guard with. She shook her head gently as she murmured, "I didn't know you ran a cleaning service."

"I don't. Except on special occasions."

The reply was short, but sweet and Sam felt herself beaming, "Do you do birthdays?" She saw him glance at her again as she turned to him. He gave her a small smile and then stopped dead in his tracks. His eyebrows rose slightly as he stared just over her shoulder.

"Colonel?"

She looked in front of them to where the Colonel was staring. It was a temple. She heard Daniel and Teal'c's conversation cease abruptly as Jack said, "Well Danny Boy, looks like we found you a 'rock' to translate."

Å

They stepped into the cool, gloomy structure as Jack scanned the shadowy corners with the light on his gun. He moved along the walls until the light shone on one wall. Jack recognised the symbols. They were the same as the ones they'd found on that 'honking great slab of rock'.

"Well, it's definitely Goa'uld. Older than most, but in amazing condition!"

Daniel walked forward cautiously and looked back at Jack for the go ahead. He gave a small nod and then murmured, "Teal'c, help Daniel. I'll guard the entrance."

Teal'c inclined his head and stepped up beside Daniel.

Daniel spoke, "Uh... this dialect is easier than the one on F8T 669. It's more closely related to Goa'uld text. This writing is older. I'd say about three thousand years older..."

"Just translate the damn thing already!" Jack complained impatiently from the entrance as he stared out into the murky undergrowth.

Daniel sighed and grumbled something, before saying, "OK... The first line is: Ra, God of the Sun has... given or bestowed... upon his children a... potent gift. Uh... Teal'c what does 'Reiutac' mean?"

"I believe it means 'Almighty Deity'."

Daniel continued, "Uh... The Almighty deity has given unto us... the Spring of Eternity... from which we shall... live forever in the land of the rising sun."

"OK, but where is it?" Jack asked slightly impatiently as he glanced at the archaeologist for a moment.

Daniel turned back to the wall, "Uh... it says that: Ra's people will forever be his... undying... children... and shall be the... chosen ones."

Jack spoke again, "Chosen ones?"

Daniel glared at Jack and pointed to the last line, "The next part reads something about it being below the temple... ah Teal'c, what does this line mean?"

"Roughly translated it means that only those carrying a Goa'uld can enter and receive Ra's bequest."

"Uh... so I'm guessing 'Chosen Ones' refers to Goa'ulds and Jaffa, right?"

"That would be a likely assumption, Daniel Jackson."

"Looks like you're the man for the job, Teal'c," Jack said from the door. "Can you see anyway that we could get in there?"

"I cannot."

Jack turned, the light of his gun illuminating part of the elaborate temple floor, "Nothing at all? There must be..."

"Sir," Carter nodded towards the floor. They all stared down at a large decorated circle.

"Rings," Jack said, as he turned to Sam, "Can you hotwire them?"

"I could try, Sir. All I'd have to do is find the panel."

"Get to..."

Jack's order was cut off as a column of light appeared in the centre of the floor. A familiar whirring noise signalled the rings coming up.

Seven Jaffa appeared and in their midst Jack could see a familiar pair of glowing eyes.

"Not you again!" Jack said angrily as he raised his gun about to shoot, "How many times do we have to kill this guy?!?"

Before they could open fire, one of the serpent guards managed to pin Daniel to the wall, a staff pointed at his chest.

"Lower your weapons or my Jaffa shall kill Dr. Jackson."

Jack glanced at his friends and obeyed the Goa'uld's command. They all placed their weapons on the floor slowly as Apophis grinned maliciously.

"Jaffa kree," the Jaffa grabbed Teal'c, Carter and Jack, as the one still aiming the staff at Daniel's chest stood beside Apophis.

They were all dragged beneath the rings and ringed down to a huge room. It was definitely Goa'uld although Jack doubted it had always been Goa'uld. It was a large cavern of dark rock the same colour as the mountainside. Round lights were placed evenly around the rough walls of the cave. Spouting out in different directions were slightly more modern Goa'uld passages made like any you would find on a mother ship.

Sam stared before her at the large, deep tank of glass. It was filled with water. The lights behind the tank seemed to ripple as they were looked at through the clear liquid.

Sam glanced at Jack who looked confused. They were dragged forward and taken up a flight of roughly hewn stairs to the top of the glass tank.

When there, Sam could see harness like contraptions dangling above the cistern and realised a Jaffa was attaching her in one. She fought, but more serpent guards held her until she was secured tightly in the harness.

The GDO and radio were removed from her as well as any additional weaponry or technology she had on her before the Jaffa swung her out over the water.

She closed her eyes at first, but when she heard Apophis laughing she opened them again. She hung horizontally inches away from the unknown liquid wondering what the hell was going on.

She glanced beside her at Daniel and Teal'c. They both looked seriously uneasy. The Colonel was then swung in beside her as he yelled, "Hey! Do you mind? Less of the shoving!"

She glanced at him as he asked silently with his concerned stare, 'Are you OK?'. She gave him a small nod, as he turned to Teal'c and Daniel asking the same silent question and receiving the same reply.

Apophis walked closer to the tank. He was grinning evilly, his golden attire shimmering in the soft white light emanating from the lights in side the tank. Sam really wanted to punch his lights out as he spoke coldly, "Jaffa, lower them in and then we shall meet a more vulnerable SG-1!"

Sam held her breath as she was lowered into the liquid. She watched as Jack's intake of breath was punched out of him when one of the Jaffa jabbed the butt end of his staff into his stomach. He was winded and didn't have a lot of breath left in him as his head was submerged beneath the surface. Her arms were pinned to her side as her head went totally under the surface. Through the water she could just see her friends. Their bodies seemed to be rippling, but maybe it was just the water affecting her eyes. She fought to keep conscious, but slowly she felt herself losing the battle as her lungs screamed for oxygen. She was drowning. As she began to lose consciousness, she felt herself being pulled out of the water by the harness and then metal-gloved hands lifting her back to dry land.

She coughed up the fluid stuck in her throat as she was dragged out from the liquid. Her body ached, especially her muscles that weighed down her body like lead. She felt as though her whole body had been stretched like elastic and then compressed into a tiny box. She fell to the ground. Her head swam and when she opened her eyes all she could see was coloured stars. She was going to pass out. The hands lifted her from the ground again mercilessly. The metal gloves were digging into her arm and leaving painful marks behind. She was lifted into a strong pair of arms as she was carried somewhere. Suddenly she felt her body being tossed into darkness, banging her head hard on the icy floor and being completely knocked out.

Å

Jack woke and found himself sprawled across cold stone. He rubbed his head. He must have hit it pretty hard for it to hurt that much! It felt as though it had been cleaved in half! His body felt stiff and his muscles ached painfully as if he'd just sprinted twenty miles without stopping. He looked around in the gloom, bright colours flashing in his eyes as he tried to focus them.

What had Apophis been talking about? How could he make them vulnerable? Well, he had taken their weapons and half drowned them, but other than that Jack couldn't understand it. He looked around trying to get his eyes to adjust to the shadowy darkness. He realised his friends had to be here somewhere.

"Carter. Daniel. Teal'c." His voice sounded strange. What the hell was wrong with his voice? Maybe he had hit his head harder than he thought! He shivered from the chill of the room. He heard someone stir behind him and then gasp and he turned in shock.

Behind him a figure was leaning against a wall, propping themselves up. Jack inched slightly closer and realised the figure was a girl. From what Jack could see her mouth was wide open. She had long blonde hair, he moved closer, his vision still unable to see clearly in the extremely poor light, he could see her face more clearly now. She just stared at him with the most amazing eyes... wait a second, "Carter?"

"Oh my God!" She murmured as she touched his face lightly with her fingertips and immediately pulled away. Her jaw still hung down. Jack stared at her hair for a second. When she realised what he was staring at, her eye line dropped. She lifted some of her hair up and stared at it. Her voice was quite girly and shook. She sounded... frightened, "How old am I?"

"My guess is about fifteen." He stared at her as if knowing by the shock on her face he looked different as well, "And Me?"

"I dunno. Sixteen..." Her voice drained away. It was one time when she was truly lost for words. She just stared at him not believing what she saw and finding it even harder to believe what he saw. She gasped with sudden realisation as some of Apophis's words rang in her head, "This is what Apophis meant by 'a more vulnerable SG-1'. He's made you... he's made us..."

"Kids again," Jack murmured quietly. His voice sounded so strange. It sounded as though he'd swallowed someone and they were talking instead of him. "Are you OK?" Jack looked at Sam nervously. Her lip was trembling. She looked so confused Jack couldn't believe it. Carter never looked confused!

