When they came through the gate there were already several medics waiting for them, and Fraiser was one of them – standing right beside Hammond. Both of them noticed the absences of Sam and Ian immediately.

"Colonel O'Neill?" Hammond asked, worry in his eyes as he watched Pia and Bren being put on stretchers. "Where are –"

"They're gone, Sir." Jack said, getting over the shock and well on his way to angry. The only problem was, the only people he had to be angry with were himself and Jacob, and Jacob was looking just as stricken as Jack felt. Which of course, he was. "It was a trap or something. They got Sam and Ian."

"Who?"

Jacob spoke up, now.

"We're not sure, but all signs point to it being one of our own. I just can't believe it, though."

"It had to have been Cato, Jacob," Daniel said, coming up from behind them. "He's the only one missing. And-"

Hammond noticed the blood all over Jack's forearm, and several small scratches on the others. Teal'c and Jacob would heal quickly on their own with the help of their symbiotes, but Daniel and Jack both needed to go to the infirmary, and it was just as good to send them all there.

"Get to the infirmary, Colonel, and have Doctor Fraiser check you guys out. We'll meet in the briefing room in half an hour to discuss how we're going to get them back."

Jack nodded. He was going to get them back.

"Yes, Sir."

OOOOOOO

The injury to his forearm wasn't serious, but Janet handled Jack personally, leaving the Tok'ra to her senior doctors. Pia and Bren were both unconscious, but neither had injuries that their symbiotes couldn't heal if they were given the chance. Jack, however, had a lost look in his eyes that made Janet want to cry – and as worried as she was about Sam, she knew he was far more worried, and she couldn't understand how he could keep from breaking down. Jaffer was up on the table beside him, the lab looking as mournful as she'd ever seen him, and occasionally bumping his head against Jack's free hand – obviously needing a reassuring petting.

She closed the stab wound with several stitches and bandaged it tightly to keep it from infecting, and as she did, she watched him, debating whether or not to add to his worries. She knew she had to, though, because there was a potential serious problem developing with the absence of Ian.

"Colonel…"

He looked up at her, wondering about the sudden hesitation in her voice.

Janet put tape on the gauze that was wrapped around his arm, and then met his hurt brown eyes.

"We might have another problem…"

"It can wait."

Nothing was more important than the one he was already trying to solve.

"It might not…" Janet said, understanding how he felt, but knowing better. "Nathan and Maggie Brooks might be showing up today looking for Ian…"

"What?"

This was from Daniel, who'd been sitting close to Jack, more for support than to have the small scratches on his face looked at.

"Why?" Jack asked.

"Today's his birthday…"

"Ian's?" Daniel asked.

Fraiser nodded.

"How do you know that?"

More importantly, how did it escape the notice of the rest of them?

"Cassie."

Ah. He could keep it a secret from them, but wouldn't have been able to keep it from Cassie if she'd asked.

Fraiser shrugged.

"They might not come – but Cassie thought it was a possibility and mentioned it to me. And if they do…" She trailed off, knowing Jack didn't need her to tell him any more. If Nathan Brooks came looking for Ian and they couldn't produce him – or a really good story as to where he was and why he wasn't where he was supposed to be – the retired General was bound to start asking questions. And was as hard to ignore as a rampaging bull elephant.

Jack sighed. That was all he needed.

Janet looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry…"

He shook his head, rubbing his face as he tried to think of what to do. What he really needed was Dotty – and of course she wasn't there to come when he called for help. He felt a stab of loss at that, too, and wondered what he'd tell Shawn about-

"The Asgard."

The thought just popped into his head, and Jack grabbed it immediately. He got to his feet, pulling his hand from Fraiser's and heading for the door. They could help. They had ships, and had better technology than he did. And they were close at hand.

"Come on, guys. We need to get to the control room."

He headed out the door, Jaffer right beside him and Teal'c and Daniel right behind him.

OOOOOOOO

"It's not that simple," Sam said, still trying to gather her thoughts. "I-"

"You made the ship on the planet work," Cato said impatiently, reaching down and pulling her to her feet. "You can make-"

"Get your fucking hands off her you piece of shit."

The Jaffa behind him pulled Ian back as he lunged for Cato, tossing him easily to the floor. Ian scrambled back to his feet, ignoring the staff weapon that was suddenly pointed at him.

"She's not going to be able to do shit for you if you hurt her. Can't you see that she's-"

Cato let go of Sam, who almost fell at the loss of support, but managed to hold herself upright – although there was yet another stab of pain in her back, and she was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong. Fear made her knees suddenly weak as she worried that it might be something wrong with the baby, and she swooned, despite herself.

The Goa'uld reached out and caught her, as if suddenly realizing that he might have damaged his best chance of getting the Ancient technology to work for him.

"What do you need?" He asked. There was no concern in his voice, of course, but he needed her in one piece, and that meant keeping her alert. And she looked pale – even for one of her kind.

"She needs to sit down," Ian said, moving the staff weapon aside and coming over to take Sam away from Cato. He didn't want him touching her. "There are cushioned chairs in the ship, right?"

The Goa'uld nodded, and gestured for them to go towards the Ancient's ship.

"She can sit – but while she's sitting the two of you will work on getting the technology to work."

"Yeah, whatever." Ian draped Sam's arm over his shoulder, really concerned at just how pale she was. "Come on, Sam…" He looked over his shoulder, knowing by the look on Cato's face that he had the upper hand just then, and knowing once he got Sam into the ship the advantage was going to be even greater.

"Make yourself useful, ass wipe, bring her something to drink so she doesn't pass out on you."

A vein in the Goa'uld's forehead looked like it was ready to pop, but he beckoned imperiously at the First Prime, who gestured for one of the others to go get it. The Jaffa took off at a quick walk, leaving the room, and Cato scowled at Ian. He'd se what the boy knew, and if it wasn't much, he'd kill him. Although he was really considering killing him anyway. Impertinent pup.