Title: When All Else Fails

Chapter: Four

Disclaimer: See every single previous chapter.

A/N: Ok. So, I already had the first three chapters done before I even started posting this story, so this'll be my first recent a/n. Anyway, you guys are so awesome! The reviews I've been getting are just great, I'm so thrilled you like my story, because to tell you the truth I wasn't very sure about it when I posted it! Thanks again! You guys rock!

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He regretted waking immediately. It was cold, very cold, and every single muscle in his body ached. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him for waking, something he understood very well. Where was he?, he wondered. What day was it? What time was it? How long had he been out? Was anybody even looking for him at this point? Had Teal'c and the others made it alive? Why was he talking to himself?

Since he was lying on the ground seeing anything was pretty much an issue. He began to pull himself off of the floor, groaning through the pain, which was another thing he regretted instantaneously. As soon as the groan escaped his lips the all to familiar sounds of Jaffa footfall penetrated the silence, causing him to groan once more. Great, he thought, just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse.

A big, ugly Jaffa pulled him up to his feet, and stood at least half a foot taller than he was. The large, dark skinned man growled curses at him in Goa'uld, and although he wasn't up to date on the language he understood the words coming from the man. Jack said nothing and stared straight ahead, not looking into the Jaffa's eyes. That would be stupid.

"General O'Neill," came a sickly familiar voice from behind the huge Jaffa. "How nice to see you again." The voice was smooth and sarcastic. That voice would haunt him for the rest of his life.

He leaned over, to look past the Jaffa. "Ba'al!" He said, with fake enthusiasm. "Buddy! I gotta tell you, the welcoming committee needs some work. They're not very..." he looked back at the Jaffa, "welcoming."

The Goa'uld smirked. "Indeed they are not." He took a step forward, "Where are the others?"

"Others?" Jack asked, "What others?"

The smirk faded, "Do not play ignorant with me, General. You know of whom I speak."

"Oh them?" He said, as if he just then realized who he was speaking of. "They're gone," he shrugged, "sorry. But, if you give me a message, I'll let them know you were thinking of them."

"So funny," Ba'al hissed, "do you not realize the situation you are in, O'Neill?"

"Oh, I realize it more than you know." Jack told him, "I just give a damn."

"And why is that?"

"'Cos no matter how much you torture me," at this Ba'al smiled, "I won't tell you a damned thing."

The smile disappeared. "I disagree. You will tell me whatever I need to know."

"Yeah," he said, thinking it over. "Not gonna happen, sorry."

That sickening smirk appeared once more, "If you say so, O'Neill." He looked at Tall Jaffa, "Do with him what you wish, Vol'ture."

A smile spread across Vol'ture's face. Jack decided he didn't like that smile much, and maybe he shouldn't have mouthed off like he had. Other than his thoughts the last thing he remembered after that was various hits to various spots, and then a extremely painful blow to him stomach, then there was nothing.

XXXX

Groaning was something that was becoming very familiar to him; he realized this as the gold top slid open. He was in a sarcophagus. Great, he thought, Vol'ture must've had some fun.

He sat up in the sarcophagus and a wave of nausea washed over him; he swayed slightly and grabbed on to the edge of the sarcophagus, hoping to keep his balance. A splitting headache made its presence known and he groaned again. In the distance the familiar sounds of Jaffa footfall could be heard, there were a lot of them, no chance of escape. He scanned the room, it was empty but he could see that outside of the room there were guards. He attempted to get out of the sarcophagus, but his legs felt like jelly and he knew he wouldn't be able to stand on his own. So for the time being he was going to sit and wait, for what? More torture he assumed, that was Ba'al's way.

Turned out he was right, nearly ten minutes later Ba'al entered the room surrounded by his Jaffa posse. He stifled a groan as he was pulled out of the sarcophagus and carried to a familiar room. This time, he allowed the groan to escape his lips.

"You remember it, do you?" Ba'al asked, "Fond memories, aren't they?"

Jack said nothing as he was placed up against the strange wall. And he still said nothing as the first knife flew from Ba'al's hand and dug into his flesh. He cried out in pain as the second one tore into his stomach and again as the third found a spot next to the second. Ba'al smirked and let another go.

As the thirteenth knife jabbed into his ribs, settling into what he guessed was a lung, the pain became too much to bear and he passed out again.

XXXX

The torture went on for days and by the fifth he had all but given up. He didn't have the strength to keep on with this and soon enough Ba'al would get tired with the torture and give up, having known from the beginning that Jack would never give up any information to him.

He was passed out on the floor of a room similar to the one he had once occupied. At first he forgot the trick to it and when the lever was pushed he went flying to the ground. After that he made sure to stay lying on the floor, just in case Vol'ture came back to bring him to Ba'al.

"Jack," a soft, feminine voice whispered. He didn't look up; figuring it was his mind playing tricks on him. When the voice called out his name for the second time he realized that it wasn't his mind, it was Sam. He looked up and his tired, weary brown eyes met her shimmering blue ones. Although, they weren't shimmering because she was happy, he saw the traces of died tears on her cheeks. He didn't know ascended beings could cry.