"A little sore," the soft feminine voice murmured. She immediately changed the subject, as Jack had known she would, "Where are Daniel and Teal'c?"

As if in answer to her question, a groan came from behind her. She gave a gasp of shock as she jumped. She was seriously uneasy all of a sudden.

"Sam?" Daniel's teenage voice carried through the stillness, "OW! My head... Hey! What's up with my voice?"

"Um... Daniel..."

"Yeah?"

"We think... Apophis made us all teenagers again!"

"WHAT!"

"I know. It's really weird..." Sam stared at Daniel as he crawled into the extremely dim light. He looked about fifteen. "I think Apophis has made us roughly the same age," she said quietly, "I guess you're about fifteen... and I'm also fifteen. The Colonel's sixteen..."

"And I believe I am thirteen, Major Carter."

Teal'c's voice made Jack jump. He gave a pathetic yelp that made Sam giggle. Giggle? Carter had just giggled like a girl. Jack noticed as the shadow that was Samantha Carter, stared at the floor in embarrassment.

"How do you know, Teal'c?" As Teal'c approached Jack could hear why, "Oh your..."

"Indeed." Even Teal'c's usually low drone had gone up and Jack realised Teal'c's voice hadn't broken yet! Now there was a shocker if ever there had been one.

Jack couldn't see anyone's face enough to recognise features. It was too dark in here to see anything.

"How are we gonna get outta here?" Daniel said reading Jack's mind.

"That's a good question, Danny-boy!" Jack looked around, but it was no use. If only he had some light to see with!

He turned back to his friends, "Anyone happen to have a torch on them?"

They all shook their heads. Jack crawled around trying to find the door, as Daniel began babbling.

"The Fountain of Youth! Why didn't I think of it before! That is what 'Spring of Eternity' meant! It was the Fountain of Youth! It wasn't a medicine at all! We were dipped in the Fountain of Youth!"

"The Fountain of Youth? You sure, Daniel?" Jack replied sceptically.

"I think so. It also means you were right, Jack. All that 'early land' stuff, it meant 'land of children'! It has to have been the Fountain of Youth!"

"Well, what can I say? My intelligence is highly underrated!" Jack said as his fingers connected with some steps, "Ah ha! I have something!" He stood up and walked up the five steps to a door, "Well, it appears the real brains behind the outfit, has just discovered the door."

Within seconds Sam was by his side trying to open it. Their arms were touching lightly as they huddled on the narrow step. He banged on the door impatiently, "Hello? HELLO-OH? You know this is child abuse! Let us outta here!" His voice sounded so weird! Sam refrained herself from giggling again.

With no warning whatsoever the door was thrown open and he and Sam were flung down the stairs. Jack grabbed her around the waist and cushioned her fall to the cold, stone floor almost without thinking. He felt the wind knocked out of him for a second time in what must have been a few hours, as he hit the floor. She lay in his arms as they heard clanging metal hitting the stone floor in front of them.

The sudden light made Jack temporarily blind. He blinked, as he felt Sam being dragged from his side and cold, metal gloves grabbing him around the arms and hoisting him from the floor.

As his eyes focused he was able to look around him at the others, also being restrained by two Jaffa each.

He looked to his left and saw Teal'c and Daniel. Teal'c looked a lot like Rya'c except he was still bald. The emblem on his head seemed WAY too large for his forehead and his now massive looking air force gear hung extremely loosely around his shrunken form.

Daniel on the other hand looked almost exactly like his adult self and he'd never fitted into his uniform anyway! Now they were slightly more baggy, but nothing so major that they didn't fit him anymore. His glasses looked a bit too big for his head, but other than that it was almost the Daniel he knew, except he looked younger. His face was less care worn, his eyes brighter and more alert, his skin paler and less weather beaten...

Jack felt a sudden urge to look at Sam. His heart thumping wildly in his chest when he realised she was on his other side. Why was he so jittery all of a sudden?

He turned and gaped at Sam with astonishment. The Sam he knew had changed loads since she had been fifteen. The younger girl grinned at him as he stared at her. Her hair lay across her shoulders. It was long, blonde and silky. Her face seemed much younger as well, but if anything proved to Jack that this girl was Carter, it was her mysteriously spellbinding, blue eyes. Her air force uniform fitted almost perfectly, but she looked ridiculous wearing it. Her skin was a creamy white. She looked so much younger than Jack ever could have imagined her looking.

She stared back at him her eyebrows raised in mirrored surprise. To tell the truth Jack could barely remember what he had looked like when he was sixteen, but by the smile Sam flashed him, it can't have been that bad.

As Sam smiled fondly at him, and then averting her gaze hesitantly as a faint blush came to her cheeks, Jack felt a feeling he hadn't felt in thirty years hit him like a bulldozer! Oh for crying out loud! It couldn't be...! Oh, but it was! A full-blown, mind-boggling, heart breaking, totally obsessive, unmistakable... crush! Oh God! This wasn't going to be good!

He was stuck in a prison, with a very attractive fifteen-year-old, millions of miles away from his home and he was about sixteen again. This was SO dangerous! She was his 2IC and NOTHING could happen between them. Jack would make sure... but Jack felt different now. He felt as though he was a teenager again. He didn't feel responsible or anything! He just felt like Jack. Plain old Jack. Not Colonel, not O'Neill and not Sir. Just Jack. He hadn't felt just like Jack for years. He'd always felt like the air force Colonel with no heart, a broken family and no feelings whatsoever! The last time he'd felt like Jack had been when he'd played with Charlie...

Jack's thoughts were interrupted as they were dragged into a huge room. It was decorated, typically, with huge drapes and golden objects of great value. On a platform in front of them sat Apophis grinning gleefully. Oh great! Just what Jack needed! Apophis seeing him looking like a kid! This was gonna be just great!

"Why, Colonel O'Neill? Enjoying your adolescence!" he grinned and turned to Daniel, "And Dr. Jackson. You haven't changed a lot!" His eyes darted to the shrunken form of Teal'c. He didn't need to say anything about Teal'c! He laughed cruelly and then his eyes fixed on Sam. He spoke shocked, "Major Carter!" He smiled sickeningly. Jack didn't like that expression! He didn't like it at all! The Goa'uld spoke his eyes flaming with... Oh! Jack did not wanna know! "In a couple more years... when you've grown up," he grinned obnoxiously, "You would make a wonderful queen!"

She glared at him, "I'm sorry, but until you've grown up a bit I'm SO not going out with you!" She said harshly. Her voice had that rebellious teenage kick to it, but that wasn't the only kick. The guard's foot connected with her ribs winding her. Apophis's eyes glowed angrily.

"Ooh. Ouch, Carter!" Jack said surprised at her unusual bluntness. Even through her breathlessness Sam grinned appreciatively. She never would have said something like that before. Maybe it wasn't only their physical appearances that were changing...

For his comment Jack received an equally hard kick between the ribs. He bit his lip as the pain wave swept over him. That was exactly where the guard had punched him with his staff earlier and it was still tender.

"Silence! Jaffa, put them in a holding cell! I will torture them later!" He grinned, "And put a mirror in their cell! I want them to see how ridiculous they look!"

Apophis left with a swish of his cloak and a "Yes, My Lord!" from the Jaffa surrounding them. They were dragged backwards back down the halls. Jack made a stubborn point of not wanting to be taken by digging his heels in the ground. Jack realised how childish he was being and stopped immediately.

Jack realised for the first time in a long while that the usual ache he always had in his knee and at the base of his back was totally gone! He flexed his knee as the Jaffa continued their slow dragging march. Wow! It felt good to be able to move again. His joints had been totally on the whack for so long that Jack had forgotten what it felt like to have full mobility.

Suddenly, they were thrown into another cell. Jack managed to prevent a more damaging fall by curling into a ball and rolling into the opposite wall as he was thrown in by the Jaffa.

Jack opened his eyes. There was a good amount of light in here. Jack could see the cell was pretty much basic Goa'uld prison cell decor. Flat metal beds with no cushions and one flimsy cover, metal walls, metal ceiling, and metal furniture. No decorations whatsoever except for the silvery mirror that was now being placed on the wall. The Jaffa left as the door lowered behind them.

Jack looked around at his friends. Teal'c sat upright in the corner looking as though he might win a competition for sitting the stillest, Daniel stood beside him eyeing his reflection with absolute amazement in the shiny, silver mirror hanging on the wall and Sam sat a few feet away from him hugging her knees to her chest and staring into nothingness. Jack knew that expression on her face, even if that face was a good twenty years younger. She was thinking, hard. There was also a look of worry on her face as her forehead creased into a frown.

Jack shook his eyes off her as if realising he was staring at her. Jack stood up and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. As he approached he realised how much he'd changed. His hair had changed from grey to dark brown. It was still short, but slightly longer than it had been. His skin was smooth and slightly tanned. His eyebrow did not have a scar breaking through it anymore. His eyes looked as they always had been except now there were no signs of age at all. There were no wrinkles or lines on his face. No signs of the awful life he had led.

He pondered over his age for a moment trying to remember the last time he had looked in the mirror and seen this kid staring back at him. He decided he was definitely sixteen. Maybe a little older, but Jack thought sixteen was a damn good guess. He was so shocked by his appearance that he didn't see Sam join him by the mirror.

"Whoa. Is that really what I look like?"

Her voice made him jump slightly, but he turned to look at her, "Yeah. You think you look different?" He said his voice full of disbelief.

"Jack, I wouldn't have recognized you at all if... well, only you can be sarcastic and 'high and mighty' at the same time...!" Daniel said as he grinned at the slightly annoyed boy.

"...And your eyes. They're still the same..." Sam murmured as she stared at him as if she was looking at him properly for the very first time.

Jack broke their eye contact and grinned at Daniel, "Well, look at you, Space Monkey! What the hell happened to you?"

They all laughed, but Jack stopped abruptly hearing their voices. Everyone else also realised how weird they now sounded. Jack turned to Teal'c who sat in the corner staring at the floor in complete silence.

"You OK?"

"I do not know, O'Neill," the boy said, "I feel extremely..."

"Vulnerable?" Daniel butted in as the miniature Jaffa looked up at him.

"Indeed."

"Well whatever that son of a bitch has done to us it can be undone... right?"

"I'm not sure," the girl said as she tried to tie back her long hair with a piece of string she'd found in her pocket, "I guess it's possible, but..." her voice faltered. She tried again as Jack saw that extremely painful look cross her face, "I can't remember it..." She stared at the floor pure fear and shock hitting her hard. She collapsed on the floor in a heap with a small sob.

"What!"

"I just can't remember any of it!" She felt a tear roll down her cheek, "I'm trying so hard, but it's just leaving. I can't even remember how the Stargate works or... or anything! Quantum theory and time relativity! It's just leaving and... Oh God! I can't even remember simple survival skills properly!"

A sob rattled through her as she felt Jack sit down next to her. She cried into his shoulder as he hugged her. Daniel began talking as if realising something for the first time, "I can remember the address and GDO code, but that's all! No languages! Nothing! It's all... gone!"

"Don't write them on your hand or anything, else we're never gonna get off this rock and Apophis is going to go through the gate and destroy Earth!"

"Well Jack! If I forget, we're done for!"

"Well Daniel! You're just going to have to remember then!" Jack said raising his voice annoyed.

"Guys, don't argue! We can't afford to argue!" Sam's voice hiccoughed in the metal cell, "The only way we're gonna be able to go home is if you don't argue."

Jack nodded, "Sam's right. Sorry Danny." He put out his hand and Daniel shook it. Jack looked lost for a second, "Wait. Sam... No, I didn't used to call you that... what was it?"

"I can't remember...!" Sam said equally shocked. She sighed, "I can't remember what you called me and I can't remember why I called you 'Sir'."

"That's good 'cos neither can I!" Jack said grinning at her as she smiled slightly.

"O'Neill, I do not seem to have lost any of my memories!"

They all looked at Teal'c in surprise as Daniel voiced their thoughts, "You haven't?"

"No. I believe all of my memories are still intact."

"Thank God one of us isn't totally screwed up in the mind!" Daniel's comment was very unDaniel-like and made Jack smile.

Jack glanced at his digital watch, which by some miracle hadn't been removed from his wrist. 1:00pm.

Jack felt so hungry! Perhaps they would bring them some food soon. He got up and went to lie on his bunk as Daniel, Teal'c and Sam began to talk about something.

Jack wasn't really tuned in to their conversation. He was too busy watching Sam. She was amazing. He felt his stomach twist. He fancied her so badly. Once they got the hell out of here maybe he should ask her out... but something he couldn't remember kept telling him he couldn't for some reason. He frowned as he tried to remember, but all trying to remember was doing was giving him a headache.

There was a loud thump on the door. Jack shot straight up into a sitting position as two Jaffa stepped in.

"Daniel Jackson?" They said as they stared at Daniel. They walked over to him and lifted him from the floor and dragged him out before Jack could even protest. Jack ran to the door as it closed behind the Jaffa.

He kicked it hard and thumped his balled fists on it, "Dammit! They took him! I just let them take him!"

Sam came up to him and rested a hand on his shoulder, "If you'd fought for him they could have killed you." She murmured as he turned to face her.

It felt like an electric shock as her hand touched him. He felt himself tense and then relax. Butterflies bumped into each other in the pit of his stomach as he found himself staring into those amazing sapphire eyes. He gulped as he fell into a trance. He felt the air between them sparking with attraction...

Teal'c's voice brought him back, "I believe that any attempt at preventing Daniel Jackson's removal would have been futile."

Jack realised he was still staring at Sam and that for some unmemorable reason, he wasn't meant to be. He averted his gaze and moved towards Teal'c. The past couple of hours he'd been finding it hard to concentrate on what he had to do. His mind kept getting side tracked from plans for escape. Sam happened to be the biggest distraction. He went back to his bed and collapsed trying as hard as he could to think of a plan to get them out of here.

Something told him there was a way... images flashed across his mind. The last of the sparse memories and knowledge he still had.

"Teleportation rings." He said not realising what he had said until Teal'c raised an eyebrow, "That's a way to escape?" Jack asked pleased with himself at remembering something.

"It is indeed."

"Teal'c, that's all I can think of! You're the one with all your memory still in there. You're going to have to think of a plan of escape. I can't... I can't even remember what I do for a living!"

"You are Colonel O'Neill, of the US air force," the smaller version of Teal'c replied.

"Really? I'm a Colonel?" The idea sounded familiar, but Jack just couldn't get his brain around it. "What else don't I know about me?

"I do not think it would be wise to inform you, O'Neill," Teal'c replied, "You will be tortured later and because you are juvenile you may be more vulnerable to it."

"Yeah," said Jack embarrassed, "I guess I probably would give up the information quicker."

"Let us hope that Daniel Jackson will resist and not give away the GDO code or the address." Teal'c's words made Jack realise that a) he didn't know what the GDO code or address was for and b) what was happening to Daniel at this moment. He found himself praying silently, 'Please let Daniel be OK. Don't let Apophis get what he wants!'

Å

Jack swung his legs off the bed. Teal'c, would you believe it, was sleeping on the bed next to him and Sam lay on hers still and silent, her back turned towards him, but Jack doubted she was sleeping like their alien friend.

Daniel had been gone for six hours! Jack had an awful feeling in his stomach. Six hours! He didn't want to think about what might have happened to him.

The door rose, making Jack jump, as Daniel was thrown through. The door closed again. Daniel's nose was bleeding and his eyes streaming. His glasses lay in a sorry, smashed way by his side. He cradled his arm to his chest as he let out a small groan.

Jack swooped down beside him, as did Sam. Teal'c slept on oblivious to Daniel's return.

"Daniel!" Jack whispered as the boy looked up at him.

"I didn't tell them anything, Jack, I swear. I would've, but I couldn't remember and they beat me harder!"

Sam held him tightly to her as he let out a small sob, "Oh God! Daniel I'm so sorry! Here." She murmured gently as she rummaged in her pocket for a tissue. He took it from her and tried to stop the steady flow of blood as she pulled off her jacket and tried to make a sling. Jack realised then how mangled Daniel's arm looked. Definitely broken. Poor Daniel! He gritted his teeth tightly as Sam gently used the sling to support his damaged arm.

"I'm so sorry, Danny! I should have stopped them from taking you! I should've..."

"There was nothing you could have done," Sam reassured him as she helped the now partially blind Daniel to his bed.

After about ten minutes, Daniel's nose finally stopped flowing and he settled down quietly on his bed.

The door opened as two Jaffa walked in carrying eight bowls and four bits of bread. They put them on the floor, turned and walked out again.

Jack looked at the 'food' distastefully, "Nothing like mush to cheer you up!"

Sam chuckled as she picked up two bowls and a piece of bread, "Well at least the water looks clean." She went to sit on the end of Teal'c's bed as Jack and Daniel got up to pick up theirs.

She gently shook Teal'c on the shoulder. He opened his eyes blearily. He raised an eyebrow as if asking her why she'd woken him.

"Here's supper. It doesn't look wonderful, but maybe we'll get some nutrition from it!" She gave him the bowls as Teal'c inclined his head and began to eat in silence.