"Sam," he forced. He would have said more, but he was so tired. So tired.

"Don't talk," she whispered to him, "It's ok, I'm going to get you out of here. Please, don't give up. I'll figure something out."

"Hurry," he whispered back to her.

She clenched her jaw and looked up when she heard the sounds of footfall, looking back at him once again she disappeared and he prepared himself for whatever else Ba'al had to throw at him. Now he had hope.

XXXX

She came back on the seventh day, her eyes bright and hopeful. He pulled himself up to a sitting position and listened to her prattle on. She had a plan.

"I'm going to get you out of her Jack," she whispered excitedly. "SG-1, SG-3, and SG-6 are on their way here as we speak. I know, I know, how are they going to get in here? That's where I come in ... trust me, Jack. I'm going to take care of that."

"No," he whispered back to her, "Oma ... will descen-"

"I don't care," she told him hastily. "I won't sit here and watch you die. I can't do that."

"You have to," he told her. "I don't want you to be punish-"

"I ... don't ... care." She told him, once again. "If the only way I can stay here is by watching you be tortured and eventually killed I don't want to be here. I won't let this continue any further, you just hold on for me, ok? They're almost here."

Noises could be heard from the hallway, somebody was coming. She became invisible, but he could still feel her there, holding onto him. Whatever force shield changed the gravity in the room was pulled and Jack was on his feet once again. Instead of his legs giving way and him falling to the ground like every other time two strong, loving arms kept him standing. Vol'ture entered the room, that disgusting smile on his face.

He grabbed Jack and her arms were gone, he heard her whisper "hold on" into his ears and then he was alone, excpet for Vol'ture who wasn't very comforting. Vol'ture dragged him towards the torture room and Jack tried to float off to another place, but like every other time it was impossible. Today the method of torture was the acid, Jack gritted his teeth as the first drop hit his flesh, and ate its way through tissue and muscle. Soon, he thought, soon this will all be over.

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2 days earlier:

StarGate Command

The gate whirled and Davis' voice filled the air, "Unscheduled off world activation!"

Daniel and Teal'c were the first to make it to the control room, followed by General George Hammond, who was watching over the base until Jack was found and returned. Hopeful looks were found on the faces of all three, maybe SG-5 had been successful.

Only, it wasn't SG-5's iris code that Siler called out.

"It's SG-1 sir," he said with confusion.

Daniel and Teal'c shared a look, SG-1 was on Earth, they had been for nearly 5 hours.

"Perhaps it is Bra'tac," Teal'c said.

"Maybe," Daniel mumbled.

"Open the iris," Hammond directed. Davis obeyed and the metal swooshed open, showing the shimmering liquid.

Seconds later a figure stepped through and everybody in the room gasped.

"It's Sam!" Daniel called out, making his way to the stairs and running down them, Hammond and Teal'c right behind him. He ran into the 'Gate room and met her just as she came off of the ramp. "Sam," he called out. "What are you doing here?"

Sam smiled sadly, "It's Jack."

"What about him, Colonel?" Hammond asked, stepping up beside of Daniel.

"Sir, I know where he is."

"Where?"

"Ba'al has him on P2Q-143. Sir, I would advise you get your best teams, SG-1 included, and get there as soon as you can. He's not doing well, I think he's given up hope of being rescued. Don't worry about how you'll get to him, I'll help."

"But Sam-" Daniel started.

"Please don't, Daniel. I know what the consequences will be; frankly at this point in time I don't give a damn. I won't let him die." She stared at him defiantly, he said nothing further. "General," she said, looking at Hammond again. "He has a mother ship landed on the planet, that's where Jack is being held. It's about 23 clicks northeast front the Gate. I will show whatever teams you send the way, but I cannot stay with them the whole time. If they are in need of help, I will know and come to their aid. Other than that, for the long journey they're on their own. I'll need to be with Jack and preparing for what I need to do."

"What is that exactly?" Hammond asked.

She sighed, "Not sure yet, sir. Whatever it takes."

He nodded, "I understand." He glanced at his watch; "It's 2234 right now. SG teams 1, 3, and 6 will leave at approx. 2345. I will have them ready and briefed by 2330, then they're all yours." He looked at Daniel and Teal'c, "Go tell the others." The two ran off and Hammond and Sam were alone.

"You understand what you are doing, right Colonel?"

"Yes, sir. I do."

"Just making sure." He was silent for a moment, "Bring him back, Sam."

She clenched her jaw, "I intend to."

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A/N: Dun, Dun, Dun. I LOVE cliffhangers, don't you? Anyway, let me know what'cha think about this chapter, and once again thanks for all the awesome reviews. For those of you who have been asking if Sam was going to descend I have only one thing to say... DUH! Lol, come on guys, not being mean or anything but it says so in my summary. And, why would I have her not? That would be cruel. Lol, thanks for the concern anyway.

Anyway, the day I'm uploading this is my powderpuff football game day! Pray for us Sophmores, we're going up against the Seniors!