She picked up the last two bowls and sat on her bed with her legs crossed. She was starving and began to eat the mush without thinking about it twice. It had a nasty colour and it reminded her unpleasantly of... ugh! She didn't even want to think about it! She took a gulp of water to wash away the awful tasting pulp.

She looked up. Jack sat across the room from her. She felt herself blushing slightly as he grinned at her. She looked back down at the mush. She couldn't believe it! She had a crush on him! She glanced at him quickly and then stared straight back down at the slop inside her bowl. He was so gorgeous, but something inside her was telling her that she wasn't meant to fancy him! Why ever not Sam was unsure, but maybe she should keep her distance just to stay on the safe side.

She finished her slop and put the bowl beside her bed as she began to nibble at the vile tasting bread. Jack flung his into the corner of the room.

"Ugh!" He grimaced taking a huge swig of water, "That tastes worse than that pig swill they gave us!"

Sam just smiled fondly. She tried to stop herself, but it was so difficult to control what she did now. Usually she would be able to resist smiling, but at the moment she couldn't see any reason why not.

Everyone began to get ready to go to sleep. Sam undid the string tying back her hair. It really wasn't working very well. She might as well have it loose. She watched Jack through the curtain of golden hair. He yawned tiredly, but he seemed not to want to sleep like everyone else. She shrugged to herself as Daniel spoke.

"Well, I'm gonna get some shut eye. I'm absolutely shattered... literally," Daniel said with a small groan of pain as he flicked his legs up onto his bed again. He pulled the extremely thin sheet of cloth that was supposed to keep them warm, over him. "Night guys," he murmured softly, finishing his sentence with a large yawn.

"Night Danny."

"Yeah. Night Daniel. Try not to move your arm too much and the sling should hold it in the right position."

The boy smiled slightly at Sam as he murmured, "OK. Thanks Sam. Night."

Å

Within a couple of minutes Daniel was snoring gently. At 9:00pm the lights switched off automatically and the room plunged into gloom. It was not too dark to see because there was a faint light emanating from the light panels on the ceiling.

Sam was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. She knew Jack was awake because he was humming to himself tunelessly. She rolled over and stared at him finding a smile cross her lips.

He lay staring at the roof as she had been a few seconds ago. There was something strange about his expression. He was just smiling blankly at the ceiling. She watched him for a few minutes.

"What's up?" Sam whispered as he turned to look at her.

He rolled straight off his bed with shock, "Sam! I didn't know anyone was still awake!" He blushed a deep scarlet as he scrambled back onto the metal shelf that protruded from the wall.

"I'm sorry I made you jump!" Her voice was quiet and Sam was surprised to hear that she sounded just as embarrassed as Jack looked.

"That's OK," he looked away and stared at the floor, "So why are you awake anyway?" He looked at his watch, "It's past eleven."

"I can't sleep... I'm worried I'm never gonna go home again..." Her voice trailed away as she felt another rush of tears crawling through her eyes. She didn't know where home was, but the thought of never escaping from this place was awful. Damn, why was she so emotional? Something about hormones, no doubt!

She gave a small sob as Jack rose up swiftly and came to comfort her. He sat beside her as she began to cry quietly into his shoulder. His arms encircled her. One held her tightly around her waist and the other around her shoulders.

She held her face in her hands as she tried to swallow her sobs. She shook with each sob as she held them back.

"Don't worry, Sam. I promise I'll do everything I can to get us out of here!" He rubbed her back gently as he spoke gently murmuring in her ear.

"I know you will," she mumbled her face still buried in his shoulder.

Jack clenched his jaw. He was finding it really difficult. He knew they weren't, for some reason, meant to be together, but all he wanted to do was kiss her and be with her. It was a different type of torture for Jack.

Sam stopped sobbing. Her back had stopped shaking, but he didn't loosen his grip. His self-discipline had just faded away, just as his memory had. She raised her head as she stared into his eyes. She pulled away slightly as she realised for the first time that Jack liked her too. She saw that his eyes must be reflecting what she was thinking as she felt her stomach knot nervously. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but it was so hard not to. She felt an urge to kiss him. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he wanted to kiss her too! It surprised her, but hey, she wasn't complaining! He swallowed as if willing himself not to, but he still tightened his grip around her pulling her closer to him.

He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb as he cupped her face in his hand. Her pulse raced. She tilted her head towards his as she felt his breath tickle her cheek, "You know, we really shouldn't do this..." he whispered gently.

"I know. I just can't...! I love you, Jack," she whispered back as she stared into his eyes. She smiled as her lips touched his gently. She felt a bolt of electricity shoot through her as her lips brushed his in a short kiss. She relaxed into his arms as she kissed him again without delay.

"I love you too, Sam. I've loved you for ages!" He mumbled as she kissed him. She closed her eyes. Her blood was still pumping furiously through her. She kissed him again and again as he murmured, "I love you so much!"

She knew she'd loved him for ages and felt her resistance failing. She kissed him harder. She had loved him for ages, she had wanted him for ages and now she had him. She sighed gently as he pressed kisses against her lips fervently.

Time seemed to stop as the two teenagers sat huddled together on the metal shelf in the middle of a Goa'uld fortress. Both were blissfully unaware of time and consequences and for the first time in the years since they'd met they both realised at the same time how much they really loved each other. This wasn't just a crush. It hadn't been for more than three years. Though they couldn't remember, it hadn't been a crush since Antarctica or after that. The Zaytarc testing and when Jack had been stranded for three months off world. When Jack had killed Hathor as she attempted to fry Sam's brain with the ribbon device. On all these occasions both had secretly realised it was more than just an attraction, but all that was forgotten and the memories didn't even occur to them.

She pulled away gently as she stared into Jack's eyes. She smiled as he kissed her forehead and rested his on hers lightly, "You don't know how long I've wanted to kiss you, Sam."

"Neither do you!" Sam pointed out as he stared into her eyes that twinkled merrily.

He let out a small chuckle, "No, I don't, but I know it's been a long time!" he said it so sincerely that Sam found her heart thumping happily in her chest, "I love you, Sam."

Sam kissed him again. She was overflowing with love. Her hand crawled to the back of his head and ran its fingers through his hair as he pulled her even closer.

A small snore from Daniel made Sam jump. She pulled away realising in unison with Jack that they weren't alone. She looked away bashfully. Jack bit his lip, but a smile still managed to creep onto his face, "Well...I guess we better get some rest. Teal'c and Daniel might get suspicious in the morning if we're both falling asleep on our feet."

With one final kiss he released her from his grip. He rose from the bed as Sam watched him walk across the room and crawl under the incredibly thin piece of cloth. He stared at her for a moment seeing the disappointment in her eyes and feeling her kisses still burning on his skin.

"Night," he whispered as his head lowered onto his jacket. He realised she'd given her jacket to Daniel. Feeling the fluffy feeling in the pit of his stomach overpowering him, he grabbed his jacket. He threw it at her, "Rest your head on that."

She looked shocked by his gesture, but didn't show it when she replied quietly, "Thanks Jack. Night." She murmured as she smiled and closed her eyes.

Å

As Daniel woke the next morning he looked around. One of Jack's arms was hanging off the side of his bed, while he used the other for a headrest. Daniel saw the luminous green light of Jack's wristwatch. 7:04am.

Daniel stretched and yawned as he crawled out of the uncomfortable bed. He sat on the floor as he looked around the room. Teal'c was still asleep. Maybe he hadn't had a lot of sleep recently. Daniel's eyes fell upon Sam.

She lay sleeping. Her jacket was screwed up in a ball beneath her head as a pillow. Daniel frowned. That couldn't be right. He had her jacket. He then realised why Jack's arm was being used as a pillow. He smiled. Jack was a great friend. She was smiling slightly in her sleep or at least it looked like she was smiling. She looked really pretty...

All of a sudden the lights switched back on. He heard a groan from behind him. He turned to see Jack stretching and glancing at his watch sleepily. He looked really tired.

"Morning Jack. How long did you stay awake last night? You look exhausted!" Daniel murmured.

Daniel was surprised to see something flicker across Jack's now youthful features. He cleared his throat quietly immediately loosing the expression before Daniel could translate it, "At least midnight. I had trouble sleeping."

"Yeah me too, but I managed to get to sleep before lights out," Daniel said. He chuckled gently, "Teal'c doesn't have the same problem!"

Jack snorted at Daniel's comment, "Lucky Teal'c!"

'Lucky me! Not lucky Teal'c!' Jack thought to himself as he glanced over at Sam.

She looked amazing as she slept. Her hair was spread all over her makeshift pillow, glinting in the artificial light. Her face was pale and beautifully calm. She had a smile on her lips. Jack just wanted to go over to her and kiss her, but he still felt that feeling that they weren't supposed to be together. He sighed gently as Teal'c sat up straight all of a sudden. He raised an eyebrow, "I have been..."

"Asleep," Jack supplied, grinning as Teal'c's eyebrow raised another notch.

"I do not usually sleep."

"No you don't, but I can't remember why!" Daniel said quietly.

Teal'c looked around, "What time is it, O'Neill?

Jack glanced at his watch, "Ten past seve..."

The door slid open cutting off the rest of Jack's sentence. Eight more bowls and bits of bread were brought in as their other bowls were taken away.

As the door closed again, Daniel and Teal'c crawled over to the food and began to tuck in noisily.

Jack crawled over to Sam's bedside with the food. Teal'c and Daniel were already chatting as Jack gently stroked her cheek. Her smile widened as her eyes opened. She smiled at him and whispered, "You know a girl needs her beauty sleep!"

"You don't," Jack murmured bashfully, feeling a rush of blood to his cheeks and the tips of his ears, "I brought you breakf... well actually I'm not quite sure what it is, but I'm assuming it is breakfast!"

She chuckled at Jack's humour as sat up straight, pulling her hair behind her ears. She smiled at him as she slid off her bed to crouch beside him, "Thanks."

Daniel turned to face her with a cheery, "Morning Sam." Teal'c just inclined his head and continued eating. Daniel turned back to Teal'c and continued to babble on about something. Even with memory loss Daniel could talk anyone to the brink of insanity. Luckily for Teal'c that brink was a very, very, long way away!

Jack stared at Sam as she began to eat her food. She dunked the bread in and let the slop dribble off it back into the bowl. She looked at it disgusted and threw the bread in the corner to join Jack's piece from last night. He grinned approvingly as she smiled. The same smile she'd shown him last night. The one that made him want to grab her and hold her and never let her go. She turned suddenly watching Daniel as he sniffed the bread distastefully.

By the end of the meal, there were five pieces of 'bread' in the corner and Sam was surprised she'd even been able to eat that stuff yesterday!

She found herself just gazing at Jack as he tried to doze back off to sleep. She could remember seeing him tired before, but couldn't remember what he used to look like anymore!

Her head thumped painfully and Sam frowned. She was never staying up late again... well, maybe sometimes, but... only when someone else was up as well!

The 'someone else' sighed frustrated. Sleep just wasn't coming! It didn't help with Daniel twittering at the speed of light beside him.

As though reading his mind Sam turned to Daniel, "Daniel, can you keep it down a bit. Jack's trying to sleep and I've got a headache!"

As Sam addressed him the boy turned a deep shade of embarrassed pink, "Oh sorry, Sam!" He apologised hurriedly shutting up and turning to Jack, "Sorry!" Jack just nodded at him as he turned back to Teal'c and began muttering quietly. He looked at Sam across the room. Did she really have a headache?

Jack guessed so. Her eyebrows furrowed into a small frown and her eyes were squeezed shut. She did look pale and quite ill. Jack wanted to rush to her side, but the nagging feeling returned and he stayed where he was.

There was a clunk as the door opened. Two Jaffa stood in the doorway. They walked in swiftly and grabbed Sam from her bed. Her eyes shot open with shock as they lifted her up roughly.

Jack jumped up and started trying to grab Sam away from them as Daniel and Teal'c joined him. Jack was shoved to the floor as the Jaffa laughed dragging Sam screaming through the door.

"JAC...!"

THUD!

The door closed cutting off the end of Sam's cry. Jack sat where he'd been knocked down. He felt his eyes prickle. They'd taken her and again there had been nothing he could do to stop them. Daniel was now in a lot of pain and he dreaded to think what could happen to Sam.

Daniel looked at Jack nervously, "Jack, it wasn't your fau..."

"They just took her, Daniel! They could be torturing her for hours!" His voice cracked as he fought back the hot tears building in his eyes, "Oh God! Don't you get it! It's not just the torture! You heard Apophis yesterday! 'In a couple more years... when you've grown up, you would make a wonderful queen!' What if..." Jack voice faltered one tear making it past his fiercely barricaded feelings. He swiped at it furious with himself for showing his weakness yet again.

The room was silent. They all knew what Apophis might do to her and the thought plunged the room into dread, anxiety and the awkward silence, realisation had brought.

Teal'c spoke slowly breaking the silence, "Let us hope that will not happen."

Å

Sam struggled against the guards as she was dragged through the door into a large chamber. Apophis's back was to her as the Jaffa kicked her in the back of the knee. She buckled and fell onto her knees with a small grimace of pain.

Apophis turned, his eye's glowing ghostly white. He grinned at her as the Jaffa stood behind her roughly tied her hands.

Apophis's grin widened as he flicked up her chin so she was staring into his eyes. "Major Carter," After speaking her name he walked to the back of the room and picked up a device.

Sam knew what it was immediately. It was a torture device, but she couldn't remember where she seen it before. She had a feeling that it had not been used on her before, but she also had the feeling it had. She could remember the agonizing pain and then her mind went blank her memories being blocked again.

He walked behind her his voice speaking in a low, menacing way, "Tell me of the Tok'ra resistance!"

Sam knew the word, but what the Tok'ra resistance was she couldn't remember. She tried to think of something to say, but she obviously took too long. She felt the device touch the skin at the base of her neck and her whole body tensed with the agony. She screamed, as the pain pummelling her body ferociously, became too much. The anguish was so intense Sam felt all her resistance melting away in an instant. The pain stopped and she gasped for breath. Her chest heaved and her limbs drooped as the pain finally left.

She found Apophis grinning at her, "I will ask again, Major Carter. Tell me of the Tok'ra resistance!"

"I don't know what you mean!" Her voice murmured as his glaring stare became furious.

The device touched her again and the crippling pain causing her limbs to spasm in different directions as she tried to escape the torture. She yelled again her scream the only outlet for her breath, which was catching in her lungs. The pain seared through her as if her blood had been replaced with molten iron.

The pain lasted for longer and when it had finished Sam felt her lungs gasping for air. She let a few bitter tears fall from her eyes as she tried to remember the Tok'ra as hard as she could, but no memories came. All that came was another wave of residual pain.

She moaned as Apophis grabbed her chin roughly between his fingers and jerked her face upwards to face him.

Before he could speak, Sam cried, "I don't remember! I don't remember the Tok'ra or anything! Please!" Her voice pleaded as yet more tears poured down her cheeks.

Apophis's face cracked for a second as he considered letting her go. Sam knew Apophis had a weakness where she was concerned and decided if she was going to get herself out of this mess she'd have to play to that advantage. She stared at him with watery blue eyes as his feelings played through his face even more. Suddenly as if realising he was falling for her trick, his expression hardened. His face became as hard as granite as did his voice, "Continue the Torture!"

Å

Jack sat on his bed, his knees hugged tightly to his chest. Somewhere in this place they were hurting her. He looked up around the room. Teal'c was asleep again which annoyed Jack. How could Teal'c sleep at a time like this! His eyes locked on Daniel. He was sat on the bed beside him. He was staring into space, obviously thinking. Jack thought that thinking was probably the best and only way to get out of here.

He tried to focus his mind on his past. He had to remember something... anything that would save her.

His mind wandered around, but all he could see was images of Sam in pain. His imagination of Sam being tortured had totally taken over his mind and he had no chance of thinking at the moment. He opened his eyes hoping the images would go and to his relief they did.

He looked at his watch. She'd been gone longer than Daniel had and dread began to grip Jack's heart so tightly he thought it would be crushed. He looked away from the watch and back to Daniel who was now watching him curiously.

Daniel spoke quietly, "You OK?" His friend fixed him with a worried frown.

"Just peachy!" Jack replied sarcastically, Daniel's frown deepening.

"Jack, you aren't the only one who cares about Sam, you know!"

Jack looked up shocked at Daniel as the boy snapped at him. For some reason Daniel accusing him of being worried about Sam made him seriously jumpy. Jack felt himself wanting to deny it, but for some reason the words wouldn't come.

Jack looked away embarrassed as Daniel continued, "I'm just as worried as you are Jack. I mean, Sam feels like a sister to me and yet..." he let out a small chuckle, "I still fancy her!" Jack looked straight at Daniel surprised. Daniel continued, "I think that I only fancy her because of the whole teenager thing," Daniel bit his lip obviously choosing his words carefully, "Maybe... you do as well."

Jack realised the truth behind the words, but he also felt the truth behind his feelings, "Daniel, I don't know why, but I don't think so."

It was now Daniel's turn to look shocked. Jack mumbled quietly, "You see, I can't help feeling I've..." he hesitated, the word forming on his lips, "...loved her for a long time..."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. He was about to speak when a sudden clunk from the door made them both freeze and stare at it fearfully.

As the door opened Sam was thrown into the room as if she were made of rags. The Jaffa at the door placed down eight bowls with four pieces of bread and then turned and left.

Before the door had closed Jack was at Sam's side rolling her over from her face down position. Her face was pale and burns and welts covered her skin that wasn't protected by her uniform. Her forehead was creased into a frown of pain. Her lip was bleeding and to Jack it looked as if she'd been biting her lip really hard.

Jack felt useless. He didn't know what to do! Well, that was incorrect! He knew full well what to do; he just couldn't remember what to do!

'First get her on a bed, O'Neill' he told himself as he hooked his arms around Sam's limp form. He carried her to her bed and laid her down gently. He picked up Daniel's jacket from the floor and put it under her head.

He let Teal'c push past him. After all Teal'c was the only one who could help her. He caressed her forehead gently his eyes filling with worry. A frown appeared on his forehead as he removed his hand from her forehead, "O'Neill, pass me the water and, Daniel Jackson, get me that cloth."

Daniel obeyed as Jack passed Teal'c the bowls. As Daniel gave him the cloth he began to rip shreds off it. He folded one up and dipped it in the water. He wringed it out and placed it on her forehead as he spoke, "She is suffering from a fever. We must hope that she will overcome it."

Jack just watched as Teal'c wet another piece of cloth and began to wipe the dried blood away from an ugly weal on her neck and a nasty scorch mark on her cheek.

When he had finished cleaning all her wounds, the water in the bowl was a dusty red colour. He then picked up the other bowl and gave it to Jack, "You must facilitate. Get her to drink the entire contents of this bowl."

"Why me?" Jack asked looking at Teal'c puzzled and slightly nervously wondering if Teal'c knew about him and Sam.

If Teal'c had ever blushed in his life, this was probably the darkest he had or ever would go. He answered slowly, "I do not believe I am strong enough to support her in my current... condition. I must also refasten Daniel Jackson's sling."

"Oh... OK then." Jack muttered gently as Teal'c walked over to Daniel and began to readjust his makeshift sling. Jack walked over to Sam. He carefully lifted up her head and leant her up against him as he sat on the metal shelf. He gently lifted the bowl to her lips. The barely conscious figure gulped down a few mouthfuls as Jack watched her.

This was all his fault! He shouldn't have let them take her! She finished gulping down the cool water and he slid her head from his shoulder back down to the jacket she was using for a pillow. He found himself gripping her hand gently and he lightly moved her damp hair away from her face.

As he went to leave, he felt her hand clasp his tightly. He stared at her hand for a second and then his eyes flicked back to her face.

Her eyelids flickered as he saw her wake from her unconscious stupor. She looked at him for a second and then let a small smile curve her pale lips. He stared at her amazed she was awake.

"Jack..." Her small smile died as she felt a sharp pain hit her. Her eyes squeezed shut as the pain spread through her. She bit her lip holding back the cry of agony that wanted to be released. Her skin felt as though it was blazing, but she felt as though she was freezing. She shivered.

He stroked her hair out of her face affectionately as he spoke, "You're cold?" Her eyes were still firmly shut as the pain began to subside.

As he murmured, Daniel looked up at Jack. He was staring into Sam's pallid and thin face. She nodded in answer to Jack's question and opened her eyes to see Jack struggling to pull his jacket off. He lifted her arms up carefully, trying desperately not to hurt her. He slid her arms through the sleeves and zipped it up. Jack turned to him, "Sam's cold. Teal'c, can I have your jacket and Daniel, get the other cloths."

Teal'c passed him his jacket instantaneously and Daniel snatched up the other bed covers hurriedly passing them to Jack. He felt awful. He wished his arm wasn't broken. He wouldn't be in absolute agony and also he wouldn't be using Sam's jacket. She would be warmer and he would be in less pain!

He couldn't remove his own because it would mean moving his arm, which was a bad idea. Daniel sighed. He felt useless and so decided to try his best to forget his pain and help Jack and Teal'c get them out of here.

Jack pulled the other jacket over her gently. He then tucked the bed cloths over her snugly.

"Better?" he murmured as he stared into her eyes.

She stared at him for a moment before another fiery shot of pain pierced her. A scream left her throat before she could stop it. She finished the yell and felt tears rolling down her cheeks.

She opened her eyes to see Jack staring at her anxiously. He then picked up a clean piece of rag and gently wiped away her tears murmuring, "Does it still hurt?"

Teal'c spoke up, "It is most likely the residual pain from the torture device used upon her."

Jack turned back to Sam and noticed instantly that she was beginning to doze off again. He spoke in a gently whisper, "Are you tired?"

She nodded sleepily as she began to drift back off to sleep. She watched him for a moment as he went to leave and then she grabbed his hand. As he stared into her eyes he deciphered the silent plea in their depths, 'Don't go.' He answered her silently by settling himself back down beside her. She smiled as he squeezed her hand gently proving to her he really was there. She gently laid her head back down as she closed her eyes and drifted off into an uneasy and feverish sleep.

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Jack sat there for hours unmoving. His hand still firmly clasped Sam's as if he was afraid he would lose her if he let go.

Daniel watched his friend with curiosity. Maybe it was, as Jack said, more than just some crush. Teal'c slept on the bed beside him as he tried to sleep, but the gnawing pain in his arm would not let him sleep. Instead Daniel watched Jack's expression worriedly. He knew that look he just couldn't remember it! There was something very wrong.

Jack sighed as his eyes connected with Sam's face again. Not taking his eyes from her face he muttered, "Daniel. I thought I told you to get some rest!"

Daniel blinked astonished. He didn't know that Jack had realised he was awake.

"I...I'm worried..."

"Yeah. 'Bout what?" Jack voice suddenly became understanding and supportive.

"About you actually," Daniel said as Jack pulled a face. It showed surprise, but he didn't comment. His eyes just, as always, wandered onto the deathly pale face that slept uneasily on the bed, "Jack? What's up?" The question was profoundly stupid and Daniel had expected an extremely simple answer to the question, but with Jack, you could never predict what he was going to say or do.

Jack sat in silence for a few seconds his eyes fixed on a point on the floor.

Finally, after an awkward silence that seemed to stretch on forever, he spoke his voice quiet and uncertain, "No matter what happens in the morning, the serpent guards have to take me."

The statement shocked Daniel into another awkward silence, "Why?"

"Teal'c is the only one with any memory. If they take me they aren't going to find anything. It'll also give you a chance to escape. Teal'c can get you two outta here. It'll be easier than three."

"But Jack..."

"No buts, Daniel," Jack said quietly his eyes landing on Sam again. They filled with pain as they gazed on her, "The only way you'll get out of here is if Teal'c is in full health and... you don't understand."

"Try me! You can tell me anything you know. I like to believe I'm your best friend even though you do think I'm a geek!"

"You're not a geek!" Jack said defensively, "OK, you are a little bit... but you are still me best friend."

Daniel smiled at that and then the smile faded as he murmured, "Jack, tell me."

His friend's voice cracked under the strain of withholding his surging emotions intensified by his now teenage self, "I don't..." He sighed and then said in a whisper, "Nothing can happen to her, Daniel. She has to get home safely. If she doesn't I'll... I'll never forgive myself! She is so frightened. She tries to hide it, but I know. Daniel, she's terrified! I know I've never seen her like this in my life. She has to go home. She needs a doctor urgently and I don't think she'll be able to stand another torture session. I... I don't want her to die, Daniel."

Daniel felt a sudden familiarity with Jack. The man trapped inside a teenage body. The small conversation had let O'Neill, or whoever he was, shine through. And O'Neill was, for use of a better word, scared. More scared than Daniel could believe. His bravado kept it hidden... what was it Sam used to call it? Oh yeah, the way of the warrior crap! Truth was, Jack was just as scared as he was.

Daniel stared at the figure hunched up still holding Sam's hand, "Jack, I promise, I won't let anything happen to her while I'm still able to protect her. I'll get her home."

"Thanks Danny. That means a lot to me," he paused then added, "Now get some sleep. Geez! You'd think the Sand Man didn't exist!"

With a smile Daniel laid his head down on his good arm and dropped off to an uncomfortable sleep laced with bad dreams and pain. He knew deep in his heart that in the morning he might have to say a final goodbye to one of his best friends and he hated it!

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Sam tried hard to get the barriers guarding her memories to fall. All she wanted was to remember something... anything!

She wanted to know who she was and what she did. She wanted to know why there was a guilty feeling in her stomach whenever she touched Jack. She wanted to know who, what or where 'The Tok'ra' was. She wanted to know about her family and her friends. She wanted to know all the things she couldn't remember!

One memory... anything...!

"Hey Carter! Whatcha doin'?"

She looked up from the small and intricate device she was tampering with on her desk...

That had been part of a memory. The voice had sounded familiar...

"Colonel! I was just..."

"You're still playing with that thing!"

Her eyes fell upon the face in front of her as a smile curved her lips. The man was twiddling a delicate instrument in his fingers. He had dark greying hair and even darker eyes. A beautiful dark brown...

Could it be? Sam was so confused. Why did she just call him Colo...?

He smiled warmly as she instinctively took the gadget away from him. "Carter, I was going to get a bite to eat if you wanna come?"

"No thanks, Sir, I've just got to..."

"Nah uh uh. No way, Carter," he grinned wagging his finger at her, "You're not getting out of it! You are coming now! It's unhealthy to stay cooped up in here all day and besides when was the last time you ate something?"

She stared back down at the table, "Not since breakfast..."

She looked up to see his face looking slightly concerned, "You should eat something! Besides you need brain food to make up for my stupidity!" She made no effort of moving as Jack put on a fake stern glance, "Shall I make that an order?"

She felt herself grinning, shaking her head with a pretend exasperated sigh, as she got up from the swivelling chair...

Sam woke with a shock, confused and disorientated. As she stared around blindly, she felt a cooling hand on her skin and another supporting her head slightly. She felt the fingers gently stroking her face as a gentle voice whispered, "Shh. Sam, you're OK."

Her eyes fell into focus as she saw Jack grin at her. The grin was identical to the one the man had smiled in her dream.

He gently laid her head back onto the jacket beneath her head, as he stroked her hair and stared into her eyes lovingly. She didn't speak as her mouth felt so dry.

As if reading her mind, he immediately gave her a sip of the cool water. She looked around her. The lights had been switched off and Teal'c and Daniel slept soundly. She wondered what the time was. She glanced at Jack's wristwatch. 2:00am. Had she woken him up?

His face was worn and he looked exhausted. He had rings under his eyes and red marks from where he'd rubbed them.

"Did I wake you?" she whispered gently as she closed her eyelids.

"No. I haven't slept at all."

Sam opened her eyes to stare at him, as she hissed, "You have to get some sleep. You look dead on your feet!"

"As long as you go back to sleep as well!" As he spoke, he began stroking her face again gently.

When he went to pull away she murmured, "Don't stop."

He smiled at her as his eyes wandered over her face. After what felt like hours, he whispered,

"Can I kiss you?"

"What kind of a stupid question is that?" She whispered back feeling a smile of her own curving her lips.

He closed the space between them as he kissed her with his soft lips. When he'd finished taking her breath away, he pulled back and continued to smile at her softly.

She smiled back gently, not knowing whether to tell him of her strange dream or not. She yawned sleepily as her eyelids fluttered dozily. Jack leant his head on their hands and began to doze. She stroked his temple as she gently closed her eyes, "Night Colonel."

Before she'd had time to realise what she'd said she drifted into a deep slumber.

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Jack woke the next morning with a jolt. Daniel was sat a few feet away from him besides another helping of that wonderful mush. Oh joy!

He realised Sam's hand was still in his and to his relief it felt cooler than it had last night. He stared at her face. There was no feverish flush on her cheeks. That was a good start. He felt her forehead and it wasn't burning to the touch. The fever was gone! Jack sighed with relief as he collapsed back down to the floor.

"She looks better," he muttered. Daniel didn't know whether he was talking to him or assuring himself. Jack then turned to Daniel and crawled over to the food. He ate it hurriedly, all the time staring at Sam. Once he's finished his face became serious and contemplating. Daniel watched him intrigued as he sat his eyes fixed on Sam and, after a minute, he turned to Teal'c who was watching him.

"Teal'c, I need you to do me a favour."

"Specify your favour, O'Neill, and I will consider it." If the kid ever smiled this was probably the best smile he'd had or would ever be graced to see!

"I need you to teach me swear words!"

"You what?!?" Daniel exclaimed with a confused frown.

"Swear words in the Jaffa language. In fact you can help as well. I might need someone to help me remember," he told Daniel, as he and Teal'c sat there in silence as Jack sighed with exasperation, "Look will you just teach me!"

Daniel couldn't believe he was doing this, but in the end Teal'c was giving a lecture on Goa'uld swear words and Jack was listening with rapt attention. The whole situation would have been hilarious if it hadn't been for Jack's totally serious expression as he tried to cram the words into his brain.

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It took him twenty minutes to learn and understand around fifteen words and phrases. Jack was very pleased with himself. For a guy with some form of amnesia, he was doing great! He had about three minutes until the Jaffa came and took him.

He crawled over to Sam's side and pulled her hair out of her eyes. She stirred, but she was barely awake and was in a place between unconsciousness and waking. He murmured softly, "Sam, I have to go soon, but Danny is gonna look after you, OK?"

"What? OK."

She stared at him blearily. She heard the doors clunking as it opened. Jack bent down and kissed her gently and whispered, "I love you," he rose swiftly.

Daniel could see Jack trembling slightly as the door ascended and the Jaffa strode in. One of them grinned maliciously, "Shol'va!" They turned making a B line for Teal'c. She watched as suddenly Jack began spouting a familiar language that she couldn't quite place the name of and by the deepening colour of purple rage the Jaffa's faces were turning, the language was pretty colourful!

Jack was seized roughly and dragged from the room, as Daniel stood just watching the door slide shut. Sam could barely talk, but she managed to yell as loud as she could this time, "Daniel! What the hell are you playing at? Jack...!"

"He told us to escape without him. He sacrificed himself because he knew Teal'c was the only one with any memory. If I'd objected the Jaffa may have gone back to their original orders to take Teal'c."

Sam felt tears lacing her eyelashes as Daniel hooked his arms around her standing her up straight, "You ready, Teal'c?"

"We have five minutes before the guards pass this door again, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel stared into her eyes as he tried to help her get her balance, "We're escaping. You're gonna have to try to stand up at least. I can't carry you 'cos of my busted arm and well..." he looked at Teal'c's shrunken form, "...neither can Teal'c so you're gonna have to try your hardest, OK?"

She spent the whole five minutes supporting herself and even walking at least a few metres on her own. She had to do this.

Suddenly Teal'c bristled as he heard footsteps passing the door.

"Jaffa! Jaffa! Kree!"

The doors opened as Teal'c flattened himself against the wall. As the Jaffa stepped through the door he knocked them out and with the help of Daniel all four guards lay in an unconscious heap.

Teal'c lifted up a staff weapon and three other guns Sam couldn't remember the name of, "You must both practice aiming," Teal'c said and nodded towards the Jaffa as he passed them a weapon each.

They both successfully hit one of the unconscious Jaffa. Daniel flinched and shuddered, as Sam just closed her eyes. She realised she had used it before, "A zat gun..."

"Indeed," Teal'c smiled slightly, "Your memory returns?"

"Well, not exactly I have flashes."

Teal'c just nodded, "We should leave now before more Jaffa enter and prevent our departure."

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Whatever the damn thing was, it hurt as it was pushed into his temple! Jack grunted from the sharp pain as Apophis grinned evilly.

"Do you know what this is, Colonel?"

"Not a clue," Jack said quite nastily, "Please. Enlighten me!"

Apophis's grin twisted into a horrible smirk, "This is a Tok'ra Memory Recall Device..."

"Oh that's good! Maybe it'll find mine!"

Apophis ignored Jack's outburst and continued, "It has been adapted so I can use it as a method of torture."

"Oh great! I'm ecstatic!"

Apophis just grinned wider as his eyes glowed, "Attach him to the screen! He will show us everything!"

The device in Jack's temple was hooked up to a huge screen as Apophis activated it...

BANG!

A gunshot echoed through the house. Jack felt himself running up some stairs. He pushed open a door. Sprawled out on the carpet in front of him lay a boy, but not just any boy! Who was he?

The boy had short brown hair and wide shocked eyes. A gun lay by his outstretched fingers as his blood dripped onto the pale carpet leaving scarlet stains...

"CHARLIE! NO!"

Jack turned to find a screaming woman push past him. She ran to the boy and cradled his head in her lap. She sobbed as tears streamed down her face. She was also familiar, but who was she?

"Who are you?" he murmured.

"Jack! You've gotta help me!"

"Who are you!" Jack demanded.

"Jack? It's me, it's Sara," Jack shook his head still not knowing who she was, "Sara, your wife."

Tears rolled down her cheeks. He knew her. Sara? His wife? Jack's mind raced. Married? To this woman?

"Please. Jack! We have to get Charlie home!"

"What?"

She pointed behind him. As he turned he saw the Stargate looming in front of him. "Jack! He's dying! Please we have to dial home!"

Jack reached for the controlled that stood before him, but still couldn't remember the address. He shook his head.

"I don't remember."

"JACK! YOUR SON IS DYING BECAUSE... because of you! Now we have to get him home!"

"My son?"

"Jack! Charlie is dying! Dial home and use the GDO code!"

"What? I don't remember!"

"Jack, dial home quickly! Do it NOW!" She yelled angrily.

"How about... NO!"

The woman, Sara, rose from the ground and grabbed him around the neck as she spoke menacingly, "Ignorant Tau'ri! TELL ME THE GDO CODE!"

"NO!" Jack yelled as he pulled away from Apophis's grip. He gasped for air as the Goa'uld's eyes flashed.

"Why do you resist?"

"Oh for crying out loud! I don't remember the GDO code or what it is! Dammit! I don't even remember the address!"

"SILENCE!" Apophis was fuming ferociously, "You will pay for your lies, Tau'ri!" His hand raised as the centre of the device on his palm glowed.

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As Sam hobbled down the corridors, she felt nauseous. They were going to leave him behind!

"Teal'c. Wait."

The Jaffa turned around, "We do not have time to rest, Samantha Carter."

"No. Teal'c, we have to go back for him."

"That would be unwise..."

"I don't care, Teal'c! I know Jack would never leave any of us behind! He used to say something," she screwed her eyes shut as she tried to remember...

"GET DOWN, CARTER!"

She felt pain as a bullet pierced her leg and then as another nicked her ribs. She tried to keep running for the gate, but felt herself collapse to the marshy ground from the searing pain. She heard the gate engage. The others were gonna get back safely.

She saw someone crawling towards her through a clump of long, murky brown grass. The gate was open a few feet away. She watched as Daniel and Teal'c dived through.

A muddy, concerned face appeared beside her...

His eyes flashed with something, as he crawled beside her and grabbed her arms as if ready to help her stand.

"Sir, leave without me!" She stammered as she inhaled a sharp breath. The pain coursed through her like a storm.

"I'm not leaving you behind!" He hooked an arm around her waist as he tried to help her up and avoid the gunfire at the same time.

"Sir, you can't. Just GO!" She tried to yell, but whimpered afterwards as she almost fell back to the boggy floor. He kept hold of her firmly, "Jack, please. Save yourself."

"I'm not leaving without you," he said and Sam saw the determination in his eyes.

"GO!" She managed to squeeze the cry out of her lungs and inhaled sharply.

"NO, Sam!"

He grabbed her side and they stood, but her legs gave way almost immediately. They both dropped to the marshy floor. He looked at her and she realised that it was going to be a miracle if he got her out of here.

She saw him frown, a strong willpower engulfing him as he stood again this time lifting her into his arms. He then ran for the gate trying hard not slip on the mud. They ran through the gate as he let out a cry. They landed in a heap on the ramp as a metal shield closed over the gate and the Stargate switched off.

She looked at Jack. He held his shoulder and she could see blood seeping through his fingers. It looked as though a bullet had just nicked the top of his left arm. She lay on the ramp and stared at him as she whispered in a shaky voice, "Why?"

He looked at her and she knew the look in his eyes. She knew why although neither of them could ever say it. He clutched his shoulder harder as he stared at the ramp. He spoke his voice quiet as he murmured, "No one gets left behind, remember...?"

"No one gets left behind!" she said triumphantly as Teal'c inclined his head.

"Indeed. That phrase is well utilized by Colonel O'Neill."

"Well let's put it to practice!"

"Sam," Daniel stared at her opening his blue eyes wide, "I want to rescue him as much as you do, but it would be suicide..."

"Then I'll go without you!"

Daniel shook his head, "I can't let you do that!"

Sam yelled angrily, "WHY THE HELL NOT!" Sam swayed slightly with the exertion. She knew her fever was returning, as was the aching left from her torture. Dammit!

Daniel caught her with his good arm and held her to his side, "Sam," he murmured, "I promised Jack I would get you home safely. What I meant was I can't let you go... alone!" He smiled slightly as her face lit up. She hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He winced at the pressure on his arm and she immediately pulled away to find him blushing bashfully.

She grinned again, "Thank you, Daniel!"

Teal'c sighed, "If you and Daniel Jackson are to rescue O'Neill, you will require my assistance."

Sam hugged Teal'c as well, "Thanks Teal'c." She pulled away, "Now let's go find Jack!"

Daniel Jackson supported Samantha Carter as they tried to jog down the corridors. Daniel Jackson had been correct. This was probably suicide, but Teal'c would rather die than leave any of his comrades here.

They turned a corner as he shot another two serpent guards with his Zat. They were obviously close now. He heard a yell of agony coming from up ahead, "NO!"

"Jack!" Sam whispered fearfully as she quickened her pace pulling Daniel along with her, even though her body felt as though it had been churned around in a cement mixer!

The blood-curdling voice of Apophis echoed from the room, "SILENCE!"

They shot another six Jaffa as they turned into it. They stopped dead in the doorway.

"You will pay for your lies, Tau'ri!" Sam gasped in horror as she saw Apophis using the ribbon device on Jack. For some unknown reason she suddenly remembered what the device was and what it was doing to Jack. All of a sudden all her memories came gushing back in a huge tidal wave. Almost everything she knew struck her in a split second and random images appeared and disappeared in no apparent order in her mind.

Daniel removed his arm from supporting her as he and Teal'c began to shoot the many Jaffa swarming the room.

Suddenly the world seemed to be going in slow motion. She ran as fast as she could towards the golden, but deadly beam. She saw everything at once. Teal'c and Daniel shooting the Jaffa, the dead Jaffa slumping to the floor, the malicious grin of Apophis, the way his eyes didn't move from Jack and Jack, his face screwed up with agony as the light focused in the centre of his forehead.

Apophis's face turned towards her as she yelled, "Leave him alone!" She ran through the gunfire of the Jaffa and her friends as she dived for the ribbon of energy.

As she broke it she was thrown across the room straight into the wall. Apophis yelled angrily in Goa'uld as Jack shook his head trying to stop the swimming. What happened?

He saw a gun lying beside him and lunged for it. He rolled across the floor and began to shoot at Apophis. Glaring angrily, Apophis touched the armband on his left forearm. His face was contorted with fury as teleportation rings encircled him and he disappeared with a flash of light. The rings ascended as the last Jaffa in the room fell.

Why had Apophis stopped using that hand thing? A memory flashed in his memory. Sam! But she could barely walk, let alone run! He turned suddenly as dread hit him like a cold wave.

His eyes fixed on her motionless body, her eyes closed. He crawled over to her. She was propped up against the wall, her head lolling on her shoulder. She had a nasty gash across her forehead and she looked eerily pale.

He lowered her gently to the floor as Daniel joined him and Teal'c stood watch by the door. Jack put his ear to her mouth and could hear and feel her breath leaving her lips. She was alive. Thank God!

"Come on, Sam," Jack murmured, "Please wake up."

She didn't stir. Daniel shared a worried look with Jack. There was something incredibly creepy about her condition, but Daniel had no idea what. He examined the look of unprecedented fear on his best friend's face before the boy gritted his jaw and hid the expression in a way Daniel was extremely familiar with.

Teal'c began dismantling a control panel on the wall, "We must use the teleportation rings to escape to the surface."

Jack lifted the unconscious form of Sam into his arms as him and Daniel stepped into the area beneath the rings. Teal'c scooted in next to them as the rings encircled them.

The next thing Jack saw was the surface. More precisely the inside of a temple. It looked really familiar, but... as usual... he couldn't put a finger on it.

He supported her dead weight as they strolled swiftly to the gate. After about a quarter of an hour, but what felt like 15 times as much they finally heard the sounds of a pursuit. They began to ascend a familiar rocky, but gentle slope as the Stargate appeared before them. It rose like the sun over the rocky hill in front of them.

Jack's watch said it was 11:20am. About midday, on Earth, but here the sun was just rising. It's pale green light illuminating the Stargate and the mist gave it a mysterious air. The fresh dawn breeze chilled Jack as they jogged towards the gate as fast as they could. The sound of shouts and calls came from behind them as the reached the Stargate.

Teal'c pressed the symbols on the device stood before the Stargate swiftly. With a tremendous whoosh of light and energy, a water-like substance burst from the metal ring. He typed something into the device on his arm; Jack assumed it was the GDO.

Teal'c turned swiftly staring back at the temple as serpent guards poured from the entrance. He shot down a few as he and his friends ran to the gate. He helped them through the gate as staff blasts rang in their ears.

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Read on in 'Vulnerability (Part Two)'.

Copyright (c) 2004 Sam I Am